Rose a tad above mediocre by going 4-3-1 last week. My season is now 56-55-3. With a few exceptions, this is Rivalry Week for the ACC. Odds as always are for the home team. My picks in italics.

Cal @ SMU -13.5: Everything points to a blowout. However, Cal plays well enough to beat the spread, while making us rip our hair out in frustration.

Furd @ San Jose State -3: Furd gives the world an early Christmas present, a long break from their fingernails on a chalkboard band. San Jose covers.

Georgia Tech @ Georgia -19.5: Finally, a real rivalry game. Bulldogs jockeying for position in the playoffs. Tech tries to deny them. Upset unlikely, but Tech plays well enough to beat the spread.

South Carolina @ Clemson -2.5: This should be a good game. Clemson trying to ensure playoff spot will be more motivated and covers.

Louisville @ Kentucky +4: Forgettable season for Kentucky becomes full blown amnesia. Louisville covers.

Duke @ Wake Forest +4: Hang tight, Wake Forest fans. Your basketball team looks pretty good. Football will soon be over. Duke covers.

Pittsburgh @ Boston College -5.5: Pitt is just too banged up. Boston College covers.

Miami @ Syracuse +11: Cuse has just enough in them to beat the spread.

North Carolina State @ North Carolina -3: Last time to say eff Mack Brown. State ruins his finale by beating the spread.

Florida @ Florida State +14.5: FSU's miserable season ends with more misery. No one else sheds a single tear. Florida covers.

Virginia @ Virginia Tech -7: Two teams playing for pride and bowl eligibility. Tech thumbs their noses at Virginia and covers.

Bye enjoys playing with themselves for the second week in a row.

i would argue 'everything' does not point to a blowout. they should be favored, and you're probably just mentally preparing for the likely outcome (an SMU win, in heartbreaking fashion), which... fine. A cal fan must cope however they can. But:

* SMU has had several close games
* All of our games have been close (except the syracuse game sort of)
* Generally, ACC games have been ridiculously close w/ something like 50% of all conf. games being 1 score
* SMU, as a road stop, is both less of trip and less hostile than our other ACC trips generally
* Our luck may have turned a bit and i see some parallels with our post Thanksgiving game @ ucla last year

I think evidence points to a 1-2 score game in the 4th. Basically - Its winnable. It probably won't be won, but we also shouldn't act like they're some unbeatable juggernaut

Random question from a betting novice.

When does one choose to show the spread with a minus vs a plus?

If some defensive players come back, The Big U in particular,maybe we keep'it close for a while.Maybe smu turns into Dallas Cowboys. One can only hope.

UrsusTexicanus said:

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Rose a tad above mediocre by going 4-3-1 last week. My season is now 56-55-3. With a few exceptions, this is Rivalry Week for the ACC. Odds as always are for the home team. My picks in italics.

Cal @ SMU -13.5: Everything points to a blowout. However, Cal plays well enough to beat the spread, while making us rip our hair out in frustration.

Furd @ San Jose State -3: Furd gives the world an early Christmas present, a long break from their fingernails on a chalkboard band. San Jose covers.

Georgia Tech @ Georgia -19.5: Finally, a real rivalry game. Bulldogs jockeying for position in the playoffs. Tech tries to deny them. Upset unlikely, but Tech plays well enough to beat the spread.

South Carolina @ Clemson -2.5: This should be a good game. Clemson trying to ensure playoff spot will be more motivated and covers.

Louisville @ Kentucky +4: Forgettable season for Kentucky becomes full blown amnesia. Louisville covers.

Duke @ Wake Forest +4: Hang tight, Wake Forest fans. Your basketball team looks pretty good. Football will soon be over. Duke covers.

Pittsburgh @ Boston College -5.5: Pitt is just too banged up. Boston College covers.

Miami @ Syracuse +11: Cuse has just enough in them to beat the spread.

North Carolina State @ North Carolina -3: Last time to say eff Mack Brown. State ruins his finale by beating the spread.

Florida @ Florida State +14.5: FSU's miserable season ends with more misery. No one else sheds a single tear. Florida covers.

Virginia @ Virginia Tech -7: Two teams playing for pride and bowl eligibility. Tech thumbs their noses at Virginia and covers.

Bye enjoys playing with themselves for the second week in a row.

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Thanks to Tex for doing this
4-4, 60-45-2
Cal
Furd
Tech
Clemson
Louisville
Duke
BC
Syracuse
NC State
Florida
VaTech

UrsusTexicanus said:

---

Rose a tad above mediocre by going 4-3-1 last week. My season is now 56-55-3. With a few exceptions, this is Rivalry Week for the ACC. Odds as always are for the home team. My picks in italics.

Cal @ SMU -13.5: Everything points to a blowout. However, Cal plays well enough to beat the spread, while making us rip our hair out in frustration.

Furd @ San Jose State -3: Furd gives the world an early Christmas present, a long break from their fingernails on a chalkboard band. San Jose covers.

Georgia Tech @ Georgia -19.5: Finally, a real rivalry game. Bulldogs jockeying for position in the playoffs. Tech tries to deny them. Upset unlikely, but Tech plays well enough to beat the spread.

South Carolina @ Clemson -2.5: This should be a good game. Clemson trying to ensure playoff spot will be more motivated and covers.

Louisville @ Kentucky +4: Forgettable season for Kentucky becomes full blown amnesia. Louisville covers.

Duke @ Wake Forest +4: Hang tight, Wake Forest fans. Your basketball team looks pretty good. Football will soon be over. Duke covers.

Pittsburgh @ Boston College -5.5: Pitt is just too banged up. Boston College covers.

Miami @ Syracuse +11: Cuse has just enough in them to beat the spread.

North Carolina State @ North Carolina -3: Last time to say eff Mack Brown. State ruins his finale by beating the spread.

Florida @ Florida State +14.5: FSU's miserable season ends with more misery. No one else sheds a single tear. Florida covers.

Virginia @ Virginia Tech -7: Two teams playing for pride and bowl eligibility. Tech thumbs their noses at Virginia and covers.

Bye enjoys playing with themselves for the second week in a row.

---

Things going way too well - looking for the other shoe to drop. 5-2 last week (I only played 7 games by accident) now 52-42.

SMU
Furd
Georgia
Clemson
Louisville
Duke
BC
Miami
NC State
Florida
VTech

Cal has a chance don't start slow play with hair on fire ... Can the S/c hype them up please !!!! They are too quiet/subdued for my liking

Went 5-3 last week, now 62-51-1 overall.

SMU -13.5 vs. Cal - hope I'm wrong
San Jose State -3 vs. Stanford
Georgia Tech +19.5 @ Georgia
South Carolina +2.5 @ Clemson - by rule, I always pick against FSU, Clemson and North Carolina this season - screw Clemson!
Louisville -4 @ Kentucky
Duke -4 @ Wake Forest
Boston College -5.5 vs. Pittsburgh
Syracuse +11 vs. Miami
NC State +3 @ North Caroina - by rule, I always pick against FSU, Clemson and North Carolina this season - screw UNC!
Florida -14.5 @ Florida State - by rule, I always pick against FSU, Clemson and North Carolina this season - screw FSU!
Virginia Tech -7 vs. Virginia

Since there may not be any more of these (?) and (unlike our Bears), my picks did well, here's my final record:

Went undefeated (10-0-1, push on the Stanford-SJSU game) to reach 72-51-2 for the season.

8-2-1
68-47-3 for season

I also finished well, 8-2-1, bumping my season to 64-57-4.

UrsusTexicanus said:

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I also finished well, 8-2-1, bumping my season to 64-57-4.

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Tex, thank you for witty summaries and keeping out interest in the ACC.

I finished 7-3-1

Ignoring ties, I finished 59-45, which is by far the best I did. Must be that alleged ACC weak strength of schedule everyone talks about on BI. Seasons greetings to everyone who participated.