Before Brandon Lang left that syndicated network of sports picks, their only winning handicapper went to the top football handicapping site. Tonight he has a nicer set of winners than Meghan McCain,

Matt Rivers, who was the winningest handicapper ever—nobody came close—on a large network of sites.

Your comp winner for Thursday is on Marshall.

Sure Terrelle Pryor is a Heisman Trophy candidate and Ohio State is by ridiculous proportions the superior team on the field today but why are the Buckeyes all of a sudden being deemed as the next coming? Jim Tressel certainly can coach and has a lot of talent but it’s not like this Ohio State squad has exactly been a dominant juggernaut of an offense. Will they win today? Of course they will but Marshall is far from being a cupcake and is a team that is not that bad. I have watched plenty of Marshall’s coming into the Horseshoe over the past few seasons and compete until late with Ohio a few seasons ago being a great example.

The Thundering Herd are a major program as we see the likes of Randy Moss, Byron Leftwich, Chad Pennington and many others in the NFL. No they can’t compare to today’s opponent but they have some blue chip athletes and I’m not all that sold on the Buckeyes. That Rose Bowl victory over Oregon was impressive as Pryor really came into his own but it was only one game. I saw this team last year stink up the joint a lot of times including that debacle in Bloomington against Indiana. One solid win doesn’t make a program, it just doesn’t.

The world seems to be crowing OSU as the best team this year right there with the defending champion Alabama Crimson Tide. I’m just not so sure that is the case. Tressel’s team is still more of a plodding run type team and without being sold on Pryor’s ability to throw all that great I can’t fathom OSU just going out there and winning by four touchdowns plus.

Doc Holliday has already said that they will try and keep Pryor in the pocket limiting his ability to run and make plays on the outside. I like that strategy because the guy is a gazelle who is more dangerous with his feet than his arm. If that plan comes to fruition and Pryor is forced to throw then I am just fine with this play. If not I will still take my chances getting back this much any day of the week.

Matt Rivers pick: OSU wins 31-13 but Marshall covers the point spread

For more information: The pigskin can’t be here soon enough. I’m running the gamut today and giving away the farm. College football, pro football and baseball for one low low price. Four plays as I have to have this day, I just have to. The year has been great. If you’re in it for the long haul I’m your man.

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