Well, it seems like forever but we are now just days away from the start of the college and pro football season. How have I spent my summer? I took a three week trip to Europe in mid June and just back from Park City,UT where I spent another week with family and friends. In between that time I spent 5-6 hours a day studying all the college and pro football teams to get ready for what looks like another great football season. I may not win every week but my track record shows that I usually get off to great starts and no handicapper in the county can match my 16 straight years of winning seasons in football. This year we expect to get out of the gate quickly again. I feel as confident as I have ever been because I have stayed on top of what’s going on and already have a good idea of who will be the suprise teams in 2008 and the also which teams are overated. On Thursday August 21st I will head to Las Vegas with my staff to attend the Vegas Insider Conference being held at the Red Rock Casino. The conference on Saturday August 23rd and Sunday August 24th is free . I reccomend anyone who is a football bettor and football fan to attend. The conference is free. No cost at all and great lectures from some of the most astute handicappers in the country. On top of that they will be giving out great prizes all weekend. Go to www.vegasinsider.com to register. Again it’s free.I will be on two of the panels, one each day and I would love it if you stop by and say hello. Just a little heads up on three college teams that I feel could suprise the public especially the first half of the season and three college teams that might let their fans and backers down.
Suprise Teams:
1. Florida International - After starting the season against Kansas, Iowa and South Florida the Golden Panthers will be 0-3 and off
everybody’s radar of underrated teams. Be forwarned. That will be the time to start wagering on this team. They had the number one recruiting class in the Sun Belt and if Paul McCall is named the starter at QB they could finally turn the corner on offense. They have always had decent defenses. They also landed offensive coordinator Bille Legg who was Purdue’s offensive coordinator last year. Don’t be suprised if they win three or four conference games this season after 0-12 and 1-11 records the last two years.
2. Northwestern- Quarterback C.J. Basher appears to have finally turned the corner and super stud RB Tyrell Sutton returns after an injury plauged season to boost an offense that should light up the scoreboard this season. Defense has always been their weekness but it looks they will hold their own there as they brought in Defensive Coordinator Mike Hankwitz from Wisconsin and return 8 of 11 starters. This team will go bowling this season.
3. Kent State - They finished 3-9 last season so the expectations aren’t very high for a team that hasen’t been to a bowl since 1972. One of the main reasons they lost four games by seven points or less? They lost their top three QB’s to injury last season. All four QB’s return as well as a RB in Eugene Jarvis who totaled almost 2,000 yards combined rushing and receiving. They also return 8 of 11 defensive starters. When Kent State goes to a bowl. Tell everyone you heard it here first.
Teams Headed For A Fall:
1. Michigan- The last time Rich Rodriguez took over a team they went 3-8 his first year. This Michigan squad may not be much better. They lost their top QB. RB, top two WR’s and 4 of 5 OL starters. Don’t be suprised if Michigan goes 5-7 or 6-6. The talent
isn’t what it has been in the past and trying to install a spread offense with players recruited for a pro set will take two years at least for Rodriguez to do his magic. The Maze and Blue are in for a tough season so play against them early and often.
2. Hawaii- Losing HC June Jones is big but they also lost their All American QB Brennan, top 4 WR’s and 7 of 11 defensive starters.
The fall from a season where they went to a BCS Bowl will be monumental. If they go .500 in conference Greg McMackin should get conference coach of the year. They set the record for the biggest turnaround in June Jones first season as HC. They could set another record this year as they could go from winning twelve games to just three or four.
3. Air Force- They lose more starters on average than almost any team in the country year in and year out but this season they lost key players who I doubt they can come close to replacing. When you lose a four year starter at QB in Carney and a RB/ WR in Chad Hall who had over 2,000 combined yards rushing and receiving with no viable replacements your headed for a big fall. I relaly like 2nd year HC Troy Calhoun but he doesn’t have the talent in which to do much damage this season. I saw a total for this team in wins for the season at 7. They won’t get above five wins as they caught a lot of teams last season in route to their 9-4 record that had emotional contests the week before. I’ll play against this squad early in the season before people figure out how bad they really are.

Coming next week a few teams in pro football that are on my radar to play on or against early in the season. Remember to stop by and introduce yourself at the VegasInsider conference this weekend. It should be a lot of fun.