football betting

Now I know why Schlichter's in the stir. Oddsmakers are so often so accurate, it's scary. The last line I saw on UC-Ohio State was 29 1/2. I'd have bet my house the Bearcats would have covered: Tressel doesnt like running it up on his former assistants; the Bucks were ripe for a letdown, in between Texas and Penn State; and UC isn't drop-dead awful... at halftime, had you taken the points, you were spending your money; after 3 quarters, you were counting it. At the end, you were turning over the deed to your house. Bucks cover, on the nose. Amazing.

To those again complaining I was too hard on UC: This can work 1 of 2 ways. I can treat them like the big-time program they aspire to be, and hold them to that standard. Or I can shrug and believe like lots of people around here that they belong in the MAC. I don't think they want to be patronized and covered perpetually like little brother. That's why I don't join the chorus of folks thinking a 30-point loss is acceptable, because the Bearcats played well for a half.

Great stories the last 2 days in the New York Times, about Louisville's football resurgence and the exploitation of high school kids playing football on national TV. Cards turned it around quickly by hiring a charismatic, offense-minded coach, John L. Smith, and keeping the best high school players in K-Y at home. UC is going to lose its share of local kids to the Big 10... but no reason to let a Shaun Alexander or the Wynn kid escape to Alabama and Florida. As for high school kids playing on ESPN: Once they've done that, how do they find joy in simply competing on a Friday night in front of a few thousand people? And does a bunch of kids from southern California really need to be flying to Ohio for 1 football game? Where does it end?

Bengals over Brownies, 27-13. Live big.