Kojak
.......
- Joined
- Sep 20, 2004
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It is time to get it started as opening day is 3 days away. Here are my selections for games thru Monday.
Thursday:
South Carolina -19.5 vs Central Florida.... Truly believe Spurrier will be out to show coaching stint at Washington was a bump in the road. Gamecocks have the perfect opponent for Spurrier to show off his offense against as USC rolls big going into Georgia!
Houston +9 vs Oregon....Houston was only 3-8 su and ats ly but they are loaded especially on offense with Kevin Kolb at Quarterback and Anthony Evans at running back who are 2 of the best in conference USA. Oregon comes in with 16 returning starters on a team that has underachieved. Cougars have real shot at the upset in this one as Oregon's secondary has been one of the Div 1 worst for many years. Regardless if they win su or not, Houston should be able to take it down to the wire in a shootout.
Friday:
Indiana -8 at Central Michigan....Indiana Coach Hoeppner's first game at the helm in Hoosier country. Fortunately for him, he gets to face a foe from the Mac which just happens to be where he came from and knows well from Miami,OH days. He has brought a lot of enthusiasm to a program that needs it. Though Big 10 foes have struggled su and ats vs MAC in last decade, Indiana is 5-1-1 ats vs MAC opponents since 94 and CMU has been pathetic during the same time vs Big 10 only 2-8 ats. Indians starts off on the right foot in this one.
Arizona +7 vs Utah....Utah has a new hc, new qb, new receivers and a total of 12 new starters. Utah played Arizona ly and only won by a score of 23-6 in Mike Stoops 1st game as hc for Arizona vs a division 1 opponent. Arizona returns 14 starters but more importantly, Stoops is starting to get his own people into place on the field. The best player on the field in this game is Mike Bell for Arizona who returns as their leading rusher. In fact they return their top 3 receivers, rushers, and their starting qb in Kovalcheck who looked sharp vs ASU in last game of 04. IMO, Wildcats are a live dog in this one and will give Utes everything they can handle in this one.
Saturday:
Bowling Green +3 at Wisconsin....Wisconsin will be coached by Alvaraz who is returning for his last year on the sidelines. Most teams would be intimidated but not BG. They return imo the best quarterback in the nation in Omar Jacobs who will give fits to Wisconsin who lost James,Hawthorn, and Leonard on the defensive side of the ball. Wisconsin also lost many keys on offense as well in Davis and Charles. Overall, Badgers will be replacing 7 starters on defense which is not a good thing going up vs Jacobs and company. BG has played top opponents and won on the road in past 3 years including Purdue and Missouri and played better than nearly any Big 12 team at Oklahoma ly. They are 11-4 ats in road openers since 90 while Wisky is only 6-15 vs non conference foes since 99. IMO the wrong team is favored and though on road, may win this game by 2 touchdowns.
Miami, Ohio +14.5 at Ohio State...OSU has been thru lots of turmoil over last 24 months and I am still not convinced they are worthy of preseason ranking. Miami returns 19 starters and are considered co-favorites along with BG in MAC. I believe OSU will miss Nugent more than any other player in cfb this year as he often bailed them out in a lot of close games during his tenure. Beleive Buckeyes are in for a battle in this one and will probably win close game but would not be surprised if Redhawks pull the upset.
Notre Dame +3.5 at Pittsburgh....Both teams begin season with new coaches and losses of bowl game. Wanny returns home but this is a tough spot for him going up vs Weis. Looking at the schedule for ND, this can almost be considered a must win game. Weis is under pressure to win right away at South Bend and his team will play with a sense of urgency. Quinn and company will look like Brady and Pats going up vs Dolphins and win handily in a payback game for Irish.
Texas A & M -1 @ Clemson....Aggies may be the surprise of Big 12 and country this year as Coach Fran has Mcneil and company ready in his third year to return to the glory days. This is a coaching mismatch imo and it will show on the field with the team's preparation. I feel Aggies are too physical for Clemson and if there is any rowdy stuff, Tigers may back down after missing bowl game due to fight with Gamecocks. Coach Fran lets nation know in this one that Aggies are back!
Sunday:
Virginia Tech -4.5 @ NC State....Wolfpack was the only loss in ACC ly for Hokies and Beamer will be looking for some payback. Both teams are known for st and defense but difference will be on offense as NC State stuggled at times ly offensively especially at qb position. Except for Vick replacing Randall, all key skill positions are back for Hokies but Wolfpack lose Mcclendon at rb. NC State is only 5-14 ats in last 19 home ACC games while VA Tech is 11-1 ats in last 12 years in 1st road game. Hokies get it done on the road.
Monday:
Ole Miss +2.5 at Memphis....Coach Orgeron takes over from USC staff. Cupboard was not left bare with nearly all skill positions back on offense and defensive leaders back as well from a disappointing 4-7 season. This is a double revenge game for Ole Miss who have lost to Memphis 3 years in a row. Truly believe SEC will rule in this one though that Masked Man at rb for Memphis could have a breakout game. Rebels break losing streak to CUSA rival in Coach O's first game on the sidelines.
I may add a couple of plays as week goes on but these are games I am playing as of today.
Thursday:
South Carolina -19.5 vs Central Florida.... Truly believe Spurrier will be out to show coaching stint at Washington was a bump in the road. Gamecocks have the perfect opponent for Spurrier to show off his offense against as USC rolls big going into Georgia!
Houston +9 vs Oregon....Houston was only 3-8 su and ats ly but they are loaded especially on offense with Kevin Kolb at Quarterback and Anthony Evans at running back who are 2 of the best in conference USA. Oregon comes in with 16 returning starters on a team that has underachieved. Cougars have real shot at the upset in this one as Oregon's secondary has been one of the Div 1 worst for many years. Regardless if they win su or not, Houston should be able to take it down to the wire in a shootout.
Friday:
Indiana -8 at Central Michigan....Indiana Coach Hoeppner's first game at the helm in Hoosier country. Fortunately for him, he gets to face a foe from the Mac which just happens to be where he came from and knows well from Miami,OH days. He has brought a lot of enthusiasm to a program that needs it. Though Big 10 foes have struggled su and ats vs MAC in last decade, Indiana is 5-1-1 ats vs MAC opponents since 94 and CMU has been pathetic during the same time vs Big 10 only 2-8 ats. Indians starts off on the right foot in this one.
Arizona +7 vs Utah....Utah has a new hc, new qb, new receivers and a total of 12 new starters. Utah played Arizona ly and only won by a score of 23-6 in Mike Stoops 1st game as hc for Arizona vs a division 1 opponent. Arizona returns 14 starters but more importantly, Stoops is starting to get his own people into place on the field. The best player on the field in this game is Mike Bell for Arizona who returns as their leading rusher. In fact they return their top 3 receivers, rushers, and their starting qb in Kovalcheck who looked sharp vs ASU in last game of 04. IMO, Wildcats are a live dog in this one and will give Utes everything they can handle in this one.
Saturday:
Bowling Green +3 at Wisconsin....Wisconsin will be coached by Alvaraz who is returning for his last year on the sidelines. Most teams would be intimidated but not BG. They return imo the best quarterback in the nation in Omar Jacobs who will give fits to Wisconsin who lost James,Hawthorn, and Leonard on the defensive side of the ball. Wisconsin also lost many keys on offense as well in Davis and Charles. Overall, Badgers will be replacing 7 starters on defense which is not a good thing going up vs Jacobs and company. BG has played top opponents and won on the road in past 3 years including Purdue and Missouri and played better than nearly any Big 12 team at Oklahoma ly. They are 11-4 ats in road openers since 90 while Wisky is only 6-15 vs non conference foes since 99. IMO the wrong team is favored and though on road, may win this game by 2 touchdowns.
Miami, Ohio +14.5 at Ohio State...OSU has been thru lots of turmoil over last 24 months and I am still not convinced they are worthy of preseason ranking. Miami returns 19 starters and are considered co-favorites along with BG in MAC. I believe OSU will miss Nugent more than any other player in cfb this year as he often bailed them out in a lot of close games during his tenure. Beleive Buckeyes are in for a battle in this one and will probably win close game but would not be surprised if Redhawks pull the upset.
Notre Dame +3.5 at Pittsburgh....Both teams begin season with new coaches and losses of bowl game. Wanny returns home but this is a tough spot for him going up vs Weis. Looking at the schedule for ND, this can almost be considered a must win game. Weis is under pressure to win right away at South Bend and his team will play with a sense of urgency. Quinn and company will look like Brady and Pats going up vs Dolphins and win handily in a payback game for Irish.
Texas A & M -1 @ Clemson....Aggies may be the surprise of Big 12 and country this year as Coach Fran has Mcneil and company ready in his third year to return to the glory days. This is a coaching mismatch imo and it will show on the field with the team's preparation. I feel Aggies are too physical for Clemson and if there is any rowdy stuff, Tigers may back down after missing bowl game due to fight with Gamecocks. Coach Fran lets nation know in this one that Aggies are back!
Sunday:
Virginia Tech -4.5 @ NC State....Wolfpack was the only loss in ACC ly for Hokies and Beamer will be looking for some payback. Both teams are known for st and defense but difference will be on offense as NC State stuggled at times ly offensively especially at qb position. Except for Vick replacing Randall, all key skill positions are back for Hokies but Wolfpack lose Mcclendon at rb. NC State is only 5-14 ats in last 19 home ACC games while VA Tech is 11-1 ats in last 12 years in 1st road game. Hokies get it done on the road.
Monday:
Ole Miss +2.5 at Memphis....Coach Orgeron takes over from USC staff. Cupboard was not left bare with nearly all skill positions back on offense and defensive leaders back as well from a disappointing 4-7 season. This is a double revenge game for Ole Miss who have lost to Memphis 3 years in a row. Truly believe SEC will rule in this one though that Masked Man at rb for Memphis could have a breakout game. Rebels break losing streak to CUSA rival in Coach O's first game on the sidelines.
I may add a couple of plays as week goes on but these are games I am playing as of today.
arty: 
