Wagers?

Abby Takes Down Vegas, Year 3, Week 2

Posted on by thependulumswings staff

Week one predicting isn’t for everyone.

Abby isn’t everyone.  She pawed her way to four bones while giving back two.  Her record was 2-2-1 (Louisville pushed the bet) and her hunch didn’t punch the ticket.  That’s plenty good enough in a week that LSU and Oklahoma went down in flames while others played flat (Texas A&M) and others barely escaped (Texas).

“Enough already, on to week two,” Abby barks.

  1.  Boston College +14 1/2 v. North Carolina- Old Mack Brown has the Tarheels on the right path.  But we’ll take a determined BC at home to cover late.  One bone.
  2. Duke +12 v Virginia Tech- Ditto the above.  One bone.
  3. Baylor at West Virginia +3 –  Dave Aranda’s D will hold WVA down below their usual point production.  But, but we expect the Mountaineers to cover and in fact win outright at home.  One bone.
  4. Ole Miss @ Kentucky -6 – The Rebels defense is offensive.  Kentucky is clearly the better team and angry coming home from a road spanking at Auburn.  Three bones.
  5. Auburn @ Georgia -7 – Abby loves Bulldogs.  Auburn will give it their all and keep it close for three quarters, but Georgia covers late.  Two bones.
  6.  Arkansas @ Mississippi St. -16.5 – Abby loves Bulldogs.  We could see a letdown after the LSU beatdown.  But Arkansas can’t score enough to keep it inside of three scores.  One bone.

The world awakens this AM to the news that President Trump has the coronavirus.  He’s 74.  He’ll beat it like a drum.  He’s nothing if not a fighter.  Take over 74 as the hunch bet lock of the year.  Get well soon, Mr. President.

There it is.  Abby has four home teams, three underdogs, two bulldogs, and one president while chasing nine bones.

Woof!

 

Trivia(l) Pursuit

Posted on by thependulumswings staff

If you were in pursuit of Super Bowl LIV trivia your internet explorer linked you to the right site.  Just like the ’80s Trivial Pursuit board game below are all of the pie pieces (and more) needed to be the smart one at your Super Bowl Party.

  1.  Jack Buck called Super Bowl IV with Pat Summerall.  The Kansas City Chiefs upset the heavily favored Minnesota Vikings for their first and only win.  Fifty years later Kansas City finally returns to the biggest game of all.  Joe Buck, son of Jack, is on the golden mic with Troy Aikman.
  2. KC and SF are the only two teams in the league whose primary colors are red and gold (though the gold is a bit different for each).  Wear red and accessorize with gold and you’ll be cheering for the winning team regardless.
  3.  Twenty plus years ago Mike Shanahan won back to back Super Bowls as head coach of the Denver Broncos.  His son Kyle Shanahan attempts to join his dad as a Super Bowl-winning coach Sunday with the 49ers.  If he does it will be the first father-son duo to do so.
  4. If the game comes down to a San Fran kick start putting the potato salad back in the fridge.  Veteran San Francisco place kicker Robbie Gould is in his 15th NFL season.  Good in the regular season, he has ice in his playoff veins.  In the playoffs he’s connected on all 27 extra points and 13 field goals he has attempted.
  5. The HD 4G screen that you will watch the game on was expensive.  But it’s a lot cheaper than the cheapest ticket currently available to the game.  That price, as of yesterday, was available online for just over $2600.  Super Bowl IV, previously mentioned, was not a sellout and tickets had a face value between $8 and $16 dollars.
  6. Who will win?  The quarterbacks don’t lose much.  Pick one.  Their career records as starters stand at 28–8 for Patrick Mahomes and 23–5 for Jimmy Garoppolo.
  7.  Expect some “trickeration” from KC coach Andy Reid.  You never know when he might punt, pass, or kick.  Don’t believe it?  Take a 30 second look at him at the tender age of 13 doing just that.  Take a look at #22 right behind him if you can see him.  Andy was born big-boned.

And if you really want to be the smart one in the room take San Fran straight up to win the game.

Pass the chips.

Abby Takes Down Vegas, Year Two, Week 15

Posted on by thependulumswings staff

And here come the NCAA Conference Championship games.  Whew.  That was quick.  Anyone having withdrawals before it’s even over?

After a week in NOLA Abby is having a few withdrawals of her own of a different kind.  But, the elixir proved to be mixed just like a fine hand crafted cocktail. It got the job done.

Her back to back weeks of picks from the road make you want one more round in the worst way.  Week 13’s won/loss record was 5-1, while week 14 was 4-1.  That brings her season long record to a fine 39-34. Woof. The way more important bones wagered took home ten of eleven then seven of eight.  Therefore, Abby has taken 78 of them from Vegas while only paying 55.  That is a degenerate gambler good win percentage of 58.6%  Woof!  Woof!  Meanwhile the hunch bet split the last two weeks and stands on all four legs at 10-5.  Woof!  Woof!  Woof!

Enough with the barking already.  It’s time to earn some more pats on the head.

Oregon + 7 v Utah –  The Utes are the best team no one has seen this year.  Oregon is the first ranked team, when the game is played, the Utes will play this year.  Utes win, Ducks cover.  One bone.

Baylor v Oklahoma -9 – The Bears are the second best team no one has seen play this year.  They led Oklahoma by 25 at one point in their first meeting.  Not this time. The Sooners make a statement by hanging half a hundo on Baylor to give the Playoff Committee something to think about.  Two Bones.

UAB +7 1/2 v FAU – Is Lane Kiffin’s honeymoon in south Florida over?  Rumors swirl about new girlfriends (head coaching jobs at Arkansas) every year about this time.  UAB dances with the one they brought and wins straight up.  One bone.

Georgia v LSU over 54 1/2 – Most of the talk pregame is about how good Georgia’s D is.  The rest of the talk is about how Georgia is either hurt or suspended at the skill positions.  It’s a zig when others zag.  Expect Georgia to put up 20 plus and LSU to put up 30 plus, just enough to cover on a fast track in the Mercedes Benz Georgia Dome.  Two bones.

Cincinnati v Memphis under 57 1/2 –  These two met last week and scored 58 total points.  Meeting in back to back weeks we like the under as Abby assumes (you know what happens when you assume?) the two D’s will learn from the film more than the two O’s will change what they do.  One bone.

We make no hunch bet this week.  But we do have a hunch.  On a hunch expect Oklahoma (if Georgia loses) to jump Utah and gain the #4 seed.

Woof, again!

P.S.  Abby howls at the moon in amazement at how the playoff committee ranks Alabama as low as they do.

 

Abby Takes Down Vegas, Year Two, Week Thirteen

Posted on by thependulumswings staff

College football rolls into lucky week 13.

Abby wasn’t only lucky last week, she was good.  Four wins v two losses makes her season long record 30-32.  Where the money is though is in the bones.  Hitting her best bet (Georgia over Auburn) for four bones helped her widen the winnings on the year to 61 bones won v 53 bones lost.  The hunch took another punch however, but  still stands tall at 9 wins and 4 set backs.

In honor of week 13 we offer 11 bones to win 13 for you to chew on.

Oklahoma St. -6 1/2 v. West Virginia – The Cowboys have won three in a row including solid victories over Iowa St. and TCU.  WVA is  a tough place to play, but Abby thinks that Okla St. gits er dun on offense.   One bone.

Illinois +15 v Iowa and Northwestern +13 1/2 v Minnesota –  This is Abby’s two dog parlay special of the week.  Illinois will score just enough to cover against an Iowa team that plays strong D at home.  NW is a my dog Spot bet.  What’s that?  Abby’s getting big dog points and likes the fact that NW is at home and facing a Golden Gopher team who’s bubble burst a bit last week.  One bone to win three bones.

Texas A&M +13 v Georgia – The Aggies have no signature wins this year.  The need to beat either Georgia or LSU in the last two to finish 8-4.  Georgia played a rough defensive game v. Auburn last week.  Can the Aggies pull off a stunner?  South Carolina did between these same hedges a month ago.  Maybe not, but 13 is this week’s lucky number.  Three bones.

Kansas St. +2 1/2 v Texas Tech – This line seems odd.  Shouldn’t K St. be favored?  Undeterred she’s taking the slight road dog.   Texas Tech has played better of late, but it says here that K St. is smarting after a loss to West Virginia and wins straight up.  Two bones.

Tennessee +3 1/2 v Missouri –  This one is scary but Abby wants to believe her eyes.   Her vision tells her that Tennessee is playing much better of late while Missouri has cratered.  Take Tennessee and watch for a possible straight up win.  Two bones.

Oregon St. + 10 1/2 v Washington St. –  Only Oregon and Utah have slowed the suddenly prolific Oregon St offense.  Washington St doesn’t have a prolific defense.  It’s back to back road game for the Beavers, but Abby sees an undermanned, but determined team that will keep this high scoring affair close.  Two bones.

That’s six road teams and six dogs out of seven games above.  On a hunch take THE as the big favorite home team minus 18 versus Penn St.

Woof!

 

 

 

Abby Takes Down Vegas, Year Two, Week Twelve

Posted on by thependulumswings staff

Abby made her picks earlier this week as she is in Washington to honor Conan the Dog as you and all of America knows.  We suggested that she (e)mail her picks to us since she’s been mailing them in all year based on the results.  After two growls and one snarl she bared her canines and barked out the winners for the week.

For the season, after a 3-3 week, her record now stands at 26 wins and 30 losses.  But the more important bones wagered now is a paw up at 51 bones collected v. 50 buried.  Her hunch took a rare punch and fell to 9 wins against only 3 losses.

It’s week 12.  In honor of that we give you a baker’s dozen bones worth panting about below.

Memphis v Houston +10 1/2 – Memphis comes off an emotion charged home win over previously undefeated SMU.  No doubt that the Tigers are better than the Cougars.  But, Abby thinks the Tigers might be taking a cat nap, at least for a half, in this spot.  Two bones.

Georgia -3 v Auburn – Abby thinks that this is the game of the week to watch, though she prolly just wants to preen for UGA. Georgia is playing for everything as the current playoff 4th seed.  Late, in a slugfest, they cover.  Four bones.

Texas +7 v Iowa St. –  This line looks off to her.  Tom Herman has looked off in year two of his Longhorn tenure.  Abby looks for Texas to have a great chance to win outright. That would be their best win on the year, which isn’t saying very much.  Two bones.

Stanford +11 v. Washington St. –  You’ve heard this before, now you can hear it again.  Few teams in the PAC 12 deserve to be favored by double digits over few other teams.  One bone.

Michigan St. v Michigan -13 – This in state big rivalry game is always hard fought and usually pretty close.  Not this year.  The Spartans are fading and the Wolverines seem energized.  Two bones.

South Carolina v Texas A&M -12 and LSU v Mississippi +21 1/2 –  Abby is actually going to tease a parlay by buying six points for two teams.  She’ll take Texas A&M -6 and Mississippi + 27 1/2.  A two team teaser pays even money.  Two bones to win two bones.

There you have it.  It’s seven games, six bets, and thirteen bones.

Oh, and on a hunch Abby has spotted a CRAZY line.  UMass at 1-9 travels to 1-8 Northwestern.  How can Northwestern, inept at scoring be favored by 41 over anyone when they cannot score 41 on anyone?  Take Northwestern -41 on a hunch.  Why?  Because it makes absolutely no sense.  It’s a Vegas mind game.

Enjoy the games.

Woof!

 

 

 

“I Saw a Path.”

Posted on by thependulumswings staff

It seems pretty clear now, doesn’t it?

After 8-0 became 9-0 on the contested 100 yards of Tuscaloosa grass, Joe Burrow stood tall.  Burrow just finished his work day with 31-39 passing for 391 yards, 3 touchdowns, and no interceptions.  LSU finally slayed the Bama dragon/elephant.  Joe’s awfully handy with a sword.  The largest daytime viewership of CBS football in many years, 16 million in all, saw the Game of the Century, Part II.

After the exhausting, four hour bout Saturday LSU’s football team stood shoulder to shoulder in the corner of the end zone facing the band and the LSU fans, and belted out the fight song and the alma mater.  And, after the singing was done nose tackle Tyler Shelvin, a svelte 350 lbs, lifted one Joe Burrow, a svelte 215 lbs onto his left shoulder all by himself.  He carried him off of the field.

There still is work to be done.  And, after three more regular season games that LSU is hoping will be wins, there is the not so small matter of the SEC Championship Game. And after that, Joe Burrow will fly to New York.  First Tyler carried Joe.  Soon Joe is going to carry the Heisman.  Start spreading the news, the Heisman Trophy is Joe Burrow’s, aka Jeaux Burreaux’s, to lose.

But did you see this coming?  No, you didn’t.  But one astute observer of football and very astute observer of LSU football did.  “I saw a path,” Matt Porter said.  That was back in early June of this year a full three months before the first football was kicked or picked off.  You may have already heard of his story, but post the Alabama game it was time to check in again.

“I was putzing around on an LSU website, maybe 24/7, and saw a thread about Heisman possibilities.  I decided to look at my online site.  I scrolled down to Joe.  It showed Burrow at 200-1 odds to win the Heisman Trophy.  I thought it was a typo.  Why would a returning quarterback on a big team have such odds?  I thought that maybe it should be 20-1.  I instantly said, ‘I’ll put $50 on that right now, tremendous value.’ ” It was a chance to turn $50 in to $10,000.

Matt Porter is one of us.  He’s a successful Florida based Commercial Finance Broker by day.  By weekend he’s a real fan with hopes and passion for NCAA football. The enthusiasm pours out as his words tell the story.  “It’s my only bet on who will win the Heisman ever!”

As word spread in August like the Baton Rouge humidity that LSU indeed was running some spread offense, the site had dropped it’s odds to around 35-1.  Shorty thereafter his site offered him $1096 to take the prescient now, but not yet as much then, bet off of his hands.  That’s a 21x return on your investment before the first first down of the first game.  That’s good work if you can get it. “I didn’t even know that there was a place on my site for offers to cash out bets.  I do now.”

Game one came and went.  After LSU bounced Texas in Austin 45-38 the offer crept up to $1375.  Game three was a blowout and Burrow’s statistics were as well.   “They raised the offer up to almost $1800.”  In game four Burrow’s stats were downright uncivil to host Vanderbilt.  But, a bye week followed.  “I got no offer during the bye week.  Hmm.”

After Utah St. got worked in BR by a one sided 42-6 score and Burrow “out dueled Jordan Love” they went back down to $1100. “How can they go backwards?” he wondered.  ” I thought maybe it was some gamesmanship and it was just before Florida which might be a pretty staunch test.”  It was supposed to be but Burrow went 21-24 for 293 yards with 3 td’s and no picks.  Staunch met grit.  Grit won.  “The offer went to a then high of $1900.”

“At this point I was really playing it out in my head and I imagined just before Bama would be my best offer.  And, after seeing what he was doing I wanted to hold at least until then,” Matt added.  Mississippi St. was road kill.  Then, another big test loomed.  Auburn and it’s NFL quality DL were headed to Death Valley.  “The offer reached a season high before that game of like $3865 or $3876, or something like that.”  Another test passed and a tough one.

Then?  “Then nothing.”  I haven’t received any other offer since before that game to date.”  What happened?  “I think they think ‘why give me an out now?’  It’s their chance to get into a position of strength.”  That’s poker parlance from the prescient one.   “Maybe I’ll see one last offer before the last game with A&M.”

Why has he been so, so, so confident all along?  “I surmised all along that Hurts had no chance.  It would be 3x in a row for Oklahoma and a transfer QB.  They wouldn’t give Jordan 3x MVP’s in a row.  The press was fatigued and looking for another story.  I figured It would come down to Burrow v. Tua.  I got an assist when Chase Young became a story in the Midwest that would water down the Justin Fields story, too.”

Matt went on.  “It’s a popularity contest.  Burrow is cool in front of the camera.  He’s confident and likable.  He’s comfortable in his own skin.”  Can they entice you still?  “No offer is good enough now.  I’ll now ride it out.”

Matt has no plans to head to NY assuming all goes well and Burrow is able to get to the finish line.  “No, no plans to geaux.”  What about if SI or ESPN picks up your story again and gets you there and a seat in the Downtown Athletic Club for the presentation?  “Oh yea.  I’ll be there!”

With such foresight one wondered if he has any other clear long term visions.  “I did put a small amount on Kamala Harris to win the Democratic nomination.”  It’s at 80-1.  “But I’m starting to think I should have put my bet on Pete Buttigieg.  Who would have thought that he would get this far, and there is still a long time to go.”

Laugh if you wish.  Once there was a long way to go for a backup redshirt junior Ohio St University quarterback.  He transferred to LSU.   The book isn’t finished yet.  But, what has been written is inspiring.  You had to have vision to see this potential ending.  Matt Porter did.  Soon he might be $10,000 better off because of it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ten Piece Nuggets- NCAA Football

Posted on by thependulumswings staff

The latest AP Top 25 Poll is out for NCAA football as conference showdowns now abound.  Like golf heading to the final round on Sunday, we’ll focus a bit more on the top of the leaderboard.  And, the top just got a lot more interesting.  It’s Monday, and it’s time for your Ten Piece Nuggets.  Properly place your napkin in your lap and get after them below.

  1. LSU strengthened it’s hold on #1 with a Game of the Century, Part II, thrilling win over previously unbeaten Alabama in Tuscaloosa before a passionate sold out crowd. They received 54 of 62 possible first place votes.   BBR covered it live and can attest firsthand to the old world gladiator, last man standing feel.  President Trump and FLOTUS attended and were loudly cheered by 101k deplorables.  But, we digress for the first time today.
  2.  Joe Burrow completed 31-39 passes for 393 yards and 3 TD’s against the minister of defense Saban and his talented starting 11 defenders.  He ran for an additional clutch 64 yards.  The 46 points scored are the most ever allowed in Tuscaloosa by any Alabama team in any game played there.  Joe Burrow for Heisman anyone?  Joe Burrow for Heisman everyone?  Burrow’s performance was brilliant, but RB Clyde Edwards-Heliare might have been the game’s MVP.  His run after catch and run after first contact yards at key moments make him an instant legend down on the bayou.
  3. THE Ohio St. and Clemson stand at #2 and #3.  They garnered the other eight first place votes.  We can understand THE getting some love but how anyone would vote Clemson over these two at this moment befuddles the mind.  THE squeaked by Maryland 73-14, and travels to New Jersey this week to take on mighty 2-7 Rutgers.  Rutgers’ two wins are over UMass and Liberty.  Students at Liberty go to mass every week, but we digress.  Rutgers has been outscored by BIG 10 opponents by a total of 207-14.  THE has been installed as a 51 and 1/2 point favorite.  Do you really need the 1/2 when the whole number is 51?  We digress again.
  4. How far did #2 Alabama fall?  They only fell to #4.  Clearly the voters see them as the best one loss team in all of the land.  And, they view them as better than some undefeated Power 5 teams as well.  The more important rankings come out tomorrow night when the second Playoff Committee Poll is released.  Does Bama hang in their top four?
  5. Room in the top four was created when AP #5 and playoff ranked #4 Penn St. fell to now 9-0, and still undefeated, Minnesota.  Penn St. tumbled to #9 with the close 31-26, down to the wire, contest.  Penn St. still controls their own destiny in the BIG 10 East as they rumble with first place THE in two weeks.  That is, of course, assuming that THE gets by mighty Rutgers, but we digress.
  6.  One game in the L column Georgia as well as Oregon occupy the #5 and # 6 spots behind Alabama.  Georgia blanked fast fading Missouri 27-0 while Oregon stirred the “Fire Helton” soup a week ago at USC 56-24.  Oregon is going to knock on the playoff door if they win out. Georgia has a tough road game this weekend at Auburn.  The early line is Georgia minus 2 and 1/2.  It’s a similar line to the Rutgers game as they both end in 1/2, ahem.  Oregon travels to Arizona and as 26 point favorites will stir the “Fire Sumlin” soup.
  7. Arkansas said the soup was ready after watching Western Kentucky enjoy several helpings against the hapless Razorbacks.  W. Kentucky won 45-19 in Fayetteville.  Chad Morris lost.  He was mercifully relieved of his head coaching duties shortly after the pigs got slaughtered.  With Jimbo, Saban, Gus, and Coach O in the SEC West, coaching at Arkansas is a three year gig, tops.  Morris made it through 1 and 2/3rds.
  8. Minnesota bounced up from unlucky #13 to lucky #7 in the AP.  It’ll be interesting what the playoff committee does with the Golden Gophers.  P.J. Fleck will/might sign a bigger contract mid week as Minnie likes what they see and want to see more of it.  Will other schools like what they see even more?
  9. Baylor survived three overtimes to hang on at TCU 29-23.  They are 9-0.  Last Thursday they survived at home as big favorites over West Virginia 17-14.  The Bears might be running on fumes.  The Oklahoma Sooners come calling in Waco this weekend.  Baylor is #12 while the Sooners round out the top 10 at #10.
  10.  Spots #10 through #20 were mostly unchanged.  Texas, Indiana and Oklahoma St climbed back in to the bottom of the 25.   They are at #’s 22,24, and 25 respectively.  Sandwiched between them is Iowa at #23.  Iowa’s offense scored 22 points against Wisconsin Saturday.  It’s the second highest point total for them in BIG 10 games this year aside from their 30-0 thumping of mighty Rutgers.  Iowa hosts Minnesota this week.  Is there a letdown coming for the Golden Gophers?  Can Iowa score enough?

You’ve been served.

Abby Takes Down Vegas, Year Two Week Eleven

Posted on by thependulumswings staff

It’s been quite the week for Abby.  She was invited to the White House Lawn (that’s the logical place for the ceremony) to honor her German Shepard buddy, Conan the Dog, who is recovering from some wounds suffered in the operation that took out Baghdadi.  Naturally, she’s been primping a good bit at the doggie parlor ahead of the event.

Meanwhile for the season the 23 wins are trailing the 27 losses.  The bones won count is 45, while lost are 46.

Though, worry not.  While under the hair dryer she’s been taking a long look at this week’s betting opportunities.  And she likes what she sees. Oh, and her hunch bet is hair raising 9 wins against only 2 losses.  The winners follow.

Florida St. +2 1/2 v Boston College – Willie’s gone.  We are counting on a dead cat bounce out of the Seminoles.   Abby doesn’t like cats but will make an exception when it comes to money.  Bob Stoops is watching.   Two bones.

Penn St. -6 1/2 v. Minnesota – This is the “other game” of 8-0 teams this weekend.  P.J. Fleck will have the Golden Gophers playing like their hair is on fire.  But, the Nittany Lions have quite the mane themselves.  The fourth quarter is when James Franklin’s team pulls away.  One bone.

Baylor v. TCU + 2 1/2 –  Baylor is yet another 8-0 team.  No more.  You can’t look ahead to contests v. Texas and Oklahoma.  You’ve heard of the hair of the dog?  This one is the no hair on the Horned Frog.  TCU wins straight up.  Two bones.

UAB + 7 1/2 v. Southern Mississippi –  Abby’s been long on UAB all year except last week.  A straight up win here would not surprise her either.  One bone.

Tennessee +1 v. Kentucky –  Tennessee has somewhat quietly beat Mississippi St., South Carolina, and UAB by 10, 20, and 23 points in the last month.  The lone loss was a 35-13 road loss in Tuscaloosa.  Three bones.

Vanderbilt v. Florida over 49 –  Dan Mullen will find something to complain about.  He always does.  But, it won’t be his offense.  Abby smells a total approaching 70 and thinks Florida will get 56 by themselves.

The media has spent two weeks talking about Burrow and Tua and two explosive offenses in “The Game of the Century, Part II.”  On a hunch Abby likes under the 63 point total.  And why wouldn’t she?  The man who oversees the greatest defense in the world will be watching.  How can you trump that?

Woof!

 

(Not) Ten Piece Nuggets-NCAA Football

Posted on by thependulumswings staff

Your nuggets are here.  There are only eight this morning. Why?  One, the treadmill awaits.  It’s easier to run on eight than ten.  Two, there were a lot of teams off last weekend, so the news is sparse.  Three, we want to do our part to help Elizabeth Warren fund universal health care, but we digress while you digest.

  1.  The AP Top 25 is out.  Tomorrow the first College Football Playoff committee top 15 will be out.  Then the fun starts.  Meanwhile the AP top 5 remained the AP top 5 in the same order as last week.  It’s LSU, Alabama, THE, Clemson, and Penn St. in that order.
  2. Four took the week off.  Clemson did too as they pummeled Wofford 59-14.  Who?  Wofford College (the Terriers) is in South Carolina. The team competes in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision and are members of the Southern Conference.  Wofford’s first football team was fielded in 1889.  Who knew?
  3. The Georgia Bulldogs jumped from #8 to #6 with their 24-17 victory over Florida.  The score was closer than the game.  The Bulldogs are now in the SEC East driver’s seat with at least a one game lead on everyone else and the tiebreaker over Florida.  Work remains with Missouri and A&M at home, and Auburn on the road however.  When Florida lost to LSU Dan Mullen complained about injuries on his DL.  When Florida lost to Georgia he complained about the officiating.  Thankfully hurricane season has come and gone, so no complaints there.
  4. Oregon stayed at #7, but certainly solidified that ranking.  They dismantled USC 56-24 Saturday evening.  Faint cries from the far northwest are being heard about the Ducks in the playoff conversation.  It’ll be quite interesting to see how carefully the playoff committee is listening.  When your one loss to date is early in the season it helps.  When your one loss early in the season is to Auburn who is behind four SEC teams in the Top 25 it hurts.
  5.  Florida and alligator tears producer Dan Mullen’s loss was Utah and Oklahoma’s gain.   They moved up to #8 and #9 respectively.  Utah had a nice win over Washington.  Perhaps they are on a collision course with Oregon in the PAC 12?  If they both can get there with one loss the winner will have an argument for the final four.  Oklahoma was idle.
  6. Minnesota stayed at lucky #13.  Their gaudy 8-0 record will be put to the test Saturday.  They host 8-0 Penn St.  Minnie head coach P.J. Fleck overtly encouraged ESPN to come to the winter hinterlands for College Game Day.  After all it is two 8-0 teams.  ESPN chose Tuscaloosa for a “Game of the Century, Part II” showdown in the SEC.  LSU v. Alabama it is.  Alabama has won the last eight contests.  Joe Burrow has only played in the last one.
  7. Memphis hopped from #24 up to #19 as they bounced previously undefeated SMU from #15 down to #23.  Defense was optional as the teams combined for a smooth 102 total points.  Memphis scored 54 of them.  The competitive American Athletic Conference has four ranked teams.  Cincinnati is #17, Memphis #19, and SMU is #23.  All hail Navy at #25.
  8. The Florida St. alumni have seen enough.  The Willie Taggart experiment is over 9 games into year two.  Losing to the Miami Hurricanes was the last storm they would ride out.  Three wins and six losses into 2019, Taggart is out.  Florida St. is paying the $18 million buyout price.  But see below.  It’s more expensive than that.

    When the Seminoles hired Taggart away from Oregon, they agreed to pay out his $3 million buyout to end his contract with the Ducks. Florida State also agreed to pay out an additional $1.3 million that Oregon still owed South Florida when they hired him away from that school in 2016.

    So, in the end, Florida State will have paid over $22 million, across three buyouts, so that Taggart could go 9-12 with them in 21 games.

    Maybe these one percenters could help Elizabeth pay for her costly healthcare plan as well?  Surely the first game dehydration problems that Florida St. experienced would be covered.  Pass the hat before the players pass out.

  9. Football in the state of Florida is down this year.  UCF parades not.  Mullen cries a lot.  Taggart was tapped out.  Miami is meh at 5-4, and they have zero wins over top 25 teams.  Let the coaching rumor mill begin.  The Seminoles will aim high.  Urban Meyer?  Nah, he needs the healthcare plan.  Jeff Brohm anyone?  His contract with Purdue includes a buyout, but clearly that won’t stop the Seminoles.
  10. Some early lines are out.  In the two battles of unbeatens visiting LSU is a 6 point dog to Alabama while visiting Penn St is a 6 point favorite over Minnesota.

Ok, ok.  You were over served.  We know the feeling.  More is always better than less, isn’t it?  Hit the treadmill.

Abby Takes Down Vegas, Year Two, Week Ten

Posted on by thependulumswings staff

As Halloween gives way to All Saints Day it’s spooky, despite some up and down weeks, how close to flat line Abby’s season to date results have been.  It’s tricky, but there’s been one treat.  Her hunch bet rang the door bell again and the candy flows.

For the season that bet is carving up Vegas like a pumpkin.  It’s 8 up and only 2 down.  The other bets are 21 up and 24 down, while the bones wagered are exactly even with 42 up and 42 down.

Lots of teams took this weekend off, but Abby never sleeps.  But, she is tired of the kids knocking on the front door.  The bobbing for apples begins below.

Kansas St v. Kansas +6 —  The Wildcats come off of a huge upset over Oklahoma while the Jayhawks upset the Red Raiders.  Abby thinks Red Raiders sounds insensitive these days, but we digress.  Les Miles has his team playing well.   Abby likes the six at home.  Two bones.

TCU v. Oklahoma St -3 — TCU comes off of a nice home win v. Texas.  Oklahoma St. comes home after a nice road win v. Iowa St.  Abby’s favorite movie is A Dog’s Way Home.  How bout dem Cowboy’s?  One bone.

Miami v. Florida St. -3 —  The Seminoles haven’t beaten a good team all year.  Miami isn’t a good team.  Abby thinks Seminoles sounds insensitive these days, but we digress.  Willie Taggart needs this one in the worst way.  The Noles cover late.  One bone.

Oregon v. USC + 4 1/2  and under 62—  Oregon needs to win out to make playoff noise.  This one won’t be easy, but we think they find a way to win but not cover in a game that actually has some West Coast defense.  One bone to win three bones.

Georgia -6 v. Florida —  Abby’s admittedly been back and forth on this game all week.  She is partial to Bulldogs and doesn’t like Gators.  But she bets with her head not her heart.  The six points seem like the side to be on in what seems like a coin flip game. But, she’s going to zig when others zag. Two bones.

The over/under points total in the Largest Outdoor (formerly known as Cocktail) Party is 45.  It seems low.  Abby thinks the word cocktail wasn’t insensitive but we digress.  She also thinks that when the line is yelling over she’ll take the under on a hunch.

Don’t you hate those cheap candy corns?