Canzano: My Week 4 thoughts, picks and predictions

Oregon-Colorado? OSU-WSU? UCLA-Utah?

Anytime we watched the Miami Dolphins play on television when I was a kid, my father would say “Don’t bet against Don Shula.”

I committed that mantra to memory.

Nevermind that I was too young to walk into a sports book and bet. Dad said it with authority. I repeated it. And I carefully filed the phrase away among the other great wisdoms my father offered me.

His other gems included: “Get your butt down!!” (when fielding a ground ball) and “Don’t cry about it — do something about it” (whenever something went wrong). Dad also said “It takes no brains to make a one-sided offer” (when negotiating) and “Don’t be afraid to take a profit” (when investing).

I’d love to know some of the wisdoms your parents gave you. Share your favorites in the comment section below.

My father recognized that Shula made anyone who bet against Miami look dumb, particularly from 1970-74. In that span the Dolphins played 81 games and covered the point spread 54 times (67 percent). The legendary coach was lethal as a road underdog in those four seasons, going 10-2-1 vs. the spread.

It has me thinking — who is the Pac-12’s Don Shula?

Oregon State coach Jonathan Smith is 13-3 against the spread in the last two seasons. If he keeps covering the spread at that clip, Smith is going to be the guy. Oregon’s Dan Lanning is 11-5 in the same period against the point spread. And Washington’s Kalen DeBoer and Washington State’s Jake Dickert are both 10-6.

Basically, the Pacific Northwest Pac-12 teams are Don Shula.

Bet against them at your own peril.

I went 5-1 against the spread last week and 10-1 picking the college football winners, straight up. Will I keep that momentum going in conference play this week?

My 2023 season record vs. the spread: 17-8 (.680)

My 2023 straight-up record: 31-3 (.912)

My Week 4 thoughts, picks and predictions…