After a one-week hiatus because I didn't have time to put the picks together in blog form in time to do anybody any good, I'm back with some educated sports wagering guesses.  Read the disclaimers in the first blog, and then proceed with the rest of this weekend's edition. 

 

Blog Records:

 

MLB Playoffs:  5-2, +425

College Football:  6-5-1, +50

NFL:  1-4-1, -340

 

MLB

 

Rockies +395 to win the World Series

 

            Game 1 was a nightmare for the Rockies, who were shaking off some rust after more than a week off.  I'm well ahead on the baseball picks so far, so I'm going to take a shot at this huge number and call it a season.  Nice advantage for the Rockies when the series goes back to Colorado, because Ortiz will have to play first base with his bad knee and Youkilis will have to find another position to play or sit out.  Whether the score was 13-1, 2-1, or 100-1 in Game 1, the series is still just 1-0, folks.

 

 

College Football

 

            I did really well last weekend on the picks I mailed to friends (yeah, I know, easy to say), so I'm hoping to keep the momentum going.  Here we go:

 

Boston College +3.5  (Thursday Night Game)

 

            I don't think BC is the 2nd best team in the country, but I do think they are better than Virginia Tech, and they're getting more than a field goal.  I've been to games in Blacksburg and it's a great home crowd, but the Hokies have no offense this year and shouldn't be giving points to a team as good as BC.

 

Indiana +7.5

 

            Indiana is much better than people think and had a chance to stun Penn State last weekend before coming up short.  Wisconsin's defense is a little better, but they're not putting away decent teams this year (Iowa by 4, Michigan State by 3).  Too many points.

 

Buffalo -1

 

            Neither team has to worry about any BCS controversies this year (or any year), but I've got Buffalo rated a little higher than Akron, plus Buffalo gets to play this one at home.

 

Kansas -2.5

 

            The one thing Texas A&M does well is run the ball (#5 nationally), but Kansas only gives up 78.3 yards per game on the ground (7th best in the nation).  Kansas hasn't played a tough schedule, but has picked up a couple of nice road wins at Kansas State and Colorado in recent weeks, and are very strong in all phases of the game.

 

Virginia -3.5

 

            Even though this week is N.C. State's homecoming game, I think they put a lot of effort into that win over ECU last week.  Virginia's defense is really good and State has not fared well against strong defenses this year.

 

Penn State +3.5

 

            Two good defenses and lots of running in this big game Saturday.  I'm predicting a very close game here, so it makes sense to take the home team getting more than a field goal.

 

 

NFL

 

Redskins +16

 

            This pick is mostly just on principle.  The books can't keep putting up lines this high on the Patriots and not expect to get burned at some point.  I think we see a heavy dose of Portis and Betts on Sunday to keep the clock running, and a relatively low-scoring game in the end.