Barstool Pick Em – Week 9 (October 24, 2024)

Hosts: Big Cat, Dave Portnoy ("Pres"), Rico Bosco
Theme: Extreme confidence and commiseration among self-described “the worst gamblers alive.” The trio reviews their picks, laments brutal bad beats, and continually roasts each other’s gambling misfortunes. They cover major college football matchups, locker room drama in sports, and sprinkle in signature Barstool banter.

Episode Overview

This episode captures the hosts at a low ebb with their betting records. They candidly (and humorously) dissect personal cold streaks, debate the hype around Bronny James’ NBA arrival, discuss sports culture moments (WNBA, Taylor Swift, Billy Joel), and break down the week’s college football slate. The podcast mixes actual game analysis with comic relief and personal tales of betting woe.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Cold Streaks, Bad Beats, and Pick Misery

• All three hosts openly admit they’re struggling, with Big Cat declaring himself “the worst gambler alive” (01:18).
• Dave details a brutal Celtics Jalen Brown parlay bad beat, narrowly missing a $110,000 payout due to garbage time and a Brown airball (01:49).
  • Quote: "He missed two layups. He missed a wide open three... Airball... then they took him out ‘cause they’re up 40.” – Dave (02:44)
• Mr. Ice’s hockey picks are floundering (2-6 or 2-7), prompting jokes about him flying across the country hoping his in-person presence changes outcomes (03:59–06:15).
  • Quote: "He's not sleeping. Like, he's not a treadmill guy. That is a guy who's feeling it and just trying to walk off steam." – Big Cat (06:15)

2. LeBron and Bronny James "Photo Shoot" Controversy

• The hosts are skeptical of the media’s fawning over Bronny James joining LeBron on the Lakers, calling it a “photo shoot” more than an achievement (08:59–12:25).
  • Quote: "It's not something special. It's a photo shoot...I have no problem with LeBron doing it...but I just have a problem with how everyone's reacting to it." – Big Cat (09:14)
• They discuss the blurred lines of nepotism in pro sports and empathize with Bronny for being in a situation with sky-high, maybe unfair, expectations.

3. WNBA Finals Drama – Angel Reese vs. Caitlin Clark

• Rico and Dave dissect Angel Reese’s controversial self-promo antics at the WNBA Finals, contrasting her behavior with Caitlin Clark’s focus (13:43–15:57).
  • Quote: "You're in the league and you're wearing two other teams...aren’t you supposed to be mad you’re not in the final?" – Rico (14:55)
  • Quote: "Meanwhile, Caitlin’s head down just in the gym. You don’t hear a peep from her." – Dave (15:53)

4. Billy Joel, Taylor Swift & Celebrity Encounters

• Dave recounts attending a Taylor Swift show, unexpectedly sitting next to Billy Joel and Sarah Michelle Gellar ("Buffy"). The crowd, he claims, barely recognized either (16:15–18:57).
  • Quote: "I would say 90:10 recognition me over Billy Joel at that concert." – Dave (16:23)
  • Memorable Moment: Dave tries to make small talk with Billy Joel (“I'm Dave. That's fucking Billy Joel"), unsure if it lands (17:12–18:57).

5. Fan Wars: Mets vs. Yankees

• Heated debate over whether Mets fans should actively troll Yankees fans on Barstool streams now that the Mets are out. Dave insists it's fan duty (19:28–20:49).

6. College Football Week 9 Analysis & Picks

• Cold Trend Continues: All hosts admit to being ice-cold and “hating the board” for their picks (22:12–24:10).
  • Quote: "Fine, I'll fucking bet. 1 in 9. I said I didn’t like the board." – Dave (23:36)
• Game Discussion Highlights:
  • Boise State vs. UNLV (Fri): Rico and Big Cat like Boise; Dave takes UNLV and the over. (26:18–27:17)
  • Navy vs. Notre Dame: Universal faith in the over 52; skepticism on Navy’s ability to truly compete (28:57–29:49).
  • Illinois vs. Oregon: Oregon -21 is the consensus, Illinois’ upset over Michigan gets dissected, with praise for coach Bielema (30:51–31:55).
  • Texas vs. Vanderbilt: Vanderbilt has earned respect; all take Vandy +18.5 after Texas’ fraught QB moves and collapse vs. Alabama (32:21–34:08).
  • Texas A&M vs. LSU: Reluctant consensus on Texas A&M at home (35:04–35:17).

7. Betting Philosophies and Play-by-Play Agony

• Dave’s philosophy: If you win a title, you get a grace year if the next season is a disaster. Focus turns to hating Ohio State (42:28–43:52).
• Quintessential loser’s lament: Hosting duties shift between recapping personal losses and hand-wringing over the emotional pain of gambling.

8. Barstool Workplace Banter

• Ribbing about who responds to ex-college athletics staff in their texts (“Do you keep that account warm or throw him in the trash?”—Big Cat at 38:05–39:25).
• Rico’s predictability in taking Kansas State against Kansas is roasted, with him embracing it as “growth.” (48:17–49:41)
  • Quote: "You want predictable? I’ll give you predictable.” – Rico (49:39)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Being Cold:
  "I am the worst gambler alive." – Big Cat (01:18)
  "Fine, I'll fucking bet. 1 in 9. I said I didn't like the board." – Dave (23:36)

• On Jalen Brown Parlay Loss:
  "He missed two layups. He missed a wide open three...Airball...then they took him out ‘cause they’re up 40.” – Dave (02:44)

• On Bronny James NBA News:
  "It's a photo shoot. It's not something special..." – Big Cat (09:01)
  "If you’re a Laker fan, and you think your team’s good and you’re wasting a roster spot, that would bother me." – Rico (09:47)

• On Angel Reese:
  "You're in the league and you're wearing two other teams...aren’t you supposed to be mad you’re not in the final?" – Rico (14:55)

• On Mets vs. Yankees:
  "If you're a true Mets fan and you hate the Yankees...they have to go there [the stream]." – Dave (20:38)

• On Game Pick Despair:
  "We stink this year...My season now is just making sure Ohio State doesn't win the whole thing so they can't try to chirp back, even though it's not apples to apples." – Dave (42:28)

• On Friendship and Networking:
  "If a guy doesn’t have a job...do we keep that account warm or do we throw him in the trash because he can no longer do anything for you?" – Big Cat (39:22)
  "Keep it warm. We obviously keep it warm." – Rico (39:25)

• On Predictability:
  "You want predictable? I’ll give you predictable.” – Rico, after admitting to once again mortal locking Kansas State over Kansas (49:39)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 01:18 — Cold streak confessions open the show.
• 01:49-02:58 — Dave’s Celtics parlay heartbreak.
• 03:59-06:15 — Mr. Ice and the woes of bad hockey picks.
• 08:59-12:25 — LeBron and Bronny "photo shoot" NBA controversy.
• 13:43-15:57 — Angel Reese’s WNBA Finals drama.
• 16:15-18:57 — Dave recounts awkward Billy Joel and Buffy encounters at Taylor Swift.
• 19:28-20:49 — Mets/Yankees sports stream debate.
• 22:12-24:10 — Betting cold streaks, board anxiety.
• 26:18-27:17 — Boise St./UNLV game breakdown.
• 28:57-29:49 — Navy/Notre Dame preview.
• 30:51-31:55 — Oregon/Illinois (and Michigan) discussion.
• 32:21-34:08 — Texas/Vanderbilt QB chaos and picks.
• 35:04-35:17 — Texas A&M/LSU picks.
• 38:05-39:33 — Do you keep contacts after their sports jobs end?
• 48:17-49:41 — Rico roasts himself for his "one trick pony" Kansas St. pick.

Betting Cards & Mortal Locks

• Rico – Small card this week; insists he’s “finding what I like.” Hits predictable K-State mortal.
• Big Cat – Admits to being out of the race, going with heart, takes Wisconsin +6.5 vs. Penn State.
• Dave – Likes Mississippi State +6.5 as his mortal. Continues Ohio State hate-watch.
• Other contributors (Zoopy, Jack, EVO) chime in with picks and running jokes about team allegiances.

Final Thoughts

This episode is classic Barstool: irreverent, self-deprecating, blending real sports talk with office goss, sports culture sidebars, and relatable gambling agony. For fans, it’s a wild therapy session with laugh-out-loud moments and occasional betting insights. For new listeners, expect as much banter and self-roasting as straight-up picks—because with these guys, “fade everything” really is sound advice.

For more: Full episode at Barstool Pick Em