Feeling Lucky? LA is and goes for it with two MONEY PICKS OF THE WEEKReclaiming the crystal football AND enjoying a Pitt victory over a Top 10 team on Thursday night primetime…in the same week?  I must be living right.  That or I need to buy a lottery ticket.  Kudos to USA Today’s injury report for helping me zero in on the difference maker of the game – injuries along the South Florida defensive line and linebackers. Nice win Panthers.  Now, let’s keep the luck rolling with my first PICK OF THE WEEK (4-1) for October 4th:  Auburn (-4) @ Vanderbilt (+4)

Everyone is TRYING to bill this game as a big one.  Vandy IS 4-0.  The game IS at home.  Auburn HAS played a brutal two game stretch of LSU and Tennessee at home while Vanderbilt enjoyed a well placed bye week.  Or, was it well placed?  Look, I believe in not screwing with a winning streak.  If you are winning and you know you really shouldn’t be…the last thing you want to do is take a pause.  The Commodores took a pause.  You want to stay focused and relaxed.  Having ESPN GameDay Crew in Nashville is a major distraction.  And this Vanderbilt team is young…as in having the fewest returning starters of any team in the SEC.  And their offensive line is the LEAST experienced squad of any team in the entire NCAA – coming into 2008 with a collective total of just 3 career starts.  Oh, and did I mention that QB Chris Nickson is nursing a nagging shoulder injury?  Look, I don’t care how bad the Auburn conversion to a spread offense is going…as Vanderbilt will be lucky to tally >200 yards of total offense or more than 14 points.  And that won’t keep the game within 4 points…let alone win the big game.  Vanderbilt started 4-0 in 2005 before clunking to a 5-6 finish.  *ahem*  Auburn by 14.

But wait…I’m not done.  That’s right – in a bold move to prove that last week’s loss in my money game was simply an aberration of mammoth proportions – I have TWO PICKS OF THE WEEK FOR YOU.  The second is the nationally televised clash between…Missouri (-10) @ Nebraska (+10).

The last time Missouri won in Lincoln I was drooling on myself and having difficulty with my bowel movements.  That’s right, 1976 was the last time the Tigers walked into Nebraska’s back yard and walked out with a win.  I think Vegas bookies know that fact as well and are artificially pulling down the spread accordingly.  C’mon…if the nation’s 108th rated offense (Virginia Tech) can walk in and throw for nearly 200, what do you think Chase Daniel and a Missouri offense averaging 600 yards and 54 points per game is going to do Saturday night?  The Tigers thumped Nebraska 41-6 in Columbia last year and I see no reason why the result will be any different due to the game’s location.  They could play this game at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean and Missouri would still post 35 minimum.  1976...2008...the more things change, the more they stay the same.  I'm still drooling and farting and Missouri is winning in Lincoln.  The jinx ends Saturday…despite the Homecoming festivities…in a big way.

Cincinnati (-3.5) @ Marshall (+3.5)

If I give USA Today’s injury report credit for the South Florida pointer, I have to give them a 5 yard penalty for missing this gem:  Cincinnati will be starting their third string QB (fourth if you count the ongoing Ben Mauk drama) Friday night in redshirt Freshmen Chazz Anderson (or, perhaps, the other redshirt FR Zach Collaros).  Let’s get this “straight”:  “Chazz” is the type of guy that can give helpful interior decorating tips NOT step into his first collegiate start on the road and win a game.  It took a late FG for Cincinnati to survive Akron last week 17-15 and Marshall is a much better team than the Zips having already beat Southern Mississippi, Memphis and scaring Wisconsin for a half on the road.  The Bearcats are 6-10 ATS as road favorites the last 8 years whereas the Thundering Herd are 6-1-1 ATS as home dogs over the same time frame.  Don’t be shocked when Marshall wins this one by 10.

Texas (-13.5) @ Colorado (+13.5)

Thanks Bill Stewart.  Courtesy of the OT upset of WVU, Mack Brown will have the Longhorns focused on the opponent in front of them…avoiding what could have been a “look ahead” game to the next “Game of the Year” promotion for ABC when Oklahoma and Texas square off at High Noon at the state fairgrounds next weekend.  The 13.5 (not 14) part of this spread is what makes it so particularly tasty…but even at 14 it’s a good bet that the Colorado offensive line is about to be exposed in a big way versus an underrated Longhorn front that has already recorded a nation leading 16 sacks.  And somebody tell me why Colt McCoy is not getting more Heisman love?  All the junior has done is complete 80% of his passes for 1,018 yards and 14 touchdowns with just one interception. He also leads the team in rushing…tearing off 83 yards or more in three of the four games.  Bite that Tebow. Texas ruins the ‘Buffs Homecoming weekend in a BIG way, 42-17.

Texas A&M (+24) @ Oklahoma State (-24)

The Cowpokes are certainly one of those undefeated teams flying under the radar this season.  I agree that the level of competition has been questionable…and that the 24-point spread does look fat at first…until you consider these two facts:

• The Aggies have the worst run defense in the Big 12…and are 115th in the nation…against a similarly questionable schedule that includes a 4-point victory over Army and 4-point loss to Arkansas State.

• OSU is running for 340 yards par game behind one of the most experienced O-lines in the nation (3 Seniors and 3 Juniors starting). The Cowboy offensive line will own this game from the start.

Oklahoma State is 4-0 with an average margin of victory of 52-22.  This game shouldn’t be that close.  This is the worst Aggie team in more than two decades.

Washington (+20) @ Arizona (-20)

Do you think Vegas might have the Huskies confused for the (Washington State) Cougars with this spread?  Don’t give me wrong – Ty’s boys certainly aren’t world beaters but they did take BYU to the limit and always seem to play the Wildcats tough.  It took a school record 510 yards from Arizona QB Willie Tuitama, including a 22yd TD pass with 2 minutes left, to rally Arizona back from a 15 point, 4th quarter deficit last year.  Add to that this incredible stat:  Arizona is 3-14 ATS as the home favorite over the last 8 years.  Washington beat Arizona straight up, 21-10, the last time they traveled Tucson.  I think Arizona avoids the loss but don’t be surprised when you see the 3rd quarter score with Washington winning.

Enjoy the games and may these picks bring you a little economic stimulus package of its own come late Saturday night.  Who needs the government's help?  You got LA in your corner.