A Quick Look Ahead At The College Football Weekend

Conference championship week is upon us in the seedy world of college football. Let's look at some of the hard hitting action on tap.

MAC Title: NIU (-17&1/2) vs Miami (OH) - Hard not to like the Huskies in this one. They've been destroying teams this season in the MAC. They just put a 71-3 beatdown on E Michigan last week. It's hard to imagine Miami scoring enough to keep up here. Still, I wouldn't throw out too big a bet on that big a favorite in a championship game.

Conference USA: SMU (+9 &1/2) vs UCF - Take the dog and the points. It is a home game for UCF, and they've been tough all year. However, the Ponies have been in almost every game and I expect June Jones to have some tricks up his sleeve.

SEC: S Carolina (+6) vs Auburn - The Cocks are finally for real. And there's that business with the turmoil at Auburn as well. The Tigers are off an emotional and tight win over their arch-rival. Everything points to a tight game where S Carolina should have a great shot to win outright. Take the dog.

ACC: FSU vs V Tech (-4) - I really like the Gobblers in this game. They've won 10 straight. Many of them blowouts. Over the course of 60 minutes, Tech should pull away to a comfortable lead and hold on to get the cover. It's funny, because if the Gobblers had held their 4th quarter lead over Boise way back on Labor Day and then taken care of Jimmy Madison the next week, as they should have, they'd be playing for a perfect regular season. Alas, an ACC Championship will have to do. I do have lots of respect for the Noles. But, not this time FSU fans.

Big 12: Corn (+4 &1/2) vs Oklahoma: I would not throw out much of a bet here. The Big 12 officials seem hell bent on not allowing The Corn to win the conference on their way out the door to the Big 10. And Bob Stoopes has been money in these title games. Stay away.

Other picks - I like Fresno getting 5 at home. The Illini have been impressive at times, but I don't know how they can be up for this game enough to cover as road favorites. La Tech is getting 8 at home against Nevada. Now, I love Nevada. Chris Ault should be coach of the year. But this game has letdown written all over it. Take the home team and the points. Oregon will strut into Corvallis as 16 point favorites against the Beavers. And that is too many points. I really like the Beavers here and wouldn't be shocked if they pull the outright upset. Idaho is my pick of the week. The Vandals need a win to get to a meaningless bowl game. And the schedule gives them SJSU as a gift to get it. The Spartans are one of the 5 or 7 worst teams in division 1. Vegas is also giving a gift to the tune of only laying 14. Lay it. UCLA is hard to get a read on. The Bruins cannot go to a bowl game, even with a win here against USC. And the Trojans are not eligible to go to a bowl game thanks to Pete Carroll. Take the home dog and the 6 &1/2 here. Finally, out on the islands, Hawaii has been awesome this season. They've destroyed teams. UNLV sucks and will probably fire their coach early next week. It's a huge spread (-34 &1/2), but the Warriors could lay 60 on the Rebels, in a heartbeat.

As always, bet with caution. And don't chase. Never chase.

I was out at trivia the other night and the first question was about Ghostbusters. And we missed it. I guess that's the price I pay for never having actually watched the thing all the way through. We came in second on the night. Bitterly disappointing.

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