If you know the difference between a pointspread and a parlay, you also undoubtedly know the NCAA has more contradictions than the Holy Bible when it comes to gambling.
But even knowing that, this week was a little ridiculous wasn’t it?
If not for gambling, why else would they have an entire day-long marathon of nationally televised college basketball games beginning at 6 a.m. on a Tuesday in November?
This was not an event aimed at the average college basketball fan to drum up interest for the season. It was about betting, plain and simple.
Over the past couple of days they have followed that up with a slew of day games in early season tournaments in places like Puerto Rico in half-empty arenas.
I highly doubt the average college hoops follower is running to his nearest computer or TV screen to make sure he doesn’t miss a second of the big Canisius-Loyola matchup just because he loves collegiate ball so darn much.
On the other hand, on several occasions this week I have found myself madly scrambling to login to betting accounts seconds before tipoff, cursing lightning speed Internet for its snail-like pace, just so I can get a wager placed in time for games like Drexel at Niagra and Arkansas-Little Rock at Tulsa.
Anyone who saw what I was doing might have thought it was March and wondered why Easter chocolate hadn’t hit the stores yet. It was madness without the March.
I would love to get a comment from the NCAA on all of this to see what they think of the degenerate behavior that is the sole reason their hoops marathon can thrive. But they like to respond to our calls and emails about as much as you want to shake hands with someone who has swine flu. I gave up trying eons ago.
Instead, let’s focus our attention on more important matters. Like building our bankrolls back up after college hoops began robbing us of our funds about four months early.
I went 2-2 last week (again) to go 23-20-1 on the season. Time to break out of the .500 funk.
Ohio State vs. Michigan (-11.5, 47.5)
I spent a good chunk of time looking for reasons why Michigan might possibly be able to keep this game close. Then I spent a good chunk of more time trying to figure out why I should even care this year. This game is about as relevant as Jay Leno these days and will probably be about as entertaining.
Alas, I guess it is still "The Game", so I figure I might as well throw down on it.
I was thinking maybe home field might help Michigan’s cause but it’s been a while since the Big Louse gave Michigan an edge. I was also thinking the letdown factor might come into play for Ohio State but even a letdown should be good for a two-touchdown victory.
Guess I just have to go with the far superior team this year.
Pick: Ohio State -11.5
Oklahoma vs. Texas Tech (+6.5, 53)
Lions and tigers and non-scholarship kickers, oh my!
That is the sad state of things for Oklahoma these days. The kicking woes have gotten so bad, Bob Stoops is now turning to walk-on kicker Patrick O’Hara to boot it in Lubbock Saturday.
O’Hara showed up his scholarship competition Saturday by making two extra points and splitting the uprights with a whopping 26-yarder. The other two kickers had an extra point blocked and missed a 35-yard field goal. So now the guy who had never played in a football game before last Saturday will start for the Sooners against Texas Tech.
Let’s hope for ‘Homa’s sake it doesn’t come down to a field goal.
Pick: Texas Tech +6.5
Rutgers vs. Syracuse (8.5, 45)
Rutgers has treated Syracuse in recent years like Bernie Madoff treats investors. Who knows how much cash the Knights have bilked on their way to covering the spread and kicking the snot out of the Orange over the past four seasons?
It’s time to take a tip from red-hot Knights QB Tom Savage and get in on this Ponzi scheme.
Pick: Rutgers -8.5
Kansas State vs. Nebraska (-16.5, 44.5)
This line is reminding me a little of the Iowa-Ohio State line last week. I just don’t see how a game for the divisional championship should have a spread by this many points.
K-State loses and they don’t get a bowl game either, so it’s either hero or goat for the Wildcats. At worst, they should leave it all on the field and be able to keep it close.
Pick: Kansas State +16.5