The Mega Bets got off to a rough start when Missouri blew past Florida Upset City! Every year it seems as though there is one week full of upsets. In 2013 it was week 8. It started with a near upset on the Thursday game. Number 10 ranked Miami (FL) needed a TD with 16 seconds left to beat a middle of the pack North Carolina. Ellis is still bumming about the near miss.
Then the upsets started in earnest on Friday. In a classic game – underrated UCF went into Louisville’s crib and scored a winning TD with 23 seconds left to defeat the #8 Cardinals 38-35. I took the points but didn’t think the Knights would win outright. And while the Knights had a program making win the play of the game was this one handed interception by Louisville CB Calvin Pryor
Then the upsets started in earnest on Friday. In a classic game – underrated UCF went into Louisville’s crib and scored a winning TD with 23 seconds left to defeat the #8 Cardinals 38-35. I took the points but didn’t think the Knights would win outright. And while the Knights had a program making win the play of the game was this one handed interception by Louisville CB Calvin Pryor
Picking against a bad UMass squad paid off And the upsets kept coming on Saturday. Georgia’s injuries finally caught up with them as Vandy took down the #15 Mutts – 31-27. Tennessee clipped #11 South Carolina 23-21. Ole Miss stunned #6 LSU 27-24 and the big Guy and the Doofus watched Auburn score a TD with 1:19 left to beat #7 Texas A&M in a wild one 45-41. Great game. And while technically not an upset the margin was an eye opener as #5 FSU went up to Death Valley to crush #3 Clemson.
And the upsets clipped the Mega Bets in one game.
Florida -3.0 @ Missouri - Florida was favored by 3 at Missouri primarily due to Mizzou QB James Franklin being out for the game. But I had way underestimated back up QB Maty Mauk. 2 passes and 22 seconds into the game he was up on Florida for good 7-0. Mauk led the Tigers to 500 yards of offense.
I underestimated the Mizzou defense too. The Tiger D Line abused the gator O Line recording 6 sacks, forcing 3
turnovers and holding Florida to 151 total yards. Final score Missouri 36 Florida 17 Loss
Buffalo -20.5 vs Massachusetts - The strategy of picking against bad teams on the road scored another victory as Buffalo dominated the Minutemen. But it took a wee bit of luck to cover. The Bulls scored twice on defense – a pick six in the second quarter and a safety late in third. Buffalo did not get the cover until they scored two TDs in the fourth to put it away. Buffalo’s defense was solid in holding UMass to 247 yards of offense and forcing three turnovers. Final Score Buffalo 32 UMass 3 WIN
And the upsets clipped the Mega Bets in one game.
Florida -3.0 @ Missouri - Florida was favored by 3 at Missouri primarily due to Mizzou QB James Franklin being out for the game. But I had way underestimated back up QB Maty Mauk. 2 passes and 22 seconds into the game he was up on Florida for good 7-0. Mauk led the Tigers to 500 yards of offense.
I underestimated the Mizzou defense too. The Tiger D Line abused the gator O Line recording 6 sacks, forcing 3
turnovers and holding Florida to 151 total yards. Final score Missouri 36 Florida 17 Loss
Buffalo -20.5 vs Massachusetts - The strategy of picking against bad teams on the road scored another victory as Buffalo dominated the Minutemen. But it took a wee bit of luck to cover. The Bulls scored twice on defense – a pick six in the second quarter and a safety late in third. Buffalo did not get the cover until they scored two TDs in the fourth to put it away. Buffalo’s defense was solid in holding UMass to 247 yards of offense and forcing three turnovers. Final Score Buffalo 32 UMass 3 WIN
The points were flying high in the Georgia Dome Sunday Tampa Bay @ Atlanta Under 43.0 – My NFL picks continue to be abysmal. Nothing hurts an under more than defensive scores and long passes. When Atlanta opened up the scoring with a fumble recovery for a TD I knew the under was in for a long day.
And when Tampa Bay QB Mike Gleason completed a 59 bomb for a TD early in the 2nd quarter to cut the Falcon lead to 14-7 I was toast. The points kept on coming. The teams traded field goals and the Matt Ryan connected with Harry Douglas in a 37 yard TD strike to make the half time score 24-10.
The under was finally over less than a minute into the 4th quarter when the Falcon RB Jacquizz Rogers caught an 8 yard TD pass to make the score 31-17. And they still weren't done. Tampa bay got two more FGs to end the scoring at 31-23 LOSS
That brings the Mega Bets going into the GO JUMBO weekend to a losing 11-12-1 with the NFL picks causing most of the damage going 2-4-1. The College picks would break even after the spiff going 9-8-0. Oh well, it’s all
been for practice until now! It’s GO JUMBO weekend and it really truly counts this week. Lessons have been learned (and relearned – groan). Time to make it real. I’ll be reporting from the LVH Sportbooks every pick and result starting Thursday.
GO JUMBO!!
And I wasn’t the only one to stumble in week 8. The Sheriff of Malibu is also fading coming into the GO JUMBO weekend going 1-2 with:
UCLA (+6) over Stanford. Hate to tell you I told you so but the Big Book of Guesses took Stanford in a bounce back game at home. Good pick for the Doofus but not for the Sheriff. Stanford dominated winning 24-10 LOSS
And check out this great grab by Stanford WR Kodi Whitfield. Wow - just plain Wow!
And when Tampa Bay QB Mike Gleason completed a 59 bomb for a TD early in the 2nd quarter to cut the Falcon lead to 14-7 I was toast. The points kept on coming. The teams traded field goals and the Matt Ryan connected with Harry Douglas in a 37 yard TD strike to make the half time score 24-10.
The under was finally over less than a minute into the 4th quarter when the Falcon RB Jacquizz Rogers caught an 8 yard TD pass to make the score 31-17. And they still weren't done. Tampa bay got two more FGs to end the scoring at 31-23 LOSS
That brings the Mega Bets going into the GO JUMBO weekend to a losing 11-12-1 with the NFL picks causing most of the damage going 2-4-1. The College picks would break even after the spiff going 9-8-0. Oh well, it’s all
been for practice until now! It’s GO JUMBO weekend and it really truly counts this week. Lessons have been learned (and relearned – groan). Time to make it real. I’ll be reporting from the LVH Sportbooks every pick and result starting Thursday.
GO JUMBO!!
And I wasn’t the only one to stumble in week 8. The Sheriff of Malibu is also fading coming into the GO JUMBO weekend going 1-2 with:
UCLA (+6) over Stanford. Hate to tell you I told you so but the Big Book of Guesses took Stanford in a bounce back game at home. Good pick for the Doofus but not for the Sheriff. Stanford dominated winning 24-10 LOSS
And check out this great grab by Stanford WR Kodi Whitfield. Wow - just plain Wow!
Washington (+3) over Arizona State. Looks like Washington may be the PAC 12 version of Northwestern. They look good on paper and then just get beat - Final score Sun Devils 53 Pups 24 LOSS
Oregon State (-11) over California. Picking against bad teams is always a good strategy. Especially as the year wears on and the lousy teams begin throwing the towel. Won’t be long now for Cal as they were crushed 43-17 WIN
As far as the Situational Analysis
Week 7 Revenge games
Miami (FL) -9.5 @ North Carolina – Final Mia (FL) 27 UNC 23 - Loss
Baylor -33.0 vs Iowa State – Final Baylor 71 ISU 7 - Win
Bounce Back games
Michigan -9.0 vs Indiana (but I never bet on Michigan) scUM 63 IU 47 Win
Northwestern -12.5 vs Minnesota – Final score Goofers 20 Mildcats 17 Loss – NW fading fast
Oklahoma -23.0 @ Kansas – Final score OK 34 KU 19 Loss – Got to watch those bounce backs on the road
Stanford -5.5 vs UCLA – Final Stanford 24 UCLA 10 Win
Let Down games (2nd team listed is in let down situation)
Northern Illinois -16.0 @ Central Michigan – Final score NIU 36 CMU 17 - Win
Buffalo -20.5 vs UMass – Mega Bet win – Buffalo 32 UMass 3 - Win
Florida -3.0 @ Missouri – Mega bet Loss – Mizzou 36 UF 17 – Loss (Another Road loss)
Arizona – 4.0 vs Utah – Final score he real Wild Cats 35 Utah 24 – Win
Final tally 6-4. If you set aside the road games the record goes to 5-1. The Big Book of Guesses may be on to something!
Remember – the Go Jumbo weekend is THIS WEEK!! At the LVH. See you there!
Oregon State (-11) over California. Picking against bad teams is always a good strategy. Especially as the year wears on and the lousy teams begin throwing the towel. Won’t be long now for Cal as they were crushed 43-17 WIN
As far as the Situational Analysis
Week 7 Revenge games
Miami (FL) -9.5 @ North Carolina – Final Mia (FL) 27 UNC 23 - Loss
Baylor -33.0 vs Iowa State – Final Baylor 71 ISU 7 - Win
Bounce Back games
Michigan -9.0 vs Indiana (but I never bet on Michigan) scUM 63 IU 47 Win
Northwestern -12.5 vs Minnesota – Final score Goofers 20 Mildcats 17 Loss – NW fading fast
Oklahoma -23.0 @ Kansas – Final score OK 34 KU 19 Loss – Got to watch those bounce backs on the road
Stanford -5.5 vs UCLA – Final Stanford 24 UCLA 10 Win
Let Down games (2nd team listed is in let down situation)
Northern Illinois -16.0 @ Central Michigan – Final score NIU 36 CMU 17 - Win
Buffalo -20.5 vs UMass – Mega Bet win – Buffalo 32 UMass 3 - Win
Florida -3.0 @ Missouri – Mega bet Loss – Mizzou 36 UF 17 – Loss (Another Road loss)
Arizona – 4.0 vs Utah – Final score he real Wild Cats 35 Utah 24 – Win
Final tally 6-4. If you set aside the road games the record goes to 5-1. The Big Book of Guesses may be on to something!
Remember – the Go Jumbo weekend is THIS WEEK!! At the LVH. See you there!
