Early Week 1 Card

[Irish]

Air Force (ML) over Washington
Ty doesn't have the players he needs yet, plus the option of AF should be too much for that defense to handle. Carney is a solid option QB and has been in the system for a year. offense averaged 425 yards and close to 30 points per game. The run defense has too much size up front (for an Air Force defense) to not be stronger, but there's concern at linebacker needing an average corps to come through big.
A strange "home" game in seattle might have more dog fans than expected but still IMO the Force comes out with a win.

W

 

[AR182]

irish,

as usual very nice write-ups.

good luck this year.

 

[Ratslla]

Good day & good luck this weekend my friend!

 

[Scott4USC]

IRISH

Congrats on your Oregon win! Nice way to start off the season! :thumb:

 

[Irish]

Indiana (-7) over C. Mish
The Hoosiers get a new coach from Miami (OH) the RedHawks and is an offensive innovator that should bring the spread formation into town. The Hoosiers should have significantly more pop than last year when they averaged just over 320 yards of total offense per game.. This means more shotgun and better looks for QB Blake Powers a solid big 6-5 and 210 pounds signal caller. Jahkeen Gilmore should benefit from this new offense as the Hoosiers best WR. Chris Taylor starts for IU at RB, he doesn?t have a ton of game experience but he is highly regarded at Indiana. Also using the spread formation should open up the box and allow him to run. The Chippewa?s defense was ranked 107th last year and I don?t see them make tremendous strides on that side of the ball. However they do have some productivity when it comes to offense. The biggest blow to C.Mich is the loss of star tail back Seymour. He is suspended for giving false testimony to a grand jury, the burden will be on Smith to carry an extra load for C.Mich. Not sure is Seymour is completely out, but he hasn?t practiced with the team. The Chippewas are 2-13 all-time against the 11 current members of the Big Ten Conference. BUT The Chippewas are 4-1 in the previous five at this stadium, each of which has been home openers. I?m looking at a Terry Hoeppner led team, and IMO that will be a huge difference. Granted he doesn?t have a lot of his players yet but he is a coach that has shown he can get more from less.

P - thanks for missing the extra point IU kicker :cursin:


Cheers
Irish

 

[Irish]

Baylor (-1.5) over SMU

The Bears passing game was surprisingly effective averaging 213 yards per game. With a solid O-line returning and Shawn Bell getting all the first team snaps the Baylor Offense should be in good form. There are questions with the running game but this O-line should be able to push SMU around. The defensive line is also an issue but the secondary for the bears can play EVEN though teams hammered the bears for 37 points and 421 yards per game. However the Bears do return 8 starters this year. The weakness for the Bears is right in the middle of the D line and they need someone to step up and be a run stopper. One the other side the Mustages return 22 starters! But the offense is a problem and they didn't produce until the last few games of the season last year. They need help at RB and QB and the defense of the bears should stop what SMU tries to throw at them.

W
Cheers
Irish

 

[RexBudler]

gl to you this weekend and season buddy :clap:

 

[Irish]

WVU (+1.5) over Cuse

A solid O-line should keep the pressure of the new WVU QB. Plus they should be able to open holes against the Cuse defense that was 101st in the nation. That is also a defense that was just hammered through the air and the QB's at WV can throw. However Cuse does return a lot of players and the front seven should be much improved. I like the WVU defense in this game, even with the losses they had in the off-season. the secondary is the strength of the defense with three solid All-Big East candidates in FS Jahmile Addae, S Mike Lorello and CB Anthony Mims. The front three will be a rock with 295-pound veterans ready to hold the line. Need the LB's to step up but WVU has had an ability to turn alright LB's into foundations on the defense. That being said the orange bring a solid rushing game to the table. First and foremost the D-line for WVU has to make their pressance known. The question marks for WVU are many but Cuse has some question marks as well and when looking at coaches I like what Rodriguez brings to the table.

W

Cheers
Irish

 

[Irish]

Ohio St (-15) over Miami (OH)
Like the defense of the hawkeyes to come in and hit the red hawks in the mouth. OSU had trouble moving the ball in the opening of last year and that has been addressed and the WR for the buckeyes should streh the field more than before. Replacing the OSU kicker is a concern in my play however I don't think that will be an issue. The buckeyes have a solid O-line and they should push the red hawks up and down the field. Miami does have speed but they lack size and it will show. The hawks have a solid QB but the blizt for OSU should get him on his heels all day. Wouldn't be surprised to see the special teams play a big role for the buckeyes as well. Opening game in the shoe the bucks will come to play.

W
Cheers
Irish

 

[watrdogg]

Good luck Irish. :mj14: :mj14: :mj14:

 

[trolln4walii]

Hope you have a great season Irish. Your threads are always filled with great write-ups and one of my first reads after my homework is complete. Hate to be opposite the first week (I have Geo, NCSt, Aub) :cursin: May have to do a little more digg'n. With you on the Mountaineers and Air Force.

Thanks for all you provide to the forum :mj14:

 

[Irish]

Hawaii (+35) over USC
at paradise stadium
No Norm Chow, and some question marks at defense make it the chalk my play. Hawaii lost a great WR, and a system QB but they have a lot of faith in the players coming in to take their place. :scared USC has won all five games between the schools, outscoring Hawaii 234-50. But IMO haveing Glancille coming in to help the defense will make the Warriors tougher. I'm not sayinf they are Ohio St, but they should play a little (stress) little better on the defensive side of the ball. 2 NFL coaches against a great team in NCAA, should be a good game to watch if you like TD's still think the chalk is the play.

L
Cheers
Irish

 

[AU2001]

I took Hawaii early at +31.5. Had no idea so many would go with USC laying 30 on the road. Hopefully Jerry Glanville will keep USC under 40.

 

[Irish]

The I've had a ton of Ale play..........

W.Mich (+35) over UVA
Only reason for this play is the Cavs lost TE, RB #2 best O-line man and best D-lineman and LB. These boys are solid and they have the ability to play but Haggens and Lundy are the weapons UVA will look to use all day. One of the best LB corps in the nation they should be solid on defense but they lost a lot of leadership and talent and looking to see a TERRIBLE W.Mich team stick a few scores in and loss by a ton but under 5 TDs.

Michigan has a guy named RB Grady....like Delbert Grady from the shinning "I Corrected her"...good flick:mj14: :mj14: :mj14: :mj14:

W

Cheers
Irish

 

[Irish]

Louisville (-23) over UK
The Cards lost some talent on offense but having great players (that got game experience last year) helps the reloading process. Kentucky's run defense that got ripped apart for 225 yards per game. Which is something Michael Bush will exploit. That will force All-American Safety Muhammad Abdullah to come in and play action for Brohm over the top will be there. The strength of the UK team is in the secondary but if they can get pressure on Brohm he should be able to abuse them in coverage.

Louisville has a big fast defense that should be able to get in the QBs face all day. Montavious Stanley and Elvis Dumervil should be monsters in the front all day for the Cards. Plus they has solid outside LB and good players at CB. That defense faces a Kentucky Cats offense that averaged just over 10 points per game failing to score more than 17 in 9 of the 11 contests. There's hope for a major improvement with the return of receivers Tommy Cook and Keenan Burton from injury and the emergence of big Andre Woodson at quarterback.

L

Cheers
Irish

 

[Irish]

UNLV (+15) over Lobos
The Lobo offense has playmakers but they lost a ton on already a weak defense. The new spread offense will help speedy QBs for the Running Rebs. UNLV doesn't have a good line and they lack depth but they have some talent at WR and TE. Just need the QB to step up. Looking like a play for the points after all the Rebs played most teams close but they a rubbish on the road. New coach and new offense should put in a few scores and that should be enough to cover.

W

Cheers
Irish

 

[Master Capper]

good luck Irish

 

[Irish]

The U (-3.5) over FSU

QB Kyle Wright, RB Tyrone Moss and WR Lance Leggett are the next generation at the U. All three have a ton of potential. The O-line is big and experienced. FSU has great LBs but the loss of their best NG and a tough CB leaves some question marks in regards to pressure and coverage. On offense the Noles haven't looked explosive in the pas few years and they have a lot of untested players getting in this HEATED game tonight. Huge question mark at QB with Sexton thinking he is god, and a battle of unproven QBs makes this interesting. After all toinights starter got the nob because of an injury that left the door open. Also the loss of Thorpe at WR means the best pass cathing playmaker is a freshman. They do have Washington RB and Miami can be beat by the run but the U should be up to stopping him. The FSU O-line is alright but they did lose some peices, but according to reports guys have stepped in. However the offensive line of Miami added with the TEs should keep Wright off his back. AND their defense should be enough to get all over the FSU offense. Always tough to give FSU points at home.

Cheers
Irish