Barstool Pick Em: "RICO GOES OFF THE MEDS & ANNOUNCES HIS NEXT CHAPTER" | Week 6 (October 1, 2025)

Hosts: Big Cat (Hank/“Dan”), Dave Portnoy (Pres), Rico Bosco
Notable Guests/Contributors: Jackie Mac, occasional mentions of other Barstool personalities

Main Theme & Purpose

This episode of Barstool Pick Em dives deep into the evolving dynamics between the hosts, notably Rico Bosco’s decision to go off his meds and embark on a new show, his ongoing contract saga, and the unique “gotcha culture” that permeates both Barstool and the broader sports gambling industry. The crew’s signature blend of personal drama, office politics, and degenerate gambling is interwoven with their picks and commentary on the major college football matchups of Week 6.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Early Season Records and "The Parlay Win" ([01:30]–[04:10])

• Standings Recap: Dave leads with 56% (40–31), Big Cat is holding steady, and Bosco trails at 42%.
• Parlay Reflections: The crew celebrates a rare parlay hit, with Dave admitting:

  “I did bet the pick em parlay… I haven't won anything and I won it.” – Dave ([01:54])

• Bosco jokes about host loyalties and playing the “villain,” hinting at shifting alliances and show storylines.

2. Rico Bosco “Off the Meds” ([04:09]–[05:01]; [22:41]–[24:32])

• Reveal: Dave confronts Rico about rumors of being "off the meds," to which Rico candidly confirms.

  “I'm off. It's been a couple weeks.” – Rico ([04:59])

• Rico describes the struggle to refill prescriptions and how “a lot of balls [are] bouncing up there.”
• Impact: Dave is amused but concerned:

  “When you're not on meds, I mean, you're a true psychopath, right?... It was great for the show last week. But, like, you've lied before, too, about being on meds.” ([04:44])

• Later, they reflect more philosophically on "madness versus genius":

  “All the great artists and musicians, if they were on meds, they wouldn’t be known. They’re at their best when it’s like A Beautiful Mind.” – Dave ([24:39])

3. Barstool Office Drama: Jackie’s Oktoberfest Trip ([05:48]–[12:01])

• Jackie returns from a mysterious Oktoberfest trip, sparking intense questioning.
• The hosts tease Jackie about having a “sugar daddy” and abandoning peak football season for Germany.
• Humor & Gotcha Culture:

  “Who goes to Germany with a friend of a friend?” – Dave ([08:25])
  “He had the setup. Did you have to blow him?” – Hank ([07:09])

• Ultimately, the group concedes that Jackie, despite bad timing, just took up a classic “friend of a friend” trip and there's a running gag about office “sugar daddies” and Barstool’s culture of side deals.

4. Contract Culture & "Gotcha Motherfucking Culture" ([17:20]–[21:15])

• Jackie prods: Is Rico’s new show a contract negotiation ploy?
• Rico explodes about “gotcha culture,” defending the timing/logistics of his show’s creation:

  “This is what they say. They're like, why do you have a temper? Why you an asshole? It's gotcha motherfucking culture. It's the same fucking thing every motherfucking time.” – Rico ([18:40])

• Dave explains why Rico is always given one-year deals:

  “He quit, Hank. He tried to murder people. He's run people out of the company... you always need the carrot to keep the dog walking.” ([25:43])

5. Ongoing Industry Banter: Sugar Daddies, Office Culture, and Loyalty ([12:01]–[14:15], [25:09]–[28:13])

• Conversation on side hustles, Barstool's unique loyalty web, and the local "sugar daddy" culture.
• Exchanges about Bosco’s loyalty to Jackie and office intrigues (including mentions of personalities like Riggs, Jerry, etc.) add rich color to the in-house drama.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On gotcha culture:

  “I like... it's not... I don't want points.” – Rico ([26:53], referencing his ongoing self-reflection and progress)

• On parlay wins:

  “You could ask me any question. That's what they wanted to know: how much did Bosco put on that parlay.” – Hank ([03:29])

• On contracts & performance:

  “You quit, Hank. He tried to murder people. He's run people out of the company... you always need the carrot to keep the dog walking.” – Dave ([25:43])

• On the chaos of being off-meds:

  “There’s just random synapses when you’re not on the meds. Things are just like a galaxy of just weird shooting stars going on in your head.” – Dave ([44:09])

Key Football Picks & Analysis

1. Standout Games Discussed

• Wisconsin @ Michigan (-17.5) [30:14]

  • Dave: Michigan “wins by 100.”
  • Hank: Takes Wisconsin +17.5, more out of loyalty than logic.
  • Rico: Michigan, referencing how far Wisconsin has fallen.

• Vanderbilt @ Alabama (-10.5) [34:44]

  • Hank and Dave: Like the points with Vandy (“too many points”), wary of Bama’s inconsistency.
  • Rico: Alabama, expects a post-Georgia flex.

• Texas @ Florida (+6.5) [38:44]

  • Hank: Texas (-6.5), citing Florida’s banged-up D-line and lackluster offense.
  • Dave: Florida (“at some point, they're in these games…”).
  • Rico: Texas (“but don’t wanna root for Florida”).

• Miami @ Florida State (+4.5) [40:34]

  • Hank: Over 53.5, expects fireworks.
  • Dave: Florida State; placed a pre-UVA loss future on them, sticking to it.
  • Rico: Detailed QB stats; ultimately takes Carson Beck/FSU, but admits his logic led him into a corner ("I put myself in a corner." – [42:05])

2. "Mortal Locks" and Card Highlights ([52:23]–[54:07])

• Hank: Notre Dame–Boise over 62.5 (“Notre Dame’s offense is the real deal, defense still shaky.”)
• Dave: Adds Notre Dame–Boise over, Houston +10.5, and Maryland+6.5 as his ML underdog.
• Rico: Georgia -20.5 (confidence boost game), multiple overs (Illinois-Purdue, Army-UAB).

Inside the Barstool Machine

Media Business, New Projects, Sponsors ([14:15]–[16:32]; [21:15]–[23:23])

• Rico’s “new show” has a soft launch, discussed as part of both career growth and “something to show” come contract renewal (and possible sponsor partnerships like Neutrophil and GameTime).
• Dave is skeptical that such sponsorships are real until content actually airs, reflecting real-world cynicism about behind-the-scenes sports media sales.

On Self-Improvement and Past Transgressions ([26:31]–[26:53])

• Rico candidly discusses the darkness of his past microaggressions (e.g., following Hank to his car), suggesting his growth but also the ever-present risk of regression.

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 01:30 – Records, parlay talk
• 04:10 – Rico’s meds, “true psychopath” mode
• 05:48 – Jackie grilled on Oktoberfest trip (sugar daddy jokes)
• 17:20 – Rico erupts on “gotcha motherfucking culture”
• 25:09 – One-year contract logic & the carrot analogy
• 28:36 – “Gotcha culture” mirror observations
• 30:14 – Wisconsin–Michigan picks and Big Ten talk
• 38:44 – Texas–Florida, why take (or not take) Florida
• 40:34 – Miami–Florida State: Rivalry with a twist, QB analysis
• 52:23 – Mortal Locks and wrap-up picks

Overall Tone & Style

• Fast-paced, competitive, and confrontational — lots of ribbing, inside jokes, and frequent pivots from gambling analysis to personal/professional drama.
• Language is blunt, irreverent, and unfiltered, true to Barstool's brand.
• Dynamic: Dave’s pragmatic cynicism, Rico’s manic energy, and Hank’s steady, self-deprecating leadership anchor the show.

Closing Thoughts

For Barstool fans and football bettors alike, this episode delivers the brand’s trademark combination of picks, personal confessions, intra-office beefs, and the unpredictable mood swings of a man “off the meds.” Standout moments include the grilling of Jackie over Oktoberfest, Rico’s candid contracts logic, and Dave’s recurring reminders about discipline, both on and off the gambling field. The picks are almost secondary to the stories—but aren’t they always at Barstool?