In 2011, Remember These People

Once again, not football related, but so worthy of your time is this NY Times video feature on a military family. CLick here . "The Home Front" will start in the middle of the page.  It is heart wrenching.

CRUSHED!

Ofer.  0 fer 4.  The gory details...

The Army won a bowl game, that's nice.  I didn't see the game and I'm not taking any time to research the details of it, let's just agree that SMU sucks and I will nurture my anger. The final score was Army 16, SMU 14.  The result was, naturally, hugely popular with the West Point lads and alumni, setting off a musical celebration that we are fortunate to have caught on tape:


Kansas State and Syracuse put on a great show, nip and tuck to the end.  Then, late in the game, K-State tried a fake on a field goal attempt and got stuffed, netting zero where they might have had three.  On their final possession they scored a TD to pull within 2, only to be penalized for excessive celebration, 15 yards enforced on the PAT.  That left an 18 yard attempt for 2 points to tie instead of a 3 yard attempt.  It failed, they lost by 2.  Boneheaded coaching and playing, AND a real chickenshit call on the excessive celebration.  Check out the video of the infraction.

Then came Tennessee and North Carolina. O.M.G!!!  Rocky Top had this one sewn up, 20-17.  With plays and penalties, NC came up with a game tying field goal with :01 in regulation--and TN roughed the kicker, their 3rd personal foul in the last thirty seconds.  That 15 yard penalty was assessed on the start of OT play.  TN won the toss, and amazingly, chose defense, giving NC the ball at the 12 1/2.  I was astounded that they didn't take offense, and try to work up a drive.  NC promptly scored when TN tackled with a facemask, their 4th personal foul in a minute!  TN scored on the second play (great catch by their big TE) to render it all moot, but you couldn't ask for more excitement--or dumber defense from Tennessee with all those fouls. On the next possession, TN was intercepted and NC kicked a 3 to win.  Heartbreak for the Vols and our 3rd loss of the day.  This was a snakebit day.

When I decided Nebraska would be the big winner of the day, there was this little voice in the back of my head offering up warnings.  Washington's kids played the game of their lives and beat Nebraska like a rented mule, finishing off our worst day possible. 

No time to mope, on we go.

Today:

Meineke Car Care Bowl @ Charlotte
USF (7-5) vs Clemson (6-6)
Clemson's coach's name is Dabo Swinney.  Isn't that just sooooo southern?  Their QB turned down $800,000 from the Colorado Rockies baseball team to stay and play at Clemson (and they went 6-6?).  USF' s coach is Lou Holtsch's son, Skip Holtz, and USF's starting QB might be a walk-on, or might not.  This game has to be more entertaining than it looks on paper. The O/U is 40 1/2.  I think UNDER.

Sun Bowl @ El Paso
USB (7-5) vs the U (7-5)
This game sold out in 24 hours, proving that, like rock 'n roll, "it don't hafta be good to be a classic"...or to sell to fans who will take pretty much anything.  Somebody tried to reprise the famed "Catholics vs Criminals" motif, but Miami objected to playing the role of Catholics.  The U recently canned its coach, USB should have canned theirs (again). OK, Petey, get ready...USB +2 1/2

Liberty Bowl @ Memphis
Georgia (6-6) vs Central Florida (10-3)
Speaking of canned USB coaches, Central Florida is headed up by George O'Leary, who got fired in South Bend before he ever coached a game.  That's pretty hard to top (though they keep trying, bless 'em).  CFU is a conference champion, Georgia on my mind is a 6-6 team.  Their schedules were pretty far apart in quality.  Georgia -6 1/2

Chick-fil-A Bowl @ Atlanta
#19 South Carolina (9-4) vs #23 Florida State (9-4)
Look at this: two teams that aren't 7-5!  And--those great commercials with the "eat mor chikn" cows!  I'm going South Carolina -3

We aren't doing very well, certainly not as well as last year.  I am being wonderfully entertained; these games have been fun.  Money to go with the fun would be better.

Finally, this has nothing to do with football, but I found it so entertaining I had to share it with you.  Happy New Year!

Four Games Today

Ryan is in the news, click here

Double dip winner in game one yesterday, as the Terps sent Ralph Friedgen off to buyout land with a 51-20 win over East Carolina (MD cover and over 68). 

Game two, Illinois and Baylor made the most unlikable pair of teams I have seen this season.  More inappropriate showboating and signifying than you will ever see from teams that know how to behave and win.  Add to that the factoid that I didn't previously know-Baylor is the most penalized team in the country-and I was assured that this would not be an enjoyable game to watch. How did Baylor win 7 games this year, they are an awful football team.  Final : 38-14, IL.  Should have gotten comfortable with my original pick.

OK State thrashed AZ in the late game to give us a two out of three day.  Better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick.

Four games today; the action is getting heavy now!  Here goes:

Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl in Dallas
Army (6-6) v. SMU (7-6)
SMU in a bowl game for the second consecutive year, imagine that.  This one is being held not only in SMU's home town, but in its home stadium. SMU is -7.  I think they're good for that and a little bit more.

New Era Pinstripe Bowl @ Yankee Stadium
Kansas (7-5) v. Syracuse (7-5)
Welcome back to football at Yankee Stadium, assuming that they dig it out (click) from the snowstorm, and you need to ask if its worth the trouble.  Both teams went 2-3 in their last five, so neither is rolling in here with a powerhouse vibe.  Both teams have been very inconsistent, beating some good teams that you wouldn't have expected them to beat and getting thrashed by some teams you'd think they could hang with.  I'll take Kansas +1 despite this emotional side story (click).

Music City Bowl in Nashville
North Carolina (7-5) v. Tennessee (6-6)
This is effectively a home game for Tennessee, and I think it's going to be the Volunteers' day, Tennessee +1 in Nashville.  NC was 2-3 in its last five games, TN won its last 4 straight up, last 5 ATS. 

Holiday Bowl in San Diego
Nebraska (10-3) v. Washington (6-6)
Huskers are -14.  Bet the ranch.  They are going to trounce Washington.  The two teams met on September 18 of this year at Washington.  Nebraska won that one 56-21.  They will do it again.  This is the second game at Qualcomm of Bowl Season; recall Navy sucking there just last week?  Hope this isn't a Qualcomm jinx for us.

Meet Ryan

Here is Ryan pulling Grandma's finger.  Already with the jokes!

I will get to the games in a second.  First, I would like to introduce you to a young fellow I met last night.

His name is Ryan, and he was born in the wee hours of Tuesday morning, 15 weeks premature.  He weighed in at 1 1/2 pounds, and if Ryan could stand he would be 12 inches tall.

Ryan is my new grandson, a four star selection.

In last night's games, the West Virginia v NC State game worked out just right.  Missouri v Iowa, on the other hand...Iowa didn't make mistakes, Missouri made enough for both teams and gave away the game.

On to the games scheduled for this afternoon and this evening.  First is the Military Bowl in Washington, DC, featuring  East Carolina (6-6) and Maryland (8-4) .  This is Ralphie's last stand, as the MD coach has been bought out by the new Athletic Director. He gets a lovely parting gift of $2 million to help him get over the Poor Ralphie Terrapin Tears.   I have 2 bets to offer here: the Terrapins -8 and the two teams to go OVER 68.  Take your pick or take them both.  East Carolina has 5 straight overs and has no defense to speak of, MD has no tomorrows with this coach.

Next is the Texas Bowl in Houston.  The Fighting Illini (6-6-) meet the Baylor Bear (7-5).  Baylor lost their last three in the regular season, Illinois lost 2 of its last three.  I made a choice here a few days ago (Illinois) but couldn't get comfortable with it.  I say take Baylor -1.


Finally, it's off the Alamo Bowl in the AlamoDome in the Alamo city of San Antonio.  It's Arizona (7-5) and Oklahoma State (10-2).  It's Oklahoma State -5 1/2.  I think they're going to pound AZ.

What's everyone doing for New Year's Eve?

Two-fer Tuesday

Sid, the roving Air Force falcon.

Yesterday, the Air Force beat Georgia Tech 14-7, but the Independence Bowl was up for grabs, literally, until an Air Force defensive back swooped in and grabbed a pass right out of the GT receiver's hands at the 1 yard line in the final seconds of the game.  Winner for us, and one of the most entertaining announcer pairings of the bowl season.  Not a big crowd in Shreveport, and a great side story when the Air Force falcon flipped the bird's bird at everyone in the pregame and flew away.  Bye.  No show.  They found him in downtown Shreveport early in the second half.  Partying with some guy named Dub, I think.  Logo watch : the Advocare logo that adorned the field last night is the new title holder for absolute width, as it stretched to the 39 yard lines, but it was rather svelte, no match for Little Caesar's bulky hugeness.

This evening in Orlando, the North Carolina State Wolfpack squares off with the West Virginia Mercury Mountaineers in the Champs Sports Bowl.  WV opened at -4 and has moved to -2 1/2.  I studied up a bit on this one and I'm leaning toward NC State and the points, but the WV defense looks pretty stout.  So let's compromise and go UNDER 48 1/2.

Then comes game #2, the Insight Bowl in Tempe, featuring Missouri and Iowa. Missouri opened at -1 1/2, now as high as -3.   We got on this one at a point and a half when Iowa lost a bunch of players when they conducted their annual character evaluations.  Iowa consistently brings in mutts and gets as much as possible out of them before their problems (sex, drugs, armed robbery...quite a variety, really) become public and  the miscreants are sent off as Kirk Ferentz tilts and then slowly shakes his head, conveying the heartfelt (blech!) heartbreak of another young life gone wrong.  They oughta give him an Oscar.  Missouri broke our hearts last time we played them, so here's to hoping they get right, right now. Both teams are on consecutives of 3: Missouri wons its last 3, Iowa lost its last 3.

Independence Day

Last night in Detroit, we witnessed what might be the biggest logo on any football field ever.  The Little Caesars Pizza Bowl logo extended to the 41 yard line on each side, pretty much filling the big screen in the upper level of stately PFOS Manor.  Size matters, and this was a big one.  Unfortunately, color also matters, and it's a pretty dull and uninspiring logo, and the size and colors made the players disappear when the teams lined up for plays in the middle of the field.  The game itself was pretty exciting, and we won as the teams combined for 60+ points, eclipsing our +56 hurdle.

This evening in Shreveport, Louisiana, the Air Force Falcons (8-4, #2 nationally rushing offense) take on the Georgia Tech Yellowjackets (6-6, #1 nationally rushing offense) in the Independence Bowl. 

Both teams run the option.  GT runs it from the spread, Air Force runs the triple option.  Georgia Tech is coached by Paul Johnson, whose previous job was running the football program at the Naval Academy, another program that lives and breathes the option.

GT arrives in this game wheezing a bit: they went 1-4 in the last five games of their regular schedule.  They've lost their #1 QB to an injury, their #1 receiver (top receiver on a team that doesn't pass?) to grades, along with their starting safety, also an academic casualty.

Air Force arrives having won 4 of its last 5 and should have everybody healthy.  Academic casualties don't seem to happen at the service academies.

Original Independence Bowl logo, showing
the eagle going for an interception.

BTW, the Independence Bowl received its name as an association of having been played for the first time in 1976, the U.S.A.'s bicentennial year.  I remember the summer, as my friend Jimmy (later to become Jimmy the Cop) showed up at my parents' home for my 4th of July party with a case of beer under each arm, well on his way to drinking 200 beers over the weekend, his way of saluting America's 200th birthday.  I also recall that his girlfriend walked into the brick chimney on her way out that evening, giving her a souveneir of the bicentennial in the middle of her face.  Sobriety did not stand in the way of youthful patriotism, though the chimney did.

Air Force is a 2 1/2 point favorite.  I think they will cover.

Christmas in Detroit

How was Christmas?  That's nice.

Before the break, Tulsa rode roughshod over Hawaii on Friday night, bringing us to 3-3-1 for the year.  The Bowl world departs the South Pacific for Detroit as  Florida International from the Sun Belt Conference squares off against the Toledo Rockets of the MAC. 

Experts say ignore the records during Bowl Season.

FIU is 6-6 straight up, 6-6 ATS.  The Rockets are 8-4, 7-5 ATS.  Toledo is a 1 1/2 point favorite coming in.  Here's the argument:  FIU beat Troy earlier this year and Troy tuned up this past week on Ohio, one of Toledo's MAC conference partners.  The experts' conclusion is that FIU should be the superior team.

So I studied the two teams' records and tried to weigh MAC vs. SunBelt Conference.  The only thing that popped for me is that in the last half of the season these two scored and were scored upon quite a bit.

I suggest OVER 56.

Christmas Dinner

Christmas dinner for the folks who have our backs.

Navy Sank and We Went Down

Last night, we were flattened along with the Middies, dropping us to 2-3 and a push.  It looked like it would be a tough night when San Diego State powered up on their opening drive to score.  Over the course of the night the Aztecs showed they were simply better and we were simply wrong.

Tonight, we're taking Tulsa and ten against Hawaii at home, then it's Christmas break.

Ho-ho-ho.

What a Stinker!

Last night's MAACO Bowl Las Vegas was just a mess.  This was the game I thought would be fun to attend.  Thank heaven that that was just wishful thinking!

Watching these two teams last night was like watching the guy who plays left field for the Chicago Cub battle a pop fly.  There were more mistakes than you could count: dropped passes, fumbles, plays negated by penalties, blocked kicks, missed kicks, you name it.  Brent Musberger stopped using the big dramatic voice after the third or fourth time that he was left flat, building to screaming announcer-guy crescendo, only to have a big-play pass dropped or called back...and those were the passes that were within hailing distance of their intended target.  There were more errant missiles in this comedy than a Dick Cheney hunting trip.  The referees weren't immune from whatever malaise overtook this contest, as replays showed a number of their calls to be, shall we say "worthy of debate". Brent and Herbie went off in Q4, discussing every subject imaginable, as they had had enough.

This thing got so screwy that in the fourth quarter, on an end around option pass deep in Utah territory, the Boise player threw and then caught his own pass...for no gain.  Amazing, and inept, just like the whole game. The final was 26-3.

As for us, we initially bet the over, then later picked Boise State -17 to go with it.  The late bet gives us a push, and we will bury this and move on.

Flooded Quaalcom.  Anchors aweigh, go Navy!

Tonight, if they can dry out the field in San Diego, we have picked the Navy +4 1/2. 

By the way, the torrential rains that hit the Las Vegas area and caused some very big damage (in Arizona, homes adjoining drainage channels were washed away as the culverts turned into raging rivers)  raised the water level in beleaguered Lake Meade...by 2/10ths of an inch.

The lake is still 130 below optimal pool level.

Even Up

Last night in St. Petersburg, Southern Mississippi smacked Louisville with 14 points to open the game.  Louisville got one TD back, then gave one back to let SoMiss lead by 21-7.   The Cardinals went to work after that one and tied the score before halftime.  42 on the board at the half, I'm thinking "we're going to Sizzler".  Then came a scoreless Q3 that left me on edge.  They broke it loose in Q4 and we were in the money with a half a quarter to play.  Our record goes even at 2-2 for Bowl Season.

Tonight, in Vegas, we're taking the over and Boise State -17.  On Thursday we're taking the Navy in the Poinsettia Bowl in San Diego, and on Friday we're taking Tulsa over Hawaii on the islands.  More on those tomorrow. 

Beef O'Brady Got Game

Correction: Beef O'Brady has a game, and this is it, tonight.  By the way, we ate at a Beef O'Brady's once, in Apollo Beach, Florida, and it was less than a culinary masterpiece. The only thing they didn't deep fry was the menu and the beer.  They're playing the Beef O'Brady's Bowl in the Trop, aka the Sombrero, aka the home of the Tampa Bay Rays, aka the Crapshack, located in a dumpy area of St. Pete, about a half hour south of the lovely Raymond James Stadium.  This one matches 6-6 Louisville against 8-4 Southern Mississippi. Louisville has hovered at a 3 1/2 point favorite since the game went up.   We felt like this was a sucker game, that Louisville's 6-6 was strong, then not so much.  Then we thought SoMiss might take this one straight away, and found SoMiss was paying 140 straight up.  Back and forth we went. Conclusion: they're inside on turf in a meaningless party game.  Bet OVER 57.



Sam Boyd's gaming company owns
15 casinos. Sam himself es muerte.

 On Wednesday comes the game that I think I'd like to attend, Utah and Boise State matched up in the Las Vegas Bowl.  Two fun teams in the funnest (?) town around.  Gamble for a couple days, go to a football game, smoke a stogie, drink some drinks, watch the hooker parade, man, that just screams "Christmas!"  The forecast calls for 57 degrees and rain (yea, rain in Vegas, go figure).  There's a load of stats and game comps for these two teams, and the long and short is we see a track meet coming.  Boise is a 17 point favorite, but we've decided to go for the entertainment value again: bet OVER 57 1/2. 

That takes care of Tuesday and Wednesday.  Here are couple more days of Christmas past.

For #5 click here

For #6 click here 

Finally, happy 84th birthday to Joe Paterno.

More Christmas Stuff



Entering Four Winds, a Christmas tradition.

 On Sunday, I finished the chores left from Friday afternoon.  This took us to the state of Michigan, so on the way home we visited our Pokagon band friends (the proprietors of Four Winds).  There was an incentive for the Mrs. (she's the player) and a gift for visiting, and a couple bucks for the effort, too.  Being gluttonous, I subsequently motored to Blue Chip, a venue that we haven't visited for quite some time.  I'll save that discourse for later.

Tomorrow, another bowl game.  Today, days 3 and 4 of the Twelve Days of Christmas, Reprised.

For Day 3, click here

For Day 4, click here

Ho Ho Ho

That's not a Santa quote, that's me rationalizing my weekend.

Reaching an impasse with the movers. 

My plan for a half day off on Friday afternoon got quashed.  That led, in turn, to a wasted afternoon and to getting stuck at home on Friday night, on the couch with the cat, while the Friday afternoon project was left hovering over me until Sunday.  I really have a problem with having to wait to get things done. Early Saturday morning, I drove to pick up a golf club I had purchased on line.  I paid the bill, chatting away with the chap at the golf shop.  He thanked me, then pushed a club head, no shaft, just a head, across the counter.  Clearly, I had not read the ad very well.  He will let me know on Monday how much extra it will cost to put a shaft in.   A little later on Saturday, I had a piano moved.  Truth.  The movers seized the holiday opportunity to shake me down for an extra c-note over the quoted price. Merry-freakin'-holiday.   Saturday evening...on the couch, again,  with the cat, again.

The Saturday football action was right in harmony with my life.  Harmony...that sounds like it should be good.  Ho ho ho!  Joke's on you!  On us, actually.

We bet  the dogs, remember?  UTEP, the 11 1/2 point dog, dug themselves a hole, a big 31-3 hole, and couldn't climb out, losing by four TD's.   We lost the opener.  By the way,  when UTEP scores, their band plays a march tempo rendition of the Marty Robbins song "El Paso".  A little odd to hear, but fun.  Speaking of odd, what's up with BYU...something like 20 of their players are married and have kids of their own. How old are these guys?

Then came NIU. With their heralded head coach headed off to the hinterland, they hammered Fresno State in the Humanitarian bowl, exposing our theory that the head man's absence would prove fatal.  NIU is really good, plain and simple, fundamentally strong on both sides of the ball.  Their head coach for one game, assistant Tom Matukeiwicz, has now won more bowl games than the last 60 years of coaches at Northwestern.  NIU is the Huskies.  These are the dogs we should have taken, but did not.   That hard lesson left us at 0-2 on opening weekend.

Then came Troy.  They put a proper beatdown on Ohio, 48-21, making us look like the geniuses that we attempt to be.  By the time this one ended, I had settled in for a long winter's nap, my submission to Seasonal Affective Disorder.  We're 1-2, headed for a 32 game winning streak.

Ho ho ho.

We're Going Bowling!

Bowling season is upon us, the hap-happiest season of all.  To get it off on the right foot, here is a demented video that incorporates computer games, roller coasters and sadism.

Game 1 New Mexico Bowl, Albuquerque
UTEP +11 1/2  v. Brigham Young
Saturday 1:00 p.m. ESPN
Two Gun and I spent a lot of time discussing the potential for this game.  I'll skip the lengthy statistical  evaluation and tell you exactly how we made the choice.  Sagacious Pete pointed out that for the first 20 bowl games last year, the dogs ruled by a 2:1 margin.  We have cast our lot with the dog.
Game 2 Humanitarian Bowl, Boise State Stadium

Northern Illinois v. Fresno State +1
Saturday 4:30 p.m. ESPN
This is an interesting game. NIU has been pretty good to us this year, but they've lost their coach, Jerry Kill, who bolted as soon as Minnesota beckoned. Without their headman, the Huskies are going down.


Game 3  R+L Carriers Bowl  NOLA Superdome
Ohio University v. Troy -1 1/2

Saturday 8:00 p.m. ESPN
There are enough statistics available for this contest to keep you busy for an hour.  We made a choice, then spent the hour (which didn't really validate our choice) with the numbers, and we're sticking with Troy.  What was the critical benchmark in our choice?  We just like Troy, think they're generally overlooked and underrated.  Not rocket science, but we'll take Troy.

If the 35 bowls aren't enough for you:


Tubby Raymond Field.  This looks like a great place
to watch college football, yes?



* the Division I semi-finals are this weekend.  On Friday night it's Villanova v. Eastern Washington (7:00 p.m. ESPN2).  On Saturday it will be Georgia Southern v. Delaware (no TV).

*the D II final is Saturday, Delta State v. Minnesota Duluth (10:00 a.m. ESPN II).

*the D I-AA final is Saturday, too: Georgia Southern Eagles @ Delaware Blue Hens(11:00 a.m. ESPNU, at Tubby Raymond Field at Delaware Stadium, of course).
*the D III final (Stagg Bowl XXXVIII, at Salem, Virginia) is (finally) on Saturday : Mount Union v. Wisconsin Whitewater (2:30 ESPNU).

Reprising the 12 Days

There are 12 days to celebrate, and I'm late starting, so here's a start

Day 1: click here

Day 2: click here

More to come!

Bowls Start Saturday

There's no story here today, just a reminder.  Three bowl games Saturday. 

But that's not all...there's five more college games happening this weekend.  Tune in here on Friday for the scoop.

It Was Exciting, Anyway

Final Army 31, Navy 17, Total 48,  Four Star Football -2. 

Army kept plugging right to the bitter end.  We had a shot to win until Army's QB was pulled to the ground at the Navy 7 yard line on 4th down with :05 remaining on the clock.  A play earlier, Army's tailback failed to pick up a blitz, resulting in a big loss of yardage, otherwise we maybe, might have, could have...aw, shit, we lost again.

But it was exciting, anyway.

I got four 9's on dollar video poker Saturday morning at Harrah's, just sayin'.

See you next week for the first three bowl games.

Last One, 35 to go

One game left, Week 15, the Army/Navy game.  This is a tradition: a gray day, the transition to winter, the service academies getting together to slam each other around for a couple of hours in a low-scoring, tepid in quality but highly spirited display of college football.

Not this year, admiral. 

Both Army and Navy are going bowling this year, so this isn't the end of the line.  Both Army and Navy can put up points.  The O/U on this game is 54.  Most years, I'm diverting the rent money to bet the under.  This year, for the entire season, these two teams combined have gone under exactly once.

The fear is...well, the fear is that we have sucked at this for two and a half months, so what's left to be afraid of?  I'm tossing a couple stars at the OVER, and that also solves one of my other problems, that being that I don't like to bet against the service academies.  This way, I'm rooting for them to tie at 49-49.

There will be several other games on Saturday, nobody that we know about, smaller schools, and there are lines posted if you feel the need to bleed.  Not us. 

Army/Navy, Saturday on CBS, 1:30.

))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

On an unrelated topic, am I the only person who's gagging on the extreme level of highly inappropriate adulation being heaped on the newly departed Ron Santo, and the cross-contamination of mourning and profit mongering? 

OK, it's sad that the man passed, and for the prominence he achieved over his careers in Chicago it's worthy of some extra coverage and to chronicle a life well-lived.  But--lying in state at Holy Name Cathedral and televising the funeral?  Have these people no sense of decorum at all? 

The guy was a baseball player and radio announcer, not a head of of state or great humanitarian.  Just a likeable guy with a nice story behind him.  Determined and admirable, a life worth memorializing.  What happened here is bizarre. Notwithstanding the fact that his family agreed to all the macabre celebration, this death carnival of brand marketing is another example of why the Cubs are the most loathesome of sports businessess.  That all the lemmings fell right in line with this foolishness is no surprise. Think I'm being harsh? 

 How much you want to bet that the memorial CD is already in the works?

You Can Drink at the Laundromat, But You Can't Wash Clothes at the Liquor Store

Friday night we lost the four star because we chose to ride Northern Illinois a little too long.  Miami O broke NIU's heart and our bank roll.   Besides selecting the wrong team, I thought the game would be an over, so I saved money by not betting that.  Later, Jerry Kill would grab our next Lane Kiffin Carpetbagger of the Year Award, as he will be skipping NIU's bowl game to head off to coach Minnesota. 

Here's wishing you a lot of anguish in your new post, Jerry. The Huskies should have left you back as King of Carbondale.

Saturday, after a shopping trip to Celina's Polish Deli and then to the internationally famous Weber's Bakery on Archer Avenue in Chicago (where I bought the entire--not the half--chocolate frosted pound cake) I settled in with the big bigscreen (that would be the basement one) and watched Wanny's Panthers and the Cincinnatti Bearcats slip and slide through the snow for a big 28-10 Pitt win.  Only one star, but it felt good to book the winner.

Then came Idaho.  They won.  Unfortunately, it was a 3 point OT victory; we gave 13 1/2.  2 star crap-0-rama!  I think I need a new hobby. 

Sunday morning brought good news.  Hawaii won by 38 points, 3 star winner.



Should you need to wash your clothes when
south of the border, do not go to the liquor store.

 In years past, reading the stat sheets to find our selections has been like doing a puzzle.  Read the clues, give it some thought and the answer, generally the right answer, becomes evident. 

This year, it has been more along the lines of working in a foreign language, one in which you have just enough proficiency to creat havoc.  Example: a few years ago, during one of our jaunts to Mexico, we ran out of beer.  On this particular trip we were in an old hotel right on the beach with no store nearby, so we needed to grab a taxi and run to town.  In Spanish,  I confidently told the taxi driver where I wanted to go.  He looked puzzled and questioned me as we drove off.  I repeated my instructions.  He protested a little, but I prevailed.  A few minutes later we pulled up in front of a laundromat, where I finally retreated to English.  The taxi driver, with a big grin, pointed out the similarity to my gringo ears of licoreria and lavaderia, liquor store and laundromat.

We've been to the laundromat quite a bit this year.

PS: Pick bowl winners, win a $100 grand here.

Seeing RED

RED is a film starring Bruce Willis, with Mary Louise Parker, Morgan Freeman, John Malkovich and Helen Mirren.  RED is an acronym for "Retired, Extremely Dangerous".   Brucie is a retired CIA agent who rounds up his old mates (and some of his old enemies)  to respond to the threat that they are all facing: they're on a hit list.  It's highly entertaining, with a lot of shooting, a lot of explosions, and a lot more shooting and explosions.  In other words, it has all the stuff I value in a movie: shooting and explosions.  I suggest you spend the four bucks at the dollar show and see RED, as I did last night (it actually cost me about $40, as wife/son/son's girlfriend all went and had to be fed).  The reason I have brought this to your attention at this time is that I enjoyed the movie at the expense of not seeing Northern Illinois in our four star wager game.

We lost.  By a lot.

Strictly Business

It has been an extraordinarily busy week at work and I haven't seen anything amusing and inspiring outside of work.  That means I have nothing funny to say, sorry. 

Evaluating this week was difficult, too.  Lots of colliding trends, as opposed to complementary movements. 

No laughs.  No free throws. 

Suck it up, Sally.



Ford Field.  Comerica Park at the left edge.

 **** Miami O @ Northern Illinois -17 1/2
Friday 7:00 p.m.  (@ Ford Field in Detroit) ESPN2

There isn't a lot here to explain.  Northern has 10 covers in a row interrupted by a push
four weeks ago.  After an early season stumble (which paid us, by the way) Northern has turned into quite a formidable team.  This is for the MAC championship, and NIU is going to be highly motivated.

Hawaii's stadium. This ain't Detroit. 

 ***UNLV@ Hawaii -34 1/2
Saturday 9:30 p.m. ESPNGP (somebody will have this on)
For starters, Hawaii is 9-3, UNLV is 2-10.  Hawaii plays well at home, due in part to visitors being taken in by the trip to Hawaii.    Hawaii is 4-1 ATS in their last 5, UNLV is 2-3.   Not a slam dunk at 34 1/2, but that 2-10 record for UNLV is might compelling, in a "kick me" kind of way.

 


University of Idaho's stadium.

 **San Jose State @ Idaho -13 1/2
Saturday 4:00 p.m.  SWX (I never heard of it either)
We haven't asked the Vandals to carry the mail for us yet this year, though they have been kind to us in the past.  It's not an inspiring match up: San Jose State is 1-11, 0-6 on the road.  Idaho is 5-7, 3-2 at home.  The two teams' records ATS for their last five games: both 2-3.   Their O/U's for the last 3, no help: one of them has three straight overs, one has three straight unders.  What's the bet, then?  Home team edge vs. 1-11 record.  It's a tough week, I told you.
 


Nippert Stadium, Cincinnatti

 *Pitt +2 @ Cincinnatti
Saturday 11:00 a.m. ESPN
Pitt comes in 6-5, Cincinnatti is 4-7.  Pitt started out as a 1 point favorite and shifted to a 2 point dog.  Pitt is 3-2 ATS in their last 5, Cincinnatti is 1-4.  Factoring in their respective road and home records makes it less compelling, so we're down to "I think Pitt is going to win".  A little more than that, actually.  That losing 4 out of their last 5 doesn't bode well for Cincinnatti, and that's the bet.
 
The Bowl Selection show is on Sunday @ 5 on ESPN. 
 
All we have next week  (Week 15) is Army Navy.  Then it's Bowl Season. Our time.