paycheck game
n.—Gloss: in American college football, a sporting competition between a strong, favored team and a lower-caliber team (usually from another conference), for which the favored team pays the underdog a substantial fee. Note: Also called a bodybag game or a cupcake game. «Youngstown St. was scheduled before the upset so even if the Buckeyes had second thoughts it was too late. This is a win is a win is a win of a game that is regularly referred to as a “paycheck game.” YSU picked up their big paycheck, got pounded 38-6 and left town bloodied but richer.» —“Ohio State Charlatans” by Keltic Gator Orange and Blue Hue Oct. 18, 2007. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
Book recommendations and the art of apology. Martha and Grant share some good reads, including an opinionated romp through English grammar, a Spanish-language adventure novel, an account of 19th-century dictionary wars, and a gorgeously illustrated...
High school students in Alabama share some favorite slang terms. If someone tells you to touch grass, they’re telling you to get a reality check — but the last thing you’d actually want to touch is dog water! Also, the history of the...
With all the upsets in college football this year — most notably (and of most relevance here) Appalachian State’s upset of Michigan, we may need to invent another term. Some ideas: Cupcake’s revenge, vampire cupcake, heavily armed bodybag, garnished paycheck, and my personal favorite, vorpal bunny. (It’s a Monty Python reference.)