2018 surprise teams from Phil Steele

[Knightrofins]

On Steele's magazine that is sold in the state of Florida, he has a bunch of teams from Florida on the cover. He mistakenly called a certain team "UFC".

Every Thursday on Espn, Steele will post plays with Chris Falica and Stanford Steve. I like Falica and Steve alot. Last year, Steele was HORRIBLE with his plays.

I will try to post those picks on here on thursdays or fridays

 

[newton0038]

I don't understand why people are always boosting up the leather helmet champions Notre Dame. I mean they always pretty much fizz out by the end of the season. I was wearing stone wash outfits the last time they won a title.

Bible thumpers, put Jesus on a turd and the bible belt will buy it

 

[Seminoles]

Your school has issues. The only coaching issues Florida State has ever had are the ones that it made up. It is certainly not fixed now. Do you really think that Willie Taggart is half the coach that Fisher is? The problem with your "Cycle" theory is that Clemson has a good enough team, especially on defense, to continue the cycle and Florida State does NOT have enough on offense to break the cycle. Their defense is also very questionable. If Florida State is trying to establish themselves as legitimate contenders in the ACC, now is the time to do it. They play Clemson at home this season.

We have one of the most talented teams in the nation. Especially on offense. It's clear you have limited knowledge about FSU football. There were quite a few kids that should have been on the field last season. Fisher doesn't believe in playing true freshmen. Taggart does. Also if Fisher doesn't have a good DC to help compensate for his poor offensive play calling, then the team will regress. FSU got worse on defensive when Kelly was the DC. You see he didn't bring him to TAMU. He went out and got ND's DC who turned around the unit.

I do know not to expect much out of USC. Now that is one school that has been a disappointment for years.

 

[The Pooh]

We have one of the most talented teams in the nation. Especially on offense. It's clear you have limited knowledge about FSU football. There were quite a few kids that should have been on the field last season. Fisher doesn't believe in playing true freshmen. Taggart does. Also if Fisher doesn't have a good DC to help compensate for his poor offensive play calling, then the team will regress. FSU got worse on defensive when Kelly was the DC. You see he didn't bring him to TAMU. He went out and got ND's DC who turned around the unit.

I do know not to expect much out of USC. Now that is one school that has been a disappointment for years.

Do NOT drink when you post. That is the ONLY excuse I can see for you calling a decent at best Florida State team "one of the most talented teams in the nation." That goes way beyond being a homer and crosses the line straight to stupidity. You have a team that has major problems with the O-line, giving up 32 sacks last season, which was an improvement over the previous season. Your defense is average at best. You have a HC who couldn't stand the heat in the Pac 12 and bailed out to a school that gives him a built in excuse for failure. Losses at Miami, NC State, Notre Dame, and home against Clemson are certainly in the cards, and if Va. Tech did not have so many injury problems, that game would have been a loss. The Camping World Bowl is the best you can hope for and you will lose that game also. Of course Florida State had to stop recruiting kids out of prison to play for them and that has not helped your team at all. USC is so superior academically than Florida State is that it is not even worth a discussion. USC Students graduate with Degrees, not rap sheets. Now being from Arizona, you should know that Arizona could kick FSU's tail up one end of the field and down the other. Arizona has twice the talent that Florida State has, and a much better HC. That is why I picked them to win the Pac 12 South. You, obviously are too much of a homer to admit the obvious. That being the superiority of Clemson over Florida State. The next thing you will be telling us is that Florida State has more talent and a better HC than Alabama or Georgia has. Go sleep it off.

 

[Seminoles]

Do NOT drink when you post. That is the ONLY excuse I can see for you calling a decent at best Florida State team "one of the most talented teams in the nation." That goes way beyond being a homer and crosses the line straight to stupidity. You have a team that has major problems with the O-line, giving up 32 sacks last season, which was an improvement over the previous season. Your defense is average at best. You have a HC who couldn't stand the heat in the Pac 12 and bailed out to a school that gives him a built in excuse for failure. Losses at Miami, NC State, Notre Dame, and home against Clemson are certainly in the cards, and if Va. Tech did not have so many injury problems, that game would have been a loss. The Camping World Bowl is the best you can hope for and you will lose that game also. Of course Florida State had to stop recruiting kids out of prison to play for them and that has not helped your team at all. USC is so superior academically than Florida State is that it is not even worth a discussion. USC Students graduate with Degrees, not rap sheets. Now being from Arizona, you should know that Arizona could kick FSU's tail up one end of the field and down the other. Arizona has twice the talent that Florida State has, and a much better HC. That is why I picked them to win the Pac 12 South. You, obviously are too much of a homer to admit the obvious. That being the superiority of Clemson over Florida State. The next thing you will be telling us is that Florida State has more talent and a better HC than Alabama or Georgia has. Go sleep it off.

The saying still is accurate. You know you lost a sports debate when start talking about academics. Oregon was 4-8 before Taggart. Quickly started out 5-1 and then their starting QB goes down. ACC is way tougher than the WAC 12. lol You got two teams from the same conference that have National Titles in the last 5 years. The WAC 12 hasn't had a team sniff the title game since when? 2006? He's from FL and FSU was his dream job. Arizona beat FSU? Yes you are definitely on some serious crystal meth. Just because lowly USC can't squeak out any quality wins since Pete Carroll left, doesn't mean FSU is anything like them. What was your last major win outside your conference? What is your record against FSU? Because you guys definitely will never willing put them on the schedule.

There are always arm chair QB's out there that look foolish after season's end.

 

[Enfuego]

The saying still is accurate. You know you lost a sports debate when start talking about academics. Oregon was 4-8 before Taggart. Quickly started out 5-1 and then their starting QB goes down. ACC is way tougher than the WAC 12. lol You got two teams from the same conference that have National Titles in the last 5 years. The WAC 12 hasn't had a team sniff the title game since when? 2006? He's from FL and FSU was his dream job. Arizona beat FSU? Yes you are definitely on some serious crystal meth. Just because lowly USC can't squeak out any quality wins since Pete Carroll left, doesn't mean FSU is anything like them. What was your last major win outside your conference? What is your record against FSU? Because you guys definitely will never willing put them on the schedule.

There are always arm chair QB's out there that look foolish after season's end.

UW lost to Alabama on Dec. 31 2016 in the BCS Championship Playoffs. They didn't win the game and didn't play for the title but they "sniffed" the title game.

 

[Statcentral14]

I would never play Phil Steele's picks , but his work on the trends he uses for Total Season Wins Over/Under cannot be disputed ...imo ... Unless he's making up all those numbers , but is that legal ?

I could not agree more, his info to help predict over/under win totals has helped me for years. Here's to it continuing!!

 

[Seminoles]

UW lost to Alabama on Dec. 31 2016 in the BCS Championship Playoffs. They didn't win the game and didn't play for the title but they "sniffed" the title game.

We can get really technical, but nevertheless they haven't been in a title game in over a decade. They are a pretty weak conference, especially the WAC 12 south.

I only see Washington and UCLA ever doing anything remotely relevant in the future. But I don't expect any National titles come out of that conference anytime soon.

 

[Seminoles]

We can get really technical, but nevertheless they haven't been in a title game in over a decade. They are a pretty weak conference, especially the WAC 12 south.

I only see Washington and UCLA ever doing anything remotely relevant in the future. But I don't expect any National titles come out of that conference anytime soon.

I mean't won a title in over a decade.

 

[Knightrofins]

[h=3]College football - Best 2018 NCAA football win total bets from Phil Steele, including the North Carolina Tar Heels[/h][FONT=&quot]by Phil Steele on 2018-07-14 18:02:02 UTC (original: http://www.espn.com/chalk/insider/s...hil-steele-including-north-carolina-tar-heels)[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]College football season win totals are a good way to gauge the market and Las Vegas' expectations for teams.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Below is a look at my top eight early-season win total plays for the 2018 college football season.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Note: I have the current lines (July 31) from both the South Point Las Vegas Sportsbook and Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook, and I will use the best spot to place your wager.[/FONT]

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[h=2]North Carolina Tar Heels: Over 5.5 wins at South Point[/h][FONT=&quot][/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]North Carolina was bowl-eligible in each of Larry Fedora's first five seasons. When I talked to Fedora this spring, we agreed that if it could go wrong, it went wrong last season, as the Heels plummeted to 3-9. This year, all the signs are pointing up. The Heels were No. 112 on my Experience Chart in 2017 and had to replace quarterback Mitchell Trubisky, who was the No. 2 overall pick and started for the Chicago Bears as a rookie. The Heels also had to replace their top four rushers and top wide receivers, with three of them being drafted. In 2018, however, two quarterbacks with starting experience return, as do their top seven rushers and top wide receiver. The defense also has 13 of the top 18 tacklers back. The schedule is easier, as North Carolina avoids my top four teams out of the Atlantic division, and four of their six road opponents had losing records last season. North Carolina was 19-8 in 2015 and 2016 combined, and Fedora did not forget how to coach overnight. I have them favored in eight or nine games this season.[/FONT]
[h=2]Boston College Eagles: Over 6 wins at South Point[/h][FONT=&quot]Steve Addazio finished 7-6 in four of his five seasons, three times with seven regular-season wins. This is by far the best team he has fielded. The Eagles opened just 2-4 last season, but running back AJ Dillon took over in the second half of the season and rushed for 1,589 yards despite just four starts, helping Boston College finish the regular season 5-1. Boston College has Dillon returning as a sophomore, and he will run behind an offensive line that returns all five starters. I rate them as the sixth-best offensive line in the country. This is also the best receiving corps Addazio has fielded with the Eagles. Additionally, they have a veteran quarterback in Anthony Brown and my No. 19-rated defense in the country. I have Boston College favored in eight games with two toss-ups, making over 6 wins a must-play.
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[h=2]UCLA Bruins: Under 5.5 wins at Westgate[/h][FONT=&quot]Chip Kelly had amazing success as a college coach, and he achieved double-digit wins in all four years at Oregon, with an overall record of 46-7. He takes over a UCLA team that has plenty of highly touted recruits, so I could paint a scenario for instant success.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]But I look at this the other way and view this as a rebuilding year for the Bruins. Kelly has not coached in college since 2012, is changing the schemes on both offense and defense, and must learn the players' strengths and weaknesses. UCLA is No. 118 on my Experience Chart, as they lost starting quarterback Josh Rosen to the NFL and have just 12 starters back. UCLA also faces my toughest schedule in the country, as they draw Washington, Stanford and Oregon out of the Pac-12 North and Oklahoma and Fresno State in nonconference play.[/FONT]
[h=2]Utah Utes: Over 7 wins at South Point[/h][FONT=&quot]The Utes switched offenses last season, as Tyler Huntley was the surprise starting quarterback. He did well until being sidelined a couple of games with an injury. Running back Zack Moss had the lightbulb go on in the second half of the season and topped 1,000 yards. Both are back, and Utah goes from No. 122 on my Experience Chart in 2017 to No. 68 this season, with 14 returning starters. Seven units rank in my top groups, including my No. 1 special teams in the country. Additionally, Utah faces on the road just two Power 5 teams that finished the regular season with winning records last season (Washington State and Arizona State). I look for a nine- or 10-win season from the Utes.[/FONT]
[h=2]Marshall Thundering Herd: Over 8 wins at South Point[/h][FONT=&quot]Last year Marshall was my favorite play on the board. Marshall won 11 games per season from 2013-2015 but took a shocking dip to three wins in 2016. Last season, the over/under was just 5.5 wins, and the Herd won eight games. This season, Marshall has 18 returning starters, the most ever under coach Doc Holliday. While quarterback Chase Litton surprisingly left early for the NFL Draft and was not selected, his replacement, Alex Thomson, has trained with Phil Simms for two years and is an NFL draft prospect. Marshall figures to be the underdog in three or four games this season, but I have the Herd favored in 10, and they have a dominant defensive front seven.[/FONT]
[h=2]Florida State Seminoles: Over 7.5 wins at Westgate[/h][FONT=&quot]Last year Florida State was 5-6 and needed to reschedule the game against UL-Monroe just to keep the bowl streak alive. Upon closer inspection, the Seminoles had three close losses. Miami got a 23-yard touchdown pass with six seconds left to win. Florida State fumbled in field goal territory late versus Louisville, and the Cards drove for the game-winning field goal with five seconds left. Even in a down year, the Seminoles were at Death Valley and had the ball on the Clemson side of the field down three with 6:14 left in a misleading, 17-point loss.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Coach Willie Taggart liked the talent he inherited this spring. The Seminoles will be the underdog at Miami, at Notre Dame and home against Clemson, but I see them winning the rest of their games, and they could even steal one of those three contests. South Point has them at eight wins, and while I would still go over that number, 7.5 gives you an extra game cushion.[/FONT]
[h=2]Virginia Tech Hokies: Under 8.5 wins at South Point and Westgate[/h][FONT=&quot]Justin Fuente has won nine games each of his first two regular seasons, so I understand the 8.5 number. The Hokies get quarterback Josh Jackson back, but he had a 3-5 ratio over the last five games of the 2017 season. The Hokies got to nine wins because of their defense, which allowed just 14.8 points per game. That defense had seven starters back, and while most teams allowed a point for every 14.27 yards gained, Virginia Tech's defense had the good fortune of allowing a point every 21.6 yards gained. That puts them in a category with an 84 percent chance of a weaker record. Tech also drops to four returning starters, and the defense has just seven upperclassmen in the three deep and is very young. The Hokies could be underdogs at Florida State, North Carolina, Duke and Pitt and possibly at home against Notre Dame and Miami. Virginia Tech needs nine regular season wins to beat me on this one.[/FONT]
[h=2]Arkansas State Red Wolves: Over 8.5 wins at South Point[/h]

[FONT=&quot]You had to figure this one was coming, as I have the Red Wolves in my preseason top 25. Arkansas State might have been the best team in the Sun Belt last season, but it came in third in the standings, as it lost to Troy 32-25 despite a 32-14 first-down edge and 606-293 yardage edge. Quarterback Justice Hansen is back, and his receiving corps has been upgraded, as Oklahoma transfer Dahu Green and Oregon transfer Kirk Merritt were added in the offseason. Arkansas State's leading rusher from a season ago is also back in Warren Wand. The offensive line had zero returning starters last season, but this season four starters are back. The defense also has five starters back.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Although the Red Wolves face Alabama on the road, all their other road foes had losing records last season, and Arkansas State is 34-7 at home the past seven seasons. There are three premier teams in the Sun Belt, and Arkansas State hosts Appalachian State on Oct. 9 and avoids Troy in league play. I expect double-digit wins from the Red Wolves.[/FONT]