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.