The Gambling Man

First rule! Have fun. Projecting the lines earlier this week immensely helped to clarify my choices (not necessarily increasing my wisdom), although it was not much fun. Tedious.

And now, Let's get on my lads! Home teams first.

UCLA-2-#10 Oregon.  I predicted Oregon-5! When the line appears to you to be too good to be true---do some more looking into it. I did for about two minutes to see if a key Oregon starter had gotten hurt or something. Nothing. Uclans are 5-2--both losses at home. Oregon is TENTH.  Nickel on Oregon to cover.

Iowa State-7-#8 Oklahoma State. Far more bizarre (to me) than UCLA-Nike. I predicted the 'Pokes would be -6. I really don't understand the House's thinking here. If ever a gamblin' man goes against the profession's adage to "Take the home dog" this would be an instance where (s)he does. I haven't invested more than a nickel on a game in a couple weeks at least and rarely do at all. I am here. Dime on Okie State getting 7.

To me the House has been very good the last three weeks. Examples this week: OSU-20 at Indiana. I thought -15. There's no meaningful diff. No play.

NC State-3 at UMG. Me: -7. I understand the House here. 'Canes talent all over the field, just poorly coached. TVD. Does State have better talent than UNC? No. Are they better coached? No. No play.

#13 ND-7-USC. I thought -10. No play.

#17 Texas A&M-23-South Carolina. Me:-21. No play.

#7 PSU-23.5-'Noise. This game, with PSU's QB up in the air, is a gamblin' man's third rail. Don't get near it.

This one surprised me. Purdue, ranked 25th, at home, a three-point dog to uneven Wisc. "Take home dogs" is a perennial gambling adage which I frequently ignore. But I'm following the adage in this game. Nickel on "Boilers."

I'm not betting on #23 Pitt-3-Clemson. I'm too close. I did predict the line would be Pitt-7. and I think thehave an even chance (which is what the line is supposed to do) to cover that.

Another example that great investors think alike, #12 Ole Miss-9.5-LSU. I projected 10. No play.