12:00pm LSU vs. Tulane (ESPN2) - It's always good to watch the best teams in the country play, even if the games are only interesting for a half, or a quarter, or a half of a quarter. I won't be watching Notre Dame because they suck and I don't care about teams that suck.
1:38pm Oklahoma vs. Colorado (FSN) - Should be starting right around the time the LSU game turns into a blowout. Right now Oklahoma is the third ranked team in the nation. They should beat Colorado, even on the road which would set up a great matchup next week against Texas.
3:30pm California vs. Oregon (ABC) - You think the Pac-10 is weak? The winner of this game becomes poised for a huge game against USC. That's the good thing about the Pac-10, everyone plays everyone else. Dennis Dixon vs. DeSean Jackson should be exciting to watch. The over/under on this game is 72. I expect at least 80.
8:00pm USC vs. Washington (ABC) - I chose this one over Auburn/Florida but because of remote controls you don't have to. What an early season schedule for Washington, before October 1st they'll have played Syracuse, The Ohio State, Boise State (Derek's 3 favorite teams) and now USC. As impressive as Jake Locker is I'd be shocked if the Huskies stayed within 20 points of the Trojans.
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Pumpin' For Thursday: Week 5
Southern Miss (+10.5) at Boise State, Over/Under 49.5
Vegas Algebra says: Boise State 30.0, Southern Miss 19.5
Thoughts: Both Southern Miss and Boise State were off last weekend, giving both squads a chance to rest and a week to prepare. However, nothing prepares a school to play on the “Smurf Turf” of Boise State’s home field. In fact, Boise State is riding a 31-game home winning streak in regular season games and is 53-2 in its last 55 home games overall. That is true home-field advantage.
This Broncos squad is not the giant-killing, Fiesta Bowl-winning squad of last year with the loss of starting QB Jared Zabransky to the NFL. RB Ian Johnson still leads a rushing offense that racks up 199 yards per game, although collectively their opponents allowed an average of 208 YPG. Also, the 30 PPG average of the Broncos is misleading. After rolling Weber St. at home 56-7, Boise State only managed 10 points in a 24-10 road loss at Washington and 24 points in a 24-14 home victory over Wyoming (The Broncos were a 12 point home favorite in that contest).
Southern Miss averages 27.3 PPG, scoring 35, 19, and 28 points in their three games. The 19 points came in a 39-19 road loss to Tennessee, which they followed up with a 28-21 victory at East Carolina. This will be the Golden Eagles third road game in a row.
Sophomore tailback Damion Fletcher is the workhorse of the Southern Miss offense, leading a rushing attack that is averaging 182 yards per game on the ground. Senior QB Jeremy Young is a dual-threat option, passing for over 200 YPG and chipping in over 60 yards rushing per game.
With both teams favoring the ground game and Southern Miss coming in averaging over 27 PPG, it was surprising to see Boise State as a double-digit favorite. Truth is, oddsmakers usually give the Broncos a 6 to 6.5-point edge for the blue field before taking into account the opponent. With this knowledge, the Broncos are 32-12 ATS as home favorites since they started making lines on there games.
Suggestion: With two run-oriented teams and Boise State probably still receiving the benefit of the doubt based on previous years, this line is way over-inflated. Take Southern Miss plus the points. The half-point on the over/under allows for a 28-21 Boise State victory. Go under.
Vegas Algebra says: Boise State 30.0, Southern Miss 19.5
Thoughts: Both Southern Miss and Boise State were off last weekend, giving both squads a chance to rest and a week to prepare. However, nothing prepares a school to play on the “Smurf Turf” of Boise State’s home field. In fact, Boise State is riding a 31-game home winning streak in regular season games and is 53-2 in its last 55 home games overall. That is true home-field advantage.
This Broncos squad is not the giant-killing, Fiesta Bowl-winning squad of last year with the loss of starting QB Jared Zabransky to the NFL. RB Ian Johnson still leads a rushing offense that racks up 199 yards per game, although collectively their opponents allowed an average of 208 YPG. Also, the 30 PPG average of the Broncos is misleading. After rolling Weber St. at home 56-7, Boise State only managed 10 points in a 24-10 road loss at Washington and 24 points in a 24-14 home victory over Wyoming (The Broncos were a 12 point home favorite in that contest).
Southern Miss averages 27.3 PPG, scoring 35, 19, and 28 points in their three games. The 19 points came in a 39-19 road loss to Tennessee, which they followed up with a 28-21 victory at East Carolina. This will be the Golden Eagles third road game in a row.
Sophomore tailback Damion Fletcher is the workhorse of the Southern Miss offense, leading a rushing attack that is averaging 182 yards per game on the ground. Senior QB Jeremy Young is a dual-threat option, passing for over 200 YPG and chipping in over 60 yards rushing per game.
With both teams favoring the ground game and Southern Miss coming in averaging over 27 PPG, it was surprising to see Boise State as a double-digit favorite. Truth is, oddsmakers usually give the Broncos a 6 to 6.5-point edge for the blue field before taking into account the opponent. With this knowledge, the Broncos are 32-12 ATS as home favorites since they started making lines on there games.
Suggestion: With two run-oriented teams and Boise State probably still receiving the benefit of the doubt based on previous years, this line is way over-inflated. Take Southern Miss plus the points. The half-point on the over/under allows for a 28-21 Boise State victory. Go under.
Monday, September 24, 2007
Mike Gundy is a Man!
Jenni Carlson of "The Daily Oklahoman" newspaper in Oklahoma City penned this column questioning the attitude of former starting QB Bobby Reid.
This is what Head Coach Mike Gundy thought of it...
I sometimes wonder if coaches do this just to make YouTube at this point.
This is what Head Coach Mike Gundy thought of it...
I sometimes wonder if coaches do this just to make YouTube at this point.
Mike Patrick, "Leave Britney Alone"
I've said before on this blog that Mike Patrick is a perfect college football announcer when he isn't paired with blowhards who go off tangent. Well I think he thought he was at a Duke blowout of Florida State with Dick Vitale instead of an overtime SEC game.
Also...a pretty good ending to a football game.
Also...a pretty good ending to a football game.
Saturday, September 22, 2007
Charlie Weis wishes to be added to your Friends list
Notre Dame is 0-4. Charlie Weis sure could use some friends right now.
Click here to add Charlie Weis as your friend.
Click here to add Charlie Weis as your friend.
Syracuse beats Louisville: Five Thoughts
In what is being coined "The Biggest Upset in Big East History" by those that saw it. Syracuse upset Louisville 38-35. Luckily for me the game was carried locally here on the abc station. I guess us New England Orange alum still have some pull. Onto the five thoughts:
1) Syracuse could not stop any pass in between the linebackers and secondary. Why Louisville ran the ball or passed up the sidelines is beyond me especially late in the game. I am sure Steve Kragthorpe is going to get torched locally in Louisville.
2) As an alum, I was proud to get the win but Syracuse did everything they could to give this game away, including Andrew Robinson doing his best Jerome Bettis impression in the Louisville red zone when the game was set to be iced.
3) The announcers were right, it was unrealistic to hope for a national championship from a team with a secondary like Louisville's. If I played Fantasy College Football I'd start whatever quarterback played them each week. South Florida especially should whoop on them too.
4) "The Ville" is a lame nickname for a city, especially when so many towns and cities end in "ville". KFC buys advertising at Papa John's stadium. I don't know what the obesity rate is in Louisville but I'm guessing its above the national average.
5) Syracuse football is newsworthy for the first time since switching nicknames to "The Orange". So it'll be fun to see what media outlets are slow to come around. Espn.com has already screwed this up (Update: ESPN has figured out their error, less likely from this blog, more likely from the 1500 alumni who work there)
As you can imagine the people at Card Chronicle aren't taking it well and my friends at Troy Nunes is an Absolute Magician are taking it probably too well
1) Syracuse could not stop any pass in between the linebackers and secondary. Why Louisville ran the ball or passed up the sidelines is beyond me especially late in the game. I am sure Steve Kragthorpe is going to get torched locally in Louisville.
2) As an alum, I was proud to get the win but Syracuse did everything they could to give this game away, including Andrew Robinson doing his best Jerome Bettis impression in the Louisville red zone when the game was set to be iced.
3) The announcers were right, it was unrealistic to hope for a national championship from a team with a secondary like Louisville's. If I played Fantasy College Football I'd start whatever quarterback played them each week. South Florida especially should whoop on them too.
4) "The Ville" is a lame nickname for a city, especially when so many towns and cities end in "ville". KFC buys advertising at Papa John's stadium. I don't know what the obesity rate is in Louisville but I'm guessing its above the national average.
5) Syracuse football is newsworthy for the first time since switching nicknames to "The Orange". So it'll be fun to see what media outlets are slow to come around. Espn.com has already screwed this up (Update: ESPN has figured out their error, less likely from this blog, more likely from the 1500 alumni who work there)
As you can imagine the people at Card Chronicle aren't taking it well and my friends at Troy Nunes is an Absolute Magician are taking it probably too well
What I'm Watching (or Listening to): Week 4
(I apologize Thursday's "Pumpin for Thursday" didn't get posted, but if you bet off of it, there's no need for me to apologize, I had Texas ATM and the Under) onto Saturday...
12:00pm Syracuse vs. Louisville (Sirius 126)- I really hope someday I have my son on my knee telling him about the days Syracuse was a 36.5 point underdog and NOT on free television and his eyes will open wide in disbelief, I hope. Florida International isn't even a 36.5 point underdog this week.
3:30pm South Carolina vs. LSU (CBS)- Steve Spurrier against arguably the best team in the country easily trumps the "Winged Helmet" vs. the "White Helmet" on ABC. LSU has yet another chance to make a case for being the best team in America against a quality opponent.
8:00 Iowa at Wisconsin (ABC)- Nobody knows how good this Wisconsin team really is especially when they let The Citadel hang with them for three quarters, if Penn State beats Michigan, then the Big Ten is a three team race between Penn State, Wisconsin, and Ohio State.
10:28 Washington vs. UCLA (FSN)- Its like the Super Bowl except this time the black head coach that loses this game spends the rest of the season on the Hot Seat.
12:00pm Syracuse vs. Louisville (Sirius 126)- I really hope someday I have my son on my knee telling him about the days Syracuse was a 36.5 point underdog and NOT on free television and his eyes will open wide in disbelief, I hope. Florida International isn't even a 36.5 point underdog this week.
3:30pm South Carolina vs. LSU (CBS)- Steve Spurrier against arguably the best team in the country easily trumps the "Winged Helmet" vs. the "White Helmet" on ABC. LSU has yet another chance to make a case for being the best team in America against a quality opponent.
8:00 Iowa at Wisconsin (ABC)- Nobody knows how good this Wisconsin team really is especially when they let The Citadel hang with them for three quarters, if Penn State beats Michigan, then the Big Ten is a three team race between Penn State, Wisconsin, and Ohio State.
10:28 Washington vs. UCLA (FSN)- Its like the Super Bowl except this time the black head coach that loses this game spends the rest of the season on the Hot Seat.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)