Your Pigskins and Ponies Picks for Nov. 27-30

Before we feast on turkey, leather and stakes, let’s remember everything in our lives that we have to be thankful for.
Playing the races and sports are even that much more fun during such festive times, but don’t let your extracurricular play interfere with quality time with your loved ones.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
Gobble, gobble!
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
Last week was fun.
The Cincinnati Bengals and Seattle Seahawks took care of business and the St. Louis Rams’ narrow loss still resulted in a cover.
I kind of wish I had pulled a “Cooley” and given you nine games.
Pro Football Trifecta
Last week: 3-0 (1.00); Season Total: 17-19 (.472)
Thursday, Nov. 27
Detroit Lions (-7) vs. Chicago Bears
Don’t be fooled by the Bears two-game winning streak. The teams they beat – the Minnesota Vikings and Tampa Bay Buccaneers – are worse on offense than the Bears are on defense, which is tough to say. The Lions lost their last two, on the road, to a pair of the best teams in football in the Arizona Cardinals and New England Patriots. They’re thrilled to be back home and the return of Reggie Bush should help kick start a sleeping giant of an offense.
Sunday, Nov. 30
Le'Veon bell

WikiMedia Commons

Pittsburgh Steelers (-4) vs. New Orleans Saints
The Steelers narrow win against the Tennessee Titans was more impressive than it looked. The Saints loss, at home to the Baltimore Ravens, wasn’t as close as the score might indicate. The Steelers are at home, they’re well rested and getting healthy, and Le’Veon Bell should stomp all over the Saints defense. Drew Brees is not the same guy. The Saints are not the same team.
Cincinnati Bengals (-4) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Why is this line only four? Cincinnati is a good team to begin with, they’re rounding back into top form, and with the clutter within their division this is an absolute must-win game against a soft opponent. The Bucs hit a new low last week in their pathetic loss to the Bears, and they’re winless from five starts at home. 
College Pigskins – by Derek Cooley
Let’s briefly take a look at our plays from a week ago.
A good week was had last week, let’s keep it rolling into the holidays as we have PLENTY of football to watch.  Happy Thanksgiving, time to feast!
Last week: 6-3 (.667); Season Total: 38-44-1 (.464)
On to the next one ...
College Football Pick Nine – Week 14
Thursday, Nov. 27
#5 TCU (-6.5) @ Texas (7:30 p.m. ET, FOX1)
It’s a matter of having something to play for when taking the field on a Thursday night. The Horned Frogs have much, MUCH more to play for.
Friday, Nov. 28
#8 UCLA (-5.5) vs. Stanford (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC)
If UCLA wins, they clinch a berth in the PAC12 title game vs. Oregon, which gives them a legitimate shot at the playoffs when that time comes. One game at a time though, and they will start by handling Stanford. (Plus, no Ty Montgomery for the Cardinal.)
Saturday, Nov. 29
#1 Alabama (-9.5) vs. #15 Auburn (7:45 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Auburn is enduring some of its worst football in the past two years. Not a good time to have to visit newly anointed top dog Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Oh yeah, it’s quite an important rivalry game as well. All ingredients for a big ’Bama win. Roll Tide!

Oregon State (+19.5) vs. #2 Oregon (8 p.m. ET, ABC)
The Beavers play up to competition at home. That’s all they really have going for them, but 19.5 points is a hefty amount that I couldn’t refuse. OSU will cover.
Florida (+7.5) @ #3 Florida State (3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
You couldn’t script it any better: a team (supremely talented, yet super underachieving, mind you) simply playing for their coach (Florida) strikes down the mighty and somewhat controversial, undefeated giant with their revered leader (Florida State) at their place. It could happen, and it certainly can come close to happening if it doesn’t. The Gators cover, at the very least. Watch for some Gator magic ...  
#4 Mississippi State (-2.5) @ #19 Ole Miss (3:30 p.m. ET, CBS)
The mighty Egg Bowl we’ve all been waiting for!! Well … not quite what we had anticipated earlier in the season, but at least one of these teams from the Magnolia state has a real shot at glory ... and that’s the Bulldogs.
#6 Ohio State (-20.5) vs. Michigan (noon ET, ABC)
The Buckeyes are already in the Big Ten title game, so this game is about style and statement — two of Urban Meyer’s specialties. Guess who they get to make that statement against? That team up north. Oh, boy.
#16 Georgia Tech (+13) @ #9 Georgia (noon ET, SEC)
An opportunistic GT defense and a clock-eating offense has the opportunity to catch Georgia off guard. Do I think the Wramblin’ Wreck can win? Not necessarily. But all they gotta do is cover, and that they will.
#14 Wisconsin (-14) vs. #18 Minnesota (3:30 p.m. ET, BTN)
This Minnesota team is not used to games with this kind of magnitude attached to it. Combine that with Camp Randall AND the fact that starting RB David Cobb (nearly 50% of the Gophers offense) is a giant question mark at best … you will have issues. Wisconsin wins easily.
Ponies – by Joe Kristufek
For the first time since this column began, I pitched a shutout on the horse racing side.
I’m Already Sexy built big lead early in the Cardinal Handicap, but tired and faded to fourth. Vivian Da Bling set the pace in the Delta Princess Stakes but faded to fifth at 5-1. In the Delta Jackpot, Saratoga Heater finished a credible fourth at 11-1.
There are lots of fantastic races to give thanks for this weekend and it’s time to pad to start padding our holiday bankrolls.
Last week: 3-0-0-0 ($2 WPS * $18 wagered * $0 returned)
Season Total: 36-12-5-2 ($2 WPS * $216 wagered * $278.80 returned = $7.74 ROI)
Churchill Downs – Louisville, Ky.
Thursday, Nov. 27
Race 11 – Fall City Handicap (G2), 4:22 p.m. ET
#5 Flashy American (morning-line odds 10-1) Proven at Churchill with three wins from eight tries, this veteran mare appears on edge to run a big race at a nice price. Breeders’ Cup Distaff runner-up Don’t Tell Sophia is clearly the one to beat, but if this gray flash brings her “A” game, she’s as good as any in this field. In a race that isn’t overloaded with speed, tactical speed should put her in a perfect stalking positon throughout.
Friday, Nov. 28
Race 11 – Clark Handicap (G1), 5:35 p.m. ET
#1 Hoppertunity (morning-line odds 7-2)
A legitimate Kentucky Derby contender this spring, this son of Any Given Saturday suffered a setback that cost him the meat of his sophomore season. His return runner-up finish at Santa Anita Breeders’ Cup week was visually impressive, and it should serve as a perfect springboard for this one.
HOPPERTUNITY: HE'S BACK!

Coady Photography
Saturday, Nov. 29
Race 9 – Golden Rod Stakes (G2), 4:35 p.m. ET
#2 No Fault of Mine (morning line unavailable)
We know her sire, Blame, who famously handed the legendary Zenyatta the only defeat of her career in the 2010 Breeders’ Cup Classic, liked the main track at Churchill, and this gal may be one of his most talented first-crop runners. She won her career debut in visually impressive fashion going seven furlongs on the synthetic Polytrack surface at Arlington Park, and two turns on the dirt should suit her even better.