:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/57025345/usa_today_10315971.0.jpg)
It was not only another winning weekend for our football team, it was another winning weekend for the good ol’ Gamble-Tron! Granted, we haven’t won every weekend like our Cougars, but we’ve come close. What does that mean? You and I both know what it means - that something is going to careen off the rails anytime now. We’re prepared to take one for the team, in the most literal sense possible.
So onward we go, hoping to keep up a winning streak both on the field and in the pretend sports book. But first, let’s review.
Why I’m a genius: Like last week, it wasn’t who I bet as much as how, as I raised the stakes for my random over/under, as well as Georgia Tech, who is way better than North Carolina. Had I known Justin Herbert would exit early in this game with injury, I’d probably have taken Cal. Luckily Cal isn’t as good as people kinda thought. That spread of 7.5 toward UCLA will go down as one of the year’s dumbest lines, and I was happy to take it to the cashier’s window. And I still have no idea how ASU covered while allowing Bryce Love to run for over a mile. Don’t care, either!
Why I’m an idiot: It always pays to take the better team when the spread is tight. WSU proved to be the better team, but I wasn’t smart enough to take them. That OSU spread looked good for a half, but OSU stayed in the locker room and poof, there it went. Tulsa looked like an easy winner, going up 14-0 after a quarter. Navy scored the next 31. Super Duper. Iowa went back to being Iowa, piling up a loss to Sparty and being super bored while doing so. Yuck.
Last Week: 5-4
Season Total: 28-22-2
Cash Balance: $830
Stanford (-5.5/-110) at Utah (+5.5/-110): Opened at Stanford -3 and went to Stanford -5.5. That is...curious. Stanford has played two good teams this season. They lost both games. Utah is a good team, but has a big question at quarterback. Stanford does too, but mostly because they’re starting a freshman. If any team can contain Bryce Love and make an iffy quarterback beat them, it’s Utah. Ok a lot of teams can do that, but Utah should be one of them.
The Pick: $110 on the Utes
Arizona (+6.5/-110) at Colorado (-6.5/-110): Why couldn’t this line be 7 or 7.5. Why? WHY???!!! Colorado has come back to earth, while Arizona is coming off a bye. I don’t know what to think. Yeah I know, breaking news. Anyway, Colorado is due for a bounce back game. Hopefully.
The Pick: $110 on the Buffs
Cal (+27.5/-110) at Washington (-27.5/-110): Chris Petersen has suddenly realized that his conference plays a lot of late games. Hey, Chris, welcome to the party. You never cared until Washington had to do it a couple times, now it’s suddenly a crisis. Ok then. True to form, Washington loves to piss me off, both at the betting window and in the Apple Cup. Here’s hoping Washington puts the backups in early.
The Pick: $110 on Cal
WSU (-2.5/-110) at Oregon (+2.5/-110): WSU opened as the favorite, but this line moved well into Oregon’s favor because, uh, the odds-makers love Taylor Alie? BUT WAIT, it’s back to WSU -2.5. This line has changed sides more than a, um, husky-sized kid playing Red Rover. I was all set to play the HOW DARE THEY DISRESPECT THE COUGS LIKE THAT card, but alas, I no longer can. Whatever.
The Pick: $110 on the Cougs
OSU (+34/-110) at USC (-34/-110): USC is 1-4 ATS this season. That’s bad, right? Well, OSU is even worse at 0-5 (yes, I’m considering their three point win over Portland State as a failure to cover the spread). It’s the ultimate showdown of trend vs. the “due theory.” Well, if we’re being honest with ourselves, neither are true. USC is really banged up, and will win something like 45-13 (please God).
The Pick: $110 on OSU
Alabama (-25.5/-110) at Texas A&M (+25.5/-110): I was dumb enough to bypass the Tide last weekend. No more. Also Texas A&M still stinks.
The Pick: $220 on Alabama
Penn State (-13.5/-110) at Northwestern (+13.5/-110): Penn State and Michigan are on a collision course for a YUGE game in a few weeks. In the meantime, Northwestern isn’t nearly as good as they were supposed to be, and Penn State should avoid the trap they damn near fell into in Iowa City.
The Pick: $110 on Penn State
Missouri at Kentucky (Over/Under 61/-110): Missouri can’t score. Kentucky has a pretty decent defense. This one shouldn’t be close, score-wise. Hopefully I don’t have to sweat out the total, either.
The Pick: $110 on the Under