My sincerest apologies for the late Skull Session. I will make it up to you with an early Skull Session tomorrow.
Word of the Day: Corporeal.
UNDEFEATED OR BUST. Ohio State may have a retooled linebacking corps and a quarterback that's never even attempted a collegiate pass, but Vegas oddsmakers are setting Ohio State's preseason regular season win total at 11 – which means undefeated, or bust (or push, realistically, but nobody plays to push).
North Carolina State O/U 6
— Covers (@Covers) May 25, 2021
North Texas O/U 4
Northwestern O/U 6.5
Notre Dame O/U 9
Ohio O/U 6.5
Ohio State O/U 11
Oklahoma O/U 11
Oklahoma State O/U 7.5
Old Dominion O/U 3.5
Ole Miss O/U 7.5
Oregon O/U 9
Oregon State O/U 4.5
Penn State O/U 9
Pittsburgh O/U 7
Purdue O/U 5
It's hilarious that the standard is so high for an Ohio State team these days that a gambler doesn't win an "over" wager unless the Buckeyes go undefeated. Then again that's also kind of been the standard for Ohio State's head coach for almost two decades, so maybe Vegas is just catching up.
For what it's worth, there's absolutely no way I'd be on Ohio State losing two regular season games, which is the alternative bet here, so maybe that line is spot on.
Meanwhile, Michigan's is set at 8. And I'm taking the under.
UH... WHAT? One way or another, based on this Tweet, it seems the college basketball transfer portal situation has jumped the shark.
Sources: Multiple mid-major programs are opting to not play guarantee games against high-major programs because it gives power conference teams a "free live evaluation" of future players who could move up via the transfer portal.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) May 25, 2021
The level of separation has NEVER been greater.
Here's the thing – this is so insane that either Rothstein has bad information, whoever told him this information is lying, or the decision-makers for these mid-major teams are out of their minds.
For starters, most of these mid-major teams could not survive or even really come close to sustaining their athletic department without these buy games, and it doesn't really matter how good your players are if you can't afford to sponsor the team they play on.
But more than that, this plan wouldn't even work anyway! I mean, sad news to anyone seriously entertaining turning down massive checks to your athletic department to hide your good players from major programs – assistant coaches in the Power Five have ESPN+ accounts, too.
The only way you're going to successfully keep a major team from discovering your good players is to just keep them on the bench – which would be an absolutely galaxy-brained move.
Also, the vast majority of transfers between major programs and mid-majors comes from players at major programs transferring to mid-major programs. So in reality, most "free, live evaluation" would be on your end, if you're a mid-major.
All in all, I don't believe that this is a real thing that's happening. And if it somehow is, whoever is making that decision has no business leading an athletic department.
FULL 'SHOE COMETH. A completely full Ohio Stadium has gone from looking like a cautiously optimistic dream to an imminent reality. Cause we've got a stadium just a few miles to the south that's going to be at capacity starting in June.
The Clippers are pleased to announce that Huntington Park will be open to fans at 100% capacity beginning Tuesday, June 15th!!
— Columbus Clippers (@CLBClippers) May 25, 2021
Tickets for the rest of the 2021 season go on sale June 1st, and June 15th is the official return of #DimeADog Night!
: https://t.co/Hirx7DRWMv pic.twitter.com/6SSKEs5hwC
Also, I respect the hell out of the Clippers just going big right out the gates with Dime a Dog night as soon as the capacity restrictions end. That's a baller move, and you can bet your ass that the stadium will be PACKED.
*MY* ROOKIE OF THE YEAR. Jae'Sean Tate may not have even been a finalist for rookie of the year, but with a highlight reel like this, he's the rookie of my heart.
Respect the Hustle
— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) May 25, 2021
Top Plays / @o_tate_ pic.twitter.com/sggzjNYYvC
A year ago, I never would have guessed this video would exist. Hell, I wouldn't have even guessed that he'd crack the regular starting rotation or even play regular minutes.
I guess this year hasn't been all bad.
SONG OF THE DAY. "Toxicity" by System of a Down.
NOT STICKING TO SPORTS. A father and son noticed a stench near a stegosaurus statue and found a corpse in one of its legs... People continue to find bundles of cocaine washing up in the Florida Keys... If Aliens are out there, they're way out there... Inside the most brutal dictatorship you’ve never heard of...
