NCAA YTD: 35-33 (-2.23*)
NFL YTD: 21-16 (+3.70*)
Fresno State(-7)(-125) over Boise State (1.50*)
- - See Below.
Wisconsin(-2') over Iowa (1*)
- - See Below.
Minnesota(-5) over Michigan State (1*)
- - See Below.
As is my norm every year, I doubt if prior to today I've made ten full unit wagers on Monday all year in NCAA and NFL combined, but I do O.K.
with those I do . . . I see a better team with better motivation in all three, and "no thank you" is my only response when it comes to being on the other side, but I'll keep my eyes open for reasons to think otherwise . . . Just a definite lean to Auburn(+2') is all I can muster at this point.
GL
**********************************
Fresno Bee
(11.6.05):
No chance Fresno State looked past woeful San Jose State.
Smash right through the Spartans was a more accurate description Saturday.
With reviled Boise State five days away and counting, and No.1 USC on deck, No.21 Fresno State managed to focus its unadulterated attention on the shellacking at hand Saturday, even as a homemade sign in the crowd beckoned, "Bring on Boise."
The Bulldogs thumped the visiting Spartans 45-7 in a Western Athletic Conference game before a sellout crowd of 41,039 in Bulldog Stadium.
No sooner was their sixth straight victory complete did the Bulldogs immediately shift the conversation to what's next: Boise State, Thursday at Bulldog Stadium before a national ESPN audience.
"We are ramping up for something big," Fresno State coach Pat Hill said. "And, we've got something big coming Thursday."
Both teams are 5-0 in the WAC. Fresno State is 7-1 overall, Boise State is 7-2 after beating New Mexico State, 56-6.
No wonder Fresno State fans and players couldn't wait to put the 70th edition of Spartans-Bulldogs football to bed.
"Everybody's been waiting for this game," senior quarterback Paul Pinegar said. "I think we've set the table for it."
Unlike last season, when the Bulldogs took a two-game losing streak into the Broncos game, the Bulldogs are hammering away full-speed ahead.
Pinegar, who became a father on Thursday, threw career touchdowns 68, 69 and 70 to tie David Carr for the school career touchdown pass record.
Running back Wendell Mathis scored a touchdown for the eighth time in eight games while bowling to his third straight 100-yard game.
All the defense had to complain about was a third-quarter rushing touchdown that spoiled its attempt at the first shutout of the season.
"This team is hitting on all cylinders right now," said Mathis, who had 21 carries for 105 yards with a 3-yard touchdown run.
"We ran the ball, and we passed the ball ... very well. The passing game, whew, it was great."
The re-emergence of the passing game was a new twist for a Fresno State team that has relied on bruising running, stingy defense and special teams for its first 7-1 start since 1991.
Since his career-best 418yards in Week2 at Oregon, Pinegar hadn't thrown for more than 228 yards in a game.
He had more than half that, 116, in the first quarter Saturday, and threw for 224 yards by halftime.
"We talked about that before the game, getting things going," Pinegar said. "We're going in the right direction."
Pinegar's 27-yard touchdown pass to Adam Jennings, who made the sideline catch at the pylon, gave Fresno State a 7-0 lead on its first drive.
His 37-yard touchdown pass to Paul Williams on the second play of the third quarter gave the Bulldogs a game-over 31-0 lead.
Pinegar also weaved through traffic on a 5-yard touchdown run for a 21-0 lead in the second quarter, and capped the scoring with a 16-yard touchdown pass to Matt Rivera on the first play of the fourth quarter.
"The pass has always been there when we needed it," said Williams, who had a game-high six catches for 137 yards. "We just haven't always needed it."
They did against the Spartans, who banked on stopping the run with eight-man fronts.
Mathis broke a 38-yard run in Fresno State's opening drive. The rest, he said, was "tough sledding." He needed three carries for 14 yards in the fourth quarter, with the game well in hand, to burst the 100-yard mark.
"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't frustrated all night," Mathis said. "That wasn't an easy 100yards."
Nothing came easily to San Jose State.
One Spartans quarterback, Adam Tafralis, completed 2 of 8 passes for 13 yards. The other quarterback, J.P. Greco, was
0 for 8 in his first college start.
Yonus Davis did break through the defense for 136yards on 16 carries, while Al Guidry had nine carries for 65yards and a 29-yard touchdown, just the sixth rushing touchdown against the Bulldogs this season.
A moral victory, at best, as the Spartans slumped to 1-8 under first-year coach Dick Tomey.
"They are a top-20 team and we are not close," Tomey said. "They whooped us thoroughly. We've been in every game in conference until them."
Now, Fresno State moves on to the conference game of the year.
"Our players had a lot on the line," Hill said. "They were not going to be denied. Everything is headed to the next game. It'll be what you pay your dollar for."
NFL YTD: 21-16 (+3.70*)
Fresno State(-7)(-125) over Boise State (1.50*)
- - See Below.
Wisconsin(-2') over Iowa (1*)
- - See Below.
Minnesota(-5) over Michigan State (1*)
- - See Below.
As is my norm every year, I doubt if prior to today I've made ten full unit wagers on Monday all year in NCAA and NFL combined, but I do O.K.
with those I do . . . I see a better team with better motivation in all three, and "no thank you" is my only response when it comes to being on the other side, but I'll keep my eyes open for reasons to think otherwise . . . Just a definite lean to Auburn(+2') is all I can muster at this point.GL
**********************************
Fresno Bee
(11.6.05):
No chance Fresno State looked past woeful San Jose State.
Smash right through the Spartans was a more accurate description Saturday.
With reviled Boise State five days away and counting, and No.1 USC on deck, No.21 Fresno State managed to focus its unadulterated attention on the shellacking at hand Saturday, even as a homemade sign in the crowd beckoned, "Bring on Boise."
The Bulldogs thumped the visiting Spartans 45-7 in a Western Athletic Conference game before a sellout crowd of 41,039 in Bulldog Stadium.
No sooner was their sixth straight victory complete did the Bulldogs immediately shift the conversation to what's next: Boise State, Thursday at Bulldog Stadium before a national ESPN audience.
"We are ramping up for something big," Fresno State coach Pat Hill said. "And, we've got something big coming Thursday."
Both teams are 5-0 in the WAC. Fresno State is 7-1 overall, Boise State is 7-2 after beating New Mexico State, 56-6.
No wonder Fresno State fans and players couldn't wait to put the 70th edition of Spartans-Bulldogs football to bed.
"Everybody's been waiting for this game," senior quarterback Paul Pinegar said. "I think we've set the table for it."
Unlike last season, when the Bulldogs took a two-game losing streak into the Broncos game, the Bulldogs are hammering away full-speed ahead.
Pinegar, who became a father on Thursday, threw career touchdowns 68, 69 and 70 to tie David Carr for the school career touchdown pass record.
Running back Wendell Mathis scored a touchdown for the eighth time in eight games while bowling to his third straight 100-yard game.
All the defense had to complain about was a third-quarter rushing touchdown that spoiled its attempt at the first shutout of the season.
"This team is hitting on all cylinders right now," said Mathis, who had 21 carries for 105 yards with a 3-yard touchdown run.
"We ran the ball, and we passed the ball ... very well. The passing game, whew, it was great."
The re-emergence of the passing game was a new twist for a Fresno State team that has relied on bruising running, stingy defense and special teams for its first 7-1 start since 1991.
Since his career-best 418yards in Week2 at Oregon, Pinegar hadn't thrown for more than 228 yards in a game.
He had more than half that, 116, in the first quarter Saturday, and threw for 224 yards by halftime.
"We talked about that before the game, getting things going," Pinegar said. "We're going in the right direction."
Pinegar's 27-yard touchdown pass to Adam Jennings, who made the sideline catch at the pylon, gave Fresno State a 7-0 lead on its first drive.
His 37-yard touchdown pass to Paul Williams on the second play of the third quarter gave the Bulldogs a game-over 31-0 lead.
Pinegar also weaved through traffic on a 5-yard touchdown run for a 21-0 lead in the second quarter, and capped the scoring with a 16-yard touchdown pass to Matt Rivera on the first play of the fourth quarter.
"The pass has always been there when we needed it," said Williams, who had a game-high six catches for 137 yards. "We just haven't always needed it."
They did against the Spartans, who banked on stopping the run with eight-man fronts.
Mathis broke a 38-yard run in Fresno State's opening drive. The rest, he said, was "tough sledding." He needed three carries for 14 yards in the fourth quarter, with the game well in hand, to burst the 100-yard mark.
"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't frustrated all night," Mathis said. "That wasn't an easy 100yards."
Nothing came easily to San Jose State.
One Spartans quarterback, Adam Tafralis, completed 2 of 8 passes for 13 yards. The other quarterback, J.P. Greco, was
0 for 8 in his first college start.
Yonus Davis did break through the defense for 136yards on 16 carries, while Al Guidry had nine carries for 65yards and a 29-yard touchdown, just the sixth rushing touchdown against the Bulldogs this season.
A moral victory, at best, as the Spartans slumped to 1-8 under first-year coach Dick Tomey.
"They are a top-20 team and we are not close," Tomey said. "They whooped us thoroughly. We've been in every game in conference until them."
Now, Fresno State moves on to the conference game of the year.
"Our players had a lot on the line," Hill said. "They were not going to be denied. Everything is headed to the next game. It'll be what you pay your dollar for."
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