Chopping Lines: Vince Young’s Pants Are on Fire

READ MORE: Chopping Lines, NCAA Football, THE Ohio State University, University of Texas

Saturday, 8 p.m.

University of Texas (1-0) (#2)

at

THE Ohio State University (1-0) (#7)

Best Line: TEXAS +1.5, OSU -1, O/U 46.5

We wonder if Maurice Clarett will be welcome on the sidelines during this game? Or maybe he can give the locker room speech? This is a horrible game to bet. Too much emotion and all of this rah-rah bullshit makes this thing pretty much a pick ‘em. But OSU is giving points based on their 400,000-seat stadium and raging Buckeye fans. And all of the focus this week is on Texas quarterback Vince Young and his ability to take over a game. OSU linebacker Bobby Carpenter’s “No Heisman” comment isn’t exacltly locker-room material, but for some reason, people are making out to be that way—like, does he want him to pass for 600 yards and run for 300 more? Here’s the take-away stat that we must focus on and makes this pretty much a coin toss: Ohio State has never lost a night game in Columbus and hasn’t lost a nonconference game at home since 1990. Texas has won 21 of its last 22 games on the opponent’s home field. So, we guess that makes Texas the underdog?

PICK!: TEXAS +1.5

Chopping Lines: Florida’s Eighth-Best University Hosts Oklahoma’s Bastard Step-Children

READ MORE: Chopping Lines, College Football Betting, NCAA Football

Thursday, September 8th, 7PM EST

Best Line: OKST -13, FLATL +14, O/U 49

What we won’t do for our readers… Just so you know, we drew straws around the Oddjack compound today to see who had to go out on a limb to handicap this game, and let’s just say Editor-In-Chief AJ Daulerio better have someone taste his ham steak before digging in tonight. Let’s do the math on this one, shall we? Florida Atlantic is a two touchdown dog in this game. FAU was trounced by Big 12 patsy Kansas in Lawrence a week ago by a score of 30-19. Kansas is a likely twelve to fourteen point favorite hosting D-II Appalachian State this weekend. This leads us to wish we could watch The Appalachian State Moonshiners (whatever) face off in a slightly more balanced game with our beloved Owls.

So why do we love FAU? Head Coach Howard Schnellenberger. Not only is Schnelly trying his damndest to prevent FAU’s attendance from dipping below NCAA D-I mandates (not easy when your average FAU undergrad is both female and a commuter), he also had the courage to hire a Defensive Ends coach named Christ Vagotis, which sounds like something nasty nuns get from years of celibacy.

Christ Vagotis almighty, we have no idea what to do about this game, other than watch the Pats/Raiders and TiVo The O.C. If you’re pressing us for the pick, we’re going to have to figure OSU’s offense is still going to have a hard time getting it up after the 15-10 victory last week versus Montana State, and FAU’s not going to do a ton better than the 40-something yards of rushing they hung last week on a crappier team. Does OSU get the win? Yeah, count on the Cowboys outright. But do they cover?

PICK: FAU +14, AND TAKE THE UNDER

Self-Flagellation or Adoration? Our NCAA Week One Report Card

READ MORE: College Football Betting, NCAA Football

Week one of the NCAA season blitzed right past us like a TCU defensive tackle, and we’re only a little battered and bruised from the action. Then again, some of us did have money on the cardiac Kentucky Wildcats against their cross-state rivals of Louisville. Terrific game, and Kentucky covered - which really only depresses Tim Couch, Antoine Walker, and Ashley Judd. It’s as good as a victory to the rest of us. After the jump, we’ll let you know how we did with our picks, and whether we’re ready to jump ship and bet the WNBA playoffs yet…

FROM THE FUN N’ GUN TO FLORIDA STATE AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN

Thursday’s Picks:
· South Carolina -19.5 (L), SC/UCF Under 49 (W)
· Vandy +10 (W)
· Oregon -8.5 (W)

Friday’s Picks:
· Arizona +7.5 (W)
· Miami OH +17 (L)
· Illinois +2.5 (W)
· Michigan -18 (L)
· USC -35.5 (W)
· Va Tech -3.5 (W)
· Miami FL -3.5 (L)

TOTAL SCORE FOR THE WEEKEND’S ACTION: 7-4

We give ourselves a B. Should have known Michigan wouldn’t run up the score versus a ground game like NIU’s, and should have figured the Spurrier-influenced line on South Carolina was too high. Otherwise, we kick ass.

College Football: No Pressure Kid, But Keep Winning Wouldya?

READ MORE: College Football Betting, NCAA Football, The Venetian

In the interest of full disclosure, we’ll let you know right off that The Venetian is a friend to Oddjack, and wrote up a a couple of NFL picks for us a few weeks back. Still, when someone has a pretty good weekend picking college football games, we want to recognize.

Against the spread for the weekend’s card he hit Clemson, FSU, Notre Dame, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, and Wisconsin. He missed only three in Utah, NC State, and Hawaii. Clemson, FSU, Illinois, and Notre Dame also managed to win outright as underdogs. 7-3? Not too bad at all.

Gamble With The Nerd - Weekend Edition [The Venetian]
Previously: The Venetian Picks, Archive [Oddjack]

More Katrina Fallout…

READ MORE: Hurricane Katrina, NCAA Football

Three college games have been cancelled this upcoming weekend as teams in the Gulf Coast region try to collect themselves and fish their floating blocking sleds out of the water in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. That means bettors with money on LSU-North Texas, Tulane-Southern Miss, and Nicholls State-Utah State will have to settle for the never any fun NO ACTION. But stop whining, it’s a tragedy, yo.

Hurricane Katrina Forces Postponement of Three Games [Covers]