#11 Michigan State over PENN STATE giving 1 ½: LOCK OF DA’ WEEK. The Nitwit Lions actually drew a pair of Top 25 votes this week after whacking Indiana. Sparty’s QB is banged up and MSU had to rally at home last week to beat Purdue, but Spartans need a victory to ensure at least a piece of the Big Ten championship. Lions building a little momentum with four wins in past five games (4-1ATS), but this is the kinda’ opponent against which the alma mater will look good in the first half, then fold after the break. Lions won big the past two years, but were #7 and #13 at the time...MSU 27 Penn State 17
Virginia over #13 VIRGINIA TECH taking 21 ½: Hokies used a strong 4th quarter to put away Miami and lock in a berth in the ACC title game. Not much would be gained with a rout over the Cavs, who have been an enigma all season. Virginia is a solid bet as a road dog (9-2 ATS the past four years) but a bet-against on the back end of consecutive road games. Cavs 1-1 SU vs. the two Top 25 teams they played, with a loss by only 3 at USC. Tech has four wins by at least this many and have been on a mission. Still, we like....Tech 33 Cavs 14
Kansas over #15 Missouri taking 24 ½ (@ Kansas City, MO): Jayhawks traded first quarter scores with Oklahoma State before putting up the “gone fishin’” signs. Tigers like the neutral sites to open the year, not so much to close them out. Kansas has played Mizzou tough...losing by 2, winning by 3 and losing by 8 the last three years, but had reason to play hard. KU has just three straight-up victories in 2010 and has nowhere to go except home after this. Tigers could throw a second straight shutout and are tied with Nebraska atop the Big 12 North, but lose in head-to-head competition...Mizzou 28 Kansas 6
#18 South Carolina over CLEMSON giving 2 ½: The Poultry is already set to play in Atlanta but we don’t see any let-up in Carolina. Tigers played Auburn, NC State and Florida State all very close and the Gamehens are just 2-2 SU/ATS on the road. Tigers defense is playing well, limiting last six foes to 16 or fewer points. Both squads are young at the skills positions, but have experienced offensive lines. South Carolina’s been getting better production from its youth... USC 24 Clemson 17
#21 NC State over MARYLAND giving 2 ½: Two of this year’s surprise teams in the ACC square off here. Wolfpack is 8-2 ATS to-date but gets just second chance to lay points. Terps have seven SU wins but have been up-and-down. The wins also came over no one significant. Turtles lost 38-31 in 2009 and State doesn’t fare well facing teams wanting revenge, but...NC State 28 Maryland 20
#22 FLORIDA STATE over Florida giving 2 ½: With 8 wins in the books, Jimbo Fischer, in his first year as head coach, has already led the ‘Noles to more victories in a season than in three of Bobby Bowden’s final four years in Tallahassee and could tie or beat the remaining win total with a victory here and/or in a bowl. Senior Christian Ponder has a chance to do something that hasn’t happened since he arrived...pick up a victory over the Gators... Injuns 24 Florida 19
Brigham Young over #23 UTAH taking 9 ½: Aztecs receivers ran amok on Utah but State turned the ball over three times and let Utes support Vindy’s proclamation that they weren’t quite finished. Coogs were left for dead in September, but have rebounded to win five of past six games (5-1 ATS). BYU took this match-up 26-23 last year but haven’t toppled Utah in consecutive seasons since 2000-2001...Utah 24 BYU 20
#24 Iowa over MINNESOTA giving 15: Hawkeyes have to be major-league frustrated after letting two victories slip away in the 4th quarter the past two weeks. First game for the Gophers since shocking Illinois two weeks ago as a three-score underdog. Iowa’s just 1-3 ATS on the road this season. Gophers have been outscored 67-0 the past years in this series, but haven’t scored less than 8 this year. Floyd of Rosedale goes to...Iowa 27 Minny 7
#25 Mississippi State over MISSISSIPPI giving 2 ½: Bulldogs played at Arkansas’ pace and were beaten in 2OT. Rebels dragged LSU into its trackmeet pace, but fell a little short. Collectively, these clubs have two spread wins between ‘em in their past 8 games combined. The home team has been the SU winner of the Iron Bowl each of the last six years and four of ‘em were by substantial margins. Rebels are 2-3 ATS in Oxford. State’s gone 2-2 ATS on the road, but against much better teams...Mississippi State 31 Ole Mist 21
BETWEEN THE HASHMARKS
Runs the forty in 4.2? Nice. Bench-presses 25 reps at 450 lbs.? Outstanding. Never been in a high-school production? NEXT!!!!!
Meet the new defensive coordinator....Inside the Actors Studio host James Lipton! Forget the nickel package...send in the Nicole Kidman package!
Here’s a conspiracy theory for ya...members of officiating crews faking injury to slow-down offenses or extend the game in exchange for a few extra dollars! How ‘bout networks intentionally taking more TV time-outs to do likewise!
BTW, our overall season record bumped up to 105-108-3 (.493) and gives us a chance to finish at or over .500 with some decent calls over the final couple of regular season weeks.
Gotta’ wonder how many baseball fans brought gloves to the Illinois-Northwestern game in hopes of catching a few personal-foul balls! Did either team strand runners at the cornerbacks???!!
Nebraska coach Bo Pelini drew a lotta’ negative attention for his “ref rage” during Huskers’ loss to A&M. Too bad Big Red wasn’t playing at the aforementioned Cubs venue. Bo coulda’ just thrown his hat, kicked dirt on home plate and been ejected like any self-respecting skipper!
After scoring vs. the Bengals Sunday, Buffalo receiver Steve Johnson pulled up his jersey to reveal Heath Ledger’s Joker quote, “Why so serious?” Coulda’ been worse for Cincinnati fans. The pass-catcher’s shirt coulda’ bore the words from Jack Nicholson’s Joker...”This town...needs an enema!”
Turkeys pardoned by the President are now being shipped off to George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate to spend their rest of their lives instead of the traditional destination of Disneyland. Brad Childress’ agents have been trying to get an audience with the Commander-in-Chief!
Black Shirt: Goes to Utah tight end Kendrick Moeai for a 47-yard TD reception as time expired in the first half to put the Utes back in the game vs. San Diego State.
“Locked in a Box?”: Badgers blasted Michigan, finally raising the record to 5-7 (.417).
Shoppe Talk: Buckeyes (3-7-1) still aren’t givin’ up the forecast dubya, but we’ll take last week’s push as progress! The Reno Wolfpack stays another fortnight with yet another loss (1-5).
Vindy’s Week 13 Best Bets: Last Week: 3-1 Season: 24-30-1 (.444)
Northern Illinois -23 ½ over EASTERN MICHIGAN (FRI), Louisville -3 over RUTGERS (FRI), VANDERBILT -6 over Wake Forest, Western Kentucky +13 over TROY, DUKE +9 ½ over North Carolina
BTW, Vindy joined forces with thousands of other disgruntled travelers this week and hopped outta’ the full-body scan at McCarron Airport. We came adorned with floppy ears and a cotton tail, but quickly stuffed them into our lone piece of carry-on luggage upon realizing nobody else has dressed for the occasion! (Oh wait...we were supposed to opt-out? No wonder security just gave the Weber Kid a funny look and waved him through!)
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