Time for a MAC Attack

For weekday college football, it’s been all Mid-American Conference all the time this month and this continues on Hump Day with a two more tilts. Central Michigan is trying to win the league championship for a third time in four years and takes another step closer with a victory over Ball State. Miami-O tries to end dismal season on a positive, hosting Buffalo in the other MAC matchup.

Central Michigan at Ball State 8:00E ESPN2

The Chippewas held serve in blowout win over Toledo 56-28 last week and will try to do the same at Ball State. Central Michigan (8-2, 7-2 ATS) forced five turnovers and quarterback Dan LeFevour threw for 341 yards showing exactly why they are unbeaten (5-1 ATS) in conference play. The Chippewas have big game with Northern Illinois next and are 9-1 ATS before they play them.

Ball State (1-9, 5-4 ATS) just finished with the Huskies, losing 26-20 and is on short week for final home game. The Cardinals are 12-2 ATS in home games having lost two out of their last three games.

It’s been a long season for the Cardinals and with Central Michigan averaging 33.1 points per game, the Ball State is going to have to step up as the Cardinals are 24-49 ATS when they allow 28 or more points since 1992.

DiamondSportsbook.com has the Chippewas favored by -15 and the home team is 1-4 ATS in last five meetings; however Ball State is 5-2 ATS in last contest at Scheumann Stadium.

Buffalo at Miami-O 6:00E ESPNU

The whole televised deal hasn’t worked out for Buffalo (3-7, 4-6 ATS), losing last two games by on total of four points on the world wide leader’s family of networks. The Bulls offense moves the ball, but doesn’t always finish drives properly; accounting for the fact they average 23.8 points per game against opponents that have allowed 26.1.

Miami-O (1-10, 5-6 ATS) has had forgettable season and will try and send seniors out with one last blast of glory. The RedHawks problems are easily definable, -23 turnover margin. About the only positive is redshirt freshman QB Zac Dysert’s play. He too has thrown enough interceptions that a meager Miami defense cannot overcome. They are 2-10 ATS when playing against a team with a losing record over the last three seasons.

Buffalo is a 3.5-point favorite and is 11-2 ATS against teams with a turnover margin of -1 per game or worse.

Ready for 3-Team Parlay?

It’s Friday, many of you won’t be working a week from today unless you are in retail, on the day after Thanksgiving. While you’re either working today or going to class, maybe, just maybe it’s time to step out of character. Everybody preaches, don’t play parlays, you can’t win, only do straight bets, eat your vegetables and wash behind your ears, blah, blah, blah. Hey, we all need to get stupid every now and again and take a chance, feel the rush of the risk, because maybe, just maybe the results could be cool.

Tonight we have three lousy college football games, which any sane person wouldn’t touch. That’s where the fun begins. I’m throwing out the idea of three team parlay, but not the usual type, one that gives you the best chance to W I N.

Let’s start in Ohio, where the people are leaving certain cities in that state like a bad marriage. A Miami-Ohio and Toledo game used to mean something in the MAC, today is just means two rotten 2-8 teams are playing their next to last game of the season. The Redhawks defense in the last three games, how should I say this delicately, stinks, in allowing over 40 points an outing. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not like Toledo is a juggernaut, losing four in a row. This is not the time to be handing out points like its pumpkin pie, take Toledo on the money with this system that’s around, play against road underdogs on the money line, off 3 straight losses against conference rivals against opponent off 2 consecutive road losses. Miami is the former and the Rockets the latter and the system is 26-3.

In the other game in Ohio, I guess Bowling Green can still win the MAC East if they beat Buffalo who leads by a game. This division is as congested as L.A. traffic, and reminds of the old George Thorogood song “No Particular Place to Go”. What to do here is take the points, as Buffalo is hotter than a basket of fire sauce wings with four straight wins. What makes me excited about the Bulls (excited might be a little too much) is they have rushed at least 216 yards in last three games and B.G. has turned into ground chuck, being run over for 200 yards in four of last five games. Did you know Buffalo is 14-5 ATS as a road dog? Now that makes two of us. Take Buffalo with the points.

On ESPN2, a meaningless WAC game will be televised with Fresno State taking the ride to San Jose State. Pat (blowhard) Hill who talks tough and has a defense that allows 212.7 yards per game on the ground (110th), will be after a winning record for the season with a seventh win, because they are going to get their you know what handed to them at Boise State next week. San Jose State had a really promising start at 5-2 and they fell apart faster then a reunion tour of Right Said Fred (I’m too Sexy). Spartans blogs and websites report regular starting quarterback Kyle Reed will sit and his backups are stiffs. Don’t count me a Fresno State supporter, but I like at system that wins 81 percent of the time (34-8). Play against a home team vs. the money line after allowing 525 or more total yards in their previous game against opponent after out-gaining opponent by 175 or more total yards in their previous game. Play Fresno State on the money line.

With me still, Toledo and Fresno State on the money line and Buffalo with the points. Why do this as opposed to straight spread bets? Your average parlay payout on a 3-teamer is anywhere from 5 or 6 to one. Problem is hitting all three against the number. With relatively low money lines on favored teams and an underdog who is playing swell, we can still secure a 4 to 1 payout or slightly better and not give away points.

It’s your money; I’m not telling you what to do on a Friday other than have good time. But if you have a little fun money, you would just waste doing something else anyways, take a shot at this; it’s better than buying lottery tickets or trying to bet games on ESPN Classic.

Red Wydley drops in occasionally and shares is wisdom (?) with the masses.