Barstool Pick ‘Em – Week 14 (2024)

Podcast: Barstool Pick ‘Em
Hosts: Big Cat (Adam/Dan Katz), Dave Portnoy (Pres), Rico Bosco
Date: November 27, 2024
Theme: Rivalry Week in college football – laughter, trash talk, contract drama, heated debate, and wall-to-wall picks

Episode Overview

This action-packed episode celebrates rivalry week in college football, with the Barstool Pick ‘Em crew (Big Cat, Dave Portnoy, and Rico Bosco) recapping another season’s ups, downs, and degeneracy. The show dives deep into the latest college football storylines—playoff chaos, Heisman speculation, and the madness of feast week—while also serving up the annual ritual of inter-host drama about losing records, office politics, and whether Rico will actually move to Chicago.

The gang’s signature banter is on full display: playful needling, attempts to get personal grievance segments back to their "junkyard dog" roots, and relentless speculation about playoff scenarios, coach drama, and their own contract negotiations.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Standings & “Bet Every Game” Pledge

• Current Records: Rico leads at 51.9%, Dave trails at 50.9%, and Big Cat languishes at 46%, lamenting yet another suboptimal betting run.
  • Big Cat vows a last-ditch comeback:

    "This rivalry week, I will have a bet on every single game... I gotta go for one last shot. I gotta go 17 games over .500. But, hey, crazier things have happened."
    (01:46)

• Bowl Season Counts: Champions will be crowned after bowl games—expect more pick shows leading into January’s semifinals.

2. Barstool Office Drama: Contracts & The "Junkyard Dog"

• Ongoing contract negotiations—Dave assures fairness ("I'm more than a fair guy"), Big Cat recalls how he’s accepted every offer since his $60k days, and Hank wants a bigger cut for his contributions.
• Rico’s “Move to Chicago” Saga: The perennial debate: Will Rico bring his legendary volatility to Barstool’s Chicago HQ? Skepticism abounds.
  • Dave: "I’ve already been told there’s zero percent chance you ever move. That this is all one big song and dance." (26:55)
  • Rico: “I’m doing everything I can to try to get out there. Yes. We are talking to agents. We're looking at Geico.”
• The crew longs for "junkyard dog" Rico, whose old-school meltdowns fueled ratings:
  • Dave: "People—according to our lawyers—we lost the segment of people just tuning in to see Rico go crazy." (29:04)

3. Feast Week, College Hoops, and the Fanta Factor

• College Football Playoff implications — More meaningful late-season games thanks to the playoff expansion.
• Feast Week: All-time degenerate vibes, with hosts reminiscing about losing streaks and marathon betting sessions during college basketball multi-game slates and Thanksgiving football.
  • Dave: "I also get smoked every week, too, so..." (06:27)
  • Big Cat: "By Thursday... I'm just bruised and battered... just give me an NFL game." (06:30)
• John Fanta Segment: The show’s college hoops crush calls in to talk Crosstown Shootout rankings (Cincinnati over Xavier), delivers gold:
  • Fanta: “I don’t lose sleep over where I rank a team. I lose sleep over whether I took the trash out on time, picked up the right groceries for my wife, if I’m taking care of her right now. And the Cleveland Browns." (08:45)
  • The crew laments "the one that got away"—Fanta refusing to leave play-by-play for Barstool.

4. Playoff Scenarios & Conference Chaos

• Futures Recap: Portnoy’s futures (Alabama, Phillies, Texans) all dead in the water. Rico holds no live futures.
• Playoff Debate: Heated speculation about who sneaks into the new expanded field.
  • SEC, ACC, Big 12, and the prospect of 3-loss teams—where do South Carolina, Alabama, SMU, Miami fit? Dave lobbies for 3-loss South Carolina over other 2-loss teams.
  • Adam: "I think it'll be very clear after this weekend because you'll have a definite answer on a few teams..." (19:27)

5. Heisman Talk

• Is Travis Hunter a lock, or is the "oppo research" about to kick in?
  • Big Cat: "I’m getting to the point where I’m doing a lot of oppo research..." (20:21)

6. The Bosco Move: Comedy Gold

• Extended riff on Rico consulting GEICO for insurance quotes before moving, juxtaposed with debates over real estate, streaming attendance, and whether changing cities will impact his on-air persona.
  • Dave: "What does GEICO have to do with it? ... If you make the move, you will have more money in your bank account." (25:51)

7. The Need for More ‘Junkyard Dog’ Segments

• Staff/execs/lawyers say the show’s missing the old-school “Rico loses it” energy. Big Cat sees a way for "healthy" junkyard dog segments (competitive streams, rivalry games) if Rico moves.
  • Big Cat: "I'm invested in trying to find a junkyard dog that is not a junkyard dog that is bad for Rico’s health... but a junkyard dog... in between the white lines." (29:30)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Big Cat on Betting Every Game:
  "Why not this week? For me to get hot. So follow Barstool Pick ‘Em. I will be texting Jack… I will have a side or total on every single game." (01:46)
• John Fanta’s Thanksgiving Zinger:
  "I don’t lose sleep over where I rank a team... but I might lose sleep because of you. Happy Thanksgiving." (08:55)
• Dave on Fanta & Media Stardom:
  "He may be a megastar with us, by the way... Like, honestly, he may. That's how electric he is." (12:39 & 12:55)
• Dave, on the Move-to-Chicago Debate:
  "I’ve been told there’s zero percent chance you ever move. That this is all one big song and dance." (26:55)
• Big Cat on Show Legacy:
  "Part of Pick ‘Em’s legacy as a show is... college football nil could have changed forever on this show..." (46:03)

Important Segments (Timestamps)

• [01:46] Big Cat pledges to bet every rivalry week game
• [06:27] Feast Week war stories & annual losing streaks
• [07:39] John Fanta crosstown hoops and "takes his job seriously"
• [14:03] Factor Ad
• [15:16] Breakdown: Playoff chaos, futures burned, expanded playoffs
• [21:59] GameTime Ad & transition to contract talk
• [22:01-24:50] Detailed contract negotiation drama and move-to-Chicago debate
• [29:04] Dave on lawyers/data saying Pick ‘Em needs more "Rico melts down" content
• [36:41] Rico’s emotional breakdown about the moving process
• [45:18] Handicapping Miami-Syracuse, Michigan-Ohio State and other major rivalry games
• [55:26] Hosts’ cards for Rivalry Week

Picks Summary (Games Previewed)

1. Miami at Syracuse (+11, o/u 67.5)

• All three hosts like Syracuse to cover, possibly to win outright.
  • Dave: “I love Syracuse here. I don’t know why Miami’s getting this much respect. Their defense has not showed up all season.” (44:21)
  • All expect the Dome advantage, despite being more myth than fact lately.

2. Michigan at Ohio State (-20.5, o/u 43)

• Dave: Michigan to cover the big number—sees improvement late in the season.
• Rico: Likes the OVER—expects Ohio State to run it up.
• Big Cat: Ohio State to cover—Ryan Day will try to crush Harbaugh while he can.

3. South Carolina (+2.5) vs Clemson

• Clean sweep for South Carolina—hosts rooting for the Gamecocks narrative, Dave makes the case for them as a playoff darkhorse.

4. Auburn at Alabama (-11.5, o/u 52)

• Rico: Bama to cover; admits last week’s lock on Bama was a disaster.
• Dave: Auburn +10.5 (reluctantly); not confident in Bama’s current state.
• Big Cat: The OVER.

5. Texas A&M +6 at Texas (o/u 48.5)

• Big Cat & Dave: Aggies to cover and possibly win outright.
• Rico: The UNDER; leans on the defenses.

Hosts’ Rivalry Week "Card" Highlights

Rico:

• Mississippi State +26, Kansas -1, Duke -4, UTSA -7, Syracuse +11, Kansas State +3.

Dave:

• Ok St/Colorado over 65.5, Ole Miss -26, Georgia Tech +19.5, Michigan +21, Baylor +1, Texas Tech -3.5, Vandy +10.5, Kentucky +3.5, South Carolina +2.5, Army -7, Arizona +9.5, Syracuse +11, USC +7.5, Auburn +10.5, Cal +13.5, TCU/Cincy over 58.5, A&M +6, UNLV -17.5.

Big Cat:

• Will play every side/total for every game; updating the @barstoolpickem feed daily. ("I will bet every single game this week—side or total.")

"Mortal Locks" (Final Picks)

• Hank: South Carolina +2.5
• Jack McCarthy: Wisconsin
• Rico: Louisville -3.5 vs Kentucky
• Dave: Syracuse +11 vs Miami
• Big Cat: Will play every game; Thursday play is Tulane -14 vs Memphis

Tone & Notable Moments

• Classic Pick ‘Em: Lightning-fast high-stakes banter, personal shots, and side stories take center stage as much as sports handicapping.
• Dave relentlessly needles Rico about his indecisiveness and will-he-won’t-he Chicago saga.
• Playoff picture analysis features both real (if sarcastic) debate and running jokes about endless tiebreakers, bad beats, and mascot-related locks.
• John Fanta’s segment is a comedic highlight—professional, witty, and “the one who got away” in Barstool lore.
• Multiple segments quickly veer off-topic (insurance rates, moving logistics, contract leverage, etc.), but always circle back to picks.

For Listeners Who Missed the Show

If you haven’t listened, this episode is quintessential Barstool Pick ‘Em: a rowdy blend of college football strategy, degenerate gambling confessions, and inside-the-office mockery, wrapped around genuine sports analysis and locker room humor. The hosts serve up both their hearts (for each other's futures) and sometimes their heads (on the betting line), all to usher in the greatest week of the football season—Rivalry Week.

[End of Summary]