Vindy's Picks Week 4

Roberts Dodges Tough Questions

WASHINGTON, District of Columbia (AP)…The chalk by the name of the next likely Supreme Court Chief Justice, John Roberts, on the betting boards in Vegas sportsbooks didn’t make it any easier as he endured a barrage of difficult queries from Democrats this week. Faced with his own party’s conundrum over allowing President Bush’s nominee to take the position in hopes of a more favorable appointee to Sandra Day O’Connor’s vacant roster spot, Senator Arlen Specter asked Roberts if he would overturn a landmark decision on a woman’s right to choose…teams against the spread…and if he favored the use of instant replay at the college level. While media expected the conservative Republican candidate Judge Dredd" Stallone-like "I am the Law!", Roberts calmly retorted, "Precedent plays an important role in stability and evenhandedness". Roberts added, "And if the referee gets it wrong, instant replay can fix it!

It was like picks in a wood chipper as Vindy hobbled to a 5-12 Week Three result (19-30, .388). With nowhere to go but up…

FRI. SEPT. 23
#13 California over NEW MEXICO STATE giving 25: Bears back-up QB Ayoob has had a couple games to get used to being the man. Aggies have already played their biggest game of the year last Saturday against the Lobos. NMSU covered last season at Berkeley as a 34-point dog…Bears 38 Aggies 6

#22 Iowa State over ARMY giving 18: Second choice for "lock". The real question is whether or not State will care enough to rout the Hudson River regiment given a listless 11-point win over Illinois State in the opener. Can’t see ISU losing concentration over pending visit to Lincoln. Black Knights lost by 10 last week to Baylor. Gotta’ think Cyclones are at least a few scores better than that…Iowa State 31 Army 3

SAT. SEPT. 24

#24 OREGON over #1 Southern Cal taking 19 1/2: Ducks have lost only 7 games at the Pond over last 5+ seasons. Mallards did spot Fresno a 17-point cushion before remembering they were playing home and rallying to win. Would love to see an upset here. We’re takin’ the points, so at no extra charge…Oregon 31 USC 30

#2 Texas: IDLE (next @ Missouri)

#3 LSU over #10 Tennessee giving 6: Had Vols’ defense (2 dropped INTs and allowed a 3rd-and-19 conversion) and special teams (punt muff) played a bit better, last week’s outcome might’ve been different. Still, we like the Rose-bound Bengals layin’ less than a TD at home…LSU 23 Tennessee 15

#15 Georgia Tech @ #4 VIRGINIA TECH: OFF

#5 Florida (GASP!) over KENTUCKY giving 21 ½: Wildcats have covered three straight vs. the Crocodiles and as previously noted, UF caught a few breaks vs. Tennessee. Meyer’s entering his 1st SEC road game, albeit the easiest of the five on the schedule. Will it be the Wildcats that stayed within a TD of Louisville… or the Mildcats that lost by 14 at Indiana?…Florida 48 KY 24

#6 Florida State: IDLE (next vs. Syracuse)

#7 Georgia over MISSISSIPPI STATE giving 16: UGA’s meeting with Tennessee is still two weeks out after this one. Vindy predicts Joja’ will spot MSU an early FG-lead then take control the rest of the way… Georgia 24 Mississippi State 3

#8 OHIO STATE over #21 Iowa giving 9 ½: Zero faith in this choice and Vindy changed his original pick here. Buckeyes are slogging along at 1-2 ATS (and three consecutive forecast losses for Weber!). The efforts thus far just don’t scream dominance. Hawkeyes outgained Iowa State in yardage, but had 5 turnovers. Vindy just knows he’s gonna’ eat this one! State gets revenge for ugly loss in ’04 at Iowa…OSU 21 Iowa 10

#9 Louisville over SOUTH FLORIDA giving 23: The only doubt in Vindy’s mind here is Bulls’ 10-point loss at Happy Valley. Lions were still discovering their offense. Cards have had theirs all along…Louisville 54 USF 23

MINNESOTA over #11 Purdue giving 2: Boilermakers kicker Ben Jones tanked on 8 of his 18 FG tries last year. In his defense, two were blocked. All four of Purdue’s conference losses were by 3 or less. Purdue D must hold powerful Gophers below 5 yards per carry to have a chance to win…Minny 31 Purdue 27

Colorado over #12 MIAMI taking 15: Until Hurricanes can prove they can stay outta’ their own way, we’re grabbing the points. No Miami turnovers last week, but they did draw yellow laundry 14 times for 117 penalty yards…Miami 24 Buffs 17

WISCONSIN over #14 Michigan taking 3: UPSET PICK OF DA’ WEEK. In home loss to Notre Dame, Wolverines out-gained the Leprechauns by 93 total yards. Down big early to Bowling Green, Badgers continued to run and eventually won handily. Wisky D has settled in nicely to give up only 3 points in its last two games. Another parting gift for Coach Alvarez…Wisconsin 17 Michigan 14

#16 Notre Dame over WASHINGTON giving 13 1/2: The Willingham Bowl. Sled Dogs have shown absolutely nothing to-date and unless they can upend Wazzou in mid-November, they saw their only victory last week vs. Idaho…Irish 34 UDUB 17

ILLINOIS over #17 Michigan State taking 11: The Zooker has the Illini playing over their heads, including 17 straight unanswered points against Cal. Spartans should suffer enough Irish hangover to allow Illinois to go 4-0 ATS…MSU 21 Illinois 13

#18 Arizona State over OREGON STATE giving 5 ½: Louisville put up 428 passing on the Beavers. Sun Devils throw with reckless abandon and should do likewise…ASU 31 OSU 20

Indiana State @ #19 TEXAS TECH: No Line.

Arkansas over #20 ALABAMA taking 16 1/2: LOCK OF DA’ WEEK. Razorbacks have looked terrible in losses to Vandy and Southern Cal, but Houston Nutt will have the boys fired up for this one. Effects of the recent probation are dwindling, yet Vindy would still have more confidence in the Tide if they were still under Franchione or Price instead of nice-guy Mike Shula…’Bama 20 Hogs 16

Duke over #23 VIRGINIA taking 23: Homecoming for the Wahoos. Blue Devils last pair of jaunts to Charlottesville have resulted in losses by 27 and 21, both spread losses as well. Weber last correctly picked Virginia ATS the week of October 7, 2004. Like a kick returner watching an unwieldy punt, he starts waving his hands and yelling "Get away! Get away!" to fellow bettors…VA 31 Duke 13

#25 UCLA: IDLE (next vs. Washington)

BETWEEN THE HASHMARKS

By the way, for those East of the Mississippi, it’s after Labor Day…NO WHITE CLEATS!

Holy Cow! Vanderbilt is 3-0 (straight up!). Commo-Doormats No More!

UNLV’s team GPA went from 2.28 in the Fall of ’04 to 2.65 in the Spring of ’05. Vindy’s stockbroker said, "When it gets to 3.0, sell!"

Eastern Michigan plays at Central Michigan this week. Last week, the directional Michigans (including Western Michigan) collectively were outscored 103-41. EMU was shutout, CMU posted a field goal and WMU eventually won its game 34-28 after being down 21-17 at the half to…Southern Illinois! Who wants to hop in the Winnebago and trek to Mt. Pleasant???!!!! C’mon! Who’s WITH me???!!!

Ex-Cowboys’ OB Gary Hogeboom is competing this month on Survivor: Guatemala. Sure, he’ll throw a coconut 50 yards with a prettier spiral than anyone else, but with a career ratio of 49 TDs to 60 INTs, a couple of picks to the wrong tribe’s howler monkeys and he’s history!

Coming this Fall to NBC…"Law & Order: Special Vigorish Unit", "CSI: Criminal Spread Investigation" and "My Name is Earl…Campbell!"

Former Dolphins’ RB Larry Czonka, recently rescued from the Bering Sea, drew comparisons earlier this year between football and sled dog racing in the Iditarod. You should see those huskies pick up blitzing snowmen!

As regular place-kicker David Akers sat on the sidelines with a pulled hammy and having missed 3 of 4 FG tries this year, Eagles LB Simoneau booted an extra-point this past Sunday vs. the 49ers with plenty of leg to spare. Can’t wait to draft him next season for the fantasy team!

Pick like nobody’s looking. Forecast like nobody’s listening. Bet like you’ve never been hurt!

"Locked in a Box?": Weber falls to 0-3 as the Buckeyes fell short vs. San Diego State.

Shoppe Talk: The Gators are back at 2-10-1 and the Cavs, who escaped Vindy’s notice last week, come in at 1-8 over the last 9 since the 2004 season! Northern Illinois is below the ranked radar for now, but hang around at 1-12 the last two seasons!

VINDY’S WEEK 4 BEST BETS: Last Week: 1-4 (OUCH!) Season: 5-7 (.416)
TULSA (PK) over Memphis, Navy –4 over RICE, ARKANSAS STATE –6 over Florida International