The Degenerate Digest v.166

I can only imagine this is how Auburn rolled up to Starksville this morning after an overnight drive thanks to the FAA ground stop. What chaos. Just when you think college football couldn’t get any crazier, I need to monitor yet another situation to determine if any of my picks will be affected at the last minute thanks to the Friday evening shit storm that was our government agencies still running on Windows 98. People will say it was AI, but we all know it was just Vegas trying to pull a fast one on Joey Digest, who is 13-4 over the last 3 weeks. I know you still have your fastball, Vegas. There’s no denying that. But in situations like these, sometimes you just need to sit back, without a care in the world, and enjoy a chili dog.

Outside of the travel chaos the last 24-hours, we also have been blessed with the official news of the 24 team playoff starting next season. I say blessed, because I think I’m the only person on the planet who is looking forward to this format.

I’m not sure what everyone is up in arms about. I get the purists perspective of old, the BCS era, bowl games, and conference championship games that matter. But we haven’t been living there for many, many years now. This was always where it was going to go. I don’t know how you could look at the format post-4 team playoff and not understand this was the soft-launch to 24. It allows the AP poll to mean literally everything. It finally eliminates the truly pointless conference championship games, and just replaces them with win or go home matchups. It allows the regular season to still have tons of relevancy because conference standings and tie breakers will matter way more than they ever have. And, for our own selfish purposes at Digest HQ, it gives us more playoff games to bet on and write about. Just like coaches and programs are forced to adapt to the NIL era, fans need to adapt to what is becoming the biggest money maker in sports. That’s not me being biased, that’s fact. The NFL currently sits on the throne at around 20 billion in annual revenue, with college football coming in at #2 at around 14 billion. But guess who just added a few extra billion with this playoff TV deal? You guessed it! 

And you know what else? You know you’re still going to watch. You know you’re still going to religiously follow your team. You know you’re still going to get irate at mid-season rankings. They know you know, and that’s why they don’t care about any of your gripes. Just like when planes are forced to a ground stop, and people are essentially forced to figure shit out - you just gotta roll with the changes. 

(8) Tennessee @ Texas A&M: Alt Line Parlay, Texas A&M +7.5 & Under 50.5

The Aggies have had a horrendous season, especially compared to expectations. But they have looked to be a bit more structured of late. Tennessee has had a successful season, especially compared to expectations. But they still can’t score on offense. And they just had to endure a pretty tough travel day, waiting hours on the plane itself before deboarding, bussing back to the football facility, only to turn around and do it all over again. Can’t be fun.

Final Score: Tennessee 21, Texas A&M 17

(22) Missouri @ (1) Georgia: Georgia -15.5

At this point in the season, I should not be looking at lines this big. But I have believed in Georgia from the beginning of the season, and with this being their first home game since the Auburn loss, I think they want to give their fans something to remember. And while I think Missouri is a nice story, especially earlier on in the year, I just don’t think they’re at this caliber.

Final Score: Georgia 34, Missouri 17

Fresno @ Texas State: Over 58.5

This is a Joey Digest, Just Take It.

Final Score: Texas State 38, Fresno 24

Stanford @ Virginia Tech: Stanford +15.5

According to unnamed sources..

“Got a text from an old coworker of mine. His son plays DL at Virginia Tech. Apparently there’s big time tension in the locker room. It came out that the Penn State players definitely got preferential nil payouts and are getting playing time over more skilled players. His son is part of a group that plan on hitting the portal and following certain coaches that plan on leaving EOY.”

There’s also significant reverse line movement here. 

Open: Virginia Tech -16.5

Bets: 52% Virginia Tech

Money: 62% Virginia Tech

Line: Virginia Tech -15.5 (offshore books -14.5!)

It’s gross, but I can’t hide from what I’m privy to - true or not. 

Final Score: Virginia Tech 27, Stanford 20

Late Night Parlay Alert!

North Texas @ UTSA: Alternate Total Over 63.5

Colorado State @ Washington State: Alternate Total Over 59.5

Another one. Just Take It. 

Final Scores: 

North Texas 42, UTSA 37

Washington State 38, Colorado State 35

But, but, Joey Digest! Joey Digest! You forgot the Texas/LSU game! You forgot Arizona/Utah! There, there, degenerate. They are both included in this week's 10-team, 10 point, for +1000 odds #PremiumMemberTickleTeaser. DMs are open.

Running Record: (411-344-7)