In last week’s WSJ, Darren ‘My Main Man’ Everson reported that the Vegas wise guys have pounced on the early release lines on two college football teams—Georgia, who they feel is underrated in the early lines—and your Wolverines for a different reason: Conversely, Michigan looks overrated to the experts, who are skeptical of teams that have a new coach. Of the five Michigan games on the list of available matchups, four have moved by at least three points because of action against the Wolverines—most notably the Notre Dame game. Once a two-point favorite, Michigan is now a four-point underdog. I just thought it was interesting, not a big deal. And there are many reasons not to give a crap about this (and FWIW, the underdog in the U-M-Notre Dame game has a ridiculously good record in the past couple decades). The bettors are reacting to the initial lines set by the book, so they are not necessarily saying Michigan is going to suck. Even if they did, as we sit here before U-M has even had a fall practice, I’m guessing most fans wouldn’t care. Check out the whole story here.
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BCS Bracketology (We Still Lose)
Darren “My Main Man” Everson dropped another interesting piece in the Wall Street Journal this weekend. He took the top 64 college football teams ranked via the BCS formula (I’m assuming you can get the data extended out to 64 teams?) and dropped them into an NCAA tournament field. (BCS #1 Auburn was dropped in the slot held by NCAA top seed Ohio State, and so on). Then they played out the tournament seed by seed as it’s gone thus far. Check it out: Even in hypothetical exercises crossing sports we can’t win. Rich Rod’s 2010 team collides in an improbable match-up with, umm, Mississippi State. We lost again. Everson’s a Michigan grad so I’m guessing he chuckled at this one: