Rankman & Son Pick 6: Week 4
Rankman knew "son" was a winner when he bounced into the world 25 years ago and easily cleared the "under" on the O\U line of 2.5 hours for his delivery time. "Son" led the way last week with a 3-0 weekend that had to carry his old man through another 1-2 campaign ruined by USC and UCLA "failures to launch" against Texas and Fresno State. But we wouldn't want "son" to get a big head about all this...
Shame on Rankman for breaking his golden rule of never wagering on local teams out of deference to "no cheering in the press box" and other axioms of journalism broken every Saturday in stadiums across America.
Father Knows Bets
Arizona State at Washington (-17.5)
North Texas (-12.5) at Liberty
Troy (-4.5) at La. Monroe
Son's games
Friday: Florida Atlantic at Central Florida (-13)
Boston College (-7) at Purdue
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Rankman's winners:
The stunning fact is Arizona State has won 11 of the last 12 dating back to 2002 and scored a season-shattering 13-7 win last year in Tempe when Washington couldn't score in ASU's Red Devil Zone. So how on God's green Earth is UW favored by this much?
Pick: Arizona State
Score: Washington, 27-24
Give me Liberty? Not this week, even though the Flames did shock Baylor last year in Waco. Liberty is in its first full year of FBS and playing a tough schedule (Auburn, Virginia, Old Dominion) but won't be able to hang with a very good North Texas team coming off a 44-17 win at Arkansas that featured the The Fake Fair Catch.
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Pick: North Texas
Score: 44-21
So explain this to Rankman. Troy won at LSU last year by three points and won at Nebraska this year by five points but is only favored by four and a half at Louisiana Monroe?
Pick: Troy
Score: 36-21
Son's winners:
Friday: Son can't get the picture of Lane Kiffin's FAU Schwarz outlet being down, 42-0, at the half against Oklahoma. Central Florida is tanned and rested after a forced Hurricane Florence respite and highly motivated, now that Boise State has lost, to reclaim the title of top Group of Five contender.
Pick: Central Florida
Score: 48-31
Unlike Jersey Guy and other retirees playing in the Cape Cod Senior League, Son is a bible-thumping believer in Boston College and it has everything and nothing to do with the fact his first cousin is married to the special teams' coach. Go Eagles!
Pick: Boston College
Score: 37-27
The Over\Under of 47 on TCU at Texas is as tasty as barbecue brisket doused with vinegar-based Horned Frog sauce. This pick comes with coleslaw and a side of pickles.
Pick: OVER
Last week: Rankman (1-2) Son (3-0)
Season overall: 9-8-1[/membership]