Degenerate Saturday

I'm sweating SpOrtsoBjective's picks again. SOB took ohio state(+6)over WEST VIRGINIA. I looked for some insurance, by teasing the line with the under, as

ohio state(+9.5), under 137.5. Right now there are :43 to go, and OSU trails 69-65, having blown a halftime lead of 40-28. It looked like this game would go over easily, but in the last few minutes UWV has been slowing the game down as they try to protect their lead. I need less than 4 points scored the rest of the way. It looks like the Mountaineers are going to stall and help me out.

:25 to go, and...

OSU got the ball back, missed a 3, and just fouled WVa. :5.7 left.

First one good....Second one good....71-65...OSU drives down, misses, and the clock expires. Wow. Early on I thought my tease was going to cost me this one, as there was just too much scoring. Instead, it saved me. SOB got the push, but I would have lost, since the line had moved to UWV(-5) by the time the cowards at bodog posted the spread. The teased under may have saved me, but a teased over (127.5) would have won easily, so clearly I guessed wrong on that one, but got away with it.


SOB recommends umass(+17.5)over BAYLOR. This is a big enough line that I won't try to tease it. SOB figures Baylor will get caught looking ahead to their tilt next week vs. Kansas State. Since K State just knocked off #1 Texas, this makes sense to me. The line is down to

umass(+17)over BAYLOR, and I've taken it.

SOB had some strong words about UCF(+4)over utep, which I will not repeat here. I'm taking his advice though.

I'm watching Texas at U Conn right now. The game is knotted at 20 all for the moment. UConn looks as though they may be even bigger, more athletic, and more physical than Texas, if that's possible. Texas' burnt orange may make them look big. On the other hand, UConn's home greys may have a sort of Hoya chic thing going on. Texas seems like the more disciplined, better team, though perhaps not as much as their divergent #1 and #21 rankings may suggest. In the Pomery Ratings, UT is #5, and UConn is #39, an even bigger spread. UConn is favored by 2.5 at home. I considered doing some sort of tease, but didn't. Right now I'm happy to enjoy this matchup.

Tennessee at Georgia kicks off in about 12 min. SOB is fading the Vols again. I want to tease the game, since vs. 'Bama this helped me win a game that he lost, but the cowards at bodog aren't posting a total, perhaps because Georgia's last five games have gone OVER. What the hell. SOB's picks have done well for me, and his opinion on this line makes sense, though I fear UGA may be a bunch of undersized weasels like the Tide. Tennesee's boys are BIG, though they sometimes seem a little clumsy...and lazy. GEORGIA(+6.5)over tennessee.

I missed MINNESOTA(-2)over michigan state. Not that I would have gone against State anyway, at least not on a spread this tight. On the other hand, they were favored by 22 vs. Iowa and won by 7. I wouldn't have felt bad about taking the Hawkeyes here. I will keep my eyes open for more lines like this. MSU has been pretty sorry vs. the spread this year, as we are overrated owing to our success in the tournament last year. Karma be damned.

I almost forgot to say--State won by one, 65-64. Sorry, SOB.

Texas is up 42-34 at halftime. UConn has a big kid named Robinson who had a monster alley-oop earlier, and recently drained a 3. I'm not sure if this is a sign of monster talent, or of a lack of discipline. Is this cat supposed to be jacking threes?




SOB is in Seoul, and seems to intend some sort of debauch that will last through next Wednesday. I leave him to it, though I say he's too much of a degenerate gambler to stay away from posting picks for that long. I'll take the under. Tuesday at the latest.