Barstool Pick Em – Week 11 (Nov 7, 2024)

Hosts: Dan “Big Cat” Katz, Dave Portnoy (“Pres”), Rico Bosco, with Hank
Theme: The show delivers another dose of bravado and brutal honesty as the gang recaps picks, discuss betting heartbreaks, and dissect College Football’s chaos entering Week 11. They riff on their recent bad beats, incredible parlays, and the evolving world of college football, with their classic blend of overconfidence, inside jokes, and an eye toward both degenerate and comedic moments.

Opening Segment & Recent Life Updates

Dave’s Absence, The Rap Video, and “Best Week by a Mile”

• [00:07] Dan explains Dave’s absence last week was due to personal circumstances (a funeral), not lack of commitment, quipping about fans’ wild speculations.
• Dave details his exhausting week flying between Boston, LA, San Diego for both the funeral and shooting Barstool’s rap video:
  • “Ironically, it was my best week by a mile.” ([01:14])
• The group jokes about Dave almost hitting a legendary parlay, ruined only by a late-breaking QB scratch (Army’s Heisman-contending QB didn’t play).
  • “I should have five grand to win half a million.” — Dave ([02:29])
• Mini-deep dive into how late-breaking player news can kill big bets, questioning fairness in sports gambling.
  • “How is that legal?” — Dave ([02:51])

Parlay Legends & Speech Tales

• Dan recalls how Mincy gave five minutes of his speech at the Savannah Quarterback Club solely to discussing his giant parlay win ([03:46]).
  • “If I hit a 17 parlay, if I hit mine, I’m probably working it in. I don’t know for five minutes.” — Dave ([04:20])
  • Jokes about club merchandise, southern football culture, and the unique “Quarterback Club” scene dominate for several minutes.

Breeders Cup & Gambling Heartbreaks

Dave’s Breeders Cup Experience

• [08:10] Dave and Elio hit Del Mar for Breeders Cup:
  • “There are 22 races… We were pretty much over 20. And then we won the last two. Big Fierceness, Unbelievable race. I put another 50,000 on him to win… Delivered. … Won like 300 grand on the last two, so probably going to be down 400, 500 grand. Made it breathable.” — Dave ([08:15])
• Dave relays horse racing tales and inside baseball about horse owner Mike Repole’s social media tirades.
  • “He’s the best, worst loser of all time.” — Dan ([11:06])

Hank’s Prop Bet Agony

• Hank invested $240 to win $31,000 hinging on a Marvin Harrison TD. It didn’t hit.
  • “[Parlays like that] That’s the worst and the best, like, because you can’t do anything to, like, get out of it.” — Dave ([14:06])
  • Philosophical (and comedic) discussion of hedging, and how betting psychology changes by stake size among the crew.

Standings, College Football Playoff Talk, and Cultural Moments

Show Standings & Theories

• Rico’s up (~51%), Dave at 48.4%, Dan suffering at 47.3%.
  • Banter over whether starting basketball podcast “Round Ball” negatively impacts Rico’s football picks ([16:22]).

College Hoops Side Bet: Alabama Final Four Challenge

• A running bit: If Rico’s ultra-hyped Alabama basketball squad doesn’t make the Final Four, he’ll have to bus 40 hours to the event.
  • The reward: If they do, Dan and Dave must accompany Rico to the “Pump Party” (the legendary Final Four coaches’ mixer).
  • “You’ll be at the Four Seasons. You’ll fly first class. It will be the coronation of Rico Bosco.” — Dan ([20:43])
  • “That would be your greatest night.” — Dave ([19:50])
• Discussion continues with escalating terms, the absurdity/appeal of the “Pump Party,” and real talk about potential consequences.

College Football Playoff Expansion and Chaos

• New playoff format’s “erotic” chaos:
  • “Like Dave nailed it. It’s erotic. That playoff is unbelievable.” — Rico ([24:49])
  • Discussion about which teams could sneak in, including scenarios where Colorado or SMU makes waves.
  • “Penn State is, I mean, James Franklin… he's a bum.” — Dave & Rico ([25:05])
• Quick commentary on the Jason Kelce bar spat, with strong defense for Kelce:
  • “Give me a break. He just reacted. If anything, I think he handled it pretty well. …what a… kid that was.” — Dave ([25:59], [26:29])

Picks & Key Games

Miami vs Georgia Tech

• Miami -11; Over/Under 63
  • Dan and Rico both like the over, citing Miami’s suspect defense and tendency toward high-scoring games ([29:31]).
  • Dave leans Georgia Tech and the points.

Michigan at Indiana

• Indiana -14; Over/Under 49.5
  • Consensus: Indiana covers easily.
  • “I think this is the easiest bet on the board. Indiana absolutely smashes Michigan.” — Dave ([31:08])

Texas Tech vs Colorado

• Texas Tech +3.5; Over/Under 63
  • Rico and Dan align on the over; Dave likes Texas Tech outright ([33:00]).

Georgia vs Ole Miss

• Georgia -2.5
  • “I think we’re headed towards a truly chaotic season. I think Georgia gets a loss here... I think Lane picks him off and we’re looking at all these teams and there’s no true number one.” — Rico ([41:42])
  • Both Dan and Dave expect Georgia to bounce back and win at home.
  • "How can you go against Georgia?" — Dave ([43:44])
  • Notable tangent: Crew rags on UGA QB Carson Beck’s face, “too much eye black,” and his “non-quarterback” full-arm tattoo ([40:52]).

LSU vs Alabama

• Alabama -2.5; Over/Under 58
  • “I have no idea. No idea. …I’ll take Alabama, but, I mean, if you ask me in two seconds it could be LSU. I just have no idea.” — Dave ([44:37])
  • Both Dan and Rico want the over for the vibes, not “data.”
  • Rico: “Have a hard time thinking [Alabama’s] going to lose this one… Brian Kelly in a big spot… I don’t want to buy it.”

Mortal Locks & Best Bets ([47:59])

• Rico: Fresno -11 (vs Air Force).
• Dave: Indiana -14 (vs Michigan).
• Dan: Duke/NC State Over 52.5.

Additional Card Picks:

• Minnesota -6 (multiple hosts like this), Colorado/Texas Tech Over, Tulane -26.5, UCLA +5.5 (vs Iowa), BYU -4 (at Utah).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Dave on missing the near-parlay:
  “Half a million. And the only loses army… because the quarterback… Heisman didn’t play.” ([02:36])
• On Breeders Cup: “Put another 50,000 on him to win… Delivered. … Won like 300 grand on the last two.” ([08:16])
• Rico on the Bama Final Four challenge:
  “You’re going to be flaunting… You might have us on leashes just flaunting us around.” ([19:31])
• On Georgia’s QB Carson Beck: “He has a… not great face for a quarterback.” — Dave ([40:53])
• On College Football Playoff Expansion:
  "Like Dave nailed it. It’s erotic. That playoff is unbelievable." — Rico ([24:49])

Timestamps by Major Segment

• [00:07] – Dave’s return/catching up
• [01:34] – Parlay heartbreaks & gambling gripes
• [08:10] – Breeders Cup recap
• [11:04] – Mike Repole horse-racing stories
• [15:21] – Show standings and “Round Ball” podcast conspiracy
• [16:50] – Alabama Final Four bus/challenge side bet
• [24:00] – Playoff expansion chaos (SMU, Notre Dame, Colorado)
• [25:59] – Kelsey bar spat debate
• [28:27] – “Factor” ad read, then game picks begin (Miami/Georgia Tech)
• [29:30] – Michigan/Indiana
• [34:00] – Texas Tech/Colorado
• [35:35] – Georgia/Ole Miss preview, travel plans, Pop Punk show
• [44:27] – LSU/Bama elimination game
• [47:59] – Mortal Locks / Best Bets

Overall Episode Vibe & Closing Notes

The Week 11 Barstool Pick ‘Em is classic Barstool: braggadocious, self-deprecating, and packed with gambling war stories. The hosts move fluidly between honest gambling pain (parlays ruined by late injury news), character-driven side bets (Rico’s possible bus ride), and larger college football storylines (new playoff era, chaos scenarios). With CFB chaos at a fever pitch, and always a side of ridiculous personal stakes, this episode delivers big laughs, sharp (if rarely successful) picks, and plenty for college sports degenerates to chew on heading into the weekend.

Upcoming: Catch the crew live at Ole Miss/Georgia, complete with Mincy in “rare, rare form” ([50:21]) and more shenanigans.
“Come on out to the show and good luck, boys.” — Dan ([50:46])