The Fraud Five by Mike Kern – Week 5 Edition

Mike Kern’s Fraud Five

And Then Some

October 3, 2021

Maryland — It’s OK to lose to Iowa, as a slight underdog, even at home. But 51-14 does seem excessive. Good thing Terps at least led early. But visitors scored 31 in second quarter. Hawkeyes also had six interceptions for first time since 1982.

Central Florida — Can’t be losing at Navy, 34-30, as a 17-point fave. Especially when you had a 13-point lead in fourth quarter.

Georgia Tech — Was 3-point dog at home to Pitt. Lost 52-21. Wasn’t a good weekend for former Temple coaches. Ask Miami’s Manny Diaz, who at least was playing without his starting quarterback.

Arkansas — Not because it lost at Georgia, as a 17-point dog. But because the final was 37-zip. I know the Dawgs are real good, but Hogs were unbeaten too and ranked in top 10. Good thing Dawgs didn’t have their starting QB.

Oregon — No sin losing at Stanford, even if I’m not quite sure what Stanford is. But the Ducks were a TD fave. And if you’re going to go to all the trouble to win at Ohio State, well, maybe I expected more. At least for the time being.

Dishonorable Mentions

Florida — I know Kentucky was unbeaten too. But after the Gators took Alabama to the limit, well, I guess I was expecting more. But they only scored 13, as a TD fave, and they hadn’t lost at Lexington since 1986.

Texas A&M — Another team that was supposed to be, well, whatever. Aggies were home, ranked 15^th, giving a TD to a Mississippi State team that was coming off two close losses. But the Bulldogs won 26-22. Aggies could only manage nine points in final 32 minutes.

Wisconsin — Repeat offender. The Badgers at this point just aren’t good enough. It’s Ok to lose to Michigan at home, for first time in two decades. But it was 38-17, in what was for some reason basically a pick-em game. And I know their QB got hurt, in the third quarter. So maybe I’m being too hard. At least they scored in final minute. And I’m not sure how good their QB was anyway. Just saying. But everyone’s allowed an off year.

UCLA – It’s Ok to lose to once beaten Arizona State and Herm Edwards in the Rose Bowl. But maybe not by three TD’s, when you’re ranked and the Sun Devils aren’t. And you get outscored in the second half 18-nada.