Video From Tennessee's Hygiene Clinic

You may have seen this item on Deadspin earlier today, in which the University of Tennessee football team had to conduct a team-wide clinic on proper hygiene and showering techniques following an outbreak of staph infections on the team.

Thanks to the cameras we set up years ago in the men's locker rooms on the UT campus (don't worry, it was just a faze), we've been able to obtain video of the clinic that they held.

Take notes, Volunteers!

Our Free NFL Picks Are Back!

Pardon us while we openly slobber all over our screen--and not for the image above.

The day we've all been waiting for is almost here. The beginning of the NFL season. And with that, comes the beginning of our 2010 Free NFL Picks. What more can you ask for?

The pick is in for Thursday night, with Sunday's picks to follow in the coming days.

Minnesota Vikings +6 over the New Orleans Saints

We don't mind that Brett Favre is playing on a bum ankle, or that the Saints pummeled him in the NFC Championship Game last season, or that he is without his favorite target from last year. In fact, we love it. A line that should be closer to a push than a touchdown has been seriously inflated up to +6 for Minnesota, and that could grow still. Folks, this is going to be a close game, and we're not ruling out a Vikings win.

People forget that this is mostly the same Vikings team that woulda shoulda coulda beat the Saints the last time around. It's a very talented squad that isn't even getting the respect they deserve within their own division--that they won in 2009! The bottom line is, we like this spread a lot to open up the season.

As much as we're sure you enjoyed our annual quasi-hiatus over the summer, we are back in full force. After Thursday, a full weekend of NCAA Football and the NFL will follow. For weeks. So sit back and enjoy it, and we'll try to make you a little money while you do.

A Very Average College Kickoff Weekend

After all of that--all the excitement that the beginning of a new football season brings--we find ourselves just about right where we started with a 5-4-1 Free NCAA Football Picks record. But hey, football's back.

Week 1 of the NCAA Football schedule brought us a perfectly average 1-1-1 record on Thursday, followed by a 4-3 mark on Saturday, giving us a 56 percent success rate through 10 picks.

Now, if we do that every week, we'll end up making a little bit of cash. After all, 56 percent is not terrible. But still, anything below the unofficial Mendoza Line in sports betting of 60 percent is a disappointment, even if it's just one week and ten games. We always like to start with a bang (who wouldn't?), and we didn't quite get that in Week 1. Then again, Week 1 can be goofy considering the lack of tangible statistics available, so coming out with a winning record is not the worst thing to happen.

(By the way, as part of our "post pictures of good looking women in order to make this place a little more visually appealing" campaign, we searched for a picture of Lindsay Lohan, a celebrity we've long concerned very average. Average picks, average pic--get it? A quick image search, however, proved to us that she has had some decidedly above average moments, as evidenced above.)

Let's take a look at the week that was--or rather, the Saturday that was, as Thursday's recap can be found here.

In our big blowout games, Nebraska took care of a -39 spread against Western Kentucky, though not by much, while Oklahoma couldn't handle the pressures of -34 spread against mighty Utah State. K-State covered (-2) over UCLA, as did Michigan (-3) over UConn and Colorado (-11) over Colorado State, but Troy failed to cover a -11 spread against Bowling Green. Finally, our lone underdog, Louisville at +3, couldn't handle Kentucky after all.

Like we said earlier this week, we plan on increasing the volume of picks this year, so 10 a week should be a common occurrence (it was as few as three last year). Additionally, we will mix in some over/unders as opposed to straight point spread in the future.

Also in the future? The NFL! Come back for our Thursday pick to open the season, as well as a full slate of Sunday Free NFL Picks to follow Week 2 of college football action.

Free NCAA Football Picks

Week 1: 5-4-1

Giving NASCAR Some Sunday Love

With the NFL season right around the corner, we are going to do something we don't normally do--hand out a Free NASCAR Pick!

Sure we've had a few in the past, but it isn't exactly a common occurrence around here. So, since NASCAR won't get any love on Sundays starting next weekend, we're going to send it off the right way. Please allow us to showcase racing babe Danica Patrick as our model for this post.

This weekend, the big race is in Atlanta, the Emory Healthcare 500. We've always wanted to go to one of these things, but with football starting up and things finally getting a little busier around here, that just won't be happening. Maybe next summer. Anyway, here's the pick:

Jimmie Johnson - 11/2

Jimmie has a good history at this track, and is poised to continue winning this event every three years (2004, 2007, 2010?). And, let it be known, this pick is more for fun than anything. We are not betting this heavily and we really don't have a NASCAR system. So keep that in mind, it is not like our more accurate Free NCAA Football Picks (which better not make us look silly tomorrow for saying that).

Take this pick as a peace offering, because despite our initial hopes, we will not be adding any plays to our seven-game slot for Saturday (in addition to our three from Thursday). Depending on how the picks against the spread go this week, we may or may not begin to mix in more over/unders. Our over/under system is not as advanced, hence our initial skepticism to do so. Nevertheless, enjoy both the Free NCAA Football Picks as well as the Free NASCAR Pick this weekend.

College Football Kicks Off the Breast Time of Year!

The first Saturday is upon us! After a 1-1-1 start on Thursday, we're pretty much just starting with a clean slate like none of that ever happened. As for tomorrow, plenty will be happening, including plenty of blowouts as we get the cake Week 1 games rolling. Just like we wish would happen in the picture above, it is time for baseball to go away and make way for football. We may be adding a few plays, but for now here's our Saturday card of Free NCAA Football Picks.

Nebraska -38 over Western Kentucky

Oklahoma -34 over Utah State

Kansas State -2 over UCLA

Louisville +3 over Kentucky

Michigan -3 over Connecticut

Colorado -11 over Colorado State

Troy -14 over Bowling Green

Like we said, more possibly (probably) to come, including some over/unders. As you may have noticed, we are upping the volume on picks this year, so there will be no shortage of action!

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.