Airwaves toast college football

LAS VEGAS - With college football a week away - the first game is Thursday between Louisville and New Mexico State - the annual influx of handicapping shows is starting to fill the radio airwaves.

The newest addition is the Don Best Show with Tim Jeffery and Greg Daraban on Fridays from 7-8 p.m. on KDWN AM-720. The show, which will proceed the Marc Lawrence show and the Stardust Invitational broadcast in a full lineup of Friday night handicapping programming on KDWN, will run through March on the 50,000-watt radio station that can be heard on 14 Western states and on the web at www.kdwn.com.

The Imperial Palace's long-running shows on KRLV AM-1340 and the Talk America networks are off the air. Jay Kornegay, race and sports book director at the Imperial Palace, said a merger between Talk America 1 and Talk America 2 led to the IP and the station not being able to work out a deal. Kornegay said there are no pending plans to revive the shows, which were hosted by Billy Fitzgerald and Don Teglar, and included Herschel Walker as a guest host.

Titans the play on Friday's NFL card

My preseason bankroll, started at 100 units, stood at 137 units heading into Thursday night's games, in which I wagered 11 units (to win 10) on the Jaguars +3 and the Steelers +4 1/2.

Titans (+4) at Rams: The game opened 3 1/2 at many sports books, but I jumped on it when I saw a few 4's out there. Rams coach Mike Martz has said Kurt Warner and the rest of the starters will play more this week (that's curious, since the Rams are playing their third game in 12 days), but I hope that just drives the line up higher. Titans coach Jeff Fisher should use this as a "statement" game, as they try to exact a bit of revenge for their loss in Super Bowl XXIV. I'll wager 11 units (to win 10) on the Titans +4.

I'll pass on the other Friday night game, the Falcons (-3) at the Redskins.

The QB edge - with Chris Chandler and the Atlanta starters expected to play longer and Jeff George still being out for the Redskins - is with the Falcons, but I'm leery about going against the Redskins in a game in which coach Marty Schottenheimer might feel he needs to make a positive showing in front of the home fans after a 20-0 loss at Kansas City.