Week Five / Week Six

Didn't make a single pick last week, as I just didn't see much value out there.  In my own life, I pissed a few hundred back and forth, ultimately winding up down a few bucks thanks to a safety in the Vegas game.   I liked some winners that I didn't play (Texas, UNC) and some losers that I didn't play (Minny, Colorado).  In all, it was a good weekend just to sit back and watch it all go by.  So what happened last week?

Well, Virginia kept its dream season alive, as it attempts to become the first team in history to lose to all three "Techs" in one year.    Fingers crossed. 

ULM rolled up Tulane 63-10 in the Superdome, but that score is terribly misleading.   Should have been 163-10.   As I've mentioned before, there aren't 20, healthy, legitimate D-1 players on the Wave, who have now been edged by a combined 96-6 in the first halves of their last three "games." 

Because the UMass/Ohio was (understandably) not on any of the 71 CFB channels I get, I can only assume that what the boxscore reports is accurate - that the Minutepeople supposedly threw for 373 yards, accumunlating 28 FD's in the process, against the Bobcats.  To put that in perspective, they had only thrown for about 80 yards more than that all season, and that included games against Indiana and Miami-light, who don't even play with cornerbacks.    Anyone know if Ohio was playing with 11 guys on defense last Saturday, or is there some sort of new mercy rule for teams transitioning to D-1 who have no fans?

Not only does Cal continue to get brutal QB play (except, of course when I bet against them in Columbus, and Maynard looks like Unitas ), but they seem to get basically the same bad QB play year after year - checking to the wrong read, overthrowing guys in the flat, giving up on plays too early.  This will be Tedford's swansong in Strawberry Canyon.  Bears might not be favored in a game the rest of the season. 

Every year, Bama half-asses its way through a game it can't lose and makes us think the other team is good when they aren't. Hello, Ole Miss. 

Despite many comments to the contrary, I'm pretty sure TCU isn't shaving points.    Nobody would be this brazen about it if they were. 

The Louisville/USM game was great, because it was played in conditions that made it look like they were re-shooting the Walnut Heights game from All the Right Moves.   Indeed, it would not have been unreasonable to have tried to catch some white bass at the Cardinal 23 yard line for large stretches of the second quarter.   [as an aside, they just replayed the Ampipe/Walnut Heights game in Johnstown last month; I think Ampipe won this time; it really would have been a much duller film had Ampipe won in the movie, and we wouldn't have gotten to see Lea Thompson's rack - recall Steph bangs her during a game he can't play in, so there's that ].

Consider the following:  NMSU hasn't been able to come within 12 of UTEP, New Mexico or Texas-San Antonio, with two of those coming at home, and the other right down the street in El Paso - yet they managed to destroy Sacramento State, who beat, um, Colorado.    1991 must seem like an awfully long time ago in Boulder. 

 Good read as always......

 I spent most of last Saturday either playing golf or watching it.........a nice break considering the crap I played in cfb........did catch wazzu backdoor the Yucks for my complete demise.

  Know what you mean about Cal.........they are the epitome of a team that lives & dies by its qb play. They have some good talent but Maynard runs the engine & keeps pissing in the gas tank. (Saw the replay on the P12 network )

 CT Nelson has come a long ways from being a HS typing teacher..............should've had Rifleman sit on the ball though.

Good stuff as usual Maine! 

The upcoming Duke,Wake,Maryland stretch should be a good indicator of  the state of college football in C'ville.

I think that it is time for the Phillip Simms era to begin.

Mugg,

We all know Nickerson choked in that game. 

This wasn't going to be a great year for UVa.  They lost a lot of what little talent that had.  There's help on the way, though.  London wasn't hired to coach.  He was hired to get us back into living rooms in the Tidewater, and he's done that well.  Sims looks like crap when I've seen him, but it looks like they basically bring him in to run Rocco's offense, which doesn't figure to be his long suit.  Rocco hasn't been bad.  Interesting game this week in Durham. 

OK, lets do some picks.

Indiana/MSU over 47.5 - Sparty has had trouble running, which has led them to try and pass more than they want to.  They should be able to run against the Hoosiers' alleged defense.  IU should get its punches in at home, but MSU ought to be able to get to 34 by itself. 

Marshall/Tulsa over 68 - teams that play the Herd can seriously consider leaving their punter at home.  Hell, they made Rice look like the Warner/Faulk Rams. Should be festive. 

Utah +13.5 vs. Southern California  - USC hasn't looked like a team that should be laying two td's on the road to any team with a pulse.

Air Force - 10 vs. Navy - gee, I love being on the same side as every guy on a bar stool, but Navy just blows. 

Miami +13 "at" Notre Dame - speed kills. 

Louisana -Lafayette -24 vs. Tulane - you have to bet against Tulane until someone stops you.

Polytech +3.5 -at North Carolina -  been fading the Hokies all year, but this is pretty good value against a team that lost to Wake. 

Purdue +3 vs. Michigan - aren't they better than Michigan?

Northwestern/Penn State under 49 - lots of running, lots of points left on the field.  20-17 somebody. 

Dime,

From what I've seen, he's gotten very little help from his receivers, which probably isn't a big surprise.  I think he's a pretty good game manager, though he's probably good for a pick-six every game.  Virginia would love to put Simms out there, as he was a big deal over in the Tidewater, and that would send a nice message to some kids we want down the road. 

Great stuff as always maine road.  Fading Tulane has kept my bank roll above water.  When a couple games were going against me, I just piled on them a bit more with a second 1/2 bet. 

Best of luck

All the Right Moves story:

https://news.yahoo.com/pa-schools-enact-moves-game-171425917.html

Always a great read. I almost over looked the La Laffy

maine

gl this week maine

NICE

LETS SEE WHAT HAPPENDS

good stuff maine gonna have to look at adding ULL

best of luck this week

Thanks, guys. 

Can't bet Cal. Doesn't mean you have to bet against them, but I can't see any real value in playing them, even at the tempting +3.  I may get drunk and change my mind come Saturday, as this sport would have been an auto-play on the Bears in years past.  Maybe I've just seen more of them this year.

Ooh.  I forgot about Texas Tech.  I'll see if I can get Athletic Director Craig Littlebrain to look into getting them on the schedule.  Perhaps, if we win out, the Hoos can lose to them in a bowl.  Again, fingers crossed. 

Bison back home after waxing UNI on the road.  Should be a good one.  I suspect JMU doesn't lose until ODU rolls in at the end of the year. 

Much respect Maine!! Love you write-up!

I thought I was the only one on UL-Lafayette this week (better yet, fading Tulane this week). Made a killing on ULM beat down of Tulane last week.

Keep 'em coming as many here appreciate it.

Thanks. 

I assume (and god knows I hope) that people don't blind tail me.    I just try and throw out some information, and a few pithy comments, and maybe get people thinking.    I used to be better at actually picking winners when I knew less.   Now I just think myself in circles.