Week 9- It Just Keeps Getting Worse

Just when I thought things couldn't get any worse, last Saturday happened. I could be talking about my official wagers or the Florida-Mizzou game. Take your pick. Both were abject disasters. I'm not quite the Jeff Driskel of College Football wagering in 2014 but things are certainly trending in that direction. Thankfully, mercifully the Gators have a bye this week. All the better to rest up for the wood shedding that awaits them in Jacksonville on November 1st. Sadly, for me, I don't get a bye this week. So make some money and go against me.

Rutgers +20 at Nebraska- TR was a week earlier with his 'take Rutgers and all those points on the road' advice. Ohio State has turned into a wrecking ball over the last month. Nebraska is still the Nebraska that we've come to know under Bo Pelini. Good, not great. Near the top of the sorry Big Ten but not at the top or elite. Rutgers bounces back and covers.

Mississippi -3 at LSU- The Tigers are a very popular pick to pull the upset this weekend. This is a by product of (a) this game being played at night in Tiger Stadium and (b) a general skepticism that still exists toward Ole Miss. Both of these a fine reasons. I'm not buying either of them. I'm a believer in the Ole Miss defense and I still think LSU is a below average SEC team this year. A night game in Baton Rouge helps keep things close before the Rebels pull away in the second half.

Texas +10 at Kansas State- Kansas State is coming off a win at Oklahoma. A win that included a pick six from mediocre Sooner QB Trevor Knight, a missed OU extra point and a missed 19 yard Oklahoma FG late in the 4th quarter. Kansas State's defense is legit as they've shown against Auburn and last week against Oklahoma. The Wildcat offense, on the other hand, is average and now QB Jake Waters is banged up. Texas has quietly come together in recent weeks. They followed up a gutsy game against Oklahoma with a last minute victory on the road at Iowa State last week. Charlie Strong knows what he's doing. If only Florida had a guy like Strong on their staff before they chose Will Muschamp to succeed Urban Meyer...(siiiiiigh). Hook Em.

Mark has been good to me this year but I expect him to turn it around. Looks like he has a good opportunity here with a head-to-head matchup at LSU. To the picks of Danimal!

Mississippi Rebels -3 at LSU Tigers

Mississippi heads to Baton Rouge unbeaten against the spread at 6-0-1, and….unbeaten. They’re quite good on both sides of the ball and more accurately they have an exceptional defense, #1 in the SEC West. Average yards per carry for the Vols last week? 0.0 Another factoid – they are undefeated against the Spread this year at 6-0-1.

LSU kicked the poop out of Kentucky last weekend 41-3. Many thought Kentucky had a chance after LSU’s season to date. They were mistaken. Though in their last 4 contests they’ve dropped games to Auburn where they were demolished and Mississippi State which we all know now was the Bulldogs’ coming out party (and Florida almost beat them, sadly) LSU believes they are still in the mix and they certainly will be with a win here. Baton Rouge is going to be cray cray on Saturday. If LSU ties or wins the turnover battle, I think they win the game.
Tigers. Hear them roar.

Oregon -17.5 at Cal

Ranked #6^th are the Ducks, bright-eyed and bushy tailed as they head toward the finish knowing they are so very much in the thick of things with what has and will continue to happen in the SEC, ND’s loss (with likely another one to come imo), and their reasonably easy schedule the remainder of the year. This year’s slip-up, to their fortune, came early against Arizona. With the Bears’ D 120^th in the land, Oregon’s Offense 6th, I look for Oregon to put a ginormous beat down on Cal. I’ll go ahead and give the rare score prediction here – Oregon 55 Cal 24
Quack

Michigan +17 at Michigan State
It has likely been a decade, maybe two? since either in this game were favored by more than two touchdowns. There is no reason Michigan State won’t win this by 4 or more touchdowns. None I say!
Well, maybe there is. This is it for Michigan. This and the Ohio State game. Their season is over and for the seniors their careers. For many, how they play in this one will define them as players. As a team. And as men! They have been humiliated, the butt of many a joke. I expect the Spartans to be a little lackadaisical here, a little overconfident with their success and their rival’s lack thereof. I think something nutty is going to happen here. I’ve gotta feelin about this. Michigan State wins by 16 and the UM covers. And the Predator pic is a shout out to Buckles.  
Wolverines