Since I’m Tampa for the weekend, dog-sitting for my folks, I decided it would be in my best interest to attend Friday night’s USF-Kansas game at the New Sombrero.  While my friends wanted to go to Sunday’s Bucs-Falcons contest, for some reason I had a feeling the Friday night college game would be a little more exciting of an atmosphere.  If you had the good fortune of watching this game, it’s safe to say I was right on the money.

As I plan to watch the Ohio State-USC game this weekend with two rabid Buckeye fans (is there any other kind), to support their cause, I thought I’d re-up my currently inactive (due to lack of funds) sports book account.  It’s not necessarily that I think the Beanie-less Buckeyes can, or will, win.  It’s just not that often that you see a +360 moneyline for the number 5 team in the nation.  I figure, if the Buckeyes lose, at least I can somewhat pretend to commiserate with my peeps.  And if they win, I’ll be able to buy them a scarlet cocktail or two to celebrate.

Although I didn’t have any money in my account, the gentleman on the phone told me, that based on my recent activity, I had qualified for a $50 free play.  Since I was going to the USF-Kansas game anyway, and since I thought that line was off kilter, I decided to lay the fifty beans on Kansas and take the 4.  Are you kidding me?  A 12-1 Big 12 team, a four-point underdog to a team that lost three straight conference games last year and doesn’t even play in its own stadium?  I’ll take the points.  Far be it from me to question the mathematician, sports-genius freaks that set these Vegas lines.  I just thought Kansas was the better team.

Raymond James was rockin’ to a crowd of nearly 59,000 rambunctious and frequently tipsy, green-clad fans.  For a second, I thought I was in Eugene, Oregon for a Ducks game.

Not too long after the game began, though, the place became quiet. After the first quarter, Kansas was up 10-0 and would eventually lead 20-3.  The game was in hand, as was my bet.  Kansas QB Todd Reesing looked in total control as he led KU scoring drives on four of the first five possessions.  On the flipside, USF only scored on one of its first five.  Considering I had four points to spare and KU had added a 17-point cushion, I was feeling pretty comfortable about my wager.  The bourbon I had snuck into the stadium was flowing freely.

That was until KU coach Mark Mangino appeared to eat his playbook, along with a pizza, a double cheeseburger or two, a healthy dose of potato salad and a milk shake to wash it all down.  I mean seriously, can this guy get any more rotund? 

USF suddenly began to take control of the ballgame.  After a Matt Grothe rushing touchdown minutes before heading into the locker room, USF soon looked Kansas-like, scoring on their first four possessions of the second half, three of which were touchdowns.  Their newly inspired defense forced four straight Kansas three-and-outs.  Chants of “U-S-F” filled the venue.  

Suddenly, my four points didn’t seem all that safe, if good at all.  Kansas had squandered a 20-3 lead and allowed USF to score 31 unanswered.  I left my seat, taking solace in the fact that it was a free play anyway.  With ten minutes to play and USF leading 34-20, the wager was a river of darkness.  I headed toward the door.  It wasn’t that I didn’t want USF to win.  I just wanted them to win by three or less.

Then Mangino must’ve seen a Hot Doughnuts Now sign at the end of the tunnel because all of the sudden, he started calling some plays.  On consecutive possessions, Reesing returned to his Heisman-contending form and led Kansas down the field for consecutive touchdowns.  Are you kidding me?  Only minutes ago this game was over, done with, kaput.  Kansas was getting called for useless personal foul calls and too-many-men-on-the-field penalties.  It didn’t look as if they had conceded.  They were just being beaten… soundly.   

But a big play or two later and Kansas had miraculously tied the game at 34.  The contest was back on, as was my wager.

At times during this game, both offenses were flawless, making timely big plays.  Reesing passed for 373 yards on 34-of-51 attempts.  Not to be outdone, USF QB Matt Grothe was 32-of-45 for 338.  That’s over 700 yards of passing, folks.  Kansas had TWO receivers, Jonathan Wilson and Kerry Meier, each with over 100 yards.  Someone call Steve Spurrier and remind him what his offense used to look like.

But in a game characterized by its offense, ultimately it was the defense that turned the tide.  Kansas had the ball back in its own territory and was driving with less than a minute left in the game.  After getting two first downs and needing not all that much more yardage to get into field goal range, Reesing let fly an ill-advised pass that was intercepted by safety Nate Allen.

Now keep in mind, I had no allegiance to either team and was there just to witness some good football and soak up the atmosphere.  Little did I know what I was in for.  With my four-point cushion, I had seen one roller coaster of a contest.  It was like betting heavy on every single dealt hand of poker, only to call re-raises with nothing in your hand.  Sometimes you’ll hit that flop, but more often than not, you’ll be watching your chip stack dwindle or raise in uncomfortable waves.  Within minutes, I had gone from feeling totally confident about my wager, to writing it off as a loss, to realizing it was back on again.

Remember, as Allen ran down the right sidelines after catching that interception, a touchdown would have cost me the game.  As tens of thousands of  fans screamed in excitement, I kept shouting “GET OUT OF BOUNDS!!! GET OUT OF BOUNDS!!!”

Well, he did.  USF ran one more play and allowed freshman kicker Maikon Bonani, who had missed from similar distance earlier in the game, to line up for a 41-yard field goal.  Needless to say, I was now USF’s biggest fan.  I didn’t want overtime.  With those two gun-slinging quarterbacks behind center, anything was bound to happen.  My blood pressure was higher than Mangino’s, which sounds like a great Italian restaurant around the corner.

Bonani ended up making the field goal, which tailed right before curving back in between the uprights.  I defy you to watch that field goal again and tell yourself that ball, after it left his foot, would give USF the victory.  Well, it did.  And the miniature Bonani was carried off the field on the shoulders of his teammates.

Of course, my minimal wager paled in comparison to the range of emotions felt within that locker room and among USF’s student body that had just seen its school best a legitimate Big 12 opponent.  BUT, the wager did make the game significantly more enjoyable to watch.  Replay it in your head, thinking you had Kansas and 4 and try to contain yourself.

So congrats to Jim Leavitt and his program for a huge non-conference victory.  Congrats to the guy who told me I had fifty free dollars to play with.  Congrats to the odds makers who pretty much nailed that line right on the money.  And congrats to all those who dyed their hair green for the game.  And remember, folks, if you do choose to wager, please do so responsibly.  It might just be a worthwhile investment.