Vindy's Picks Week 7-2008

POWER PLAY PROPELS BIDEN TO DEBATE WIN

ST. LOUIS, Missouri (CNN)....Tied, but tiring in the final twenty minutes of last week’s closely-fought Vice Presidential debate on national television with her opponent trying to play up-tempo, “America’s most-famous hockey mom” threw a vicious check, out of frustration, that sent Joe Biden crashing dangerously head-long into the plexi-glass plates surrounding his podium and got whistled for boarding on the play. During the two minutes Palin would spend in the penalty box before leaving the stage with a debate-misconduct , Biden would pull his own speech-writer from between the Democratic party pipes to get the extra attacker on and pepper the empty Republican podium with multiple shots during the man-advantage and finally sneaked the winning point in on the short-side and into the back of the net as several helpless Palin-camp staffers sprawled on the stage in the butterfly . MSNBC officials vowed to review the hit and could impose a fine on Palin, cutting into some of her campaign contribution money! The Republican running mate of John McCain later called Biden a “wuss” and said the Russians, against whom she said she had playing experience because she watched the Red Army team skate from across the Bering Strait via telescope, would “never have called a penalty on that play!”

Having gone well-past his normal shift, starting last Wednesday and surviving a 1-3 work-week record to finally achieve that elusive double-digit wins week, going 10-9 (49-49-1, .500), Vindicator’s just sucking wind and elects to merely ice the puck and await the results of ...

THE WEBER KID’S 2008 WEEK 7 FORECAST
(Making da’ world a better place...one pick at a time)

THURS. OCT. 9
#21 WAKE FOREST over Clemson giving 2 1/2: Both teams come in off bye weeks following tough losses...an upset in the case of Wake and in the case of Clemson, a defeat by a Maryland team, who as a Week Six best bet, humiliated the Vindicator by being shutout 31-0 at Virginia! Deacons’ SU loss to the Middies puts the home fave spread record at 4-11. Clemson won last year 44-10, but are 0-3 ATS in their three lined games in 2008. Off not one, but TWO (count’ em, TWO) Thursday night forecast losses, we give the nod to...WF 24 Tigers 14

SAT. OCT. 11
#5 Texas over #1 Oklahoma (@Dallas) taking 7: There is no such thing as a “clear Number One” this time of the year and as good as the Sooners look currently, the key match-ups here will include the Longhorns’ O-line (which gave up 4sacks in last year’s 28-21 loss) vs. Oklahoma’s pass D and #5 Texas’ run defense (which has yet to yield a rushing TD) vs. Sooners’ RB (and local Vegas product) DeMarco Murray...Texas 24 Oklahoma 21

#2 Alabama: IDLE (next vs. Mississippi)

#17 Oklahoma State over #3 MISSOURI taking 13 ½: Given Tigers’ 35-point demolition of Nebraska, in Lincoln, this number suggests the lines-makers think the betting public thinks (and Vindy thinks) the potent Cowboys offense can draw Mizzou into a shootout. Tigers played a nearly-flawless game vs. Nebraska...zero turnovers, zero punts and a lone yellow hanky! The last two meetings (‘04 and ‘05) were decided by 3 and 7 points. Tigers have a trek to Austin up next...Missouri 37 OKSU 31

#11 FLORIDA over #4 Louisiana State giving 5: The Bengals have been resting on the lucky laurels that got ‘em by Auburn (“boosting” the SEC spread record to 7-17-4 the last three-plus seasons). Gators are now 13-7-1 ATS under Coach Meyer laying points at the Swamp, but lost 28-24 last year and are 1-2 SU (though 3-0 ATS) vs. State. Crocs are 4-1 against the line in ‘08, with two covers on the SEC road...UF 24 LSU 17

WISCONSIN over #6 Penn State taking 5: Arrrrrggghhh! We hate being in a position to have to pick against the Alma Mater. Lions are one of four teams without a spread loss in five lined games (Texas, Ball State and [gasp!] Vandy are the others), but did not look good in win [and cover] at Purdue, keeping a few Boilermaker drives going with untimely penalties and dodging some bullets via missed kicks (see “Black Shirt” in Between the Hashmarks later in this forecast) and questionable officiating. With Wisky’s outright defeat to Ohio State last week, what are the odds the Varmints will drop back-to-back home games?!! Badgers have blown half-time leads to rack up consecutive Big Ten losses...We are... Penn State 16 Barges...uh..Budgies...er...Fondue 13

#7 TEXAS TECH over Nebraska giving 21: Vindy doesn’t have a warm-and-fuzzy with this pick. First away game after five-home game stand for Huskers, who sport 4-10 ATS record as road puppies the last four seasons. Almost as impressive is Tech’s 9-8-2 spread tally the last four-plus as home chalk. Raiders won most recent two...70-10 in 2004 and 34-31 in 2005. Hey...it’s Homecoming in Lubbock!...”Air Raid” 45 Corn Cobs 21

#8 USC over Arizona State giving 26 1/2: Devils QB Rudy Carpenter was State’s best hope in this one...and he’s now questionable to play. Israeli scientists, this week, have figured out how to make the smell of roses better through genetics. Rose Bowl committee members hope they can make that aroma more attractive to the Trojans, who entered the campaign dreaming the post-season smell of Dolphins or at least stale oranges...USC 48 ASU 20

#9 BYU over New Mexico giving 23 ½: With cover vs. Wyoming, Coogs have covered 17 of last 25 Mountain West games, but up 34-0 in the 4th Quarter at Utah State, we just wanna’ know which...uh...upstanding citizen and er....sports capitalism entrepreneur....put in a call to the Mormons’ sideline to allow two TDs in a span of 4:30 that gave the dog cover to the Aggies last weekend! Lobos on a 3-1 spread run and 6-5 as road dogs, but lost by 42 at Tulsa earlier...BYU 44 New Mexico 17

Tennessee over #10 GEORGIA taking 13: Vols have been disappointing this year and struggled in 13-9 win over Northern Illinois. ‘Dawgs have stewed for an extra week over loss to ‘Bama and want revenge for 35-14 loss last season in Knoxville. UGA’s covered only 2 of last 7 giving double-digits...Joja’ 19 Rocky Top 9

Purdue over #12 OHIO STATE taking 19: LOCK OF DA’ WEEK. Looks like too many points to lay with Buckeyes team that squeaked by Wisconsin in a physical game. Boilermakers moved the ball well last week, with a little help from the Lions, but hurt themselves in the kicking game. Coach Tiller’s imminent retirement should continue to serve as motivation and Vindy thinks Purdue could win four (maybe even five) of its final six with a few breaks...OSU 23 Purdue 16

#13 Vanderbilt over MISSISSIPPI STATE giving 2 ½: Commodores 5-0 SU and ATS and lay points for only the second time this season. Bulldogs come in off the bye week, but the break may hurt more than help since State had finally rediscovered the ability to score points in game at LSU before the intermission...Vandy 13 MSU 7

#14 Utah over WYOMING giving 23 ½: No shame in Utes’ narrow victory over seemingly-underrated Oregon State. Cowboys have failed to cover this year (0-5) and have scored a total of three points over its past three games. Only real question here is how many fingers Wyoming’s Coach Glenn will flash at Utah’s Coach Whittingham this year!...Utah 35 Wyoming 7

#15 Boise State over SOUTHERN MISS giving 12: Eagles are 3-2 ATS on the year but are still having problems with points-against. USM allowed an average of 5 more ppg last season than in ‘06 (24 per game) and are allowing 29.2 to-date this year. Boise is basically a crap-shoot when laying points on the road, but we’ll back a team that can win outright in Eugene, Oregon. A dozen looks do-able for... Boise State 31 USM 17

Colorado over #16 KANSAS taking 14: No faith in this pick either. Counting neutral site games/bowls, Buffs are just 2-9-1 ATS the last two-plus years away from Boulder, but Jayhawks just don’t seem to be the same bunch they were last year. With trip to Norman looming and having overcome a four-turnover-laced 20-point deficit to beat Iowa State late last week, Kansas isn’t gettin’ the respect from Vindicator this time...KU 24 Bison 17

#18 Virginia Tech: IDLE (next @ Boston College)

#19 South Florida: IDLE (next vs. Syracuse)

Arkansas over #20 AUBURN taking 19: We considered this for “lock”. Those who watched last Saturday morning’s College Gameday broadcast may have heard Kirk Herbstreit utter, “Vindy...I mean Vandy...could win this game (against Auburn)”. Freudian slip?? Karma??! Hmmm. Razorbacks haven’t logged a spread win and Auburn’s on an 0-5 run. In common foe comparison, we find Arkie beating UL-Monroe at home (OK, Little Rock, not Fayetteville, but still...) 28-27, while Aubie whacked those same Warhawks at home 34-0. Pigs have averaged just over 10 ppg through the past three matches this season, meaning Auburn needs about 30 to cover. Can the War Eagles even muster 19? The little voice in Vindy’s head is screamin’ ”Soooooooeeeyy Pig, Pig, Pig!”...Auburn 17 Arkansas 5

Notre Dame over #22 NORTH CAROLINA taking 7: We changed our initial choice here and frankly, we’d be happy with a push when it’s said and done. Irish are mediocre 9-9-1 against the line away from South Bend under Charlie Weis. Tarheels blocked three punts and got three more turnovers from the Huskies to win last week. Anybody else out there think the respective political primary schedules earlier this year kinda’ resembled Notre Dame’s football slate???!!!Trip to Maine, anybody??? No shocker here if ND pulls the upset, but we’ll just call it...UNC 24 Catholics 20

#23 Michigan State over NORTHWESTERN giving 2 ½: Wildcats have made significant strides on scoring defense, dropping from last season’s 31 ppg allowed to current 12.4 ppg allowed and have been nice 9-3 ATS as home dogs the last four-plus years. NW won the OT shootout 48-41 in 2007, but of Penn State’s remaining opponents this year, it’s Michigan State he fears the most...Spartans 19 NW 13

#24 Pittsburgh: IDLE (next @ Navy)

#25 Ball State over WESTERN KENTUCKY giving 16: On just 8 first-downs and around 13 flags for 113 penalty yards, the Hilltoppers kept Virginia Tech off the scoreboard in the 4th Quarter (in Blacksburg) and helped Vindy get his 10 forecast wins in Week Six. But Western KY could be beat up after five straight road games vs. I-A teams without a break and scored more than 13 only once in those five. Cardinals need to hit the thirties to cover. Not including the 48 they laid on I-AA Northeastern, they’re posting 38 per game...Birds 41 WKU 17

BETWEEN THE HASHMARKS
It’s been announced that The Lion King will replace Mamma Mia on stage here in Vegas following the end of the ABBA-based musical. Guess the success of the new show will depend on whether the “Lion King” in question is of the NCAA’s Nittany variety or the NFL’s Detroit variety!

JoePa was absent from the sideline this past week as a sore knee forced him into the coaches’ booth high above the field for the Purdue game. Seems Coach injured himself demonstrating the onside kick during practice in August. Apparently, the venerable coach not only made the appropriate kick, he also leapt high into the air among the “good-hands teams” from both sides and recovered the ball!

The Badgers get their suspended band back this week. Good thing too....it was really weird watching the Buckeyes’ marching band run back-and-forth across the field between possessions and listening to it play Wisconsin’s fight song last week at half-time!

Red Sox hurler Dice-K was honored with a Japanese postage stamp earlier this year. Rumor has it that envelopes bearing the gyro-baller’s likeness move so quickly through the mail-sorting machines that they actually disappear temporarily, then re-appear on the other side.

Secretary of the Swedish Academy Horace Engdahl dissed American writers last week, noting, ”...Europe still is the center of the literary world...not the United States”. Your humble host wasn’t havin’ any of that crap and immediately faxed over a copy of Vindy’s Picks! Upon reviewing the material, Engdahl held his ground, but the remaining members of the panel that awards the Nobel prize for literature this week broke into a chant of “U-S-A! U-S-A! U-S-A! U-S-A!”

In related news, the Pope has initiated a week-long reading marathon to boost popularity of the Bible. Coincidentally, the Weber Kid has kicked-off a similar fortnight event marathon to plug Vindy’s Picks!

Black Shirt: Your not-quite-omniscient narrator awards his weekly Black Shirt to Chris Summers, Lee Tiffin and Wes Bynum...kickers of Purdue, ‘Bama and Auburn, respectively, for botching multiple FGs and/or PATs that likely preserved covers by Penn State, Kentucky and Vanderbilt (also respectively)!

“Locked in a Box?”: OK...the Cowpokes made Vindicator sweat a bit, not scoring the covering TD until the final 1:48, but they came through vs. A&M, raising the lock record to 5-1 (.833).

Shoppe Talk: The Auburn War Eagles finally fall from their Shoppe perch with a forecast “W” by appropriately losing SU to Vandy (but the GPS bands on their tiny little feet give Vindy the ability to locate them quickly!). Moving into “watch” status...Wisconsin (1-4), Mizzou (with three straight forecast losses) and the Decoys of Oregon (also with the recent hat-trick of forecast “L”s!)

Vindy’s Week 7 Best Bets: Last Week: 2-2 Season: 15-9-1 (.625)
FRESNO STATE -32 1/2 over Idaho, Tulsa -25 over SMU, Temple +8 1/2 over CENTRAL MICHIGAN, Toledo +17 over MICHIGAN, ARMY -1over Eastern Michigan

Vindicator’s super-power of locating and using a losing best bet pick on a parlay, dormant during Week Five (musta’ been that red sun that found its way into Earth’s orbit), re-activated last week on full alert and cost Vin another winning two-team ticket (by half-a-freakin’-point!)