5* Virginia -3 UNC has an incredibly long injury list, and just got physically pulverized by Notre Dame. The offense is running on fumes. Virginia is much improved in Bronco Mendenhall's 2nd season, and if they can go out to Boise and dominate, they can win here. QB Kurt Benkert is playing his best football right now, and the Cavs finally have a running game.
5* Tulane -11 Willie Fritz has his team finally perfecting his unique version of the triple option. This Tulane team has been beaten down so long, that they are completely pumped right now. FIU is a dreadful run defense, and this could be a rout. Tulane could have scored 70 on Tulsa last week, but let up 2nd half. FIU QB is a decent passer between the 20s, but his team completely bogs down in the red zone. Should have lost to Charlotte, barely beat Rice…enough said.
5* Utah State -3 (-120) Utah State has had a somewhat grueling schedule, playing at Wisconsin and Wake Forest, and competing but losing to a very good Colorado State team. But they take care of business vs. teams like Wyoming, who I really think has all kinds of issues that make Josh Allen a pedestrian QB. Wyoming has not been a successful team on the road. Utah State also good at getting the turnovers.
4* Utah +13 USC is also playing tired, or injured or uninspired. Darnold's OL got a break last week vs. a pathetic Oregon State DL, but Utah has a very strong front 7 that will make him work for every pass completion, and likely sack him at least a few times. Utah might get Tyler Huntley back this week at QB, although Joe Williams fills in well. Utah doesn't have any glaring weaknesses, and they could possibly pull an upset here.
3* Ole Miss -3 Vandy has just played Alabama, Florida, and Georgia…three great defenses, and they have to be somewhat worn out. They are having tackling issues, and their D this year is definitely overrated. Ole MIss played hard til the end at Auburn, and drove the field twice 1st quarter, but couldn't convert into TDs. Vandy also might be the most poorly coached team in the SEC, although I'm sure I'll get push back on that. Why did Ralph Webb hardly get the ball last week? He runs a nice gain, and then the OC has him sit out for 3-4 plays?
5* Tulane -11 Willie Fritz has his team finally perfecting his unique version of the triple option. This Tulane team has been beaten down so long, that they are completely pumped right now. FIU is a dreadful run defense, and this could be a rout. Tulane could have scored 70 on Tulsa last week, but let up 2nd half. FIU QB is a decent passer between the 20s, but his team completely bogs down in the red zone. Should have lost to Charlotte, barely beat Rice…enough said.
5* Utah State -3 (-120) Utah State has had a somewhat grueling schedule, playing at Wisconsin and Wake Forest, and competing but losing to a very good Colorado State team. But they take care of business vs. teams like Wyoming, who I really think has all kinds of issues that make Josh Allen a pedestrian QB. Wyoming has not been a successful team on the road. Utah State also good at getting the turnovers.
4* Utah +13 USC is also playing tired, or injured or uninspired. Darnold's OL got a break last week vs. a pathetic Oregon State DL, but Utah has a very strong front 7 that will make him work for every pass completion, and likely sack him at least a few times. Utah might get Tyler Huntley back this week at QB, although Joe Williams fills in well. Utah doesn't have any glaring weaknesses, and they could possibly pull an upset here.
3* Ole Miss -3 Vandy has just played Alabama, Florida, and Georgia…three great defenses, and they have to be somewhat worn out. They are having tackling issues, and their D this year is definitely overrated. Ole MIss played hard til the end at Auburn, and drove the field twice 1st quarter, but couldn't convert into TDs. Vandy also might be the most poorly coached team in the SEC, although I'm sure I'll get push back on that. Why did Ralph Webb hardly get the ball last week? He runs a nice gain, and then the OC has him sit out for 3-4 plays?
2* Colorado-12.5 Oregon State got beaten by a disinterested USC team with a lot of injuries, and Sam Darnold still playing so-so. The Beavs have gotten nothing from the QB position, are awful on special teams, and even when they drive the field, they f**k it up somehow. Both the OL and DL are not up to PAC 12 standards. Colorado at least has a pretty good offense, and a solid coaching staff. Starting to wonder if Gary Andersen, and his questionable staff have lost his players a bit.
2* Charlotte +16.5 Charlotte should have won a game or two this year, and they do have some talent, but somehow they either play decent D or O, but never both in the same week. WKU has played UTEP and Ball State fairly even, and losing to La. Tech and scoring 7 vs. a bad Illinois team. Other than QB Mike White, who is having an average season, this team is waaaay down from last year. Seems like the whole offense graduated, and most of the good defenders.
2* Arizona State +17 Be careful going against the Huskies, but I really like ASU coming off a bye, at home, and allowing Manny Wilkins to do his thing. Washington has had an easy schedule, and they could face their toughest test right here. Best offense they've faced. ASU will have some new twists in their game.
1* Akron +14 Going against WMU after 7 OTs last week. Akron seems to always have a spurt each year, and this could be the time vs. a worn out WMU team. Also, WMU's defense is definitely down 2 notches this year.
2* Charlotte +16.5 Charlotte should have won a game or two this year, and they do have some talent, but somehow they either play decent D or O, but never both in the same week. WKU has played UTEP and Ball State fairly even, and losing to La. Tech and scoring 7 vs. a bad Illinois team. Other than QB Mike White, who is having an average season, this team is waaaay down from last year. Seems like the whole offense graduated, and most of the good defenders.
2* Arizona State +17 Be careful going against the Huskies, but I really like ASU coming off a bye, at home, and allowing Manny Wilkins to do his thing. Washington has had an easy schedule, and they could face their toughest test right here. Best offense they've faced. ASU will have some new twists in their game.
1* Akron +14 Going against WMU after 7 OTs last week. Akron seems to always have a spurt each year, and this could be the time vs. a worn out WMU team. Also, WMU's defense is definitely down 2 notches this year.
1* Miami OH -11.5 Can Kent score more than 3? I'm challenging them right here! They really don't have any QB alternatives. Take the redshirt off of any freshman and they might have a better chance. Miami OH is better than last week's loss to BG, and they will be motivated this week to kick some a**. They have a decent QB and can put up 25-30.
2* Colorado-12.5 Oregon State got beaten by a disinterested USC team with a lot of injuries, and Sam Darnold still playing so-so. The Beavs have gotten nothing from the QB position, are awful on special teams, and even when they drive the field, they f**k it up somehow. Both the OL and DL are not up to PAC 12 standards. Colorado at least has a pretty good offense, and a solid coaching staff. Starting to wonder if Gary Andersen, and his questionable staff have lost his players a bit.
Making this a 4*. Gary Anderson leaves the team and lots of money on the table. He didn't blame his players for all the losing, but he ran a confusing mess there, with communication between coaches and players a problem.
Making this a 4*. Gary Anderson leaves the team and lots of money on the table. He didn't blame his players for all the losing, but he ran a confusing mess there, with communication between coaches and players a problem.
The Beavers will be playing a very motivated Colorado team this week, looking for their first PAC 12 win. And the Beavs don't have anyone even closely resembling Khalil Tate. Cory Hall, the interim coach, a very curious move and one that will show how little confidence the AD and boosters have in the OC and DC. Also, might cause resentment for passing them over. Hall came last year as a cornerback coach, and was a graduate assistant in 2015. The OC, Kevin McGiven, has been best at throwing out cliches and displaying no creativity on offense. Other than some decent RBs, he doesn't have much to work with. Hard to know what the Beaver players are thinking right now. GA looked like a dead-man walking, and yet he did care deeply about this team's success. Maybe too much, and with the lack of talent, and his own flaws, realized he needed to get out. It can get worse in Corvalis I'm afraid.
People are wondering, but I'm not sure if GA just didn't want to leave the school broke, and realized his reputation would be tarnished. OSU does not have the big bucks like others in the PAC 12. I think he was really disappointed in his asst. coaches and stunned at how bare the cupboard was when he showed up. Last year they had a little success, but almost all of those better players graduated. The D might show some semi-respectability, but I don't see how this offense shows any life this year. Garretson behind this OL is a sitting duck.
3* Auburn -6 Going out on a limb because Auburn hasn't won in Baton Rouge in like 18 years. Game is at 12:30, might help. Stellar Auburn defense is not getting the attention because Alabama and Georgia's Ds are just so freaking unbelievable. Clemson too. LSU might start 3 true freshman on the OL, and with vanilla game-manager Danny Etling, I'm not sure how LSU scores much. Also, really think Auburn QB Stidham has stepped up in recent weeks as a leader, decision-maker and passer is making Auburn a contender even in the NC discussion. LSU, like the pathetic Florida team they beat last week, are LSU in name only. Ed Orgeron has not instilled enough discipline or routine or something at LSU. His team will be up for hated Auburn, but it won't be enough.
Will be off soon, and will be off-line for a couple of days at least. Got 1* more on Auburn at -6.5. Now a 4*. Look at each of LSU's game, and there isn't one impressive win. BYU is completely terrible. The Syracuse game was about an even matchup, but Syracuse has a good QB, and bottom level ACC talent. Troy beat them, and physically manhandled them. Florida is lucky to beat KY and Tenn. The LSU offense has no identity, the DL might be one of their worst in a decade. Orgeron might be okay in the interim, but his fun, nice guy approach is almost impossible to rein in now that he needs a disciplined, consistent team. Some are wondering if their 2 best players, Guice and Key, who have been injured, are already thinking about their NFL careers.
