Let the Games Begin!!

With the Cubs out of it and the Huskers struggling mightily at the hands of the Maine Blueberries last week, I realized one thing: It's time to start paying more attention to football. (i.e. It's time to start picking against the spread.)

Now, I don't do major research, look up returning starters, record against the spread, blah, blah, blah, I gamble. Go with what feels right. (Although I probably won't lay money on most of these games, I like to pick them anyway.) At most I'll probably find five games a week that intrigue me, although some dry runs have me convinced that the best way to make money is to bet every college or pro (whatever you preference) game every week and eke out a small earning at the end of the year. Anyway, on to the games:

Clemson @
Maryland -1
The Tigers beat a tough Texas A & M squad without their starting QB, but I'm still not a believer. I'm sensing a major bounce here and taking the Terps in basically a pick 'em at home.

Texas @
Ohio St. -1
I figure homefield advantage in Columbus is worth about 3 points against just about anybody. That and the fact that Texas never wins a game that means anything, and don't say the Rose Bowl, if it hadn't been close, it would have been just another bowl game that wasn't the National Championship. In one of the best earl season match-ups in recent memory, I say Buckeye! The good news for Lone Staters is that this means UT will finally beat OU, because the Red River Shootout will have none of the normal title implications as both teams will have an early season loss. Another nothing win for Texas...hook 'em horns.

Cincinnati @
Penn St. -18.5
I don't feel great about this one, but good enough to throw a double-deuce at it. Penn St. can barely score 18 points a game, much less win by that much, unless they pitch a shutout. I think the Bearcats and their new unis will get on the board once so I'll take them on the road with the points.

Chicago @
Washington -6
I normally stay away from the NFL as I don't know enough, but I love this pick. Washington isn't six points better than any team in the league and the Bears defense is tough. I think Kyle Orton could be this year's Big Ben, and with Mike Brown back the Chicago secondary is stingy. I like the Bears to win this outright, but I'll enjoy the six point cushion.

Other games worth watching:
I want to take South Carolina at Georgia getting 18 points, but it's too early. If this game was in October, I'd hammer it, but in week two, I'm not sure Spurrier is sure how to play the hand he's been dealt yet. I'll probably end up hating myself for not taking this game, but I'll save the coin now for when SC plays Tennessee, an upset I picked the day Spurrier was hired.

This is definitely biased betting, but I'm going to take the Huskers over Wake and lay the 7 points. It's not so much that I feel Nebraska is a solid pick, but more that they have to be. If they can't cover the spread in this game, coming off a slight embarrassment against Maine and with the doubters already blasting Coach Callahan, then we're in for a long season of Bugeater football. Nebraska needs to win this game impressively and for that reason, I want to take them but I won't. I missed the best Nebraska betting opportunity of the season last week, where I read some books had the Huskers -50 or more. Had I known this, I would've taken Maine in every game this season for the opportunity to bet that one.

Minnesota is almost a two touchdown favorite at home against Colorado St. The Rams played CU tough on the road last week and I think they are generally a well-coached team, which leads me to believe the Rams will be closer than 13 against the Gophs, but not knowing much about either team is forcing me to stay away.

(Information based on the Stardust line, courtesy of Vegasinsider.com.)