10-26-13

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Clemson QB Boyd addresses sports betting rumors

Clemson quarterback Tajh Boyd responded to an internet rumor that he owed more than $80,000 on a gambling debt, telling reporters the rumor is false in his weekly news conference with the press.

"I have no idea where that came from," Boyd told reporters. "It was kind of shocking to me as well. That on top of the loss (to Florida State) made for a rough little weekend."

The rumor has it that Boyd dug himself quite a hole betting on NFL games. According to USA Today, that “brought laughter from Boyd as he cited the fact that his cable provider allows him access to only two games each Sunday.”

"I rarely watch NFL games," Boyd told the media.

Boyd was questioned by his head coach Dabo Sweeney Sunday morning. Sweeny told reporters, “He just shook his head and said, 'No way, coach,'".

"I have no reason not to believe Tajh Boyd,” Sweeney said. “He's never lied to me before. His character and integrity from my view are impeccable, so I'm going to take his word over some website that I've never heard of, ever."

The university is investigating the clams. The rumors originated from the Twitter account @Pregame_Steam, known for posting false information and being an alias account for notorious rumor kick starter "Incarcerated Bob".

Clemson is coming off a loss to Florida State and faces Maryland as a 14-point road favorite Saturday. Boyd heads into Week 9 as a +10,000 long shot to win the Heisman Trophy.

[Can'tPickAWinner]

The DCI:

Saturday, October 26, 2013
American Athletic Conference
Houston -- 31.6, RUTGERS -- 32.0 (--)
Temple -- 22.4, SMU -- 38.0 (--)
Louisville -- 28.3, SOUTH FLORIDA -- 13.8 (--)
Connecticut -- 4.0, UCF -- 40.9 (--)
Atlantic Coast Conference
NC State 9.5 at FLORIDA STATE 44.6, 3:30 pm ET
Clemson 36.9 at MARYLAND 19.3, 3:30 pm ET
Wake Forest 17.1 at MIAMI (FLA.) 34.6, 12:00 pm ET
Boston College 24.1 at NORTH CAROLINA 30.9, 3:30 pm ET
Georgia Tech 33.3 at VIRGINIA 18.7, 12:30 pm ET
Duke 18.5 at VIRGINIA TECH 29.3, 3:30 pm ET
Big 12 Conference
Oklahoma State 41.0 at IOWA STATE 25.0, 12:00 pm ET
Baylor 56.4 at KANSAS 20.5, 7:00 pm ET
West Virginia 27.8 at KANSAS STATE 39.6, 3:45 pm ET
Texas Tech 29.5 at OKLAHOMA 34.6, 3:30 pm ET
Texas 28.1 at TCU 22.1, 7:30 pm ET
Big Ten Conference
Michigan State 30.7 at ILLINOIS 15.6, 3:30 pm ET
Northwestern 20.9 at IOWA 25.1, 12:00 pm ET
Nebraska 33.5 at MINNESOTA 22.9, 12:00 pm ET
Penn State 25.4 at OHIO STATE 38.3, 8:00 pm ET
Conference USA
Louisiana Tech 28.5 at FIU 27.0, 6:00 pm ET
Utep 19.8 at RICE 43.9, 3:30 pm ET
North Texas 36.2 at SOUTHERN MISS 14.2, 7:00 pm ET
Tulsa 27.7 at TULANE 31.6, 3:30 pm ET
Uab 30.6 at UTSA 38.0, 5:00 pm ET
Mid-American Conference
Ball State 39.0 at AKRON 18.6, 12:00 pm ET
Toledo 22.6 at BOWLING GREEN 29.7, 2:30 pm ET
Buffalo 26.2 at KENT STATE 19.3, 3:30 pm ET
Western Michigan 17.1 at MASSACHUSETTS 22.3, 3:00 pm ET
Eastern Michigan 12.8 at NORTHERN ILLINOIS 57.4, 3:30 pm ET
Miami (Ohio) 9.7 at OHIO 36.2, 2:00 pm ET
Mountain West Conference
Colorado State 35.9 at HAWAI'I 29.5, 11:59 pm ET
Unlv 32.7 at NEVADA 43.0, 6:05 pm ET
Fresno State 39.8 at SAN DIEGO STATE 31.6, 10:30 pm ET
Wyoming 26.2 at SAN JOSE STATE 38.8, 7:00 pm ET
Pacific-12 Conference
Arizona 46.5 at COLORADO 27.4, 8:00 pm ET
Ucla 26.9 at OREGON 50.4, 7:00 pm ET
Stanford 33.6 at OREGON STATE 29.5, 10:30 pm ET
Utah 24.4 at USC 29.7, 4:00 pm ET
California 22.1 at WASHINGTON 44.4, 11:00 pm ET
Southeastern Conference
Tennessee 11.4 at ALABAMA 43.6, 3:30 pm ET
South Carolina 24.5 at MISSOURI 37.4, 7:00 pm ET
Vanderbilt 34.9 at TEXAS A&M 45.1, 12:21 pm ET
Sun Belt Conference
South Alabama 28.9 at TEXAS STATE 24.1, 7:00 pm ET
Georgia State 16.2 at ULM 32.7, 7:00 pm ET
Troy 28.7 at WESTERN KENTUCKY 35.5, 4:00 pm ET
FBS Non-Conference
Notre Dame 38.9 at AIR FORCE 10.1, 5:00 pm ET
Florida Atlantic 12.3 at AUBURN 41.2, 7:30 pm ET
Furman 1.1 at LSU 48.0, 7:00 pm ET
Pittsburgh 29.6 at NAVY 22.3, 1:00 pm ET
Abilene Christian 37.3 at NEW MEXICO STATE 32.2, 8:00 pm ET
Idaho 7.3 at OLE MISS 55.6, 7:30 pm ET
Big Sky Conference
Northern Arizona 23.9 at CAL POLY 28.0, 9:05 pm ET
Eastern Washington 31.0 at MONTANA 29.8, 3:30 pm ET
UC Davis 12.3 at MONTANA STATE 34.8, 4:05 pm ET
North Dakota 27.9 at PORTLAND STATE 38.4, 4:05 pm ET
Idaho State 13.4 at SOUTHERN UTAH 36.5, 3:05 pm ET
Big South Conference
Vmi 13.9 at COASTAL CAROLINA 57.9, 6:00 pm ET
Liberty 34.1 at GARDNER-WEBB 23.7, 1:30 pm ET
Colonial Athletic Association
Delaware -- 28.2, RHODE ISLAND -- 23.8 (--)
Towson -- 35.2, RICHMOND -- 17.7 (--)
New Hampshire -- 26.0, STONY BROOK -- 25.1 (--)
Maine -- 26.7, VILLANOVA -- 24.4 (--)
James Madison -- 18.2, WILLIAM & MARY -- 22.5 (--)
Ivy League
Brown 33.8 at CORNELL 19.4, 12:30 pm ET
Columbia 12.1 at DARTMOUTH 25.0, 1:30 pm ET
Princeton 26.1 at HARVARD 34.6, 1:00 pm ET
Yale 16.0 at PENN 25.8, 1:00 pm ET
Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
South Carolina State 19.8 at BETHUNE-COOKMAN 20.7, 4:00 pm ET
North Carolina A&T 16.8 at FLORIDA A&M 12.2, 2:00 pm ET
Delaware State 16.4 at HAMPTON 18.0, 1:00 pm ET
Morgan State 21.2 at HOWARD 27.2, 1:00 pm ET
North Carolina Central 34.6 at SAVANNAH STATE 19.8, 2:00 pm ET
Missouri Valley Football Conference
South Dakota 25.3 at ILLINOIS STATE 25.7, 2:00 pm ET
North Dakota State 42.7 at INDIANA STATE 3.4, 3:05 pm ET
Northern Iowa 25.6 at SOUTH DAKOTA STATE 20.8, 3:00 pm ET
Missouri State 25.4 at WESTERN ILLINOIS 12.1, 7:00 pm ET
Northeast Conference
Duquesne 24.7 at BRYANT 25.7, 1:00 pm ET
Sacred Heart 32.3 at SAINT FRANCIS (PA.) 30.3, 12:00 pm ET
Robert Morris 15.8 at WAGNER 27.0, 12:00 pm ET
Ohio Valley Conference
UT Martin 36.3 at AUSTIN PEAY 14.9, 5:00 pm ET
Eastern Kentucky 32.6 at SOUTHEAST MISSOURI STATE 25.2, 2:00 pm ET
Eastern Illinois 33.4 at TENNESSEE STATE 34.4, 5:00 pm ET
Jacksonville State 33.3 at TENNESSEE TECH 26.5, 2:30 pm ET
Patriot League
Lehigh 32.7 at BUCKNELL 15.5, 1:00 pm ET
Colgate 33.4 at GEORGETOWN 24.4, 1:00 pm ET
Lafayette 21.8 at HOLY CROSS 32.9, 1:00 pm ET
Pioneer Football League
Mercer 38.7 at CAMPBELL 32.4, 4:00 pm ET
Valparaiso 14.2 at DRAKE 41.2, 2:00 pm ET
Davidson 20.7 at JACKSONVILLE 40.8, 1:00 pm ET
Stetson 10.4 at MARIST 41.5, 1:00 pm ET
Dayton 43.4 at MOREHEAD STATE 26.7, 1:00 pm ET
Butler 26.9 at SAN DIEGO 32.5, 4:00 pm ET
Southern Conference
Georgia Southern 37.6 at APPALACHIAN STATE 19.0, 3:30 pm ET
The Citadel 17.2 at CHATTANOOGA 30.9, 2:00 pm ET
Elon 30.1 at WESTERN CAROLINA 26.8, 3:30 pm ET
Samford 21.4 at WOFFORD 23.4, 1:30 pm ET
Southland Conference
Stephen F. Austin 32.8 at CENTRAL ARKANSAS 43.5, 4:00 pm ET
McNeese State 52.8 at NICHOLLS STATE 20.9, 4:00 pm ET
Northwestern State 16.4 at SAM HOUSTON STATE 47.3, 3:00 pm ET
Lamar 13.5 at SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA 36.6, 8:00 pm ET
Southwestern Athletic Conference
Alabama A&M 12.1 vs. Alabama State 34.6, 3:30 pm ET
Texas Southern 19.9 at GRAMBLING 15.4, 3:00 pm ET
Prairie View A&M 29.8 vs. Jackson State 25.2, 5:00 pm ET
Arkansas-Pine Bluff 21.4 at MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE 25.2, 3:00 pm ET
Alcorn State 24.3 at SOUTHERN 27.4, 6:30 pm ET
FCS Non-Conference
Charlotte 23.7 at CHARLESTON SOUTHERN 29.6, 1:00 pm ET
Houston Baptist 20.1 at INCARNATE WORD 32.6, 7:00 pm ET
Old Dominion 44.9 at NORFOLK STATE 12.7, 1:00 pm ET

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Inside the stats: Notre Dame Fighting Irish are leaking oil
By MARC LAWRENCE

Each week we take a look inside the numbers, from both a statistical and a pointspread aspect, on the college football and NFL cards.

Here are this week’s findings:

Behind the 8-ball

Game 8 of the college football season is often a crossroads for teams. Those who have won more games than they have lost are entertaining thoughts of securing a bowl bid. Those who are reeling and going down for the count are disappointed – and their actions on the field confirm those feelings.

According to our powerful database, teams playing Game 8 off three consecutive losses are prime candidates to be dropped into a corner pocket and counted out, especially when they take out as road dogs against an opponent off a loss in this situation. That’s because teams in this scenario are a paltry 14-96 SU and 38-69-3 ATS since 1980.

Better yet, bring them in against an opponent off back-to-back losses and they fall to 10-59 SU and 20-46-2 ATS. This week, we’ll be queuing up against California and Northwestern.

And faster than you can say “break ‘em”, if our qualified “play-against” Game 8 road dog arrives with a wobbly defense allowing 32.5 or more PPG on the season, they scratch like a poison-ivy infected boy scout, going 3-33 SU and 7-27-2 ATS, including 1-37 SU and 3-23-2 ATS as dog of eight or more points.

With that, look for the Bears to get “racked” this week.

Vinegar & oil

In keeping with our “leaking oil” theory (fading favorites who have lost the stats in each of their previous three games), and after a rocky effort last week, these plays are now 8-15 ATS (6-10 CFB; 2-5 NFL) this season.

This week’s Exxon Mobil plays would be against: Louisiana Monroe and Notre Dame in college football, along with San Francisco in the NFL.

In the stats

As a follow up to last week’s accounting of teams that are 100 percent perfect “in the stats” (ITS) in all games played this season, we report these perfect squads:

• Arizona State, Baylor, BYU, Florida State, Michigan State, Oregon, and (surprise) Western Kentucky.

• Miami (Ohio) and New Mexico State remain winless.

In the NFL the only perfect ITS team - winless - is Minnesota.

Overwhelming

There have been 57 Overs and 49 Unders in the NFL this season.

Leading the charge have been the totals results in non-conference games (AFC vs. NFC). These games have gone 24-11 O/U.

This week’s potential non-conference Overs would be: Jacksonville vs. San Francisco (London), Buffalo vs. New Orleans and Denver vs. Washington.

Stat of the Week

North Texas has not won three games in a row since 2004, and is 1-24 straight up in games off a previous win.

[Can'tPickAWinner]

DAVE ESSLER

Saturday CFB Thoughts on Half the Games

G-Tech at UVA: Clearly G-Tech will be the very public side after pasting Syracuse, and Virginia losing at home to Duke after having a HT lead is going to only magnify this line. They hammered UVA in Atlanta last year, but lost SU in UVA the year before. Not sure the value here isn't in the total, and lean under since Tech's defense has been playing well, UVA's season is essentially done, and they couldn't score when it wasn't done.

UConn-UCF: Again, inflated number to cover with the Knights after the public beating they gave an over rated L'ville team and UConn being 0-6. UCF extra time to prepare and UCF has a bigger game against Houston next week, so if the number is high enough, I could see taking UConn and their reasonable defense, or at least the under.

Ball State-Akron: Ball State remains undefeated in MAC play, and at some point has to be looking towards their showdown with Northern Illinois. Akron did win on the road (yes, it was against a bad team) and played Northern Illinois pretty tough on the road last week. This one could well have public disaster because, well, Ball State's defense just isn't one I wanted to lay big points with two weeks in a row on the road.

Miami (OH)-Ohio: Miami can't score and can't stop many people from scoring, and are of course winless. It'd certainly be tough to back them on the road with Ohio finally getting things together, but Ohio does have a big date w.Buffalo next week, and DID lost to Central Michigan, so if Ohio's focused they run away, if they're looking at the next two game (Bowling Green in two weeks) it could be closer than expected.

Buffalo-Kent: Kent has seemingly zero defense, but you guys know I'll almost always try to find a way to take points, one way or another. Buffalo's stock is super-high right now, but they really haven't played a quality opponent since giving up the obligatory 70 points to Baylor and then beating Stony Brook (the football team) in overtime. There's a big part of me that says this could be another public disaster, obviously depending on how many points they want to give a team that's played at LSU and at Penn State.

Western Michigan-UMass: OK, Western Michigan is winless and UMass, on paper, isn't much better, but they should be favored here and I like them to get win number two here. They've played a tougher (much) schedule and appear to be improving week-to-week, and the Buffalo loss just really gives this one a little more value, IMO. If it weren't a team like UMass, capable of almost anything, I'd bet the farm on the Minutemen.

Houston-Rutgers: First thing that comes to mind is that last time the Cougars were up this way when they beat Temple, and covered on a pick late. They could/should have lost that game. And Houston will be the public side because their only loss was to BYU and could have gone either way, so no discounting them here. In fact, it may inflate their value since it was BYU. Rutgers has has over two weeks to prepare for this game, and has really done what they're supposed to in every game this year. Rutgers could win this game, IMO.

Boston College-UNC: Again, the Tar Heels will be the public side, but they MAY be the right side. The Miami loss actually gave them back some cred, and they played V-Tech and G-Tech pretty tough in losses. They've got to win fove of the last six to get to a Bowl game after having such high expectations early, but I can see that, given the schedule and their starting to play better. Perhaps a victim of a tough early schedule. But, BC has had two weeks to prepare, played Clemson tough (I know the situation) and actually played FSU fairly tough. So, this one is totally dependant on the number for me.

Clemson-Maryland: Certainly have to wonder where Clemsons' head will be at, but they'll still be prohibitive favorites, as people will expect them to take it out on the Terps, who were hammered at Wake. One thing in Maryland's favor is that prior to the Wake game they'd at least beaten the teams they were supposed to. Probably inclined to simply take the over, but it will be a big number and probably only get bigger if the weather looks decent.

Duke-V-Tech: The Hokies defense is back, quietly, to where it was and where people have come to expect it to be. However, I do really have a hard time getting behind Logan Thomas. V-Tech has three of the last four games on the road, and plays at Miami, so they do have the ACC Coastal in their own hands. However, I have to wonder if their stock isn't too high right now. Duke CAN put points on the board, but really can't stop a good team. With that in mind I'd expect V-Tech to play ball control and not get into a shootout here, so perhaps the under with what's probably a bigger than it should be total.

Pittsburgh-Navy: This is only Navy's third game in Annapolis, and the first two were wins over bad teams. Pitt obviously struggled against ODU and has G-Tech in Atlanta next week, so as far as the situation goes, this might be Navy's game to lose. Only Pitt's third road game, and although the played V-Tech pretty tough, they may have peaked right about then. I like betting service academies because you get 110% effort, so I lean Navy.

UAB-UTSA: Neither team may stop scoring, or neither team may be able to stop the other is perhaps the better way to look at it. Both teams have played great schedules against non-conference teams and on the road more often than not. Just no real opinion on this game.

Temple-SMU: Southern Methodist hasn't beaten a good team yet, and every time I think they're going to get it together, Gilbert simply sucks. So, the more consistent team that I'd want my money on would be Temple. Although they just got their first win, they've play the much tougher schedule.

Eastern Michigan-Northern Illinois: Obviously Northern Illinois is chalk again, and undefeated, but ATS they are just pushing the envelope every week, except against Purdue. Eastern Michigan has the worst defense in the nation, and against a pretty pathetic schedule, so NI could well get healthy here. Square to be thinking about an over in this game, but EMU will occasionally put points on the board and NI's defense has let up more than they typically do. Perhaps they miss Doeren more than many think.

Arizona-Colorado: Wildcats have pretty much done what they were supposed to in most games this season, losing at Washington and at SoCal, with the lone road win coming at UNLV. Colorado's defense has some pretty bad numbers, but a quick look at who they've allowed all those yards/points to might make one pause before making the auto-bet on Arizona here. I do like Colorado at home in the thin air, more often than not, and if they have any hope of perhaps making a Bowl game (who knew?) they need to win THIS game.

Vanderbilt-Texas A & M: Welp, it appears the Aggies finally are who we thought they were, and Vanderbilt is as well. Given what A & M typically does (or doesn't do) on both sides of the ball, this total might be pretty high. Maybe too high. If you look back at Vandy's losses, knowing what we know now, they weren't bad losses at all. And if you look at who (Arkansas, for one) the Aggies have allowed points to, it's not pretty. Might take Vanderbilt here if for no other reason than A & M has to be running out of emotion after the 'Bama hype, the Manzeil hype, and all the distractions.

Florida Atlantic-Auburn: Obviously War Eagle can name the score here. They only have the one loss at LSU, and have their final two games against UGA and Alabama at home, so they could well be looking at a decent Bowl game, so they really do have reason to make minced meat out of someone.

Tennessee-Alabama: I'd try to find a way to take the Vols, and the 'Bama defense that everyone seems to have written off, has only allowed more than ten points to one team, A & M. Big game w/LSU next, but not as big after LSU loses to Ole Miss (shit) and two weeks to get ready. That's a game I might take LSU in, seeing as how they've simply got nothing to lose now. Most definitely lean under whatever the number is here, and I probably want no part of the side, but I did just see it open at -26 so it's the Vols or nothing. A bit shocked to see it that high.

UCLA-Oregon: This will be an interesting, to say the least, total. After watching UCLA struggle against Stanford to protect Hundley, and after Oregon was so sloppy on defense, I've got to think both will be points of emphasis in practice this week. IMO Oregon makes a statement, again, here. They've got two week before they play Stanford, and UCLA was exposed by Stanford as simply not a top ten team.

Utah-SoCal: Trojans actually have a reasonable chance for a 7-8 win regular season, which is obviously below pre-season expectations, but probably above the expectations of a few weeks ago. Utes on the road appear to be a shadow of what they are at home, and they need two more wins for the magic sixth one, which may not be as easy as people think. My knee-jerk reaction is that SoCal finally plays a complete game and hammers them.

Tulsa-Tulane: I've seen to many Tulsa games to even consider backing them, let alone on the road. Green is terrible and they have no defense. Now I do know that the Green Wave is not a tsunami, either, but they have beat a couple decent teams and are at home w/two weeks to prepare, and have BEEN home all month. Haven't looked (intentionally) at the line yet, but Tulane ought to win this game by a TD, IMO.

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Stevie Y

CFB
Boston College +8
Kansas State -10
Pitt -5

Tulane +3
Stan/Oreg St. - Over 55
UTEP/Rice - Over 58

[Can'tPickAWinner]

StatFox Super Situations - FoxSheets

CFB BUFFALO at KENT ST.
Play On - A road team vs. the money line (BUFFALO) after 2 consecutive covers as a favorite, good team, winning 60-80% or more of their games on the season
44-31 over the last 5 seasons. ( 58.7% 0.0 units )
3-3 this year. ( 50.0% 0.0 units )

CFB ARIZONA at COLORADO
Play Against - A road team vs. the 1rst half line (ARIZONA) after outgaining opp by 125 or more total yards in their previous game against opponent after gaining 6.75 or more and allowing <=3.75 yards/play last game
46-18 over the last 10 seasons. ( 71.9% 26.2 units )
5-3 this year. ( 62.5% 1.7 units )

[Can'tPickAWinner]

John Pickens "golden pick" - UCLA +23

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Phil Steele ( Steele Traps Plays)
2-0 last week
7-8-1

Nebraska - 10 1/2

Vt - 13 1/2

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Hondo

15-8 64.6%

Miami -23
Bama - 28 1/2
Missouri -3

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Mighty Quinn
Last week 3-7
season 39-39
best bets 5-3 Rutgers

Miami
Fla St
Clemson
Bama
Ok
Nd
S Carolina
Oregon
Ohio St

[Can'tPickAWinner]

The Eckman (Mr.Chalk)
48-30

Wake
Houston
Clemson
Tenny
Texas tech
Air Force
Missouri -Best bet 4-4
Ucla
Ohio St

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Factsman Saturday
Oregon -23

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Goodfella 3* Oregon -21 3* San jose st -6.5

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Betting First Look with Marco D'Angelo

CFB
PENN ST. @ OHIO ST.
Ohio State-14.5

**Ohio St. winning by 21 pts or more.

CFB
DUKE @ VIRGINIA TECH
Virginia Tech-13.5

**Virginia Tech winning by 21 pts or more.

[Can'tPickAWinner]

CFL

Week 18

Montreal (7-9) @ Hamilton (8-8)—Alouettes (-1.5) crushed Hamilton 36-5 at home last week, running out to 31-3 halftime lead, fifth straight win for home team in this series; Als (+8) lost 28-26 here in first meeting five weeks ago—they’ve lost six straight road games in this series, with last five series games in Ontario going over the total. Montreal won three of last four games, covered four of last five; they’re 3-2 as road underdogs this year, 3-5 SU on road, with losses by 8-8-25-7-7 points. TiCats covered eight of last 11 games, are 3-2 SU in last five; they’ve won four of last five home games, with wins by 23-8-2-6 points and a loss to Calgary. Hamilton has been minus in turnovers in each of last five games and outscored in second half in each of its last seven games. Last four TiCat games stayed under the total.

Saskatchewan (11-5) @ Calgary (13-3)—Home side won both series games this year; Roughriders (-2) won 36-21 in Regina in Week 2 (outscored Calgary 22-0 in 2nd half), then lost 42-27 (+3) in post-bye game at McMahon in Week 7, with Stamps outrushing them 223-171. Last four series games went over the total. I say Riders are streaky; this is their season: 5W-L-3W-4L-3W, that’s streaky- they’re 2-1 as a dog this season, 5-3 SU on road, with weird losses at Edmonton/Montreal during their skid. Calgary won eight of last nine games, covering last four; they’re 5-3 as home favorites this year, winning home games by 12-11-15-3-4-27-14 points, with a loss to Toronto. Saskatchewan has nine INTs in its last three games, with a +8 turnover ratio in those games. Seven of eight Stampeder home games went over the total; last five Rider games stayed under.