Black Shoe Degenerates: Week 8

Welcome to Week 8 of Black Shoe Degenerates, your weekly gambling column written by the smartest gambling expert you know.

I just want to say, it really sucks that it’s already week 8. I feel like this season has gone faster than ever before. Maybe that’s because Penn State already lost twice and I’m spoiled and grumpy and sad about it? ...nah, it can’t be that.

Before we get into this week’s slate, let’s take a look back and review last week’s performance.

Last week’s picks:

ARob’s week 7: 3-3 (22-25-1 this season)

• Auburn -15 (loss)
• Buffalo -11.5 (win)
• Notre Dame -21 (loss)
• Penn State -14 (loss)
• Oregon +3 (win)
• Houston -16 (win)

Pat’s pick: Wisconsin +8 (loss, 3-4 this season)

a .500 week is a good week! Two outright losses isn’t a good look though. I guess Auburn isn’t as good as I thought, and neither is Penn State. I’m just sad that Pitt couldn’t finish the game and give us 3 outright losses. Classic Pat Narduzzi — can’t do anything right.

This Week’s Picks:

Auburn at Ole Miss, noon
My pick: Ole Miss +4

This is almost definitely an overreaction to last week’s debacle against Tennessee, but I think that loss proved something about Auburn. Ole Miss isn’t stellar, but Auburn looks like it’s just disinterested.

#6 Michigan at #24 Michigan State, noon
My pick: Michigan -6.5

Michigan State always gets really lucky in big games, but I don’t know how it can have anything left after an emotional win last week in Happy Valley. Michigan is clearly the better team, and I think it’ll win even though this game is on the road.

#18 Penn State at Indiana, 3:30 p.m.
My pick: Indiana +15.5

This number is just too big. I’m tired of saying “Penn State needs to do better in X,” maybe the Nittany Lions just aren’t as good as we thought they were. Indiana isn’t good at all, and if this was a home game for Penn State I’d give the points, but here I’ll take them.

Colorado at #15 Washington, 3:30 p.m.
My pick: Washington -15.5

I think Colorado got exposed as a... well, I don’t want to say a fraud... but they certainly benefited from an easy schedule on the way to a 5-0 start. Washington will come into this game angry after losing in overtime last week against Oregon, and should handle the Buffaloes relatively easily.

#22 Mississippi State at #5 LSU, 7 p.m.
My pick: LSU -7

I love Joe Moorhead as much as anyone, but I think LSU’s defense is the real deal. Ed Orgeron won’t let the Tigers look ahead to Alabama next week, he knows there’s too much at stake this weekend. They’ll take care of business at home first.

#2 Ohio State at Purdue, 7:30 p.m.
My pick: Ohio State -13.5 — kind of

If you listened to this week’s Black Shoes, Basic Podcast (listen to our podcast please) I already gave my unconventional pick. If Purdue plays in their ugly gray uniforms, Ohio State will cover. If the Boilermakers come out in those slick all-black uniforms, they’ll cover. I think the Buckeyes win outright no matter what, but if you look good, you feel good, if you feel good, you play good, etc.

Pat’s Lock of the Week: UL Lafayette at Appalachian State, 3:30 p.m.
My pick: App State -25.5

I don’t know. I could not tell you one thing about UL Lafayette. Nope, not a one. But I do know that App State is going to blowout every non-Troy team in the Fun Belt.