Clemson’s cover at Maryland last week was epic.
The Terps were getting 8½ at home. Clemson starting QB Tahj Boyd was banged up. And the Tigers, notorious for being inconsistent, had yet to turn in their annual clunker.
So when the Terps took a 35-17 third quarter, the Profit (given a 26½-point cushion) headed to Trader Joe’s, buying up their 8-ounce bags of roasted and salted sunflower seeds and their one-pound, 1.6-ounce bricks of Belgium dark chocolate.
The Profit rolled home and watched the scores roll across the bottom of the screen when he glimpsed what surely must have been an error:
Clemson 56, Maryland 45.
Piggy bolted to the computer. Maryland led 45-42 with 7:35 left. But 11 seconds later Sammy Watkins returned the ensuing kickoff 89 yards for a touchdown. Clemson was up 49-45 and cover was down to 4½.
The Terps never again saw the end zone and when Andre Ellington broke a 44-yard touchdown run with 3:55 left, Piggy was on the spit, rotating above the hot flame of wagering.
The Tigers (7-0) play host to North Carolina on Saturday. They’re giving 10½. Even if the game was in Antwerp, we’ll take the Tigers, king of the legendary cover.
TONIGHT
ARIZONA (-4) over Ucla — Even without coach Mike Stoops, who recently was fired, the Wildcats use the Thursday night showcase to remind us how far UCLA has fallen.
TOMORROW
West Va. (-13 ½) over SYRACUSE — You don’t think for a second the Mountaineers are not aware of the fact that Syracuse’s move to the ACC has left it in a bad place, do you?
LOUISVILLE (-1 ½) over Rutgers — Cardinals have no offense, but they do have a pretty tough defense. Add in the fact that Rutgers quarterback Gary Nova will be making his first road start and Louisville just announced a contract extension for coach Charlie Strong.
SATURDAY
SOUTH FLORIDA (-3) over Cincinnati — Bulls are tough at home, terrible on the road. Bearcats could be really good, if they would just hold on to the ball.
CLEMSON (-10 ½) over North Carolina — Tigers rock in Death Valley.
Okla. St. (-6 ½) over MISSOURI — Momma don’t let your babies grow up to be defensive coordinators who have to play Okie State, which hasn’t scored less than 30 in a game this season.
VA. TECH (-21) over Boston College — Really down on BC, which hasn’t beaten an FBS foe this season.
LSU (-22 ½) over Auburn — Tigers will be without All-American DB Tyrann Mathieu and leading rusher Spencer Ware, both suspended, but it won’t matter. Tigers now have two quarterbacks who can beat you. Auburn doesn’t have one. LSU makes a big statement before having two weeks to prepare for Alabama.
Georgia Tech (+3) over MIAMI — Yellow Jackets still feeling the sting of losing at Virginia and their option gives the ‘Canes fits.
NORTHWESTERN (+4) over Penn State — Congratulations to Penn State, which has become bowl eligible despite not having an offense. It costs the Nittany Lions this weekend as the Wildcats snap a four-game skid on Homecoming Day.
ALABAMA (-29) over Tennessee — Tennessee considers this a rivalry. Alabama considers it an opportunity for its defense to score more points than the Vols’ offense, which lost quarterback Tyler Bray to a broken thumb. Tide makes a statement before having two weeks to prepare for LSU.
NOTRE DAME (-9) over Usc — Scary pick. The Irish have gotten their “O” in gear and they’ve had two weeks to prepare for USC. USC is bowl banned. This is the Trojans’ bowl. But we’re looking at 35-24.
Washington (+20 ½) over STANFORD — Shhh. Steve Sarkisian doesn’t want anyone to know he’s quietly rebuilding the Purple Reign at the right time. When Andrew Luck leaves, the Pac-12 is wide open. He has the Huskies playing hard.
MICHIGAN STATE (+8) over Wisconsin — Usually we would go against a team that scored a huge emotional win, as the Spartans did last week in tying up Michigan. But the Badgers, for as impressive as they’ve been, have yet to play a road game. The Spartans are not the team that got embarrassed by Alabama in its bowl game.
OKLAHOMA (-29 ½) over Texas Tech — The Red Raiders might be the worst 4-2 team in America.
BEST BETS: Arizona, Virginia Tech, Washington
LAST WEEK: 7-8; 3-0 in best bets
SEASON: 52-51-2l; 15-6 in best bets