Quick viewing(Text Mode)

2013 PB3.Indd

2013 PB3.Indd

Volume 28, Issue 3 September 5-9, 2013 Wise Guys Contest Returns For 29th Season! RAVENS-BRONCOS GET NFL UNDERWAY! 88% AWESOME ANGLE INSIDE!

• ‘Betcha Didn’t Know’ Handicapping Article • Awesome Angle & Tremendous Trends • Incredible Stat of the Week • Analysis on Every Lined Game • Best Bets and Key Plays • Full Schedule with Opening Lines

GET SMART GET PLAYBOOK GET EVERY EDGE IMAGINABLE

COPYRIGHT NOTICE - All materials in this newsletter are protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, rebroadcast, displayed, or otherwise published without the prior written permission of Playbook.com. You may not alter or remove any trademark, copyright or other notice, nor may you offer for sale or resale the material included herein. www.PLAYBOOK.com 1. 800. PLAYBOOK Marc Lawrence's BETCHA HEARTACHE DIDN'T TONIGHT KNOW A Weekly Insight Into The Art Of Sports Handicapping

“Somebody’s gonna hurt someone opening week favorites on Monday So as the 2013 NFL season debuts this before the night is through Night Football have blown up like O.J. year and you’re tuned for all the action Somebody’s gonna come undone. while incarcerated in Nevada, going on Monday night, pay heed to the just 22-20 SU and 14-28 ATS in all words of wisdom uttered by the Eagles There’s nothin’ we can do.” games since 1980. Thus, we should: in their 1979 classic…

rom 1970 to 1985 it aired on ABC. PLAY AGAINST any NFL “We can beat around the bushes; Today it’s viewed on ESPN. The Monday Night favorite we can get down to the bone F opening theme from 1989-2011 in Game One of the season. We can leave it in the parkin’ lot, was ‘All My Rowdy Friends Are Here but either way, there’s gonna be on Monday Night’ by Hank Williams Not only do these Game One Monday a heartache tonight, Jr. It has since changed – probably for Night favorites lose the money 67% a heartache tonight I know.” much greater appeal to gamblers – to of the time (14-28 ATS), they lose the DO IT NOW! If you haven’t done so yet, ‘Heavy Action’ by . whole game nearly half of the time NOW is the time to subscribe to the (22-20 SU). From play-by-play voices 2013 PLAYBOOK Football Newsletter to to to Mike Put these same guys in a competitive through the . Just $99 gets Tirico, on to color analysts including role (-6 or less) and they fall to 12-20 you every newsletter online – available the likes of , Frank SU and 9-23 ATS this role. Tuesdays after 6:00 PM ET. Gifford, , , Better yet, popularize these competitive , O.J. Simpson (yikes), Plus as added FREE BONUSES you Monday Night hosts with a stamp of , , Boomer will also receive the following: online 10 or more wins from the previous Esiason, , , digital copy of the 2013 PLAYBOOK season and these MNF favorites dip to , Joe Theisman, Tony Football Preview Guide magazine, 2-11 SU and 1-12 ATS when laying 6 Kornheiser, and Jon Weekend Update Phone Service thru or less points in a game in which the Gruden, NFL the end of December, and a free week Over/Under total is set at 41 or more has become a staple in every football of my award-winning PREFERRED points. Do you hear that, PICKS Late Phone Football SERVICE! fan’s and player’s panacea. and Washington? It’s the best $99 you’ll invest this For those Monday night teams anxious And as no surprise, a 0-10 ATS perfect football season. Call our customer to get the season underway in Game subset exists herein. You can read service department at: 1.800.752.9266 One of the season, they should realize about on the all-new PLAYBOOK. – you’ll be glad you did. the team that is supposed to win COM website inside the BETTING sometimes doesn’t. TOOLS section simply by clicking on According to our trusted database, the BLACK BOOK SYSTEMS link.

AWESOME ANGLE OF THE WEEK PLAY AGAINST an NFL non-division NOT SO TRIVIATRIVIA TEASERTEASER dog or favorite of less than 7 points in its season opener who won 12 or FAST! THIS WEEK'S AMAZING SITUATIONAL PLAY more games during the regular season last year versus an opponent who ATS W-L Record This coach has excelled on the highway and as a dog won 8 or fewer games last season. Since 1990: in his college career, going 18-4-1 ATS when taking points and 15-2-1 ATS away – including 11-0 ATS the last eleven Play AGAINST: 14-2 in both situations. Who is this week’s best in show? HOUSTON TEXANS For the Trivia Teaser answer, turn to page 5 (88%) Be sure to check out the COACHES LEAGUE for ATS records on every College & NFL coach in 16 key situational roles. Simply log on to www. View Marc’s Awesome Angle Of The Week PLAYBOOK.com and click on the COACHES LEAGUE. at the PLAYBOOK.com website!

page 2 • www.PLAYBOOK.com • 1.800.PLAYBOOK FOR A COMPLETE 2-MINUTE HANDICAP OF EVERY GAME 2-MINUTE ON TODAY'S CARD, VISIT www.PLAYBOOK.com ATS = Against The Spread • A = Away • Con = Conference • D = Dog HANDICAP F = Favorite • H = Home • Rev = Revenge • R = Road • SU = Straight-Up Games NFL Games All results are ATS – Against The Spread – and most recent, unless noted otherwise. Content contained in this report remains the exclusive private property of PLAYBOOK™ and PLAYBOOK.COM™ and may not be reused or disseminated in any form without express written consent of the publisher. TEAMS KEY FACTS, STATS & ATS TRENDS TEAMS KEY FACTS, STATS & ATS TRENDS Saturday, September 7 Thursday, September 5 Florida 9-0-1 Game Two… 8-0-1 bef Tenn… 4-9 away vs ACC Baltimore 6-2 L8… 5-0 SUATS Game One… 6-3 L9 RD’s MIAMI FLA SERIES: 5-1-1 L7… 4-1 Game Two H… 1-4 H vs SEC 9-0 O/U vs non-div opp w/OU line < 50 pts… 10-3 favs LY W Virginia 5-1 as dogs 12 > pts… 1-3 away w/ conf revenge Sunday, September 8 OKLAHOMA 5-1 in 2nd of 3 straight HG’s… 4-1 conf HF’s 15 < pts New England SERIES: 8-1 L9A… 9-0 SU Game One… 29-12 away vs div S Carolina SERIES: 6-0 L6… 7-3 in 1st RG… 0-3 aft N Carolina allowed 40.2 PPG in L6 vs Patriots… 1-5 HD’s w/ rev GEORGIA 4-1 as HF’s w/ conf rev… 3-1 in 1st of BB HG’s Tennessee 4-0 dogs 1st of BB RG’s… 8-2 dogs > 4 pts vs opp w/ rev Oregon 7-1 off SU unlined home win… 6-1 as RF’s 10 > pts PITTSBURGH 24-16 home w/ rev… 1-11 favs before VIRGINIA 3-12 L15 as HD’s… 2-6 as non-conf dogs 14 > pts SERIES: 1-4 L5… 3-0 L3 RD’s… 2-8 SU L10 at New Orleans Texas 5-1 as RF’s < 10 pts… 8-2 L10 vs non-conf opp NEW ORLEANS 12-3 L15 HF’s… 15-26 home vs div… 4-1 O/U Game One BYU SERIES: 3-0 L3… 5-0 bef Utah… 4-0 L4 vs Big 12 Tampa Bay 0-8 non-conf favs of 3 > pts… 1-5-1 Game One La-Lafayette SERIES: 3-0 L3… 5-0 Game Two… 6-1 in 2nd of BB RG’s NY JETS SERIES: 7-0 L7… 3-7 SUATS run to end 2012 KANSAS ST 4-1 as non-conf HF’s 20 < pts… 0-4 L4 vs Sun Belt Kansas City Only 4th time Chiefs have been made RF since 2007 Notre Dame 0-4 Game Two… 1-4 bef Purdue… 1-3 in 1st of BB RG’s JACKSONVILLE 12-2 Game One… 6-0-1 O/U vs AFC West MICHIGAN SERIES: 3-1 L4 / 3-0 H… 4-1 in 2nd of 3 straight HG’s Cincinnati SERIES: 1-5 L6… 14-7-1 vs non-div L2Y Wash St 5-1 as conf dogs 15 > pts… 8-3 Game Two CHICAGO 0-7-1 before Minnesota… 2-6 ATS run to end 2012 USC 0-3 in 1st HG… 1-4 aft … 1-3 Game Two Miami 39-24 away vs non-div… 0-5 favs vs AFC North San Jose St 3-0 in 1st of BB RG’s… 1-4 away w/ non-conf rev CLEVELAND SERIES: 5-0 L5… 6-3 L9 HD’s… 1-13 SU Game One STANFORD SERIES: 4-1 L5 / 7-1 L8 H… 7-1 vs non-conf opp w/ rev 0-7 favs 2 > pts w/ OU line 45 > pts CAROLINA 7-3 L10 dogs… 4-0 SUATS run to end 2012 SMART Minnesota 13-7-1 dogs L2Y… 7-19 SU away L3Y BOX DETROIT SERIES: 3-11-2 L16 (1-3 L4H)… 5-1 O/U Game One Oakland 1-9 SU Game One… 2-7-1 vs non-div LY (1-4 away) SERIES: 2-5 L7… 7-1 home LY… 0-5 Game One BOWLER BLUES Arizona 5-1 Game One… Cards averaged just 17.7 PPG L3Y BOWLERS OFF SEASON-OPENING LOSSES STRUGGLE TO REGROUP IN GAME TWO ST. LOUIS 0-4 L4 HF’s… 16-38 favs vs revenge (0-11 L11 vs div) The knee-jerk reaction would be to make a case for teams in Game Two off a season-opening loss if they were a bowl team last year. But before you blow out Green Bay SERIES: 4-1-1 L6… 5-1 Game One… 19-7 L26 as dogs an ACL, check this out: S FRANCISCO HARBAUGH: 5-0 fav < 5 pts / 9-1 vs non-div opp w/ rev Bowlers (last year) off a loss in Game One of the season are just 117-126-2 ATS in Game Two lined affairs since 1990. Ny Giants SERIES: 4-0 L4A… 9-4 L13 RD’s… 31-17 away w/ rev DALLAS 5-1 Game One… 1-8 vs div in Gm 7 < … 6-22-1 favs L3Y GAME TWO BOWLERS OFF A LOSS FOLD LIKE CHEAP TENTS AS FAVORITES Following up, Game Two bowlers off a season-opening defeat have an especially Monday, September 9 diffi cult time getting their act together when laying points, going just 65-82-1 8-0 RD’s > 3 pts w/ rev vs conf opp… 4-1 away on Mon ATS. This week’s creaky chalk artists are: Georgia, Kansas State, Oregon State, WASHINGTON SERIES: 1-3 L4H… SHANAHAN: 14-4 L18 vs div (6-0 LY) Tulsa and Utah State. Note: Iowa State will appear in this role next week. Houston SERIES: 0-4 L4… 16-8-2 favs L2Y (6-3-1 RF’s) SAN DIEGO 1-7 w/OU line 46 > pts… 1-4 Game One… 2-6 L8 home FYI: these teams are especially vulnerable in competitive contests when favored by less than 10 points. That’s because they are: 33-30-1 SU and 24-39 ATS. GAME TWO BOWLERS OFF A LOSS ARE CONFERENCE CASUALTIES Beaten bowlers in Game Two fi nd the conference waters unsettling. When INCREDIBLE STAT OF THE WEEK squaring off against conference rivals they are just 12-24 ATS. Making conference calls this week are Georgia and Utah State. Kentucky is 23-4-1 ATS as a dog A deeper look inside these conference clashes fi nds downtrodden bowlers are since 2010, including 12-0 ATS the last twelve simply at their worst against an opponent that won ATS in its last game, where they have gone 1-10 ATS. With that, a UGA warning is being issued in Georgia games and 8-0 ATS when playing off a win. this week. Be sure to read the INCREDIBLE STAT OF THE WEEK each week in the PLAYBOOK Football Newsletter! There you have it. Now you know why Game Two bowlers off a loss often like to sing the blues!

1.800.PLAYBOOK • www.PLAYBOOK.com • page 3 THIS WEEK IN FOOTBALL - SEPTEMBER 5-9 Remember: You Have A PLAYBOOK BEST BET Whenever Our Predicted Margin Of Victory Is 7 Or More Points In Favor Of Your Line Hoosiers Banish Middies To Davy Jones’ Locker… Fur Will Fly As Panthers Ambush Pete’s Seahawks… Thursday, September 5 The Panthers were the epitome of awful last Saturday against Maryland, trailing the Terps 40-10 at halftime after being outyarded 399-59! Even EAST CAROLINA over Fla Atlantic by 27 so, we’d really like to side with the home pooch here against potentially ECU opened the season with a 52-38 win over FBS newbie Old Dominion disinterested road chalk (UCF steamrolled Akron last week, 38-7), but for Captain Ruffi n McNeill but there’s no denying the ol’ Pirate ship new coaches’ record in home debuts – 97-130-2 ATS entering this year sprung some serious leaks before game’s end. McNeill was rightly since 1990, including 8-27 ATS when the foe is off a SUATS win – simply concerned that his defense got torpedoed for a whopping 460 total yards won’t let us. Yes, the win over Akron saw Central Florida’s seniors improve but even more troublesome was the fact that the hosts gained a mere 41 to 4-0 in Game Ones by a combined tally of 174-28; however, a 1-8 SU rushing yards on 19 carries. Fortunately, ECU QB Shane Carder was dead mark in Game Two’s indicates a return to the norm may be in the offi ng on target throughout the contest, connecting on 46 of 54 passes for 5 for O’Leary’s crusaders – and frays with Penn State and South Carolina up TDs, 447 aerial yards and zero . The Pirates’ offensive line next all but confi rms that notion. So does this gem from our powerful will have a chance to redeem themselves versus a Florida Atlantic rush ‘D’ tell-all database: Since 1990, Game Two non-conference road chalk off a that had its doors blown off by Miami Florida last week (Canes rushed for season-opening home win of 30 or more points stands just 11-25-2 ATS 303 yards and averaged 8 YPR). In terms of relative team experience, East when facing an avenging opponent (Knights beat FIU, 33-20 LY). Even Carolina is defi nitely fi nah. Not only do the Greenville Bucs return the with the Panthers’ 5-1 ATS mark as home dogs against a foe off a win of 2nd-highest number of returning starts for FBS teams this season (355) – more than 10 points, we can’t pull the trigger with a depthless FIU team including 215 from last season – 25 seniors and 24 juniors (50.5% upper missing its entire OL and RB corps from 2012. Better to watch and wait… classmen) dominate the roster of this veteran squad. FAU actually gets the better of this matchup in the ATS department: the Owls are 4-1 SUATS Saturday, September 7 versus Conference-USA foes, 4-0 ATS away off a road game under HC Carl Pelini and 6-1 ATS in their last seven weekday games (compare that to the sea bandits’ weak 2-7 SU and 2-6-1 ATS record in Thursday tilts). However, UUPSETPSET GAME OF THE WEEK UUPSETPSET despite FAU’s better pointspread numbers, the feeling here is that ECU is MIAMI FLA over Florida by 6 a team on the come while the Owls may have came and went after their The latest installment in a true Floridian hate-fest kicks off the fi rst clash with big brother UM. And while one would think a possible look- Saturday in September and it looks to be a strength-versus-strength ahead to a bigger game with Virginia Tech might be a concern, note that matchup: the relentless Miami ground attack locking horns with the the Pirates are 6-0 ATS of late in lined games before Hokie hookups. Owls rock-solid Florida rush defense. The last meeting between these two get fricasseed for a second straight week. schools came in 2008 when the Urban Meyer-led Gators chomped Randy Shannon’s Canes, 26-3. We don’t expect to see a similar Friday, September 6 coaching mismatch today as Miami’s Al Golden is doing a masterful Wake Forest over BOSTON COLLEGE by 1 job keeping the franchise afl oat amid lurking NCAA bloodsuckers. When the Demon Deacons fell behind 7-0 to lowly Presbyterian just four The Hurricanes’ returning experience is also well-chronicled with minutes into last Thursday’s lid-lifter, HC Jim Grobe’s realtor was caught 20 starters back from last year’s 7-5 squad that suffered through by the stadium-cam looking downright giddy. But Wake woke up and a second consecutive self-imposed bowl ban. In the orange-and- pitched a 31-0 shutout the rest of the way to take a little heat off the blue corner, UF head coach Will Muschamp heads south with only embattled Grobe. Boston College exhibited a similar M.O. in its opener, 9 returning starters and a jittery that can best be described trailing 14-7 at the half to FCS opponent Villanova but tightening the as ‘playing well enough not to lose.’ Willie Vanilli has also failed defensive screws thereafter for a 24-14 win. Though 2nd-year BC head to distinguish himself as a road warrior since arriving in Gainesville, coach Steve Addazio is feeling some heat of his own after last season’s posting a mediocre 6-6 ATS log. His Gators may own a 9-0-1 ATS disappointing 2-10 debut, Grobe enters his 13th year in Winston-Salem record in Game Two of the season and a 8-0 ATS mark before tackling under intense pressure to qualify for a bowl berth – especially since Wake Tennessee but UF has seen its hide made into handbags recently by has not posted a winning season since 2008. The Deacs do return players the ACC, going a miserable 4-9 ATS in its last 13 tries. Add the fact totaling 146 starts on offense (including QB Tanner Price, his favorite that Miami currently owns a serious series edge with a 6-1 SU and WR and top two RBs) and 158 on defense but the Eagles counter with 5-1-1 ATS effort and we won’t be surprised if ‘Champ get chomped 16 returning starters of their own, lead by QB Chase Rettig and all four by a wired-out bunch of Hurricanes. Fear the Ibis! The Clincher: of the team’s top . New BC Ryan Day Golden is an incredible 17-2 ATS home as a dog or favorite of has been praised by ’ HC as “One of the 3 or less points in his college career. brightest minds and best coaches in the country.” However, the bottom line is that Day represents the squad’s 4th OC in as many years and it may take a few more weeks for him to mind-meld with his signal-caller. KENTUCKY over Miami Ohio by 21 Boston College has not enjoyed its last three home openers, losing all Before you start jeering at this pick on the heels of UK’s 35-26 loss to three on the scoreboard and against the number, while Grobe can at Western Kentucky last Saturday, you should understand that particular least claim a 4-1 SU and 3-1-1 ATS effort in his last four ACC openers. In outcome was less a result of the Wildcats playing poorly and more a result what shapes up as an interesting early-season duel between of the Hilltoppers looking pretty darned good. Of one thing we’re certain Price and Rettig, we’ll lean to the slightly-more-desperate visitors from – the outright winner of today’s matchup is a foregone conclusion. SEC Confederate country. teams have gone 26-0 SU versus the mighty MAC since 2005, and the Cats themselves are an impressive 17-1 SU against MAC foes, including Ucf over FLORIDA INT’L by 25 a 5-0 SUATS mark in the previous fi ve get-togethers. And after last This potential blowout shifts from a noon Saturday start to Friday evening week’s openers where Mid-American Conference teams that lost SU in because either (1) the previous scheduled kickoff ‘confl icts’ with another lined games did so by an average of 41.2 PPG, this has all the makings of Saturday contest in Miami between the Hurricanes and Gators, or (2) another MAC mishmash. New Kentucky HC Mark Stoops will be anxious there are a lot of CBS Sports employees that graduated from UCF and to put on a good show in his home debut and he’ll certainly fi nd the want to see their Knights behead a competitor in . Regardless, coaching matchup more to his liking here as he takes on the befuddled it looks like all the folks who stifl ed a horselaugh after hearing FIU had Don Treadwell instead of the bloodthirsty Bobby Petrino. UK has also hired Ron Turner to replace Mario Cristobal might be on to something. cashed in fi ve of its last six lined home openers while the RedHawks have

page 4 • www.PLAYBOOK.com • 1.800.PLAYBOOK crashed and burned when playing their 2nd consecutive road game, going 0-5 SUATS. With Treadwell’s troops ripped for 52 points by Marshall in last week’s loss, we expect the double-deuce Wildcats (both rushed and passed for over 200 yards against WKU) to light up the scoreboard somewhere in the neighborhood of 40+ points. Yes, next week’s double- revenger against hated Louisville is a negative to be considered but it won’t be enough to scare us off the Bluegrass Cats today. MICHIGAN ST over Usf by 18 We’d have to send out a search party to fi nd a group of fans that suffered a greater indignity in last week’s opener than Bull backers wearing the green-and-gold. With former HC Holtz skipping off to Louisiana Tech after a 2nd straight losing season in Tampa, USF couldn’t wait for the debut of new coach Willie Taggart, a man who took a 2-22 Western Kentucky team to a bowl game in just three short years. Turns out they’re still waiting: in possibly the biggest upset of the new season, the Bulls were outyarded and outplayed by FCS opponent McNeese State in a 53-21 shocker. In fact, after a 31-point explosion in the 2nd quarter staked the visitors to a 33-7 halftime lead, Taggart and company were booed off the fi eld by a less-than-appreciative crowd at . Some good news for Willie: the Bulls are on the road this week. USF has traveled well in recent road openers, beating Auburn (+7 in 2007), Notre Dame (+10.5 in 2011) and Nevada (+1 last year), all as dogs. Even better news for Taggart: the new head coach is the answer to this week’s TRIVIA TEASER on page 2. Meanwhile, Michigan State fans seem equally confused by the spot for the Cowboys, too, as they go from a heavily-hyped game against Spartans’ lethargic 26-13 win over outclassed Western Michigan – and a formidable opponent to what should be a one-sided laugher against history tells us Sparty may take a while to get untracked. MSU went 0-3 an upstart squad still wet behind their FBS ears. Until Okie State’s offense ATS at home off a home game in 2012 and Mark Dantonio’s squad is also gets on the same page, we won’t be saddling up with the two-headed a money-burning 0-6-1 ATS when playing at home in the middle of a Cowboys. Take the points. 3-game home stand. The AAC has never been an easy out either for Big Ten teams as they’ve lost the money in 10 of the last 12 meetings with Houston over TEMPLE by 6 the former Big East. Hey, we’ll admit we’re a bit spooked at the prospect Here’s a surprising line. Houston’s offense and defense each slipped of backing Taggart but because his predecessor (Skip Holtz) also excelled more than 100 YPG in HC Tony Levine’s 5-7 debut season in 2012, yet here as a dog, we think the Bulls will be comfortable wearing this skin the Cougars have been installed as road chalk againt a Temple squad again. You know what to do. that played hard for a full 60 minutes in last week’s 28-6 defeat at Notre Dame (Owls cashed easily as 28-point dogs). A closer look tells us why: Oklahoma St over UTSA by 21 43 upper classmen dot the roster, with 21 letter winners combining for You’re probably not going to like this, not when we tell you OSU head 303 career starts. UH has also won 8 of its last 10 conference openers coach Mike Gundy has compiled a 13-1 SU and 10-4 ATS record versus outright (making the move to the new AAC today), with both losses non-Big 12 foes over the last three years. We also can’t take the Cowboys coming by just 3 points each, plus the Coogs have clawed their way to a to task over something like a look-ahead game waiting on the horizon, profi table 5-1 ATS effort as road dogs in conference lid-lifters. Tough to not with the likes of Lamar sitting on the schedule in Week Three. But go against a Temple squad that qualifi es as one of our ‘mission teams’ this this much we will tell you: new Oklahoma State OC Mike Yurcich did year, especially when the Owls have gone 10-4 ATS playing their initial not enjoy his debut with the Cowboys last Saturday night. OSU did win conference game on their home fi eld. However, Temple’s Matt Rhule is a and cover its game against Mississippi State, 21-3, but Gundy’s formerly rookie on the sidelines and new head coaches in their fi rst home games prolifi c passing game gained a mere 4 yards per attempt (21 of 33 for 146 were just 97-130-2 ATS entering this season since 1990. The ‘anti-Irish yards). Starting QB Clint Chelf got the hook early in favor of J.W. Walsh factor’ is also at work here as home favorites have struggled to a 33-47- and the replacement revived a dormant Cowboys offense with 135 yards 1 ATS record after taking on Notre Dame since 1990. Tough call but our passing and 125 yard rushing. Texas-San Antonio started slow as well, advice is to lay it if you play it. falling behind 13-0 at New Mexico before taking control in a 21-13 win over the Lobos. Good numbers abound for Roadrunners’ head coach Larry OHIO U over North Texas by 4 Coker, who has gone 7-2 ATS versus non-conference foes during his stint If you somehow watched both of these teams play last week, you’d be at UTSA and 9-3 ATS as an underdog against foes off a SU win. Coker also hard-pressed to explain how the Bobcats are even favored today, much presides over 17 returning starters in the Alamo city and these teams have less by nearly a TD. North Texas unleashed a 600-yard offensive assault posted a healthy 28-13 ATS mark as Game Two dogs since 1990. Tough on pitiful Idaho in its 40-6 mashing of the spud boys while Ohio was battered, shattered, creamed and reamed in a ‘men against boys’ fi asco versus Louisville, falling 49-7 in a game that could have easily been more Hot! Hot! Hot! Marc banged the books, going 6-1 this NFL preseason, and lopsided than the fi nal score. Thus, this contest poses a stern test for the followed that up with a perfect 3-0 start in College Football last weekend! old adage ‘nobody is as good – or bad – as they looked in their last game.’ In the fi rst of back-to-back MACers for the Mean Green, head coach Dan McCarney makes the trip to Athens with a 9-2 SU and 8-2 ATS record in Game Two’s tucked away in his pocket. However, that stat loses quite a bit Marc Lawrence’s $99 LATE luster when we see that McCarney has won only TWO of his last 19 road games on the scoreboard. We expected quite a bit more out of Ohio last PHONE FOOTBALL WEEKEND! Sunday, especially from a team that has very quietly won 36 games since Yes, you’ll get ALL of Marc’s award-winning 2009 and will still be expected to challenge for conference honors this PREFERRED PICKS Late Phone Football Service season. With head Bobcat Frank Solich currently 18-0 SU as a non-MAC releases this weekend, including his famous home favorite, the outright win looks to be secure again. But thanks to NFL OPENING WEEK GAME OF THE YEAR, all for Solich’s not-so-encouraging 7-11 ATS mark in that same category, covering just $99 complete! Don’t miss a single selection the spread is another matter entirely. Take it or leave it. – win with a DOCUMENTED CHAMPION this weekend at a price you can afford. To register, NORTH CAROLINA over Middle Tenn by 16 log on at www.PLAYBOOK.com or just call our Normally, when a program tries to ram its latest brand down our throat Customer Service Department today. All major (think Hawai’i), we get a bit defensive and refuse to play along. But after credit cards are accepted for instant service! Middle Tennessee went to Atlanta and whipped Georgia Tech, 48-30, as 24.5-point dogs last year, we fi gure they can drop the word ‘State’ 1.800.321.7777 from their identity any time they please. Here’s another reason to stay (continued on next page)

1.800.PLAYBOOK • www.PLAYBOOK.com • page 5 are 9-24 ATS in conference home openers since 1980, including 5-20 ATS as favorites of 13 or more points. Hence, we have no interest in fading numbers like those against a rabid conference canine looking to quell the Never Pay For A uneasy rumblings going on in Mountain Mama land. South Carolina over GEORGIA by 1 Losing Pick Again. It has not been a good week for our SEC , Jaybird The Bulldog. After dropping a wager on Georgia against Clemson last Saturday, Jay has been forced to stroll along the boardwalk at Shem Creek, SC, for an hour every Expert Advice. Expert Handicappers. evening while stuffed inside a bright orange-and-black-striped Tiger You Win Or You Don’t Pay. costume, waving a ‘Go Clemson’ sign (and believe us when say it’s been plenty hot in the low country lately). Emerging after last night’s session, a weary Jay wiped away sweat as he offered his take on Georgia’s next game. “While the season premiere of the TV drama ‘Revenge’ doesn’t PB perts arrive until the end of the month, Mark Richt is hoping his own version X www.playbook.com of retribution will kick off this Saturday between the hedges. But based on what I saw in Death Valley, the Dawgs won’t get it done.” Yes, the 3rd-worst loss of Richt’s career came last season at the hands of Steve out of their way: MT fi nished 8-4 in 2012 – and did NOT land a bowl bid. Spurrier in Columbia – after a 5-0 start, no less – and ended up being The Blue Raiders left the Sun Belt and now reside in the CUSA East but Georgia’s only loss of the regular season. The 35-7 drubbing gave the Ol’ apparently they’re still pissed. Opening against FCS foe Western Carolina Ball Coach three consecutive SU victories and six straight covers against last Thursday, Middle Tennessee jumped to a 31-3 lead before coasting the Dawgs (four straight on the road), and the Gamecocks are 15-8 SUATS home, 45-24. But today’s ‘Carolina’ is a different beast than the ones in road openers. We realize the Bulldogs can’t afford to fall into an 0-2 from Cullowhee, a 8-4 team that was also denied a bowl appearance hole to start the season, but a bad case of Bowler Blues comes a calling (sanctions). We’ve always been fans of MT head coach Rick Stockstill and courtesy of the SMART BOX and we’re not dumb enough to fade that, his team’s +6 game win improvement was the nation’s largest last year, not with the Dawgs losing the service of all-SEC WR Malcom Mitchell a reversal that included a school-record 5 FBS road wins. Stockstill is a for the season to a torn ACL (in a scoring celebration) last week. Says sturdy 13-7 ATS off a win versus a foe off a loss and his squad has covered Jaybird: “If you’re gonna destroy your knee jumping up and down after a fi ve straight ACC tussles when playing off a SU win. UNC’s Larry Fedora , at least make sure YOU scored the touchdown.” Dawg gone has moved up in class since he lost to Stockstill and the Blue Raiders, 42- it… Georgia goes down again. Eh-heh. 32, as 3.5-point chalk in the 2009 New Orleans Bowl but his current team owns a poor 3-7 SU and 2-8 ATS in Game Two’s. After a draining matchup OHIO STATE over San Diego St by 21 with the physical Gamecocks last week, North Carolina may fi nd itself in a We don’t feel comfortable laying heavy wood with the Buckeyes, despite war with MT QB Logan Kilgore (back-to-back 2,000-yard seasons) and 16 the Aztecs’ embarrassing 40-19 loss to an FCS team where they folded like other returning starters playing for one common goal: to get to a freakin’ a cheap card table in the second half. Ohio State battled to a 40-20 win bowl. Closer than you think. over Buffalo in the opener, and Heisman favorite Braxton Miller (fi nding himself in that role due to the off-season travails of Johnny Football) had Cincinnati over ILLINOIS by 7 a pedestrian performance, tossing for 178 yards and 2 TDs, rushing for 77 We’re not sure what sort of halftime adjustments were made by Tommy more and throwing a cringe-inducing that went the other Tuberville’s Cincinnati staff against Purdue last week but the Bearcats way for six. The bright spot was senior Jordan Hall, who stepped in for the came out of the locker on fi re, turning a close game into a rout with suspended Carlos Hyde (out fi rst three games due to disciplinary action) a 28-0 2nd half shutout. Bear in mind, though, that those two quarters and scored on TD runs of 49 and 37 yards. San Diego State, coming of dominance will infl ate today’s line against a not-quite-there Illinois off three straight bowl appearances, has lost 11 straight to Big Ten team that almost blew a big lead in its 42-34 win over Southern Illinois. opponents, but is 4-2 ATS in the last six meetings. The Aztecs have also Following a torturous 9-game season-ending losing slide in 2012, the Illini covered their last fi ve games when getting double-digits. Meanwhile, are employing a new up-tempo no-huddle spread offense in an attempt Ohio State is 0-6 ATS in the second of back-to-back home games, and just to spark an offense that fell off 6 points and 59 YPG last year. Some 1-6 ATS as favorites of 17 or more over the past two seasons. The lesson: interesting ‘dueling stats’ at work here for Cincinnati. Until last Saturday’s don’t overreact to horrible outings in Game One. Lesson learned. victory over Purdue, UC had gone just 2-12 SU versus the Big Ten. However, new head coach Tuberville counters with 12-5 SU and 13-4 ATS record in road openers and 14-3 SU Mark Game Two’s. No such disparity for Illinois 4 BEST BET in this role: the Illini are a uniformly awful 3-12 ATS at home in Game Two versus non-conference opposition. Even so, we like the fact that AIR FORCE over Utah St by 3 18 freshmen who debuted in 2012 add to much-needed experience and The Aggies head out on the road for the second straight week to depth behind the 9 starters back on offense. Illinois may not spring the make their Mountain West debut in Colorado Springs, following a upset but the hosts will get riled up enough to claim the cash. tough 30-26 loss against arch-rival Utah in the opener. After Gary Andersen departed for Madison during the off-season following OKLAHOMA Over by 16 a stellar 11-2 campaign, Utah State went to the well to promote If Mountaineer fans were shaking in their boots heading into the season OC Matt Wells to the top spot, and the former Aggie QB will try to with , and having departed to add to a 7-1 ATS record for Utah State in games after playing Utah. the NFL, there’s gotta be an earthquake of seismic proportions going on One big problem: USU has failed to cash a ticket in seven straight in Morgantown right now. Leading rusher Andrew Buie was shockingly tries as road chalk off a non-conference game. The visitors are also red-shirted the day before the season, then WVU went out and laid a lame 3-6 SU and 2-7 ATS in conference openers and, even worse, an egg in the fi rst half of its opener against William & Mary (2-9 last our SMART BOX signals for a ‘blue’ debut in the Aggies’ fi rst game season), trailing 17-7 as 31-point favorites. The Mountaineers pitched a as a member of the Mountain West. Falcons coach Todd Calhoun, shutout in the 2nd half to pull out the win, but must head to Norman coming off his fi rst losing season since replacing the legendary Fisher this week to take on the Sooners, who opened the 2013 campaign with DeBerry in 2007, should have his Air Force Cadets fully focused in a 34-0 shellacking of La Monroe – the fi rst of 11 bowl teams Oklahoma the wake of an easy opening win against Colgate. The Falcons lost will face this season. Still, the numbers push us towards a lean on Dana QB Kale Pearson to a 2nd-quarter knee injury (his return this week Holgorson’s dogs this week. He has won and covered six of his last nine questionable), but it didn’t seem to matter as the reliable Air Force road games, including a 3-0 ATS mark versus over .800 opposition. And rushing attack rolled up 409 yards, with Jon Lee and Broam Hart don’t forget: Oklahoma allowed 728 yards – most ever by a Bob Stoops each gaining over 100 yards. Air Force is 15-3 SU and 14-4 ATS in team – in its 50-49 victory over West Virginia last season. The Sooners conference openers, and getting this big a number at home should send the Falcon backers swarming to the cashier’s window. We’ll NOTE: Home team is shown in ALL CAPS. PLAYBOOK already be there. The Clincher: Game Two home dogs off a win selection is Underlined and Bold. Should we pass or not have a that were bowl teams last year are 24-10 ATS if they scored strong opinion on a game, neither team will be bolded. 30-plus points in their season-opening victory since 1990.

page 6 • www.PLAYBOOK.com • 1.800.PLAYBOOK TULANE over South Alabama By 4 Get the clothespins ready… these two teams stink. The question is: Who stinks more? Probably South Alabama, who lost its opener to a FCS school – as did 6 others, including South Florida and Kansas State, so we can’t point the fi nger too harshly – but that result hardly justifi es a play on the Green Wave in the role of favorite. Still, there are a few bright spots on both sides. The Jaguars return 17 starters so things should be on the upswing despite a 0-7 SU record last year against FBS schools (average losing margin of over 16 PPG). Tulane, who defeated Jackson State 34-7 behind 144 yards passing and 2 TDs from ’s son, Nick, also has a great kicker in 2012 Groza Award winner Cairo Santos. That’s about it for the bright spots! If you put a great deal of emphasis on opening week results, consider this: Tulane is 0-6 SU and 1-5 ATS in the second of back-to- back home tilts, and 2-8 ATS in their last ten contests as chalk. Bottom line is we simply won’t lay any of our green on the Wave in this role. Oregon over VIRGINIA By 34 Life without Chip Kelly? Ah, who needs that Philly Cheesesteak! Oregon remained an offensive juggernaut under new HC Mark Helfrich, piling up 66 points in its season opener against lowly Nicholls State (2 victories in the last two seasons) en route to a cover as 59-point off-board chalk. Now, Marcus Mariota, De’Anthony Thomas and their fancy, high-tech uniforms will travel to Charlottesville to take on the Cavaliers, who won in phony ‘inside-out’ fashion against BYU last week (UVA was solidly outgained, 337. Syracuse has posted an extremely impressive mark in games after 361-230). Normally, we‘d have a great deal of interest in backing a solid playing the Nittany Lions, going 10-3 SU and 12-0 ATS. Meanwhile, we program like Virginia getting more than 3 TDs at home, but the powerful expect Northwestern, the ATS kings of the college football pointspread Ducks are 6-1 ATS as double-digit road favorites while the Cavs are wars a year ago (11-1), to come back down to earth in 2013. just 3-12 ATS in their last 15 games as home underdogs. The Webfeet also boast a 13-3-1 ATS record in SU away wins versus non-conference BEST BET opponents. The only thing ‘fowling up’ a strong play on the Ducks is this: 5 in last week’s 63-point demolition of Nicholls State, OU gained a school- INDIANA over Navy by 24 record 772 yards. We’d be elevating them to Best Bet status here had they not just accomplished something no other Oregon has ever done. As it There’s some serious home-cookin’ going on in Bloomington, as the stands, we still say lay it – just don’t mortgage the trailer. Hoosiers open the season with fi ve straight home games, and we like the smell of it. But these speedsters aren’t sitting around on Duke over MEMPHIS by 3 the porch – they’re busy fl ying up and down the football fi eld. They The improved Blue Devils went to a bowl game in 2012 for the fi rst time put 73 points on the scoreboard last Thursday in the opener against in God-knows-how-long, but before we start bowing down to David Indiana State, including 5 TDs in the fi rst half while consuming just Cutcliffe, we must note that the Dukies lost fi ve in a row after that four minutes in the process. Last year, Indiana had 23 TD drives that glorious 6-2 start in 2012. There are several other negative trends we clocked in under 90 seconds and averaged running one play every could start spewing after decades of Blue Devils football futility, but one 20.3 seconds. This year, they’ll be looking for payback against a Navy that stands out this week is their 3-14 SU mark in road openers. Another squad that nipped them 31-30 despite Indiana holding the upper great school that struggles in football is the Memphis Tigers, hand in yardage. It was the fi rst win against a Big Ten opponent one of the few NCAA programs that did not play last week. Does that give for the Midshipmen in eight tries. And speaking of cooking things Duke an advantage after they tuned up with a 45-0 shutout of NC Central up in the frying pan, the Hoosiers are 22-2 ATS when they win a in Week One? Maybe, but we see solid improvement in the Tigers under game SU as a favorite playing with revenge. On the other hand, Justin Fuente, who led Memphis to three consecutive victories to close the Middies are just 6-13 SUATS in lined season openers. With the season in his fi rst year. Let’s see... one win in 2011, two victories in 19 returning starters this year under Kevin Wilson, there is a big 2012, and four last season. Are they headed for a 8-win season this year? turnaround in progress in Hoosier Country. We can smell the bacon Well, let’s not get carried away, but with 16 starters back and looking grease now. The Clincher: Military teams are 21-111 ATS when for revenge from a 28-point loss to the Blue Devils last season, we give they lose SU versus an avenging foe, including 3-41 ATS over Memphis a shot to win this one at home. the last 44. NORTHWESTERN over Syracuse by 8 Despite a 44-30 win at California in the opener – thanks in part to a pair NEBRASKA over Southern Miss by 21 of pick-sixes in the second half by Collin Ellis – the enthusiasm in Evanston Cornhuskers held on for the 37-34 victory last week against Wyoming, was tempered somewhat by the fact that the Wildcats were outgained but Cowboy QB Brett Smith absolutely lit them up as Nebraska coughed by the Bears, 548-508, and lost two starters to injury for the remainder up a ghastly 602 yards. That’s not the ‘Black Shirts’ defense we know of the contest. Starting QB Kain Colter left with a concussion during and love, but neither is it an isolated incident. In fact, the Huskers have the opening series and star RB played Venric Mark sparingly due to a now surrendered 2,807 yards (561 YPG) in their last fi ve games, which preseason hamstring injury. Fortunately for Pat Fitzgerald’s Purple Cats, is very unlike the stop units of Bo Pelini. But will the Golden Eagles – QB Trevor Siemian, who normally splits time with Colter, played well in trying to turn things around under Todd Monken after last year’s 0-12 an extended role. Syracuse, who lost a tough one to Penn State in their embarrassment – be able to capitalize? They did manage to outgain opener, will be looking to avenge a nail-biting 42-41 loss at the Carrier Dennis Franchione’s Texas State team last week, 400-234, only to come Dome to the Wildcats in last year’s season opener, a game in which the up short on the scoreboard. It seems that once a program is cursed and Orange held a whopping yardage advantage over Northwestern, 596- a plague settles in, it’s hard to shake! And while Monken tries to reverse the Southern Miss fortunes, the Golden Eagles have failed to cover in their last four tries against Big Ten opposition. Nebraska, meanwhile, is another one of those teams that is opening with fi ve straight home tilts; however, they are just 1-5 ATS in the 2nd of three or more games OFF SHORE GAMING ASSOCIATION in Lincoln. So while a win seems imminent here, a cover is far from We’re The Off Shore Information Leader! guaranteed. Like two kids on prom night, exercise caution. Providing Security & Integrity Since 1998. Texas over BYU by 1 FIND OUT MORE TODAY! After a scoreless fi rst quarter, Longhorn QB David Ash got things cranked up against pattycakes New Mexico State last week, fi nishing www.OSGA.com with 5 passing TDs and rushing for another as Texas piled up 715 yards (continued on next page)

1.800.PLAYBOOK • www.PLAYBOOK.com • page 7 TULSA over Colorado St by 6 Marc Lawrence’s Jeez, when was the last time CSU gave up 400 yards through the air to Colorado in their annual grudge match? State’s porous pass defense PERFECT SYSTEM CLUB! led to a 4th quarter meltdown last Sunday as the Rams were outscored 18-3 down the stretch in a 41-27 setback. Normally, we’d be looking to STARTS An online internet service that provides go against a defl ated team like CSU but we can’t here, not after Tulsa THIS WEEK! weekly College Football and NFL Football suffered The Mother Of All Embarrassments in its inexplicable 34-7 loss Super Systems in 100% PERFECT WINNING to Bowling Green. We were just as confused as Hurricane head coach Bill ROLES outlining the parameter, the logic Blankenship as he watched his 35 PPG offense sputter to 12 fi rst downs, supporting the system and the qualifying 273 total yards and an 18-minute defi cit in time of possession. In fact, the teams each week throughout the regular Big Breeze was so out of synch that they didn’t crack the scoreboard until just six minutes remained in the game! Thus, the Rams are sure to catch season. The PERFECT SYSTEM CLUB has Tulsa when the barometric pressure is sky-high – and our SMART BOX had only one losing season since its reads that as too much pressure on the locals. Colorado State has had inception 10 years ago! For details, call the success in the past when coming off a SU favorite loss, going 11-5 SU and PLAYBOOK Customer Service Department 10-4 ATS on the road. And while Blankenship can claim a 6-1 ATS mark off toll free at 1.800.752.9266 or log on to our an ATS loss of 7 or more points, the all-knowing four-sided confi guration website today. Don’t miss out! tells us this a power fade. When the Box speaks, we don’t argue. AUBURN over Arkansas St by 11 www.PLAYBOOK.com Welcome to the ‘Track Meet Game of the Week’ where anything less than 1,000 total yards would come as a surprise. Today’s matchup is actually quite interesting, pitting new Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn against in a 49-point romp over the Aggies. Meanwhile in Charlottesville, the his former team – although Malzahn skipped out of Jonesboro after Cougars outyarded the Cavaliers, 361-230, in a disappointing 19-16 only one season at the helm. His replacement, Bryan Harsin, enjoyed season-opening loss to Virginia. Many of the numbers surrounding this an impressive debut with a 62-11 win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff. The Red game point to BYU: The Cougs are 3-0 ATS in this series in the last three, Wolves overwhelmed the Golden Lions in the stats, piling up an amazing and have fared well against the Big 12 by going 4-0 against the number 672 yards compared to just 173 for their opponent. Auburn’s fi rst game in the last four matchups. BYU is also 4-2 SU and 6-0 ATS in the role of under Malzahn was not as statistically rewarding and with three SEC underdogs of 8 or more points. You can add revenge into the mix, too, revengers up next (MSU, Ole Miss and LSU), we’re not interested in as the Horns hooked the Cougars, 17-16, in Austin in the last meeting coaxing a better performance out of Aubbie today. In fact, in the two between these two proud programs in 2011. Finally, note that Texas is just years since the Tigers beat Oregon for the BCS Championship, the hosts 1-5 ATS as a recent double-digit road favorite. The bottom line is that we have struggled to a 12-14 SU and 8-16 ATS record while ASU has posted like home underdogs with much the better defense, especially when they superior marks of 21-6 SU and 17-7 ATS. Hey, we just talked ourselves into are a winning team off a loss. You know what to do. backing the pack on the plains today. LSU over Uab by 28 BALL ST over Army by 11 Blazers delivered the bacon as our 4* BEST BET in last week’s issue, What’s this? Air Ellerson? Army head coach Rich Ellerson stunned the though we did manage to confuse readers by erroneously ‘bolding and college football world in last week’s season-opening win over Morgan underlining’ Troy – despite the call being on UAB (we’ll do better this State. Ellerson added a few air strikes to his team’s previously land-locked week). The Birmingham boys head to the SEC version of Death Valley arsenal and the Black Knights tallied an amazing 101 yards of passing with a few good numbers on board: they’re 4-0 ATS playing the second offense in the 28-12 victory. Well, one look at the stats our database spat of back-to-back road games and an identical 4-0 ATS versus the SEC out on this matchup and it’s obvious Ellerson had better start re-loading. when playing off a loss of fewer than 10 points. LSU counters with a The Cadets have dropped three straight ATS decisions in the series, they’re 4-1-1 ATS mark in Game Two’s, plus the Tigers have gone 3-1 ATS of late a dreadful 1-7 ATS in their last 8 MAC skirmishes and they’ve gone just when playing the fi rst of three straight home games. And to say that 2-17 SU and 7-12 ATS in road openers. Halt! Ball State beat the infantry the Bayou Bengals exceeded expectations in their 37-27 win over TCU last season, 30-22, in a hard-fought contest that our MIDWEEK ALERT is an understatement. Les and company did some serious Horned ‘rescored’ as a 3-point Army loss. The Gonads (that’s right, the restraining Frog-gigging at Cowboys Stadium, doubling TCU in fi rst downs, 26- order has expired) are one tough bunch of nuts when it comes to foes 13, outyarding the Froggies, 448-259, and forcing 4 turnovers on the seeking revenge, going 6-0 ATS in this role of late. Third-year head coach defensive side. But even though we feel the Bengals are an under-the- Pete Lembo owns a 16-10 SU and 16-9 ATS mark with the Cardinals and, radar super power this year, there will be better spots to cash in on them like former MAC coaches , Jerry Kill and Dave Doeren, seems later this season. Can’t empty the wallet on the Blazers either after bound for broader horizons than what Muncie, Indiana has to offer. Our they went fl at in the 4th quarter against Troy, outscored 14-0 to force best guess is once the Nadsters book a bowling trip this year – and they (Trojans converted a 30-yard game-winning FG). As a result, will – Lembo will get his ticket to ride. You should get him now… while we’ll probably watch this one from the sidelines. But if you just can’t you still can. leave it alone, we suggest you blaze a trail to the ticket window and take a shot with UAB. PENN ST over E Michigan by 23 Sure hope you weren’t on the Nits last week against Syracuse. They had MISSOURI over Toledo by 20 opportunities galore to put away the pesky 9-point underdog Orange but The Tigers lost a lot of street cred last season when they struggled in their instead made enough mistakes to turn a 13-point lead into a 23-17 win, no- new SEC neighborhood, largely in part to an unrelenting rash of injuries cover. Even so, Penn State looks suffi ciently talented to put Eastern Michigan to key personnel. Now they’re back and hungry to make amends, a team in the deep freeze here. The Eagles, only one of four non-conference foes on a ‘mission’ following a disappointing 5-7 fi nish that snapped HC Gary Pinkel’s run of seven straight bowl appearances with the striped cats. After eviscerating Murray State in the season opener, 58-14, Pinkel now takes on his former team from Toledo. Now in his 13th season at Mizzou, the Top Cat boasts a solid 6-1 ATS mark at Columbia versus a foe off a SU non-conference loss. He’s also made a few bucks from tangling with teams from his former loop, going 14-5 ATS versus MAC opponents off a loss. Need more? Our accommodating database informs us that Missouri is a perfect 3-0 SUATS versus MAC foes off a loss this century – with an average winning margin of 34 PPG. They may not reach that lofty pinnacle here but the Tigers should be able to ground a Rocket attack that scored just 6 points and totaled 205 yards of offense in a near-miraculous cover against Florida. Mizzou may not be as talented as the Gators but they’ve got just as much fi re in their bellies. Lay the points as the Tigers take step two in their quest to restore the roar.

page 8 • www.PLAYBOOK.com • 1.800.PLAYBOOK for the Lions who were NOT in a bowl game last year, had to come from behind in their home opener against Howard, scoring the contest’s fi nal 14 points to pull out the win. EMU steps way up in class here with only a 0-22 SU and 5-10-1 ATS mark to show for their previous encounters with the Big Ten. But as much as we’d love to play the Lion to Eastern’s Wildebeest, Penn State’s inconsistent play against Syracuse nags at us. That and the Nits’ 9-17 ATS slide in lined home openers, and their 0-3 ATS mark versus a MAC opponent off a win (suddenly, the line looks taller). PSU did go 6-1 ATS as chalk in 2012 under then-1st year head coach Bill O’Brien but our feeling is this: now those numbers come back the other way… perhaps even starting today in this potentially unemotional affair. Pass. BAYLOR over Buffalo by 21 It’s back to the slaughterhouse for the Bulls, who hung tough against the 2nd-ranked Buckeyes at the Horseshoe last week, losing by 20 points as 34-point dogs (cha-ching!). The track shoes stay on for a second straight week as Buffy has to chase the Baylor Bears, fresh off a spirit-renewing 66-point annihilation of a lower-rung FCS school (Wofford). Art Briles’ Bears have quite a streak going, closing out 2012 on a 6-game ATS win skein which they can extend to 7 with a cover against UB today. Our pulse quickens when we see that BU is 3-0 SU versus the MAC, with every win coming by 28 or fewer points. But with the number currently hovering in that region, out attention wanders to Buffy… where we see the Bulls are 6-2 ATS as non-conference dogs of more than 24 points when taking on a foe off a SU win. Hmmmm. Suddenly, our database reminds us that KANSAS ST over La-Lafayette by 6 17-returning starter double-digit dogs are 30-19 ATS of late in Game Two Cajuns let us down last week, hanging a loss on our INCREDIBLE STAT of the season when playing off a loss. At the very least, we get to see (1) right out out of the gate. Loozyanna was no match for a superbly prepared how a mediocre team coming off a game against one of the top teams in Arkansas squad in new coach Bret Bielema’s debut, falling by a less-than- the country performs against (2) a very good team coming off a no-doubt ragin’ 20-point margin. But we’re right back on ‘em here – thanks to rout of a not-so-good team. While you mull that one over, it’s time for some added assistance from the SMART BOX. Speaking of the Sagacious today’s Lache ‘I’m going to win the Heisman’ Seastrunk update: 11 carries Square, a dreaded case of ‘Bowler Blues’ is set to visit Manhattan today for 111 yards and 2 TDs against Wofford. The bottom line: as hard as it (see page 3) following the sans-Collin Klein Wildcats’ season-opening may be to do, a take is in order once again today. 24-21 loss to reigning FCS champ North Dakota State. Things take a defi nite turn toward the bayou when we see Kansas State has failed Bowling Green over KENT ST by 3 to cash a ticket in four straight meetings with Sun Belt adversaries, and The high-fl ying Falcons looked in to be in midseason form against that Lafayette has gone 3-0 ATS in the last three series meetings. The Tulsa last week, throttling the 35-PPG Hurricane offense en route to a Cajuns keep the gumbo boiling with a 6-1-1 ATS effort when playing a surprisingly easy 34-7 win. This Saturday, however, BGSU will be forced to second consecutive road game and, despite losing last week to the Hogs, leave the nest behind and journey to the distant land of Kent – and take Lafayette still owns a jaw-dropping 14-2 ATS record in its last 16 tries as on a team that’s recently gone 4-0 ATS in the series and posted a sweet an underdog. Don’t get us wrong; we don’t think the Wildcats played 6-1 ATS mark as a dog to the BeeGees. With former HC Darrell Hazell now poorly at all in losing to a very competitive North Dakota State team. But at Purdue, Paul Haynes took over for the Golden Flashes in last week’s until Snyder gets things ironed out, we’ll continue to fade this suspect deceptive 17-10 season-opening win over Liberty (KSU dominated the favorite, one whose defense has surrendered over 400 YPG combined the stats but kept Libery in the game with 4 turnovers). He inherits a program last three seasons – despite winning 28 games in the process. KSU grinds that has a fi rm grip on their MAC neighborhood, going 12-2 SU and out a SU win while the Cajuns make off with the cash. 11-2-1 ATS in the last 14 conference games. Yes, Bowling Green will be looking to avenge last season’s bitter 31-24 home loss to the Flashes but Notre Dame over MICHIGAN by 3 Kent quickly counters with a perfect 5-0 ATS effort as a dog taking on an One of the most cherished dog series in all of college football – would you opponent seeking revenge. If you’re still undecided, we’ll make it easier: believe 21-4 ATS the last 25 tilts – plays out again tonight at the Big House Kent State has gone 9-0 SU in its last nine home games. That stat – and in Ann Arbor. Both teams opened with wins last week. The Irish pretty last week’s disparate results – make the points too tempting to pass up. much underachieved as expected but still took care of Temple by 22 points. The Wolverines, however, played like someone from the Central 3 BEST BET Michigan sidelines had poisoned Brady Hoke’s dog just a few hours before game time, failing to ease up until the start of the 4th quarter (led TENNESSEE over Western Kentucky by 3 56-6). Michigan dropped a heartbreaker at South Bend last year, losing How bad did new WKU head coach Bobby Petrino want last week’s 13-6 after committing six costly turnovers… so the worldwide interweb Kentucky game? Considering that Petrino made overtures to will be abuzz this week with talk of ‘Michigan revenge.’ One thing you Lexington following the dismissal of Joker Phillips and was shunned probably won’t read, though, is that the Wolverines seldom make it out in favor of eventual hire Mark Stoops, he made sure his new team of the den when looking for revenge on their home fi eld, recording a 1-8 knew exactly how bad! Though his character can certainly be called ATS failure. The tale of the coaching tape tells us that Michigan’s Hoke into question, there’s no doubt Petrino knows how to coach. The chokes against undeated opposition, winning outright in just 5 of 16 such Boss Man had his Hilltoppers primed for Kentucky and they came up games. Much better numbers for Notre Dame’s Brian Kelly: he’s 23-11-2 big in a 35-26 win, taking an early 14-3 lead and never giving it back. ATS as a dog, including 12-6 SU and 13-4-1 ATS when taking 6.5 or less While Petrino has primarily rewarded backers at home (33-11-1 ATS) points. We don’t believe in leprechauns but those are some pot-of-gold throughout his career, he also owns a 23-15 SU and 25-13 ATS record numbers there! Do we hear a 22-4? Going once, going twice… against the SEC that must be respected here – especially with his Toppers team seems to force nearly every superior opponent down OREGON ST over Hawaii by 23 to its level. The Vols kicked off the Butch Jones era in Knoxville with The last of our ‘Bowler Blues’ from the SMART BOX – and perhaps the a workmanlike 42-0 execution of outmanned Austin Peay but take bluest team of all. A moment of silence for the Oregon State Beavers, the fi eld here weighed down by a 1-9 ATS record against non- who became the fi rst ever ranked team to fall in a season opener to a conference foes when both teams come in off a SU win. Call it a FCS foe when they fell to hated Eastern Washington, 49-46, at -5000 hunch but we feel Butchie Boy may likely be more concerned about on the moneyline (Eagles scored the go-ahead TD with just 18 seconds next week’s visit to Oregon than today’s social call from Petrino remaining). As for Norm Chow’s Rainbow Warriors, they played just well and company. And if WKU plays with even half the focus they enough to make USC look marginally bad but the Trojans fi nally pulled demonstrated last Saturday against Kentucky, they can hang within away to a 30-13 win-no cover. The Islanders have played well in today’s the infl ated double-digit spread. Another solid take. The Clincher: role, going 5-1 ATS versus the Pac-10/12 and notching a 8-3 ATS log in See our INCREDIBLE STAT OF THE WEEK on page 3. road openers against non-co1nference foes. Despite those numbers, we (continued on next page)

1.800.PLAYBOOK • www.PLAYBOOK.com • page 9 we’re not about order up skins any time soon. Yes, it’s a big number but there’s really only one way to look here. UTEP over New Mexico by 1 Another newbie head coach playing at home for the fi rst time. Sean Kugler now roams the UTEP sidelines in place of 9-year veteran Mike Price but he’s probably unaware that 1st-year coaches bring a sour 97-130-2 ATS mark in home openers entering this year since 1990. Regardless, Kugler’s Sun Bowl debut fi nds himself directing a team that’s been quite the bully in this series at home, grabbing the green in 8 of the last 10 meetings with the Lobos. As we called for in last issue’s UPSET GAME OF THE WEEK, the Lobos choked as chalk in their home opener versus UTSA, falling 21-13 as 3.5-point favorites. But an attention-grabbing 5-0 ATS mark as underdogs off a SU favorite loss tells us a pointspread role change is just what the Lobos need right now. UNM head coach Bob Davie knows exactly which buttons to push when he sees a 1st-year staff standing across the fi eld. Hey, if all this is not enough to convince you to quit mining this week, consider this nugget from our celebrated database: UTEP is a horrifi c 3-24 ATS as a favorite of less than 13 points! Where do we sign? USC over Washington St by 8 Is it us or does Southern Cal HC Lane Kiffi n appear to have a regular ‘deer in the headlights’ look about him? We’ve always had a suspicion that Monte’s boy was in over his head at USC, compiling a 25-13 W-L record before the start of the current season that pales in comparison to former boss ’s 87-19 ledger (oh, wait a minute… we guess that means Kiffi n isn’t cheating, right?). Sure, the Beach Boys look good with their Hawaiian Tropic tans but this ain’t no beauty contest. Translation: the Trojans had better start playing with some urgency or AD will won’t try very hard to sell you Hawaii – we just happen to think that have no choice but to lower the boom on Kiffi n. Regardless of how such OSU will still be shell-shocked for most of this contest. The cherry on top behind-the-scenes intrigue unfolds, USC has had its way with the Cougars comes in the form of this little beauty: the Beavers are just 2-3 SU and 0-5 lately, covering 6 of the last 8 meetings. But the Men of Troy have also lost ATS as chalk off a loss versus a non-conference opponent that is also off the dough in three straight home openers, plus they’re a measly 1-4 ATS a loss. Mike Riley’s rodents have won only 3 of their last 8 games on the after battling Hawaii. WSU’s Mike Leach has two things going in his favor scoreboard and shouldn’t be laying this many points. Still, we think it’s here: he’s on a personal ‘mission’ in 2013 after suffering his fi rst-ever only prudent that you attach a clothespin fi rmly to your nose, say three losing season as a head coach last year and he’s proven to be dependable ‘Mahalos’ and hang on until it’s over. when showing up as either (a) an underdog or (b) off a SU loss. With both factors working in his favor here, we look for Wazzu to improve to 6-1 Minnesota over NEW MEXICO ST by 21 ATS as Pac-12 pups of 15 or more points. A look inside last week’s stats We’re going to be among the fi rst to declare the Gophers will be ATS confi rms that notion: WSU dominated Auburn in a 7-point road loss (28- golden (sorry about that) this year. As we alluded to in last week’s 16 edge in fi rst downs) while USC struggled on third down (3-of-14) and PLAYBOOK, head coach Jerry Kill’s troops were 11-3 SU and 10-2-1 ATS in committed three tunrovers against an inferior opponent. No doubt about his third year at Northern Illinois. Granted, a 28-point opening-week home it – the Trojans have gone limp against the spread, cashing in just THREE win over lowly UNLV ain’t much – particulary since it was of the ‘inside- of their last 14 games. Again. out’ variety (Gophers lost the stats by 99 yards) – but our compelling new coach/fi rst home game study tells us we can overlook such things Arizona over UNLV by 6 today. Speaking of inside-out, how about those Aggies? The 43-point After last week’s SUATS failure versus Minnesota, Rebels HC Bobby Hauck underdogs actually led Texas 7-0 early and briefl y entertained visions continues to own the best home-road dichotomy in all of college football: of a monumental upset – before Bevo’s boys dropped 56 unanswered 6-12 SU and 13-3 ATS home; 0-21 SU and 3-17-1 ATS away. Thus, we points on NMSU’s head to win the game AND the cash! New head coach have no choice but to open up the wallet in behalf of the Sin City boys Doug Martin, stepping in because his predecessor managed only 10 wins now that they’re back at Sam Boyd Stadium. The Rebs have held their own in four seasons at Las Cruces, must recover from a head-on collision with recently against the Pac-12, covering 3 of the last 4 meetings, and they reality to make his debut before the hometown faithful. As if he doesn’t actually outgained Minnesota, 420-321, in last week’s 28-point season- have enough problems, Martin falls prey to this wicked fade role: new opening loss to the Gophers. Meanwhile, Arizona HC Rich Rodriguez coaches are 97-130-2 ATS in initial home games entering this year since has an opportunity to halt the terrible pointspread slide he’s endured 1990, includng 8-27 ATS when the foe is off a SUATS win. Cast into the void as an ‘Independent’ along with lowly Idaho, the unwanted Aggies may make things interesting for a quarter or two, then Minny’s superior depth will prevail. Lay it. WYOMING over Idaho by 31 And right on cue, here come the punchless Vandals. Idaho’s sports media spent most of the offseason weaving warm and fuzzy tales of new head coach Paul Petrino’s ‘return’ to Moscow this campaign (he was an assistant there from 1992-94). Well, the honeymoon is offi cially over after the Spuds were peeled and diced by an unproven North Texas team, 40-6, a result that resulted in Petrino losing his prophet’s license after saying in spring practice, “We want to score points, win a whole bunch of games, and go to bowls.” With Petrino’s credibility now on par with a Magic 8-Ball, we should be very concerned that Idaho has dropped 10 straight games on the road by an average losing margin of 39.3 PPG. Meanwhile, in this year’s PLAYBOOK Football Preview Guide magazine we alluded to the fact that this would likely be a breakout year for Cowboy QB Brett Smith… and after leading Wyoming to over 600 yards in a 3-point loss at Nebraska last week, we’re not about to budge from our contention – even if the Pokes are just 1-5 ATS as favorites of more than 10 points. With STARTS THURSDAY, SEPT 5! Idaho getting ripped for 42 PPG in 2012 and starting ’13 in similar fashion, page 10 • www.PLAYBOOK.com • 1.800.PLAYBOOK since leaving West Virginia, a 14-32-1 ATS disaster in three seasons with Michigan and one year in Tucson. It doesn’t bode well for Rich Rod that Documented 10-2 ATS The Last 12 Years! favorites playing their road opener in Glitter Gulch are 0-4 ATS since 2007, Last Yr: Arizona (+2.5) 20, Seattle 16 – WINNER! or that the last 10 teams that took this fi eld laying points managed only a pitiful 2-8 ATS effort. Can’t really depend on a Zona ‘D’ that gave up just Marc Lawrence's shy of 500 yards a game in 2012, especially when a peek into last week’s 35-0 shutout of Northern Arizona reveals that NAU controlled the ball NFL OPENING WEEK for an astonishing 40 minutes against the Wildcats. If UNLV’s offense can put together just an average outing, they’ll be able to hang within this PLAY OF THE YEAR! double-digit spread. Goes Sunday, September 8 STANFORD over San Jose St by 20 We’ll close out this weekend’s card by walking one more dog. And though 1.888.611.4444 it may seem like a stretch when you look at the number of preseason $50 GUARANTEED CALL W/ MAJOR CREDIT CARD pundits calling for Stanford to reach the ‘fi nal’ BCS Championship game in January, we think the Spartans could be trouble tonight. SJSU actually www.PLAYBOOK.com outyarded the brain chain in last year’s 20-17 season-opening loss on this fi eld but instead of hitting the skids like they usually did in past $50 PAY AFTER YOU WIN ONLINE campaigns, the do-you-know-the-way boys proceeded to win 11 of their next 12 games! The architect of that feat, HC Mike MacIntyre, now 1.800.321.7777 resides in Boulder, Colorado, but new head man Ron Caragher’s 24-0 FREE WITH $99 WEEKEND OF WINNERS whitewash of Sacramento State in his San Jose debut tells us the pieces are still in place for another run at the record books. It certainly won’t be easy: Stanford has had a death grip of this series recently, going 8-2 ATS – or 2nd high – yardage in 12 games the past two seasons. Talk about the last 10 games and posting a near-perfect 7-1 ATS mark at Palo Alto. the lesser of two evils. When they play for keeps, however, veteran Bill David Shaw’s Cardinal team also owns an intimidating 7-1 ATS record Belichick and the Pats have dominated the Bills in this series (19-1 SU last against non-conference revengers, which sets them up nicely against a twenty games, including 9-1 ATS last ten here) and are the likely winner team with which they’re quite familiar. Even so, Jose’s stellar 11-1 ATS here again today. Laying this boatload of points is another matter. dog steak over the past two seasons is something we just can’t buck. It may require an infusion of courage on your part but we suggest you take it if you play it. PITTSBURGH over Tennessee by 3 The Steelers’ 8-8 fi nish last year, despite owning ’s top-ranked defense, could be attributed in part to the 3-point loss they suffered in Tennessee as 5.5-point favorites in Week Five of the campaign. The loss PRO FOOTBALL snapped a three-game series win streak by Pittsburgh, a game in which they outgained the Titans. They open as touchdown chalk today knowing they are just 1-11 ATS as favorites in games before battling the Bengals. Thursday, September 5 In addition, they laid a goose egg in the preseason, which is never a good DENVER over Baltimore by 6 omen for teams debuting in a season opener, as these teams are just 8-20-1 Here we go again. The kickoff of the 2013 season rematches last season’s ATS since 1983. Enter the re-tooled Titans, a team that spent a ton of money AFC Division playoff bout, a game in which the Ravens stunned the refortifying an offensive line in hopes of a breakout effort from QB Jake heavily favored Broncos, 38-35 in double overtime, on this fi eld in a Locker and a return to stardom for RB Chris Johnson. Tennessee’s 4-0 ATS game that seemed like it was destined to never end. It was setup when mark in the fi rst of back-to-back travelers works well, as does its 8-2 ATS Baltimore QB hit with a 70-yard strike with dog log of 4 or more points against avenging foes. Remember the Titans. 31-seconds remaining in regulation. The Flacco fl ing forced OT and the rest is history, culminating in a Super Bowl win by the Ravens. It was a 3 BEST BET football game that, according to Baltimore head coach , “did football proud.” It also set the table for this lid-lifter. As a result, NEW ORLEANS over Atlanta by 13 revenge will be fi rst and foremost on the minds of QB It’s our contention the Saints are a ‘Frankenstein in the making’ and his teammates. The question that begs to be answered is – at what this season. Sure, they allowed an NFL-record 7,042 yards last year price? In a tale of the tape, perhaps herein lie some of the answers. The en route to missing the postseason for the fi rst time since 2008. last thirteen defending Super Bowl cham2pions are 12-1 SU and 8-3-2 The circumstances surrounding their wrongdoings were mitigating, ATS in season openers, while the Ravens stand 7-3 SU and 8-2 ATS in this though, to say the least. Strapped with suspensions for head coach series this century. Furthermore, defending champs are 11-2 ATS as dogs and a handful of players resulting from the NFL’s of more than 5 points since 1996, including 6-0 ATS the last six (yes, pride fi ndings in its self-governed ‘Bounty-gate’ case, New Orleans was does play a big factor). On the quarterback front, Manning is 9-3 SU and left with little incentive while quickly becoming of shell of its 8-4 ATS against the Black Birds. He was riding a 8-0 SUATS win skein in former self. But like a re-run of Arnold Schwarzenegger movies, Raven rumbles until the playoff faux pas. Manning is also 10-4 SU and 8-5- “they’re back” – they’re mad as hell – and somebody’s going to 1 ATS in season openers, and 3-1 SUATS in head-to-head contests against pay! It all starts today when division rival Atlanta arrives, fresh off Flacco. Super Bowl Joe enters 5-0 SUATS in his career in season-opening its inglorious 0-4 effort during the exhibition season. Aside from frays and 3-1 SUATS against the Broncos. Flacco is also 2-0 SUATS as a dog the fact that 0-4 preseason teams struggle in season openers (8- of 8 or more points, with both victories coming in last year’s playoffs. The 20-1 ATS), the Black Birds have dropped 8 of their last 10 visits to bottom line is this… when push comes to shove, quality teams taking the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The loss of OG and C more than a touchdown are an automatic. Denver gets its win. We ring Todd McClure during the offseason, coupled with the Saints’ hiring the register. Cha-ching! of new DC , suddenly swings the advantage back to the boys from Bourbon Street. Let the good times roll! The Clincher: Sunday, September 8 Payton is 5-1 SU and 4-1-1 ATS in home openers. New England over BUFFALO by 8 Hard to make a case for a home dog on opening day with a rookie coach and a rookie starting quarterback that did not project to be under center when he signed with the team out of college. That would be that case for as he opts to use either dinged-up E.J. Manuel, the Bills top pick in this year’s , or , an undrafted unsung free agent out of Washington State with little to no work on his resume. Either way, the Buffalo QB situation is tenuous at best. On the other side of the ball, the Patriots are a shell of their former self with a dearth at the position and a wobbly defense that has allowed season high

1.800.PLAYBOOK • www.PLAYBOOK.com • page 11 NY JETS over Tampa Bay by 1 Miami over CLEVELAND by 3 The second invasion of starting rookie may be taking place A huge matchup of two teams that appear improved, on paper at least, in the Big Apple where Geno Smith appears to have ‘won out’ over Mark with the winner living up to its preseason hype while the loser likely licks Sanchez. Truth is Smith’s selection is more by default than raising the arm its wounds and crawls back into hiding. After scoring more than 20 points of a victor as both signal callers underwhelmed during the preseason, in only six games over two seasons, the Browns saw all they wanted to with Smith tossing 3 picks and 1 TD for a 54.6 , while Sanchez see from and sent him packing in favor of , had as many interceptions (2) as TD passes. Wait a minute… didn’t Matt whose fi rst move was to hire former Chargers head coach as Simms complete 44 of 59 tosses for a QB rating of 103.1? Is anybody home his new OC. Chud also bring fi ery DC over from Arizona as the in the Jets’ front offi ce? As a result of the preseason panic and the Jets’ makeover continues. The best news is the Browns will take on the easiest season-ending woes last year (3-7 SUATS fi nal ten games), they open 2013 non-division strength-of-schedule this campaign, with foes going 72-93 as home dogs to the Buccaneers. That, itself, speaks volumes of where the (.436) in 2012. Meanwhile, Miami spent money like Obama (only in this Flyboys are likely headed this season. Tampa’s new-look outfi t checks in case it was money owner Stephen Ross actually had), dotting the roster at 1-5-1 ATS In season openers and 2-7-1 ATS as a favorite of 3 or more with plenty of expensive free agents. The Fish are most fi red-up over an points in AFC clashes, while the Jets have fl own off with the cash (and expected step-forward from QB , who “works like he hasn’t the victory) in each of the last seven meetings in this series. Until the Bucs made it yet,” says teammates. Miami’s continuity and Cleveland’s 1-13 SU improve on a 3-13 SU mark away from Tampa, we’ll apply the clothespin mark in season openers, and new NFL head coaches’ 20-37 SU mark in and perform the perfunctory dog call. season openers behind teams that owned a losing record the previous year, ensures that money, can indeed, buy happiness… at least for the Fish today. JACKSONVILLE over Kansas City by 3 Andy’s ‘coming out’ party – as Kansas City’s new head coach, that is (he’s 5 BEST BET married) – fi nds his new-look Chiefs debuting in Jacksonville. Today marks only the 4th time KC dresses up as a road favorite since the 2006 season, CAROLINA over Seattle by 10 a role in which the Chiefs are 6-11 ATS the last 17 appearances. It ties OMG. We can hear the sighs now and it’s not even Sunday. Stepping in with Kansas City’s 1-6 SU mark in road season openers the past seven right in front of America’s new team – the Dally Cowboys… years. That’s in direct contrast to the Jaguars’ 7-2 SU and 8-1 ATS mark at fuggetaboudit – the Seahawks appear to have picked up where they home in lid-lifters. Adding to Reid’s dilemma is the fact that 2-or-fewer- left off last year, going 4-0 SUATS in the preseason. The problem win teams are just 2-11 SU when debuting on the road the following is super-surprise rookie QB is now a sophomore, season. The Jaguars hired in hopes of shoring up a defense meaning the league has fi lm that has been studied throughout the that went south 67 YPG last season. They are also hoping that new OC off-season (that’s why it’s called ‘sophomore blues’). Carolina’s Cam , along with fi rst round pick , can plow open Newton suffered through the same thing last year before coming lanes for a healthy Maurice Jones-Drew. The good news is, after being alive down the stretch of the campaign, winning fi ve of six games outgained in 11 of its fi rst 12 games last season, Jacksonville refused to while averaging 397 YPG to conclude the season, keying a 4-0 SUATS toss in the towel as they went on to win the stats in three of the fi nal fi nish. Newton found himself in an identical role last season when he four games. That and the fact that new NFL head coaches are just 2-10 SU opened his 2nd year with the Panthers as a 3-point road favorite, only and 3-9 ATS in season openers since 2000 with teams that won 2 or fewer to lose the whole game, 16-10, at Tampa Bay. At least Carolina didn’t games the previous year. Sorry, Andy, but with a not-so-dandy 24-34 ATS have to overcome a West Coast / East Coast bias which is exactly career mark against the AFC, including 5-7 SU and 3-9 ATS versus the AFC what Wilson and company will be staring at today. With arguably South, this debut is not at all what you were hoping for. a bigger game on deck (San Francisco), look for fans in Seattle to BEST BET remain sleepless this Sunday. The Clincher: Seattle head coach 4 Pete Carroll is 5-9 SU and 2-11-1 ATS as an NFL road favorite Cincinnati over CHICAGO by 8 versus an opponent that won 8 or fewer games last season. Like a bad case of the fl u, a dreaded case of Sophomore Blues attacked Bengals QB early on last season. To his credit, DETROIT over Minnesota by 8 he shook it off in time to lead his charges back to the postseason It’s our feeling the Lions will exceed season win-total expectations by the for a 2nd straight year when Cincinnati turned a 3-5 start into a 7-1 oddsmaker, and the Vikings will far short. Together, they form a nice play fi nish in 2012. And now the addition of LB James Harrison in this Week One matchup with Detroit looking to avenge a pair of series is like the icing on the cake for this team. The thought of making losses last year. Granted, history has been on the Vikes’ side in this fray, back-to-back playoff appearances for the fi rst time since 1982 – and with Minny sporting an 11-3-2 ATS mark the last sixteen meetings. But fi rst back-to-back winning seasons in a non-strike year since 1976 this will be a season of payback for the Motor City men, who were swept – has these Cats licking their paws. First off, they take to Soldier in all six division contests in 2012. Remember: the 4-win Lions outgained Field like peanut butter to chocolate, going 3-1 SU and 4-0 ATS. 12 opponents last season. Minnesota, meanwhile, allowed 13 YPG more On top of that, Dalton loves performing on the highway where he than they gained on the season in last year’s run to the playoffs. Detroit stands 9-3 SU and 9-2-1 ATS in non-division frays in this NFL career. improves on its 7-3 ATS mark in season openers, including 4-1 ATS home, Meanwhile, HC makes his Windy City debut bringing while the Vikings dip to 2-9 SUATS in road-opening division duels. The a new playbook and added protection for QB . But until Lion roars tonight. Cutler learns to do a better job laying points at home in non-division scrapes (6-18 ATS, including 12 SU losses), we’ll side with the big red- NOTE: Home team is shown in ALL CAPS. PLAYBOOK head over the big dead-head. The Clincher: The Bears are 2-9 SU selection is Underlined and Bold. Should we pass or not have a and 1-9-1 ATS in games before facing the Vikings. strong opinion on a game, neither team will be bolded.

page 12 • www.PLAYBOOK.com • 1.800.PLAYBOOK INDIANAPOLIS over Oakland by 6 Don’t be surprised to see Colts QB fall prey to a bad case of the sophomore blues, much like his ballyhooed cast of cohorts, this season. As spectacular a job as Luck managed last year, turning the Colts from a 2-win also-ran into an 11-win surprise, Indy won a good many of its games with smoke, mirrors and emotion. That’s confi rmed by the fact they allowed 12 YPG more than they gained on the season. What the Colts failed to do last season was win its opening game when they lost for the 5th time in a row – to the spread – as a double-digit dog. Today they fi nd themselves a touchdown favorite for the fi rst time since Peyton Manning skipped town to a team that’s given them fi ts in the past (3-4 SU and 2-5 ATS). Granted, the Raiders aren’t much and they have problems of their own, but at this price it’s like an ice cream truck offering a free cone. You gotta taste it.

ST. LOUIS over Arizona by 1 Rams caught the NFC West by surprise last year with a 4-1-1 SU winning record. It was better than San Francisco’s and better than Seattle’s. Unfortunately, all it got them was a nice pat on the back and a ‘job well done’ as they missed out on the playoffs for an eighth straight season. St. Louis’ reward is laying points, a role in which they’ve stumbled hard of late (0-5 SUATS the last fi ve). The Rams are also just 4-9 SU and 2-10- 1 ATS in season openers since 2000. On the other side of the coin, the Cardinals enter 5-1 ATS in lid-lifters and, like St. Louis with last season, are excited at the prospects of having on the sidelines in 2013. The Redbirds produced a Top 5-ranked scoring defense this preseason and suffered a 31-17 home loss to Fisher’s boys last year despite outgaining the Rams in the game. A payback looks in order today. Green Bay over SAN FRANCISCO by 3 Like the Broncos/Ravens game Thursday, this is another postseason ATS in division games, look for the G-Men to move to 9-0-1 ATS in their revenge rematch from last year’s playoffs with the visiting Packers out last ten underdog roles here tonight. Because, as Nero once sang, “Sack to avenge a 45-31 defeat suffered during the Divisional Round in this of Ilium”. park. When it comes to backing live dogs, Rule Number One is to use a winning team with a good quarterback. Check. Rule Two: make sure Monday, September 9 the team has a motive to play. Check. And Rule Three: make sure the dog is valued. Check. Hence, this becomes a three-check call on Aaron Philadelphia over WASHINGTON by 3 Rodgers and company when they face and the Niners The Chip Kelly show debuts under the Monday light lights when the at . Granted, going up against these days Eagles travel to the nation’s capitol to face the Redskins. One of the is like getting a root canal, but with enough medication, we can endure reasons we’ll be watching Kelly on the sidelines as opposed to almost anything. The meds come compliments of Dr. Rodgers who is 4-1 is the fact that Washington fl atted Philly twice last season. Hence, this is SUATS in season openers and 4-1 ATS as a dog of more than 3 points in his the fi rst of many a payback by the Green Birds tonight. Lending a hand NFL career. Frisco’s 4-14 SU and 4-12-2 ATS mark in this series is the salve from Marc’s HEARTACHE TONIGHT article on page 2 is the fact favorites that closes the wound. Check, check and re-check. in the fi rst week of the season have struggled mightily on Monday nights, going just 20-22 SU and 14-28 ATS. Meld in the highly anticipated return NY Giants over DALLAS by 3 of Redskins QB Robert Griffi n III and the excitement level for this contest If ever a game played according to script, this would be your classic is sky-high. Philadelphia’s 15-6 ATS mark in Monday night division battles, division duel, according to Hoyle. That’s because our powerful database along with Washington’s 0-5 SUATS record in its fi ve tries as a Monday reports that Dallas QB has burned more people in division night favorite, makes this Eagles’ tune to our ears. games (10-25 ATS career) than the great fi re of Rome. And as a division host, Romo is a charring 3-15 ATS. On the fl ip side his counterpart, Eli SAN DIEGO over Houston by 1 Manning, enters with a sparking 40-30 SU and 42-26-2 ATS mark on the The second half of the annual opening week Monday Night football NFL road, including 11-5-2 ATS when taking points from a division foe. twinbill fi nds two AFC teams going in opposite directions of late. The Given Dallas’ dastardly 3-16 ATS mark as home chalk of late, including 0-8 Texans enter with 24 wins under their belt the past two season while the once-powerful Chargers have short-circuited with only 24 victories – and no playoff appearances – the last three years. Thus, the San Diego Hot! Hot! Hot! Marc banged the books, going 6-1 this NFL preseason, and hiring of Mike McCoy, Denver’s offensive coordinator. He brings in Ken followed that up with a perfect 3-0 start in College Football last weekend! Whisenhunt as his new OC as together they look to resurrect the career of former Pro Bowl QB . The Chargers love knowing they are 4-1 ATS as Monday night home dogs while the Texans throw up at the Marc Lawrence’s $99 LATE thought that they have never beaten the Chargers, going 0-4 SUATS all- time in this series. With Houston’s expectations never higher, and Marc’s PHONE FOOTBALL WEEKEND! BETCHA DIDN’T KNOW article calling for a little HEARTACHE TONIGHT, Yes, you’ll get ALL of Marc’s award-winning you know the name of this well-played tune. PREFERRED PICKS Late Phone Football Service releases this weekend, including his famous NFL OPENING WEEK GAME OF THE YEAR, all for just $99 complete! Don’t miss a single selection – win with a DOCUMENTED CHAMPION this OFF SHORE GAMING ASSOCIATION weekend at a price you can afford. To register, We’re The Off Shore Information Leader! log on at www.PLAYBOOK.com or just call our Customer Service Department today. All major Providing Security & Integrity Since 1998. credit cards are accepted for instant service! FIND OUT MORE TODAY! 1.800.321.7777 www.OSGA.com

1.800.PLAYBOOK • www.PLAYBOOK.com • page 13 THE BEST KEPT SECRET IN FOOTBALL

Marc Lawrence’s ECONOMY CLUB Football Service! 172 Wins - 132 Losses

Marc Lawrence’s ECONOMY CLUB Football Service was a solid profi t maker once again last season, and is now an extremely profi table 172-132 the last four seasons. With winning seasons in 22 of the last 27 years, Marc’s ECONOMY CLUB is absolutely the best bang for your buck. For an even bigger bang, fi nd out how you can score the 2013 PLAYBOOK Football Newsletter thru the Super Bowl for only $50 when you call! WHAT DO I GET? You get games that Marc has under strong consideration for his award-winning PREFERRED PICKS Late Phone Executive Service. Some plays make the Late Phone Service, some don’t. But the fact is each of these plays are top-priority selections, all backed with strong handicaps from Marc’s powerful database. HOW MUCH DOES IT COST? Do the math. 17 weeks of early week football service – including College and NFL selections – for only $199 complete. That’s less than $12 per week! Best of all, add a full-season subscription to the 2013 PLAYBOOK Football Newsletter for only $50 extra – get them both for $249 complete! WHEN DO I CALL? You call Toll Free every THURSDAY after 1:00 PM ET from the start of the NFL thru the end of NFL regular season play. ALL NEW Or you can access the same plays via the internet. LOW-COST PRICE HOW DO I SIGN UP? Simple. Call Marc’s friendly Customer Service Department FOR 2013 FOOTBALL today at 1.800.321.7777 or log on to sign up online at SEASON – SAVE $50 www.PLAYBOOK.com. All major credit cards accepted for IF YOU BUY BEFORE instant service. Don’t miss out! AUGUST 1ST! 1.800.321.7777 Now in its 29th year, the WISE GUYS CONTEST is a $10,000 winners-take- all handicapping event sponsored by PLAYBOOK.com. NEW THIS YEAR: WISE GUYS CONTEST All plays are graded against the lines posted after 1:00 PM Mondays on the WISE GUYS CONTEST page at PLAYBOOK.com. Each week below we'll A $10,000 Contest Sponsored by PLAYBOOK.com post Single Plays from the Top 20 point-earners. Following the play is their overall Win-Loss record / record / Total Points earned to date.

Below are 20 of the Top Contestants from the 2012 Wise Guys – One Point Single Plays Listed Billy Coleman Richard Witt Arkansas St (+13) 0-0 / 0-0 / 0 pts SAINTS (-3) 0-0 / 0-0 / 0 pts BillyColemanSports.net Playbook.com Doc’s Sports Robbie Gainous Michigan (-3.5) 0-0 / 0-0 / 0 pts Indiana (-13) 0-0 / 0-0 / 0 pts DocSports.com CajunSportsWire.com Jim Feist Rocketman Illinois (+7.5) 0-0 / 0-0 / 0 pts Ball State (-7) 0-0 / 0-0 / 0 pts JimFeist.tv RocketmanSports.net Joe Nelson Ross Benjamin TITANS (+7) 0-0 / 0-0 / 0 pts HOU/SD Under 44 0-0 / 0-0 / 0 pts NellySports.com RossBenjaminSports.com Ken Thomson Sammy Jankus TEXANS (-3.5) 0-0 / 0-0 / 0 pts S Florida (+23.5) 0-0 / 0-0 / 0 pts SportsXRadio.com Playbook.com King Creole Southern Comfort SEA/CAR Under 45 0-0 / 0-0 / 0 pts TITANS (+7) 0-0 / 0-0 / 0 pts Playbook.com Playbook.com Marc Lawrence Stan Lisowski Miami Fla (+3) 0-0 / 0-0 / 0 pts TITANS (+7) 0-0 / 0-0 / 0 pts Playbook.com Playbook.com Matty B Sports Steve Merril Oklahoma (-20.5) 0-0 / 0-0 / 0 pts S Carolina (+3) 0-0 / 0-0 / 0 pts ProSportsInfo.com ProSportsInfo.com Mike Muzyka Stormin Norman BROWNS (Pk) 0-0 / 0-0 / 0 pts Arkansas St (+13) 0-0 / 0-0 / 0 pts MJMSportsline.com FreeSportsInfo.com Norm Hitzges Oklahoma (-20.5) 0-0 / 0-0 / 0 pts Tom Freese New Mexico (+6.5) 0-0 / 0-0 / 0 pts Normsclubhouse.com Playbook.com To view the entire Wise Guys standings, including Triple, Double and Single plays, visit www.PLAYBOOK.com and cash in this weekend for only $12! THE 2-MINUTE HANDICAP: O/U STYLE LAST SEASON’s record: 11-6 ATS (65%)... This week’s fi rst 8 games of the NFL schedule are listed below. As always, the AN 'OVER / UNDER' number listed fi rst is the ‘OVER’ and the number listed second is the ‘UNDER’. The ENTIRE 2-minute Handicap (all 16 gms) REPORT ON THIS along with this week’s 3 NFL O/U BEST BETS will appear in the 2012 "TOTALS TIPSHEET” by Victor King – the defi nitive WEEK'S NFL CARD weekly OU newsletter. A single issue is only $8.00 (or $99.00 for the season). Sent via email on Tuesday s. Call the BY VICTOR KING PLAYBOOK offi ces to get on the 2013 “Totals Train”! …*This week’s TREND play: Dolphins @ Browns ’UNDER’ the TOTAL. – WEEK ONE GAME MATCHUPS KEY OVER/UNDER STATS Baltimore 4-0-1 O/U A bef BB HG... 3-0 O/U vs Den (57.3)... 6-1 O/U dogs 6 > pts... but 1-3 O/U Thursdays... 3-11 O/U A vs AFC West DENVER 6-0 O/U vs AFC North... 4-0 O/U as non-div favs 7 > pts... 4-1-1 O/U in 1st Home Game... but 1-5 O/U on Thursdays New England 7-1 O/U in 1st of BB div gms... 5-1 O/U L6 vs Buf (64.6)... 8-2 O/U div RF’s 7 > pts... but 1-5 O/U away bef BB HG BUFFALO 4-1 O/U Game 1... 7-2 O/U w/ line 48 > pts... 6-3 O/U in 1st of BB HG... but 1-4 O/U as HD’s 6 > pts Tennessee 4-0-1 O/U vs AFC North... 4-1 O/U bef Hou... 9-3 O/U non-div dogs 6 > pts... 6-2 O/U 1st of BB RG... but 1-5 O/U Game 1 PITTSBURGH 9-2 O/U Game 1... 7-2 O/U H vs AFC South... 8-3 O/U L11 vs Ten (45.8)... but 0-8 O/U bef Mon Gm... 0-4 O/U in 1st HG Atlanta 4-1 O/U as div dogs 4 < pts... 3-1 O/U bef Stl... 3-1 O/U 1st div gm... 7-3 O/U A w/ line 49 > pts... but 3-6 O/U Game 1 NEW ORLEANS 5-0 O/U L6 H vs Atl (57.2)... 4-0 O/U bef TBay... 7-1 O/U div favs 4 < pts... 4-1 O/U Game 1... but 1-7 O/U w/ div revenge Tampa Bay 7-1 O/U L8 as RF’s... 6-1 O/U w/ line 40 < pts... 7-2 O/U away vs AFC... but 1-5 O/U L6 vs NYJ (30.5)... 3-7 O/U Game 1 NY JETS 2-0 O/U Game 1... 4-1 O/U bef Thur gm... 3-1 O/U bef NEng... but 1-5 O/U vs NFC South... 1-4 O/U as non-div HD’s Kansas City 7-1 O/U L8 as RF’s... 4-1 O/U vs AFC South... 3-1 O/U Game 1... 3-1-1 O/U bef Dal... 3-1 O/U L4 vs Jac (49.0) JACKSONVILLE 6-0 O/U vs AFC West... 5-1-1 O/U w/ line 41-43 pts... but 1-4 O/U Game 1... 1-4-1 O/U 1st HG... 3-9 O/U non-div HD’s 4 < Cincinnati 4-0 O/U 1st RG... 4-0-1 O/U bef Pit... 3-0 O/U Game 1... 5-1 O/U as RD’s vs NFC Conf... 5-2 O/U away bef BB HG CHICAGO 2-0 O/U Game 1... 12-2 O/U as non-div HF’s 4 < pts... 4-1 O/U bef Min... 3-1 O/U bef div HG... but 1-3 O/U L4 vs Cin Miami 0-5 O/U vs AFC North... 1-5 O/U Game 1... 1-5 O/U bef Indy... 2-7 O/U in 1st of BB RG... 1-4 O/U L5 vs Cle (33.4) CLEVELAND 0-4 O/U vs AFC East... 1-8 O/U bef Balt... 1-4 O/U as non-div fav/dog 2 < pts... 2-5 O/U H bef BB RG... 3-7 O/U Game 1

1.800.PLAYBOOK • www.PLAYBOOK.com • page 15 A REVIEW OF THE CURRENT THIS WEEK'S BEST BETS STAR-RATED BEST BET SELECTIONS FOR WEEK ENDING MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2013 3 BEST BET 4 BEST BET 5 BEST BET COLLEGE W KENTUCKY AIR FORCE INDIANA NFL SAINTS BENGALS PANTHERS UPSET GAME MIAMI FLA SUBSCRIBE TO PLAYBOOK TODAY: 1.800.752.9266

“Your purchase of the information in this publication is intended strictly for the private use of the subscriber and/or purchaser. The redistribution of any portion of this information, in any form, without the express written consent of Preferred Picks® (or Playbook® or Playbook.com®) is strictly prohibited and is subject to the laws of the jurisdictions involved.” 2013 COLLEGE & PRO FOOTBALL - SEPTEMBER 5-9

Listed next to the games below are two entries: OL is the Don Best opening line on the contest and PB is the PLAYBOOK margin on the game. You have a PLAYBOOK BEST BET whenever our predicted margin of victory is 7 or more points in favor of your line. Remember, opening lines are subject to change during the week so always check YOUR CURRENT LINE against the PLAYBOOK line to determine a play. All times listed are Eastern Standard Time • Games in Offi cial International Rotation sequence • Dates & times subject to change OL PB OL PB OL PB OL PB 325 SOUTH CAROLINA 1 355 E MICHIGAN 457 ATLANTA THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5 4:30 PM TIME CHANGE 12:00 PM TIME CHANGE 1:00 PM 326 GEORGIA ESPN 3 356 PENN ST BIG10 24’ 23 458 NEW ORLEANS 3 13 451 BALTIMORE 327 SAN DIEGO ST ABC 357 BUFFALO 459 TAMPA BAY 2’ 8:30 PM 3:30 PM 3:30 PM TIME CHANGE 1:00 PM 452 DENVER NFL 8’ 6 328 OHIO ST ESPN2 28’ 21 358 BAYLOR FOX1 27’ 21 460 NY JETS 1 301 FLA ATLANTIC 329 UTAH ST 7’ 359 BOWLING GREEN 8 3 461 KANSAS CITY 2’ 7:30 PM 3:30 PM 12:00 PM TIME CHANGE 1:00 PM 302 E CAROLINA FOX1 20’ 27 330 AIR FORCE CBSC 3 360 KENT ST 462 JACKSONVILLE 3 331 SOUTH ALABAMA 361 W KENTUCKY 463 CINCINNATI 8 FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 6 3:30 PM 12:20 PM TIME CHANGE 1:00 PM 332 TULANE 3’ 4 362 TENNESSEE 14 3 464 CHICAGO 3 303 WAKE FOREST 1 333 OREGON ABC 22’ 34 363 LA-LAFAYETTE 465 MIAMI 3 8:00 PM 3:30 PM 6:30 PM TIME CHANGE 1:00 PM 304 BOST COLL ESPN2 Pk 334 VIRGINIA ESPN2 364 KANSAS ST FOX1 7’ 6 466 CLEVELAND Pk 483 UCF CBSC 23 25 335 DUKE 5 3 365 NOTRE DAME 3 467 SEATTLE 3’ 8:00 PM 4:30 PM 8:00 PM 1:00 PM 484 FLORIDA INT’L 336 MEMPHIS 366 MICHIGAN ESPN 4 468 CAROLINA 10 337 SYRACUSE 367 HAWAII 469 MINNESOTA SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 7 6:00 PM 8:00 PM 1:00 PM 338 N’WESTERN BIG10 NL 8 368 OREGON ST PAC-12 25’ 23 470 DETROIT 3 8 305 FLORIDA 3 339 NAVY 369 MINNESOTA 15 21 471 OAKLAND 12:00 PM 6:00 PM 8:00 PM 1:00 PM 306 MIAMI FLA ESPN 6 340 INDIANA BIG10 14 24 370 NEW MEXICO ST 472 INDIANAPOLIS 6’ 6 307 MIAMI OHIO 341 SOUTHERN MISS 371 IDAHO 473 ARIZONA 12:00 PM 6:00 PM 4:00 PM TIME CHANGE 4:25 PM 308 KENTUCKY 16 21 342 NEBRASKA BIG10 31 21 372 WYOMING 24’ 31 474 ST. LOUIS 5’ 1 309 USF ESPNU 343 TEXAS 4’ 1 373 NEW MEXICO 475 GREEN BAY 3 12:00 PM 7:00 PM 8:00 PM 4:25 PM 310 MICHIGAN ST 24’ 18 344 BYU ESPN2 374 UTEP 3 1 476 SAN FRANCISCO 5’ 313 OKLAHOMA ST 24’ 21 345 UAB 375 WASHINGTON ST 477 NY GIANTS 3 12:00 PM 7:00 PM 10:30 PM 8:30 PM 314 UTSA FOX1 346 LSU 35 28 376 USC FOX1 17 8 478 DALLAS NBC 3 315 HOUSTON 3 6 347 TOLEDO 377 ARIZONA 10 6 12:00 PM 3:30 PM TIME CHANGE 10:30 PM MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 9 316 TEMPLE 348 MISSOURI ESPNU 17 20 378 UNLV CBSC 317 NORTH TEXAS 349 COLORADO ST 379 SAN JOSE ST 479 PHILADELPHIA 3 7:00 PM TIME CHANGE 7:00 PM 11:00 PM 7:10 PM 318 OHIO U 6’ 4 350 TULSA CBSC NL 6 380 STANFORD PAC-12 26’ 20 480 WASHINGTON ESPN 4’ 319 MIDDLE TENN 351 ARKANSAS ST 481 HOUSTON 2’ 12:30 PM 7:30 PM TIME CHANGE SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 8 10:20 PM 320 NORTH CAROLINA NL 16 352 AUBURN 13’ 11 482 SAN DIEGO ESPN 1 321 CINCINNATI 7’ 7 353 ARMY 453 NEW ENGLAND 6’ 8 PLAYBOOK SUBSCRIBERS: 12:00 PM TIME CHANGE 1:00 PM TIME CHANGE 1:00 PM 322 ILLINOIS ESPN2 354 BALL ST 7 11 454 BUFFALO If you have not received your PLAYBOOK Weekend 323 WEST VIRGINIA PLAYBOOK MIDWEEK ALERT 455 TENNESSEE 7:00 PM TIME CHANGE 1.800.752.9266 1:00 PM Update Phone Number, 324 OKLAHOMA 17’ 16 www.PLAYBOOK.com 456 PITTSBURGH 6’ 3 please call 1.800.752.9266. MARC’S NFL OPENING WEEK PLAY OF THE YEAR GOES THIS SUNDAY! Marc Lawrence’s FREE PICK PHONE! 1.714.228.6272 1.800.PLAYBOOK • www.PLAYBOOK.com • page 16

Top View