By OnMilwaukee Staff Writers   Published Nov 09, 2006 at 1:07 PM

There’s something about having money on a football game that causes you to lose all common sense. 

Like last Thursday, I was calmly watching the Louisville-West Virginia game at the bar with a bunch of foolish West Virginia bettors and, after the Mountaineers comically fumbled on three out of four plays at one point in the second half, and while I sat grinning and content like Al Davis at a weird old person’s sunglasses convention, my nonsensical West Virginia-backing friends curtly pointed out that the Mountaineers would have been covering if it weren’t for all the fumbles.

How true.

Sort of like how the Brewers would have been in the wild-card race in September if, during the months of July and August, every Geoff Jenkins strikeout counted as a grand slam. 
 
On to this week’s picks (picks in bold against the spread):

Last week 5-4

Season to Date 11-13
 

No. 4 Louisville (-7) at No. 14 Rutgers -- Another stellar Thursday night match-up and I am once again going with my “raucous home crowd nationally-televised Thursday night game and our students have been drunk since Wednesday afternoon” theory. Wait. Do they have parties at Rutgers? Why do I feel like it’s the kind of school where there are a lot of backpacked students getting pelted with frat boy-flung debris while they walk to the library on a Saturday?

Rutgers is 4-2-1 against the spread this season. Also, when the Scarlet Knights faced Louisville last season they got, well, they were absolutely, wow, umm, I don’t know how to, let’s see, well they lost 56-5.
 
How’s that for motivation?

No. 16 Wisconsin at Iowa -- Will he or won’t he? Will he or won’t he? Will he or won’t he? 

How do you think it makes Badger quarterback John Stocco feel to know that thousands of college football gamblers are waiting solely on his decision of whether or not he can go Saturday at Iowa. I mean Vegas hasn’t even put a spread out yet. 

According to Badger offensive coordinator Paul Chryst, Stocco “did some stuff” at practice on Tuesday, but Chryst wouldn’t elaborate on what that “stuff” was.   What is this, two high schoolers messing around in the back of a tricked out Beretta? Fine. How about whenever someone is ready to make a decision, they write it down in colorful pen on a piece of loose leaf paper, fold the note really fancy-like, and then pass it to the sports information director in the hallway on the way to fifth period. Just make sure none of the teachers see you.

Come on. Is the guy going to play or not? Some of us have parlay cards to get in. 

Either way, I’ll take Iowa and the points. Unless Wisconsin wins and covers. Then never mind.

Temple at Penn State (-36) -- Everyone please welcome Temple back to the column. Second time in four weeks. Not too bad. I feel for Temple. I really do. The Temple football program is kind of like boy bands. They are never very good, but that doesn’t stop them from trying. And all the while they are forced to perform while people snicker and point and whisper about why they have frosted tips and glittery tops. 

After he suffered a broken leg last week in Madison, Joe Pa was told he would have to coach this game from the booth. Umm, all right. He could coach this game from the booth at Denny’s while enjoying his senior-discounted Moons Over my Hammy and the Nittany Lions would be fine.

Still, 36 is an insanely ridiculous number. That’s 5 touchdowns. I mean really think about that. 5 touchdowns. 
 

No. 25 Nebraska (-2) at No. 23 Texas A&M. -- My Notre Dame friend Gavigan thinks I’m an A.M. lover because I pick them every week. Look when you’re hot, you’re hot. A.M. is 7-2 against the spread this season and the odds makers are still giving them points at home. 

Hook ‘em Aggies. Wait. That’s that other team in Texas. Umm, go Aggies and do whatever thing it is you do to things you really want to mess up bad.

Purdue (-3) at Illinois -- Here it is. Your Saturday morning, ESPN Plus, what did I ever do to the college football gods to deserve this, game. How do I repay the Illini after covering for me against the (dirty) Buckeyes last week? Going with Joe Tiller and Co.

I’m not a very good person.

No. 8 Notre Dame (-11.5) at Air Force -- A team that is ranked 118 in the country going up against the Irish secondary? It’s like a gift from God. I was very close to using my gamblers opposite theory here, but I really think the Irish can cover this one. 
 
And here’s something interesting to consider:

Against like opponents this season, Brady Quinn’s stats completely trump Troy Smith’s numbers. And when you consider that Smith has a stellar defense, Ted Ginn Jr., a more impressive offensive line, a more explosive backfield and a coach that looks really handsome in a sweater vest, there is only one conclusion to draw: Brady is more valuable to his team.

No. 1 Ohio State (-23) at Northwestern -- I can’t believe I’m doing this. I don’t feel very good about it, trust me. I think I’m starting to see spots. However, after the (despicable) Buckeyes looked flat against Illinois last week, look for them to bounce back big against the Wildcats. 

Oh man, the room is starting to spin. 
 
I think I’m getting rashy.

No. 20 Oregon at No. 7 USC (-7) -- The Ducks’ season was full of promise until they got trounced by Cal and Washington State.

At least they still have the most city league softballish uniforms of any team in the Pac-10.

No. 15 Tennessee at No. 13 Arkansas (-5) -- Still not sold on an Arkansas team that has beaten Louisiana-Monroe and Southeast Missouri State for two of its last four victories.

However, I challenge you to find me a better name that Houston Nutt in all of college football. Really, I challenge you.   Go ahead, try. I’ll wait.