There is probably an old maxim saying a bettor should never criticize a team that wins a big bet for him, but the Iowa offense looks like something from the days of black and white film. They always have a great D, are well coached overall, are tough guys that play hard, everything I like, but the offense reminds me of Frankenstein’s monster trying to walk for the first time.
Best example—Iowa has first and goal in the last few minutes, game on the line, and it looked like no two players were on the same count or running the same play. Some WRs ran a pattern, some were looking at each other, some didn’t even move, the QB was trying to change a play but no one paid attention, the QB threw a pass to air and PSU intercepted. Amazing.
If the rest of the Florida team ever gets to the level of the front seven on D they will be world beaters. That goal line stand against Georgia was the best of the season. Maybe the best of all time. Georgia had first and goal at the one, ran a bunch of plays, got TWO penalties that gave them additional first and goals, and got hammered on every play they ran, losing yardage on every one.
Nevada is under the radar, but is a tough, well coached team with a good QB . Norvell has an excellent staff, has brought in a lot of talent and size and it shows. SDS has a lot of injuries, but Nevada stood up to them physically, which not many teams can do. I bet them in the late game and felt at ease with my bet the entire game. Beware of going against them the rest of the year.
Justice Served Department—four years ago a kid named Matt Colburn committed to Louisville. The day before signing day Petrino pulled his scholarship offer, so he committed to Wake Forest. Yesterday Colburn ran for 248 yards and three TDs against Louisville.
The under on the Umass/UConn game was the greatest gift to gamblers in years, maybe ever. Opened at 71 and stayed there till mid-week. Every weather service in the country reported a giant Nor’easter would hit the area at noon Saturday so I got on the under. By late Thursday the line dropped to 64.
Saturday comes and the storm is worse than forecast. The game is on ESPNU and the very first thing they show when the pre-game comes on is hospitality tents being blown away, fans seeking shelter from howling wind, and rain blowing sideways. I figured the line must have dropped by a 25-30 points, but I call the book and it had gone up to 65. I added a sizable bet and from the first play it was obvious both teams were going to be lucky to score at all. Christmas came early.
Mike Leach is a genius. A lot of young coaches could learn how to manage a career from him. Most young coaches who have success at a second tier-school jump at the first offer from an elite school or any SEC school, whether it’s a good job or not.
They may do a good job, but most of these jobs are coach killers and within a couple of years all the fans hate them because they don’t win the conference title and make the playoffs, or, in the case of Gus Malzahn, hate them even if they do. They get fired and spend the rest of their lives as assistants.
Leach stays where he is, makes a fortune, runs things exactly the way he wants to, and is a hero if he produces a good competitive team, which he can do in his sleep.
Utah State and Fresno State are the two best unknown teams in the country. Most of the world ignores them, but they are money in the bank for bettors. I’ve been betting them all year in the late games and they are a combined 14-2 ATS. My only complaint is some suit in the athletic department scheduled the Utah State game for afternoon this week and no one told me about it so I was shut out. They both covered again yesterday.
