Weekend Card (Nov 18th -20th)

[Irish]

Mich (-4.5) over OSU
I have watched the buckeyes for the last three weeks. They have one weapon on offense and thats Ginn Jr (they have a lot of young players that will get better with experience). They have a strong defense but it isn't the most disciplined and is very over aggressive (misdirection and playaction hurt this team, something Michigan does well). Yes they play well at home but not against strong teams (Penn St & Marshall). The rivalry is what is going to kill the buckeyes. See Mich doesn't look past this game, they focus on it and they have the talent to beat OSU and these players come out with a chip on their shoulders. Yes the buckeyes will come out fired up and play hard but talent and scheme should take over something I think gives the edge to Mich. Michigan has the running game to be effective and Henne won't be called upon to beat this team by himself. Saying that he will have to make some key throws but no OSU CB can cover Edwards, and Avant. Tressel is on the hot seat and there is a lot of distractions for the OSU team. Don't get me wrong I don't think Mich is the strongest road team! But in this game I do think they are the better team. The Mich defense will be all over a poor OSU offense.

GL
Irish

 

[CWood97]

I hope you're right Irish, good luck! I'll be down in Cbus and I don't think I can handle listening to those rednecks heckle me all game if UM is losing!

 

[Irish]

Baylor (+33.5) over Oklahoma
out of all the games Baylor has played they haven't lost by 33.5 except to UAB in the first game of the season. Oklahoma have had close calls on the road (Okla St-3, Texas A&M -7 and KState -10). Also this Sooner team has only beaten 1 team all season by more than 33.5 points (Kansas).

The Bears have a lot of injuries at QB! It looks like 3rd string QB Parks will get the start. Strong kid with powerful arm. Good news is he got some serious playing time vs. Okls St so he isn't fresh off the bench. Last home game with Upset on the Bear minds. They won't win but they will get a few points on the board, enough to keep it with-in 30.

GL
Irish

 

[bbk]

Irish
Be very careful about playing baylor; I had my biggest play on OU last week and lost due to numerous facts the biggest being Callahan just not wanting to get beat by 50 so on nine different 3rd and longs he just ran it up the middle to shorten the game. OU had its starters in there throwing the ball in the end zone in the last minute of the game up by 30. So I dont expect any type of backdoor cover as OU will want to win this game by at least 50 and I expect a shutout also. This is the worst team OU has faced all year and Baylor is dead last in the Big XII in rush defense and down there in pass defense also. Guy Morris is not like Callahan so I expect him to actually try to win the game which means he will pass the ball and with Perkins back and Bassey on the bench expect multiple multiple turnovers. I wont learn my lesson from last week although anyone watching that game know OU was the right side. I expect OU to win the game by 50. Last week OSU ran all over Baylor with their backup running back. What do you think Peterson will do??
Good luck on whatever you decide to play.

 

[Irish]

UNC (-5.5) over Duke
The Clemson victory gives the blue devils new confidence, but UNC has become a new team of late. Wins against Miami, Wake and a close call against VY show this Tar Heels team is starting to play a lot better. Not sure why this line is so low, my guess is because UNC/Duke is always a dog fight. Last year UNC lost by 8 and the year before they won by 2! Still IMO this is a more improved UNC team compared to Duke. The UNC running game should have a lot of success against the devils.

FSU (-7) over Florida
These teams do not like each other. Still Florida has struggled against strong defenses. The Gators will come out fired up, but the Noles will NOT come out flat in their last home game. Florida has lost 3 out of 5 on the road and a big come back was needed at Vandy or it would have been 4 out of 5! Leak will turn the ball over I am not a fan of the FSU offense but IMO Washington will have more running room than he did against NC St.


BBK
I agree about OU coming into Baylor and scoring points, but the play is based on the Baylor's offense and their ability to throw a few scores on the board. Looking over Okla, they haven't been the best road team, they are good but they are not the defensive team of years past! Thats why Baylor is the play for me, Oklahoma gets a lot of respect (some deserved at 10-0) but I see no quit in Baylor. Nebraska didn't go into that game even trying, Baylor will. Just my take that the sooners might hang 50 but the bears will put up 21.

GL
Irish

 

[Clem D]

GL Irish!!!

 

[Irish]

Mich St (-4.5) over Penn St
PSU is just not good on offense, every week the spreads come out and give the lions more credit then they deserve. This line is different because this is there last home game. I think the lions will be fired up and they make a game of it going into half. THEN MSU takes over if not sooner. MSU is a different team with Stanton at QB, the players play a little better with him behind center. He has the ability to make throw and he will against PSU. The line knows he is banged up and they respect his toughness so they will do a good job blocking, like against Wiscy. MSU has new found confidence and they are just playing better right now.

Cincy (-11.5) over South Florida
Talk about a team playing good football right now! The Bearcats are 3-0 in their last three games averaging 40.7 points against Memphis, TCU and then-No. 21 Southern Miss. The Bearcats have allowed 14.7 points per game over their past three games, with the defense improving to 23.7 points and 349.8 yards per game allowed. South Florida is coming off 2 wins against UAB and ECU. SF has not allowed a sack in 56 plays. Bad news for the Bearcats is they have Louisville away next week and may peek ahead to that (But SF has Memphis at home and they might be peeking too). Still with this being their last home game, the cats should come out fired up. Still new found Cincy run game has kept defenses honest and Cincy QB has made them pay. The bearcat defense has held some pretty good offense to low point totals and they will come out on their last game.

GL
Irish

 

[taoist]

...absolutely love the Cincy play!!! ...keep up the good work.

 

[AR182]

irish,

good luck this weekend.

 

[RexBudler]

Best of luck to you this weekend buddy

 

[bombercoops]

Like mich st here also. Penn st. has the worst offense I've ever seen and I although i agree that they will come out fired up and ready to play, I think Mich st. rolls over them in the second half! One of my favourite plays for the weekend! GL this week mate!

P.S Let me know if you want a side bet the next time we play you guys in the rugby Irish!

 

[Irish]

North Texas (-4.5) over Arkansas St W
I had the pleasure of watching Ark St play Utah st last week. What stood out was the inability of this Ark St team to tackle, plus they left a guy WIDE OPEN late in the game, where Utah scored but it was called back for holding.
IMO Ark st, cannot stop this green machine running game. Teams have put up big rushing numbers against the Indians - - La-Laff 186 rushing yards / Troy 176 / Midd Tenn 105 / Miss 200 / La-mon 260 / Memphis 175. *** Jamario Thomas leads the nation with 189.9 rushing yards per game. He has had 5 straight 200 yard games! Just think N.Texas with the run game comes out and over powers the Indians. With the Walker award snub, Thomas might have a little something extra for tonights game. Plus as the year has gone on Hall has gotten better throwing the ball and should help N.Texas passing game! The Indians have the ability to turn this into a shootout but the Green have the weapons to win.

***EDIT - game is on DirectTV Ch 623 NESN

GL
Irish

 

[Irish]

VT (-9.5) over Maryland W
Hate to give close to ten with a VT team that IMO is not offensively sound. BUT Terps managed only 51 yards rushing, 163 passing against Virginia, have not rushed for 100 yards in any of the past five games and they have a banged up QB going into Blacksburg on national TV!! VT rank 8th in the country in total defense.

The Terp defense is solid, but was a little exposed last week against UVA, I would never compare UVA to Tech in terms of offensive production! Still Tech has some big play players. Randall scrambling, Imoh (averaged about 225 rushing yards past five games) and the emergence of Eddie Royal. Fuller who is the FS for the Hokies is hurt but will play.

Big games against UVA and Miami on the doorstep for Tech is a scary thought, but after 2 away games I'm sure they will be primed and ready for tonight. IMO this will be a defensive battle, but VT has the talent to make some plays on offense, where I don't think UM does.


GL
Irish

 

[Irish]

ARK St/ NT OVER (54) L

1st quarter VT/UM under (7.5) L -two picks in the VT redzone will do that!

GL
Irish

 

[Irish]

Va Tech/M land Under (39.5) L

GL
Irish

 

[Irish]

Wiscy (+3) over Iowa LLove the mean way Iowa plays defense. They play with a chip on their shoulder and hit hard. Still after the beating Wiscy took, IMO they rebound hard. Iowa isn't the easiest place to play and the hawkeyes play very well there. I would expect the badger defense to come in refocused. It really comes down to Davis running the ball and the badger defense playing up to potential. The hawkeyes out pass this badger team, but IMO this game will be won on the ground and the badgers have the advantage.

Akron (+7.5) over Miami (OH) L
More a play on Miami OH beating themselves. The zips of late have come on, and have started playing better. This is their last home game and the MAC east title. I think it comes down to leadership and Frye is hands down a better leader than Betts. Because the red hawks schedule is so top heavy the only indication I have on them is the Toledo game. At home Miami only won by 6 and Toledo had many turn-overs. Akron will come out ready to go and with a Miami team that has a tough time against the pass (western Mich had 254 passing yards!) Frye should have a good day.

Auburn (-10) over Bama LAll week Long I liked bama, however looking at this Bama team I just don't see offensive production. I love the tides defense and I think it will be a great test for the Tigers but when Bama has the ball, I'm not sure what they can do with it. The Tide run the ball, that is their game plan, run the ball and play hard defense. Well Auburn doesn't give a lot of running room. Too many injuries for Bama to take on this Auburn team. The crowd will help but the talent of Auburn will eventually be too much. Take aways might be a problem for the tide as well.

GL
Irish

 

[Irish]

UVA (-5.5) over GT
The wahoos off a loss go into Tech without starting RB PJ Daniels. That lets the LB's for UVA to shadow the QB, to limit his playmaking. The running attack of UVA should be enough to over power GT. Always worried about giving Tech points at home, but the Wahoos of a loss will play this game like a must win.

Final Card

Auburn (-10) L 4th & 5 TD back door!
Winscy (+3) L
FSU (-7)
UNC (-5.5) W
UVA (-5.5)W
Mich st (-4.5) L
Purdue (-20) W
Baylor (+33.5) L :cursin:
Akron (+7.5) L
Michigan (-4.5) L
Cincy (-11.5) W
VT (-9.5) W
VT 1Q under (7.5) L
VT/UM under (39.5) L
N.Texas (-4.5) W
Ntex Over (54) L

I can't count how many useless TD scores to teams that had no shot at winning cost me $$. Seems like every team just wanted to beat the spread!

GL
Irish

 

[Hooks]

Have to wonder how UVA is feeling right about now after watching V.Tech dismantle the Terps.
Now they get to go on the road laying points to a G.T. team whos gone 4-1 SU their last 5 games!
Will they be thinking about V. Tech. or G.T.?

 

[trolln4walii]

GL on your plays Irish. Once again, very nice write-ups. With you on Mich, FLSt, and Cinci. Taking the Hawkeyes over Wisky. May take a shot at Bama with the hook

 

[ajoytoy]

agree on a few and on the other side on a couple...best of luck Irish...great write-ups as usual....


toy