Black Shoe Degenerates: Week 4

Welcome to Week 3 of Black Shoe Degenerates, your weekly gambling column written by the smartest gambling expert you know.

Well, this week is for sure better than last week at least. We’re starting to learn about the teams more, and the start of conference play is always refreshing. I’m just glad we all get the extra day of rest before the big game next week.

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 3: 2-5 (10-13 this season)

• Kansas -2.5 (win)
• Oklahoma -18 (loss)
• Kent State +35 (loss)
• Boise State at Oklahoma State over 64 (win)
• Louisiana-Lafayette at Mississippi State under 64.5 (loss)
• USC at Texas under 48 (loss)
• Ohio State -13.5 (loss)

Pat’s pick: Maryland -16 (loss, 1-2 this season)

Okay, not a stellar week. The Kent State pick was stupid, but the Mississippi State game was only 1.5 points off. It happens. If it makes anyone feel better, I went 3-0 in the NFL!

This week’s picks:

Penn State at Illinois, Friday 9 p.m.

My pick: Penn State -28

I don’t think Illinois is honestly that much better than Kent State — as evidenced by its 7-point win in week 1 — and I think it would lose to Pitt by a touchdown at least. Run it up, Coach Franklin.

Buffalo at Rutgers, noon

My pick: Buffalo -5

I’m 2-0 betting against Rutgers this year. They’re the only thing I have going for me. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

Boston College at Purdue, noon

My pick: Boston College -6.5

BC is good, and Purdue isn’t. It couldn’t beat three average teams at home, even with its quarterback putting up a Big Ten-record 590 yards of offense. Also, combine everything there with the Eagles going 3-0 against the spread this year, and I’m feeling good about this one.

Tulane at Ohio State, 3:30 p.m.

My pick: Ohio State -37

Don’t overthink this. Don’t overthink this. Don’t overthink this.

Kansas State at West Virginia, 3:30 p.m.

My pick: West Virginia -16

The Mountaineers are legit. They’ve looked good in their first two games, and I feel like they’ll be anxious to get back on the field after getting rained out last week. Kansas State got thoroughly beaten in the only game its played this year against a real opponent — Joe Moorhead’s Mississippi State.

Texas A&M at Alabama, 3:30 p.m.

My pick: Over 61

I think this could be one of the most interesting games of the week. I’m excited to see if the A&M that gave Clemson a game is the real A&M, or if it was a one-week thing. We know what we’re getting with Alabama though. The Crimson Tide hasn’t scored less than 51 points this year, and every game its played has gone over 61. That trend will continue this week, lock it up.

Michigan State at Indiana, 7:30 p.m.

My pick: Indiana +4.5

This is more of a gut feeling than anything. Eventually the Hoosiers have to perform well in a big home game, right? This game, against a Michigan State team who played terribly against Utah State at home and then lost on the road to Arizona State, is the perfect opportunity.

Pat’s Lock of the Week: Stanford at Oregon, 8:00 p.m

Pat’s pick: Stanford -2

I’m going head first into road favorites this week because I’m giant idiot. To put a cherry on top of this idiot sundae, I also don’t think I’ve ever won a bet involving Stanford. LOCK. IT. UP.