Three Thursday winners!

In the immortal words of Rod Stewart, "Tonight's the night!"

Yes, I know Barack Obama accepts the Democratic Party's nomination for president tonight, but that's not what I'm talking about. I'm talking about that oblong leather ball that college men pitch to and fro --- knocking each other senseless all the while --- for the glory of their alma maters.

It's college freakin' football, friends, and tonight it gets going for real!

And what's college football, really, unless you wager a buck or two? So, having developed a reputation as being reasonably knowledgeable with regard to college football and the so-called "line", I'll be here over the course of the year as your tour guide to new-found riches.

Or not.

And, of course and as always, the following information is for news matter only.

I've got three games I like tonight:

UTEP at Buffalo (-3), 6 p.m., University of Buffalo Stadium, Buffalo, N.Y.: A couple of teams coached by guys with names better-known than their football programs get the party started tonight in upstate New York when Mike "It's Rollin', Baby!" Price brings his UTEP Miners to visit Turner "Tom Osborne's Love Child" Gill and Buffalo. I like the home-standing Bulls in this spot for a variety of reasons, including that it's a long trip from El Paso to Buffalo. Plus, UB returns 18 starters, including 10 on an offense led by QB Drew Willy, who, with his first pass completion tonight, will become UB's all-time career leader in that category --- not that that's any real great accomplishment. Still, the Bulls rebounded from a 1-4 start last year to finish 5-7 while Mike Price --- though he has weathered his date with Destinee in a Pensacola, Fla., strip club and, on the whole, improved the Miners' football fortunes --- saw his team collapse, losing its last six games after starting the year 4-2. Two teams headed in opposite directions. The team on its way up is the home team hosting an opponent from far away. It's a small number. Take the Bulls and lay the three.

Troy (-6.5) at Middle Tennessee, 6:30 p.m., Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium, Murfreesboro, Tenn.: Yeah, yeah, I know. Troy lost a lot of really fine offensive players and, more importantly, its hotshot offensive coordinator, Tony Franklin, took his fast-paced spread to the bigger stage in Auburn. Doesn't matter. Neal Brown, the Trojans' new OC, studied at Franklin's knee and should be more than capable of keeping the Trojans' schemes intact and effective. Plus, the offensive line returns en masse and Troy has never had a dearth of quality athletes. Meanwhile, to put it as simply as possible, Rick Stockstill's MTSU squad doesn't not suck (Well, maybe I could have put it a little more simply!). Take Troy and lay the 6.5. One note: Keep your eye on Troy's Jerrell Jernigan tonight. He's a potential star.

North Carolina State at South Carolina (-14), 7 p.m., Williams-Brice Stadium, Columbia, S.C.: Pity the poor Wolfpack. The Ol' Ball Coach has had months to work on a gameplan and the visitors return only 10 starters from last year's 5-7 squad. Both teams start rookie quarterbacks --- SC's Tom Beecher and NC State's Russell Wilson --- but that's where the similarities end. The Pack has no equivalent to SC's MLB Jasper Brinkley or Gamecock wideout Kenny McKinley, both players that can take over a game on their respective sides of the ball. I don't expect this to be close. Take South Carolina and lay the 14. And don't be a cheap-ass schmuck! Play it large!

Good luck on ya. Don't blame me!