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Buckeyes gotta cover sometime, right?
You might look at the USC-Oregon State score and reason that Ohio State is one terrible team. But, hey, that’s college football. Just think: This sets up a potential USC-OSU rematch in the Rose Bowl.
So what about Saturday’s Big Ten opener against Minnesota? The Buckeyes are 18-point favorites and have yet to cover this season. They play a team that hasn’t been tested, although Minnesota is 1-0 in Ohio this season (42-17 win at Bowling Green).
The only reason to think about taking the points is Minnesota QB Adam Weber. He can throw it (and complete it, connecting on 72 percent of his passes).
Reasons to lay the points:
— Jim Tressel has been yelling at the offensive line all week. Tressel has been animated and seems intent on salvaging this season. We’ll know if his motivational tactics work after the Buckeyes’ first series. Look for a big push up front.
— Beanie Wells is back. He might not carry it 30 times, but his presence gives OSU a lift. It also makes Terrelle Pryor more dangerous.
— Pryor is confident. That first, awkward start is water under the bridge.
— This is personal for James Laurinaitis. You think the Minnesota native wants to get shown up by his hometown team?
— Speaking of Minnesota, the Gophers have allowed an average of 355 yards per game in victories against Northern Illinois (31-27), Bowling Green (42-17), Montana State (35-23) and Florida Atlantic (37-3). U of M’s 4-0 record is a sham.
— Hey, the law of averages has to kick in sometime, right?
LAST WEEK: I predicted that OSU (20 1/2-point favorite) would cover, but that the Buckeyes might need a defensive touchdown to pull it off. As soon as defensive back Jermale Hines dropped a sure TD, I knew the underdog would pull through, and Troy covered in a 28-10 snoozer.
The loss dropped us to 2-1 vs. the spread.
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Comments
By Jim
September 26, 2008 1:56 PM | Link to this
So by printing stories in the paper or in blogs online about taking spreads and covering the DDN condones gambling on college sports? Way to go a—holes.By jimmy
September 26, 2008 6:55 PM | Link to this
you are right I saw the oregon state/usc game and thought…man the buckeyes are really a bad team.tressel gets paid 3.5 million to blow big gamesBy brunnegd
September 30, 2008 10:25 AM | Link to this
Who cares about covering the points? The spread is artifical, designed by the bookies to get the same amount of dollars on both sides of the bet, so they make money. Focus on winning.