Imo from what I have read from Alcatraz over the years, he is probably as good as anyone to ask.
Based on my following Steete/NC since they began and what has been written, Steele doesn't make all of the picks but has a strong say
especially with the big plays and still is heavily involved with the PowerSweep and PowerPlays.
Someone correct me if I am wrong, but although the ratings may be different, the actual Late Phones and Marquee picks never differ from
what is picked about in the newsletters.
My own opinion as to why the NC picks have gone badly downhill is that Steele/NC are arrogant/stubborn and simply have determined
that the same handicapping techniques and criteria that worked for them 20 years ago or even longer are infallible, never should
be questioned and never need to be adapted to the season and teams at hand as well as to how the game is played today compared to hw
it was played a number of years ago.
One only has to look at the manner in which Steele/NC promote their plays with the same promotions, advertising, the same SCRIPTED
big plays on given dates to meet marketing needs and a lot more, to realize that Steele/NC are caught in a time warp and never
need to change anything.
Anyone who is older realizes that whether it is in running a sports service or anything in general in life, using a static approach rather than
a dynamic one to fit the current year and adapt to change is doomed to failure!!
Anyways whether I am right, wrong or somewhere in between, this is how I see it as someone who has followed Steele/NC
closely since they began in the 80's and especially so for the last 20 plus years with the advent of computers, gambling sites, etc.
Brad Powers left town with all of Phil Steele's customers names, that is the main reason Brad has been able to do what he has. Don't get me wrong Brad is a hard worker, but it was what he took from Northcoast that got him his start. Brad is out in Vegas now.
There main guy who was doing their NFL, Shawn-who was also Hot Shot Sports on the Community Line passed away last December. Many of the services on that community line are just employees in the office.
One of the biggest scams was when Phil created ACCU Picks. Phil would gather the best plays from all the services and take the best of the best and use for that service. Todd the puppet now runs that service.
There main guy who was doing their NFL, Shawn-who was also Hot Shot Sports on the Community Line passed away last December. Many of the services on that community line are just employees in the office.
One of the biggest scams was when Phil created ACCU Picks. Phil would gather the best plays from all the services and take the best of the best and use for that service. Todd the puppet now runs that service.
4.5H BOWL GOY: Texas (-13) Arizona St (Peach Bowl) 1:00pm ESPN
Top Opinion:
Marquee - Under 45.5 Notre Dame/Georgia (Sugar Bowl) 8:45pm ESPN
Regular Opinion:
Georgia (+1) Notre Dame (Sugar Bowl) 8:45pm ESPN
Marquee - Over 55.5 Ohio St/Oregon (Rose Bowl) 5:00pm ESPN
Marquee - Over 52 Texas/Arizona St (Peach Bowl) 1:00pm ESPN
Had To Pick’em:
Oregon (+2.5) Ohio St (Rose Bowl) 5:00pm ESPN
Top Opinion:
Marquee - Under 45.5 Notre Dame/Georgia (Sugar Bowl) 8:45pm ESPN
Regular Opinion:
Georgia (+1) Notre Dame (Sugar Bowl) 8:45pm ESPN
Marquee - Over 55.5 Ohio St/Oregon (Rose Bowl) 5:00pm ESPN
Marquee - Over 52 Texas/Arizona St (Peach Bowl) 1:00pm ESPN
Had To Pick’em:
Oregon (+2.5) Ohio St (Rose Bowl) 5:00pm ESPN
A BIG FAT LOSER!!
Really dumb pick IMO......Why would you pick a) such a high profile game, and b) if you're going to do that, why take the first game of the day? Doesn't seem consistent to me. Just my observation/opinion.
Fortunately I was at work all day and didn't see his pick.....AND I had already bet ASU + 13 yesterday, so a double win for me.....HaHaHa
Alcatraz....Some really good info here sir. I remember when ACCU Picks first appeared on the Community Line, and wondered about exactly what you pointed out. It seemed to me that Phil really pushed that service more than the others back then on the Comp Line.
Of course, you probably know or remember Ralph Michaels - he started under Phil at NC I understand....I talked to him at length on the phone a couple of times while he was still there. Seemed like a really good dude. He was the curator of California Sports on the Community Line back then - I don't know if it's still on there.
I do think he still runs Cal Sports but with a different group now. I think he's with the Prez and those guys.
Just looking over the game stats since I didn't get to watch it......
Holy Toledo!!! Looks like ASU dominated the selection in the Bowl Game of the Year....
# of plays... 97 to 60
yardage ..... 510 to 375
Held Texas to 53 yards rushing on 30 carries. ASU was a whopping 10 for 23 on 3rd downs!!
Maybe the wrong team won outright.....Too bad!
Actually the game started off to a route for Texas taking a 14-3 with two quick score plays in the first and second quarter.
After that the game did turn around remarkably.
I don't defend Steele/NC very often but with an 8-2 current record of late with these Games of Something, imo it is difficult to criticize
the pick.
I’ll pass this onto Savage and you Saturday morning UK basketball over 39 1/2 1st half
RX is on it’s last leg IMO. 
It funny before you wrote this, I was looking the basketball schedule tomorrow and I noticed the great matchup between Kentucky,I’ll pass this onto Savage and you Saturday morning UK basketball over 39 1/2 1st half
thought of you and was thinking of the OVER since i remember from last season as one of your favorite plays for last season was over
in the Kentucky game.
I might play your pick although I prefer full game plays.
ps Why do you think RX is on its last leg?
