Less Than Johnny Depp but More Than Tennessee Football Players

It is with a measure of melancholy that I begin today's post.  I found out yesterday that I have once again been overlooked by the people who select The Sexiest Man in the World.  Johnny Depp was given the distinction (for the second time), and I am once again left waiting by the phone.

Balancing the melancholy is the knowledge that I am smarter than the two new former University of Tennessee football players (click to story) who stuck up some guys in a gas station over the weekend, thereby earning themselves a dismissal from the football team and likely an exit from their all expenses paid journey into the world of higher education.  There's a hundred grand apiece pissed away in a heartbeat.

 Onward to Week 12 and our selections.  It is mission critical to avoid a letdown in the aftermath of last week's performance.  Remember our mantra:  money is good, more money is better.

 **** Connecticut @ Notre Dame -5 1/2

All around the FourStarFootball world, there are eyebrow sprains occuring at an epidemic pace right now.  The "never bet on Notre Dame" rule is being violated in flagrant foul fashion, as I am convinced that the South Bend lads are going to come out as if their hair is on fire and slay the visitors from the east.  CT is coming off three straight losses, including a 47-45 loss to Cincinnatti last week that I believe will have sapped all their resolve, leaving them emotionally drained for this week's contest.  This selection is not without risk, as CT is 5-0 ATS on the road, and ND is 2-4 ATS at home. Numerology (click to site) be damned, the University of South Bend will win this game by 18 points. If you go to the numerology site and enter "Charlie Weis", the number comes up 4, as in "Four Stars". That is quasi-scientific assurance. The O/U on this one is 56 1/2, and I think this is an over.  Despite ND's impending victory this week, here's one of those ever-so-clever clues (click to story) that Charlie's number is up.
*** Purdue @ Indiana +3

Three points is the consensus give for home teams, so the oddsmakers apparently see these two teams as evenly matched.  I think this will be an offensive football showcase, to be clear, "lots of scoring" as opposed to "an offending display of ineptitude".  Both teams are 4-7 coming in.  Purdue is 2-2 ATS on the road, Indiana is 3-1 ATS at home.  Each of these teams has experienced myriad horrors this year, e.g. Purdue having ND all but beaten in SoBe before deciding to spend a last minute time-out that gave ND time to get organized and score the game winner, while Indiana earlier this season gained the distinction being the victim of the greatest comeback in Northwestern football history, followed by a second half collapse against Iowa, followed by a 3 point loss to Wisconsin, and culminating in a 31-20 loss to Penn State after leading 10-0.  The difference, in my guestimation, is that Indiana has a bit better talent and will be more motivated at home.  This is, by the way, The Old Oaken Bucket rivalry game...the bucket, above, looks like some of the crap my wife brought home from the garden center to "beautify" our world, just sayin'.  The O/U is 58 1/2, and I think this one will also be an over. 

** Rutgers -8 @ Syracuse

Nobody ever shed a tear for dear old Rutgers, so goes the song, so sings the venerable TwoGunPete.  Rutgers enters with a 7-2 record, Syracuse comes in 3-7.  Equally important is that the state university of New Jersey is 3-0 ATS on the road.  Rutgers is coming off a 31-0 thrashing of the South Florida Bulls (didn't see that one coming), while Syracuse was edged 10-9 at the wire by Louisville. I'm saying "conquering heroes" is a better frame of mind at this time than "heartbroken losers".  Rutgers enters with: 3 game winning streak.  Syracuse enters with: 3 game losing streak. If you go back to the numerology site and enter "Rutgers vs Syracuse", the number comes up "8", witness: 4 + 4, a four game win streak and a four game losing streak. This is almost as reliable as palm readers. Now that I've discovered this tool,  we can stop studying and let the numbers do all the work.  It will be the Scarlet Knights by 10.

* Iowa State +15 @ Missouri
Ah, the Cyclones, the state of Iowa's other college football team.  They're good, then they're not.  It depends on which week you catch 'em.  Missouri, last year's Big 12 darling, this year's underachiever.  Not soooo bad, considering they lost a lot to graduation. 
Iowa State beat Nebraska 9-7, Nebraska beat Missouri 27-12. 
OK State beat 'em both. 
They both beat Colorado.
Mizzou beat K-State, Iowa State lost to K-State. 
I flip-flopped on this one as the spread grew to 15.  Ya pays yer money and takes yer chances.

Some big games this weekend not on our slate:

• it's Ohio State & Michigan (OSU is -12 and I can't make up my mind),
• TCU has to lay 31 @ Wyoming (O/U is 47 1/2, I'm going over again),
• Cal visits Stanford -7 1/2 (O/U is a whopping 65, too high), and
• Northwestern is a 7 point dog to visiting Wisconsin (I'll be cheering, not investing, sorry, 'CatNation, not this week).