Nevada sports books lost between $7 million and $10 million on NFL games Sunday in one of the most lopsided days in state betting history, according to multiple media reports.
Excuse us while we get our violins.
To be fair, however, the college football betting illuminati, of which the great Brent Musburger (above) is now a member, didn’t fare any better.
Anybody lose on Louisville plus-60 against Clemson? Or had Michigan beating Penn State by 35?
The regular season is winding down. Don’t hold back — bet it all. You can always sell the car and get one of those “tiny houses” that the wife watches on TV.
Here are this week’s enlightened picks:
TCU at West Virginia -12 — Mountaineers averaging 40 per game. Injury-depleted Frogs haven’t scored more than 28 since Week 3. Pick: West Virginia
Texas at Texas Tech +1 1/2 — A very shaky vote here for the Texas defense and the hot hand of Sam Ehlinger. Pick: Texas
Season: 49-39-2
TCU at West Virginia -12 — Can West Virginia put a beatdown on some wounded Frogs? Yep. Pick: West Virginia
TCU at West Virginia – 12 — With these teams headed in such opposite directions, it’s hard to believe West Virginia isn’t favored by double this amount. Pick: West Virginia
Texas at Texas Tech +1 1/2 — Texas’ stability at QB, compared to Texas Tech’s ongoing injuries at the position, make the difference in a tight Longhorns’ road win. Pick: Texas
Oklahoma State at Oklahoma – 21 — OSU lacks the offensive firepower and defensive tenacity to stay within shouting distances of the Sooners. Pick: Oklahoma
Baylor at Iowa State – 15 — Cyclones’ coach Matt Campbell is doing a phenomenal job at Iowa State and Baylor gets to experience his latest handiwork up close and personal. Pick: Iowa State
Kansas at Kansas State – 10 — This is Kansas’ best chance in a decade to beat K-State coach Bill Snyder. The Jayhawks may not get that done, but they will at least cover. Pick: Kansas
SMU at UConn + 19 1/2 — It’s hard to envision SMU as a three-touchdown road favorite over anyone. Pick: UConn
North Texas at Old Dominion + 14 — Old Dominion beat Virginia Tech earlier this season. The Monarchs will at least make UNT sweat. Pick: Old Dominion
Ole Miss at Texas A&M – 13 — The Aggies finally play a team from Mississippi that they can beat. Perhaps easily. Pick: Texas A&M
Ohio State at Michigan State + 4 — Ohio State is reeling, but Sparty does not have a good enough offense to capitalize. Pick: Ohio State
Cowboys at Eagles – 7 — After last week’s uninspired effort following a bye week, it’s impossible to envision to Cowboys rebounding with anything that resembles encouragement in Philly. Pick: Eagles
Marjorie Lewis
Last week: 5-4-1
Season: 45-43-2
TCU at West Virginia -12 – TCU is lost and will not be found in Morgantown Pick: West Virginia
Texas at Texas Tech + 1 1/2 – Texas won’t take a step backwards this week. Pick: Texas
Oklahoma State at Oklahoma -21 –Strange things happen in rivalry games. Pick: Oklahoma State
Baylor at Iowa State -15 – Iowa State stubs its toe every season. Pick: Baylor
Kansas at Kansas State -10 A toss up, but it’s still Kansas. Pick: Kansas State
SMU at UConn -19 1/2 – UConn is one of a handful of teams that much worse than SMU. Pick: SMU
North Texas at Old Dominion +14 – Not yet looking like its early season form but will still cover. Pick: North Texas
Ole Miss at Texas A&M -13 – Aggies have not played as well as expected. Pick: Ole Miss
Ohio State at Michigan State + 4 – Two teams heading in different directions. Pick: Michigan State
Cowboys at Eagles -7 — Nothing about the Cowboys makes sense. Pick: Cowboys
John Henry
Last week: 4-5-1
Season: 42-46-2
TCU at West Virginia -12 – My granddaddy sat me on his knee as a 3-month old and said, “my beloved boy, nothing good happens after midnight or in Morgantown, W.Va.” Pick: West Virginia.
Texas at Texas Tech +1 ½ – Channeling Olivia Newton John … my heart says Texas Tech, my head says Texas Tech, even without the best option at QB. Pick: Texas Tech.
Oklahoma State at Oklahoma -21 – You can throw out the records on Bedlam, but you can’t throw out the reality. Pick: Oklahoma.
Baylor at Iowa State -15 – The Rev. Norris said there is a literal heaven. He also said there is a literal hell. Cyclones make yet another declaration of Big 12 intention. Pick: Iowa State.
Kansas at Kansas State -10 – The Misery-Loves-Company Bowl in Manhattan. Kansas plants a stake in the ground for the headless coach. Pick: Kansas.
SMU at UConn +19 1/2 – Who would have believed after the first week SMU would ever be a 191/2 favorite, but the Mustangs have gotten better every week. And, as the senior Dykes would have said, “the Huskies have played like three tons of buzzard puke.” Pick: SMU.
North Texas at Old Dominion +14 – Old Dominion: The Mother of Presidents, the Mother of States. Can the Mean Green offense bring the mother lode? Pick: North Texas.
Ole Miss at Texas A&M -13 – Bookies have bought the children nice Buster Browns or something better at the local brick-and-mortar Neiman Marcus off someone with my same name betting against the Aggies. No mas, Roberto Duran. Pick: Texas A&M.
Ohio State at Michigan State +4 – No one is expecting the Spartans to upset the Buckeyes, and that makes two of us … or some such. Pick: Ohio State.
Cowboys at Eagles -7 – Cowboys in a must-win on the road against a rival, who coincidentally really needs to win, too. We’ll learn something about the Cowboys – and the coach’s chances of survival — this week. Pick: Eagles.
Jan Hubbard
Last week: 3-6-1
Season: 41-47-2
TCU at West Virginia -12 — Frogs still need two victories to get a bowl bid. On the road against Will Grier and the Mountaineers is not a good place to start. Pick: West Virginia
Texas at Texas Tech +1 1/2 — If freshman quarterback Alan Bowman was healthy, Raiders might have a chance. But after two straight losses by a total of four points, Longhorns should be able to finish. Pick: Texas
Oklahoma State at Oklahoma -21 — Huge line makes Oklahoma State more attractive. Last year, the Sooners won 62-52 so touchdowns are pretty cheap. OU should win the game but Cowboys will cover. Pick: Oklahoma State
Baylor at Iowa State -15 — It has been a brilliant year for Matt Ruhle and the Bears, but also a special one for Matt Campbell and the Cyclones, who moved into the top 25 after a four-game winning streak. Iowa State will live up to its No. 23 ranking in the country. Pick: Iowa State
Kansas at Kansas State -10 – David Beaty made some progress this year with a 3-6 record. That may seem modest but Kansas in the last three years was 3-33. Beaty will coach to the end of the year but the Jayhawks have nothing to play for. Pick: Kansas State
SMU at UConn +19 1/2 — Still haven’t gotten over SMU’s victory over 17th ranked Houston. The Mustangs had played three teams that were ranked at the time – TCU, Michigan and Central Florida – and had lost all three by an average of 24.3 points. Yet they dominated Houston. The 1-8 Huskies have allowed opponents to score 47.9 points a game, which is the worst average among the 130 FBS schools. Should be a nice trip. Pick: SMU
North Texas at Old Dominion +14 –The Mean Green are headed to their fifth bowl in the last six years. No problem here. Pick: North Texas
Ole Miss at Texas A&M -13 – The only teams the Aggies have beaten by more than seven points this year are Louisiana-Monroe and Northwestern State. A&M should pick up a home win, but Rebels can keep it close. Pick: Mississippi
Ohio State at Michigan State +4 – Despite an embarrassing 29-point loss at Purdue, the Buckeyes are still in the playoff picture. Michigan beat Purdue by 10 point last week, although the game was at home. Spartans are home again and that will make a difference. Pick: Michigan State
Cowboys at Eagles -7 — While the season seems to be hopelessly lost for the Cowboys, the most fanatic of their supporters are hoping for a miracle. And with the way Dallas has played, Jason Garrett has coached and Jerry Jones has owned, a miracle is exactly what they’ll need. Pick: Philadelphia
Last week: 3-6-1
Season: 40-48-2
TCU at West Virginia -12 — Mountaineers have much more at stake, will be looking for a blowout win at home. Pick: West Virginia
Texas at Texas Tech +1 1/2 — Whichever QB Tech uses will probably run it in for the game winner. Pick: Texas Tech
Oklahoma State at Oklahoma -21 – Sooners are in the CFP hunt, but that’s too many points to give in this rivalry game. Pick: Oklahoma State
Baylor at Iowa State -15 — Cyclones have improved dramatically on both sides of the ball. Pick: Iowa State
Kansas at Kansas State -10 — If the Jayhawks couldn’t get it done before their coach got fired, it’s not happening now that he’s a lame duck. Pick: Kansas State
SMU at UConn +19 1/2 — Love how the Mustangs have improved under Sonny Dykes but that’s too many points to give. Pick: Connecticut
North Texas at Old Dominion +14 — Mean Green’s coming off a bye week and hoping to improve their bowl resume. Pick: North Texas
Ole Miss at Texas A&M -13 – I’m a sucker for Aggies winning big at home, especially against a team with no bowl hope. Pick: Texas A&M
Ohio State at Michigan State +4 – Buckeyes are poised for defeat after losing to Purdue and almost losing to Nebraska. Pick: Michigan State
Cowboys at Eagles -7 – Cowboys are as good as done. Surprised the spread is that low. Pick: Eagles
Art Garcia
Last week: 3-6-1
Season: 40-48-2
TCU at West Virginia -12 — Frogs are coming off a much-needed W, but the march to bowling hits a temporary stop in Morgantown. Pick: WVU
Texas at Texas Tech +1 1/2 — The Red Raiders didn’t have enough against OU. They will again Texas. Pick: Tech
Oklahoma State at Oklahoma -21 — It’s Bedlam, sure. It’s also boring. Sooners roll. Pick: OU
Baylor at Iowa State -15 — Bears are gonna fight and claw. That’s what Bears do. Pick: Baylor
Kansas at Kansas State -10 — There’s a same for this game, right? I don’t know it. Neither should you. Pick: KSU
SMU at UConn +19 1/2 — Ponies get back to .500. That’s no small task. Pick: SMU
North Texas at Old Dominion +14 — Mean Green won’t have any trouble against C-USA’s worse defense. Pick: UNT
Ole Miss at Texas A&M -13 — Aggies may finally win. They won’t cover. Pick: Ole Miss
Ohio State at Michigan State +4 — Buckeyes are the most underwhelming one-loss Power Five outfit around. Pick: MSU
Cowboys at Eagles -7 — It’s over. Pick: Eagles
