EQUIPMENT MALFUNCTIONS, POLICIES COULD HAMPER POLL, TITLE GAME
INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana (BBC)…Akin to the problems that could plague the presidential election, faulty voting machines and individual state laws that allow counting of provisional ballots well-after the intended decision-day could wreak havoc for the BCS Poll and suspend determination of which two NCAA teams can play for the national title. The resulting delays might also impact pairings for some of the lesser bowl games as well. Concerns continue over touch-screen technology that may incorrectly record votes for the wrong teams and regulations allowing poll voters to provide appropriate identification days after the poll is supposed to be published, and recounts by teams in tightly-contested polls would obstruct an already-lame duck college football championship system.
In related news, the bookies have already conceded Vindicator’s modest gain via an 11-8 (87-92, .486) record for Week Ten after bombing our fab forecaster in Week Nine. Coming from Vindy’s loins with more “Frankenfacts” than the entire presidential campaign, it’s…
THE WEBER KID’S 2012 WEEK 11 FORECAST
(Bringin’ tears to the eyes of more toddlers than that “Bronco ‘Bama” guy!)
TUES. NOV. 6
Ball State (+6) over #23 TOLEDO: Crazy MACsters like to play games on Tuesday nights! Fine. We were gonna’ pass on Election Night coverage anyway. Rockets have a nice offense, but carry a traditionally MAC-weak defense (though it hasn’t been terrible of late). Toledo is 8-1 SU (with only loss coming by 7 at Arizona to open the year) and 6-2 ATS, but 1-2 against the line in past three weeks, having won all three games by exactly 5-points or 6 (including upset of Cincinnati). Former Mudhens OC Matt Campbell got the call as head coach this year and got just 9 total returning starters. Redbirds are 7-2 ATS, including a triumph over Army, validating one of “best bets” for Week 9. State did beat Big Tent-Peg upstart Indiana in early September and lost by just two at conference-contender Kent State. Third straight road game for the Cardinals, who’ve covered four of five away so far and have an excellent history as road doggies. “Over” might be the first choice of wagers. Finishing 12th nationally in sacks permitted in 2011 (we thank Marc Lawrence’s Playbook.Com for that tidbit) with 11, they’re on track to equal or better that mark (8 allowed to-date). Rockets have 18 sacks in 2012…Spacemen 34 Ball State 30 THIS ONE’S ALREADY IN THE BOOKS AS A FORECAST WIN COURTESY OF STATE’S 34-27 UPSET OF MAJOR TOM
THURS. NOV. 8
#8 Florida State (+13 ½) over VIRGINIA TECH: FSU 34 VT 10
SAT. NOV. 10
#1 ALABAMA (-13 ½) over #15 Texas A&M: Even the mighty Tide needs a little luck sometimes and got it in win over LSU. A&M boasts 5th best offense behind potent running game, but ‘Bama allows just 66 rush yards per game. Perhaps more telling is the mere 95 passing yards per game allowed to Tide opponents, given the tendency for Elephants to blow-out their foes. Not many folks outside College Station, Texas would’ve expected Aggies to be in second-place in the SEC West at this juncture. Bengals were just the second club to score more than 14 vs. the Tide in as many seasons (Georgia Southern tallied 21 last year). Aggies have covered only 2 of last 45 road defeats and we know Nick Saban will have a plan for A&M’s magic freshman QB Manziel…Alabama 35 Aggies 16
CAL (+27 ½) over #2 Oregon: Drakes 48 Bears 24
#3 Kansas State @ TCU: OFF
#4 Notre Dame (-18 ½) over BOSTON COLLEGE: Turnovers almost cost the Irish last week despite out-first-downing (is that a word??!!) 34-13 in 3OT win. Eagles have yet to cover vs. an FBS opponent in eight tries (0-7-1 by our numbers). Notre Dame’s last visit to Chestnut Hill (in 2010) resulted in an 18-point win by the Leprechauns. Irish have won three straight in the series, though the bookend-tilts in South Bend were very close. After hitting the Jumbo-Tron for 30 or more in four of first five games in 2012, Beagles’ O went south, to the tune of just over 14 ppg over past four. The crystal ball doesn’t show BC exceeding that average vs. Guinness Stout D…ND 29 Boston College 7
#5 Ohio State: IDLE (next @ Wisconsin)
AUBURN (+15) over #6 Georgia: Joja’ 24 Tigers 13
Weeziana-Lafayette (+26) over #7 FLORIDA: Gators’ recent power-outage in last two games (23 total points scored) has us flashin’ back to the early-season incarnation of the team. The stop-squad is still the calling card as Mizzou, despite four turnovers, limited UF to eleven first-downs in Crocs narrow victory last week. Florida has pounded its last three Stun Belt foes and Cajuns come in off big upset of Weeziana-Monroe, getting almost double-digits. Senior-laden Lafayette hasn’t been good vs. the Top 25 and it’s Homecoming in Gainesville, but ULL is rockin’ road dog with a big offense…Gators 32 Cajuns 14
#9 LSU (-14) over #22 Mississippi State: We’ve lost confidence in the Bulldogs, but LSU was its own worst enemy in the first-half vs. Crimson Tide…on the field and on the sidelines, with multiple drops by the wide-outs, failed trick-plays and poor tackling on ‘Bama’s late first-half 92-yard touchdown-drive. LSU doesn’t have the explosive offense of A&M, but MSU turned it over just one time in 25-point loss to the Aggies and has been outscored 76-20 in recent pair of losses. Bengals are still a crapshoot layin’ points in Death Valley (2-2 on the season), but Bulldogs have been money-burners vs. ranked teams. Better execution gets Tigers the win and cover…LSU 31 MSU 14
Maryland (+31) over #10 CLEMSON: We considered this for “lock”. Box Turtles have dropped three consecutive games after promising 4-2 SU start, despite the transfer of yet-another QB to Wisconsin in the preseason. Terps were competitive in two of the three, losing the pair in question by combined five points. Maryland lost respectably by 10 at West Virginia earlier in the year, but also gave Boston College the second of two total victories (and only I-A dubya), pushing at +3. Tigers just laid 56 on Duke and carry one of the better passing games, but Terps’ biggest loss was by 20 last week to Joja’ Tech…Tigers 38 Maryland 16
#11 Louisville (-2 ½) over SYRACUSE: Louisville 31 ‘Cuse 21
Arkansas (+14) over #12 SOUTH CAROLINA: Poultry 28 Pork 20
#13 Oregon State (+5) over #16 STANFORD: UPSET PICK OF DA’ WEEK. Both clubs are a game behind Oregon for the North Division lead. State lost at UDUB by 3. Birds lost in Seattle by 4. We correctly had Stanford throwing the shut-out over Colorado last week…we just didn’t see them scoring 48 to go with it! There’s a two-year history of November slides by the Beavers, but State will want to avenge the punishing 25-point loss in 2011 at Corvallis and blasting the hapless Bison doesn’t prove the QB problems in Palo Alto have been fixed. OSU has won and covered both earlier games vs. Top 25 opponents. We’ll call for the hat-trick…Beavers 23 Cards 20
Baylor (+20 ½) over #14 OKLAHOMA: Sooners 44 Baylor 30
WASHINGTON STATE (+15) over #17 Ucla: UCLA 28 Wazzou 24
Penn State (+7) over #18 NEBRASKA: UPSET ALERT. Big Dread ran for nearly 8 yards a pop in fortunate victory in East Lansing and might be without RB Rex Burkhead for this one. That would put a bit more pressure on inconsistent QB Taylor Martinez, who survived three picks for the win. Similar miscues against the alma mater would likely cost NU. We’re paraphrasing here, but during the Penn State-Ohio State game, ESPN’s Mark May, referring of course to the Lions, said “Find a kicker!” whether it’s from the soccer team or off the street or whatever. Vindy was thinkin’ maybe one of those 1970’s Super-Jock football toys (raise yer hand if ya had one and remember tapping the helmet to make the player kick the ball thru the uprights that came with it!). Corn Cobs are undefeated in four games at Lincoln thus far and 3-1 ATS. Hopin’ for the outright dubya, but conservatively call it… Nebraska 19 PSU 17
Iowa State (+9 ½) over #19 TEXAS: UPSET ALERT. Steers 21 ISU 19
#20 Louisiana Tech (-20) over TEXAS STATE: LOCK OF DA’ WEEK. Bulldogs get to feast on second FBS newbie in as many weeks after beating UTSA by 24 at home. QB Cameron went 30 of 39 passing in the spread-loss. TSU not impressive defensively, allowing almost 32 ppg and facing an offense second only behind Oregon nationally. Bobcats rank in the 90’s in both rushing and passing, and while 2-1 ATS at home in 2012 and showing outright triumphs over Houston and Idaho, we just don’t see TSU staying within three scores of prolific Tech…LT 52 Texas State 23
Arizona State (+9) over #21 USC: UPSET ALERT #2. Troy 31 Devils 29
Army (+17 ½) over #24 RUTGERS: Knights own the top rush D in the Big Least and are the only conference squad to allow less than four-digits of ground yards. They’re also 4th nationally, giving up just four rushing touchdowns to-date and a paltry 88.5 ypg. Cadets bring the country’s best rushing yardage team at 375 ypg. Rutgers is not unfamiliar with the option and got an extra week to prepare, as well as to contemplate what went wrong in the home-upset vs. Kent State. The Soldiers are just 2-7 SU, though come into this one having beaten Air Force (decisively). With a bowl bid outta’ da’ question, Hudson River Rats might simply wait for the chance vs. Navy to grab the Commander-in-Chief’s trophy or could be inspired on the weekend before Veterans’ Day. Army’s covered just 2 of last 11 away from West Point, but Rutgers has beaten only AA Howard and Temple by this many…Jersey Turnpike Paladins 24 Army 12
#25 TEXAS TECH (GASP!) (-25) over Kansas: Guns Up 42 Kansas 10
BETWEEN THE HASHMARKS
BTW, Crimson Tide fans have filed allegations that machines in Ohio flipped BCS votes for ‘Bama to… Akron!
Washington rookie QB RG III made the news this past week for handing out socks at his home on Halloween. Not to be outdone, former NFL star OJ Simpson gave gloves to a parade of fellow-cons going cell-to-cell at Lovelock Correctional Facility. In related news, Griffin sported socks bearing Superman’s famed “S” logo while accepting his Heisman Trophy last December. ESPN didn’t run the pic, but we predicted several teams would stock-up on Kryptonite for the ex-Baylor star’s intro-year in the pros. Given the Redskins current 3-6 tally, we’d say opponents cornered da’ market on the glowing-green substance in a timely fashion!
In yet-another move to show solidarity with a certain Sesame Street staple, NFL owners and coaches have decided to list their potential draftees outta’ college next April on their NFL Draft Big Bird!
As we welcome our the opening week of our second sports-love, we recall Murray State dropping its first game of the 2011 college hoops season to Tennessee State less than three weeks after selling T-shirts noting “Best start in school history, highest ranking, last of the unbeaten”. However, going into the Big Dance, the Racers hawked garments proclaiming “Little guys with a snowball’s chance in Hell!”
A few other Linsanity candidates that went unrecognized last season…Fred Lynnsanity! Lynn Swannity! Marlinsanity! Lynnsanity Redgrave! Loretta Lynnsanity! Vera Lynnsanity (for fans of Pink Floyd The Wall), President Abraham Linsanity! And yes…Lindsanity Lohan!
Last month, your humble narrator finished as runner-up in a national contest to become the first male model on “The Price is Right”. Vindy lost out after judges claimed the much-younger challenger from Boston had “better picks”. “Better freakin’ picks???!!! Who are they kiddin’???!!! Some baby-faced punk from Bean Town did a better job forecasting the Top 25???!!! We got half a mind to file a formal protest…and picket …and boycott da’ show and…wait…what’s that????....The panel said the kid won because he had better pecs????!!! Hanging our head and doing our best Rosanna Rosanna Danna impersonation, we stagger to humbly-utter…”Never mind!”
Black Shirt: It won’t fit into any of the Ducks oodles of outfit options, but the ebony tee goes to RB Kenyon Barner for 321 rushing yards and five touchdowns that gave Oregon the cover and Vindy a forecast win involving the Trojan horseradish!
“Wish I Had That One Back”: Yep, we’d like to revisit our Colorado (+27 ½) over Stanford selection after noting “the Bison blow” and “we’re a glutton for punishment” (on the da’ bright side, we did predict the Buffaloes first offensive goose-egg at Boulder in 26 years!)
“Locked in a Box?”: We’d like to take a moment to express our disappointment in the aluminum magnolias of Mississippi State as well as Week 10 “lock” Mississippi for their “efforts”. Rebels continued our lock futility, now at 2-8 (.200), for which we have two words…epic fail!
Shoppe Talk: As mentioned above, the Men of Troy (2-7, .222) finally cut us another break, but the Mountaineers (1-6, .142) took us out behind the woodshed again and UCLA stays in the fray for post-season “hardware” at 0-5 (.000)
Vindy’s Week 11 Best Bets: Last Week: 3-2 Season: 26-22 (.542)
Pitt -3 ½ over UCONN, Miami +1 over VIRGINIA, Purdue +5 over IOWA, Marshall -3 over UAB, Tulane -1 ½ over MEMPHIS, South Alabama +9 ½ over NORTH TEXAS
Wednesday, November 07, 2012
Monday, November 05, 2012
Vindy's Picks Week 11-2012 Early Edition
Ball State (+6) over #23 TOLEDO: Crazy MACsters like to play games on Tuesday nights! Fine. We were gonna’ pass on Election Night coverage anyway. Rockets have a nice offense, but carry a traditionally MAC-weak defense (though it hasn’t been terrible of late). Toledo is 8-1 SU (with only loss coming by 7 at Arizona to open the year) and 6-2 ATS, but 1-2 against the line in past three weeks, having won all three games by exactly 5-points or 6 (including upset of Cincinnati). Former Mudhens OC Matt Campbell got the call as head coach this year and got just 9 total returning starters. Redbirds are 7-2 ATS, including a triumph over Army, validating one of “best bets” for Week 9. State did beat Big Tent-Peg upstart Indiana in early September and lost by just two at conference-contender Kent State. Third straight road game for the Cardinals, who’ve covered four of five away so far and have an excellent history as road doggies. “Over” might be the first choice of wagers. Finishing 12th nationally in sacks permitted in 2011 (we thank Marc Lawrence’s Playbook.Com for that tidbit) with 11, they’re on track to equal or better that mark (8 allowed to-date). Rockets have 18 sacks in 2012…Spacemen 34 Ball State 30
Don't touch that dial. We'll be back in our usual time-slot on Wednesday night with the rest of Week 11 in its entirety!
Don't touch that dial. We'll be back in our usual time-slot on Wednesday night with the rest of Week 11 in its entirety!
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Vindy's Picks Week 10-2012
INCUMBENT CLARIFIES “COLLEGE” PROMISE
BOCA RATON, Florida (Reuters)…In August, President Obama pledged to “make college available to everyone”. Supporters, opponents and media took that to mean unconditional access to higher-education. But at the latest tete-a-tete between candidates here last week, Obama said he actually meant he would ensure all Americans could watch NCAA football regardless of economic status or location, noting he would work with providers, such as DirecTV, to “establish government-subsidized satellite coverage so all of the nation’s people can tune in to games such as Ohio State-Michigan, or even Citadel-Wofford”, as they see fit.
Our 4-15 plummet in Week Nine (76-84, .475) made Felix Baumgartner’s skydive-from-space look like a jump off the top-rung of a step-ladder and might as well have been picked by Honey Boo-Boo. Vindicator now heads out to trick-or-treat in Green Bay as the most horrifying creature the locals can imagine…a replacement NFL referee…but not before carving scary eyes and a jagged-mouth into…
THE WEBER KID’S 2012 WEEK 10 FORECAST
(As mumbled to an empty chair by Clint Eastwood)
SAT. NOV. 3
#5 LSU (+9 ½) over #1 Alabama: Fourth match-up of these two in last 24 months. We have fared better this season taking the ‘dog with the points in rivalries like this than we expect some sort of break from the traditional trends. Bengals have won and covered 2 of the last 3 and no doubt circled this one after 21-0 loss in 2011 season title game. We’d love to see the Tigers make it three wins in four tries and complicate the BCS. Not convinced anybody can beat the Tide, but again, we offer State’s remarkable Death Valley 24-1 SU win record since start of 2009. ‘Bama’s covered three straight and all four outside Tuscaloosa. LSU was even in turnover-margin and yielded one sack in last year’s regular-season win, but was minus-two turnovers and gave up 4 sacks in championship game demise. Could come down to LSU’s rush defense vs. Elephants stellar ball-carriers…Alabama 19 LSU 13
#2 Oregon (-7) over #18 USC: Ducks 44 USC 31
#3 KANSAS STATE (-9) over Oklahoma State: Purple Persians will look to avenge one of just two regular-season defeats in 2011. KSU won by 5 at Oklahoma and by only 6 at Iowa State, but recently smoked highly-touted conference opponents West Virginia and Texas Tech by combined 110-38. Cowpokes whipped Horny Toad squad off 3OT loss last week, but got clobbered at Arizona and struggled in 20-14 home victory vs. poor Kansas team. Wildcats have hit da’ board for 51 or more in four of five games in Manhattan this year. Unless Klein leaves early with an injury…KSU 52 OKSU 38
Pittsburgh (+16 ½) over #4 NOTRE DAME: The defense remains stellar and Leprechauns as a whole were nearly flawless in upset over Oklahoma….no turnovers and just one penalty for 5 yards. Sooners QB Landry Jones did have a big passing day in the losing effort and Pitt’s senior quarterback Tino Sunseri is one of the top-rated passers in the country. Panthers have recorded back-to-back wins after opening 2-4. Last four games in this series have been tight, all decided by 6 or less…Catholics 26 Pitt 17
#6 OHIO STATE (-26 ½) over Illinois: OSU 38 Illini 6
Mississippi (+14) over #7 GEORGIA: LOCK OF DA’ WEEK. Even formerly-Weber-friendly Joja’ (5-2 in 7 forecast appearances entering the Florida game) lowered the boom on our humble narrator last week, toppling the Gators in a slopper that saw nine combined turnovers and 24 flags (though Week Ten’s Penalty-a-Palooza title went to Arizona-USC…27 hankies for 246 yards!!!). Aaron Murray wasn’t special, accounting for all three Dawgs miscues via INT, but got it done. Ole Mist has won the money in six of seven FBS games (losing ATS only in embarrassing loss at Texas), beating the line in 19-point loss at ‘Bama and three-point defeat vs. A&M before beating Auburn and Arkansas. We’ll gladly take almost two scores here with Georgia historically-dismal ATS after notchin’ an upset and Rebels already 4-0 ATS in SEC play this season. Given the upsets in the 2012 books, it’s a possibility here, but again, we’ll go punt-safe and say…UGA 23 Rebels 20
#8 FLORIDA (-15 ½) over Missouri: Gators 27 Mizzou 7
#9 Florida State: IDLE (next 11/8 @ Virginia Tech)
#10 Clemson (-13 ½) over DUKE: We incorrectly noted in last week’s picks that Duke needed one more win to be bowl-eligible, when in fact, the Devils already have the requisite six. Clemson was one of our four correct selections amidst the rubble of Week Ten, belting Wake Forest in Thursday-nighter that saw Taj Boyd throw for 428 yards, with nearly half of those going to Sammy Watkins…who isn’t even (anybody else notice how many times we’ve said “even” this week??!!) the leading receiver on the squad. Tigers picked up a rare double-digit road fave cover in that one (now 3-9 in last dozen spots in that role). Blue Devils have won and covered all four games in Durham on the year. CU’s margin-of-victory has increased steadily over last three games from 14 to 29. Ironically, while Tigers trail Atlantic Division leader Florida State by one, Duke, at 3-2, is tied atop the ACC Coastal Division…Clemson 31 Duke 14
#11 South Carolina: IDLE (next vs. Arkansas)
Temple (+14 ½) over #12 LOUISVILLE: Cardinals 24 Owls 13
#13 OREGON STATE (-4 ½) over Arizona State: Beavers stewing over stunning road loss to UDUB. We think maybe QB Sean Mannion, who tossed a pair of interceptions in the final stanza, is still feeling after-effects of earlier injury and maybe the second-stringer needs to get some more live snaps. However, we expect solid effort to take out visiting Sun Devils, who could be tired after losing back-and-forth 45-43 shootout to UCLA on heels of field goal with nuthin’ on the clock last week. Beavers lost 35-20 in Tempe in 2011 after taking the previous three years by 2, 11 and 2. State is 2-1 SU/ATS on the road, with victories at Cal and (duh) Colorado. OSU looks like one of two conference clubs that’s truly interested in the 12-PACK crown…Beavers 20 Pitchforks 10
#14 Oklahoma (-10 ½) over IOWA STATE: Spooners 29 ISU 16
COLORADO (+27 ½) over #15 Stanford: Let’s face it…the Bison blow. Not because they gave up 70 to the Oregon juggernaut, but because they couldn’t score more than 14 last week and have lit the scoreboard for more than 17 just twice all year. But Cardinal is having issues at quarterback and not deft on offense this year either. We’re a glutton for punishment and give Colorado the nod again. They may not even need points to cover… Stanford 23 Buffalo Wings 0
#17 MISSISSIPPI STATE (+6 ½) over #16 Texas A&M: UPSET PICK OF DA’ WEEK #1…State 31 A&M 28
San Diego State (+13 ½) over #19 BOISE STATE: Broncos have won all four home games, but only 2-2 ATS. SDSU is just a game back in the loss column behind BSU for the conference lead. Defensive edge again goes to the Broncos, but Aztecs ground game might keep them in this long enough, given 9-point loss at Washington and 12-point loss at Fresno. Aztecs coach Rocky Long helped bring about the NCAA ban on Broncos’ all-azure unis when hosting Mountain Jest opponents. In response, the BSU players will wear blue contact-lenses and nail-polish, just to weird them out…Broncos 27 SDSU 17
Texas (+6 ½) over #20 TEXAS TECH (GASP!): UPSET PICK OF DA’ WEEK #2…Steers 38 Tech 34
MICHIGAN STATE (+1) over #21 Nebraska: Big Dread has one road victory in three tries this year. Spartans are having disappointing season but have been very competitive. Huskers scored touchdowns in the first- and fourth quarters as bookends to what was otherwise a battle of kickers. Nebraska is atop the Legends Division of the Big Tenement at 3-1, but a State win here could make things real interesting. We’ll back MSU’s top 10 scoring defense to keep Nebraska RB Abdullah under wraps and lead the way to a victory for the home team…Sparty 19 Nebraska 17
Texas-San Antonio (+32) over #22 LOUISIANA TECH: Bulldogs 54 UTSA 27
#23 WEST VIRGINIA (-7) over Texas Christian: Mounties’ QB Geno Smith has been kept quiet the last two weeks in bad losses to the Red Raiders and the Wildcats, with WVU scoring just 14 in each of those contests (7 of which came on 100-yard kickoff return vs. K-State). Usually-defensively-stout Horny Toads have lost three of last four games outright, yielding 37.5 ppg in that span. The fact that West Virginia is still ranked says something about the continuing belief in its offense, despite the tendency to simply outscore opponents rather than stop them. WVU did get a bye last week and fares well with time off…’Ears 41 Frogs 30
#24 Arizona (+3) over #25 UCLA: Arizona 27 UCLA 23
BETWEEN THE HASHMARKS
BTW, Obama’s last-minute campaign slogan is…”A chicken in every pot, an Ohio State-discount car in every garage and a satellite dish on every roof!”
Forgot to mention last week that Florida was flagged for “roughing the snapper” in the South Carolina game. Thought we heard “roughy and snapper” and had accidentally tuned in to some kinda’ “Field & Stream” segment on Animal Planet or The Discovery Channel!
Favorite play on offense for the Zombies football team? “Student-body left-overs”!
Is it just us or does anybody out there who’s seen the beginning of Rocky Horror Picture Show think the actor who plays Ralph Hapschatt in the wedding scene looks an awful lot like…Peyton Manning!
In the same vein, anybody out there, besides your humble host, think NYG owner Raymond Berry looks a bit like Burgess Meredith in his “Twilight Zone” days???!!!
Playing on a continuous loop in all the multiplex theatres at the Leon Out-Lett Mall…“Dawn of the Dead-Ball Foul”.
Barack Obama was quoted earlier this season as saying, “If you hit a five-team parlay, you didn’t bet that. Someone else made that happen.”
Newt Gingrich promised a colony on the moon if elected president. Guess who the Toledo Rockets are hoping gets to the White House as a write-in candidate!
Vindy was in Jacksonville for da’ Florida-Georgia game and decided to take advantage of the opportunity to cast his early presidential-election ballot. For inquiring minds who wanna’ know…yes, we voted along cocktail-party lines!
Earlier this month, ten North Dakota State players were suspended for roles in forging signatures they were hired to get on ballot measure petitions. Guess that explains how they got the votes to be #1 in the FCS poll all these weeks, don’t it???!! Gotta’ love a team that can stuff the run…and da’ ballot-box!
In support of a certain beloved Sesame Street character that got dissed, we recommend the temporary name-changes of certain regional groupings of college teams to the Big Bird Ten, Big Bird 12 and Big Bird East conferences!
Honoring a certain rookie from 2011-12, we acknowledge the start of the NBA regular-season with one word…”Vinsanity”!!!!
Black Shirt: Goes to Irish QB Everett Golson for leading Notre Dame to a big 4th Quarter and bringing Vindy’s upset pick of da’ week to pass!
“Locked in a Box?”: The MSU Bulldogs put up little resistance vs. the Tide, dropping the tally to 2-7 (.222)
Shoppe Talk: Leading candidate for the post-season Grill-Master Supreme award USC (1-7, .125) did it to us again. On the radar…West Virginia (1-5, .167), UCLA (0-4, .000) and Florida State (2-5, .285).
Vindy’s Week 10 Best Bets: Last Week: 3-1 Season: 23-20 (.535)
Vandy -7 ½ over KENTUCKY, Boston College +3 ½ over WAKE FOREST, INDIANA -1 ½ over Iowa, Florida Atlantic +15 ½ over NAVY, WEEZIANA-MONROE -10 over Weeziana-Lafayette
Now if you’ll excuse us, we’re to off to pre-order our “2013 Women of Friday the 13th” calendar!
BTW…”Who ya gonna’ call?”…Vindi-cator! (He ain’t afraid of no toast!)
BOCA RATON, Florida (Reuters)…In August, President Obama pledged to “make college available to everyone”. Supporters, opponents and media took that to mean unconditional access to higher-education. But at the latest tete-a-tete between candidates here last week, Obama said he actually meant he would ensure all Americans could watch NCAA football regardless of economic status or location, noting he would work with providers, such as DirecTV, to “establish government-subsidized satellite coverage so all of the nation’s people can tune in to games such as Ohio State-Michigan, or even Citadel-Wofford”, as they see fit.
Our 4-15 plummet in Week Nine (76-84, .475) made Felix Baumgartner’s skydive-from-space look like a jump off the top-rung of a step-ladder and might as well have been picked by Honey Boo-Boo. Vindicator now heads out to trick-or-treat in Green Bay as the most horrifying creature the locals can imagine…a replacement NFL referee…but not before carving scary eyes and a jagged-mouth into…
THE WEBER KID’S 2012 WEEK 10 FORECAST
(As mumbled to an empty chair by Clint Eastwood)
SAT. NOV. 3
#5 LSU (+9 ½) over #1 Alabama: Fourth match-up of these two in last 24 months. We have fared better this season taking the ‘dog with the points in rivalries like this than we expect some sort of break from the traditional trends. Bengals have won and covered 2 of the last 3 and no doubt circled this one after 21-0 loss in 2011 season title game. We’d love to see the Tigers make it three wins in four tries and complicate the BCS. Not convinced anybody can beat the Tide, but again, we offer State’s remarkable Death Valley 24-1 SU win record since start of 2009. ‘Bama’s covered three straight and all four outside Tuscaloosa. LSU was even in turnover-margin and yielded one sack in last year’s regular-season win, but was minus-two turnovers and gave up 4 sacks in championship game demise. Could come down to LSU’s rush defense vs. Elephants stellar ball-carriers…Alabama 19 LSU 13
#2 Oregon (-7) over #18 USC: Ducks 44 USC 31
#3 KANSAS STATE (-9) over Oklahoma State: Purple Persians will look to avenge one of just two regular-season defeats in 2011. KSU won by 5 at Oklahoma and by only 6 at Iowa State, but recently smoked highly-touted conference opponents West Virginia and Texas Tech by combined 110-38. Cowpokes whipped Horny Toad squad off 3OT loss last week, but got clobbered at Arizona and struggled in 20-14 home victory vs. poor Kansas team. Wildcats have hit da’ board for 51 or more in four of five games in Manhattan this year. Unless Klein leaves early with an injury…KSU 52 OKSU 38
Pittsburgh (+16 ½) over #4 NOTRE DAME: The defense remains stellar and Leprechauns as a whole were nearly flawless in upset over Oklahoma….no turnovers and just one penalty for 5 yards. Sooners QB Landry Jones did have a big passing day in the losing effort and Pitt’s senior quarterback Tino Sunseri is one of the top-rated passers in the country. Panthers have recorded back-to-back wins after opening 2-4. Last four games in this series have been tight, all decided by 6 or less…Catholics 26 Pitt 17
#6 OHIO STATE (-26 ½) over Illinois: OSU 38 Illini 6
Mississippi (+14) over #7 GEORGIA: LOCK OF DA’ WEEK. Even formerly-Weber-friendly Joja’ (5-2 in 7 forecast appearances entering the Florida game) lowered the boom on our humble narrator last week, toppling the Gators in a slopper that saw nine combined turnovers and 24 flags (though Week Ten’s Penalty-a-Palooza title went to Arizona-USC…27 hankies for 246 yards!!!). Aaron Murray wasn’t special, accounting for all three Dawgs miscues via INT, but got it done. Ole Mist has won the money in six of seven FBS games (losing ATS only in embarrassing loss at Texas), beating the line in 19-point loss at ‘Bama and three-point defeat vs. A&M before beating Auburn and Arkansas. We’ll gladly take almost two scores here with Georgia historically-dismal ATS after notchin’ an upset and Rebels already 4-0 ATS in SEC play this season. Given the upsets in the 2012 books, it’s a possibility here, but again, we’ll go punt-safe and say…UGA 23 Rebels 20
#8 FLORIDA (-15 ½) over Missouri: Gators 27 Mizzou 7
#9 Florida State: IDLE (next 11/8 @ Virginia Tech)
#10 Clemson (-13 ½) over DUKE: We incorrectly noted in last week’s picks that Duke needed one more win to be bowl-eligible, when in fact, the Devils already have the requisite six. Clemson was one of our four correct selections amidst the rubble of Week Ten, belting Wake Forest in Thursday-nighter that saw Taj Boyd throw for 428 yards, with nearly half of those going to Sammy Watkins…who isn’t even (anybody else notice how many times we’ve said “even” this week??!!) the leading receiver on the squad. Tigers picked up a rare double-digit road fave cover in that one (now 3-9 in last dozen spots in that role). Blue Devils have won and covered all four games in Durham on the year. CU’s margin-of-victory has increased steadily over last three games from 14 to 29. Ironically, while Tigers trail Atlantic Division leader Florida State by one, Duke, at 3-2, is tied atop the ACC Coastal Division…Clemson 31 Duke 14
#11 South Carolina: IDLE (next vs. Arkansas)
Temple (+14 ½) over #12 LOUISVILLE: Cardinals 24 Owls 13
#13 OREGON STATE (-4 ½) over Arizona State: Beavers stewing over stunning road loss to UDUB. We think maybe QB Sean Mannion, who tossed a pair of interceptions in the final stanza, is still feeling after-effects of earlier injury and maybe the second-stringer needs to get some more live snaps. However, we expect solid effort to take out visiting Sun Devils, who could be tired after losing back-and-forth 45-43 shootout to UCLA on heels of field goal with nuthin’ on the clock last week. Beavers lost 35-20 in Tempe in 2011 after taking the previous three years by 2, 11 and 2. State is 2-1 SU/ATS on the road, with victories at Cal and (duh) Colorado. OSU looks like one of two conference clubs that’s truly interested in the 12-PACK crown…Beavers 20 Pitchforks 10
#14 Oklahoma (-10 ½) over IOWA STATE: Spooners 29 ISU 16
COLORADO (+27 ½) over #15 Stanford: Let’s face it…the Bison blow. Not because they gave up 70 to the Oregon juggernaut, but because they couldn’t score more than 14 last week and have lit the scoreboard for more than 17 just twice all year. But Cardinal is having issues at quarterback and not deft on offense this year either. We’re a glutton for punishment and give Colorado the nod again. They may not even need points to cover… Stanford 23 Buffalo Wings 0
#17 MISSISSIPPI STATE (+6 ½) over #16 Texas A&M: UPSET PICK OF DA’ WEEK #1…State 31 A&M 28
San Diego State (+13 ½) over #19 BOISE STATE: Broncos have won all four home games, but only 2-2 ATS. SDSU is just a game back in the loss column behind BSU for the conference lead. Defensive edge again goes to the Broncos, but Aztecs ground game might keep them in this long enough, given 9-point loss at Washington and 12-point loss at Fresno. Aztecs coach Rocky Long helped bring about the NCAA ban on Broncos’ all-azure unis when hosting Mountain Jest opponents. In response, the BSU players will wear blue contact-lenses and nail-polish, just to weird them out…Broncos 27 SDSU 17
Texas (+6 ½) over #20 TEXAS TECH (GASP!): UPSET PICK OF DA’ WEEK #2…Steers 38 Tech 34
MICHIGAN STATE (+1) over #21 Nebraska: Big Dread has one road victory in three tries this year. Spartans are having disappointing season but have been very competitive. Huskers scored touchdowns in the first- and fourth quarters as bookends to what was otherwise a battle of kickers. Nebraska is atop the Legends Division of the Big Tenement at 3-1, but a State win here could make things real interesting. We’ll back MSU’s top 10 scoring defense to keep Nebraska RB Abdullah under wraps and lead the way to a victory for the home team…Sparty 19 Nebraska 17
Texas-San Antonio (+32) over #22 LOUISIANA TECH: Bulldogs 54 UTSA 27
#23 WEST VIRGINIA (-7) over Texas Christian: Mounties’ QB Geno Smith has been kept quiet the last two weeks in bad losses to the Red Raiders and the Wildcats, with WVU scoring just 14 in each of those contests (7 of which came on 100-yard kickoff return vs. K-State). Usually-defensively-stout Horny Toads have lost three of last four games outright, yielding 37.5 ppg in that span. The fact that West Virginia is still ranked says something about the continuing belief in its offense, despite the tendency to simply outscore opponents rather than stop them. WVU did get a bye last week and fares well with time off…’Ears 41 Frogs 30
#24 Arizona (+3) over #25 UCLA: Arizona 27 UCLA 23
BETWEEN THE HASHMARKS
BTW, Obama’s last-minute campaign slogan is…”A chicken in every pot, an Ohio State-discount car in every garage and a satellite dish on every roof!”
Forgot to mention last week that Florida was flagged for “roughing the snapper” in the South Carolina game. Thought we heard “roughy and snapper” and had accidentally tuned in to some kinda’ “Field & Stream” segment on Animal Planet or The Discovery Channel!
Favorite play on offense for the Zombies football team? “Student-body left-overs”!
Is it just us or does anybody out there who’s seen the beginning of Rocky Horror Picture Show think the actor who plays Ralph Hapschatt in the wedding scene looks an awful lot like…Peyton Manning!
In the same vein, anybody out there, besides your humble host, think NYG owner Raymond Berry looks a bit like Burgess Meredith in his “Twilight Zone” days???!!!
Playing on a continuous loop in all the multiplex theatres at the Leon Out-Lett Mall…“Dawn of the Dead-Ball Foul”.
Barack Obama was quoted earlier this season as saying, “If you hit a five-team parlay, you didn’t bet that. Someone else made that happen.”
Newt Gingrich promised a colony on the moon if elected president. Guess who the Toledo Rockets are hoping gets to the White House as a write-in candidate!
Vindy was in Jacksonville for da’ Florida-Georgia game and decided to take advantage of the opportunity to cast his early presidential-election ballot. For inquiring minds who wanna’ know…yes, we voted along cocktail-party lines!
Earlier this month, ten North Dakota State players were suspended for roles in forging signatures they were hired to get on ballot measure petitions. Guess that explains how they got the votes to be #1 in the FCS poll all these weeks, don’t it???!! Gotta’ love a team that can stuff the run…and da’ ballot-box!
In support of a certain beloved Sesame Street character that got dissed, we recommend the temporary name-changes of certain regional groupings of college teams to the Big Bird Ten, Big Bird 12 and Big Bird East conferences!
Honoring a certain rookie from 2011-12, we acknowledge the start of the NBA regular-season with one word…”Vinsanity”!!!!
Black Shirt: Goes to Irish QB Everett Golson for leading Notre Dame to a big 4th Quarter and bringing Vindy’s upset pick of da’ week to pass!
“Locked in a Box?”: The MSU Bulldogs put up little resistance vs. the Tide, dropping the tally to 2-7 (.222)
Shoppe Talk: Leading candidate for the post-season Grill-Master Supreme award USC (1-7, .125) did it to us again. On the radar…West Virginia (1-5, .167), UCLA (0-4, .000) and Florida State (2-5, .285).
Vindy’s Week 10 Best Bets: Last Week: 3-1 Season: 23-20 (.535)
Vandy -7 ½ over KENTUCKY, Boston College +3 ½ over WAKE FOREST, INDIANA -1 ½ over Iowa, Florida Atlantic +15 ½ over NAVY, WEEZIANA-MONROE -10 over Weeziana-Lafayette
Now if you’ll excuse us, we’re to off to pre-order our “2013 Women of Friday the 13th” calendar!
BTW…”Who ya gonna’ call?”…Vindi-cator! (He ain’t afraid of no toast!)
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Vindy's Picks Week 9-2012
CLINTON TAKES ONE FOR THE TEAM(S)
WASHINGTON, District of Columbia (CNN)…Protecting the Commander-in-Chief, Hillary Clinton threw herself on a live political grenade, declaring the terrorist strike in Libya to be “my bad”. The Secretary of State then surprisingly copped to her failures to prevent the 2012 Olympic women’s badminton snafu, Bobby Petrino’s affair and motorcycle crash, Seattle’s “Hail Mary TD” win over Green Bay, the Cleveland Browns and Lance Armstrong’s use of PEDs. While pundits suggested she torpedoed any potential future runs for the Oval Office, NCAA athletic directors and NFL team owners across the country said such contriteness opens the opportunity for Clinton to become the first female head football coach at the FBS or NFL level, and representatives from several squads are reportedly seeking permission from the White House to contact Clinton about current or anticipated vacancies!
Following an okay 12-9 (72-69, .510) for Week Eight, we show off our binder full of linemen and…
THE WEBER KID’S 2012 WEEK 9 FORECAST
(More uncomfortable than Floyd Mayweather’s jail cell!)
THURS. OCT. 25
#14 Clemson (-12) over WAKE FOREST: Tigers 29 Deacons 14
FRI. OCT. 26
#16 LOUISVILLE (-3 ½) over Cincinnati: Cincy was upset last week by Toledo, who grabbed a 29-23 triumph without the benefit of an offensive touchdown, and UC dropped outta’ the Top 25. Teddy Bridgewater, one of top passers in the country, and the Cards edged a reeling South Florida team on a late scoring pass. Louisville still playing very-competitive games, with five straight decided by 10 or less (and four by seven or fewer). Cincy has owned this series four consecutive years, winning last year 25-16 while Birds were in the midst of a 1-4 SU demise …Louisville 17 Bearkats 10
SAT.OCT. 27
#13 Mississippi State (+23 ½) over #1 ALABAMA: LOCK OF DA’ WEEK. Tide better be careful here. Bulldogs will be up for this one, while Elephants might be peeking to next week’s trek to Death Valley. It was interesting to note McCarron’s 306 passing yards in win over Tennessee considering solid running game at ‘Bama’s disposal. Look for the QB to return to simple game-management mode vs. State team that defends the pass well… ‘Bama 30 MSU 16
Colorado (+45 ½) over #2 OREGON: This got a serious look for “lock”. ‘Bison had as many turnovers as points (six) last week vs. the Trojans. If they spent this week practicing ball security, Drakes will no doubt let ‘em hit paydirt a couple times. With that team from L.A. on the horizon, it’s a classic look-ahead for…Mallards 52 Buffaloed 14
#3 Florida (-6 ½) over #12 Georgia (@ Jacksonville, FL): Penalties continue to pile-up for the Gators (see our stat of da’ week below), but didn’t hurt ‘em in laugher over Carolina. ‘Dawgs held on during the final four minutes vs. Kentucky, who almost caught Joja’ sleepin’. Battle of wills as defense-minded Florida (allowing just north of 12 ppg) tries to corral UGA (scoring almost 40 ppg). Last two years have featured nail-biters, with Gators winning 34-31 in 2010 and Bulldogs rebounding in 2011 with a 24-20 victory. Dawg Pound not a good wager vs. Top 25, covering just 3 of last 14 and giving Florida the SU win in 7 of last 10 years…Crocs 19 UGA 10
#15 Texas Tech (+7) over #4 KANSAS STATE: KSU 30 Tech 26
#5 Notre Dame (+10 ½) over #8 OKLAHOMA: UPSET PICK OF DA' WEEK. Sooners are surging with 3-0 SU/ATS run in which they’ve outscored Texas Tech, Texas and Kansas 156-48. Irish went scoreless in the final 12 minutes, but preserved 17-14 home win vs. desperate Cougars. The ND ground game was instrumental as the quarterbacks did little. Leprechauns will need a similar output here in another match-up of polar-opposites…ND allows 9.4 ppg. Sooners lighting it up for better than fitty per game of late. OK on 11-6 home chalk run against Division I-A teams. We’ll favor Catholics’ overall strength-of-schedule thus far and say…Notre Dame 27 Okie-Doke 24
#6 LSU: IDLE (next vs. Alabama)
#7 Oregon State (-4) over WASHINGTON: Beavers 24 UDUB 14
PENN STATE (PK) over #9 Ohio State: We’ll call this a Brig 10 match-up since neither club is eligible for a bowl due to sanctions. Lions, as the home squad, will wear the horizontal black-and-white stripes, while Buckeyes will take the field in the visiting orange jumpsuits! In mid-September, it looked like it was gonna’ be a losing season in Happy Valley. Now the Lions have a legitimate shot to win this and Buckeyes have looked vulnerable three of the past four games, were lucky to beat Purdue in extra frames last week and may start a banged-up quarterback. OSU has beaten all three teams to whom it lost in 2011. Lions and Wolverines are the remaining clubs in that category. Again, we look first to the “under” despite consecutive “overs” by the alma mater…We Are 13 OSU 10
#10 Southern Cal @ ARIZONA (+6 ½): USC 37 AZ 24
Duke (+28) over #11 FLORIDA STATE: Since getting bashed at Stanford in early September, Blue Devils have won five of six games straight-up, including 33-30 upset last week over North Carolina as 10-point dog, and should come into Tallahassee with some confidence. ‘Noles beat Miami, but are on 1-4 ATS skid. Duke needs one more win to be eligible for first potential bowl-berth since 1994. Devils scored 21 or more just four times in 2011. They’ve posted 33 or better six times already this year. We like the ‘dog with four touchdowns…FSU 37 Duke 14
#17 SOUTH CAROLINA (-14) over Tennessee: Gamehens put the Gators victory on a silver platter much the way the Wolverines rolled over early vs. Alabama, and that comedy-of-errors had us tuning away from CBS and into the Friday the 13th marathon on AMC PDQ. Granted, Marcus Lattimore was not completely healthy, but special teams baked da’ Chicken in the 1st Quarter. Rocky Top made a game of the first-half vs. same Crimson Tide last week, but again, old habits die hard and Vols faltered late to give Tide the cover. Marc Lawrence’s Playbook.Com notes the road club in this one has covered 13 of 15, but we’ll give the coaching and talent edges to Carolina…Poultry 38 UT 13
Kent State @ #18 RUTGERS (-13 ½): We agonized over this one and have no faith in this call…Rutgers 24 Kent State 17
#19 STANFORD (-24) over Washington State: Stanford 41 Wazzou 13
#20 Michigan (+2 ½) over NEBRASKA: Michigan 23 Big Dread 17
#21 Boise State (-16 ½) over WYOMING: Cowpokes only SU dubya came by 3 at Idaho. Broncos let UNLV cover 27-point line with a late defensive score. Wyoming’s three home defeats this year are by total of 6 points (but include losses to defense-challenged Toledo and AA Cal Poly). Wyoming has a middle-of-the-pack offense and is bottom or near-bottom in all other Mountain Jest statistical categories. Not good news facing conference’s top D and nationally-ranked scoring D. Cowboys’ coach Dave Christensen will sit this one out in the wake of some unkind words for Air Force coach Troy Calhoun and his military tenure at the end of the one-point loss two weeks ago. We watched the video of the incident and think Big Dave was just acknowledging his interest in the F-Bomber-22! As an olive branch to the NCAA, Wyoming will be led here by Tom Cruise, reprising his role as Maverick in Top Gun (yes, we know those were Navy pilots), who will inspire the home-club with a pregame speech imploring the boys to “never leave yer Wing-T man!”…BSU 31 Cowpokes 10
AUBURN (+14) over #22 Texas A&M: Aggies 27 War Eagle 19
#23 Ohio (-6 ½) @ MIAMI-OHIO: How good does season-opening road win at Beaver Stadium look right about now for da’ undefeated Bobblecats???!!! Both sides allowing way more points-against than last year’s versions did, with each yielding about 33 ppg over last three MAC games and are combined 3-9 ATS. Redhawks let Cincy bang da’ board for 52. We’re giving the nod to OU’s rushing game over Miami-O’s offense. Line appears to be mighty close…’Cats 41 Birds 34
#24 Louisiana Tech (-30) over NEW MEXICO STATE: Bulldogs 49 NMSU 14
#25 West Virginia: IDLE (next vs. TCU)
BETWEEN THE HASHMARKS
BTW, Hillary continued to embrace her role as fall-guy (fall-gal?) and later offered mia culpas for Sam Fickens’ missed-kicks, Vindy’s Weeks 3 and 4 Picks, and in a pre-emptive strike, any possible Lindsay Lohan-Charlie Sheen love-child!
In July, Clinton finished a 13-day whirlwind tour of France, Afghanistan, Japan, Mongolia, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Egypt and Israel…or what the NCAA will refer to next season as…the Big East Conference!
College pigskin stat of da’ week…Florida, Florida State and Florida International currently rank 109 (7.0), 110 (8.0) and 114 (8.4), respectively, in penalties per game. Can’t spell “flag” without “F-L-A”!!!! There is historical precedent, however, as Ponce De Leon, who discovered the Sunshine State in 1513, woulda’ got there five years sooner had it not been for the “illegal formation call” (too many boats on the line-of-scrimmage)!
Speaking of yellow hankies, we can’t wait for the first one to get thrown in Lions-Buckeyes game and hear the referee say, “Holding…number 49628713 on the offense…ten-year penalty…still First-Down!”
“Tebowing” is now trade-marked???!!! “Pay to pray”???!!! So, under da’ same logic, Heisman gets a cut every time some collegian strikes da’ pose???!!! Come to think of it, so does Madonna???!!!
A certain New Zealand berg is changing its official name to “The Middle of Middle-Earth” in honor of the December premiere of “The Hobbit”. Ironically, last season’s national titlist and opening-BCS poll number one, Alabama, is altering the hometown handle to “The Center of the BCS”!!! (“‘Bama College Supremacy”???!!!)
Black Shirt: Goes to Texas Tech (GASP!) QB Seth Doege for six (count ‘em, six!) TD passes vs. TCU, including last one in third-overtime to win and cover!
“Locked in a Box?”: The Beavers got it done vs. Utah, raising our lock tally to 2-6 (.250).
Shoppe Talk: Da’ ‘Eers, Red Raiders (GASP!) and Seminoles all showed up on the right side of the spread, but the Trojans re-announce their presence to go to 1-5 (.167)!
Vindy’s Week 9 Best Bets: Last Week: 4-2 Season: 20-19 (.513)
Ball State -6 over ARMY, NC State +7 over NORTH CAROLINA, Western Kentucky -7 over Florida International, Syracuse +3 over SOUTH FLORIDA
WASHINGTON, District of Columbia (CNN)…Protecting the Commander-in-Chief, Hillary Clinton threw herself on a live political grenade, declaring the terrorist strike in Libya to be “my bad”. The Secretary of State then surprisingly copped to her failures to prevent the 2012 Olympic women’s badminton snafu, Bobby Petrino’s affair and motorcycle crash, Seattle’s “Hail Mary TD” win over Green Bay, the Cleveland Browns and Lance Armstrong’s use of PEDs. While pundits suggested she torpedoed any potential future runs for the Oval Office, NCAA athletic directors and NFL team owners across the country said such contriteness opens the opportunity for Clinton to become the first female head football coach at the FBS or NFL level, and representatives from several squads are reportedly seeking permission from the White House to contact Clinton about current or anticipated vacancies!
Following an okay 12-9 (72-69, .510) for Week Eight, we show off our binder full of linemen and…
THE WEBER KID’S 2012 WEEK 9 FORECAST
(More uncomfortable than Floyd Mayweather’s jail cell!)
THURS. OCT. 25
#14 Clemson (-12) over WAKE FOREST: Tigers 29 Deacons 14
FRI. OCT. 26
#16 LOUISVILLE (-3 ½) over Cincinnati: Cincy was upset last week by Toledo, who grabbed a 29-23 triumph without the benefit of an offensive touchdown, and UC dropped outta’ the Top 25. Teddy Bridgewater, one of top passers in the country, and the Cards edged a reeling South Florida team on a late scoring pass. Louisville still playing very-competitive games, with five straight decided by 10 or less (and four by seven or fewer). Cincy has owned this series four consecutive years, winning last year 25-16 while Birds were in the midst of a 1-4 SU demise …Louisville 17 Bearkats 10
SAT.OCT. 27
#13 Mississippi State (+23 ½) over #1 ALABAMA: LOCK OF DA’ WEEK. Tide better be careful here. Bulldogs will be up for this one, while Elephants might be peeking to next week’s trek to Death Valley. It was interesting to note McCarron’s 306 passing yards in win over Tennessee considering solid running game at ‘Bama’s disposal. Look for the QB to return to simple game-management mode vs. State team that defends the pass well… ‘Bama 30 MSU 16
Colorado (+45 ½) over #2 OREGON: This got a serious look for “lock”. ‘Bison had as many turnovers as points (six) last week vs. the Trojans. If they spent this week practicing ball security, Drakes will no doubt let ‘em hit paydirt a couple times. With that team from L.A. on the horizon, it’s a classic look-ahead for…Mallards 52 Buffaloed 14
#3 Florida (-6 ½) over #12 Georgia (@ Jacksonville, FL): Penalties continue to pile-up for the Gators (see our stat of da’ week below), but didn’t hurt ‘em in laugher over Carolina. ‘Dawgs held on during the final four minutes vs. Kentucky, who almost caught Joja’ sleepin’. Battle of wills as defense-minded Florida (allowing just north of 12 ppg) tries to corral UGA (scoring almost 40 ppg). Last two years have featured nail-biters, with Gators winning 34-31 in 2010 and Bulldogs rebounding in 2011 with a 24-20 victory. Dawg Pound not a good wager vs. Top 25, covering just 3 of last 14 and giving Florida the SU win in 7 of last 10 years…Crocs 19 UGA 10
#15 Texas Tech (+7) over #4 KANSAS STATE: KSU 30 Tech 26
#5 Notre Dame (+10 ½) over #8 OKLAHOMA: UPSET PICK OF DA' WEEK. Sooners are surging with 3-0 SU/ATS run in which they’ve outscored Texas Tech, Texas and Kansas 156-48. Irish went scoreless in the final 12 minutes, but preserved 17-14 home win vs. desperate Cougars. The ND ground game was instrumental as the quarterbacks did little. Leprechauns will need a similar output here in another match-up of polar-opposites…ND allows 9.4 ppg. Sooners lighting it up for better than fitty per game of late. OK on 11-6 home chalk run against Division I-A teams. We’ll favor Catholics’ overall strength-of-schedule thus far and say…Notre Dame 27 Okie-Doke 24
#6 LSU: IDLE (next vs. Alabama)
#7 Oregon State (-4) over WASHINGTON: Beavers 24 UDUB 14
PENN STATE (PK) over #9 Ohio State: We’ll call this a Brig 10 match-up since neither club is eligible for a bowl due to sanctions. Lions, as the home squad, will wear the horizontal black-and-white stripes, while Buckeyes will take the field in the visiting orange jumpsuits! In mid-September, it looked like it was gonna’ be a losing season in Happy Valley. Now the Lions have a legitimate shot to win this and Buckeyes have looked vulnerable three of the past four games, were lucky to beat Purdue in extra frames last week and may start a banged-up quarterback. OSU has beaten all three teams to whom it lost in 2011. Lions and Wolverines are the remaining clubs in that category. Again, we look first to the “under” despite consecutive “overs” by the alma mater…We Are 13 OSU 10
#10 Southern Cal @ ARIZONA (+6 ½): USC 37 AZ 24
Duke (+28) over #11 FLORIDA STATE: Since getting bashed at Stanford in early September, Blue Devils have won five of six games straight-up, including 33-30 upset last week over North Carolina as 10-point dog, and should come into Tallahassee with some confidence. ‘Noles beat Miami, but are on 1-4 ATS skid. Duke needs one more win to be eligible for first potential bowl-berth since 1994. Devils scored 21 or more just four times in 2011. They’ve posted 33 or better six times already this year. We like the ‘dog with four touchdowns…FSU 37 Duke 14
#17 SOUTH CAROLINA (-14) over Tennessee: Gamehens put the Gators victory on a silver platter much the way the Wolverines rolled over early vs. Alabama, and that comedy-of-errors had us tuning away from CBS and into the Friday the 13th marathon on AMC PDQ. Granted, Marcus Lattimore was not completely healthy, but special teams baked da’ Chicken in the 1st Quarter. Rocky Top made a game of the first-half vs. same Crimson Tide last week, but again, old habits die hard and Vols faltered late to give Tide the cover. Marc Lawrence’s Playbook.Com notes the road club in this one has covered 13 of 15, but we’ll give the coaching and talent edges to Carolina…Poultry 38 UT 13
Kent State @ #18 RUTGERS (-13 ½): We agonized over this one and have no faith in this call…Rutgers 24 Kent State 17
#19 STANFORD (-24) over Washington State: Stanford 41 Wazzou 13
#20 Michigan (+2 ½) over NEBRASKA: Michigan 23 Big Dread 17
#21 Boise State (-16 ½) over WYOMING: Cowpokes only SU dubya came by 3 at Idaho. Broncos let UNLV cover 27-point line with a late defensive score. Wyoming’s three home defeats this year are by total of 6 points (but include losses to defense-challenged Toledo and AA Cal Poly). Wyoming has a middle-of-the-pack offense and is bottom or near-bottom in all other Mountain Jest statistical categories. Not good news facing conference’s top D and nationally-ranked scoring D. Cowboys’ coach Dave Christensen will sit this one out in the wake of some unkind words for Air Force coach Troy Calhoun and his military tenure at the end of the one-point loss two weeks ago. We watched the video of the incident and think Big Dave was just acknowledging his interest in the F-Bomber-22! As an olive branch to the NCAA, Wyoming will be led here by Tom Cruise, reprising his role as Maverick in Top Gun (yes, we know those were Navy pilots), who will inspire the home-club with a pregame speech imploring the boys to “never leave yer Wing-T man!”…BSU 31 Cowpokes 10
AUBURN (+14) over #22 Texas A&M: Aggies 27 War Eagle 19
#23 Ohio (-6 ½) @ MIAMI-OHIO: How good does season-opening road win at Beaver Stadium look right about now for da’ undefeated Bobblecats???!!! Both sides allowing way more points-against than last year’s versions did, with each yielding about 33 ppg over last three MAC games and are combined 3-9 ATS. Redhawks let Cincy bang da’ board for 52. We’re giving the nod to OU’s rushing game over Miami-O’s offense. Line appears to be mighty close…’Cats 41 Birds 34
#24 Louisiana Tech (-30) over NEW MEXICO STATE: Bulldogs 49 NMSU 14
#25 West Virginia: IDLE (next vs. TCU)
BETWEEN THE HASHMARKS
BTW, Hillary continued to embrace her role as fall-guy (fall-gal?) and later offered mia culpas for Sam Fickens’ missed-kicks, Vindy’s Weeks 3 and 4 Picks, and in a pre-emptive strike, any possible Lindsay Lohan-Charlie Sheen love-child!
In July, Clinton finished a 13-day whirlwind tour of France, Afghanistan, Japan, Mongolia, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Egypt and Israel…or what the NCAA will refer to next season as…the Big East Conference!
College pigskin stat of da’ week…Florida, Florida State and Florida International currently rank 109 (7.0), 110 (8.0) and 114 (8.4), respectively, in penalties per game. Can’t spell “flag” without “F-L-A”!!!! There is historical precedent, however, as Ponce De Leon, who discovered the Sunshine State in 1513, woulda’ got there five years sooner had it not been for the “illegal formation call” (too many boats on the line-of-scrimmage)!
Speaking of yellow hankies, we can’t wait for the first one to get thrown in Lions-Buckeyes game and hear the referee say, “Holding…number 49628713 on the offense…ten-year penalty…still First-Down!”
“Tebowing” is now trade-marked???!!! “Pay to pray”???!!! So, under da’ same logic, Heisman gets a cut every time some collegian strikes da’ pose???!!! Come to think of it, so does Madonna???!!!
A certain New Zealand berg is changing its official name to “The Middle of Middle-Earth” in honor of the December premiere of “The Hobbit”. Ironically, last season’s national titlist and opening-BCS poll number one, Alabama, is altering the hometown handle to “The Center of the BCS”!!! (“‘Bama College Supremacy”???!!!)
Black Shirt: Goes to Texas Tech (GASP!) QB Seth Doege for six (count ‘em, six!) TD passes vs. TCU, including last one in third-overtime to win and cover!
“Locked in a Box?”: The Beavers got it done vs. Utah, raising our lock tally to 2-6 (.250).
Shoppe Talk: Da’ ‘Eers, Red Raiders (GASP!) and Seminoles all showed up on the right side of the spread, but the Trojans re-announce their presence to go to 1-5 (.167)!
Vindy’s Week 9 Best Bets: Last Week: 4-2 Season: 20-19 (.513)
Ball State -6 over ARMY, NC State +7 over NORTH CAROLINA, Western Kentucky -7 over Florida International, Syracuse +3 over SOUTH FLORIDA
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Vindy's Picks Week 8-2012
FAMOUS SOCK GOES TO INFAMOUS BUYER
LOVELOCK, Nevada (AP)…OJ Simpson finally acquired some memorabilia legitimately…by placing the winning bid in an auction for the blood-soaked sock, worn by Curt Schilling during the Red Sox 2004 World Series run. The ex-Boston hurler had to sell the historical garment to compensate for financial difficulties. Removed from its display at Cooperstown as ceremoniously as it was unveiled in its inaugural placement at the MLB hall-of-fame museum, the sock was quickly whisked into the back of a waiting prison vehicle, complete with weapon-packing escort, and transported westward. The former NFL star, acquitted of murder, but jailed, ironically, for armed robbery involving his sports-souvenirs, said he wanted the flawed footwear “because it matches the glove”. Upon learning of the transaction, Dream-Teamer Johnnie Cochran, who, still goin’ to-bat for his former client, said, “If da’ sock don’t fit…you ain’t got spit..!”
Down 2-6 early, your numbskull-narrator staged a comeback in the night-games to finish 8-8 for Week Seven (60-60, .500). Vindicator, fresh off yet-another viewing of The Shining, shoves his face between the bars of his own jail cell and quips...”Heeerrrrrrrrrre’s…
THE WEBER KID’S 2012 WEEK 8 FORECAST
(Sponsored this week by Odor-Eaters!)
THURS. OCT. 18
ARIZONA STATE (+9) over #2 Oregon: Ducks were idle, while Devils were blasting Colorado, at altitude, last Thursday. State is playing well-enough defensively, allowing less than 16 ppg against I-A contestants and is under first-year coach Todd Graham, who’s stays at schools tend to be shorter than Britney Spears’ or Kim Kardashian’s marriages! Drakes have won the money in 12 of last 13 following a bye week and have hit the scoreboard for fitty or higher in 5 of 7 games so far. State’s covered last five times getting points in Tempe, but have a redshirt freshman at quarterback. First true road game for Oregon on the season and we considered this for upset pick of da’ week… Mallards 44 ASU 38
SAT. OCT. 20
TENNESSEE (+21) over #1 Alabama: Tide’s atop the season’s opening BCS, which given the forthcoming playoff-format and expiration of the contract for the current system, stands for “Be Closin’ Soon”! Vols have been competitive, despite 1-2 ATS record, in their three SEC defeats, letting Florida, Georgia and last week, Mississippi State, off the hook late in those games. ‘Bama has already matched spread-loss total from 2011, but all three ATS wins have come away from Tuscaloosa. The home team in this series has sucked dirty-pond water ATS. As the election campaign rages, we’ve noted some “NOBAMA” stickers on cars in the Vegas Valley. We’re just wonderin’ why certain denizens of Sin City are harborin’ ill-will toward the Crimson Tide!!!!!!...’Bama 34 Rocky Top 16
#9 South Carolina (+3) over #3 FLORIDA: Tough spot for the Gators, who face unhappy bunch of ‘Nuggets off loss to LSU. At least UF is home and have QB Jeff Driskel, who did his best Tebow-impersonation, rushing for three scores and 177 total ground yards in tight victory over Vandy. Carolina won 17-12 in 2011. Again, we expect points to be at a premium, and “under” is da’ play…Tenders 16 Gators 14
#4 Kansas State (+3 ½) over #17 WEST VIRGINIA: Wildcats 42 WVU 40
#5 NOTRE DAME (-14) over Brigham Young: With or without QB Golson…Irish 27 Coogs 8
#6 Louisiana State (-3) over #20 TEXAS A&M: Gotta’ hand it to the Bengals. They know how to defend the home-turf. Despite an early missed FG and a 10-yard punt, the wide-outs made some nifty catches and State got the win. Aggies almost went down to Weeziana Tech. Strength vs. strength here. Can A&M’s offense outwit the Tigers’ defense???!!!...LSU 17 Aggies 13
#7 OHIO STATE (-17) over Purdue: Buckeyes 38 Boilers 17
#8 OREGON STATE (-10 ½) over Utah: LOCK OF DA’ WEEK. Looks like the Beavers have more than just one very capable quarterback. A Utah elementary school uses talking vending machines to warn kids against unhealthy snack choices each time they press a button. That same school uses identical technology every time a 3rd grader wants to place a wager on one of Vindy’s Picks! Your humble narrator, however, just got his Beehive State substitute-teaching certification and plans to help da’ absent schoolmarm’s class of 8-year-olds learn some math (and a few multi-syllable words, such “point-spread”, “parlay” and “favorite”) by encouraging them to invest in…Beavers 29 Utes 10
#10 OKLAHOMA (-35) over Kansas: Sooners 49 Kansas 10
Colorado (+41) over #11 USC: This got “lock” consideration…Troy 45 Buffs 14
MIAMI (+17 ½) over #12 Florida State: ‘Noles 28 Pelicans 21
KENTUCKY (+28) over #13 Georgia: Road dog woes continue for the Bulldogs, who got an extra week to stew over 35-7 stinker they turned-in at South Carolina. Bluegrass Kittens on 0-5 spread slide, 1-6 on the year and are typically “good-fer-what-ails-ya” when scoring is poor (lost 49-7 last week at Arkansas). Our reservations here are 1) a certain infamous “Party” awaits Joja’ next Saturday, 2) to a lesser-extent, it’s Homecoming in Lexington and 3) ‘Dawgs’ only wins by this many have come between da’ hedges vs. Florida Atlantic and Vandy. Best guess for “wish I had it back”….Joja’ 45 KY 20
#14 CLEMSON (-9) over Virginia Tech: One of the Hokies’ receivers discovered a pair of scissors on the field during Tech’s loss to North Carolina. Perhaps one of the Tarheels ball-carriers took the term “cutback” a tad too literally! Nonetheless, Clemson will be taking advantage of an opportunity to get in its opponents’ heads, leaving several sets of shears in the visitors’ locker room this week!...Tigers 38 Hokies 24
Middle Tennessee State (+20 ½) over #15 MISSISSIPPI STATE: Bulldogs 30 MTSU 17
#16 LOUISVILLE (-7) over South Florida: Louisville 27 USF 17
#18 Texas Tech (GASP!) (-2 ½) over TCU: Guns Up 17 Horny Toads 9
#19 Rutgers (-6) over TEMPLE: Knights 23 Owls 13
TOLEDO (+7) over #21 Cincinnati: In June, the San Diego Padres drafted hasn’t-played-baseball-since-high-school Rockets’ starting QB Terrance Owens…solely on the basis of his arm-strength and accuracy to be a pitcher! Having someone take the mound that’s used to hitting guys “right between the numbers” is not going to work out well! Nor is having a guy who keeps telling his outfielders to…“go long”!!!!...Cincy 41 Toledo 37
#22 Stanford (-2 ½) over CAL: Stanford 20 Berkeley Bears 14
Michigan State (+10) over #23 MICHIGAN: Even discounting the long TD-runs of 49- and 63-yards, Big Blue still managed to tote the rock at 5 yards per carry in rout of Illinois. Sparty, while slogging on offense, won’t be had quite so easily on the other side of the ball. Including OT loss at Iowa last week, State is on 0-5 spread skid and shows a 3-9 road dog record, but has won this series four years running. Don’t be stunned to see Spartans make it five in a row, but we’ll conservatively call it…UM 20 MSU 16
#24 BOISE STATE (-27 ½) over Nevada-Las Vegas: These ain’t yer father’s Broncos, salvaging a win (and cover) vs. won’t-go-away Fresno State Puppies last week, but have to wonder what the Rabbles can muster on the conference road following the squandering of a couple early three-score leads to yield da’ Fremont Cannon to “that team up-north”…again! Like Kentucky and Colorado, the D tends to make lesser-offenses seem better than they really are…Broncos 38 UNLV 10
#25 Ohio: IDLE (next @ Miami-Ohio)
BETWEEN THE HASHMARKS
BTW, Vindy’s spies say a guard at the Silver State correctional facility actually chanted “Dead sock walkin’! Dead sock walkin’!” as the famous hosiery made its way down a corridor, while wearin’ an orange jump-suit with a bullet-proof…uh… ”vest” (or at least a Kevlar boot)…toward the Juice’s cell!
“Vindy…er…um…Windy…I’m home-field!”
Incidentally, we have it on good authority that CU officials paid handsomely to ensure in-room TVs at Tech’s hotel, regardless of channel, broadcast only Edward Scissorhands or Sweeney Todd!
Following up last week’s musings about the alma mater’s “NASCAR” hurry-up offense, we note the conversion of the PSU sideline into “pit row” each time that particular offense is run. Lions’ quarterbacks have the option of pulling off in mid-play to get four new offensive linemen (swapped out with an air-wrench), a few squirts from a water-bottle, a topped-off tank of gas and a wash-and-squeegee across the facemask. The best part of this scenario, of course, is watchin’ players collide high-up in the turn, then spin-out while their cleats and other random parts of their uniforms fly-off over the wall and into the stands! This naturally brings out the yellow flag, which causes players to slow down and maintain their respective positions behind a pace car on the field! But what’s really weird is when outstanding players each game get helmet-stickers bearing the logo of Pennzoil or STP!
An Oklahoma City school forced five-year-old Cooper Barton to invert his University of Michigan T-shirt last summer because said-school district’s dress code only permits apparel touting the Sooners, Okie State Cowpokes or other educational institutions in Oklahoma. Barton subsequently got a lotta’ love after da’ fact from the Big Blue athletic director, including tickets for himself and his kin to a Michigan game and a customized Wolverines T-shirt. The two teams do not face each other in the 2012 regular season, but in the event of a possible bowl meeting between the squads, Vindy has offered to teach da’ lad to yell “Boomer Poopie-Pants” each time he sees the Oklahoma covered-wagon take da’ field!!!!
The Nawlins’ Saints…sponsored by… “Bounty…da’ quicker knocker-downer!”
The Post Office got more than the usual “heat” in August for botching estimated sales of commemorative stamps, including the printing of one-billion Simpsons stamps, which actually sold less than a third of that. Later in the month, Lance Armstrong got stripped of his Tour De France titles. A recently-released report suggests the former beau of Sheryl Crow was thrown under the bus by eleven former-teammates alleging use of PEDs. Not only is the former USPS-sponsored biker not getting’ his own stamp series, he ain’t even gettin’ da’ benefit of that flat-rate promised in those “if it fits, it ships” ads.
Black Shirt: This week’s uber-undergarment goes to…Indiana freshman QB Nate Sudfield for throwin’ two TD-passes in the final 1:40 vs. da’ Buckeyes D to give the Hoosiers our predicted cover!
“Locked in a Box?”: Hallelujah!!!! Louisville won by 10 over Pitt to put our first lock win of the season (1-6, .143) in the books.
Shoppe Talk: The Trojan Hobby-Horses of USC get a weekend pass after finally getting us a forecast win in failed-cover vs. UDUB, but the Mountain-Jeers of Morgantown (0-5 season, 3-13 last 16 appearances!) take top “honors” after being blown-out by (GASP!) Texas Tech, whose own 1-1 season-but-6-22-1 “picks”-tally skid leaves us woofing down Prilosec! Florida State gets an engraved invitation, now showing 1-4 (.200).
Vindy’s Week 8 Best Bets: Last Week: 2-3 Season: 16-17 (.485)
UNR -7 ½ over San Diego State, Ball State -3 over CENTRAL MICHIGAN, Indiana +3 ½ over NAVY, LOUISIANA TECH -30 ½ over Idaho, Iowa State +13 ½ over OKLAHOMA STATE, Penn State +3 over IOWA
LOVELOCK, Nevada (AP)…OJ Simpson finally acquired some memorabilia legitimately…by placing the winning bid in an auction for the blood-soaked sock, worn by Curt Schilling during the Red Sox 2004 World Series run. The ex-Boston hurler had to sell the historical garment to compensate for financial difficulties. Removed from its display at Cooperstown as ceremoniously as it was unveiled in its inaugural placement at the MLB hall-of-fame museum, the sock was quickly whisked into the back of a waiting prison vehicle, complete with weapon-packing escort, and transported westward. The former NFL star, acquitted of murder, but jailed, ironically, for armed robbery involving his sports-souvenirs, said he wanted the flawed footwear “because it matches the glove”. Upon learning of the transaction, Dream-Teamer Johnnie Cochran, who, still goin’ to-bat for his former client, said, “If da’ sock don’t fit…you ain’t got spit..!”
Down 2-6 early, your numbskull-narrator staged a comeback in the night-games to finish 8-8 for Week Seven (60-60, .500). Vindicator, fresh off yet-another viewing of The Shining, shoves his face between the bars of his own jail cell and quips...”Heeerrrrrrrrrre’s…
THE WEBER KID’S 2012 WEEK 8 FORECAST
(Sponsored this week by Odor-Eaters!)
THURS. OCT. 18
ARIZONA STATE (+9) over #2 Oregon: Ducks were idle, while Devils were blasting Colorado, at altitude, last Thursday. State is playing well-enough defensively, allowing less than 16 ppg against I-A contestants and is under first-year coach Todd Graham, who’s stays at schools tend to be shorter than Britney Spears’ or Kim Kardashian’s marriages! Drakes have won the money in 12 of last 13 following a bye week and have hit the scoreboard for fitty or higher in 5 of 7 games so far. State’s covered last five times getting points in Tempe, but have a redshirt freshman at quarterback. First true road game for Oregon on the season and we considered this for upset pick of da’ week… Mallards 44 ASU 38
SAT. OCT. 20
TENNESSEE (+21) over #1 Alabama: Tide’s atop the season’s opening BCS, which given the forthcoming playoff-format and expiration of the contract for the current system, stands for “Be Closin’ Soon”! Vols have been competitive, despite 1-2 ATS record, in their three SEC defeats, letting Florida, Georgia and last week, Mississippi State, off the hook late in those games. ‘Bama has already matched spread-loss total from 2011, but all three ATS wins have come away from Tuscaloosa. The home team in this series has sucked dirty-pond water ATS. As the election campaign rages, we’ve noted some “NOBAMA” stickers on cars in the Vegas Valley. We’re just wonderin’ why certain denizens of Sin City are harborin’ ill-will toward the Crimson Tide!!!!!!...’Bama 34 Rocky Top 16
#9 South Carolina (+3) over #3 FLORIDA: Tough spot for the Gators, who face unhappy bunch of ‘Nuggets off loss to LSU. At least UF is home and have QB Jeff Driskel, who did his best Tebow-impersonation, rushing for three scores and 177 total ground yards in tight victory over Vandy. Carolina won 17-12 in 2011. Again, we expect points to be at a premium, and “under” is da’ play…Tenders 16 Gators 14
#4 Kansas State (+3 ½) over #17 WEST VIRGINIA: Wildcats 42 WVU 40
#5 NOTRE DAME (-14) over Brigham Young: With or without QB Golson…Irish 27 Coogs 8
#6 Louisiana State (-3) over #20 TEXAS A&M: Gotta’ hand it to the Bengals. They know how to defend the home-turf. Despite an early missed FG and a 10-yard punt, the wide-outs made some nifty catches and State got the win. Aggies almost went down to Weeziana Tech. Strength vs. strength here. Can A&M’s offense outwit the Tigers’ defense???!!!...LSU 17 Aggies 13
#7 OHIO STATE (-17) over Purdue: Buckeyes 38 Boilers 17
#8 OREGON STATE (-10 ½) over Utah: LOCK OF DA’ WEEK. Looks like the Beavers have more than just one very capable quarterback. A Utah elementary school uses talking vending machines to warn kids against unhealthy snack choices each time they press a button. That same school uses identical technology every time a 3rd grader wants to place a wager on one of Vindy’s Picks! Your humble narrator, however, just got his Beehive State substitute-teaching certification and plans to help da’ absent schoolmarm’s class of 8-year-olds learn some math (and a few multi-syllable words, such “point-spread”, “parlay” and “favorite”) by encouraging them to invest in…Beavers 29 Utes 10
#10 OKLAHOMA (-35) over Kansas: Sooners 49 Kansas 10
Colorado (+41) over #11 USC: This got “lock” consideration…Troy 45 Buffs 14
MIAMI (+17 ½) over #12 Florida State: ‘Noles 28 Pelicans 21
KENTUCKY (+28) over #13 Georgia: Road dog woes continue for the Bulldogs, who got an extra week to stew over 35-7 stinker they turned-in at South Carolina. Bluegrass Kittens on 0-5 spread slide, 1-6 on the year and are typically “good-fer-what-ails-ya” when scoring is poor (lost 49-7 last week at Arkansas). Our reservations here are 1) a certain infamous “Party” awaits Joja’ next Saturday, 2) to a lesser-extent, it’s Homecoming in Lexington and 3) ‘Dawgs’ only wins by this many have come between da’ hedges vs. Florida Atlantic and Vandy. Best guess for “wish I had it back”….Joja’ 45 KY 20
#14 CLEMSON (-9) over Virginia Tech: One of the Hokies’ receivers discovered a pair of scissors on the field during Tech’s loss to North Carolina. Perhaps one of the Tarheels ball-carriers took the term “cutback” a tad too literally! Nonetheless, Clemson will be taking advantage of an opportunity to get in its opponents’ heads, leaving several sets of shears in the visitors’ locker room this week!...Tigers 38 Hokies 24
Middle Tennessee State (+20 ½) over #15 MISSISSIPPI STATE: Bulldogs 30 MTSU 17
#16 LOUISVILLE (-7) over South Florida: Louisville 27 USF 17
#18 Texas Tech (GASP!) (-2 ½) over TCU: Guns Up 17 Horny Toads 9
#19 Rutgers (-6) over TEMPLE: Knights 23 Owls 13
TOLEDO (+7) over #21 Cincinnati: In June, the San Diego Padres drafted hasn’t-played-baseball-since-high-school Rockets’ starting QB Terrance Owens…solely on the basis of his arm-strength and accuracy to be a pitcher! Having someone take the mound that’s used to hitting guys “right between the numbers” is not going to work out well! Nor is having a guy who keeps telling his outfielders to…“go long”!!!!...Cincy 41 Toledo 37
#22 Stanford (-2 ½) over CAL: Stanford 20 Berkeley Bears 14
Michigan State (+10) over #23 MICHIGAN: Even discounting the long TD-runs of 49- and 63-yards, Big Blue still managed to tote the rock at 5 yards per carry in rout of Illinois. Sparty, while slogging on offense, won’t be had quite so easily on the other side of the ball. Including OT loss at Iowa last week, State is on 0-5 spread skid and shows a 3-9 road dog record, but has won this series four years running. Don’t be stunned to see Spartans make it five in a row, but we’ll conservatively call it…UM 20 MSU 16
#24 BOISE STATE (-27 ½) over Nevada-Las Vegas: These ain’t yer father’s Broncos, salvaging a win (and cover) vs. won’t-go-away Fresno State Puppies last week, but have to wonder what the Rabbles can muster on the conference road following the squandering of a couple early three-score leads to yield da’ Fremont Cannon to “that team up-north”…again! Like Kentucky and Colorado, the D tends to make lesser-offenses seem better than they really are…Broncos 38 UNLV 10
#25 Ohio: IDLE (next @ Miami-Ohio)
BETWEEN THE HASHMARKS
BTW, Vindy’s spies say a guard at the Silver State correctional facility actually chanted “Dead sock walkin’! Dead sock walkin’!” as the famous hosiery made its way down a corridor, while wearin’ an orange jump-suit with a bullet-proof…uh… ”vest” (or at least a Kevlar boot)…toward the Juice’s cell!
“Vindy…er…um…Windy…I’m home-field!”
Incidentally, we have it on good authority that CU officials paid handsomely to ensure in-room TVs at Tech’s hotel, regardless of channel, broadcast only Edward Scissorhands or Sweeney Todd!
Following up last week’s musings about the alma mater’s “NASCAR” hurry-up offense, we note the conversion of the PSU sideline into “pit row” each time that particular offense is run. Lions’ quarterbacks have the option of pulling off in mid-play to get four new offensive linemen (swapped out with an air-wrench), a few squirts from a water-bottle, a topped-off tank of gas and a wash-and-squeegee across the facemask. The best part of this scenario, of course, is watchin’ players collide high-up in the turn, then spin-out while their cleats and other random parts of their uniforms fly-off over the wall and into the stands! This naturally brings out the yellow flag, which causes players to slow down and maintain their respective positions behind a pace car on the field! But what’s really weird is when outstanding players each game get helmet-stickers bearing the logo of Pennzoil or STP!
An Oklahoma City school forced five-year-old Cooper Barton to invert his University of Michigan T-shirt last summer because said-school district’s dress code only permits apparel touting the Sooners, Okie State Cowpokes or other educational institutions in Oklahoma. Barton subsequently got a lotta’ love after da’ fact from the Big Blue athletic director, including tickets for himself and his kin to a Michigan game and a customized Wolverines T-shirt. The two teams do not face each other in the 2012 regular season, but in the event of a possible bowl meeting between the squads, Vindy has offered to teach da’ lad to yell “Boomer Poopie-Pants” each time he sees the Oklahoma covered-wagon take da’ field!!!!
The Nawlins’ Saints…sponsored by… “Bounty…da’ quicker knocker-downer!”
The Post Office got more than the usual “heat” in August for botching estimated sales of commemorative stamps, including the printing of one-billion Simpsons stamps, which actually sold less than a third of that. Later in the month, Lance Armstrong got stripped of his Tour De France titles. A recently-released report suggests the former beau of Sheryl Crow was thrown under the bus by eleven former-teammates alleging use of PEDs. Not only is the former USPS-sponsored biker not getting’ his own stamp series, he ain’t even gettin’ da’ benefit of that flat-rate promised in those “if it fits, it ships” ads.
Black Shirt: This week’s uber-undergarment goes to…Indiana freshman QB Nate Sudfield for throwin’ two TD-passes in the final 1:40 vs. da’ Buckeyes D to give the Hoosiers our predicted cover!
“Locked in a Box?”: Hallelujah!!!! Louisville won by 10 over Pitt to put our first lock win of the season (1-6, .143) in the books.
Shoppe Talk: The Trojan Hobby-Horses of USC get a weekend pass after finally getting us a forecast win in failed-cover vs. UDUB, but the Mountain-Jeers of Morgantown (0-5 season, 3-13 last 16 appearances!) take top “honors” after being blown-out by (GASP!) Texas Tech, whose own 1-1 season-but-6-22-1 “picks”-tally skid leaves us woofing down Prilosec! Florida State gets an engraved invitation, now showing 1-4 (.200).
Vindy’s Week 8 Best Bets: Last Week: 2-3 Season: 16-17 (.485)
UNR -7 ½ over San Diego State, Ball State -3 over CENTRAL MICHIGAN, Indiana +3 ½ over NAVY, LOUISIANA TECH -30 ½ over Idaho, Iowa State +13 ½ over OKLAHOMA STATE, Penn State +3 over IOWA
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Vindy's Picks Week 7-2012
TEAM QUITS SEASON, WORKS AT NEW MALL
ARLINGTON, TEXAS (AP)…The “D” in Big D now stands for Dillard’s. The combined grand-opening of a Victoria Secret “PINK” store onsite and a mistake-filled effort in a loss to Da’ Bears, dropping Da’ Boys to .500 in what appeared to be headed for another lackluster season, led the local NFL squad to forfeit the remainder of the year and prompted Jerry Jones to cut his losses by turning over Cowboys Stadium to new investors, with many players taking-up employment in what had previously-been their “house”. On his first day of the new job, true-to-form, Tony Romo while slinging the featured product at Cinnabon, overthrew the intended-customers several times, once even far enough that the tasty-pastry landed square in the hands of a rival Orange Julius employee, who sped past the entire food court and returned the bun all the way to the parking lot, much to the delight of on-looking patrons! The new Board of Directors, sensitive to the city’s rich-but-colorful NFL history, will vote this week on changing the name of the venue to either “The Mall of America’s Team” or the “Leon Out-Lett Mall”.
Off the decent 11-7 record for Week Six (52-52, .500), Vindy tried to garner the favor of former Cowboys offensive linemen now working at The Gap, which is also what the bookies will try to shoot in an effort to put pressure on…
THE WEBER KID’S 2012 WEEK 7 FORECAST
(Free with every purchase of a Corndog-on-a-Stick)
SAT. OCT. 6
#1 Alabama (-21 ½) over MISSOURI: Tide rested last week, while Tigers got waylaid by Vandy…’Bama 42 Mizzou 17
#2 Oregon: IDLE (next @ Arizona State 10/18)
#3 South Carolina (+2 ½) over #9 LSU: What do the Chicken Wings gotta’ do to get some love???!!!! We suspect the line here has something to do with the fact that the Bengals have been defeated in Baton Rouge just once in last three-plus seasons. Tigers, however, will face a defense even better than what they saw in the Swamp last week and the Poultry have a few extra weapons on offense. LSU had covered 9 straight vs. the Top 25 until BCS title game loss to ‘Bama, then missed vs. Florida as well this year. “Under” is probably the preferred wager, but…Carolina 20 Bengals 13
VANDERBILT (+8) over #4 Florida: Gators worked the run (behind Gillislee’s 126 yards) and the usual stellar D well-enough to stay close and eventually pass by LSU. Vandy comes in off nice upset of SEC-newcomer Missouri for first FBS win on the year. Crocs have beaten the line four straight times, but have visit by the Gamecocks on-deck. ‘Dores have covered 7 straight home games, have 6 losses in last 10 defeats by a touchdown or less and continue their ascent under Coach Franklin. They did, however, get belted 48-3 at Georgia…Florida 16 Vandy 10
#5 West Virginia (-4 ½) over TEXAS TECH: And now, a few words about the Red Raiders nationally-ranked stop squad…AA NW State, Division I-A rookie Texas State, rising-but-still-work-to-do New Mexico and (we’ll give ‘em this one) Iowa State. Tech’s D was abused by Sooners offense that ain’t nearly as potent as Mountaineers’ version. Mounties defense is MAC- or WAC-worthy and doesn’t send offensive coordinators out lookin’ for Ambien or Lunesta, and three turnovers didn’t help Raiders’ cause vs. Oklahoma, but Texas got within 3 on a touchdown only as the clock ticked down to 15 seconds left to play…’Eers 48 TTU 38
#6 Kansas State (-6 ½) over IOWA STATE: Dust Devils have been loitering just outside the Top 25 for a few weeks now. We liked ISU last week, with some reservations, and we thank TCU QB Casey Pachall for the DWI-related benching that made us feel even better about the pick. After toying with Kansas early, KSU continued its dominance over its rival. Cyclones pulled the upset over the depleted-Toads. The Purple Persians will have the full-compliment of backfield starters and QB Klein can augment RB Jon Hubert’s rushing game with his own legs. ISU has covered six in a row vs. ranked opponents, but…KSU 35 ISU 24
#7 NOTRE DAME (-8) over #17 Stanford: Irish 20 Cardinal 10
INDIANA (+17) over #8 Ohio State: Buckeyes 28 Indy 17
#10 Oregon State @ BYU: OFF
WASHINGTON (+11 ½) over #11 Southern Cal: Trojans, who’ve cover the line once in five tries, beat Cal by 9 and Utah by 10. Lost to Stanford. UDUB upset the Cardinal for its only spread win. Given the defection of former PSU RB Silas Redd to LA, Troy’s 0-fer-5 forecast record and the looming presence of Halloween, we by-pass the full analysis, curl our index-fingers and simply quote “Danny” in “The Shining” … ”Redd-rum! Redd-rum!” Don’t be shocked by another upset in Seattle, but…USC 27 Sled Dogs 23
Boston College (+28) over #12 FLORIDA STATE: And there ya have it, Sportsfans! NC State was the annual loss-that-shouldn’t-have-been by the Tallahassee Tribe, which again hampers the national title run. Could end up FSU 31-0. We see something closer to…’Noles 24 BC 13
#15 Texas (+3) over #13 Oklahoma (@ Dallas): Texas 22 OK 20
#14 Georgia: IDLE (next vs. Kentucky)
#16 Clemson: IDLE (next vs. Virginia Tech)
#18 Louisville (-3) over PITT: LOCK OF DA’ WEEK. Okay, we’ll bring up the topic again. Panthers commenced 2012 with its 4th coach in 13 months. Judges on The Voice and Idol don’t swap out that quickly!!!! Lack of stability equals lack of production. We thought Pitt was righting the ship, posting a pair of wins prior to last week’s tough 1-point loss at Syracuse. Gotta’ stay with Louisville with short line, despite consecutive spread-losses and 3rd away tilt in as many weeks…Cardinals 24 Pitt 9
#19 MISSISSIPPI STATE (-3) over Tennessee: Line initially looks reasonable since State had difficulty putting away Kentucky (in which State didn’t score vs. Wildcats’ paper-thin D after three minutes into the second half) and the effort provided by the Vols in one-score loss at Joja’ and previously-mentioned three-quarters vs. Florida, but Rocky Top’s only significant victory came vs. NC State (which now warrants a few extra points this week following Wolfpack’s second upset of Florida State in three seasons). All four of Tennessee’s I-A games have gone “over” the total (with UT scoring north of 39 ppg), while State’s last three have gone “under”… MSU 23 ‘Tears 14
Syracuse (+7) over #20 RUTGERS: Knights 17 ‘Cuse 13
Fordham @ #21 CINCINNATI: No line.
#23 LOUISIANA TECH (+8) over #22 Texas A&M: UPSET PICK OF DA’ WEEK #1. This is the reschedule of the season-opening weather-postponed match-up. The WAC’s Bulldoggies, already 5-2 ATS vs. Big Six conference teams, includin’ SU wins this year over Virginia and Illinois, are being mentioned in more-than-whispers as BCS-busters. A victory by LT here leaves it with just Utah State (at home) as the major obstacle to an undefeated season. While A&M was edging Ole Missed by 3 last week, Tech took advantage of UNLV miscues to separate late and win by four scores. Win or lose, Weeziana Tech has our respect…LT 38 A&M 34
Fresno State (+7 ½) over #24 BOISE STATE: UPSET PICK OF DA’ WEEK #2. Big game in the Mountain Jest. Broncos rejoin the rankings after a one-week hiatus following three-point win at improving-New Mexico. Fresno, behind QB Derek Carr, has covered five straight and shows 4-2 SU, with tough 27-26 loss at C-USA contender Tulsa. ‘Dogs, up 28-0, yielded Colorado State’s meaningless score with 28 seconds left. Broncos got five turnovers to belt poor SoMiss team 40-16 and are a surprising 1-5 ATS in last 6 on the blue turf, where BSU has just one outright loss in over six seasons. Bulldogs, who suffered minus-double-digit turnover ratios the previous four years, are currently +10…FSU West 21 BSU 19
#25 MICHIGAN (-23 ½) over Illinois: Michigan 38 Illini 10
BETWEEN THE HASHMARKS
BTW, on a positive note, the former Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders, starting the day after Thanksgiving, will allow mall-goers to sit in their laps and whisper into their ears what they want for Christmas while having photos taken! Oh my!
After reviewing videotape, the Big Ten Conference determined MSU-OSU incident was not really “eye-gouging”. Officials did confirm our Week 6 thoughts that the players’ actions were merely honoring the Three Stooges, citing indisputable audio-evidence in which both athletes were heard uttering “Whoop! Whoop! Whoop! Nyuk! Nyuk! Nyuk!” at the bottom of the pile!
During the Penn State-Northwestern broadcast, we learned Bill O’Brien calls the alma mater’s version of the hurry-up offense…”NASCAR”. Great. Increases the tempo of play, but lowers the cumulative IQ of the players by 10 points! Can’t wait to hear QB Matt McGloin bark signals like..”Two…fitty-seven! Two…fitty-seven! Git-R-Done!” More thoughts on this one next week.
Shortly after Mitt Romney, in a nationally-televised presidential-debate, declared he loves Big Bird, but would cut funding to PBS, players and backers of the Big Ten’s Iowa Hawkeyes, Big Twelve’s Kansas Jayhawks and Big East’s Louisville Cardinals pledged their votes to incumbent Barack Obama!
Prior to the first BCS poll even coming out, we’re just thinkin’ out loud…raise yer hand if ya’d like to see potential-buster LA Tech face West Virginia in the Fiesta Bowl (Are ya listenin’, Vegas?! Just try to set the over-under below 90…just try!). Reach fer the stars also if ya like the Ohio Bobblecats toe-to-toe with the ‘Bama-South Carolina SEC Title game loser in the Orange!
On HBO…Nucky Thompson calls pitches behind the plate on Atlantic City’s wooden walkways amidst casinos and amusement rides during the Prohibition era. Players arguing balls and strikes not only get tossed, they get whacked …in…”Boardwalk Umpire”!
Black Shirt: The obsidian tee goes to….much-maligned Nifty Lions kicker Sam Ficken for a short FG and a critical 4th Quarter extra-point that forced Northwestern to go for a touchdown rather than a tying FG late and ultimately led to Penn State’s comeback win and cover! In addition, we note the young man’s kickoff that split the uprights from…75 yards!!!! Honorable mention and half-a-tee to Coach O’Brien fer several successful gutsy calls on 4th Down throughout the game and to Scarlet Knights DB Wayne Warren for a final-stanza INT-for-TD that allowed Rutgers to beat the spread!
“Locked in a Box?”: For those who remember our “cable” ad back in Week One…hide the cocktail servers ‘cause we’re about to begin “throwin’ darts blindfolded in the sportsbook” as the upset of Florida State lowers the lock tally to 0-6 (.000)!!!!
Shoppe Talk: The Trojan Whores of USC have now fanned on our predictions five straight times, surpassing even the hated Mountaineers, who now stand-in at 0-4 (.000) on the year and 3-12 over the last 15 (.200)! If yer wonderin’ about teams that have been Weber-friendly, the Gators show 4-1 (.800) in five tries and the Joja’ Dawgs come in at 4-2 (.667)
Vindy’s Week 7 Best Bets: Last Week: 3-2 Season: 14-14 (.500)
Western Kentucky -2 ½ over TROY, NORTHWESTERN -3 over Minnesota, Idaho +2 ½ over TEXAS STATE, CENTRAL FLORIDA -16 ½ over SOUTHERN MISS, UL-MONROE -24 over Florida Atlantic
ARLINGTON, TEXAS (AP)…The “D” in Big D now stands for Dillard’s. The combined grand-opening of a Victoria Secret “PINK” store onsite and a mistake-filled effort in a loss to Da’ Bears, dropping Da’ Boys to .500 in what appeared to be headed for another lackluster season, led the local NFL squad to forfeit the remainder of the year and prompted Jerry Jones to cut his losses by turning over Cowboys Stadium to new investors, with many players taking-up employment in what had previously-been their “house”. On his first day of the new job, true-to-form, Tony Romo while slinging the featured product at Cinnabon, overthrew the intended-customers several times, once even far enough that the tasty-pastry landed square in the hands of a rival Orange Julius employee, who sped past the entire food court and returned the bun all the way to the parking lot, much to the delight of on-looking patrons! The new Board of Directors, sensitive to the city’s rich-but-colorful NFL history, will vote this week on changing the name of the venue to either “The Mall of America’s Team” or the “Leon Out-Lett Mall”.
Off the decent 11-7 record for Week Six (52-52, .500), Vindy tried to garner the favor of former Cowboys offensive linemen now working at The Gap, which is also what the bookies will try to shoot in an effort to put pressure on…
THE WEBER KID’S 2012 WEEK 7 FORECAST
(Free with every purchase of a Corndog-on-a-Stick)
SAT. OCT. 6
#1 Alabama (-21 ½) over MISSOURI: Tide rested last week, while Tigers got waylaid by Vandy…’Bama 42 Mizzou 17
#2 Oregon: IDLE (next @ Arizona State 10/18)
#3 South Carolina (+2 ½) over #9 LSU: What do the Chicken Wings gotta’ do to get some love???!!!! We suspect the line here has something to do with the fact that the Bengals have been defeated in Baton Rouge just once in last three-plus seasons. Tigers, however, will face a defense even better than what they saw in the Swamp last week and the Poultry have a few extra weapons on offense. LSU had covered 9 straight vs. the Top 25 until BCS title game loss to ‘Bama, then missed vs. Florida as well this year. “Under” is probably the preferred wager, but…Carolina 20 Bengals 13
VANDERBILT (+8) over #4 Florida: Gators worked the run (behind Gillislee’s 126 yards) and the usual stellar D well-enough to stay close and eventually pass by LSU. Vandy comes in off nice upset of SEC-newcomer Missouri for first FBS win on the year. Crocs have beaten the line four straight times, but have visit by the Gamecocks on-deck. ‘Dores have covered 7 straight home games, have 6 losses in last 10 defeats by a touchdown or less and continue their ascent under Coach Franklin. They did, however, get belted 48-3 at Georgia…Florida 16 Vandy 10
#5 West Virginia (-4 ½) over TEXAS TECH: And now, a few words about the Red Raiders nationally-ranked stop squad…AA NW State, Division I-A rookie Texas State, rising-but-still-work-to-do New Mexico and (we’ll give ‘em this one) Iowa State. Tech’s D was abused by Sooners offense that ain’t nearly as potent as Mountaineers’ version. Mounties defense is MAC- or WAC-worthy and doesn’t send offensive coordinators out lookin’ for Ambien or Lunesta, and three turnovers didn’t help Raiders’ cause vs. Oklahoma, but Texas got within 3 on a touchdown only as the clock ticked down to 15 seconds left to play…’Eers 48 TTU 38
#6 Kansas State (-6 ½) over IOWA STATE: Dust Devils have been loitering just outside the Top 25 for a few weeks now. We liked ISU last week, with some reservations, and we thank TCU QB Casey Pachall for the DWI-related benching that made us feel even better about the pick. After toying with Kansas early, KSU continued its dominance over its rival. Cyclones pulled the upset over the depleted-Toads. The Purple Persians will have the full-compliment of backfield starters and QB Klein can augment RB Jon Hubert’s rushing game with his own legs. ISU has covered six in a row vs. ranked opponents, but…KSU 35 ISU 24
#7 NOTRE DAME (-8) over #17 Stanford: Irish 20 Cardinal 10
INDIANA (+17) over #8 Ohio State: Buckeyes 28 Indy 17
#10 Oregon State @ BYU: OFF
WASHINGTON (+11 ½) over #11 Southern Cal: Trojans, who’ve cover the line once in five tries, beat Cal by 9 and Utah by 10. Lost to Stanford. UDUB upset the Cardinal for its only spread win. Given the defection of former PSU RB Silas Redd to LA, Troy’s 0-fer-5 forecast record and the looming presence of Halloween, we by-pass the full analysis, curl our index-fingers and simply quote “Danny” in “The Shining” … ”Redd-rum! Redd-rum!” Don’t be shocked by another upset in Seattle, but…USC 27 Sled Dogs 23
Boston College (+28) over #12 FLORIDA STATE: And there ya have it, Sportsfans! NC State was the annual loss-that-shouldn’t-have-been by the Tallahassee Tribe, which again hampers the national title run. Could end up FSU 31-0. We see something closer to…’Noles 24 BC 13
#15 Texas (+3) over #13 Oklahoma (@ Dallas): Texas 22 OK 20
#14 Georgia: IDLE (next vs. Kentucky)
#16 Clemson: IDLE (next vs. Virginia Tech)
#18 Louisville (-3) over PITT: LOCK OF DA’ WEEK. Okay, we’ll bring up the topic again. Panthers commenced 2012 with its 4th coach in 13 months. Judges on The Voice and Idol don’t swap out that quickly!!!! Lack of stability equals lack of production. We thought Pitt was righting the ship, posting a pair of wins prior to last week’s tough 1-point loss at Syracuse. Gotta’ stay with Louisville with short line, despite consecutive spread-losses and 3rd away tilt in as many weeks…Cardinals 24 Pitt 9
#19 MISSISSIPPI STATE (-3) over Tennessee: Line initially looks reasonable since State had difficulty putting away Kentucky (in which State didn’t score vs. Wildcats’ paper-thin D after three minutes into the second half) and the effort provided by the Vols in one-score loss at Joja’ and previously-mentioned three-quarters vs. Florida, but Rocky Top’s only significant victory came vs. NC State (which now warrants a few extra points this week following Wolfpack’s second upset of Florida State in three seasons). All four of Tennessee’s I-A games have gone “over” the total (with UT scoring north of 39 ppg), while State’s last three have gone “under”… MSU 23 ‘Tears 14
Syracuse (+7) over #20 RUTGERS: Knights 17 ‘Cuse 13
Fordham @ #21 CINCINNATI: No line.
#23 LOUISIANA TECH (+8) over #22 Texas A&M: UPSET PICK OF DA’ WEEK #1. This is the reschedule of the season-opening weather-postponed match-up. The WAC’s Bulldoggies, already 5-2 ATS vs. Big Six conference teams, includin’ SU wins this year over Virginia and Illinois, are being mentioned in more-than-whispers as BCS-busters. A victory by LT here leaves it with just Utah State (at home) as the major obstacle to an undefeated season. While A&M was edging Ole Missed by 3 last week, Tech took advantage of UNLV miscues to separate late and win by four scores. Win or lose, Weeziana Tech has our respect…LT 38 A&M 34
Fresno State (+7 ½) over #24 BOISE STATE: UPSET PICK OF DA’ WEEK #2. Big game in the Mountain Jest. Broncos rejoin the rankings after a one-week hiatus following three-point win at improving-New Mexico. Fresno, behind QB Derek Carr, has covered five straight and shows 4-2 SU, with tough 27-26 loss at C-USA contender Tulsa. ‘Dogs, up 28-0, yielded Colorado State’s meaningless score with 28 seconds left. Broncos got five turnovers to belt poor SoMiss team 40-16 and are a surprising 1-5 ATS in last 6 on the blue turf, where BSU has just one outright loss in over six seasons. Bulldogs, who suffered minus-double-digit turnover ratios the previous four years, are currently +10…FSU West 21 BSU 19
#25 MICHIGAN (-23 ½) over Illinois: Michigan 38 Illini 10
BETWEEN THE HASHMARKS
BTW, on a positive note, the former Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders, starting the day after Thanksgiving, will allow mall-goers to sit in their laps and whisper into their ears what they want for Christmas while having photos taken! Oh my!
After reviewing videotape, the Big Ten Conference determined MSU-OSU incident was not really “eye-gouging”. Officials did confirm our Week 6 thoughts that the players’ actions were merely honoring the Three Stooges, citing indisputable audio-evidence in which both athletes were heard uttering “Whoop! Whoop! Whoop! Nyuk! Nyuk! Nyuk!” at the bottom of the pile!
During the Penn State-Northwestern broadcast, we learned Bill O’Brien calls the alma mater’s version of the hurry-up offense…”NASCAR”. Great. Increases the tempo of play, but lowers the cumulative IQ of the players by 10 points! Can’t wait to hear QB Matt McGloin bark signals like..”Two…fitty-seven! Two…fitty-seven! Git-R-Done!” More thoughts on this one next week.
Shortly after Mitt Romney, in a nationally-televised presidential-debate, declared he loves Big Bird, but would cut funding to PBS, players and backers of the Big Ten’s Iowa Hawkeyes, Big Twelve’s Kansas Jayhawks and Big East’s Louisville Cardinals pledged their votes to incumbent Barack Obama!
Prior to the first BCS poll even coming out, we’re just thinkin’ out loud…raise yer hand if ya’d like to see potential-buster LA Tech face West Virginia in the Fiesta Bowl (Are ya listenin’, Vegas?! Just try to set the over-under below 90…just try!). Reach fer the stars also if ya like the Ohio Bobblecats toe-to-toe with the ‘Bama-South Carolina SEC Title game loser in the Orange!
On HBO…Nucky Thompson calls pitches behind the plate on Atlantic City’s wooden walkways amidst casinos and amusement rides during the Prohibition era. Players arguing balls and strikes not only get tossed, they get whacked …in…”Boardwalk Umpire”!
Black Shirt: The obsidian tee goes to….much-maligned Nifty Lions kicker Sam Ficken for a short FG and a critical 4th Quarter extra-point that forced Northwestern to go for a touchdown rather than a tying FG late and ultimately led to Penn State’s comeback win and cover! In addition, we note the young man’s kickoff that split the uprights from…75 yards!!!! Honorable mention and half-a-tee to Coach O’Brien fer several successful gutsy calls on 4th Down throughout the game and to Scarlet Knights DB Wayne Warren for a final-stanza INT-for-TD that allowed Rutgers to beat the spread!
“Locked in a Box?”: For those who remember our “cable” ad back in Week One…hide the cocktail servers ‘cause we’re about to begin “throwin’ darts blindfolded in the sportsbook” as the upset of Florida State lowers the lock tally to 0-6 (.000)!!!!
Shoppe Talk: The Trojan Whores of USC have now fanned on our predictions five straight times, surpassing even the hated Mountaineers, who now stand-in at 0-4 (.000) on the year and 3-12 over the last 15 (.200)! If yer wonderin’ about teams that have been Weber-friendly, the Gators show 4-1 (.800) in five tries and the Joja’ Dawgs come in at 4-2 (.667)
Vindy’s Week 7 Best Bets: Last Week: 3-2 Season: 14-14 (.500)
Western Kentucky -2 ½ over TROY, NORTHWESTERN -3 over Minnesota, Idaho +2 ½ over TEXAS STATE, CENTRAL FLORIDA -16 ½ over SOUTHERN MISS, UL-MONROE -24 over Florida Atlantic
Wednesday, October 03, 2012
Vindy's Picks Week 6-2012
FORMER REPLACEMENT REF IMPACTS MLB GAME
ST. LOUIS, Missouri (UPI)…The good news? They got it right upon review. The bad news? The delay involved with making the correct call official was intolerable. During the first-inning of the Sept 30th game between the Cardinals and Washington, Nats’ hitter Michael Morse was asked to mime his grand-slam after replay of his deep fly-ball was eventually (and correctly) ruled a dinger with the bases juiced. Players on both sides initially cooperated and at the direction of the ex-NFL-scab-official-turned-umpire, who was ready to declare a Nationals’ walk-off touchdown, donned face-paint, striped shirts and berets, while positioning themselves to re-enact the at-bat. The stadium PA-system operator even added a little sarcastic drama by playin’ the “Six-Million Dollar Man” sound-effects. But upon getting a second-chance, pitcher Kyle Lohse elected instead to pretend-pitch a bean-ball at Morse’s head, causing both benches to empty.
Dogs carried on with their torrid pace, takin’ the pesos in 12 of the 14 matches (12 of 15 if ya had South Carolina at -20 ½ after we published last week’s forecast) and we finally returned to some sense of accuracy with a 9-5 (41-45, .482) outing in Week Five. If Marcel Marceau was alive today, he’d bust out the fake rope-pull, only to end up with a handful of…
THE WEBER KID’S 2012 WEEK 6 FORECAST
(Sporting a pink blog-background all month in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness)
THURS. OCT. 4
#13 Southern Cal (-14) over UTAH: We’re not impressed with either side and this is more of a vote against Utah’s lack of production (win over rival BYU notwithstanding) than for the Trojans. Both teams got a bye last week, but Utah went into the off-week following a 30-point loss at Arizona State (cashing us a ticket! Thank you very much!). USC won but didn’t cover vs. Cal. We’re calling on a trend showing Troy as a very good bet laying double-digits following an idle week, Utes QB Jordan Wynn has called it a career and SoCal won a 9-point decision last year in wake of tougher-than-expected 19-17 victory over Minnesota to open the 2011 campaign (but just as a caveat… underdogs have taken all three Thursday-nighters ATS on the season)…USC 31 Utah 13
SAT. OCT. 6
#1 Alabama: IDLE (next @ Missouri)
#23 Washington (+24) over #2 OREGON: We looked at this for “lock”. Line suggests the bookies are starting to catch up (a little) to Mallards’ defensive issues. Huskies, who lost 34-17 in 2011, aren’t good in revenge-mode, but ‘Dogs did validate last week’s “dangerous” label, upsetting Stanford and are doing it on defense. Drakes haven’t scored less than 42 and RB Kenyon Barner is a monster on the ground for UO, but three of five opponents scored 25 or more…Quack Attack 48 UDUB 27
#3 Florida State (-14) over NC STATE: LOCK OF DA’ WEEK. Chief Wahoo and the boys were plus-three turnovers and plus-8 minutes in time-of-possession, yet failed to score in the fourth quarter at South Florida???!!! Anybody else smell fix???!! NC State has no Russell Wilson. No Danny O’Brien (who ain’t workin’ out quite as well at Wisconsin). Wolfpack 0-4 ATS, 3-2 SU…with triumphs over…UConn (by 3), FBS-newbie South ‘Bama and FCS Citadel. History favors NCSU on a couple fronts, but having gotten the hangover from comeback win against Clemson outta’ da’ way, we expect FSU to cover this one easily…Seminoles 45 Wolf Package 17
#10 FLORIDA (+2 ½) over #4 Louisiana State: Have to wonder if Bengals played the defensive scrubs early and often in less-than-stellar win over AA Towson that got ‘em dropped in the rankings, knowing this one and visit by the Poultry were upcoming. Our best guess here is an “under” with neither side yielding many scoring opportunities. Gators, though not pretty, posting 3-0 SU/ATS tally in conference play. Tigers won 41-11 last year. Bengals last trip to the Swamp resulted in 4-point win in 2010…LSU 21 Florida 20
#6 SOUTH CAROLINA (-2 ½) over #5 Georgia: Gamecocks 24 ‘Dawgs 17
Kansas (+24) over #7 KANSAS STATE: Jayhawks in inaugural campaign under Charlie Weis, who made the Irish more lichen-like than fightin’ in his last three seasons at Notre Dame, but did wake up the echoes in his first two years in the shadow of Touchdown Jesus. Following 20-6 loss to conference-newcomer TCU, Birds are now 6-9 getting points away and dismal 2-24 outright in Big 12 play. Purple Persians have won and covered last three years in this series, hangin’ 59 on their rivals in each of the past two. Still, ‘Cats made our upset pick over Oklahoma a reality and little voice in Vindy’s head is persistent in advice to take da’ points with away games at Iowa State and West Virginia closin’ quickly…KSU 31 Jayhawks 13
#11 TEXAS (-7) over #8 West Virginia: No faith in this choice. Both teams survived crazy shootouts last week. Geno Smith hasn’t thrown a pick to-date. Steers would fare well to change that! We don’t think Cattle could swap sixes with the ‘Eers, so we’re bankin’ on a Texas defense to make a few plays and Longhorns’ ground game, averaging 228 ypg, to grind one out. ‘Horns faced a similar prolific offense at Oklahoma State and emerged okay. Maybe the Austin Angus can borrow some defensive starters from their brethren in Lubbock (see Oklahoma-Texas Tech below)!...’Horns 34 ‘Eers 24
#9 NOTRE DAME (-13) over Miami: Irish 27 Miami 12
#12 OHIO STATE (-3) over #21 Nebraska: Buckeyes overcame a minus-three turnover margin and eventually dispatched Sparty with sure-tackling, characteristic of the State defense we’ve anticipated all season. We had a small money-line wager on Wisky over Big Dread and Badgers fell just shy of fruition. FYI, the whole “eye-gouging” incident between Michigan State guard Jack Allen and OSU DT Jonathan Hankins’ was a misunderstanding. Allen was simply demonstrating the mutual- appreciation for the Three Stooges (or was re-creatin’ the famous Robert DeNiro “I’m…watchin’… you!” segment from Meet the Parents!)…Buckeyes 24 Huskers 20
Washington State (+15) over #14 OREGON STATE: Much like K-State, we’re hesitant to lay double-digits with the Beavers, despite multiple upset victories in dog role…OSU 34 Wazzou 23
Georgia Tech (+10) over #15 tie CLEMSON: Bees gave the Stun Belt yet-another victory this season vs. the BCS conference, losing 49-28 to Middle Tennessee State. Tigers covering the spreads, but makin’ it interesting doing so…Clemson 31 Joja’ Tech 24
Iowa State (+11) over #15 tie TCU: Best guess for “wish I had it back”, but…Toads 20 Dust Devils 12
#17 Oklahoma (-5) over TEXAS TECH: Red Raiders lead the nation in total defense and holds the five-spot in scoring D???!!! WTH???!!!...OK 27 Texas Tech 17
Arizona (+10) over #18 STANFORD: Stanford 19 AZ 16
#19 Louisville: IDLE (next @ Pitt)
#20 Mississippi State (-9 ½) over KENTUCKY: MSU 34 Mildcats 17
#22 RUTGERS (-9 ½) over Connecticut: Scarlet Kaaaaaaahhhhnigggetts 4-0 SU/2-1 ATS including a pair of road-dog upsets far away from the Jersey Turnpike. Marc Lawrence’s Playbook.Com has the chalk in this series losing ATS the past four meetings. Huskies, currently under the guidance of former Syracuse head man Paul Pasqualoni, are 3-2 SU/2-1 against the line. The rush defense made progress for Pasqualoni in 2011. Knights run and stop the run well. Success up-top might well be the difference here or RB Jamison (123 rush ypg) might tilt the field in favor of the…Piscataway Paladins 23 UConn 10
PENN STATE (-3) over #24 Northwestern: Since a pair of defeats that could have just as easily gone into the win-column, the alma mater has weathered the scandal and the defections to reel-off three consecutive SU victories and four straight wins vs. the number. Wildcats haven’t been tested since opening 42-41 victory over Syracuse and are 10-3 in last 13 as road dogs, but we’ll take Lions’ overall level of opposition over N-Dub’s wins against Vandy, BC, South Dakota and Indiana. BTW, the replacement NFL referees were acquired from the same temp agency that pimped-out kicker Sam Ficken to the Nittany Lions! Homecoming in Happy Valley...PSU 21 NW 13
#25 Ucla (-2 ½) over CAL: UCLA 29 Bears 22
BETWEEN THE HASHMARKS
BTW, upon even further review…Cardinals manager, Mike Matheny, noted the pretend-pine tar was too high up on the imaginary bat-handle and claimed Morse shoulda’ been called out and four runs taken off the scoreboard!
Opposing fans are expected to mock Morse for the duration of the Nationals’ season by doing the old “trapped in a batter’s box” thing!
Sing it with Vindy…“Make-up… me out to the ballllllllll game…”
S.F. Niners’ Brandon Jacobs got caught racing among an army of vehicles driving over the century-mark in New Jersey in what a motorist reportedly suggested was “Death Race 2012”. We’re just wondering if said-running back will run over his own coaches and teammates to score additional points toward getting released from his current contract, and be armed with oil slicks on defense and machine-guns on offense if he carries the ball across designated spots on the grid-iron! There’s always a cameo on the Wacky Races cartoon series remake!
Tim Tebow noted his only “vice” is vanilla ice cream. Timmmaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay…live a little. Two words… ”Heavenly Hash”! BTW, the newest flavor from Ben & Jerry’s is…”Timocha Tebow”
Tebow has also reportedly taken up mixed martial training…because… let’s face it….the Jets need a QB with a strong arm-bar and good ground-and-pound game! BTW, defenders get no credit for a sack vs. Tebow unless he taps-out or gets choked out!
Always enjoying the opportunity to jack things up, Vindy was not too happy to realize the Olympic Games preliminaries weren’t actually followed by the mettle rounds!
Mike Tyson brought his solo act to Broadway this summer. Hmmmm….”Iron Mike: Da’ Musical”? How ‘bout “Boxer on da’ Roof”? “Neil Simon’s Round Two”? “Southpaw Pacific”, “The Iron Mikado”? “Oh! Cal-Cut-man!”? “Man of La Muncha”? Do I hear a co-starring role alongside a Yul Brynner-look-a-like in “The Ring & I”???!! “Evander Get Your Gun”????!!!! (‘cause let’s face it…he ain’t gonna’ “hear the Sound of Muuuuuusssiiiiiiic”!)
If yer scorin’ at home, yer aware that October 5th is the 50th anniversary of the introduction of a guy named James Bond…in a 1962 flick called…“Dr. No-Huddle”!!!!
Black Shirt: The coveted undergarment goes to RB Joe Bergeron, who’s TD-run with 29 seconds left gave Texas the win and cover we predicted! Honorable mention to Beavers QB Sean Mannion for a huge passing day and winning touchdown-toss with just over a minute left to give Oregon State the predicted road-upset of Arizona!
“Wish I Had That One Back”: After changing our initial pick, as noted last week, on West Virginia-Baylor, yep…we’d like that one back!
“Locked in a Box?”: Our preferred selections haven’t been able to hit a herd of elephants with a fire-hose, as the Seminoles’ missed cover takes us down to 0-5 (.000)??!!!
Shoppe Talk: The Mounted Ears continue to adorn the Shoppe walls at 0-3 (.000 and 3-11 over the last 14).
Vindy’s Week 6 Best Bets: Last Week: 1-3 Season: 11-12 (.478)
Northern Illinois -2 ½ over BALL STATE, AKRON +4 ½ over Bowling Green, WISCONSIN -14 ½ Illinois, MARSHALL +3 over Tulsa, UL-Monroe -3 over MIDDLE TENNESSEE STATE
ST. LOUIS, Missouri (UPI)…The good news? They got it right upon review. The bad news? The delay involved with making the correct call official was intolerable. During the first-inning of the Sept 30th game between the Cardinals and Washington, Nats’ hitter Michael Morse was asked to mime his grand-slam after replay of his deep fly-ball was eventually (and correctly) ruled a dinger with the bases juiced. Players on both sides initially cooperated and at the direction of the ex-NFL-scab-official-turned-umpire, who was ready to declare a Nationals’ walk-off touchdown, donned face-paint, striped shirts and berets, while positioning themselves to re-enact the at-bat. The stadium PA-system operator even added a little sarcastic drama by playin’ the “Six-Million Dollar Man” sound-effects. But upon getting a second-chance, pitcher Kyle Lohse elected instead to pretend-pitch a bean-ball at Morse’s head, causing both benches to empty.
Dogs carried on with their torrid pace, takin’ the pesos in 12 of the 14 matches (12 of 15 if ya had South Carolina at -20 ½ after we published last week’s forecast) and we finally returned to some sense of accuracy with a 9-5 (41-45, .482) outing in Week Five. If Marcel Marceau was alive today, he’d bust out the fake rope-pull, only to end up with a handful of…
THE WEBER KID’S 2012 WEEK 6 FORECAST
(Sporting a pink blog-background all month in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness)
THURS. OCT. 4
#13 Southern Cal (-14) over UTAH: We’re not impressed with either side and this is more of a vote against Utah’s lack of production (win over rival BYU notwithstanding) than for the Trojans. Both teams got a bye last week, but Utah went into the off-week following a 30-point loss at Arizona State (cashing us a ticket! Thank you very much!). USC won but didn’t cover vs. Cal. We’re calling on a trend showing Troy as a very good bet laying double-digits following an idle week, Utes QB Jordan Wynn has called it a career and SoCal won a 9-point decision last year in wake of tougher-than-expected 19-17 victory over Minnesota to open the 2011 campaign (but just as a caveat… underdogs have taken all three Thursday-nighters ATS on the season)…USC 31 Utah 13
SAT. OCT. 6
#1 Alabama: IDLE (next @ Missouri)
#23 Washington (+24) over #2 OREGON: We looked at this for “lock”. Line suggests the bookies are starting to catch up (a little) to Mallards’ defensive issues. Huskies, who lost 34-17 in 2011, aren’t good in revenge-mode, but ‘Dogs did validate last week’s “dangerous” label, upsetting Stanford and are doing it on defense. Drakes haven’t scored less than 42 and RB Kenyon Barner is a monster on the ground for UO, but three of five opponents scored 25 or more…Quack Attack 48 UDUB 27
#3 Florida State (-14) over NC STATE: LOCK OF DA’ WEEK. Chief Wahoo and the boys were plus-three turnovers and plus-8 minutes in time-of-possession, yet failed to score in the fourth quarter at South Florida???!!! Anybody else smell fix???!! NC State has no Russell Wilson. No Danny O’Brien (who ain’t workin’ out quite as well at Wisconsin). Wolfpack 0-4 ATS, 3-2 SU…with triumphs over…UConn (by 3), FBS-newbie South ‘Bama and FCS Citadel. History favors NCSU on a couple fronts, but having gotten the hangover from comeback win against Clemson outta’ da’ way, we expect FSU to cover this one easily…Seminoles 45 Wolf Package 17
#10 FLORIDA (+2 ½) over #4 Louisiana State: Have to wonder if Bengals played the defensive scrubs early and often in less-than-stellar win over AA Towson that got ‘em dropped in the rankings, knowing this one and visit by the Poultry were upcoming. Our best guess here is an “under” with neither side yielding many scoring opportunities. Gators, though not pretty, posting 3-0 SU/ATS tally in conference play. Tigers won 41-11 last year. Bengals last trip to the Swamp resulted in 4-point win in 2010…LSU 21 Florida 20
#6 SOUTH CAROLINA (-2 ½) over #5 Georgia: Gamecocks 24 ‘Dawgs 17
Kansas (+24) over #7 KANSAS STATE: Jayhawks in inaugural campaign under Charlie Weis, who made the Irish more lichen-like than fightin’ in his last three seasons at Notre Dame, but did wake up the echoes in his first two years in the shadow of Touchdown Jesus. Following 20-6 loss to conference-newcomer TCU, Birds are now 6-9 getting points away and dismal 2-24 outright in Big 12 play. Purple Persians have won and covered last three years in this series, hangin’ 59 on their rivals in each of the past two. Still, ‘Cats made our upset pick over Oklahoma a reality and little voice in Vindy’s head is persistent in advice to take da’ points with away games at Iowa State and West Virginia closin’ quickly…KSU 31 Jayhawks 13
#11 TEXAS (-7) over #8 West Virginia: No faith in this choice. Both teams survived crazy shootouts last week. Geno Smith hasn’t thrown a pick to-date. Steers would fare well to change that! We don’t think Cattle could swap sixes with the ‘Eers, so we’re bankin’ on a Texas defense to make a few plays and Longhorns’ ground game, averaging 228 ypg, to grind one out. ‘Horns faced a similar prolific offense at Oklahoma State and emerged okay. Maybe the Austin Angus can borrow some defensive starters from their brethren in Lubbock (see Oklahoma-Texas Tech below)!...’Horns 34 ‘Eers 24
#9 NOTRE DAME (-13) over Miami: Irish 27 Miami 12
#12 OHIO STATE (-3) over #21 Nebraska: Buckeyes overcame a minus-three turnover margin and eventually dispatched Sparty with sure-tackling, characteristic of the State defense we’ve anticipated all season. We had a small money-line wager on Wisky over Big Dread and Badgers fell just shy of fruition. FYI, the whole “eye-gouging” incident between Michigan State guard Jack Allen and OSU DT Jonathan Hankins’ was a misunderstanding. Allen was simply demonstrating the mutual- appreciation for the Three Stooges (or was re-creatin’ the famous Robert DeNiro “I’m…watchin’… you!” segment from Meet the Parents!)…Buckeyes 24 Huskers 20
Washington State (+15) over #14 OREGON STATE: Much like K-State, we’re hesitant to lay double-digits with the Beavers, despite multiple upset victories in dog role…OSU 34 Wazzou 23
Georgia Tech (+10) over #15 tie CLEMSON: Bees gave the Stun Belt yet-another victory this season vs. the BCS conference, losing 49-28 to Middle Tennessee State. Tigers covering the spreads, but makin’ it interesting doing so…Clemson 31 Joja’ Tech 24
Iowa State (+11) over #15 tie TCU: Best guess for “wish I had it back”, but…Toads 20 Dust Devils 12
#17 Oklahoma (-5) over TEXAS TECH: Red Raiders lead the nation in total defense and holds the five-spot in scoring D???!!! WTH???!!!...OK 27 Texas Tech 17
Arizona (+10) over #18 STANFORD: Stanford 19 AZ 16
#19 Louisville: IDLE (next @ Pitt)
#20 Mississippi State (-9 ½) over KENTUCKY: MSU 34 Mildcats 17
#22 RUTGERS (-9 ½) over Connecticut: Scarlet Kaaaaaaahhhhnigggetts 4-0 SU/2-1 ATS including a pair of road-dog upsets far away from the Jersey Turnpike. Marc Lawrence’s Playbook.Com has the chalk in this series losing ATS the past four meetings. Huskies, currently under the guidance of former Syracuse head man Paul Pasqualoni, are 3-2 SU/2-1 against the line. The rush defense made progress for Pasqualoni in 2011. Knights run and stop the run well. Success up-top might well be the difference here or RB Jamison (123 rush ypg) might tilt the field in favor of the…Piscataway Paladins 23 UConn 10
PENN STATE (-3) over #24 Northwestern: Since a pair of defeats that could have just as easily gone into the win-column, the alma mater has weathered the scandal and the defections to reel-off three consecutive SU victories and four straight wins vs. the number. Wildcats haven’t been tested since opening 42-41 victory over Syracuse and are 10-3 in last 13 as road dogs, but we’ll take Lions’ overall level of opposition over N-Dub’s wins against Vandy, BC, South Dakota and Indiana. BTW, the replacement NFL referees were acquired from the same temp agency that pimped-out kicker Sam Ficken to the Nittany Lions! Homecoming in Happy Valley...PSU 21 NW 13
#25 Ucla (-2 ½) over CAL: UCLA 29 Bears 22
BETWEEN THE HASHMARKS
BTW, upon even further review…Cardinals manager, Mike Matheny, noted the pretend-pine tar was too high up on the imaginary bat-handle and claimed Morse shoulda’ been called out and four runs taken off the scoreboard!
Opposing fans are expected to mock Morse for the duration of the Nationals’ season by doing the old “trapped in a batter’s box” thing!
Sing it with Vindy…“Make-up… me out to the ballllllllll game…”
S.F. Niners’ Brandon Jacobs got caught racing among an army of vehicles driving over the century-mark in New Jersey in what a motorist reportedly suggested was “Death Race 2012”. We’re just wondering if said-running back will run over his own coaches and teammates to score additional points toward getting released from his current contract, and be armed with oil slicks on defense and machine-guns on offense if he carries the ball across designated spots on the grid-iron! There’s always a cameo on the Wacky Races cartoon series remake!
Tim Tebow noted his only “vice” is vanilla ice cream. Timmmaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay…live a little. Two words… ”Heavenly Hash”! BTW, the newest flavor from Ben & Jerry’s is…”Timocha Tebow”
Tebow has also reportedly taken up mixed martial training…because… let’s face it….the Jets need a QB with a strong arm-bar and good ground-and-pound game! BTW, defenders get no credit for a sack vs. Tebow unless he taps-out or gets choked out!
Always enjoying the opportunity to jack things up, Vindy was not too happy to realize the Olympic Games preliminaries weren’t actually followed by the mettle rounds!
Mike Tyson brought his solo act to Broadway this summer. Hmmmm….”Iron Mike: Da’ Musical”? How ‘bout “Boxer on da’ Roof”? “Neil Simon’s Round Two”? “Southpaw Pacific”, “The Iron Mikado”? “Oh! Cal-Cut-man!”? “Man of La Muncha”? Do I hear a co-starring role alongside a Yul Brynner-look-a-like in “The Ring & I”???!! “Evander Get Your Gun”????!!!! (‘cause let’s face it…he ain’t gonna’ “hear the Sound of Muuuuuusssiiiiiiic”!)
If yer scorin’ at home, yer aware that October 5th is the 50th anniversary of the introduction of a guy named James Bond…in a 1962 flick called…“Dr. No-Huddle”!!!!
Black Shirt: The coveted undergarment goes to RB Joe Bergeron, who’s TD-run with 29 seconds left gave Texas the win and cover we predicted! Honorable mention to Beavers QB Sean Mannion for a huge passing day and winning touchdown-toss with just over a minute left to give Oregon State the predicted road-upset of Arizona!
“Wish I Had That One Back”: After changing our initial pick, as noted last week, on West Virginia-Baylor, yep…we’d like that one back!
“Locked in a Box?”: Our preferred selections haven’t been able to hit a herd of elephants with a fire-hose, as the Seminoles’ missed cover takes us down to 0-5 (.000)??!!!
Shoppe Talk: The Mounted Ears continue to adorn the Shoppe walls at 0-3 (.000 and 3-11 over the last 14).
Vindy’s Week 6 Best Bets: Last Week: 1-3 Season: 11-12 (.478)
Northern Illinois -2 ½ over BALL STATE, AKRON +4 ½ over Bowling Green, WISCONSIN -14 ½ Illinois, MARSHALL +3 over Tulsa, UL-Monroe -3 over MIDDLE TENNESSEE STATE
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Vindy's Picks Week 5-2012
SUBSTITUTE REFS SHOW-OFF OWN FANDOM AT GAMES
OAKLAND, California (AP)…Little did Eagles RB LeSean McCoy know just how prophetic his statement about replacement officials being “just like fans”, upon learning he was on a referee’s fantasy league squad, would turn out to be. The stand-in crew working Sunday’s game here, between the Raiders and the Steelers, took the field wearing black-and-silver Raider Nation skull-and-crossbones garb, complete with masks and spikes, and tossed Pittsburgh’s famous “terrible towels” in place of regular penalty flags. They weren’t alone in their partisan displays, as zebras at other games across the country elected to wear team colors on their faces, while going shirt-less and bearing painted letters on their chests while calling games (like the fans they were!)! Others, still, brought banners declaring their love for their preferred-clubs and held them up between plays, hoping to be seen on the stadium scoreboard or Jumbo-Tron!
The underdogs continued their early dominance for a fourth straight outing, leading to a 5-13 result (32-39, .450) for Week Four. Mired in a 10-25 backslide, we wonder if Monday night’s Seahawks-Packers officiating crew would replace the bookies behind the betting counter long enough for us to throw up a desperation 10-team parlay, using…
THE WEBER KID’S 2012 WEEK 5 FORECAST
(With soundtrack by Russian punk band Pussy Riot!)
THURS. SEPT. 27
#8 Stanford (-6 ½) over WASHINGTON: The very young Huskies continue to get the label “dangerous”. Nonetheless, we’ll take a Cardinal squad that beat USC by a touchdown a week after ignoring that distraction and crushing Duke, despite youth on its own offensive line. Stanford’s allowing just 14 points-and-change per game. Sled Dogs will have to prove themselves worthy before we take ‘em with a single score vs. a Top Ten club… Stanford 28 UDUB 13
SAT. SEPT. 29
Mississippi (+31) over #1 ALABAMA: Tide 34 Rebels 6
Washington State (+28 ½) over #2 Oregon (@ Seattle): Wazzou’s been denting the scoreboard heavily as usual, especially now under former Texas Tech Air Raid coach Mike Leach, but the defense continues to make otherwise-cane-assisted offenses look fabulous, including a long-dormant Colorado Buffaloes team that beat State last week. We put no stock in Mallards’ whitewash of Arizona. Coogs lost 43-28 last season. Should be plenty of scoring and we recommend the ‘over”…Ducks 59 WSU 34
Towson @ #3 LSU: No line.
#4 Florida State (-17) over SOUTH FLORIDA: LOCK OF DA’ WEEK. Interesting timing for the match-up. ‘Noles were on the ropes for the better part of three quarters vs. Clemson, but turned the game around enough, overcoming self-inflicted wounds, to almost cover as two-touchdown chalk. Meanwhile Bulls went down SU to ATS-perfect Ball State. USF was anticipated (again) to do good things by the “experts”, but BJ Daniels and his cohorts have floundered (again) and should be 1-2 SU rather than 2-1, courtesy of a gift in the waning moments at Nevada. ‘Noles could come out flat for a half after last week, but…FSU 42 USF 17
Tennessee (+13) over #5 GEORGIA: Joja’ 31 Rocky Top 24
#6 South Carolina @ KENTUCKY: OFF
#7 Kansas State: IDLE (next vs. Kansas)
#9 WEST VIRGINIA (-12 ½) over #25 Baylor: Uh-oh. We changed our initial selection in this one. Baylor survived last week’s track-meet at Weeziana-Monroe and has beaten SMU and AA James Madison. We woulda’ loved to have seen Mounties’ QB Geno Smith go toe-to-toe with RGIII, but the game comes a season too late. Lots of upperclassmen for the Bears and we think an “over” is likely, but ‘Eers will be on their game after mere 10-point victory vs. Maryland despite a +3 turnover advantage and it’s Homecoming in Morgantown…WVU 48 Baylor 34
#10 Notre Dame: IDLE (next vs. Miami)
#11 Florida: IDLE (next vs. LSU)
#12 Texas (-3) over OKLAHOMA STATE: Both teams were idle last week after embarrassing their opponents. Both sides will field very young quarterbacks and Cowpokes are 19-4 SU in Stillwater, but State is 1-4-1 as a home dog and the experience-edge goes to ‘Horns Davis Ash. The Steers D will be the difference for Texas (3-0 SU/2-1 ATS)…Texas 37 OKSU 29
#13 USC: IDLE (next @ Utah 10/4)
#14 Ohio State (+3) over #20 MICHIGAN STATE: Big PreTENder Conference opener for a pair of teams that were lucky to escape lower-tier opposition last week. Both trailed at some point, but each mustered enough points to put one in the win-column. Buckeyes have dropped three straight to the line (2-7 skid back to last year), but excel in revenge mode. Michigan State won 10-7 in 2011. MSU also 1-3 ATS. Offensive struggles, including lone field goal vs. the Irish, so far make us wonder how good the Spartans really are and Buckeyes are solid-money facing ranked foes. Defenses should dominate here and “under” is the preferred choice, but we’ll take OSU’s Braxton Miller at QB over Andrew Maxwell and company…OSU 16 MSU 13
#15 Texas Christian (-17) over SMU: Horny Toads 28 SMU 7
#16 Oklahoma: IDLE (next @ Texas Tech)
#17 Clemson (-9 ½) over BOSTON COLLEGE: Tigers know they let a big one get away, getting enough Florida State miscues (untimely false starts, a couple turnovers and a pair of missed FGs early) to pull the upset. Beagles are 0-2 ATS, sandwiching a win over AA Maine between opening loss to Miami and last week’s 9-point road loss to Northwestern. Clemson is terrible laying double-digits away from home, but whacked BC 36-14 last season and should win handily again here if they fix the kick-coverage and time management issues from Week Four’s loss… Clemson 29 BC 13
#18 Oregon State (+2 ½) over ARIZONA: Dam-Builders have stepped-foot on the gridiron just twice. The results? Two upset-victories over Top-25 opponents and a pair of “lock of da’ week” losses for your numbskull narrator, who ignored his own preseason guidance to “bet on State early” in the year. Seven days after blanking AA SC State 56-0, ‘Cats end up on the business end of a goose-egg by Oregon???!! AZ now 8-18 ATS in last 26 I-A matches. Beavers won 37-27 last year. UA just 6-14 vs. the number in Tucson the past 2+ seasons. Which side is doin’ it with smoke-and-mirrors?...OSU 27 AZ 24
#19 Louisville (-10 ½) over SOUTHERN MISS: Louisville 29 SoMiss 14
#21 Mississippi State: IDLE (next @ Kentucky)
Wisconsin (+13) over #22 NEBRASKA: Huskers 20 Wisky 13
#23 Rutgers: IDLE (next vs. UConn)
NEW MEXICO (+27) over #24 Boise State: Off the upset of rival NMSU Aggies, those loco Lobos, using a clock-burning rushing attack (gaining almost 6 yards per carry), claim their first two-win September since posting (GASP!) three in 2007 en route to 9-4 straight-up record (OK, OK…so the first victory came vs. AA Southern! Haters!). Broncos still ranked by the hair on their chinny-chin-chin, getting by BYU 7-6 (scoring only on a late pick-six) in a Thursday-night snoozer. Boise on 14-5 road-fave streak, but State is clearly hobbled by graduation of its superstar backfield to the NFL. UNM has gone 3-1 ATS the last three years following an outright triumph…Broncos 33 Lobos 10
BETWEEN THE HASHMARKS
BTW, the NFL rulebook defines “simultaneous possession” as the occurrence in which the heads of two or more players spin around 360-degrees while spewing pea soup and hurling obscenities and insults at officials, who, while dodging flying debris, such as kicking tees, playbooks and down-markers, try to exorcise footballs from the grasp of afflicted players by brandishing silver whistles, dousing them with Dixie-cups of blessed Gatorade and shouting, “The power of replay commands you!”
During a stop in Sin City over the weekend, Mitt Romney gave President Obama an “F” on the economy and a proposed plan to improve the housing situation in the Silver State. That was a half-grade higher than what the GOP candidate saw fit for Vindy’s Picks!
And just FYI, our flustered forecaster does not apologize for firing-out against the bookies’ offensive line with the sportsbook manager preparing to take a knee at the end of Saturday’s college pigskin slate!
Much like she did for her hubby following the Patriots’ 21-17 loss to the Giants in Super Bowl 46, supermodel Gisele Bundchen defended our haggard host this past Sunday, noting “Vindicator cannot !@%$@!! make his predictions and #!@%!@!! play those games too!”
Black Shirt: Goes to WR Sammy Watkins for throwing a second-half TD pass, helping Clemson at least cover vs. Florida State and providing one of the quintet of correct selections. Honorable mention to Sooners’ QB Landry Jones for an early fumble recovered for TD by K-State, helping validate one of our two upset picks!
“Wish I Had That One Back”: 5-13?????!!! Take yer pick! (But we did identify Mississippi State -34 over South Alabama as best guess for this category in Week Four)
“Locked in a Box?”: The lock tally remains winless at 0-4 (.000) after UCLA was upset by the Beavers (that’s gotta’ be unprecedented for our longtime weekly publication!)
Shoppe Talk: USC (0-4, .000) continues to confound us and is joined by the Ruins of UCLA (0-3, .000), with West Virginia (0-2 season, 3-10 in last 13) and LSU (1-3, .250) also getting stuffed and mounted this week!
Vindy’s Week 5 Best Bets: Last Week: 2-2 Season: 10-9 (.526)
Nevada -21 over TEXAS STATE, Ball State -1 over KENT STATE, San Jose State -3 over NAVY, IOWA STATE +2 ½ over Texas Tech
OAKLAND, California (AP)…Little did Eagles RB LeSean McCoy know just how prophetic his statement about replacement officials being “just like fans”, upon learning he was on a referee’s fantasy league squad, would turn out to be. The stand-in crew working Sunday’s game here, between the Raiders and the Steelers, took the field wearing black-and-silver Raider Nation skull-and-crossbones garb, complete with masks and spikes, and tossed Pittsburgh’s famous “terrible towels” in place of regular penalty flags. They weren’t alone in their partisan displays, as zebras at other games across the country elected to wear team colors on their faces, while going shirt-less and bearing painted letters on their chests while calling games (like the fans they were!)! Others, still, brought banners declaring their love for their preferred-clubs and held them up between plays, hoping to be seen on the stadium scoreboard or Jumbo-Tron!
The underdogs continued their early dominance for a fourth straight outing, leading to a 5-13 result (32-39, .450) for Week Four. Mired in a 10-25 backslide, we wonder if Monday night’s Seahawks-Packers officiating crew would replace the bookies behind the betting counter long enough for us to throw up a desperation 10-team parlay, using…
THE WEBER KID’S 2012 WEEK 5 FORECAST
(With soundtrack by Russian punk band Pussy Riot!)
THURS. SEPT. 27
#8 Stanford (-6 ½) over WASHINGTON: The very young Huskies continue to get the label “dangerous”. Nonetheless, we’ll take a Cardinal squad that beat USC by a touchdown a week after ignoring that distraction and crushing Duke, despite youth on its own offensive line. Stanford’s allowing just 14 points-and-change per game. Sled Dogs will have to prove themselves worthy before we take ‘em with a single score vs. a Top Ten club… Stanford 28 UDUB 13
SAT. SEPT. 29
Mississippi (+31) over #1 ALABAMA: Tide 34 Rebels 6
Washington State (+28 ½) over #2 Oregon (@ Seattle): Wazzou’s been denting the scoreboard heavily as usual, especially now under former Texas Tech Air Raid coach Mike Leach, but the defense continues to make otherwise-cane-assisted offenses look fabulous, including a long-dormant Colorado Buffaloes team that beat State last week. We put no stock in Mallards’ whitewash of Arizona. Coogs lost 43-28 last season. Should be plenty of scoring and we recommend the ‘over”…Ducks 59 WSU 34
Towson @ #3 LSU: No line.
#4 Florida State (-17) over SOUTH FLORIDA: LOCK OF DA’ WEEK. Interesting timing for the match-up. ‘Noles were on the ropes for the better part of three quarters vs. Clemson, but turned the game around enough, overcoming self-inflicted wounds, to almost cover as two-touchdown chalk. Meanwhile Bulls went down SU to ATS-perfect Ball State. USF was anticipated (again) to do good things by the “experts”, but BJ Daniels and his cohorts have floundered (again) and should be 1-2 SU rather than 2-1, courtesy of a gift in the waning moments at Nevada. ‘Noles could come out flat for a half after last week, but…FSU 42 USF 17
Tennessee (+13) over #5 GEORGIA: Joja’ 31 Rocky Top 24
#6 South Carolina @ KENTUCKY: OFF
#7 Kansas State: IDLE (next vs. Kansas)
#9 WEST VIRGINIA (-12 ½) over #25 Baylor: Uh-oh. We changed our initial selection in this one. Baylor survived last week’s track-meet at Weeziana-Monroe and has beaten SMU and AA James Madison. We woulda’ loved to have seen Mounties’ QB Geno Smith go toe-to-toe with RGIII, but the game comes a season too late. Lots of upperclassmen for the Bears and we think an “over” is likely, but ‘Eers will be on their game after mere 10-point victory vs. Maryland despite a +3 turnover advantage and it’s Homecoming in Morgantown…WVU 48 Baylor 34
#10 Notre Dame: IDLE (next vs. Miami)
#11 Florida: IDLE (next vs. LSU)
#12 Texas (-3) over OKLAHOMA STATE: Both teams were idle last week after embarrassing their opponents. Both sides will field very young quarterbacks and Cowpokes are 19-4 SU in Stillwater, but State is 1-4-1 as a home dog and the experience-edge goes to ‘Horns Davis Ash. The Steers D will be the difference for Texas (3-0 SU/2-1 ATS)…Texas 37 OKSU 29
#13 USC: IDLE (next @ Utah 10/4)
#14 Ohio State (+3) over #20 MICHIGAN STATE: Big PreTENder Conference opener for a pair of teams that were lucky to escape lower-tier opposition last week. Both trailed at some point, but each mustered enough points to put one in the win-column. Buckeyes have dropped three straight to the line (2-7 skid back to last year), but excel in revenge mode. Michigan State won 10-7 in 2011. MSU also 1-3 ATS. Offensive struggles, including lone field goal vs. the Irish, so far make us wonder how good the Spartans really are and Buckeyes are solid-money facing ranked foes. Defenses should dominate here and “under” is the preferred choice, but we’ll take OSU’s Braxton Miller at QB over Andrew Maxwell and company…OSU 16 MSU 13
#15 Texas Christian (-17) over SMU: Horny Toads 28 SMU 7
#16 Oklahoma: IDLE (next @ Texas Tech)
#17 Clemson (-9 ½) over BOSTON COLLEGE: Tigers know they let a big one get away, getting enough Florida State miscues (untimely false starts, a couple turnovers and a pair of missed FGs early) to pull the upset. Beagles are 0-2 ATS, sandwiching a win over AA Maine between opening loss to Miami and last week’s 9-point road loss to Northwestern. Clemson is terrible laying double-digits away from home, but whacked BC 36-14 last season and should win handily again here if they fix the kick-coverage and time management issues from Week Four’s loss… Clemson 29 BC 13
#18 Oregon State (+2 ½) over ARIZONA: Dam-Builders have stepped-foot on the gridiron just twice. The results? Two upset-victories over Top-25 opponents and a pair of “lock of da’ week” losses for your numbskull narrator, who ignored his own preseason guidance to “bet on State early” in the year. Seven days after blanking AA SC State 56-0, ‘Cats end up on the business end of a goose-egg by Oregon???!! AZ now 8-18 ATS in last 26 I-A matches. Beavers won 37-27 last year. UA just 6-14 vs. the number in Tucson the past 2+ seasons. Which side is doin’ it with smoke-and-mirrors?...OSU 27 AZ 24
#19 Louisville (-10 ½) over SOUTHERN MISS: Louisville 29 SoMiss 14
#21 Mississippi State: IDLE (next @ Kentucky)
Wisconsin (+13) over #22 NEBRASKA: Huskers 20 Wisky 13
#23 Rutgers: IDLE (next vs. UConn)
NEW MEXICO (+27) over #24 Boise State: Off the upset of rival NMSU Aggies, those loco Lobos, using a clock-burning rushing attack (gaining almost 6 yards per carry), claim their first two-win September since posting (GASP!) three in 2007 en route to 9-4 straight-up record (OK, OK…so the first victory came vs. AA Southern! Haters!). Broncos still ranked by the hair on their chinny-chin-chin, getting by BYU 7-6 (scoring only on a late pick-six) in a Thursday-night snoozer. Boise on 14-5 road-fave streak, but State is clearly hobbled by graduation of its superstar backfield to the NFL. UNM has gone 3-1 ATS the last three years following an outright triumph…Broncos 33 Lobos 10
BETWEEN THE HASHMARKS
BTW, the NFL rulebook defines “simultaneous possession” as the occurrence in which the heads of two or more players spin around 360-degrees while spewing pea soup and hurling obscenities and insults at officials, who, while dodging flying debris, such as kicking tees, playbooks and down-markers, try to exorcise footballs from the grasp of afflicted players by brandishing silver whistles, dousing them with Dixie-cups of blessed Gatorade and shouting, “The power of replay commands you!”
During a stop in Sin City over the weekend, Mitt Romney gave President Obama an “F” on the economy and a proposed plan to improve the housing situation in the Silver State. That was a half-grade higher than what the GOP candidate saw fit for Vindy’s Picks!
And just FYI, our flustered forecaster does not apologize for firing-out against the bookies’ offensive line with the sportsbook manager preparing to take a knee at the end of Saturday’s college pigskin slate!
Much like she did for her hubby following the Patriots’ 21-17 loss to the Giants in Super Bowl 46, supermodel Gisele Bundchen defended our haggard host this past Sunday, noting “Vindicator cannot !@%$@!! make his predictions and #!@%!@!! play those games too!”
Black Shirt: Goes to WR Sammy Watkins for throwing a second-half TD pass, helping Clemson at least cover vs. Florida State and providing one of the quintet of correct selections. Honorable mention to Sooners’ QB Landry Jones for an early fumble recovered for TD by K-State, helping validate one of our two upset picks!
“Wish I Had That One Back”: 5-13?????!!! Take yer pick! (But we did identify Mississippi State -34 over South Alabama as best guess for this category in Week Four)
“Locked in a Box?”: The lock tally remains winless at 0-4 (.000) after UCLA was upset by the Beavers (that’s gotta’ be unprecedented for our longtime weekly publication!)
Shoppe Talk: USC (0-4, .000) continues to confound us and is joined by the Ruins of UCLA (0-3, .000), with West Virginia (0-2 season, 3-10 in last 13) and LSU (1-3, .250) also getting stuffed and mounted this week!
Vindy’s Week 5 Best Bets: Last Week: 2-2 Season: 10-9 (.526)
Nevada -21 over TEXAS STATE, Ball State -1 over KENT STATE, San Jose State -3 over NAVY, IOWA STATE +2 ½ over Texas Tech
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Vindy's Picks Week 4-2012
SCIENTOLOGY BEHIND NFL COMBINE
INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana (MSNBC)…It appears to be a case of “she doth protest too much” for Kirstie Alley, who jumped to the aid of fellow Scientologist Tom Cruise following accusations the pair’s church-of-choice set up bogus movie auditions in 2004 with the real intent of finding a mate for the diminutive actor. It was discovered the former Cheers and Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan actress, herself, had help from the religious institution to recruit potential husbands or boyfriends via the 2000 NFL Combine, after the demise of her two-year relationship with James Wilder in 1999. Players were lured to the local yearly pre-draft extravaganza, with the promise of being able to show-off their wares to pro scouts, but in reality, had their responses and reactions to a battery of very personal questions, including details of their intimate conquests, secretly-recorded under the guise of the Wonderlic test. Athletes with already-known leanings toward the views of the church were actually punished, by being made to clean the locker room with toothbrushes, if their performances were deemed “inadequate” and were reportedly told their “duty” was “not only to please their wives, but also to toe the line-of-scrimmage for Scientology!”
Enjoying the success of the first two weeks, Vindicator forgot all about the bookies’ legendary closing-speed and faltered to 5-12 for Week Three (27-26, .509). The five forecast wins were one higher than former LSU player Morris Claiborne’s score on the actual Wonderlic test, putting the respective football IQs of the two somewhere around “Gatorade bucket”, which also happens to be the beverage-container responsible for making the selections in…
THE WEBER KID’S 2012 WEEK 4 FORECAST
(More exposed lately than Kate Middleton!)
THURS. SEPT. 20
#24 BOISE STATE (-7) over Brigham Young: Broncos didn’t cover a home-game last season, but did so this year by belting Miami-Oh My by 27 (after trailing 9-8 at halftime) in Week Three. Coogs made “upset” loss to Utah interesting with multiple reviews in a 22-hankie flag-fest before falling. BSU not stellar as non-Saturday chalk, but lost its first game on that funky blue turf since 2005 last season…Boise State 27 BYU 17
SAT. SEPT. 22
Florida Atlantic (+50) over #1 ALABAMA: Turnovers are killin’ teams vs. Alabama. Tide got five of ‘em from Tyler Wilson-less Soooeey Pigs in 52-nada romp. Backin’ the Owls in game at Joja’ was one things we did right last week. FAU had been dismal double-digit non-conference ‘dog entering 2012 and a poor bet as a road dog in general. Birds haven’t topped four spread-wins in a season since 2004, but are 1-1 in FBS play thus far and have improved on both sides of the ball. ‘Bama’s not special laying points at home. With just Old Mist on-deck, we wonder if Tide has a third-straight shut-out in ‘em. We think not…Alabama 51 FAU 6
#2 Louisiana State (-20) over AUBURN: Auburn had excusable losses to Clemson and Mississippi State, but almost did a face-plant vs. upstart Weeziana-Monroe just a week after the Red Hawks dropped Arkansas! War Eagle is now 0-fer-3 ATS. Bengals make their first trip away from Baton Rouge and face Auburn squad that has now won 21 of its last 24 games at Jordan-Hare (a pair defeats to ‘Bama and 1 to Kentucky!). State lost 24-17 here in 2010… LSU 37 Auburn 14
#22 Arizona (+23 ½) over #3 OREGON: Mallards 42 ‘Cats 34
#10 Clemson (+14) over #4 FLORIDA STATE: UPSET PICK OF DA’ WEEK #1. Though the Clemson D took a step backward last year, keeping just three opponents under 14 (including Virginia Tech twice) after holding 6 of 8 ACC foes under 17 in 2010. Tigers have beaten the ‘Noles twice in the past three years, covering the whole trey. Clemson’s top WR Sammy Watkins returned from suspension in last week’s rout of Furman. They’ll need him. FSU has allowed three total points in as many games, but get tested here…Clemson 24 FSU 20
Vanderbilt (+15) over #5 GEORGIA: Joja’ 20 Vandy 12
#15 Kansas State (+14) over #6 OKLAHOMA: UPSET PICK OF DA’ WEEK #2. We paid the price last week for ignoring the little voice in our head that was screamin’ “take Mean Green and da’ points over K-State”. Purple Persians, this week, are back in preferred role as road dogs, in which they’ve covered 14 of last 19. Sooners, again, getting preseason hype, haven’t come out strong, winning just 24-7 at UTEP, but still have their place among the top teams in multiple offensive and defensive categories on the strength of 69-13 win over FCS Florida A&M. KSU QB Colin Klein should keep the OK defense busy long enough. “Stoops... I…did it again!”…Wildcats 24 OK 23
Missouri @ #7 SOUTH CAROLINA (-10): KFC 30 Mizzou 17
#8 WEST VIRGINIA (-28) over Maryland: Mountaineers 45 Terps 12
#9 Stanford: IDLE (next @ Washington 9/27)
#11 NOTRE DAME (-6) over #18 Michigan: Irish 24 Michigan 16
#12 Texas: IDLE (next @ Oklahoma State)
California (+16) over #13 USC: Trojans 33 Bears 30
Kentucky (+24 ½) over #14 FLORIDA: It’s just too hard to lay this kinda’ lumber with Gators, who’ve started slowly. Game vs. Tennessee was close for more than three quarters, so final in Florida’s 17-point win is deceptive. KY put up a decent effort in the opener before Louisville managed to separate itself, then bombed Kent State before falling in OT to rising-Western Kentucky Hilltoppers squad. Crocs have made laughers outta’ this one the past three seasons, winning 48-10, 48-14 and 41-7. KY is very young on offense, but…Florida 29 Kentucky 9
#16 OHIO STATE (-37 ½) over Alabama-Birmingham: OSU was fortunate that Cal missed three FGs in 7-point to the Buckeyes (we kinda’ thought the Bears’ kicker looked an awful lot like Lions placekicker Sam Fickens! Maybe there was an involuntary transfer from the alma mater?!). UAB, led by 1st-year coach McGee (formerly the OC at Arkansas [and we know how the Razorbacks’ season has gone to-date, don’t we???!!!]) lost by 43 at South Carolina. Cal RB Bigelow racked up 160 yards on four carries vs. State, but Blazers play in C-USA, not the PAC-12….OSU 48 UAB 7
Virginia (+17 ½) over #17 TCU: Frogs 21 Cavs 13
#19 UCLA (-10) over Oregon State: LOCK OF DA’ WEEK. Courtesy of a postponed opener and a bye last week, Beavers have played just one game, so there’s not much of a gauge. Marc Lawrence’s Playbook.Com does note State has covered last five games with rest. Bruins are one of four teams at 3-0 ATS vs. Bowl Subdivision opposition (Ball State, Northwestern and Toledo are the others) and walloped Houston despite committing five turnovers, riding an offense that ranks #2 nationally in yardage and averaging almost 41 ppg. We think State’s 10-7 upset of Wisconsin says more about the Badgers (or perhaps the Big Tenuous conference) than it does about the Beavers…UCLA 34 Oregon State 17
#20 Louisville (-13) over FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL: We’ve already seen FIU’s fellow Stun Belt conference members Western Kentucky and, as noted above, Weeziana-Monroe, respectively take out Kentucky and Arkansas, with ULM nearly upsetting Auburn last week as well. But we expect a bit a rebound by the faves, ATS-wise, after the first three weeks went by-and-large to the ‘dogs. Panthers beat Louisville 24-17 on the road in 2011. Cardinals won’t look past dangerous minor-league team here. Could end up one of those 17-10 tilts, but we’re callin’… Louisville 29 FIU 14
#21 MICHIGAN STATE (-32 ½) over Eastern Michigan: MSU 45 EMU 7
#23 MISSISSIPPI STATE (-34 ½) over South Alabama: Shocker. Yet-another SEC West club climbs into the rankings, and faces Jaguars team in its inaugural campaign in the FBS. Bulldogs lousy laying more than two touchdowns, scraping by Troy (+16) 30-24 last week. South ‘Bama covered 31-7 loss at NC State and had one of the better defenses in FCS competition last year. State hasn’t seen a line this big since 2009-opener and hasn’t knocked-off anybody by this margin except Memphis and FCS Jackson State over the last two years. Best guess for “wish I had it back”…MSU 48 Jaguars 7
Idaho State @ #25 NEBRASKA: No line.
BETWEEN THE HASHMARKS
BTW, making Kirstie’s “short list” during the year-in-question…Nifty Lions’ alumni Courtney Brown and LaVar Arrington, who went first and second, #8-pick Plaxico Burress and kicker Sebastian Janikowski, grabbed in the 17th-spot of da’ first round!
Damn-good thing Lions toppled Navy (including successful completion of three outta’ four PATs) this week ‘cuz given the state of its kicking game, the alma mater was about to be allowed, as FG or extra-point situations arise, to designate a player to flick one of those triangular, paper footballs thru the “goalposts” as formed by a designated opposing player holding their index-fingers tip-to-tip, with thumbs raised, at the end of a very long rectangular table!
When not in class or practicing their routines for the big games, Buckeyes cheerleaders have been known to peruse “Fitty Shades of Scarlet & Grey”!
Tim Tebow spent some time last January backstage with the cast of aquatic Cirque Du Soleil show “O” here in Vegas. Maybe he learned some nifty tricks for escaping a collapsing pocket via the lines attached to the wires that support the overhead-camera shots! He’d have to replace the usual eye-black with kabuki make-up though!
Mere weeks after the reality-TV show featuring Chad Johnson and Eva Lozada was cancelled after a reported incident of domestic violence, the former-footballer’s soon-to-be ex-spouse was seen canoodling with a certain U.S. Olympic speed-skater. Executives at VH1 have since jumped at the chance to broadcast…”Ev and Ohno”!!!!
If we swapped-out Peyton Manning for a certain New England Patriots quarterback in the music-video we suggested earlier this season, we could change the title of one of the featured songs to… “Call Me, Brady!”
“Bounty…the quicker-knocker-downer!” Official paper-towel of the N’awlins Saints!
BTW, the folks calling NFL games aren’t really officials, but they did stay at a Holiday Inn Express Saturday night!
Black Shirt: Seriously-slim pickins this week, but we hand over the ultimate-undergarment to back-up Joja’ QB Christian LeMay, who tossed a late-game pick-six that allowed Florida Atlantic to grab the backdoor cover as one of our very few forecast wins!
“Locked in a Box?”: Hokies fell to Pittsburgh, dropping the lock tally to (GASP!)…0-3????!!!
Shoppe Talk: The USC Trojans are firmly-entrenched at 0-3 (.000).
Vindy’s Week 4 Best Bets: Last Week: 3-3 Season: 8-7 (.533)
Nevada-Reno -9 over HAWAII, BALL STATE +10 ½ over South Florida, WAZZOU -18 ½ over Colorado, NORTH TEXAS (PK) over Troy
INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana (MSNBC)…It appears to be a case of “she doth protest too much” for Kirstie Alley, who jumped to the aid of fellow Scientologist Tom Cruise following accusations the pair’s church-of-choice set up bogus movie auditions in 2004 with the real intent of finding a mate for the diminutive actor. It was discovered the former Cheers and Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan actress, herself, had help from the religious institution to recruit potential husbands or boyfriends via the 2000 NFL Combine, after the demise of her two-year relationship with James Wilder in 1999. Players were lured to the local yearly pre-draft extravaganza, with the promise of being able to show-off their wares to pro scouts, but in reality, had their responses and reactions to a battery of very personal questions, including details of their intimate conquests, secretly-recorded under the guise of the Wonderlic test. Athletes with already-known leanings toward the views of the church were actually punished, by being made to clean the locker room with toothbrushes, if their performances were deemed “inadequate” and were reportedly told their “duty” was “not only to please their wives, but also to toe the line-of-scrimmage for Scientology!”
Enjoying the success of the first two weeks, Vindicator forgot all about the bookies’ legendary closing-speed and faltered to 5-12 for Week Three (27-26, .509). The five forecast wins were one higher than former LSU player Morris Claiborne’s score on the actual Wonderlic test, putting the respective football IQs of the two somewhere around “Gatorade bucket”, which also happens to be the beverage-container responsible for making the selections in…
THE WEBER KID’S 2012 WEEK 4 FORECAST
(More exposed lately than Kate Middleton!)
THURS. SEPT. 20
#24 BOISE STATE (-7) over Brigham Young: Broncos didn’t cover a home-game last season, but did so this year by belting Miami-Oh My by 27 (after trailing 9-8 at halftime) in Week Three. Coogs made “upset” loss to Utah interesting with multiple reviews in a 22-hankie flag-fest before falling. BSU not stellar as non-Saturday chalk, but lost its first game on that funky blue turf since 2005 last season…Boise State 27 BYU 17
SAT. SEPT. 22
Florida Atlantic (+50) over #1 ALABAMA: Turnovers are killin’ teams vs. Alabama. Tide got five of ‘em from Tyler Wilson-less Soooeey Pigs in 52-nada romp. Backin’ the Owls in game at Joja’ was one things we did right last week. FAU had been dismal double-digit non-conference ‘dog entering 2012 and a poor bet as a road dog in general. Birds haven’t topped four spread-wins in a season since 2004, but are 1-1 in FBS play thus far and have improved on both sides of the ball. ‘Bama’s not special laying points at home. With just Old Mist on-deck, we wonder if Tide has a third-straight shut-out in ‘em. We think not…Alabama 51 FAU 6
#2 Louisiana State (-20) over AUBURN: Auburn had excusable losses to Clemson and Mississippi State, but almost did a face-plant vs. upstart Weeziana-Monroe just a week after the Red Hawks dropped Arkansas! War Eagle is now 0-fer-3 ATS. Bengals make their first trip away from Baton Rouge and face Auburn squad that has now won 21 of its last 24 games at Jordan-Hare (a pair defeats to ‘Bama and 1 to Kentucky!). State lost 24-17 here in 2010… LSU 37 Auburn 14
#22 Arizona (+23 ½) over #3 OREGON: Mallards 42 ‘Cats 34
#10 Clemson (+14) over #4 FLORIDA STATE: UPSET PICK OF DA’ WEEK #1. Though the Clemson D took a step backward last year, keeping just three opponents under 14 (including Virginia Tech twice) after holding 6 of 8 ACC foes under 17 in 2010. Tigers have beaten the ‘Noles twice in the past three years, covering the whole trey. Clemson’s top WR Sammy Watkins returned from suspension in last week’s rout of Furman. They’ll need him. FSU has allowed three total points in as many games, but get tested here…Clemson 24 FSU 20
Vanderbilt (+15) over #5 GEORGIA: Joja’ 20 Vandy 12
#15 Kansas State (+14) over #6 OKLAHOMA: UPSET PICK OF DA’ WEEK #2. We paid the price last week for ignoring the little voice in our head that was screamin’ “take Mean Green and da’ points over K-State”. Purple Persians, this week, are back in preferred role as road dogs, in which they’ve covered 14 of last 19. Sooners, again, getting preseason hype, haven’t come out strong, winning just 24-7 at UTEP, but still have their place among the top teams in multiple offensive and defensive categories on the strength of 69-13 win over FCS Florida A&M. KSU QB Colin Klein should keep the OK defense busy long enough. “Stoops... I…did it again!”…Wildcats 24 OK 23
Missouri @ #7 SOUTH CAROLINA (-10): KFC 30 Mizzou 17
#8 WEST VIRGINIA (-28) over Maryland: Mountaineers 45 Terps 12
#9 Stanford: IDLE (next @ Washington 9/27)
#11 NOTRE DAME (-6) over #18 Michigan: Irish 24 Michigan 16
#12 Texas: IDLE (next @ Oklahoma State)
California (+16) over #13 USC: Trojans 33 Bears 30
Kentucky (+24 ½) over #14 FLORIDA: It’s just too hard to lay this kinda’ lumber with Gators, who’ve started slowly. Game vs. Tennessee was close for more than three quarters, so final in Florida’s 17-point win is deceptive. KY put up a decent effort in the opener before Louisville managed to separate itself, then bombed Kent State before falling in OT to rising-Western Kentucky Hilltoppers squad. Crocs have made laughers outta’ this one the past three seasons, winning 48-10, 48-14 and 41-7. KY is very young on offense, but…Florida 29 Kentucky 9
#16 OHIO STATE (-37 ½) over Alabama-Birmingham: OSU was fortunate that Cal missed three FGs in 7-point to the Buckeyes (we kinda’ thought the Bears’ kicker looked an awful lot like Lions placekicker Sam Fickens! Maybe there was an involuntary transfer from the alma mater?!). UAB, led by 1st-year coach McGee (formerly the OC at Arkansas [and we know how the Razorbacks’ season has gone to-date, don’t we???!!!]) lost by 43 at South Carolina. Cal RB Bigelow racked up 160 yards on four carries vs. State, but Blazers play in C-USA, not the PAC-12….OSU 48 UAB 7
Virginia (+17 ½) over #17 TCU: Frogs 21 Cavs 13
#19 UCLA (-10) over Oregon State: LOCK OF DA’ WEEK. Courtesy of a postponed opener and a bye last week, Beavers have played just one game, so there’s not much of a gauge. Marc Lawrence’s Playbook.Com does note State has covered last five games with rest. Bruins are one of four teams at 3-0 ATS vs. Bowl Subdivision opposition (Ball State, Northwestern and Toledo are the others) and walloped Houston despite committing five turnovers, riding an offense that ranks #2 nationally in yardage and averaging almost 41 ppg. We think State’s 10-7 upset of Wisconsin says more about the Badgers (or perhaps the Big Tenuous conference) than it does about the Beavers…UCLA 34 Oregon State 17
#20 Louisville (-13) over FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL: We’ve already seen FIU’s fellow Stun Belt conference members Western Kentucky and, as noted above, Weeziana-Monroe, respectively take out Kentucky and Arkansas, with ULM nearly upsetting Auburn last week as well. But we expect a bit a rebound by the faves, ATS-wise, after the first three weeks went by-and-large to the ‘dogs. Panthers beat Louisville 24-17 on the road in 2011. Cardinals won’t look past dangerous minor-league team here. Could end up one of those 17-10 tilts, but we’re callin’… Louisville 29 FIU 14
#21 MICHIGAN STATE (-32 ½) over Eastern Michigan: MSU 45 EMU 7
#23 MISSISSIPPI STATE (-34 ½) over South Alabama: Shocker. Yet-another SEC West club climbs into the rankings, and faces Jaguars team in its inaugural campaign in the FBS. Bulldogs lousy laying more than two touchdowns, scraping by Troy (+16) 30-24 last week. South ‘Bama covered 31-7 loss at NC State and had one of the better defenses in FCS competition last year. State hasn’t seen a line this big since 2009-opener and hasn’t knocked-off anybody by this margin except Memphis and FCS Jackson State over the last two years. Best guess for “wish I had it back”…MSU 48 Jaguars 7
Idaho State @ #25 NEBRASKA: No line.
BETWEEN THE HASHMARKS
BTW, making Kirstie’s “short list” during the year-in-question…Nifty Lions’ alumni Courtney Brown and LaVar Arrington, who went first and second, #8-pick Plaxico Burress and kicker Sebastian Janikowski, grabbed in the 17th-spot of da’ first round!
Damn-good thing Lions toppled Navy (including successful completion of three outta’ four PATs) this week ‘cuz given the state of its kicking game, the alma mater was about to be allowed, as FG or extra-point situations arise, to designate a player to flick one of those triangular, paper footballs thru the “goalposts” as formed by a designated opposing player holding their index-fingers tip-to-tip, with thumbs raised, at the end of a very long rectangular table!
When not in class or practicing their routines for the big games, Buckeyes cheerleaders have been known to peruse “Fitty Shades of Scarlet & Grey”!
Tim Tebow spent some time last January backstage with the cast of aquatic Cirque Du Soleil show “O” here in Vegas. Maybe he learned some nifty tricks for escaping a collapsing pocket via the lines attached to the wires that support the overhead-camera shots! He’d have to replace the usual eye-black with kabuki make-up though!
Mere weeks after the reality-TV show featuring Chad Johnson and Eva Lozada was cancelled after a reported incident of domestic violence, the former-footballer’s soon-to-be ex-spouse was seen canoodling with a certain U.S. Olympic speed-skater. Executives at VH1 have since jumped at the chance to broadcast…”Ev and Ohno”!!!!
If we swapped-out Peyton Manning for a certain New England Patriots quarterback in the music-video we suggested earlier this season, we could change the title of one of the featured songs to… “Call Me, Brady!”
“Bounty…the quicker-knocker-downer!” Official paper-towel of the N’awlins Saints!
BTW, the folks calling NFL games aren’t really officials, but they did stay at a Holiday Inn Express Saturday night!
Black Shirt: Seriously-slim pickins this week, but we hand over the ultimate-undergarment to back-up Joja’ QB Christian LeMay, who tossed a late-game pick-six that allowed Florida Atlantic to grab the backdoor cover as one of our very few forecast wins!
“Locked in a Box?”: Hokies fell to Pittsburgh, dropping the lock tally to (GASP!)…0-3????!!!
Shoppe Talk: The USC Trojans are firmly-entrenched at 0-3 (.000).
Vindy’s Week 4 Best Bets: Last Week: 3-3 Season: 8-7 (.533)
Nevada-Reno -9 over HAWAII, BALL STATE +10 ½ over South Florida, WAZZOU -18 ½ over Colorado, NORTH TEXAS (PK) over Troy
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Vindy's Picks Week 3-2012
JUDGE FLIPS SUSPENSIONS, BOOKIES BACK
LAS VEGAS, Nevada (UPI)…Ticket-writers at Caesar’s Palace returned to work behind the betting counter this week following the successful appeal of suspensions handed-down over the summer by the Gaming Control Board. The bookies had been paid for “whacks” and “cart-offs”, defined as hits on sharp bettors (or casual bettors on a winning streak) that sent them staggering out of the casino, either needing assistance from others or actually carried away on a stretcher. A “bounty ledger” produced by the prosecution revealed the ‘book employees offering “two five-stacks” to co-workers for knocking out targeted gamblers during the annual NCAA men’s basketball tournament and the college bowl season. The reversal is temporary, and the sportsbook manager remains banned from the property for a year under the equivalent of the NCAA’s “lack of institutional control” statute, but the judge ruled the Board did not have the authority to impose the penalties. Meanwhile, investigations continue into allegations that cocktail waitresses, slot-techs, and even keno-runners were also encouraged to participate in the illegal activities.
Your humble narrator correctly anticipated another big week by the ‘dogs (though certainly not the upsets) and went 12-7 on the fortnight (22-14, .611). And just fer da’ record, legal evidence included proof of an offer for “two short stacks of pancakes (with blueberry compote and whipped cream) topped with a pair of bacon strips at IHOP for any hit sending Vindy outta’ the sportsbook” if he was caught trying to place wagers based on…
THE WEBER KID’S 2012 WEEK 3 FORECAST
(Protected this week by the Saints defense)
SAT. SEPT. 15
ARKANSAS (+20) over #1 Alabama: Wow! We’re familiar with “looking past” a team when a bigger game’s on da’ horizon, but…yikes! Actually, we attribute Hogs’ first regular-season SU demise outside their own division in over two-and-a-half seasons to the loss of QB Tyler Wilson. Working for Arkansas backers…Tide is just 16-10 ATS in SEC play the last three years and Western Kentucky held ‘Bama to 103 rushing yards just a week after Tide went for 232 vs. Michigan. (Props to the Hilltoppers, who’ve been ATS-machines, covering 11 of last 12, or were the Red Elephants playin’ possum?). The bad news?...Pigs yielded 412 passing yards (550 total!) in serious-upset loss to UL-Monroe. Bacon Strips were minus-two turnovers in 2011’s 38-14 defeat to ‘Bama. Tide is without #2 rusher and lead-blocker for the year…Tide 33 Pork Chops 19
#2 Southern Cal (-7 ½) over #21 STANFORD: Money’s been comin’ in hot-n-heavy on Stanford and again, we note USC’s been letting opponents stay in it (spread-wise, at least) too long. However, Stanford is young on the O-line and the strong running game we touted earlier in the season for the Cardinal hasn’t materialized nearly as much as we expected, averaging a pedestrian 123 ypg. That won’t cut it vs. most decent teams and the 40-point rout of Duke is tad deceiving if ya consider four turnovers by the Blue Devils. The doggie has taken the money the last four years and Trees haven’t gotten points at home since ’09 (resulting in an outright win over Oregon). Redbirds have won three straight in this series, including 56-48 game in 2011. If Troy is gonna’ prove itself worthy of the preseason hype, covering here would help…Trojans 34 Stanford 24
Idaho (+42) over #3 LSU: Tigers 41 Vandals 6
Tennessee Tech @ #4 OREGON: No line.
#5 Oklahoma: IDLE (next vs. Kansas State)
Wake Forest (+27) over #6 FLORIDA STATE: We end up with egg on our face every time we back the ‘Noles, but we salute them for takin’ care of bidness vs. two FCS squads to the tune of 124-3. Clemson is on-deck for State and the Deacs have actually taken three of last five SU vs. the Tribe. The Forest edged double-A Liberty before upsetting North Carolina. Wake’s been bad road dog. State busted Weeziana-Monroe and Charleston Southern, collectively 96-10, in 2011 before dropping three straight games, including 35-30 loss to these Demon Deacons… FSU 30 Wake Forest 20
Florida Atlantic (+42) over #7 GEORGIA: ‘Dawgs 42 FAU 6
Alabama-Birmingham (+33 ½) over #8 SOUTH CAROLINA: Poultry 37 UAB 10
James Madison @ #9 WEST VIRGINIA: No line.
#10 MICHIGAN STATE (-5) over #20 Notre Dame: QB Golson was effective enough throwing the ball in Catholics’ narrow win over Purdue, while State gave up Central Michigan’s only points in the waning half-minute on an INT-for-TD by the reserve quarterback in 41-7 romp. MSU is revenge-minded after last season’s 31-13 loss. Irish have covered 5 of last 8 vs. the Top 25, but won only two of ‘em outright. Spartans band has been instructed to fire-up Michael Jackson’s “Smooth Criminal” every time the Leprechauns get da’ ball…MSU 27 ND 19
Furman @ #11 CLEMSON: No line.
#12 OHIO STATE (-17) over California: Uh oh! Another 12-PACK/Big Tent-Peg match-up! At least the Buckeyes are hosting this one. Bears have given up 31 in each of their two previous games in 2012…winning one, losing one. Bears have covered 7 of last 8 getting double-digits on the road (though 1-1 in 2011). State comes in on 1-5 ATS skid, having combined with UCF for total of six turnovers in SU win (but spread loss) vs. the Golden Knights. QB Braxton Miller proved himself worthy of carrying the ground game as well, rushing for three touchdowns, drawing comparisons to former Buckeye QB Art Schlicter. Fans (and school officials) hope that’s where the similarities end, given Schlicter’s subsequent NFL bust and life of crime as a compulsive gambling felon… Buckeyes 38 Berkeley 16
#13 Virginia Tech (-10 ½) over PITTSBURGH: LOCK OF DA’ WEEK. Panthers, who change coaches like we change channels, are go-against until further notice. The instability of four head coaches in just over a year’s time has shown in opening two-score loss to the AA Penguins of Y-town State and a blow-out loss at Cincinnati, in which Pitt scored a meaningless TD with about 90 seconds left to play last Thursday. Pitt features a lot of seniors on offense, but not playin’ like it…Hokies 31 Pitt 10
#14 Texas (-10 ½) over MISSISSIPPI: Texas 35 Old Mist 17
#15 KANSAS STATE (-28 ½) over North Texas: KSU 48 Mean Green 17
KANSAS (+21) over #16 Texas Christian: Not much of gauge to-date for Texas Christian (just nine starters back), with only the 56-nada smoking of Grambling last week in the record book. TCU, an unimpressive away-fave, advances in conference-class (again), but faces arguably the remedial students of said-class. Jayhawks, now being directed by Charlie Weis, have won just a pair of Big 12 match-ups in the last 25 and allowed almost 44 ppg by opponents last season. Birds enter this one off one-point loss to Rice after beating FCS South Dakota State, 31-17 to open the year. Four Horny Toads gridiron players were caught in a drug-sting during the offseason. Considering a movement for random drug-testing at Oregon, perhaps some of the Ducks would consider transferring to…THC-U 34 Kansas 17
Massachusetts (+46) over #17 MICHIGAN: Michigan 51 UMass 9
#18 Florida (+3) over #23 TENNESSEE: The Florida passing game is still in first-gear, but Gators pulled out the win on the strength of the defense. Perhaps Coach Muschamp should let RB Gillislee carry the team this week as well. Vols are favored , but haven’t toppled the Crocs since 2004, losing each of the past three years by an average of a dozen points. Rocky Top is 2-0, having beaten NC State and AA Joja’ State decisively. Derek Dooley helped bring about Tennessee’s new athletic facility, which includes a mixed-martial arts octagon. Vindy’s spies say Dooley’s planning to teach his charges to choke-out opposing players in the pile after the whistle! (Just outta’ curiosity, for the Lord of the Rings fanatics, did anyone else out there see Gollum put Sam in a rear-naked choke early in “The Two Towers”???!!!)…Florida 19 Tennessee 17
#19 LOUISVILLE (-3 ½) over North Carolina: Cardinals 20 UNC 10
Houston (+17) over #22 UCLA: Best guess for “wish I had it back”. Air Keenum is gone and loss to (GASP!) Texas State (+36 ½) led to the resignation of Coogs’ OC. Houston put forth a much better in Week Two, but still lost SU/ATS to Weeziana Tech by a touchdown in a shootout. Improved Bruins squad beat Rice and piled up 653 yards of offense in 36-30 upset of Nebraska, behind RB Franklin’s 217 rushing yards, to go to 2-0 SU/ATS. UH won 38-34 last year. UCLA now 4-1 ATS as DD chalk the past three campaigns…Cubs 42 Coogs 34
SC State @ #24 ARIZONA: No line.
#25 Brigham Young (-4 ½) over UTAH: We watched the Utes’ quarterbacks get hurried, bruised and battered by the Aggies defense in Thursday night 27-20 upset loss to USU, and starter Jordan Wynn is now out for the season. Cougars opened with a pair of easy home wins over Wazzou and Weber State. Utes are 2-1 SU/ATS the past three years in this series, but embarrassed BYU 54-10 on the road last year. Both sides are deep, but we like Riley Nelson to lead BYU to the payback win and cover…BYU 24 Utah 17
BETWEEN THE HASHMARKS
BTW, if we can’t leave the resort under our own power, we’d prefer to exit the building strapped to the top of a hotdog cart!
As a follow-up to last week’s lead story, the Paterno family continues to adamantly deny Joe Pa was obsessed with the Masters of the Universe figure-collection found in his office alongside a 1970’s “Simon” game that only played the famous tone-sequence from “Close Encounters of the Third Kind”!!! (We also have it on good authority that the bronze statue of the coaching legend, reportedly stashed in a safe hiding place on campus, was actually beamed-up by the Mothership and now shares an air-lock with Elvis and Jimmy Hoffa!)
The AP ran a story last week about the exploits of Russian president Vladimir Putin as, among other things, a biker, diver and swimmer. OK, so he’s proven himself as a candidate for the next annual “X-Games”. We just really wanna’ see him snort half-a-pound of wasabi in the next “Jack-Ass” movie! (In all honestly, after the alma mater left 13 points via the kicking-game [four missed FGs and a blocked XP] in a one-point road loss to Virginia, we’d personally serve borscht and doff off our furry Ushanka hat to the Soviet leader if he could split the uprights from 20-35 yards away!) . Geez! Does Sebastian Janikowski or David Akers have any college-eligibility left???!!!
Back in February, Madonna (with Cirque du Soleil) did the halftime show of the Super Bowl. Too bad Tim Tebow and da’ Broncos didn’t make it. The Material Goal…uh…Girl…coulda’ open the show with “Like A Prayer”!
In the midst of the NY Giants’ Super Bowl victory parade, punter Steve Weatherford commandeered a drum from one of the marching band members and kept his own rhythm….then promptly kicked the percussion instrument outta’ bounds inside the Patriots’ 20-yard line!
In June, U.S. Olympic sprinter Justin Gatlin weighed-in on the tie for the Summer Games berth for women’s 100-meters between Allyson Felix and Jeneba Tarmoh, proposing the conundrum be decided via Jell-O or mud-wrestling match. We thought a sudden-death game of “quarters” or “beer-pong” was called-for!
Black Shirt: We hand out a whole box of tees this week to the Gators defense for holding A&M scoreless in the second-half, allowing Florida to rally for the win.
“Locked in a Box?”: Ironically, with all of Vindy’s good fortune picking games thus far, our preferred choices are now 0-2 (.000) as the Merit-Badgers fell outright to the Beavers!
Shoppe Talk: The Trojans of USC (0-2, .000) drop-by to keep West Virginia company, along with the Cowpokes of Oklahoma State (0-1, but now 3-11 in last 14 appearances in the picks!)
Vindy’s Week 3 Best Bets: Last Week: 2-2 Season: 5-4 (.555)
Northern Illinois -3 over ARMY, Arizona State +6 ½ over MISSOURI, Virginia +10 ½ over JOJA’ TECH, Ohio -6 ½ over MARSHALL, Utah State +14 over WISCONSIN, Middle Tennessee State -3 ½ over MEMPHIS
LAS VEGAS, Nevada (UPI)…Ticket-writers at Caesar’s Palace returned to work behind the betting counter this week following the successful appeal of suspensions handed-down over the summer by the Gaming Control Board. The bookies had been paid for “whacks” and “cart-offs”, defined as hits on sharp bettors (or casual bettors on a winning streak) that sent them staggering out of the casino, either needing assistance from others or actually carried away on a stretcher. A “bounty ledger” produced by the prosecution revealed the ‘book employees offering “two five-stacks” to co-workers for knocking out targeted gamblers during the annual NCAA men’s basketball tournament and the college bowl season. The reversal is temporary, and the sportsbook manager remains banned from the property for a year under the equivalent of the NCAA’s “lack of institutional control” statute, but the judge ruled the Board did not have the authority to impose the penalties. Meanwhile, investigations continue into allegations that cocktail waitresses, slot-techs, and even keno-runners were also encouraged to participate in the illegal activities.
Your humble narrator correctly anticipated another big week by the ‘dogs (though certainly not the upsets) and went 12-7 on the fortnight (22-14, .611). And just fer da’ record, legal evidence included proof of an offer for “two short stacks of pancakes (with blueberry compote and whipped cream) topped with a pair of bacon strips at IHOP for any hit sending Vindy outta’ the sportsbook” if he was caught trying to place wagers based on…
THE WEBER KID’S 2012 WEEK 3 FORECAST
(Protected this week by the Saints defense)
SAT. SEPT. 15
ARKANSAS (+20) over #1 Alabama: Wow! We’re familiar with “looking past” a team when a bigger game’s on da’ horizon, but…yikes! Actually, we attribute Hogs’ first regular-season SU demise outside their own division in over two-and-a-half seasons to the loss of QB Tyler Wilson. Working for Arkansas backers…Tide is just 16-10 ATS in SEC play the last three years and Western Kentucky held ‘Bama to 103 rushing yards just a week after Tide went for 232 vs. Michigan. (Props to the Hilltoppers, who’ve been ATS-machines, covering 11 of last 12, or were the Red Elephants playin’ possum?). The bad news?...Pigs yielded 412 passing yards (550 total!) in serious-upset loss to UL-Monroe. Bacon Strips were minus-two turnovers in 2011’s 38-14 defeat to ‘Bama. Tide is without #2 rusher and lead-blocker for the year…Tide 33 Pork Chops 19
#2 Southern Cal (-7 ½) over #21 STANFORD: Money’s been comin’ in hot-n-heavy on Stanford and again, we note USC’s been letting opponents stay in it (spread-wise, at least) too long. However, Stanford is young on the O-line and the strong running game we touted earlier in the season for the Cardinal hasn’t materialized nearly as much as we expected, averaging a pedestrian 123 ypg. That won’t cut it vs. most decent teams and the 40-point rout of Duke is tad deceiving if ya consider four turnovers by the Blue Devils. The doggie has taken the money the last four years and Trees haven’t gotten points at home since ’09 (resulting in an outright win over Oregon). Redbirds have won three straight in this series, including 56-48 game in 2011. If Troy is gonna’ prove itself worthy of the preseason hype, covering here would help…Trojans 34 Stanford 24
Idaho (+42) over #3 LSU: Tigers 41 Vandals 6
Tennessee Tech @ #4 OREGON: No line.
#5 Oklahoma: IDLE (next vs. Kansas State)
Wake Forest (+27) over #6 FLORIDA STATE: We end up with egg on our face every time we back the ‘Noles, but we salute them for takin’ care of bidness vs. two FCS squads to the tune of 124-3. Clemson is on-deck for State and the Deacs have actually taken three of last five SU vs. the Tribe. The Forest edged double-A Liberty before upsetting North Carolina. Wake’s been bad road dog. State busted Weeziana-Monroe and Charleston Southern, collectively 96-10, in 2011 before dropping three straight games, including 35-30 loss to these Demon Deacons… FSU 30 Wake Forest 20
Florida Atlantic (+42) over #7 GEORGIA: ‘Dawgs 42 FAU 6
Alabama-Birmingham (+33 ½) over #8 SOUTH CAROLINA: Poultry 37 UAB 10
James Madison @ #9 WEST VIRGINIA: No line.
#10 MICHIGAN STATE (-5) over #20 Notre Dame: QB Golson was effective enough throwing the ball in Catholics’ narrow win over Purdue, while State gave up Central Michigan’s only points in the waning half-minute on an INT-for-TD by the reserve quarterback in 41-7 romp. MSU is revenge-minded after last season’s 31-13 loss. Irish have covered 5 of last 8 vs. the Top 25, but won only two of ‘em outright. Spartans band has been instructed to fire-up Michael Jackson’s “Smooth Criminal” every time the Leprechauns get da’ ball…MSU 27 ND 19
Furman @ #11 CLEMSON: No line.
#12 OHIO STATE (-17) over California: Uh oh! Another 12-PACK/Big Tent-Peg match-up! At least the Buckeyes are hosting this one. Bears have given up 31 in each of their two previous games in 2012…winning one, losing one. Bears have covered 7 of last 8 getting double-digits on the road (though 1-1 in 2011). State comes in on 1-5 ATS skid, having combined with UCF for total of six turnovers in SU win (but spread loss) vs. the Golden Knights. QB Braxton Miller proved himself worthy of carrying the ground game as well, rushing for three touchdowns, drawing comparisons to former Buckeye QB Art Schlicter. Fans (and school officials) hope that’s where the similarities end, given Schlicter’s subsequent NFL bust and life of crime as a compulsive gambling felon… Buckeyes 38 Berkeley 16
#13 Virginia Tech (-10 ½) over PITTSBURGH: LOCK OF DA’ WEEK. Panthers, who change coaches like we change channels, are go-against until further notice. The instability of four head coaches in just over a year’s time has shown in opening two-score loss to the AA Penguins of Y-town State and a blow-out loss at Cincinnati, in which Pitt scored a meaningless TD with about 90 seconds left to play last Thursday. Pitt features a lot of seniors on offense, but not playin’ like it…Hokies 31 Pitt 10
#14 Texas (-10 ½) over MISSISSIPPI: Texas 35 Old Mist 17
#15 KANSAS STATE (-28 ½) over North Texas: KSU 48 Mean Green 17
KANSAS (+21) over #16 Texas Christian: Not much of gauge to-date for Texas Christian (just nine starters back), with only the 56-nada smoking of Grambling last week in the record book. TCU, an unimpressive away-fave, advances in conference-class (again), but faces arguably the remedial students of said-class. Jayhawks, now being directed by Charlie Weis, have won just a pair of Big 12 match-ups in the last 25 and allowed almost 44 ppg by opponents last season. Birds enter this one off one-point loss to Rice after beating FCS South Dakota State, 31-17 to open the year. Four Horny Toads gridiron players were caught in a drug-sting during the offseason. Considering a movement for random drug-testing at Oregon, perhaps some of the Ducks would consider transferring to…THC-U 34 Kansas 17
Massachusetts (+46) over #17 MICHIGAN: Michigan 51 UMass 9
#18 Florida (+3) over #23 TENNESSEE: The Florida passing game is still in first-gear, but Gators pulled out the win on the strength of the defense. Perhaps Coach Muschamp should let RB Gillislee carry the team this week as well. Vols are favored , but haven’t toppled the Crocs since 2004, losing each of the past three years by an average of a dozen points. Rocky Top is 2-0, having beaten NC State and AA Joja’ State decisively. Derek Dooley helped bring about Tennessee’s new athletic facility, which includes a mixed-martial arts octagon. Vindy’s spies say Dooley’s planning to teach his charges to choke-out opposing players in the pile after the whistle! (Just outta’ curiosity, for the Lord of the Rings fanatics, did anyone else out there see Gollum put Sam in a rear-naked choke early in “The Two Towers”???!!!)…Florida 19 Tennessee 17
#19 LOUISVILLE (-3 ½) over North Carolina: Cardinals 20 UNC 10
Houston (+17) over #22 UCLA: Best guess for “wish I had it back”. Air Keenum is gone and loss to (GASP!) Texas State (+36 ½) led to the resignation of Coogs’ OC. Houston put forth a much better in Week Two, but still lost SU/ATS to Weeziana Tech by a touchdown in a shootout. Improved Bruins squad beat Rice and piled up 653 yards of offense in 36-30 upset of Nebraska, behind RB Franklin’s 217 rushing yards, to go to 2-0 SU/ATS. UH won 38-34 last year. UCLA now 4-1 ATS as DD chalk the past three campaigns…Cubs 42 Coogs 34
SC State @ #24 ARIZONA: No line.
#25 Brigham Young (-4 ½) over UTAH: We watched the Utes’ quarterbacks get hurried, bruised and battered by the Aggies defense in Thursday night 27-20 upset loss to USU, and starter Jordan Wynn is now out for the season. Cougars opened with a pair of easy home wins over Wazzou and Weber State. Utes are 2-1 SU/ATS the past three years in this series, but embarrassed BYU 54-10 on the road last year. Both sides are deep, but we like Riley Nelson to lead BYU to the payback win and cover…BYU 24 Utah 17
BETWEEN THE HASHMARKS
BTW, if we can’t leave the resort under our own power, we’d prefer to exit the building strapped to the top of a hotdog cart!
As a follow-up to last week’s lead story, the Paterno family continues to adamantly deny Joe Pa was obsessed with the Masters of the Universe figure-collection found in his office alongside a 1970’s “Simon” game that only played the famous tone-sequence from “Close Encounters of the Third Kind”!!! (We also have it on good authority that the bronze statue of the coaching legend, reportedly stashed in a safe hiding place on campus, was actually beamed-up by the Mothership and now shares an air-lock with Elvis and Jimmy Hoffa!)
The AP ran a story last week about the exploits of Russian president Vladimir Putin as, among other things, a biker, diver and swimmer. OK, so he’s proven himself as a candidate for the next annual “X-Games”. We just really wanna’ see him snort half-a-pound of wasabi in the next “Jack-Ass” movie! (In all honestly, after the alma mater left 13 points via the kicking-game [four missed FGs and a blocked XP] in a one-point road loss to Virginia, we’d personally serve borscht and doff off our furry Ushanka hat to the Soviet leader if he could split the uprights from 20-35 yards away!) . Geez! Does Sebastian Janikowski or David Akers have any college-eligibility left???!!!
Back in February, Madonna (with Cirque du Soleil) did the halftime show of the Super Bowl. Too bad Tim Tebow and da’ Broncos didn’t make it. The Material Goal…uh…Girl…coulda’ open the show with “Like A Prayer”!
In the midst of the NY Giants’ Super Bowl victory parade, punter Steve Weatherford commandeered a drum from one of the marching band members and kept his own rhythm….then promptly kicked the percussion instrument outta’ bounds inside the Patriots’ 20-yard line!
In June, U.S. Olympic sprinter Justin Gatlin weighed-in on the tie for the Summer Games berth for women’s 100-meters between Allyson Felix and Jeneba Tarmoh, proposing the conundrum be decided via Jell-O or mud-wrestling match. We thought a sudden-death game of “quarters” or “beer-pong” was called-for!
Black Shirt: We hand out a whole box of tees this week to the Gators defense for holding A&M scoreless in the second-half, allowing Florida to rally for the win.
“Locked in a Box?”: Ironically, with all of Vindy’s good fortune picking games thus far, our preferred choices are now 0-2 (.000) as the Merit-Badgers fell outright to the Beavers!
Shoppe Talk: The Trojans of USC (0-2, .000) drop-by to keep West Virginia company, along with the Cowpokes of Oklahoma State (0-1, but now 3-11 in last 14 appearances in the picks!)
Vindy’s Week 3 Best Bets: Last Week: 2-2 Season: 5-4 (.555)
Northern Illinois -3 over ARMY, Arizona State +6 ½ over MISSOURI, Virginia +10 ½ over JOJA’ TECH, Ohio -6 ½ over MARSHALL, Utah State +14 over WISCONSIN, Middle Tennessee State -3 ½ over MEMPHIS
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