Pac-12 Football Odds and Picks: The Gamble-Tron, Week Four

Are we really in the fourth week of this season already? Man, time sure is flying, especially if you’re picking winner after winner barely keeping your head above water at the betting window. We’ve been volume shooting around here for the first few weeks, and the results have been little better than mixed. So this week, we’re going to try and avoid getting out over our skis too far.

What that really means is this week doesn’t have much in the way of juicy temptation as far as the odds go, but we’ll try and pick our spots here and there. Oh, and there’s also Twitter, which really saved our Saturday a week ago.

Why I love gambling: For the second week in a row, we got in on a highly-ranked team laying a boatload of points. This time, it was Northwestern State catching 52.5 at LSU. For the second week in a row, she may have coughed and wheezed down the stretch, but she managed to wobble across the finish line. Nothing like having to sweat out a win when your side is getting more than seven touchdowns!

Why I hate gambling: Last season, laying points on Alabama in the first half was the surest way to gambling riches, as they ran and hid from foe after foe. So I finally decided to jump on the bandwagon this season. When they had the ball deep in South Carolina territory in the second quarter, up 14, the 15 point spread was looking good. The drive quickly stalled and, I know this will come as a shock to you, their kicker couldn’t hit a chip shot. Wtf is it with Alabama not being able to find a serviceable kicker? Ugh.

Last Week: 9-9 after Twitter salvation.

Season Total: 26-22-4

Reader Results

• coug2828: 0-1
• ezcrew: 2-4 (I think?)
• 89Coug in FL: 2-11 (I think?)
• pf_flyer: 5-4
• BothwaysUphill: 5-2
• 425CougFan: 3-3
• stewak: 4-5
• cougbud: 6-8
• .:R: 4-2-1
• 6-6

Utah Utes (-4) at USC Trojans: Somehow, some way, this game opened as a pick. It careened to over a field goal almost immediately. USC may have more talent, but Utah has a better team and better coaches. Still...

The Pick: USC

Washington Huskies (-6) at BYU Cougars: BYU has had mixed results against the Pac-12 so far, getting pounded by Utah and squeaking past USC. Washington is better than USC, by a lot.

The Pick: Washington

Colorado Buffaloes at Arizona State Sun Devils (-8): Wait, I thought every Herm Edwards game ended with a three point margin?

The Pick: Buffs

California Golden Bears (+2.5) at Ole Miss Rebels: Not sure you’ll find a more contrasting set of fan bases than this matchup. Cal is nothing special, but Ole Miss is downright bad, so why is Cal getting 2.5 points? RichRod/Mike McIntyre revenge game!!!

The Pick: Rebs

Oregon Ducks (-10) at Stanford Cardinal: Showed up way too late to the “Stanford probably sucks” party. Well I’m here now, which means that much like high school, everybody else will probably head for the door.

The Pick: Oregon

UCLA Bruins at Washington State Cougars (-19.5): For as long as Mike Leach has been at WSU, he only faced Chip Kelly once, back in 2012 in the ever-popular Seattle game. The Cougs went into halftime trailing the No. 2 Ducks by only four points. The Ducks would score the next 28. Welp. Anyway, the tables have turned, as Mike Leach has the high-powered offense and Chip Kelly is looking up at 11 conference asses. But 19.5 points? In a conference game? A conference game where the other team isn’t named the Beavers? I...I just...I just can’t.

The Pick: UCLA / Over 57.5

Michigan Wolverines at Wisconsin Badgers (-3.5): Team Gamble-Tron will be in the house, probably with a Badger shirt on. Oh, and Harbaugh still hasn’t won a game at Michigan as an underdog.

The Pick: Badgers

Michigan State Spartans (-9) at Northwestern Wildcats: You mean to tell me that I can get almost double digits on a home dog facing that offense? Yes, please.

The Pick: Fightin’ Fitz’s

Nebraska Cornhuskers (-13) at Illinois Fighting Illini: And suddenly we’ve arrived at the Big Ten hour. This will be a good litmus test as to where Nebraska really is, because if they don’t blow out Illinois, they’re not anywhere close to that preseason hype.

The Pick: Children of the Corn

See you on Twitter!