If you think Colin Cowherd is an insufferable blowhard, this might not be the best week to tune into The Herd. Cowherd had a scorching week of Blazin’ 5 picks, going 4-1.
His “Boom Bet” (Bills -2.5), which Fox Bet online sportsbook boosts at 4X odds, hit for the second straight week. He called for the Bengals (+5) to upset the Eagles, and the game ended in a tie.
Cowherd’s hat-backward hating of Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz might be a silly thing to call out a pro athlete for, but he also ripped the quarterback’s poor play this season. Wentz only gave his doubters more fuel with a two-interception performance where he looked like he had lost all confidence and was outplayed by Bengals rookie Joe Burrow.
How often does Colin post a Blazin’ 5 4-win week? In 2019, it happened five times. However, his overall record through the course of a 17-week season was 42-41-3. So yes, he had four 1-4 weeks and one awful no-win Week 17 that contributed to the final tally.
Cowherd calls out Wentz’s play and headwear
Through two weeks, Cowherd’s Blazin’ 5 picks are a tepid 4-6.
But Cowherd was fired up about Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz and his choice of headwear. Cowherd believes that as a franchise quarterback during a weekly press conference in front of the team and corporate logos, Wentz should not wear his hat backward.
Most of Twitter panned Cowherd’s take and posted pictures of other athletes, like Tom Brady, Russell Wilson and Ken Griffey Jr., wearing a backward hat.
On Friday, Cowherd said, dripping with sarcasm, “Fans ripped me. It was very hurtful. I didn’t sleep last night. I barely closed my eyes.”
He then doubled down.
“I believe in life that time, place, location and assignment matter. If you want to wear your hat on backwards in your yard, I don’t care. If you are a quarterback and you have your once-a-week podium discussion, and the Philadelphia Eagles are brilliantly owned, respectfully built … and you’re telling me this (turns hat backward) … is no different for a face of the franchise than this (turns hat forward)?”
He then named Dave Portnoy, founder of Barstool Sports and the newly launched Barstool Sportsbook app in PA, and said they “ravaged” him about his Wentz take. Cowherd mentioned Portnoy’s wardrobe choices and aggressive personality and how, when he interviewed President Donald Trump, he wore a suit and didn’t curse. He then said:
“Assignment, location and time matters. Most of you won’t be as successful as Carson Wentz or Dave, so you just don’t get it.”
Cowherd brought on T.J. Houshmanzadeh, who joined the Wentz-bashing and said, “If he loses this week to the Bengals, it’s a wrap. His confidence is going to be completely gone. ”
Hot takes from Colin Cowherd this week
- The 1-1 New England Patriots are “way better” than he thought.
- The Browns are going to make a decision on Baker Mayfield during the next four games.
- The New York Giants should move on from second-year QB Daniel Jones and target Trevor Lawrence.
- The two worst football teams in the world are in New York.
Colin Cowherd’s 2020 Week 3 NFL picks
Cowherd’s Blazin’ 5 airs on The Herd on Fridays at around 1 p.m. EST. We break down his picks for you here and follow up on Monday with his results.
“I LOVE my picks this week,” he said before and after making them.
Los Angeles Rams vs. Buffalo Bills (-2.5)
COLIN’S BOOM BET
Cowherd’s pick: Bills
Colin’s final score: Bills 27, Rams 21
Cowherd said:
“This is a really strong play. Like it, I love it. Buffalo as a home favorite is 12-2 in the last three years. They are the only team in the league that’s top five offense and defense. You see the improvement of young Josh Allen. Only the Patriots have allowed fewer points per game than the Bills since the start of last year. Their run defense is exceptional, and that’s what the Rams rely on. This will force Jared Goff to throw on the road more than he is comfortable with.”
FYI:
Week 1, Colin bet against the Bills and went with the Jets (+6.5).
“Josh Allen was bad last year,” he said. “He was pretty good against Dallas, and that’s the game you watched. Josh Allen was last in passing yards, passing touchdowns, completion percentage and passer rating the last two years.”
Week 2, he bet against the Bills and went with Miami (+5.5), and said:
“The Bills averaged 19 points last year. They are still babysitting Josh Allen.”
Actual final score: Bills 35, Rams 32
Did Colin win? Yes
Las Vegas Raiders vs. New England Patriots (-5.5)
Colin’s pick: Patriots
Colin’s final score: Patriots 34, Raiders 26
Cowherd said:
“The best team in the NFL after a loss is New England. They are 27-8 in the last decade. The Raiders are on a short week and have to travel across the country after maybe the biggest Raider win in years. The Raiders do something very poorly; they allow six-and-half yards per play. They don’t give a ton over the top, but you can slice them up six yards at a time. What does Cam and the New England offense do well? Get six yards at a time. This will be a dominant New England time-of-possession game. They will six yard the Raiders to death.”
Actual final score: Patriots 36, Raiders 20
Did Colin win? Yes
Cincinnati Bengals (+5) vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Colin’s pick: Bengals
Colin’s final score: Bengals 27, Eagles 24
Cowherd said:
“Upset of the week. Remember, no fans in Philadelphia. Young quarterback Joe Burrow isn’t facing the rowdy Eagles crowd, he’s getting five points and they played on Thursday. Carson Wentz has been all over the board in the last six games, eight sacks, four picks this year, both tied for the most of any quarterback. I don’t know if Philadelphia’s locker room is good. They also have the most giveaways this year. This is a Philadelphia team that is in flux. It is a strangely confident 0-2 Bengals team. They upset the Eagles in a fanless stadium.”
Actual final score: Bengals 23, Eagles 23
Did Colin win? Yes
Houston Texans (+4.5) vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Colin’s pick: Texans
Colin’s final score: Steelers 27, Texans 26
Cowherd said:
“I love Houston in this spot. We are judging them because they lost to Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson. Everybody’s going to lose to them. The Steelers still make too many mistakes and have at least one giveaway in 25 straight games. The Steelers’ offensive line run-blocking this year has been atrocious. It means you are going to give Deshaun Watson 12 to 14 possessions, and the number here is just simply too big. Houston is going to feel desperate.”
Actual final score: Steelers 28, Texans 21
Did Colin win? No
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-6) vs. Denver Broncos
Colin’s pick: Buccaneers
Colin’s final score: Buccaneers 27, Broncos 17
Cowherd said:
“Like it, I love it. Since the start of last season, when Drew Lock doesn’t play, the Broncos are 3-8. They have a winning record when he does play. They are not a good football team, and they can’t score without him. Jeff Driskel is 1-7 as a starter. But this is about defense. New England totally shut down Alvin Kamara and Christian McCaffrey. What are the Broncos right now offensively if they can’t run the football? They are Jeff Driskel. Nobody is focused like Tampa Bay right now. They think they are not playing well, and their defense has been on fire. I think this game could get ugly by the second half.”
Actual final score: Buccaneers 28, Broncos 10
Did Colin win? Yes
Blazin’ 5 Week 1 record: 4-1
Colin Cowherd 2020 Blazin’ 5 season record: 8-7
Boom Bet record — Cowherd’s “hottest pick” boosted 4X at Fox Bet: 2-1
Be sure to check back at PAOC each week of the 2020 NFL season to see if Colin Cowherd’s picks won.