Barstool Pick Em - Week 10: "Rico Ghosts Clients At Crucial Meeting" | October 30, 2025

Episode Overview

This week’s “Barstool Pick Em” brings the show’s signature mix of banter, gambling confessions, and inside Barstool Sports jokes, but with an added layer of workplace drama. Main hosts Big Cat (Dan), Pres (Dave Portnoy), and Rico Bosco not only break down their picks for college football’s Week 10, but also spend considerable time addressing Rico's embarrassing absence at a crucial client meeting. The notorious gambling talk is augmented by cliche-ridden motivational speeches, friendly data disputes, and plenty of Barstool workplace ribbing.

Key Episode Topics and Discussion Points

1. Rico’s Missed Client Meeting and Internal Tension

[10:00-18:00]

• Context: Rico missed an important meeting with potential advertisers at the “upfronts”, leading to disappointment from both Barstool leadership and the client. The crew candidly revisits what happened, what went wrong, and rib Rico about mishandling the relationship.
• Notable Quotes:
  • Dave: “We got a big client there that's in the Bosco business, and there's no Bosco. That's tough to explain.” [12:40]
  • Rico: “The outcome is what the outcome. He's upset with the outcome.” [12:51]
  • Big Cat: “If you never try, you could never disappoint your boss on Pick Em.” [12:32]
• Key Moment: Dave gently but pointedly pushes Rico to send an apology or some bagels to the client; Rico admits no apology was sent, exposing his discomfort and inexperience handling major partnerships.

2. ‘Big Game Hunting’ and Betting Philosophy

[02:30-10:00]

• Topic: The panel discusses their recent big bets, with Rico facing heat for his failed high-stakes wager on Oregon's team total and his fondness for buying points.
• Betting Wisdom:
  • Dave cautions against buying points as a strategy: “Overall, buying points is a losing proposition.” [06:04]
  • Highlighted are Rico's defensive justifications and cliches, leading to a running joke about his inability to properly recite sports adages.
• Notable Quotes:
  • Dave: “If you’re betting your big bet, you're anticipating winning by more than half a point or else that wouldn't be your best pick.” [07:00]
  • Rico: “Adversities don't keep you down for a long period of time.” [09:40]

3. Office/Studio Gripes and Barstool Banter

[23:00-28:00]

• The gang jokes about the state of Barstool studios, bad WiFi, random plants in the office, and the expectation that as a media company better recording spaces should exist.
• Notable Banter:
  • Big Cat: “For a media company, it would be really nice to have a room you could record in with lighting.” [23:24]
• The team pokes fun at Rico’s lengthy road to “learning not to complain.”

4. Data Wars: Pick Em Show Numbers

[19:43, 54:09-59:38]

• Rico proudly shares his home-grown analytics spreadsheet touting a 62% increase in YouTube numbers; Jack (the data team) pushes back on the validity and calculation methods.
• Quotes:
  • Rico: “This is Excel. I mean, it doesn't lie.” [56:11]
  • Dave: “So this is like...using attendance this year versus Covid year.” [57:41]

5. Coaching Carousel, CBB Preview, and Team Riffs

[34:38-36:48]

• Quick takes on hated coaches (Brian Kelly), the value of “fat interim coaches,” and early college basketball leans from Rico (Alabama, BYU, Gonzaga, Oregon).
• Thoughts on transfers of power in college football, the upcoming college basketball season, and team chemistry—more banter than analysis.

Featured Games & Picks Discussion

Ohio State vs. Penn State

• Lines: Ohio State -20.5, O/U 43.5
• Dave, Big Cat, and Rico all side with Ohio State, citing Penn State’s disappointing season.
• Rico vows a triple play against “State Pen” (his joke for Penn State), betting OSU, the first half, and Penn State’s team total under.
  • Dave: “I think [OSU’s QB] makes the plays that need to be made in big moments.” [42:08]

Vanderbilt (Vandy) at Texas

• Lines: Texas -2.5, O/U 44.5
• Dave is loyal to Vandy; Big Cat fades the ‘new blood’ story seeing Texas as desperate and dangerous. Rico roots for the Vandy underdog story but acknowledges Texas’s playoff path with a win.
• The conversation devolves into a classic Pick Em “hypothetical before the hypothetical” about Texas’s playoff path even with more losses.

Georgia vs. Florida (Cocktail Party)

• Lines: Georgia -7, O/U 50.5
• Bosco and Dave split on their picks but both agree on Georgia’s steadiness vs. Florida’s inconsistency. Quick joke on the “fat interim” coach trope.

Utah vs. Cincinnati

• Line Analysis: All confused by Utah’s large line as slight favorites despite recent Cincinnati form. They default to trusting the oddsmakers.

Tennessee vs. Oklahoma

• Lines: Tennessee -3, O/U 56.5
• Bet splits: Rico likes the under, Dave takes Tennessee, Dan likes the over and expresses skepticism about Oklahoma’s defense.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On cliches:
  • Big Cat: “You’re like the 75% cliche guy, where it’s almost there.” [10:04]
  • Dave: “Step up to up.” [12:16]
• On team chemistry:
  • Rico (on locker room disputes): “It’s two guys who want to win.” [24:39]
  • Dave: “You need Bosco’s pyramid of success the way you’re going here.” [26:28]
• Rico’s data defense:
  • Rico: “Average episode, average per. Put the numbers in the Excel sheet, you fucking sum. You dragging some. You dummy.” [56:20]
• On Pick Em attitude:
  • Dave: “We’re just trying to win here.” [59:12]

Summary of Cards and Best Bets

Rico Bosco’s Card (select)

• SMU +12.5 vs. Miami
• Kansas State +7.5 vs. Texas Tech (Best Bet: Georgia -7.5)
• Wake Forest +9.5
• Penn State Team Total Under
• Vandy +2.5
• Ohio State -20.5, First Half -10.5
• Utah -9.5
• Oklahoma/Tennessee UNDER 57.5

Dan (Big Cat)

• Texas -2.5 vs Vandy
• Tennessee -3 (Mortal Lock)
• SMU +12.5
• San Diego State -10.5
• GA Tech -5.5

Dave Portnoy (Pres)

• North Carolina +2.5
• Vandy +2.5
• Kansas State +7.5 (100 star play)
• Mississippi State +4.5
• Cincy +9.5

Closure (No actual ad reads, outros, or non-content segments included)

Last Memorable Line

• Dave: “Numbers don’t lie...The good news is whatever the numbers are, we're up either way.” [68:21]

Perfect For Those Who Missed the Show:

• You’ll enjoy the classic Barstool ribbing paired with actual gambling insights—for better or for worse.
• Rico’s recurring “almost” sports cliches become a hilarious motif, as does his Excel-based obsession with the Pick Em show’s viewership data.
• The episode is both a snapshot of Barstool Sports workplace energy and a masterclass on not taking one’s gambling advice (or self) too seriously.
• The vibe: “We just want to win here.” [59:12]

[End of Summary]