Gary “The Gut” Goombah – Week 19, 2024-’25

Gary “The Gut” Goombah – Week 19, 2024-’25

Happy New Year everybody! Here we are, at the start of a critical weekend for major football. In college ball, we have the Final Four in the CFP. In pro ball, we have the Super Wildcard Weekend featuring six NFL playoff games. Gary is pumped and ready to help you with your gambles. First, let’s take a look back at Week 18, which was actually two weekends ago (last weekend was hard to gamble because of many meaningless NFL games in their last week of the regular season). Thus, we didn’t make any selections.

Week 18 Recap

College Bowls (Saturday 12/28)

Nebraska Cornhuskers (-3.5) over Boston College Eagles – Nebraska led 20-2. Then they almost blew the lead, as they have so many other times over the last decade. This time, they won 20-15. Result: WON!

Miami Hurricanes (-4.5) over Iowa St. Cyclones – Final Score: Iowa State won 42-41. Result: Lost

BYU Cougars (+3.5) over Colorado Buffaloes – Final Score: BYU destroyed the Buffs 36-14. Result: WON!

CFP Quarterfinals (Tuesday 12/31 and Wednesday 1/1)

FIESTA BOWL – Penn St. Nittany Lions (-10.5) over Boise St. Broncos – Final Score: Penn State won 31-14. Result: WON!

PEACH BOWL – Arizona St. Sun Devils (+13.5) over Texas Longhorns – Final Score: Texas barely won in Double Overtime, 39-31, in an amazing game. Result: WON!

ROSE BOWL – Ohio St. Buckeyes (-2.5) over Oregon Ducks – Final Score: Ohio State destroyed Oregon 41-21. It was simply an off-Ryan-Day for the Ducks. Result: WON!

SUGAR BOWL – Notre Dame Fighting Irish (+1.5) over Georgia Bulldogs – Final Score: Notre Dame beat Georgia 23-10. Result: WON!

Gary’s “Pick 6” NFL Selections

Los Angeles Chargers (-4) over New England Patriots – Final Score: L.A. Chargers won 40-7. Result: WON!

Los Angeles Rams (-6.5) over Arizona Cardinals – Final Score: L.A. Rams won by only four points, 13-9. Result: Lost

New Orleans Saints (+1.5) over Las Vegas Raiders – Final Score: The Raiders won 25-10. Result: Lost

Buffalo Bills (-9.5) over New York Jets – Final Score: The Bills destroyed the Jets, 40-14. Result: WON!

Indianapolis Colts (-7.5) over New York Giants – Final Score: The N.Y. Giants won 45-33. Result: Lost

Washington Redskins/Commanders (-4.5) over Atlanta Falcons – Final Score: Washington won in Overtime, 30-24, thus covering the spread. Result: WON!

---

Week 18 Results: 9-4 (69%) Overall; (6-1 NCAA including a perfect 4-0 in CFP; 3-3 NFL)
Season Results: 98-99-2 (49.7%) Overall; ((49-47 (51.0%) NCAA, 49-51-2 (49.0%) NFL, 0-1 CFL))

---

Gary’s Week 19 Selections

CFP Semifinals – (Thursday 1/9 & Friday 1/10)

ORANGE BOWL – Notre Dame Fighting Irish (-1.5) over Penn State Nittany Lions – These CFP semifinals are really intriguing games and matchups. Here we have two blue bloods, trying to regain their former dominance, which hasn’t really happened since the 1980s. Both ND and PSU have gone since 1988 (former) and 1986 (latter) since their last National Championships. Who will prevail tonight in Miami? We see this as a toss-up at the moment. Overall, we think Notre Dame’s defense is a little bit stronger than Penn State’s. And the running ability of ND quarterback Riley Leonard could be the difference in the game. PICK: Notre Dame

COTTON BOWL – Ohio State Buckeyes (-5.5) over Texas Longhorns – The Buckeyes are on a roll, and seem unstoppable right now. Texas could easily win, don’t get us wrong, but Gary thinks that Ohio State is on a mission, both offensively and defensively. They might, might, have the nation’s top offense AND top defense. Texas has been struggling on offense just a bit lately. PICK: Ohio State

---

Gary’s “Pick 6” NFL Playoffs Selections – (Saturday 1/11, Sunday 1/12, and Monday 1/13)

Los Angeles Chargers (-2.5) over Houston Texans – The Texans had an underwhelming season. Remember how last year they overperformed with rookie QB C.J. Stroud? So we all thought they would take the next step and dominate in ’24? Well, they didn’t. They still made the AFC Playoffs by winning their subpar division. Who knows? Maybe they’ll have a great run this year. Gary doubts it. PICK: L.A. Chargers

Pittsburgh Steelers (+9.5) over Baltimore Ravens – We think Baltimore will win this game, but we don’t see them covering all 9 points plus the hook. PICK: Pittsburgh to cover

Buffalo Bills (-8.5) over Denver Broncos – Buffalo should win and cover here against the Broncos, who might find themselves in over their heads. Sure, rookie QB Bo Nix had an awesome rookie season. Sure, Denver made the playoffs. The fun stops Sunday in the cold of Buffalo, New York. The Bills Mafia will ensure that their Bills win big. PICK: Buffalo

Philadelphia Eagles (-4.5) over Green Bay Packers – Philly is pumped and ready for these NFC Playoffs. Green Bay is a really good team, despite the fact they have an up-and-down quarterback who has an elbow/hand injury. Eagles QB Jalen Hurts should be back from his concussion. Philly RB Saquon Barkley is already a star. Watch for him to dominate this postseason. PICK: Philadelphia

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-3) over Washington Redskins/Commanders – Gary thinks the Buccaneers are pretty darn good. The ‘Skins/Football Team/Commanders are decent, but are receiving a little too much hype due to their rookie superstar quarterback Jayden Daniels and HC Dan Quinn. Both dudes are great, but don’t overlook the often-overlooked Baker Mayfield. He is a legitimate superstar, yet most people seem to downplay this kid. Why? Who knows, maybe the Heisman jinx, the walk-on status, the cocky demeanor, the commercials where he “lived” in Cleveland’s Browns Stadium??? Whatever. Tampa Bay should win this game. PICK: Tampa Bay

Minnesota Vikings (-1.5) over Los Angeles Rams – Minnesota is our second road team in this Wild Card Weekend to be favored, and the second one in which Gary thinks they will indeed win and cover the point spread. Minnesota is too talented and good this year to be undone by a road playoff game against a team that is not as good as them. Another factor is the recent wildfires in Los Angeles which may move the game to a neutral site, Glendale’s toaster stadium, home of the Arizona Cardinals. Either way, “The Gut” thinks the Vikes will win and cover. PICK: Minnesota

---

That’s it for 2024. Let’s keep the celebration going in 2025! Gary is planning on another big weekend of winnings after his superb 9-4 outing last time. If “The Gut” wins five or more of these eight selections, he’s going to buy a new motorcycle. So cheer for Gary, and enjoy the games!

“Whether rich or poor, thou shalt gamble more” – Gary “The Gut” Goombah’s mantra