SCOOPS' PICKS: HE'S NOT A MACHINE, HE'S A MAN!

Last Week: 8-4-1
Overall: 14-17-1
Win/Loss: - $35.33

HE’S CUT! HE’S CUT! THE RUSSIAN’S CUT!



The first two weeks of the college football season seem rather reminiscent of the first two rounds of the Christmas Day Balboa-Drago fight in Moscow 1985. Getting tossed around the ring, getting blasted, with no answer. I was cut, I was bleeding, but I was still on my feet.

And then? HE’S CUT! THE RUSSIAN’S CUT! I realized the gambling world is NOT A MACHINE…HE’S A MAN! And now the gambling god’s are sitting in their corner, saying to themselves “Scoops is not human…he’s like a piece of iron!” Wishful thinking, perhaps.

But a solid recovery last weekend, no doubt, going 8-4-1, and just missing on the two teasers with Northwestern butchering their +2 with a 3 point loss and Maryland losing last second to MTSU. With the Big Ten season starting up this weekend, taking the next step on the ladder is the goal.

And I’m learning as I go as well. First lesson learned: STAY AWAY FROM THE 3-TEAM TEASER. They look so juicy, like a big old steak just waiting to be eaten. Such juicy lines. And how many times can one get 2 or 3 right? So while the payoff may not be as good, I’m going to cut it down to 2-team teasers & straight plays and try to occasionally hit the money line on the dog.

Onto the picks:

Minnesota (+120) over NORTHWESTERN: Minnesota showed that they’re starting to get some athletes, particularly at LB to be able to compete at a higher level. That was the biggest thing I took out of their loss to Cal. Their LB’s are the best they have been in year. And that helps when facing a spread team like Northwestern. A misconception I believe is that to face a spread, you need 5-6 DB’s. DB’s are critical, but having the LB’s that can play in space is even more critical, I think. This is what Minnesota has never had.

This brings us to an interesting game. Northwestern lost at the buzzer to Syracuse, a team Minnesota beat at the buzzer. I think Minnesota is better now than they were then, but the health of Eric Decker comes into play as well. With a toss up game, go where you can take advantage of the dollar, and in that case, it’s Minnesota on the money line.
FINAL SCORE: MINNESOTA 30, NORTHWESTERN 27

Iowa (+10) over PENN STATE: Iowa is too good a football team to get blown out. Plus, Penn State is not having success running the ball, which plays into the hands of Iowa’s defense as their strength is the secondary. They also play smart offensively and Stanzi has been making plays in the 2nd half. Penn State wins, but Iowa covers.
FINAL SCORE: PENN STATE 27, IOWA 20

[**] Iowa (+16.5) / Minnesota (+9) 6.5 point teaser: Taking my own advice and cutting down from a 3-team to a 2-team teaser. Yes, the payoff isn’t as good, but I feel confident in these two teams hitting their respective numbers. Iowa hasn’t been blown out in a while, and the last time Northwestern defeated Minnesota by 10 points or more, Pat Fitzgerald was there….problem was HE WAS THEIR STARTING LB. [$20 teaser wager]

Indiana (+20) over MICHIGAN: Indiana is one of the teams that I have no idea about really, yet I keep on banging them and they keep on hitting the spread, with an outright win last week over Akron. Michigan wins, but they’re not 20 points better than Indiana
FINAL SCORE: MICHIGAN 31, INDIANA 17

Michigan State (+130) over WISCONSIN: Big swing game for both teams (MSU doesn’t want to end up 1-3 to start the season) and Wisconsin faces it’s biggest rival on the road next weekend, so getting a win is rather critical. Wisconsin’s kicking game has been off, and that will make the difference in MSU getting the outright win.
FINAL SCORE: MICHIGAN STATE 30, WISCONSIN 27

Illinois (+14.5) over OHIO STATE: It’s the pesky half point that has me leaning the Illini’s way. Juice has the offense to put up some points and will accept a 2 TD loss, but that half point leans money towards Illinois.
FINAL SCORE: OHIO STATE 38, ILLINOIS 24

PURDUE (-8.5) over Notre Dame: Just when it looked like Purdue was turning the corner with their close loss at Oregon, Northern Illinois came in and took it to them. Meanwhile, Notre Dame will get to experience life without Michael Floyd for the first week. I think the health of Jimmy Clausen is very key to Notre Dame and his lack of it will help Purdue cover.
FINAL SCORE: NOTRE DAME 27, PURDUE 24

GEORGIA TECH (-2.5) over North Carolina: The Jackets attempt to bounce back after their trouncing in Miami last Thursday. Look for Dwyer to finally get back on track and Georgia Tech to get the win without needing the points.
FINAL SCORE: GEORGIA TECH 31, NORTH CAROLINA 20

Texas Tech (even) over HOUSTON: The Cougars are all amped up for this game as the Red Raiders come into town. Being ramped up sometimes results in too much emotion and a let down, and that will happen as the pass happy Raiders take the win.
FINAL SCORE: TEXAS TECH 38, HOUSTON 34