We’ve won two weeks in a row.
Weekly Reminder 1: As always, our strategy for most games (we go with our gut occasionally) is pretty simple: Vegas doesn’t like losing money so we go against the overwhelming trends (e.g. when one team has 80% of the public behind it), which leads to many underdog picks because the public is always in love with favorites. Unfortunately, our strategy also incorporates picking UCLA every week because Mr. Rudin went there. We still won somehow.
Weekly Reminder 2: Some of the games on Yahoo show the spread as “off”, which means a spread has not been assigned. Yahoo makes those games an even line. We won’t be making picks for those in this column. Our picks will appear here in a weekly column on Thursday mornings until season’s end or the time where we realize that our picks have become so putrid that they become embarrassing to post, whichever comes first.
SYRACUSE +22.5 vs. CLEMSON
Vegas is losing a lot of money going against Clemson this year. That’s going to change this week.
CALIFORNIA +14 vs. WASHINGTON STATE
82% of the public on Wazzu. They zig, we zag.
FLORIDA STATE -7.5 at DUKE
We really want to go with Duke here because of last week’s game for FSU, but it’s Duke and it’s football.
N.C. STATE -12 at PITTSBURGH
N.C. State is starting to make us look good for pumping them pre-season.
WEST VIRGINIA -3.5 vs. TEXAS TECH
Get ready for those “overrated . . . clap clap clap clap clap . . . overrated” chants at the end of this one.
KANSAS STATE +6 vs. TCU
86% of the money on TCU. We’ll proudly rep the 14%.
INDIANA +7 vs. MICHIGAN
87% of the money is on Michigan. We love this pick.
SOUTH CAROLINA +2.5 at TENNESSEE
When one of your players goes on social media and likes a post calling your coach inept, that’s not good. That’s where Tennessee’s at.
NORTHWESTERN -3 at MARYLAND
Northwestern is going to finish the year off strongly.
GEORGIA TECH +5.5 at MIAMI
Its going to be tough for The U to not have a let down after last week’s game against FSU.
PURDUE +16.5 at WISCONSIN
Purdue has been great as a two-touchdown or more underdog this season. They’ll lose, but they’ll cover.
AKRON +14.5 at WESTERN MICHIGAN
80% of the public on Western Michigan. Go with the underdog.
AUBURN -7 at LSU
LSU is going to want to forget this season.
TEXAS +7.5 vs. OKLAHOMA (neutral site)
Texas shouldn’t be underdogs by more than a TD. This will be a good game.
MEMPHIS -3 vs. NAVY
Memphis can score a lot of points. Navy is going to have a tough time keeping up.
GEORGIA STATE +7.5 at LOUISIANA MONROE
78% on Louisiana Monroe. We’ll take the dog again.
FLORIDA -3 vs. TEXAS A&M
Florida’s going to have an end of the season run and make a mess of the SEC.
NORTH TEXAS +2.5 vs. UTSA
It’s fun to root for the Mean Green.
OHIO STATE -24 at NEBRASKA
The Buckeyes are humming right now. It’s not fun to pick against them.
MINNESOTA +4 vs. MICHIGAN STATE
82% of the public is on MSU. We like Minnesota to win this game outright.
UTAH +13 at USC
That’s a lot of points for ‘SC to be favored by over a solid team like Utah.
FRESNO STATE -2.5 vs. NEW MEXICO
Tough road game for New Mexico. We like this spread at just under a field goal.
SAN DIEGO STATE -7.5 vs. BOISE STATE
One of the rare times we’re going with the public. Boise State is not the same team without Chris Petersen at the helm.
WASHINGTON -17.5 at ARIZONA STATE
Going with the public again because Washington is threatening to get into the playoff. They have some guy named Chris Petersen coaching the team.
STANFORD -10.5 vs. OREGON
My how the mighty have fallen. Oregon needs to turn its program around.
LAST WEEK: 13-12
SEASON: 61-80