Wednesday, September 30, 2009

BIG TEN WEEK 2: RIVALS GALORE!

Last Week: 6-3
Overall: 20-20-1
Win/Loss: + $2.34

TIME TO KEEP CHOPPING AWAY!

With a nice 6-3 record last week, I’m back at the .500 mark. Considering the wager amounts with hitting a Minnesota money line and a large 2-team teaser, I’m back in the positive money flow. A good recovery, I think. But as Mike Holmgren would constantly say after a playoff win, “But we’re NOT DONE YET!”

Which brings us to week 2 of the Big Ten season. A huge swing game for Minnesota & Wisconsin, a much needed game for Northwestern if they want to think bowl game, Illinois wanting to get going in the right direction before all hell breaks loose on the Zooker train, and big brother plays little brother in East Lansing.

Onto the picks:

Penn State (-6.5) over ILLINOIS: Nothing like having Pliers have to shove it. I told him that Iowa doesn’t get blown out. He had Paterno love going, and the results speak for themselves. Iowa dominated that game for the final 3 quarters and I should have been hammering the +340 that the Hawkeyes were carrying. I just settled on the spread.

Which brings us to two teams that are at a crossroads. Penn State’s O-Line got exposed for what I thought they were (copyright Denny Green). But Illinois is in Baloo Tail Spin mode right now. Two games against D-I foes and getting shellacked in both outings? Penn State continues the slide. Scoops says “lay the points, bitches!”
FINAL SCORE: PENN STATE 31, ILLINOIS 17

MICHIGAN STATE (PK) over Michigan: Michigan State got somewhat dominated at Madison last week, and their defense is not exactly up to the challenge. They do have a good passing attack going and the problem is NOT Kirk Cousins. Michigan, meanwhile, had to scratch & claw over Indiana at home, which is usually not a good conference tone setter. I think Michigan comes back to earth a bit and MSU finally gets a desperate win.
FINAL SCORE: MICHIGAN STATE 34, MICHIGAN 31

Northwestern (+6.5) over PURDUE: Northwestern’s defense is shady, particularly their run defense as shown with Minnesota getting good yards on the ground, which may play right into Purdue’s hands. But Northwestern does have a good passing attack to keep them in games. I like the Cats to maintain the cover.
FINAL SCORE: PURDUE 27, NORTHWESTERN 24

Ohio State (-16.5) over INDIANA: Poor, Indiana. So close to getting a road win at Michigan. And now they get an Ohio State team that seems to be cranking it up on D, with them giving up 18 to USC and tossing 2 shut outs in a row. Indiana is 3-0 against the spread thus far, but 3-1 ATS Ohio State should cruise here.
FINAL SCORE: OHIO STATE 31, INDIANA 10

IOWA (-20.5) over Arkansas State: Letdown city for Iowa? Not with that defense. Their DL is way too quick & their offensive line way too experienced & mature. Iowa continues their hot hand.
FINAL SCORE: IOWA 38, ARKANSAS STATE 7

Washington (+13.5) over NOTRE DAME: Washington predictably took it on the chin at Stanford last week. Don’t let that fool you though. Their offense can score & 13.5 is way too much for Jake Locker against a Notre Dame team that easily could be 0-3 against the Big Ten.
FINAL SCORE: NOTRE DAME 30, WASHINGTON 24

[**] Washintgon/Penn State/Houston 6.5 teaser: I think Washington should easily keep it within 19, Penn State should beat Illinois outright, and Houston to beat UTEP by 11. [$5 wager to win 9]

MINNESOTA (-3) over Wisconsin: Boy, oh boy! The freaking Badgers. Undefeated freaking Badgers. Oh how I hate the freaking Badgers, Bielema, the Kollege Klub, Mike Eaves, Bo Ryan & their freaking band & people that say “Let’s go, Bucky!”

Is Wisconsin good? They seem to have a bit more balance, for sure. And their quarterback seems to be a bit different than the classic “insert QB’s name” that simply hands off. Where I think they are disgusting is the back 7 on defense, which Minnesota can hammer. The key for Minnesota, once again as it will be every week, is the OL play. If they can protect and give a bit of a running game (not much is needed, but just some), I think Minnesota should have some success.

Defensively, I like this team, despite Kafka going for 300+ yards passing last week. The Gophers pretty much made Northwestern one-dimensional, and they’ll eventually stop that. I like the LB’s, and the DT’s should be good against Wisconsin’s run offense. The key will once again be the safety play.

I like Minnesota jump out quickly as Wisconsin is on the road for the first time, and then it to go to the wire with Minnesota’s special teams being the difference.
FINAL SCORE: MINNESOTA 27, WISCONSIN 20

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Oh Pliers Boy, The Pipes, The Pipes are Calling - Pliers Picks Week 3

I've called myself a lot of things over the years, and loser is absolutely one of them (0-9 baby!), but I can't recall a losing streak like this since the first Bush administration was making mediocre policy decisions and pulling out of Iraq sooner than they should have. OK, so I was 11 years old back then, but still, I think I probably made more good decisions during my entire 7th grade year than I have so far this season.

No use crying over spilled covers, however, so we will keep going. I have decided, however, that if I don't turn it around in the next two weeks and average at least a .400 winning percentage I am going to quit handicapping NCAA football games and go straight for the Harness Racing scene. God help us if that happens.

Onto the picks...pray with me, Sister Moriarty...

Last Week - 2-6
YTD - 7-16

Mizzou by 7 at NEVADA. I am 95% sure that Nevada's entire offense is being held by a child molester in the backyard of an affluent California neighborhood. Can we get the FBI on top of this please? Nevada got shut down by Notre Dame and then came out and took a dump against Colorado State. Last year, the future CFL star Chase Daniel and his cronies hung 69 on Nevada, and that is historical precedent that oughta continue. Mizzou 48, Nevada 10.

Minnesota getting 1 at NORTHWESTERN. The last time the Gophers beat Northwestern, the country was still reeling from the re-election of George the Second and "Goodies" by Ciara was introducing the country to the hottest question of 2000's hip-hop..."Is Ciara really hot or just a post-op tranny?" Either way, I say the Gophers are two things:
  • More due for a victory than Phil Specktor's attorneys
  • More athletic than the Wildcats (I just shuddered saying that)

By that measure, I say that this game is a toss up since T-Brew is about 1/3rd the coach that Fitzgerald is, but I've gotta go with my Alma Mater this week. Call it a gut feeling Also, T-Brew, if you are reading, PLEASE THROW THE BALL TO GREEN. He's good. Seriously. Good. Gaffers 24, PurplePoos 14.

Ciara says, "Go Gophers! Does anyone have any more foundation makeup? I'm starting to get a 5 o'clock shadow here."

Washington getting 9 at STANFORD. Guess what, Mr. Harbaugh...Jake Locker is better than you were. And you were pretty stinkin' good. I love Locker, I like Washington's athleticism, I like their coaches, and I really like their confidence right now. Some might say this is a letdown game after bumping off USC last week, but after you lose almost 20 games in a row I don't think you need a letdown week to know how hard you've got to work to win. Washington pulls the upset in the Bay Area, but nobody notices since they are all trying to figure out ways to cripple our economy with anti-business initiatives. Huskies 35, Cardinal 21.

PENN ST by 9 vs Iowa. This is one of my favorite yearly matchups to watch every year. Iowa/PSU is the Big Ten equivalent of South Carolina/Georiga in the SEC, except once the comparison breaches the Mason-Dixon, the concept gets flipped. JoePa and Ferentz have two of the most disciplined and intelligent programs in the nation, the polar opposite of the weekly knifefights that take place across the south each weekend in the fall. Anyway, the difference in this game is Daryl Clark and the PSU crowd. Nittany Lions 24, Iowa 13.

Western Kentucky getting 30.5 at NAVY. Does Pliers know anything about Western Kentucky? No. Has he seen them play? No. Does he know that their mascot is a giant cotton ball dipped in red Kool-Aid? Yes. And he also knows that Navy is not about putting up huge amounts of points when they get up on someone. 4+ touchdown favorite? I'm the child of a 22-year Navy vet and even I think that is ridiculous. This isn't Midway, it's a football game! CottonBalls 14, Navy 38.

The Hilltoppers will run the white flag up the mast and call off the attack early...and I think Navy will oblige.

Rutgers getting 1 at MARYLAND. Sure, Schiano hasn't beaten anyone of note this year, but Ralphie's team looks like it might be better off staying home and playing with it's Red Ryder Carbine BB gun. They lost to M. Tennessee State last week, sneaked by James Madison, and got blown out by Cal on opening night. They just look slow out there to me, and I think it's time to show Ralph the door, he just isn't effective anymore. Rutgers 27, Maryland 10.
Sorry, Ralph, it looks like the dream is over. But in memory of all the good times you have given us, here is your parting gift. It's Italian.

Pittsburgh getting 1.5 at NC STATE. If any team exemplifies "The Ewing Theory" put forth by Bill Simmons more in the NCAA this season, I haven't seen it. We have all been waiting for Pitt to break out with the talent they have and the prudent coaching of Dave "The Bushy One" Wannstedt. So, what does it take? LeSean McCoy to go pro. Now the light goes on. Perfect. NC State is a lackluster program with lackluster talent in my opinion, and I like the guy on the sidelines at Pitt FAR more than the jerk-ass leading the Wolfpack. Panthers 21, Wolfies 9.

Michigan St getting 3 at WISCONSIN. I really hate this pick, but I need 8 and this is the best of what is left. I'm always weary of picking against Wisconsin at Camp Randall, but I think Michigan State is much better than they have played and I'm hoping Dan-Tony-O can resurrect the swagger they played with last year. King Leonidas 17, Stinking Badgers 10.

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

SCOOPS' PICKS: HE'S NOT A MACHINE, HE'S A MAN!

Last Week: 8-4-1
Overall: 14-17-1
Win/Loss: - $35.33

HE’S CUT! HE’S CUT! THE RUSSIAN’S CUT!



The first two weeks of the college football season seem rather reminiscent of the first two rounds of the Christmas Day Balboa-Drago fight in Moscow 1985. Getting tossed around the ring, getting blasted, with no answer. I was cut, I was bleeding, but I was still on my feet.

And then? HE’S CUT! THE RUSSIAN’S CUT! I realized the gambling world is NOT A MACHINE…HE’S A MAN! And now the gambling god’s are sitting in their corner, saying to themselves “Scoops is not human…he’s like a piece of iron!” Wishful thinking, perhaps.

But a solid recovery last weekend, no doubt, going 8-4-1, and just missing on the two teasers with Northwestern butchering their +2 with a 3 point loss and Maryland losing last second to MTSU. With the Big Ten season starting up this weekend, taking the next step on the ladder is the goal.

And I’m learning as I go as well. First lesson learned: STAY AWAY FROM THE 3-TEAM TEASER. They look so juicy, like a big old steak just waiting to be eaten. Such juicy lines. And how many times can one get 2 or 3 right? So while the payoff may not be as good, I’m going to cut it down to 2-team teasers & straight plays and try to occasionally hit the money line on the dog.

Onto the picks:

Minnesota (+120) over NORTHWESTERN: Minnesota showed that they’re starting to get some athletes, particularly at LB to be able to compete at a higher level. That was the biggest thing I took out of their loss to Cal. Their LB’s are the best they have been in year. And that helps when facing a spread team like Northwestern. A misconception I believe is that to face a spread, you need 5-6 DB’s. DB’s are critical, but having the LB’s that can play in space is even more critical, I think. This is what Minnesota has never had.

This brings us to an interesting game. Northwestern lost at the buzzer to Syracuse, a team Minnesota beat at the buzzer. I think Minnesota is better now than they were then, but the health of Eric Decker comes into play as well. With a toss up game, go where you can take advantage of the dollar, and in that case, it’s Minnesota on the money line.
FINAL SCORE: MINNESOTA 30, NORTHWESTERN 27

Iowa (+10) over PENN STATE: Iowa is too good a football team to get blown out. Plus, Penn State is not having success running the ball, which plays into the hands of Iowa’s defense as their strength is the secondary. They also play smart offensively and Stanzi has been making plays in the 2nd half. Penn State wins, but Iowa covers.
FINAL SCORE: PENN STATE 27, IOWA 20

[**] Iowa (+16.5) / Minnesota (+9) 6.5 point teaser: Taking my own advice and cutting down from a 3-team to a 2-team teaser. Yes, the payoff isn’t as good, but I feel confident in these two teams hitting their respective numbers. Iowa hasn’t been blown out in a while, and the last time Northwestern defeated Minnesota by 10 points or more, Pat Fitzgerald was there….problem was HE WAS THEIR STARTING LB. [$20 teaser wager]

Indiana (+20) over MICHIGAN: Indiana is one of the teams that I have no idea about really, yet I keep on banging them and they keep on hitting the spread, with an outright win last week over Akron. Michigan wins, but they’re not 20 points better than Indiana
FINAL SCORE: MICHIGAN 31, INDIANA 17

Michigan State (+130) over WISCONSIN: Big swing game for both teams (MSU doesn’t want to end up 1-3 to start the season) and Wisconsin faces it’s biggest rival on the road next weekend, so getting a win is rather critical. Wisconsin’s kicking game has been off, and that will make the difference in MSU getting the outright win.
FINAL SCORE: MICHIGAN STATE 30, WISCONSIN 27

Illinois (+14.5) over OHIO STATE: It’s the pesky half point that has me leaning the Illini’s way. Juice has the offense to put up some points and will accept a 2 TD loss, but that half point leans money towards Illinois.
FINAL SCORE: OHIO STATE 38, ILLINOIS 24

PURDUE (-8.5) over Notre Dame: Just when it looked like Purdue was turning the corner with their close loss at Oregon, Northern Illinois came in and took it to them. Meanwhile, Notre Dame will get to experience life without Michael Floyd for the first week. I think the health of Jimmy Clausen is very key to Notre Dame and his lack of it will help Purdue cover.
FINAL SCORE: NOTRE DAME 27, PURDUE 24

GEORGIA TECH (-2.5) over North Carolina: The Jackets attempt to bounce back after their trouncing in Miami last Thursday. Look for Dwyer to finally get back on track and Georgia Tech to get the win without needing the points.
FINAL SCORE: GEORGIA TECH 31, NORTH CAROLINA 20

Texas Tech (even) over HOUSTON: The Cougars are all amped up for this game as the Red Raiders come into town. Being ramped up sometimes results in too much emotion and a let down, and that will happen as the pass happy Raiders take the win.
FINAL SCORE: TEXAS TECH 38, HOUSTON 34

Thursday, September 17, 2009

U-G-L-Y...Pliers is looking for an Alibi

After the stinkbomb I put up last week, let us move onto greener pastures with a slew of good looking lines for the NCAA week ahead. I need to wash the stink of last week off of me worse than Jim Carrey had to wash the trannyness off of him in Ace Ventura. I feel dirty.

Onto the picks...god help us all.

Last Week - 2-6
YDT - 5-11

Georgia Tech getting (yes GETTNG) 5.5 at MIAMI. Sure, I fell in love with the Miami defense two weeks ago against The Bowden Boys. Then, Bowden almost lost to JACKSONVILLE STATE. What a shocker that would have been. Too bad, really. Anyway, Georgia Tech's defense is stout as usual, and their offense too a great change of pace for a bunch of stupid thugs to try to adapt to. Miami's secondary will snuff out much of the Ga Tech attack, but Miami won't score many points either, and their home crowd is roughly as ambivalent as a Gopher crowd in the Metrodome. Ga Tech 17, Miami 14.



VA TECH by 4 vs Nebraska. No comment. Va Tech 24, Nebraska 14.



The OVER at 56.5 on the OREGON ST/Cincy game. Tony Pike is good for what, 4 touchdowns? Add a few by Jacquizz Rogers and the typical Beaver putn return for TD and we have an OVER! Cincy 42, Oregon St 28.



BYU by 7 vs Florida St. Do you think that the Mormon Priests will shudder a little bit when the Seminoles get off of their plane in Utah? BYU is a pretty tough football team, playing at home, in the mountains, against a team traveling 3 timezones that almost donked a game to Jacksonville St. Sure, the Seminoles are staring an 0-3 start directly in the face, but BYU has national title aspirations and always seem ready to play. I like BYU in this one. BIG. Glenn Beck will be so happy he might not even pit any acrid misinformation after the big win. BYU 42, Florida State 14.

UCLA by 11.5 vs Kansas St. Ugghhh...Kansas State is horrible. There are more talented teams playing on the island of Manhattan than there are in the city of Manhattan, KS. UCLA might not be elite, but you don't have to be to beat K-State by 2 TDs. UCLA 38, K-State 10.

Georgia by 1.5 at AR-Kansas. Got I hate Petrino. I really, really do. I just can't bet on his teams, which is probably why I have a 20% win rate this year. But I don't give a shit. That guy is less reputable than a Snake Oil salesman on Coney Island. Eff him. Georgia 28, Ar-Kansas 14.

FLORIDA by 28 vs Tennessee. Urban Meyer is not going to call off the dogs (as if he ever does anyway), and Lane "Shoot First" Kiffin does not have the players to compete. Hell, I'm not even sure if the last team Layne coached has the talent to beat Florida. Gators 59, Vols 21.

Wyoming getting 7 at COLORADO. The wheels of the Dan Hawkins bus have officially fallen off, bounced down the mountain, and splashed into the watery remnants of the melted glacier at the bottom. Wyoming hung in there with Texas last week until a guy named Colt showed the Cowboys why they aren't in the Big-12. Colorado doesn't belong there, either. Wyoming 31, Colorado 14.

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

SEPTEMBER 19th PICKS: CAN I WIN ANY MONEY?

Last Week: 2-7
Overall: 6-13
Win/Loss: - $66.50

I apologize if you’re actually still listening to me. Probably better of running for the hills rather than put your money on anything that I say. Getting killed right now. Worst of it is I’m getting killed on the games that I actually think I know what I’m doing. I’m hitting the ones that I have no idea on. Hopefully can get off the snide here.

Cal (-14) over MINNESOTA: All I’m hoping for this week is the Gophers to keep it close. Cal may be the best team they face the entire season, so as this game makes them a better team for when they face Wisconsin & Iowa, I’m all for it.

Regarding the game. Minnesota’s offense is completely sleepwalking through the 1st half right now. They showed some signs of life in the 2nd half, but that won’t cut it against the speed that Cal will show. I think the Gophers have a shot if they can keep Best in the 90-120 yard range. But I see a complete ability of Cal to exploit the biggest weakness in the Gophers Defense, which is the safeties. Gophers play with emotion early, but Cal pulls away.
FINAL SCORE: CALIFORNIA 34, MINNESOTA 17

Indiana (+4.5) over AKRON: One of my classic “I have no idea” games, which I’m surprisingly pretty good at thus far in the season. I do know that Indiana’s defense isn’t playing horrible, and that’s enough for me when you’re a 4.5 dog against a MAC team.
FINAL SCORE: AKRON 20, INDIANA 17

IOWA (-5.5) over Arizona: Iowa seemed to get off the Ames hex that’s been placed over them last week with a bombing of a poor Iowa State team. Home crowd should be enough to give them a 10 point victory.
FINAL SCORE: IOWA 24, ARIZONA 13

MICHIGAN (-22.5) over Eastern Michigan: Freaking Eastern Michigan. For two weeks in a row, they’ve caused the pain in my 3-team teaser. That shit ends this Saturday as Michigan shows no letdown and continues to attempt to show everyone that they’re back.
FINAL SCORE: MICHIGAN 38, EASTERN MICHIGAN 10

Michigan State (+11) over NOTRE DAME: MSU has owned Notre Dame recently and 11 points is just too much.
FINAL SCORE: NOTRE DAME 34, MICHIGAN STATE 27

Northwestern (-3) over SYRACUSE: Perhaps Syracuse isn’t as dogshit as I previously thought? And Northwestern is not getting the defensive line play that was expected either. The Cats need the tune up before the Big Ten season kicks off next weekend and they will eek out the win in the Carrier Dome, continuing Paulus & Marrone’s unhappy start.
FINAL SCORE: NORTHWESTERN 24, SYRACUSE 20

OHIO STATE (-20.5) over Toledo: What I expect out of the Buckeyes this week is a lot of answering to the “your offense is what lost you the game versus USC last week” statement that’s hanging around C-Bus. Ohio State tries to send a message that they have some offensive talent still, despite a conservative approach on the sidelines.
FINAL SCORE: OHIO STATE 34, TOLEDO 10

Temple (+30.5) over PENN STATE: I’m sick & tired of trying to have Penn State cover these 4 TD spreads when they’re quite content winning by 3 TD’s.
FINAL SCORE: PENN STATE 38, TEMPLE 10

Northern Illinois (+13.5) over PURDUE: NIU is a decent MAC team, lost by only 8 at Madison, and will keep it at the 10 point range over a Purdue team that seems a bit peskier than first believed.
FINAL SCORE: PURDUE 31, NORTHERN ILLINOIS 20

[**] Iowa (+0.5) / Cal (-7.5) / Texas (-10) 6.5 point teaser: I have to start hitting some of the teasers I have going. I think Iowa beats Arizona, Cal takes Minnesota by more than 1 score, and Texas gets some big sized revenge on Texas Tech this weekend. [$5 teaser wager, $8 payoff]

[**] Iowa (+0.5) / Northwestern (+2) / Clemson (pk) 6.5 point teaser: I gotta hit one of these, right? [$5 teaser wager, $8 payoff]

[**] Pitt (-0.5) / Colorado (-0.5) / Maryland (pk) 6.5 point teaser: Or is 3rd time the charm? I like Pitt over Navy, Colorado to get a desperation mode win over Wyoming, and Maryland to get a win over Middle Tennessee State. [$5 teaser wager, $8 payoff]

FLORIDA (-29.5) over Tennessee: Kiffin will eventually get some guys in, but this is not the year. And with all the hubbub that’s gone on during the offseason, Meyer is in a complete F-U mode in this game and won’t be shy about running up the score.
FINAL SCORE: FLORIDA 54, TENNESSEE 13

Friday, September 11, 2009

THURSDAY THROWDOWN CHAT TRANSCRIPT (09/10/09)

Peoria Pliers: Let me start this one off...I love Miami's football program these days, but am I the only person who thinks that the claim that "The 'U'" is back is totally premature? A dropped TD pass by an FSU player turning into a Miami victory isn't exactly a ringing endorsement in my opinion
Scoops McCracken: I agree....I think both programs are in the right direction, but that "they're back" is way too premature. But I think Miami's in the right direction and like what Shannon is doing. But it's good having Miami, FSU & apparently Notre Dame being relevant again.
Peoria Pliers: Agreed. I love Randy Shannon, and I'm absolutely smitten with Miami's secondary. Love it.
Scoops McCracken: I wanted to ask you about Mandel's mailbag this week, he covered a big chunk about Notre Dame.
Peoria Pliers : What did Mandel have to say?
Scoops McCracken: Pretty much, he had 6 theories/reasons why there's resentment towards Notre Dame.
(1) The Irish play by their own set of rules (i.e.: BCS treats Notre Dame with special treatment)
(2) Relentless Media Attention
(3) NBC Contract
(4) Their (perceived) arrogance
(5) The BCS bowl losses
(6) Their coach is a (perceived) S.O.B.
I thought a bit about why I'm not a Notre Dame fan. I guess I'm not a Weiss fan, but I liked Bob Davie and Willingham. The NBC thing doesn't bother me much because they're not that above any Big Ten or SEC school in terms of television revenue due to the new contract for the SEC and the Big Ten network. I don't know if their arrogance is much greater than what I've experienced from Michigan fans. The media attention is a bit much, but it is what it is. I think the one thing that bugs me the most is the special attention they get when it comes to the BCS, and that ties into their BCS losses. Why does Notre Dame get a rule saying if they're in the top 8 in the BCS standings they get a bid? Why not Texas? Or Ohio State? Or Florida? Or USC? They get into games they have no business being in, like the 2006 Fiesta Bowl & 2007 Sugar Bowl.
Peoria Pliers: I agree with that special treatment being total B.S. and an indicator of the greed of the NCAA, but what really turns me off of them is the fact that they seem to get over hyped EVERY YEAR, all of their recruiting classes are supposedly top 10, but then they find a way to lose EVERY YEAR. How that translates into BCS berths, I will never understand. It seems to me that if anyone is to blame out there in South Bend for the losses it is the peripheral coaching staff that doesn't take prized recruits to the next level of actually competing against the whos-who of college football. But, since they all have golden helmets on, nobody calls anyone out. It is a sham. And Dr. Lou is absolutely off his rocker, by the way that may be another reason people hate them...the cheerleading from the ESPN peanut gallery/hospice that is Lou Holtz's armchair
Scoops McCracken: I think they drop one in the next two weeks, either to Michigan or Michigan State, and USC is going to do what they always do to them. ESPN's going to do what's in their best interest, and that means ratings, so pimping Notre Dame helps ratings, as will the ridiculous pimping of the SEC over the next 15 years due to the new televison deal. Of course they did it because they were afraid the SEC was going to launch their own network due to the success of the Big Ten network and they would suddenly be without the two biggest ratings conferences in college football, but that's another issue.
Peoria Pliers: The biggest problem with the SEC deal is that I doubt I'm going to get as many shots of toothless rednecks that mortgaged their trans-am to get tickets to Florida/Tennesee anymore. ESPN is too high brow for that type of coverage, but CBS wasn't
Scoops McCracken: I don't get how so many people are Notre Dame fans for a university that doesn't have a large enrollment. CBS had it made: afternoon game sponsored by the Home Depot. Only thing missing was a Nascar promo, but ESPN will help out with that.
Peoria Pliers: Hey, you’re the religious one...Catholics are crazy. True. Who ya got in the "Race for the Chase" this year, anyway? I know I'm a big Brian Vickers Fan. WOOO HOOO!
Scoops McCracken: I ain't catholic though....and I don't exactly live & die with Gustavus football. Uh...is Kasey Kahne still in the chase? I do give nascar one thing though in terms of it being a sport: I've never seen a fat race car driver.
Peoria Pliers: I didn't say you were Catholic. I just thought you might understand the irrational fandom
Scoops McCracken: I suppose you're right; go to catholic school and suddenly you're a Notre Dame alumnus.
Peoria Pliers: I think Tony Stewart is a little paunchy, isn't he? Exactly. Just ask the whackos in the Illinois Catholic High School league. They are like the Blues Brothers with shoulder pads and slightly lighter arrest records
Scoops McCracken: Like the Ruttiger family....punch in & out of the steel mill and tune in to Notre Dame on Westwood One on Saturday's. Anyway, I just hope if they go to a BCS game, they're deserving of it....probably not, but hopefully.
Peoria Pliers: I still like the fact that the last time Notre Dame was relevant, their football team rode the back of a guy named "Raghib" to success
Scoops McCracken: Yeah, you can't really make that up.
Peoria Pliers: How about this question...is it too early to call Jimmy "The Promise" Clausen a bust? While the NBC announcers might have thought he played a great game last week, I saw a bunch of atheletes covering up his horrible throws and happy feet
Scoops McCracken: I don't know...I'd hold judgment until this year. It's others that gave him a label of being better than what he is. If he doesn't lead them to at least 9 wins this year, I think it's a fair label.
Peoria Pliers: Fair enough...he can't stop the hype around himself I guess. I have been wanting to drive his bandwagon for the past three years but after last week I've decided to move my patronage to Tony Pike from Cincy. That guy is good.
Scoops McCracken: I dig Cincy and think they can do what Miami has done, perhaps with a bit less speed but bigger linemen. No reason they can't take the reigns & be a factor with the recruiting base they got. Poor Schiano.
Peoria Pliers: Yeah. Schiano looks defeated. The competition is just too good, and it is strange since there is so much talent around that area. From what I hear, the area is a total ghetto so that may be a problem with his recruiting
Scoops McCracken: I guess to me, New Jersey just doesn't sound like a place I want to spend my college, whether it be Rutgers, Princeton, or Atlantic City Blackjack college. Notre Dame-Michigan?
Peoria Pliers: Boring. Didn't pick it
Scoops McCracken: ah yes....boring, but Western Michigan-Indiana is hot, eh?
Peoria Pliers: Fair enough. I didn't see enough out of either team to know who is going to win
Scoops McCracken: So, what can the Big Ten do to get to the SEC level, other than lower academic standards?
Peoria Pliers: Start recruiting kids from the south. There is just too much talent down there compared to the talent up here in my opinion. Other than that, I've got no answers.
Scoops McCracken: Biggest surprise/disappointment from week 1?
Peoria Pliers: Surprised at how good Miami's secondary is. Dissapointed at Oklahoma's offensive line play. Also, dissapointed that Byron Hout didn't get suspended for at least one game.
Scoops McCracken: Yeah, something public should have been done. I'm sure he ran stadium stairs a few early mornings, but something in public should have been done. To me, the problem with Blount was totally the aftermath & the going after fans. Just punching the player? 1 game, perhaps 2 games max in my eyes.
Peoria Pliers: Agreed on the "going after the fans" tip, that guy was out of control. He lost a few million dollars in guaranteed salary in about 15 minutes. I guess that puts him in some elite company, though...MC Hammer, OJ Simpson, Phil Spector. What game are you looking forward to the most this weekend?
Scoops McCracken: Obviously Minnesota-Air Force...but I want to see how USC does in the Horseshoe. The only place that compares to being as intense as C-Bus is Eugene. I want to see how Barkley is on his first road trip. Almost seems like Scott Frost & Nebraska @ Arizona State in 1996. I also want to see Notre Dame & Michigan to see if one is for real. I also want to hear the USC & OSU bands blasting back & forth at each other....I'm also interested in seeing how the punchclocks react to the Song Girls.

Thursday, September 10, 2009

The Murder Trains 'a Comin'

I'm not sure whose performance was weaker last week, Scoops and Pliers or the Big 10. I feel akin to Jules from Pulp Fiction when it comes to my Big 10 fandom, "I'm tryin, Ringo...I'm tryin REAL HARD to be the shepard. But that shit ain't the truth is. The truth is YOU ARE THE WEAK [Big 10 football]. And I [the rest of the NCAA D1 teams] am the TYRANNY OF EVIL MEN"







As I watched the events of Saturday afternoon align to make the Big 10 miraculously go 10-1 (thanks for nothing, Zooker) and allow James Delaney and the rest of the old-guard jerkoffs live their belief that the Midwestern teams can still compete with the SEC, Pac-10, and Big 12. This weekend should be a real eye-opener, and hopefully Scoops and I can pick up on that to capitalize on the lucrative betting lines this week. Off to the picks.

Last week - 3-5
Year to date - 3-5

Air Force getting 4.5 at MINNESOTA. I'll echo Sgt. Slaughter's comments...if the Minny line was that shook up in the Carrion Dome, imagine what they are going to be like at home with the Lou Nanne all-star team screaming at them all game long. Sure, Nichols State is a horseshit team, but putting up 72 points on anybody other than a group of elderly nuns, ESPECIALLY when you run the ball 90% of the time, shows that you have your mesh points working pretty well. Minnesota's undersized defense will keep up with the AF boys for a while, but I doubt that they even win the game, much less cover the spread. At least the stadium is pretty. Screaming Eagles 35, Minnesota 28.

North Carolina by 3.5 at UCONN. Yeah, I'm picking two road teams back to back...wanna fight about it? I believe in North Carolina's speed, T.J. Yates, and Butch Davis more than the ghost of Dan Orlovsky. The video below reminds us all of the low point of the UCONN program since its rise to D1 a few years ago. Tar Heels 38, Hush Puppies 17.




Western Michigan getting 1.5 at INDIANA. Continuing my trend of picking against mediocre Big 10 teams making their home debut, I think this is a pretty easy pick...maybe too easy. Indiana is just not very good, and Western Michigan played very well against a much more talented Michigan team. I'm surprised the line is this close. Western Michigan 24, Indiana 17.


Pittsburgh by 10 at BUFFALO. I actually watched a few minutes of the Buffs last week. Not pretty. Pittsburgh looks ready to challenge for a conference title this year, and Buffalo is an also-ran in a horrible conference. Also, Buffalo has the worst logo in the NCAA, so that can't help.



OKLAHOMA ST by 14 vs Houston. The last time I thought about the Houston football program, David Klingler was leaving his Underwater Basket Weaving class (UBWV 1001) and heading to Cougar Field to hang 600+ yards on Sun Belt opponents. Sure, Houston can still chuck the ball around the field, but Zac Robinson and Dez Bryant are men amongst boys and should carry their momentum straight through the Cougars into a big win in Stillwater. Oklahoma St 49, Houston 24.

The OVER at 50 on the NAVY/Louisiana Tech game. I love Navy's offense, and if they can put up 27 against Ohio State, they oughta be able to put up at least 35 on Louisiana Tech's porous defense that is designed to stop high flying spread schemes. Also, call me crazy, but I don't like LA Tech's prospects of being disciplined enough to stop the triple option. Louisiana Tech scores a few touchdowns on defensive breakdowns; this game goes over before the start of the 4th quarter. Or at least I hope it does. Navy 38, La Tech 21.

The UNDER at 53 on the BOISE ST/Miami (Ohio) game. Boise's offense was unimpressive against Oregon, and Miami failed to score last week against Kentucky. Also, the under is like 102-5 in the last 107 games these guys have played. I like the metrics. Boise 38, Miami 10.

Southern Cal by 6.5 at OHIO STATE. No brainer. The best team in the Pac-10 against arguably the best team in the Big 10. The interview I saw with Matt "Corbra Kai" Barkley says to me that he isn't going to be rattled at the horseshoe. Sure, Pryor is going to invoke memories of Vince Young destroying the USC defense a few years back, but he is young and dumb...and OSU has no running back of note. After his whoopin', the Tressel-Haters will be out in force. Not that they should be. But I think they will be. This line started at 5...I wish I had been in on that! USC 28, OSU 17.


Wednesday, September 9, 2009

WEEK 2: "NO WHERE TO GO BUT UP!

One word: OUCH! That’s the only way to describe opening weekend for myself. At least I wasn’t alone. And my loss wasn’t as big as the one suffered in Dallas last weekend by Oklahoma. And while I lost a three team teaser, at least I lost it big time with not only Oklahoma losing outright to fail to cover, but Ohio State not covering on their end of the dime either. I’d rather have that than lose by some measly missed extra point or something like that.

This brings us to week 2 of the season, and a nice slate of Big Ten games this week, what with the opening of TCF Bank Stadium for Minnesota, the rockstars known as USC head in to C-Bus, Michigan & Notre Dame meaning something, and Purdue getting to go to Eugene and attempt to not be a punching bag for Oregon (thank you, thank you….I’ll be here all season, folks!)

Time to punch the clock & get down to business.

[**] Air Force (-4.5) over MINNESOTA: My wager with Minnesota & Syracuse looked like the easiest money I had ever made about 19 seconds into the game last week. Almost like I was stealing and I felt bad. But then Adam Weber decided that he was going to throw every 5-7 yard out in front of and at the toes of every Minnesota WR the rest of the game minus the 4th quarter when they were fighting for their lives. I’m sort of torn on the Gophers’ performance. Syracuse is not a good football team (more on them a bit later) and Minnesota should have blasted them. But from what I hear from a few sources, it was VERY loud in the Carrier Dome, and the atmosphere was pretty intense. Add to that the emotion of a football team staying in it, and you have a game like that. I look at LSU-Washington as an example. Washington was 0-12 last year and while the addition of Jake Locker is huge, one player isn’t the only difference. The Washington crowd was into it, emotion plays a part with 18-22 year old kids, and you have an SEC West contender needing to escape with their lives out of Seattle over a team with a 14 game losing streak. Bottom Line: A win’s a win!

To this game: Air Force zoomed to a 72-0 win over something called Nichols State. They’re better than Navy, who gave Ohio State all they wanted. And they will move the ball & have some success on the Gophers. I would feel this way regardless of what I think of the Gophers. Minnesota opens the new stadium with a win, but it will only be by a field goal.
FINAL SCORE: MINNESOTA 34, AIR FORCE 31. [$11 straight wager, $10 payoff]

[**] PENN STATE (-30) over Syracuse: Syracuse is not a good football team. Arthur Jones is a legit DT and will be a 1st or 2nd round pick, and I was actually surprised by the poise of Paulus. But they lack talent, and Penn State will absolutely punish a defense that should have been punished last week. You come into danger when you hit the 30 point spreads because mistakes will keep the game at the 31-10 range or the team may put it into cruise control the 2nd half like Penn State did last week against Akron. But I think Penn State sees an opportunity to impress a few pollsters with the other big games on the schedule.
FINAL SCORE: PENN STATE 52, SYRACUSE 13 [$5.50 straight wager, $5 payoff]

MICHIGAN (+4) over Notre Dame: Oh no! Some sister named Helen Moriarty or whatever the bitch’s name is will put on a prayer curse on me. So I got that going for me, which is nice. Anyway, Michigan’s offense resembles a bit more of what Rodriguez assembled at West Virginia, but it’s still not quite there. Notre Dame wins, but Michigan gets the cover.
FINAL SCORE: NOTRE DAME 27, MICHIGAN 24

INDIANA (-1.5) over Western Michigan: A win’s a win, but Indiana was rather unimpressive on a lowly Thursday night. I guess my only reasoning behind this is I think Michigan would be Indiana by a similar score of what they did to Western Michigan, so it will be a close game, and I think Indiana will win by a field goal. Also note that last week, the games I got right were the games I had no clue about, like this one. So this may be a huge money maker because I have no idea what I’m doing.
FINAL SCORE: INDIANA 24, WESTERN MICHIGAN 21

[**] MICHIGAN STATE (-15) over Central Michigan: MSU has the defense and the offense will only get better. Michigan State, as said here at the beginning of the season, is a legit Big Ten contender. They will show even more while getting ready for next week’s tilt in South Bend.
FINAL SCORE: MICHIGAN STATE 38, CENTRAL MICHIGAN 17 [$5.50 straight wager, $5 payoff]

Southern Cal (-7.5) over OHIO STATE: When I first saw this line, I messaged Pliers and said “either this line is WAY too low or WAY too high, but I don’t know which yet. You have on one hand, a true freshman QB making his first road start in a place that isn’t the best place for said freshman QB to make his first road start. A night game, in Columbus. A senior Vince Young needed an incredible play to Limus Sweed to get through it in 2005. And Daryl Clark didn’t even make it through 60 minutes last year as Penn State put up their lowest point total of the season. Problem is I don’t have any faith in Ohio State in a big game. You know that Pete Carroll was sitting watching the film of last week’s Ohio State-Navy game and simply giggling when watching the success Navy was having. And Ohio State’s offense has only one playmaker. Good thing for OSU is that guy has the ball in his hands every single time and will have some success….but Joe McKnight will have a lot more. And it doesn’t hurt to have Taylor Freaking Mays killing people either.
FINAL SCORE: USC 38, OHIO STATE 24

OREGON (-12) over Purdue: Time for Oregon to punch back in on the clock and go to work (so many ways to go with this). Purdue was impressive, but they were playing a Chester Taylor-less Toledo Rocket club. Autzen Stadium is different. Oregon’s offense will improve from week 1 to week 2, they’ll use the distraction of Blount as an opportunity, and will squeak by the spread for the cover.
FINAL SCORE: OREGON 31, PURDUE 17


ILLINOIS plays Illinois State this week, so no prediction, but hopefully, Juice is able to hit double digits this week.

OKLAHOMA STATE (-16) over Houston: Should I be worried about Oklahoma State a week after a big win against Georgia? I guess I’m more focused on the 24-3 outscoring of the Bulldogs from the 2nd quarter on.
FINAL SCORE: OKLAHOMA STATE 41, HOUSTON 14

[**] Northwestern (-12) / Iowa (pk) / Wisconsin (-2) 6.5 point teaser: Well, the 6 point teaser threw me on all fours & took me doggy last week in two separate times (although I did hit 2 in my Minnesota & Cal teaser, thanks Eastern Michigan). This week, I get revenge on Eastern Michigan by tossing them as the first victim in my 3 team teaser this week as I knock Northwestern down to a -12 (current line moved up to -20, so I like my timing). Iowa, while not impressive, I think will get at least a FG victory in Ames this week, so knocking them down to a pick should be good enough. And while Wisconsin will have their hands full with Fresno State, I see at least a 3 point win for the Badgers, so knocking them down to -2 should be good enough hopefully to get the teaser train back on track for the good times roll ahead. [$5 teaser wager, $9 payoff]

Friday, September 4, 2009

Friday Morning Coffee

Peoria Pliers (12:25AM, 9/4/09): Boise. Covers. Huuu-rah! Yahtzee.
Scoops McCracken (12:27AM, 9/4/09): Oregon looked like a bunch of retards
Peoria Pliers (12:30AM, 9/4/09): Agreed. Pac-10 blows.

Well, a great gambling mind once told me that "if you're right 53% of the time, that means you're wrong 47% of the time." That about sums up my night with the Boise State-Oregon game. Oregon looked like a bunch of idiots, and was even still in the game, but they refused to make plays when they had the opportunities.

This now allows Boise State to potentially run the table and be the 2009 representative that can say "Why can't we play for a national championship?" And honestly, after watching Utah against Alabama last year, they have a valid point. What would be fun is for Boise to get one of the BCS games and their opponent to be Notre Dame.

No further comments shall be made regarding the 7-3 "defensive struggle" that took place in Raleigh, NC.

Thursday, September 3, 2009

THURSDAY THROWDOWN: SEPTEMBER 3, 2009

Scoops McCracken: Throwdown, bitch!
Peoria Pliers: Did you see my picks?
Scoops McCracken: Yes....Oregon's beating Boise tonight....book it.
Peoria Pliers: No dice. There is only one team worth a crap from that conference and it is Boise. Plus the Pac-10 is more overrated than Heidi Montag
Scoops McCracken: This ain't some Arizona State Pac Ten team that Boise's playing....Oregon has revenge on their mind, and they're a freaking Pac Ten contender. Pac Ten rocked everyone's world last year in bowl season...USC will simply reload, and Oregon will be good. I think Cal is overrated as usual.
Peoria Pliers: Oregon lost a TON of guys....admittedly so did Boise, but their QB is a stud, and that means A LOT in the beginning of the year. Plus, the game is in Boise and those people are crazy
Scoops McCracken: Pressure's on Boise.....they're great when the pressure isn't on them, but when they're expected to do something (@ Georgia, opener of season a few years ago, Liberty Bowl '04, last year against TCU), they don't do it.
Peoria Pliers: Lame
Scoops McCracken: Throw a +14 right behind Boise & I'm with you.....expectations do a lot to ya. Watch Ole Miss NOT live up to them this year. As for your other pick of Western Michigan over Michigan, I have no problem with that...I have no opinion on what will happen whatsoever, so I just went with Michigan.
Peoria Pliers: Fair enough. I'd agree about Ole Miss if it weren't for Houston Nutt down there...talk about an axe to grind! If anyone can overcome those expectations in the top-heavy SEC, it is him
Scoops McCracken: You mean the Glen Mason of the SEC? Who couldn't do anything with Darren McFadden & Felix Jones in his backfield? The same guy who wouldn't run behind Shaun Andrews all game against Minnesota in the 2002 Music City Bowl when Minnesota had given up 300+ rushing yards in 4 consecutive games going in to that game? Good coach, but getting through Les Miles & Saban? Child please!
Peoria Pliers: First of all, let's not forget that Ar-Kansas made it to a BCS bowl with Houston Nutt, something that Mason never even got a sniff of. Secondly, LSU is way down this year AND without a proven QB. I'll give you Alabama, but aren’t the Tide's expectations higher than Ole Miss right now anyway?
Scoops McCracken: Which BCS bowl would that be that Houston Nutt made with Arkansas? I think you're thinking of a few SEC championship games which they made in which they got BLASTED by the East champ. As for the Bama/Ole Miss difference, I'd say it's that Saban knows how to deal with expectations, and that rubs off on the program. Ole Miss will be what they are...everyone's flavor of the month, but will get blasted a few times, and probably win the Cotton or Chick-Fil-A Bowl.
Peoria Pliers: I won't argue that they are probably overrated, I'm just saying that I don't think it is going to be a flop of a season for them
Scoops McCracken: A flop would be going 7-5...I think they'll be better than that too. Oklahoma State-Georgia....thoughts?
Peoria Pliers: I have NO idea. OK St is always a disappointment...they are the Clemson of the Big-12, right down to the school colors. Georgia is going to have a down year, but I wouldn't be surprised if they pull it out in OK City. It should be a good game to watch, but I have no read on who is going to win. What did you make of this story: BAMA PLAYER SHOT
Scoops McCracken: That's too bad...when you first hear of a football player getting shot, you immediately think "shouldn't have put yourself in that situation." Sounds like he was just at his place in his parking lot at what wasn't an awful hour. Too bad.
Peoria Pliers: The thing I can't figure out is who is stupid enough to rob a 6'4", 306 pounder in Tuscaloosa? If you see that guy on the street don't you immediately assume he's a monster and avoid him like the plague? Apparently the robbers in Alabama are as dumb as the football players
Scoops McCracken: Perhaps an ex high school player that wasn't able to land a scholarship, so taking it out on others?
Peoria Pliers: Maybe. What the hell is there to do in Tuscaloosa other than study old civil rights films, grow peanuts, and play football?
Scoops McCracken: Dreamland Bar-B-Que is supposed to be a famous restaurant....I also think they have an Olive Garden, which is lovely.
Peoria Pliers: Nice. I love how in Olive Garden commercials that all of the groups are interracial. I can't tell you how many times I've walked into the Edina Olive Garden and found all of the tables filled with multi-racial diners sucking down wilted salad and cheap wine
Scoops McCracken: Hypothetical question: if there was an "alumni" game before the actual game on Monday between Florida State & Miami, which game would garner bigger bragging rights between the two fan bases pending the outcome?
Peoria Pliers: Like All-Time Alumni game a la NCAA Football for Playstation or something?
Scoops McCracken: Or anybody that can currently walk? Involve Michael Irvin, give Testaverde, Kelly, Kosar & Gino Toretta each a quarter.....
Peoria Pliers: But they are playing in real life, with the physical limitations they have right now, as older adults? Not like what they would have been back in 1987
Scoops McCracken: I suppose you could do both. I think a simulation game would garner a lot of fan bragging interest.
Peoria Pliers: Absolutely. Either way I don't think the game makes it into the 3rd quarter since they would be fighting each other with weapons by the end of the first half. I think fans always prefer the old alumni types as bragging rights since it is something that transcends time and people can latch onto their program "greatness" as a full body of work instead of just a year-to-year team
Scoops McCracken: It's too bad the Miami-FSU series has kind of taken a back seat...seeing all the badass speed on the field during the 90s/early 00s was a site to behold
Peoria Pliers: Did you catch the Florida/Florida State game from 1997 on ESPN Classic last night?
Scoops McCracken: I didn't....which one? They played twice during the 96/97 season with Florida blasting FSU in the Sugar Bowl for the title and the 97 game was one in which FSU flat out choked as they may have been better than both Michigan and Nebraska that year
Peoria Pliers: It was the Sugar Bowl game for the title. Seeing Jacquez Green, Thad Busby, Ike Hilliard, Danny Wuerffel and Warrick Dunn absolutely brought a smile to my face. Was Edgar Bennett on that Fla St team as well?
Scoops McCracken: No, Bennett was with the Packers already....but that was classic Wuerffel just tossing the ball around to spots on the field and it was up to green, Reidel Anthony & Ike Hillard to be at the spot.
Peoria Pliers: Reidel Anthony. What a name
Scoops McCracken: Total flameout in the NFL, but was pretty good in college.
Peoria Pliers: Typical of Florida Receivers...errrr...except for Percy Harvin...right?
Scoops McCracken: Remember Yatil Green? He was a Miami WR that was drafted in the 1st round by the Giants in 1997, but he tore his knee and never played a down. Who have been the good ones? Ike Hillard has had a pretty steady career...Darrell Jackson has been ok. Other than that, not too many have panned out.
Peoria Pliers: That name rings a bell, but I don't remember seeing him play. Exactly my point, most of them are busts. Jabar Gaffney? What a stiff.
Scoops McCracken: Travis Taylor! HA! I do think Harvin's different though because he's has a total different level of speed than any of the previous Gator players.
Peoria Pliers: He looks good so far, but I'm not holding my breath, that’s all I'm saying. It is faulty reasoning, however. Just because Kyle Boller was a bust doesn’t mean that Aaron Rogers is going to suck this year, but that was the M.O. for many scouts when Rogers was drafted
Scoops McCracken: Yeah...I agree. I remember that being the case with Marion Barber when he came out and wasn't drafted until the 4th round....guys were saying "he's just another Mason system back like Thomas Hamner, Tellis Redmon, etc., anybody can run for 1,000 yards." Barber was completely different.
Peoria Pliers: And now he has the best nickname in the NFL. Marion the Barbarian. It just doesn't get any better than that.
Scoops McCracken: Who was your biggest "this guy is going to be better than everyone thinks" & "I thought this guy would be better than he was" going into drafts?
Peoria Pliers: For this year? Or all time?
Scoops McCracken: All time.
Peoria Pliers: That’s a really, really good question. Hmmmm. I'd say that my best call was DeAngelo Hall, although he is a dirtbag, but I remember saying to myself that he was a STUD in college. 2nd place goes to E.J. Henderson who I watched for 3 years at Maryland thinking, "This guy gets it, and he is a MONSTER." My biggest whiffs are probably Karlos Dansby, who I thought would rule the NFL for 10 years and turned out to be a total pud, Derrick Johnson (the LB from Texas that still sucks for the Chiefs), and Ryan Leaf. I really thought Ryan Leaf was going to be great. Whoops. How about you?
Scoops McCracken: Honestly, I was saying that teams were going to regret not taking Marion Barber. He was an animal the first time he touched the ball for Minnesota. That Denver took Maurice Clarett over him was a freaking joke. I still remember saying that I would have taken him over Cedric Benson, and Benson went 4th overall that year. So I'll take that as my biggest victory for being "I told everyone." As for guys that failed, I thought Robert Gallery from Iowa was going to be the next Anthony Munoz / Bruce Matthews and be a 15-20 year All-Pro OL. But he got Raidered, so perhaps it wasn't his fault. As for others, since I mostly watch Big Ten, I always thought Ladell Betts would have been a servicable RB in the NFL, but he was on some bad Iowa teams so he never to exposure. He's had a decent career as a Redskin backup. I did think David Terrell was going to be good for the Bears...he fizzled. Same with Charles Rogers. Also thought Detroit got a steal with Chris Claiborne....notice a lot of Lions on the "weren't as good as I thought" list.
Peoria Pliers: Terrell, Rogers, and Claiborne are all great examples; Betts has had a decent career, he's just a half-step too slow to be elite in the NFL, but it's so hard to determine that out of college You are also right on when referring to the teams they play for - I thought Larry Johnson would be good, but not leading the league in rushing. Of course the guy got 40 touches per game, so that is the main reason he has had monster seasons. Maroney will never get that kind of workload (not that he is better than JL...he isn't) but the difference between the two is probably not as huge as people think it is
Scoops McCracken: I think that's true for many; I think Johnson was always much more of a workhorse type of back than Maroney was. Same when it comes to people that always say "Barry Sanders would have done everything that Emmitt Smith did because of Dallas' OL." Emmitt was a workhorse back that was perfect for the Cowboys' style. Enough NFL (although a lot of it is draft related). Preseason pick: National Championship Game?
Peoria Pliers: Anyone picking against Florida is crazy, but that is no fun, so I'll mix it up. USC 24, Va Tech 17. Biggest surprise: Nebraska. Biggest Dissapointment: Utah
Scoops McCracken: Kind of a historical thing that I read: the last two programs that had won the title the year before & were expected to win it again LOST in the title game (Miami '02 & USC '05). I think the winner of the Ohio State-USC game should have a leg up for one of the spots.
Peoria Pliers: Miami should have won that game if it wasn't for the handjobbing of the ref on the pass interference play. I don't see Ohio State being dominant this year, they lost too many key guys
Scoops McCracken: I like winner of the Red River and whether Florida can run the table will be interesting. But OSU could run the Big Ten and USC with Barkley early could be a Buckeye win. Not to take a page from Lou Holtz' "the schedule sets up for Notre Dame" theory, but it could fall in place for Ohio State.
Peoria Pliers: Penn State is a better team than OSU in my opinion. Do those two teams play?
Scoops McCracken: Yes, in Penn State.
Peoria Pliers: I don't see them surviving that, Pryor may be good, but Daryl Clark is better than he is at this point and Happy Valley is a tough place to play when the fanbase is fired up
Scoops McCracken: Both teams have question marks for sure.
Peoria Pliers: How hot is the seat that the Zooker is on right now? Is he even remotely at risk of losing that job?
Scoops McCracken: I don't think so; not nearly the pressure as he had at Florida, and he did have a Rose Bowl (although it was landed upon them). I think he needs a 8-9 win season though to make sure there's no talk next year. Because Juice is a senior, Benn is gone for all intensive purposes...their offense will come down next year for sure.
Peoria Pliers: Agreed. Benn is one of the best players in the big 10, losing him will be a huge loss. Juice needs to figure out how to think before he acts...he is as much of a liability as an asset against good defenses luckily for him, there arent many in the Big 10
Scoops McCracken: I think Illinois' offense is the only explosive one in the conference this year....they'll have a decent year. Is it me, or is the SEC not as good this year? Bama won't be as good, LSU may be a bit better than last year, but they weren't world beaters....we've covered Ole Miss, Georgia is worse, South Carolina does nothing for me, Tennessee is all talk right now minus Eric Berry, Auburn doesn't have an offense, Vandy is Vandy, and Mississippi State replaced one black head coach for another. Florida should absolutely walk the conference and it shouldn't be close.
Peoria Pliers: I agree with you 100%...the recruiting rankings the past few years would indicate that there is a lot of talent in the SEC but so many teams are totally unproven. The Big 12 is probably the best conference right now, and the ACC isn't too far behind the big boys either.
Scoops McCracken: ACC is deep, but no heavy hitters. Big XII is tops this year. Texas & Oklahoma are the cream, Kansas & Oklahoma State will both be good, Nebraska is in the right direction, and Texas Tech & Mizzou, while probably a drop off, will figure things out like they always do.
Peoria Pliers: I might have to disagree with you a little on the ACC. As always, I love Va Tech's chances in the national title scene, North Carolina, Florida State, Georgia Tech, and Wake Forest all have a chance to field BCS-Challenging teams, and NC State and Virgina should be improved, not to mention the annual head-scratcher that BC is. I really like the ACC this year.
Scoops McCracken: VA Tech has a chance for a BCS title, but the rest are playing for nothing more than an Orange Bowl berth against Rutgers or Pitt. UNC, FSU & GT are nothing more than Iowa, Michigan State & Illinois but with better looking co-eds
Peoria Pliers: Time will tell

Pliers' Picks - 2009 Edition - Week 1

"Guess who's back in the M-F'in house, with a fat pick for your M-F'n mouth?"

Snoop Dogg lyrics from the mid-90's quoted by a white guy from the suburbs. It just doesn't get any better, does it? After spending the last nine months getting over the 2-6 stinkbomb I put up during the last week last year putting my final record at a paltry at 45-55-1, I think I've got a new system. More on that mid-season, if it works. If not, who gives a crap? How much worse an I get than 10 below .500? Besides, now that Ty Willingham is out of the head coaching biz, I oughta make up at least 5 picks from last year. That guy killed me.

Onto the picks.

Western Michigan getting 13.5 at MICHIGAN. Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me, fool me thrice with an NCAA scandal staring your team in the eye, shame on Rich-Rod. A team that hasn't, umm, let's say "Started Hot" the past few years facing a Western Michigan team that is pretty awful but should be good enough to keep it close. Eff you Rich-Rod. Michigan 28, W. Michigan 24.

USC by 33.5 vs. San Jose St. I bet you are asking yourself when the last time USC was favored by 30 or more points. You guessed it! Last November vs. Notre Dame! Call me crazy, but if they can cover against The Jimmy Clausen Experiment, they sure as hell can cover at home vs. The Condom Wrapper Mascot Memorial Team in San Jose St. I don't care who starts at QB for the Carroll Crew, they roll. Big. Trojans 45, Spartans 10.

WAKE FOREST by 1.5 vs Baylor. Robert Griffin showed flashes last year and all of a sudden everyone is making him out to be the next Charlie Ward. I'm not buying it. Not yet. Not at home against a defense that returns tons of guys at HOME. No dice. Wake 28, Baylor 10.

The OVER at 61 on the NOTRE DAME/Nevada game. This seems like simple math to me.
Pistol Offense returning 8 guys on offense + Jimmy "The Promise" Clausen as an upperclassman with talent around him + two terrible defenses from a year ago BOTH decimated by graduation. This one should be fun to watch. Hopefully they don't show Tom Hammond as often as they do Alex Flanagan. Notre Dame 45, Nevada 30.

Va Tech getting 7 at ALABAMA. Am I the only person that thinks "Roll Tide" sounds like a Proctor and Gamble product for getting armpit stains out of t-shirts? Alabama returns only 4 starters from last year's mediocre offense, and while their defense should be very stout, they have had an entire year to gloat and eat pork rinds down in Tuscaloosa after their impressive showing last year. Maybe I just hate Nick Saban (no, wait, I REALLY do hate Nick Saban), but I think Va Tech is a better team, even without their stud RB. Tyrod Taylor is going to be better off against the Roll-On Tide than the Crimson offense will do against Beamer-Ball. Plus, this game is in Atlanta. No home field SEC ballgame here. Best game of the week by far. Va Tech 20, Roll-On Tide 10.

Minnesota by 6 at SYRACUSE. I'll save the T-Brew fawning for Scoopsie, but let's be honest...Syracuse is going to be TERRIBLE. They were awful last year and they return only 8 starters from last year. Minnesota finally goes back to the running game and they have the guys to do it, so I think they should steamroll the bad teams and get whooped by the good ones. T-Brew Crew 38, Orange Crushed 21.

BOISE ST. by 3 on the blue turf vs Oregon. Spitting in the face of Scoops, this is one of those dangerous WAC teams that knows how to play on the big stage and has a RABID fan base. Plus, I'm still counting on Jared Zabransky's goatee to mean something. Boise 38, Oregon 31.

The OVER at 46 on the Middle Tennessee State/CLEMSON game. Random pick of the week. I love C.J. Spiller, and both teams bring back EVERYONE on offense. Dabo Sweeney should have his squad in better spirits to start the year than last year with Darth Vader at the helm. I don't know if they are going to blow MTSU out, but both teams ought to be able to score, and this a very low O/U. Clemson 35, MTSU 14.

So that is it. As long as I get as lucky with my picks as Marion Barry got with his cellmates, we should all make some money this college football season, right?


Wednesday, September 2, 2009

SCOOPS' WEEK 1 PICKS: TIME FOR BLAST OFF!

The engine is idling…the gear is in the trunk of the car…the dog has been fed…and game tickets are in hand. Opening weekend of the 2009 college football season is officially upon us, and unlike the professional participants, the 1st teamers won’t play a quarter, or a couple of series. If there is any doubt about this, tune in on Saturday night to the contest being housed at the Georgia Dome as one team’s national championship hopes will already be dashed around 11:30PM.

Same rules as last year, with the only difference that I’ll actually be making some real wagers along with using “mythical money” when making my picks. I’ll treat they mythical money like Vegas: Bet $11 to win $10. All bets will be $10 unless I state otherwise (there may be a few lead pipe locks). Real wagers will be marked with an official Scoops “double asterisk” prior to the bet. Also, the official online bookie of Scoops McCracken for 2009 is betus.com.

Enough of the B.S…..time to get down to brass tax!

[**] Minnesota (-6) over SYRACUSE: The line has since jumped to -8, but due to Scoops’ due diligence, it was -6.5 two weeks ago, and I bought another half point for $1, giving me a straight $12 to win $10 with the Gophers holding -6. A lot of intriguing items for this game. How does the Doug Marone era begin for the Orange? What are we going to see out of Greg Paulus at QB? How will an outdoor team like Minnesota be able to adapt to playing indoors? Thank you, thank you…..I’ll be here all season, folks.
FINAL SCORE: MINNESOTA 31, SYRACUSE 16. [$12 straight wager, $10 payoff]


OHIO STATE (-22) over Navy: It’s always fun when the University of the Navy (copyright: Lou Holtz) comes to town to take on a team that actually has national championship hopes, unlike their annual contest with Notre Dame. Nevertheless, Ohio State needs a tune up for when the rockstars known as USC come to town. Pryor will want to impress everybody and show that “he’s all grown up, and won’t be pushed around,” to pharaphrase Teddy KGB. Ohio State roles because they know they need to impress people for votes & BCS status if they want anything come January.
FINAL SCORE: OHIIO STATE 44, NAVY 10

PENN STATE (-28) over Akron: Similar situation for Penn State, only they have to run up things even more because their non-conference schedule is absolutely embarrassing in 2009. One slip up, or even one non-impressive week and Penn State will have no shot at Pasadena. Look for Penn State to try to make a statement along the lines of “see, we won’t miss Derrick Robinson & Deon Butler at all” even though the Zips are hardly the opponent to prove that point.
FINAL SCORE: PENN STATE 52, AKRON 13


MICHIGAN (-13) over Western Michigan: Nothing beats a little bit of controversy surrounding a football program, and the latest episode of Michigan players participating in off-season workouts for more than the allotted 20 hours per week is thrown into the bag of tricks. Of course every single Big Ten, SEC, ACC, Big XII, & Pac Ten program does such a thing, but why worry about everyone else when it’s fun to kick a program while they’re down, right? Michigan struggles, but finds a way to cover.
FINAL SCORE: MICHIGAN 31, WESTERN MICHIGAN 14

Northern Illinois (-16.5) over WISCONSIN: Guys like Larry English are hard to replace & even harder at a MAC school like the one in DeKalb. However, NIU had a first year coach, young receiving corps and a brand new QB last year. They’ll move the ball, and Wisconsin still is Wisconsin with (insert new mediocre QB’s name) running the show. Wisconsin wins, but doesn’t cover.
FINAL SCORE: WISCONSIN 34, NORTHERN ILLINOIS 20


PURDUE (-10.5) over Toledo: Chester Taylor isn’t walking through the doors of the Toledo football complex. They still may have a chance, but I’m going to go with new emotion of Danny Hope and what actually wasn’t that bad of a defense considering where Purdue ended up in the Big Ten standings in 2008
FINAL SCORE: PURDUE 24, TOLEDO 10

ILLINOIS (-7) over Missouri [@ St. Louis]: There is only one offense in the Big Ten in 2009, and they’ll be on display at the Edward Jones Dome on Saturday. No Chase Daniel or Jeremy Maclin to save Mizzou this time around as Illinois explodes & keeps the scoreboard operators busy.
FINAL SCORE: ILLINOIS 48, MISSOURI 37


MICHIGAN STATE, INDIANA, IOWA & NORTHWESTERN all play D-IAA [errr….FCS] schools this weekend.

VIRGINIA TECH (+6.5) over Alabama [@ Atlanta]: Big things expected for VA Tech. If Tyrod Taylor goes off, which I think he will, VA Tech will win. Plus, with no Glen Coffey, Andre Smith & the pumpkin pie hair cutted freak known as John Parker Wilson, I’m going to go with the spread cover.
FINAL SCORE: ALABAMA 31, VIRGINIA TECH 27


OKLAHOMA STATE (-5.5) over Georgia: What a fantastic opening weekend game. The Bulldogs and whoever their new QB is travels to T.Boone Pickins Stadium and gets to deal with an OSU team that’s pretty darn good and would have serious New Year’s Day thoughts if they weren’t in the same conference subdivision as Texas & Oklahoma. Cowboys win & cover.
FINAL SCORE: OKLAHOMA STATE 44, GEORGIA 31



[**] Oregon (+4) over BOISE STATE: If the above two games weren’t an indication why college football is better than the pro game, this one is the final nail in the coffin. What an opening game, and on a Thursday, no less. A team with serious BCS thoughts and dethroning USC thoughts that was one of the better teams in the country at the end of 2008 travels to the BCS spoiler and puts on a show on the blue turf in prime time. I just think Oregon has a feeling that they know what to expect and will be ready for whatever home field advantage Boise is going to reward them with. FINAL SCORE: OREGON 34, BOISE STATE 31 [$5.50 straight wager, $5 payoff]

[**] Ohio State (-16)/Penn State (-22)/Oklahoma (-16) 6 point teaser: You saw my above thoughts regarding Ohio State & Penn State…give them each another -6 and I like that…and Oklahoma hosts BYU and currently is -22. I like Bradford & Oklahoma to make a statement at home, like they so often do in the non-conference season (see Cincinnati, & TCU for examples). Knock that down to -16 on the 3 team tease and I like what I’m doing. [$5 teaser wager, $8 payoff]

A ONE MAN OPERATION

To quote the diva Celine Dion, Scoops is "All By Myself."

Where is Pliers? Is he participating in an oil drilling protest near Barrow? Is he currently at the residence owned by a 6'2", 240 lb. brunette named Helga? Is he snapping the G-string of a pool side cruise guest named Chase?

I suppose it's not out of the question for me to carry the load for the week leading up to Week 1 of the college football season. However, it's rather difficult to have a Throwdown chat with yourself. Main reason is that I think I'd outsmart myself and throw myself into a box. But I pose the following questions to the readers:
-Why do teams not go for it on 4th down more often?
-Why do teams not go for the 2-point conversion more often?

Scoops's Week 1 picks will be posted later today....until then.....GOOD DAY!