Broadsword calling Danny Boy: Dog Day Afternoon (via Kurt) -- South Carolina (+235) at Mizzou, Tennessee (+270) at Alabama | Eastern North Carolina Now

This is the day of the expanding man
That shape is my shade
There where I used to stand
It seems like only yesterday
I gazed through the glass
At ramblers, wild gamblers
That's all in the past

You call me a fool
You say it's a crazy scheme
This one's for real
I already bought the dream
So useless to ask me why
Throw a kiss and say goodbye
I'll make it this time
I'm ready to cross that fine line

Learn to work the saxophone
(I) I play just what I feel
Drink Scotch whiskey all night long
And die behind the wheel
They got a name for the winners in the world
(I) I want a name when I lose
They call Alabama the Crimson Tide
Call me Deacon Blues (Deacon Blues) - Walter Carl Becker


The Tinker, the Tailor and the Soldier work the Belgrade Run, November 1998: Above.     Click image to enlarge.
    Long time readers will recall Grandfather. Survivor of both The Little Big Horn and Rorke's Drift, his Balkan War adventures and tutelage in Port Arthur under Sidney Reilley were long behind him when he became a college football correspondent for the fledgling wire services at the conclusion of The Great War (World War I to modern folks).

    Grandfather would have struggled to embrace the modern passing game but no doubt been pleased as Washington and Penix Jr. got the job done on the money line as we move to 6-2 in this space and up 5.6 units. ECU generated another October egg and should be considered No Action the rest of the season.


    Grandfather loved kicking (blocked kicks were his thing) and defense in college football. He enjoyed punting duels and safeties; his opinion was that one offensive touchdown per game on average was a little much for the times. With Kurt popping his head up from Damascus while handling this week's picks, as Farnell babbling about smoke on the water and great happenings approaching, we review a page from Grandfather's game notes...

October 15, 1932  •  Legion Field, Birmingham

• *The third Saturday in October can only mean one thing -- Alabama and Tennessee *Heavy rain, conditions sloppy. Turnovers will be key.
• *Greatest game I have ever seen. They are punting on first and second down to gain field position. Neyland is the Bee's Knees.
• *Bama up 3-0 halftime. 13 yard field goal by Holley barely good.
• *Best press chow-spread anywhere at Legion Field. All the Coca-Cola I can drink. Those things are a nickel apiece in the world.
• *Scoreless third quarter as neither team can move the ball. More rain, more punts.
• *North Carolina on the road has finished tied with Georgia 6-6. Both extra points missed in the rain.
• *Tennessee has punted 'Bama down to the one yard line about three yards from the sideline. Talk is something called "hash marks" will be on the field next year to keep wide moving plays more centered in the field for the next snap.
• *'Bama punt from end zone partially blocked by Tennessee sets up game winning TD. Final 7-3 Vols.
• *Great game. 21 punts Vols, 19 punts 'Bama. Real football.


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    Veteran readers will recall Kurt. The German soldier of fortune last seen in Paris following his disastrous paratroop assault on Kiev the night the war opened -- the high flying risk-taker gambles like he fights. He is very aggressive and believes no mission is impossible.

    DAMASCUS     Kurt checking in here and the attack goes soon. Best stay out of the north but just in case they come this way, best we lay out some positions.




    We are in the heart of SEC play and the reality is most of these teams are fairly evenly matched. This is all about the price and we want two live underdogs on the money line. The only way we lose the weekend is to drop both. A split brings home the plus price on one and should we get both we can spend Winter in Bermuda instead of this rocket-pocked desert.

    (That sounds like strong motivation to pick winners.)

    We want Tennessee (+270) at Alabama and South Carolina (+235) at Missouri. Vols following an off week and 'Bama has been shaky this year. Spencer Rattler at South Carolina is the real deal and Misery's strength on defense is run stopping. Rattler should have a big passing day.

    No big analysis here. All about the numbers and the fact we have to lose both to lose the weekend. Positions are in, they both hit and we are heading north to Turkey.

********

   How Kurt talked Putin's crowd into letting him lead his Alpha team opening night to decapitate the Ukie leadership was a mystery at the time. In hindsight it is hard to believe he was the best option they had, but as events have shown the Russian military was not ready for the fight and attempted to win the war on the cheap.

    You hire Kurt and you pay your money and take your chances. He took a hundred in and only 37 Alpha came back.

    They don't call it Rocktober for nothing. Time to go for it one weekend and try for a score. Our calls here are SOUTH CAROLINA (+235) and TENNESSEE (+270) each for two units. Barring a sweep the portfolio grows.



SOUTH CAROLINA    27  •  MISSOURI    13






TENNESSEE    17  •  ALABAMA    13


    These prices are too high, especially South Carolina. When The Man makes a mistake on price we have to hit it hard. We are risking almost eighty percent of the bankroll here that we won't lose both.




    Faint heart ne'er won fair lady and audacity will often carry the day on the battlefield. Audacity certainly has the Middle East in flames once again.

    Smoke on the water. Pamlico or Eastern Med -- it is quite the sight to behold.