Don't Think The Spread Matters to College Coaches? Think Again
November 12th 2011 02:45
Oh those struggling Colorado Buffaloes. Led to slaughter on a Friday night. The NCAA needs to have games every day of the week I suppose. It used to be the Thursday or Friday night NCAA football games were a treat. Now they really are an annoyance unless you are gambling on the games. Wow the MAC, Sun Belt, or Big East games really strap me to my seat during the week. If I’m rooting for a cover or a total of some sort of course I’m locked in. Nobody wants to admit this from the NCAA to ESPN. Who else is watching these Great Unknown type games on Tuesday nights besides gamblers or alumni?
Last Friday, the lovely matchup between USC and Colorado at Folsom Field in Boulder went down. Hey the game was tied at seven after the first quarter. Then the house of cards collapsed with a 21 point second quarter for the Trojans en route to a 42-17 win. The game was never in doubt for USC but the spread was. The Trojans were 21-point favorites and I happened to flip on the TV to catch the end of this riveting contest. Dave Lamont and Rod Gilmore had the ESPN call and did not stop raving about Matt Barkley’s big night. Throwing six touchdown passes is a great but what about the elephant in the room? The score was 42-17, which meant USC was covering the spread with around four minutes to go in the game after a Colorado punt. There will be plenty of time to gloat about Barkley postgame fellas.
Mind you, USC got the ball on their 13 yard line and proceeded to run the ball to chew down the clock. Running down the clock in college football is like watching syrup drip out of a clogged spout. It takes forever especially when first downs are made. Nevertheless, USC was faced with a fourth down and about three yards to go with just under two minutes remaining in the ballgame.
Now I was intrigued. No I had nothing riding on the game but I knew the odds and the camera panned to a glove-wearing Lane Kiffin. Somehow through those gloves he was able to hold onto his play chart. Kiffin began pacing back and forth before calling a timeout. He called a timeout up 25 points on his own 21 yard line? On the surface, it looked like a meaningless decision. Kiffin would send his punter onto the field, but this was not the case. Instead he elected to go for it and on fourth down Amir Carlisle gained 26 yards.
Dave Lamont briefly addressed the questionable timeout. Lamont assumed the ball would be punted and said so on the air. Unless he was living under a rock or contractually obligated to not mention anything related to gambling, Lamont should have come to realize the reason Kiffin went for it was because he did not want Colorado to have the ball again. Say the Buffaloes go down the field and score a “meaningless” touchdown to cover the 21 points. I wonder how many boosters and alums would be blowing up Lane Kiffin’s cell and office phone all week wondering why he punted the ball away instead of going for it to prevent the Buffaloes from getting the ball back.
The pointspread is as much about team pride as it is gambling. When you are a wealthy person and a fanatical fan of your school your blind fandom will lead you to support your team in all ways possible. That includes beating the spread regardless if you are gambling on it or not. And why not pick up a couple extra bucks in return for all of your donations to the school you love so much?
Lane Kiffin called that timeout with the urgency relative to a BCS bowl game. His body language was that boisterous. There is no postseason for USC but every game still matters on the scoreboard and to the betting world. USC’s season may be erased from the record books, but as long as there is a game and odds are posted, a vested interest will be had.
Mind you, USC got the ball on their 13 yard line and proceeded to run the ball to chew down the clock. Running down the clock in college football is like watching syrup drip out of a clogged spout. It takes forever especially when first downs are made. Nevertheless, USC was faced with a fourth down and about three yards to go with just under two minutes remaining in the ballgame.
Now I was intrigued. No I had nothing riding on the game but I knew the odds and the camera panned to a glove-wearing Lane Kiffin. Somehow through those gloves he was able to hold onto his play chart. Kiffin began pacing back and forth before calling a timeout. He called a timeout up 25 points on his own 21 yard line? On the surface, it looked like a meaningless decision. Kiffin would send his punter onto the field, but this was not the case. Instead he elected to go for it and on fourth down Amir Carlisle gained 26 yards.
Dave Lamont briefly addressed the questionable timeout. Lamont assumed the ball would be punted and said so on the air. Unless he was living under a rock or contractually obligated to not mention anything related to gambling, Lamont should have come to realize the reason Kiffin went for it was because he did not want Colorado to have the ball again. Say the Buffaloes go down the field and score a “meaningless” touchdown to cover the 21 points. I wonder how many boosters and alums would be blowing up Lane Kiffin’s cell and office phone all week wondering why he punted the ball away instead of going for it to prevent the Buffaloes from getting the ball back.
The pointspread is as much about team pride as it is gambling. When you are a wealthy person and a fanatical fan of your school your blind fandom will lead you to support your team in all ways possible. That includes beating the spread regardless if you are gambling on it or not. And why not pick up a couple extra bucks in return for all of your donations to the school you love so much?
Lane Kiffin called that timeout with the urgency relative to a BCS bowl game. His body language was that boisterous. There is no postseason for USC but every game still matters on the scoreboard and to the betting world. USC’s season may be erased from the record books, but as long as there is a game and odds are posted, a vested interest will be had.
| 31 |
| Vote |
subscribe to this blog
Comment by Joe Soriano
Pro Sports Wrap
Orble Sport Blog