SATURDAY COLLEGE FOOTBALL SELECTIONS

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If you don't like the plays don't play them!!!
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Big card again this week. I hope that you all have a great week as well. Let me know what you think about todays selections and feel free to share any information that I may have let out. Let all kick some a$$ today!!!

5 Units Nebraska +2.5 -103
This is one of the more intriguing games of the weekend as the Cats (6-3 SU, 4-5 ATS) come off a 45-0 romp over Iowa State for their fourth straight victory. Darren Sproles ran for a career-high 201 yards on 19 carries, and also scored three touchdowns before leaving midway through the third quarter in the Iowa State game. The Cornhuskers (8-2 SU, 6-4 ATS), also off an impressive 24-3 win over Kansas, were watching film of last years 49-13 loss to the Wildcats shortly after their showers on Saturday. One can only imagine that loss as a motivational factor. The Kansas State defense continues to improve and the Huskers opportunistic defense needs to flex its muscles one more time at home, where Nebraska is undefeated this season. The winner will move on to play top-ranked Oklahoma in the Big 12 championship game. A barnburner to be sure on Saturday. The home field could be huge in a low scoring, defensive clash featuring a lot of running and little passing!!!

5 Units Houston U -10 -106
Army is still looking for its first win (and running out of time) while Houston has lost three in a row after a terrific start. The Cougars (5-4 SU, 4-3 ATS) defense has been terrible, but that won't matter much here as Army can't do anything right on offense. Army has rotated QBs all season and has absolutely no running game. And Houston does have a strong offense (27 points, 235 yds passing pg) led by talented freshman QB Kevin Kolb and junior WR Brandon Middleton. Army (0-10) surrenders 34 points per contest and it's easy to see Houston's strong air game scoring a bundle here, especially after three frustrating losses. The last two games the Army offense has scored 9 and 3 points. Look for Army to be 0-11 Saturday afternoon in their last home game.

5 Units Michigan -17.5 -105
The last time these teams met was in 2000, and Northwestern registered an upset in a wild 54-51 shootout. Don't look for a rerun in 2003. Michigan is playing fabulous football and despite absorbing a pair of narrow road losses earlier at Oregon and Iowa, the Wolverines are very much in the mix for one of the BCS bowl games. Michigan's big game is next week when they host Ohio State, but coming off a bye week the chances of them losing focus to the extent they get in trouble here are somewhat limited. Northwestern could be pesky as far as the spread is concerned, as the gritty Wildcats have found a way to go 5-5 SU (7-3 ATS) and they're also an impressive 5-1 ATS in this series. But the talent disparity here is substantial, and for Northwestern to have a chance they need to run the ball well, something that's not likely to happen against a pretty decent Michigan rush defense. The Wolverines have not shown much mercy against outmanned opposition and that points to a fairly lopsided result here.

5 Units Oklahoma State -20 -107
Moral victory aside, in losing (only) 24-3 to Nebraska last week the Kansas Jayhawks will be thoroughly tested once again when they visit Oklahoma State Saturday. Adam Barmann a true freshman went 24 of 34, but engineered no touchdowns. Two failed drives ending with interceptions at the goal line shed some hope for the future. For Oklahoma State (6-3 SU, 5-4 ATS), QB Josh Fields needs to get back on track following a couple of defeats, although the Cowboys depend on TB Tatum Bell and WR Rashaun Woods, they need their quarterback to rebound soon. This season isn't ruined and victories are expected in the remaining conference games, against Kansas and at Baylor. As good as the offense has been (averaging 35 ppg) the Cowboys defense leaves a little to be desired giving up 28 ppg and that includes 107 points in the past two games!!! A much needed little Sisters of the Poor game on Saturday brings a ray of hope and last year Oklahoma State had a 55-20 win as a 23-point favorite.

5 Units Arkansas State +20.5 -108
It is time for another Sun Belt sacrifice as Arkansas State tries to steal the conference title from perennial Sun Belt King, North Texas State. Last week NTSU got a little lazy against UL Monroe, only winning 28-26 SU. However, NTSU (7-3 SU, 6-4 ATS) is 4-0 in the conference and looking to head to the New Orleans Bowl again. Arkansas State (5-5 SU, 3-5 ATS) is trying to become bowl eligible and win the conference at the same time. Quietly, Arkansas State has become 3-0 in the conference after beating Idaho 24-23 SU at home. NTSU is always known for their defense and this year is no exception, only allowing 107 yards per game. However, NTSU has been beaten by the pass, allowing a suprising 225 yards per game. Arkansas State's defense has also been pretty good against the run, only allowing 138 yards per game. Their weakness has been the pass defense, giving up 251 yards through the air each week. However, North Texas probably won't be able to take advantage since their pass offense is only producing 152 yards per game. Arkansas State has played North Texas tough the past 4 years, winning 2 SU. Closer than everyone think!!!

3 Units Ball State -10.5 -102
Ball State (3-6 SU, 4-5 ATS) passed for 326 yards against Western Michigan in a 28-20 loss on Saturday. The combined yards by quarterbacks Talmadge Hill and Andy Roesch at 326 yards was the highest total for the Cardinals since 1993. The Cardinals' run defense continues to be their weak link. Ball State allowed Western Michigan to run for a season-best 167 yards. Under new interim head coach Al Lavan, Eastern Michigan dumped Central Florida 19-13 on Saturday ending an 8-game losing streak. The Eagles continued to struggle on offense, but their defense slammed the door on UCF. Freshman Ken Bohnet got the start and completed 8 of 17 passes for 116 yards and a touchdown. Anthony Sherrell rushed for 155 yards (his seventh 100-yard game) on a school-record 43 carries. The Ball State passing attack will go against a pretty good E. Michigan running game here. A year ago, Ball State beat Eastern Michigan 42-17 and 35-10 two years ago (2-0 SU/ATS the last two meetings). Look for the Ball State Cardinals run defense to be tested but they do have a pretty good passing game and that should be the difference.

3 Units Oregon State -14.5 -105
What's with former soft touch Stanford??? After losing their first four Pac 10 contests this year by an average score of 30-12, the suddenly potent Cardinal has won 2 straight contests. Especially impressive was they way the usually sluggish Stanford attack moved the ball last week, rushing for 217 yards and passing for 279 more vs. visiting Arizona St. Senior Chris Lewis had his best game of the year, throwing for two scores and running for another. But pushing around an Arizona St. defense that's just playing out the string is one thing, facing the Beavers excellent stop unit is quite another thing. And don't discount the strong OSU home field advantage: 17-5 ATS as a home chalk and making the number look even more imposing....Stanford has been outscored 107-38 in three conference road losses this year.

More up later, so be on the lookout
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ALLSTAR
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Aloha Allstar

Good Luck to you on your card tomorrow. The Houston game looks good , and Army I feel wont be in this game not only physically, but mentally also, due to next weeks exciting opportunity to travel to Hawaii, and get out of the cold. I think just because of this, any team can be expected to lose concentration.

GL and Alooooooha. CC
 

If you don't like the plays don't play them!!!
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Co-Captain

Thanks and good luck to you as well my friend.

ALLSTAR
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If you don't like the plays don't play them!!!
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Final Plays!!!

15 Units Virginia Tech -26 -106
Virginia Tech couldn’t hold off Pittsburgh’s potent offense as the Hokies lost a last-minute 31-28 decision at Pittsburgh. Quarterback Marcus Vick was only 8-of-15 for 147 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions. Kevin Jones was a one-man show scoring all four Hokie touchdowns while rushing for 241 yards on 30 carries. Tech is averaging an impressive 213 rushing yards per game on 5.4 yards per carry due mainly to Jones. It has now lost two out of three including a 28-7 loss at West Virginia. Temple has sunk to further depths after a 41-17 loss at Syracuse to lower its record to 1-8 on the season. The lone bright spot was quarterback Walter Washington who finished 19-of-34 for 183 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. He also was the leading rusher for the Owls with 60 yards on 14 carries. The hapless Temple defense allows a stunning 212 yards per game on the ground along with 244 passing yards on nearly 13 yards gained per pass attempt. He was filling in for Temple QB Mike McGann (elbow), who is questionable here. Last year’s game was surprisingly close as the Hokies won 20-10 as a 28-point favorite but look for a rout this time around as they take out their frustrations from last week’s loss on the poor Owls!!!

15 Units Hawaii -3 -110
The pigskin will be in the air here. A lot. Hawaii (6-3) has no offensive balance, but is averaging 384 yards passing and 32 points per game behind QB Timmy Chang. The only concern is that they're playing on the road: Hawaii is 2-3 SU/1-4 ATS on the road where they are outscored by a 34-25 average. That's what home field and artificial turf means to this speedy aerial attack. Fortunately, Nevada plays on artificial turf, so the visitors catch a break. Hawaii has also won 4 in a row, and two were on the road. They won 13-10 at San Jose as a 13-point favorite the last game. They should be able to score against a Nevada defense that has been ripped the last three games (all losses), giving up 42, 52 and 27 points. The Wolfpack has a strong offense (25.5 ppg, 405 total yds pg) but has little to play for at 3-3 in the WAC. This has been a home and home series the last three years, with the home team winning and covering. However, with Nevada's defense caving in like a sinkhole, I like the red-hot, focused visitors!!!

10 Units Colorado -7.5 +101
The Buffaloes (4-6 SU, ATS) pulled off an impressive upset Saturday when they knocked off Missouri 21-16. Up and down Joel Klatt was up against Mizzou and went 19 of 25 for 187 yards and two touchdowns, with no picks. The Colorado run game probably will never get untracked completely this season but against Iowa State it could prove invaluable. Last week Brian Calhoun gained 65 yards and helped the Buffs establish some play-action. The scoring deficiencies of the Cyclones (1-7 SU, ATS) is being matched only by their recent defensive lapses as they've been outscored 73-0 in the past two weeks by Kansas State 45-0 and Nebraska 28-0. Colorado is 2-0 SU/ATS against Iowa State the last two seasons, winning 41-27 and 40-27!!!

7 Units Notre Dame -8.5 -108
The team that can't score against the team that can't score. BYU has been a mess under coach Gary Crowton and it's clear that retired Lavell Edwards was the brains behind the football program. BYU is averaging just 18 points pg while the defense is giving up 27 ppg. They have no running game and have had little offensive consistency. BYU has lost 3 of 4 games and the offense has mustered just 13, 10, 27 and 12 points. They will struggle here against a decent Notre Dame defense that hasn't faced a bad offense all year. The Irish (2-7 SU, 3-6 ATS) have had a miserable season with a tough schedule and little offense (15.7 points pg). They got a reprieve with a 27-24 win over Navy last week, though that came right down to the wire (and ND failed to cover again). Notre Dame's running game behind Julius Jones will have a big game while the ND defense will "wake up the echoes" against an awful BYU offense!!!

Good Luck Today My Friends

ALLSTAR
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I like your 15 * play on Hawaii, they have to win or its over, no WAC showdown with Boise St. Not to worry so much with the traveling , as team had a bye week and are very rested, and Coach Jones took added measures getting their to not be affected by this , as it is a big big big big game for Hawaii. Go Warriors. Aloha CC.
 

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A little confusing for this hick from the back-woods on North Carolina.

You went form 5* to 3* and then all the way up to 15* down to 10*, 7*

Why not just give the big games at the begining of the thread?

Big Earn

Love the Houston pick, agree on Michigan. Nebraska could go any way. I do like most of your picks though. Nice card. Good luck
 
I find it very interesting that in your analysis of the K-State/Nebraska game that you referred to the Nebraska win last week against KU as impressive. I was at the game and it was anything BUT an impressive win. KU moved the ball pretty well with a Freshman QB and Nebraska couldn't take advantage against a pitiful KU defense. Without an interception on the goal line the game would have been much closer.
 

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