Watching the NFL games this past Sunday, especially the Saints/Packers, I was just wondering when the regular zebras were going to come back.
I know they signed a new big time contract. I guess they just wanted to give the replacement zebras a little more game time to sharpen up their skills. Then my dog Dino looks at me and barks out, “Those are the regular zebras, stupid!”
Sometimes Dino gets a little upset with my humor, but then I gave him a doggie cookie and all was fine. After eating it Dino looks up to me and barks out “when are the regular zebras coming back?”
Talk about some crazy games and calls. It just goes on and on, but the players had a much better week, recouping some of those losses from the first three Sundays as there were no Brinks trucks this morning carting away our betting dollars.
Let’s take a look at some early plays this week as the bad teams look to have been weeded out.
NCAA Football
Saturday, Oct. 6
Navy +10 at Air Force: On the surface the fly boys look to be the play as Navy has only beat VMI. Their three losses were not against patsies. The Falcons have gone 0-6 as the chalk in this game. NAVY.
Ga Tech +10½ at Clemson: Just can’t get excited about taking the big price with the Yellow Jackets after losing to Middle Tenn State last week 49-28. Tigers looking for revenge from last year’s drubbing in Atlanta 31-17. CLEMSON.
Va Tech +3½ at UNC: The Hokies from Blacksburg are overrated to say the least, winning all three of their games at home and losing to Pittsburgh and Cincinnati on the road. They move into a very angry Chapel Hill as the Tar Heels get revenge from last year’s 24-21 loss. N. CAROLINA.
Georgia +3 at S. Carolina: No total at press time. A real good game to watch. Both enter with perfect 5-0 records. Last year the Bulldogs lost at home to the Gamecocks 45-42 and this one could turn out similar. Georgia has gone OVER in all five games this year. Sit back and enjoy. OVER.
Iowa St. +12½ at TCU: The Cyclones from Ames don’t score many points, going UNDER the last three games. The Horned Frogs have had a finger pointed at them for lack of scoring on purpose. They have gone UNDER the three games there was a total. UNDER.
Arkansas +10 at Auburn: The Tigers enjoyed a week off after almost upsetting LSU and now play the Razorbacks who own one win (Jacksonville State). The Tigers will get revenge from last season’s wipe out result in Fayetteville 38-14. AUBURN.
Nebraska +4½ at Ohio St.: If the Buckeyes had any other head coach they could be 3-2 instead of 5-0. The magic man is getting every ounce out of them and will continue in avenging last year’s loss in Lincoln when they blew a big lead. OHIO ST.
LSU -2½ at Florida: We will be going back and forth with the remote in these two games. The marquee game as the Gators had a week off to prepare. They have been getting better with each week and look to avenge last year’s no mercy loss in Baton Rouge. FLORIDA.
NFL Football
Thursday, Oct. 4
Cardinals -1 at Rams (38½): If someone told you Arizona would be 4-0 you would have said let’s make a bet. But they are and the Rams have been a very competitive 2-2. St. Louis is 0-5 ATS when coming off a SU division win and they beat Seattle on Sunday. Neither scores many points and this matchup should be a knock out and drag out fight until the end. CARDS/UNDER 38½.
Sunday, Oct. 7
Eagles +3½ at Steelers: The Eagles find ways to win while the Steelers find ways to lose. EAGLES.
Monday, Oct. 8
Texans -7½ at Jets: The dog at home on Monday night. No way would I put a penny on the hapless Jets. Must bite the bullet, bet the Texans and key them on all teasers. The house will either win big or really take it in the shorts. They will get little or no money from the squares in this one. TEXANS. (and on all teasers).
Record
Last Week
5-2
NFL
4-0
NCAA
28-27
Richard Saber, a former director of race and sports at the famed Stardust book, is GamingToday’s horse racing and sports handicapper. Contact Richard at [email protected].