LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- I warned you that my sizzling mid-season streak of successfully picking 10 straight college football games against the spread would never last.
I warned myself, too. I knew it would be a fight to the finish to stay above .500. I've read enough material about professional gamblers to understand that you deserve a hat tip if you can consistently win 55% of your wagers against the number.
But as we move into the final weeks of the regular season, that doesn't make it any easier to deliver the updated numbers on how I have performed vs. the spread and vs. Eric Crawford after 60 games.
Wagering Reset
- Eric Crawford: 3-2 last week, won $25. He's at 34-26 for the season with an imaginary bankroll of $1,375 (after starting with $1,000).
- Rick Bozich: 2-3 last week, lost $50. I'm at 30-30 and $975 for the season.
This week's Picks:
Pitt (+8.5) at Louisville, Saturday, 4 p.m.
Crawford: $25 on Pitt. The Panthers have been better in close games (3-2) than Louisville (2-4), and I honestly don't know how Louisville is going to react to last week's loss at Stanford. I think Louisville will win. Just don't know if they'll win by more than a touchdown.
Bozich: $25 on Pitt. The record shows that Louisville will play another one-score game. That is their M.O. And in a one-score game, the team getting 8.5 points will win.
Kentucky (+20.5) at Texas, Saturday 3:30 p.m.
Crawford: $50 on UK. This spread is too big. I don't know if Kentucky can muster enough offense to throw a scare into Texas, but I do know they can muster enough defense. Ask Georgia, Ole Miss, or Tennessee.
Bozich: $25 on Texas. Games like this are why Eric has a comfortable and nearly insurmountable lead on me. Kentucky has lost by more than 20.5 once all season — at Florida. But Jeff Sagarin's season-long predictive numbers like Texas by 21 and his numbers with bias on recent results like the Longhorns by 24.
Indiana (+12.5) at Ohio State, Saturday, Noon.
Crawford: $25 on Indiana. You don't often see an undefeated team a double-digit underdog this late in the season. But this is Indiana playing at Ohio State. Don't know if the Hoosiers will win this, but I don't expect them to lose big, especially coming off a bye week.
Bozich: $50 on Ohio State. I know the Hoosiers had easily covered in eight straight games until they beat Michigan by five. I also know that Ohio State really needs this game to make the Big Ten title game and to maintain its hopes of earning a first-round bye in the college football playoffs. I also checked a story at The Athletic on the Top 50 prospects for the 2025 NFL Draft. The Buckeyes had six. The Hoosiers had none. Ohio State's speed will rule as the Buckeyes win by two touchdowns.
Ole Miss (-10.5) at Florida, Saturday, Noon.
Crawford: $25 on Ole Miss. I know Florida is playing better, but this isn't a good matchup for the Gators. Ole Miss is a potent offense and Florida struggles defensively. Give me the Lane Kiffin bunch in a statement game.
Bozich: $25. EC is correct. Florida is playing better. Dominated Kentucky and upset LSU. But Ole Miss has won its last three by double figures over Oklahoma, Arkansas and Georgia and needs this game to avoid a third loss.
Colorado (-3) at Kansas, Saturday, 3:30 p.m.
Crawford: $25 on Colorado. Deion Sanders' guys have more to play for in this one and should get it done on the road against a 4-6 Kansas team. Throw in that the Buffs are 8-0 against the spread in their last eight games.
Bozich: $25 on Kansas. The one will actually be played at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. The Jayhawks have turned their season around after an early 5-game losing streak, beating a pair of ranked opponents (Iowa State and BYU) the last two weeks to improve to 4-6. They need this one if they expect to make a bowl — and they'll get it.
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