Mike Kern’s Fraud Five
October 27, 2024
It was a rather lean week but as always we’ll try to do our best. So please extend me some slack.
Liberty — You thought just because this happened on Tuesday it would slip under the whatever? The Flames had a 17-game winning streak, longest in FBS. They were at winless Kennesaw State, which had just moved up to FBS and had never beaten an FBS opponent before in 10 tries. They were favored by almost four touchdowns. So of course they lost, 27-24. Why ask why. According to ESPN research it was the sixth time an 0-5 or worse team beat a 5-0 or better team in the Associated Press poll era. And the first time since 2001 (North Texas over Middle Tennessee). Oh well.
Navy — I almost never pick on the service academies, for all the obvious reasons. So most times it would be OK that the Middies lost to Notre Dame, which was a 14-point fave at the Meadowlands. But maybe not by 51-14, particularly not when you come in undefeated. It was 31-7 at halftime. And the Irish only scored once in the final 19 minutes. Even the Navy coach conceded his team wasn’t up to the moment. The Midshipmen turned the ball over six times, leading to 28 ND points. Those six TOs were the most for the Mids since 2002. I still can’t wait for the Army-Navy game, even if once again it’s not being played in Philly for whatever reasons. Which obviously just isn’t right.
Virginia — Cavaliers were like a 4-point fave at home over North Carolina, which was trying to end its longest losing streak since 2019. And the Heels did, 41-14.
Toledo — This goes out to my good friend Hack, who lives in Maumee, OH. The Rockets were slight faves against their biggest rival, visiting Bowling Green. They lost, 41-26. Rockets never led. But it was a 2-point game midway through the third quarter. Then BG scored the last 13.
Have to ask for a ruling: can I put Liberty in twice?
OK, then how about this:
Aaron Boone — I realize this is kind of easy, but as I acknowledged it was slimmer pickings. Hey, I could have gone for maybe Jerry Jones too. Anyway, in Game 1 of the World Series on Friday, he brought in a reliever in the 10th inning who hadn’t pitched in over a month, holding a 1-run lead, to face the meat of the Dodgers order. When he had his closer, who had pitched well this postseason, available. Two pitches later, Freddy Freeman went deep and the game was history. Just saying. Needless to note, the move didn’t play real well in New York. And you thought that kind of stuff only happened in Philly.
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