Vindy's 2005 Conference Championship Picks

HOMEFIELD SECURITY FACES CHARGES

WASHINGTON, District of Columbia (UPI)...The Homefield Security Department has been accused of exaggerating intelligence leading to installation of the Miami Hurricanes as 18-point favorites over Georgia Tech two weeks ago and again last week, causing lines-makers to lay 35 points with Louisville over Syracuse. Analysts allegedly "bigged-up the offensive threat potential" of the Hurricanes based on unreliable information provided by a University of Miami defector, code-named "Curveball", so government-sponsored sportsbooks would benefit from an underdog cover. A spokesperson for the HSD adamantly denied the claims, indicating the department acted appropriately on information as it was originally acquired.

Winning two of the first three picks in Week 13, Vindy then watched his forecast come crashing down like an M&M Candies Thanksgiving Day Parade balloon and finished at 2-8 (102-109-3, .483). Fortunately, no human beings or animals were actually harmed in the making of...

THE WEBER KID’S 2005 CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP PICKS

THURS. DEC. 1
MAC Championship (@ Detroit, MI)
Akron over Northern Illinois taking 13: Huskies have had a stout rushing game all season and used it to subdue an improving Western Michigan team last week. Zips have covered 3 of last 4. In a rematch of September’s 48-42 Akron win, NIU gets revenge but Akron hangs around...Huskies 27 Akron 23

FRI. DEC. 2
#23 FRESNO STATE over Louisiana Tech giving 22: Tech’s offense was held to 13 by less-than-previously- juggernaut Boise at home. Yet another revenge spot, this time for Fresno, who lost 28-21 last year. Despite paying the price for laying big points with Miami following a major upset, Vindy expects FSU to atone for last week’s disaster at Nevada-Reno...FSU 45 LT 19

SAT. DEC. 3
C-USA Championship (@ Orlando, FL)
Central Florida over Tulsa taking 2: Green Wave’s victories over the last month or so have been more decisive than those of the Knights. This is a match-up of two teams picked by at least one preseason mag to finish 5th in their respective divisions of the conference. A big Vindicator salute to UCF coach George O’Leary for landing something he can legitimately put on his resume....a C-USA title...Central Florida 29 Tulsa 26

SEC Championship (@ Atlanta, GA)
#13 Georgia over #3 LSU taking 2 ½: Bengals are on borrowed time with two overtime victories and a 2-point triumph over Arkansas. Should be a good, close game with the win going to...Joja’ 20 LSU 17

Big 12 Championship (@ Houston, TX)
Colorado over #2 Texas taking 27 ½: OK, it would be entirely too easy to lay the lumber with Steers’ team that really just needs a "W" to play in Pasadena for the National Title. Since belting Missouri, Bison have been outscored 60-19 and will hear all week about how they backed into this game, how they don’t belong and how the Longhorns’ win here is a done deal. That should be plenty of motivation for CU club that’s been here 4 times in last 5 seasons, including 2001's win over Texas 39-37...Texas 42 Colorado 30

ACC Championship (@ Jacksonville, FL)
#5 Virginia Tech over Florida State giving 14: Spread seems to reflect consideration of the stupid personal foul penalties by FSU on 3rd Down that allowed Florida to continue early scoring drives after the Injuns had them stopped. Honestly, Vindy would rather see his Lions face State in perhaps the Orange Bowl than take on the Hokies, but Tech should shut down FSU running game. Special teams edge obviously goes to VT...Tech 31 FSU 13

#11 Ucla over #1 USC taking 21: Last hurdle between Trojans and yet another title opportunity. Troy was Vindy’s "lock of da’ week" this time last year, layin’ 22. USC is 11-0 SU but only 5-6 ATS. Bruins are only 3-4 against the number vs. PAC-10 foes. Will a three-week layoff hurt the Bruins? Trojans are off a one-week bye...USC 42 UCLA 27

#12 West Virginia over SOUTH FLORIDA giving 4 ½: Bulls recently had higher hopes than a 6-5 season and a mid-tier bowl. Have to wonder if USF can bring it’s A-game to this one now that BCS bid is no longer on the line. Mounties riding 5-0 SU and ATS streak. Stayin’ with scorchin’ WVU running attack...’Eeers 24 South Florida 14

#16 Louisville over CONNECTICUT giving 15: Cardinals’ starting QB Brohm is lost for the rest of the season. Vindicator has been right on Louisville only once in nine attempts this season, but Weber thinks Huskies caught South Florida looking ahead to West Virginia...Redbirds 42 UConn 20

NAVY over Army giving 6 1/2: Middies’ post-season is already decided, as they will face Colorado State in the Poinsettia Bowl. Navy coach Paul Johnson did a nice job with a grand total of 6 returning starters from last year. Black Knights have a 4-game (SU) win streak in progress after opening 0-6...Boat People 24 Ground Pounders 13

HAWAII over San Diego State giving 3 1/2: Aztecs would be eligible for the post-season with a win. ‘Bows are 2-4 outright at home, 3-2 ATS in the WAC and have dropped three outta’ last four ATS. SDSU’s defense ain’t bad, but three of Hawaii’s four losses are to bowl-caliber teams...’Bows 23 Aztecs 16

MIDDLE TENNESSEE STATE over Florida International giving 7: "LOCK OF DA’ WEEK". FIU is in its inaugural season as a I-A club. Two of Golden Panthers’ four wins were against I-AA teams. FIU was 3-7 overall SU last year as a I-AA team. Blue Raiders at least own a 17-15 road victory at Vanderbilt and lost by only 10 to possible MAC champ Akron...MTSU 20 Panthers 10

BETWEEN THE HASHMARKS

Ain’t no "mystery" to the weeping Virgin Mary statue in Sacramento. She merely got a peek at the 49ers’ record (or Vindy’s Week 13 results!)

The June 05 issue of ESPN: The Magazine made comparisons of how long it would take champs in various sports to cross/span 100 meters. 2005 Iditarod winner Robert Sorlie would do that in 48.10 seconds. Maybe Maurice Clarett shoulda’ borrowed/rented a dogsled for the 2005 NFL Combine! He was eventually cut by Denver because the presence of the sled in the backfield tipped off opponents.

Do what ya want to Vindy, but leave the forecast alone!

With Seattle up 14-13 during Sunday’s Seahawks-Giants tilt, one of FOX’s announcers noted at least twice before someone corrected him that a Giants’ FG would make it a "two-possession game". Ummm...how many points are those touchdowns worth again?????!!!

After usually-reliable Giants’ kicker Jay Feely missed three consecutive field goals late in regulation and OT in the aforementioned Seattle-New York game, his helmet was fitted with On-Star to help him find the uprights!

Yet another college hoops coach at Cincinnati was arrested this week for DUI. "UC" is quickly becoming the University of Cocktails!

Heidi Fleiss recently noted a spawn of her coupling with Pete Rose would be the "most determined kid in the world". Vin thinks said child would grow up to be the editor of a gentlemen’s magazine called "Charlie Hustler"!!!

"Locked in a Box?": Fresno’s outright loss to Reno leaves Vindy’s lock record at 4-9 (.308)!

Shoppe Talk: The NFL’s Green Bay Packers put a second loss on Vindy’s NFL No-Point contest card and cost Weber a nice three-team parlay win after covers by the Chargers and the Dolphins!

SEASON RECAP:

Best Weekly Effort: Week Eight’s 13-5

Worst Weekly "Effort": Weeks Three and Six’s 5-12

WEBER-FRIENDLIES (Best percentage on the predicted side of the spread; minimum 7 at-bats in the forecast): This season’s "You’re in Good Hands" Award goes to...(Holy Cow! We got a tie!)...Vindy’s Nifty Lions and the Fresno State Bulldoggies, both at 6-1 (.857). Second place to Virginia Tech (8-2, .800) and Honorable Mention to the Frightenin’ Irish of Notre Dame (7-3, .700)!

FLAME-THROWERS (Worst percentage on the predicted side of da’ spread): This year’s "Grillmaster Supreme" Award (the scorch marks are still on Weber’s wallet!) goes to those !!@&*$#! Louisville Cardinals at 1-8 (.111). "Suckin’ Place" to Alabama (2-6-1, .250) and (Holy Cow! We got another tie for...) "Dishonorable Mention" to those Florida Gators (who took "Grillmaster" honors last season) at 4-6 (.400) and Tennessee at 2-5 (.400)

Vindy’s Championship Week Best Bets: Last Week: 1-3 Season: 21-25-1 (.457)
Akron +13 over Northern Illinois, Central Florida +2 over Tulsa, MTSU -7 over Florida International

Vindicator takes a much-needed break to get the annual 3,000-mile maintenance done on his crystal ball, but promises to return circa December 16 with his infamous bowl picks!