Pumpin for Thursday: Week 2

(Each Thursday I will make my spread prediction for the ESPN Thursday Night Game which I give weekly to my friend Josh
for his sportsbook account. As for you...all picks are for entertainment purposes only. You can't sue me to recover loss wagers)

Oregon State (-3.5) at Cincinnati, Over/Under=45.5



Vegas Algebra says: Oregon State 24.5, Cincinnati 21



My thoughts: Two Thursdays and so far two road favorites. Interesting although Vegas is really putting Nippert Stadium on a pedestal with this tight spread. Yvenson Bernard is a star whom the country may not get many chances to know. This is one of the few times he will be on a national stage. Sammie Stroughter is also expected to play for Oregon State returning from 'personal issues'. Cincinnati has a young team but they are capable of scoring too.



Suggestion: Learn two lessons from last week and take Oregon State. 1) Road favorites can cover on Thursday (LSU over Miss St.), 2) The mid-bottom of the Big East can't compete with the Pac Ten (Washington over Syracuse). I like the over, as I usually do on Thursdays and Oregon State. Speaking of LSU and Syracuse. I wonder what Joseph Addai and Marvin Harrison are upto these days?

Projected Postseason Top 25: #21 Oregon State

Some high schools attempt to emulate college football teams with their uniform schemes. Oregon State has decided to reverse that trend. Beaver fans may be confused as to whether they are watching their team or an episode of MTV’s “Two-a-Days”. While I don’t know who Yvenson Bernard is taking to the Homecoming Dance, I do know this Oregon State team is capable of putting more than a scare in big 3 Pac 10 California programs, just as they did last year when they upset USC.

Projected Record and Bowl Result: 10-3 Beat TCU in Las Vegas Bowl

Who they’ll beat: Utah (Home), Cincinnati (Road), Idaho State (Home), Arizona State (Road), UCLA (Home), Arizona (Home), Stanford (Home), Washington (Home), Washington State (Road), TCU (Las Vegas, NV)

Who’ll beat them: California (Road), USC (Road), Oregon (Road)

When they Pass: To determine how well the Beavers will do when they pass, its good to know just who will be doing the passing. Sean Canfield is believed to be ahead of Lyle Moevao. Both are sophomores and are better off passing only when the situation forces them to.

When they Run: Defenses will be inclined to defend All-Pac Ten Heisman Candidate Yvenson Bernard. Expect Bernard to gain his yards anyway. He might be too small to be an NFL team’s feature back but in 2007 he is the best running back in the Pac Ten.



When their Opponents Run: All three linebackers and two members of the defensive line returning will make it tough on Pac Ten teams to run on the Beavers.

When their Opponents Pass: The secondary also returns three of its four starters but they will have to improve off of 2006 when they were 88th in the nation in pass defense.

When they Kick: Alexis Serna may be the best kicker in the country. Kyle Loomis is a solid young punter.

When they call Timeout: Mike Riley’s one of more than a handful of coaches who have found a place in college football after failing in the NFL. Riley now realizes leaving Oregon State for the NFL was a mistake and has found his way home and he and the Beaver program are better off for it.