Bob Haynie: College And Pro Football Selections – Week 3
Before we get to the picks, I would like to acknowledge the recent passing of former WBC Heavyweight champ Ken Norton.
Norton, who died Wednesday at the age of 70, was one my favorite fighters when I was growing up in the 1970's. His three fights against Muhammad Ali made him famous. But it was his bout against Larry Holmes that made him legendary.
I vividly remember watching that battle on ABC as Norton was defending his title for the first time against the undefeated Holmes. In that epic 1978 struggle, Holmes wrested the crown from Norton via split decision. The 15th round of that fight is one of the greatest in the history of the heavyweight division.
Even though he had lost his belt, Norton displayed nothing but class in the post-fight interview with Howard Cosell. Cosell could not praise him enough for being the fighter and man that he was.
Norton's career went down hill after that and he was involved in a near-fatal car accident in 1986 that robbed him of his immense physical skill. That did not deter him, however, from continuing to remind people that he was a vital part of maybe the most memorable boxing era of all time.
RIP Mandingo.
On to the picks. I had a strong showing last weekend. In college, I was 3 and 0. Maryland and UCLA not only covered, but they won outright. As for Texas A&M, even though they couldn't knock off top-ranked Alabama, they did cover the spread (+7.5).
I was 2 and 1 in the NFL. The Ravens and Bucs both covered the spread. The Lions, unfortunately, took it on the chin at Arizona against the Cardinals.
I am
now 8-3-1 on the season.
Let's do this.
College
Maryland (-5) West Virginia at Baltimore
Michigan State (+4.5) @ Notre Dame
BYU (-6.5) Utah
NFL
Lions (+1) @ Redskins
Bengals (+3) Packers
Raiders (+16.5) @ Broncos
Happy Football!
