CHARGES DROPPED IN “BALLOON-BOY” INCIDENT
FT. COLLINS, Colorado (BBC)....Local authorities elected not to take legal action after it was determined a pre-planned hoax became a real-deal rescue mission when an act of desperation led the Vegas Vindicator to leap inside a runaway home-made balloon from atop a moving commuter train in an effort to regain a winning betting ticket, which had been wind-swept from the forecaster’s hand into the balloon itself as the low-flying craft rushed past him on its wayward journey. Media cameras actually captured the two-hour trek live, including footage of the Weber Kid precariously boarding the inflatable vessel from the roof of a railcar after hip-checking several passengers and overpowering multiple train security personnel along the way. Vindy hurled a couple times during post-rescue interviews upon learning a tank platoon from the 5th Armor Brigade at nearby Ft. Carson, unaware of the full situation, had been put on alert and raised its gun tubes skyward in the air defense mode with orders to shoot down the UFO-like craft had it made any threatening gestures. The balloon, however, simply deflated on its own and landed gently on the playing field at Mile High Stadium, along with a pair of National Guard choppers, which had been tailing the craft, briefly interrupting a Denver Broncos practice session.
Vindy continues to stay above the waterline, going 10-8 (70-55, .560) last week after hitting the Wednesday nighter and beating the Thursday night curse as well, before splitting the16 Saturday tilts. While his mum and dad face some potential grey-bar hotel time, da’ Balloon Boy himself will just hang out in the family garage with a copy of...
THE WEBER KID’S 2009 WEEK 8 FORECAST
Tennessee over #1 ALABAMA taking 15: Vols kept a pre-injury Tebow and his Gator O to just 23 points. We think they’ll keep an eye on Tide RB Mark Ingram, who took multiple direct snaps from ‘Bama’s version of the Wildcat vs. Carolina. Tide let the Poultry cover with just a pair of second quarter field goals. UT’s on a run of 16-10-2 ATS vs. the rest of the SEC...Bama 21 Tennessee 10
MISSISSIPPI STATE over #2 Florida taking 23: MSU got a look for lock. While we certainly expect Tim Tila Tequila to get better each week he’s removed from injury, we just can’t lay this many until UF can put it on the scoreboard and prevent the opponent from scoring. Bulldogs took LSU to the wire and hung in vs. prolific Houston offense. Last chance prior to the conference title match for the Gators to absorb their annual SU loss to an SEC West team...Crocs 24 MSU 9
#3 Texas over MISSOURI giving 16 ½: Not surprising the ‘Horns could manage only 13 against Oklahoma’s defense. What is surprising is that they couldn’t take more advantage of five Sooners turnovers and cover mere 3 ½ point spread. Texas didn’t letdown after Red River Rivalry last year, belting Mizzou 56-31...Steers 38 Tigers 17
Oregon State over #4 USC taking 21: Trojans are still struggling to cover vs. conference foes and will face a healthy dose of Beavers’ Rodgers brothers. The meltdown that saw Troy nearly completely squander a 20-point 4th Quarter lead at South Bend can’t be put entirely on young QB Barkley. State has knocked off USC outright in two of the last three seasons...USC 28 OSU 20
#5 CINCINNATI over Louisville giving 17 ½: Even if starting QB Tony Pike can’t go (surgery on his non-throwing arm this week), back-up QB (and redshirt freshman) Collaros brings an extra dimension to the Bearkats backfield after rushing for 132 yards on 10 carries vs. South Florida. It’s Homecoming for Cincy, who got a couple extra days to prepare off the Thursday night game. Cards had beaten UC five straight years before losing 28-20 last season...Cincinnati 41 Da’ Ville 14
#6 Boise State over HAWAII giving 25: ‘Bows accounted for one of UNLV’s two straight up victories and are only 6-7 ATS on the Island the past 2+ years. Every Hawaii opponent has hit the board for at least 20 points. Broncos aren’t invincible, having to rally twice at Tulsa last week, but...Boise 54 Aloha 24
#7 Iowa over MICHIGAN STATE giving 1: We thought about locking Iowa too. What do the Hawkeyes have to do to get a little R-E-S-P-E-C-T?? OK, they’re unimpressive 4-10 ATS as chalk and like to play from behind. Spartans come in having won three straight matches this season, but even if Iowa let’s State hang around too long...Iowa 21 MSU 18
#8 MIAMI over Clemson giving 5: ‘Canes are scoring 29 ppg and have covered two of three ACC games to-date. Which Tigers team shows up this week? The 24-21 losers to Maryland or last week’s 38-3 victors over Wake Forest? Clemson will need a big day from CJ Spiller. QB Jacory Harris has convinced his teammates to forgo watching ESPN and network news stations in favor of only SpongeBob Squarepants for feedback on how good the team is. Frankly, Vindy takes his self-esteem cues from that “Timmy” kid (“Timaaaaaaaaaaaaayyy!”)on South Park....Squidward Tentacles 30 Clemson 23
Auburn over #9 LSU taking 8: Uggghhhhh. Bengals off a bye week, but have one cover in four SEC games. Tigers went unscathed thru their first five tilts, but have lost back-to-back games since then. Aubie won four of its first five in 2008, then just once more in its last seven on the year. Warhawks are scoring about 35 per game, while the Bengals give up less than 15. It’s Auburn’s passing offense vs. State’s pass D. Bengals are just one game behind Bama...LSU 20 Auburn 14
#10 Texas Christian over #16 BYU giving 2 ½: Mountain Best’s top two offensive teams square off, but the Toads run better and defend better. More at stake here for road-warrior Froggies, who’ve won 19 of last 27 away games (3-0 this year). Coogs last home loss, before debacle vs. Florida State in mid-September, was November of 2005 vs. Utah...TCU 16 BYU 13
#11 Georgia Tech over VIRGINIA giving 4: No faith in this call. Bees overcame flags, lofty passes from their QB (Queen Bee?) and horrible kick coverage to beat Virginia Tech last week. Nesbitt completed just one throw vs. the Hokies, but it went to WR Thomas for 51 yards. Cavs defend the run at about 131 ypg, with only 6 rushing scores allowed. Both teams on 4-0 ATS runs. Virginia’s won three straight games, yielding 19 total points, following two outright defeats to open the year....Joja’ Tech 23 Virginia 16
WASHINGTON over #12 Oregon taking 8 1/2: Mallards have six covers in last seven opportunities following the off week, but traditionally-bad home-dog Washington has three straight SU victories in Seattle after opening game loss to LSU. Both quarterbacks throw for about 128 yards per game, but UDUB’s Locker has twice as many attempts, 1000 more yards and 5 more passing touchdowns than Decoys’ Masoli. Little voice in Vindy’s head is yellin’ “upset”. We’ll just grab the points...Drakes 28 Sled Dogs 24
MICHIGAN over #13 Penn State taking 4 1/2: Lions pulled off a goal-line stand to keep the Gophers off the board then scored a touchdown with 1:41 left to get their first home cover last week. State avenged three close losses to Big Blue by blowing them out in Happy Valley in ‘08. We expect more 4th Quarter heroics from the Wolverines, maybe even an upset. Lions have held five of seven opponents to single digits...PSU 12 Michigan 9
#14 Oklahoma State over BAYLOR giving 9 ½: Cowpokes scoring 38 ppg, but still aren’t as potent as expected in the preseason and were held to four field goals and one touchdown after the 8:21 mark of the second quarter against Mizzou. Bears lousy 3-11 ATS last four years as home dogs. More of a vote vs. Griffin-less Baylor than for Oklahoma State...OKSU 31 Baylor 17
#15 Virginia Tech : IDLE (next vs. North Carolina 10/29)
Southern Methodist over #17 HOUSTON taking 17: LOCK OF DA’ WEEK. Ponies have come to play in their second year under June Jones, who turned a winless Hawaii team into a regular post-season contender, and have already won two more games than they had all of 2008. Both sides like to throw, neither defense is outstanding. Lotsa’ points. Mustangs have four covers in five games on the season, including OT loss to Navy last week... Cougars 44 SMU 40
Minnesota over #18 OHIO STATE taking 18: Are we seeing the sophomore slump from Buckeyes QB Terrell Pryor? State had five turnovers last week, three from Pryor, in loss at Purdue. Buckeyes have been on the edge vs. their decent opposition. Gophers won’t be shutout for a second straight week and beat Purdue two weeks ago by 15...Buckeyes 28 Gerbils 16
Tune in tomorrow for da' rest of da' picks and the occasionally-entertaining Between the Hashmarks!
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