Notes on a Scorecard - Dec. 13, 1995

Northwestern is 10-1 and ranked third in the nation. . . .

USC is 8-2-1 and ranked 18th. . . .

Northwestern defeated Notre Dame at South Bend, 17-15. . . .

USC lost to Notre Dame at South Bend, 38-10. . . .

So who is favored in the Rose Bowl? . . .

USC over Northwestern by four points. . . .

Why? . . .

“The overwhelming factor in all sporting events is who has the better talent,” said Roxy Roxborough, who sets the betting line that 75% of Nevada sports books use. “In this case, it’s USC. I also give USC a point-and-half advantage because it doesn’t have to travel to the game.” . . .

Roxborough, an oddsmaker since 1982, acknowledges that he can’t remember any of his point spreads for a college football game having been questioned as much as this one. . . .

“There’s no doubt that the public will bet on Northwestern,” Roxborough said. “I made the opening line five points, it’s down a point already because of the action, and it will probably go lower.” . . .

“The wise guys will bet against Northwestern,” Roxborough said. “Of course, they have all year and haven’t been to the pay station very often.” . . .

Coach Gary Barnett’s team has won against the spread 10 of 11 times, the exception being its defeat by Miami of Ohio. . . .

The Wildcats were 28-point underdogs to Notre Dame and 17-point underdogs to Michigan. . . .

“They are an enigma,” Roxborough said. “They get outgained a lot, but win on turnovers. They remind me of the St. Louis Rams early in the season. The Rams couldn’t keep it up, though. The question is whether Northwestern can do it one more time.” . . .

Roxborough also established unranked UCLA (7-4) as a five-point favorite over 11th-ranked Kansas (9-2) in the Aloha Bowl. . . .

“The same thing applies,” he said. “UCLA has better talent than Kansas.” . . .

*

Terry Donahue’s transition from the field to the CBS booth will be made easier by broadcasting partner Jim Nantz. . . .

Nantz is a smooth play-by-play announcer who is helpful and brings out the best in his commentators. . . .

Thumbs up to Donahue for not using the the cliche “I’m burned out” when asked why he was leaving UCLA. . . .

Chick Hearn ought to stay downstairs at the Forum, where he has broadcast the last two Laker games since suffering a corneal scrape in his left eye. . . .

Among the more animated college basketball coaches is Steve Lappas of second-ranked Villanova. . . .

When told to quiet down by someone at the official scorer’s table after complaining that the scoreboards were wrong during Saturday’s game against Purdue in the John R. Wooden Classic, Lappas yelled, “You don’t think I should care about the score? That’s my job, you know.” . . .

The first of six Monday night Forum Boxing Inc. shows next year at The Pond of Anaheim is expected to feature Genaro Hernandez on Feb. 5. Hernandez hasn’t fought since suffering a broken nose during his loss to Oscar De La Hoya last Sept. 9. . . .

Was I the only one who fell asleep during the first half of the Miami-Kansas City telecast Monday night? . . .

I did wake up in time, though, to see coaching buddies Don Shula and Marty Schottenheimer embrace after the game, which was refreshing. . . .

The deal that sent a first-round draft choice, who turned out to be tackle Bob Whitfield, to the Atlanta Falcons for Brett Favre in 1992 might be the best in Green Bay Packer history. . . .

Retired jockey Fernando Toro says he hasn’t seen anyone ride with the confidence of Gary Stevens since Bill Shoemaker in his prime. . . .

Stevens has won 52 of the 192 stakes races he has ridden this year and will be aboard favorites Advancing Star in the $250,000 Hollywood Starlet and Hennessy in the $500,000 Hollywood Futurity this weekend. . . .

“I’ve never ridden a 2-year-old who gave me the feel that Advancing Star did in her last race,” Stevens said. . . .

It doesn’t make sense that the Minnesota Twins are returning Rick Aguilera, about to turn 34, to the starting rotation after six seasons as a reliever and paying him $9 million for three years. . . .

I respect Bo Jackson more for earning a bachelor’s degree at Auburn 10 years after winning the Heisman Trophy than for anything he ever accomplished on a football or baseball field.