Barstool Pick Em: THE MOST CHAOTIC PICK EM EVER – Week 7 Recap
Podcast: Barstool Pick Em
Hosts: Dan "Big Cat" Katz, Dave "El Pres" Portnoy, Rico Bosco
Date: October 9, 2025
Episode Theme: A hilariously chaotic, off-the-rails week of gambling talk featuring emotional spirals, internal Barstool drama, questionable funeral attendance, and, somehow, college football picks.
Episode Overview
Week 7 brings utter chaos to the Pick Em podcast. The crew—Big Cat, Dave, and Rico—delivers their usual blend of banter, personal drama, and (alleged) football insights. The episode kicks off with Rico revealed to be in a suit en route to a funeral, spurring an unusually long detour into personal stress, internal Barstool politics, and "gotcha culture." The crew jokingly refers to this as the "Fly episode" (a reference to an oddball Breaking Bad episode), with content swinging wildly between football analysis, interpersonal feuds, and stream-of-consciousness comedy.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Rico's Funeral Attire & the Domino Effect
[02:00–08:00]
- Rico shows up on camera in a suit, revealing he's attending a funeral for someone “very close.” This completely derails the show as the crew unpacks the decision to podcast instead of attend on time.
- Dave and Big Cat relentlessly question Rico’s priorities and emotional state, half-joking, half-concerned.
- "The guy's dead. He's not coming back." – Dave Portnoy [05:54], offering gallows humor.
- Rico tries to brush off concern: “We go for 50 minutes, and then... we’ll be okay.” [05:59]
- The confusion and lack of clarity about funeral logistics is a running bit.
2. "Gotcha Culture" & Internal Barstool Drama
[08:10–13:00]
- Dave brings up receiving a tip to "check on Bosco’s well-being," likening it to missing pre-9/11 red flags. This sets off further spiraling and jokes about surveillance and “rider” loyalty.
- Internal squabbles bubble up—Rico is upset about being compared to Max (another staf member) amid Barstool’s incident-related public blowbacks.
- “If I ain’t saying it, you don’t say yes.” – Rico Bosco [10:32], speaking to fans about complaints on his behalf.
- The cast debates fairness in reactions to on-air outbursts among staff and the "rider" fan base’s tendency to stir controversy.
3. Rico’s Stress, Release Schedules, and Staff Tension
[13:10–16:00]
- Tensions with producer "Jet Ski" and Jack Mac come to a head over scheduling, with Rico admitting he “lashed out on the people closest to [him]. That’s an apology. Shouldn’t have done that.” [22:47]
- The crew digs up group chats and backstage suspicion, leading to playful accusations and a live airing of grievances.
4. The “Fly” Episode Vibe
[15:00–18:00]
- Big Cat likens the show to Breaking Bad’s famously odd Fly episode: “This is... a little bit erratic Pick Em right now... like a super artsy, weird episode, like the Fly.” [15:11]
- Everyone vacillates between confusion and hilarity, poking fun at the entire production.
5. College Football Picks & Gambling Analysis
Ohio State at Illinois
- Pick consensus: Big Cat & Rico on under 49.5; Dave on the over.
- “I think they can win ugly 30-10, something ugly.” – Rico Bosco [35:24]
Alabama vs. Mizzou
- Consensus: Tough read; Big Cat & Rico on Alabama -3, Dave contrarian on Mizzou.
- “I’ve never had less of a read on a game. I think in the 20 years of doing this.” – Dave Portnoy [36:47]
Indiana at Oregon
- Big Cat: Oregon -7
- Rico: Oregon -7, under 55.5
- Dave: Over 55.5, no play on side
- “I love the quarterback Mendoza. I think they can put up points.” – Dave Portnoy [39:53]
Oklahoma vs. Texas (Red River)
- Big Cat & Rico: Oklahoma (even with backup QB Arch)
- Dave: Texas, citing rivalry reversals.
Michigan at USC
- Big Cat & Rico: Over 57.5; both lean Michigan’s physicality.
- Dave: Michigan +2.5, expects dominance up front.
- “I think Michigan brutalizes a soft USC team.” – Dave Portnoy [43:23]
6. Miscellaneous Picks & Mortal Locks
[45:38–51:56]
- Everyone runs through their full cards and mortal locks. Highlights:
- Big Cat: Michigan as mortal lock.
- Dave: Arizona State +5.5 as mortal lock.
- Rico: Iowa State -2.5 (“You gotta win the qualifiers to get to these title shots.” [50:23])
- Zupy: Tennessee -12.5
- Ebo: Maryland +6.5
7. Side Tangents & Notable Moments
- Big Cat/Dave "truce" on being each other’s PR antagonists on Fox Sports [29:17–31:16]
- Rico’s 16-year grudge with his old football coach and recent “burying the hatchet” [51:17–52:05]
- Discussion of whether anyone "wants to see you fail" at Barstool, with producer staff getting dragged in playfully and sometimes sincerely.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- “You go to a funeral.” – Dave Portnoy, incredulous [17:14]
- “You ever heard the term, like, scary good? ... Now we might have a monster we can’t control.” – Rico Bosco, about himself [26:54]
- “Why would you dress up for a funeral if you’re not going to get there?” – Dave Portnoy [14:07]
- “Danny Hurley throws up before games and then wins national titles...” – Rico Bosco, explaining his stress before release weeks [24:06]
- “We might have a monster we can’t control – like he’s got it.” – Rico Bosco [26:54]
- “This is maybe the most artistic Pick Em we’ve ever done.” – Dan Zupke [52:40]
Episode Timeline (Timestamps in MM:SS)
| Time | Segment | |-----------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------| | 02:00 | Rico reveals he’s at a funeral, triggering chaos | | 07:40 | “Bomb” drama and accusations fly | | 09:35 | Big Cat explains unfair fan comparisons between Rico and Max | | 13:00 | Producer drama: Rico’s “Jet Ski” and Jack Mac complaints | | 15:11 | “Fly episode” comparison cemented; show loses all structure | | 22:47 | Rico apologizes for lashing out (“You lash out at those closest...”) | | 24:06 | The Danny Hurley analogy/“let me be a wacko” stress rant | | 29:17 | Big Cat/Dave Fox “PR war” truce | | 35:09 | Official picks segment starts | | 43:02 | Michigan-USC game preview and picks | | 45:41 | Full cards and mortal locks | | 51:17 | Rico’s old football coach grudge story | | 52:40 | Closing out the “most artistic Pick Em ever” |
Tone & Style
The episode is signature Barstool: self-deprecating, acerbic, and at times absurd. The guys roast each other mercilessly, segue into genuine internal Barstool tension, and then swerve back to making gambling picks with a mixture of bravado and feigned expertise. They thrive in the chaos, with an anything-can-happen energy that frequently supersedes the ostensible football analysis.
Summary for New Listeners
If you were hoping for pure football analysis, you got more of a comedy-of-errors episode—a wild, can’t-miss blend of inside jokes, neurotic breakdowns, funeral confusion, and, yes, a few actual picks for the weekend’s games. The gambling advice mixes real conviction with sharp humor and zero guarantee of success: “Fade us at your own risk.” This is why Barstool Pick Em remains one of the most entertaining sports podcasts for both diehards and casual listeners alike.