Kill Bill, Week 2

In Week One, the Hi-Plains Sports Wagering Brain Trust went 2-2 thanks to the Bears sticking close with the Redskins. But 2-2 ain't enough to overcome the vig, we'll have to do better. (We did go 2-1 in the "other games" section, lending credency to my belief that you should bet as many games as possible. Statistically, it makes sense: the larger the sampe group, the less chance of variance, but in four games anything can happen.)

Anyway, on to the picks:

Ole Miss @
Vanderbilt -3

And so it was written: Any time Vandy is giving points, home or away, to a fellow SEC foe, you should bet against the Commodores with vigor.

And so we shall, quietly overlooking Vanderbilt's victory at Arkansas last week.

Florida St @
Boston College +1

We all know you shouldn't bet based on personal feelings toward a team, but an exception to that rule occurs when said team plays down the street. I don't like BC, and here is why: I live about a five blocks from Alumni Stadium, but you would never know it on Saturdays. It never feels like a college football game is about to begin. Their students, who call themselves "SuperFans," have a ridiculous tradition of showing up late, like Jack Nicholson at a Lakers game. Now I know every college student likes to be well lubricated for a football game, but students in the SEC have come up with a startling solution to this problem, start drinking early. Without the SuperFans for half of the first quarter, FSU could be up 14 points before they even get in the stadium.

The point is, BC would never be favored in this game if it wasn't at home, but as I described above, BC doesn't enjoy a traditional home field advantage. The 'Noles got their scare last week and I like them big here. Welcome to the ACC!

Alabama @
South Carolina +1.5

I stayed off Air Spurrier last week at Georgia and he came through, so I'm taking him this week at home against an Alabama team that barely has enough scholarship players (thanks to NCAA sanctions) to field a good practice squad. Here's hoping it's not too late to get a good flight. Always remember, getting points at home is a good thing!

Illinois @
Cal -21

These big spread games are always a little tough to swallow, especially when pitting two BCS conference foes. However, Cal rolled U-Dub last week on the road, while Illinois needed a major rally to beat the State University of New Jersey at home in their opener. Back at home, I like the Bears.

Further Intrigue:

With two weeks to let that FSU loss smolder, Miami goes in to Death Valley to face Clemson, a team I'm still not believing in. Miami is laying 7 and if it was -5 or less, I'd pry take the Canes, but at -7 we'll just have to watch and moan as Hurricane Coker slams South Carolina.

Wyoming is a Top 25 caliber team. Air Force is not. Getting 2.5 points, I'm tempted by the Pokes, but it is the Mountain West after all.

And finally, the Huskers. I refuse to take this game because it is kind of like playing a game and not keeping score, everybody wins. I say that because I would be all over Pitt and the points here. The worst possible scenario for the Rattlesnake Boys exists here: Pitt is 0-2 and Wannstedt is about to be thrown in the Allegheny, and one of those losses came to NU's former Coach Solich. This is as much of a must win for Pitt as you can get three weeks into the season, and it just seems too poetic for Solich to do what Callahan can't. Also, the same thing I said about Penn St. last week applies to the Bugeaters here: I'm not sure they can score 10 points, much less win by that. (Of course, after writing that, the Lions put up 42, so hopefully the reverse jinx will be in order again.)

Nonetheless, I can't bet this game. If Nebraska wins I'm happy and if Pitt wins I'm rich, which is no good. The guiding principle of the HPSWBT is that your losses have to hurt, that way you won't make the same mistakes again. Of course, you could play the middle, looking for a Husker win by eight. Hmmm....