Week Card (Oct 4th -8th)

Irish

Irish

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Troy (+2) over North Texas
North Texas has a terrible defense and the Trojans should be able to run on North Texas even though they only average 75 yards per game. North Texas allows 235 yards PER GAME on the ground. However the Troy passing game has become better than years past and against NT it should find holes in the secondary. Don?t like playing a team that is going into its 3rd straight away game but they have played some alright teams and have managed to score something the North Texas has yet to do against below average teams averaging about 8 points per game. QB for Troy is Carl Meadows, the kid can play but has a little too much confidence in his arm and makes bad throws into coverage, which explains his 6 picks and only 3 TD?s. The Troy defense has lost 7 starters on defense but they have a solid run defense and good secondary. Plus the returning game for the Trojans is very good and broke a 100 yard return for a TD against South Carolina. North Texas is a run only team and they have no offense through the air. Freshman QB Meager has only averaged 78 yards through the air this season and against Tulsa and Mid Tenn St, two poor defensive teams against the pass. Troy should stack the box and if they shut down the run the NT offense is done because Meager will struggle against the talented YOUNG DB?s for Troy. Looking at Cobb and Thomas to establish momentum but it is hard to do that when the other team knows what you want to do and the o-line is not good enough to open running lanes. Both teams are not the teams of the past however I?m not sold on NT at all, at least Troy has play tougher schools and managed to put establish some offense. Looking for Troy to manage the ball and they have to limit turn-overs but if they do that and stack the box the Mean Green will sputter out. Look for Troy to try to jump on top of NT because then the NT game plan has to pass more and that completely kills the NT best weapons.

Cheers
Irish
 
Irish

Irish

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No. Ill (-3) over Miami (OH)
First the Huskies are tough at home. They played well @ Michigan and N'Western and lost a heart breaker in OT @ Akron. Now they get the Red Hawks that IMO have issues at QB. Betts throws off his back foot more than any QB in D1 and he relies solely on his arm strength to complete passes. Horvath is a solid QB and should find holes all over the Redhawk defense. If Cincy had any type of QB it would have been a different story in Miami's last game. Miami is not a good team and they have had the benefit of playing some pretty poor teams as in Kent, C Mich (lost) and Cincy ALL passed at will on Miami. That being said the Red Hawk defense is not good defensively but either are the Huskies. Both offenses have talent but IMO the most talented player tonight is Garrett Wolfe. And he will be the key because the red hawk defense normally keys on the run. The O-line for No. Ill should be able to more the small but speedy defense for Miami. This should be a game where Horvath passes to set up the run and once they spread the Miami defense out Wolfe will gut it. The No. Ill defense is not the greatest but a little home field energy might get them to play better than I expect. Still both teams should move the ball but No. Ill is a better over all team. Should be a case that a team that has competed against tougher opponents should have more offensive productivity and that is No. Ill.

A small play
UNDER N.ILL/M(OH) 14 1st quarter
Both teams come out and like to have a good opening drive look for them to score but time wise just not enough IMO to go over 14.

Cheers
Irish
 
G

gman2

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Irish said:
No. Ill (-3) over Miami (OH)
Betts throws off his back foot more than any QB in D1 and he relies solely on his arm strength to complete passes.
Click to expand...

this is so very true. in terms of physical tools, betts is every bit as good as roethlisberger, and has the talent to play in the nfl. but he makes some of the worst decisions youll ever see from a big time quarterback.

betts is a quarterback with nfl tools, but with Division II decision-making skills. hes got a cannon for an arm but is so incredibly erratic that you never know what youre going to get, sometimes within the same game.

i dont agree that miami is a poor team. theyre probably the most talented team in the mac from top to bottom. but sometimes, theyre just that: a collection of talent. novak vs. montgomery is a mismatch tonight. and that cant be overlooked.

best of luck irish. congrats on trpy last night.
 
Irish

Irish

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N.Ill (-3) over M(O) in the 2nd quarter
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Irish
 
Irish

Irish

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GT (-4) over NC St
The yellow jackets play well at home and they have that bit of electricity on defense that should help against NC St. This is the first away game for the wolfpack that have played 2 tough teams in UNC and VT. NC St averages 5.7 yards per play, that?s unreal on offense but penalties and turnovers have killed them. On the other side of the ball the NC St defense hasn?t been as dominate as expected giving up 300 plus yards to UNC. GT averages 150 yards per game on the ground and they have a big weapon with PJ Daniels at RB. But even though the NC St defense is up to stopping Daniels they still have to know Calvin Johnson can beat them deep. The Wolfpack has had problems with turnovers and the GT defense has had success creating turnovers. GT allows only 84 yards rushing per game and off the embossing beating to VT should be looking to inflict a little punishment on NC St. Also GT should be getting a healthier Reggie Ball tonight. Yes he threw 2 late picks in the VT game, but a little extra time off and he should be back to normal. It is tough to face VT?s defense even tougher if you spend the previous week in a hospital bed. Davis and Ball can get it done with their feet but I like Balls decision making on the run more than Davis. Beating UNC at home is a big key in this play, because it shows that Carolina on the road beat NC St and lost to GT. The Jackets will have to get it done through the air and Bilbo should be a huge impact considering Johnson will more than likely draw the double. With the great DE for NC St the GT O-line will have their hands full but the best offense for that is run in between the tackles and right up the gut. IMO the DE?s for NC St are the best in D1, but running away from them and up the middle should keep them out of plays. Defense has to get to Davis and should if they regain the form of last years unit, the crowd should help them a bit.

GT/NC St OVER (7.5) 1st quarter
With the exception of GT vs VT both teams have come out of the gates and put up points in the 1st.
27 yard FG @ home missed....gotta love the GT kicker :cursin:

Cheers
Irish
 
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Irish

Irish

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FAU (+6) over La-Laff
The Cajuns have played no one and the Owls have at least seen what talent looks like when it comes to football. The Owls have played @ Kansas, Minny and Louisville and had Okla St at home. Granted they did not fair well against them but La-Laff has played the likes of E. Mich, C. Florida and Northwestern State. The Ragin Cajuns have the second best sunbelt offense but again that is against terrible defenses. One big question mark will be how does La-Laff perform without QB Babb in the line-up. The back up QB has skills running the ball but isn?t the most accurate when it comes to the passing game. This La-Laff team is very young and the leadership have been banged up so the defense for FAU has to come to play and they can shut down the offense. FAU has solid players in the secondary but struggle against the run that will be a problem tonight against a run happy Cajun team. Still Embrick the senior and leader of the FAU offense should be able to get it done a little easier through the air. He has a reliable target in Parker at WR. Big problem for the owls is the lack of a running game, Embick can scramble but he needs help if he is going to beat this team throwing the ball. I like Schnellenberger coaching ability but they need to establish Pierre at RB. It should help that The Cajun defense, poor against the run, will be playing the pass and Pierre and Embick can make plays. I also like Edgecomb out of the back field on screen passes that should be as efficient as a running play. All in all like the senior leadership, coaching and chalk in this game. Cajuns play tough at home but nerves to start might be turn-overs into points for the owls.

Cheers
Irish
 
Irish

Irish

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Kansas (+6.5) over K-State
The wildcats struggled @ marshall and got crushed by IMO a so/so Oklahoma team. Kansas goes into this in state rivalry after holding the TT offense to only 30 points. Kansas fumbled 6 times but only lost 1. Jon Cornish should be able to move the ball for Kansas as the K-state rush defense that gave up 232 yards on the ground to Oklahoma. However if K-State keys on the rush the Jayhawks will struggle as there are some questions at QB, Luke is solid but makes some bad throws. The sooners defense keyed on shutting down Clayton and the Wildcat running game forcing them to throw the ball. On Defense the jayhawks are up to stopping the K-state running game. Tough to play against State at home in this game but the Jayhawks are a tough team that will fight and these teams are evenly matched. I like the Kansas defense to get on the K-state offense and generate solid field position and opportunities to score. Kansas force TT to fumble 4 times and picked off Hodges, this Jayhawk defense should get more pressure on K-state.

Cheers
Irish
 
F

FirstnGoal

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If I were playing them I would be leaning toward Troy and No. Illinois too.

Good Luck!
 
Irish

Irish

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Small play
UCONN (-6.5) over Cuse
Both teams rely on the run, but Cuse is a dome team and they struggled to establish the run in their out door game. Granted that was against FSU and they have a great defense. But the Huskies should be able to open hole for both their talented back. I hate spotting this much chalk because UConn hasn't played the talent that Cuse has gone against. Cuse forcing an average of 4 turnovers per game, bad news considering that Bonislawski has 4 picks against poor defense this year already. But All those Cuse Turnovers and 1 win also shows the ineffectiveness of the offense when teams key on Rhodes. IMO you stop Rhodes and you stop Cuse. The UConn defense can get beat through the air but they can play solid rush defense. I looked at the GT game a lot where UConn managed no second half firts downs, lost 2 fumbles and were picked off 3 times YET still only lost to GT by 15 at Tech. Cuse should have been blown out by WVU, they played FSU and UVA tough but both teams had a commanding lead late in the game and got careless. At home on National TV I think the huskies running attack opens up big plays for the passing attack. This is a Huskie o-line that can move Cuse because Cuse relies on speed not strength on the D-line. Brockinton and Caulley should make it to the second level and force the Cuse defense into One v one on. Not only can Broslawski make the plays through the air if he doesn't try to force it but he can scramble and much like Haggens and Benarik he can break one for a gain against this defense.

Cheers
Irish
 
Irish

Irish

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UCONN/Cuse OVER (7.5) 1st quarter
UCONN has scored on every opening drive this season.

Cheers
Irish
 
Irish

Irish

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BC (-7) over UVA
UVA has proven they are not a very good road team, barely beating Cuse and losing to the Terps. The BC ground attack should be very productive against UVA. The Wahoo?s allowed 250 yards to Maryland and the BC O-line is a ton better than Maryland. The Offensive Line for UVA might struggle with the speed of BC?s defensive ends. Not sure if it will be Ryan or Porter under center but either have proven they can make it happen. IMO I would rather see Ryan because of his ability to scramble but Porter is a solid passing QB. I really like the BC line against the 3 lineman for UVA, this BC team should pound the ball all day opening up the play action pass and the UVA DB?s are not good enough to make plays on the ball. I like that this is a home game for BC because they play a lot harder at Chestnut Hill. This BC team had FSU down going into the 4th and gave the game up, Maryland wore this UVA team down on the ground and the Wahoos just couldn?t keep going giving up 21 in the 4th. I think the line for BC will push down this undersized and banged up UVA defense. The BC defense needs to keep tabs on Haggen?s, he will not beat this team deep but he will scramble and he is so little he gets lost behind the lineman. BC has to get pressure and force him to put the ball, once he has heat on him he scrambles before plays open up and is unproductive. Biggest factors are the BC O-line, RB performance and home field advantage.

Cheers
Irish
 
Irish

Irish

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WVU (-3.5) over Rutgers
WVU ran for 150 yards against IMO the best defense in NCAA. Fumbling 3 times and losing 2 of them is one of the reasons they lost the VT game. Bednarik left the game with a shoulder injury which I feel helps the Neers because White add the scrambling ability that WVU has come to expect with Marshall last year. White was 9-11 for 85 yards and 2 TD?s plus 44 yards on the ground. Against VT that is a very good day for this redshirt freshman. The WVU running backs have found great things in their younger player. WVU has a solid o-line which should open holes against the scarlet knights. Hard to go against Rutgers at home because I think they have a solid team and a lot of experience. Ryan Hart is a good QB and he has shown he can make big plays with his arm. The WVU defense has to shadow Leonard because this back can do it both rushing and receiving. Still this scarlet Knight defense is shaky, they have fallen apart in a few games and allowed some dramatic comebacks. They had a 27-0 lead against Pitt and allowed Ill to come back and win in OT.The WVU o-line should open up running lanes but the WVU offense will see a lot of open field in the passing game. The WVU offense has shown they can put numbers on VT and Maryland while Rutgers showed they can beat Pitt a team that did not score an offensive TD against Ohio. Coming off a loss and knowing the Knights are 3-1 and a big east team, WVU should come ready to play and if they do the offense will get it done. I?m not 100% sold on the WVU defense but they have a line up that should cause problems for the Rutgers o-line. After all Buffalo was able to hold the ball for about a quarter longer and held Rutgers to 150 through the air. Rutgers put up 17 on Buffalo, WVU put 17 on VT. Rutgers put 30 plus on Pitt while WVU hung 30 plus on Maryland. Just have to think the WVU offense has played tougher defenses and been productive. What is comes down to is ball control offense, WVU has to grid the clock and keep the Rutgers offense off the field.

Cheers
Irish
 
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