
With our season record at 3-5 and a less than intriguing slate of games for this weekend, HPBT enlisted the help of fervent gambler and literary legend, Hunter S. Thompson.
Iowa St. @
Army +17
Army has gotten rolled by everyone they played and I like the Cyclones with two weeks to prepare under the Friday Night Lights. I’m a little nervous because I can’t remember Iowa State blowing out anyone ever, but if they’re going to do it the Black Knights are the team. We should know early if the ‘Clones can cover, if they come out firing on all cylinders, the 17 points I’m laying should be nothing, but a few turnovers or one big play by Army that allows them to stay close or even take the lead will probably dash my hopes. In the words of Permian High Head Coach Gaines, “Can you be perfect?”
USC @
Oregon +21
They don’t call it gambling for nothing, so that’s why we’re going against the steamrolling Trojans in their bid to solidify their place as the greatest team in history. It’s a bit daunting, considering the offensive numbers USC put up against Arkansas last week. (400 yards on their first 6 possessions?!) However, Autzen Stadium is the toughest home field in the Pac-10 and the Ducks have a veteran quarterback who could challenge the Trojans only suspected weakness, their young defense. I’d be shocked if Oregon wins it outright, but they have the offensive firepower to stick with Bush & Co. and I’ll take the points at home in the most garish stadium on the planet. (Seriously, every square inch of that stadium is covered in Oregon logos.)
New England @
Pittsburgh -3
As proof of how unappealing this weekend is from an odds standpoint, I’m dipping into the League twice. This is another tough game, with five players for the Pats listed as questionable, but Bellichek is the master of IR manipulation. Davis, Johnson and Poole should all play and coming off an embarrassing loss last week, I think the Patriots will be back for form for a big game against the Steelers this week. Expect to see eight men in the box to slow down the Steelers running game, forcing Big Ben to beat the Pats. He couldn’t do it in the Super Bowl, and I say he can’t do it now with a chip on the defending champs shoulder.
Cincinnati @
Chicago +3
It’s the Bears secondary versus Chad Johnson, that’s it. The revived Monsters of the Midway haven’t given up a touchdown on the season, and only 15 points in two games, including picking Joey “The Jazz Singer” Harrington five times last week. Kyle Orton, with a tough debut under his belt, looked much more poised last week and with Chad Johnson flapping his lips early in the week, expect to see Mike Brown rip his head off. I’m taking the Bears and the points at home.
To recap, in true HST fashion, we swimming upstream, looking to beat the chalk in three out of four games. Here are the other lines worth watching:
I was all set to take LSU -7 at home against the Rocky Toppers, but the game was moved to Monday and it has been taken off the board. I don’t think Tennessee is that good, especially with rotating quarterbacks, and this is an emotional home opener for the Bayou Bengals. Geaux Tigers!
Despite their horrid opener against the State University of New Jersey, the Illini have regrouped enough to beat me at Cal last week, so I’ll drink the Kool-Aid when they host Michigan St. this week. Here’s why, in the past five years the Spartans have had at least one big win (Michigan, Notre Dame, Wisconsin, all while highly ranked.) They lost the following week every time. Laying 10.5 on the road cements the deal.
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