Against The Spread - Week 5
Clem “Hundy-Handshake” Haskins
As predicted, last week’s action did serve as a reality check to both Jason and myself. I managed a 2-2 result against the number while Jason rode the Paterno-Saban wagon to a 1-3 week. After 4 weeks wer’re deadlocked with 11-4 records. Pretty good numbers to be sure, but the wheels are gettin’ a little wobbly.
With the 11W tour bus heading to Minneapolis we approached another man of integrity, Clem Haskins, to invite him to be this week’s guest prognosticator. Clem eagerly accepted the assignment and the $20 stipend that comes with it since he’s behind on payments to the academic advisor he contracted to do his Gopher hoopsters’ homework for the better part of 5 years back in the 90’s.That said, a little academic fraud wasn’t enough to keep Clem out of the Hall of Fame at his alma mater, Western Kentucky. Maybe the folks at WKU confused Clem with his twin, John Chaney.
Now on to the picks:
West Virginia (-7) @ South Florida (ESPN2 8:00)
Ranked for the first time ever, USF invites a Mountaineer team with revenge on its mind to sold out Raymond James Stadium (also a 1st). The Bulls went into Morgantown last year and upset WVU 24-19 prompting the creation and sale of many a “Brokeback Mountaineer” t-shirt. Can the Bulls do it again?
Chris: WVU won’t look past USF this time, but I’ll take the Bulls to cover. WVU 31-26.
Jason: The Mountaineers lost to South Florida last season. They won’t this year. WVU 42-24.
Clem: I’d wager my 1.5mil buyout on this one. WVU 35-20.
Michigan State (+7) @ Wisconsin (ABC 3:30)
The annual MSU crash and burn would begin right about now in what seems like the past 10 years straight. Could this be the year they keep the wheels from falling off now that they’ve got a real coach? It’s doable, but ending the nation’s current longest winning streak will depend on shutting down P.J. Hill in Camp Randall.
Chris: Wisky’s been inconsistent, but MSU hasn’t beat anybody worth a hoot. Badgers 24-16.
Jason: Wisconsin loves to play to their competition. Take Dantonio and the points: Wisconsin 21-20.
Clem: Gotta take the home team, Badgers 24-13.
Cal (+5) @ Oregon (ABC 3:30)
College GameDay heads to Oregon for what should determine the PAC 10’s possible challenger to USC’s conference throne. Cal’s hopes could depend on the arm of QB Nate Longshore who has struggled in previous road tests.
Chris: Cal’s overrated. Oregon to cover, 34-27
Jason: Dennis Dixon at home? Ducks 38-21.
Clem: Oregon’s uni’s make my eyes hurt. Cal 42-40.
USC (-20.5) @ Washington (ABC 8:00)
Ty Willingham’s troops welcome USC to Husky Stadium relying on crowd noise and a freshman QB to make a difference. Something tells me this is deja vu all over again.
Chris: This could get ugly. USC 45-16.
Jason: The Huskies could have a shot to cover — if the USC coaches weren’t telling their kids how great Locker is all week. Trojans 37-10.
Clem: Half my players couldn’t spell USC but I’ll say Trojans in a rout, 38-6.
9 Responses
Hey, do you think you could talk Clem into throwing his jacket one more time just for old times’ sake? ;)
I agree that Cal is overrated (like every year) but I would say the entire Slack-10 other than USC is overrated. Time will tell, but I predict that both Cal and Oregon will have 2-3 losses by season’s end, not to mention that woodshed job Utah administered to UCLA. I had to laugh when I saw Herbie the other day talking up the Slack-10. Makes for good theater but on the field the truth will come out in time.
GoBucks89 - September 27th, 2007 at 10:29 am - #
Wow, the only week I’ve done better than you guys (3-1)!
But I guess I’m still a loser overall at 10-5 and now I even dropped the ball on my upset pick of the week. (Again, I knew I should’ve picked Miami over A&M instead of Arkansas over Kentucky)
Alright I’ll see if this week was me turning it around, or just a fluke where you guys will whip my ass again:
West Virginia (-7) @ South Florida (ESPN2 8:00)
I’m calling for a repeat down to the score. USF in the upset 24 WV 19
Michigan State (+7) @ Wisconsin (ABC 3:30)
I wanna root for Dantonio, but it just won’t happen in Camp Randall. But I will take the points. Wisconsin 20 MSU 14
Cal (+5) @ Oregon (ABC 3:30)
That Tennessee win doesn’t look so impressive anymore, and Dixon is gonna be to much for the Call defense to handle. Oregon in the upset 38 Cal 31
USC (-20.5) @ Washington (ABC 8:00)
Would love to see an upset here….but that’s not gonna happen. Although I do think Washington is improving so that’s to many points. USC 35 Washington 17
Upset pick of the week: Illinois 21 Penn State 17
Wil - September 27th, 2007 at 11:32 am - #
I was really hoping you’d have Antonio Henton as your special guest prognosticator this week.
Jeff at The BBC - September 27th, 2007 at 11:40 am - #
He already spent his $20 bucks on something other than gambling
Wil - September 27th, 2007 at 12:05 pm - #
Wil…Illy over PSU would crack me up but I dont that much faith in Juice. MSU/Wisky was the toughest one for me to decide on…7 pts is a lot to give considering Donovan’s performance and I lost taking Wisky -7 last week but I’m back for more…USC/Wash will be interesting…i really think USC will stomp ‘em out but we’ll see…
Chris - September 27th, 2007 at 6:24 pm - #
Chris, it’s not the Juice you need to have faith in, Illinois tailback (Rashard Mendenhall) is 8th in the nation in rushing averaging 7.0 yards a carry totalling 536 yards with 7 touchdowns. Illinois has been 444.8 yards a game of total offense compared to 389.5 that PSU has been averaging, and I would argue that Illinois has done it against tougher defenses: Missouri(4-0), W. Illinois(3-1), Syracuse(1-3), and Indiana(3-1)…. While PSU has played Florida International (0-4), Notre Dame(0-4), Buffalo(1-3), and Michigan(2-2). That gives Illinois combined opponent record of 11-5 while PSU’s combined opponents record is 3-13. Add into this that Illinois’ only loss came by 6 points to undefeated Missouri with an end of the game INT into the endzone by their BACKUP qurterback because Juice was hurt, and PSU’s only loss came to 2-2 Michigan who was starting a BACKUP true freshman quarterback….and the game is in Champaign……I smell upset!
Wil - September 28th, 2007 at 10:06 am - #
Damn, Brandon Lang Jr.! That’s some analysis right there…
Chris - September 28th, 2007 at 11:03 am - #
I actually got all that info from his tip line. (please add sarcastic tone of your choice when reading)
Wil - September 28th, 2007 at 11:38 am - #
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