Loyal members of the flock (which is approximately 35 strong according to google), SNL welcomes you to the “Circle of Trust,” which confers to you many benefits. Well, maybe not many, but at least one: WINNERS!!! After last night’s Baylor romp, SNL is now a strong 7-3-1 ATS, which is a damn site better than the goombahs peddling their GOYS, POWS, and Locks. No thanks is necessary, but adulation, kudos, and even worship would be nice surrogates. Now….Missouri (-26.5) v. Nevada: Missouri, newly anointed CFB royalty, showed the nation that it will again be unstoppable on offense when it outdueled Zooker and the “Juice.” Led by its vertically challenged QB, Chase Daniels, the party-line on Mizzou as spun by the E-SPIN machine is that Chase will win the Heisman and his team will coast unchallenged until meeting Stoops semi-pro team in the Big 12 Championship. Whatev…
In its 35-19 loss to the Red Raider, another offensive juggernaut, Nevada had 28 first downs (to TT’s 20), 488 total yards (to TT’s 421), and held the ball almost 14 minutes longer. For those flock members that are slothful of wit, Nevada can score on Mizzou’s defense-alot. Not enough to win, but more than enough to cover this gratuitous line.
Pick: Nevada +26.5
BYU (-8) v. UCLA: The spoils for victorious gridiron gladiators of UCLA, as shown above, are significant. And, after bludgeoning Fulmer’s well-fed Vols in front of a national audience, the Vegas goombahs have offered to the degenerates a touchdown for Bruins backers. Why? For starters, because BYU’s 1 point (and now infamous) victory of UW was not nearly as close as the score indicated-BYU outgained the Huskies by almost 200 yards and, some redzone miscues not withstanding, could have sent the woeful Huskies limping to their dens early in the third quarter.
Nonetheless, there are two reasons that UCLA, who handed BYU a beatdown last year in the city of Angels, will prevail: 1) The ironically bear-like DT’s of UCLA will cause chaos for BYU; and 2) Coaching. Previous posts have illuminated the omniscience that results from the Neuheisel/Chow equation, and the brain-trust will again show the nation and more importantly, the Men of Troy, that UCLA is on the rise.
Pick: UCLA +8
Georgia Tech v. VTU (-7): VTU did little to heal its psyche last week. Sure, the Hokies won 24-7, but they were up only 3-0 at the half, and mustered an anemic 14 first downs-which, was only 1 more that Furman put up against the ghost of VT’s defense. More depressing than the uniforms, the offense, or the death of “Bimmer-ball,” however, is that Furman outgained the Hokies by 160 yards through the air.
This year’s Tech team, conversely, is a paragon of contrasts; its offense, a struggling neophyte with some potential; its defense a nasty bunch who can get after the QB and refuse to allow their opponents to run the ball. Period. In the nebulous “intangible” category, the Techies, protractors and all, are a team that is swelling with confidence. Erstwhile, in Blacksburg the stooped shoulders are reminiscent of last year’s Miami squad, which was ready to quit after 2 games.
Unfortunately, the wistful Hokie backers hoping for a resurrection of Bimmer-ball this week will get instead a Yellow Jacket insurgence.
Pick: Georgia Tech +7
Girls SNL likes, but not enough to commit to or bring home to mom:
Rice + 8.5
GT/VT u38
MTSU +18
-So Sayeth the Shepherd
Beanie Wells injury is looking less serious as the week goes on. And, while the “Vest” is predictably mum on the subject, Beanie’s mom expects him to play according to internet sources.
