The write-up

Three games, three articles, and the one I liked least is the only one that lost.

North Carolina plus eight and a half at TCU was the play I felt best about, and it did not need the points. The Tar Heels won it outright in Dublin, 15 to 10, in weather that turned the whole thing into a rock fight. A standard play at minus 105, and it never sweated.

Virginia minus four against NC State was a half play at minus 108 and it was over early. Beau Pribula in his first start for the Cavaliers, 34 to 8. Covered by more than three touchdowns.

Then USC.

I led that one with the Under 61.5 because I was not going to lay 38 and a half points with anybody. USC 42, San Jose State 26. Sixty eight points. We missed by six and a half and it was gone before the fourth quarter.

So: 2-1 on the featured picks. That is the number in our record and that is the number I lead with.

Here is the fuller picture. Each article carries a three play strip under the main pick, and the priced plays in those strips went 2-0. The Under 46.5 in Dublin landed at 25 total points. San Jose State plus 38.5 cashed in the same game whose total we lost, and that is the part worth sitting with. The side I called the safer of the two was right. The number I led with was wrong.

Count every priced play and it is 4-1. Count what we actually staked and it is 2-1. The strip plays are logged at zero stake. They show in the record without moving the units. Both numbers are true and you should have both.

The props we listed as when posted never got a price. No price, no bet. I am not grading those after the fact.

One more thing. Three games is a weekend, not a sample. I would tell you the same if it had come back 3-0. The record that means anything is the one that stacks up over four months, and every graded play goes on the receipts page whether it helps me or not.

Week 1 is the real open. Clemson at LSU.