When I first saw it, I sprained my jaw from the force with which it hit the floor.
Yes, that’s what it was. It was jaw-spraining, it was so unbelievable.
I’m talking, of course, about the hit by umpire Wilbur Hackett Jr. on South Carolina quarterback Stephen Garcia in last week’s LSU-USC game. It’s been Youtubed to death, but once you see it, you have to watch it at least five more times just to make sure nobody slipped acid into your coffee.
There is no doubt Hackett squares up, does a few quick shuffle steps and springs into Garcia with his shoulder, laying him out like a picnic blanket.
The claim by the SEC and Steve Spurrier that he was just trying to get out of the way are enough to make us bettors question laying another dollar on an SEC game for the rest of the season. At best, it’s a completely irresponsible claim by an institution that repeatedly scoffs at the betting world like it’s filled with a bunch of child molestors.
If the SEC and NCAA do not look into this and give the public some kind of explanation, they are merely fuelling everything that is wrong with sports gambling, when almost every one of us just wants a fair shake at our wagers on Saturday.
For what it’s worth, I’m not accusing Hackett of being on the take. Once I read he was a pretty mean linebacker at Kentucky in his day, I think he just had a moment of Pavlovian instinct and did what he had been trained to do a million times before without even realizing it.
But don’t cover it up. Don’t feed us the dog droppings that he was just trying to get out of the way.
OK, deep breath.
That’s my rant for the week. Now let’s focus on happier things, like picks. I went 2-2 last week and I’m now 17-11-1 on the season.
You’ll note that I’m not going near the SEC this week. That conference is on betting suspension until further notice.
Boston College vs. North Carolina (-3, 43)
I’m not really sure what BC has to do to get some credit around this joint. And by joint, I mean college football nation.
The Eagles had a bit of a cushiony schedule up until last week, but when they beat Virginia Tech, 28-23, it should have been enough to convince the doubters.
This defense is nasty. It ranks fourth in the nation in overall D and fifth in passing defense. And just because it lost Brian Toal for the season, doesn’t mean that should change your mind about it. Senior Robert Francois steps in for him and shouldn’t miss a beat.
If all this isn’t enough to convince you, consider UNC is without its starting quarterback T.J. Yates and best playmaker Brandon Tate. The Heels scored just 13 points in the loss to a shoddy, albeit a little improved Virginia squad last week.
Pick: Boston College
Michigan State vs. Michigan (+3.5, 45)
As weird as this sounds, I think the Spartans got hammered as badly as they did last Saturday by 5-1 Ohio State because they were looking ahead to 2-5 Michigan.
Michigan State is a little more than ticked after losing for the sixth straight time to Michigan last year and then having to listen to Mike Hart chirp the school about being the Wolverines’ little brother.
Worse, the boosters are ticked. They’ve watched their money fly down the drain in five of the last six losses and they want some of it back.
Pick: Michigan State
Oklahoma State vs. Texas (-13, 70)
Did a Longhorns alum make this line or something? Maybe he won a contest and got to set this week’s line. I can just see the conversation around the sportsbook war room.
“Boy, if there’s one thing I know about college football, it’s that Texas is the best dang team in the whole wide land. Who we play this week? Okleehoma State? Heck, they stink worse than a pile a manure on a 110-degree day in Austin!
“What’s their record, anyhow? Duddin’ matter. Longhorns roll! Yeehaw!”
Bang! Bang!
Pick: Oklahoma State
Oregon vs. Arizona State (+3, 53.5)
Many of us can remember one of the first things our parents did to us when we messed up as youngsters – no TV.
Oregon and Arizona State are getting the same punishment for their underachieving performances so far. (You can see the game on tape delay in the state of Oregon if you’re really bored and can resist looking at a ticker until then.)
I really want to take the Sunny Ds here in front of a big home crowd of nearly 70,000. But I’m a little worried about Rudy Carpenter’s sprained ankle and the fact this team has to be a little dead inside after watching their hope-filled season crumble like a clump of desert dirt after four straight losses.
Pick: Oregon