CollegeKingRex
CTG Regular
OK fellas... First Saturday of the season. Can't believe the 2008 campaign is already here.
Locked in nine plays so far...
Took Utah plus 148 at Mishitgan. They've got the Carlos Huerta Award-winning 9th-year senior Brian Johnson under center once more, and he's healthy this time around.
Johnson and wideout Brent Casteel were each members on the unbeaten 2004 Utah team and they've both mentioned that the mentality is the same as that team had. This team clearly has more talent than Michigan, which is young and has an offense that wasn't recruited to run the spread. The Wolves will be better as the season goes along, but this is a bad time to catch an old and experienced bunch of BCS-hungry Utes.
Prediction: Utah 27, Michigan 20
The play: Utah plus 148
Tailing the board (or most of it, anyways) on Wyoming. I made the game much higher. And Solich has an AWFUL ATS record on road games he loses SU.
The play: Wyoming -11 for a medium bet
Western Michigan has a lot of the same weapons that Ball State had last year when it went to Nebraska and lost a game it shoulda won. Tim Hiller is a stellar quarterback if he's not turning the ball over. He threw for 367 yards, three scores and no picks in an upset at Iowa last season, and he threw 20 touchdowns and just three INT's in 2005 as a freshman. Jamarko Simmons and Brandon Ledbetter are NFL-type receivers.
With 10 seniors starting on defense, significantly better depth than a year ago and BCS-level talent in the secondary and at linebacker, a 9-win season looks pretty realistic. So does their chances of winning this game against a rebuilding Cornshitters unit.
Prediction: Western Michigan 34, Nebraska 28
The play: WMU plus 14.5 for a big bet
A tepid endorsement for Washington and do-it-all QB Jake Locker. If he is healthy, he will give the Ducks fits. This has the makings of a down-to-the-wire affair as well. Oregon has more talent, but is searching for the 'perfect' QB to run that offense that fit Dennis Dixon like a glove. Costa isn't it; he's out for the year.
Prediction: Oregon 27, Washington 19
The play: Washington plus 14 for a small bet
Jerry Kill can flat coach. This is his first I-A game but he's 104-57 in his career at three stops. A great story on him here...
http://www.daily-chronicle.com/articles/2008/08/24/sports/niu/doc48b0f0dc6219f912824205.txt
NIU returns nearly everyone, and everyone who is familiar with Phil The Thrill Steele knows how unlucky and injury-prone they were last fall. They should not be intimidated by the Metrodome.
With Ted Roof coaching the defense, the Gophers will certainly be better on that side, and NIU is preparing for the 4-2-5, the 3-4 and the 50. Can you really be serious about making a team that allowed 500-plus yards per game last year a 2-possession favorite over anyone?
Prediction: NIU 34, Minnesota 30
The play: NIU plus 8 for a medium bet
Hawaii catches Florida in a great spot (Miami on deck) and the Bows have been on the mainland for enough time to prepare. The line has gone up way too much and I expect it to be close for awhile before the Gators pull away behind a vanilla gameplan...
JUST CHECKED HG's THREAD.
No need to say more.
The play: Hawaii plus 35.5 for a medium bet
Lot of points to give a solid Illinois team fresh off a Rose Bowl appearance. The Zooker is always a dangerous dog. Especially now that Benn appears to overmatch the Mizzou defense and the Illini appear once again capable of trading points. Last year, the Tigers won 40-34 but the Illini were statistically better and this looks to go to the wire.
Prediction: Illinois 34, Missouri 31
The play: Illinois +9 for a medium bet.
Skip Holtz always seems to get the cash, particularly in the dog role. Last year in Blacksburg, the Hokies had the massacre to play for, yet ECU was as good or better for a good part of the game. This time, it's in a neutral field. There's no Tyrod Taylor to bail out Glennon, and the Pirates have been in the positive column in turnovers in each of Holtz's three years (not a coincidence at this point)... With vet Patrick Pinckney at the helm again, expect a shot at an outright win.
Prediction: VT 24, East Carolina 23
The play: ECU plus 10 for a medium bet
Florida Atlantic doing a little bit too much talking for my taste, but they should be able to back it up. The Owls return nearly everyone and Texas is laying a hefty price. With UT being able to fully focus on the Owls since UTEP blows, I am a tad concerned about The Pipe's comments. But Rusty Smith is a solid QB capable of dissecting the Longhorn secondary. This stays within earshot all the way.
Prediction: Texas 41, FAU 31
The play: FAU plus 24.5 for a medium bet.
GL fellas!
:cheers:
Locked in nine plays so far...
Took Utah plus 148 at Mishitgan. They've got the Carlos Huerta Award-winning 9th-year senior Brian Johnson under center once more, and he's healthy this time around.
Johnson and wideout Brent Casteel were each members on the unbeaten 2004 Utah team and they've both mentioned that the mentality is the same as that team had. This team clearly has more talent than Michigan, which is young and has an offense that wasn't recruited to run the spread. The Wolves will be better as the season goes along, but this is a bad time to catch an old and experienced bunch of BCS-hungry Utes.
Prediction: Utah 27, Michigan 20
The play: Utah plus 148
Tailing the board (or most of it, anyways) on Wyoming. I made the game much higher. And Solich has an AWFUL ATS record on road games he loses SU.
The play: Wyoming -11 for a medium bet
Western Michigan has a lot of the same weapons that Ball State had last year when it went to Nebraska and lost a game it shoulda won. Tim Hiller is a stellar quarterback if he's not turning the ball over. He threw for 367 yards, three scores and no picks in an upset at Iowa last season, and he threw 20 touchdowns and just three INT's in 2005 as a freshman. Jamarko Simmons and Brandon Ledbetter are NFL-type receivers.
With 10 seniors starting on defense, significantly better depth than a year ago and BCS-level talent in the secondary and at linebacker, a 9-win season looks pretty realistic. So does their chances of winning this game against a rebuilding Cornshitters unit.
Prediction: Western Michigan 34, Nebraska 28
The play: WMU plus 14.5 for a big bet
A tepid endorsement for Washington and do-it-all QB Jake Locker. If he is healthy, he will give the Ducks fits. This has the makings of a down-to-the-wire affair as well. Oregon has more talent, but is searching for the 'perfect' QB to run that offense that fit Dennis Dixon like a glove. Costa isn't it; he's out for the year.
Prediction: Oregon 27, Washington 19
The play: Washington plus 14 for a small bet
Jerry Kill can flat coach. This is his first I-A game but he's 104-57 in his career at three stops. A great story on him here...
http://www.daily-chronicle.com/articles/2008/08/24/sports/niu/doc48b0f0dc6219f912824205.txt
NIU returns nearly everyone, and everyone who is familiar with Phil The Thrill Steele knows how unlucky and injury-prone they were last fall. They should not be intimidated by the Metrodome.
With Ted Roof coaching the defense, the Gophers will certainly be better on that side, and NIU is preparing for the 4-2-5, the 3-4 and the 50. Can you really be serious about making a team that allowed 500-plus yards per game last year a 2-possession favorite over anyone?
Prediction: NIU 34, Minnesota 30
The play: NIU plus 8 for a medium bet
Hawaii catches Florida in a great spot (Miami on deck) and the Bows have been on the mainland for enough time to prepare. The line has gone up way too much and I expect it to be close for awhile before the Gators pull away behind a vanilla gameplan...
JUST CHECKED HG's THREAD.
No need to say more.
The play: Hawaii plus 35.5 for a medium bet
Lot of points to give a solid Illinois team fresh off a Rose Bowl appearance. The Zooker is always a dangerous dog. Especially now that Benn appears to overmatch the Mizzou defense and the Illini appear once again capable of trading points. Last year, the Tigers won 40-34 but the Illini were statistically better and this looks to go to the wire.
Prediction: Illinois 34, Missouri 31
The play: Illinois +9 for a medium bet.
Skip Holtz always seems to get the cash, particularly in the dog role. Last year in Blacksburg, the Hokies had the massacre to play for, yet ECU was as good or better for a good part of the game. This time, it's in a neutral field. There's no Tyrod Taylor to bail out Glennon, and the Pirates have been in the positive column in turnovers in each of Holtz's three years (not a coincidence at this point)... With vet Patrick Pinckney at the helm again, expect a shot at an outright win.
Prediction: VT 24, East Carolina 23
The play: ECU plus 10 for a medium bet
Florida Atlantic doing a little bit too much talking for my taste, but they should be able to back it up. The Owls return nearly everyone and Texas is laying a hefty price. With UT being able to fully focus on the Owls since UTEP blows, I am a tad concerned about The Pipe's comments. But Rusty Smith is a solid QB capable of dissecting the Longhorn secondary. This stays within earshot all the way.
Prediction: Texas 41, FAU 31
The play: FAU plus 24.5 for a medium bet.
GL fellas!
:cheers:
