Week 8 Games

[Master Capper]

Pass for me tonight, I dont think I have hit a Sunbelt game in a couple of years.


North Carolina at VIRGINIA (Thursday)...Before LY?s ugly 7-5 loss at UNC, Virginia had covered 7 straight in series (6-1 SU). It was an ideal spot for Tar Heels psychologically in ?05, with Cavs off celebratory 26-21 upset vs. Florida State. UNC on major spread slide, having dropped 8 straight vs. number.

Utah at NEW MEXICO (Thursday)...NM has sprung 3 upsets in past 4 series meetings, including 31-27 victory in Salt Lake City LY. Utes outgained Lobos 441-285, but 5 costly TOs (int. & fumble returned for NM TDs) proved to be difference.

Miami-Ohio at AKRON...Akron seniors amped up to end 5-game losing streak to MAC rival M-O, including distorted 51-23 thumping LY. Zips trailed just 23-17 before avalanche of TOs (season-high 6) allowed RedHawks to blow it open, as Miami scored 21 unanswered pts. over final 8 minutes.

Mississippi at ARKANSAS...Ole Miss just 3-7-1 vs. spread last 11 overall, and Rebels just 1-4 vs. number last 5 vs. Arkansas. Expect highly-aroused effort from Hogs star RB McFadden, who was limited to season-low 22 YR in 13 carries in 28-17 win LY. Rebels led 17-14 in final period before Nutt?s squad scored 2 straight TDs in 11-point win.

Western Michigan at BALL STATE...BSU has sprung 4 upsets in past 5 meetings with WM, including wild 60-57 OT victory at Waldo Stadium LY (Cards were 11-point dog).

Rice at CENTRAL FLORIDA...Despite needing win to clinch C-USA East Division in final reg.-season game of ?05, highly-motivated UCF had to overcome 21-9 halftime deficit (only 1st-H TD came on 58-yd. punt return) in non-covering 31-28 win at Rice LY. Golden Knight "D" allowed Owl option to compile 237 YR on 49 tries. After 0-6 as road dog LY, Owls 2-1 in same role TY under rookie HC Graham.

North Carolina State at MARYLAND...Tightly-contested ACC series; last 6 decided by total of just 32 points. With bowl game on line for both teams in reg. season finale LY, Maryland outgained NCS 265-186, but couldn?t overcome 4-1 TO count, including crucial 28-yd. int. return for Wolfpack TD which gave State the final lead in eventual 20-14 win.

Texas Tech at IOWA STATE...No doubt ISU mentor McCarney will remind troops of embarrassing 52-21 blasting in Lubbock back in ?03, which was Cyclones' worst loss since ?97.

South Carolina at VANDERBILT...Vandy has been much better road dog (11-2) than home dog (2-4) since ?04. USC has captured 6 straight in series, but ?Cocks won?t overlook ?Dore squad that played them jam-up LY. Game was tied 28-28 before Carolina drove 77 yds. for winning TD with 1:41 left. Versatile ?Cock Newton was used at QB, WR & RB, accounting for 134 yds. & 3 TDs.

Colorado State at WYOMING...Wyo eager for another crack at border rival CSU following error-filled 39-31 loss at Fort Collins LY. Cowboys committed 5 TOs and managed only one 2nd-H score after taking 24-20 lead at H.

Ucla at NOTRE DAME...Good role for ?gutty little Bruins,? who are 10-2-2 as a 10-pt. or fewer road dog since 2000. ND just 6-11 as home chalk since 2003 (1-3 TY), and Irish not so lucky lately, going just 1-8-1 vs. spread last 10!

Buffalo at OHIO...Ohio?s top RB McCrae is licking his chops after scampering for 224 yds. and 2 TDs (31 carries) in 34-20 win at Buffalo LY. Bulls are 3-0 as a road dog TY.

Indiana at OHIO STATE...No.-1 ranked OSU has easily covered 5 of last 6 in series, and Buckeyes 12-1 vs. spread last 13 on board. In 41-10 bashing LY, IU scored its only TD on 57-yd. fumble return, while Buckeye RB Pittman (153 all-purpose yds.) outgained the entire Hoosier offense (137 yds.).

Texas A&M at OKLAHOMA STATE...OSU has circled this date following humiliating 62-23 debacle at College Station LY (Cowboys worst loss since ?03). OSU was forced to go with backup QB Pena, who threw 4 ints. & lost 3 fumbles.

 

[Master Capper]

Line drops despite FAU injury news

By Covers.com staff
Mon, Oct 16, 2006


Florida Atlantic may be without its top four receivers when they host Louisiana-Lafayette Wednesday night as 8-point dogs.

After opening as high as +10 at some books, the line was dropped to 8 early Monday morning.

FAU listed Casey McGahee (ankle), Cortez Gent (ankle), Chris Bonner (illness) and Frantz Simeon (shoulder) as questionable for the game.

Simeon, FAU`s biggest deep threat, separated his shoulder in Thursday`s 32-7 victory against Southern Utah. No line was set for the contest.

McGahee, a senior, has missed the entire season with a sprained ankle.

Simeon and McGahee were listed as the No. 1 and No. 2 receivers to start the season, with Gent and Bonner listed as No. 3 and No. 4.

Gent, a speedy freshman, missed Thursday?s game and has sparingly practiced this week. He has six catches for 66 yards this year.

Bonner, also a freshman, has missed three straight days of practice with an illness. FAU officials would not elaborate as to what type of illness he is suffering from. Bonner has eight catches for 131 yards in ?06.

Freshman receiver Avery Holley, who scored his second touchdown of the season against Southern Utah, would be the likely starter against UL Lafayette. He took snaps with the first-team offense in practice Sunday alongside junior Chad Wilkes, who has started three games of the season in place of the injured McGahee.

"None of this is good," FAU coach Howard Schnellenberger told the Palm Beach Post.

FAU is 2-4 SU, 1-4 ATS and has an O/U record of 4-1. UL Lafayette 3-2 SU, 2-2 ATS and boasts a 4-0 O/U record.

 

[Master Capper]

Wow three clunkers of games tonight, but what the hell got to play something:


UNC at UVA

Both teams leave alot to be desired and the death spiral for Bunting has allready begun at UNC, as I would not be surprised to see a big time coach brought in next year to sooth the fans. Anyways, looking at the stats UNC is the better offensive team so far through the year as they average 38 yards more per game then the Cavs and they pass for 13 yards per game more. On the other hand, UVA is the better defensive team as they are just slightly better then UNC in stopping the run, but they are vastly superior to UNC in stopping the pass. Lets face facts and come to the realization that the Heels have more then likely quit for the season on Bunting, as they read the papers and they can sense that a change is coming. If you compound that with the fact that the HEels secondary is a complete mess with three contributers in the secondary either out or doubtful for tonights game then you have to look to the Cavs in this one.Both teams are average in the stupidity department of getting flagged but UNC is one of the worst teams in the country at turning the ball over. Kickoff looks to have nice weather and while I think UVA will win the game, I am more inclined to play the over at 41.5 and count on multiple turnovers from the Heels.


BG-CMU

BG is one of the top rushing teams in the country so they should be able to sustain some long drives and chew at the clock against a average run defense of the Chipps. Hard to believe that unlike most years BG is brutal through the air ranking in the bottom 10% in the country. The Chipps have a nice passing attack and have made some slight improvements in their running game, although it still lags. BG has fared well against the pass throughout the year which may negate some of the Chipps offensive firepower, so I am thinking of under 51 for this game.


Utah-Nmex

Two teams that have pretty stagnant offenses, whatever happened to the Ute's spread offense and how easily they moved the ball in the past, as they are barely putting up 300 yards per game. NMex is one of the worst rushing teams in the country and their passing games is middle of the pack, so where are the points going to come from in this tilt? Utah has a robust defense that ranks in the top 3rd in the country in both stopping the run and the pass, whereas NMEX struggles stopping the pass but is more then adequalte at stopping the run. Both teams have had very positive turnover ratios for the year and while Utah falls into the dumb team category for penalties , one must keep in mind that a large amount of those penalties came in just two games. I am going on feel that this should be a good solid clean game with both teams putting up a good defensive showing, but I think at this point Utah is the better team.

 

[addikted]

I like your writeups, good luck tonight.

 

[Master Capper]

1-1 for the week and trending right around the Mendoza line of 53% for the year in College Football.


Rutgers+6 *
Northwestern under 48 **
Ole Miss +21 *
Vandy under 42 *
Baylor-3 ***
Nebraska under 48*
Purdue +7 **
Cal under 52 *
Rice +5.5 *
Toledo-Pick *
OKST-2.5 (played early in week)**
Mizzou-15*
FSU-7**

Good Luck Cappers!!!!!

 

[boilermaker]

Good Luck MC. Hope all is well in your neck of the woods,

 

[Master Capper]

John L. Smith may be coaching his last game for MSU after the debacle at NW. Amazing how the meltdown against ND led this team on such a downward spiral. With Marucci and Butch Davis both sitting idle, Smith is gone.

 

[Master Capper]

Played Iowa +13.5 *
ND under 50 (carib) **
ArkSt-9.5 *