As of Oct. 5, I no longer work for this website.

Don't worry, it was by choice. I was hired by Fox Sports.com to be a Senior Editor. My first day on the job there, out in LA, will be Monday, Nov. 7.

Until I find a new platform to post my picks, I will be taking some time off from doing so. Once I find that new platform, I will post the link here, but it probably won't happen for at least two weeks.

For those that have followed me, thanks a zillion.

Until then, here are 4 suggestions:

1. Bang Wisconsin overs. UW will hit more overs vs. unders throughout the season.

2. LSU -14 vs. Florida this Saturday

3. Play Ohio State unders until the Buckeyes get their offense figured out.

4. Don't forget the underdog moneyline strategy during the Bowl season.  

Peace and thanks to all,
-- JR

Sorry, for originally listing South Florida-Pitt as a Saturday game. Yep, it's tonight ...

When I pick a game that is so off, it makes me realize that I'm no expert. I picked Tulane +10 at Duke. The Green Wave were never in it, losing 48-27. Please keep this in mind, if you're playing my suggestions.

Please, don't bet the house and don't try to get it all back in one swoop. That's the biggest mistake by any gambler and why the house easily makes money.

I did go 2-1 in my top plays, however, nailing the over in Florida-Kentucky and winning on K-State, which beat Miami as a 12-point underdog. That makes me 7-5 on the season.

Against the experts, I was 11-6. Jerry Hinnen leads the group with an astounding 50-27 mark. I'm second among the experts at 46-31.

I need to admit I didn't study as much this week with the Jewish holiday starting Wednesday night.

On to Week 5

SATURDAY
No. 16 South Florida -2.5 at Pittsburgh
Minnesota +20.5 at No. 19 Michigan
At No. 24 Illinois -6.5 vs. Northwestern
No. 14 Texas A&M -3.5 vs. No. 18 Arkansas (At Arlington)
Kentucky +29.5 at No. 1 LSU

At No. 4 Boise State -27.5 vs. Nevada
At N.C. State +11.5 vs. No. 21 Georgia Tech
Auburn +10.5 at No. 10 South Carolina
Bowling Green +20.5 at No. 22 West Virginia
No. 15 Baylor -3.5 at Kansas State

At No. 20 TCU -11.5 vs. Southern Methodist
No. 13 Clemson +7.5 at No. 11 Virginia Tech
No. 17 Texas -10.5 at Iowa State
Ball State +37.5 at No. 2 Oklahoma -37.5
No. 3 Alabama -5.5 at No. 12 Florida

No. 8 Nebraska +9.5 at No. 7 Wisconsin
At No. 25 Arizona State -17.5 vs. Oregon State
At No. 6 Stanford -20.5 vs. UCLA

---------------------------------
TOP HANDICAP PLAYS (All games Saturday)
Cincinnati -14.5 at Miami (Ohio)
OVER 56.5 No. 8 Nebraska at No. 7 Wisconsin
Idaho +16 at Virginia

-----------------------------------
------

WEEK 4 HANDICAPPING (2-1; 7-5 overall)
Wins
Kansas State +12.5 in a 28-24 win at Miami
OVER 43 in Florida 48, Kentucky 10

Loss
Tulane +10 in a 48-27 loss at Duke 

A Happy & Healthy New Year to all those who celebrate!

I have no idea what's going on with the Experts' win-loss records. They sure seem to fluctuate.

I did have the top record for Week 3 with a 13-7 showing, but I'm more embarrassed by my 0-3 performance in my top plays. I guess after a 5-1 start, I was due to take a hit.

After Week 3, Jerry Hinnen's 38-22 leads the Expert standings. Dennis Dodd and I are tied at 35-25, followed by Chip Patterson's 34-26, Brett McMurphy's 33-27, Bruce Feldman's 32-28, Tom Fornelli's 29-31 and Adam Jacobi's 28-32.

On to Week 4

SATURDAY
At No. 25 Georgia Tech -5.5 vs. North Carolina
San Diego State +8.5 at No. 22 Michigan
At No. 21 Clemson +3.5 vs. No. 11 Florida State
No. 13 Virginia Tech -19.5 at Marshall
No. 14 Arkansas +12.5 at No. 3 Alabama

Western Michigan +14.5 vs. No. 24 Illinois
No. 7 Oklahoma State +3.5 at No. 8 Texas A&M
No. 15 Florida -17.5 at Kentucky
Vanderbilt +16.5 at No. 12 South Carolina
At No. 18 South Florida -27.5 vs. UTEP

At No. 17 Baylor -19.5 vs. Rice
At Wyoming +23.5 vs. No. 9 Nebraska
At No. 16 West Virginia +6.5 vs. No. 2 LSU
Missouri +21.5 at No. 1 Oklahoma
Tulsa +29.5 at No. 4 Boise State

No. 23 USC +2.5 at Arizona State
No. 10 Oregon -15.5 at Arizona +15.5

-----------------------------------
------

TOP HANDICAP PLAYS (All games Saturday)
Tulane +10 at Duke
Kansas State +12.5 at Miami
OVER 43 Florida at Kentucky

-----------------------------------
-------

WEEK 3 HANDICAPPING (0-3 last week; 5-4 overall)
The three losses:
Toledo +20 in an 40-15 loss to Boise State
Nevada -6.5 in only a 17-14 win at San Jose State
OVER of 51.5 in Notre Dame 31, Michigan State 13

For those of you crying about what the CBS experts are picking against the spread, well now I see you can check out how they do against the spread and how they do straight up. But I'm sure some will still complain.

As for me, I'm sticking to picking against the spread.

Last week I went 11-7, but it only goes down at 10-7 since the CBS page now doesn't include the unranked Michigan-Notre Dame game. But no worries as that was my bonus play and I'll definitely count it there.

The 11-7 makes me 22-18 after the first two weeks.

Jerry Hinnen is in front of the expert's group at 25-15, followed by Dennis Dodd's 24-16, Adam Jacobi's 22-18, Bruce Feldman & Chip Patterson both at 21-19, Brett McMurphy's 20-20 and Tom Fornelli's 18-22.

As for my Top Handicapping Plays: I went 3-1 with wins on Missouri, Stanford and Michigan. I was wrong g on the Oregon State-Wisconsin over. That makes me 5-1 on these suggestions so far.

Looking at this weekend, there are some big games with the big showdown in Tallahassee. Meanwhile, I'll be in the crowd at Ohio State at Miami.  Go Bucks!

On to Week 3

THURSDAY
No. 3 LSU -3.5 at No. 25 Mississippi State

FRIDAY
Toledo +18.5 vs. No. 4 Boise State

SATURDAY -- Sorry these aren't in order of rankings. They're in the same order as the CBS Experts page.
No. 21 Auburn +3.5 at Clemson
No. 18 West Virginia + 1.5 at Maryland
Louisiana-Monroe +28.5 vs. No. 23 TCU
No. 16 Florida -9.5 vs. Tennessee
Washington +16.5 at No. 11 Nebraska

Northern Illinois +17.5 vs. No. 7 Wisconsin (at Chicago)
No. 23 Texas -3.5 at UCLA
Notre Dame -4.5 vs. No. 15 Michigan State
Arkansas State +26.5 at No. 13 Virginia Tech -26.5
Navy +18.5 at No. 10 South Carolina

Illinois +1.5 vs. No. 22 Arizona State
Idaho +36.5 at No. 9 Texas A&M
No. 17 Ohio State +1.5 at Miami
No. 2 Alabama -45.5 vs. North Texas (I could never lay money on this many points)
No. 14 Arkansas -25.5 vs. Troy

No. 5 Florida State +3.5 vs. No. 1 Oklahoma
No. 8 Oklahoma State -13.5 at Tulsa
No. 6 Stanford -10.5 at Arizona

------------------------------

TOP HANDICAP PLAYS
Note: Some lines are different from above because the experts pull their lines early in the week.

FRIDAY: Toledo +20 vs. No. 4 Boise State
SATURDAY: Nevada -6.5 at San Jose State
SATURDAY: OVER 51.5 Michigan State at Notre Dame

I know I said I'd be banging Wisconsin OVERS all season, but I'm going to pass on the 64 vs. Northern Illinois.

-------------------------------

WEEK 2 HANDICAPPING (3-1 last week, 5-1 overall)
Wins
Missouri +7.5 in 37-30 overtime loss at Arizona State
Stanford -21 in 44-14 victory at Duke
Michigan +3.5 in 35-31 win over visiting Notre Dame

Loss
Over of 56.5 in Wisconsin's 35-0 shutout of visiting Oregon State

I went 12-11 in Week 1. Picking against the line is going to be tough, but at least I went 2-0 in my top handicap plays.

Wisconsin-UNLV was an easy over. And Middle Tennessee covered against Purdue. Remember I called off the Maryland-Miami play because of the big line change.

Dennis Dodd leads the experts, by going 15-8 last week.

On to Week 2

THURSDAY
At No. 9 Oklahoma State -14.5 vs. Arizona

FRIDAY
No. 21 Missouri +7.5 at Arizona State

SATURDAY
At Penn State +9.5 vs. No. 3 Alabama
No. 6 Stanford -21.5 at Duke
Oregon State +21.5 at No. 8 Wisconsin (over on UW again)
Fresno State +28.5 at No. 10 Nebraska
East Carolina +19.5 at No. 11 Virginia Tech

At Georgia +3.5 vs. No. 12 South Carolina
Nevada +27.5 at No. 13 Oregon
New Mexico +36.5 vs. No. 14 Arkansas (At Little Rock)
Toledo +18.5 at No. 15 Ohio State
At Auburn +6.5 vs. No. 16 Mississippi State

Florida Atlantic +32.5 at No. 17 Michigan State
At No. 18 Florida -21.5 vs. UAB
Ball State +20.5 at No. 20 South Florida
At Air Force +1.5 vs. No. 25 TCU
Utah +9.5 at USC
At Michigan +4.5 vs. Notre Dame

--------------

TOP HANDICAP PLAYS
FRIDAY: No. 21 Missouri +7.5 at Arizona State
SATURDAY: OVER 56.5 Oregon State at No. 8 Wisconsin
SATURDAY: No. 6 Stanford -21 at Duke

BONUS: At Michigan +3.5 vs. Notre Dame
Note: Reason some lines are different is because the experts pull their lines early Wednesday, so to compare my picks with the experts I have to go by what line they're using.

--------------

WEEK 1 HANDICAPPING (2-0)
Over of 56 in Wisconsin 51, UNLV 17
Middle Tennessee State +17.5 in 27-24 loss at Purdue

I hate it when a line sticks out so much that I think it's the Lock of the Year. Why? Because it's often a trap and I'm usually wrong.

How can Notre Dame be favored in Ann Arbor?

Questions:
Are the Irish overrated & overhyped as they usually are?

Is South Florida better than your average team? Are the Bulls one of the top 20 or so teams in the country?

I didn't see any of Saturday's game, so how much did the weather play a role in the result? I know the Bulls started the scoring with a 96-yard fumble return for a TD.

Now to A2:
How good is "That school from up North?" Is the defense better, cause it sure stunk in 2010? We know Denard Robinson is major threat. What does a 34-10 win over Western Michigan even mean? (Does the MAC suck or what?)

With next week's game in the Big House, Notre Dame's -4.5 sure likes Vegas knows people love playing the Irish ... or am I sucker, because "That school from up North" should be the favorite.