2005 Season
69-42-2 (62%)
What is going on everybody? Just thought I would look at some of these early games since I am taking a little break from the bases. Here are some thoughts and leans for week 1:
SEASON TOTALS-
OHIO STATE OVER 10 - This one kind of has me baffled. OSU over 10 is at a + 105 now! I figured this line would be about 10.5. Ohio State is pre-season number one and has a lot of hype surrounding this team. Looking through their schedule, I see 4 games that can potentially cause the Buckeyes trouble. They must travel to Austin to face the Longhorns early in the season. They play a night game at Iowa City towards the end of September. They take on an under-rated Spartan team in East Lansing and of course they play Michigan (at home). The first potential loss will be an exciting game that can go either way IMO. I think OSU is more talented but it will be tough to win this early game on the road. Lets not forget that OSU would have won that game last year if it was not for a dropped TD pass, a coaching mistake that would have set up a 2 possession game (run to get in FG position), and if Troy Smith would have played the whole game. That is another story soooo scratch that lol. The next game is against Iowa (probably a top 10 team by then). This game will be scary but I think the OSU offense is to powerful for this Hawkeye D. The Buckeyes have MSU sandwiched between Bowling Green and Indiana. This will give OSU plenty of time to prepare for the Spartans. Finally, Michigan comes to the shoe to end the season. This UM team has the potential to sneak up on teams like the 97 national championship team. Like always this game will be a toss up, no matter where each team is ranked. I like the Tressal factor to lead OSU past Michigan. Yes OSU has a tough schedule BUT I think at worse they go 10-2!
West Virginia OVER 10 OK you tell me where they could slip up?!? Marshall, East Washington, Maryland, East Carolina, Miss. State, Syracuse, UCONN, Louisville, Cinci, Pitt, South Florida, Rutgers? The first thought could/would be Maryland. Well they play Maryland at night in WV. You know how crazy these hillbillies get at night? The next game that troubles me is Louisville. This is a away game that I think will be closely contested and could go either way. They go to Pitt to play a team that has been beaten up but should start to get order restored. They get South Florida at home this year.... They also play rutgers at home this year. Rutgers scares me just because their offense should be good this year IMO. This team only has 5 games on the road (ECU, MSU, UCONN included).
WEEK 1
Northwestern -3(buy the hook) ...This game is a game of questions. Miami has many questions to fill regarding every aspect of their team. They do have a lot of talent that should help this team have a successful season. With that being said, I do not think they will become a good team until Mid-September/October. I think this will become a game where Miami fans will look back on as "Man we could/ should have won that game". NW is by no means that much further than Miami. CJ Bacher will likely be the starting QB for this team. He had a great spring game throwing for 2 TDs (8-11 121 yards). Though they have been hit hard at WR by graduation, Shaun Herbert will be back. I believe he was honorable mention all Big 10 last year (think of all the great WRs this conference has). Sophomore to be Tyrell Sutton is a top 10 back in the nation INO. This kid went to school in Akron (where I am from) and about shattered every high school record that this state has. He is unbelievable and had a great freshman season. I really expect him to be the difference in this game. On the line NW loses all American Zach Strief but returns the other monsters and should be fine. The bottom line in this game is Tyrell Sutton! I expect him to get upwards around 200 yards. I also will look at the over in this game because I expect a lack of defense both ways.
Kent State + 17 - I know many of you will be fading this pick BUT I like Kent in this spot. This is one of the biggest home games in KSU history. (Kent is about 15 minutes from my place). They have been advertising for this game all summer and have set up many pre-game festivities (which include beer pits at the game). Now to the teams: Michael Machen is Kent's starting QB. He returns after an up and down year. He has talent (was at Alabama for a year before he decided to play minor league baseball) and can be a viable QB. He is athletic and has size (6'6" 235). The Golden Flashes have two sub 4.4 backs (Sophomore Tony Howard and Freshman Eugene Jarvis). These speedy backs, along with 4 returning WRs should cause all types of problems for this Minnesota defense. Minnesota has a bad d-line that does not get any pressure on QBs (15 sacks in 12 games last year). With time, Machen could and will rip apart these Gopher DBs. And I already know people will be saying, "Well KSUs OL is terrible...." Yes they were not that good last year but word around here is that this will be one of their strengths this year. Augustus Parrish is a legitimate NFL prospect (Sophomore) that will anchor this line. Minny's OL is beaten up and bad and they still do not have a legitimate replacement for Gary Russel. BOTTOM LINE: These teams are heading in different directions. KSU can only go one way after a 1-10 season last year. Minnesota will suffer because of the loss of Russel and the loss of many of their key defensive players IMO. Kent has potential to have a good offense. I expect Kent to keep this close and have a chance to win it at the end.
Eastern Michigan + 4.5 As I have looked over a couple of boards I have noticed that Ball State seems to be a very popular pick- Why? Please tell me what is the big advantage for Ball State in this game? Is it because they beat NIU and Akron at the end of last year? Yes Ball State gets back QB Joey Lynch this year. He played well last year but is nothing spectacular. Ball State has 10 players back on offense this year. The man they are missing is at RB. I hear people talk about these receivers like they are TO and Randy Moss. These guys are bums- I think the guy with the most yards only had about 500 last year. Someone correct me if I am wrong there. Ball State has a terrible OL. I do not care if these guys are all back for the next 30 years they are bad. They gave up 43 sacks last year! On defense this team must replace 6 starters. Their DL only got 16 sacks all of last year. At LB, Ball State appeared to be strong until Brad Seiss went out with a knee injury. Last I heard his status for the season was questionable? Any updates? In the secondary they are very small (5'10 or 11" across the board). With a small and young secondary, and a lack of pass rush, I expect Tyler Jones to put up stats. Jones, who will replace Matt Bohnet has a lot of upside. RB is up for grabs with many contenders....I do not think it really matters, as I can run for 100 on this Ball State team lol. The X-factor is this game is Eric Deslauriers. He is a huge reciever (6-4 205) that has put up big numbers throughout his career. His numbers earned himself a first round draft choic in the CFL. He thinks he can play in the NFL, so he came back to college. He should cause all types of problems for this tiny secondary. A buddy of mine who I grew up with Trumaine Riley will be returning kicks/punts for EMU. He has the ability to take kicks and punts to the house. ESPN.com has a quote from his coach that says he has the ability to play at the next level. Bottom Line: We are looking at two 4-7 teams that both believe they can have successful 2006 campaigns. Both teams have many questions and weaknesses. The question I ask is, can each offense score on the other defense? Eastern Michigan will be able to score on Ball State. I am not very sure about Ball State.
Will be back with more later......Comments are welcomed and watend
69-42-2 (62%)
What is going on everybody? Just thought I would look at some of these early games since I am taking a little break from the bases. Here are some thoughts and leans for week 1:
SEASON TOTALS-
OHIO STATE OVER 10 - This one kind of has me baffled. OSU over 10 is at a + 105 now! I figured this line would be about 10.5. Ohio State is pre-season number one and has a lot of hype surrounding this team. Looking through their schedule, I see 4 games that can potentially cause the Buckeyes trouble. They must travel to Austin to face the Longhorns early in the season. They play a night game at Iowa City towards the end of September. They take on an under-rated Spartan team in East Lansing and of course they play Michigan (at home). The first potential loss will be an exciting game that can go either way IMO. I think OSU is more talented but it will be tough to win this early game on the road. Lets not forget that OSU would have won that game last year if it was not for a dropped TD pass, a coaching mistake that would have set up a 2 possession game (run to get in FG position), and if Troy Smith would have played the whole game. That is another story soooo scratch that lol. The next game is against Iowa (probably a top 10 team by then). This game will be scary but I think the OSU offense is to powerful for this Hawkeye D. The Buckeyes have MSU sandwiched between Bowling Green and Indiana. This will give OSU plenty of time to prepare for the Spartans. Finally, Michigan comes to the shoe to end the season. This UM team has the potential to sneak up on teams like the 97 national championship team. Like always this game will be a toss up, no matter where each team is ranked. I like the Tressal factor to lead OSU past Michigan. Yes OSU has a tough schedule BUT I think at worse they go 10-2!
West Virginia OVER 10 OK you tell me where they could slip up?!? Marshall, East Washington, Maryland, East Carolina, Miss. State, Syracuse, UCONN, Louisville, Cinci, Pitt, South Florida, Rutgers? The first thought could/would be Maryland. Well they play Maryland at night in WV. You know how crazy these hillbillies get at night? The next game that troubles me is Louisville. This is a away game that I think will be closely contested and could go either way. They go to Pitt to play a team that has been beaten up but should start to get order restored. They get South Florida at home this year.... They also play rutgers at home this year. Rutgers scares me just because their offense should be good this year IMO. This team only has 5 games on the road (ECU, MSU, UCONN included).
WEEK 1
Northwestern -3(buy the hook) ...This game is a game of questions. Miami has many questions to fill regarding every aspect of their team. They do have a lot of talent that should help this team have a successful season. With that being said, I do not think they will become a good team until Mid-September/October. I think this will become a game where Miami fans will look back on as "Man we could/ should have won that game". NW is by no means that much further than Miami. CJ Bacher will likely be the starting QB for this team. He had a great spring game throwing for 2 TDs (8-11 121 yards). Though they have been hit hard at WR by graduation, Shaun Herbert will be back. I believe he was honorable mention all Big 10 last year (think of all the great WRs this conference has). Sophomore to be Tyrell Sutton is a top 10 back in the nation INO. This kid went to school in Akron (where I am from) and about shattered every high school record that this state has. He is unbelievable and had a great freshman season. I really expect him to be the difference in this game. On the line NW loses all American Zach Strief but returns the other monsters and should be fine. The bottom line in this game is Tyrell Sutton! I expect him to get upwards around 200 yards. I also will look at the over in this game because I expect a lack of defense both ways.
Kent State + 17 - I know many of you will be fading this pick BUT I like Kent in this spot. This is one of the biggest home games in KSU history. (Kent is about 15 minutes from my place). They have been advertising for this game all summer and have set up many pre-game festivities (which include beer pits at the game). Now to the teams: Michael Machen is Kent's starting QB. He returns after an up and down year. He has talent (was at Alabama for a year before he decided to play minor league baseball) and can be a viable QB. He is athletic and has size (6'6" 235). The Golden Flashes have two sub 4.4 backs (Sophomore Tony Howard and Freshman Eugene Jarvis). These speedy backs, along with 4 returning WRs should cause all types of problems for this Minnesota defense. Minnesota has a bad d-line that does not get any pressure on QBs (15 sacks in 12 games last year). With time, Machen could and will rip apart these Gopher DBs. And I already know people will be saying, "Well KSUs OL is terrible...." Yes they were not that good last year but word around here is that this will be one of their strengths this year. Augustus Parrish is a legitimate NFL prospect (Sophomore) that will anchor this line. Minny's OL is beaten up and bad and they still do not have a legitimate replacement for Gary Russel. BOTTOM LINE: These teams are heading in different directions. KSU can only go one way after a 1-10 season last year. Minnesota will suffer because of the loss of Russel and the loss of many of their key defensive players IMO. Kent has potential to have a good offense. I expect Kent to keep this close and have a chance to win it at the end.
Eastern Michigan + 4.5 As I have looked over a couple of boards I have noticed that Ball State seems to be a very popular pick- Why? Please tell me what is the big advantage for Ball State in this game? Is it because they beat NIU and Akron at the end of last year? Yes Ball State gets back QB Joey Lynch this year. He played well last year but is nothing spectacular. Ball State has 10 players back on offense this year. The man they are missing is at RB. I hear people talk about these receivers like they are TO and Randy Moss. These guys are bums- I think the guy with the most yards only had about 500 last year. Someone correct me if I am wrong there. Ball State has a terrible OL. I do not care if these guys are all back for the next 30 years they are bad. They gave up 43 sacks last year! On defense this team must replace 6 starters. Their DL only got 16 sacks all of last year. At LB, Ball State appeared to be strong until Brad Seiss went out with a knee injury. Last I heard his status for the season was questionable? Any updates? In the secondary they are very small (5'10 or 11" across the board). With a small and young secondary, and a lack of pass rush, I expect Tyler Jones to put up stats. Jones, who will replace Matt Bohnet has a lot of upside. RB is up for grabs with many contenders....I do not think it really matters, as I can run for 100 on this Ball State team lol. The X-factor is this game is Eric Deslauriers. He is a huge reciever (6-4 205) that has put up big numbers throughout his career. His numbers earned himself a first round draft choic in the CFL. He thinks he can play in the NFL, so he came back to college. He should cause all types of problems for this tiny secondary. A buddy of mine who I grew up with Trumaine Riley will be returning kicks/punts for EMU. He has the ability to take kicks and punts to the house. ESPN.com has a quote from his coach that says he has the ability to play at the next level. Bottom Line: We are looking at two 4-7 teams that both believe they can have successful 2006 campaigns. Both teams have many questions and weaknesses. The question I ask is, can each offense score on the other defense? Eastern Michigan will be able to score on Ball State. I am not very sure about Ball State.
Will be back with more later......Comments are welcomed and watend
