Weekend Card (Sept 29th -Oct 1st)

[Irish]

WVU (+2/ ML) over VT

The Hookies have a good defense, but NCST showed you can run right at it. TA. McLendon ran for 93 yards and a touchdown. The Wolfpack was only 6-for-17 passing for 78 yards. It was a good defensive show by the VT defense. That being said the offense couldn't get it done. Imoh played well running the ball but really Randall was the only true threat the hookies have rushing. The defensive line for WVU should get some serious pressure on Randall. The offensive line for WVU should be able to open holes for Harris.

GL
Irish

 

[Irish]

Weds
Marshall (-7) over Miami OH

Revenge game for the herd, at home with a very good defense should spell trouble for the red hawks. Both teams have played a strong schedule but IMO Marshall has played better against tougher.

Marshall @ Georgia and OSU
Miami @ Michigan

Miami plays a good aggressive defense but the offense will make mistakes and Marshall will take advantage. The lack of a running game hurts the red hawks because they will be forced to throw. Stan Hill should be more productive not facing defense like the bulldogs or buckeyes. Yes Georgia might have been looking past the herd but an 0-3 Marshall team should be hungry at home on national TV.

Thursday
UConn (-6.5) over Pitt

Offensively this Pitt team looks lackadaisical at times. Defensively there is no hunger or fire. Uconn has a good QB that should be all over this Pitt defense. the huskies played well @ BC but costly turn-over hurt them from the get go. The only problem with this game is something isn't right about the Furman game, When the offense seemed to want to play they looked sharp and the defense stepped up. How could the panthers allow Furman to lead 31-17? There is talent there, but IMO motivation is a problem something the huskies will have when they try to win their first Big East game!

GL
Irish

Going to be a big weekend, should be a very large card.

 

[bbk]

Will theyopen bigger holes than what James Madison did to them and shut Harris down completely 22 carries for 66 yards; nc state defense is the real deal so what they did to vtech does not surprise me as i was on nc state last week however wv does not have that type of defense to sack randall 10 times; I think wv is very very overrated and dont expect vtech to drop 2 games straight in blacksburg. Its a complete no play for me but would not side with wv in this spot

 

[Irish]

bbk
I agree but in all fairness how pumped will a team get to play JMU???? ?It was a very uninspired, unemotional football performance by us today,? said West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez. ?I?m not very happy with the way we played and I?m certainly not happy with our intensity and most of the guys will tell you that.? You pair that with the emotional loss to NCST and I think WVU has a good chance to win the game. I was on Tech against NCST and NCST's defense is for real but VT was in the redzone 3 times in the first quarter and came away with 3 points including a missed FG. Good Luck to you this weekend, thanks for the info.

Fresno (-14) over La Tech

The bulldogs are not looking ahead to UTEP so they will focused on La Tech. Moats is a small compact pinball type runner but Fresno defense will be all over him! The running attack of Fresno has a nice replacement for Wright with Mathis. Defensively Fresno is very aggressive and should force turnovers. Both Tenn and Miami have had success throwing the ball so I would expect Pinagar to have a good day. The La Tech QB situation is in trouble as well. VS. Tenn starting quarterback Donald Allen went out with an injury. Matt Kubik, who started the season opener, replaced him and was intercepted twice.


Irish

 

[Blackman]

Good luck Irish -- I like the WV play -- in my opinion it is trendy to call them overrated at this point, I think they are a very solid team.

 

[pirate fan]

Irish, I'm with ya on Uconn and Marshall. Is Kubick starting for La. Tech this weekend? Still thinking about VT. GL

 

[Irish]

I'm pretty sure Kubick

Bicknell did say Allen and Gonzalez would be out for this weekend while Cage and Brown are questionable. Santiago is expected to return to action.
Last weekend
Tech was without the services of linebacker Byron Santiago, tackles Lester Brown and Adrian Gonzalez and quarterback Donald Allen for all or most of the UT contest.
Senior defensive lineman Jemelle Cage also left the game late with an undisclosed injury.

 

[buddy]

Irish and bbk,

Good info. Thanks much.

 

[Irish]

Colorado (+7.5) over Mizzou

The Buffalo's struggle on defense, they allow big plays. Allowing 3rd string RB for North Texas to have a 247 yard day is terrible. With the playbook condensed Klatt played very well (3 TD's and 371 yards). Purify again played well averaging over 7 yards per carry before he left the game with a sprained shoulder! The week off helps Colorado get starting FS Billingsley a little healthier and allows Purify to recover from his injury.

On the other side of the ball Mizzou is coming off a shut out to Ball st. (Not a highlight)The Cardinals have been outscored this season 126-18. Still a shut out is a shut out and the defense has some needed confidence going into this game.

Big Confrence game, Buff beat Mizzou last 2 (actually last 4 years but Smith has been there for Mizz past 2) years but by the margins of 7 and 5. Strong Colorado O-line against strong D-line for Mizzou.

GL
Irish

 

[gardenweasel]

irish...i`m afraid that the pitt/uconn game is shaping up as the trap game of the week....

there seems to be one or two of these per week....

although uconn has been very inconsistent,pitt looks horrible...

i got this at 5 when it opened...i`ll probably try and middle it if it hits 8....

g.l. and be careful...

 

[Irish]

I agree, I think Pitt is a solid ball club and I know when they want to play they can. As they showed coming back on Furman. IMO Pitt is going to try and outscore other teams, letting Neb score 24 and Furman 38 points. This UConn team held BC to under 300 total offense. The score would have been a lot closer if it wasn't for terrible turnovers. Just my thoughts.

GL
Irish

 

[Irish]

-- Missouri starting linebacker David Richard has been suspended from Saturday's Big 12 game against Colorado.
Richard, 21, was arrested about 2:30 a.m. Sept. 11, Columbia police Capt. Marvin McCrary confirmed Monday

 

[Irish]

Stanford (-12.5) over Washington

Stanford might be looking ahead to ND or might have a let down after a tough USC loss, but IMO they will have enough to beat the Huskies by 2 TD's. Edwards has developed into a leader and can control the offense making it very productive. ND showed this Huskie team has a very difficult time covering the pass even though Washington staff thought the secondary was its strong suit. ND and Stanford play similar games and they should put up some numbers at home. Starting ILB David Bergeron is back off a suspension for USC game.

UW suffered three potentially major injuries. WR Charles Frederick strained a hamstring and his status for next week is uncertain. WR Corey Williams might have broken his wrist when he slammed into a wall behind the end zone and could be lost for the year. If so, that would mean UW could play next week without its two leading receivers. FB Zach Tuiasosopo is likely lost for the year after suffering a broken fibula.

GL
Irish

 

[ajoytoy]

gl on em all Irish!


toy

 

[Irish]

Auburn (+2.5) over Tenn

Hate betting against the Vols at Rocky top but I have a few reasons. Tenn had a problem stopping Auburns rushing game last year and I think they will struggle against it again. The Tigers lead the SEC in scoring defense, allowing just 6.5 points per game. The tigers have to get pressure on the young Vols QB and force them to make mistakes. This is tough because Tenn has a very good O-line.

Tennessee leads the SEC in team total offense, rushing offense and passing efficiency. Auburn tops the league charts and is second nationally in scoring defense. Tennessee also leads the league in net punting, while Auburn has tallied the most first downs. Seven of the last nine games in the series have been decided by 10 points or less ... The 1988 and 1990 games resulted in ties

INJURY UPDATE Out -- TE Jake Finlayson (back), DB Antwan Stewart (knee); Out for Season -- DB James Banks (knee), LB Marvin Mitchell (knee), LB Kevin Simon (knee).

Vol's Senior OLB Kevin Burnett did not practice early in the week because of a sprained ankle he suffered against Louisiana Tech, but coach Phillip Fulmer expects Burnett to be ready for Auburn. All-SEC MLB Kevin Simon, is out. Even if Burnett comes back he will not be 100% and the loss of Simon hurts the Vol's defense a lot!

RUN CADILLAC RUN
GL
Irish

 

[Howie's Hot]

GL Irish....head to head tonight though....at least one of us will be happy...

How

 

[Irish]

Minny (-14) over Penn St

Maroney's 131.5 rushing yards per game and Barber's 128.5 give Minnesota the fourth-best ground attack in the nation with 332.2 yards per game. The Gophers are averaging 542.8 yards of total offense, third nationally, and are sixth in scoring with 44.2 points per contest. That should be a big test for the Penn State run defense, which is allowing 97.8 rushing yards per game.

PSU is coming off a tough loss last week where their QB's were injured. From what I have heard it looks like Mills (probable) will play, but Robinson (doubtful) may not. IF Matt Bernstein of Wisc rushed for a career-high 123 yards, the gophers should move the ball.

The gophers defense are not a powerhouse, but they have shown signs of improvement. Last week vs. N'Western the gophers help them to under 300 total yards. Is this a look ahead? - Minny travels to Michigan next weekend. IMO the gophers will be focused at home against a beaten up lions squad.

GL
Irish

 

[Kdogg21]

good luck this week Irish. Love the avatar!!

 

[Irish]

Navy (+1) over Air Force

The Falcons rank just 88th in the nation in run defense, allowing 201.25 yards per game and an average of 5.26 yards per carry. Navy ranks seventh in the nation in rushing (280.25). Polanco isn't half the QB that Carney is, but he doesn't have to be in the Navy offense. Considering Carney is the main player in the Air Force offense it would be best to put a shadow on him the whole game to eliminate his scrabbling.

The Falcons rank eighth nationally in rushing with an average of 278.5 yards per game. Carney also ranks fifth in the conference in rushing with an average of 74.0 yards per game. The midshipmen have to contain him.

Air Force has played the tougher schedule and is at home but IMO the rushing attack of Navy will be more efficient than Air Force, Navy triple-option just that much harder to defend. The combined score of Navy's last three losses in Colorado Springs is 124-27, the midshipmen struggle @Air Force. Air Force's run defense has struggled a bit so far allowing over 201 yards per game while the Navy run D is giving up only 134, so playing Tulsa and Vanderbilt isn't the same as Cal and Utah.

GL
Irish

 

[Irish]

Small play Oregon (-3) over Ariz st

I have been on the Sundevils almost every week and they have treated me well. Looking at these 2 teams both have the ability to make great plays through the air. The issues at RB for Ariz st will not be a factor at all. They still have a capable back in Hakim Hill. IMO where it might be a problem is with turn-overs, Hill is playing with a broken forearm, he may have problems holding on to the ball.

Oregon has allowed ASU quarterback Andrew Walter to pass for 852 yards and seven touchdowns in the past two seasons.Arizona State's defense has been excellent this season, allowing 12.8 points per game, tying Southern California for best in the conference.

Key for the ducks is to give the crowd something to scream about. Autzen Stadium is a tough place to play when the fans are excited and they should be for this game.

The D-line for Oregon has to establish pressure without LB help. This lets the ducks put more people into coverage. If the ducks have to play one-one coverage Walter will have another big day in Oregon.

GL
Irish