​With the Big 12 seemingly back together since the Pac 12 didn't want 'em, SMU is back in play as a potential member in the wake of Texas A&M's expected departure.

But before the Mustangs play with the big boys, they need to beat the little ones.

They have a chance to do that Saturday. And oddsmakers think they will do just that, by a whopping 22 points.

Can't remember the last time SMU was favored by 22 over anyone. Much less on the road. Memphis must suck. Sure enough.

The Tigers beat Austin Peay, 27-6, last week for its first win after blowout losses to Mississippi State (by 45 points) and Arkansas State (44). After allowing an average of 628 yards to those foes, defensive coordinator Jay Hopson resigned. Even in a loss, Austin Peay ran up 368 yards on Memphis.

Since the Mustangs were embarrassed by A&M in the opener in College Station, June Jones' team has bounced back with impressive wins over UT-El Paso and Northwestern State. The Ponies have committed to J.J. McDermott at quarterback and their passing game should overwhelm the Tigers in the Liberty Bowl.

But by three touchdowns?

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​Okay, so the Cowboys were better than I expected in last week's NFL opener.

But don't be fooled, the San Francisco 49ers weren't as good as it seems.

Seems strange to be sniffing around an Under point-total play in a game between teams that scored a combined 57 in Week 1, but hear me out. When the 49ers and Cowboys meet Sunday afternoon on the slow sod of Candlestick Park, it'll be more defensive than most expect.

Why?

Look at the 49ers against the Seahawks last week. It's not often that teams win a game, much less amass 33 points with these paltry stats:

124 passing yards. 2.7 yards per rush. 1-12 on third downs. 9 penalties for 102 yards. Four trips inside the 15 that result in four field goals.

Yep, while the Cowboys were busy giving a game away in New York, the 49ers were handed a gift against Seattle.

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​Sunday night at MetLife Stadium the New York Jets will hand out American flags to every fan, and an ass-whipping to America's Team.

Remember the part about not betting with your heart, but your head? This is a primo example.

I want the Cowboys to win their NFL regular-season opener. Just don't believe they will. In fact, I don't see how they even stay close.

Going to be an emotionally charged atmosphere on the 10th anniversary of 9/11. Sunday night football on NBC. Prime-time game. A great team against one that's merely trying to again be good.

Not sure how this betting line is only 4 points, but I'm certain it has me salivating. I've got money burning a hole in my pocket from last week's win on Baylor, and I've got my eye on the next investment.

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​Okay, let's do this.

And by "this" I mean let's make some moolah. The good ol' illegal fun way, shall we? 

In 2008 I lost every penny of my virtual $10,000. In 2009 I wound up losing only $150. In 2010 I netted a cool $5,000.

By my math, that's a bottom line of ... oh, who's counting. Having fun, no?!

With September arrives another football season. Locally the Cowboys wrap up the preseason tonight in Miami, and North Texas opens another anonymous season in Denton against Florida International.

The big game of the week -- around here and nationally -- is the Top 5 clash between Oregon and LSU Saturday night at Cowboys Stadium. The ESPN College GameDay crew is in town, and Mavericks owner Mark Cuban will be in Arlington as guest prognosticator.

But the best game of the week is ...

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​See that? Over there. To your right?

That's not the money you could be saving with GEICO. It's the money you lost last year betting with Richie Whitt.

But, alas, in the spirit of persistence, stubborness and doubling down, we're back at it again in 2009. I owe it to you and myself (and my bookie) to be bigger, bolder and, yes, better than a putrid 7-10 this season.

Okay, thanks to last week's low-scoring game we're playing with house money. Let's have some fun.

This should be easy. I said should.

We always use the Detroit Lions as our default punch line, but the Kansas City Chiefs have been worse. As in, in their last 29 games they've won twice. Twice!

Watched some of Giants 27, Chiefs 16 last week at Arrowhead and New York could've named its score. I expect a similar blowout Sunday.

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​See that? Over there. To your right?

That's not the money you could be saving with GEICO. It's the money you lost last year betting with Richie Whitt.

But, alas, in the spirit of persistence, stubborness and doubling down, we're back at it again in 2009. I owe it to you and myself (and my bookie) to be bigger, bolder and, yes, better than a putrid 7-10 this season.

Not sure exactly what to make of either the Dallas Cowboys or the Denver Broncos. You?

The Cowboys are 2-1; Broncos 3-0. The combined record of the five teams they've defeated: 3-12. Vegas obviously isn't buying what Denver is selling. I don't remember the last time a 3-0 team playing at home was a 3-point underdog.

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​See that? Over there. To your right?

That's not the money you could be saving with GEICO. It's the money you lost last year betting with Richie Whitt.

But, alas, in the spirit of persistence, stubborness and doubling down, we're back at it again in 2009. I owe it to you and myself (and my bookie) to be bigger, bolder and, yes, better than a putrid 7-10 this season.

So much for first impressions. Tony Romo throws touchdowns over 40, 60 and 80 yards - first time that trick's been turned by a Cowboys' quarterback in almost 50 years - and just like that we're in a $1,000 hole.

Not to worry. Like everything else around these parts these days, our debt is engulfed, over-shadowed by Jonestown Coliseum. Back in training camp owner Jerry Jones promised the stadium would lift his team's level of play.

Yeah, an actual, tangible advantage. I'm in.

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​See that? Over there. To your right?

That's not the money you could be saving with GEICO. It's the money you lost last year betting with Richie Whitt.

But, alas, in the spirit of persistence, stubborness and doubling down, we're back at it again in 2009. I owe it to you and myself (and my bookie) to be bigger, bolder and, yes, better than a putrid 7-10 this season.

Let's kick-off the year with an aggressive play on a conservative game.

Your Dallas Cowboys start '09 missing Terrell Owens and, therefore, a vertical passing game. In 80 pre-season snaps Tony Romo had one completion of more than 25 yards and that was a run-n-catch, 42-yard screen to Felix Jones.

With Wade Phillips committed to being a Top 10 running team, I suspect offensive coordinator Jason Garrett will err on the side of caution, at least early in the season. Look for Dallas to dink, dunk and double-dip the Tampa Bay defense with doses of 8-yard passes to tight ends Jason Witten and Martellus Bennett. Covering them for the Buccaneers is no longer Derrick Brooks or Cato June, but Quincy Black and Geno Hayes. Yikes.

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Back in August I started with a mythical bankroll of $10,000, courtesy of Bodog Online Gaming. First of all, because their site is easy to navigate. Second, because they're based in Costa Rica and have had minimal success tracking me down in the past.

I was to analyze games of local interest each weekend and make a wager every Friday. With any luck, by Christmas it was going to be toys for everyone.

Welp, Christmas is here. The fortune? Eh, notsomuch.

Or, is it merely still en route?

We didn't come here to lose. Nor did we show up to play conservative. At 7-9 and down $2,500 for the season I could cut my losses, take solace in the entertainment and go home a lower-case loser.

Or - you knew that was coming, din't you? - we could make one last grasp at the females on Ferraris.

Bust or boon, here we come.

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I'll have much much much more on Terrell Owens, Tony Romo and the impending Dallas Star-Telegram later today.

But for now, gimme them dice. I'm on a roll:

Down to my last wager a few weeks back, we're now within one winner of actually outfitting you guys in sexy, shining things this Christmas season.

The Cowboys? I think their season amounts to so much coal in a stocking.

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