This ain?t no infomercial scamdicapper operation.� We provide this service ?for entertainment purposes only.?� However, we?ve apparently got some friends who take this stuff far more seriously.
They report that P101 went 10-1 versus ?the number? in Week 1 (only 9-3 straight-up).� Let?s just say that we won?t be picking up the lunch tab for the next few days.
BYU at Ole Miss was the only miss and oddsmakers declined to post anything for Appalachian State at Virginia Tech. (To be fair, if they did, it would have been north of 42 and we would have been on the wrong side.)
We won?t bat .909 every week ? beginning with this one.
TOP 10 GAMES (Thurs., Sept. 8 thru Sat., Sept. 10)
1) No. 3 Alabama at No. 23 Penn State
Sat., Sept. 10 ? 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC
Five turnovers and a third-down conversion rate of 20 percent are usually cause for concern.� But when you?re Alabama and it happens while working through a 48-7 cakewalk over Kent State, you look at those negatives and say that they represent a ?learning experience.?
Both of Nick Saban?s quarterbacks ? AJ McCarron and Philip Sims ? tossed a pair of interceptions and they?ll need to be very careful against a Nittany Lion secondary that?s stacked with four senior starters.
But it?s the Crimson Tide defense that really stands out with nine returning starters and loads of depth.� Last week, Alabama pushed the Golden Flash running game backward to the tune of minus-9 yards.
With its own pair of quarterbacks ? Rob Bolden and Matt McGloin ? Penn State has a considerable home field advantage in this one, but we can?t really see JoePa?s crew closing too much of the gap that was exhibited last September in the Tide?s 24-3 victory.
Opening point spread: Alabama by 10
The pick: Alabama 23-10
2) Notre Dame at Michigan
Sat., Sept. 10 ? 8 p.m. ET, ABC
After losing to a football program that?s been in existence since only�1997, the Fighting Irish turn their attention to the rivalry game against Michigan that was born in 1887.
It?ll be the first night game ever played at the Big House.� Maybe that?s a good sign for Brian Kelly, who won his last three night games last season, all away from South Bend, concluding with the 20-16 victory at USC.
The Notre Dame offense did everything but the required amount of scoring while losing to South Florida.� The Irish gained 508 total yards, racked up 27 first downs ? and turned the football over five times.
Does that sound familiar?� It should.� Last season, Notre Dame earned 28 first downs and chewed up 535 total yards, but still lost.� The opponent?� Michigan, of course. (Or have you somehow forgotten Denard Robinson?s 502 yards of total offense?)
The revitalized Wolverine defense won?t be as generous this time around.� Michigan missed out on more than 16 minutes of game time when last week?s opener against Western Michigan was called during a second rain delay.� If that didn?t happen, linebacker Brandon Herron might have found a way to score his third touchdown of the day.� Tommy Rees and/or Dayne Crist beware.
Opening point spread: Notre Dame by 3
The pick: Michigan 30-26
3) No. 12 South Carolina at Georgia
Sat., Sept. 10 ? 4:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
In last season?s second game, Gamecock running back Marcus Lattimore roughed up the Bulldogs for 182 yards and a pair of touchdowns.� In this rematch, Georgia will have to deal with the South Carolina super soph without the services of their star inside linebacker Alec Ogletree, who broke a bone in his right foot in last Saturday?s 35-21 loss to Boise State.
That?ll not only make things easier for the Gamecock ground game, but it?ll also free up quarterback Stephen Garcia to pounce when opportunities present themselves.
If Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray still had a weapon like wideout AJ Green at his disposal, he would be more able to take full advantage of South Carolina?s leaky secondary.� (Did you see East Carolina?s Dominique Davis tally 260 passing yards and throw for four scores last Saturday in a 56-37 loss to the Gamecocks?)
Opening point spread: South Carolina by 2 1/2
The pick: South Carolina 31-24
4) Arizona at No. 9 Oklahoma State
Thurs., Sept. 8 ? 8 p.m. ET, ESPN
Thirty Wildcats got their first taste of college football action in last week?s 41-10 victory over Northern Arizona.� That included 10 true freshmen and nine redshirt freshmen.� Both starting offensive tackles fit into that redshirt category.
Arizona certainly has no shortage of weapons at the offensive skill positions, led by quarterback Nick Foles and wideout Juron Criner (check status), but don?t get blinded by the flash and dash.� Up front, the inexperience isn?t limited to just the tackle spots.� The five offensive line starters against the Lumberjacks combined for just one prior start in their Wildcat careers.
That?s not a good sign when you?re faced with a rematch of last year?s 36-10 loss to ornery Okie State in the Alamo Bowl.
The Cowboys will routinely dismiss their reputed future division mates in the Pac-16 East.
Opening point spread: Oklahoma State by 14
The pick: Oklahoma State 38-20
Final: Oklahoma State 37, Arizona 14
5) No. 16 Mississippi State at Auburn
Sat., Sept. 10 ? 12:21 p.m. ET, SEC Network
If the Tigers thought it was tough going against Utah State, look out for Mississippi State and its rugged ball-control offense.� Dan Mullen must have loved watching Utah State pound out 27 first downs and 448 total yards against Auburn.
Meanwhile, the Bulldogs piled up 645 yards and scored five long-distance touchdowns (35 yards or longer) in a 59-14 whipping of Memphis.
Yeah, Barrett Trotter is no Cam Newton, but neither has a great chance of being successful against quality opposition while operating behind a flimsy offensive line (only one starter back).
Mississippi State will snap the nation?s longest winning streak at 16.� Their reward is a game five days later against LSU.� Yikes.
Opening point spread: Mississippi State by 6
The pick: Mississippi State 30-28
6) Oregon State at No. 8 Wisconsin
Sat., Sept. 10 ? noon ET, ESPN
We didn?t even know that Sacramento State had a football team, let alone one capable of beating Oregon State.� Oh well.� You live, you learn.
It remains to be seen if the Beavers learned enough from being humbled at home by the Hornets to handle the Badgers in Madison.
Logic and the fact that quarterback Russell Wilson is now running the show at Camp Randall Stadium lead us to conclude that Oregon State will have to wait until its pillow soft Pac-12 schedule to grab a win.
Wilson had 317 total yards last week in a 51-17 pummeling of UNLV and should post similar numbers against a banged up Beaver defensive front.
Opening point spread: Wisconsin by 17
The pick: Wisconsin 37-20
7) Brigham Young at No. 24 Texas
Sat., Sept. 10 ? 7 p.m. ET, ESPN2
We?re gonna give the Cougar defense lots of credit for going down to Ole Miss and limiting the Rebels to just 208 yards, but they?ll face a far tougher test in Austin, where new offensive coordinator Bryan Harsin brought his bag of tricks over from Boise State.
BYU should keep Texas in relative check, but not well enough to allow the sputtering Cougar offense to maintain an advantage on the scoreboard.
Amazingly enough, this second home victory for the Longhorns will match last season?s total.
Opening point spread: Texas by 7
The pick: Texas 23-20
8)No. 21 Missouri at Arizona State
Fri., Sept. 9 ? 10:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
Tiger quarterback James Franklin exhibited his ability to gain yards on the ground in the 17-6 victory over Miami (Ohio), but Missouri didn?t call his number much in the second half.� Expect Franklin?s work load to increase after getting his feet wet in that first start last week.
Whether ASU linebacker Vontaze Burfict, who had three sacks last week in a glorified scrimmage against UC Davis, allows such roaming remains to be seen.
When they switch sides, normally we?d be warning of a ferocious Tiger pass rush, but it?ll be without a pair of key starters ? defensive end Jacquies Smith and linebacker Will Ebner ? due to injuries picked up in the opener.
Finally, a bright spot for the Pac-12.
Opening point spread: Arizona State by 7
The pick: Arizona State 27-24
Final: Arizona State 37, Missouri 30, OT
9) Nevada at No. 13 Oregon
Sat., Sept. 10 ? 3:30 p.m. ET, FX
The Wolf Pack?s only chance in this post-Kaepernick Era was for Oregon to open up last week with a triumphant victory over LSU.� Now, there?s no chance of sneaking up on a hungover bunch of Ducks.
Look for Chip Kelly to really step on the gas, coming around every turn.� In last season?s first two games at Auzten Stadium, he authorized 72-0 and 69-0 obliterations of New Mexico and Portland State.
Opening point spread: Oregon by 22 1/2
The pick: Oregon 52-16
10) Cincinnati at Tennessee
Sat., Sept. 10 ? 3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2
The Bearcats have nine starters back on defense.� That?s the good news.� The bad news is that group ranked last in the Big East in scoring defense last season, allowing 28 points per game.� However, they didn?t do so bad in last Saturday?s 72-10 victory over Austin Peay.
Heading over to Knoxville is stepping way up in class, but the Vols have even bigger concerns on defense, where the front seven features two true freshmen linebackers and a pair of sophomore linemen.
Against the Governors, the Cincy offense took 71 snaps without turning the football over, showing that it might be capable of not working against itself as it did last year, playing a lead role in an effort that resulted in the nation?s worst turnover margin.
Opening point spread: Tennessee by 7 1/2
The pick: Cincinnati 26-24
TWO MORE YOU SHOULDN?T IGNORE
Utah at USC
Sat., Sept. 10 ? 7:30 p.m. ET, Versus
Hey, it?s the first ? and possibly last ? Pac-12 opener.� You don?t wanna miss that.
With head coach Kyle Whittingham and offensive coordinator Norm Chow, Utah holds a huge edge in coaching department over Lane Kiffin, who supposedly fills both roles for USC.
The Trojans will be holding on for dear life once again.
Opening point spread: USC by 10 1/2
The pick: USC 23-20
Iowa at Iowa State
Sat., Sept. 10 ? noon ET, FSN
The staff here at P101 will always include the Cy-Hawk Series, which dates back to 1894 ? umm ? especially on weeks like this that feature only a handful of truly compelling games.
Iowa has won 21 of the past 28 meetings, including the last three games by a combined score of 87-15.� This one won?t be a blowout.
Using the momentum supplied by new quarterback Steele Jantz in last Saturday?s dramatic victory over Northern Iowa, the Cyclones have a great shot at breaking through versus the Hawkeyes.
Opening point spread: Iowa by 5 1/2
The pick:�Iowa 20-19
Week 2 record: 2-0 (through 9/9)
Week 1 record: 9-3
Total: 11-3 (through 9/9)
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