Football handicappers can have problems with it comes to denying reality.  This Saturday’s action drove this point home hard as we had lessons on several fronts.  On this Sunday’s edition of Americas Bookie’s The Brink, we will examine practical examples of this as well as your NFL Free Pick of the Day.  So sit back as we start in Arkansas of all places.

Collapse of Bret Bilema’s World

Words they can come back to haunt you.  Arkansas coach Bret Bilema is a throwback when it comes to the speed of the offensive game.  He feels that a slower pace puts less wear and tear on your offensive players.  This is in direct contrast to which most of the nation has gone with spread offenses.  However in this rant/diatribe, he singled out the Texas Tech offense as a main culprit in this.  This was most likely done in anticipation of the Razorbacks getting the Red Raiders at home on Family Day.  What he could not have seen was his team’s upset at the hands of Toledo.  Well the Red Raiders not only double digit win (35-24) but their coach decided to relish the moment with the following exchange with Bilema.

 

Quick Hitters

• Novelty Offenses do not work against equal or better talent.  Notre Dame smashed all the option plays of the mostly run orientated Georgia Tech team.
• Good Big Ten teams only care about the wins.  Ohio State and Michigan State are the elite of the league and askew statements against lesser teams.  Gigantic spreads on both resulted in ATS losses for both.
• Alabama as the elite program.  Ole Miss has got them twice in a row.  The Crimson Tide has been the favorite in over seventy games in a row.  This will most likely end against Georgia.

One last note before we switch gears to the NFL.  Both coach Saban and Bilema are proponents of pace of play rules in college football.  Forget about the welfare of the players, coaches first and foremost are about sustaining or improving their programs.  To forestall change means a continued superiority in the case of Bama.  Not only did Ole Miss win at Bama but put up 47 points in doing so.  Check for yourself the coaches that support pace of play and you will find quality fades as these programs will either evolve or decline.

The reality of the NFL the last few years has changed in regards to west coast teams going east for the 1PM game.  Used to be easy money to fade them.  Reality has changed and now the teams like Arizona should be judged on their merits.  In a line too low, they are the Free Pick of the Day against the Cutler lead Bears. Chicago is going into an new era of home futility and it continues today.  Take the Cardinals – 1 1/2 and we will see you Monday here at The Brink.