Daily Bullets (May 19)

Going Over (Or Under)

When picking the Pokes outcomes this fall, it’s encouraging to consider the possibilities in the first half of the season.

A soft early schedule makes a 6-0 start a real possibility. The history of Mike Gundy’s clubs usually winning and losing a game they shouldn’t are factors that cancel each other out. The Cowboys could conceivably lose at Kansas State, Oklahoma and TCU and still beat this generous total. Gundy’s teams tend to thrive amid lower expectations. Back the Over. [SportsLine]

Picking the Pokes at 8.5 is an ode to the consistent performance of Cowboy teams past but picking the over is a bet on the Cowboy offense getting figured out. The schedule sets up well after Boise for the new quarterback to get his legs under him before the better defenses show up.

Return of the Jensen

Apologies for the lean towards the Star Wars reference in the title but wrapped up in a good piece on Jensen Elliott’s return is a tidbit on this weekend’s significance.

 Still, anything Elliott is able to provide in the coming weeks will be valuable. A series victory over Texas Tech this weekend at Allie P. Reynolds Stadium would give OSU the Big 12 title, though two Texas losses to TCU would cause the same result. [NewsOK]

While a series victory is off the table with last night’s loss, a win today and a TCU win would lock up the regular season title.

OSU and NCAA Notes

T. Boone Pickens’ letter to the 2018 graduating class…..Enjoyed this piece naming OSU Baseball’s all-time starting nine….Brad Lundblade appears to have found a good situation in Cinci….Pokes made the list for one of the top-12 website designs for college teams….Legalized sports betting will give the NCAA an opportunity

Pokes drop game two – need to win and a little help from a friend to lock up the title today.

Cowboys conclude regular season tomorrow at Allie P. #GoPokes pic.twitter.com/4SSmhYfgiB

— Cowboy Baseball (@OSUBaseball) May 19, 2018

Good news…

Shaquem Griffin and Tre Flowers are officially Seahawks https://t.co/SvXbKPhngT

— The Seattle Times (@seattletimes) May 18, 2018

Bad news.

WR Chris Lacy released from Patriots according to his agent @OSMG_LLC

— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) May 18, 2018

No disrespect – but this looks like the older brother’s room from “Home Alone” chocked full of trophies. I’m totally cool with all the money being invested in the world-class course but let’s get a mini-Heritage Hall out there.

Step inside the clubhouse at Karsten Creek and take a lesson in history. #winning pic.twitter.com/PjeqKrELee

— Beth Ann Nichols (@GolfweekNichols) May 18, 2018

Congrats to Zac Dawson finding a place back home in Florida.

South Florida has signed Oklahoma State transfer Zack Dawson, source told ESPN. Sit one, play 3. Former Top 100 kid.

— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) May 18, 2018

What You Missed on PFB

• The Grindfather AKA Tony Allen came on the latest pod with Porter and Carson
• A former OSU wrestler beat an Olympic gold-medalist
• Check out the top ten comments from this week
• Pokes going after some linemen in the latest Reload
• How the 2018 NFL Draft can impact football recruiting

Other Stuff I’m Reading

• Thoughtful perspective on how the Amish trial run technology (via mainstream society)
• Great piece on the life of one of my heroes, Dietrich Bonhoeffer
• Liked these hacks on how to gracefully handle forgetting someone’s name

Couldn’t agree more with Berry T.’s thoughts towards this Presti-hater.

Berry Tramel went nuclear on a fan blaming Sam Presti, lamenting the Harden Trade. Brings up some valid points.https://t.co/W7QAKRP8Ad pic.twitter.com/mj5C6PO1Gu

— Carson Cunningham (@KOCOCarson) May 18, 2018