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I know some people may have been worried that once benevolent site founder Fornelli left, some of our most cherished and self-serving traditions would be lost to time and Google caches. Worry not, as I will never allow that to be so. Like those annoying birds returning to announce that it's officially spring, YBYA rises from the depths to warn you that football season is ready to absorb your weekends until the cold comes for you.
I am the only survivor from last season's quartet. This saddens me greatly. I tend to throw off my sadness by surrounding myself with people. And thus, this year's YBYA cast is massive. The degenerate gamblers this year include Jim Vainisi, Mark Primiano, Matt Silich, Aaron Rench, Brandon Cain, Bryce Smith, Trevor Vallese, Collin Whitchurch, and contest winner Wesley Darin.
In case you don't remember the rules/concept or just don't know about it, it's really simple.
- Each participant will bet on every Big Ten game being played that weekend, and they can bet either the point spread or the over/under.
- The participant will assign an amount to their bet, which can be either $25, $50 or $100. Each participant is allowed only one $100 bet per week. Everybody starts with a $0 balance, and balances can be negative.
And at the end of the year, we mock the loser (or as I like to call them, the Birkhead) mercilessly.
Youngstown State vs Illinois, Over/Under: 50
Primiano: $25 on Over 50
Smith: $50 on Over 50
Silich: $50 on Over 50
Whitchurch: $100 on Over 50
Darin: $100 on Over 50
Rench: $25 on Over 50
Vainisi: $100 on Over 50
Vallese: $50 on Over 50
Cain: $50 on Under 50
Smith: They're penguins. How well can they tackle?
Florida Atlantic vs Nebraska (-24), Over/Under: 51
Primiano: $25 on Under 51
Smith: $25 on Over 51
Silich: $25 on Over 51
Whitchurch: $25 on Florida Atlantic +24
Darin: $25 on Nebraska -24
Rench: $25 on Over 51
Vainisi: $25 on Nebraska -24
Vallese: $100 on Over 51
Cain: $50 on Over 51
Primiano: It's the Pelini Bowl!
California vs Northwestern (-13), Over/Under: 61
Primiano: $25 on Cal +13
Smith: $25 on Cal +13
Silich: $50 on Under 61
Whitchurch: $25 on Cal +13
Darin: $25 on Cal +13
Rench: $50 on Under 61
Vainisi: $25 on Northwestern -13
Vallese: $50 on Under 61
Cain: $50 on Under 61
Whitchurch: Is Cal really that bad that the 'Cats are favored this highly?
Appalachian State vs Michigan (-35), Over/Under: 50
Primiano: $50 on Over 50
Smith: $50 on Over 50
Silich: $50 on Over 50
Whitchurch: $25 on Over 50
Darin: $25 on Appalachian State +35
Rench: $25 on Appalachian State +35
Vainisi: $50 on Over 50
Vallese: $25 on Under 50
Cain: $25 on Over 50
Darin: Michigan views this as a revenge game for '07, but since no one on their team was even old enough to drive at that point, it may be overblown.
Ohio State (-19) vs Navy, Over/Under: 63
Primiano: $25 on Ohio State -19
Smith: $100 on Ohio State -19
Silich: $25 on Under 63
Whitchurch: $25 on Under 63
Darin: $25 on Under 63
Rench: $25 on Navy +19
Vainisi: $25 on Under 63
Vallese: $50 on Over 63
Cain: $50 on Over 63
Rench: There is a chance that Navy wins outright, but I wouldn't be willing to bet for that.
Penn State (-1) vs Central Florida, Over/Under: 47
Primiano: $50 on Penn State -1
Smith: $25 on Central Florida +1
Silich: $25 on Under 47
Whitchurch: $25 on Penn State -1
Darin: $25 on Central Florida +1
Rench: $25 on Central Florida +1
Vainisi: $50 on Penn State -1
Vallese: $25 on Over 47
Cain: $50 on Over 47
Cain: Let it fly, James Franklin
Western Michigan vs Purdue (-12), Over/Under: 53
Primiano: $50 on Purdue -12
Smith: $25 on Purdue -12
Silich: $100 on Purdue -12
Whitchurch: $25 on Western Michigan +12
Darin: $50 on Western Michigan +12
Rench: $100 on Under 53
Vainisi: $25 on Western Michigan +12
Vallese: $50 on Under 53
Cain: $25 on Over 53
Primiano: Western Michigan was one of the few teams notably worse than Purdue last year. Let that soak in.
Rutgers vs Washington State (-8), Over/Under: 60
Primiano: $25 on Washington State -8
Smith: $25 on Over 60
Silich: $25 on Washington State -8
Whitchurch: $50 on Washington State -8
Darin: $25 on Washington State -8
Rench: $100 on Washington State -8
Vainisi: $25 on Over 60
Vallese: $25 on Under 60
Cain: $50 on Under 60
Rench: Mike Leach+WSU QB Connor Halliday+Rutgers' 122nd ranked pass defense in 2013=tons of WSU points.
Louisiana State (-4.5) vs Wisconsin, Over/Under: 51
Primiano: $100 on Louisiana State -4.5
Smith: $25 on Wisconsin +4.5
Silich: $25 on Under 51
Whitchurch: $50 on Louisiana State -4.5
Darin: $25 on Wisconsin +4.5
Rench: $50 on Louisiana State -4.5
Vainisi: $25 on Under 51
Vallese: $25 on Over 51
Cain: $100 on Over 51
Whitchurch: Big Ten team away from Big Ten country against an SEC power? Yes, please.
Money On The Line This Week
Primiano: $375
Smith: $350
Silich: $375
Whitchurch: $350
Darin: $325
Rench: $425
Vainisi: $350
Vallese: $400
Cain: $450
Season Record (Bankroll)
Primiano: $0
Smith:$0
Silich: $0
Whitchurch: $0
Darin: $0
Rench:$0
Vainisi: $0
Vallese: $0
Cain: $0