Sinking faster than ever before, my 1-4 record last week dragged my season total down to a scorching hot seat 11-19-1. I'd start a search committee for my replacement but my wife might get ideas. Anyway, despite this miserable season, trying to have fun with this. Here's the link to last week: https://bearinsider.com/forums/2/topics/104200/replies
For this week, odds as always are for the home team. My pick is in italics.

Furd @ Spawn of Satan -11: Hate to say it, but this should be a good game. Furd's pretty schizo this season. They smoke ranked teams and look ordinary to awful against the unranked. I'm expecting the Devil's Rejects to break that trend and win but not cover.

River Rats @ Wazzoo +3.5: Are the rodents playing over their head? Are the puddytats back to cougin it? Taking the rodents to keep it up one more week and cover.

Mormon Marauders @ U$C -3.5: As much as I want the missionaries to say the Condoms aren't worth the effort and condemn them all to hell it won't be this week. Toejams cover.

bRuins @ Mildcats +16: Praying the kittens don't break their long losing streak against Cal. It'd be great if they do it against the song stealers. Don't see that happening but taking Arizona to barely beat the spread.

BYE is very busy playing Cal, Oregon, Colorado and Washington. Cal struggles but wins in OT after BYE blocks what would be a tying XP, their player recovering the ball runs back to his own end zone and is tackled for a safety. Cal gets a one point win.

Hey Tex: It looks like it's just you and me this week. It might be just you next week because I'm starting a new job and may not have time for this. We'll see.

So I guess I went 4-1 last week, putting me above .500 for the first time in several weeks at 19-17. I'm agreeing with you alot this week

These are my picks this week:

ASU is near the top of the conference in several categories and they are #1 in total offense and scoring defense. Furd is #10 in the conference in total defense. ASU is undefeated at home but Furd is undefeated on the road and has playing better of late. I think ASU wins but the McKee factor for Furd is legit and keeps things closer than the spread. ASU 30-20.

Now the oddsmakers know something I don't for this spread to be so small. On paper this is a mismatch. OSU leads the conference in scoring offense and rushing defense. But WSUs passing offense (6th) is a mismatch against OSU passing D (9th). And, having seen WSU in person, they are better than it seems, despite the fact that they were playing a Cal team in disarray. But the spread is too close, even though the game is in Pullman.
OSU wins a game closer than we might think 30-24.

Similarly, even though USC is a massive underachiever and suffers from a massive disadvantage in coaching, I think this spread is too close for Utah team that undermanned after the loss of QB Brewer and now their top DL Moala is out. USC has a balanced offense but is facing a fierce D. The problem for Utah is their offense so USC Beats the spread again by a 30-24 margin and I'm being generous here giving Utah 24 points mainly because STs and defense should give Utah good field position.

The Tucson factor is for real and keeps an undermanned Arizona team closer than expected with their 12th man. Also, it might surprise you that Arizona has a pretty good defense, ranking 2nd in scoring and 3rd in total defense. Their scoring defense is lower probably because the offense turns the ball over too much, putting the defense in bad situations. Arizona ranks last in the conference in turnover margin. When Arizona is not throwing INTs (9 in 2021), the passing offense can move the ball, ranking 3rd in the conference in yards/game. That makes it a bad matchup for UCLA, which, despite it's lofty reputation since beating LSU, is only a mediocre team because of it's bad passing defense. UCLA wins, of course, by running the ball down Arizona's throat, but it's closer than you think 37-27.

Hopefully somebody else chimes in here Texicanus. But they don't have much time. Furd kicks off in a few hours.

heartofthebear said:

---

Hey Tex: It looks like it's just you and me this week. It might be just you next week because I'm starting a new job and may not have time for this. We'll see.

So I guess I went 4-1 last week, putting me above .500 for the first time in several weeks at 19-17. I'm agreeing with you alot this week

These are my picks this week:

ASU is near the top of the conference in several categories and they are #1 in total offense and scoring defense. Furd is #10 in the conference in total defense. ASU is undefeated at home but Furd is undefeated on the road and has playing better of late. I think ASU wins but the McKee factor for Furd is legit and keeps things closer than the spread. ASU 30-20.

Now the oddsmakers know something I don't for this spread to be so small. On paper this is a mismatch. OSU leads the conference in scoring offense and rushing defense. But WSUs passing offense (6th) is a mismatch against OSU passing D (9th). And, having seen WSU in person, they are better than it seems, despite the fact that they were playing a Cal team in disarray. But the spread is too close, even though the game is in Pullman.
OSU wins a game closer than we might think 30-24.

Similarly, even though USC is a massive underachiever and suffers from a massive disadvantage in coaching, I think this spread is too close for Utah team that undermanned after the loss of QB Brewer and now their top DL Moala is out. USC has a balanced offense but is facing a fierce D. The problem for Utah is their offense so USC Beats the spread again by a 30-24 margin and I'm being generous here giving Utah 24 points mainly because STs and defense should give Utah good field position.

The Tucson factor is for real and keeps an undermanned Arizona team closer than expected with their 12th man. Also, it might surprise you that Arizona has a pretty good defense, ranking 2nd in scoring and 3rd in total defense. Their scoring defense is lower probably because the offense turns the ball over too much, putting the defense in bad situations. Arizona ranks last in the conference in turnover margin. When Arizona is not throwing INTs (9 in 2021), the passing offense can move the ball, ranking 3rd in the conference in yards/game. That makes it a bad matchup for UCLA, which, despite it's lofty reputation since beating LSU, is only a mediocre team because of it's bad passing defense. UCLA wins, of course, by running the ball down Arizona's throat, but it's closer than you think 37-27.

Hopefully somebody else chimes in here Texicanus. But they don't have much time. Furd kicks off in a few hours.

---

Chiming in:

2 and 3 lst week and 1 game over break even

Cal is a 7 point underdog to bye and still can't cover

Furd and points. Spread is too large. Furd has beaten the spread except in its 2 quarterback fiasco opener. Furd is getting some good injured players returning.

OSU and giving points. Don't get the line either. Supposed to be good weather in Pullman. No one seems to like OSU. Why? WSU beating Cal is not much of a resume builder this year.

Utah beats spread over SC. Going upstream on this one. Absent Dart. even just a solid (as opposed to elite) Utah defense is too much for the struggling Trojans.

Also going with UofA and points. Just think the spread is too large for a UofA home game.

wifeisafurd said:

---

heartofthebear said:

---

Hey Tex: It looks like it's just you and me this week. It might be just you next week because I'm starting a new job and may not have time for this. We'll see.

So I guess I went 4-1 last week, putting me above .500 for the first time in several weeks at 19-17. I'm agreeing with you alot this week

These are my picks this week:

ASU is near the top of the conference in several categories and they are #1 in total offense and scoring defense. Furd is #10 in the conference in total defense. ASU is undefeated at home but Furd is undefeated on the road and has playing better of late. I think ASU wins but the McKee factor for Furd is legit and keeps things closer than the spread. ASU 30-20.

Now the oddsmakers know something I don't for this spread to be so small. On paper this is a mismatch. OSU leads the conference in scoring offense and rushing defense. But WSUs passing offense (6th) is a mismatch against OSU passing D (9th). And, having seen WSU in person, they are better than it seems, despite the fact that they were playing a Cal team in disarray. But the spread is too close, even though the game is in Pullman.
OSU wins a game closer than we might think 30-24.

Similarly, even though USC is a massive underachiever and suffers from a massive disadvantage in coaching, I think this spread is too close for Utah team that undermanned after the loss of QB Brewer and now their top DL Moala is out. USC has a balanced offense but is facing a fierce D. The problem for Utah is their offense so USC Beats the spread again by a 30-24 margin and I'm being generous here giving Utah 24 points mainly because STs and defense should give Utah good field position.

The Tucson factor is for real and keeps an undermanned Arizona team closer than expected with their 12th man. Also, it might surprise you that Arizona has a pretty good defense, ranking 2nd in scoring and 3rd in total defense. Their scoring defense is lower probably because the offense turns the ball over too much, putting the defense in bad situations. Arizona ranks last in the conference in turnover margin. When Arizona is not throwing INTs (9 in 2021), the passing offense can move the ball, ranking 3rd in the conference in yards/game. That makes it a bad matchup for UCLA, which, despite it's lofty reputation since beating LSU, is only a mediocre team because of it's bad passing defense. UCLA wins, of course, by running the ball down Arizona's throat, but it's closer than you think 37-27.

Hopefully somebody else chimes in here Texicanus. But they don't have much time. Furd kicks off in a few hours.

---

Chiming in:

2 and 3 lst week and 1 game over break even

Cal is a 7 point underdog to bye and still can't cover

Furd and points. Spread is too large. Furd has beaten the spread except in its 2 quarterback fiasco opener. Furd is getting some good injured players returning.

OSU and giving points. Don't get the line either. Supposed to be good weather in Pullman. No one seems to like OSU. Why? WSU beating Cal is not much of a resume builder this year.

Utah beats spread over SC. Going upstream on this one. Absent Dart. even just a solid (as opposed to elite) Utah defense is too much for the struggling Trojans.

Also going with UofA and points. Just think the spread is too large for a UofA home game.

---

I'm surprised Cal was only getting 7 points against bye. Is bye banged up this week?

I hasten to get this in before the Furd game starts in 2 hours. Last week I went 2-3, for a season total of 19-19-1 (reminds me of the history of Cal-Arizona contests).

Stanford @ ASU: Simply Stanford is a better team than most people seem to want to acknowledge. They may not win, but I think the Cardinal at least beats the spread.

OSU @ WSU: Much as I like the Cougars, I don't think this game will be close: OSU easily wins and covers.

Utah @ USC: I don't know what happened to these two teams - both have woefully underperformed. But the Trojans have better talent, although their coaching staff must be in a bit of a mess, Whittingham seems to have lost his moxie, so I'm betting USC.

UCLA @ Arizona: Arizona is just terrible, and although UCLA has stumbled a bit, I'm betting they can cover the spread.

By the way, did you accidentally reverse the odds for the UCLA game? Shouldn't it be +16 because Arizona is the home team?

chalcidbear said:

---

By the way, did you accidentally reverse the odds for the UCLA game? Shouldn't it be +16 because Arizona is the home team?

---

Whoops! Good catch. I just edited my OP.

heartofthebear said:

---

wifeisafurd said:

---

heartofthebear said:

---

Hey Tex: It looks like it's just you and me this week. It might be just you next week because I'm starting a new job and may not have time for this. We'll see.

So I guess I went 4-1 last week, putting me above .500 for the first time in several weeks at 19-17. I'm agreeing with you alot this week

These are my picks this week:

ASU is near the top of the conference in several categories and they are #1 in total offense and scoring defense. Furd is #10 in the conference in total defense. ASU is undefeated at home but Furd is undefeated on the road and has playing better of late. I think ASU wins but the McKee factor for Furd is legit and keeps things closer than the spread. ASU 30-20.

Now the oddsmakers know something I don't for this spread to be so small. On paper this is a mismatch. OSU leads the conference in scoring offense and rushing defense. But WSUs passing offense (6th) is a mismatch against OSU passing D (9th). And, having seen WSU in person, they are better than it seems, despite the fact that they were playing a Cal team in disarray. But the spread is too close, even though the game is in Pullman.
OSU wins a game closer than we might think 30-24.

Similarly, even though USC is a massive underachiever and suffers from a massive disadvantage in coaching, I think this spread is too close for Utah team that undermanned after the loss of QB Brewer and now their top DL Moala is out. USC has a balanced offense but is facing a fierce D. The problem for Utah is their offense so USC Beats the spread again by a 30-24 margin and I'm being generous here giving Utah 24 points mainly because STs and defense should give Utah good field position.

The Tucson factor is for real and keeps an undermanned Arizona team closer than expected with their 12th man. Also, it might surprise you that Arizona has a pretty good defense, ranking 2nd in scoring and 3rd in total defense. Their scoring defense is lower probably because the offense turns the ball over too much, putting the defense in bad situations. Arizona ranks last in the conference in turnover margin. When Arizona is not throwing INTs (9 in 2021), the passing offense can move the ball, ranking 3rd in the conference in yards/game. That makes it a bad matchup for UCLA, which, despite it's lofty reputation since beating LSU, is only a mediocre team because of it's bad passing defense. UCLA wins, of course, by running the ball down Arizona's throat, but it's closer than you think 37-27.

Hopefully somebody else chimes in here Texicanus. But they don't have much time. Furd kicks off in a few hours.

---

Chiming in:

2 and 3 lst week and 1 game over break even

Cal is a 7 point underdog to bye and still can't cover

Furd and points. Spread is too large. Furd has beaten the spread except in its 2 quarterback fiasco opener. Furd is getting some good injured players returning.

OSU and giving points. Don't get the line either. Supposed to be good weather in Pullman. No one seems to like OSU. Why? WSU beating Cal is not much of a resume builder this year.

Utah beats spread over SC. Going upstream on this one. Absent Dart. even just a solid (as opposed to elite) Utah defense is too much for the struggling Trojans.

Also going with UofA and points. Just think the spread is too large for a UofA home game.

---

I'm surprised Cal was only getting 7 points against bye. Is bye banged up this week?

---

The entire Bye team quit and entered The Portal. I still have Cal not covering.

wifeisafurd said:

---

heartofthebear said:

---

wifeisafurd said:

---

heartofthebear said:

---

Hey Tex: It looks like it's just you and me this week. It might be just you next week because I'm starting a new job and may not have time for this. We'll see.

So I guess I went 4-1 last week, putting me above .500 for the first time in several weeks at 19-17. I'm agreeing with you alot this week

These are my picks this week:

ASU is near the top of the conference in several categories and they are #1 in total offense and scoring defense. Furd is #10 in the conference in total defense. ASU is undefeated at home but Furd is undefeated on the road and has playing better of late. I think ASU wins but the McKee factor for Furd is legit and keeps things closer than the spread. ASU 30-20.

Now the oddsmakers know something I don't for this spread to be so small. On paper this is a mismatch. OSU leads the conference in scoring offense and rushing defense. But WSUs passing offense (6th) is a mismatch against OSU passing D (9th). And, having seen WSU in person, they are better than it seems, despite the fact that they were playing a Cal team in disarray. But the spread is too close, even though the game is in Pullman.
OSU wins a game closer than we might think 30-24.

Similarly, even though USC is a massive underachiever and suffers from a massive disadvantage in coaching, I think this spread is too close for Utah team that undermanned after the loss of QB Brewer and now their top DL Moala is out. USC has a balanced offense but is facing a fierce D. The problem for Utah is their offense so USC Beats the spread again by a 30-24 margin and I'm being generous here giving Utah 24 points mainly because STs and defense should give Utah good field position.

The Tucson factor is for real and keeps an undermanned Arizona team closer than expected with their 12th man. Also, it might surprise you that Arizona has a pretty good defense, ranking 2nd in scoring and 3rd in total defense. Their scoring defense is lower probably because the offense turns the ball over too much, putting the defense in bad situations. Arizona ranks last in the conference in turnover margin. When Arizona is not throwing INTs (9 in 2021), the passing offense can move the ball, ranking 3rd in the conference in yards/game. That makes it a bad matchup for UCLA, which, despite it's lofty reputation since beating LSU, is only a mediocre team because of it's bad passing defense. UCLA wins, of course, by running the ball down Arizona's throat, but it's closer than you think 37-27.

Hopefully somebody else chimes in here Texicanus. But they don't have much time. Furd kicks off in a few hours.

---

Chiming in:

2 and 3 lst week and 1 game over break even

Cal is a 7 point underdog to bye and still can't cover

Furd and points. Spread is too large. Furd has beaten the spread except in its 2 quarterback fiasco opener. Furd is getting some good injured players returning.

OSU and giving points. Don't get the line either. Supposed to be good weather in Pullman. No one seems to like OSU. Why? WSU beating Cal is not much of a resume builder this year.

Utah beats spread over SC. Going upstream on this one. Absent Dart. even just a solid (as opposed to elite) Utah defense is too much for the struggling Trojans.

Also going with UofA and points. Just think the spread is too large for a UofA home game.

---

I'm surprised Cal was only getting 7 points against bye. Is bye banged up this week?

---

The entire Bye team quit and entered The Portal. I still have Cal not covering.

---

If a bye enters a portal, would that mean a time/space portal? In such a dimension, is Cal any good?

In The Framework, Cal wins the NC every year.

Old nerd alert.

wifeisafurd said:

---

heartofthebear said:

---

Hey Tex: It looks like it's just you and me this week. It might be just you next week because I'm starting a new job and may not have time for this. We'll see.

So I guess I went 4-1 last week, putting me above .500 for the first time in several weeks at 19-17. I'm agreeing with you alot this week

These are my picks this week:

ASU is near the top of the conference in several categories and they are #1 in total offense and scoring defense. Furd is #10 in the conference in total defense. ASU is undefeated at home but Furd is undefeated on the road and has playing better of late. I think ASU wins but the McKee factor for Furd is legit and keeps things closer than the spread. ASU 30-20.

Now the oddsmakers know something I don't for this spread to be so small. On paper this is a mismatch. OSU leads the conference in scoring offense and rushing defense. But WSUs passing offense (6th) is a mismatch against OSU passing D (9th). And, having seen WSU in person, they are better than it seems, despite the fact that they were playing a Cal team in disarray. But the spread is too close, even though the game is in Pullman.
OSU wins a game closer than we might think 30-24.

Similarly, even though USC is a massive underachiever and suffers from a massive disadvantage in coaching, I think this spread is too close for Utah team that undermanned after the loss of QB Brewer and now their top DL Moala is out. USC has a balanced offense but is facing a fierce D. The problem for Utah is their offense so USC Beats the spread again by a 30-24 margin and I'm being generous here giving Utah 24 points mainly because STs and defense should give Utah good field position.

The Tucson factor is for real and keeps an undermanned Arizona team closer than expected with their 12th man. Also, it might surprise you that Arizona has a pretty good defense, ranking 2nd in scoring and 3rd in total defense. Their scoring defense is lower probably because the offense turns the ball over too much, putting the defense in bad situations. Arizona ranks last in the conference in turnover margin. When Arizona is not throwing INTs (9 in 2021), the passing offense can move the ball, ranking 3rd in the conference in yards/game. That makes it a bad matchup for UCLA, which, despite it's lofty reputation since beating LSU, is only a mediocre team because of it's bad passing defense. UCLA wins, of course, by running the ball down Arizona's throat, but it's closer than you think 37-27.

Hopefully somebody else chimes in here Texicanus. But they don't have much time. Furd kicks off in a few hours.

---

Chiming in:

2 and 3 lst week and 1 game over break even

Cal is a 7 point underdog to bye and still can't cover

Furd and points. Spread is too large. Furd has beaten the spread except in its 2 quarterback fiasco opener. Furd is getting some good injured players returning.

OSU and giving points. Don't get the line either. Supposed to be good weather in Pullman. No one seems to like OSU. Why? WSU beating Cal is not much of a resume builder this year.

Utah beats spread over SC. Going upstream on this one. Absent Dart. even just a solid (as opposed to elite) Utah defense is too much for the struggling Trojans.

Also going with UofA and points. Just think the spread is too large for a UofA home game.

---

Looks like we're going 0-1. Too many in game injuries for Furd. ...nothing we can do about that.

heartofthebear said:

---

wifeisafurd said:

---

heartofthebear said:

---

Hey Tex: It looks like it's just you and me this week. It might be just you next week because I'm starting a new job and may not have time for this. We'll see.

So I guess I went 4-1 last week, putting me above .500 for the first time in several weeks at 19-17. I'm agreeing with you alot this week

These are my picks this week:

ASU is near the top of the conference in several categories and they are #1 in total offense and scoring defense. Furd is #10 in the conference in total defense. ASU is undefeated at home but Furd is undefeated on the road and has playing better of late. I think ASU wins but the McKee factor for Furd is legit and keeps things closer than the spread. ASU 30-20.

Now the oddsmakers know something I don't for this spread to be so small. On paper this is a mismatch. OSU leads the conference in scoring offense and rushing defense. But WSUs passing offense (6th) is a mismatch against OSU passing D (9th). And, having seen WSU in person, they are better than it seems, despite the fact that they were playing a Cal team in disarray. But the spread is too close, even though the game is in Pullman.
OSU wins a game closer than we might think 30-24.

Similarly, even though USC is a massive underachiever and suffers from a massive disadvantage in coaching, I think this spread is too close for Utah team that undermanned after the loss of QB Brewer and now their top DL Moala is out. USC has a balanced offense but is facing a fierce D. The problem for Utah is their offense so USC Beats the spread again by a 30-24 margin and I'm being generous here giving Utah 24 points mainly because STs and defense should give Utah good field position.

The Tucson factor is for real and keeps an undermanned Arizona team closer than expected with their 12th man. Also, it might surprise you that Arizona has a pretty good defense, ranking 2nd in scoring and 3rd in total defense. Their scoring defense is lower probably because the offense turns the ball over too much, putting the defense in bad situations. Arizona ranks last in the conference in turnover margin. When Arizona is not throwing INTs (9 in 2021), the passing offense can move the ball, ranking 3rd in the conference in yards/game. That makes it a bad matchup for UCLA, which, despite it's lofty reputation since beating LSU, is only a mediocre team because of it's bad passing defense. UCLA wins, of course, by running the ball down Arizona's throat, but it's closer than you think 37-27.

Hopefully somebody else chimes in here Texicanus. But they don't have much time. Furd kicks off in a few hours.

---

Chiming in:

2 and 3 lst week and 1 game over break even

Cal is a 7 point underdog to bye and still can't cover

Furd and points. Spread is too large. Furd has beaten the spread except in its 2 quarterback fiasco opener. Furd is getting some good injured players returning.

OSU and giving points. Don't get the line either. Supposed to be good weather in Pullman. No one seems to like OSU. Why? WSU beating Cal is not much of a resume builder this year.

Utah beats spread over SC. Going upstream on this one. Absent Dart. even just a solid (as opposed to elite) Utah defense is too much for the struggling Trojans.

Also going with UofA and points. Just think the spread is too large for a UofA home game.

---

Looks like we're going 0-1. Too many in game injuries for Furd. ...nothing we can do about that.

---

Also, entirely one dimensional passing team with turnovers galore. Not your prototype power team that executes well anymore.

heartofthebear said:

---

wifeisafurd said:

---

heartofthebear said:

---

Hey Tex: It looks like it's just you and me this week. It might be just you next week because I'm starting a new job and may not have time for this. We'll see.

So I guess I went 4-1 last week, putting me above .500 for the first time in several weeks at 19-17. I'm agreeing with you alot this week

These are my picks this week:

ASU is near the top of the conference in several categories and they are #1 in total offense and scoring defense. Furd is #10 in the conference in total defense. ASU is undefeated at home but Furd is undefeated on the road and has playing better of late. I think ASU wins but the McKee factor for Furd is legit and keeps things closer than the spread. ASU 30-20.

Now the oddsmakers know something I don't for this spread to be so small. On paper this is a mismatch. OSU leads the conference in scoring offense and rushing defense. But WSUs passing offense (6th) is a mismatch against OSU passing D (9th). And, having seen WSU in person, they are better than it seems, despite the fact that they were playing a Cal team in disarray. But the spread is too close, even though the game is in Pullman.
OSU wins a game closer than we might think 30-24.

Similarly, even though USC is a massive underachiever and suffers from a massive disadvantage in coaching, I think this spread is too close for Utah team that undermanned after the loss of QB Brewer and now their top DL Moala is out. USC has a balanced offense but is facing a fierce D. The problem for Utah is their offense so USC Beats the spread again by a 30-24 margin and I'm being generous here giving Utah 24 points mainly because STs and defense should give Utah good field position.

The Tucson factor is for real and keeps an undermanned Arizona team closer than expected with their 12th man. Also, it might surprise you that Arizona has a pretty good defense, ranking 2nd in scoring and 3rd in total defense. Their scoring defense is lower probably because the offense turns the ball over too much, putting the defense in bad situations. Arizona ranks last in the conference in turnover margin. When Arizona is not throwing INTs (9 in 2021), the passing offense can move the ball, ranking 3rd in the conference in yards/game. That makes it a bad matchup for UCLA, which, despite it's lofty reputation since beating LSU, is only a mediocre team because of it's bad passing defense. UCLA wins, of course, by running the ball down Arizona's throat, but it's closer than you think 37-27.

Hopefully somebody else chimes in here Texicanus. But they don't have much time. Furd kicks off in a few hours.

---

Chiming in:

2 and 3 lst week and 1 game over break even

Cal is a 7 point underdog to bye and still can't cover

Furd and points. Spread is too large. Furd has beaten the spread except in its 2 quarterback fiasco opener. Furd is getting some good injured players returning.

OSU and giving points. Don't get the line either. Supposed to be good weather in Pullman. No one seems to like OSU. Why? WSU beating Cal is not much of a resume builder this year.

Utah beats spread over SC. Going upstream on this one. Absent Dart. even just a solid (as opposed to elite) Utah defense is too much for the struggling Trojans.

Also going with UofA and points. Just think the spread is too large for a UofA home game.

---

Looks like we're going 0-1. Too many in game injuries for Furd. ...nothing we can do about that.

---

That ASU lateral on the pick six proved it wasn't going to be Furd's night.

UrsusTexicanus said:

---

heartofthebear said:

---

wifeisafurd said:

---

heartofthebear said:

---

Hey Tex: It looks like it's just you and me this week. It might be just you next week because I'm starting a new job and may not have time for this. We'll see.

So I guess I went 4-1 last week, putting me above .500 for the first time in several weeks at 19-17. I'm agreeing with you alot this week

These are my picks this week:

ASU is near the top of the conference in several categories and they are #1 in total offense and scoring defense. Furd is #10 in the conference in total defense. ASU is undefeated at home but Furd is undefeated on the road and has playing better of late. I think ASU wins but the McKee factor for Furd is legit and keeps things closer than the spread. ASU 30-20.

Now the oddsmakers know something I don't for this spread to be so small. On paper this is a mismatch. OSU leads the conference in scoring offense and rushing defense. But WSUs passing offense (6th) is a mismatch against OSU passing D (9th). And, having seen WSU in person, they are better than it seems, despite the fact that they were playing a Cal team in disarray. But the spread is too close, even though the game is in Pullman.
OSU wins a game closer than we might think 30-24.

Similarly, even though USC is a massive underachiever and suffers from a massive disadvantage in coaching, I think this spread is too close for Utah team that undermanned after the loss of QB Brewer and now their top DL Moala is out. USC has a balanced offense but is facing a fierce D. The problem for Utah is their offense so USC Beats the spread again by a 30-24 margin and I'm being generous here giving Utah 24 points mainly because STs and defense should give Utah good field position.

The Tucson factor is for real and keeps an undermanned Arizona team closer than expected with their 12th man. Also, it might surprise you that Arizona has a pretty good defense, ranking 2nd in scoring and 3rd in total defense. Their scoring defense is lower probably because the offense turns the ball over too much, putting the defense in bad situations. Arizona ranks last in the conference in turnover margin. When Arizona is not throwing INTs (9 in 2021), the passing offense can move the ball, ranking 3rd in the conference in yards/game. That makes it a bad matchup for UCLA, which, despite it's lofty reputation since beating LSU, is only a mediocre team because of it's bad passing defense. UCLA wins, of course, by running the ball down Arizona's throat, but it's closer than you think 37-27.

Hopefully somebody else chimes in here Texicanus. But they don't have much time. Furd kicks off in a few hours.

---

Chiming in:

2 and 3 lst week and 1 game over break even

Cal is a 7 point underdog to bye and still can't cover

Furd and points. Spread is too large. Furd has beaten the spread except in its 2 quarterback fiasco opener. Furd is getting some good injured players returning.

OSU and giving points. Don't get the line either. Supposed to be good weather in Pullman. No one seems to like OSU. Why? WSU beating Cal is not much of a resume builder this year.

Utah beats spread over SC. Going upstream on this one. Absent Dart. even just a solid (as opposed to elite) Utah defense is too much for the struggling Trojans.

Also going with UofA and points. Just think the spread is too large for a UofA home game.

---

Looks like we're going 0-1. Too many in game injuries for Furd. ...nothing we can do about that.

---

That ASU lateral on the pick six proved it wasn't going to be Furd's night.

---

Agreed, ASU made some big plays, and their QB has grown into a clutch player.

That said, ASU is a good, well coached team. They may have flagrantly disregard some of the rules, but that was a very good ASU defense that shut down a very good Furd passing attack and turned Furd into a one dimensional team. Every coach should look at that film - ASU did exactly what K-State did to Furd. Run the ball with a mobile QB, do a lot of counters, misdirection, sprint outs and bootlegs (it helps to have a QB like Daniels), and then pressure the Furd QB. The three teams that beat Furd this season all had mobile QBs and ran the bay effectively.