Thursday Night Special

The high temperature in Tampa today is supposed to be 72 with some scattered clouds.  Unless you're there, or someplace near there, you may want to read that once again and let it sink in, close your eyes and feel the sun warm you all over, sitting still, it raises the slightest bit of perspiration on your brow...

Wake up! It's December 1st and it's cold outside!

Sorry. 



Raymond James Stadium, looking north, with
the old Sombrero at the top.  Notice that this
looks nothing like Chicago's Soldier Field,
where the new stadium appears to have been
dropped from above onto the old one.  I have
had the privelege of attending games in both,
 (Soldier Field and Raymond James, that is,
never in the old Sombrero, sadly)and
Raymond James is far superior.  RJames
will also forever hold a place in my family
lore as the site where my son nearly restarted
the Civil War with two grannies from Auburn.
The altercation occurred on the south
plaza of the stadium while watching the
Marine Corps band performing, and ended
with the grannies muttering something about
the damn Yankees.  War Eagle, indeed. In
the photo above, at the top left, is George
Steinbrenner Field, spring training home of
the other damn Yankees.  



Tonight at Raymond James Stadium, West Virginia visits the USF Bulls.  WV is a 1 1/2 point favorite.  USF's best player, QB BJ Daniels, has been out with a shoulder problem he suffered when he was body slammed by a behemoth a few weeks ago.  He's a maybe for tonight, which suggests that he'll play.  It's the last game of the regular schedule and USF needs a W to become bowl eligible; bet on Daniels playing.

WV is 8-3 and gunning for the Big East title.  USF is 5-6, hungry for that bowl bid.  My initial thought was that USF would be the more highly motivated of the two and that determined spirit would carry them to victory.  Recent history in this match up is that the home team comes out on top.

After ruminating a bit, not tonight, say I.  USF is 1-6 after winning its first four.  They've lost their last three home games ATS.  While the Bulls haven't had a blow out loss since late September against Pitt, they've shown little to get excited about, and only flashes of competence on offense since Daniels was injured. 

WV is the opposite.  The Mountaineers have put up better numbers all year against opponents they have in common with USF. 

By the time I placed the bet, the spread had risen to 2 1/2, so I pocketed the points and took WV straight up at -135 just in case it's close.