Tightwad Hill

SATURDAY'S GAMES

I was a miserable 5-9 last week, so please don't take this post as instructional in any way (and of course please don't gamble to begin with).

Arizona State (-1.5) at Washington. ASU is favored because Washington's offense looks like a MASH unit - QB Carl Bonnell has a separated shoulder (but will play) and RB Kenny James is questionable with an ankle injury. I just don't see Washington losing three in a row. ASU's best lineman, Andrew Carnahan, is out for the year - and I think the Dawgs will feast on Carpenter. ASU's got better talent, but UW's got heart. UW 28 ASU 24

Washington State (+1) at UCLA. The game of the week in the Pac 10. I don't see Wazzu running on UCLA, and the Bruins D-line should be able to get to Brink on a fairly regular basis. This is more of a heart pick than anything else, 'cause I don't want Cal to be a must-win for Dorrell and his team. UCLA 24 Wazzu 13

USC (-11.5) at Oregon State. Are the Beavers back? Is SC looking ahead to their Oregon-Cal-UCLA-Notre Dame gauntlet? Maybe, and No. OSU has puzzled me this year with maddening inconsistency. I don't think that one solid game brings them "back," but they will have the best back on the field Saturday in Yvenson Bernard. Thanks to SC's injuries this has been the closest these two teams have been in talent differential since Carroll's first year. SC wins but I think the line is too generous. USC 27 Oregon State 17

Portland State at Oregon (no line). PSU is a pretty good team 1-AA. Oregon's a pretty good 1-A team. Oregon 45 Portland State 14

Other games:
Northwestern (+30) at Michigan. Michigan isn't scoring enough to cover this line. Michigan 34 Northwestern 10

Texas (-10.5) at Texas Tech. What the hell happened to Texas Tech? This has historically been a tough place for the Horns, but Leach's team is in disarray. Texas 35 Texas Tech 21

Tennessee (-3) at South Carolina. This is my ridiculous line of the week. Vols by at least a field goal. Tennessee 31 South Carolina 23

Georgia (+13.5) at Florida. The World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party (or not). Georgia isn't very good, and their only hope is to keep the score down. Florida has too many weapons for that to happen. Florida 24 Georgia 10

Oklahoma (+1.5) at Missouri. Sooners getting points against Missouri. Gimme, gimme, gimme. Oklahoma 27 Missouri 24

posted by Tightwad @ 9:05 AM