I have a confession: For a very, very long time, I’ve been quite the gambler. I love betting on sports, whether I know the game or not. In fact, some of the time I bet on NFL games, I only bet on them because they’re the two teams I’m able to watch regionally on Fox (it’ll be sad this year when I’m betting on the Falcons/Bucs game).

That said, I win. I win a decent amount. Last year I capped off somewhere just above 65% which, while not Matthew McConaughey in Two For the Money, it’s not shabby. And for you, it’s free. This week there’s a few games I like. Here they are.

LSU Tigers (-18) @ Mississippi St. Bulldogs

-Ol’ Sly Croom was supposed to bring Mississippi St. back to the Promise Lands, but somewhere along the way someone reminded him he was at Mississippi State. The good news for the Bulldogs is that they return 10 starters on offense from last year’s team; the bad news is those same ten starters managed less than 20 points in 7 of State’s 12 games. And their game with LSU last year? 35-3 at halftime, and 48-17 when the Fat Lady sang. You can’t tell me Mississippi State’s gotten better; and I’m not too sure LSU’s gotten worse. Tigers roll, cover the 18.

Georgia Tech (+2.5) @ Notre Dame

-Last year, Notre Dame nipped Tech 14-10. This year, Charlie Weis doesn’t have Brady Quinn and isn’t even sure who he’s supposed to replace Quinn with. Other key subtractions? Jeff Samarja, Rheema McKnight and Darius Walker. That means, pretty much, that the entire offense is new. That doesn’t bode well for a team that’s playing its first game against a top 20 defense that returned 8 starters. The bad news for Georgia Tech is they lost Calvin Johnson; the only news that outweighs losing one of the best receivers ever is losing one the worst quarterbacks ever. Charlie Weis to Bill Belichick: What should I do? Jackets cover, win in an upset.

Tennessee (+7) @ Cal

-Last year’s 35-18 score doesn’t represent the thrashing that took place (at one point the score was 35-3). There’s a lot of concern with Erik Ainge’s broken pinkie finger, but last year he could’ve won with a broken arm. This is the Pac 10 vs. the SEC, people, and Cal isn’t exactly USC. I hate to be biased, but. . . well, sorry. Money talks. Ainge gives ‘em The Finger, Cal gets romped.