http://www.beyondthebets.com/betonline-releases-college-football-point-spreads-for-

6 point dogs..

So where is the best place to lay bets if you don't live near a sports book? I heard that some off-shore online sportsbooks will take American money but are reluctant to pay off winners. I know some of you will advise not to bet. But if really you want to, where?

bet the house

I'm not going to make any bets on our team, but I'd definitely take Bama -14, LSU -4.5.

Not a betting man, but if I were, take New Mexico minus 6 against UTSA.

Last year I said losing to Nevada would mean we were in trouble. I feel that way about Northwestern. I think we win by double digits.

kelly09;842125314 said:

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Last year I said losing to Nevada would mean we were in trouble. I feel that way about Northwestern. I think we win by double digits.

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pass me that joint you're smoking...

Is NW that good?

Or could it be that there is too much uncertainty after a regime change?

cyrusthebear;842125430 said:

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Is NW that good?

Or could it be that there is too much uncertainty after a regime change?

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NW is good but I don't think that good.

This is about what I expected for 3+ months before the game and with the new coaching staff.

cyrusthebear;842125430 said:

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Is NW that good?

Or could it be that there is too much uncertainty after a regime change?

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Fitzgerald has slowly built his program into a ten win program. Sure the schedule is soft but ten wins is ten wins. He has an experienced DC returning for his sixth year who was the DC of a national championship team many moons ago. He has two returning quarterbacks plus a scat back who is dangerous. His program is to the point where he already has ten commitments for 2014 including 5 four or three stars. He has committed two of the top fifty players in Texas.

Sonny is just getting his program started, will start an inexperienced qb, has three commitments, etc. NU is a good model of how to build a classy competitive program. Sonny will catch them but NU is a good program right now and six is probably a fair spread.

Northwestern a six pt road favorite? That line closes at pick 'em. Mark it down.

ducktilldeath;842125453 said:

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lol, being a "10 win program" = winning 10 games ONCE? They were 6-7 the year before.

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Please see if you can find it in your heart to forgive me. My point was he slowly built his program to the point where they won ten games in a season. I would think a Duck fan would understand that seeing how it took Brooks 18 years to get to 9 wins and the Rose Bowl and Belotti another 6 years to get to 10 wins.

muddlehead1;842125454 said:

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Northwestern a six pt road favorite? That line closes at pick 'em. Mark it down.

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Which reminds, i should really put some money in my sportsbook acct to get some of this action. +6 CAL sounds awesome! That spread should drop by gameday.

How many spread teams did they have to defend last yr?

At the D-1 level, I am not certain how you define spread but I would say four - Syracuse, Indiana, Michigan, and Illinois. Of course, they face a pretty good spread team that runs pretty effectively routinely in practice.

slotright20;842125498 said:

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At the D-1 level, I am not certain how you define spread but I would say four - Syracuse, Indiana, Michigan, and Illinois. Of course, they face a pretty good spread team that runs pretty effectively routinely in practice.

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They gave up 108 points to the first three of those teams, though. I think that their O vs. our D is strength (option run-game) vs. strength (front-7 talent), but our O vs. their D is strength (WR talent and quick-game scheme) vs. weakness (personnel and preferred coverages). We might lose the first match-up based on execution trumping talent, but I really don't think we'll lose the second.

berk18;842125504 said:

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They gave up 108 points to the first three of those teams, though. I think that their O vs. our D is strength (option run-game) vs. strength (front-7 talent), but our O vs. their D is strength (WR talent and quick-game scheme) vs. weakness (personnel and preferred coverages). We might lose the first match-up based on execution trumping talent, but I really don't think we'll lose the second.

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Well stated. Of course, I want Cal to win the opener. I do think a lot of the fan base has unrealistic expectations of offensive execution in the opener given the experience of the qb and OL issues. I also know NU pretty well - I like Fitz and they are the 11 a.m. game I start my day with many days in the CST. They rarely beat themselves and are a very well conditioned team. La. Tech and NU were tenth and eleventh nationally in turnover margin last year. The thing about them that does not get a lot of attention is they are are making a concerted effort to improve their team speed on defense. Great test for both teams and a great match up for fans to start the season. As said on another thread, I think it comes down to the Cal defense. Hold them under 30 and you are right there. Hold them under 25 and you win.

72CalBear;842125323 said:

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pass me that joint you're smoking...

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Class of 72'. Talking about toking. Gotta grow up.
9-3. It's going to happem!

kelly09;842125534 said:

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Class of 72'. Talking about toking. Gotta grow up.
9-3. It's going to happem!

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I need to sit next to you at our home games this season! 9 wins..:gobears:

Northwestern is a good team but no better than many of the team's Cal faces every year. Phil Steele has them at #32 nationally. The 6 points probably speaks more to the lingering questions at QB and the new coaching staff at Cal than about Northwestern's strengths.

heartofthebear;842125960 said:

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Northwestern is a good team but no better than many of the team's Cal faces every year. Phil Steele has them at #32 nationally. The 6 points probably speaks more to the lingering questions at QB and the new coaching staff at Cal than about Northwestern's strengths.

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Any point spreads before fall camp even begins is more indicative of an "authority" in need of a column and throwing out SWAG.

Other columns by others are all about questions that most teams have ... reserves stepping up to replace starters ... QB questions ... OL questions.
It's that time of the year when the "experts" are grasping to meet deadlines.

SonOfCalVa;842125988 said:

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Any point spreads before fall camp even begins is more indicative of an "authority" in need of a column and throwing out SWAG.

Other columns by others are all about questions that most teams have ... reserves stepping up to replace starters ... QB questions ... OL questions.
It's that time of the year when the "experts" are grasping to meet deadlines.

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It seems that the consensus is that the spread will be reduced by the end of fall camp. All things being equal, I'd agree with that. I could see 4 points at the most. In any case, I hope it turns out to be a close well played game. Of course I'm OK with a Cal blowout as well.

heartofthebear;842125960 said:

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Northwestern is a good team but no better than many of the team's Cal faces every year. Phil Steele has them at #32 nationally. The 6 points probably speaks more to the lingering questions at QB and the new coaching staff at Cal than about Northwestern's strengths.

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You are exactly right. As soon as the starting QB is named in camp, and the starting units start to jell - with the open practices - the point spread will disappear.

Bet the house!

http://www.theonion.com/articles/study-83-of-gamblers-quit-right-before-they-would,32709/