Your Pigskins and Ponies Picks for Sept. 24-27

Welcome to ABR’s Pigskins and Ponies column, where winners play!
Horse racing is my means to an end, and I love the sport like no other, but I admit it, like most of you, on a Sunday afternoon in the fall, it’s hard to pull me away from my couch … and NFL RedZone.
I have a wanted sign in Las Vegas and am feared by fantasy football mavens nationwide, but when it comes to the college game, I choose to punt.
That’s where Derek Cooley comes in. The dude is a loaded gun of university knowledge.
Let’s kick off the football, spring the horses from the gate and pad our bankrolls!
**Lines as of Wednesday Night from scoresandodds.com**
College Pigskins – by Derek Cooley
Last week we escaped 3-3-1 against the spread, but it could have been much worse! 
I feel like I was beat up in some of those early games. Georgia Tech didn't look like they had a prayer on defense! 
Minnesota? Seriously? That was just one of those games you just shouldn't touch, so my bad. 
Northwestern was really impressive on the road against Duke. I'm not even going to mention that Miami/Nebraska push (I actually just did).
We knew and HAMMERED LSU at home against Auburn … that was almost too easy. Also, we got a few late covers with an Ole Miss victory and riding the BYU train! That train is running through Week 4 as well ... so here ... we … go!
Last week: 3-3-1
Season Total: 10-9-1 (.526)
Oregon State +15 vs. (21) Stanford (Friday, 10 p.m. ET, FS1)
Stanford QB Kevin Hogan remains questionable for Friday night's game in Corvallis, with his Cardinal coming off an enormous win last weekend against USC. Oregon State has wins over Weber State and San Jose State with a loss at Michigan, not your most impressive victories to say the least. This will be a big night under the lights at Reser Stadium, and maybe Stanford (with/without Hogan) will have a slight hangover from their big victory. Stanford wins, but OSU covers.
Ohio State -31.5 vs. Western Michigan (Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC)
Cardale Jones is starting this week at QB for the nation's number one team, a week after a performance that resembled a walkthrough practice that nearly cost the Buckeyes dearly against Northern Illinois. It's a bad, bad time to be a MAC school and head to Columbus, the Buckeyes will NOT be messing around. Western Michigan head coach P.J. Fleck will want to “Reverse The Boat.”  OSU big.
(8) LSU -25 @ Syracuse (Saturday, noon ET, ESPN)
It's a new starting QB for Syracuse, as Austin Wilson will now try to keep the Orange going against a devastatingly powerful LSU team. Leonard Fournette, the nation's best overall player, and Brandon Harris will run wild against a run defense that has yet to be tested for Syracuse. A 7-10 point game at half turns into a blowout as the Tigers wear down Syracuse. 
(22) BYU +5.5 @ Michigan (Saturday, noon ET, ABC)
It's somewhat of an early game for the Cougars, but that hasn't seemed to affect them yet. I understand that Michigan is a favorite ... noon kickoff and at home, but BYU proved more in their loss than any of their wins. Five-and-a-half points? That's just way to many to give to BYU. 
(13) Oregon -11 vs. (18) Utah (Saturday, 8:30 p.m. ET, FOX)
I love Oregon at home, especially with a smaller spread for Autzen Stadium (11 points). Even though Utah played tough last year in Salt Lake City, it was still a 24-point win for Oregon. I know that result has no bearing on this year's matchup, but it shows how easy it is for Oregon to pull away from a quality team. Vernon Adams should be back and pretty angry as well, and Oregon wins by 2-plus TD's.
AUTZEN STADIUM IS ELECTRIC AT NIGHT

Autzen Stadium at night by Ray Terrill - http://www.flickr.com/photos/rayterrill/6381134907/sizes/m/in/photostream/. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons.
(16) Arizona + 3.5 vs. (9) UCLA (Saturday, 8 p.m. ET, ABC)
Jim Mora Jr.'s defense continues to take hits, and the latest was a haymaker. Potental top-10 NFL Draft pick Myles Jack is now out for the season, the third defender out for the year. Both teams will, however, be getting a top defender back for the first time this year: Scooby Wright for Arizona and Ishmael Adams for UCLA. Bruins QB Josh Rosen has come back to earth following his sizzling start to his NCAA career, while Arizona QB Anu Solomon has quietly had a great start to his season. This is a redemption game for Solomon and the Wildcats, as I like them in the upset.
Pro Pigskins – by Joe Kristufek
Kansas City’s giveaway on Thursday night against Denver was a prelude of bad things to come. It was a disastrous week we’d rather forget and one that left most bookies smiling. To say the least, it’s been a strange start to the season, but NFL does stand for “not for long.”
With a fresh thought process, it’s time to jump back into the saddle for Week 3.
Last week: 0-5
Season Total: 2-10 (.167)
Thursday, Sept. 24
New York Giants – 3.5 vs. Washington Redskins
The Giants could very easily be 2-0, yet they are 0-2. There certainly is a sense of desperation, particularly in front of the home crowd. Washington’s defense has kept them in both games, and last week they outlasted the St. Louis Rams at home, but I don’t think the run game will be enough to cover the number here.
Sunday, Sept. 27
Oakland Raiders +3 vs. Cleveland Browns
After tossing in a clunker at home against Cincinnati, Oakland bounced back in a big way versus Baltimore. Derek Carr played perhaps the best game of his career. Cleveland won, too, but I don’t think they can move the chains with the Raiders in this one.
Indianapolis Colts -3 at Tennessee Titans
What is wrong with the Colts? Whatever it is, they’ll get it fixed. Andrew Luck is too good and they have too many offensive weapons to work with. All they need to do is BLOCK SOMEBODY! 
ANDREW LUCK RIGHTS THE SHIP THIS WEEK FOR 0-2 COLTS

Andrew Luck vs Browns 2014 by Erik Daniel Drost - Flickr. Licensed under CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons.
Arizona Cardinals -8 vs. San Francisco 49ers
Following a sloppy Week 1 win at home against Minnesota, San Francisco returned to reality against Pittsburgh. Arizona stomped all over Chicago last week, showing strength in all three phases. The Cardinals are home and prepared to feast.
Seattle Seahawks -14 vs. Chicago Bears
Seattle is 0-2, but they welcome a wounded Chicago team into their domain. The Seahawks will take out their frustrations on a team with no answers and gallop to a decisive score. 
Ponies – by Joe Kristufek
A Dogwood Stakes win at Churchill Downs from Super Majesty combined with on-the-board performances at Kentucky Downs from I’m Already Sexy (second in Ladies Turf) and Annulment (third in One Dreamer), and we once again carved out a marginal profit for the week.
Last week: 3-1-1-1 ($2 WPS * $18 wagered * $20.00 returned)
Season Total: 9-3-2-2 ($2 WPS * $54 wagered * $58.60 returned = $6.43)
Saturday, Sept. 26
Belmont Park – Elmont, N.Y.
Race 10 — Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Stakes (G1)
#1 Red Rifle (morning-line odds, 5-2)
Better than ever at the age of five, this son of Giant’s Causeway was most recently seen finishing second behind the Euro monster Flintshire in the Grade 1 Sword Dancer Stakes at Saratoga Race Course. The presence of Big Blue Kitten, Twilight Eclipse and Slumber should allow us to steal a fair enough price on the most likely winner.
RED RIFLE WINNING BOWLING GREEN HANDICAP IN AUGUST AT SARATOGA

Photo by Eclipse Sportswire
Churchill Downs – Louisville, Ky.
Race 8 — Ack Ack Handicap (G3)
#6 Viva Majorca (morning-line odds, 3-1)
A horse with an affinity for Churchill Downs, this 4-year-old Tiago gelding finished a very respectable third last out behind the monster Private Zone in the Grade 1 Forego Stakes at Saratoga at seven furlongs. He finds the company softer here and should relish the one-turn mile. 
Race 9 — Jefferson Cup Stakes (G3)
#9 Flashy Chelsey (morning-line odds, 12-1)
He may not have the “class” of most of these, but this under-the-radar son of Flashy Bull has more than held his own with older company, which to me is a fair trade off. He should be fit as a fiddle off a challenging win at Kentucky Downs and should offer a sweet price in this spot.