Weekend Card (Oct 6th-9th)

[Irish]

UVA (-16.5) over Clemson

The Cavs lead the ACC in total offense (500.5 yards per game) and ranking 6th in rushing (284). Their 45.5 points per game ranks 4th in NCAA.

Whitehurst 5 TD to 10 INT ratio is not impressive. Clemson impressive early BUT at home in those games played well against Wake and GT. Clemson has averaged 20 point loses away from home at FSU and A&M.

Virginia senior defensive end Chris Canty is out for the season. This is a blow to the UVA defense but the talent at LB more than makes up for Canty going down.

Clemson defense -
against WF - Chris Barclay rushed for 179 yards
against GT - 182 total rushing yards
against A&M - Courtney Lewis rushed for 165 yards
against FSU - 205 total rushing yards


IMO UVA has the best rushing attack of these teams and should be able to run successfully against the tigers.

Revenge from the 27-30 OT loss they had last year @ Clemson!

Early Leans - thoughts appreciated:
Stanford (+4.5)
Minny (+3.5)
Cal (+7)
N'Western (-11)
Texas (+6.5)
Purdue (-11.5)
Bama (-5)
Kansas (+2)

GL
Irish

 

[Blackman]

Best of luck to you Irish -- like the stats, I'm going to give UVA a hard look.

 

[AR182]

irish,

i'm with you on virginia. clemson has trouble running the ball & stopping the run. those are 2 ingrediants to having a poor team.

do you have any opinion on the so. miss/houston game ?

right now i'm leaning to k state.


keep up the good work.

 

[gardenweasel]

played k.st small myself at -2(120)..

 

[Irish]

AR182

I'm not going to play it but I have a lean toward So. Miss (-17.5). What is scary and what the USF game showed is So.Miss got ahead and try to coast to the W. With the game controlled by So. Miss there is no way the final score should have been 20-27.

So. Miss had 21 first downs and 312 yards, converted 9 of 19 third-downs and had the ball 36 minutes, 28 seconds. Defense held USF to 205 yards (TOTAL offense) and 4 interceptions.
Through 3 games the Golden Eagles have forced 12 turnovers. All that and they only won by 7??? They do have a game @ Alabama next.

Houston angle - Last week Memphis rolled up 501 yards and running back DeAngelo Williams rushed for 262 yards and four touchdowns. Houston hasn't been able to get anything going on the ground without RB Evens. This team has only won 1 game against army and lost Memphis, Oklahoma and Rice by an average of 26 points. against teams Houston looks to only be able to score around 14 points.

IMO I think the defense of So.Miss will be tough on Kolb and they will force turnovers maybe even a score. Almond should have a good day if the coaching staff lets him scramble. It has been a few weeks since the Eagles have been home so the crowd should help them.

GL
Irish

 

[ajoytoy]

gl this week...like em all cept Texas, but I will probably lay off that one anyways

toy

 

[hawkeye]

I watched K state and kansas on tv each 2 times k state looks lkek it has more talent and deeper.

 

[Irish]

Hawkeye
Kansas (+2/ML) over K State

I have watched Kansas against TT and Nebraska. Kansas has a very underrated defense. 3 straight loses, the total spread from those three losses is just 10 points. SS Tony Stubbs will return for the KState game and should be an impact stopping the run. K-State is not a good road team and have had problems taking care of the ball. Kansas State gave up 20 points off five turnovers in the first three games, then Texas A&M converted three turnovers into 21 more points. The key for Kansas is to overload the box and force the K-State offense to beat them passing IMO they can't.

KState has lost to A&M and Fresno by 12 and 20 plus, while Kansas has lost @Nebraska, @N'Western and to TT by like I said a total of 10 points. Kansas isn't given any credit but they have quietly been doing a very solid job. They have a lot of heart and are hungry, but the need some results. Losing close games will take its toll on these players. This team comes out very strong defensively in the first half..@ home the Jayhawks have never trailed going into half time. IMO Kansas (ML) FH is a good play as well.

GL
Irish

 

[Irish]

Baylor (+20) over Missouri

Small play
Coming off the Colorado game and looking forward to Texas, Missouri travels down to play Baylor. Daniel Sepulveda punter for the bears has a 48.6-yard average. Only mention that because he will be key in giving Mizzou poor field position. Looking at Mizzou not opening up the play book, not letting Smith run (take hits) with Texas on the doorstep.

GL
Irish

 

[Bama6895]

Here is what I posted in another thread about the UK-Bama game:

I was wondering when someone would notice that UA-UK line. That is way to high.

We are a team with a very good running game and a very good defense. Of course it all looks like crap when your QB can not complete a pass. The defense suffers due to them being on the field the entire time due to the lack of offense.

I predict that Alabama will run, run, and run some more, like when they played Arkansas. We can not throw. Last week Guillon and Pennington threw 4 ints combined, so expect conservative play calling and relying on the defense. This all leads me to believe that if Alabama is to win, it will be by less then a TD and more likely 3 or 4 points. That said, there is also the very high possibility that UK wins outright.

So even though I love my Tide and looking at this without crimson colored glasses, says to take UK and the points.

 

[Clem D]

Good luck

 

[Irish]

Bama6895

I agree that Bama's passing game has suffered but...The Alabama defense held South Carolina to 249 yards on 65 plays and forcing 3 turnovers. Ohio's plays were forcing turnovers, and bama should get some turnovers on Sat. The poor passing display from Bama may just be what helps the tide win against UK! They will focus on the run, and if you watched the Florida game, this UK team is not good against the run. That why this is a lean for me but I'm still looking at a few things before I make it a play. Hope the info helps

GL
Irish

 

[Irish]

ND (-4.5) over Stanford

Small play
Stanford has a veteran defense, the Cardinal's offense averaging 404 yards and 33.8 points. BUT Trent Edwards threw 3 interceptions vs. a poor Washington defense

Stanford has an inexperienced offensive line (4 sophomore starters) ND likes to throw different packages at teams. This is Stanford's first travel game to a hostile environment. Willingham is 2-0 against his former team, and outscored the Cardinals 88-14.

ND needs to rush the ball, Quinn can not throw all game long. ND is successful when the rush. ND needs to eliminate giving up the big play (kick return and 90+ yard TD pass vs. Purdue) and they can be productive.

Minny (+3.5/ ML) over Michigan

Bigger play
The gophers did not do anything against Penn St because they were getting ready for this game. The gophers have a weak defense but the offense of Michigan isn't a juggernaut. Minny out rushed Michigan by 230 yards PER GAME! They average 6 yards PER CARRY. Notre Dame showed that you can run on Michigan and the gophers will.

Passing wise Michigan does have the edge but it is slight at best. The Gophers are soft in the secondary. Minnesota is giving up 271.8 passing yards per game, I would like to see Henne throw more because even though the secondary is soft they can still generate a turn-over.

The only team on Michigan's schedule of credibility is ND and they lost to them. Not saying the gophers have played USC or Oklahoma but N'Western is far better that Miami (OH).

N'Western (-10.5) over Indiana

Could be a let down after the OSU win, but Indiana is not that good and the loss to Mich St & Michigan, showed they have a very difficult time with stopping the pass. N'Western has played a tough schedule (IMO) and should be ready for this hoosier team. The IU offense is becoming one-dimensional because the passing game is not good.

The wildcats run and pass well and Herron is a solid production back. Brett Basanez. He threw for 278 yards and pierced the Ohio State pass defense with two TD passes! He should find it easier this week. The Hoosiers are giving up 456.2 yards per game. This N'Western team is also starting to click on defense holding OSU to under 100 yards rushing.


GL
Irish

 

[CWood97]

Good luck Irish. Like the NW play. I think Indiana is a pretty good fade right now but I usually don't play 10+ point favs after they were a big underdog SU winner. May play this one later, however.

 

[Irish]

Colorado (+7) over Oklahoma St

Oklahoma St is strong offensively but they do not have a very good defense. Also standout, CB Darrent Williams, will more than likely be out with a fractured forearm. Vernand Morency, the nation's third-leading rusher is a powerhouse. Giving Colorado 7 @ home in the high mountain air is IMO a lot. Also Considering that Okla St's only really competition this year has been UCLA. Colorado has to be better at stopping the other team on third down, they get complacent and need to become more aggressive in that situation. The Oklahoma St makes its living on the ground and only average about 100 yards passing per game.BUT they out rush Colorado by almost 150 yards per game! Granted those stats are against Iowa St, Tulsa and SMU but still. IMO the Buffalo's crowd the box and attempt to stop the rush, Oklahoma St will try and stop Bobby Purify but Klatt will make plays!

GL
Irish

 

[Irish]

So.Miss (-17) over Houston
small play based on the defense of So.Miss, being at home on spotlight TV against IMO one of the worst teams in NCAA. Almond should have a big day throwing the ball. The Houston defense isn't very good against the rush and should be taken advantage of in this game. Reviewing the Memphis game, is what made this a play, IMO Houston just can't get it done.


BYU (-10.5) over UNLV
BYU's defense is very confusing for the opposition. With a 2-3 record is hard to see how this team can spot anyone 10. If you look at this teams schedule it is amazing..ND, Stanford, USC, Boise and Colorado St. The Utah St loss is what sticks out in my mind about UNLV. BYU is very talented and @ home they play well. With key players back from injuries this team is very tough.

Purdue (-11) over PSU
Might be a look ahead game for Purdue but IMO even looking ahead Purdue can still win by 2 td's. PSU is tough at home and will be ready to play, but they are out matched in the talent department. Purdue throws the ball 150 more yards per game. They out rush the lions about 20 yards per game. Looking at PSU they have scored 10 points in their last two games. Wisc and Minny are both running team while Purdue is more effective passing. Orton reads defense to well not to have a good day against PSU.

Final Card

Purdue (-11)
UVA (-16.5)
Colorado (+7)
N'Western (-10.5)
Kansas (ML)
Minny (+3.5)

Small plays
So. Miss (-17)
Baylor (+20)
ND (-4.5)

GL & Cheers
Irish

 

[Lions Roar]

Irish,

I see the logic in the UVA play, but what concerns me it that they haven't played anyone at all. I feel that those stats are very inflated.

Temple
UNC
Syracuse
Akron

Hardly anything to get excited about in that group. I'm not saying that they are not a good team, but I feel Clemson is a big step up from the previous four teams.

PS Like the Kansas play!

 

[Irish]

lionsRoar

I hear you, UVA hasn't played the best competition but looking, Clemson tries to outscore teams not stop them. UVA Stops them and pour it on. UVA has a great O-line and if Tech and Wake are running for so many yards I would expect UVA to have a good day. Also I like the UVA special teams they are very solid and very fast. You make good points but IMO UVA is for real and If I were a coach on UVA nothing like a national TV game to show the world how good Wahoo football is.

**SM (You know who) is on the other way!

Yeah I think it is time for the Jayhawks to show up!
GL
Irish

 

[Howie's Hot]

GL Irish....head to head tonight...only one will survive
oke
How

 

[gman2]

irish:

your threads are among the best on the site. keep up the good work.