JLip, I'm not saying Tulsa is a bad bet considering how bad Tulane was last season, but there are a lot of questions at QB and offensive line for Tulsa right now, and we know their defense was nothing special. That being said, Tulane's offense was just awful last year.
My thoughts for this game are twofold:
1.) I really think the best bet is going to be UNDER 64 here as Tulsa's offense will not be as powerful as it has been the last two years under great QBs and Gus Malzahn.
2.) Wait for a second half bet on Tulsa. That hurry up offense tends to wear down defenses in the second half and the second half bet is usually golden. Also, this will allow you to see if the Tulsa offense has a chance to start clicking or not.
I am beginning to see Auburn as a play on team this year. They have the defense and I think the offense has no where to go but up. I think Auburn is one of those teams that you need to research a little deeper before you pull the trigger on that one. They have a new coach who wants to start off on the right foot and a defense that can control the LA Tech running game. I have not seen this game at 14 as it seems to be stuck at 13- everywhere I look. Auburn played everyone in the SEC tough until they got blown out by Alabama at the end of the season. Very competitive team but their defense is the real deal. 15 starters back and Gus Malzahn calling the plays. Kansas shut them out LY.
BS: I have been monitoring Tulsa closely and I know for a fact that Graham has remarked that this is the best Tulsa team he has had (in 3rd year) and they were 11-3 LY. That got my attention. They have 8 back on defense and will still put up points. They had a live scrimmage under the lights earlier this week and I think this team has aspirations. Tulsa survived losing Kragthorpe and they will survive losing Malzahn. By the way, they post daily reports on every fall practice.
Auburn's offense was terrible last year, and this year has failed to produce anything that would lead one to believe that things will be much different. Their defense is a litle thin in the middle, but still typical Auburn overall. Ijust do not see much change in this team. I think they will struggle to win 6 games this year, and I definately not not lay a lot of points and take this team. There has been very little line movement in this game, which indicates that people may be taking a "wait and see" attitude about Auburn.
I'm still waiting to see what this Auburn/La Tech line does. I think at anything over 14 that La Tech is the play. Auburn is a mess right now. And they're still having trouble trying to find an adequate QB. I feel about this game about like I feel about UCLA/SDST. Your looking at BAD offensive teams trying to cover big double digit spreads. And it will be especially hard to cover this number against an agressive defense who helped contribute to a +9 turnover margin last year. Miss. St. had problems on offense against this team last year and lost the game. I also think it is a HUGE advantage for a team who went to a bowl last season vs one who didn't. The extra month of preparation, practice and talent evaluation is very helpful going into next season. Auburn didn't have that luxury. With Auburn you have a new coaching staff trying to get on the same page with their players, who have been through so many confusing changes themselves in just the last couple of years versus a Va Tech team with the same coach, staff and 16 starters, QB coming back with a lot of momentum from a bowl win. Auburn ended the season 1-5. La Tech finished the season 5-1. Plus this isn't a long trek for La Tech. Auburn is just down the road. Like I said, over 14 is the key number here. I admit it isn't what I would call a strong play. But I think La Tech is definitely the side or pass. The thing that none of us can claim to know is how good of a HC Chizik going to be. I would hope better than he started at Iowa State. And the second question I would ask myself is how sound of a football team will Auburn be at the beginning of the season versus La Tech. It makes a big difference in these early games. Things like returning coaching staff coming back intact, along with their QB and overall soundness of a team is the first thing I look for in teams the first couple of weeks of the season.
Just an fyi... Auburn actually feels pretty good about themselves going into the year. The running game will be back to normal, the O-line is very good they were just put in a jacked up offense last year and couldn't use their full ability. The addition of Malzahn will be very nice as well.
Looking at their schedule I could see Auburn going 8-4 but I'm going to say 7-5.
Looking at their schedule I could see Auburn going 8-4 but I'm going to say 7-5.
Chizik just named Todd his starting QB. Of course he didn't have much beat out. Todd has been a disappointment up to this point. We'll see if it was just because of the offense he was in, his injury last season or his talent level.
Todd Van Emst, AuburnChris Todd throws in practice last week.
AUBURN -- Chris Todd will start the season as Auburn's quarterback, head coach Gene Chizik announced late Thursday night, ending a quarterback race that started in the spring and featured as many as five challengers in the fall.
The senior from Elizabethtown, Ky., overcame a disappointing 2008 season and arm problems that prevented him from practicing this spring to beat out juniors Kodi Burns and Neil Caudle and true freshmen Tyrik Rollison and Clint Moseley.
Burns worked with the wide receivers Thursday and Chizik said he would contribute to the offense as a receiver and Wildcat quarterback.
Chizik said Burns gave an "inspirational" speech in a team meeting and he "couldn't be prouder of a player."
"He's an Auburn man," Chizik said.
On Todd, Chizik said, "There's no substitute for experience."
AUBURN -- Chris Todd will start the season as Auburn's quarterback, head coach Gene Chizik announced late Thursday night, ending a quarterback race that started in the spring and featured as many as five challengers in the fall.
The senior from Elizabethtown, Ky., overcame a disappointing 2008 season and arm problems that prevented him from practicing this spring to beat out juniors Kodi Burns and Neil Caudle and true freshmen Tyrik Rollison and Clint Moseley.
Burns worked with the wide receivers Thursday and Chizik said he would contribute to the offense as a receiver and Wildcat quarterback.
Chizik said Burns gave an "inspirational" speech in a team meeting and he "couldn't be prouder of a player."
"He's an Auburn man," Chizik said.
On Todd, Chizik said, "There's no substitute for experience."
I'm liking the under for the Tulsa/Tulane. Tulsa may be better this year. Especially on defense and TO margin..But it's always a little tricky taking a new QB on the road for the first time and expecting to score a lot of points. Tulane's motus operandi the last couple years under HC Toledo is to defensively start out the season strong and wilt coming down the stretch because of injuries and lack of depth. Basically, you have two opposing QB's without a whole lot of playing experience. And what will probably be an improved rushing attack for Tulane. I also think Tulsa could miss Tarrion Adams, who was not only a great rusher, but a great receiver coming out of the backfield... So we have the possibilty that Tulane could outrush Tulsa. It should quicken this game and give it a good chance to go under. Plus this is a conference game fellas. So these two teams will be going balls to the wall to get their first conference win and get a leg up.
