2008 Handicapabling Challenge: Week 4

We're a week behind in doling out the punishment in the 2008 Handicapabling Challenge. That is to say, McLane needs to eat his cesos taco. So what do we do this week? How about the loser drinking a nice, full shot of Siracha hot sauce? What better way to wash down some tasty brains, right McLane?

Now, on to the Week 4 picks...

MCLANE:

Ohio +12 vs NORTHWESTERN

Seems like a hell of a lot of points. Right? Who's with me? Anyone?

Arizona -3 vs UCLA

UCLA reached a new low last week. Tuitama won't pass for 19 touchdown or whatever it was the kid (or should I say man? He's probably 42) from BYU threw for last week, but the Wildcats will come away with a win by a couple of touchdowns.

LSU -3 vs AUBURN

Final score prediction: 8-2.

Florida -7 vs TENNESSEE

The Fatty Philip Fulmer Farewell Tour continues. Urban Meyer OWNS that fat tub of goo.

ARIZONA STATE +7 vs Georgia

The Devils gave new definition to the term crap the bed last week against UNLV but it may have been the best thing that could have happened going into this game. Erickson will have his team prepared, Tempe will be rocking, and Rudy Carpenter won't suck quite as much as he usually does.

Who am I kidding? It's a homer pick, through and through.

THE DUKE:

Central Michigan +10.5 @ PURDUE

LeFevour Power, baby! A moderately high profile Big 10 team is due to get knocked out by a MAC team this season. It's going to happen here.

ARKANSAS +9 vs. Alabama

I sense a very, very low scoring game. Not quite an Auburn game, but enough that nine points is an awful lot to ask Alabama to cover on the road.

UCLA +3 vs. Arizona

UCLA is a better home team against the spread the last few seasons than you would think. And Arizona is god awful on the road under Mike Stoops. Just the type of game the Bruins win to get their fans worked up before another crushing loss.

Georgia -7 @ ARIZONA STATE

Yeah McLane, that's a homer pick. This line is way off - it should be at least a double digit spread. If this was a day game in the usual Arizona 150 degree heat, maybe the Sun Devils would have a chance.

TOLEDO +7 vs. Fresno State

After being their BCS dreams get busted against Wisconsin, do you think the Bulldogs are excited about going on the road to take on the Rockets? The start of another long, painful slide for a Pat Hill team after almost knocking off a big ticket school.

Posted by The Duke of Everything at 10:26 PM 0 comments  

Brady Quinn makes dumb bets

Say what you will about the questionable choices Browns rookie and former Notre Dame QB Brady Quinn makes in front of the camera, but you have to say this: he makes equally bad decisions on what bets to take. At least that's the impression I get after learning that he had made a "jersey bet" with former USC and retired NFL QB Rodney Peete over the outcome of last week's game. The upshot? Quinn had to wear a USC jersey in interviews this week.

My favorite part of the story is his new teammate and former USC All-American LB Willie McGinest confronting him after Quinn had thrown the jersey in the trash:

When he finished with his interview, Quinn quickly ripped off the jersey and slam dunked it into a nearby garbage can.

A few minutes later, Browns linebacker Willie McGinest, a former USC All-American, confronted Quinn in front of his locker. McGinest wanted to know what Quinn had done with the jersey.

"You acting up?" McGinest said.

"I didn't make the bet with you," Quinn said.

Although the story leaves out what happened next, I'd like to think that the phrases "a hail of punches", "face looking like a side of meat" or "eating solid food in 6 to 8 weeks" were involved, but I think I'm being wildly optimistic.

But apparently I'm not as optimistic as Quinn, who made what has to be one of the most lopsided bets in dumb bet history. I mean, even before the start of the season, did he think there was any chance that Notre Dame was going to win this game? And I know, Stanford, Stanford, Stanford. But we also didn't know just how lousy Notre Dame was going to be - I don't know if this would have been a dumber bet to take before the season started or right before the game.

I'm not saying that Brady Quinn is a sucker, but I'd like to go "heads I win, tails you lose" for a month's paycheck against him.

Brady Quinn, the pride of Notre Dame
(photo credit Deadspin.com)

Posted by The Duke of Everything at 2:06 PM 0 comments