Stumbled out of the gate, then threw and trampled the jockey with a less than stellar 5-7 start last week. As a matter of record, I like the idea of winning margins of 45 points for NL games, meaning the Rodents cost me one yet again. Anyway, here's last week's picks http://bearinsider.com/forums/showthread.php?85563-Let-s-Pick-the-Pac-12-Games-Week-1&highlight=pick

Now for this week (home team in Bold:

Cal NL over Sacto State: Bears still giddy after big win over NU, but stay focused and give the Hornets a good dousing of BearRaid.

Mildcats 7 over UT San Antonio: Before saying, AZ is playing who? San Antonio beat Houston handily in their opener. This will be a tough game. Still not sold on Rich Rod and taking the Sons of Davy Crockett to beat the spread.

Wazzoo 2.5 over Nevada: Expect another high scoring, entertaining game. And a sloppy one. Nevada looked awful in edging Southern Utah. Unless NV can pick up the pace, the Cougs pull this one out and beat the spread in the process.

Colorado 17 over Massachusetts: Ralphie stops tripping over his own hooves long enough to win and cover.

Utah 10.5 over Fresneck: Magnificent Mormons neuter the Bulldogs.

Furd 3 over Condoms: Praying for a sinkhole to swallow Circus Minimus. But since that's not likely, going to take Furd and their 14 insufferable fans over the Cheaters and their way too many insufferable fans.

Rubber Duckies 13.5 over Michigan State: Feathered convicts for the win, but feeling Spartans beat the spread.

Devil's Rejects 26.5 over New Mexico: Someday Sparky will play a real team. Easy win and cover.

bRuins 25 over Memphis: Song stealers bounce back from lackluster effort, win and cover.

Rodents 12 over Hawaii: Why do I feel this will be OSU's annual WTF game? Rainbow Warriors, (when was the last time you were attacked by a rainbow except after taking some highly questionable drugs?), beat the spread at least.

Mutts NL Eastern Washington: EW one of the better FCS teams so this could be a pretty close game.

Once again, I'm out of the country for a couple of weeks and won't be able to renew this thread until the 21st. If anyone wants to pinch hit, please do.

UrsusTexicanus;842350700 said:

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Once again, I'm out of the country for a couple of weeks and won't be able to renew this thread until the 21st. If anyone wants to pinch hit, please do.

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What? They don't have the internet where you're going? Where are you vacationing, Oklahoma?

I'll renew the thread the next couple of weeks in your absence, Ursus, as long as you represent to me you've not been drinking any Riesling in your man cave this season.

I'm thrilled with my 3-4 record last week...not because it's good (it ain't), but because it proved to be a very inexpensive reminder of why I don't bet on football.

For this week, I'll take:

UA -7
WSU -2.5
UMass +17
Utah -10.5
Stanford -3
UO -13.5
UNM + 26.5
UCLA -25
UH +12

I don't bet the no-line games, so I only went in on 6 games last week. Result: a dismal 2-4 record (the Cal and USC games being my only 2 wins). I claim no insight into non-PAC-12 teams, so non-conference games are always an extra challenge for me (reference: see preceding sentence). So the sooner we are through this period, the better.

UTSA @ Arizona: I still have my doubts about whether the Cats can replace all the players who have moved on when it comes to conference play. But last week they handled UNLV just fine, so I think they'll have no problems this week either: 'Zona to win and cover.

WSU @ Nevada: So the Cougs stumbled a bit last week. So they have no running game, So they have a porous defense. Nevertheless I like 'em for this week - call it the Palouse factor. WSU to win and cover.

Colorado @ UMass: Isn't UMass one of the lowest rated teams in the country this year? Based on that and nothing else, I'm going with the Buffs to win and cover.

Fresno @ Utah: The Utes looked pretty good last week. Yeah, yeah, I know their competition mayn't have been that great, but putting up 56 points has to count for something (as well as home field advantage to a Bulldog team that must be reeling back). Utah to win and cover.

USC @ Stanford: Who I WANT to win makes no difference on who I'm betting to win. In this case, the Cardinal to win and cover.

Michigan State @ Oregon: Can't say I know much about the Spartans, but I think the Duckies will handle them in front of a home crowd. Oregon to win and cover.

ASU @ New Mexico: Again, betting on the PAC-12 team here: ASU to win and cover.

Memphis @ UCLA: UCLA is loaded, in front of a home crowd, and anxious to wipe away the stain from last week's game. Bruins to win and cover.

OSU @ Hawaii: Like others, I look for the Beavers to improve as the season progresses ... but not that much from week 1 to week 2 and an away game at that. Beavers will probably win, but not cover, so I'm picking Hawaii.

chalcidbear;842350911 said:

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I don't bet the no-line games, so I only went in on 6 games last week. Result: a dismal 2-4 record (the Cal and USC games being my only 2 wins). I claim no insight into non-PAC-12 teams, so non-conference games are always an extra challenge for me (reference: see preceding sentence). So the sooner we are through this period, the better.

UTSA @ Arizona: I still have my doubts about whether the Cats can replace all the players who have moved on when it comes to conference play. But last week they handled UNLV just fine, so I think they'll have no problems this week either: 'Zona to win and cover.

WSU @ Nevada: So the Cougs stumbled a bit last week. So they have no running game, So they have a porous defense. Nevertheless I like 'em for this week - call it the Palouse factor. WSU to win and cover.

Colorado @ UMass: Isn't UMass one of the lowest rated teams in the country this year? Based on that and nothing else, I'm going with the Buffs to win and cover.

Fresno @ Utah: The Utes looked pretty good last week. Yeah, yeah, I know their competition mayn't have been that great, but putting up 56 points has to count for something (as well as home field advantage to a Bulldog team that must be reeling back). Utah to win and cover.

USC @ Stanford: Who I WANT to win makes no difference on who I'm betting to win. In this case, the Cardinal to win and cover.

Michigan State @ Oregon: Can't say I know much about the Spartans, but I think the Duckies will handle them in front of a home crowd. Oregon to win and cover.

ASU @ New Mexico: Again, betting on the PAC-12 team here: ASU to win and cover.

Memphis @ UCLA: UCLA is loaded, in front of a home crowd, and anxious to wipe away the stain from last week's game. Bruins to win and cover.

OSU @ Hawaii: Like others, I look for the Beavers to improve as the season progresses ... but not that much from week 1 to week 2 and an away game at that. Beavers will probably win, but not cover, so I'm picking Hawaii.

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Cal wins
Furd covers
UofA covers
Utah covers
ASU covers
UCLA covers
Hawaii and points
Nevada and points
MSU and points

86Oski;842350860 said:

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What? They don't have the internet where you're going? Where are you vacationing, Oklahoma?

I'll renew the thread the next couple of weeks in your absence, Ursus, as long as you represent to me you've not been drinking any Riesling in your man cave this season.

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Thanks, 86Oski! I'll be in England, and will at least be able to keep up with what's going on. As for the post game drinks, I've switched to various Real Ales, mostly from local Texas microbrews, (and actually quite good), with 10% alcohol content.

UrsusTexicanus;842350994 said:

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Thanks, 86Oski! I'll be in England, and will at least be able to keep up with what's going on. As for the post game drinks, I've switched to various Real Ales, mostly from local Texas microbrews, (and actually quite good), with 10% alcohol content.

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Have a great trip. I hope you return to a 3-0 Cal team!

Didn't get in on this last week. Football season honestly sneaked up on me. Too late for the Zona game...

Sac State - Invoking the -45 rule for the FBS team. Don't think Cal is that good, yet...

WSU - Nevada hasn't been the same team since Chris Ault retired. WSU should win by at least two scores.

U Mass - Its 10 months later, but I don't think CU will beat U Mass by 17 on the road when I could only beat Cal by 14 last year at home

Utah - Fresno misses Derek Carr. Deruyter should have left when he had the chance.

USC - Somebody has to pick them...

Oregon - They're at home and I don't think MSU's defense is as strong as last year or that their offense can keep up.

ASU - Tempted to pick NM since the game is in 'Querque but won't. DJ Foster takes over where Grice left off.

UCLA - Memphis is nothing special for a long time now. UCLA covers at home.

OSU - Beavers should right the ship somewhat since last week and UH won't sustain the intensity needed to play competitively again.

EWU - Doubt UW covers -45 against a strong FCS team even with Cyler Miles back.

3 and 4 last week, always the toughest to bet before we see anyone. I don't do the no line stuff.

Arizona should win by at least 10, if not I feel real good about playing them this year.

Don't know much about Nevada these days, other than they aren't as good without Ault. I will take WSU to win and cover.

If Colorado doesn't beat UMass by 17+, they are in for a world of hurt this year. I think they win but don't cover.

Fresno St. will bounce back and make it a game vs Utah to cover the spread.

Every year i hope for the start of the Stanford slide, I'm thinking it starts saturday with an SC victory.

Michigan St. v Oregon, line seems to big. Not sold on Oregon post Kelly. I will take MSU to cover.

Devils roll

Bruins will take out last weeks frustrations on a greatly overmatched memphis. Win and cover easy

I like OSU to beat the warriors but not cover. Two tough losses in a row for the rainbows.

MSU and USC with upset wins.

Too late for the Zona game but I didn't expect UTSA to keep it that close.

WSU over the pack in 4 minutes. Ault ain't around anymore...

Buffs to cover but barely. Umass plays basketball right?

Utah all the way. The Utes usually look good until they suffer some injuries and their lack of depth hurts them.

Furd...cough, spit gagg,

Water tight butts but really close, not sure they will cover. Pac 12 refs to decide it.

UNM in the 'que is still ugly. Now BB in the Pit, different story...

bruins over bbq smokers

Rainbow warriors fought hard last week at home. On the road, not so much unless it is taking Riley extra long to start the engine.