Vindy's Picks Week 11-2008

DEMS OFFER BOXING VIDEO TO BOLSTER CANDIDATE

PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania (CNN)....The Obama camp released an eleventh-hour video...Baracky IV, featuring its presidential contender sporting boxing gloves and trunks while reprising the Sylvester Stallone role against Red Army pugilist Ivan Drago as a way of improving Obama’s image on foreign policy, particularly in light of escalating tensions this past year between the U.S. and Russia that threaten to renew the Cold War era, including U.S. plans to establish missile shield bases in eastern Europe within striking range of the former Communist bloc. In the clip, which has become a viral hit on You Tube, the senator from Illinois is seen training “old-school” in the snow of the Russian wastelands, then going the distance against the Communist fighter, to follow-up with quotes from the Italian Stallion’s character in his post-bout diatribe, quipping, “When I got here, I guess yous didn’t like me...and I didn’t like yous much either....but if I can change...and you can change... everybody can change!” In an agreement with the City of Brotherly Love, if Obama actually wins the Keystone State, which has recently seen a World Series champion, Stanley Cup runner-up and potential BCS Title Game contestant, on Election Night 2008, a new statue, dubbed Baracky Balboa, featuring the possible president-elect raising his arms in victory, will be set-up in place of the current bronze tribute just outside the Philadelphia Art Museum!

Closer to the Left Coast, Vindicator grabbed a Thursday night dubya to open Week Ten and hung on in the face of yet another assault by teams at bottom of the Top 25 rankings to post his fourth double-digit win tally in the last five weeks, going 11-7(89-84-1, .514). And for what it’s worth, your humble host spent the night before Halloween watching Baracky Horror Picture Show, starring Tim Curry and a very young Susan Sarandon!

And the only obvious winner of this week’s BCS (Ballot Championship Series) title game between Barack Obama and John McCain is....

THE WEBER KID’S 2008 WEEK 11 FORECAST

WED. NOV. 5
Northern Illinois over #16 BALL STATE taking 9: UPSET SPECIAL OF DA’ WEEK #1. Huskies have lost only two of last nine to the Cardinals and have covered 8 of last 10 lined games back to last season. NIU on 3-0 SU/2-1 ATS run. State’s off a bye week and recorded its first spread loss two weeks ago vs. Eastern Michigan. This is the inaugural battle for the Bronze Stalk trophy. Guess that’s better than Bronze Eye Stalk or Bronze Stalker!... Dogs 24 Birds 21

THURS. NOV. 6
#11 Texas Christian over #10 UTAH taking 2 1/2: Toads came into the season winning just once in last six Thursday opportunities, but whacked BYU. They got little resistance from fading UNLV and used a balanced scoring attack in that game to notch four TDs on the ground and three by air. Utes coulda’ been pre-occupied by this one in narrow win at New Mexico. Froggies get to a BCS bowl...TCU 17 Utes 13

#23 Maryland over VIRGINIA TECH taking 3: We just really want a push here. Box Turtles were idle last week and have won five of last six games straight-up. The one loss, however, was 31-0 defeat at Virginia. Tech has been nearly invincible in November, winning 14 of last 15, but is 0-3 ATS thus far in ACC play this year...Terps 24 VT 20

SAT. NOV. 8
#1 Alabama over #15 LSU giving 3: Tide’s covered all four games this season away from Tuscaloosa, including SU wins over Clemson and Joja’. Bengals on 1-5 ATS slide and could suffer third blowout loss to a high-quality team this year. Phone cards, tied to a GPS system, inserted in elephants’ collars automatically alert Kenyan rangers when the creatures get too close to village crops. State plans to use similar technology to warn QB Lee when blitzing Alabama linebackers creep up near the line of scrimmage!...Tide 27 Tigers 13

#8 Oklahoma State over #2 TEXAS TECH taking 3: History favors the host in this series, but Cowpokes nearly upended Texas and the two-hole has been a precarious place to be in the rankings again this season. Hot State now 8-0 against the number and has plenty of options running or passing. We considered this for lock, but Ye Olde Taxidermy Shoppe is SRO with Red Raiders..OKSU 38 Tech 34

#3 Penn State over IOWA giving 8: Hawkeyes had beaten the Lions in five straight games beginning in 2000, but lost 27-7 at Happy Valley in 2007. Iowa still needs a victory to become eligible for the post-season. Nifty Lions probably need some style points to stay close to the top in the BCS poll. Three of Iowa’s five SU wins came in September over Maine, Florida International and Iowa State. Lions haven’t shown tendency to be conservative this year when leading, so we’ll call it...Alma Mater 31 Hawkeyes 10

VANDERBILT over #4 Florida taking 23 1/2: Crocs had Joja’ by the cocktail after 45 minutes last week and are showing no quarter since loss to the Rebels, so here’s this week’s choice for “wish I had it it back”, but Boat People got off to a promising start and registered outright triumphs over Ole Miss and South Carolina. Home defeat to Duke before last week’s R&R is puzzling. Commodores have 4 covers in last 6 tries facing the Gators and other than last year’s 27-point loss in the Swamp, five of the six have ended within this number...Crocs 31 Rear Fleet 17

#5 TEXAS over Baylor giving 25 1/2: Vindy only watched the first half of Texas-Texas Tech game with ‘Horns down 22-6 at the break. Steers were victimized by poor execution early, allowing a safety on the UT first play from scrimmage, dropping passes and fielding no 3rd Down defense vs. Red Raiders bombs. Texas could at least start flat after their rally went for naught as Tech scored the game-winner with a second left. Bares come in showing just 6-15 ATS in last 21 Big Twelve games. The coin likes...Texas 52 Baylor 26

#6 Oklahoma over TEXAS A&M giving 24: LOCK OF DA’ WEEK. Sooners have covered all three road games and likely should’ve beaten Texas at neutral-site Dallas. Special teams continue to improve as OK held the Huskers to a net of zippo return yards last week. Aggies showing some spirit winning back-to-back games outright and on 3-0 spread win run (and 13-7-1 ATS run vs. the rest of the conference), but needed huge 3rd quarter rally to get past the Buffaloes ... Oklahoma 52 Cadets 17

#21 California over #7 USC taking 17: Bears have pocketed four spread wins in last five games, but only road cover came at UDUB. Trojans no great shakes against the line at home, but have allowed no lit light bulbs on opponents’ side of the scoreboard in three of last four games. After 21 months, the final tree-hugger inhabiting and protecting a redwood on the Cal-Berkeley campus finally threw in the towel this September after an agreement was reached with the university. Always a team-player on environmental issues, Stanford invited the tree-sitters to take up residence in its mascot...Troy 27 Bears 19

Utah State over #9 BOISE STATE taking 31: Broncos usually solid gold for bettors when laying points on the cobalt carpet, but have covered only one of three in Boise this year. Aggies celebrating straight up victory over the ‘Bows (acquired by scoring the last ten points of the match). Boise just needs a victory to solidify BSC bowl position...Broncos 34 USU 7

NORTHWESTERN over #12 Ohio State taking 11: UPSET SPECIAL OF DA’ WEEK #2. Buckeyes have had an extra week to ponder the lone turnover that cost ‘em the game against Penn State, and while only 2-3 ATS vs. the Big Ten this season, both covers came on the road. Wildcats would love to avenge 58-7 loss last season at the ‘Shoe. NW back-up quarterback Kafka (hmmm...we gotta’ wonder if he’s related to the famous author of Metamorphosis somewhere in the family tree! [Never let it be said that Vindy doesn’t attempt to bring a little culture to his weekly scribblings!]) ran for over 200 yards in win over the Minny Gerbils. We smell upset...Northwestern 17 OSU 16

Kansas State over #13 MISSOURI taking 26: Fourth away game in five weeks for K-State, who’ve scored less than 28 points just twice all year. Chase Daniels interceptions continue to cost him, and nearly got his team upset by Baylor, who punted only three times in that game. KSU was sloppy with five turnovers early in being routed by Kansas...Mizzou 42 Wildcats 24

KENTUCKY over #14 Georgia taking 11 1/2: Just after New Year’s Day 2008, Kentucky named Offensive Coordinator Joker Phillips as eventual successor to Head Coach Rich Brooks. In related news, Joe the Plumber has been named Vindicator’s heir-apparent. Games against Florida notwithstanding, both defenses are playing reasonably well and the best call here might be the “under”. Third consecutive game outside the Hedges for Georgia. After giving up 26 sacks in last five regular season games of 2007, KY has yielded only 8 sacks thus far...Joja’ 20 ‘Cats 13

#17 BYU over San Diego State giving 36: While allowing average of 34 ppg-against is on par with State’s average from 2007, it’s giving up almost 42 per game vs. conference foes. Aztecs cost Vindy a “best bet” last week, getting smoked by Wyoming, whose only victories to-date had been by 1 over Ohio to open the year and by 3 over AA-squad North Dakota State two weeks later. A recent study suggested holding warm liquids made people more friendly toward strangers than contact with cold beverages. Aztecs might consider having mugs of cocoa (‘cause coffee ain’t gonna’ get it in a Mormon locker room) be delivered to the Coogs just before kickoff...BYU 51 Mini-Marshmallows 10

Purdue over #18 MICHIGAN STATE taking 10: Spartans probably on borrowed time in the rankings this week, having gotten a pair of long FGs in the final 5:16 to squeak by Wisconsin. Badgers had two backs rush for over 100 yards each in that game. Boilers RB Sheets went for 118 yards and four scores last week. State lost five of seven games decided by a touchdown or less last year. It’s won all three SU this year, but covered none of ‘em. Boilermakers need to win-out to be bowl-eligible. Counting on Purdue’s D to keep this close...MSU 21 Purdue 13

#22 Georgia Tech over #19 NORTH CAROLINA taking 3 1/2: Bees getting the most out of their defense, which held the Injuns scoreless for the final six minutes last week to pull the minor upset. Tech holding opponents below an average of 15 ppg. Homecoming for Carolina, who’s rested and looking to avenge 27-25 loss last season. “Heels have covered last four against Tech, but...Joja’ Tech 20 UNC 19

Cincinnati over #20 WEST VIRGINIA taking 8: Mounties on five-game tear since OT loss to the Buffaloes and have allowed no opponent more than 17 points since September 6 game at East Carolina. Bearkats have a lot of seniors on defense and have been kind to backers against ranked squads, going 8-2-1 ATS (1-1 thus year). Possible upset, but conservatively, let’s call it...WVU 20 Cincy 16

#24 FLORIDA STATE over Clemson giving 6 ½: Tigers broke a three-game skid last week, somehow beating Boston College on the road. ‘Noles let one slip away, fumbling into the end zone with under a minute left to lose to Georgia Tech. Clemson’s won and covered last three. State reverses that trend this time...Bowden Sr. 27 Bowden Jr. 17

#25 PITT over Louisville giving 6 1/2: Who are the Cardinals? They beat ranked South Florida one week, then became Syracuse’s only I-A victim of the season the next? Pitt survived a 14-point halftime deficit and four bonus rounds to down the Irish. Panthers have won 6 of last 7 outright this year, covering 3, losing 3 ATS and pushing one, but current ATS streak is 3-1. We’ll take it...Pitt 31 Redbirds 20

BETWEEN THE HASHMARKS
BTW, AMC is showing at least one Rocky movie each night this week! No truth to the rumor Obama will also wear a Mohawk and play the role of Clubber Lang in a remake of Rocky III!

Just before Halloween, furniture-mover Jared Retkofsky (hmmm....Jared the Mover??!!) was signed by the Steelers as a long-snapper in response to an injury that left a glaring hole in Pittsburgh’s special teams. Coaches are working feverishly to get him to stop using a dolly to move and position the ball at the line of scrimmage and to stop asking the nose-guard to hold up the other end of the football before snapping it! Jared was also seen stopping a few times to catch his breath and adjust his grip each time he walked up a stairwell carrying a pigskin inside the stadium!
Back in February, Clinton accused Obama of plagiarism. Obama again recently denied the allegations, but added he “couldn’t wait to include passages from Vindy’s Week 10forecast” in his January inauguration speech!

On a weekly basis, in the Shoppe Talk section, we lambast the clubs who most frequently frustrate our efforts to pick them on the correct side of the spread, but for those inquiring minds who want to know which teams have been regularly taking care of the Weber Kid this year, we heap praise upon: Florida (7-1), Joja’ and Penn State (both 6-1-1), Texas (7-2) and the Buckeyes (6-2)

UNLV has given thought to establishing a satellite campus in the United Arab Emirates. Can’t wait to hear the courtside announcer say...”And now...your Kurrrrrrdish Runninnnnnnn’ Rebels!”

This summer, Shaq lost his special deputy’s badge in Maricopa County (AZ) because of language he used in a rap video that mocked Kobe Bryant. The big guy also was asked to turn in the tin he received from Bedford County (southwest Virginia) for his contributions to the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Bummer! We were hopin’ for reports indicating Deputy O’Neal had made DUI suspects walk a straight free-throw line!

According to Hillary Clinton’s schedule (released in March this year), the First Lady was home on a half-dozen days when her husband was doin’ the wild thing with intern Monica Lewinsky. Funny...Hillary was also nearby when Vin made his picks from the White House....THAT didn’t make the news!!!????

Black Shirt: goes to Northwestern safety Brendan Smith for returning a pick 48 yards with twelve ticks remaining for the winning touchdown over Minnesota, adding to Vindy’s forecast win total last week. Also getting votes... Spartans kicker Brett Swenson this week for booting two late, long field goals that allowed Michigan State to edge Wisconsin, despite the forecast loss, and stay in the Top 25 another week so maybe the Lions get one more crack at beating a ranked team before the regular season ends!

“Locked in a Box?”: We knew it was too good to last. Tulsa lost outright to Arkansas, hanging only the second lock loss of the season in ten tries on Vindicator (8-2, .800)

Shoppe Talk: Vindy discovered his own personal Kryptonite resides in Lubbock, Texas as the Red Raiders fall to 1-6. Returning to be stuffed again also are the Wisky Badgers at 1-6.

Vindy’s Week 11 Best Bets: Last Week: 1-3 Season: 28-17-1 (.622)
Arkansas +12 over SOUTH CAROLINA, Iowa State +10 over COLORADO, Memphis -1 over SMU, Wyoming +24 over TENNESSEE, UL-LAFAYETTE -10 over Texas-El Paso