Wvu +20.5
Pitt+2
Va tech-3.5
OU -4.5
Uconn+2.5
Auburn-4.5
We love football, We love betting, We live tailgaiting.
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Friday, December 3, 2010
Betting with the Angry Old Man; Flu Shot Edition
Lord, I am so sick. I cannot even focus on these damn picks. Who knows how this is going to work out, but if I come back to win this thing, it'll be remembered alongside the great performances of Joe Montana and Michael Jordan.
Virginia Tech -3.5
Oregon -16.5
South Florida -2
Nebraska +4.5
South Carolina +5.5
West Virginia -20.5
- Grey Bush
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Pigskin Prognosticator Championship Week Picks
Competition Record: 34-40-2
Hard Leans: 27-16
WVU: 4-6-1
Week 1: Competition Plays 1-4-1, Hard Leans 1-2
Week 2: Competition Plays 4-2, Hard Leans 2-3
Week 3: Competition Plays 4-2, Hard Leans 3-0
Week 4: Competition Plays 2-4, Hard Leans 1-1
Week 5: Competition Plays 2-3, Hard Leans 2-2
Week 6: Competition Plays 2-4, Hard Leans 2-1
Week 7: Competition Plays 4-2, Hard Leans 0-3
Week 8: Competition Plays 2-4, Hard Leans 3-2
Week 9 : Competition Plays 2-3-1, Hard Leans 4-0
Week 10: Competition Plays 3-2, Hard Leans 4-1
Week 11: Competition Plays 3-3, Hard Leans 3-0
Week 12: Competition Plays 2-4, Hard Leans 2-0
Week 12: Competition Plays 3-3, Hard Leans 0-1
Competition Plays:
1.) Cincy -2 vs Pitt: Line is begging for Pitt money.
2.) USF -2 vs Uconn: More than just wishful thinking. Adequate run game and nasty D rules day.
3.) La Tech + 9.5 vs Nevada: Letdown spot of century + brutal road trip + bowl hungry bulldogs.
4.) South Carolina +5.5: Lattimore will keep them within striking distance.
5.) Nebraska +4.5: Sooners are a very ordinary team outside of Norman.
6.) WVU -20.5 vs Rutgers: What the hell, I'm mathmetically eliminated and it's too many points but I want to see us roll.
Hard Lean:
1.) Arizona State +6 vs Arizona: Two teams headed in opposite directions.
Hard Leans: 27-16
WVU: 4-6-1
Week 1: Competition Plays 1-4-1, Hard Leans 1-2
Week 2: Competition Plays 4-2, Hard Leans 2-3
Week 3: Competition Plays 4-2, Hard Leans 3-0
Week 4: Competition Plays 2-4, Hard Leans 1-1
Week 5: Competition Plays 2-3, Hard Leans 2-2
Week 6: Competition Plays 2-4, Hard Leans 2-1
Week 7: Competition Plays 4-2, Hard Leans 0-3
Week 8: Competition Plays 2-4, Hard Leans 3-2
Week 9 : Competition Plays 2-3-1, Hard Leans 4-0
Week 10: Competition Plays 3-2, Hard Leans 4-1
Week 11: Competition Plays 3-3, Hard Leans 3-0
Week 12: Competition Plays 2-4, Hard Leans 2-0
Week 12: Competition Plays 3-3, Hard Leans 0-1
Competition Plays:
1.) Cincy -2 vs Pitt: Line is begging for Pitt money.
2.) USF -2 vs Uconn: More than just wishful thinking. Adequate run game and nasty D rules day.
3.) La Tech + 9.5 vs Nevada: Letdown spot of century + brutal road trip + bowl hungry bulldogs.
4.) South Carolina +5.5: Lattimore will keep them within striking distance.
5.) Nebraska +4.5: Sooners are a very ordinary team outside of Norman.
6.) WVU -20.5 vs Rutgers: What the hell, I'm mathmetically eliminated and it's too many points but I want to see us roll.
Hard Lean:
1.) Arizona State +6 vs Arizona: Two teams headed in opposite directions.
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Potato Picks
Somebody forgot to post his picks, and now he's way out hoopie with no Internet...
Louisville -3
Texas A&M -3
Auburn +4
South Carolina -2.5
Florida +2
West Virginia +2.5
Betting with the Angry Old Man, Week XIII
Its that time of the year again kiddies; when all of our hard work at the gym is lost on one glorious hour of turkey and all the trimmings! Attach the feedbags, its time for a feast of picks!
OHIO STATE -16.5 v. Meeeeeeshigan
OKLAHOMA STATE -2.5 v. Oklahoma
LOUISVILLE -3 @ Rutgers
IOWA -14.5 @ Minnesota
ROAD DOGG OF THE WEEK:
LSU +3.5 @ Arrr-Kansas
THE HOMER CALL:
WEST VIRGINIA +2.5 @ (Eat Shit) Pitt
- Grey Bush
OHIO STATE -16.5 v. Meeeeeeshigan
OKLAHOMA STATE -2.5 v. Oklahoma
LOUISVILLE -3 @ Rutgers
IOWA -14.5 @ Minnesota
ROAD DOGG OF THE WEEK:
LSU +3.5 @ Arrr-Kansas
THE HOMER CALL:
WEST VIRGINIA +2.5 @ (Eat Shit) Pitt
- Grey Bush
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Shoeless Picks
Trying not to over complicate things here.
WVU +2.5: Backyard Brawl, dont desert them now.
Arizona +18.5: Seems like a lot of points for top three conference matchup in a good league and with Oregon's rival up next.
Alabama -4: Tough line, but i feel I have to bet it one way or another.
Usf +11.5: Think Miami will play it off, and quite frankly they are not that good
Lsu +3.5: The mad hatter strikes again
Wisconsin -23: NW minus Persa sucks
Pigskin Prognosticator Week 13 Picks
Competition Record: 31-37-2
Hard Leans: 27-15
WVU: 3-6-1
Week 1: Competition Plays 1-4-1, Hard Leans 1-2
Week 2: Competition Plays 4-2, Hard Leans 2-3
Week 3: Competition Plays 4-2, Hard Leans 3-0
Week 4: Competition Plays 2-4, Hard Leans 1-1
Week 5: Competition Plays 2-3, Hard Leans 2-2
Week 6: Competition Plays 2-4, Hard Leans 2-1
Week 7: Competition Plays 4-2, Hard Leans 0-3
Week 8: Competition Plays 2-4, Hard Leans 3-2
Week 9 : Competition Plays 2-3-1, Hard Leans 4-0
Week 10: Competition Plays 3-2, Hard Leans 4-1
Week 11: Competition Plays 3-3, Hard Leans 3-0
Week 12: Competition Plays 2-4, Hard Leans 2-0
First off, congrats to Grey Bush for the first perfect week. My season has been ridiculous. I am 27-15 on my hard leans (games I actually bet but don't like as much as the ones I select for the competition) including a ludicrous 13-1 in the last four weeks, yet I am unable to pick the right ones for the competition. Oh well, just rough luck.
To solve this problem, I am going with only one hard lean this week. For the record I like this card more than any so far this season. I probably need to go minimum 10-2 over the last two weeks and get some help from the other slag heaps in the competition.
Competition Plays
1.) WVU +2.5 at Pitt
2.) Boise St. -13.5 at Nevada
3.) Miss St. -3 at Ole Miss
4.) Uk +3 at Tennessee (Losing streak to Vols ends)
5.) South Carolina -2.5 at Clemson
6.) LSU +3.5 vs Arkansas
Hard Lean
1.) Bama -4 at Auburn
Hard Leans: 27-15
WVU: 3-6-1
Week 1: Competition Plays 1-4-1, Hard Leans 1-2
Week 2: Competition Plays 4-2, Hard Leans 2-3
Week 3: Competition Plays 4-2, Hard Leans 3-0
Week 4: Competition Plays 2-4, Hard Leans 1-1
Week 5: Competition Plays 2-3, Hard Leans 2-2
Week 6: Competition Plays 2-4, Hard Leans 2-1
Week 7: Competition Plays 4-2, Hard Leans 0-3
Week 8: Competition Plays 2-4, Hard Leans 3-2
Week 9 : Competition Plays 2-3-1, Hard Leans 4-0
Week 10: Competition Plays 3-2, Hard Leans 4-1
Week 11: Competition Plays 3-3, Hard Leans 3-0
Week 12: Competition Plays 2-4, Hard Leans 2-0
First off, congrats to Grey Bush for the first perfect week. My season has been ridiculous. I am 27-15 on my hard leans (games I actually bet but don't like as much as the ones I select for the competition) including a ludicrous 13-1 in the last four weeks, yet I am unable to pick the right ones for the competition. Oh well, just rough luck.
To solve this problem, I am going with only one hard lean this week. For the record I like this card more than any so far this season. I probably need to go minimum 10-2 over the last two weeks and get some help from the other slag heaps in the competition.
Competition Plays
1.) WVU +2.5 at Pitt
2.) Boise St. -13.5 at Nevada
3.) Miss St. -3 at Ole Miss
4.) Uk +3 at Tennessee (Losing streak to Vols ends)
5.) South Carolina -2.5 at Clemson
6.) LSU +3.5 vs Arkansas
Hard Lean
1.) Bama -4 at Auburn
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Friday, November 19, 2010
Week 12? Picks
Rutgers +13.5 vs Cincy
OSU -3 at Iowa
Arkansas -3 at Miss St
V Tech -2 at The U
Oregon st +3 vs USC
WVU -4.5 at UL
OSU -3 at Iowa
Arkansas -3 at Miss St
V Tech -2 at The U
Oregon st +3 vs USC
WVU -4.5 at UL
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Betting with the Angry Old Man, Week... uh, what week is it again?
So surprised the Pig-Prog wasn't all over that big Florida International-UL Lafayette tilt this week.
Need to post these fast so I can beat kickoff for tonight's game. Sorry for no analysis. Just trust me, I'm right.
WASHINGTON -2 v. UCLA
VIRGINIA TECH -2 @ Miami FL
FLO-RIDA ST -3.5 @ Maryland
WISCONSIN -4 @ Michigan
STANFORD -6.5 @ California
HOMER CALL:
WEST VIRGINIA -4.5 @ Louisville
- Grey Bush
Need to post these fast so I can beat kickoff for tonight's game. Sorry for no analysis. Just trust me, I'm right.
WASHINGTON -2 v. UCLA
VIRGINIA TECH -2 @ Miami FL
FLO-RIDA ST -3.5 @ Maryland
WISCONSIN -4 @ Michigan
STANFORD -6.5 @ California
HOMER CALL:
WEST VIRGINIA -4.5 @ Louisville
- Grey Bush
Pigskin Prognosticator Week 12 Picks
Competition Record: 29-33-2
Hard Leans: 25-15
WVU: 3-5-1
Week 1: Competition Plays 1-4-1, Hard Leans 1-2
Week 2: Competition Plays 4-2, Hard Leans 2-3
Week 3: Competition Plays 4-2, Hard Leans 3-0
Week 4: Competition Plays 2-4, Hard Leans 1-1
Week 5: Competition Plays 2-3, Hard Leans 2-2
Week 6: Competition Plays 2-4, Hard Leans 2-1
Week 7: Competition Plays 4-2, Hard Leans 0-3
Week 8: Competition Plays 2-4, Hard Leans 3-2
Week 9 : Competition Plays 2-3-1, Hard Leans 4-0
Week 10: Competition Plays 3-2, Hard Leans 4-1
Week 11: Competition Plays 3-3, Hard Leans 3-0
Hilarious how my hard leans hit and my selections don't. Oh well, need a 5-1 or 6-0 week.
Competition Plays
1.) Tennessee -9 @ Vandy: Vols improving, Dores have packed it in.
2.) Oregon St +3 vs USC: Beavers tough at home, especially late in year.
3.) Troy +21.5 @ South Carolina: Huge letdown spot for Cocks and Troy is more than capable.
4.) UCLA +2 @ Washington: Simply think Bruins are better.
5.) Michigan +4 vs Wisconsin: Michigan has to cover a game eventually and reverse line movement is on my side. This will be Rich's first big win.
6.) Louisville +4.5: We've been dreadful on the road in the Stew era (5-8) and this is a classic sandwich trap game. We feel good about ourselves after a blowout win and we have Pitt on deck. We'll also get a desperate, highly motivated Cards team fighting for bowl eligibility. As with last week, I'll watch hoping I'm dead wrong again.
Hard Leans:
1.) Stanford -6.5 @ Cal: Hard to go against Cal at home particularly in a rivalry game but they left it all on the field against Oregon, have an inept offense and I really like this Cardinal team.
2.) Arkansas -3 @ Miss St.: Hogs just too much offensively.
Hard Leans: 25-15
WVU: 3-5-1
Week 1: Competition Plays 1-4-1, Hard Leans 1-2
Week 2: Competition Plays 4-2, Hard Leans 2-3
Week 3: Competition Plays 4-2, Hard Leans 3-0
Week 4: Competition Plays 2-4, Hard Leans 1-1
Week 5: Competition Plays 2-3, Hard Leans 2-2
Week 6: Competition Plays 2-4, Hard Leans 2-1
Week 7: Competition Plays 4-2, Hard Leans 0-3
Week 8: Competition Plays 2-4, Hard Leans 3-2
Week 9 : Competition Plays 2-3-1, Hard Leans 4-0
Week 10: Competition Plays 3-2, Hard Leans 4-1
Week 11: Competition Plays 3-3, Hard Leans 3-0
Hilarious how my hard leans hit and my selections don't. Oh well, need a 5-1 or 6-0 week.
Competition Plays
1.) Tennessee -9 @ Vandy: Vols improving, Dores have packed it in.
2.) Oregon St +3 vs USC: Beavers tough at home, especially late in year.
3.) Troy +21.5 @ South Carolina: Huge letdown spot for Cocks and Troy is more than capable.
4.) UCLA +2 @ Washington: Simply think Bruins are better.
5.) Michigan +4 vs Wisconsin: Michigan has to cover a game eventually and reverse line movement is on my side. This will be Rich's first big win.
6.) Louisville +4.5: We've been dreadful on the road in the Stew era (5-8) and this is a classic sandwich trap game. We feel good about ourselves after a blowout win and we have Pitt on deck. We'll also get a desperate, highly motivated Cards team fighting for bowl eligibility. As with last week, I'll watch hoping I'm dead wrong again.
Hard Leans:
1.) Stanford -6.5 @ Cal: Hard to go against Cal at home particularly in a rivalry game but they left it all on the field against Oregon, have an inept offense and I really like this Cardinal team.
2.) Arkansas -3 @ Miss St.: Hogs just too much offensively.
Picking w/all my clothes on cause I suck
Wow do I need a good week. I've been terrible lately. I am not going with any emotional picks, just games that I feel comfortable with.
Wisconsin -4: Line movement would indicate that I should stay away. No reason for Wisky to overlook this game.
Tech - 2.5: just cruising along into a big rivalry
USC -3: maybe the beavers bounce back. I just need some wins and this looks logical.
Uconn +4: I like syracuse to win, even though they have been bad at home, but what about this game doesnt have a field goal written all over it?
Rutgers +13.5: I am by no means giving RU love, but other than the Pitt game, they have lost close games all year. Why should Cincy be favored so much? give rutgers defense some credit
WVU -4.5: why not?
Heres hoping to buck the trend and win two games this week!
Shoeless
Wisconsin -4: Line movement would indicate that I should stay away. No reason for Wisky to overlook this game.
Tech - 2.5: just cruising along into a big rivalry
USC -3: maybe the beavers bounce back. I just need some wins and this looks logical.
Uconn +4: I like syracuse to win, even though they have been bad at home, but what about this game doesnt have a field goal written all over it?
Rutgers +13.5: I am by no means giving RU love, but other than the Pitt game, they have lost close games all year. Why should Cincy be favored so much? give rutgers defense some credit
WVU -4.5: why not?
Heres hoping to buck the trend and win two games this week!
Shoeless
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Big East Scenarios
Pitt’s loss in Storrs last Thursday night blew the Big East crown chase wide open. The Panthers remain one game ahead of the completion, but four teams linger just behind them and the BE’s strategy of back loading the season’s best games appears to have setup well, regardless of the surprising results in the beginning of the year. I think the best way to breakdown the rest of the season is to formulate a few scenarios. For the purpose of exposing it from the best case scenario view of WVU fans, we are going to assume they win out by winning at Louisville and Pitt the next two weekends and at home versus Rutgers, which is by no means a small task. Charlie Strong’s Cardinals have been a tough out all year and certainly the Backyard Brawl is never easy, but that is the assumption we are going to go with. We will also assume the three teams with three losses, Cincy/Lville/Rutgers, are all out of the chase. The following scenarios are listed in order of preference for WVU’s sake.
Scenario A: Uconn beats Syracuse and loses to Cincy or USF. WVU would have tiebreakers over USF and Pitt.
Scenario B: South Florida wins out and Uconn beats Syracuse. WVU takes head to head over USF. If Syracuse beats Uconn in this scenario, they take the win.
Scenario C: Syracuse wins out, forcing a three way tie with WVU and Pitt. A three way mini conference would not resolve the tie, which tosses it up to BCS rankings. WVU would likely take advantage of national perception, a four game win streak and stronger computer numbers to likely win the tiebreakers.
Scenario D: Uconn wins out, they get the crown no matter what we or Pitt do. Probably the most unlikely as they have ‘Cuse, Cincy, and USF left with the first and latter on the road.
Now lets look at the most important games left in the Big East season:
1) WVU @ Pitt: Backyard Braw would probably produce only likely champion that could contend in BCS.
2) Uconn @ Syracuse: Beyond being rivals, this game plays a lot of importance in how the previous scenarios finish out. Both teams have a lot of things going their way as long as Pitt gets beat again.
3) Pitt @ USF: Typically a good game and should be a tough matchup.
4) Uconn @ USF: As you see, South Florida plays the top stakeholders at home, making their season conclusion very important.
5) WVU @ Louisville: Toughest game of the title contenders versus a non-title contender, just edging out the follow up to last year’s track meet between Cincy and Pitt, which has lost considerable luster.
Syracuse and USF can also salvage a little bit of Big East respect going into bowl season by beating a couple BCS teams in Boston College and Miami. It would also be a nice jab at the ACC; I would bet on Syracuse to pull it out and a close USF loss in Joe Robbie.
Friday, November 12, 2010
Flying Potato-Week 11 Picks
WVU -5 vs. CINCY
Syracuse -2.5 @ Rutgers
Utah -5 @ ND
Oregon -19.5 @ Cal
PSU +18 @ OSU
USC +6.5 @ UF
Syracuse -2.5 @ Rutgers
Utah -5 @ ND
Oregon -19.5 @ Cal
PSU +18 @ OSU
USC +6.5 @ UF
Pigskin Prognosticator Week 11 Picks
Competition Record: 26-30-2
Hard Leans: 22-15
WVU: 3-4-1
Week 1: Competition Plays 1-4-1, Hard Leans 1-2
Week 2: Competition Plays 4-2, Hard Leans 2-3
Week 3: Competition Plays 4-2, Hard Leans 3-0
Week 4: Competition Plays 2-4, Hard Leans 1-1
Week 5: Competition Plays 2-3, Hard Leans 2-2
Week 6: Competition Plays 2-4, Hard Leans 2-1
Week 7: Competition Plays 4-2, Hard Leans 0-3
Week 8: Competition Plays 2-4, Hard Leans 3-2
Week 9 : Competition Plays 2-3-1, Hard Leans 4-0
Week 10: Competition Plays 3-2, Hard Leans 4-1
Huge shock that yet again I hit a far better percentage with the Hard Leans than the Competition plays. Actually had 5 adds last weekend and went 4-1 for an incredible 11-4 weekend. None of that matters in this though. At least I closed the gap and sit a reasonable 3.5 games back with 3 weeks left.
Motivation or lack thereof is a huge factor at this point in the season. That theme is a guide for the picks this week. And away we go.
Competition:
1.) Kentucky -14.5 vs Vandy: A win gets the Cats bowl eligible which should provide ample motivation against a Commodores team that appears to have quit in back-to-back losses versus Arkansas and Florida.
2.) Arizona -4 vs USC: USC lost their Super Bowl a couple weeks back versus Oregon and looked listless in a second half squeaker at home vs a pretty bad Arizona State team. Me thinks USC has packed it in and there remains plenty to play for for the Cats.
3.) South Carolina +6.5 at Florida: The Gamecocks could strike a mighty blow to the Chicken Curse with a win in the swamp. The number one goal of the program since Steve Spurrier came back has been to win the East and the SEC Title. They accomplish goal 1 and set up an opportunity for goal 2 with a win in the Swamp. Meanwhile, the Gators can still win the SEC and the east with a win, but you have to believe this game means more to South Carolina. The Cocks will play theor best game this Saturday and that should be good enough to get inside this number.
4.) UGA +8 at Auburn: With all the choas surrending the Tigers and Newton, it's silly to not take a shot getting over a TD with a desperate Georgia team that is playing pretty well heading into the South's oldest rivalry.
5.) ULM +33.5 at LSU: Don't laugh, ULM is coming off an upset over Troy, the Sun Belt's best team. The Tigers meanwhile have a huge letdown spot here coming off the win over Bama and will likely sleep walk to a 34-10 type of victory that provides for a pretty low stress cover.
6.) Cincy +5 at WVU: First of all I'd never bet actual money on or against this team this year but given that I'm forced to make a selection, here we go. Betting 101 folks. The line opened at WVU -6.5 and over 73% of bets placed have been on WVU. That should move the line to -7, -7.5 or even -8 but the line has gone down a full 2 points in some places to -4.5. That signals sharp money and lots of it out of a small percentage of plays going towards the Bearcats. Reverse Line movement always signals the underdog. It signaled doom at Marshall, vs Cuse, and to a lesser extent at Uconn. I won't ignore it this time.
Hard Leans:
1.) Northwestern +11 vs Iowa: Iowa has Ohio State on deck and NW can slip up on you and score in bunches.
2.) Purdue +13 vs Michigan: Rich is an unfathomable 3-18 ATS in Big Ten play. As putrid as Purdue is, I can't ignore that trend.
3.) Oklahoma -14.5 vs Texas Tech: Much like Cal, OU is a much different team at home than away. Save for 2 years ago they almost always shut down the Red Raider passing attack as well.
Hard Leans: 22-15
WVU: 3-4-1
Week 1: Competition Plays 1-4-1, Hard Leans 1-2
Week 2: Competition Plays 4-2, Hard Leans 2-3
Week 3: Competition Plays 4-2, Hard Leans 3-0
Week 4: Competition Plays 2-4, Hard Leans 1-1
Week 5: Competition Plays 2-3, Hard Leans 2-2
Week 6: Competition Plays 2-4, Hard Leans 2-1
Week 7: Competition Plays 4-2, Hard Leans 0-3
Week 8: Competition Plays 2-4, Hard Leans 3-2
Week 9 : Competition Plays 2-3-1, Hard Leans 4-0
Week 10: Competition Plays 3-2, Hard Leans 4-1
Huge shock that yet again I hit a far better percentage with the Hard Leans than the Competition plays. Actually had 5 adds last weekend and went 4-1 for an incredible 11-4 weekend. None of that matters in this though. At least I closed the gap and sit a reasonable 3.5 games back with 3 weeks left.
Motivation or lack thereof is a huge factor at this point in the season. That theme is a guide for the picks this week. And away we go.
Competition:
1.) Kentucky -14.5 vs Vandy: A win gets the Cats bowl eligible which should provide ample motivation against a Commodores team that appears to have quit in back-to-back losses versus Arkansas and Florida.
2.) Arizona -4 vs USC: USC lost their Super Bowl a couple weeks back versus Oregon and looked listless in a second half squeaker at home vs a pretty bad Arizona State team. Me thinks USC has packed it in and there remains plenty to play for for the Cats.
3.) South Carolina +6.5 at Florida: The Gamecocks could strike a mighty blow to the Chicken Curse with a win in the swamp. The number one goal of the program since Steve Spurrier came back has been to win the East and the SEC Title. They accomplish goal 1 and set up an opportunity for goal 2 with a win in the Swamp. Meanwhile, the Gators can still win the SEC and the east with a win, but you have to believe this game means more to South Carolina. The Cocks will play theor best game this Saturday and that should be good enough to get inside this number.
4.) UGA +8 at Auburn: With all the choas surrending the Tigers and Newton, it's silly to not take a shot getting over a TD with a desperate Georgia team that is playing pretty well heading into the South's oldest rivalry.
5.) ULM +33.5 at LSU: Don't laugh, ULM is coming off an upset over Troy, the Sun Belt's best team. The Tigers meanwhile have a huge letdown spot here coming off the win over Bama and will likely sleep walk to a 34-10 type of victory that provides for a pretty low stress cover.
6.) Cincy +5 at WVU: First of all I'd never bet actual money on or against this team this year but given that I'm forced to make a selection, here we go. Betting 101 folks. The line opened at WVU -6.5 and over 73% of bets placed have been on WVU. That should move the line to -7, -7.5 or even -8 but the line has gone down a full 2 points in some places to -4.5. That signals sharp money and lots of it out of a small percentage of plays going towards the Bearcats. Reverse Line movement always signals the underdog. It signaled doom at Marshall, vs Cuse, and to a lesser extent at Uconn. I won't ignore it this time.
Hard Leans:
1.) Northwestern +11 vs Iowa: Iowa has Ohio State on deck and NW can slip up on you and score in bunches.
2.) Purdue +13 vs Michigan: Rich is an unfathomable 3-18 ATS in Big Ten play. As putrid as Purdue is, I can't ignore that trend.
3.) Oklahoma -14.5 vs Texas Tech: Much like Cal, OU is a much different team at home than away. Save for 2 years ago they almost always shut down the Red Raider passing attack as well.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Betting with the Angry Old Man, Week Eleven
Syracuse -2.5
Oregon -19.5
Utah -5
Virginia Tech -3.5
ROAD DOGG: Mississippi St +13
HOMER: West Virginia -5
- Grey Bush
Oregon -19.5
Utah -5
Virginia Tech -3.5
ROAD DOGG: Mississippi St +13
HOMER: West Virginia -5
- Grey Bush
Picking in my underwear!
WVU -6: God damn I hate being a homer, but it also feels good to be a gangster. Go Eers
Iowa St -2.5: looks like another sucker bet, but im feeling the cyclones.
Cuse -3: Go Oranges. Fuck snookie and fuck Rutgers.
UGA +8: They have been playing much better and ive been betting against AU all year.
Utah -5.5: I could be wrong, but TCU was just that good. Utah is not bad, although not as good as Grey Bush thought. Notre Dame is not good, and the utah offense will bounce back. Too big of a game for a Ute hangover.
Mississippi St +13: Im believing Mullen
Iowa St -2.5: looks like another sucker bet, but im feeling the cyclones.
Cuse -3: Go Oranges. Fuck snookie and fuck Rutgers.
UGA +8: They have been playing much better and ive been betting against AU all year.
Utah -5.5: I could be wrong, but TCU was just that good. Utah is not bad, although not as good as Grey Bush thought. Notre Dame is not good, and the utah offense will bounce back. Too big of a game for a Ute hangover.
Mississippi St +13: Im believing Mullen
The Email
Dear EFAs,
As much as I couldn’t bear to watch the Mountaineers during the Uconn debacle, I must say that I am ready to turn the page and see if we figured anything out over the past two weeks. It is always tough to deal with a bye week as fan; I mean what do you do? Whittle? Watch John Denver music videos? Stand around with the Strickland Propane crew? Actually those last two sound pretty cool, but the point is even after a loss, two weeks is a long time to sit idle. Obviously, playing another game puts us at risk of losing another game, but if you can’t take the pain, then you have no business watching football. It will be a bit of a homecoming for ole Butch Jones, who coached under he who shall not be named, although not nearly as hyped as either fan base would hope.
I was a bit surprised to see us come out as a 6 point favorite in the lines, but I guess it makes sense. At the end of the day we are 5-3 to their 3-5 and nothing would suggest that they are actually better than us this year. Their pass defense is deplorable, but go figure we will probably tailor our gameplan around fullback dives this week. Regardless, I think we will pull it out this week, as I usually do, but I’ll put something on the line; if we lose, the first round of Irish Trash Cans at Mutts Sunnyside is on me Saturday night!
There are not very many “marquee” games on the tube again this week; however there are quite a few games that could be very competitive. This is probably the Ole Ball Coaches best opportunity to beat his alma mater since his first year with the Gamecocks, even though they have been struggling of late. It doesn’t help when your QB, Stephen Garcia, makes decisions that would Jerry Garcia scratching his head. Speaking of former Florida coaches, Dan Mullen looks to take his surprising 7-2 team in to Tuscaloosa and uproot the preseason National Title favorite, Alabama. Perhaps, the notoriously restless descendents of Bear Bryant will become so construed in misery following their third loss that they will run their Fairmont native coach out of town, opening the door for him to return home to WVU! The most interesting caveat to The Email’s ridiculous scenario of the week would be that he would get to face his former employer, LSU, in Morgantown next year. Of course when all the Bayou faithful start running around High Street screaming about how he is satanic heretic, we will have to kindly remind them that he is in fact the Mothman.
The four remaining undefeated teams all compete against teams this weekend that they should beat; matter of fact they are combined 89 point favorites. Each of these have a chance to be interesting games however. The least likely to be competitive is TCU vs San Diego State. Most years this wouldn’t even blip on the radar as TCU has proven their dominance and SDST isn’t even the most famous college football entity in its own city, although they are the only Division one team. I would argue the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl takes the nod there. Alas the Aztecs are in a renaissance coming into the game at 7-2 and should be given their dues. In the Pac-10, Oregon faces the Fighting Tedfords in Berkeley, where more attention is placed on hippies living in trees than on the football field. Cal is one of the most erratic teams in the country, but in their worst outing at home this year, they won by 28 points. Auburn faces Georgia, in the only game that has a line under 10, and while they too should be Richt’s Bulldogs, UGA has played much better as the season has progressed and could be a letdown game for Cameron “I Hate Figs” Newton and crew. Wait a second, don’t those colors look eerily close to Mississippi State Bulldog colors?
Finally the most interesting game, although not likely to end up in an upset, is Boise State heading north to Moscow for presumably the last time in the near future. If people think that WVU should have to play Marshall due to our instate “rivalry”, then certainly Idaho and Boise State should have to play in the Mr. Potato Head bowl every year (I should have taken some Mister Bees chips when I went out there for sponsorship). If you have ever driving through Idaho, you would know that there is absolutely nothing outside of these two schools and unlike a series of the Coal Bowl ilk, this matchup is relatively even. Even though Boise has been dominant of late, they only have a slight lead in the overall series at 21-17-1. What sparks a light over this game though, is the comments of Boise president, Bob Kustra. Reacting to a letter from a Vandal fan, Kustra publicly stated;
“This is a great example of why my wife and I no longer travel to Moscow games,” Kustra said. “It’s a culture that is nasty, inebriated and civilly doesn’t give our fans the respect that any fan should expect when visiting an away team.”
Holy smokes Batman. This gives Idaho fans more fire in there belly than the vicious outcry of Boise Potato versus The Flying Potato! What is really amusing is that Kustra goes on to say;
As much as I couldn’t bear to watch the Mountaineers during the Uconn debacle, I must say that I am ready to turn the page and see if we figured anything out over the past two weeks. It is always tough to deal with a bye week as fan; I mean what do you do? Whittle? Watch John Denver music videos? Stand around with the Strickland Propane crew? Actually those last two sound pretty cool, but the point is even after a loss, two weeks is a long time to sit idle. Obviously, playing another game puts us at risk of losing another game, but if you can’t take the pain, then you have no business watching football. It will be a bit of a homecoming for ole Butch Jones, who coached under he who shall not be named, although not nearly as hyped as either fan base would hope.
I was a bit surprised to see us come out as a 6 point favorite in the lines, but I guess it makes sense. At the end of the day we are 5-3 to their 3-5 and nothing would suggest that they are actually better than us this year. Their pass defense is deplorable, but go figure we will probably tailor our gameplan around fullback dives this week. Regardless, I think we will pull it out this week, as I usually do, but I’ll put something on the line; if we lose, the first round of Irish Trash Cans at Mutts Sunnyside is on me Saturday night!
There are not very many “marquee” games on the tube again this week; however there are quite a few games that could be very competitive. This is probably the Ole Ball Coaches best opportunity to beat his alma mater since his first year with the Gamecocks, even though they have been struggling of late. It doesn’t help when your QB, Stephen Garcia, makes decisions that would Jerry Garcia scratching his head. Speaking of former Florida coaches, Dan Mullen looks to take his surprising 7-2 team in to Tuscaloosa and uproot the preseason National Title favorite, Alabama. Perhaps, the notoriously restless descendents of Bear Bryant will become so construed in misery following their third loss that they will run their Fairmont native coach out of town, opening the door for him to return home to WVU! The most interesting caveat to The Email’s ridiculous scenario of the week would be that he would get to face his former employer, LSU, in Morgantown next year. Of course when all the Bayou faithful start running around High Street screaming about how he is satanic heretic, we will have to kindly remind them that he is in fact the Mothman.
The four remaining undefeated teams all compete against teams this weekend that they should beat; matter of fact they are combined 89 point favorites. Each of these have a chance to be interesting games however. The least likely to be competitive is TCU vs San Diego State. Most years this wouldn’t even blip on the radar as TCU has proven their dominance and SDST isn’t even the most famous college football entity in its own city, although they are the only Division one team. I would argue the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl takes the nod there. Alas the Aztecs are in a renaissance coming into the game at 7-2 and should be given their dues. In the Pac-10, Oregon faces the Fighting Tedfords in Berkeley, where more attention is placed on hippies living in trees than on the football field. Cal is one of the most erratic teams in the country, but in their worst outing at home this year, they won by 28 points. Auburn faces Georgia, in the only game that has a line under 10, and while they too should be Richt’s Bulldogs, UGA has played much better as the season has progressed and could be a letdown game for Cameron “I Hate Figs” Newton and crew. Wait a second, don’t those colors look eerily close to Mississippi State Bulldog colors?
Finally the most interesting game, although not likely to end up in an upset, is Boise State heading north to Moscow for presumably the last time in the near future. If people think that WVU should have to play Marshall due to our instate “rivalry”, then certainly Idaho and Boise State should have to play in the Mr. Potato Head bowl every year (I should have taken some Mister Bees chips when I went out there for sponsorship). If you have ever driving through Idaho, you would know that there is absolutely nothing outside of these two schools and unlike a series of the Coal Bowl ilk, this matchup is relatively even. Even though Boise has been dominant of late, they only have a slight lead in the overall series at 21-17-1. What sparks a light over this game though, is the comments of Boise president, Bob Kustra. Reacting to a letter from a Vandal fan, Kustra publicly stated;
“This is a great example of why my wife and I no longer travel to Moscow games,” Kustra said. “It’s a culture that is nasty, inebriated and civilly doesn’t give our fans the respect that any fan should expect when visiting an away team.”
Holy smokes Batman. This gives Idaho fans more fire in there belly than the vicious outcry of Boise Potato versus The Flying Potato! What is really amusing is that Kustra goes on to say;
“I’ve seen rivalries all over America, Oklahoma-Oklahoma State, Texas-Texas A&M, Kansas-Kansas State, but you can go inside those rivalries and you’ll find all kinds of slams and digs and whatever, but I’ve never seen the nastiness aimed at the quality of our academic program that I find here in Idaho from the University of Idaho Vandals.”
Really, have you? Maybe you should attend a game outside of the plains where the only use for potatoes at a tailgate is in form of Vodka. Hecks the Vandals don’t even hold a candle to athletic directors or coaches in the SEC. I mean can you imagine if the chancellor of Pitt came out and said that about WVU? The outrage would make the Mark May incident look petty tame and we would probably hurl empty kegs at their team bus to show them how inebriated and uncivil we can be. I’ve rooted for Boise all year, because I think they deserve their chance, but I wouldn’t mind seeing Rob Akey and Vandals (cousins of Martha and the Vandellas) stomp the yard in the Kibbie Dome. Here are my final words of wisdom for the Vandals, Boil-em and Mash-em boys!
Random Musings
Most people follow the AP rankings and the BCS hoopla, me? I follow Howard Schnellenberger’s weekly rankings, because where you find age and suspenders, you usually find wisdom. His analysis in this week's #15 ranking, of Sometimes you just have to drop back and Punt, is spot on and reminds me of dodging Avatars at last week’s Orlando convention.
How ridiculous was Michigan’s triple OT win? The old adage of defense wins championships may be dimming in recent years in light of prolific offenses that have been all the craze, but this game looked like prominent boosters on both sides had bet on the Over . . . although they surpassed that in the first half.
How about the amazing finale that is shaping up between Denny Hamlin, Jimmy Johnson, Cale Yarborough, and Kevin . . . oh oops, wrong blog, my bad.
The old man in Happy Valley finally hit 400 wins against Northwestern this weekend. Lets all root the Nittany Lions on in Columbus this weekend to smash the Buckeyes. It has been far too long since the Buckeyes were neglected by all BCS bowls and with the strength of the Pac 10, it certainly is possible that the Big 10 only gets one representative, but probably need those schmucks to lose. If Joe Pa can’t get it done, I hope he relieves himself at midfield or on that idiot who dots the “I”. I mean what the hell is the big deal, I learned to dot my I’s and cross my T’s in elementary school, not college. That cursive was tricky stuff for me though.
Betting on The Blog
Well I shit the bed last week. I went 1-4 while losing all the trendy picks that you should obviously stay away from. By doing so, I reopened the standings to the rest of the mongoloids in the competition. The next couple weeks will be very tight, but I am confident that Al will come out on top. Personally I like Utah to rebound in a holy war and upset Touchdown Jesus in South Bend.
Random Musings
Most people follow the AP rankings and the BCS hoopla, me? I follow Howard Schnellenberger’s weekly rankings, because where you find age and suspenders, you usually find wisdom. His analysis in this week's #15 ranking, of Sometimes you just have to drop back and Punt, is spot on and reminds me of dodging Avatars at last week’s Orlando convention.
How ridiculous was Michigan’s triple OT win? The old adage of defense wins championships may be dimming in recent years in light of prolific offenses that have been all the craze, but this game looked like prominent boosters on both sides had bet on the Over . . . although they surpassed that in the first half.
How about the amazing finale that is shaping up between Denny Hamlin, Jimmy Johnson, Cale Yarborough, and Kevin . . . oh oops, wrong blog, my bad.
The old man in Happy Valley finally hit 400 wins against Northwestern this weekend. Lets all root the Nittany Lions on in Columbus this weekend to smash the Buckeyes. It has been far too long since the Buckeyes were neglected by all BCS bowls and with the strength of the Pac 10, it certainly is possible that the Big 10 only gets one representative, but probably need those schmucks to lose. If Joe Pa can’t get it done, I hope he relieves himself at midfield or on that idiot who dots the “I”. I mean what the hell is the big deal, I learned to dot my I’s and cross my T’s in elementary school, not college. That cursive was tricky stuff for me though.
Betting on The Blog
Well I shit the bed last week. I went 1-4 while losing all the trendy picks that you should obviously stay away from. By doing so, I reopened the standings to the rest of the mongoloids in the competition. The next couple weeks will be very tight, but I am confident that Al will come out on top. Personally I like Utah to rebound in a holy war and upset Touchdown Jesus in South Bend.
Well thats all folks, enjoy the weekend.
Sincerely and Scintillating,
Al
Friday, November 5, 2010
Betting with the Angry Old Man, Week Ten
After everyone else's struggles last week, coming out 2-3-1 has got the ol' Grey Bush fired up to make a late season push for the title. I'm going to try a new concept this week: making picks that don't suck. So without further adieu...
(as always, picks in bold; home teams in CAPS)
OREGON -35 v. Washington
- Washington's offense this season is averaging just under 22 PPG. This includes a 41-point September outburst against a Syracuse team that is dramatically different these days, and a 35-point showing in 2 OTs for their second-highest total of the season. They've been pretty awful of late, with a combined 14 points against Arizona and Stanford the last two weekends. All things considered, I'd say they would have to hold the Ducks under 50 to cover this spread. In Autzen Stadium, I don't think that's going to happen.
UTAH +4.5 v. Texas Christian
- After all the talking I've done this season about how I think the Utes are the best non-AQ team in the country (including picking this very upset a few weeks ago), it would be the bitch-move of the decade for me to stay away from this game. A 4.5 point spread in a coin toss like this usually dictates a stay-away game from me, but I'm not necessarily picking against the line here, as much as I'm taking Utah straight-up (but if the Horny Frogs win by a FG, I'll gladly accept those points)
Virginia -1 @ DUKE
- Am I missing something here? Isn't UVA not half-bad? I don't care if Duke beat Navy or an entire team of Navy SEALS last weekend, they stink.
Air Force -6.5 @ ARMY
- This almost seems too easy...
ROAD DOGG OF THE WEEK:
Arizona +9.5 @ Stanford
- Many Road Dogg candidates this week (including Hawai'i, Maryland, and Northwestern), but this Arizona team has has treated me pretty well this season. Save for the the collective steamer laid at home against Oregon State (and nearly getting Rick-Rolled last week in earning the 7-point push), this team has put together a pretty impressive resume of work on their way to a Top-15 ranking. Ultimately, I think this is a one-possession game that could come down to a final drive.
THE HOMER CALL:
Bye Week +6.5 @ WEST VIRGINIA
- After being subjected to the last two weekends of Stew-Ball, I just don't trust the Mountaineers against anyone.
- Grey Bush
(as always, picks in bold; home teams in CAPS)
OREGON -35 v. Washington
- Washington's offense this season is averaging just under 22 PPG. This includes a 41-point September outburst against a Syracuse team that is dramatically different these days, and a 35-point showing in 2 OTs for their second-highest total of the season. They've been pretty awful of late, with a combined 14 points against Arizona and Stanford the last two weekends. All things considered, I'd say they would have to hold the Ducks under 50 to cover this spread. In Autzen Stadium, I don't think that's going to happen.
UTAH +4.5 v. Texas Christian
- After all the talking I've done this season about how I think the Utes are the best non-AQ team in the country (including picking this very upset a few weeks ago), it would be the bitch-move of the decade for me to stay away from this game. A 4.5 point spread in a coin toss like this usually dictates a stay-away game from me, but I'm not necessarily picking against the line here, as much as I'm taking Utah straight-up (but if the Horny Frogs win by a FG, I'll gladly accept those points)
Virginia -1 @ DUKE
- Am I missing something here? Isn't UVA not half-bad? I don't care if Duke beat Navy or an entire team of Navy SEALS last weekend, they stink.
Air Force -6.5 @ ARMY
- This almost seems too easy...
ROAD DOGG OF THE WEEK:
Arizona +9.5 @ Stanford
- Many Road Dogg candidates this week (including Hawai'i, Maryland, and Northwestern), but this Arizona team has has treated me pretty well this season. Save for the the collective steamer laid at home against Oregon State (and nearly getting Rick-Rolled last week in earning the 7-point push), this team has put together a pretty impressive resume of work on their way to a Top-15 ranking. Ultimately, I think this is a one-possession game that could come down to a final drive.
THE HOMER CALL:
Bye Week +6.5 @ WEST VIRGINIA
- After being subjected to the last two weekends of Stew-Ball, I just don't trust the Mountaineers against anyone.
- Grey Bush
The flying potato week 10 picks
Penn st -5.5 vs Northwestern
Arkansas +4.5 @ USC
Oklahoma -3 @ Texas A&M
Air Force -6.5 @ Army
Navy +2.5 @ ECU
Arkansas +4.5 @ USC
Oklahoma -3 @ Texas A&M
Air Force -6.5 @ Army
Navy +2.5 @ ECU
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Shoeless picks
Did not analyze much this week as I was on the road, but here we go:
Air Force -6.5 - Army has performed admirably this year, but simply think AF is a much better team.
Oregon st -4.5 - I love beavers
Texas -3.5 - This team is clearly not very good and I didn't expect them to beat the Bears, but at some point I feel they will answer the rally cry, and why not against K-State
Arizona +9.5 - very good matchup, too many points in my opinion
Mizzou-4 - Wow this looks like a trap game, but I think mizzou rallies after their embarrassment in Lincoln. They are still pretty good.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Pigskin Prognosticator Week 10 picks
Competition Record: 23-28-2
Hard Leans: 18-14
WVU: 3-4-1
Week 1: Competition Plays 1-4-1, Hard Leans 1-2
Week 2: Competition Plays 4-2, Hard Leans 2-3
Week 3: Competition Plays 4-2, Hard Leans 3-0
Week 4: Competition Plays 2-4, Hard Leans 1-1
Week 5: Competition Plays 2-3, Hard Leans 2-2
Week 6: Competition Plays 2-4, Hard Leans 2-1
Week 7: Competition Plays 4-2, Hard Leans 0-3
Week 8: Competition Plays 2-4, Hard Leans 3-2
Week 9 : Competition Plays 2-3-1, Hard Leans 4-0
Fitting that my hard leans sweep and my competition plays continue to struggle. Doing decent in fball but just can't pick the right ones for this blog. Oh well, that's the kind of year it's been.
Competition Plays
1.) Bama -6.5 at LSU
2.) Air Force -7 at Army
3.) Oregon State -4.5 at UCLA
4.) Nevada -10.5 at Idaho
5.) Rutgers +10 at USF
Hard Leans
1.) Florida -14 at Vandy
2.) Syracuse -6 vs Louisville
3.) Illinois +3 at Michigan
4.) UNC +10.5 at FSU
5.) Maryland +7.5 at Miami.
Hard Leans: 18-14
WVU: 3-4-1
Week 1: Competition Plays 1-4-1, Hard Leans 1-2
Week 2: Competition Plays 4-2, Hard Leans 2-3
Week 3: Competition Plays 4-2, Hard Leans 3-0
Week 4: Competition Plays 2-4, Hard Leans 1-1
Week 5: Competition Plays 2-3, Hard Leans 2-2
Week 6: Competition Plays 2-4, Hard Leans 2-1
Week 7: Competition Plays 4-2, Hard Leans 0-3
Week 8: Competition Plays 2-4, Hard Leans 3-2
Week 9 : Competition Plays 2-3-1, Hard Leans 4-0
Fitting that my hard leans sweep and my competition plays continue to struggle. Doing decent in fball but just can't pick the right ones for this blog. Oh well, that's the kind of year it's been.
Competition Plays
1.) Bama -6.5 at LSU
2.) Air Force -7 at Army
3.) Oregon State -4.5 at UCLA
4.) Nevada -10.5 at Idaho
5.) Rutgers +10 at USF
Hard Leans
1.) Florida -14 at Vandy
2.) Syracuse -6 vs Louisville
3.) Illinois +3 at Michigan
4.) UNC +10.5 at FSU
5.) Maryland +7.5 at Miami.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Pigskin Prognosticator Week 9 picks
Competition Record: 21-25-1
Hard Leans: 14-14
WVU: 3-3-1
Week 1: Competition Plays 1-4-1, Hard Leans 1-2
Week 2: Competition Plays 4-2, Hard Leans 2-3
Week 3: Competition Plays 4-2, Hard Leans 3-0
Week 4: Competition Plays 2-4, Hard Leans 1-1
Week 5: Competition Plays 2-3, Hard Leans 2-2
Week 6: Competition Plays 2-4, Hard Leans 2-1
Week 7: Competition Plays 4-2, Hard Leans 0-3
Week 8: Competition Plays 2-4, Hard Leans 3-2
Well at 6 games behind our fearless leader, it's time to rally or be a non-factor. I plan to do the former. As usual, I disagree very strongly with Aaron and Adam which, judging by my record is probably a good thing for them. I have to hope that eventually, some of the squarer, "more obvious" plays on the board stop hitting.
I will add analysis tomorrow but for now, just want to get the picks up. It will be a Saturday full of situational bets for me.
Competition Plays
1.) WVU -6.5 @ Uconn: I looked at every angle of this game and tried desperately to find something that would allow me to take the Huskies. I just couldn't find anything. The line is favorable due to our loss last week, and Zach Frazier is a walking turnover. We should be in a foul mood and out for blood and if that's the case, this game is an easy win. Love this spot for us.
2.) Kentucky +7 @ Miss St: This Kentucky team is on the verge of turning the corner and this will be the week it happens. Kentucky has played well in Starkville over the years. Don't let the score fool you in last weeks loss to Georgia...... Kentucky's defense played well only giving up 190 yards. Take a closer look at the boxscore 100 yards was by special teams on a kickoff return. So take the 100 yard return out of the equation and you have Kentucky D giving up 190 yds to Georgia's defense giving up 423 yards.
The last 5 games Kentucky'a record is 1-4 but they put up 31 or more points in that span.They can score at will and I think they stand a great chance to win straight up.
3.) Ole Miss +7 vs Auburn: This line tells you everything about how good the oddsmakers think Auburn really is. The number one team is only a TD favorite here to a team that has lost at home to Vanderbilt and Jacksonville State? Auburn has only played 2 road games, winning both by a FG.
The Tigers are coming off an emotional, physical game against LSU and are due for a letdown. Auburn's defense is absolutely nothing special. The Rebels are cranking out more than 400 yards and 30 points per game. Also, Gene Chizik admitted to going softer in practice this week to allow the Tigers some recovery. Finally, how about the Houston Nutt factor. In 12 plus years in the SEC the Right Reverend has beaten 21 ranked teams, 14 of them as an underdog. He almost always gets one a year. So I'm SAYIN THERE'S A CHANCE!!!
4.) Nebraska -7.5 vs Missouri: From Pat Forde - "Missouri has a football history that in many ways mirrors South Carolina's: Even the best of times tend to be tempered by some form of heartbreak." Will the statement win over Oklahoma leave Mizzou's tank empty in the second half in Lincoln?
5.) Oregon St. -2.5 vs Cal: It's not complicated folks. Bet Cal at home, fade them on the road.
6.) USC +6.5 vs Oregon: How is nobody talking about Matt Barkley for Heisman? He's got 20 TDs to just 4 ints and is on fire right now, having not thrown a pick in three straight games. The Trojans looked as though they put it together against California and have had a week off to scheme for the the Duck offense. While Monte Kiffin's defense has been suspect this year, give an old cus football coach a week to prepare when it's his team's super bowl, and I don't think you'll see Oregon running up and down the field as much this week. The "GameDay" trap dynamic is at play here as well for a fourth straight week after taking down Alabama, Ohio State and Oklahoma.
Hard Leans
1.) Temple -27.5 vs Akron (Sorry Grey Bush): Temple is the class of the MAC while Akron is likely the worst team in the country. Would have played anything under 5 TDs
2.) Iowa -6 vs Michigan State: Sparty has been a really nice story but let's face reality. They are undefeated largely because of 2 fake punts, one to survive at home against a bad Notre Dame team and one to survive on the road at a mediocre Northwestern team. The win and cover at NW was blind luck. This is in no way a dominant team and it's simply a matter of when, not if, the Spartans will get caught with their pants down. Kinnick Stadium and the opportunistic Hawkeys will take care of that.
3.) Maryland -5 vs Wake Forest: Simply thought this line was short and would have played anything under a TD.
4.) Air Force +7 vs Utah: They're almost all close in this series. They've played 26 times, and the difference in total points between the two is 19. Seventeen of the 26 meetings have been decided by eight or fewer points, including each of the past five. I would like the Falcons a lot more if fullback Jared Tew hadn't broken his leg against SDSU last week. Regardless, in a series like this, with two good teams, the smart money takes the points at home.
To borrow from golf vernacular, it's moving day for me this Saturday. With just five or six weeks to go it's time to put up or shut up.
Hard Leans: 14-14
WVU: 3-3-1
Week 1: Competition Plays 1-4-1, Hard Leans 1-2
Week 2: Competition Plays 4-2, Hard Leans 2-3
Week 3: Competition Plays 4-2, Hard Leans 3-0
Week 4: Competition Plays 2-4, Hard Leans 1-1
Week 5: Competition Plays 2-3, Hard Leans 2-2
Week 6: Competition Plays 2-4, Hard Leans 2-1
Week 7: Competition Plays 4-2, Hard Leans 0-3
Week 8: Competition Plays 2-4, Hard Leans 3-2
Well at 6 games behind our fearless leader, it's time to rally or be a non-factor. I plan to do the former. As usual, I disagree very strongly with Aaron and Adam which, judging by my record is probably a good thing for them. I have to hope that eventually, some of the squarer, "more obvious" plays on the board stop hitting.
I will add analysis tomorrow but for now, just want to get the picks up. It will be a Saturday full of situational bets for me.
Competition Plays
1.) WVU -6.5 @ Uconn: I looked at every angle of this game and tried desperately to find something that would allow me to take the Huskies. I just couldn't find anything. The line is favorable due to our loss last week, and Zach Frazier is a walking turnover. We should be in a foul mood and out for blood and if that's the case, this game is an easy win. Love this spot for us.
2.) Kentucky +7 @ Miss St: This Kentucky team is on the verge of turning the corner and this will be the week it happens. Kentucky has played well in Starkville over the years. Don't let the score fool you in last weeks loss to Georgia...... Kentucky's defense played well only giving up 190 yards. Take a closer look at the boxscore 100 yards was by special teams on a kickoff return. So take the 100 yard return out of the equation and you have Kentucky D giving up 190 yds to Georgia's defense giving up 423 yards.
The last 5 games Kentucky'a record is 1-4 but they put up 31 or more points in that span.They can score at will and I think they stand a great chance to win straight up.
3.) Ole Miss +7 vs Auburn: This line tells you everything about how good the oddsmakers think Auburn really is. The number one team is only a TD favorite here to a team that has lost at home to Vanderbilt and Jacksonville State? Auburn has only played 2 road games, winning both by a FG.
The Tigers are coming off an emotional, physical game against LSU and are due for a letdown. Auburn's defense is absolutely nothing special. The Rebels are cranking out more than 400 yards and 30 points per game. Also, Gene Chizik admitted to going softer in practice this week to allow the Tigers some recovery. Finally, how about the Houston Nutt factor. In 12 plus years in the SEC the Right Reverend has beaten 21 ranked teams, 14 of them as an underdog. He almost always gets one a year. So I'm SAYIN THERE'S A CHANCE!!!
4.) Nebraska -7.5 vs Missouri: From Pat Forde - "Missouri has a football history that in many ways mirrors South Carolina's: Even the best of times tend to be tempered by some form of heartbreak." Will the statement win over Oklahoma leave Mizzou's tank empty in the second half in Lincoln?
5.) Oregon St. -2.5 vs Cal: It's not complicated folks. Bet Cal at home, fade them on the road.
6.) USC +6.5 vs Oregon: How is nobody talking about Matt Barkley for Heisman? He's got 20 TDs to just 4 ints and is on fire right now, having not thrown a pick in three straight games. The Trojans looked as though they put it together against California and have had a week off to scheme for the the Duck offense. While Monte Kiffin's defense has been suspect this year, give an old cus football coach a week to prepare when it's his team's super bowl, and I don't think you'll see Oregon running up and down the field as much this week. The "GameDay" trap dynamic is at play here as well for a fourth straight week after taking down Alabama, Ohio State and Oklahoma.
Hard Leans
1.) Temple -27.5 vs Akron (Sorry Grey Bush): Temple is the class of the MAC while Akron is likely the worst team in the country. Would have played anything under 5 TDs
2.) Iowa -6 vs Michigan State: Sparty has been a really nice story but let's face reality. They are undefeated largely because of 2 fake punts, one to survive at home against a bad Notre Dame team and one to survive on the road at a mediocre Northwestern team. The win and cover at NW was blind luck. This is in no way a dominant team and it's simply a matter of when, not if, the Spartans will get caught with their pants down. Kinnick Stadium and the opportunistic Hawkeys will take care of that.
3.) Maryland -5 vs Wake Forest: Simply thought this line was short and would have played anything under a TD.
4.) Air Force +7 vs Utah: They're almost all close in this series. They've played 26 times, and the difference in total points between the two is 19. Seventeen of the 26 meetings have been decided by eight or fewer points, including each of the past five. I would like the Falcons a lot more if fullback Jared Tew hadn't broken his leg against SDSU last week. Regardless, in a series like this, with two good teams, the smart money takes the points at home.
To borrow from golf vernacular, it's moving day for me this Saturday. With just five or six weeks to go it's time to put up or shut up.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Why would you steal the Grey Bush's Identity of all people?
Sure, we all thought he was just getting in line to gaze at the great tits of Jenn Sterger before she inked a Maxim deal, and who could blame him? Matter of fact we would all be jealous and at least the Shoeless Hillbilly would have a bulge big enough in his pants that Greg Hunter would've had to crop this picture above the belt line (Pigskin would've still had an "inny"). The thing is though, C-Rich wasn't just taking a peek at those taters, he was on the ground floor of a growing crisis in America of identity theft. Our good buddy had the foresight to know that some day some high profiled man slut would come calling and likely send Jenny a bushy grey dick pic, thus stealing GB's patented identity.
I have no doubt that C-Rich was all ready persuading Sterger that telling the truth and protecting the innocent is more important than protecting the rich and famous, who don't have a clue of when to hang it up. Thanks to him, Jenn found it within herself to go against the old boy network of the NFL and call a spade a spade. Hopefully our own Grey Bush will be able return to his normal life soon.
This Yuengling is for you C-Rich.
-Shoeless
Flying Potato-Week Nine Picks
Boise St. -37.5 vs Louisiana Tech
Miami -14.5 @ UVA
Auburn -7 @ Ole’ Miss
Mizzou +7.5 @ Nebraska
Texas -7 vs Baylor
WVU-6.5 @ UCONN
Miami -14.5 @ UVA
Auburn -7 @ Ole’ Miss
Mizzou +7.5 @ Nebraska
Texas -7 vs Baylor
WVU-6.5 @ UCONN
Monday, October 25, 2010
Betting with the Angry Old Man, Week Nine
Plus-sized picks brought to you by my plus-sized house guest!
HEY BABY!
(Home team in CAPS)
BOISE STATE -37.5 v. Louisiana Tech
The Broncos are just plain good. The Techsters (or whatever the hell they are called) are not. Take Boise on the blue turf!
Auburn -7 @ MISSISSIPPI
For the record, I think someone is going to bottle up Cameron Newton and knock off Auburn this season, just not Admiral Ackbar.
Utah -7 @ AIR FORCE
Again, I believe Utah is the best team from all the non-AQ conferences. Air Force is a damn tough team, but I think Utah has enough firepower to win by 10-ish.
Arizona -8 @ UCLA
After seeing the Fighting Neuheisels' disappearing act last week, I think Arizona should handle this one by 2 TDs.
ROAD DOGG OF THE WEEK
Florida +2.5 @ Georgia
So, I'm 1-2 betting Flo-Rida this season, but I think this one could be the Gators' comeback game... or they will completely roll over and pack it in for 2010. Why do I insist on betting on Urban Meyer?
THE HOMER CALL
West Virginia -6.5 @ CONNECTICUT
Next stop on the Jeff Mullen Farewell Tour: Storrs, Connecticut!
- Grey Bush
HEY BABY!(Home team in CAPS)
BOISE STATE -37.5 v. Louisiana Tech
The Broncos are just plain good. The Techsters (or whatever the hell they are called) are not. Take Boise on the blue turf!
Auburn -7 @ MISSISSIPPI
For the record, I think someone is going to bottle up Cameron Newton and knock off Auburn this season, just not Admiral Ackbar.
Utah -7 @ AIR FORCE
Again, I believe Utah is the best team from all the non-AQ conferences. Air Force is a damn tough team, but I think Utah has enough firepower to win by 10-ish.
Arizona -8 @ UCLA
After seeing the Fighting Neuheisels' disappearing act last week, I think Arizona should handle this one by 2 TDs.
ROAD DOGG OF THE WEEK
Florida +2.5 @ Georgia
So, I'm 1-2 betting Flo-Rida this season, but I think this one could be the Gators' comeback game... or they will completely roll over and pack it in for 2010. Why do I insist on betting on Urban Meyer?
THE HOMER CALL
West Virginia -6.5 @ CONNECTICUT
Next stop on the Jeff Mullen Farewell Tour: Storrs, Connecticut!
- Grey Bush
Betting against Shoeless
Cooled off a bit last week, but still beat all of you schmucks. Surely the Grey Bush will say some bullshit about not having time to pick, obviously because he stayed home with some chubbies instead of tailgating, or because he picks real games . . . simply put his weekend was an embarrassment.
Boise -37.5: I hate messing around with large lines like this, but right now Boise is a broken record or ass whuppings. Why should I have confidence in La Tech?
Louis-Ville +9.5: I am a believer, a non-believer in Pitt, simply put.
Tulsa +8: Notre Dame is putrid and Tulsa is putting up a ton of points, as usual. Any chance I can realistically bet against team NBC, I will welcome the opportunity.
Michigan -1.5: I said id bet against Dick Rod until the line corrected itself. It appears that it has here. Albeit PSU is at home here in a night game, Michigan does look to be clearly the better team here.
Oregon State -2.5: Cal is pretty damn unpredictable, but I think that is a product of just shittiness. This is far from a bold prediction, but Oregon St is the best 3 loss team in the country. Their three losses come vs TCU in Dallas, at Boise, and at Washington in double OT.
WVU -6.5: No excuse for losing to Syracuse, none. However, Uconn is terrible. If the Eers don't recover and beat this spread, we are in major trouble. If we figure out a way to lose, Bill Stewart is in major trouble.
Boise -37.5: I hate messing around with large lines like this, but right now Boise is a broken record or ass whuppings. Why should I have confidence in La Tech?
Louis-Ville +9.5: I am a believer, a non-believer in Pitt, simply put.
Tulsa +8: Notre Dame is putrid and Tulsa is putting up a ton of points, as usual. Any chance I can realistically bet against team NBC, I will welcome the opportunity.
Michigan -1.5: I said id bet against Dick Rod until the line corrected itself. It appears that it has here. Albeit PSU is at home here in a night game, Michigan does look to be clearly the better team here.
Oregon State -2.5: Cal is pretty damn unpredictable, but I think that is a product of just shittiness. This is far from a bold prediction, but Oregon St is the best 3 loss team in the country. Their three losses come vs TCU in Dallas, at Boise, and at Washington in double OT.
WVU -6.5: No excuse for losing to Syracuse, none. However, Uconn is terrible. If the Eers don't recover and beat this spread, we are in major trouble. If we figure out a way to lose, Bill Stewart is in major trouble.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Betting with the Angry Old Man, Week Eight
I guess its too late to take Oregon?
(Picks in bold)
South Florida @ -8 Cincinnati
Oklahoma -3 @ Missouri
Michigan State -6 @ Northwestern
South Carolina -12 @ Vanderbilt
ROAD DOGG OF THE WEEK
Rutgers +13 @ Pitt
HOMER CALL
Syracuse @ -14 West Virginia
- Grey Bush
(Picks in bold)
South Florida @ -8 Cincinnati
Oklahoma -3 @ Missouri
Michigan State -6 @ Northwestern
South Carolina -12 @ Vanderbilt
ROAD DOGG OF THE WEEK
Rutgers +13 @ Pitt
HOMER CALL
Syracuse @ -14 West Virginia
- Grey Bush
Flying Potato-Week Eight Picks
CINCY -7.5 vs USF
LSU +6 @ Auburn
Oklahoma -3 @ Mizzou
TCU -18.5 vs Air Force
BC -4 vs Mayland
WVU -14 vs Syracuse
LSU +6 @ Auburn
Oklahoma -3 @ Mizzou
TCU -18.5 vs Air Force
BC -4 vs Mayland
WVU -14 vs Syracuse
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
The Email
Dear EFAs,
Another solid victory sends the Mountaineers onto 5-1 with the only worry in mind that we don’t get complacent while on cruise control through the Big East. However, the 14 point victory of USF inevitably has the Stew Bashers out in full force on how we got “conservative” in the second half and played not to lose by running the ball. Never mind the fact that it is only the second time we have ever scored 20 or more points against USF. Don’t tell anyone, but personally I thought the play calling, albeit more run oriented, was still pretty good. Heaven forbid we pitch the ball around in the second half, Geno throws a pick-six, and all of a sudden Oliver Luck has an overloaded email inbox complaining about how our coach can’t follow conventional wisdom of running the ball with a lead, good field position, and a stout defense.
I get criticism from people for wasting my time and money to my football devotion by writing these long winded tirades, blog posts, buying season tickets, traveling to way away games etc., but at least at the end of the day, I have the sanity to sit back and actually enjoy it. I could probably donate an ice cold keg of beer to half our fanbase and they would simply reply that they prefer their beer warm and skunked. The frustrating thing to me is that you cannot have a reasonable conversation about the pro’s and con’s of our football team because defending Bill Stewart has become similar to voting for either Obama or Mccain where you have to be fervently on one side or the other. I’ll end my rant with this: Rich Rod (that dude you all hate, remember) is gone, he left on his own accord, and he ain’t coming back. We are 5-1, our defense is the best defense that we have had in over a decade, is terrific to watch (how many yrs did we bitch about not having one?), has been ranked in the top ten all year, and after this weekend the whole team will likely be ranked in the mid teens with an easy path to a BCS bowl. Have a beer, have some food that will clog four arteries at once, and enjoy the ride.
Homecoming Tailgate
I regret to say that the BeerZooka will be retired for at least one tailgate. When the great creator gave forth the frothy refreshment known as beer, he intended for it to be consumed in a modest time span of 3-8 seconds. Recent experiments with the BeerZooka, or Paint Stick, have pushed time frames down to a point that we are flirting with sub 2 seconds. Clearly we are on a slippery slope that the creator did not intend for, similar to cloning. If we don’t watch out, sooner or later we are going to have a whole flock of hammered Dolly’s running around Morgantown, puking grass balls up everywhere and while that is amusing, that is one hell of a cleanup mess. The BeerZooka could well tear a hole in the time space continuum and launch the tailgate straight into LOST. It would take Doc Brown to get us back safely before Biff Tannen gets his sports almanac and dominates the Blog Betting. This leads us to a deep question, if the tailgate were relegated to LOST, would the Brown Lot be “The Others”?
The Paint Stick is currently under review from the NASCAR competition committee and we should hear back by next week (they like fast things, but try to put in that safety bull shit). Hopefully getting Paint Sticked won’t become a restrictor plate event and we can settle for the Hans Device.
By the way, feel free to stop by this weekend and participate as a judge in the great pulled pork cookoff. It’s great because I’m cooking and I do good things with Swine.
Talking about homecoming, I’ve never really got all that fired up for homecoming. All the shenanigans on the field before the game are lame and a bad excuse to leave the tailgate early for, but I guess I go to every game so it’s a bit different. Alas there are always a lot of people in town, so undoubtedly by the end of it I will feel like Amy Winehouse by Sunday morning.
Just What the Doctor Ordered?
I don’t think any reasonable person thought Marshall was going to be worth their weight in toilet paper this year, but can we take down the billboards already? I mean seriously, for all the shit talk about stealing recruits and the renaissance of Marshall football, how does it feel to be 1-5 and outscored 212-110? Here is some free advice, if you are going to peg your season around beating one and one team only for the entire season, try beating them once. The only team they beat, Ohio, at least got their lickings in on the Buckeye when they played team Sweater Vest. What do you have to say for yourselves? They should just go ahead and play Memphis, so they can get a 2nd win of the season and just throw in the towel. Hell with the fan support they get, they have to be running in the negatives for just turning lights on at Joan Jett stadium.
Random Musings
How terrible is Rutgers? They get beat at home by Tulane and have to stage a major 4th quarter comeback to beat Army. Seriously? Rumor is that Schiano took down all the Keep Chopping wood signs in the locker room in favor of keep whittling twigs.
On a serious note, for all following the paralyzed Rutgers player from last weekend, here is a good story documenting the comeback of former Penn State player Adam Taliaferro who was given a 3% chance of walking after his spinal injury.
Something has to come to a head this weekend when undefeated Auburn meets undefeated LSU. Both teams have had extremely close games this year and came out unscathed on the other end, but certainly have not had the same publicity. The Mad Hatter at LSU has been vilified by winning in ridiculous scenarios and seemingly all WVU fans want them to lose, cause we lost to them . . . other than bitterness, someone please explain to me the logic there. Chizik’s crew has been powered by JUCO transfer Cam Newton who is in fact a distant cousin to Cam Thoroughman, which means he is certifiably bad ass. I’m picking the Auburn tiger to break out of his cage, intercept the ball, get tripped by a streaking Auburn chick (yes!), and then picking up a fumble, Jarrett Lee scampers for a TD for the win. Geaux Les Miles!
Another great 3:30 lineup: LSU/Auburn, Nebraska v undefeated Ok St., Wisconsin/Iowa, and Uconn/Ville for us BE freaks. There are ten undefeated teams left in the country, 7 in the BCS conferences, two of which must lose (mizzou v Oklahoma are both undefeated), and Ok state and Michigan state both have tricky matchups. Some may snicker at MSU prediction, but I think they will get tripped up by a random team, and NW could certainly do it.
I had one of my best weekends betting ever. I went 5-1 over on the blog, and in weekly pool went 15-5, losing a tiebreaker to come in second for the week in heartbreaking fashion. Came down to a pick-em in the Oregon State v Washington game. I have Oregon State, who is down 21-0, we come back to tie it in a fury, then have a 2 qtr stalemate. Miss the 2 pt conversion in double overtime for the win at 2 in the morning and 43.5 beers in. I was crushed, but quickly passed away into the night. Ah well perfection is always one cover away.
Taking a lot of Big East games this week; I like Cincy and Louisville to cover coming out of their home run derby of last week and with all the shit I talk on Rutgers, which is well deserved, Pitt is pretty terrible as well. I like the 12 points RU is getting there.
Much Love,
Al
Pigskin Prgnosticator Week 8 Picks
Competition Record: 19-21-1
Hard Leans: 11-12
WVU: 3-2-1
Week 1: Competition Plays 1-4-1, Hard Leans 1-2
Week 2: Competition Plays 4-2, Hard Leans 2-3
Week 3: Competition Plays 4-2, Hard Leans 3-0
Week 4: Competition Plays 2-4, Hard Leans 1-1
Week 5: Competition Plays 2-3, Hard Leans 2-2
Week 6: Competition Plays 2-4, Hard Leans 2-1
Week 7: Competition Plays 4-2, Hard Leans 0-3
Well I got back on track in the competition plays but still had a losing week thanks to the hard lean failures. I have to admit, I love this card more than any so far this year, which probably means I'll go 3-7. There are tons of great situational spots. The only game I'm not actually betting is WVU and I'll be very disappointed if I don't go at least 6-4 this week. And away we go.
1.) Iowa -5.5 vs Wisconsin: Huge letdown spot at Kinnick Stadium on Saturday. Hawks win comfortably.
2.) Northwestern +5 vs Michigan State: Favorite play of the week. I view the Wildcats loss to Purdue as a departure from the norm and this is a classic look ahead spot for Sparty with Iowa on deck. I like Northwestern to win this one straight up and end the Grey Bush's dream of an undefeated season for Sparty.
3.) Georgia -3.5 at UK: The desperate Dawgs have figured it out offensively and could still factor into the SEC East race seeing as how that once proud division has turned into an underachieving pile of mediocrity this year. Add in a a letdown spot for the Cats and I like Georgia to get this done.
4.) LSU +6 at Auburn: I'm starting to get that team of destiny feel with the LSU. Think Ohio State circa 2002. That was a team that could have easily been 7-5 or 8-4 but just found a way every week. We'll see how Cam Newton fairs against a nasty defense. I just hope it's close late so Les Miles can screw something up and yet still phone one in to Lucifer in his apparent deal with the Devil.
5.) ECU -12.5 vs Marshall: I have tremendous respect for Vegas and I don't throw the term "gift" around very often but this is just ridiculous. There is no way Marshall's young secondary can stop this passing attack. I guess the books are counting on the Herd to score with them by taking advantage of a porous Pirate defense, but MU has yet to play competitive at all on the road. That trend continues this week.
6.) WVU -14 vs Syracuse: If Pitt can score 45 on the road pitching a catching the football, we should have similar success.
Hard Leans
1.) SMU -7.5 vs Houston
2.) Cincy -7.5 vs USF
3.) Nebraska -5.5 at Okie State: Pokes are frauds and pretenders plain and simple. Let's see how they do against the nation's best pass defense.
4.) Louisville -1 vs Uconn: An easy line just got easier with the suspension of the Huskies starting guard and QB Cody Endres, who finally seemed to give Uconn some life offensively. You have to think Edsall regrets not taking another job at this point. Good preseason conf champ pick Herbie.
5.) Cal -3.5 vs Arizona State: This one looks scary on the surface, especially in light of the Bears stinker at USC last week. Scary that is until you realize that the Bears are perhaps the most Jekyl and Hyde team between home vs away in the country. Consider these stats: Home: 3-0, winning by a combined score of 139-17. Road: 0-3, losing by a combined score of 110-54. This one's at home vs a woefully underachieving ASU squad.
Hard Leans: 11-12
WVU: 3-2-1
Week 1: Competition Plays 1-4-1, Hard Leans 1-2
Week 2: Competition Plays 4-2, Hard Leans 2-3
Week 3: Competition Plays 4-2, Hard Leans 3-0
Week 4: Competition Plays 2-4, Hard Leans 1-1
Week 5: Competition Plays 2-3, Hard Leans 2-2
Week 6: Competition Plays 2-4, Hard Leans 2-1
Week 7: Competition Plays 4-2, Hard Leans 0-3
Well I got back on track in the competition plays but still had a losing week thanks to the hard lean failures. I have to admit, I love this card more than any so far this year, which probably means I'll go 3-7. There are tons of great situational spots. The only game I'm not actually betting is WVU and I'll be very disappointed if I don't go at least 6-4 this week. And away we go.
1.) Iowa -5.5 vs Wisconsin: Huge letdown spot at Kinnick Stadium on Saturday. Hawks win comfortably.
2.) Northwestern +5 vs Michigan State: Favorite play of the week. I view the Wildcats loss to Purdue as a departure from the norm and this is a classic look ahead spot for Sparty with Iowa on deck. I like Northwestern to win this one straight up and end the Grey Bush's dream of an undefeated season for Sparty.
3.) Georgia -3.5 at UK: The desperate Dawgs have figured it out offensively and could still factor into the SEC East race seeing as how that once proud division has turned into an underachieving pile of mediocrity this year. Add in a a letdown spot for the Cats and I like Georgia to get this done.
4.) LSU +6 at Auburn: I'm starting to get that team of destiny feel with the LSU. Think Ohio State circa 2002. That was a team that could have easily been 7-5 or 8-4 but just found a way every week. We'll see how Cam Newton fairs against a nasty defense. I just hope it's close late so Les Miles can screw something up and yet still phone one in to Lucifer in his apparent deal with the Devil.
5.) ECU -12.5 vs Marshall: I have tremendous respect for Vegas and I don't throw the term "gift" around very often but this is just ridiculous. There is no way Marshall's young secondary can stop this passing attack. I guess the books are counting on the Herd to score with them by taking advantage of a porous Pirate defense, but MU has yet to play competitive at all on the road. That trend continues this week.
6.) WVU -14 vs Syracuse: If Pitt can score 45 on the road pitching a catching the football, we should have similar success.
Hard Leans
1.) SMU -7.5 vs Houston
2.) Cincy -7.5 vs USF
3.) Nebraska -5.5 at Okie State: Pokes are frauds and pretenders plain and simple. Let's see how they do against the nation's best pass defense.
4.) Louisville -1 vs Uconn: An easy line just got easier with the suspension of the Huskies starting guard and QB Cody Endres, who finally seemed to give Uconn some life offensively. You have to think Edsall regrets not taking another job at this point. Good preseason conf champ pick Herbie.
5.) Cal -3.5 vs Arizona State: This one looks scary on the surface, especially in light of the Bears stinker at USC last week. Scary that is until you realize that the Bears are perhaps the most Jekyl and Hyde team between home vs away in the country. Consider these stats: Home: 3-0, winning by a combined score of 139-17. Road: 0-3, losing by a combined score of 110-54. This one's at home vs a woefully underachieving ASU squad.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Picking w/no Shoes on
Last week I was almost as good as picking bets as I am my nose, but you know what they say, what comes down must go back up . . . in other words, I probably wont be able to pick a booger or a line this week. I am betting a lot of lines this week that appear to be homer lines, but fuck it, I like em.
WVU -14: The way Tino Sunseri lit up Syracuse's secondary, you gotta think we roll here.
Staying with the Big East for the next three:
BIG EAST Roadshow!:
Rutgers +13: Rutgers is terrible. Terrible, but so is Pitt. RU typically has had Pitt's number. I see this one close.
Louis-Ville +2: This one is a bit dangerous. Uconn had a week off to get shit straight and ville had a tough one that left Papa John's faggot ass in tears. Im drinking the Kool-Aid tho
Cincy -7.5: Another dangerous pick, but I think cincy is back and while Skippy's defense is nasty, they wont be able to contain the Fighting Butches. USF will finally hit the scoreboard against this attrochious defense, but inevitably Daniels will fuck it up.
South Carolina -12: Ok, I am going with 80% of the country, so this is a major homer pick, but Vandy is bad, and I think Kentucky was an aberration. They take out frustration on Vandy.
Wisconsin +5.5: I am not buying the Badger Kool Aid, as that would probably taste like shit. I think Iowa will win, but 3 points is a more appropriate line.
WVU -14: The way Tino Sunseri lit up Syracuse's secondary, you gotta think we roll here.
Staying with the Big East for the next three:
BIG EAST Roadshow!:
Rutgers +13: Rutgers is terrible. Terrible, but so is Pitt. RU typically has had Pitt's number. I see this one close.
Louis-Ville +2: This one is a bit dangerous. Uconn had a week off to get shit straight and ville had a tough one that left Papa John's faggot ass in tears. Im drinking the Kool-Aid tho
Cincy -7.5: Another dangerous pick, but I think cincy is back and while Skippy's defense is nasty, they wont be able to contain the Fighting Butches. USF will finally hit the scoreboard against this attrochious defense, but inevitably Daniels will fuck it up.
South Carolina -12: Ok, I am going with 80% of the country, so this is a major homer pick, but Vandy is bad, and I think Kentucky was an aberration. They take out frustration on Vandy.
Wisconsin +5.5: I am not buying the Badger Kool Aid, as that would probably taste like shit. I think Iowa will win, but 3 points is a more appropriate line.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Flying Potato-Week Seven Picks
WVU -10 vs USF
UNC -6.5 @ UVA
Nebraska -9.5 vs Texas
Wisconsin +3.5 vs OSU
USC -2.5 vs Cal
PITT +1 @ 'Cuse
UNC -6.5 @ UVA
Nebraska -9.5 vs Texas
Wisconsin +3.5 vs OSU
USC -2.5 vs Cal
PITT +1 @ 'Cuse
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
BREAKING NEWS ALERT!
Yes, gentlemen, pay very close attention. This affects all of us.
A major porn star has tested positive for HIV, and the porn industry has been shut down, indefinitely.
This is the first porn industry shut down in 6 years. In 2004, a porn star tested positive for HIV (reportedly from filming in Brazil), and 3 other actresses were found to have been affected. Testing will begin immediately for all performers on the "quarantine list" and should expect to take several weeks. This is like Outbreak meets 28 Days Later.
On question lingering remains: Now how will we fill all our free time?
- Grey Bush
US porn industry thrown into crisis after actor tests positive for HIV [guardian.co.uk]
A major porn star has tested positive for HIV, and the porn industry has been shut down, indefinitely.
This is the first porn industry shut down in 6 years. In 2004, a porn star tested positive for HIV (reportedly from filming in Brazil), and 3 other actresses were found to have been affected. Testing will begin immediately for all performers on the "quarantine list" and should expect to take several weeks. This is like Outbreak meets 28 Days Later.
On question lingering remains: Now how will we fill all our free time?
- Grey Bush
US porn industry thrown into crisis after actor tests positive for HIV [guardian.co.uk]
Betting With The Angry Old Man, Week Seven
Appreciate that the Pigskin Progger finally picked some games that matter. Also, glad to see that the Army-Rutgers line stayed at 7, schmuck.
Now, on to games that people care about (Home teams in CAPS)...
NC State -7 @ EAST CAROLINA
Russell Wilson leads the Pack to victory in this in-state battle of directional Carolina. Look for him to be a Heisman sleeper in 2011.
South Carolina -4.5 @ KENTUCKY
Kentucky's performance last week was more a reflection of Auburn playing poorly on the road than their actual skill. Cocky parlays last week's momentum into a big road win.
FLORIDA -7.5 v. Mississippi State
Does anyone really think Urban Meyer is going to lose a 3rd straight conference game? Getting a Bulldogs-squad in their second consecutive road game only re-enforces my confidence here.
Boise State -39.5 @ SAN JOSE STATE
"But Grey Bush, you told us last week that Sparty was for real? Oh, thaaaaat Sparty..."
ROAD DOGG OF THE WEEK:
Texas +9.5 @ Nebraska
Mack Brown will have his boys ready to send Nebraska off to the Big Eleven in style.
THE HOMER CALL:
WEST VIRGINIA -10 v. South Florida
I learned my lesson last week. Even on a sloppy track, take the 'Eers.
- Grey Bush
Now, on to games that people care about (Home teams in CAPS)...
NC State -7 @ EAST CAROLINA
Russell Wilson leads the Pack to victory in this in-state battle of directional Carolina. Look for him to be a Heisman sleeper in 2011.
South Carolina -4.5 @ KENTUCKY
Kentucky's performance last week was more a reflection of Auburn playing poorly on the road than their actual skill. Cocky parlays last week's momentum into a big road win.
FLORIDA -7.5 v. Mississippi State
Does anyone really think Urban Meyer is going to lose a 3rd straight conference game? Getting a Bulldogs-squad in their second consecutive road game only re-enforces my confidence here.
Boise State -39.5 @ SAN JOSE STATE
"But Grey Bush, you told us last week that Sparty was for real? Oh, thaaaaat Sparty..."
ROAD DOGG OF THE WEEK:
Texas +9.5 @ Nebraska
Mack Brown will have his boys ready to send Nebraska off to the Big Eleven in style.
THE HOMER CALL:
WEST VIRGINIA -10 v. South Florida
I learned my lesson last week. Even on a sloppy track, take the 'Eers.
- Grey Bush
Betting against Shoeless
Wanna talk about Identity Theft Grey Bush???? Some faggot at Michigan is running around calling himself Shoelace; clearly living off the fame of Shoeless. Bastard aint worth my coon dog Rufus's shit.
Gotta take the eer's at -10. Line is going the wrong way which gots me scared, but Im a believer.
I am finally seeing the light of the service academies Army +7, Rutgers blows
Arkansas +4 . . . I think Auburn is due to fall eventually. they are good but they are winning games incredibly close, and this is probably the best team they have played, except maybe usc.
Iowa -3 . . . same as last week, bet against Michigan until the lines seriously even out.
Cincy -2.5 . . . like em at a FG to win. I think Cincy will right this ship, although I said the same about Uconn. I also think the ville will upset some teams in the BE, I just don't think this is it, especially since this is a Rivalry game. Hopefully butch jones has studied up on the Keg of Nails and kept his team off from kegs of Iron City.
Souther miss -14.5 . . . fuck it, its my dynasty team and memphis is terrible
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Pigskin Prgnosticator Week 7 Picks
Competition Record: 15-19-1
Hard Leans: 11-9
WVU: 2-2-1
Week 1: Competition Plays 1-4-1, Hard Leans 1-2
Week 2: Competition Plays 4-2, Hard Leans 2-3
Week 3: Competition Plays 4-2, Hard Leans 3-0
Week 4: Competition Plays 2-4, Hard Leans 1-1
Week 5: Competition Plays 2-3, Hard Leans 2-2
Week 6: Competition Plays 2-4, Hard Leans 2-1
Embarrassing Performance through the first half of the season.
1.) UCF -5 at Marshall
2.) WVU -10.5 vs USF
3.) USC -2.5 vs Cal
4.) Iowa -3 at Michigan
5.) Texas A&M -3 vs Missouri
6.) Louisville +3 vs Cincy
Hard Leans
1.) Kansas +3 vs Kansas State
2.) SMU +1.5 at Navy
3.) Texas Tech -3 vs Okie State
Hard Leans: 11-9
WVU: 2-2-1
Week 1: Competition Plays 1-4-1, Hard Leans 1-2
Week 2: Competition Plays 4-2, Hard Leans 2-3
Week 3: Competition Plays 4-2, Hard Leans 3-0
Week 4: Competition Plays 2-4, Hard Leans 1-1
Week 5: Competition Plays 2-3, Hard Leans 2-2
Week 6: Competition Plays 2-4, Hard Leans 2-1
Embarrassing Performance through the first half of the season.
1.) UCF -5 at Marshall
2.) WVU -10.5 vs USF
3.) USC -2.5 vs Cal
4.) Iowa -3 at Michigan
5.) Texas A&M -3 vs Missouri
6.) Louisville +3 vs Cincy
Hard Leans
1.) Kansas +3 vs Kansas State
2.) SMU +1.5 at Navy
3.) Texas Tech -3 vs Okie State
Week 6 Helmet Stickers
As I take a quick look back at last weekend I feel that we need to start handing out weekly awards. So starting with week 6 here we go.
Inebriation Award: This one goes to the Grey Bush. He destroyed all competition this week with his drinking performance. Gibbies, check. Bugsys, check. My Garage, check. Musket, check. Mutts, check. Sheetz, check. He could not have done it without the help of the Beerkake paint stick which allows one to drink multiple beers in mere seconds.
Tailgating parent of the Week: Nancy Searles, a long way from home she showed up ready for four quarters of football and Tequilla Jelly. Represent young lady!
Text of the Week: FUCK!!! Sent by the Grey Bush in his angry old man ways, origin unknown.
Beer Ponger of the Week: The Flying Potato who went undefeated…while wearing a hot dog costume.
Best Dressed: Shoeless. His puke laden shoes were a nice compliment to his incredibly wrinkled jersey.
Play of the Week: Holly and Shoeless in their efforts to have Jersey Subs deliver to the tailgate. Their research to find someone to bring the food to us was huge as the beer munchies set in during the tailgate was very nice!
Ice of the Week: The Flying Potato was iced by none other than his sister at bugsys as she presented him with a Smirnoff wrapped in a garbage bag…humiliation ensued.
Comback performace of the Week: The entire TEAM MVP Tailgate it wasn’t easy but once they found their stride all members were and unstoppable force doing work on beers until 3:30 the next morning.
Congrats to all of out Week 6 award winners; this is the kind of stuff that keeps us all coming back, year after year, week after week. We have a quick turn around this week but that’s why we train our minds and bodies all year round.
-The Flying Potato
Inebriation Award: This one goes to the Grey Bush. He destroyed all competition this week with his drinking performance. Gibbies, check. Bugsys, check. My Garage, check. Musket, check. Mutts, check. Sheetz, check. He could not have done it without the help of the Beerkake paint stick which allows one to drink multiple beers in mere seconds.
Tailgating parent of the Week: Nancy Searles, a long way from home she showed up ready for four quarters of football and Tequilla Jelly. Represent young lady!
Text of the Week: FUCK!!! Sent by the Grey Bush in his angry old man ways, origin unknown.
Beer Ponger of the Week: The Flying Potato who went undefeated…while wearing a hot dog costume.
Best Dressed: Shoeless. His puke laden shoes were a nice compliment to his incredibly wrinkled jersey.
Play of the Week: Holly and Shoeless in their efforts to have Jersey Subs deliver to the tailgate. Their research to find someone to bring the food to us was huge as the beer munchies set in during the tailgate was very nice!
Ice of the Week: The Flying Potato was iced by none other than his sister at bugsys as she presented him with a Smirnoff wrapped in a garbage bag…humiliation ensued.
Comback performace of the Week: The entire TEAM MVP Tailgate it wasn’t easy but once they found their stride all members were and unstoppable force doing work on beers until 3:30 the next morning.
Congrats to all of out Week 6 award winners; this is the kind of stuff that keeps us all coming back, year after year, week after week. We have a quick turn around this week but that’s why we train our minds and bodies all year round.
-The Flying Potato
Monday, October 11, 2010
Will the REAL Grey Bush Please Stand Up?
***EDITOR'S NOTE*** It is with regret that we must inform the devotees of the Team MVP Army that due to the potentially offensive nature of this post (even more than normal), many of the links in this article are NSFW. This means that if you work in a sensitive environment, where your employer may monitor your Internet activity, please do not click on the links. And for the love of God, don't show this to your kids...
Ladies and gentlemen, as I'm certain you have heard by now, there is an impostor in our midsts.
A man has taken steps to ruin my good name, to defame and slander the reputation of class that I have meticulously built over the years. This man will take advantage of young women who are unsuspecting of his devious ways. This man cannot be trusted, and his manipulative ways cannot be allowed to continue. This man must be stopped and the record must be set straight. Brett Favre's twisted, devious hoax must stop now.
Ladies and gentlemen of Team MVP Nation, I come before you tonight to dispell the rumors and leave no doubt that I am the true Grey Bush.
That's right my friends! The mystery impostor is the one and only Brett Favre; gallivanting about the town, sending pictures of his naughty bits to unsuspecting young ladies, misrepresenting himself as a true grey bush. I assure you that as sure as I stand here today before my legions of adoring fans, that this bush is not mine! Brett Fraud, err... Favre has been exposed as a grey bush "poser" by deadspin.com and video evidence of his tryst can be found here. Maybe there wasn't something about Mary after all.
the impostor "grey bush" in question
We at Team MVP cannot, and will not stand for this fabrication and adulteration of the facts (although the whole "Pants On The Ground" thing from last season absolutely makes more sense now). General Larry Platt would not be pleased.
Ladies and gentleman, do not trust this man, he is an impostor and cannot be trusted.
But God love Jenn Sterger!
- The REAL Grey Bush
Epilogue: For those that don't know, Jenn Sterger is more than just your average "pretty-face" sideline reporter. She was accidentally discovered in 2005 by Brent Musberger during the Florida State-Miami game and immediately became an internet sensation and adopted mascot/sex symbol for the university (all apologies to Chief Osceola and Renegade). She did photo shoots for Maxim and Playboy magazines, but her popularity waned a bit after making the decision to reduce the influence of her "biggest assets."
Ladies and gentlemen, as I'm certain you have heard by now, there is an impostor in our midsts.
A man has taken steps to ruin my good name, to defame and slander the reputation of class that I have meticulously built over the years. This man will take advantage of young women who are unsuspecting of his devious ways. This man cannot be trusted, and his manipulative ways cannot be allowed to continue. This man must be stopped and the record must be set straight. Brett Favre's twisted, devious hoax must stop now.
Ladies and gentlemen of Team MVP Nation, I come before you tonight to dispell the rumors and leave no doubt that I am the true Grey Bush.
That's right my friends! The mystery impostor is the one and only Brett Favre; gallivanting about the town, sending pictures of his naughty bits to unsuspecting young ladies, misrepresenting himself as a true grey bush. I assure you that as sure as I stand here today before my legions of adoring fans, that this bush is not mine! Brett Fraud, err... Favre has been exposed as a grey bush "poser" by deadspin.com and video evidence of his tryst can be found here. Maybe there wasn't something about Mary after all.
the impostor "grey bush" in questionWe at Team MVP cannot, and will not stand for this fabrication and adulteration of the facts (although the whole "Pants On The Ground" thing from last season absolutely makes more sense now). General Larry Platt would not be pleased.
Ladies and gentleman, do not trust this man, he is an impostor and cannot be trusted.
But God love Jenn Sterger!
- The REAL Grey Bush
Epilogue: For those that don't know, Jenn Sterger is more than just your average "pretty-face" sideline reporter. She was accidentally discovered in 2005 by Brent Musberger during the Florida State-Miami game and immediately became an internet sensation and adopted mascot/sex symbol for the university (all apologies to Chief Osceola and Renegade). She did photo shoots for Maxim and Playboy magazines, but her popularity waned a bit after making the decision to reduce the influence of her "biggest assets."
Kicking off the Big East
Big East play kicked off last Friday and thankfully it was a Friday, because no one would have been watching otherwise. This kid thought Uconn was starting to roll a bit, but apparently they really are as terrible as they have looked against any credible team. Syracuse then pulled off one of the few Big East wins they have been able to achieve in the past six years, given some credence to the thought that they may actually be back on the right track.
This week may be a bit more telling for the rest of league. If WVU cannot right the track versus their perennial thorn USF, then this league really is in shambles. Look for BJ Daniels to make a few big plays, but this team does not have the tools to compete against a top caliber defense. If WV puts the hammer on the Bulls, it could be the first step in a dominating Big East season. Friday night brings us the Keg of Nails game, which brings up another one of the Big East's cellar dwellers who is demanding respect, Louisville. Charlie Strong's team will provide an interesting story all year, as they are not very deep in talent, but appear to be capable of pulling a full upsets this year. Can they do it against the two time defending league champion? Finally Pitt travels up to the Dome to answer two questions, how bad is Pitt, and how legit is the 'Cuse?
This week may be a bit more telling for the rest of league. If WVU cannot right the track versus their perennial thorn USF, then this league really is in shambles. Look for BJ Daniels to make a few big plays, but this team does not have the tools to compete against a top caliber defense. If WV puts the hammer on the Bulls, it could be the first step in a dominating Big East season. Friday night brings us the Keg of Nails game, which brings up another one of the Big East's cellar dwellers who is demanding respect, Louisville. Charlie Strong's team will provide an interesting story all year, as they are not very deep in talent, but appear to be capable of pulling a full upsets this year. Can they do it against the two time defending league champion? Finally Pitt travels up to the Dome to answer two questions, how bad is Pitt, and how legit is the 'Cuse?
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Betting with the Angry Old Man, Week 6
If you are still reading this blog, congratulations. You either have entirely too much time on your hands or you are related to one of the other contributors, because everyone else has either moved on to read analysis that they actually care about, or they have died from boredom.
What's that your say?
"But we love your posts Grey Bush!"
Well, that's because I write about games that people actually care about!
Here is a breakdown of some of the games my opponents have picked in 2010 thus far:
This week, we had, guest analyst Gary Coleman in the Team MVP Studios to breakdown my opponents' picks:
So, I'll continue to pick games that don't suck, so not to bore our readership into submission:
NEBRASKA -10.5 @ Kansas State
UTAH -6 @ Iowa State
AUBURN -6.5 @ Kentucky
Texas A&M @ -5 ARKANSAS
ROAD DOGG PICK OF THE WEEK
TENNESSEE +11 @ Georgia
THE HOMER CALL:
UNLV +27.5 @ West Virginia
Much love Gary...
- Grey Bush
What's that your say?
"But we love your posts Grey Bush!"
Well, that's because I write about games that people actually care about!
Here is a breakdown of some of the games my opponents have picked in 2010 thus far:
- Ball St v. Western MichiganLike seriously folks. Who even coaches Louisiana Tech, Sonny Dykes?
- Southern Mississippi v. East Carolina
- Temple v. Army
- Hawaii v. Louisiana Tech
- Idaho v. Western Michigan
- Navy v. Louisiana Tech
This week, we had, guest analyst Gary Coleman in the Team MVP Studios to breakdown my opponents' picks:
So, I'll continue to pick games that don't suck, so not to bore our readership into submission:
NEBRASKA -10.5 @ Kansas State
UTAH -6 @ Iowa State
AUBURN -6.5 @ Kentucky
Texas A&M @ -5 ARKANSAS
ROAD DOGG PICK OF THE WEEK
TENNESSEE +11 @ Georgia
THE HOMER CALL:
UNLV +27.5 @ West Virginia
Much love Gary...
- Grey Bush
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)