Out of respect and uncertainty, best not to bet on service academies
Iwant to start this week’s column by saying that I am thrilled that Army, Navy and Air Force will be able to play their games this week despite our government’s ineptitude.
That said, I am going to take the advice of my good friend, Dr. Tom Johnson, who told me a year ago this week to stop handicapping games involving military academies.
Last year I vowed not to bet against them because of my desire to support our military, but now I am just going to stay off them all together. Their games seem to result in erratic scores that are difficult to predict, but I am glad to see them taking the field.
Meanwhile, I’m heading to the Swamp this weekend for Florida and Arkansas, so we’ll have a bonus pick as I go for a baker’s dozen after a bounce-back effort last week. Dr. Tom will be relieved Saturday when I am not gnashing my teeth over one of the academies disappointing me again.
As always, these picks are for entertainment purposes only.
Louisville TEMPLE –
(minus-34)
over
Anyone who reads this column knows I hate to lay this many points, but there is absolutely no excuse for the Cardinals to not run the Owls out of the Linc. This is a chance for Teddy Bridgewater to put on a show for Heisman voters from the Northeast, and he won’t waste it.
MIAMI (minus-5) over Georgia Tech
– Paging Admiral Ackbar early this week. IT’S A TRAP! How are the Hurricanes only favored by five at home? You’re telling me these are nearly even teams on a neutral field? No way.
Clemson (minus-13) over SYRACUSE –
Tahj Boyd and his crew should just be too darn good for the other guys in orange.
Oregon at COLORADO (over69 ½) –
This is a high over, but these teams average around 90 together and the weather in Boulder should be terrific this weekend. Good weather for a track meet.
Georgia (minus-11) over TENNESSEE –
It doesn’t matter that this game is at Tennessee. They could play on the moon and Georgia would house the Vols.
North Texas TULANE
(minus-3) over
– My colleague Nick Peruffo won’t like this pick, but I have only so many true loves in this world – my family, the mighty Gators, the hoagie at the Italian People’s Bakery and the Mean Green on the spread.
IOWA (minus-1) over Michigan State –
My Pops loves the Hawkeyes, so I asked him if there was a seat available in his section of the bandwagon.
Northern Illinois over KENT STATE –
(minus-9)
Now that they have two Big Ten wins, the Huskies may go undefeated this season in the MAC. Their only chance for a return to the BCS is another late-season tank by Louisville.
Arizona State (minus-5) over Notre Dame (at Dallas) –
At least I finally get a neutral site team here. I don’t like Notre Dame without Manti Te’o and Everett Golson.
Illinois –
(plus-10)
over
NEBRASKA
I have too many favorites, so as the song says, to right this wrong with blinding speed goes UNDERDOG! Nebraska’s quarterback Taylor Martinez is questionable and Illinois is putting things together. Also, Martinez should have a doctorate by now. It feels like he’s been at Nebraska for 10 years.
BUFFALO (minus-13 ½) over Eastern Michigan –
EJ Manuel has been looking better each week, and the Bills have been improving under coach Doug Marrone. Wait, what? This is who? Um, I see. Well then, at least Eastern Michigan has been terrible for going on … well, forever.
SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI (minus-17) over Florida International
– OK, I’m going off the rails with this one. When has a team that has lost 16 STRAIGHT GAMES ever been favored by 17 points over anyone? When has a team that has not even SCORED 17 points this year in a game earn such a spread? Never, that’s when. This is a cosmic confluence of amazing karma, and I want to be there when the Golden Eagles remember how to win against the Jacksonville Jaguars of college football.
Bonus pick – FLORIDA (minus-11) over Arkansas
– Well, I’m going all the way to the Swamp, it seems silly not to pick the game. Plus, it’s a matter of honor. How can I show my face back in Jersey next week if the Gators can’t beat a team that Rutgers beat?
Last week: 7-3-2 YTD: 29-29-2