December 3, 2011 By Leave a Comment

The Conference Chalk Pick-Off: Championship Week

Locks of the Week:
CONNER ANDERSON: Cincinnati (-9) vs UConn – With a possible BCS berth on the line, the Bearcats easily cover and wait out the results to see which mediocre Big East team gets steamrolled on National TV.
DAVID MASON: BYU (-7) at Hawaii – With Bryant Moniz gone for the season, the Warriors don’t stand a chance against cover machine Riley Nelson and the Cougars.
GALE BERG: NEW MEXICO (+48.5) at Boise State – The Broncos have been on auto-pilot since mid-October, giving up 24 points per game over their past five and never winning by more than 27. The Lobos prep for Bob Davie’s arrival by keeping this within seven touchdowns.

The Big Games:
Houston (-12.5) vs Southern Miss
The staff takes Houston

Baylor (-2.5) vs Texas
Berg: Baylor
Anderson: Texas
Mason: Baylor

LSU (-13.5) vs Georgia
Mason: Georgia
Berg: LSU
Anderson: LSU

Oklahoma St (-3.5) vs Oklahoma
Anderson: Oklahoma St
Mason: Oklahoma
Berg: Oklahoma St

Virginia Tech (-7) vs Clemson
Berg: Virginia Tech
Anderson: Clemson
Mason: Virginia Tech

Wisconsin (-9.5) vs Michigan St
Mason: Michigan St
Berg: Wisconsin
Anderson: Wisconsin

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November 25, 2011 By Leave a Comment

The Conference Chalk Pick-Off: Week 13

Just getting ready to make my Week 13 picks ...

Now that we’re all arising from our food comas, the staff at Conference Chalk hopes that you were thankful for the right things yesterday. For things like our continued success with the non-conference picks. For things like Les Miles becoming a trustworthy gambling partner. And most importantly, for things like Zoe Saldana. Onto the picks …

Locks of the Week:
GALE BERG: VIRGINIA TECH (-4) at Virginia … Yes, Frank Beamer’s outfit has beaten absolutely no one in 2011, but no team has been more dominant in conference play over the past decade than the Hokies, and they’ll continue that tradition in Charlottesville this weekend.

CONNER ANDERSON: AUBURN (+21) vs Alabama … Gus Malzahn will pull out all the stops to cover in the Iron Bowl.

DAVID MASON: USC (-14.5) vs UCLA … Matt Barkley and the Trojans are playing as well as anyone outside of the SEC right now, and we all know how underwhelming betting on Rick Neuheisel has become.

The Big Games:
Alabama (-21) at Auburn
Mason: Alabama
Anderson: Auburn
Berg: Alabama [Read more...]

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November 18, 2011 By Leave a Comment

The Conference Chalk Pick-Off: Week 12

You should spend your winnings on me.

The end of the season is near, and gamblers need to grab some last-minute funds prior to the holiday season. Some will use the money to buy gifts, while others will blow the money on college hoops. But hopefully someone, somewhere will use the money to take out Margot Robbie …

Locks of the Week:
DAVID MASON: TULSA (-14) at UTEP … GJ Kinne is one of the few men in college football who can be trusted these days, and Tulsa is now 13-3 ATS in October-December the last two years
CONNER ANDERSON: HAWAII (-5) vs Fresno St … Pat Hill on the road is always a struggle, and this year is no different (1-4). Going to the islands is a tough matchup, and the Rainbows should pull away.
GALE BERG: TENNESSEE (+1) vs Vanderbilt … It’s lost season in Knoxville, and the Derek Dooley Firing Watch would start to gain real steam if he falls to his cross-state punching bag. Gale Berg says the Vols fends off the haters for another week.

The Big Games:
Oregon (-14.5) vs USC
Anderson: USC
Berg: Oregon
Mason: USC [Read more...]

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November 12, 2011 By Leave a Comment

The Conference Chalk Pick-Off: Week 11

The picks …

DAVID MASON likes:
LOCK: SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI (-9) vs Central Florida – It’s looking like this is the year Larry Fedora wears the C-USA crown, and Central Florida’s hangover from 2010 just won’t go away.
Kansas State (+4.5) vs Texas A&M
Nebraska (-3.5) at Penn St
Georgia (-12.5) vs Auburn
Stanford (-3.5) vs Oregon
Cincinnati (-3.5) vs West Virginia
Alabama (-18) at Mississippi St
South Carolina (-3) vs Florida
Oklahoma St-Texas Tech UNDER 79

CONNER ANDERSON likes:
LOCK: UNLV (-7) at New Mexico – Any team who plays top-level high school football or higher should give more than a TD to the Lobos. UNLV is also horrible, but they’ve played much better competition and are ready to payoff for their hometown sportsbooks.
Kansas St (+4.5) vs Texas A&M
Penn St MONEY LINE vs Nebraska
Auburn (+12.5) at Georgia
Stanford (-3.5) vs Oregon
Cincinnati (-3.5) vs West Virginia
Alabama (-18) at Mississippi St
South Carolina (-3) vs Florida
Oklahoma St-Texas Tech OVER 79

GALE BERG likes:
LOCK: OREGON MONEY LINE at Stanford - Yes, Gale Berg has previously gone on-record as saying you should never bet against Andrew Luck. However, it’s hard to picture Stanford running the table, and this is the biggest minefield they have left.
Texas A&M (-4.5) at Kansas St
Nebraska (-3.5) at Penn St
Georgia (-12.5) vs Auburn
Cincinnati (-3.5) vs West Virginia
Alabama (-18) vs Mississippi St
South Carolina (-3) vs Florida
Oklahoma St-Texas Tech OVER 79

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October 28, 2011 By Leave a Comment

The Conference Chalk Pick-Off: Week Nine

The path to recovery is laden with falls in the shower ...

The staff has been so busy trying to find a costume that looks like Steven Tyler’s newly beat-up face that we don’t have time for a witty opening paragraph. Straight to the games …

 

Locks of the Week:
CONNER ANDERSON: ARKANSAS (-9.5) at Vandy: Petrino and the boys look to run up the score in hopes of increasing their BCS chances. Bill Clinton and Mike Huckabee approve this bipartisan plan.

DAVID MASON: EAST CAROLINA (-16.5) vs Tulane: The Pirates are finally starting to look like the team that bettors were expecting when the season began, and now that Bob Toledo is off the sidelines, he can join the rest of the world in betting against the Green Wave.

GALE BERG: STANFORD (-8) at USC: After last week’s thrashing against Washington, it’s official: Andrew Luck is a moneymaker, and non-believers will be punished.

The Big Games:
Oklahoma (-13.5) at Kansas St.
The staff takes Oklahoma.

Michigan St. at Nebraska (-3.5)
Berg: Nebraska
Anderson: Michigan St
Mason: Michigan St [Read more...]

Filed Under: ATS Picks, College Football, College Football
October 20, 2011 By Leave a Comment

The Conference Chalk Pick-Off: Week Eight

Care to revisit 1991, anyone?

Before we make the weekly non-conference picks, let’s take a look at the music scene. There are new albums this week from Jane’s Addiction and Noel Gallagher (formerly of Oasis). The Stone Roses announced that they’re reuniting. And Coldplay continues to answer a question no one ever wanted to ask: what if Peter Gabriel and Boy George kidnapped five infants, raised them in the jungle, and then when the kids grew up, they formed a band? So if the late 80s and early 90s are back in style, does that mean that Notre Dame will finally start beating USC consistently again? And does that mean we can feature Cindy Crawford in this article? For the latter, absolutely. For the former, let’s see what the staff thinks …

Locks of the Week:
Conner Anderson: Ball St (-2) vs Central Michigan (Saturday, 2pm ET) - The line has already moved up a point, and Pete Lembo plans to reward his loyal group of followers. David Letterman might even let him present the Top 10 after this cover.

David Mason: West Virginia (-14) at Syracuse (Friday, 8pm ET) – Gambling God Holgerson can’t wait to open up his offense on the indoor track. Sorry Marrone, but Friday night in the dome just isn’t the same as the home crowd under the lights.

Gale Berg: Wake Forest (-3) at Duke (12:30pm ET) – Berg picks up the phone and dials. “Hello? Yes, this is Gale Berg. Ticket for one on the Demon Deacon Bandwagon, please. (pause) Yes, I know I’m late. (pause) Just book the f***ing ticket, mmkay???!!!”

The Big Games:
USC at Notre Dame (-8.5)
Berg: USC
Anderson: Notre Dame
Mason: Notre Dame [Read more...]

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October 14, 2011 By Leave a Comment

The Conference Chalk Pick-Off: Week Seven

But I love the CC banter ...

No banter this week (sorry, Olga Kurylenko). Straight to the games, with three southern road teams catching our eye …

 

Locks of the Week:
David Mason: GEORGIA (-10.5) at Vanderbilt – The Bulldogs have covered 4 in a row, and with Aaron Murray backed by the country’s 6th ranked defense they should be able to easily dispose of the over matched Commodores
Conner Anderson: MIAMI MONEY LINE (+3) at North Carolina – Al Golden took the close loss to Va Tech personally, almost coming to tears postgame. UNC has played a soft schedule, whereas the Canes are battle tested. Paint that bet Golden.
Gale Berg: SOUTH CAROLINA (-3) at Mississippi State – Garcia’s bad vibes have finally left the program for good, leaving the Lattimore and Jeffrey Show to win comfortably and without drama.

The Big Games:
Oklahoma State (-8) at Texas
The staff takes Oklahoma State [Read more...]

Filed Under: ATS Picks, College Football, College Football
October 7, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Conference Chalk Pick-Off: Week Six

I couldn't afford my high-rolling lifestyle without the help of the CC Non-Conference Picks. xoxo

The CC staff continues to improve its season record, as David Mason got hot last week, Gale Berg stayed consistent, and Conner Anderson continued his climb back to .500. Overall, the group is seven games over .500 on the year, including 9-6 on our locks of the week. And for this success, we imagine all of our readers are grateful. Or at least Blake Lively is …

 

Week Six once again features some dicey matchups between ranked SEC opponents. Let’s get right to it:

Locks of the Week:
Conner Anderson: MEMPHIS (+21) at Rice … While its common knowledge that Memphis is awful, Rice and their wishbone offense are hardly 3 TDs better. Beale St. serves record numbers of malt liquor after Memphis covers.
David Mason: NC STATE (-11) vs Central Michigan … The 0-4 ATS Wolfpack still has talent and are a value play at home against a bad non-AQ team. This might be one of the few bones they get thrown to them all season, and they’ll devour it.
Gale Berg: ARIZONA (-2) at Oregon State … Yes, this has trap game written all over it, but Mike Stoops needs some road wins. The Beavers are threatening to be the worst BCS conference team of the season, along with the Big 10′s three-headed monster of Minnesota, Purdue, and Indiana.

The Big Games:
Oklahoma (-10.5) at Texas
Berg: Oklahoma
Anderson: Texas
Mason: Oklahoma [Read more...]

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September 28, 2011 By 1 Comment

How Gale Berg Is Feeling, Vol 3

This has nothing to do with football

Gale Berg is feeling victimized after losing out on the Toledo money-line due to a brutal extra-point call. This has to mean good karma cash is coming in week five, no?

Gale Berg is feeling pleased that he’s drinking at an age-appropriate level, at least according to this article … Yes, I will have another vodka on the rocks.

Gale Berg is feeling relieved that he can see Rihanna in this article without having to actually listen to her music. [Read more...]

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September 22, 2011 By Leave a Comment

The Conference Chalk Pick-Off: Week Four

I've stepped aside to let the real gurus take over, but I'm taking all the hair gel with me.

The CC crew got its act together in week three, posting winning advice across the board. Week Four looks to be more of the same, as reality has started to set in on the college football landscape. The teams Dennis Green is betting on are the teams he thought they were. The road to the title looks like it will be going through Norman. And as far as the non-conference selections are concerned, John Anthony is not making these picks anymore … Brandon Lang is making these picks.

 

Locks of the Week:
David Mason: MISSISSIPPI STATE (-20) vs Louisiana Tech … The formula is simple. When a good SEC team is hosting an average non-AQ at home, in a night game, and the spread is less than three touchdowns, you take the money.

Gale Berg: WASHINGTON (-1) vs Cal … Jeff Tedford and his associates have been a schizo home/road team ATS for two years running. The Huskies, coming off a shootout loss at Nebraska, have the firepower to get out in front and never look back. When in Seattle, The Apple > The Golden Bear.

Conner Anderson: NOTRE DAME (-7) at Pittsburgh … The talent level between these is not even close, especially when you factor in Tino Sunseri’s ability to turn the ball over. I’m expecting big things from Todd Graham, but maybe not until Year 2.

The Big Games:
Arkansas at Alabama (-12.5)
CONNER: ARKANSAS
DAVID: ARKANSAS
GALE: ALABAMA [Read more...]

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