Travel is perhaps the most underrated word in college football. It shouldn’t be, especially when you consider the athletes and their ages. Full-ride, Division I football players, who have the world at their feet? They should be able to get up for any game, anywhere, right?
For some reason, though — in many aspects — that just isn’t the case. Look no further than last week.
Maryland is a quality ACC team coming off a bowl win. It has experience at the skill positions and should end up over .500. But the Terrapins traveled 2,807 miles to Berkeley, Calif. And got pasted. Cal 52, Maryland 13.
Example No. 2? LSU, national champion from two years ago, has all the makings of a BCS contender. The Tigers are good . . . and they know it. But Washington didn’t buy it. The Huskies, who have lost 15 in a row, played host to the Bayou Bengals in Seattle, 2,549 miles from Baton Rouge. Washington lost, but barely, 31-23.
Enter UCLA. The Bruins blasted off last week, hammering San Diego State, 33-14. A feel-good, home win. But now, Rick Neuheisel’s crew has to travel 2,176 miles to Knoxville, Tenn.
“We should improve a great deal between week one and week two,” Neuheisel said. “And we have to, if we’re going to be competitive in Knoxville.”
The Volunteers (1-0) — under the direction of first-year coach Lane Kiffin — are itching to make an early statement. And consider this: It’s not going to come next week, when they travel to play No. 1 Florida.
Then there’s this little matter of revenge, another underrated word. Many people toss it around, and misuse the word, but its “pure” meaning — in handicapping — is when a team loses on the road the year before, only to host that same team the next year. That’s “pure” revenge.
Well, UCLA upset Tennessee, 27-24, last year, at the Rose Bowl.
“This,” Kiffin said, “is a big-time matchup for us.”
One for which they don’t have to travel. Tennessee (-8½) on Saturday is the pick.
TONIGHT
GEORGIA TECH (-5½) over Clemson: With Virginia Tech’s slip, the Jackets may just be the ACC’s best . . . which won’t get them far, but it’s something.
SATURDAY
Stanford (+3) over WAKE FOREST: Exceptions to every rule, or they wouldn’t call it gambling. Let’s be fair, the Cardinal will travel 2,720 miles. But Stanford has depth and can run the ball. And we’re not fans of the overvalued Deacons, home or away.
PENN STATE (-28½) over Syracuse: This week’s “Beggar’s Special.” Penn State slumbered through a non-cover vs. Akron. Syracuse battled to the overtime end vs. Minnesota. And now the Orange are getting four scores? They are begging you to take Syracuse.
North Carolina (-4½) over UCONN: Butch Davis also sees the meager ACC as a land of opportunity. A road, non-conference win will help his cause.
TULANE (+17½) over Brigham Young: The Green Wave caught Alabama and East Carolina last year right off huge wins . . . and covered both.
East Carolina (+6½) over WEST VIRGINIA: “Pure” revenge for the Mountaineers, but the Pirates have more experience, and should keep it close.
VIRGINIA (+11) over Texas Christian: The Cavaliers have nowhere to go but up, after losing to William & Mary. This could be Al Groh’s biggest game.
Houston (+15½) over OKLAHOMA STATE: Now that the rest of the world has jumped on the Cowboys bandwagon, we promptly jump off.
Notre Dame (-3) over MICHIGAN: Both teams impressed last week at home, but the Irish are further along . . . and need this one more.
AUBURN (-14) over Mississippi State: Danger zone picking a double-digit favorite in SEC play, but the Tigers won’t get many easy ones. They need to cash in.
LSU (-14½) over Vanderbilt: Same SEC song, different verse. The Tigers open up league play with a bang after their “Sleepwalk in Seattle.”
GEORGIA (-7) over South Carolina: This matchup is usually close, but we don’t expect the Bulldogs to lose two straight.
OHIO STATE (+7) over Southern Cal: A freshman quarterback and 2,251 miles to ride? A minority opinion, we know. But we’ll take the Bucks.
OREGON (-12) over Purdue: Sick of the odometer yet? The Boilers may be . . . after they fly 2,241 miles. The beleaguered Ducks bounce back.
OFF THE GRID
NEBRASKA (-23½) over Arkansas State: We’ll ride the Cornhuskers again, as they prep for Big 12 play.
WASHINGTON (-21) over Idaho: The losing streak comes to an end . . . with authority.
UNLV (+7) over Oregon State: The Rebels are known to beat BCS schools. Ask Iowa State and Arizona State.
Records: Last week: 9-6 Overall; 1-2 Best Bets; 1-1 Off The Grid.