Modest Expectations and Big Belt Buckles

If you're a fan of Washington State football, you're going to have more happy endings this fall. The Cougars will win 3 times this year (one more than last year); so say the oddsmakers. Sales of Cougar Helmet-lamps should skyrocket. The rest of the state can celebrate, as the Washington Huskies are predicted to win 4..and that's 4 more than 2008. Here are some over & unders for 2009 victory totals (last year in parentheses):

• Vandy's O/U is 4.5 (6 last year). So much for their resurgence. The Louisville Cardinals get 5 (same as '08), ho-hum. Cool uniforms, though. Stanford (5-7) and Purdue (4-8)are both 5.5, and they're probably both unders. Louisville= Cardinals. Stanford= the Cardinal. Just sayin'.


• Michigan (3-9)and Minnesota (7-5) come out at 6, so they both need to get fat on their non-conference opponents. Big 10 victories are going to be tough to come by, though I'm looking at them both as a push at 6.


• Missouri (9-3) and Northwestern (9-4) put on a great show at the Alamo Bowl, and they're both 6.5. Mizzou is an under, NU will be over. Navy (8-4) gets a 7 win prediction, and that sounds right. Last season, recall that Navy snapped their streak against ND, and what a great day that was for the Middies!


• Wisconsin (7-5) is 7.5 and will be under, Illinois (5-7) is 8 gotta be an under, Iowa (8-4) is 8 push. Notre Dame (6-6) is 8.5 and probably an under, the Cal Bears (8-4) post 9 and that's a push. That group of five teams includes four of my least favorite coaches, and I don't know who's in charge at Cal.


• Alabama (12-1), Penn State (11-1), Ohio State (10-2), and Oklahoma (12-1) O/U's are 9.5. Over for all. I love the Sooner Schooner. Coolest mascot in football.


• USC = 10. Love them Trojans (11-1)and the best fight song in college football. Push.


• Texas = 10.5 (11-1). Over. Hook 'em Horns! I once led a pod of drunken Texas coeds in a wobbling parade and enthusiastic rendition of The Eyes of Texas on a beach in Cancun while my wife sat waiting in the boat. The boat driver was bleeding and pretty drunk, too, and there's a lot of details behind the story. Hook 'em Horns! Click here for big team belt buckles, pard.


• Boise State (12-0) = 10.5. Blue field still hurts my TV eyes. Over.


• Florida (12-1), finally. 11. Over...and out.
  
  Remember, it's over or under. House wins a push, so play the 1/2's and back away from even numbers.

PS: Two Gun Pete invoked his magic formula and we booked a pair of winners on Saturday night in NFL preseason. These practice games are usually verboten for wagering because the starters spend a lot of time as spectators, but we play 2 select games each year...and win. No more NFL bets, take the money and leave.