What a day of football we had last Saturday. Arkansas proved to the country that they should be taken seriously. On top of that we saw Clemson fall to North Carolina State. The Tigers offense is nowhere near as good as last year, and the defense is often left out to dry. Let’s not also forget that Clemson has lost 22 players to the transfer portal, and taken in zero. Dabo Swinney might need to change his tactics. However, Clemson weren’t the only losers a week ago. Enter the Wisconsin Badgers. Wisconsin and Notre Dame played at Soldier Field last weekend, and it did not go according to plan for the Badgers. They entered the fourth quarter tied with the Irish 10-10. However, they would end up losing 41-13.  It was another wild weekend in the college football universe.

This weekend we have a wonderful slate of games throughout the day. All in all there will be three top-12 matchups, with two of them in SEC country. Arkansas will head to Athens, Georgia to take on a very good Georgia team. Down in Alabama, the Tide and Nick Saban will host Lane Kiffin and Ole Miss. Finally, in the biggest game in program history, the Cincinnati Bearcats will travel to South Bend to take on Notre Dame. Let’s find out who the college football writers are picking to win this weekend.

Week 5 Picks

Matt Sargent

1. (10) Florida at Kentucky — (Over 55)
2. (6) Oklahoma at Kansas State — (Kansas State +12)
3. (14) Michigan at Wisconsin — (Michigan +2)
4. Mississippi State at (15) Texas A&M — (Texas A&M -7)
5. (7) Cincinnati at (9) Notre Dame — (Cincinnati -1.5)

Matt took home the week one victory for the Pick Em contest. He was on the right side of Notre Dame vs Wisconsin. This week he’s going with his Florida Gators taking on Kentucky, in what should be an entertaining game. For the Game of the Week, Matt took Cincinnati to take down the Fighting Irish. Record Last Week: 3-2

Matt Jakubosky

1. (7) Cincinnati at (9) Notre Dame — (Notre Dame +1.5)
2. (8) Arkansas at (2) Georgia — (Over 48.5)
3. (12) Ole Miss at (1) Alabama — (Alabama -14.5)
4. (14) Michigan at Wisconsin — (Michigan +1.5)
5. (10) Florida at Kentucky — (Florida -8.5)

Matt finished last weekend with a record of 2-3. He was on the wrong side of Notre Dame vs Wisconsin last weekend. However, this week he’s decided to go with all three top-12 matchups on his betting card. Both Matts like Michigan today, however, they disagree on the Game of the Week. Matt Jakubosky likes Notre Dame, as he is indeed a Fighting Irish fan.

Justin’s Picks

1. (7) Cincinnati at (9) Notre Dame — (Cincinnati -2)
2. Central Michigan at Miami (OH) — (Central Michigan +1)
3. (8) Arkansas at (2) Georgia — (Arkansas +18.5)
4. LA Tech at (23) North Carolina State — (LA Tech +19)
5. Western Kentucky at (17) Michigan State — (WKU +11)

I also finished last weekend under .500, going 2-3 as well. The Wisconsin vs Notre Dame over was a lock all game until the fourth quarter. It’s safe to say that’s one of the most shocking losses I’ve ever had. However, I’m ready bounce back this weekend. Arkansas getting 18.5 points is disrespectful to Arkansas. I love the Hogs and the points. However, my lock of the week is LA Tech +19. The Bulldogs have hung tough with some good teams this year. On top of that, this is a major let-down spot for the Wolfpack after knocking off Clemson last weekend. Overall, I feel a great weekend coming!

The post Back Sports Page College Football Pick Em | Week 5 appeared first on Back Sports Page.

Ah! Another college football Saturday is nearly upon us, and we at BSP can’t wait. This weekend we have an enormous matchup at Soldier Field in Chicago. (12) The Notre Dame Fighting Irish will take on Big Ten bullies (18) Wisconsin. Former Badger quarterback Jack Coan is the signal-caller from Notre Dame. He could be looking to exact some revenge on his old teammates. On top of that we have (16) Arkansas taking on (7) Texas A&M at Jerry’s World. Can the Razorbacks prove they belong among the best in the SEC? Football will be on all day, including matchups between (9) Clemson and NC State. Can (3) Oregon continue to dominate the Pac-12. We should get all of our answers tomorrow. However, Matt Sargent, Matt Jakubosky, and myself will be taking part in a weekly contest choosing winners from each weekend of the college football season. Each week we will all choose a prime-time matchup so that we can all give our predictions and bets. On top of that each person will pick four other games to bet the spread, moneyline, or total. This will be our first week and, these will all be posted early Saturday morning.

Between the three of us, we have our own friendly wagers on who will win the competition. So, that in itself makes it more interesting. The prime-time game this weekend is the previously mentioned (12) Notre Dame vs (18) Wisconsin at Soldier Field. Our previews for the two big games can be found below. After getting some knowledge from the previews, you can check out our picks, and maybe even steal a few!

(12) Notre Dame vs (18) Wisconsin Preview

(16) Arkansas vs (7) Texas A&M Preview

Week Four Picks

Matt Sargent

1. (16) Arkansas vs (7) Texas A&M — (Arkansas +5.5)
2. Tennessee vs (11) Florida — (Florida -19)
3. (12) Notre Dame vs (18) Wisconsin — (Wisconsin -6)
4. Rutgers vs (19) Michigan — (Total: Under 50)
5. Vanderbilt vs (2) Georgia — (Vanderbilt +35

For his first five picks Matt went with three SEC games. He’s does live in West Palm Beach, so that might be the root of his SEC interest. He’s a Florida Gator fan and knows SEC football inside and out. Matt puts out our weekly Power Rankings and comes on the “I Can See Clearly Now” Pick Em Podcast weekly. Give him a follow on Twitter! (@

Matt Jakubosky

1. Liberty vs Syracuse — (Liberty -6.5) (L)
2. (12) Notre Dame vs (6) Wisconsin — (Notre Dame +6.5)
3. (9) Clemson vs North Carolina State — (Clemson -10.5)
4. (16) Arkansas vs (7) Texas A&M — (Texas A&M -5.5)
5. Navy vs Houston — (Navy +20.5)

Well, it seems like all of us will be picking some sort of outcome in the (16) Arkansas vs (7) Texas A&M matchup. However, for Matt’s first five picks he went with some interesting games. Liberty and Syracuse was played on Friday night so we’ll know the outcome of that tomorrow morning. I agree with Matt on the Texas A&M win, but his (9) Clemson pick may come back to haunt him. Matt’s a great writer who graduated from Middle Tennessee State. Matt does a great job for us finding great prospects. He’ll also be on the podcast above from time to time. Finally, I sneaky love his Navy +20.5 pick, I might have to add that to my card. Give Matt a follow on Twitter (@mattjakedoe)

Update: We have our first loss of the year as Syracuse takes down Liberty on Friday night 24-41. The Orange used a last second field goal to top Malik Willis and co. Sorry Matt!

Justin’s Picks

1. (12) Notre Dame vs (18) Wisconsin — (Total: Under 46.5)
2. Rutgers vs (19) Michigan — (Rutgers +20)
3. Arizona vs (3) Oregon — (Oregon -28.5)
4. Indiana vs Western Kentucky — (Western Kentucky +9)
5. (16) Arkansas vs (7) Texas A&M — (Texas A&M -5.5)

Pretty straight forward with my picks here. The game between Wisconsin and Notre Dame is going to be a slugfest. Both teams are nearly identical, although the Irish’s passing game is more proficient. However, it will not be a high scoring affair. Western Kentucky quarterback Bailey Zappe is the real deal, so Indiana is going to be in some trouble. Finally, Oregon has proved their worth, and Arizona lost to Northern Arizona last weekend. It’s very possible the Wildcats are the worst team in the FBS.

The post Back Sports Page College Football Pick Em | Week 4 appeared first on Back Sports Page.

Oh don’t we all just love nationally televised NFC East games! I know I do, and tonight is no different. Tonight, on Thursday night football, we will watch Chase Young, Jonathan Allen and the Washington defense take on Daniel Jones, Saquon Barkley and the rest of the New York Football Giants. Both teams had rough season openers.

Ron Rivera’s team lost a close one to Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers. Ryan Fitzpatrick was injured early in the game and will be out an extended period of time, so in steps Taylor Heinicke. Heinicke played sparingly last season, and did a solid job filling in for the Fitzpatrick a week ago. Chase Young didn’t register a sack, but Jonathan Allen and Montez Sweat did. I would look for the Football Team to try and establish the running game early, and build the passing game of play-action. However, the Giants defense is nothing to laugh at.

Joe Judge and his squad were beaten fair and square by the Broncos last weekend. However, I’m expecting a better performance out of the G-men this weekend. Daniel Jones wasn’t bad, throwing for 267 yards and a touchdown. However, he did record his 40th career turnover when he lost a fumble in the game. The Giants need to take a step forward tonight. With Barkley being on a snap count, they need to target Kenny Golloday  more often and hope their defense keeps them in the game.

New York Giants vs Washington Football Team | Best Bets

Spread: NYG +3.5 (-105) | WFT -3.5 (-115)

Moneyline: NYG (+165) | WFT (-195)

Total: 40.5 — Over (-115) | Under (-105)

Prediction

I’m actually surprised the spread is this low. However, that’s what happens when you have two inconsistent quarterbacks going at it. I see the Football Team getting back on track this weekend with a huge win. The Washington defensive line is the best in the NFL and against the Giants offensive line they will prove that. On offense, Ron Rivera will look to establish Anthony Gibson early, and use play-action to look deep for guys like Terry McLaurin. WFT 20, NYG 16 (WFT-3.5, Under 40.5)

Prop To Play

First Quarter Total Under 7.5

Both of these teams will look to have long, time-killing drives, so the scoring might come few and far between. However, with both teams having young, inexperienced quarterbacks, the first quarter could be ugly.

The post New York Giants vs Washington Football Team | Best Bets & Prediction appeared first on Back Sports Page.

Athletic Director Mike Bohn had this to say during the announcement:

“As I committed to upon my arrival at USC, during the past two off-seasons we provided every resource necessary for our football program to compete for championships,” Bohn said in a statement announcing the dismissal. “The added resources carried significantly increased expectations for our team’s performance, and it is already evident that, despite the enhancements, those expectations would not be met without a change in leadership.” (Mike Bohn, USC AD, ESPN)

What’s Next For the Trojans?

Donte Williams will serve as interim head coach for the remainder of the season. He joined the USC coaching staff in 2020 as the cornerbacks coach and defensive passing game coordinator. This summer he was promoted to Associate Head Coach. However, Williams may not have much of a shot at becoming the full time head coach because of how prestigious the coaching job at USC is. A nationwide coaching search will take place over the next couple of weeks and months.

Three Names To Keep An Eye On

Matt Campbell, Head Coach, Iowa State

Campbell had a rough weekend. His Iowa State Cyclones failed to defeat in state rival Iowa over the weekend. The Hawkeyes have now won six straight in the rivalry. Campbell has done everything for Iowa State football, and have built them into a yearly contender. However, what is there left for Campbell to do? He would be a great fit in Southern California. He’s a great recruiter and program builder, so there is really no reason the Trojans don’t at least reach out to him.

Luke Fickell, Head Coach, Cincinnati

Fickell has done an incredible job building up the Bearcat football program. Since taking over in 2016, Fickell has a great record of 37-14 with the Bearcats. He’s a great recruiter as well, so putting him in a spot like Southern California would only help him get high level recruits. However, Fickell may be waiting for the Ohio State job to open up. Not that anyone believes that will happen anytime soon. Last year his Bearcats won the American Athletic Conference, and ended up playing Georgia in a New Year’s Six Bowl. They would end up losing a tight game. Currently Fickell has the Bearcat team ranked 8th in the country.

James Franklin, Head Coach, Penn State

After an abysmal 2020 season, the Nittany Lions are back to their old selves this year. However, even though Franklin is happy at Penn State, he might jump at the opportunity to coach the Trojans. To be the head coach of USC you need to have charisma, and kind of live a celebrity life. Pete Carroll was the perfect example when he was dominating the Pac-10 with the Trojans. Franklin and USC would be a great fit, and like the other two coaches mentioned above, Franklin can use his recruiting prowess to keep some of the California high school players in state.

The post After Ugly Loss to Rival Stanford, USC Fires Clay Helton appeared first on Back Sports Page.

The Man to Man Podcast Episode XXXI

Back Sports Page presents a new episode of The Man to Man Podcast. On today’s show the guys get into some unfamiliar territory, for Tom at least, and talk about Euro 2020 (2021?), and the horrible scene on Saturday in Copenhagen. They also talk about how it kind of sucks that England won, because the media would be hilarious. They also talk the NBA Playoffs, and the Suns being the best team in the world. They also discuss the Kyrie injury and if Harden is going to play again in the series. Finally they step into the batter’s box in the NFL and talk about Jarvis Landry’s charity softball game which was the place to be in America on Saturday. They also talk about where the left of the free agent class ends up. Gonna be a great show, make sure to tune in at 4:15 PM ET. Like always, you can find, listen, download, and like The Man to Man Podcast on Spotify, Apple Music, and anywhere else you get your podcasts. Great show coming!

Follow Us on Twitter: @thb315 & @BrownlojCLE

The post The Man to Man Podcast Episode XXXI: What A Wild/Weird Weekend appeared first on Back Sports Page.

Michael and I will be doing a weekly show during the tournament to discuss the week’s match-ups as well as future match-ups. We will also talk about the Golden Boot Award. Finally we will be checking in on the English (England) Media and how they are feeling about the English National Team. Let’s just say, if England doesn’t make a good run this summer, Gereth Southgate could be looking for a new job.

On top of everything else, for those of you out there who maybe don’t know about the game of soccer, or if you do, and would like to dabble in a bit of gambling, we will be giving out picks for every game!

Italy vs Turkey (3:00 PM ET, Friday June 11th, ESPN)

Michael’s Pick: Well since Michael is riding the Italians all the way to the finals, he thinks the Italians will breeze by Turkey 2-0 (ITA -1)

My Pick: The Italians are very good, but this isn’t the same group that won the world cup in 2006. Still, the Italians will win, but not before getting a bit of a scare from Turkey. Italy 2-1 (ITA -1)

Follow Us on Twitter For Updates & Daily Picks!

@BrownlojCLE

@michaelmhouse

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On today’s episode the guys get right down into it with the NBA Playoffs. The Process is officially a failure in the NBA, so where to go from here? The Nets were always a flawed team, but it’s still surprising they got close.

Finally, can anyone stop the Suns out west? After that the guys get into some NFL and other current events. As always you can listen, download, like and subscribe to the podcast on Spotify and wherever else you get your podcasts!

The post The Man To Man Podcast Episode XXXII: The Process Is Finished appeared first on Back Sports Page.

The post The Man to Man Podcast Episode XXIX: Julio To Nashville & USA Beats Mexico appeared first on Back Sports Page.

Back Sports Page Presents a special episode of The Man to Man Podcast! Today on the show the guys are joined by Ryan Brownlow, yes my brother. On this special episode TB & JB go head-to-head in sports trivia, jeopardy style! NBA, NFL, College Football & Basketball, and MLB trivia as well. This one could get contentious, considering JB & Tom are very competitive. In the end though, it’s going to be a funny and great episode. Be sure to tune in at 1 PM ET! Also you can download, listen, like, and subscribe to The Man to Man Podcast on Spotify, Apple Music, and wherever you get your podcasts. Should be a great one!

Twitter: @BrownlojCLE & @thb315

The post The Man to Man Podcast Episode XXVII: Trivia Bonanza! appeared first on Back Sports Page.