West coast week 3

[Conan]

I'm very curious to see how many points the Beavers will be laying vs Idaho St.
I have to say that Gary Andersen has brought his team quite a ways since he arrived.
Oregon St. will be much more competitive compared to last year. They do not look
like a team that went 0-fer in the Pac last season.

Idaho St. has been outscored 103-10 in it's first two games including a 57-7 loss to
the Colorado Buffs last week. OR St.'s record last year should keep this number low.
Lower than it should be.

 

[ProphetablePicks]

Asu is in a major flat spot next weekend!

 

[Conan]

Especially when you consider that their running backs and receivers
ran half of a marathon each last Saturday.

 

[Conan]

But I still think there will be a lot of points scored in this one.
ASU can rack them up but they also give up quite a lot.
This one looks like a 45-23-ish score. That seems like enough
let down to allow for the Sun Devils.

ASU/UTSA O60½ (Friday)

 

[KDawgg]

Hope i'm not jumping the gun on your thread Conan ... but Texas is gonna kill CAL !!! I hate to say it. I won't be able to watch it! I hit the BOL opener heavy (for me, I'm not a high roller) yesterday at -6. Usually I am VERY stubborn about every half point, about every 5 cents of vig, I want the best #. In this one I'm not sure the line will matter no matter where it goes. They are gonna destroy Cal's defense. Destroy as in annihilate it. They are bigger, stronger, faster, more talented and just simply better. Cal's defense can't tackle. They have zero depth. My jaw dropped when I saw the opener so low.
The Cal offense should be able to score but not nearly enough to keep up.
Not to suggest that Cal might overlook Tex but Tex is off next week while Cal will travel to ASU to open conference play so we know that Tex will not overlook, in fact they have a revenge angle from Cal's victory over them last yr. Tex-8 is a gift. I'll be on 1st q and 1st half and team total as well. Very strong play in my opinion.
Played Mich-20 and Ucla -3' also( two byu starting db's susp for 1st half).

 

[Conan]

Ditto Dawgg.

I wish I had seen the opener @ 5½ in the UT-Cal game too.
Cal will find themselves backed into a corner early and during
the game.

I'll bite.

UT -8/CAL

 

[Conan]

Also liking WSU-26/Idaho

The Coogs must be about ready to explode from all the frustration so
far this season. Losing by a FG to Boise and EWU both. That is quite
aggravating to a team that can score like Wazzou. Leach is having fits
and his players are too.

They've already dropped one to a local rival EWU. Now here come the
vandals of Idaho. The two campuses are literally inches apart but that
doesn't matter anymore. Strangely, Idaho has announced that they will
be dropping down to the FCS subdivision from FBS next season. Perhaps
they are just tired of being pounded weekly in the Sun Belt. Whatever
the reason this is the first time I ever heard of that.

WSU comes into this game LOADED to the hilt -- and angry.

 

[ProphetablePicks]

Hope i'm not jumping the gun on your thread Conan ... but Texas is gonna kill CAL !!! I hate to say it. I won't be able to watch it! I hit the BOL opener heavy (for me, I'm not a high roller) yesterday at -6. Usually I am VERY stubborn about every half point, about every 5 cents of vig, I want the best #. In this one I'm not sure the line will matter no matter where it goes. They are gonna destroy Cal's defense. Destroy as in annihilate it. They are bigger, stronger, faster, more talented and just simply better. Cal's defense can't tackle. They have zero depth. My jaw dropped when I saw the opener so low.
The Cal offense should be able to score but not nearly enough to keep up.
Not to suggest that Cal might overlook Tex but Tex is off next week while Cal will travel to ASU to open conference play so we know that Tex will not overlook, in fact they have a revenge angle from Cal's victory over them last yr. Tex-8 is a gift. I'll be on 1st q and 1st half and team total as well. Very strong play in my opinion.
Played Mich-20 and Ucla -3' also( two byu starting db's susp for 1st half).

Cal is not good enough to look past anyone! This game was a 45-44 win for Cal last season but Texas is playing at a different level this season while Cal has taken a few steps back. Donnel Pumphrey ran for 281 yards against this crap defense. Texas will score at will on them. Cal can put up points but I see this as a 17 point win for Texas. Good luck.

 

[fishmustdie]

What is with Oregon +3 to Nebraska? Thoughts?

 

[Conan]

What is with Oregon +3 to Nebraska? Thoughts?

Mike Riley hasn't been able to deal with the Ducks going back a long time.
The Ducks have looked more and more polished every week since week 1.
Their biggest problem seems to be a couple of gaps in their OL but Prukop
has shown that he is able to get free of a rush put on him and I don't see
where Nebraska has particularly excelled with that phase of their game.
Oregon's backs have been successful moving the ball. This all adds up to
bunches of points as is the usual case with them. Prukop has looked sharp.

Perhaps Oregon's biggest area of improvement is their defense vs the rush.
If Nebraska manages to take a lead, no lead will be safe. More than likely
they will be forced into a game of catch-up or at least chasing the Ducks
most of the game.

I haven't decided to pull the trigger yet but when I do I will likely bet the
moneyline. The Ducks firepower should prevail.

 

[indiana]

Conan...........appreciate the write ups and your thread each week.............BOL with all your action............indy

 

[Hotpizza]

Mike Riley hasn't been able to deal with the Ducks going back a long time.
The Ducks have looked more and more polished every week since week 1.
Their biggest problem seems to be a couple of gaps in their OL but Prukop
has shown that he is able to get free of a rush put on him and I don't see
where Nebraska has particularly excelled with that phase of their game.
Oregon's backs have been successful moving the ball. This all adds up to
bunches of points as is the usual case with them. Prukop has looked sharp.

Perhaps Oregon's biggest area of improvement is their defense vs the rush.
If Nebraska manages to take a lead, no lead will be safe. More than likely
they will be forced into a game of catch-up or at least chasing the Ducks
most of the game.

I haven't decided to pull the trigger yet but when I do I will likely bet the
moneyline. The Ducks firepower should prevail.

Nice read on this game. I would look to see if you can find where you can lay points with Oregon and get the bigger + $ than the standard ML. Say Oregon -3 +180 or better

 

[ScottFromWa]

WSU is going to be a team to keep a close eye on, as Leach's act is beginning to wear thin ... and their starting QB has been concussed so many times that it's a miracle (or a cruel joke) that he's continued his football career.

Their discipline and clock management has been horrific this season (neither of which have ever been a Leach strong suit) and after the Boise State loss, Leach threw the team under the bus with a number of harsh statements about his entire team.

Add that to the growing list of felony level arrests that have plague their front line players and now Leach is accusing local law enforcement of a conspiracy against his team.

http://www.espn.com/college-footbal...a-targeting-washington-state-football-players

Cougfan.com posted a scathing rebuke of Leach today (telling him to "shut up and coach") and, as they say, when you've lost Cougfan, you're in deep trouble.

Idaho is not good, and I'm not saying that WSU is dead in the water, but to use a pirate analogy, this is a ship that is taking on water quicker than they seem to be able to bail (jail pun) it out.

Their hopes of a very promising season could turn into a weekly "go against" until the bookies catch up.

 

[Conan]

WSU is going to be a team to keep a close eye on, as Leach's act is beginning to wear thin ... and their starting QB has been concussed so many times that it's a miracle (or a cruel joke) that he's continued his football career.

Their discipline and clock management has been horrific this season (neither of which have ever been a Leach strong suit) and after the Boise State loss, Leach threw the team under the bus with a number of harsh statements about his entire team.

Add that to the growing list of felony level arrests that have plague their front line players and now Leach is accusing local law enforcement of a conspiracy against his team.

http://www.espn.com/college-footbal...a-targeting-washington-state-football-players

Cougfan.com posted a scathing rebuke of Leach today (telling him to "shut up and coach") and, as they say, when you've lost Cougfan, you're in deep trouble.

Idaho is not good, and I'm not saying that WSU is dead in the water, but to use a pirate analogy, this is a ship that is taking on water quicker than they seem to be able to bail (jail pun) it out.

Their hopes of a very promising season could turn into a weekly "go against" until the bookies catch up.

I can think of worse things than 2 losses by a FG each.
But whatever happened to WSU's defense?
That was a big surprise last year but not so in 2016.

So far anyway

 

[Conan]

OK folks here's one that I intend to bet, but I want to give
this a little more time to simmer on the stove.

I'm really starting to like the Colorado Buffs @ Michigan.
The more I think about it the better I like it. Mike MacIntyre
is a grossly underrated coach. He's recruited a lot of speed
and it shows all over the field. Sifo Liufau their QB has been
deadly accurate in the passing game (15/18 last week.)
The Buffs defense is ranked #1 in yards allowed. Sure it's
very early in the season and they likely won't be ranked
first down the road, but nothing like this was possible
2 years ago when MacIntyre became their HC.

I watched this team practice over the winter/spring break
and believe me this team has some speed. Their lines are
also pretty big and they seem to have developed a type of
communication with hand signals and verbalizing on the line.
The play as a cohesive unit. I'm amazed to see anyone do
that at this stage of the season.

Currently the line is Mich-20½ and I think it may still be on
the rise so I'll give this one time to percolate a while longer.
But I'll get on it if the line doesn't budge. I'd probably take
Colorado for 17 or even less.

One last point. Harbaugh took a few years to whip Stanford
into his type of team. i do foresee success for him at his alma-
matter but I think last year they played over their heads. They
don't match up to Colorado in team speed but they are a hard
nosed football team and will more than likely take it to the
Buffs, but it won't be easy. I'm keeping a close watch. Very
close. If I get3TDs or more I'm dropping the hammer right
away on this one.

 

[WinOne]

Cal is not good enough to look past anyone! This game was a 45-44 win for Cal last season but Texas is playing at a different level this season while Cal has taken a few steps back. Donnel Pumphrey ran for 281 yards against this crap defense. Texas will score at will on them. Cal can put up points but I see this as a 17 point win for Texas. Good luck.

PP,
You don't think Vegas knows that and put the number out there. Remeber that Texas is playing a true freshman at QB and he'll be making his first road start. Also, the Texas defense was shredded by ND, and Cal QB Webb and Co are just as good and what ND was running on offense. Cal threw for over 500 yards against a very good SDSU defense. One that while they are not as big as Texas physically, they may be better overall. Not trying to talk anyone off of Texas but there are alot of UT frontrunners out there and may bet the number higher than it should be. Road revenge is tough to get. I see this as a track meet and getting points is a plus.

My .02cents
WinOne!!

 

[rickrock]

Conan, you may well be right. However, one note of caution: A CSU team that allowed 260 rushing yards to the Buffs held UTSA to -1 rushing.

BTW, I believe Colorado is better than people think and will look respectable at the Big House this Saturday. I will be a correspondent for the opinionated, new national blog, collegefootballodyssey.com Hope you read, my friend.

 

[rickrock]

WHOA, WHOA, WHOA, Conan!!!!

"It take Harbaugh a few years to whip Stanford into shape" REALLY??? He took one of the worst FCS programs and in Harbaugh's first year he pulled the shocker of shockers, as a 41.5 dog, beating Pete Carroll's USC Trojans at the Coliseum with a backup QB, Tavita Pritchard. One of the greatest games and upsets in college football history. This is among the many games passionately chronicled in the new ebook, College Football Odyssey, available on Amazon Kindle.

Regardless, I agree with you that Colorado is better than people think. The only knock on McIntyre is that he lost too many close games in the past 2 years.

Best, Rick Rock

 

[rickrock]

RE: Washington State Defense

In defense of the Cougars, they played one excellent passing team in Boise and one out-of-this-world passing team in Eastern Washington with the legendary Cooper Kupp. For more on the unbelievable Mr. Kupp, please look at one of the blogs at collegefootballodyssey.com

 

[rickrock]

WinOne,

Your point on this being Buechele's first road start would normally be excellent. However, since his first game was an absolute pressure cooker against ND, I do not think this general rule applies. The SDSU game got unique coverage in the Post "Week 2 Lukewarm? Are You ******* Kidding Me!!!" on the fun, opinionated new national blog, collegefootballodyssey.com