- South Florida at Kansas (-5.5)
- Louisville (-14.5) k-st
- Iowa St. at Texas (-24.5)
- SE Louisiana at Texas Tech– anyone know the line here?
- Wildcard – Arizona St. at Cal (-7.5)
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South Florida at Kansas (-5.5) |
A couple of thoughts on last week’s loss in the Glass Bowl. First, where extremely disappointed, KU players, staff, and faithful realize they outplayed and outcoached the Rockets – which is good for everyone’s confidence. Young teams like KU will typically lose when you are on the wrong side of a -5 turnover margin….twice in overtime. A loss is a loss is a loss…and I am not minimizing this. A good team would have won that game…and the 06 Jayhawks have, at best, earned a “decent” label three weeks in.
A win this weekend give KU a decent 3-1 record heading into conference play; a record that is inline with both mine and for-pay college football prognosticators. Now if only these skills would apply in the realm of FBB where I am currently sitting DFL – “dead fucking last” in track speak.
The Fighting Mangino’s are back in the cozy confines of Memorial Stadium this weekend in a game that I am not calling a “must win” but a “really effing need to win.” Under Mangino, the Jayhawks shown resiliency – at home – after a tough loss – usually on the road – and come through when they need to – insert UNL, mizzou, Iowa St. Given the importance of this game and the fact the Jayhawks are suiting up in their home blues….I would typically take the Jayhawks to cover but there are some health questions at the QB spot. With this USF will load the box up against an unimpressive KU O-line. I’ll take the Jayhawks to win but, with the questions at QB, this could come down to the wire. Bulls – where in the hell are there bulls in the greater Miami metro area — to cover.
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Iowa St. at Texas (-24.5) |
Here’s the storyline….the veteran, and quite possibly the best QB in the entire Big 12, facing the gun-slinging, rap-fumbling frosh. McCoy’s 6:1 touchdown to interception ratio could be in jeopardy against a Cyclone secondary that has a pick in each of their first three games. And keep in mind, this is an Iowa St. team that kept it close in Iowa City last week and squeaked out a double OT win against Toledo. But that’s really all I have to speak to. Texas, in Austin, covers – but just barely.
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Louisville (-14.5) k-st |
Is the Ville for real or does last week’s win speak more to the desperate state of affairs in South Florida? My metaphor on the Miami win is inline with RObert’s prom date – yes she seemed aspirational when crowned homecoming queen in the fall but after pulling a train with the basketball team she is nobody’s prize at the end of the school year. Translation being, if Miami ends up as a middle of the pack ACC team….last week’s victory may not be the computer ranking boost needed should Louisville beat UWV, win out and find themselves in a three team pickle for the National Title game (Ville, Auburn, USC)
A game in manhattan will not speak to the Cards national title legitimacy but will be a good showcase for their defense and give a few who were taking second team snaps in August some valuable time on the field. Cards win by two picks. .
Note – after seeing Miami’s pregame display I could not have been happier with the beat down applied by the Cards. Congrats RObert.
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SE Louisiana at Texas Tech |
I am loving the head pirate more and more each week. With this, my bus ride is coming to a close and don’t feel this game warrants much discussion…Tech covers whatever line if out there.
BTW…revising my earlier stance on the clock rule.
Wildcard - Arizona St. at Cal (-7.5)
Selecting this game as the wildcard speaks to this week’s schedule. But hey….every weekend can’t be like last weekend.
Both the Sun Devils and Bears are loaded with talent and looking to emerge as the team to beat in the USC and everyone else PAC 10. Only USC is going to knock off USC from the Pac 10 throne; and with the help of Bush they may pull this off. I like the Bears featuring a balance run/pass attack and the fact they are at home. That said, I am in desperate need to Long/Short points and need to align interests in the game—my mind tells me Cal but my gut is forcing my hand – Sun Devils cover. .
