College Football Most Perplexing Betting Lines: Week One

Let's see how I can do against Las Vegas this year.  As the season goes along the spreads get better and better and are tougher and tougher to predict.  So a good start to the season is imperative for a .500 record to be maintained.  Here are the four games this week that are sure to pay off some people's mortgages:

1.  Vanderbilt +3 @ Miami (OH).  No, not the canes, the 'dores are UNDERDOGS on the road at Miami of OHIO.  Wow.  Are you KIDDING ME?!  That's right, an SEC team is an underdog vs. a MAC team, don't ever get used to that.  So take vandy and run with this one.  I know Miami (OH) has a lot of preseason hype, but remember, their offense was just 108th in scoring last year, and that's against MAC defenses, yikes.  LOVE the Commodores here, WAY too many athletes.  Heck, even take the money line.  But this is my money pick of the weekend.  

 
2.  UTEP +3 @ Buffalo.  Again, Vegas is all over the Mid-American Conference's jock for absolutely no reason.  UTEP switched to an aggressive 3-3-5 scheme brought over from New Mexico by former Lobo DC Osia Lewis.  While UTEP's D was useless last year, they can't be any worse and the scheme worked for New Mexico. Plus it's extremely aggressive, which can only help mask a lack of athletes and will stifle Buffalo.  On top of that, Buffalo didn't have much offensive firepower last year, so why would they all of a sudden have it this year?  Run with the Miners here.  Trevor Vittatoe is an awesome QB for the Miners, and even if he turns it over, it won't hurt them against a conservative, and let's be honest, punchless Bull offense.  **Thursday Night Game**
 
3.  Pitt -12.5 vs. Bowling Green.  For the third consecutive pick, Vegas is once again sucking the teat of the MAC.  And Once again, they are way off.  Bowling Green couldn't stop the run last year.  Uh-oh... HATE that against LeSean McCoy.  Not to mention they have an O-Line that's rebuilding going against the nation's leading tackler from a year ago in Pitt's Scott McKillop.  The Wann-stache may not make a bowl game this year, but you can bet your ass that they will beat the Falcons by more than 2 scores this weekend.  Yeah, Tyler Sheehan is a pretty good QB for the Birds, but they have no stopping power on D and zero running game, which doesn't bode well against a more athletic opponent.  Pitt takes care of business EASILY here.
 
4.  Southern Miss -10 vs. UL-Lafayette.  I know, the Golden Eagles got a new coach this off-season, but who gives a crap?  They're going against the RAGIN CAJUNS who just flat-out suck.  They are worse than the three MAC teams I mentioned before.  The only thing that is concerning is that S. Miss is starting a True Frosh at QB.  That would only matter if they weren't playing such a useless team.  ULL coach Rickey Bustle said he wanted to throw the ball more this year, which sucks for him, because QB Mike Desormeaux has a rubber arm.  Yes, ULL has a nice RB in Tyrell Fenroy, but they are too one-dimensional and just overall garbage to put up even a fight.  S. Miss HC Larry Fedora was the OC at Okie State before taking the reigns here, and we know how explosive the OSU offense was.  Oh yeah, and Damion Fletcher kicks ass at RB for S. Miss.  He may even be the best in Conf. USA.  ULL's defense?  Bad and worse.  I like a 49-17 game here in favor of the Golden Eagles, seriously, it will be THAT bad.  The spread should not be in jeopardy after the first Quarter.
 
***Michigan State +5.5 @ Cal.  The reason why this dropped from my pick of the week to here is the Vandy line and the fact that Cal named Kevin Riley the starter over Nate Longshore.  That decision just totally threw this pick for a loop.  With useless Longshore @ QB, I loved MSU to pull the upset with an improved attitude and defense.  But Kevin Riley is sweet and brings a new dimension and leadership to the offense.  I still like a close game b/c Cal should have trouble running the ball, but with Riley, I think they actually win this game.  So stay away.
 

This Week's Record:  0-0

Overall Record:  0-0