Pumpin' for Thursday: Week 12

Oregon (-12.5) at Arizona, Over/Under 67

Vegas Algebra says: Oregon 39.75, Arizona 27.25

Thoughts: I think 11 weeks of picking Thursday games has taught me that a road favorite in the top 5 has no chance of beating anyone by two touchdowns or more. Also you have to look at each school's contribution to post-graduate athletics. Oregon has given us...



Meanwhile Arizona has given us...



and...



Suggestion: I like Arizona spread Under the Covers. Or Arizona to cover the spread and the under. Actually I like both.

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?

Because I Promised It!

DeSean Jackson's 77 Yard Punt Return vs. Tennessee

Projected Postseason Top 25: #3 USC

Do you remember those segments on ESPN two years ago matching up USC against college football’s greatest teams? Are you ready to see that again? Me neither. USC might be the “Most Now” team in college football, but as predicted earlier, they are going to hiccup on this nightmare schedule. I predicted when, but it could happen in any of the tough out of conference road contests as well. Its hard to deny the Trojans are loaded though and its easy to see why just about everyone has them holding the crystal in New Orleans.

Projected Record and Bowl Result: 12-1 Beat Ohio State in Fiesta Bowl

Who they’ll beat: Idaho (Home), Nebraska (Road), Washington State (Home), Washington (Road), Stanford (Home), Arizona (Home), Notre Dame (Road), Oregon (Road), Oregon State (Home), Arizona State (Road), UCLA (Home), Ohio State (Glendale, AZ)

Who’ll beat them: California (Road)

When they Pass: John David Booty is to some the favorite to win the Heisman trophy. How much of that is because of Booty’s talents or USC’s quarterback Heisman pedigree is what will be decided this season. Booty will have to throw to two new receivers as Steve Smith and Dwayne Jarrett are both in the NFL

When they Run: Running back by committee? USC could run a running back by jury approach, almost. 11 running backs on the roster, most were named high school All-Americans by someone. Senior Chauncey Washington should start at least the first series of the first game. How many running backs play for the Trojans this year would be a great over/under bet to place in Vegas.

When their Opponents Run: Six returning starters on what should be the best defense in America. Sedrick Ellis will have his name announced by Roger Goodell during the NFL draft and quite a few members of this front seven should be drafted at some point too. Have fun trying to run on this defense.

When their Opponents Pass: While four starters return, many Pac Ten offenses will try to beat USC this way which could lead to you getting to know the names of Terrell Thomas, Cary Harris, Kevin Ellison and Travis Mays as they make plays all season long.

When they Kick: Mario Danelo died in an accident. David Buehler takes over the kicking duties.

When they call Timeout: Pete Carroll makes winning in college football look easy. The best recruiter in the country he has made USC forever a destination school. And he knows the NFL doesn’t give him the best chance to succeed, USC does.

Projected Postseason Top 25: #8 California

Maybe its because the game’s in Berkeley, maybe its because I am an all out mark for Desean Jackson. Maybe its because USC running the table and going beginning to finish ranked #1 isn’t too exciting for us bloggers but I am calling Cal over USC on November 10. It feels right Cal has beaten USC at home in the past and this offense will be the most fun to watch. It would be fun to see them stomp over Troy in November.

Projected Record and Bowl Result: 11-2 Lose to #5 in Rose Bowl

Who they’ll beat: Tennessee (Home), Colorado State (Road), Louisiana Tech (Home), Arizona (Home), Oregon (Road), Oregon State (Home), Arizona State (Road), Washington State (Home), USC (Home), Washington (Road), Stanford (Road)
Who’ll beat them: UCLA (Road), #5 (Pasadena, CA)

When they Pass: Quarterback Nate Longshore and receivers Desean Jackson, Lavelle Hawkins and Robert Jordan give Cal the best chance of anybody to beat USC when they play in Berkeley November 10. Longshore isn’t mobile and Jackson’s height keeps him from being a surefire top 10 draft pick but these guys are the fastest receivers in the country and could make Trojan DB’s chase.

When they Run: Marshawn Lynch in a Buffalo Bills uniform may make pundits think Cal has a hole here. They don’t Justin Forsett carried the ball almost as much as Lynch last year. He’s small so there’s concern if he can carry a full season’s load but he’s experienced and talented enough to allow Jeff Tedford to run the ball at anytime.

When their Opponents Run: Defensive Rulon Davis returns after missing all of 2006 with a leg injury. Zack Follett leads a talented if not experienced linebacker corps.

When their Opponents Pass: Syd’Quan Thompson and Darian Hagan attempt to replace now Indianapolis Colt Daymeion Hughes. This unit was among the nation’s worst statistically against the pass.

When they Kick: Tom Schneider is a four year starter and made two field goals over 50 yards last season.

When they call Timeout: Tedford is known for his passing offense and this year’s Golden Bears should exemplify this. Cal has been consistently at the top of the Pac 10 for the past few years and Tedford and his offense are the first reason why.

Projected Postseason Top 25: #14 UCLA

For all but a handful of college football teams, turnover is a fact of life. Seniors graduate, Juniors leave early. Every year, almost every program has to replace proven talent with unproven talent and hope for the best out of recruits and former second teamers. UCLA is one of the few programs in the country that does not have this problem. 21 of 22 starters return on the Offense and Defense that beat rival USC last season. Forgive me if that fact doesn’t glare at me and put the Bruins high on this list for this fact alone, for in Westwood, the expectations are even higher.

Projected Record and Bowl Result: 11-2 Beat Missouri in Holiday Bowl

Who they’ll beat: Stanford (Road), BYU (Home), Utah (Road), Washington (Home), Notre Dame (Home), California (Home), Washington State (Road), Arizona (Road), Arizona State (Home), Oregon (Home), Missouri (San Diego, CA)

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

When they Pass: Ben Olson is expected to return from his season-ending knee injury last year and win the starting job from Patrick Cowan who filled in adequately when Olson went down. Olson has a strong arm and is more talented but if he starts slow UCLA has an experienced backup to go to. A corps of experienced receivers give reason to believe UCLA will have one of the more exciting offenses in the nation this year.

When they Run: Runningback Chris Markey may hold the key to the Bruins season. He’ll have to run with more purpose than he did in 2006 for the Bruins to have the kind of respectable running attack that will more easily open up the offense for Olson and the receivers.

When their Opponents Run: Six of the front seven return from the 9th ranked run defense in the country.

When their Opponents Pass: It can be argued that UCLA has the best secondary in the Pac 10 also, it definitely has the most experienced. Trey Brown, Rodney Van, Chris Horton and Dennis Keyes are all Seniors.

When they Kick: The irony is the fate of all these seniors could rest on redshirt Freshman kicker Kai Forbath. Forbath is said to have range over 50 yards.

When they call Timeout: Despite the upset of USC, Karl Dorrell is a love him or hate him coach in Los Angeles. The win over USC actually may have saved his job and put a pretty front on a very mediocre 7-6 season. He has hired a new offensive coordinator (Jay Norvell) and a new defensive coordinator (Dewayne Walker) in hopes of converting the doubters


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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.