Picking football games correctly is the ultimate display of sports knowledge (or at least can be spun that way). And with football season upon us, Allen tapped Uncle Rob, the shrewdest Vegas man he knows, to break down some college football games on the opening weekend.

Welcome back to Spring Vegas.

See, picking winners is fun, but picking against the spread of the toughest test. And that’s what Allen and Uncle Rob are doing, trying to sharpen their skills for that next trip to Las Vegas.

We have listed our picks below, and also recorded our usual weekly podcast, which you can stream or download.

Allen’s picks
Missouri (-12) vs. Illinois
Va. Tech (+2) vs. Boise State
Oregon State (+12) at TCU

Uncle Rob’s picks
Tulsa (-8) at East Carolina
Western Kentucky at Nebraska (-37 1/2)
Washington (+2) at BYU

But there's more! Check out these related posts on TAGsgf.com:

1. Spring Vegas podcast — When Vegas divides your rooting loyalties

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2. Spring Vegas podcast — The bounce back edition

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3. Spring Vegas: Sweet 16 picks

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If you’re not familiar with Spring Vegas and the corresponding podcast, this is it in a nutshell: Picking football games correctly is one of the sweetest things in the world. And picking against the spread is the toughest challenge of them all. That’s why during football season I enlisted Uncle Rob, the shrewdest Vegas man I know, to discuss football lines and how we would pick them, if we were in Las Vegas.

Thus, Spring Vegas. (If you missed the Spring Vegas intro column, click here)

So, with football season in the rear view mirror, I summoned Uncle Rob to discuss the Super Bowl, as well as go through some prop bets, a few of which actually have some value and others which are hilarious to think about and insane to gamble on.

You can either stream the podcast with the player below, or save it to your desktop and sync to your mp3 player.

Either way, it’s great stuff.

It goes right along with the rest of our Super Bowl coverage from earlier in the week:

• If you haven’t heard about our Super Bowl party, come on down to Boomers on Sunday, starting at 3 p.m. We’ll be there watching the game and giving away tons of cool stuff.
• What type of useless merchandise can you buy to support your Super Bowl team? A bunch, it looks like.
• We also took a peek at last-second Super Bowl ticket prices. You’re going to need to donate more than plasma to go. Posssibly, even a few organs.

But there's more! Check out these related posts on TAGsgf.com:

1. Spring Vegas podcast — When Vegas divides your rooting loyalties

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2. Spring Vegas — The college football picks are back! (w/ podcast)

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Picking against your favorite team is one thing. But going to the game while wearing their apparel and (not so) secretly rooting against them to lose? It’s a bad situation, all the way around.

Yep, last weekend my family took a mini vacation to the Edward Jones Dome to watch the New Orleans Saints play the St. Louis Rams, my favorite NFL team since they moved from LA to STL. And, as usual, Uncle Rob joined me here for the Spring Vegas podcast and we vehemently picked against the Rams, who were a 14-point underdog. We even agreed that Vegas should move the line to 21 points. And what happened?

Saints 28, Rams 23

Instead of rolling over, the Rams tried to actually win the game. Ugh.

So, I’ve learned my lesson. When I get in the car and head to Lincoln, Neb. this weekend, I’m not going to go for or against Nebraska. I’m just going to enjoy the game.

But even with the Rams spoiling our unanimous pick, we still finished 8-6 this past week, pushing us to to 56-45-1 on the season.

To check our picks, click the link below. To listen or download the podcast, click here: Spring Vegas podcast with Uncle Rob

College football
Allen
LSU at Mississippi (-4)
Mississippi State at Arkansas (-10) *
California at Stanford (-7) *
(* Uncle Rob approved)

Uncle Rob
Parlay — Oregon (-6) at Arizona and Over 60
Two-team teaser — Baylor at Texas A&M (-1 1/2) and Kansas State (+23) at Nebraska
TCU at Wyoming (+31 1/2)
Arkansas State at Middle Tennessee State (-11) — SUNBELT SPECIAL!

NFL
Allen
Miami at Carolina (-3)
NY Jets at New England (-9 1/2)
Arizona (-9) at St. Louis

Uncle Rob
Colts (-1) at Baltimore
Parlay — Cincinnati (-9 1/2) at Oakland and Under 36 1/2
Parlay — Cleveland at Detroit (-3 1/2) and Under 38

Last week
Overall: 8-6
College: 5-3
NFL: 3-3

Overall: 56-45-1
College: 34-29
NFL: 22-16-1

But there's more! Check out these related posts on TAGsgf.com:

1. Spring Vegas — The college football picks are back! (w/ podcast)

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2. Spring Vegas podcast — The bounce back edition

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3. Spring Vegas podcast: Allen and Uncle Rob break down the NCAA Tournament bracket

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There’s a lot to be learned in losing. While coaches at all levels hate to admit it publicly, many believe a regular-season loss can be the most effective lesson for down-the-road success.

And right on cue, The Spring Vegas football game-picking machine went 3-12 last week.

So in true coachspeak, Allen and Uncle Rob are letting the “past be the past,” taking “one game at a time” and “tipping our cap” to Las Vegas. (Screw you, LV. We’ll get you this time.)

Overall, Allen and Uncle Rob are 48-39-1 with last week included. Should you listen to us? Yes you should.

Click the link below to listen or download the latest Spring Vegas podcast and continue on to see our weekly picks.

Spring Vegas podcast with Uncle Rob

College football
Allen
Iowa (+17) at Ohio State *
Stanford (+11) at USC *
Alabama at Mississppi State (+12)
(* denotes Uncle Rob approved)

Two-team teaser
Notre Dame at Pittsburgh (- 1/2)
Michigan at Wisconsin (-2 1/2)

Uncle Rob
Notre Dame at Pittsburgh (-6 1/2)
Clemson (-8) at NC State
Texas Tech at Oklahoma State (-4)
Tulane (+3) at Rice

Three-team Sun Belt Conference Special Teaser!!!!!!
UL-Lafayette (+18 1/2) at Middle Tennessee State
Western Kentuck at UL-Monroe (-15 1/2)
North Texas at Florida International (+3 1/2)

NFL
Allen
New Orleans (-14) at St. Louis *
Buffalo at Tennessee (-7)
Dallas (-3) at Green Bay
(* denotes Uncle Rob approved)

Uncle Rob
New England (+3) at Indianapolis
Chicago at San Francisco (-3)
Atlanta (-2) at Carolina

Last week
Overall: 3-12
College: 1-8
NFL: 2-4

Overall: 48-39-1 (55.1 percent)
College: 29-26 (52.7)
NFL: 19-13-1 (59.3)

But there's more! Check out these related posts on TAGsgf.com:

1. Spring Vegas podcast — When Vegas divides your rooting loyalties

   Share this on Bebo Blog this on Blogger Subscribe to the comments for this post? Share this on del.icio.us Digg this! Post this on Diigo Share this on Facebook Email...

2. Spring Vegas — The college football picks are back! (w/ podcast)

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3. Spring Vegas — Happy PicksGiving

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