Turn that gambling podcast off. You don’t have to sift through all those cold takes. Pencilstorm has you covered with Friday Bet$ For Realz. Every Friday this fall we will be posting actual bets being made by Pencil Storm staffers and friends. Remember the best bet is to never bet at all. On the other hand…winners play and player’s win. Let’s do this! 

Big $ (Pencil Storm Browns Beat Writer with The North Coast Posse)

So don't look now, but the Pencilstorm crew is en fuego. A 11-1 heater if my math is correct. At this point we'd be more than happy to entertain sponsorship as our ascent continues.

So without further adieu... Here's my Saturday slate:

Going Big 10 heavy this week,

Coach Fickell is getting things headed in the right direction - Wisconsin -5.5 -115

Rutgers plays ttun tough, they'll keep it in the number again Rutgers +24 -105

Hate to tail the overwhelming Florida St action coming in, fading the public is usually the play , but I'm going against that rule today

Florida St -2 against Clemson -115 and give me the over 55.5 -105

(My apologies to Prime Time, but this is a show me week, make me regret leaving you off the card)

Brent Baver (Pencil Storm Buckeye Beat Writer)

Florida St played badly almost losing to BC in a look-ahead spot last week. Despite playing in a tough venue Saturday, I like the Noles to bounce back....I've got FSU laying the 2 pts at Clemson.

Utah may or may not get their star QB (Rising) back, and their star TE (Kuithe) back vs UCLA. If they get them both back, will they be near 100%. I am guessing not, and I've got UCLA +6 at Utah.

OMG (Baller, Sharp)

OSU - 3 at Notre Dame

Titans + 3 at Cleveland

Colin Gawel (Pencil Storm founder, musician, former coffee shop owner)

Achtung! I am not an actual gambler. I throw small numbers around and bet purely for entertainment value.

I’m headed up to South Bend this weekend for OSU v Notre Dame but I’ve got no play on that marquee matchup.  However, I will take 3-0 Rutgers +24 at Michigan. Coach shithead is back on the sidelines after that debacle vs TCU in the college football playoffs and just last week “JJ’ threw 3 picks versus gulp, Bowling Green.  Also, I like Oregon - 21 vs the Prime Time Buffs. A coach once said “a college football team can only emotionally get up three times a season”. I’m not sure that’s true but if so, all three previous Colorado games have been hyped like the main event of Wrestlemania. The Ducks need to prove they are under rated at #10 and will be in the mood to make a statement this Saturday at home in Eugene.

Jeremy Porter (Musician, fast-food Mexican connoisseur, terrible gambler, Pencil Storm Co-Editor in Chief)

I fared well last week, hitting on both of my Bet$ for Realz (Central Michigan covered against Notre Dame and the over, and the Bucs against the spread and the over). Glad I didn't bet on the Lions, and my impulse bet on the Wolverines didn't work out. 

This week I'll take Boise State on the road against SDSU on Friday night against the spread and the under, thinking they're just the better team and the home field won't help SDSU much. For the NFL I love the 49ers against the spread against the Giants at home on Thursday night (bet was in before I hit the road on Thursday afternoon), parlayed with the under at +333, and for Sunday, hope to be home from a Saturday night show in the birthplace of Cheap Trick: Rockford, Illinois in time to catch the Chiefs beat the Bears with the money line and the under for +130. Good luck!  

Jeff Hassler (Pencil Storm webmaster)

DO I HAVE TO SAY HIS NAME? DO I HAVE TO SAY HIS NAME? I’m riding another week on Baker with a straight money line W over the mighty Philadelphia Eagles. Monday night is Baker time!!!

Ben Galli (Pencil Storm NBA Beat Writer)

Alabama -6.5 over Ole Miss - Who among us doesn’t salivate at the idea of Alabama falling back towards the pack and no longer being Alabama? But in the words of the eminent Lee Corso, not so fast, my friend. Lane Kiffin poked the elephant with some recent comments and I don’t think we realize just how crazy Nick Saban can be. Bama is at home, is being doubted by everyone, and is getting needled by the Lane Train. I think Saban just stares hard enough to get Bama to win by at least a tuddy. 

Florida State -2 over Clemson - Clemson really might have fallen back towards the pack. I don’t know if Dabo Swinney’s weird (and awful) take on NIL has affected anything, but Clemson is no longer what they once were, the team dominating the ACC. Perhaps it is now Florida State’s turn again atop that conference and with a strong quarterback in Jordan Travis, I see the Seminoles win this convincingly even in Death Valley. It’s a pretty close line for the 4th team in the country versus an unranked foe.

Brian Phillips (Host CD92.9 Morning Show)

Colorado State +3 at Middle Tennessee...  This is silly. MTSU gave up 56 to Alabama and we can see what a mess they are. Sure it could be a let down spot after the Rams nearly upset Colorado, but flat out CSU is just the far better team. Thank you for the points.

Rice -2 1/2 home to South Florida... The Bulls are getting way too much credit for their performance against Bama. Sure they're better than Middle Tennessee, but this offense is really not good and they have to face former five star quarterback J.T. Daniels late of USC, West Virginia, and Georgia. I'll happily lay a mere less than 3. 

And under pressure from our editor here's a bonus pick. #14 Oregon State is laying 3 at #21 Washington State. It just so happens I'm a proud Coug. I'll even be flying Ol Crimson on my porch right next to the Ohio State flag Saturday. Oregon State is really good. Clemson should sure use their one time teammate in Quarterback DJ Uiagalelei. I'll give the Beavs an edge there over WSU's Cam Ward. Ward has been solid and getting better, but sometimes he seems to lose focus. On the other hand Martin Stadium will be packed and loud. WSU's defense is good at pressure. The Beavers are well aware this is a tough road trip. It's going to be close. I'll take the three and back the Cougs. I'll probably even get in on the moneyline. 

Add this to WSU... The Cougs have covered 10 straight at home.