Barstool Pick ‘Em – Week 8: Dave Sentences Rico To One Final Ryde

Podcast: Barstool Pick ‘Em
Date: October 15, 2025
Hosts: Big Cat (Dan), Dave Portnoy (Pres), Rico Bosco
Episode Theme: Rico’s “Spring Break House” Resurrection, Gotcha Culture, First Class Drama, and CFB Week 8 Breakdowns

Main Theme & Purpose

This week, the boys dive deep into Barstool’s inner soap operas and office drama before veering into all the highs and lows of the upcoming college football slate. The big headline? Dave offers Rico Bosco “one final ryde”—an on-camera ticket to the highly anticipated Barstool Spring Break House, setting up plenty of behind-the-scenes gamesmanship and vintage Barstool banter. The trio also unpacks gotcha culture at Barstool, unpacks office class divides (literally—who flies first class), and delivers their picks for Week 8.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. “Gotcha Culture” and Life Off Meds

• Beginning Banter (01:34 - 04:45):
  • Dan prods Rico about "gotcha culture," referencing last week’s gotcha complaints and Rico’s suit-and-tie episode.
  • Rico admits to being late to a funeral by two minutes (“That’s a lot.” – Dave, 01:55) and claims he’s “off the meds, but a little more self-breathing”—seemingly in better mental shape.
  • “You got to live with your sins.” (Rico, 02:58) as he fesses up about requesting episode cuts in Pick ‘Em’s past.

2. Internal Barstool Drama: Birthday Parties and First Class Lists

• Birthday Party Saga (03:45 - 04:48):
  • Rico updates the crew on the infamous 40th birthday party drama—RSVP still pending, hotel covered, transport not.
• First Class List Controversy (11:11 - 16:00):
  • Dave is shocked to discover a “first class list” exists, sparking a debate about who “deserves” company perks.
    • “Our company is overall very confused… If you make money for the company, fly first class… But, like, overall, to have that many people… It’s thousands and thousands and thousands of dollars.” (Dave, 12:37)
  • The crew jokes about making Sass (who saved the company so much $$$) the only person on the list; Dave vows to dismantle the system moving forward.
  • “We just live in a delusional, spoiled brat world.” (Dave, 14:31)
• Office Numbers Talk (17:42 - 19:04):
  • Rico’s off-meds Pick ‘Em performance is “up 30%” says Dan, sparking laughter and inside jokes about tracking viewership.
  • “It’s a numbers league.” (Rico, 19:29)

3. Spring Break House: Rico Gets Sent Back to the Ryde

• Rico’s Invitation (20:25 - 25:45):
  • Dave offers Rico a spot on the February Spring Break House show—with the creative twist of elimination-style voting for a cash prize.
  • “You get your ass whooped. You gotta put on the Carhartt jacket and get serious.” (Dave, 05:10)
  • Dan and Dave hype Rico as “unbelievable content” for the show, especially in “no meds Bosco” mode.
  • Rico jokes about “doing a cycle” for the show, promising to bring “roid rage” and classic Bosco energy.
  • “Call my wife now.” (Rico, 22:10) – prepares to break the news live later (see Memorable Moments).

4. Behind the Scenes: Viral Episodes, Numbers, and Social Team Drama

• Ratings Banter (18:28 - 19:04):
  • The highest-rated episode? The Bosco–Nadu casino episode.
  • “Bosco puts asses in the seats.” (Dave, 18:41)
• Barstool Social Team Antics (27:25 - 32:05):
  • Humorous recounting of team member “posting bikini pics” without context and echoes of “Deep Cuts” Barstool lore.
  • Internal teasing about office gossips, odd old social media moves, and office legends.

5. Football: CFB Coaching, Pyramid Tiers, and Picks

• Coaching Carousel and Buyouts (39:53 - 48:45):
  • In-depth talk about the crazy world of college football buyouts and contracts (Dan explains agent/coach maneuvers and why there are $50M buyouts).
  • Dave’s confusion over why coaches can just leave contracts: “If they’re under contract… Why can Signetti leave for Penn State unless he has it written in?” (Dave, 45:04)
• CFB Pyramid / Playoff Race (40:01 - 41:43):
  • Dave’s current playoff tier: Ohio State, Miami, Indiana, Texas A&M, Texas Tech (“can beat anybody right now,” 41:43).
  • Dan argues Alabama should be included; Dave is skeptical.
• Upcoming Games and Week 8 Picks (54:23 - 79:45):
  • Rapid-fire analysis for Vanderbilt, Georgia-Ole Miss, Tennessee-Alabama, Utah-BYU (with BYU trip planning), and USC-Notre Dame.
  • The Pick ‘Em leaderboard is recapped mid-show (Dan leads at 51%, Rico down at 42.6%).

6. Spring Break House: Roster Planning

• Nikki Smokes, Ella, Katic, The Deutsch guy are set to return with Rico (32:28 - 33:30).
• “Maybe a couple strangers. Maybe Nadu. We’ll see.” (Dave, 32:50)
• Dave proposes a new spin: “an elimination... every night somebody’s going home, last man standing gets some cash prize.” (Dave, 23:55)

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On “Gotcha Culture”:
  • “It feels like asking questions becomes Gotcha Culture.” – Dan (02:22)
• First Class List Take:
  • “We just live in a delusional, spoiled brat world.” – Dave (14:31)
• On Ratings:
  • “Bosco puts asses in the seats.” – Dave (18:41)
• On Spring Break House:
  • “No meds, Bosco... Spring Break’s out. Panama City, let’s go.” – Dave (22:13)
• On CFB Coaching Buyouts:
  • “I don't get how you can lose the guy in the contract though. That makes no sense to me.” – Dave (44:44)
• On Rico's Evolution:
  • “You're not causing car crashes left and right. Like, he's still driving like a maniac, but there's no car crashes.” – Dan (29:53)

Top Banter

• Rico Calls His Wife About Spring Break (79:59–81:13):
  • Rico: “Dave gave me the opportunity to be on what they’re calling Spring Break House…so I’ll be away for a week.”
  • Wife: “You want me to teach and watch our children by myself while you're in Key West with 21-year-olds?”
• Dave’s Follow-Up:
  • “Imagine couples therapy. Bosco and his wife as a show. I’d pay more than a teacher.” – Dave (81:13)
  • “You just added her to the show. Content out of your wife, that's a lot for somebody… Now you're calling your wife on the show live.” – Dave (81:45)

Notable Timestamps

• [01:40] – Opening banter, gotcha culture, Rico off meds
• [11:11–15:22] – First class company drama
• [17:42] – Pick ‘Em performance tracking, Bosco up “+30%” off meds
• [20:25–25:45] – Rico officially invited to the Spring Break House show
• [27:25–32:05] – Bikini pic social drama, Barstool lore
• [39:53–48:45] – College football contract/buyout debate
• [54:23–79:39] – Game-by-game picks, in-depth matchups
• [79:59] – Rico calls wife about Spring Break House (hilarious, see above)
• [81:13] – Couples therapy podcast proposal
• [82:00] – “Bosco Industries” episode drop tease

Tone & Final Impressions

Classic Barstool Pick ‘Em: uproarious, often-chaotic, filled with inside jokes and office drama but grounded by genuine football enthusiasm. The boys blend real betting talk and risqué office gossip, with Rico serving as the lightning rod (embracing his resurgence). The ‘gotcha’ sub-theme runs throughout, with self-awareness about Barstool’s indulgent “spoiled brat” culture. The “Spring Break House” hype injects fresh energy, as does ongoing jabs about analytics, work ethic, and who’s “in the mix” at Barstool.

This episode is a must-listen for Barstool fans, office drama fiends, and college football degenerates alike.