darrell,

We started the week off right with an easy win on Virginia Tech over Clemson on Thursday night as they won outright as a 5 point underdog. 1-0 going into Friday, we have a Friday night pick and 5 more picks on Saturday. These picks are with the help of 25-year handicapping veteren Mr. East who has joined the Wunderdog staff. Next week we'll have a separate set of picks from the Dog and Mr. East and you'll be able to get either one or both...

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Note: risk 1% of bankroll per unit. Never risk more than 5% of total bankroll on any single pick.

Game: U T E P at Tulsa (Friday 10/27 8:00 PM Eastern)
Pick: 3 units on U T E P +14.5

There is something to be said about veteran teams playing at the top of the same conference. The games they play are usually meaningful, and although you can't disregard the paths they have taken coming into the game, it takes on less meaning than one would normally attribute to a similar game at another time. These teams both have returned 16 starters from a year ago, so the tendencies that each display are not new. They both excel on the offensive side of the ball, and have lit up the scoreboard for 78 points a game the past three years, which is the tenure of most that will be on the field for this game. I think no matter what the result here, both teams will be going to a Bowl, and this game will go along way in determining who represents the West in C-USA championship. Last year UTEP overcame a 24-7 deficit that was built in large part by a 74 yd. kickoff return, and a 52 yd quick strike pass, to prevail 41-38. The game was an old west shootout, and was back and forth, tied 5 times. The one key note, inspite of the big plays, and a 4-1 turnover deficit, UTEP was able to win the game. Two years ago, in Tulsa, UTEP again lost the battle of the bounces 3-1, and still managed to hang tough, dropping a 37-35 decision. I would expect a similar affair this year, as both have eyes for a conference championship, so the energy on both sides should be present. It is hard to ignore the fact that the last 2 games saw UTEP as a 7 or 7.5 point choice, and with basically the same athletes on the field, the price has soared to UTEP +14.5. I just don't see 21.5 points of change since last year in this game, and the value lies with the Miners.

There are situations that arise occasionally that distort the capping of a game, and you have to take on the elements. This is a game that I ordinarily would not touch, but there are some circumstances surrounding this one that point to a nice opportunity. The game time weather in Boston is going to be horrendous. There is a 100% chance of rain, but not just showers, a complete washout. The forecast is for 2-3 inchdes of rain, peaking during the game. It isn't the rain that has me inspired on this one. It is the wind. The east coast is going to be enduring a storm capable of near hurricane gusts near the coast, but more importantly sustained winds in the Boston area of 25-30 MPH, and gusts to 50+. Buffalo has garnered a total of 3 rushing TD'S all season outside of an OT game with Bowling Green. They have trailed in games 17-0 vs Auburn, 17-0 vs N. ILL., 28-0 vs Ohio, U., and 45-3 vs Ball St. They were able to get some courtesy TD'S late in those games through the air. That won't be happening here, with these conditions. Boston College, if you put yourself in the mind set of the coach, is going to try to grind out a few TD'S in the first half, build a lead, and shorten the game. I'm sure starters will be long gone in the 2nd half, as with a big game with 6-1 Wake Forest is on deck. This is one for the weather man, but also one that because of the circumstances, and makeup of these teams, don't expect anything but a ground game, and a short one at that. Go UNDER the total.

Another game that I would normally not go near, but the elements will weigh heavy on this match up. Temple is capable of giving up tons of points, but on a slick track, and very little threat of a running game, they suddenly take on a different look. Pass happy Bowling Green is averaging just 16.7 points per game, in non-overtime games. Most of the time when they strike it is through the air, they have had difficulty running the ball into the end-zone. We are looking at sustained winds of 25+ and gusts over 40+, so the passing game, and kicking game are out the window. The elements will encourage both sides to shorten the game, take to the ground, play field position, and a total that is lofty, will be very difficult to achieve. The value in this one is UNDER.

Few would have predicted at the start of the season that this week's Ohio-Kent State game would be so important to the MAC East Division title chase. If the Golden Flashes (5-2, 4-0) win, they'll be two games up on the field with three left. If the Bobcats (5-3, 3-1) win, the race is wide-open again. There are plenty of subplots in this one. Kent State's multi-faceted offense is matched against Ohio's swarming defense, which ranks third in the Mid-American Conference. The word is out the Golden Flashes are a pretty good football team so sneaking up on the Bobcats is highly unlikely but the Golden Flashes are also a capable of beating teams that are prepared for them. They will rely on their high-octane offense and a handful of skilled players none more important than WR Najah Pruden who is averaging over 21 yards per catch this season and has five TD's and has proven to be a nice deep threat that can stretch defenses. The Golden Flashes offense has been on a tear of late scoring more than 37 pts in three of their last four games and no one in the Mac has been able to slow this team down. In walks the the Ohio Bobcats who have been down right stingy on defense this year only allowing it's opponents 18 points per game and a little over 300 yards per game. So what gives here ? Guys this situational bet the Golden Flashes have to much to lose in this game not to mention they are good. Golden Flashes know if they win this game they are almost a shoe in for the Mac Championship game.This would be huge for a team that was ( 1-10 ) last season. Having this much on the line you have to love the home team here laying the small number. Take Kent State as they go for six in a row.

The Huskies are 2-3 in Pac-10 play and in seventh place, while Arizona State is 1-3 and in eighth, meaning the two could switch places Saturday with a Sun Devils win. Only the top six teams in the Pac-10 are guaranteed bowl spots, and teams that finish 6-6 are ineligible for an at-large spot. The Devils has been one of the more enigmatic teams in the conference, winning three in a row by wide margins, then losing three straight Pac-10 games before rebounding last week with a 38-3 win over Stanford. The Huskies meanwhile, are trying to shake off yet another excruciating painful defeat, this time a 31-24 overtime loss at Cal in which the Huskies tied the game on a 40-yard pass on the final play of regulation. Two weeks ago, the Huskies lost at USC 26-20 when the game ended with the Huskies at the USC 15-yard line and unable to get a play off in the final two seconds. The Huskies have fallen on some tough luck the last few weeks but they have hung around with two of the better teams in the country and look to be improving each week. Arizona State, on the other hand, came into the season with high expectations and haven't lived up to them. The Sun Devils have been blown out in three of the last four games and look to be a team in a downward slide. The Huskies have been able to put points on the board along with playing good defense aganist two of the better Pac 10 teams. They held USC's high powered offense to 26 points and Cal didn't score much until late in the game on acouple lucky plays. So going up against the Sun Devils offense should not intimate the Huskies. After losing their starting QB to injury Washington hasn't missed a beat as Carl Bonnell has stepped right in and in a game in a half he passed for over 300 yards and 3 TD's. He has quickly developed a rapport with Washington's two outstanding WR's Sonny Shackelford and Anthony Russo and they have been able to strike up some big plays down the field. The Huskies finally get the win this week after losing a couple squeakers. This team has bowl aspirations and revenge on their mind after losing last year to the Sun Devils. This place will be rocking at night. Take the home underdog here.

Bowden's boys will come to College Park with a team that had vast potential, but they are finding life a bit more difficult without the 4 first round draft picks they lost to the NFL last year. This is a team with just 6 scholarship seniors, and that usually means life on the road may be a difficult task. Maryland got off the schneid the last time FSU came to College Park in '04 handing the Seminoles, then ranked #5 a 20-17 defeat. It broke an 0-15 run the Noles had on Maryland. This is a huge game for Maryland, looking ahead they have Clemson, Miami, FLA, BC, and Wake Forest - all very difficult games. Last year they led FSU with 10 minutes left in the game by 6, even though FSU scored on a 61 yd punt return. This pointspread is what I call a "reputation" pointspread. There is no doubt FSU has been one of the top programs in the country for over a decade, but if you look closer, things haven't quite been the same. This FSU team from 1991 to 2001 lost a total of 14 games in a 10 year span. The last 3 and a half years they have lost 15! They are obviously still a good team, but not the one they continue to get the respect for being. The recent history is even more diluted. The past 12 games this team is 5-7! Three of those 5 wins, are vs Troy St, Rice, and Duke! That means vs competitive teams they are actually 2-7 in their last 9. The difference between these two team a few years ago was astronomical, Maryland simply did not belong on the same field, going 0-15. The difference the last two years? A Terps win, and a game at Doak Campbell, that they led by 6 with 10 minutes to play. That was just unthinkable 3 years ago. They didn't come within 3 TD'S of FSU the 3 prior years. Kind of speaks volumes of the change that has occured, yet the reputation still is. I'll play the value of this reputation line, and back the Terps in this one.