CHICKEN HOGS STEP UP TO PLATE FOR FIRST TIME IN DECADE

Kansas State takes a lot of well-deserved criticism for playing a cushy non-conference schedule, but the Wildcats are positively adventurous compared to the University of Arkansas. This Saturday’s game with Texas marks the first time that Arkansas has scheduled a game against an opponent from one of the other BCS conferences since they joined the SEC in 1992. It is also the first time that Razorbacks has scheduled a non-conference road game since the 1999 season opener at SMU, which didn’t exactly give anyone the shivers. This is a huge game in Hogland and thousands are expected to watch the game on the video screen at the stadium in Fayetteville. Can’t blame ‘em for being excited. Razorback fans finally get to see their charges play a major conference team after suffering through 35 regular season non-conference games against Tulsa, Louisiana-Lafayette, Troy State, South Florida, Boise State, Central Florida, Weber State, UNLV, Louisiana-Monroe, Boise State, Southwest Missouri State, Middle Tennessee State, Northeast Louisiana State, SMU, Memphis, SMU, Southwest Louisiana State, Louisiana Tech, SMU, Northeast Louisiana State, Louisiana Tech, Northeast Louisiana State, SMU, Southwest Louisiana State, Memphis, SMU, Northern Illinois, Memphis, SMU, Tulsa, Memphis State, SMU, SMU, Memphis State, and the Citadel.

We’re too busy with pointspread endeavors to spend any time on fantasy football and the like but that crashing sound you heard shortly after 4PM Eastern Time on Monday was “King of the Hill” pools crashing across America when the Texans beat the Dolphins. These pools, less delicately called “Suicide Pools” in some quarters, are single elimination contests requiring participants to pick one straight up winner every week without using the same team twice. One participant reports that over 70% of the participants in his quarter million dollar west coast pool went down on the Fins. Dave Wannstedt didn’t learn from his hard-earned, playoff-costing “You’ve Got Ricky, Run Him With a Lead In the 4th Quarter” lesson in last season’s finale in New England.

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Auburn Coach Tommy Tuberville was under the gun at the start of last season. But he finished strong with an upset road win at Alabama and a bowl win over talented Penn State. It is impossible to underestimate the importance of the win at Bama for Auburn folk and Tuberville had a fresh chance to become a legend on The Plains. Auburn entered the campaign with arguably the best running game personnel (offensive line and running backs combined) and best linebackers in college football. Now after two games they have yet to score a touchdown. The shutout loss to Southern Cal was forgivable, as the Trojans had waxed top ten Notre Dame and Iowa to end last season. But the 17-3 loss to depleted, dispirited Georgia Tech was a cardinal sin in Tigerland, and when things turn on a coach they turn in a hurry at Auburn. What appeared to be a high point in Tuberville’s coaching career looks to be developing into a nightmare.

Some coaching hot seats are expected. Tommy Bowden was on double secret probation with Clemson boosters coming into the season on the heels of a couple of disappointing seasons and a 55-15 shellacking at the hands of Texas Tech in the Tangerine Bowl. Following the disastrous 30-0 home loss to Georgia Clemson struggled to a non-dominant 28-17 win over Furman. The Tigers are 10-22 against the spread of late, something surely noted by a larger-than-anyone-cares-to-admit segment of the booster community. A couple of early ACC losses and Bowden may lose his team and his fans. In such an instance Clemson would be in some serious trouble.

Tommy’s daddy Bobby was under fire more than he ever had been at Florida State due to nine losses (and almost as many scandals) over the past two years. The ‘noles look like FSU teams of old, however, with consecutive conference victories by a combined 72-10. Taking over Papa Bowden’s seat on the hot seat (senior division) is Joe Paterno. JoePa’s Nittany Lions were outgained by Temple in an unimpressive loss and then were down 21-0 to BC before the crowd even settled into their seats. The mighty Penn Staters never threatened a BC team widely considered to be destined for mediocrity. Penn State’s Temple win was hardly flattered when Temple lost to 1-AA Villanova on Saturday.

I had read that Lisa Guerrero was supposed to be hot. And she was supposed to know football. What happened? Is it to late to bring back Melissa Stark? Legalized sports betting is hitting Florida. A Port Canaveral, Florida based gambling boat is looking to take sports action in a big way. SunCruz Casino’s Surfside Princess will be equipped with a sports book and banks of television, offering wagers on all major sports as well as horse and dog racing as soon as they get outside territorial waters. A great free double offer that includes the report “Profit Strategies of Professional Gamblers” is available to you at www.consumerbet.com . I know you’re reading this and not listening, but look at the “special radio offer” on the front page, which is where the free double offer is available to you. You can also hear free selections and analysis on our free 24-hour hotline at 1-770-649-1078.

NFL contracts are essentially printed on dissolvable paper as a player can get cut at any time for any reason. And salary cap cuts are almost a daily occurrence in the NFL. So why did the Patriots lay down and die like dogs following the waiving of Lawyer Milloy? If Milloy was such a “team guy” of impeccable character, why wasn’t he willing to redo his contract like almost every big star in the league does? Was he a “team guy” for making the Patriots choose between cutting him and cutting three other veterans? New England was a team more than willing to have an excuse for playing poorly on Sunday, which is a terrible sign in your opener.

Lets take a look at a college selection this Saturday and focus on a humiliated home favorite that figures to eviscerate an underdog whose past history has shown that they simply can’t even come close to running with the big dogs. The Ole’ Miss defense allowed too many big plays in their 44-34 upset loss at Memphis. After being outscored 23-0 in the 4th quarter in that loss and needing a long late FG to beat Vandy the week before, the Rebels will welcome a chance to beat up an undermanned opponent. Louisiana-Monroe fits the bill rather nicely. Monroe is off a loss to 1-AA Stephen F. Austin after opening the season with a 49-7 loss at LSU. The LSU game means the Indians have now lost their last 14 games against BCS conference opposition, with those margins being by 42, 38, 68, 28, 49, 46, 67, 37, 38, 35, 38, 55, 32, and 35. Charlie Weatherbie (former Navy coach) took over after spring practice when Mike Collins was charged with DUI. Weatherbie’s great enthusiasm will eventually improve Monroe’s fortunes, but it’ll be a while. Mississippi won this game by “only” 28 last year and David Cutcliffe has struggled laying points in Oxford, with a 6-13 as a home favorite. But the Rebels should be loaded for bear and are capable of putting up a big number here.

On Sunday the Seahawks blasted the Saints 27-10. The Cardinals were blistered by the Lions 42-24. This forms the basis of a pretty ugly NFL selection in the Seahawks-Cardinals game that you’ll probably want no part of. Looking inside the boxscores, the Seahawks were outyarded 359-270 while the Cardinals actually outgained the Lions by a gaudy 439-261. The victors in those games won by a combined 35 points while getting outgained by a remarkable total of 267 yards. We’re not pretending that Arizona is an intimidating place to play but it is worth noting that the Seahawks visit the desert after training in the coolish Pacific Northwest all summer. And they’re a 5-point favorite. Let’s take the handful from the phony winner and go with the unlucky loser. Look for sudden fantasy football hot property Anquan Bolden to have another big game and remember he’ll only get better as he learns the receiver position after spending so much time at QB at Florida State. Hold your nose and play the Cardinals.

About the Author: Kevin O’Neill is the director of content for www.ConsumerBet.com. If you’d like to get this newsletter directly via email you can do so by signing up at http://www.consumerbet.com/email.html. Thanks for taking the time to read us.

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