Personal Finance Blog Roundup, and College Football Schedule

Another week of great reading from all of our friends in the Personal Finance Blogger community.  Here are some of the posts that I really enjoyed:

D from Divorce to Financial Freedom bought some life insurance for her kids at a young age.  Now she is wondering at what age should the kids take over responsibility for keeping the life insurance in force.

Congrats to CityGirl for her outstanding MCAT scores!  That is one smart cookie we got blogging over there.

2Million set a savings goal for his wedding budget.  It's exciting stuff, but I also feel his anxiety.  It sounds like he and I are very much in the same place right now.

Don't forget, the Bogleheads' October Project continues at All Financial Matters.  They have all been very good reviews, but I really want to point out Cap's witty and spot on review of Chapter 16, "Do You Need and Advisor?"

That's all, have a great weekend, and don't forget to see my college football picks.  Remember, if you bet based on my picks and make some money, send me some.  If you lose, don't blame me.  I'm not betting, you shouldn't either.

All times Pacific, Rankings are LAMoneyGuy Rankings and Line per Bodog.com.

Friday, 5:00pm ESPN (9)WVU at (80)UConn, Line: WVU -23.  No doubt this is a mismatch of Gargantuan porportions.  West Virginia has perhaps the most potent offenses in all of college football with the two pronged attack of Slaton and White.  And while their defense has been picked on by sports commentators, it really appears that it is the result of nothing else to pick on.  They have allowed 13 points per game, 10th best in the country.  Twenty three is a lot of points.  Not to worry.  Slaton will rush for 200 and White will pass/run for another couple of Benjamins, leading the 'Eers to a more than 23 point win.

Saturday

9:00am ESPNU (48)Indiana at (2)Ohio State, Line: OSU -30.5.  On the surface this looks like an even bigger mismatch than Friday's game.  However, Indiana is coming off its biggest win in years.  The Hoosiers need two more wins out of a remaining schedule of OSU, Michigan St, Minnesota, Michigan and Purdue.  They'll have to go .500 after this weekend, because one of those wins won't come against the Buckeyes.  Don't expect it to be a blowout.  Well, at least not a thirty and a half point blowout.  Take the Hoosiers and the points.

9:00am ABC (16)Texas at (21)Nebraska, Line: Texas -7.  After losing its luster for nearly a decade, this game has become significant once again.  The Longhorns and Huskers come to Saturday with one loss each, and those come against the #1 and #2 teams in the country.  Texas has been completely embarassing a bunch of nobody teams.  Nebraska, meanwhile needed overtime to beat a Kansas team who lost to Toledo.  No, not Bob, the school.  Colt McCoy throws for three TDs and the Longhorn D stuffs Marlon Lucky in a win, covering the spread.

10:00am ESPN360 (49)Miami FL at (116)Duke, Line: Miami -18.  After one of the ugliest scenes in college football, Miami takes a hard stand and suspends something like two players for all of one games against winless Duke.  So, for the second week in a row, Miami takes on a team zero wins.  That's understandable if this were early September, but it's mid October!  How bad is Duke?  Well, they have been shutout three times.  One of two things will happen in the wake of the brawl, either they will unify in an "Us vs. the world" togetherness or they will fall apart.  I think the former happens and they look to make a statement against hapless Duke.  Miami minus the points.

11:30am NBC (43)UCLA at (14)Notre Dame, Line: ND -14.  USC fans everywhere are heard saying, "Whom do I root for?!"  For only the third time in history, the Bruins and the Irish will meet on the gridiron.  Notre Dames offense hasn't nearly been the high powered machine that was expected, and their defense has been mediocre at best.  Nonetheless they keep winning games.  UCLA, on the other hand, are a step slower on offense after losing Maurice Drew-Jones, Marcedes Lewis and Drew Olson.  The defense has been the surprise of the season.  Near the bottom nationally in nearly every defensive category last year, the Bruins are in the top 10 in total defense so far this season.  Strange things happen in South Bend.  Touchdown Jesus and the ghost of Knute Rockne have a strange influence.  Irish win, but don't cover.

12:30pm ABC Regional (31)Iowa at (3)Michigan, Line: Michigan -14.  Michigan continues to look like the second best team in the country.  Iowa loses a tough game to an Indiana team on the rise.  The Wolverines are still without TD machine, Manningham.  Still, I would take the Maize and Blue minus the points.

12:30pm CBS (36)Alabama at (10)Tennessee, Line: Vols -11.  Tennessee's offense has exploded this year.  Ainge to Meachem is a deadly combo, and both look like they will be playing on Sundays sometime soon.  The Tide may be 5-2, but don't be fooled.  Duke and LA-Monroe, two of the worst teams in Div 1-A, are the only games they have won by two TDs.  They barely beat the Rainbow Warriors at home (Hawaii is a totally different team home vs. away), and needed OT to beat Ol' Miss.  They'll lose to Tennessee and it won't be within 11 points.

2:00pm (18)Oregon at (30)Washington State, Line: Mighty Ducks -4.  What?  Why is this line so small?  Oregon has established itself as probably the third best team in the Pac-10, losing only to the best team in the Pac-10, Cal, in a turnover plagued meltdown.  Wazzou has shown signs of life, but unless snow comes early to the Palouse this year, Oregon covers.

5:45 ESPN2 (6)Rutgers at (26)Pittsburgh, Line: Pitt -6.5.  You can keep overlooking the Scarlet Knights, but they're not going anywhere.  Rutgers has been criticized as not having beaten anyone yet, but their last two wins, S. Florida and Navy, ain't bad.  Their confidence is riding high, and they will not only beat the spread, but win outright.

4:45pm (23)Georgia Tech at (15)Clemson, Line: Tigers -7.5.  After losing an early double OT game to a good Boston College, Clemson has proven to be one of the better teams in the country.  They absolutely destroyed lesser foes, North Carolina, La Tech and Temple, and beat surprisingly good Wake Forest and overrated Florida State.  After surprising the country by losing a close game to preseason #2, Notre Dame, the Yellow Jackets have gone undefeated, but squeaked by the Terps with two 4th quarter TDs.  Clemson covers.

There you have it.  I was 7-3 last week.  If I can manage a 60% winning percentage over the course of a season, it would have been profitable in Vegas.

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