Smack Zone

Lichtig

All right ladies, it's time to show which sex really knows the most about sports. And Moran, don't even try to bet on Penn State. They're mine. Speaking of what's mine, stay away from my Smack Zone championship trophy, too. In my hometown, Penn State will un-Zip Akron by at least 40 ($1,000) with the nation's best player, Lavar Arrington, recording at least eight tackles ($500). Randell's Wolverines will fall against the Irish in Ann Arbor ($1,500). In my adopted hometown of Chicago, the Cubs will drop three in a row to LA ($500), but Sosa will hit at least two ($100). Finally, the men's soccer squad will knock off Wesleyan ($1,000). Now it's time to separate the men from the boys. Or at least the boy from the ladies. Opening Balance: $5,000.

Moran

Since the ladies have the majority in Herald sports, I'll start off the betting with female athletes. Even though I'd love to see the Liberty do what the Knicks couldn't, I'll put my money on Cynthia Cooper and the Comets in the WNBA finals. But I'll wager $2,000 that the Liberty takes them to three games. In women's tennis, $1,000 says that Venus and Serena will go to the finals of the U.S. Open doubles tournament, and $500 more says that Martina Hingis will continue to talk smack about the Williams sisters until one of them shuts her up in singles play. To give the men their due, I'll put $500 on the Yanks sweeping Anaheim this weekend. And to pad my wallet further, I'll venture $50 that Tig makes an easy bet on Penn State and $50 more that Randell is dumb enough to support Akron. Opening Balance: $5,000.

Randell

So, it's up to us ladies to defend the Smack title and keep da boyz in submission. As much as this hurts to say, $500 (per loss) says that the Cubs will lose two of their three weekend games against the Dodgers. Look for Michigan to wipe the floor with Notre Dame this weekend ($650) in the season opener at the Big House. And another $100 if that cutie sophomore quarterback Drew Henson starts the game for the Wolverines. To prove a point to Tig and Moran, my deluded Penn State fan fellow editors, $400 says that Akron will score a touchdown this weekend against the Nittany Lions. On the local front, watch for the Mets to sweep the Rockies ($700), even though this won't help them in the all-important pennant race. Opening Balance: $5,000.

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