The first game of the season is just ten days away. Remember when you were a kid and there were "just" ten days until Christmas? That's how this feels right now. It's time--almost--to start procrastinating on chores and scheduling shopping around kickoff times. Marching bands, cheerleaders, tailgating, it is the greatest atmosphere in sports.
As Two Gun Pete's favorite TV announcer (baseball) likes to say, "It's all good!".
Speaking of my partner, Two Gun, it's been 10 years now that we have been throwing darts at these games. Over those years, we've made a lot of money (not so much last year, blech) and I've learned a few things about ol' Two Gun, one of the most prominent being that he is uncomfortable placing wagers on teams from the MAC. I use the word uncomfortable here as an understatement, like saying that the Cub have been a little below average this summer. Two Gun's affinity for the MAC is somewhat akin to my feeling for Obama. Just the thought elevates the blood pressure and begins to elicit mumbling and low cursing. Even so, we've made some money on the MAC, and I'm hoping we'll do that this opening weekend.
Before we get down to business, here's another MAC, just for my partner.
* Ohio Bobcats @ Penn State UNDER 43
Saturday, September 1 @ 11:00 a.m.
When we last saw the Ohio Bobcats, they had just finished blowing a huge halftime lead and lost the MAC title game to Northern Illinois. They will be the first guest in UnHappy Valley to launch the post-Joe era of Penn State football. Make no mistake, this is going to be a highly emotional day, as the loyal fans of PSU will come out in their usual huge numbers to begin the transition of the football program. Unfortunately, the team has been decimated by transfers as 9 players took advantage of the NCAA's decision to free them from their commitments to PSU. Some big name players were among those to depart, but there's quite a bit of talent still there. What I'm expecting is that the PSU defense is going to keep Ohio rather subdued, and the PSU offense is going to be hobbled by the departure of the QB and the stud running back. I see the two teams toiling away on a pretty even level without a lot of scoring.
** Western Michigan +9 1/2 @ Illinois
Saturday, September 1 @ 11:00 a.m.
Illini fans are howling at the thought of this, picking the Broncos to stay within striking distance of the Illini. WMU plays well against the Big 10, and they have an experienced, returning quarterback who can put up numbers. The Illini are a mystery. They have a new coach (Tim Beckman, from Toledo of -- guess who -- the MAC), a returning QB, and a lot of key guys gone from a sometimes exciting offense, and a lot of unknowns. I see another year of indifference from the fans down in Champaign, and it's going to begin with WMU giving the Illini all they can handle on the opening weekend.
*** Central Florida -23 1/2 @ Akron
Thursday, August 30 @ 6:00 p.m.
This one looks very appetizing to me. George Leary is in his 9th year at CFU, his team is facing sanction, there are 19 starters returning, and they have a chip on their shoulders from a very disappointing 2011 season. There's more motivation for this group, as they will be leaving Conference USA at the end of this season to become part of the Big East. While schedules are made years in advance, this one looks to be tailor made for getting things started right : they're traveling from warm Florida to the warm midwest (beware Florida teams in the north early in the season while it's still warm!) to take on the punching bag that is the Akron Zips. The Zips are bad. They have a new coach and their sites set on improving an awful program, but week one is going to be a track meet, and CFU is going to win going away.
**** Hawaii @ USC -39
Saturday, September 1 @ 6:30 p.m.
I lamented (yes, Two Gun, from time to time I lament) the departure of Pete Carroll from USC, I further lamented the arrival Lane Kiffin, and I reveled in the sanctions against USC from the Reggie Bush scandal--though it was sort an open air market kind of scandal, where the only surprise was how long it took to uncover everything. Well, friends, USC is off their bowl suspension this year, they have a boatload of talent (including the newly arrived ex-Penn State Silas Redd at running back to bolster an already strong running attack), a very talented and experience quarterback, and a mission. The mission is make it very clear to the world that USC is back and intends to be playing for big stakes in January. This game is at home, so there's no distraction of traveling to Hawaii. How does a Lane Kiffin make a statement that 2012 is going to be a very USC year? By beating the visitors from the island senseless. 39 is a lot of points. Too bad for Hawaii, as I'm looking for Kiffin to begin making Kiffin Covers the replacement for Carrol Covers.
So opening week has 3 MACs and a giant four star spread. It's all good!
I'm going to toss up a parley for opening weekend after I consult with the oracle, assuming that my MAC bets haven't caused a meltdown for Two Gun.
As Two Gun Pete's favorite TV announcer (baseball) likes to say, "It's all good!".
Speaking of my partner, Two Gun, it's been 10 years now that we have been throwing darts at these games. Over those years, we've made a lot of money (not so much last year, blech) and I've learned a few things about ol' Two Gun, one of the most prominent being that he is uncomfortable placing wagers on teams from the MAC. I use the word uncomfortable here as an understatement, like saying that the Cub have been a little below average this summer. Two Gun's affinity for the MAC is somewhat akin to my feeling for Obama. Just the thought elevates the blood pressure and begins to elicit mumbling and low cursing. Even so, we've made some money on the MAC, and I'm hoping we'll do that this opening weekend.
Before we get down to business, here's another MAC, just for my partner.
* Ohio Bobcats @ Penn State UNDER 43
Saturday, September 1 @ 11:00 a.m.
When we last saw the Ohio Bobcats, they had just finished blowing a huge halftime lead and lost the MAC title game to Northern Illinois. They will be the first guest in UnHappy Valley to launch the post-Joe era of Penn State football. Make no mistake, this is going to be a highly emotional day, as the loyal fans of PSU will come out in their usual huge numbers to begin the transition of the football program. Unfortunately, the team has been decimated by transfers as 9 players took advantage of the NCAA's decision to free them from their commitments to PSU. Some big name players were among those to depart, but there's quite a bit of talent still there. What I'm expecting is that the PSU defense is going to keep Ohio rather subdued, and the PSU offense is going to be hobbled by the departure of the QB and the stud running back. I see the two teams toiling away on a pretty even level without a lot of scoring.
** Western Michigan +9 1/2 @ Illinois
Saturday, September 1 @ 11:00 a.m.
Illini fans are howling at the thought of this, picking the Broncos to stay within striking distance of the Illini. WMU plays well against the Big 10, and they have an experienced, returning quarterback who can put up numbers. The Illini are a mystery. They have a new coach (Tim Beckman, from Toledo of -- guess who -- the MAC), a returning QB, and a lot of key guys gone from a sometimes exciting offense, and a lot of unknowns. I see another year of indifference from the fans down in Champaign, and it's going to begin with WMU giving the Illini all they can handle on the opening weekend.
*** Central Florida -23 1/2 @ Akron
Thursday, August 30 @ 6:00 p.m.
This one looks very appetizing to me. George Leary is in his 9th year at CFU, his team is facing sanction, there are 19 starters returning, and they have a chip on their shoulders from a very disappointing 2011 season. There's more motivation for this group, as they will be leaving Conference USA at the end of this season to become part of the Big East. While schedules are made years in advance, this one looks to be tailor made for getting things started right : they're traveling from warm Florida to the warm midwest (beware Florida teams in the north early in the season while it's still warm!) to take on the punching bag that is the Akron Zips. The Zips are bad. They have a new coach and their sites set on improving an awful program, but week one is going to be a track meet, and CFU is going to win going away.
**** Hawaii @ USC -39
Saturday, September 1 @ 6:30 p.m.
I lamented (yes, Two Gun, from time to time I lament) the departure of Pete Carroll from USC, I further lamented the arrival Lane Kiffin, and I reveled in the sanctions against USC from the Reggie Bush scandal--though it was sort an open air market kind of scandal, where the only surprise was how long it took to uncover everything. Well, friends, USC is off their bowl suspension this year, they have a boatload of talent (including the newly arrived ex-Penn State Silas Redd at running back to bolster an already strong running attack), a very talented and experience quarterback, and a mission. The mission is make it very clear to the world that USC is back and intends to be playing for big stakes in January. This game is at home, so there's no distraction of traveling to Hawaii. How does a Lane Kiffin make a statement that 2012 is going to be a very USC year? By beating the visitors from the island senseless. 39 is a lot of points. Too bad for Hawaii, as I'm looking for Kiffin to begin making Kiffin Covers the replacement for Carrol Covers.
So opening week has 3 MACs and a giant four star spread. It's all good!
I'm going to toss up a parley for opening weekend after I consult with the oracle, assuming that my MAC bets haven't caused a meltdown for Two Gun.
2 comments:
GREAT IMAGERY FOR FSF THIS YR GIVES
ONE THE ILLUSION OF TALL WHEAT FIELDS SOFTLY WAFTING AND SWAYING BACK AND FORTH ACROSS A WIND SWEPT PLAIN AT THE UNV OF TULSA MAKING THE MINDS EYE ENVISION A GOLDEN HURRICANE
BOISE ST+7 AND NORTHWESTERN-1 A SOLID PAR GET TO HOME DEPOT BUY A WHEELBARREL TO HOLD YOUR CASH
PARLAY PETE GOLDEN JUBILEE 60 YRS OF WAGERING ON COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Two Gun riding again, love it! I am writing this from the Holiday Inn Express in picturesque (haha) Macon, GA. Two days in Nashville acrosse the street from the Commodores' Stadium and frequenting the honky tonks on Broadway, research-research-research...of one kind or another. Heading for the home of the USF Bulls, driving past Gatorland, it is a college football road show!
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