Perfection…. Do I hear you lifting your beautiful head? I like these picks this week, so much so that I found if very difficult to differentiate between my Top 5 and the rest. So, stay tuned, see if I find a big winner on my hands at weeks end.
TOP 5 Bets
1. Iowa Hawkeyes
2. Maryland Terrapins
3. Duke Blue Devils
4. Oregon State
5. Wake Forest
West Virginia Mountaineers (-11) @ Pittsburgh Panthers: I’m sick and tired of losing Thursday Night games, but with Pitt hosting the Mounties, I think this is my time to shine. WV killed Pitt last year, and generally, that Panthers suck towards the end of the season. Offensively, Pitt doesn’t, and won’t have a clue how to stop the Mounties, which should prove entertaining if you like 4 game losing streaks by Pittsburgh.
Maryland Terrapins (+7.5) @ Boston College Eagles: I actually like the Terps to pull this one out in Boston. Maryland fought through a tough emotional rollercoaster game last week against the Hurricanes, so this week should be a relief if anything. I like the Terps to win the ACC, is that crazy?
Iowa Hawkeyes (+3) @ Minnesota Golden Gophers: Last week Iowa fell in a close battle with the Wisconsin Badgers, but if you are expecting a let down game, good luck. Drew Tate didn’t play that well, and he’ll be out to prove he’s still go it, like Uncle Ricco. Expect him to have it, very unlike Uncle Ricco.
Duke Blue Devils (+1) @ Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets: Duke is 0-10, and this won’t make them 1-10, but I imagine they’ll be ready to play their 2nd to last game of the year. That and the fact that they’ve only lost 2 games by more than 25 points, and Georgia Tech has only 1 win by more than 25, makes me take the freaking Blue Devils. Finally, I found a line I like with Duke. We’ll see how this works out.
Oklahoma Sooners (-19.5) @ Baylor Bears: The Bears haven’t played a team on Oklahoma’s level since they got pasted by Texas 21-63. Last week against OK State, the Bears allowed 66 to their 24. I’m not trying to pull the this team beat this team by this many so this team will win by this…. But I know the Sooners, and they can shut down a poor team with ease. They can also put up some mean points, (5 times over 30), so expect an easy cover by the Sooners.
Arkansas Razorbacks @ Mississippi State Bulldogs (+14.5): I love what the Razorbacks have done, but I have to take the points and the home team in this match up. The Bulldogs have played pretty well all season, and while the Razorbacks have dominated most of their games, coming down to the wire with only 1 loss often manages to tense up players. The Bulldogs will put up a fight.
Michigan Wolverines @ Ohio State Buckeyes (-6.5): The game is in Ohio, the Buckeyes are the better team, and Troy Smith is a tougher and better quarterback than Henne. Oh, and Tressell is the better coach. I guess I’ll take the Buckeyes, and god help us not to see a rematch for the National Championship!
Buffalo Bulls (+38.5) @ Wisconsin Badgers: The Bulls have lost by more than 38 points once this year. They won’t play close with the Badgers, but with a 38 point lead to start the game, sure, I’ll take the Bulls, no problem. With Michael Jordan, that team was unstoppable!
Oregon State Beavers (-14) @ Stanford Cardinal: Home field advantage is a pile of brown smelly lies in the PAC 10. Stanford may have fooled you into believing they are a real football team, ala that long nosed kid and being a real boy, but don’t fall under the trap. The Beavers screwed it up last week just so the line would shrink on this game. Take the sure thing cover and win from the Beave in this one.
Auburn Tigers (-3) @ Alabama Crimson Tide: Kenny Irons has to get on track, the Tigers defense has to step up their game, and Brandon Cox must stop his turnover baking. My guess, if one of those things happen, Auburn throttles Alabama. Auburn is too good to blow it for the 2nd week in a row.
Virginia Tech Hokies @ Wake Forest Demon Deacons (+2): Sure, Tech has a nice record, 8-2, and they’ve won 4 straight, but lets really get into their season. They’ve played 3 tough teams, (Miami doesn’t count – Clemson, Boston College, and Georgia Tech) and are 1-2 in those games. Wake Forest is very good, they are playing at home, and remain a damn underdog besides beating every team on their schedule sans Clemson. That’s got to piss off some Deacons. And so they’ll say, “Basketball school our nuts!”