Midnight Madness

I was flipping through the channels tonight at 10:00 Eastern and the Golf Channel was ready to roll out with their Live from the Ryder Cup coverage. A part of me was tempted to pretend I was in college and pull an all-nighter, only do it without the aid of caffeine, loads of booze and some peppy music with a beat. I would do this and still go into the office in the morning. Why? The Ryder Cup is worth it.

The Europeans are the favorite and they should be, but is there a team of Americans you could ever want to root for more? I thought the Kentucky hillbillie group of Perry, JB and adopted redneck Boo Weekley was enough NASCAR in 2008 to make rooting for the Americans worth it. But now? We've got Dustin Johnson and Bubba Watson! Grip it and rip it, international beat-down style! My heart says the US will win on foreign soil for the first time since 1993. My brain says 'No.'

Cue Michael Buffer, please!

Here's what I am watching for...

Tiger Woods - I think this is the perfect place for Tiger to regain some swagger. Failure can't be placed entirely on his shoulders. Plus, the ability to blow up on a hole is easily sheltered in match play. I think he comes out and just steamrolls people.

Mickelson & Johnson - They got paired together to open it all tomorrow. Two guys who just swing, wait for it to come out of orbit and pull off a miracle. In a best ball format tomorrow, they will either be eating breakfast before I wake up, or they will ham-and-egg to an eagle on every hole. Either way, it is the perfect appetizer to the week.

Rory McIlroy - He said something about wanting to play Tiger and got all of the international press he, or his captain, never would have wanted. How does he respond? If this was in America, he'd fold faster than Bernard Langer over a four-footer. But, does he use the home country advantage to gain an edge?

The Molinari Brothers - They are not going out in the best ball, which is smart. Who better to play alternate shot together than two brothers? This could be Ballesteros-Olazabal 2.0 for the European team. Someday, smart people will write chapters in books about this pairing.

Bubba Watson and Jeff Overton - They are the anchor leg tomorrow, and both are rookies. I read about this online right as the Golf Channel was airing replays of the 2004 disaster at Oakland Hills, where Hal Sutton out-thought himself with the disastrous Lefty-Tiger pairing. If Watson and Overton don't top it off the first tee, Corey Pavin will be breathing easier. But, if they go down 6&5 (which is what I fear will happen), we might be clamoring for Paul Azinger before lunch tomorrow.

C'mon boys! Keep it close and give me something to yell at come Sunday morning!

A reprieve

As somebody who never felt comfortable jumping on the Tiger Woods bandwagon, even when he was rocking tournaments easier than Perkins waitresses (too easy), I am officially giving Sir Eldrick a reprieve from his public humiliation and gleeful fall from superstardom. Yes, I am a Tiger Woods fan this week. Why? Because he's an American damnit.

Friday marks the start of the greatest sporting event that doesn't start with Super or end with Madness. The Ryder Cup has turned downright spiteful over the past two decades because Europe started competing. And, now, outside of soccer, it is an international competition where the United States of America is a realistic underdog. If you didn't cheer out loud in 2008 at Valhalla, you weren't watching it. Sure, it's golf (and I am a little obsessed with the sport), but the most unintelligible fans can enjoy it.

And then, Rory McIlroy had to go ahead and do it last month and today. Nothing against Rory, but you don't flex that type of blind arrogance unless you are #1 the best or #2 an obnoxious American. Read Tiger's three-word, two-answer, response to Rory's callout. Pure, awesome, American-infused badassness (add that word to the dictionary). I've spent months silently admiring the fall off the mountain for Tiger, but I read those words today, smiled, got blinded by a flash of red, white and blue, and secretly prayed that the Ryder Cup comes down to a singles match between Woods and McIlroy.

If only my life could be that sweet this weekend!

Mancation

This weekend, a few of us have escaped to a house on a lake to do what every man does when given a gorgeous weekend on the water... Watch football. It could be sunny, 85 and packed with loose-moraled women and their will still be an ass groove on the couch for 8 hours tomorrow. Unfortunately, this week has all of the makings of a total letdown. Why? Remember the stacked weekend of college games two weeks ago? All we got out of that was Michigan-Notre Dame. Everything else... Lame. And then last weekend, with nothing to really keep our attention, we get thrillers.

So, in honor of the masculine overload of the weekend, we are going to make sure all of the games are close by picking them that way, because there is still no science to understanding who is good this year...

#16 Stanford at Notre Dame +4.5
The luck of the Irish is apparently just an expression. Although, I guess there is no luck when your special teams is woefully unprepared for a fake FG attempt; or your secondary is too slow to rundown the Michigan QB. Stanford is unbelievably impressive so far, and is there a hotter stock in coaching than Jim Harbaugh? This week will be a very easy theme for this week: Best QB wins. In this case, Andrew Luck is infinitely better. Not for the long run, maybe, but at this stage, absolutely.
Stanford 42, Notre Dame 35

West Virginia at LSU -10
Ten points?!?! Vegas knows something that I just don't. LSU will win and play good defense, but they are as shaky at QB as the NFC West. But, what is our rule? Best QB wins. Okay, I guess there are some exceptions. But, I think this game is a BOB; The Tigers are just too shaky under center to cover the 10.
LSU 27, West Virginia 20

#12 South Carolina at #17 Auburn -3
I doubted Team Spurrier two weeks ago and it backfired, mainly because I did not respect the Cocks defense enough. And, honestly, don't we always underestimate the Cocks defense? But, on the road in the middle of nowhere Alabama? The Tigers were the darling, black sheep pick in the SEC this year, and the War Eagle will be loud. Normally, I would say Garcia has a slight edge at the QB position, posing quite the dilemma at this stage. However, the ire of Spurrier is hard to fight, and Newton will shine at home.
Auburn 17, South Carolina 13

#24 Oregon State at #3 Boise State -18
If I was a doubter of the Cocks, I was a hater on Boise State so far this season. I am so sorry, Broncos. While Jaquez Rogers poses a problem, does anybody remember what the Broncos did to Va Tech's running game? Or how they went on the road last week to Wyoming and opened a mile-high can? And, back to our quaterback argument: Kellen Moore wins that battle without a fight. Everybody I am sharing a cottage with this weekend is betting (hypthetically) the Beavers. 18 is a lot. Not this time, Broncos, because I am finally a believer...
Boise State 41, Oregon State 20

#1 Alabama at #10 Arkansas +7
Where is Keith Jackson when I need him, because this is the granddaddy of them all. I am more excited for this than the entire week 2 schedule. I am now convinced that there are good teams this season, some great teams (most in the top 10), a couple of championship teams (OSU, Boise, Oregon) and then there is Alabama. A different league of team. They have the Heisman Trophy winner, who is honestly not as good as his backup. They have the best total package of wide receiver. They have gazelle speed on defense. And now the QB argument... Do you take Ryan Mallett and his arm and pro potential, or do you take Greg McElroy, who hasn't lost a game since he hit his Peter Brady stage. I take winners. And I take Alabama. Every time, every place. Now, the spread? I'm actually not going to pick this game against the spread (I'll push it)...
Alabama 27, Arkansas 20

So much for picking them close. If this weekend progresses the way I expect it to, a 50-point blowout should still be entertaining.

A Partial Recap

It wasn't a good week for Cover Two for a couple of shocking reasons...

1) Never one to get our content in on time (damn these real-world jobs), the theme for BTSG last week was exactly what Simmons wrote on ESPN.com. This has led us to three possible conclusions: We are either brilliant writers, there isn't a lot of different stuff to write about, or none of us (including the big timers) are that original to begin with. Ah well. So, in our efforts to not plagiarize, BTSG took a week off and will pick back up later this week.

2) Never, EVER, trust the Big Ten in college football. Ohio State will be good and the rest of the league will tease you more than a Lindsay Lohan sobriety night out.

Did we learn anything from football this past week? I think so...

- Alabama has the best running back in the country, only we don't know which one of them it is

- Boise State is going to do everything they can to beat the living crap out of teams so nobody forgets they exist

- Michigan State will give you a heart attack with their play calling. (I know, I know, too soon, but it's actually the truth, right?)

- Mascot fights are funny, even when they cross over the line and become inappropriate.

- Favorite stat of the weekend... Oregon has scored more points in their first three games (189) than minutes played (180)

- Brett Favre is old and tired but has plenty of time to wake up from his nap

- The Colts and Jets are FINE

- Randy Moss would make the Pro Bowl even if he lost the use of his left arm in a freak ninja sword fighting accident

- Having lost both of my starting RBs (Ryan Grant and Reggie Bush) in back-to-back weeks, be very afraid New England and Indy. All I have left on my sorry team is Wes Welker and Peyton Manning. Both will be donezo by week 5.

How We Fared...

Week 3 College: 3-1 picking winners (thank you, Iowa) ; 1-3 against the spread (including the guarantee on the Indiana cover); Yikes, this is why we don't support gambling.

Season: 14-4 on winners; 9-8 versus Vegas

BTSG: On hiatus (Simmons wins Week 2 by default)

Look at this weekend's college football lineup if you didn't already have plans. You will have them after you do.

College Football Week 3

I am going to get this entry out of the way for three reasons:

1) It is an abysmal weekend of college matchups. Last weekend was good on paper and failed to live up to the hype. Next weekend also has some juice.

2) BTSG is forthcoming

3) Let's spend some time talking about this week's big story, shall we? No, not women dressed like Mexican street workers in NFL locker rooms. Reggie Bush giving back the Heisman Trophy.

I just don't get it. I am all for the policing of the sports to avoid rampant cheating, because lord only knows how some coaches (see Calipari, John) just flaunt it almost publicly get away with it all. No program should have a leg up on another because of some rich boosters! Oh wait, the NCAA doesn't hold schools accountable for building bigger, better and glitzier facilities. They can't prevent some from getting better shoe deals. So, money does influence a recruit. (This opinion, and entry as a whole, will wind up being littered with hypocrisy. Just take a Tylenol now before the headache starts)

USC should be punished for not knowing what was going on. Done. They got in trouble and deserve it. Let's not make this too complicated.

But, should Reggie Bush give back the Heisman? Didn't he win it for being the best college football player in America one season? Has that fact changed because his parents got a free mortgage? His amateurism is void, but his position on the field as an athlete was unchanged. Is this a moral punishment?

If the trophy was taken away (excuse me, given back) as a symbol of Reggie's failure as a representation of the award, then I would like to publicly ask that the following also be returned under this new mentality...

The 1968 Heisman Trophy

This was mentioned a few billion times this week, but if what Reggie did was enough to tarnish the Heisman, how about the Juice and his fondness for filleting people?!

Almost Every Baseball MVP Award since 1988

While we're on it, how about asking for the individual awards back from people who actually enhanced their on-field performance. Do yourself a favor... Go read the complete list and count how many you would let keep the award. It's a staggeringly low number.

The 1999 Academy Award for Best Actor

The Y2K Virus scare must have had everybody distracted that year because Roberto Benigni won the award for a non-English-speaking movie where he rides around on a bicycle smiling. Tom Hanks would've gotten the trifecta that year and juggled on stage. Then, people would have really smiled. (And Edward Norton, who rolled through roles back then like a robot, in American History X). I want justice.

Okay, enough of this game. There are too many others to think about and I don't want to ruin my weekend. Here are your college games of note:

#3 Boise State @ Wyoming +23.5

This is the start of the "Look at the size of that bullseye" on the back of the Broncos. That Virginia Tech embarrassment last weekend doesn't help with the naysayers. Plus, you go on the road to a high-altitude city where this game will be the last memorable event in Laramie until the tundra defrosts next March. Unfortunately, the Cowboys just aren't good anymore in the Mountain West. However, I spent 4 long days in Laramie in the middle of winter and know how hard it can be to get motivated. I think the home team rides enough momentum to cover [remember, Cover Two does not support betting on sports; just making the picks more interesting], as they did a good job containing Texas a week ago from big points. Yep, it's a B.O.B., even though there is no money line on Boise, because, well, they will win.

Boise State 31 - Wyoming 10

#9 Iowa @ #24 Arizona -1

This is not a must-win, but more of a must-show-up game for both. Iowa needs it to be considered a title threat. Zona needs it to prove they are in the big time. Lots of factors in play here against the Hawkeyes (late game in a west coast time zone, road dog, hot weather). I think the Big Ten is 3-5 teams legit at the top this year, so Iowa can't fail me yet...

Iowa 24 - Arizona 20

#10 Florida @ Tennessee -14

This game used to be compelling. Tennessee did everything right and watched Oregon hand them a tie game at halftime last week, and then got demolished. I don't think Florida lets up enough (even as a young team) to do that. Gators come alive this week with that youth...

Florida 38 - Tennessee 21

Arizona State @ #13 Wisconsin -13

In case you didn't notice, it's Pac 10/Big 10 Challenge week. No challenge here. If Iowa could face trouble going somewhere warm, I think the Sun Devils fare far worse going into a loud and physical environment (it won't be cold, but it'll be a LOT cooler than Tempe)

Wisconsin 31 - Arizona State 17

[Riding the Big Ten will hurt me this week, I can feel it]

If you need easy money, Indiana is only giving 13 points on the road at Western Kentucky. The Hilltoppers are atrocious. I saw Indiana in person to open the college football season. They may not stop anybody all year, but they can score enough to cover two touchdowns, even on the road.

Save your energy on Saturday, NFL Sunday should be better.

This Week's Recap

I am feeling a bit hungover from the weekend, especially when ESPN throws two MNF games at you to ice the cake. What did we learn from this weekend?

- If it looks like a catch, acts like a catch and LOOKS like a catch, it is NOT a catch. Note to Calvin Johnson: Next time you catch a game-winning TD, make sure you take the ball with you to bed that night. Never let it leave your sight.

- If the Colts offense mated with the Jets defense, you'd have a team that would go 38-0 and win 3 Super Bowls over the next 2 seasons. Yes, 3 Super Bowls. But, as they are right now, they are 0-1 teams with two cities in panic.

- Your defending college national champions are still REALLY good. Start engraving now, unless Ohio State learns how to cover on kicks.

- Boise State went from Week 1 darling to just another team that's as good as James Madison.

- Outside of the top 2 teams in the country, we still know nothing

- Back in the NFL, remember how the 49ers and Chargers were going to waltz to division titles? What, I didn't ever say that? Yeah, I didn't. Because there is no waltzing in the NFL, unless you are the Lions waltzing back to the top 10 in the draft.

- Dr. James Andrews is no longer a unique person, he is simply a figure of speech. Give him a dictionary entry. Reports speak of him like a regular procedure. Like getting Tommy John surgery, all injured athletes will forever be said to be "getting James Andrewsed" when they need to get their injured chicken wings examined.

How Cover Two fared over the long football weekend...

Week 2 College: 5-1 picking winners; 5-2 against the spread (including taking the under in the Mich-ND game; made it by a half point!)

Season: 11-3 picking winners; 8-5 against Vegas

Beat the Sports Guy: 9-7 (The Sports Guy was 7-7; different spreads utilized led to two pushes)

Time to stretch; next weekend is almost here.

College Football Week 2

If you bothered to pull yourself away from the Dave Matthews Band "dead mic" concert last night, and folded under the boredom of Brett Favre in preseason form, you probably caught a nice little battle (with a superior crowd to the Superdome) in the SEC. Auburn escaped Mississippi State by 3 last night, proving to me that compelling college football can hang with any gridiron game any weekend.

Don't get me wrong, I'm more excited for Sunday's professional games than Tiger is for his first post-divorce Vegas trip. But, it is hard to escape the reality of tomorrow: the slate of big-time college games is about as impressive as it could get. In fact, thanks to recent television history, I will argue that tomorrow offers more compelling games than New Years Day has in almost a decade. So, let's discuss the action, shall we?

DISCLAIMER: Look, you're going to get this every week from Murray and me. He coaches college kids. I broadcast (and am paid by) college sporting events. We do not support betting on sports. It is way too easy to just pick winners, so throwing the spread in there makes it juicy. Plus, there are plenty of nice, family-loving, kitten-saving gamblers out there who could use some free advice.

Michigan @ Notre Dame -3.5

How many Bud Bowls were there? The right answer is "not enough," but let's be honest, it was getting flat towards the end. (Sorry, that was too easy) As a kid, for some reason, Bud Bowl was the sideshow to the Super Bowl I couldn't wait for. Looking back on it, I now realize I only liked it because of the hype and the title. That is what Michigan and Notre Dame has become. Every year, it is billed as the "Rebirth of Two Storied Programs." One team loses and sucks for the rest of the season. The other team wins, and.... sucks for the rest of the season. Now, they both have gimmicky offensive coaches and a frisky fan base. The Wolverines are one bad step away from getting Pearled by the NCAA. Notre Dame couldn't score more than 23 against Purdue. This is a dead even matchup and will honestly come down to turnovers. 60% chance of rain tomorrow benefits the better running team.

I'll take Michigan to cover AND WIN a sloppy game 21-17. Oh, and the over/under is 52.5. I think that's a really easy play.

#7 Oregon @ Tennessee +12

Imagine if MTV hosted a singing/performance Battle Royale between Christina Aguilera and Britney Spears tomorrow. No contest, right? Christina wins with a first round TKO. It seems like such a simple answer. What about 9 years ago? Britney was coming off a billion #1 hits, the Pepsi deal and was just about to breakup with Justin Timberlake (the start of the downfall), all while Christina was slutting it up in "Dirrrty." That same year, Tennessee was #2 in the country, three years removed from a national championship and one bad game away from another one. That same year, remember Joey Harrington? Yeah, he was good in college. But, I remember the Phillip Fulmer teams. Now, put those two teams on paper in 2010 and all you want is to form the T, throw on some orange and talk about the Volunteers. But, then you realize they dumped the best man in their life (Fulmer), got mixed up with some shady business (Kiffin) and don't know how to date the right guy (Dooley), so much so that they need lessons on how to properly shower. Sure, Oregon disappeared for a year (they lost to Indiana for God's sake), but they have always produced and now look like the better program in hindsight, and one can argue (gasp) better in the last decade.

It's a lot of points, but after the New Mexico slaughter last week, I like Oregon to put a home whopping on Tennessee 45-21

#22 Georgia @ #24 South Carolina -3

A few weeks ago, I was shopping at a bargain store and I found a name-brand pair of slacks for a really good price. Perfect size, nice style, perfect fit. Everything you would want. The first time I went to the restroom, I discovered the the fly is about 25% shorter than any I had ever experienced. Now, this presents a number of problems most (especially women) wouldn't understand. It was laborious just to get myself out of the pants in time to hit the head. And putting it back? Let's just say it I should have brought a crowbar and some Sham Wows to clean up afterwards. What a disappointment after everything aesthetically had worked out so well. The Gamecocks are that pair of pants. Everything about them, including the Ol' Ball Coach are the perfect designer on the outside. Then, you put them to work and something just doesn't work and never lives up to your expectation. If AJ Green hadn't have sold his jersey for some easy cash, I think it is easy to take UGA in this matchup.

Georgia by 1, 21-20

#17 Florida State @ #10 Oklahoma -7

I really like Christian Ponder, the QB for the 'Noles. In the games I saw last year, he was what I envisioned FSU missing for so many years since they were a relevant power. Surprisingly athletic, with a nice arm. Oklahoma gave up enough yards in the air against Utah State last weekend to qualify for that uber-elite frequent flyer club in a George Clooney movie, complete with a platinum membership card for the Utah State offensive coordinator. I think this could be a good ol fashioned shootout and so does Vegas. In the end, I think Oklahoma takes advantage of the home crowd, but I want so badly for FSU to win this game because I think they should, I'll give them the cover.

Oklahoma wins on a last-second scoring drive 38-35

#18 Penn State @ #1 Alabama -12

I really don't have a lot to say here. I think Bama is superior in almost every category. It's a good test for them, but motivation is at an all-time high. The crowd will be crazier than a 3-year-old unleashed on a bag of Pixie Stix. They haven't played since 1990, but most remember those meetings like they were yesterday. I don't care about the number. I don't care about Mr. Heisman being out for another week. Tide rolls.

Bama 31 - Penn State 10

#12 Miami @ #2 Ohio State -8.5

A lot has happened since the last time these two teams met. Maurice Clarrett has lived life from the Keith Richards school of body treatment. I owe Craig Krenzel $5 for a golf match debt. And the Hurricanes owe most of South Beach at least 5 years of good football to makeup for the garbage fire the past few seasons. Anybody who watched the 30-for-30 documentary about The U in the 1980s knowns what Miami hasn't been the past few seasons. While the two teams aren't the same in terms of scheme, the are eerily similar. Athletic, mobile, dual-threat QB with some decent weapons around him. On the other side, a notorious D (one fast, one physical) to try and slow the other down. Last weekend proved to me one thing (likely misguided): I firmly believe that Ohio State and Alabama will meet for the national championship. And they should, because I don't think Boise State is all the way there and neither is anybody else. In order for that to happen...

Buckeyes win 27-17

What do I feel good about this week? Almost nothing. That's why we don't support betting, remember? I do feel good about this though: amazing football will be on TV almost non-stop starting at Noon tomorrow. Enjoy!