I love handicapping college football,but, my first love will always be baseball. It's unbelievable that, thanks to one of The Trip Aces, Roy Halladay, I have witnessed two no-hitters, not to mention one was a perfect game, in one season. If you would have told me that at any point in my life prior to this year, that I would witness two no-hitters in one year, I would have called you CRAZY! But, not only have I now seen two no-hitters in one year, both have come from the arm of a Philadelphia Phillie. Unbelievable.
A bonus for the night was my ability to convince my daughter to watch the last inning with me. I hope it's something she'll remember for the rest of her life.
Go UCF!
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Monday, October 4, 2010
SAM'S COLLEGE FOOTBALL COLLAGE: A madcap review of last week's college football action
My first impressions of last week's college action, with no rehearsals, and no stat studies. ALSO, AN EARLY 3*** PLAY FOR WEDNESDAY NIGHT!
A&M almost doubled the yardage Ok.St. gained in last Thursday's game, and I somehow only got a push in the game. Aggie QB Johnson threw 4 interceptions in the game. I expect that kind of junk from a freshman QB, not a 3-year starter...I have always thought that programs like Texas, and Florida simply re-load at all positions. It's probably true at all positions, except quarterback. Gilbert of Texas, and, Brantley of Florida, new starters who replaced legends, will be good, eventually, but, for now, they have helped cost their teams a chance at the BCS Championship. I have almost never supported a team with a new QB to win the national championship. It's because new QB's will find a way to lose somewhere along the line...Northwestern should've covered vs. Minny on the road, and didn't. Wiscy lost on the road vs. MSU. OSU was favored on the road vs. Illinois, and didn't cover. PSU went on the road vs. Iowa, and didn't cover. Do you see a pattern here? It's just one week. What I'd like to do this week is check how road favorites, in conference, have done over the last five years. I'll try to give you the results. What's great about this endeavor is you are constantly trying to learn...
Virginia Tech has made its turnaround after a slow start. Another team that has gotten off to a slow start, under the leadership of a normally great coach, is Georgia Tech. They have a nice nucleus of starters back, and, like coach Beamer of V.T., I believe coach Johnson will have his team back on track. The challenge for a handicapper is figuring when that turnaround will occur...My Temple Owls survived a potential let-down game vs. Army, overcoming an early deficit, and won going away. Army is a lot tougher than many realize. Go Owls!!!
I thought Mike Leach, former coach of Texas Tech, was an offensive genius. I was fairly happy when I learned new coach, Tommy Tuberville, was going to retain that T.T., up-tempo offense. After T.T. only score 14 points vs. Texas, and now have lost to ISU, maybe no one could've been expected to succeed one of the greatest offensive minds in college football history(that is not an exaggeration)...Really curious to see the stats from Baylor's 55-7 win over Kansas. I contend the Bears' QB Griffin is one of the most dangerous run/pass threats at his position in college football, and would like to see his stats from that game... QB Pryor continues to throw at a fairly low completion ratio of under 59%. I just don't think that kind of production will survive the Big 10 schedule... My week started with the A&M pick, which resulted in a tough push, and ended with my early, Sunday morning recommendation of the over in the L.T./Hawaii game. My totals line in the game was 62.5. The final score was..... 41-21! I'll tell you this: I hope I didn't lose that total on another missed extra point. Ahhh, I'm glad I was asleep.
THREE STAR PLAY ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT: UAB vs. UCF
This line should have the home team favored by 21 points. UCF held the very good running back from KSU, Daniel Thomas, to under 80 yards(only 3.7 y.p.c.), and lost to KSU in the last minute of that game, in KSU. They lost to N.C.St., but held the Wolfpack to 134 yards rushing, but, much more impressively, held QB Wilson to a 10 for 30 night, and only 105 yards passing!
UAB has an inexperienced QB at the helm. I just don't see how that new QB will generate anything against UCF's outstanding defense.
UCF doesn't overwhelm you on offense, but they do have a QB in Calabrese who's efficient, and they do have a ground game that will control the game. After all, that running game produced 252 yards rushing against KSU! Needless to say, UAB's program, and defense, is not closely comparable to what UCF faced in both KSU, or N.C.St.
In an early recommendation, take UCF over UAB in a 3*** play. The line is UCF - 12.5, a bargain, and I do believe that line will go up, particularly if the national linemakers know I'm giving it out!!!
A&M almost doubled the yardage Ok.St. gained in last Thursday's game, and I somehow only got a push in the game. Aggie QB Johnson threw 4 interceptions in the game. I expect that kind of junk from a freshman QB, not a 3-year starter...I have always thought that programs like Texas, and Florida simply re-load at all positions. It's probably true at all positions, except quarterback. Gilbert of Texas, and, Brantley of Florida, new starters who replaced legends, will be good, eventually, but, for now, they have helped cost their teams a chance at the BCS Championship. I have almost never supported a team with a new QB to win the national championship. It's because new QB's will find a way to lose somewhere along the line...Northwestern should've covered vs. Minny on the road, and didn't. Wiscy lost on the road vs. MSU. OSU was favored on the road vs. Illinois, and didn't cover. PSU went on the road vs. Iowa, and didn't cover. Do you see a pattern here? It's just one week. What I'd like to do this week is check how road favorites, in conference, have done over the last five years. I'll try to give you the results. What's great about this endeavor is you are constantly trying to learn...
Virginia Tech has made its turnaround after a slow start. Another team that has gotten off to a slow start, under the leadership of a normally great coach, is Georgia Tech. They have a nice nucleus of starters back, and, like coach Beamer of V.T., I believe coach Johnson will have his team back on track. The challenge for a handicapper is figuring when that turnaround will occur...My Temple Owls survived a potential let-down game vs. Army, overcoming an early deficit, and won going away. Army is a lot tougher than many realize. Go Owls!!!
I thought Mike Leach, former coach of Texas Tech, was an offensive genius. I was fairly happy when I learned new coach, Tommy Tuberville, was going to retain that T.T., up-tempo offense. After T.T. only score 14 points vs. Texas, and now have lost to ISU, maybe no one could've been expected to succeed one of the greatest offensive minds in college football history(that is not an exaggeration)...Really curious to see the stats from Baylor's 55-7 win over Kansas. I contend the Bears' QB Griffin is one of the most dangerous run/pass threats at his position in college football, and would like to see his stats from that game... QB Pryor continues to throw at a fairly low completion ratio of under 59%. I just don't think that kind of production will survive the Big 10 schedule... My week started with the A&M pick, which resulted in a tough push, and ended with my early, Sunday morning recommendation of the over in the L.T./Hawaii game. My totals line in the game was 62.5. The final score was..... 41-21! I'll tell you this: I hope I didn't lose that total on another missed extra point. Ahhh, I'm glad I was asleep.
THREE STAR PLAY ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT: UAB vs. UCF
This line should have the home team favored by 21 points. UCF held the very good running back from KSU, Daniel Thomas, to under 80 yards(only 3.7 y.p.c.), and lost to KSU in the last minute of that game, in KSU. They lost to N.C.St., but held the Wolfpack to 134 yards rushing, but, much more impressively, held QB Wilson to a 10 for 30 night, and only 105 yards passing!
UAB has an inexperienced QB at the helm. I just don't see how that new QB will generate anything against UCF's outstanding defense.
UCF doesn't overwhelm you on offense, but they do have a QB in Calabrese who's efficient, and they do have a ground game that will control the game. After all, that running game produced 252 yards rushing against KSU! Needless to say, UAB's program, and defense, is not closely comparable to what UCF faced in both KSU, or N.C.St.
In an early recommendation, take UCF over UAB in a 3*** play. The line is UCF - 12.5, a bargain, and I do believe that line will go up, particularly if the national linemakers know I'm giving it out!!!
Saturday, October 2, 2010
A LATE NIGHT( EARLY MORNING?) PICK!
Two teams that love to pass. Two teams that play bad defense. That combo leads us to a 2** star recommendation on the over in the Hawaii/LaTech contest.
Sleep well!
Sleep well!
IT'S THE BEWITCHING HOUR:THE 8:00P.M. PLAYS
We had seven plays to start the day. We may end the day with an equal amount of plays, thanks to the unusual amount of 8:00p.m. starts tonight. Lots of plays to give out so let's get it on:
B.C. plus the points over Notre Dame: The better defense is also at home, and, what the heck, I do have the Eagles rated higher than the favored Irish. B.C. in a 2** play
Florida plus the points over Alabama...and... the over in the same game, both in 2** plays
Southern Miss in a 2** play over Marshall, and the under in the same game in 2** plays
Iowa in a 2** play over PSU: This Hawkeye defense just too tough for the freshman QB, and, again, on "ratings Saturday," I simply have Iowa rated much higher than the NITS.
Stanford's scary, but, getting too much credit for their wins over so-so competition. Oregon's home in one of the country's toughest venues, with 16 returning starters, and guess what: they have the much higher College Edge rating. On this "ratings Saturday," that means everything!
Oregon in a 2** play!
If I get pumped up, I may still try to work on the two remaining games on the schedule: Nevada-UNLV and LaTech-Hawaii(is there anything better than having a 4**** play in an Hawaii, late-night home game?) Check in.
B.C. plus the points over Notre Dame: The better defense is also at home, and, what the heck, I do have the Eagles rated higher than the favored Irish. B.C. in a 2** play
Florida plus the points over Alabama...and... the over in the same game, both in 2** plays
Southern Miss in a 2** play over Marshall, and the under in the same game in 2** plays
Iowa in a 2** play over PSU: This Hawkeye defense just too tough for the freshman QB, and, again, on "ratings Saturday," I simply have Iowa rated much higher than the NITS.
Stanford's scary, but, getting too much credit for their wins over so-so competition. Oregon's home in one of the country's toughest venues, with 16 returning starters, and guess what: they have the much higher College Edge rating. On this "ratings Saturday," that means everything!
Oregon in a 2** play!
If I get pumped up, I may still try to work on the two remaining games on the schedule: Nevada-UNLV and LaTech-Hawaii(is there anything better than having a 4**** play in an Hawaii, late-night home game?) Check in.
IT'S THE NIGHT PLAYS!
Okay, so it hasn't been such a great day. I will trudge on with the grand strategy of going with the under-valued teams, according to my rating system. It's really worked well today, hasn't it?
Here are two 7:00p.m., TWO STAR PLAYS:
Colorado over Georgia
Texas Tech over ISU
We'll return throughout the night until the schedule is concluded.
Here are two 7:00p.m., TWO STAR PLAYS:
Colorado over Georgia
Texas Tech over ISU
We'll return throughout the night until the schedule is concluded.
WHY WAIT:ARIZONA ST/OREGON ST.
Oregon St. is the better team. They have played a tough early schedule, which I believe has obscured how good this team could be. My ratings have Oregon St. far better than ASU. Since this "ratings Saturday," I will go with the much higher rated home team and recommend Oregon St. in a 3*** play.
MID-DAY PICKS( Go Owls!)
I'll take the better defense: Texas in a 2** pick over Oklahoma
In the same game: the under in the Texas/Oklahoma game for a 1* play
Virginia Tech in a 2** play over N.C.St.: I know I'm going against momentum in going against the Wolfpack, but, V.T. should take advantage of what I believe is a weak defense, and, besides, I have V.T. as a 7.5 favorite in the game, and the actual line is dropping, and now stands at 3.5. I'll take the bargain.
PLENTY OF SELECTIONS TO COME
In the same game: the under in the Texas/Oklahoma game for a 1* play
Virginia Tech in a 2** play over N.C.St.: I know I'm going against momentum in going against the Wolfpack, but, V.T. should take advantage of what I believe is a weak defense, and, besides, I have V.T. as a 7.5 favorite in the game, and the actual line is dropping, and now stands at 3.5. I'll take the bargain.
PLENTY OF SELECTIONS TO COME
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