In this halloween time I thought I would scare you all with my picks because they have been so bad they have scared my bank roll this season.
Miami (-7.5) over Wake
BIG PLAY
Yet again I find myself playing Miami for a big play. Why I ask myself. Well first off this is against Wake. Second they have to win this game if they want to be a player in the ACC. Third, the Canes have to be pissed off after losing to CJ Spiller, I mean Clemson last week in overtime. Miami had over 400 yards of offense against a far tougher defense than what Wake brings to the table. Last week aganst Navy the midshipmen did NOT have one pass. I would say thats not a big deal because perhaps it was just a defensive battle but no it was not. Navy racked up over 300 yards on the ground without their best rusher and did not need to attempt a pass inorder to beat Wake. So lets just say Miami was a running team I still like them to out play a wake defense that just is not fast enough or good enough to stop Navy. even though the score was 13-10 Navy was 9-16 on third down, they lost a fumble but held the deacons in check for most of the game. Now I think Wake is alright because I think Navy is a decent team but considering what the midshipper didn't have the close game is a bit of an overstatement. A little letdown for Miami, perhaps considering they were very hot before the clemson game but Navy held wake out of the endzone for three quarters and I think the Canes hold them in check as well. I think they will score more but I do not think Wake can do it enough to stay in this game. Miami scores and Wake struggle to keep up. ACC game Miami has to get up for and play well and well should be enough offensively to outscore Wake by this amount, add in the defense and wakes struggles made it a big play. I also think the defense for Miami is far too quick and they should make it tough for Skinner who has no help from the running game to pull pressure off him. The Miami special teams should also have a monster day and they have a big speed advantage, in fact in the skill positions I think it will be almost impossible for Wake to cover Miami... It is just a matter of how they take advantage.
Oregon (+3.5) over USC
Big Play
As the week goes on this might be a game I hit again. USC struggles against Org st and I don't know if that was because this game coming up or if USC just is not heads above the other teams as in years past. The small margin win at Notre Dame, a small margin win over Org st just make me think Oregon is prized to get the upset. What I like is Oregon is starting to find it's stride after starting the season slow. Oregon has lost one game to Boise on the smurf turf in which I think Oregon looked like they looked just out of it offensively. Surprisingly the defense has been playing well. USC beat cal by 27, which was not the 37 Oregon beat them by. They beat Washington in washington by a big margin and USC struggled and finally Oregon out right hammered Wash st and USC won but only by the mid twenties. I know, I know but they won by a big margin but remember Carroll is not the type of guy that calls off the dogs and seeing these low numbers make me think they just a year away from greatness again. They have a great O-line and running game but they have a freshman QB and it is always tough to play in Oregon. So I think this will be another test for the young QB for USC and he will lean heavy on the runnig game as he has done so far but it will be up to the ducks to slow that running game down and I think they have the speed to slow it down but not stop it. I love the odd formations and mix zones that Oregon uses to confuse quarterbacks. They have a lot of blitzes out of these packages and everything you hear about Barkley is for as good as he is he will make bad throws or misread at times, but he has always been good enough to move past it. I think the ducks can rattle him and get him to misread and toss a few picks come saturday. I also like James at RB, he is small and quick a lot like Quizz rodgers and that might be a nice little burst for the oregon offense because not only do they use misdirection but it will be hard to find the running back behind the line. This game should be all about offense and I like the Ducks in that department. Oregon has won 4 of the last 6 at home. Also remember this oregon team was embarassed last year losing 44-10 to USc but I do not think that was the same Oregon team. I think this is a little more like two years ago when the ducks won 24-17. They play very good football at home, they are now finding the groove on offense, they have the defense and special teams making big plays, they lack a bit of talent on the o-line but Masoli can elude pressure and make throws on the run and I think the ducks win this game. Masoli keeps throwing to different players, using the running game and his own legs and when in dought find the big TE dickerson to keep drives moving and off play action in the endzone. USC is a great team but I think they are just not playing up to the level of years past and this game comes down to performing on the big stage. So far USC has not empressed me in that regard, neither has oregon but of the two I like what I see from the ducks more so.
Cheers
Irish
Miami (-7.5) over Wake
BIG PLAY
Yet again I find myself playing Miami for a big play. Why I ask myself. Well first off this is against Wake. Second they have to win this game if they want to be a player in the ACC. Third, the Canes have to be pissed off after losing to CJ Spiller, I mean Clemson last week in overtime. Miami had over 400 yards of offense against a far tougher defense than what Wake brings to the table. Last week aganst Navy the midshipmen did NOT have one pass. I would say thats not a big deal because perhaps it was just a defensive battle but no it was not. Navy racked up over 300 yards on the ground without their best rusher and did not need to attempt a pass inorder to beat Wake. So lets just say Miami was a running team I still like them to out play a wake defense that just is not fast enough or good enough to stop Navy. even though the score was 13-10 Navy was 9-16 on third down, they lost a fumble but held the deacons in check for most of the game. Now I think Wake is alright because I think Navy is a decent team but considering what the midshipper didn't have the close game is a bit of an overstatement. A little letdown for Miami, perhaps considering they were very hot before the clemson game but Navy held wake out of the endzone for three quarters and I think the Canes hold them in check as well. I think they will score more but I do not think Wake can do it enough to stay in this game. Miami scores and Wake struggle to keep up. ACC game Miami has to get up for and play well and well should be enough offensively to outscore Wake by this amount, add in the defense and wakes struggles made it a big play. I also think the defense for Miami is far too quick and they should make it tough for Skinner who has no help from the running game to pull pressure off him. The Miami special teams should also have a monster day and they have a big speed advantage, in fact in the skill positions I think it will be almost impossible for Wake to cover Miami... It is just a matter of how they take advantage.
Oregon (+3.5) over USC
Big Play
As the week goes on this might be a game I hit again. USC struggles against Org st and I don't know if that was because this game coming up or if USC just is not heads above the other teams as in years past. The small margin win at Notre Dame, a small margin win over Org st just make me think Oregon is prized to get the upset. What I like is Oregon is starting to find it's stride after starting the season slow. Oregon has lost one game to Boise on the smurf turf in which I think Oregon looked like they looked just out of it offensively. Surprisingly the defense has been playing well. USC beat cal by 27, which was not the 37 Oregon beat them by. They beat Washington in washington by a big margin and USC struggled and finally Oregon out right hammered Wash st and USC won but only by the mid twenties. I know, I know but they won by a big margin but remember Carroll is not the type of guy that calls off the dogs and seeing these low numbers make me think they just a year away from greatness again. They have a great O-line and running game but they have a freshman QB and it is always tough to play in Oregon. So I think this will be another test for the young QB for USC and he will lean heavy on the runnig game as he has done so far but it will be up to the ducks to slow that running game down and I think they have the speed to slow it down but not stop it. I love the odd formations and mix zones that Oregon uses to confuse quarterbacks. They have a lot of blitzes out of these packages and everything you hear about Barkley is for as good as he is he will make bad throws or misread at times, but he has always been good enough to move past it. I think the ducks can rattle him and get him to misread and toss a few picks come saturday. I also like James at RB, he is small and quick a lot like Quizz rodgers and that might be a nice little burst for the oregon offense because not only do they use misdirection but it will be hard to find the running back behind the line. This game should be all about offense and I like the Ducks in that department. Oregon has won 4 of the last 6 at home. Also remember this oregon team was embarassed last year losing 44-10 to USc but I do not think that was the same Oregon team. I think this is a little more like two years ago when the ducks won 24-17. They play very good football at home, they are now finding the groove on offense, they have the defense and special teams making big plays, they lack a bit of talent on the o-line but Masoli can elude pressure and make throws on the run and I think the ducks win this game. Masoli keeps throwing to different players, using the running game and his own legs and when in dought find the big TE dickerson to keep drives moving and off play action in the endzone. USC is a great team but I think they are just not playing up to the level of years past and this game comes down to performing on the big stage. So far USC has not empressed me in that regard, neither has oregon but of the two I like what I see from the ducks more so.
Cheers
Irish
...Ya nailed that ECU/Memphis game.