Not a bad week for the Locks, as both Jill and Gil posted 2-1 records while regaining a
level of harmony that had been missing since Gil shamed the family with an ohfer a few weeks back. Jill had expected that this would be her last week but, with her stellar 7-2 record since jumping into the fray, CollegeSportsView readers demanded that she continue. Who knows? If she keeps it up, maybe she’ll replace Gil at Ryno Rife Handicapping.
LOCKS of the WEEK
Jill’s Picks
Minnesota +16 over Penn State
Why is Penn State so highly rated every year? Are the voters just nice to the coach because he’s been at Penn State longer than the smell of the cow chips? Whatever the reason, there’s no way they should be favored by this much. Their record is 1-1 vs. college teams and 4-0 vs. high school teams. Last week they crushed Eastern Illinois of the powerful Ohio Valley Conference. Eastern Illinois? In Week 7? Gimme a break. Paterno’s boys are a fraud, as is the big spread. Go with the Gophers.
East Carolina - 18 over Rice
Rice is 0-6 and has given up an average of 47 points in three road games. East Carolina has fared well against tough opponents and Gil has a buddy that says all ECU girls are hot. Sure. It’s always a buddy. He may find himself duct taped to a telephone pole for that one.
Fresno State -19 1/2 over San Jose State-
The pick is Fresno because they play a lot on TV and I like the coach, Pat Hill. He’s a tough guy who’s not afraid to play good schools,(note to JoePa), and his team always plays hard. They’re home for the first time in a few weeks, Ryan Matthews is one of the best backs in the nation and San Jose State stinks. Oh, and their bulldog mascot reminds me of our dog, Neckbolts.
Gil’s Picks
Idaho – 9 over Hawaii
I actually had Idaho in a huge win a few weeks ago but my picks never made it into print. The Vandals have been playing well and, as Jill pointed out last week, Hawaii really stinks. Even when they’re good, they struggle on the mainland. I like Idaho by three TD’s.
Arkansas + 25 over Florida
I love going against a team due for a letdown and Florida is just that. They’re coming off a big win at LSU and they’ll probably be a little cautious with Tebow if they get a lead. Arkansas is no slouch, having knocked off an unbeaten Auburn team last week. I think Florida wins fairly easy but not by 24.
Washington + 7 over Arizona State
This one’s just a hunch. Washington’s been playing well and they’ve got some momentum off last week’s win. Besides, I don’t like anything Arizona since an exchange student from my high school had a beef with some desert muscle who broke his ankle and locked him up. So, as Klaus von Fremer always says, “Arizona is punks.” Go with the Huskies.
go a pathetic 0-3 with his selections. He started out well enough, as Army took a noon kickoff from Ball State and marched down the field on its opening drive for a 7-0 lead. However, Ball State answered with a TD of its own and things went south from there for our good Mr. Lock. Army won the game 24-17 but failed to cover the 7 1/2 point spread. Baylor, matched up with one of Gil’s least favorite teams; Connecticut, turned everything around as the Bears lost by ten as a ten point favorite. Memo to Gil: Maybe UConn isn’t so bad. Finally, the Toledo Rockets failed to fire in their battle with Ohio State. The Buckeyes dominated to the tune of 38-0 and made a mockery of Mr. Lock’s affinity for the Mid America Conference. Maybe they’ll send their Men’s football team to Columbus next time. So, if you’re scoring at home, or worse; with your bookie, old Gil came up one short of the famous “blind squirrel.” It’ll take a lot of work to restore our faith and get back in our good graces but Lock assures me he’s up to the task. Let’s see who he’s chosen to lead him out of the darkness and into the light. Go ahead, Gil. Let out the leash.
Bowling Green led into the fourth quarter against Missouri before losing by seven; the final margin much closer to Lock’s line of 11 than the 19 you’d have had to lay in Vegas. Then, despite most of the world expecting a big 