Smack Zone

Carl Bialik:Watching the race for 62 brings me back to my glory days of Little League. After hitting a home run in my first at bat I was on pace for 412, I hurt my hand and missed the rest of the season. I'll start my effort for bragging rights among the three B's by backing andro-enhanced McGwire to pass Roger with Sosa in his building this week ($2,000). My Mets will ride the steady arm of Leiter past Atlanta on Saturday, and take the series against the collapsing Phillies ($2,000 each). Finally, on the Bulldog front, watch for Yale to win all intercollegiate matches this weekend (200,000 rubles each). Opening Balance: $5,000.

Nola Breglio I fully plan on becoming Queen of the B's by the end of this semester, so I will start the wagering with a safe bet and offer that, typically, my Yankees will win 75 percent of their games this week ($750). Nine out of ten Americans want to see Roger Maris' home run record broken. I'm not one of them. But you know what, it's gonna happen, and it's gonna happen this week ($610), and the lucky fan who catches #62 will keep it for his or her own personal enjoyment ($0.50). And in the battle of rookie QB's this Sunday, Peyton Manning will outthrow Ryan Leaf ($100) in his long-awaited NFL debut. Opening Balance: $5,000.

Dan Brodhead: Alright. Let's get down to business. First off, look for Big Mac to match Maris' record this weekend on national TV, and super-size it next week ($500). In the all-important National League wild card race, the Mets will beat the Braves Friday night ($300) while the Cubbies lose to the Pirates ($300). Finally for the US Open. $650 says that the recently slumping Pete Sampras will finally come out to play in the last major of the year. Despite his early exit in New Haven's Pilot Pen Tournament, Pistol Pete will come out on top in his matches this week in Flushing Meadows. Opening Balance: $5,000.

Andrew Krause:Well, time for an old hand at Smack to come back and show these rookies a thing or two. I dominated this space so long ago that I can barely remember my competition. But now, as then, I know that my Niners are ready to roll into another season, despite the off-season shake-ups. $2,000 says they trounce the Jets on Sunday, with Young tossing at least two TDs for another $500. As the wild card race heats up, look for the Mets to take of three fro the Braves at Shea, for $750 per win. And in the home run chase, McGwire will break the record this weekend by smashing a handful ($850). Fewer than four TDs on offense in the Giants-Skins matchup this week ($150). Opening Balance: $5,000. Andrew Krause, JE '00, is Editor-in-Chief of The Yale Herald.

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