Promises: Always Bet On The House

Oklahoma's, Courtney Paris, did something today that isn't common, but not entirely unheard of in sports: She guaranteed that the Sooners would win the NCAA women's basketball title.

While most of those "I guarantee a win" talks lead to embarrassment and a drive for teams to make a personal example of that player, this is a new one for most.

Paris is betting her scholarship—all $64 thousand of it.

Now, I am not sure how one begins to actually give back their scholarship, but if it can be done I am betting that Paris is going to be given the opportunity to show us how.

The No. 3 Sooners (27-3, 15-1) are the top seed heading into the Big 12 tournament and are posed to at least make a significant run at the NCAA title.

While most of the time these statements are made for one game only type of reference, at least it seems Paris is not shooting for personal gain in this.

The senior did have this to say about the statement:

"So, when you're good enough and don't do something, then you have to take accountability for that and that's your own fault. We can win a national championship. If we don't, I'll feel like I didn't earn my scholarship."

Well, that is nice to know.

A college degree and a chance to play in the Big 12 all comes down to whether or not you actually win a Championship. I am wondering if the athletics and scholarship department think they can get everyone's back.

There is no real saying you can give back your scholarship to your college.

There should, however, be a rule against a player making a statement like this. The reason I say this is simple—Connecticut.

UConn is 31-0 and if that wasn't bad enough for Oklahoma, they had the pleasure of handing the Lady Sooners one of their three losses this season.

Sadly, what's even worse is that that loss back in November to UConn was by 28-points.

While I know it is wrong to bet on college sports the people in Vegas just came up with a whole new set of odds for this years tournament:

1.      The Sooners win the National Championship;

2.      The Sooners lose to UConn in the finals;

3.      Paris actually gives back her scholarship.

I know once something is said it cannot be taken back, but Paris might want to think about what this means for her and the rest of her teammates come tournament time.

This a big hill to climb.

This hill is huge.

It’s the Mount Everest of hills. 

The good news is, though, maybe Vegas will give them 30-points.