Cashing In

Your "Bad Beat" for Saturday is on:

Indiana (plus 17 1/2) at Iowa.

Saturday marked one of the most insane Saturdays in college history for beats and I mean insane! Northwestern and Arkansas not covering was criminal, UCONN and Louisiana Tech losing outright was beyond ridiculous and I could go on and on with a few others.

But there's one true beat and I don't even know what to truly say about this as it may be the worst most unbelievably horrific beat that I have ever suffered. I was getting a full two touchdowns and a field goal plus the hook and led outright by 14 points in the third quarter and then 24-14 going to the fourth quarter. Now there is absolutely no possible way that I can't cover this game, I mean no possible way, right?

Of freakin course not! Of freakin course not!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Writing this is even making my blood pressure boil!

Iowa scored on a 92 yard touchdown pass early in the fourth and then on a 66 yard yard pass. Both plays were pathetic defensive efforts and pretty much busted coverages. So now the Hawkeyes led 28-24 but getting this number was still well in my favor and I mean well.

Then in the middle of the quarter Brandon Wegher ran in from six yards out to make things and 11 point game and a lot more interesting.

With under two minutes to go Indiana burned all of their timeouts and Iowa had it at the Hoosier 27 yard line. It was a third and two meaning that a first down and then a few knees and this thing was over with what should have been an Indiana cover. But Wegher broke through, ran to the left and in pretty much impossible fashion led his team, with the crucial extra point, to the 42-24 win and ridiculous cover for Kirk Ferentz' undefeated Hawkeyes.

That's it, I'm not writing anything more on this or every talking about it again!



Your winners for Sunday are on:

3* Cowboys (minus 9 1/2) vs. Seattle.

2* 49ers (plus 13) at Indianapolis.

My big play on Saturday was on the "Bad Beat" Hoosiers. Nothing more really needs to be said, I don't think.



I am not totally sold on Tony Romo or the Cowboys at all but the Seahawks are so banged up right now and have become such a disaster over the past few weeks and are normally so weak on to begin with on the road that I just can't help but believe that this thing is a total burial.

Romo has found his big-time receiver in Miles Austin. Austin is blowing up right now and after embarassing both the Chiefs and Falcons secondaries I don't see anything changing here. It's not like the Seahawks can just play the pass because the pokes running backs form a quality quality tandem with Marion Barber and Felix Jones and quite possibly a little Tashard Choice.

Lofa Tatupu is out and the Seattle offensive line is extremely beat up and I just don't see this translating well in Big D.

The Seahawks never seem to travel well and after looking inept in that last game at home against the Cardinals it's going to be more of the same right here.



Call me a sucker because I may be getting sucked into this thing because of how high the number is but that is what I am going to do. Peyton Manning is absolutely insanely great and him against 11 defenders may be a mismatch in his direction. But with Reggie Wayne banged up and Anthony Gonzalez and Donald Brown out and Adam Vinatieiri still out it's just too much against a still at least decent enough San Francisco squad.

The 49ers have struggled of late after the great start to the season and things are not so peachy around Mike Singletary's team but Alex Smith did look really good last week and with Frank Gore back and Michael Crabtree in the mix I will take my chances with the visitors today in Indianapolis.

Manning will be Manning and that will hurt for sure as he can pick any team apart with any third string receiver. But to get around two touchdowns back against such a beat up team is enough for me to tempt fate and go against the greatest quarterback possibly in the history of history!