(Required PCC Disclaimer: This blog does not support betting on sports, even though I may feel that smart betting is an easy way to make money, until you blow it all in the online sportsbook casino because you are a degenerate gambler with no money to actually gamble with)
So, without further ado, your week 1 games of interest:
Towson @ Indiana -28.5
I know, I know. "Why the hell should I care about this game?" Because I am going to it in order to get as early of a college football fix as possible. Indiana picked a bad year to be mediocre again. They will breeze through the non-conference and then run into the buzz saw that will be the Big Ten. Indiana fans have hope thanks to good skill positions on offense, stability in recruiting and a new football facility. In the end, it's Indiana football. If they really want to be taken seriously this season, this is a game where you need to put a Spurrier-Grossman-esque non-conference beatdown on some fools. I'm talkin 78-0 "wow, my team is good, but I was embarrassed to cheer at some points" beatdown. This is where Vegas is brilliant - no idea about what the spread might be, but throwing that half point on top of a 4 touchdown cover really makes you scratch your head. This game might provide me with my first Bet On Both (from this point forward known as the BOB rule): There is no way Indiana loses and no way they cover. I am not as confident in the latter, but it might rain tonight and IU is running last year's scout defense on the field to start the season, including two converted offensive players back in the secondary.
Indiana wins 41-14 giving up a garbage TD late to ruin the cover. It's a BOB; barely
Marshall @ #2 Ohio State -28
Either Marshall is a lot better than Towson (that was sarcastic) or Ohio State is less impressive than Indiana (now, I am just screwing with you). While the world tunes into tOSU and the Vest's debut on the Big Ten Network, the parents of the crew calling the Indiana-Towson tussle will give the BTN their only viewers in the JV match. Does Ohio State play like a team people to pick to win a national championship (Will Ferrell in Talladega Nights) and leave an impression , or do they go through the motions (Will Ferrell in Semi-Pro) banking on their track record to carry the performance? The Herd got annihilated in Blacksburg in a similar game last year and welcome a new coach (Doc Holliday, former assistant at Florida, not played by Val Kilmer), who, replaced five-year coach Mark Snyder, former D-Coordinator for The Vest at Ohio State. Oh snap! Exact some revenge, Tressell!
Ohio State wins 35-3
So. Miss @ South Carolina -14
I really would love to have this be my opening TV game. SEC school. The Ol' Ball Coach. Goosebumb Introduction. Then, after a few plays, I'd lose interest. Cocks will win because they should. It will be sloppy.
South Carolina wins 27-13 (No bet ramifications here)
#15 Pittsburgh @ Utah -3
Make a mental note. This game is on Versus. You know, that TV station that has IndyCar racing, hunting, hockey and bull riding. The station that still hasn't crept its way into my rotation when bored and flipping. This might be the best game of the weekend. Pitt is ranked and GETTING points on the road. Why? The Utes have won 18-straight at home, have one last year in the MWC before joining the big boys on the west coast and, well, they are good. This is what is so hard about forecasting college football. We don't know anything. I don't care about practice reports or fat, dweebs blogging about inside information. Until they play the games, you just don't know. I've got a gut feeling about Dave Wannstedt and the Panthers this season. They were playing tough and inspired at the end of last season. Perfect to go into a tough environment. I definitely take the points in this situation, and I'll go for the all-out victory.
Pittsburgh 20, Utah 17
#14 USC @ Hawaii
No spread posted on this game because I only have it in here for one reason. The over/under is 54. You're telling me that this opening game with two teams that have exploded offensively over the past decade are only going to manage 27 a piece? Yeah, it's a big number, but I like offense out of the gate for both teams.
Don't care about the score, just do it a lot!
#24 Oregon State @ #6 TCU -13.5
Holy Action, Batman, that's a lot of points! TCU was a fun story last year. A little too fun. They lost some playmakers on defense and, as I talked about in my season preview about Boise State, it is hard for the little guy to live up to expectations when the bullseye is finally there. Now, to open the season at home with a big game is different. Oh, and Oregon State was 1-4 last year against ranked opponents AND got violated by another Mountain West soon-to-be traitor, BYU, in a bowl game.
TCU wins AND COVERS 31-17
(Wow, there are a ton of good games this weekend. Cancel the tee time and contract recalled-egg disease)
Purdue @ Notre Dame -11
Why this game? It's got local relevance, but in reality, this would be like sitting down on the couch to watch a Rocky marathon only to realize that you've missed the first four movies, when the franchise was relevant, good and entertaining. Such is this matchup. At least both schools upgraded coaches, allegedly. While I am hoping for a total train wreck, I am putting all of my stock in Dayne Crist to propel the Irish to a big victory. Why? Because he has the sexy QB name that Robert Marve was denied at birth. You would have had better luck with Boring McDull.
Irish win but don't cover in a close one. Let's just say 7-6 with 200 penalty yards and 8 turnovers
#21 LSU vs. #18 North Carolina +6
This is a spread where Vegas and I are on the same page. LSU is off a mini slide recently, but you know they'll be well coached, fast and athletic. UNC players are more recognizable at illegal Miami parties than Tony Montana. Can Butch Davis really bring his team into this game, through the muck, and get a signature win to start the season? Yep, I don't think so either. It's a bloodbath defensively, which makes the 6 points hard to gamble with, so...
LSU 17 - UNC 13
#3 Boise State vs. #10 Virginia Tech +2
There is really only one way to predict or bet this game. You have to ask yourself this question: Do you trust Boise State to be as good as people say they are? It really is a simple question. I remember how they looked last year in the Fiesta Bowl. Faced a good (not great) opponent and won a battle. Solid, solid team effort. I just don't have the faith coming in to this season. I'll take Beamer Ball on a neutral field.
VA Tech 22 - Boise 18 (Why the score? Who cares.)
FINAL DISCLAIMER - Again, I don't bet on sports (unless you count a friendly fantasy football, or if I had disposable income), but if I did: I really only consider NONE. Man, Vegas is good at this. Bet the OSU cover and the USC over if you have to. I expect to eat a ton of crow on Tuesday morning for all of this, including my distrust of Boise State.
I hate the first week of the season. We are all idiots...
- Will
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