GL WILLIE.
i'm also liking the under reason being that both teams have been featuring defenses on the uptick for a while. Sure you can expect Mannion to be wearing his game face but Oregon St's rushing game has looked better and better every week to a point where they are finding themselves at an advantage offensively with a much more balanced attack than earlier in the year when they depended on Mannion for racking up offensive yards by himself. It's not all about Sean Mannion nowadays as it was earlier this season.
Statistically speaking, the Beaver's record and ability to control game flow when they have their rushing game in order is a lot better than when they don't. The reason why I would bring that up now is because Oregon St. has been lacking in those 2 important categories -- last year and the season before -- their running game and their defense vs the run. Both parts of the Beaver's game is tied up in resources that weren't paying off for them until just recently which is pretty uncharacteristic for them but as I said, they are on an uptick in both areas for the last several weeks.
You look at last year's score and you have to ask yourself why the game total is just in the low 50's after the two teams nearly broke 100 points the last time they met. Because it will take playing good defense to win the game this time. Both defenses will be pressured to perform tonight and do whatever they must to keep this one under control and within reach. There seems to be a measure of resolve now to hold the oppositions offense to plenty of 3 and outs. I am pretty sure this approach will work both ways tonight. Oregon State's rushing defense is ranked down there statistically but don't let that sway you. The Beaver D vs the rush is on an uptick week in and week out LATELY. The Beaver rushing game has also been improving consistently. As far as the Utes game is concerned, perhaps a slight letdown after taking out UCLA on the road in their last game. They will not find things as easy at Reser Stadium.
Both teams have represented themselves pretty well this season and virtually mirror each other in the areas I have mentioned here and in what they've been able to accomplish this year, much better than last season. This is serious business because both squads will be focused on playing it tight to the vest more than usual out of respect for each other. 53 is an invitation to go over the posted total and I ain't falling for it.
i'm also liking the under reason being that both teams have been featuring defenses on the uptick for a while. Sure you can expect Mannion to be wearing his game face but Oregon St's rushing game has looked better and better every week to a point where they are finding themselves at an advantage offensively with a much more balanced attack than earlier in the year when they depended on Mannion for racking up offensive yards by himself. It's not all about Sean Mannion nowadays as it was earlier this season.
Statistically speaking, the Beaver's record and ability to control game flow when they have their rushing game in order is a lot better than when they don't. The reason why I would bring that up now is because Oregon St. has been lacking in those 2 important categories -- last year and the season before -- their running game and their defense vs the run. Both parts of the Beaver's game is tied up in resources that weren't paying off for them until just recently which is pretty uncharacteristic for them but as I said, they are on an uptick in both areas for the last several weeks.
You look at last year's score and you have to ask yourself why the game total is just in the low 50's after the two teams nearly broke 100 points the last time they met. Because it will take playing good defense to win the game this time. Both defenses will be pressured to perform tonight and do whatever they must to keep this one under control and within reach. There seems to be a measure of resolve now to hold the oppositions offense to plenty of 3 and outs. I am pretty sure this approach will work both ways tonight. Oregon State's rushing defense is ranked down there statistically but don't let that sway you. The Beaver D vs the rush is on an uptick week in and week out LATELY. The Beaver rushing game has also been improving consistently. As far as the Utes game is concerned, perhaps a slight letdown after taking out UCLA on the road in their last game. They will not find things as easy at Reser Stadium.
Both teams have represented themselves pretty well this season and virtually mirror each other in the areas I have mentioned here and in what they've been able to accomplish this year, much better than last season. This is serious business because both squads will be focused on playing it tight to the vest more than usual out of respect for each other. 53 is an invitation to go over the posted total and I ain't falling for it.
I just want to point out that whenever it looks like I am going out on a limb and either make a wager against the flow or come out of the blue and post my opinion on a game, do a big write up about it then read it and it looks like I just polished my crystal ball, look out. This means that I have entered the "hot zone" and will keep on doing it until I don't. Just a tip about my style that seems to be true from time to time. Maybe it's time to cash big on my selections.... I sure hope so.
GL All
GL All
Of course that write up was about the game total wager being a strong "UNDER" 53½ play. You won't see me doing many write ups about totals wagers often. I can't explain why I felt moved to write up a game total this time, but I did. It took a double overtime for my under play to look scary enough to worry about but it turned out to hold up right to the end of double overtime. Am I impressed with the strength of that play? I could be but I'm not really so impressed. My gut says to me that it knows something so I just went with it. FWIW, when you've been playing sides and totals as long as I have been doing this, you learn to take it all in stride without fanfare or excessive celebration. I'm sure there are plenty of old timers here that relate to that statement. Anyway, we'll see if this was just a flash in the pan or possibly a new trend that would suit me just fine.
I admit that I have been pretty loose and inattentive about keeping track of my selections this time around. After going down in flaming carnage the first couple of weeks with 3 terrible picks, I'd rather be caught seen picking my nose instead of being accountable for that garbage. On the other hand (with the other finger) i honestly can't remember losing a single play this year ever since. Usually I come out of the gate smoking hot then cool down as the season progresses.
It's been a weird year thus far, even in the Pac. Hail Mary passes galore that win games on the very last play and road teams with a cumulative record of 14-4 straight up just as a sample of how it's been. Can you blame me or anyone else for being just a little hesitant to lay his neck on the line? Maybe RT's selection thread that focuses on system plays has held true to form? I sure hope something has. When the SEC features both Mississippi teams ranked on top of the world, you have to know something just ain't right about this year.
Come to think of it, a thread named "time to turn things around" is just a microcosm or a fractal of something much larger than a personal record or a pair of college football teams from the state of Mississippi setting an example for the SEC to go by. So Willie I can't help but feel for ya, but your problems are pretty small by comparison... still nowhere close to a guy like Akphi in the end though. Every time I think about the things he says, my reaction to him (other than CFB, thankfully) is that he makes me think about the extremely rare "one twist too many" syndrome. I'm pretty sure that it's terminal.
I admit that I have been pretty loose and inattentive about keeping track of my selections this time around. After going down in flaming carnage the first couple of weeks with 3 terrible picks, I'd rather be caught seen picking my nose instead of being accountable for that garbage. On the other hand (with the other finger) i honestly can't remember losing a single play this year ever since. Usually I come out of the gate smoking hot then cool down as the season progresses.
It's been a weird year thus far, even in the Pac. Hail Mary passes galore that win games on the very last play and road teams with a cumulative record of 14-4 straight up just as a sample of how it's been. Can you blame me or anyone else for being just a little hesitant to lay his neck on the line? Maybe RT's selection thread that focuses on system plays has held true to form? I sure hope something has. When the SEC features both Mississippi teams ranked on top of the world, you have to know something just ain't right about this year.
Come to think of it, a thread named "time to turn things around" is just a microcosm or a fractal of something much larger than a personal record or a pair of college football teams from the state of Mississippi setting an example for the SEC to go by. So Willie I can't help but feel for ya, but your problems are pretty small by comparison... still nowhere close to a guy like Akphi in the end though. Every time I think about the things he says, my reaction to him (other than CFB, thankfully) is that he makes me think about the extremely rare "one twist too many" syndrome. I'm pretty sure that it's terminal.
