Posted 5:29 PM by Alfred

I’ll let Bill Simmons do the NFL, while I stick to the WAC.

Introducing: WAC football picks of the week (spread taken into account)

(Home team in Caps)

Idaho (+17) over WASHINGTON STATE

As bad as Idaho is, WSU is no prize either, and Idaho only lost by 10 point to Michigan State in East Lansing last week, so while I think they’ll lose, they should be able to make it at least respectable, and yes I actually just wrote that sentence.

SAN JOSE STATE (+10) over Stanford

SJSU only lost by 6 on the road at Washington last week, and Stanford ain’t much better than the Huskies (if at all better) and this ones in San Jose, which is actually only a 2 hour drive from Palo Alto, but still, screw the tree.

ARKANSAS (-29) over Utah State

This is a huge spread, but Utah State lost by 31 to Wyoming last week on the road, and Wyoming was coming off a 6-game losing streak from last season. Arkansas much better team than Wyoming, even though they got blown out by USC, they held on longer than I would have expected, and they’re pissed after getting blown out & at home.

New Mexico (-6.5) over NEW MEXICO STATE

NMSU finally got their first win in what must have felt like forever against a 1AA opponent. New Mexico actually LOST to a 1AA program AT HOME (although Portland State is a very good 1AA program, they beat Hawaii at Aloha Stadium a couple years back, and they are at Cal next weekend, which don’t think doesn’t terrify me for the sheer zero upside infinite downside factor of the whole thing). I think they bounce back and squash the Aggies, though, even on the road.

FRESNO STATE (+4) over Oregon

Fresno State is, I believe, severely underrated, and Oregon, although good and not getting a TON of respect, are a bit overrated, and people still don’t understand how hard it is to win on that Fresno field. This is Fresno, people, you think the populace has anything better to do on a Saturday than pack that stadium and get belligerent? I say they win outright, screw the spread.

Nevada (+14.5) over ARIZONA STATE

This spread is way too big. Nevada lost by 9 at Fresno. ASU looks good in the PAC10, but they don’t have much on the defensive end. Just a hunch, but I think if they win, it won’t be by more than 10.

Already played:

BOISE STATE over Oregon State (BSU won 42-14)

Boise State continues to roll. No surprise there.

Until next time, stay wacky, and don’t come bitching at me if you bet and lose, cuz I don’t condone betting, and I don’t condone losing, those things may or may not be illegal in your jurisdiction, and you all know that the police and Judge Johanssen always have your very best interests at heart, even while they’re screaming blood murder at an underground rooster fight at 2 in the morning. Just imagine though, in an imaginary universe, what would happen if you dropped $5 on each of these. Well, we’ll (I’ll) know next week. Gracias.

update: Saturday night

wow. I suck. 1 out of 6. so at 5 bucks a pop I'd be down 20 bones at this point. We'll let's (how's I) see how I do next week, maybe I can dig my way out of this hole and start building a fort. or, er, not.

update: Monday afternoon

ok, well, let's see if I can't do better this coming weekend. oddly, this defeat has made me even more determined to accurately predict the fate of WAC football, for good or ill. fyi bill simmons went 5-8 on the sunday NFL games. so someone betting $5 a pop on my picks would be down $20, and that same person would be down $15 on simmons' picks so far, not counting the monday contests. btw go raiders. aloha.

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