a strong play.....

[gardenweasel]

actually downgrading to a medium play...........

minnesota -13(buy half).....minny coming off tough back to back home defeats to both michigan clubs.....now,go on the road(they`re probably happy to hit the road) against a weak illini club........

circumstances...minny is a somewhat balanced offense predicated basically on a very strong ground game.....the illini are allowing around 153 yards rushing per game...this is a bit misleading...vs big ten teams that are roughly at minny`s level,they were scorched on the ground..

outgained by michigan by 186 yards.....by wisky by 243 yards.....by purdue by 286 yards ...

add the fact that beutjer is questionable for the illini...along with starting rb halsey...

...Illinois
Position Name Injury Status
*QB John Beutjer Back Doubtful Sat. vs Minnesota. 10/21
*RB E.B. Halsey Knee Doubtful Sat. vs Minnesota. 10/21
DT Derrick Strong Ankle Probable Sat. vs Minnesota. 10/20
OL Bryan Koch Neck Out for remainder of season. 10/16
DL Mike O'Brien Knee Out for remainder of season. 9/9
DB Darnell Ray Suspension Out for remainder of season. 10/14
DB Alan Ball Shoulder Out indefinitely. 10/10

minny is a little weak(to put it mildly)vs the pass...but,the illini have next to no running game....minny won`t have a "two pronged "attack to worry about(illini only rush for 95 yards per game)......

minny is 3-0 vs the spread on the road.....either they`ll go into full collapse,or they`ll take out their frustrations on the hapless illini...

i think they`ll control the clock with their ground game,keeping the illini offense off the field for long stretches,and mix in enough passing(minny throws for a respectable 203 ypg) to hopefully bury the illini...to wear them down and physically punish the illini defense...

13 looks like a very fair number....actually,considering the circumstances,it`s a little to fair.....i checked a consensus site or 2 and this one`s a little to hot......

play it at 13... medium play....middle the rest.....

 

[buddy]

Have to agree with 13 being a fair number.

Minn has played good football this year and Illinois has been lickin' the bucket. For Illinois, one week is as bad, if not worse than the next.

In their L 5 games, Illinois has not come within 10 points of covering the number.

 

[gardenweasel]

i am worried

i am worried

that this will become a big "public play".....if that happens and the line goes up,i`ll middle this puppy.....g.l.

 

[gardenweasel]

two more

two more

smaller play....purdue +6(but a point) at pinny....

utah-7(-140)....gonna ride the utes till they drop....meyer has the offense running and passing for around 200 ypg apiece....new mexico is no slouch.....but,this looks like he`s building his bowling green program all over again at utah....they`ve made me a nice piece of change this year..alex smith running and passing...brendan warfield is a horse....big-time momentum......won 10 of their last 11(missed a late 2 pt conversion AT tx a+m).......i almost feel like i owe it to them to keep riding...

considering lightly....auburn + at least 4.......so fla +3.....unlv-3(buy half..and maybe under)......tulsa-16.5(buy half...thanks wizzard)..

want to take a shot with tenn-3 coming off the bye....but,what the hell is wrong with that ground game?.....what`s up with houston and jabari davis?.....135 ypg rushing?. ....what`s the problem?

 

[ND2002HORNS]

Illinois is that bad. They are hurting on the OL and most of all QB. They have no running game. Really like your Minny and Purdue plays! GL

HORNS

 

[BigSlick]

Weasel ? I considered adding Minn (buying 1.5 pts ? my book has it at 14) after watching Minn/Mich St and Mich/Illini games. I think they will come back strong after sleepwalking through the 1st 3 Qs of LW?s game.

Interesting comment on Beutjer. His playing gives me reason to worry about a backdoor possibility. Please post to your thread if you hear any news on his status; I?ll investigate myself.

Maybe 1st half is a possibility?

 

[gardenweasel]

adding

adding

texas a +m+7(-128)......okie st coming off a nail biter vs tx tech....scored a slew of points.....let down time.....particularly with OKLAHOMA on deck........a+m plays the cowboys very tough at home....bounce back after turnover laden embarassment vs nebraska...love getting a td here...moneyline?

 

[gardenweasel]

fyi......i`m hearing

fyi......i`m hearing

that illini qb jon beutjer is out for the year....having a disc repaired in his back......

 

[AR182]

gw,

good luck on the minn. play.

at this point i like auburn & i think i really like tex. a & m.


good luck this weekend.

 

[TIDE2121]

GOOD LUCK

 

[gardenweasel]

thanks ar1 and tide

thanks ar1 and tide

have to add 1 final play....and it`s a doggie.....played it early and forgot i played it

rutgers +6(bought a full point)......just like the way the rutgers passing game has looked....both teams,although losing,are playing relatively well for who they are......like the fact that rutgers is on the road....they are solid ats this year......not much difference between the 2....fighting to avoid being the worst team in the big east....so i`ll take the points....

and again,not much of a home field advantage........ new jersey and philly...a short car trip.....

gimme the points....

 

[gardenweasel]

adding 4 more....

adding 4 more....

don`t have the energy for long write-ups.....

---------a little on kansas st-20----------

---------a little on arizona+17---------

---------a little on oregon st +8----------

---------a little on idaho-3(and over 47)----------

g.l.

 

[bej0101]

really like minn laying whatever, they cruise to a 30+ win

 

[jmizeus]

gl bud! but this is another game where line opens at 13 now up to 16 at some places? if it keep climbing i might have to back the terrible illini here.

 

[gardenweasel]

that`s why i hit it so heavily

that`s why i hit it so heavily

at 13.......you could see that this was going through the roof with the illini starting qb gone for the year(a freshman will start) and the top running back out......should be a sensational middle(i hope)....

 

[treynolds]

minny is my favorite play of the week also

 

[JEFF]

Gl weasel, looks like a solid card.

 

[Bigdog4242]

Good luck Garden!!!

Also if you like MN so much take them at the half! This team is fired up and thinks they have to prove to their fans and everyone else they are for real!!

FH MN -9 *3Units

2 Teamer

FH MN -9.5
FH Ohio -7

3.6/8.7 Units

GL and Go GOPHERS!!

 

[gardenweasel]

thanks jeff and bg

thanks jeff and bg

adding rice +21.......fresno won last year by 3.....they don`t defend the run well...in fact are very bad vs the run....they are averaging around 17 ppg....and here they are laying 21......i`ll take the shot....g.l.

 

[gardenweasel]

another strange college football weekend

another strange college football weekend

lose some toughies late....get lucky on a few.....hit the bigger play early....flounder during mid-day....come back a bit at night....lose unlv late....snatch a win from a push with a late safety at oregon st...get a 5 overtime win with tennessee.....

good capping?....hardly....not at 8-7...not with smashing loses with auburn,utah,tx a+m....bet to much consensus again... ..alot of luck....good and bad...the breaks...the bounces...the zebras.....a crap shoot.....but one helluva lot of fun...


the colleges are tough.......probably need to cut down to 4 or 5 top plays....

8-7....hit the minny play....basically treading water this week....as in many other college weeks ....have had a few pretty good weeks...and a few pretty bad weeks(week one...whoa)... mostly in between...

a nice pro card tomorrow.....g.l. sunday fellas...

another crazy college weekend...