Arkansas Sports 360 - ArkansasSports360.com

9/2/2010 at 8:04am

Like Jeremiah Masoli, The Betting Man is back for another season.

Unlike Mr. Masoli, Mr. Betting Man is playing this week. Well, sort of.

For those who read last season, you know the drill. For those who don't, here's how it works: TBM starts the season with $1,000 mythical dollars and bets his heart out until the end of the season, or until he goes broke.

Last year, TBM dang near went broke. Down to his last $162.50, TBM took Alabama +5 against Florida in the SEC Championship Game, releasing this kernel of wisdom along the way, "The Betting Man's gut says Alabama might just win this thing outright."

TBM thinks we all know how that turned out, and thanks to his essentially pressing those winnings on Florida -13 over Cincinnati in the Sugar Bowl, TBM ended the year with $602.50. That's not exactly worth bragging about, but all things considered, it was enough to rejuvenate TBM and convince him this is the year to make some real money — mythically speaking, of course.

One more bit of housecleaning: Last season, TBM bet every Arkansas game, and at least one SEC and one NFL game per week. This year, he's ditching the pros and making this a college-only endeavor. He'll pick the Arkansas game — assuming there's a line — at least one other game involving an SEC team, and at least one other game from outside the SEC.

So, without further ado, here are the Week 1 selections.

Thursday Night Special: Come on, you didn't expect TBM to pass up the first night of action, did you?

Yes, TBM knows all about the shame that has descended on the USC football program throughout the offseason. Yes, TBM knows Lane Kiffin is The Coach Everybody Loves to Hate. But, no, TBM does not have much respect for the football talent assembled out there in the islands.

Add the hunch Kiffin and Co. might be looking to vent some frustration, make a statement, yada, yada, yada, and TBM's gonna lay the 21 ½ points and put 50 bucks on USC.

SEC Pick of the Week: As usual during Cream Puff Week, there are lots of big numbers when it comes to SEC teams. Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Georgia and Mississippi State all are laying at least three touchdowns, while Arkansas doesn't even have a number in its opener against Tennessee Tech.

With that in mind, TBM is going to make a modest ($20) play on Northwestern -5 ½ at Vanderbilt in the Battle of the Brainiacs.

Backlash Special: Is TBM the only one who remembers when it was fun to root for Boise State? Well, those days are long gone.

Nowadays, we're subjected not only to the ceaseless talk about Boise's right to play in BCS bowl games, but the absurd notion the Broncos are one of the five best teams (at least according to the polls) in the country.

TBM, to the contrary, thinks if Boise State played in a real conference, like the SEC, it would be known as Mississippi State — at best. So, mainly because he's ready for midnight to strike on this overrated Cinderella, TBM's gonna put another 20 bucks on Virginia Tech +2 ½.

That's it for this week, and as always, may all your parlays come true.

Tagged: Arkansas Razorbacks, The Betting Man, USC Trojans, Lane Kiffin, NFL, Northwestern, Vanderbilt, Hawaii, Boise State Broncos, Alabama Crimson Tide, Florida Gators