Betting for (by) dummies: Why Indiana is favored by two touchdowns against Michigan and it's still not enough
It was an emotional Tuesday night (and Wednesday) for much of America and not just because #MACtion returned.
You can go to our parent company, the New York Times , for incisive analysis and insight on the election.
You come to this column for ...
whatever it is that Jon Greenberg and Zac Jackson do.
GREENBERG (6-2 last week, 37-27 overall): As Zac can attest to, I liked both home MAC underdogs in Tuesdays games which provided me, and many others, with a welcome distraction throughout the night but of course, I wound up just betting the totals.
I got one of them right ...
by the hook.
I found that news out Wednesday morning, too.
Miami posted its fourth straight win Tuesday night in Battle for the RedBird Rivalry Trophy, defeating Ball State 27-21.
@MiamiOHFootball | @MiamiRedHawks | #MACtion pic.twitter.com/95T7iZjkqG #MACtion (@MACSports) November 6, 2024 We soldier on.
For America.
For you.
In Wednesdays games, Im going with our Ohio Bobcats -19.5 over lowly Kent State.
The not-so-Golden Flashes are 0-10 but they have covered two of their last three, which is kind of a win, right? Maybe Im playing with fire, but Im going with a blowout win for the good guys in Portage County, Ohio.
Advertisement And in a game I cant bet, Northern Illinois visiting Western Michigan, Ill take over 52.5 .
Northern Illinois MAC games have had an average total of 33.5 points, while the Broncos games have been on the other end of the scoring spectrum with an average of 76.8 (!).
Split the middle and take the over.
In related MAC news, Ive written before that Ive adopted Indiana as my team.
Its a natural fit.
My wife went there and never shuts up about it and 10-year Bobcats veteran Kurtis Rourke is their QB.
She never thanks me for that.
The Hoosiers are 14.5-point favorites over Michigan, which isnt typical in this rivalry.
The Wolverines are 58-10 all-time against Indiana and 21-3 in Bloomington.
Indiana has only won once since 1987 and that was in 2020, a 38-21 victory when there were limited crowds.
The Hoosiers best run was in the late 1950s when they took three of four.
I was tempted to take Michigan, but Ill stick with Rourke and Indiana (and buy a half-point) 14 .
Lets get right with the Lord and go with BYU -4 in the Holy War with Utah.
JACKSON (2-4, 31-31): On Sunday nights after Browns games, I stop at three different churches to repent for my sins.
Then I go to the bar.
Then, after I get home, I quickly scroll the college spreads for the following week because good numbers dont last and angry commenters dont rest.
Anyway, I almost fell off the couch when I saw Indiana -14 vs.
Michigan.
I like it too.
It just took a minute for me to process that being real.
Its the Browns bye week, so if I dont go to church or the bar Wednesday night, I might drive the 25 or so minutes out to Kent to watch some of the Bobcats and Flashes.
I feel like its my duty.
Its going to be a beautiful night for football in Portage County.
Dix Stadium is basically a collection of chipped paint and rusty aluminum bleachers, but there are banners honoring College Football Hall of Famers Nick Saban and Gary Pinkel.
This years Kent State team is the last winless FBS team.
It also hasnt led.
Let that sink in.
Advertisement Desperate Flashes means points.
I absolutely LOVE the over 52 , as Kent State will be going for it, and Ohio will eventually rush for 400 yards.
Assuming Army QB Bryson Daily is back after missing last week, I like over 63.5 in Army and North Texas.
LSU +3 at home vs.
Alabama in the big Saturday night showcase game.
I know LSU melted down last time out after leading early in College Station, but I think the Tigers keep their season alive in whats probably another wild one.
And lets go with BYU -4 at Utah Saturday night.
The total is only 40.5, indicating it wont be a work of art.
BYU has a pretty clear path to 12-0, and I dont see a reeling Utah team being the one to derail it.
Next on my list would be Colorado (-3.5 at Texas Tech), but for now Im rolling with those.
GREENBERG: Army is a game-time decision for me because of last weeks late scratch.
(BetMGM shut down the cash-out option real quick.) Onto the NFL , the Bears arent embroiled in Browns-quality chaos, but Im seeing a lot of Ben Johnson content coming across my Twitter timeline these days, and everything Matt Eberflus says is being used against him.
The Flus is likely coaching for his job down the stretch, and the Bears have a rough final eight games, but first comes the Patriots at home.
Bears -6 is a pretty easy call for me, even with their injury situation and the fact they had to have another team meeting after that 20-point loss in Arizona.
The Bengals lost to the Ravens in OT a month ago, one of their four losses against good teams this season.
My rule right now is if Cincinnati plays a bad team, I take them.
If not, I dont.
Ill take Baltimore -6.5 .
Lastly, Ill take my Steelers +3 on the road against rookie QB Jayden Daniels.
My son will be in the area for a class trip.
He and his math teacher, another Steelers fan, joked about sneaking out for the game.
If youre reading this, Russ, can you send a limo? Advertisement JACKSON: My favorite NFL play is under 45.5 in Steelers-Commanders .
The Steelers like an ugly game and I know the Washington defense stinks, but Im still not buying the Steelers offense.
I see this as an ugly close one that comes down to the end.
I cant buy the Jets.
I just dont see a team thats well-built or well-coached.
Ill roll with Cardinals -1 at home.
Two team totals: Titans under 14.5 (-120) and Texans over 22.5 (-120) .
Im also taking the Texans at anything over a field goal, and its Houston +3.5 right now.
Lets not plan a Super Bowl parade in Detroit just yet.
GREENBERG: In confusing times, Cardinals -1 over the Jets makes a lot of sense to me, too.
(Photo of Kurtis Rourke: Michael Reaves / Getty Images).
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