Championship Week Card (Nov 30th-Dec 2nd)

[Irish]

MAC ATTACK :scared
C. Mich (-2.5) over Ohio
This comes down to C.Mich shutting dow the running game of ohio. If the Chipps leave it up to Everton then the Chipps should control this game. Also the Chipps are in the tougher division of the MAC and have played the much tougher teams to get to this game. LeFevour is on the verge of rewriting the CMU record books in his rookie season. He has completed 209-of-332 passes for 2,555 yards and 22 touchdowns. His 22 touchdowns are tied for the most in a single season at CMU, while his completions rank second and his passing yards third. He already is eighth at CMU in career touchdown passes. He is the leader of this team but they have a solid running game to add. The overall defense of C. Mich is the greatest and Wolfe made them look bad. Still ohio is not Wolfe and the Chipps will play better. The ohio bobcats will run the ball but the chipps can move the ball passing or running and the ohio defense is not good enough to keep them off the board. There will be scoring in this game but more from the C.Michigan team and an overall more balenced offensive attack. More talent and overall team speed is in favor of C. Mich but I have to give the advantage in the coaching department to the bobcats. IMO C. Mich is just the better team tested against the better squads throughout the season.

Cheers
Irish

 

[tulah]

The MAC has hurt my bankroll all season, yet I keep coming back for more :cuss: :banghead:

I've got CMich also
Best of luck

 

[Irish]

Rutgers (+8.5) over WVU
I started a discussion thread on this game because I like this game a lot with Rutgers getting more than a TD. The knights have the offense to stay with WVU. They have the defense that can hinder the WVU rushingattack. S.Fla showed speed is a big factor in disrupting the WVU offense and rutgers has speed. The soft zone or man on 3rd downs means rutgers should have no problem moving the sticks. WVU's secondary has been under the gun all season because they stink in coverage and often blow assignments. Yes WVU is a very good home team but this rutgers team is not bad. They need help in the QB game because Teel isn't the best playmaker but with the young recievers now playing better and freshman stud #88 geting more reps the rutgers offense does have the ability to pass. They you have to account for Leonard out of the back field and the TE over the middle. Rutgers is a very complete team and yes they did peter out against Cincy but they should have enough in this big game. The special teams for WVU are out right terrible and they will lose the field position game. Slayton is hurt badly and even though he is banged up he still will be a beast as will White but if Rutgers elimates the big plays they can force some 3 and outs. Rutgers offense can stay with this team and the defense can capitalize on WVU mistakes. Both coaches are tough and very smart and I just can't see the home field advantage giving this much chalk to Rutgers.

Thanks Tulah best of luck to you this weekend.... what can I say about the MAC... it is the only beer on tap.

Cheers
Irish

 

[Irish]

Hawaii (-7.5) over Oregon St
The beavers are not a good road team (3-2) but they have beaten Washington but got beaten and beaten badly at Boise and UCLA. The Beavers struggle defensively against the pass and will try to keep tempo with the warriors. Hawaii got the scare they needed last week to focus and hammer oregon st. Hawaii opened up a 17-0 lead on Purdue and then fell asleep but as if it was nothing they put together a lot of scoring late to win the game. The Beavers run of at least 30 points in four of the last five games won?t end this week versus a Warrior D that?s 95th nationally in total defense and particularly leaky against the pass. Last weekend, Purdue went 30-of-43 for 382 yards with five touchdown passes. Oregon State has the balance on offense and quickness on defense to go stride-for-stride, but this is a special Warrior team that?s been a terror at home this season. In a last-team-to-have-the-ball type game. The Warriors, who lead the nation in scoring (583 points) and total offense (6,645 yards), had their lowest point total since a 41-34 win over Nevada on Oct. 7. Which means Jones would have a lot to talk about in practice. IMO Hawaii is going to out run them and out score them the whole game. Hawaii also wants to get some more press by beating solid teams and I am sure the coaching staff has discussed the OSU wins against some big Pac-10 teams. I just don't see Oregon St staying with Hawaii, yes if hawaii goes to sleep as they did last week but that close game should wake the warriors up. Plus Oregon St is coming of the big close rivalry game. It should be a good game, but the late time and the scare last week will have Hawaii capitalizing on OSU mistakes. Plus this will be a bit of a hiesman push for Brennan and I like the hawaii secondary to make some plays in this game.

Rutgers now +10... hit the ML on the game, I have watched every WVU game. They have a GREAT offense but a TERRIBLE defense.

Cheers
Irish

 

[tulah]

:toast: great call on C.Michigan
Best of luck this week

 

[Irish]

Houston (-4.5) over So. Miss
So. Miss won the meeting this season but it was at So. Miss. So. Miss is 5-0 this year when getting 200 yards or more on the ground, USM will have a steady diet of Fletcher and hope to get some scrambles out of QB Jeremy Young to get control of the game early on and keep Kolb on the sidelines. The offense beat Houston the first time around with good balance and keeping the chains moving racking up 21 first downs. The ground game, and third down passes to tight end Shawn Nelson, should be enough to keep pace with the Cougar offense. Southern Miss isn't designed to throw the ball 35 times a game and while the passing game has a few explosive weapons, the game plan is to control the tempo and the clock and not get into any sort of a shootout. Southern Miss, which has three outright C-USA titles and one shared crown, beat Kolb and the Cougars 31-27 earlier in the year in Hattiesburg. Houston scored on the game's final play. Fletcher will have to carry a lot of the load against Houston because fellow freshman TB Tory Harrison is unlikely to play because of a bruised shoulder. Southern Miss is living up to its tradition as a defensive power this season, especially over the second half of the season. With a deep, active line, and playmakers such as LBs Gerald McRath and Tokumbo Abanikanda and DBs Brandon Sumrall, LeVance Richmond and Jasper Faulk, the defense has allowed 20 points over the past three games. The Golden Eagles are allowing 18.2 points, 131.2 rushing yards and 303.8 total yards per game with 23 takeaways and 24 sacks. Cougars are ranked second in the conference with 268.4 passing yards per game. The Cougars have improved in every area and rank fourth in C-USA in scoring, rushing and total defense, allowing 22.1 points, 138 rushing yards and 338 total yards per game. Their most dramatic progress has come late in the season, particularly in big games against UTEP and Tulsa. The key up front is NT Marquay Love, who anchors the front seven. FS Will Gulley leads an improved secondary. Houston has become a much improved team and they will be a different monster at home tonight. The defense has stepped up and should continue against So. Miss. The question is can Houston slow down the running game of So. Miss and I believe they can. Once they slow down the offensive running game they will force the So. Miss offense into passing and they will make mistakes. Houston should be able to spread the ball and pick So. Miss apart. Kolb a 4 year starter will want to go out in a very good game and I think he comes to play tonight. Not thinking Houston has a great home field advantage but they will still open it up. If Houston gets on top So. Miss will strugle to keep up and the Cougers can run past them.

Cheers
Irish

 

[boilermaker]

Feeling better about my play now that I see you and AR on Houston. Good Luck tonight Irish.

 

[Irish]

BIG PLAY
Houston/So.Miss OVER 27.8 2nd Half
Both teams have been able to move the ball. 4 TD's does not seem like a lot of points considering Houston marched down the field in 2 mins and should have scored to end the half.

Cheers
Irish

 

[Irish]

New Mex St (-10.5) over La Tech
The aggies have a bad record but that is no indication of dangerous this offense is at home! The Aggies will need to aware of Tech QB Zac Champion's running ability, as Fresno State really struggled with that last week. Last season Tech defeated New Mexico State, 34-14. QB Chase Holbrook has thrown for 4,105 yards this season, 12th most in conference history. Holbrook left last week's win over Utah State at halftime with blurred vision. A CAT scan came back negative, though, and the sophomore felt better on the trip home. Zac Champion showing his best pocket command of the season. Look for RB Patrick Jackson to get 12-15 carries, with Champion scrambling for some yardage, too. The key will be stretching the field, though, and the ability of Tech's wide outs to create separation. The Bulldogs are playing on fumes at this point on defense and have been for several weeks. New Mexico State is going to come out throwing, and throwing deep, too. This isn't a favorable match-up for Tech. The passing attack of New Mex St will be way too much for LaTech. Plus they are playing at home and they have given some bowl bound teams a tough game at home. This will be a big day for passing QB's but LaTech isn't going to light up the skies like the aggies will. This will be a back and forth game until LaTech sputters out and the Aggies move by and continue to throw it on them. With the home field advantage coming off their FIRST Division one win the aggies have momentum, home field and the better team.

Wake (ML) over GT
This game will come down to Reggie ball and IMO he is not good enough to keep his team on top. The Yellow Jackets won the outright conference title in 1990 with a 42-7 win over Wake Forest, eight years before beating the Demon Deacons 65-35 to claim a share of the crown with Florida State. In both seasons, Wake Forest was below .500 in the conference. The biggest challenge for Grobe's team this week could be slowing down Tech star wideout Calvin Johnson, who leads the ACC with 899 receiving yards and 13 touchdown receptions. But rolling over double coverage should limit his productivity. Plus if they hide double coverage Ball will throw it up and if the secondary plays the ball not the man they should be able to pick off some of those deep passes. Ball, who has thrown for only 242 yards with three TDs and four interceptions over the past three games. Ball went 6-of-22 for 42 yards with two interceptions against Georgia, and rushed 11 times for minus-10 yards. Wake Forest usually relies on the running game, averaging 158.1 yards on the ground while ranking last in the ACC with 143.9 passing yards per contest. The Deacons spread the ball around, however, and not one Deacons player has rushed for more than 400 yards. The Demon Deacon corners can't stay with the Tech receivers, so the defensive front has to make Ball hurry his throws or else there'll be a steady diet of jump ball after jump ball to Johnson. Georgia Tech's is better. Wake is sixth in the nation in turnover margin, but Georgia Tech has forced 25 turnovers and only given it up 13 times. Wake lives off of opponent's mistakes and the momentum from big plays, while a productive running game is a must. The Demon Deacons were held to under 99 yards three times this year gaining just 31 in the loss to Clemson, 62 in the loss to Virginia Tech, and 57 in the should've-been loss to Duke. Georgia Tech's run defense has held nine of 12 opponents to under 100 yards. How do you take advantage of a fast defense? Misdirection and trickery and Wake will pull out all stops. The are well coached and should be able to stay with Tech and in the end they will force Ball into bad plays.

Cheers
Irish

 

[Irish]

Ark (+3) over Fla
Wanted to go money line but will take the points. Florida hasn't impressed me and I think the Ark team comes to play big time. No more time for write up cause I got lots of drinking to do. Not sure the Fla defense can stay with the Ark running backs.

Cheers
Irish

 

[Irish]

USC/UCLA OVER (48)
This USC will pass at will and the Bruins will have to make a few plays on offense as well.

Cheers
Irish

 

[Irish]

Oklahoma (-3.5) over Huskers
Like the defense of the Sooners against Callahan. It's windy and cold Okie running game should work. No more time for chit chat, this beers getting warm.

Cheers
Irish

 

[Irish]

Re-Hit on the Warriors (-9) chalk is getting up there but it came down a bit and I like them to hammer the beavers after getting the wake up call last week.

Cheers
Irish