Barstool Pick Em – Week 10 (October 31, 2024)

Hosts: Big Cat, Rico Bosco
Guest: Stanford Steve (filling in for Dave Portnoy)
Theme:
A rowdy, fast-paced dive into the Week 10 college football betting landscape, featuring laughs, memorable tangents, and surprisingly sharp football analysis. With Pres (Dave) out, Stanford Steve joins Big Cat and Rico to break down CFB's biggest storylines, best bets, and a couple of hard-won lessons about life as a degenerate gambler.

1. Main Theme & Purpose

The episode brings in ESPN’s Stanford Steve to cover for Dave, blending signature Barstool banter with smart (and not-so-smart) college football picks, betting narratives, and a rare chance for Rico to talk hoops. Week 10’s major CFB games, playoff expansion, Heisman odds, and the painful realities of gambling streaks all get the Barstool treatment.

2. Key Discussion Points & Insights

A. Kicking Off with Stanford Steve (01:22)

• Stanford Steve joins as a special guest. Banter about Bosco tirelessly asking Steve to guest on his shows.
  • “I always thought Pick Em was a joke because I know that’s your guys’ thing...” (01:43, Steve)
  • Joking about the show’s pecking order and recurring guests.

B. How Bad Are the Picks? Leaderboard Talk (02:44)

• Big Cat, Rico, and Dave’s season record update (Big Cat: 46.9%, Rico: 52.2%, Dave: 46.7%).
• Ebo is crushing “mortal locks” (7-2); Bosco is aiming for his first “Pat Hill” trophy.
• Conference USA weekday games = lots of lost money and self-loathing.
  • “Conference USA losses: $100,000. Why am I poor?...Yes, you do [have to bet every game].” (03:38, Big Cat)

C. Big Picture: 12-Team College Football Playoff (05:20)

• Panel reacts positively to the expanded playoff.
• Stanford Steve: >20 teams can now make the playoff; “Hope” is back for more fanbases (07:30).
• Parity and upsets possible due to NIL and transfer portal; more meaningful regular-season games.
• Memorable Quote:
  • “If you’re watching Oregon vs. Ohio State and thinking, ‘Well, this doesn’t matter...’ You’re a loser.” (08:16, Big Cat)
• Old worries about diminishing the regular season “haven’t happened.”

D. Debates: Best Teams, Real Contenders, & Key Games (11:08+)

• Notre Dame vs. Indiana: Consensus: ND has the better defense, Indiana has more belief.
• Alabama vs. Miami:
  • “Alabama’s defense is getting better and better... Milroe’s the ultimate wildcard.” (14:54, Steve)
  • Miami is talented but inconsistent; Clemson’s quiet dominance gets praise.
• Tennessee vs. Clemson:
  • Steve favors Tennessee’s improvement and defense; Big Cat sees Clemson as steadier now.

Fun Back-and-Forth:
- “I've seen it with Nico. When it’s bad, it’s really, really bad...” (16:01, Big Cat)
- Steve: “I’m in the tank for Nico... This is his eighth start.” (16:20)

E. How Many Can Really Win the Title? (18:43)

• Run through conferences, listing which teams “can win it” versus just “make it.”
  • Oregon, Georgia, Penn State, Ohio State, Texas all get “yes.”
  • Big 12: “Not the deepest, [but] the widest conference.” (21:02, Steve quoting Reese)
  • ACC tiebreaker mess and schedule shenanigans discussed.

F. Heisman Odds and Arguments (23:10)

• Big Cat: Biased, holds a Travis Hunter 40-1 ticket, argues Hunter is the Heisman.
• Stanford Steve: Thinks Shedeur Sanders is more valuable; “first guy ever” to win conference O & D player of the week (24:15).
  • “I'm not a fan of how many people and who vote on [Heisman]. The freshness of the Travis Hunter story is on your side.” (24:16, Steve)
• Both agree voter opinions and shifting narratives matter more than ever.

G. Wisconsin Badgers Check-In (28:16)

• Stanford Steve praises Luke Fickell’s toughness; Big Cat calls Badgers “better than last year” but with a tougher schedule.
  • “You had a winnable game in the second half… You’re on the up and up.” (29:24, Steve)

H. Uniform Talk & CFB Aesthetics (32:51)

• Penn State vs. USC as an “all-time uniform game” (32:51, Steve)—draws nostalgia and Twitter photo deep dives from Big Cat.

3. Game-by-Game Handicapping (33:29–55:03)

Ohio State vs. Penn State (33:29)

• Fretting over the spread (3.5–4) and OSU’s offensive line injuries.
• Panel split:
  • Big Cat & Steve: Penn State +3.5 (predict a field goal game)
  • Rico: Lays 3.5 with OSU for home pressure and QB edge.
• “I think Franklin... he owns Franklin. I don’t love that it’s a noon kick instead of a nighttime.” (36:20, Rico)

Oregon vs. Michigan (38:32)

• Oregon -15, total 45, wild stat: biggest Michigan home underdog spread since 1978 (39:24, Steve).
• All like the under (“Michigan's offense is just that bad,” 41:00, Rico); consensus Oregon will roll.

Florida vs. Georgia “Cocktail Party” (41:29)

• Total agreement: Under 52.5 is the play.
• Florida “not as bad as people think” but too inexperienced at QB to seriously upset.
• Georgia’s offense hasn’t clicked; Florida remains a year away.

Texas A&M at South Carolina (45:14)

• Opinions split:
  • Big Cat & Steve: Like South Carolina as home dog, riding the home-night cover trend.
  • Rico: Sides with Texas A&M, citing faith in Mike Elko as a coach.

Pitt at SMU (47:41)

• Steve: Pitt + points. Loves Narduzzi's defensive edge and new OC.
• Rico: Over 58.5—expects a “weird” high-scoring affair.
• Big Cat: SMU to cover, but pivots to join Rico on the over.

4. College Basketball Detour (50:06)

• Early buzz for Alabama and UConn; Stanford Steve tells practice stories and praises open-door programs.
• Big Cat offers classic nostalgia: “Bob Knight was supposed to be Wisconsin’s head coach... history could have been different.” (52:21)

5. Best Bets / Closing Cards (55:17)

Notable "Mortal Locks"

• Big Cat: Penn State +3.5
• Rico: Oregon -15 (thinks they win by 21)
• Stanford Steve: Texas A&M -2.5
• Ebo: Florida +16.5
• Bubba: Miami -21 vs. Duke
• Dan: Minnesota -3

Other Picks:

• Memphis -7.5, Navy -10.5, Louisville/Clemson over 61.5, Army/Air Force over 41.5, Michigan State +7.5, and more.

6. Notable Quotes & Moments

• Accidentally Good Takes:

  • “I accidentally landed on the correct take... being a proponent of the 12 team playoff... it was NIL and the portal that made college football more fun.” (06:16, Big Cat)

• Classic Barstool Self-Awareness:

  • “Why am I poor? Conference USA losses: $100,000. Yes, you do have to bet every game.” (03:38, Big Cat)

• Heisman Hopes:

  • “He's the O’Shanti of college football. What he's doing, I don't know if we'll ever see it again.” (24:51, Big Cat on Travis Hunter)

• Banter:

  • “If you're someone who watches Oregon vs. Ohio State and says, this doesn't matter, you're a loser.” (08:16, Big Cat)

• On picking games:

  • “I hate doing it, but I like the under…” (39:13, Big Cat re: Oregon/Michigan)

7. Fun Side Characters & Running Jokes

• Hank barely “in the room,” more focused on golf/sim than CFB.
• Bosco’s lack of “big college football game” experience is roasted.
• Stanford Steve's stories about wing stops, gambling, and old wrestling tapes.
• Ongoing barbs about Rico’s show invites and betting record.

8. Timestamps for Major Segments

• Stanford Steve Joins the Show: 01:22
• Leaderboard and Bad Beats Stories: 02:44
• 12-Team Playoff Debate: 05:20–09:06
• Who Can Win? Tier List: 18:43–21:22
• Heisman Odds Talk: 23:10–27:20
• Wisconsin Badgers Update: 28:16–32:07
• Uniform Nostalgia: 32:51–33:28
• Ohio State vs. Penn State Deep Dive: 33:29–38:32
• Oregon vs. Michigan: 38:32–41:29
• Florida vs. Georgia: 41:29–45:03
• Texas A&M at South Carolina: 45:14–47:37
• Pitt at SMU: 47:41–49:45
• College Basketball Cameo: 50:06–52:43
• Cards & Mortal Picks: 55:17–End

9. Tone & Language

• Informal, irreverent, and highly self-aware—insider gambling jokes, quick banter, and a lot of good-natured ribbing. Facts delivered with a wink; opinions blend confidence and self-parody.

Summary:

Barstool Pick Em Week 10 delivers lively insight and CFB gambling tips, mixing expertise, laughter, and real honesty about bad streaks and the sport’s chaotic nature. The panel loves the 12-team playoff, is torn on Heisman favorites, and likes Penn State and Oregon this week—but agrees, never forget to bet the Over.

Rule #1 of Gambling:
“Always bet the Over.”
Rule #2:
“If a mascot dies the week of a big game, it’s an automatic mortal lock.”