Dont ever let anyone tell you that knowing a great deal about sports and gambling is not for the greater good.
Heres why.
You know that car commercial that shows everyone helping each other? A guy waves in a car during a traffic jam and someone stops a baby stroller from rolling away and someone gives spare change to a panhandler and a professional crook helps three University of Miami players knock off a bank?
Fine, I made that last one up, but the other three really happen in the commercial. The commercial is promoting the Golden Rule and the innate goodness in humans -- the kind of stuff people really get jacked up about around the holidays.
Anyway, I had my own "pay it forward" moment last weekend in downtown Milwaukee.
I was walking to a bar near the Bradley Center last Saturday when a one-legged ticket scalper on crutches (yes, really, I cant make stuff like that up) stopped me and asked if I knew anything about the Utah Jazz. He was obviously digging for some material to use on potential ticket buyers. I said certainly and then informed him that the Jazz were led by Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer and Andrei Kirilenko and that they were 5-1 overall and 4-2 against the spread.
Yes, I realize that gambling and ticket-scalping are usually illegal.
Still, in my heart it felt like I was doing some good.
On to this weeks picks (picks in bold against the spread)
Last Week 6-2
Season to Date 17-15
Buffalo at #10 Wisconsin (-38)
I am not looking forward to the inevitable month of whining by the Wisconsin media regarding the fact that the Badgers arent receiving the respect they deserve as a one loss team.
Look, their non-conference victories are over Bowling Green, Western Illinois and San Diego State. They havent played Ohio State for what seems like the 15th time in 16 seasons and now they are favored by 38 points against a 2-8 Buffalo squad. Im sorry, but youre not getting national title shot consideration. Youre just not.
That would be like Scarlett Johansson wanting sexiest woman of the year consideration after spending a year dating Patrick Ewing, Bob Barker and Whoopi Goldberg.
Michigan State at Penn State (-17.5)
Michigan State is ridiculous.
They cruise to a 3-0 start and are simply handling the Irish before committing one of the biggest collapses in recent college football memory. Then, after getting completely slaughtered for three games, they stage the biggest comeback in the history of Division I football, before lying down for their next three games.
They are like a partying college buddy that was absolutely out of control in school -- public urination, flipping off cops, dancing to Color Me Badds "I Wanna Sex You Up" -- the whole nine yards, then, after college, your buddy meets a girl, settles down and gets married, then completely fails to show his face for the next three years.
Yet somehow, out of nowhere, he shows up for a random night downtown and parties to the point of sleeping on your bathroom tile and using his balled-up socks for a pillow. Youre just beginning to think the old buddy is back until you call him for the next three weekends and his cell phone goes straight to voicemail every time.
Not that I would have friends that fit any part of that description.
Kansas State at Kansas (-2)
The Wildcats are 4-2 against the spread in their last six games, but Kansas is a covering machine at home going 8-2 in their last 10. Still, there is something to be said for playing a rivalry game with the type of momentum that is attained after knocking off a team like Texas.
Army at Notre Dame (-33)
I am completely OK using the opposite theory here. It doesnt matter that an Air Force team that the Irish thrashed a week ago simply destroyed Army a few games back.
I dont care.
We are one week away from the showdown we have waited for over a year, and if I have to take the Cadets with the points in the most ridiculous pick of the year just to make sure we get there with only loss, then thats what Im going to do.
FYI -- I just want to prepare all the Notre Dame haters for the possibility that if the Irish beat USC next weekend, there is a very strong chance the Irish will end up in the title game. Save your OSU-Michigan rematch talk, it isnt going to happen.
My Notre Dame friend Gavigan e-mailed me his feelings on the subject last week: "Even if Arkansas finishes with one loss, I think ND can remain above them, given the boost they'll get from the computers and the voters with a win over USC. It wouldn't hurt if the Irish won by 14 points. This will obviously create an enormous amount of animosity towards ND, but life's unfair. People will want to see the marquee player (Quinn) on the marquee team (ND) in the marquee game."
Yes, this is what we use e-mail for.
Virginia Tech (-2) at #14 Wake Forest
Wake Forest is having the exact same year as Ashley Simpson. They are clearly the dominant team (sister) in the conference (family), yet everyone wants to believe that Virginia Tech (Jessica) or Florida State (Jessica) or Miami (Jessica) is still more talented (hotter).
The Demon Deacons are 9-1 for the first time in school history. They are 5-1 atop the Atlantic Division of the ACC. And they just creamed Florida State, 30-0.
I know they usually suck. They dont this year. Give them some love.
Auburn at Alabama (-3)
Talk about giving your season away. Auburn was primed to make a run for the title game before getting crushed last weekend against an underachieving Georgia squad. Alabama is the same type of underachieving-yet-still-dangerous team. Also, the Tigers are 1-7 ATS in their last eight. If youve ever questioned me on a pick this is the one. Not that youve ever questioned me.
Michigan at Ohio State (-6.5)
This is your big boy.
Taking numbers and stats and spreads into account for a game like this is erroneous. I like the Wolverines for a variety of reasons.
A. 6 ½ points is a ton in a game that seems like it always comes down to the final seconds when a field goal could determine the outcome.
B. A win by MU over the perceived best football team in the country would be astronomically big for an Irish team that got trounced by Michigan.
C. Lloyd Carr has never worn a sweater vest to coach a football game. Turtlenecks, yes, but never sleeveless sweaters.
Heres why.
You know that car commercial that shows everyone helping each other? A guy waves in a car during a traffic jam and someone stops a baby stroller from rolling away and someone gives spare change to a panhandler and a professional crook helps three University of Miami players knock off a bank?
Fine, I made that last one up, but the other three really happen in the commercial. The commercial is promoting the Golden Rule and the innate goodness in humans -- the kind of stuff people really get jacked up about around the holidays.
Anyway, I had my own "pay it forward" moment last weekend in downtown Milwaukee.
I was walking to a bar near the Bradley Center last Saturday when a one-legged ticket scalper on crutches (yes, really, I cant make stuff like that up) stopped me and asked if I knew anything about the Utah Jazz. He was obviously digging for some material to use on potential ticket buyers. I said certainly and then informed him that the Jazz were led by Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer and Andrei Kirilenko and that they were 5-1 overall and 4-2 against the spread.
Yes, I realize that gambling and ticket-scalping are usually illegal.
Still, in my heart it felt like I was doing some good.
On to this weeks picks (picks in bold against the spread)
Last Week 6-2
Season to Date 17-15
Buffalo at #10 Wisconsin (-38)
I am not looking forward to the inevitable month of whining by the Wisconsin media regarding the fact that the Badgers arent receiving the respect they deserve as a one loss team.
Look, their non-conference victories are over Bowling Green, Western Illinois and San Diego State. They havent played Ohio State for what seems like the 15th time in 16 seasons and now they are favored by 38 points against a 2-8 Buffalo squad. Im sorry, but youre not getting national title shot consideration. Youre just not.
That would be like Scarlett Johansson wanting sexiest woman of the year consideration after spending a year dating Patrick Ewing, Bob Barker and Whoopi Goldberg.
Michigan State at Penn State (-17.5)
Michigan State is ridiculous.
They cruise to a 3-0 start and are simply handling the Irish before committing one of the biggest collapses in recent college football memory. Then, after getting completely slaughtered for three games, they stage the biggest comeback in the history of Division I football, before lying down for their next three games.
They are like a partying college buddy that was absolutely out of control in school -- public urination, flipping off cops, dancing to Color Me Badds "I Wanna Sex You Up" -- the whole nine yards, then, after college, your buddy meets a girl, settles down and gets married, then completely fails to show his face for the next three years.
Yet somehow, out of nowhere, he shows up for a random night downtown and parties to the point of sleeping on your bathroom tile and using his balled-up socks for a pillow. Youre just beginning to think the old buddy is back until you call him for the next three weekends and his cell phone goes straight to voicemail every time.
Not that I would have friends that fit any part of that description.
Kansas State at Kansas (-2)
The Wildcats are 4-2 against the spread in their last six games, but Kansas is a covering machine at home going 8-2 in their last 10. Still, there is something to be said for playing a rivalry game with the type of momentum that is attained after knocking off a team like Texas.
Army at Notre Dame (-33)
I am completely OK using the opposite theory here. It doesnt matter that an Air Force team that the Irish thrashed a week ago simply destroyed Army a few games back.
I dont care.
We are one week away from the showdown we have waited for over a year, and if I have to take the Cadets with the points in the most ridiculous pick of the year just to make sure we get there with only loss, then thats what Im going to do.
FYI -- I just want to prepare all the Notre Dame haters for the possibility that if the Irish beat USC next weekend, there is a very strong chance the Irish will end up in the title game. Save your OSU-Michigan rematch talk, it isnt going to happen.
My Notre Dame friend Gavigan e-mailed me his feelings on the subject last week: "Even if Arkansas finishes with one loss, I think ND can remain above them, given the boost they'll get from the computers and the voters with a win over USC. It wouldn't hurt if the Irish won by 14 points. This will obviously create an enormous amount of animosity towards ND, but life's unfair. People will want to see the marquee player (Quinn) on the marquee team (ND) in the marquee game."
Yes, this is what we use e-mail for.
Virginia Tech (-2) at #14 Wake Forest
Wake Forest is having the exact same year as Ashley Simpson. They are clearly the dominant team (sister) in the conference (family), yet everyone wants to believe that Virginia Tech (Jessica) or Florida State (Jessica) or Miami (Jessica) is still more talented (hotter).
The Demon Deacons are 9-1 for the first time in school history. They are 5-1 atop the Atlantic Division of the ACC. And they just creamed Florida State, 30-0.
I know they usually suck. They dont this year. Give them some love.
Auburn at Alabama (-3)
Talk about giving your season away. Auburn was primed to make a run for the title game before getting crushed last weekend against an underachieving Georgia squad. Alabama is the same type of underachieving-yet-still-dangerous team. Also, the Tigers are 1-7 ATS in their last eight. If youve ever questioned me on a pick this is the one. Not that youve ever questioned me.
Michigan at Ohio State (-6.5)
This is your big boy.
Taking numbers and stats and spreads into account for a game like this is erroneous. I like the Wolverines for a variety of reasons.
A. 6 ½ points is a ton in a game that seems like it always comes down to the final seconds when a field goal could determine the outcome.
B. A win by MU over the perceived best football team in the country would be astronomically big for an Irish team that got trounced by Michigan.
C. Lloyd Carr has never worn a sweater vest to coach a football game. Turtlenecks, yes, but never sleeveless sweaters.
