Last Week: 8-3
Season: 14-7
Net Gain/Loss: + $89.00
MINNESOTA (NO LINE) over Montana State: The Gophers got clearly their biggest win of the Brewster era (so many to choose from), but it came with a price: Duane Bennett is out for the season, & Tow-Arnett is out this week, so that now makes the OL rolling with 3 redshirt freshmen & 2 sophomores. Bad news in terms of experience. But good news in terms that they get to go against Montana State to develop some experience together. Look for the defense to continue to get better and the offense to keep it simple and execute with simply better athletes.
SCOOPS’ PICK: MINNESOTA 48, MONTANA STATE 13
NORTHWESTERN (NO LINE) over Eastern Illinois: Northwestern barely squeaked out a win at Duke last week, but they’re 2-0, and get to go against 1-AA Eastern Illinois this week. Look for the offense to continue to get better and the ‘Cats to get to 3-0.
SCOOPS’ PICK: NORTHWESTERN 45, EASTERN ILLINOIS 20
Iowa State (+13.5) over IOWA: 13 & a half is just too much for this in-state rivalry that has a history of being competitive. I think the factor that Iowa is facing a team with a pulse for the first time may take them by surprise a bit. Iowa wins, but it won’t be by 2 TD’s.
SCOOPS’ PICK: IOWA 27, IOWA STATE 20
PURDUE (+8) over Oregon: Oregon is good. Very Good! But 8 points seems like a lot against a team that can move the football up & down the field that is at home. I see Purdue being able to have a little bit of success offensively, lose, but cover.
SCOOPS’ PICK: OREGON 30, PURDUE 24
Wisconsin (-1.5) over FRESNO STATE: A very key game for both teams. Fresno is thinking BCS bid if they can win this one; Wisconsin is trying to set a tone with a daunting opening slate in the Big Ten season coming up. I hate to admit it, but the Badger offense looked scary last week. Granted it was against Marshall, but this wasn’t smoke & mirrors like past Badger teams in 2004 & 2006. I’m still a bit skeptical of the WR’s, but they have depth at the TE, a good OL and the trio of RB’s that can wear a team like Fresno down. The key will be: can Fresno go vertical on the Badgers back 7, which is a weakness to this point. I think the Badgers do just enough to win this tough one on the road.
SCOOPS’ PICK: WISCONSIN 34, FRESNO STATE 31
Penn State (-27.5) over SYRACUSE: Penn State’s offense is in PlayStation mode right now, while Syracuse lost to Northwestern by 20 points and lost to Akron by double digits at home. They are bad! Penn State will light up the Carrier Dome scoreboard early & often.
SCOOPS’ PICK: PENN STATE 55, SYRACUSE 17
Michigan (-1) over NOTRE DAME: Has any game involving these two teams in this crazy rivalry featured two worse squads. The difference is that Michigan has a defense, while Notre Dame does not. Notre Dame struggled to get a victory over a poor San Diego State team last week. Michigan’s win wasn’t any better of Miami, but they are still better defensively.
SCOOPS’ PICK: MICHIGAN 17, NOTRE DAME 13
Ohio State (+11) over USC: The Buckeyes clearly looked like they were overlooking to USC last week, and now the entire nation is jumping on them for it. This is exactly where Ohio State wants to be. Beanie is playing, and that is huge. And I throw this nugget out for you: The last time the Buckeyes were double digit underdogs? January 3, 2003: Fiesta Bowl, versus Miami. We all know what happened in that one. 11 points is just way too much. If I wasn’t such a pussy, I’d pull the trigger on the +360 moneyline on Ohio State, but I’ll take the backdoor instead & take USC to win, but the Buckeyes to cover.
SCOOPS’ PICK: USC 28, OHIO STATE 24
ILLINOIS (-25) over UL-Lafayette: The Illini defense isn’t playing stellar football right now, but the offense is kicking things into high gear. Just a guess, but I’m guessing the Zooker paid extra special attention to the defense this week in practice to shore things up for the Big Ten season. Things will start this weekend.
SCOOPS’ PICK: ILLINOIS 44, UL-LAFAYETTE 13
Georgia (-7) over SOUTH CAROLINA: South Carolina had their usual breakdown last week at Vanderbilt (copyright Pliers on calling it) while Georgia is simply moving along, waiting for the Buckeyes & Trojans to slug it out this week. These are the type of games that, if Georgia wants to be taken seriously as a national title contender, they need to win.
SCOOPS’ PICK: GEORGIA 31, SOUTH CAROLINA 20
Oklahoma (-20) over WASHINGTON: What a loss for the Huskies last week with the unsportsmanlike penalty on Locker. They lose a heartbreaker and their reward? Getting a team that absolutely destroyed a good Cincinnati team last week. The only thing that keeps this thing close is shady Pac Ten officials. Oklahoma’s offense is in high gear right now and it will continue at U-Dub.
SCOOPS’ PICK: OKLAHOMA 51, WASHINGTON 17
VIRGINIA TECH (-7) over Georgia Tech: Perhaps the Hokies loss to ECU wasn’t as bad as previously thought. Georgia Tech is 2-0 and won a big one at Chestnut Hill last week. The triple option (or spread as Paul Johnson is calling it) is taking the ACC by storm. However, I think their luck runs out this week and VA Tech gets back to Beamer ball.
SCOOPS’ PICK: VIRGINIA TECH 27, GEORGIA TECH 17
Kansas (+3.5) over SOUTH FLORIDA: USF had to scratch out a win at Central Florida last week and things get upped this week with the precision passing of Todd Reesing. USF has athletes on defense, but Kansas can score. I like Kansas to not only cover, but win outright.SCOOPS’ PICK: KANSAS 34, SOUTH FLORIDA 27
No comments:
Post a Comment