Vandy finally breaks through versus a ranked team at homePlease give me a moment.
Prediction: South Carolina 17 (Smelley with 2 or more picks), Vanderbilt 20.
Outcome: South Carolina 17 (Smelley with 2 picks), Vanderbilt 24.
OK - moment is over. It took that kind of a pick just to get to .500 on the season so I have a long way yet to go. I sure hope someone made money off the Vandy pick tonight and doubles it down Saturday in my...PICK OF THE WEEK FOR 9/06: Texas Tech (-8.5) @ Nevada (+8.5)
In an obvious play to the locals, Vegas has somehow gone blind, dumb and deaf by posting the Red Raiders as less than 30-point favorite in this game. Texas Tech has not lost to a current WAC member since 1949 and is 16-3 versus all non-conference opponents with an average margin of victory exceeding 35 points. The Raiders are 23-13-1 as home favorites under HC Mike Leach...make that 24-13-1 in a blow out. Lay down your Vandy money against the home state.
Marshall (+20.5) @ Wisconsin (-20.5)
Wisconsin is 7-4 as home favorities under 2nd year HC Bret Bielema. Meanwhile, Marshall must be like North Texas and have a lot of rich alumni...as they are a paultry 8-20 ATS over the last 8 years. The only way the Thundering Herd stays within 21 points is if the clock runs like hell due to all the running Wisconsin will be doing... A more interesting bet on this game would be how many times Wisconsin passes the ball. I'd place the O/U at 15.
San Diego State (+20) @ Notre Dame (-20)
Whenever I pick for, or against, one of my alumni schools, I just make the pick and walk away. The more I say, the more it usually comes to haunt me. Irish big on opening day at home.
Air Force (+3) @ Wyoming (-3)
Air Force trailed 7-9 with Wyoming driving in the 4th quarter last year...before recovering an 85 yard fumble return TD to pull ahead and eventually win...for the second straight year. In the series, no team has won more than 2 games in a row since 1988. That's all you need to know.
Louisiana Tech (+20.5) @ Kansas (-20.5)
Coming into this year, KU is 17-5 under HC Mark Mangino versus non-conference opponents in the regular season...with an average margin of victory of 18 points - right arouind the spread. However, when visiting a BCS team, the Bulldogs have lost 12 straight by an average of 37 points per game. Kansas will have a disappointing 2008 season but they won't let you down this coming Saturday. Look for QB Todd Reesing to have a career type day and load up the ESPN highlight reel.
Northwestern (-6.5) @ Duke (+6.5)
The Wildcats are one of my "most underrated" teams for 2008. With 47 returning lettermen (their most since 1992), an experienced Senior QB in CJ Bacher and a return to their patented "no huddle" offense they ran from 2002-2005 (the offensive coordinator, McCall, has returned...he was the one who installed that offense back in 2002), Northwestern has a legitimate chance to get to 6 or 7 wins and return to a bowl game for the first time since the 2005 Sun Bowl. A 2-0 start would make a 4-0 start likely...and it should be a rule that you can't lose to Duke and receive a bowl invitation. Big Ten over ACC in this pillow fight between the two league's traditional powder puffs.
