Alright, some quick run throughs on what I'm looking at for tomorrow. No telling exactly what I will take until about 11:30 am.
Syracuse +289
If this upset happens I want in on it, would kill me if Syracuse won this game and me not be on it. On the right day I think Syracuse O is good enough to hang with any of the top teams in the country. All the key O factors are better for Orange this year over last year except for passing ypg, but they are more efficient, run the ball better, allow fewer sacks, convert 3rd down better, scoring more points and are better in the RZ (still not great TD % however). In a nut shell this is the top of the mountain for the Babers O at Syracuse and so long as the moment isn't too much for them they will present the biggest challenge the Notre Dame D has faced to date. Capable skill players, a play making QB and OL that will start 2 5th year Sr, a 4th yr Sr, a 4th year Jr and a 3rd year Soph in his second year starting, it all adds up to 130 career starts. Biggest concern is the Syracuse D. For me to try and put those fears to rest I will look to the Pitt game, where Pitt also without a good D, caused some problems for the Irish - granted that is the exception. Syracuse does get pretty good pressure (9th ncaa with 33 sacks) and negative yardage plays (27th ncaa with 72 tfl) and they have a surprisingly good 3rd down D (5th ncaa 26%)....so there may be some legitimate things they can succeed on outside of just hope. The DL is underrated and every D starter is an upperclassman. This is their moment to step up.
ULM +237
Both teams are hot right now. ULM is in a 4 game winning streak outscoring those foes 37 - 17. Akr St has gone 3-1 in their last 4 outscoring those 44 - 28. ULM controls own destiny in the West Division, Ark St needs to win this and hope ULL loses again. ULM O has really been clicking, coming in here off a 551y game and prior to that posted 573. And their D which typically is their liability held USA to 218y, GaSouth to 216y, Tex St 242y. Obviously the quality of competition isn't strong but shutting down GaSouthern was an accomplishment even if GaSouthern was a bit of a fraud as we predicted. Still being honest ULM D is cause for concern...they allowed 439y to Coastal Carolina 4 games ago. So they probably haven't fixed everything. One thing ULM has been doing is getting after the QB well, 17 sacks their last 4 games and for the year they have 32 good enough for 11th nationally. Getting pressure on Ark St is going to be critical to make Hansen uncomfortable. Ark St has avg'd 493 yards the last 4 weeks and comes in with the Sun Belt's #1 Total O (#2 ypp). So the task is tall for this ULM D. But just as ULM has feasted on weak teams, so has Ark St. And the last time Ark St played a team with a good O, they lost 43-47 to ULL. And I would think that ULM O finds success often the way they are playing. Really, these teams feel pretty even. Good O, weak Ds and both playing for a shot at the Sun Belt Championship. When dogged, ULM has pulled upsets in 3 out of 4 of their group-of-5 opponents and a late rally in their lone dog loss came up short (lost by 8 throwing in EZ at end vs Troy). Arkansas State has won 8 straight in the series which hasn't been close since 2011's 5 pt game. ASU expects to win Sun Belt titles and have been in this position before. But they are younger this year, while ULM is a veteran team who hasn't tasted much success, they are hungry and playing well. Should be a good one.
I'll try and post some more later or tomorrow.
