Rankman Picks a Team in Reno, Just to Watch It Cover; Son Likes Nits and Terps

Rankman & Son vow to rebound from a shaky week that counted Lady Liberty as its only betting victory.

If there was ever a week to go 1-5 in Los Angeles it was this week, as the loud booing over our lousy weekend college picks was nothing compared to the booing of UCLA at the Rose Bowl, or worse, the booing of manager Dave Roberts at Dodger Stadium. In general, the outstanding start by TEAM TMG has slowly eroded over time, sort of like Albert Pujols, whose career batting average is two 6-4-3 ground outs from falling below .300. For the first time all season, TMG is under water at 84-89-7, held together by our SEC and Big Ten brethren. Just like the real season. Tony Barnhart, Mr. College Football, leads the way at 20-15-1 while Herb Gould, Mr. Midwest, is solid at 19-14-3. Rankman & Son are coming off a 1-5 skid and stand 14-20-2 overall knowing that's not good enough to stay in the Big Leagues. But there's plenty of season left.

Father Knows Bets

San Jose State (+2.5) at NEVADA

Wait a minute…Nevada lost its last home game by 51 points and is favored over a team that has already, this season, scored a road win in the SEC West?

Pick: San Jose State

USC (+10.5) at NOTRE DAME

Rankman & Son got ripped last week by a reader for picking too many games that were not on television. This one is on TV and Father thinks return of USC quarterback Kedon Slovis, plus the off week, should keep the game close.

Pick: USC

Oklahoma (-10.5) vs. Texas

The Sooners may be better but not by this much, so concludes Rankman as he imagines gnawing on a Turkey leg at the State Fair of Texas.

Pick: Texas

Son’s picks

Wyoming at SAN DIEGO STATE (38)

Son says, at first, he thought this was a night game in Laramie and 38 was the projected temperature. Then he realized the game was in San Diego and thought 38 was the projected attendance. Then he realized it was the over/under...never mind.

Pick: Over

Penn State (-3) at Iowa

Son knows Iowa is tough place to caucus but thinks James Franklin and the Nits are a bit undervalued in a Big Ten where they are winning by an average of 40 points per game while everyone is slobbering over Ohio State and Wisconsin.

Pick: Penn State

Maryland (-3.5) at PURDUE

Eenie Meenie Miney…Maryland. Son wonders, weekly, which Terps team is going to show up? Here is Maryland’s per-game scoring output through five games: 78, 63, 17, 0, 48.

Pick: Maryland