Bonsoir......

With the weekend around the corner, I am releasing my College Football Game of the Year. After spending hours pouring over statistical data with my team of quants, I have found a game that lines up both on a situational and statistical level. As someone who subscribes to the notion that- statistics are only as good as the jackasses interpreting them, I never rely soley on this information.

Iowa -6 over Wisconsin. Once this line came out at Iowa -4.5 I was as elated as a gassed up Pat McAfee in a canal. However, within minutes this line ran higher and rightly so. Following a tremendous performance against Ohio State lst week, Badger mania was in high gear. However, remember the situational angle at play: home night game against the #1 team in the country and more importantly, a conference rival. One can look back to the South Carolina vs. Alabama game to see a similiar scenario. If you factor in the performances of both teams year to date, you will see a different picture.

Iowa's lone loss came to a talented Arizona team playing a night game in front of their home crowd. Arizona's Opportunistic defense caused turnovers, their special teams scored, and they mounted a late scoring drive, managing to hold off Iowa. Since that time Iowa has been cooking on fire. Although the Hawkeyes were outgained by Michigan last week, those numbers were a farce since the game was out of reach and Michigan compiled garbage yards. Look for the "common man" sporting a vintage Ron Dayne jersey at your local sports bar tomorrow. When he turns to you and says "How did we lose to Iowa? We just beat Ohio State....I don't understand". Just buy him a drink, offer your condolensces and move on. IOWA -6 over Wisconsin in the mother of all let down games.
"Those who forget their history are condemned to repeat it"

Despite living in a sports handicapping centric world, we at Propick cannot help but to be intrigued by the behavior of French protesters overseas. Until recently the French were nothing more than a punchline: skinny dudes wearing berets and scarfing down croissants. As a group, the French are widely seen as loafs who eschew the notion of busting their ass to make a good living. Ironically, recent footage reveals that contrary to public opinion, the French truly are a motivated bunch. While their work ethic may be lacking, these maniacs sure can protest. Who would have thought that a group of millions indignant over a 35 hour work week could be so vehement and steadfast in voicing their anger? In any event, as catastrophic as these protests are to the french economy and society as a whole, these outbursts will subside once people realize their economy and all of Europe is in ruins. Let this be a cautionary tale to the Federal Reserve who is reflating our economy into oblivion.