One of Each on Thursday

One of each. That's how we begin our 2010 Free NCAA Football Picks.

A win, a loss, and a push to start the year, ensuring that we are on the board in each category. Here's a breakdown of our Thursday plays:

The brunette: Minnesota covers against Middle Tennessee

Not always the sexiest pick that ends up being the most appealing. We liked Minnesota, but wee were in no way underestimating Middle Tennessee. The danger in betting on a bigger school against a lesser known school, even one that won double digit games a year prior, is that the public will swing the line against you. What opened -3 in favor of Middle Tennessee swung six points to a -3 Minnesota spread. Still, the Gophers covered by a touchdown and took care of business.

The blonde: Utah pushes against Pittsburgh

We really liked this play. A lot. But at the end of the day, the -3 spread wasn't enough to get anything more than a push out of it in an overtime thriller. It's always nice to have a stake in the bigger games of the day/week, so it was fun at least--but fun isn't always profitable. Had Utah forced the issue and gone for a touchdown in OT, we would have been bailed out. Unfortunately, they did the smart thing and got close and kicked it. Oh well.

The redhead: USC fails to cover against Hawaii

The flashy pick. In theory, USC should have stomped on Hawaii. Even on the road, USC is much, much more talented and should have been able to overcome, and even positively channel, all of the offseason attention. But every time the Trojans started to pull away, Hawaii marched down the field time and time again. In hindsight, the over obviously should have been the play, but we prefer picking spreads rather than over/unders, something we need to change. They are all worth the same after all.

Stay tuned for our Saturday Picks in the opening week of college football. Boy it feels good to say that.

YTD: 1-1-1... 50%

Football's Eve: Our First 2010 Free NCAA Football Picks

First off, with a new football season comes some minor changes here at Stock Lemon. Well, maybe not minors, but we will be featuring a few pictures to improve the aesthetics of this place. Considering that you must be 18 to gamble... in the two states in which it is legal to do so... we figure we can get away with upping some photos to PG-13. So, with that said, enjoy the pics and the picks.

Here are the college football picks we've all been waiting for for tomorrow night's opening action, with more to come for the Saturday slate:

Utah -3 over Pittsburgh

Minnesota -3 over Middle Tennessee

USC -21 1/2 over Hawaii

There they are. Our first Free NCAA Football Picks of the 2010 season. Now, let's whip out our 2010 football picks motto: Come for the women, stay for the winners.

Free NCAA Football Picks Go 3-1

Now that's more like it.

After two weeks, our Free NCAA Football Picks came in at .500 with a 3-3 record. This week, we went 3-1 and improved our record to the gambling benchmark of 60%.

Washington's shocking 16-13 win over USC wasn't all that shocking to us, after our system picked them +20. When Florida and Tennessee stayed well under the 53 point o/u, we had ourselves a 2-0 afternoon.

Mississippi State gave us our third win of the day with a 15-3 win over Vanderbilt, our second underdog of the day to win outright (at +9).

It's easy to second guess picks with the benefit of hindsight, but we enjoy the days when the only thing we second guess is that we didn't bet moneylines.

Stay with us all season for more winning college football picks. We leave you with our weekly breakdown:

Week 1: 2-1

Week 2: 1-2

Week 3: 3-1

Total: 6-4... 60%

Week Three Free NCAA Football Picks

Our Free NCAA Football Picks are an even 3-3 on the year, but we're hoping to get back above .500 with a our biggest card of the year--four plays--tomorrow. They are:

Florida/Tennessee UNDER 53

Washington +20 over USC

Arkansas -2 over Georgia

Mississippi State +9 over Vanderbilt

Good luck!

2009 NBA Mock Draft: Picks 9-10

The guards keep flying off the board as our 2009 NBA Mock Draft keeps flying by. The real draft takes place on Thursday, but until then make sure to check back as we continue to mock the 14 lottery picks in this year's NBA Draft.

9. Raptors: Demar DeRozan, G, USC

Even at the ninth pick, DeRozan is one of the most talented players in this draft. DeRozan has all the athletic ability in the world and is a steal here for the Raptors, who don't mind adding another versatile wing. The main knock on DeRozan has been his ability to want to dominate rather than simply be a good player. He has loads of untapped potential but some wonder if his lackluster work ethic will ever turn him into the player he could be. Still, at pick No. 9, DeRozan is worth the selection.

10. Bucks: Jonny Flynn, G, Syracuse

Many know Flynn as the leader of the six overtime game Syracuse played this season, and that certainly has helped his draft stock in the past few months. The Bucks would like to know him as the leader of their team, despite his small size. Flynn can make things happen offensively, and enjoys playing on the defensive end--a requirement for any player with the new Bucks regime. He should be able to overcome his small stature and develop into one of the better point guards in the league, even if he looks to score more than he looks to pass.

Our 2009 NBA Lottery Mock Draft will continue on Monday with more of our surely accurate predictions. Until then, be sure to check out the previous entries in the upper right hand side of this blog.

2009 NFL Mock Draft: Picks 21-23

As we enter the final week before the 2009 NFL Draft, we're about to put our finishing touches on our own 2009 NFL Mock Draft. 

You can check out the previous 20 picks by clicking the appropriate link in the upper right hand column of this site. 

Today, we're giving out our next three picks, which includes a couple of big playmakers. Take it away Philly. 

21. Eagles: Knowshon Moreno, RB, Georgia 

The best running back in the draft, and possibly one of the best players in a few years, finally gets selected with the twenty-first pick. Moreno is the second RB picked in our mock draft, but we really feel that he is the best option in the backfield. Not only that, but Moreno is really a complete back, with the ability to catch balls out of the backfield similar to the way the Eagles typically use their running backs. Philly will get a difference maker and eventually their future starting running back late in the draft, a tremendous value for pick 21. With the moves Philly has already made (and some other trades they might make around draft day), they could be going deep into the playoffs yet again in 2009. 

22. Vikings: Percy Harvin, WR, Florida

Sticking with the SEC, the Vikings search for a true No. 1 wideout continues with the selection of Harvin. Harvin played a key role on the National Champion Gators team, but we're not sure if his skills will translate in the NFL. In Minnesota, he might be hindered by the lack of a real quarterback, but he certainly has the athleticism and skill set capable of being a breakout receiver someday. 

23. Patriots: Clay Matthews, LB, USC

The Patriots will be looking linebacker here, and Matthews is a dependable defender who should fit in nicely in New England. He's a safer pick than most in this draft, but he doesn't have as much potential as some others in our view. Matthews will mark the third USC linebacker chosen in the first 23 picks, and time will tell where he stacks up against his higher-picked college teammates. 

We'll keep on mocking through the week leading up to the NFL Draft, so be sure to check back as we round out the first 32 picks. 

2009 NFL Mock Draft: Picks 17-20

We continue to work hard during the weekend, as for the second day in a row, we're revealing the next four picks in our 2009 NFL Mock Draft, rather than just three. So go ahead, check out the other installments of our mock draft on the upper right-hand side of our site, and then check out these next four picks. 

In this edition, it's all about reaching, baby. 

17. Jets: Josh Freeman, QB, Kansas State

The reaching begins with the Jets selection of Freeman. We don't think Freeman will be a bad quarterback in the league, but this pick is the definition of drafting for need. The Jets don't have a legitimate quarterback, and Freeman is available to fill that void. The Jets could make a move out of this pick to try and get one of the top two quarterbacks, but we think they'll end up sticking around and taking the player that falls to them (and would likely fall to them if they picked 15-20 spots from now). 

18. Broncos: Brian Cushing, LB, USC

Let the reaching continue! Though some might say that us calling this pick a reach is reaching on our part. A lot of people really like Cushing for his leadership and consistent play, but we're not sure his skills will translate at the NFL level. The Broncos are banking on those skills translating as they look to re-tool their defense for the 3-4. Cushing is a relatively safe pick and probably will do alright in the NFL, but we don't see a whole lot of potential or upside (terms that draft experts love to use). Depending on how much the Broncos like him, they could look at Cushing with their earlier pick in the first round--which would definitely be a reach. Either way, except defense out of the Broncos with both the 12th and 18th picks in the draft. 

19. Buccanneers: Peria Jerry, DT, Ole Miss

Jerry is a reach here in the draft because his position isn't all that great in this particular draft. There are about five legitimate defensive tackles available this year, and team's will be reaching for most of them. Jerry fits into the 4-3 front in Tampa, who need another inside man on the defensive side of the ball and have been said to be targeting Jerry. Jerry is a high effort guy, but he doesn't have the talent you might except from pick No. 19. 

20. Lions: Michael Oher, OT, Ole Miss

Alright, this one actually isn't a reach. The only reason it might qualify as such is because it gives us back-to-back Ole Miss players selected in the draft, which is just plain crazy. Ole Miss isn't exactly known for producing NFL talent, but Oher definitely has what it takes to be a dominant left tackle in the league. The Lions will be lucky if he falls to them, as he's been mentioned as high as the top 10. If the Lions end up getting their quarterback (that one is a reach) and a left tackle for years to come, this could be a very good draft for the 0-16 club. 

We hope you enjoyed all eight of this weekend's picks, and we hope you'll stay with us throughout the week as we put the finishing touches on our 2009 NFL Mock Draft. 

2009 NFL Mock Draft: Picks 13-16

Everybody's mocking for the weekend! Or at least, we are, continuing our 2009 NFL Mock Draft. Not only are we working for the weekend, but we're putting in overtime. Instead of giving out the regular three picks, we're giving you our next four selections in this special Saturday edition of our mock draft. 

13. Redskins: Tyson Jackson, DE, LSU

The run on defensive ends continues with the Redskins scooping up Jackson, making him the third DE/OLB (depending on the formation) selected in-a-row. Don't tell Jackson he's the third best of the three, though. He's climbing the boards for teams that use a 3-4, but he's been playing in the 4-3 and will be a beast in either system. 

14. Saints: Chris Wells, RB, Ohio State

The first reach of the draft comes when the Saints take Beanie as the first running back off the board, though he isn't the best one in the draft. New Orleans really likes him to shore up the backfield, and Wells does fit the Saints offense very... well. Still, the Saints will try to trade down to get him if Beanie really is their guy, otherwise they might be inclined to improve on their terrible defense for once. 

15. Texans: Malcolm Jenkins, CB, Ohio State

Back-t0-back picks for THE Ohio State University, with Jenkins too talented for the Texans to pass on. He's not the fastest corner, but he's certainly one of the more physical and is always willing to make the tackle. Jenkins could easily be off the board by now, as early on with the ninth pick, but the Texans won't mind if he's still available when they're on the clock. 

16. Chargers: Rey Maualuga, LB, USC

We like the Chargers keeping Maualuga in state and bolstering an already solid defense in the process. Plain and simple: Maualuga causes headaches--and not just to the people trying to spell his name. The California native can make an immediate impact for the Bolts, who will be healthy and playing in a suddenly much easier division. We're expecting good things out of the Chargers this year, and this pick is the first of many more to come. 

Be sure to check out the first 12 picks on the upper right-hand side of this page. We'll continue to work through the weekend to hammer out the next few picks of our mock draft tomorrow. Keep checking back for the updates and we'll keep 'em coming!

2009 NFL Mock Draft: Picks 7-9

The mocking continues! Check out picks 1-3 and 4-6 in their respective posts. Today, if you haven't guessed already, it's time to mock picks 7-9. 

7. Raiders: Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech

The Raiders need receivers, and there are a couple of good ones available at pick number seven. They can't go wrong with either of the top two, but in our opinion Crabtree is the best option, foot injury and all. We think the chances of this Raider becoming a Raider at the next level are pretty good. 

8. Jaguars: Mark Sanchez, QB, USC

It wouldn't be earth shattering if the Jags picked up the WR that the Raiders passed on, but it will be extremelly hard to pass up on Sanchez when they have an aging and relatively average quarterback. Some feel that Sanchez is the best quarterback in the draft, which might be true, and it's not even a certainty that he'll be available at this spot. This could end up being a steal if he falls to the eighth pick.

9. Packers: B.J. Raji, DT, Boston College

With the switch to a new defensive scheme in the 3-4, the Packers needs are obvious. Whether or not they draft for need remains to be seen. They've been known to take the best player available (or at least who they think is the best player available) over needs, but in this case their needs are too pressing to pass on. That being said, Raji very well could be the best available player on their board--failed drug test or not. His footwork is excellent and he's quite nimble for such a huge mass of a man. He should help the Packers tremendously in their switch to the 3-4, as he can contribute right away if need be. The Packers also need to work on their offensive line and then adding more 3-4 personnel, particularly at linebacker. 

Virginia Tech Covers For 2-0 Bowl Day

After USC beat Penn State 38-24 in the Rose Bowl, Virginia Tech was able to take care of a +2 spread and beat Cincinnati in the Orange Bowl, 20-7.

Although we're still upset that there isn't such a thing as the Lemon Bowl, we'll take a win in whatever other fruit-titled bowl we can find.

VT's win gives our Free NCAA Football Picks a 2-0, getting our bowl picks back on track after a little slip up.

Where's the Lemon Bowl?

There have been countless arguments about whether or not college football should move to a playoff system (yes) rather than the current bowl format (no).

But the biggest outrage, in our view, is that they have an Orange Bowl and not, you guessed it, a Lemon Bowl.

After betting on the Orange Bowl earlier today, we can't believe that our favorite fruit isn't represented. FedEx needs to get on this. Look at how well Lemmy fits in the logo!

Whatever the case, we remind you that we have a pick on Virginia Tech +2 over Cinci in this one, after USC took care of the -10 spread with a 28-24 win over Penn St in the Rose Bowl.

Good luck!

First Free NCAA Football Picks of 2009

The new year is here, as are a new batch of Free NCAA Football Picks for today's bowl action.

Rose Bowl
USC -10 over Penn St.

Orange Bowl
Virginia Tech +2 over Cincinnati

Good luck and welcome to the new year, where ever sports bettor is undefeated thus far.

USC and Two Big Ten Favorites Today

Our Free NCAA Football Picks have been hot lately, hitting 70% with a 14-6 record over the last five weeks. They are hitting 56% on the year, but we hope to improve upon that today with USC and a couple of Big Ten favorites.

USC -23 over Stanford

Wisconsin -13 over Minnesota

Ohio State -9 over Illinois

Lots of chalk on today's card, but we we'll play whatever shows value in our system at this point.

Good luck!

Three Big NCAA Football Covers

With the Wisconsin Badgers sneaking by the Fresno State Bulldogs, the Oklahoma Sooners pounding on the Washington Huskies, and the USC Trojans taking it to the Ohio State Buckeyes, we enjoyed three solid covers Saturday.

The three covers gives us a record of 3-2 for the day, which is 60%, but we still expect better in weeks to come once we really get our Free NCAA Football picks system down.

Remember to stay with us all year for free pick after free pick after free pick...

More Free NCAA Football Picks

To go along with our Game of the Week, we have four more Free NCAA Football plays for today.

USC -11 over Ohio State

Oklahoma -20 1/2 over Washington
Virginia +11 over Connecticut

Arizona -10 1/2 over New Mexico

First, in what is definitely our second biggest play this Saturday, we like Mark Sanchez and the Trojans to humiliate the Buckeyes of Ohio State. Nothing personal, Ohio State, Big Ten teams just always seem overmatched against the top programs in the nation.

Then we like Oklahoma to route Washington, in what continues to be a disappointing season for the Huskies.

Finally, we hear dogs barking in favor of the Cavaliers, so look out UConn.

Good luck with the plays and enjoy another great Saturday of college football action. UPDATE: We're adding Arizona to the card, so we now have a total of five games today.

Wisconsin and USC to Start the Madness

Here's our first batch of Free NCAA Picks for the NCAA tournament for Thursday's games.

Wisconsin Badgers -11 over Cal State Fullterton Titans

USC Trojans -2.5 over Kansas State Wildcats

We understand lines can move one way or another, but we're on these early. More to come, of course.