NCAA YTD: 20-19 (-0.20*)
NFL YTD: 9-26 (-21.35*)
As the losses of all stripes have mounted in my out of sync NFL season, disciplined money management has held steady as a strength. Consistent with that discipline is trusting whatever instincts, judgment and experience I have when they all tell me that this week?s college games hold out a brief opening for upping the ante a tad across the board. Win or lose, next week will stand on its own merits when it comes to the stakes being wagered and the number of games played.
Iowa( +4 and +3?) for 3*
The Hawks have the right stuff.
LSU(-3?) for 2.5*
LSU is outscoring opponents 72-10 in the 3rdQ and 71-17 in the 1stQ, which says a little about this team. I can hope some lessons were learned off last week?s slow start, too. But the lynchpin of this play is what one team accomplishes on defense and what the other team doesn?t, but you wouldn?t know it from all the focus on quarterbacks and running backs.
Texas A&M(-4? and -5) for 2.5*
What rival doesn?t want a crack at a flawed team and a reeling dynasty that has been outscored 100-42 on the road?
California(+5) for 2*
Not much respect here for a team having a shining moment that attacks from the get-go with a dynamic and disciplined offense and a physical defense (by Pac 10 standards) creating havoc with turnovers.
Notre Dame(+10?) for 2*
I don?t know where the points will come from, but that is too many points to concede this team with the expectation it will be thumped by a team that has fleas of its own.
Alabama(+2?) for 2*
Even when I?m getting points with the team that has shown best, the Vols scare me here, which probably makes it the best bet of the lot. I?ll lean on The Gold Sheet for a synopsis: ?Bama jacked-up to snap frustrating 7-game losing streak to UT (Tide?s longest series streak vs. any team). Bama thrives in road dog role, going 13-4 since ?92 (2-0 TY), and visitor has covered 9 of last 10 in series.?
Iowa State(+13) for 2*
The Cyclones will have some answers in their biggest game of the year.
Boise State(-16) for 1.5*
I might be late getting to this dance.
Indiana(+9) for 1.5*
Indiana is bringing a little something and a week off does not seem like the surest path for Illinois to turn things around and justify this spread.
Penn State(+5) for 1*
Worth a play off the charged attitude they displayed against Northwestern.
I?m off on a two day trip to Chicago where access to a computer and football games will be scarce, but I?ll have my eyes and ears pricked for updates all day long, one game in particular. It looks like mostly decent football weather around the country, and maybe the confidence behind some rare plays and commitments made early in the week will be justified.
GO HAWKS!
GL
NFL YTD: 9-26 (-21.35*)
As the losses of all stripes have mounted in my out of sync NFL season, disciplined money management has held steady as a strength. Consistent with that discipline is trusting whatever instincts, judgment and experience I have when they all tell me that this week?s college games hold out a brief opening for upping the ante a tad across the board. Win or lose, next week will stand on its own merits when it comes to the stakes being wagered and the number of games played.
Iowa( +4 and +3?) for 3*
The Hawks have the right stuff.
LSU(-3?) for 2.5*
LSU is outscoring opponents 72-10 in the 3rdQ and 71-17 in the 1stQ, which says a little about this team. I can hope some lessons were learned off last week?s slow start, too. But the lynchpin of this play is what one team accomplishes on defense and what the other team doesn?t, but you wouldn?t know it from all the focus on quarterbacks and running backs.
Texas A&M(-4? and -5) for 2.5*
What rival doesn?t want a crack at a flawed team and a reeling dynasty that has been outscored 100-42 on the road?
California(+5) for 2*
Not much respect here for a team having a shining moment that attacks from the get-go with a dynamic and disciplined offense and a physical defense (by Pac 10 standards) creating havoc with turnovers.
Notre Dame(+10?) for 2*
I don?t know where the points will come from, but that is too many points to concede this team with the expectation it will be thumped by a team that has fleas of its own.
Alabama(+2?) for 2*
Even when I?m getting points with the team that has shown best, the Vols scare me here, which probably makes it the best bet of the lot. I?ll lean on The Gold Sheet for a synopsis: ?Bama jacked-up to snap frustrating 7-game losing streak to UT (Tide?s longest series streak vs. any team). Bama thrives in road dog role, going 13-4 since ?92 (2-0 TY), and visitor has covered 9 of last 10 in series.?
Iowa State(+13) for 2*
The Cyclones will have some answers in their biggest game of the year.
Boise State(-16) for 1.5*
I might be late getting to this dance.
Indiana(+9) for 1.5*
Indiana is bringing a little something and a week off does not seem like the surest path for Illinois to turn things around and justify this spread.
Penn State(+5) for 1*
Worth a play off the charged attitude they displayed against Northwestern.
I?m off on a two day trip to Chicago where access to a computer and football games will be scarce, but I?ll have my eyes and ears pricked for updates all day long, one game in particular. It looks like mostly decent football weather around the country, and maybe the confidence behind some rare plays and commitments made early in the week will be justified.
GO HAWKS!
GL
