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Black Shoe Degenerates: Week 2

Time to chase our losses!

By Matt de Bear
Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

I have a proposal for you loyal readers/troubled gamblers. Let's just pretend last week never happened and the season starts this evening. Not only did something allegedly happen to our Nittany Lions in Philadelphia, but it was not a good week financially in this space. Save for Eli's TCU-Minnesota call, things went very poorly.

But, as they say, the more you gamble, the more you win. So, we're back on the horse this week! Seriously, people say that.

Buffalo at Penn State (-21)

As I said last week, and will probably say all season, I never bet internet dollars on Penn State. After last week's Phiasco in Philly (TM pending), I feel as strongly about that stance as I have ever felt about anything. I just have no idea what to expect from PSU after Saturday.

With that said, I am awfully fond of telling people that Vegas never overreacts to one game. This line actually opened at 18 or 19, depending on where you looked, so the money likes the Lions here too. I'm not confident about it, but I'll follow the people that know more than me.

Top Plays

Both Eli and I agreed that we love Bowling Green +7.5 at Maryland, and for very similar reasons. The Falcons hung 30 on what people seem to think is a good Tennessee team in Knoxville, while the Terps were hardly dominant against FCS Richmond. I may even throw a couple bucks at the BG moneyline. And if you like trends, the 7.5 is down from 9.

Georgia -20 vs. Vanderbilt is another spread that has steadily gone up all week, and I like UGA a lot. For one, Vanderbilt has been very bad in their 13 games post-Franklin. Seriously, if you think PSU as struggled, the 'Dores have been so much worse. On the other side, Nick Chubb. The end.

Eli's #HOT #PICKS

Temple +6.5 @ Cincinnati
This may be a bit of recency bias on my end, but I don't think Cincinnati has enough to beat Temple by a touchdown or more. Now, Cincinnati's offense is much better than Penn State's, but their defense is also much worse.

Oklahoma @ Tennessee OVER 63.5
Both of these offenses showed last week that they have some firepower, and while it was against mediocre MAC defenses, it still showed me enough to believe both of these teams could score in the 30s. That, and the line opened at 61.

Ohio State -41 vs Hawaii
It pains me to say this, but Ohio State will be scoring 70 on Saturday. Take the free money. Line opened at 38, so a few people agree with me.

Last Week's Prop Bet Results

First PSU Score: Field Goal (5-1)

First PSU Play: Jet Sweep (Off the Board, thereby proving our #sources are terrible)

Anthony Zettel Sacks (O/U 1.5) - 0

Saquon Barkley Carries (O/U 5.5) - 1

Christian Hackenberg Passing Yards (O/U 250) - LOL

ESPN Sanctions Mentions (O/U 3.5) - 0, maybe? I forgot to count.

Fun Prop Bets to Make John Donovan's Offense Tolerable

Offensive Snaps Before Audible Booing - O/U 3.5

Penn State RB Rushing Attempts - O/U 37.5

Number of Jet Sweeps - O/U All of Them

Number of true freshman that play - O/U 5.5

Team TFLs - O/U 11.5

Attendance - O/U 95,000

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