Your Pigskins and Ponies Picks for Oct. 25-26

Time flies when you’ve got action.
It’s tough to believe that this is already the eighth week of this column.
I’ve treaded water with the NFL selections but have shown a profit on the horse racing side.
The moral of this story?
You can win playing the ponies!
Welcome to ABR’s Pigskins and Ponies column, where winners play!
Horse racing is my means to an end, and I love the sport like no other, but I admit it, like most of you on a Sunday afternoon in the fall, it’s hard to pull me away from my couch … and NFL RedZone.
I have a wanted sign in Vegas and am feared by fantasy football mavens nationwide, but when it comes to the college game, I chose to punt.
That’s where Derek Cooley comes in. The dude is a loaded gun of university knowledge.
Let’s kick off the football, spring the horses from the gate and pad our bankrolls!
Pro Pigskins – by Joe Kristufek
In horse racing, we call horses with talent and no heart, “common.”
As a team, my Chicago Bears, and their “leader” Jay Cutler in particular, are common.
One week after playing their most complete game of the season to win at Atlanta, they laid a huge egg, at home, against the Miami Dolphins.
I’m not sure who screamed louder after the game, me or Brandon Marshall.
The underrated Kansas City Chiefs not only covered the spread, but the beat the San Diego Chargers outright.
The Oakland Raiders kept it close, but in the end the Arizona Cardinals wore them down and covered the number.
Pro Football Trifecta
Last week: 1-2 (.333); Season Total: 9-12 (.429)
Sunday, Oct. 26
Kansas City Chiefs (-7) vs. St. Louis Rams, 1 p.m. ET
The Chiefs have been good to us this year, and I wholeheartedly believe they’re one of the best three-loss teams in the NFL. They’ve endured a tough schedule so far and have split their only two games at home. They return to Arrowhead Stadium off a season-defining win against the Chargers and the momentum should carry over. Sure the Rams beat the Seattle Seahawks last week, and QB Austin Davis has been somewhat of a revelation, but they benefitted big time from a pair of trick plays. They’ve split their only two road games this year and should return to earth this week.
ARROWHEAD STADIUM

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Seattle Seahawks (-5.5) at Carolina Panthers, 1 p.m. ET
Following their week one trouncing of the Packers, many experts were willing to hand the Lombardi trophy to the defending champs. They’ve only won two of five games since, although last week’s loss to the Rams was a bit of a fluke. They invade Carolina hungry and desperate and face a team with offensive woes. The Panthers will be lucky to score two TDs. I’d be surprised if the Seahawks didn’t post at least three.
Miami Dolphins (-6) at Jacksonville Jaguars, 1 p.m. ET
Ryan Tannehill is quietly establishing himself as a QB on the rise. He’s talented and has now seemed to discover a reliable level of consistency. The Miami defense is solid, and even though this is a road game, the battle of Florida will almost make it seem like they’re at home. The Jaguars beat the Cleveland Browns last week, probably keeping this spread below a TD in the process. They’re still bad.
College Pigskins – by Derek Cooley
Let’s briefly take a look at our plays from a week ago.
Not bad, four up and five down. Baby steps in the right direction. In fact, the wins were pretty convincing and some of the losses just out of reach (double OT cover for Utah, for one). 
Not a whole bunch of analysis needed for last week. As we know, teams either looked really good, got behind by too many points or just flat out gave the game away, cough, cough ... Oklahoma.
All there is to do is look at next week.
On to the next one ...
College Football Pick Nine
Last week: 4-5 (.333); Season Total: 15-22-1 (.405)
Saturday, Oct. 25
#1 Mississippi (-13.5) @ Kentucky (3:30 p.m. ET, CBS)
Let’s see, a literal week off for the Bulldogs compared with a figurative week off for the Wildcats. This state keeps rolling.
#3 Ole Miss (-3.5) @ #24 LSU (7:15 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Bo Wallace will get a lead, and that elite Rebels defense will be able to maintain it.  
#5 Auburn (-17.5) v. South Carolina (7:30 p.m. ET, SEC Network)
Even though South Carolina hosted Furman last weekend, Auburn was able to have the week off and focus on their loss. Wrong time to visit Jordan-Hare.
#10 Kansas State (-10) v. Texas (noon ET, ESPN)
The Wildcats could legitimately be undefeated. Owning a win at Oklahoma and having your only loss be a six-pointer to Auburn, you are starting to look pretty good.
Penn State (+13.5) v. #13 Ohio State (8 p.m. ET, ABC)
Regardless of how well J.T. Barrett and OSU are playing … playing in Happy Valley after the sun sets … with a white-out in full force … that can rattle any young QB. Plus, Christian Hackenburg isn’t any slouch. 
PENN STATE WHITE-OUT

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#14 Arizona State (-3.5) @ Washington (10:45 p.m. ET, ESPN) 
The more I pay attention to the Sun Devils, the more I’m impressed. It’s tough to head to the northern reaches of the PAC-12 in late October, especially for a team from the valley of the sun, but there is something about these Sun Devils. I like them.
Washington State (+2.5) v. #15 Arizona (6 p.m. ET, PAC-12 Network)
I feel the opposite about ASU’s state-mate, the Arizona Wildcats. Outside of that anomaly of a win in Eugene, the Cats really haven’t shown me much at all. The Cougars have the QB and the style of offense to outscore coach Rich Rodriguez's team.
#19 Utah (+1) v. #20 USC (10 p.m. ET, FOX 1)
A good amount of time for the Utes to prepare for the Trojans. Give me the Utes up in the mountains.
Stanford (-13) v. Oregon State (3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2)
Stanford still has time to enter the conversation, and I use that term loosely, in terms of the PAC-12. First, get back into the Top 25 … it’s just weird not seeing them up there. I’m sure they are none too happy about that, and returning starts with this game.
Ponies – by Joe Kristufek
Last week, the promising 2-year-old Ostrolenka was clearly best for us at odds on and after setting the pace, So Lonesome lost a narrow decision to a 17-1 longshot in the Empire Classic Stakes.
Both of those plays were slightly profitable, but after flashing brief speed, Divided Attention failed to light the tote, and we just missed breaking even for the day.
Last week: 3-1-1-0 ($2 WPS * $18 wagered * $17.30 returned)
Season Total: 19-7-3-0 ($2 WPS * $114 wagered * $125.00 returned = $6.58 ROI)
Saturday, Oct. 25
Keeneland – Lexington, Ky.
9th Race – $200,000 Hagyard Fayette Stakes (Grade 2)
#6 Long River (morning-line odds 3-1)
This royally bred 4-year-old son of A. P. Indy ran some huge races earlier in his career, but consistency avoided him. He didn’t respond positively to the addition of blinkers two starts back, finishing a tired seventh of nine in the Grade 1 Woodward Stakes at Saratoga. Donning the hood for the second time last out in the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont, he finished a much-improved third behind Tonalist at bomber odds of 52-1. He posted a sharp workout between starts and may still have some upside. 
LONG RIVER

Photo by Adam Coglianese/NYRA
Belmont Park – Elmont, N.Y.
3rd Race – $200,000 Bold Ruler Stakes (Grade 3)
#1 Confrontation (morning-line odds 6-1)
This talented 4-year-old stepped up to the big stage for the first time in his career last out, only to fail miserably in the Grade 1 Forego Stakes at Saratoga. Off seven weeks, he returns to his favorite track off a series of sharp workouts, and off the bad race, chances are he’ll fly slightly under the radar. He’ll probably sit a sweet trip just behind the pacesetting River Rocks, and perhaps he can wear him down at a square number.
Belmont Park – Elmont, N.Y.
8th Race – $100,000 Chelsea Flower Stakes 
#9 Path (morning-line odds 9-2)
Very well backed in her turf debut in just her second career start, this well-bred daughter of Tapit came through with a win, but it wasn’t easy. She was hung out wide during a strong middle move, led in the stretch and just held safe across the finish line. She’s trained well since and fits this spot like a glove.