We really did win Yahoo’s College Pick’em last season despite what our record last week indicates as to our handicapping abilities. Anyway, we can’t do much worse than last week with our college picks. And we have the advantage of UCLA not being one of Yahoo’s chosen games, so we don’t have to take that automatic L! What a comeback last week though (yes, it was mandatory per Mr. Rudin that we fit that in somehow).
Gus Johnson’s announcing is a national treasure. Do you want to see him call UCLA’s upset win over Gonzaga that led to Adam Morrison crying? Of course you do!
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.
SOUTH FLORIDA -17 at CONNECTICUT
South Florida is humming under Charlie Strong, who shouldn’t have been canned by Texas. Plus, Connecticut looks much more timid when you write it as “Connecticut” instead of “UConn.”
NORTHWESTERN -3 at DUKE
Unless they start playing basketball at halftime, we like Northwestern.
NORTH CAROLINA +10 vs. Louisville
Our one strategy that fared ok last week was bet against overrated Louisville against the spread this season.
IOWA STATE +2.5 vs. IOWA
81% of people on Yahoo picked Iowa. Vegas does not like losing money.
WAKE FOREST +1 at BOSTON COLLEGE
Meh, coin flip and went against Boston College who has stunk for a long time.
VIRGINIA +3 vs. INDIANA
Is Virginia any good? Probably not, but maybe we’re going with George Constanza’s opposite theory? You’ll never know.
EASTERN MICHIGAN +5 vs. RUTGERS
85% of people on Yahoo picked Rutgers. Vegas does not like losing money.
WESTERN MICHIGAN +7.5 at MICHIGAN STATE
Western Michigan showed everyone last week against USC that they know how to play.
PENN STATE -21 vs. PITTSBURGH
These teams are in different classes, not that “student-athletes” have enough time to attend class, but you catch our drift.
TCU -3 at ARKANSAS
TCU is always well-coached and shows up to play in big games.
SAN JOSE STATE +26.5 at TEXAS
We know that you can be all in on a team, but can you be all out? If so, we’re all out on Texas.
OREGON -14 vs. NEBRASKA
We liked Nebraska so much more with Bo Pelini, didn’t you?
AUBURN +5.5 at CLEMSON
77% of people on Yahoo picked Clemson. Please inform them that Deshaun Watson has moved on to the NFL.
SOUTH CAROLINA +2.5 at MISSOURI
This will be a competitive game, may as well take the points.
OHIO STATE -7.5 vs. OKLAHOMA
Urban Meyer will have his squad locked in on Saturday. The spread is that high to get people to bet the Sooners and get housed.
LOUISIANA TECH +8 vs. MISSISSIPPI STATE
86% of people on Yahoo picked Mississippi State. They must love double consonants.
GEORGIA +4.5 at NOTRE DAME
Notre Dame is an improved team, but not four and a half points over Georgia improved.
WESTERN KENTUCKY -7.5 at ILLINOIS
Yes, Illinois is that bad.
NEW MEXICO STATE +7.5 at NEW MEXICO
85% of people on Yahoo picked New Mexico. You know what to do.
STANFORD +7 at USC
This game is a toss-up. The seven points are a gift.
BYU +1 vs. UTAH
The Mormon Civil War. Go with the Mormons.
WASHINGTON STATE -10.5 vs. BOISE STATE
Get ready to hear “Luke Falk for Heisman” conversations beginning next Monday.
SAN DIEGO STATE +3.5 at ARIZONA STATE
88% of people on Yahoo picked Arizona State. Vegas baby.
LAST WEEK: 4-14
SEASON: 4-14