Craps

How brutal was last week? So brutal that it's taken me five days to get around to writing about it. I went 2-8 on the week, but even worse was the fact that I did it while in Maine. Therefore, rather than seeing how and why my picks dissolved as easy as ice in the oven, all I had was a string of scores via XM and the Bottom Line later that night. It sort of felt like what I imagine stock brokers felt like watching the tickertape the day the bubble burst and ushering in the Great Depression. (Without the swan dive from 16 floors up on to Wall Street, that is.)

Nevertheless, here I am, battered and fried in hot oil, ready(?) for Week 8. What a horrible string of lines! Going to have to get creative this week.

Cincinnati @
Syracuse -5.5

Syracuse is crap. The Bearcats are crappier, remember they were the first win for Davey and the Boys at Pitt. The Orange's, and how ridiculous does that sound, home field advantage should finally hold up in this one. (Why didn't the higher-ups at SU think about the effect their name change would have on the possessive? It sounds terrible...The Orange's!)

Texas Tech @
Baylor +10.5

So Tech got exposed last week. Not sure if "exposed" is the right word, as we all knew that the Red Raiders were an average team with a great offense. And that's all they'll ever be, good enough for third or fourth overall in the Big XII and a ton of stats. Nevertheless, they are back playing inferior opponents so expect the scoreboard to be ablaze like the Branch Davidian compound in Waco this week.

UCLA @
Stanford +7

Stanford has been improving steadily after the early season set-backs, but UCLA appears to be too good to win EVERY game in the waning moments. Expect them to bounce back from a scare last week and chop some wood in Palo Alto.

Miss. St. @
Kaintuck PK

I have no feelings about this game whatsoever. But, it will be the first true pick'em of the year, so here's the criteria. Kentucky's state quarter is quite lovely, it has a thoroughbred standing behind a fence. Mississippi has a magnolia. I like the Kentuckian's moxy, going with the racing industry, despite the negative connotation associated with gambling and the guts they showed way back when, will finally pay off in this mid-season battle to stay out of the SEC cellar.

South Carolina @
Tennessee -14.5

I told a friend of mine, who is an alumnus of USC, the day they hired Spurrier that the Cocks would beat Tennessee this year. Six months later, I don't believe that, but I have to stick by my guns, so here I am. When you have a record like mine, all you have is your word.

BC @
VT -14

Virginia Tech keeps beating me, but their offense, minus Vick, looked pathetic against Maryland last Thursday. Laying two touchdowns to the number 11 team in the country? Remember, BC is always good for one mid- to late-season upset.

That's six for now, I'll get the other four tonight.