Tough Week - Play by the Rules

Honestly, very few lines are jumping out at me this week. That means it's a tough week to pick. When that's the case, I usually play by a few general rules:
1) When bad teams collide, take the points.
2) Play the best teams against bad teams until they prove you wrong.

Rule #1 applies to games like Iowa St and Texas A&M and the pro Tennessee vs. Jacksonville game. Rule #2 applies to OU, Colts, Chargers, and Saints. Sometimes you just have to play the odds.

Locks
Oregon St -10
Iowa -17.5
Wisc -6.5
AZ ST +6.5
Michigan -7

Other College
Rutgers +7.5
FSU -8.5
Iowa St +6.5
Georgia +15.5
ND -29.5
USC -4.5
Texas -9.5
OU -26.5
Miami -7.5
Boise St -34.5

Pros
Houston -3.5
Miami +4.5
Indy -11.5
Dallas -9.5
Cleveland +13.5
Denver + 3.5
NY Giants Even
San Diego -16.5
Jacksonville +3.5
Arizona -9.5
GB -3.5
NO -9/5

Results Week of Oct 24

A great week in college with most of my called shots coming in (AL and FL not covering, TX covering). A lackluster week in the pros. I should have followed my own advice more closely: Favorites were 10-3. As predicted, St. Louis, KC, and Tampa got whipped. My mistake was picking a couple of dogs (Vikings and Raiders--what was I thinking?).


This Week:
Overall 19-10 (65.5%)
Locks 3-2 (60.0%)
Asterisks 4-1 (80.0%)
College 12-4 (75.0%)
Pro 7-6 (53.8%)

Year to Date:
Overall: 34-22 (60.7%)
College: 19-10 (65.5%)
Pro: 15-12 (55.6%)
Locks: 7-3 (70.0%)

Locks
5 Arizona (U of) -8.5 YES
4 Miami (the U) -6
3 New Orleans -6.5 YES
2 South Carolina -12.5
1 Green Bay -7 YES


Other College
Marshall -7.5 YES
Ohio State -18.5 YES
Cincinatti -17.5* YES
Michigan +4.5
Tennessee +15.5 YES
Wash State +35.5 YES
Texas Tech -21.5*
TCU -1.5 YES
LSU -7.5 YES
Miss State +22.5 YES
Texas -13.5 YES
Oregon St +20.5 YES
Okla St -10* YES

Pro
San Diego -5.5 YES
Indy -13.5 YES
Minnesota +4.5
New England -15.5* YES
Houston -3.5
Carolina -7.5
Oakland +6.5
Atlanta +3.5
Cincy -1.5 YES
NY Giants -7.5
Philly -7.5* YES

Time For A New Pony

Picks for the Week of Oct 24

There are about 10 games I like a lot this week, the locks and the runners up indicated by asterisks. Otherwise there are some tough picks. I have a feeling this is the week to change some of those horses you've been riding all season, so I'm picking against the Tide in a tough test with an improving Tennessee team and against the Gators who've really been lackluster lately. Texas is a question mark too, but with Mizzou's QB questions, they should cover 2 TDs.

In the pros, the big dogs will come barking this week. Poor St. Louis, Washington, KC, and especially Tampa Bay traveling to London. Sorry kids. Underdogs I like are Minnesota and the scrappy Raiders at home.

Locks
5 Arizona (U of) -8.5
4 Miami (the U) -6
3 New Orleans -6.5
2 South Carolina -12.5
1 Green Bay -7


Other College
Marshall -7.5
Ohio State -18.5
Cincinatti -17.5*
Michigan +4.5
Tennessee +15.5
Wash State +35.5
Texas Tech -21.5*
TCU -1.5
LSU -7.5
Miss State +22.5
Texas -13.5
Oregon St +20.5
Okla St -10*

Pro
San Diego -5.5
Indy -13.5
Minnesota +4.5
New England -15.5*
Houston -3.5
Carolina -7.5
Oakland +6.5
Atlanta +3.5
Cincy -1.5
NY Giants -7.5
Philly -7.5*

October 17 RESULTS

Well, it was a strong week for the locks although I dropped the 5-star thanks to a pathetic showing by the Buckeyes. Just nipped .500 in both college and pros. I knew some NFL parity would show up and dogs would rule the day: KC, Cleveland, St. Louis, Oakland, and Buffalo all covered despite being big underdogs and 3 of them won outright.

This week:
Overall: 15-12 (55.6%)
College: 7-6 (53.8%)
Pro: 8-6 (57.0%)
Locks: 4-1 (80.0%)

Year to Date:
Overall: 15-12 (55.6%)
College: 7-6 (53.8%)
Pro: 8-6 (57.0%)
Locks: 4-1 (80.0%)

Locks
Ohio St -13
Georgia -7 YES
BC -2.5 YES
Tech +10 YES
OK St -7 YES

Other college games
UT -3.5
USC -10.5
Arkansas +24.5 YES
Idaho -9.5 YES
AZ St -6.5 YES
Auburn -13.5
CFU +14.5
Alabama -17.5

Pros
KC +6.5 YES
NO -3.5 YES
Carolina -3.5 YES
Cincy -5.5
Balt +3.5 YES
Pitt -14.5
Stl +10.5 YES
Detroit +14.5
Phil -14.5
AZ +3.5 YES
NE -9.5 YES
NYJ -10.5
Atlanta -3.5 YES
SD -3.5

DOG DAY AFTERNOON

Picks Weekend of October 17
Ohio State is a 5-star gold lock. They will easily punish Purdue by 2 TDs. Bet the Farm.

In the NFL, watch for those NFL dogs to bite this weekend. Too many big lines; parity will rear its ugly head sooner or later. The trick is picking which ones!

Locks
Ohio St -13
Georgia -7
BC -2.5
Tech +10
OK St -7

Other college games
UT -3.5
USC -10.5
Arkansas +24.5
Idaho -9.5
AZ St -6.5
Auburn -13.5
CFU +14.5
Alabama -17.5

Pros
KC +6.5
NO -3.5
Carolina -3.5
Cincy -5.5
Balt +3.5
Pitt -14.5
Stl +10.5
Detroit +14.5
Phil -14.5
AZ +3.5
NE -9.5
NYJ -10.5
Atlanta -3.5
SD -3.5