2011 Free NCAA Football PIcks Begin Season At 5-1 (83%)

As we warned you, our Free NCAA Football Picks usually start slow. We apologize for the loss in our 5-1 Week 1 Picks.



After a crazy cover Thursday night, our Saturday slate consisted of four games featuring the double-digit spread we usually try to avoid, along with one underdog. And we won four of the five.



As we said after Thursday's game, if this start is any indication (last year we started with 5-4-1 week, or 55.5%, and finished the year at 55%), we're in for a good season. Like 83% good.



Stay with us next week as we roll out the first of our Free NFL Picks (60% in 2010) on Thursday and continue our 83% college football picks. We hope.

College Football Saturday is Upon Us

Week 1 of the NCAA Football slate officially kicked off on Thursday (as did our now 1-0 2011 Free NCAA Football Picks), but the real deal begins today, with a full schedule of action on Saturday. And it's about time.

Our Free NCAA Football Picks got off to a frantic but successful start on Thursday, and we're looking to improve upon last season's 55% mark.

We're off to a good start, winning 10 of our last 11 going back to the 2010-11 bowl games, and we're looking to continue that run with the following plays on this busy day:

Florida State -29 1/2 over Louisiana-Monroe

Oklahoma -25 over Tulsa

Northwestern +3 1/2 over Boston College

Texas -24 1/2 over Rice

Purdue -16 1/2 over Middle Tennessee State

We could add a pick or two on Saturday morning, just watching some last minute line movements. Otherwise, including Thursday's pick, it looks like just a six-play card for week 1 of the college football season (had 10 picks to open last year).

There are certainly a few more huge favorites than we would like, but such is life in the opening week of college ball. Best of luck throughout the season (not that you'll need it if you follow us! muahaha!)

Syracuse Comeback Gives 2011 Free NCAA Football Picks a 1-0 Start

If tonight's pick of Syracuse at -6 1/2 over Wake Forest to open the 2011 college football season was any indication, we are in for a wild ride with our 2011 Free NCAA Football Picks.

'Cuse looked like one of the worst teams in the history of college football in the first half (and one of the worst bets in Stock Lemon history) before mounting a comeback and winning by seven in overtime.

And with that, our Free NCAA Football Picks have followed a 55% season with a 100% start in 2011. After a 9-1 2010-11 bowl season, we've now won 10 of our last 11 college football bets.

We likely will not have a play on either game tomorrow night, but should post our Saturday picks shortly thereafter. We usually have quite a few picks to open things up, though we are scared off by some of the bigger spreads (anyone who caught a bad beat on the backdoor UNLV cover tonight knows why).

Stay tuned for more of our %100 accurate Free NCAA Football Picks throughout the season! (Hey, we'll tout it while we can).

Welcome Back to College Football (55% in 2010)

The 2011 football season is finally upon us, beginning with a healthy slate of Thursday games in college football, which of course means the return of our Free NCAA Football Picks.



We have, so far, just one pick for Thursday night's opening action, and we assure you, this is not a basketball pick, despite the teams involved.



Syracuse -6 1/2 over Wake Forest



We could potentially add to that for Thursday and even Friday, but most assuredly, there will be several picks for the opening Saturday of the college football season. Stay with us all year for our absolute, 100% Free NCAA Football Picks every week.



Last year, our Free NCAA Football Picks finished at 55%, supported by a very strong 90% bowl season. In the beginning, though, there were plenty of ups and downs, as we endured three consecutive losing weeks early in the season.



We often struggle to start the college schedule, due to some of the wild double-digit spreads caused by unbalanced non-conference games. Conversely, our Free NFL Picks usually start off much better in the beginning of the season and then go about .500 the rest of the way.



We'll try to change both of those blemishes, of course, but consider this a disclaimer if you are tailing our picks (like you need any more of a disclaimer while following free picks from a sketchy blogspot site). All that said, our Free Picks have been pretty successful, with a 55% college season accompanying a 60% year in the NFL. Last year's results are below, for posterity's sake.



2010Free NCAA Football Picks

Week 1: 5-4-1

Week 2: 8-4

Week 3: 3-6

Week 4: 4-7

Week 5: 3-6

Week 6: 5-2

Week 7: 5-3

Week 8: 5-3

Week 9: 5-0

Week 10: 3-3

Week 11: 1-7

Week 12: 2-2

Week 13: 4-3

Week 14: 2-2

Bowls: 9-1

Overall: 64-53-1... 55%

Odds to Win the 2011-12 NCAA Football BCS National Championship

We took a look at the early odds for Super Bowl XLI (46), and considering the college football season actually begins prior to the NFL, we thought we would take a look at the odds to win the 2011-12 BCS National Championship.

Oklahoma... 9/2
Alabama... 11/2
Florida State... 10/1
Oregon... 12/1
Boise State... 14/1
LSU... 14/1
Florida... 16/1
Stanford... 16/1
Wisconsin... 20/1
Nebraska... 25/1
Ohio State... 25/1
Texas... 25/1
West Virginia... 25/1
Notre Dame... 28/1
South Carolina... 28/1
Arkansas... 30/1
Oklahoma State... 30/1
Penn State... 30/1
TCU... 30/1
Virginia Tech... 35/1
Texas A&M... 40/1
Georgia... 50/1
Michigan State... 50/1
Miami ... 60/1
Mississippi State... 60/1
Iowa... 65/1
Arizona State... 75/1
Michigan... 75/1
Mississippi... 75/1
Missouri... 80/1
North Carolina... 80/1
Tennessee... 80/1
Auburn... 100/1
California... 100/1
Cincinnati... 100/1
Clemson... 100/1
Kansas State... 125/1
Oregon State... 125/1
Arizona... 150/1
BYU... 150/1
Georgia Tech... 150/1
Pittsburgh... 150/1
South Florida... 150/1
Texas Tech... 150/1
UCLA... 150/1
Utah... 150/1
Washington... 150/1
Boston College... 175/1

Our thoughts: While we like Oklahoma (9/2) and Alabama (11/2) as much as anyone, the return on investment just isn't all that enticing for those two powerhouses. You're better off re-distributing that money in other bets for the Sooners or Tide throughout the year rather than having to sit on it all season, if you truly believe one of the favorites will come out on top in 2012.

We think, however, a wild card will emerge to win this year's National Championship. Our favorite odds on the board in terms of value are Stanford (16/1), Wisconsin (20/1), South Carolina (28/1), and if you really want a darkhorse, Texas A&M (40/1).

Either way, here are the odds, but as a public service announcement we are not huge on betting on these futures to win it all. It's hard enough for most folks to pick winners week-in and week-out, but it really is a crapshoot to pick the champion before the season begins--and if you bet a heavy favorite it rarely is even worth it if it pans out.

You might even say, it takes a lot of Luck. See if you geniuses can decipher our 2012 championship pick based on the previous sentence (and the above picture; and the fact that we already listed them above; Ok, we'll tell you, it's Andrew Luck and Stanford).

The NFL Lockout Will Destroy Our Profit Margin

Let's get this out there so that people know which side of the fence we are on during the NFL lockout: we are against it. That's right, we are taking a stand and officially stating that we are against the NFL cancelling 2011 games. Those are the kind of bold proclamations you've come to expect here at Stock Lemon.

Why would we miss the NFL? Let's take one last look at our 2010 Football betting records from this season, profitable with both our Free NFL Picks and our Free NCAA Football Picks.

Free NFL Picks

Week 1: 5-1

Week 2: 6-1

Week 3: 4-4

Week 4: 3-3

Week 5: 4-3

Week 6: 3-3

Week 7: 2-2

Week 8: 3-0

Week 9: 0-2-1

Week 10: 3-2

Week 11: 3-1

Week 12: 2-1

Week 13: 2-1

Week 14: 1-3

Week 15: 1-2

Week 16

: 1-1

Week 17: 3-1

Wild Card: 2-0

Divisional: 2-0

Conference: 0-2

Super Bowl: 1-1

Overall: 51-34-1... 60%

Free NCAA Football Picks
Week 1: 5-4-1
Week 2: 8-4

Week 3: 3-6

Week 4: 4-7

Week 5: 3-6

Week 6: 5-2

Week 7: 5-3

Week 8: 5-3

Week 9: 5-0

Week 10: 3-3

Week 11: 1-7

Week 12: 2-2

Week 13: 4-3

Week 14: 2-2

Bowls: 9-1
Overall: 64-53-1... 55%

Ahhh, memories. Now let's make sure this lockout ends so the profits don't.

Free NCAA Football Picks Year In Review (55%)

Now that we have had a couple of days to reflect on the 2010 NCAA Football season, and we've come to the realization that no, there won't be a plus-one game added so that the undefeated Auburn Tigers and TCU Horned Frogs can determine a real college football champion. We've also had a little bit of time to take a look back at our Free NCAA Football Picks for the season.

After a less than stellar regular season just barely over 52%, we kicked it into high gear for an impressive 9-1 bowl record to finish at 64-53-1 (55%) for the season. Our stated goal is always 60%, and clearly we were short of that mark yet, but we did find some success, particularly at the end of the season.

So with that, take a final look at our week-by-week Free NCAA Football Pick records before we begin preparations for an even more profitable 2011.

Free NCAA Football Picks
Week 1: 5-4-1
Week 2: 8-4
Week 3: 3-6
Week 4: 4-7
Week 5: 3-6
Week 6: 5-2
Week 7: 5-3
Week 8: 5-3
Week 9: 5-0
Week 10: 3-3
Week 11: 1-7
Week 12: 2-2
Week 13: 4-3
Week 14: 2-2
Bowls: 9-1
Overall: 64-53-1... 55%

Free NCAA Football Bowl Picks Finish 90%

That, ladies and gentlemen, is how you finish a season.

Our Free NCAA Football Bowl Picks finished at 9-1 during the bowl season after Auburns national championship win over Oregon in the BCS championship tonight, giving us a 90% postseason record in college football.

The 9-1 bowl season elevates are Free NCAA Football Picks to 55% for the year (64-53-1), not where we would have liked them to be but still relatively successful and profitable.

All in all, it's been a good year of football for us, as our Free NFL Picks are hitting at a 61% clip as well. The only downside to all of this: no college football until August.

Fortunately, there is still the NFL Playoffs, and our picks are off to a 2-0 start there. Stay with us through the playoffs right up to the 2011 Super Bowl XLV (45), where our world famous prop bet analysis will return as we look at every betting angle in this year's Super Bowl.

Free NFL Playoff Picks Off to 2-0 Start (100%)

We have to be honest, ,we are loving us some postseason football.

Our Free NCAA Football Bowl Picks are sitting pretty at 8-1 (89%) entering the BCS National Championship game. And now, our Free NFL Playoff Picks begin 2-0 (100%) after two dogs came through with not only covers but straight up wins yesterday. Both dogs were also leans today (Chiefs and Packers) but not quite strong enough to pull the trigger.

We'll likely bet on almost every game here on out, maybe omitting one or two next weekend. From there, it's full tilt all the way to the 2011 Super Bowl XLV (45). Before long, we'll be rolling out our annual Super Bowl prop bet analysis.

What would already be our favorite time of year is made even sweeter by a combined 10-1 (91%) postseason football record.

Free NCAA Football Bowl Picks Continue Domination (89%)

Our Free NCAA Football Picks were just over .500 and very mediocre.

Not so for our Free NCAA Football Bowl Picks.

Like many of the great athletes in the game, our picks have stepped up in the postseason. To the tune of 8-1 (89%). LSU covered in the Cotton Bowl, which, aside from giving us an excuse to post this awesome body paint picture, gives us one of the more impressive bowl records out there.

Sure, we haven't bet every bowl game. But come on. LOOK at some of those horrible bowl games! Our last remaining bet will be in the BCS National Championship game, so check back this weekend to find out who will be crowned the 2010-11 champion* in college football.

*Nope, still no playoff system.

88% Free NCAA Football Bowl Picks Look to Continue Run

Ah we love the college football postseason... even if it really isn't a postseason. For as much whining as we do about the current format that prevents a playoff system, we are not complaining this year. Our Free NCAA Football Bowl Picks are off to a 7-1 start (88%) after Miami (OH) covered with a win over Middle Tennessee State in some arbitrary bowl Thursday.

And we're not done yet.

We are picking cotton for Friday's bowl game, as Texas A&M faces the LSU Tigers.

LSU -2 over Texas A&M

We've always had a great deal of respect for the Cotton Bowl, ever since the GoDaddy.com bowl was played. Seriously. GoDaddy.com bowl. This is a good match-up but ultimately LSU should have the edge (as the spread might indicate).

Plenty more playoff action remains, both in the NCAA and the NFL, so don't geaux anywhere!

Our 86% Free NCAA Football Bowl Picks Return Thursday

After a Stanford cover in the Orange Bowl, our Free NCAA Football Bowl Picks improved to 86% (6-1) this bowl season... and we aren't done yet.

Yes, even the obscure and pointless bowls have our attention, and we'll prove it with a pick on Thursday in the... GoDaddy.com Bowl. Sigh.

Miami (OH) +2 over Middle Tennessee State

Good luck and stay with us throughout the remainder of college football's poor excuse for a postseason and into the NFL Playoffs, where our Free NFL Picks hope to find similar success as our college bowl picks have.

Stock Orange: 83% Free NCAA Football Bowl Picks Hit the Orange Bowl

Our 83% Free NCAA Football Bowl Picks look to continue with the postseason success with a pick in our favorite bowl of the year: the Lemon Bowl.

Or, the Orange Bowl, close enough. A citrus fruit is a citrus fruit.

Stanford -3 1/2 over Virginia Tech

Andrew Luck and the Cardinal should prove the better team, with the better pro prospect at the helm. The best, actually. Early reports have Luck as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft to the hapless Carolina Panthers, so this might be his last game with a winning team in five years. Look for him to take advantage.

Free NCAA Football Bowl Picks Now 83%

It feels good to be winning, but we can't help but think of how much more profitable this bowl season could be if we would stop wimping out on some of our borderline picks. Like Oklahoma's obvious win over UConn tonight.

We held off on what would have been a system play due to a few wild card factors, and Oklahoma proved that we should have went with our original pick.

Regardless, we did cover on the Rose Bowl, with Wisconsin scraping out a +3 spread over TCU, giving us a win today and a 5-1 bowl record (83%).

While we wish we were betting on a few more games, the ones we have been picking have been producing. So for now, we'll take our 100% 2011 record to the bank.

Our First Free Pick of 2011!

Happy New Year, lemonheads!

Our 2010 ended on a sour note, knocking our Free NCAA Football Bowl Picks to 80% (4-1). Fortunately, it's a new year and a clean slate, and that's just roses to us.

Wisconsin +3 over TCU

Either Wisconsin wins this in a blowout or TCU wins it in a close one, so the +3 gives us some leeway there. Though not disrespecting TCU, they have a hell of a team, this is a case where we think the big conference team will win.

Good luck and may we all have a profitable 2011!

Free NCAA Football Bowl Picks Start to Roll

While we haven't had as many Free NCAA Football Bowl Picks as we would have liked (isn't that the case with all of our picks?), what we've had have been good. Real good.

Our Free NCAA Football Picks improved to 3-0 with Oklahoma State taking care of a -4 1/2 point spread as OK State, Illinois and Maryland all blew away their opponents in another crappy day of bowl games. And we have no college football playoffs because...?

Aside from our 3-0 record in bowls, we also picked all three of those winners straight up over at The Bucky Channel, improving our bowl picks record to 7-6 over there, tied with the Bucky. And yes, we are better at picking games with a point spread.

And would you look at that... we have a Free NCAA Football Bowl Pick for today!

North Carolina -1 over Tennessee

Check out the latest installment of Lemmy and Bucky Pick the Bowls to see our (brief) explanation for this pick.

Finally Another Free NCAA Football Bowl Pick

We certainly expected to have more college football action flowing at this time, and yet have played just two bowl games as Free NCAA Football Picks.

As you might have guessed by, say, the title of this post, we finally have another.

Oklahoma State -4 1/2 over Arizona

Good luck!

Our Bowl Picks Continue Over at The Bucky Channel

Christmas time is here, and it comes with the greatest gift of all... the continuation of our bowl picks over at The Bucky Channel.

If you've been following, which we are sure you have been, you were able to hit on our Bucky Channel exclusive Free NCAA Football Pick, when Boise State improved our Free NCAA Football bowl picks to 2-0.

Our picks straight up haven't had as much success... which is why we pick spreads. Again, as a reminder, our straight up picks over at The Bucky Channel are purely for fun and not system plays. And we promise not to have anymore exclusive Free NCAA Football Picks over there. From now on, any and all picks, as they always have been, will be posted right here at Stock Lemon.

But still, check out The Bucky Channel.

A Perfect Saturday

A Quick update from yesterday's action:

Goal: Remain perfect with our Free NHL Picks.

Pick: Tampa Bay ML over Buffalo

Check.

Goal: Start our Free NCAA Football Picks perfect in bowl season.

Pick: Troy -2 over Ohio

Check.

And so, our Free NHL Picks remain a perfect 3-0 while our Free NCAA Football Bowl Picks are off to a perfect 1-0 start.

Lou Reed would be proud.

Stock Lemon and The Bucky Channel Go Bowling!

We are going to continue with this bowling pun so long as we continue to find pictures of hot girls bowling. But to be clear, it is bowl season in college football and we like this time of year about as much as we like girls bowling in bikinis.

While our Free NCAA Football Pick system should have quite a bit of plays during the bowl slate (like tonight's New Orleans Bowl), we won't have a play on every game. To fill the void, we will be picking every game straight up over at The Bucky Channel.

Check out our first installment of the collaborative effort between our brothers from different mothers over at The Bucky Channel.

You'll notice that, when we turned our picks in a few days ago, we thought BYU might be a Free NCAA Football Pick. Well, now you know why. It turns out it didn't fully meet our criteria, but definitely was a strong lean.