Call the bookie

            It's safe to say that New Orleans will do its best to not annoy Roger Goodell, now that he's been overruled.

            Somewhere, David Stern is smirking, "Let somebody try dat shit with meeee."

            It may be a loss for Goodell, but it's also safe to say that the NFL has gotten the point across on bounties and that kind of stuff.

            Of course, the level of paranoia we can expect from the Saints and moreso Saints fans will be nice and high.

            We are, you know, a country of paranoia.

 

CALL THE BOOKIE

            Five to make money on:

            Savannah State at Florida State: Yeah, 70 freakin' points. Note that Oklahoma State more than covered about 67 last week, and FSU is better.

            But here are a few things: A) FSU is more likely to pull starters earlier and take advantage of the great opportunity to put trainers and cheerleaders in uniform and on the field; B) A good road trip for Savannah State was, well, Macon or Greenville, so the Tigers going to OSU was historical. It sounds funny to say SSU will be better prepared for this week, but it will.

            Boy, this sounds funny: Take Savannah State to cover.

            UGA at Missouri: Have already addressed the overrated whoop-de-doo-ness of Missouri's first SEC game. It's still football.

            Take the Dogs and whatever points are offered. Well, almost.

            Maryland at Temple: Wow. Temple is a favorite over a BCS program, and by 9.

            Maryland need to come back to beat I-AA Youngstown State, Temple handled its I-AA opponent by 31 points.

            Just realized that Temple is back in the Big East, which dumped the Owls almost a decade ago after sucking so bad. Now, they're favored against Maryland, which has just no momentum and spark.

            Take Temple to cover.

            North Carolina at Wake Forest: Testing you. Why would anybody bet on this game?

            If so, very much take UNC to cover the six. Maybe by the end of the first quarter.

            USC at Syracuse: Donovan McNabb is nowhere to be found, and the Orange are rated behind Pitt, which lost to Youngstown.

            Cross country or not, the Trojans want to make a statement in the Eastern Time Zone.

            Take the Trojans to break the 24-point spread.

            Bonus: Vandy at Northwestern: Vandy's pissed, Northwestern eked out a one-point win at Syracuse.

            Take the Dores and the 3.

            Upset, but not worth the risk: Penn State over Virginia is almost worth the risk.

 

QUOTABLE

            Greg Cote of The Miami Herald, on the X Games in Los Angeles:

            "This is where ESPN keeps trying to convince us that adults in their 30s skateboarding isn't the least bit pathetic."