Thirty-two seconds. That’s about how long it took me to realize my first bet of the day wasn’t going to come through last Saturday. Ontario McCalebb ran one in from 50 yards on UL Munroe on the second play from scrimmage and it was head-smackingly obvious that 35 points wasn’t nearly going to be enough for the Warhawks.
I was certain I’d made the dumbest move of the college football season after Auburn burned my cash with a 52-3 victory.
Thank goodness for the Tennessee Volunteers.
They snatched defeat from the jaws of victory when they sent 13 men onto the field for the final play of the game against LSU. They used the extra men to get the goal line stop, but LSU scored on the free play after the penalty and walked away with a 16-14 win.
But if you thought that was the dumbest move of the college football season, you were wrong.
That honor belongs to a pair of Baylor sophomore receivers, Willie Jefferson and Josh Gordon. They were found passed out in the drive-thru lane of a Taco Bell in Waco Texas at 2 a.m. Sunday morning. Shockingly, police found marijuana in their possession and they were arrested on misdemeanor charges.
Now that is some amazing weed.
What is also amazing is the fact I am still three games above .500 at 11-8-1. I went 2-2 last week and I’d really like to get back on the winning track. This juicing out business is starting to get to me.
Hawaii at Fresno State (-10.5, 63.5) Hawaii games are like that ever-reliable
Karen Owen-type skank you used to call at 3 a.m. in college. She was always there when you needed her most.
Sometimes you regret it terribly. Other times it’s just what you needed.
But there those Hawaii games sit at the end of a long, hard Saturday of college football betting. And we can’t resist them.
Sometimes it’s because we need a win to erase our day of losses. Other times, we can’t help but make a play because we’ve had a splendid day of winning and, why not? We’re playing with the house’s money anyway.
This game isn’t quite that last game of the day this week, but it’s close. And we’re going to hit it because we’re men and that’s what we do.
Hawaii takes it in a back-door cover.
Pick: Hawaii +10.5
Utah vs. Iowa State (-6, 54.5) Utah is one team that, no matter what it does, it always seems to be the perpetual underdog.
I realize they’re favored this week, but only by 6? Doesn’t seem right.
The Utes have two incredible quarterbacks and balanced offense that can score on you all kinds of ways. (Sixth in the nation in scoring.) But it’s their defense that has really enabled them to go seven straight games dating back to last year without dropping a spread.
The Utes rank seventh in the country in total defense and they allow just 12.8 points a game. Not to mention, they love to hit. Hard.
Iowa State’s one good game last week against Texas Tech doesn’t have me convinced. Utah comes in off a bye and shouldn’t have any trouble winning by a touchdown.
Pick: Utah -6
Temple vs. Northern Illinois (-3.5, 48.5) Biggest. Game. Of. The. Weekend.
This is the MAC championship game preview that college fans everywhere have had circled on their calendars since May. Fear not – if you have the Direct TV college package, you won’t miss a snap.
If not, you’ll have to catch it on transistor radio if you live within 5 miles of DeKalb.
I kid, I kid. I actually think this will be a decent game to watch – the second time around. I don’t think either team will want to show each other much Saturday though because it’s pretty much a lock they’re going to meet for the conference championship.
I’m expecting some vanilla play calling and that means a lot of clock running. Here’s my first over/under play of the year.
Pick: Under 48.5
LSU vs. Florida (-6.5, 42) I know LSU should have lost last week and Jordan Jefferson has more turnovers than Pillsbury, but I think the real Florida team just got exposed last week against Bama.
I’m expecting one of those SEC defensive wars at the Swamp Saturday night and those games generally get decided by field goals or safeties, not touchdowns.
Pick: LSU +6.5