Land mines for certain teams....

[Box and one]

It's next to impossible for a team to get up for every game over the course of the long season. It's easy to get fired up for the big rival or the top five team, but it's just not possible for college kids to remain focused enough to play razor sharp one week, and then maintain the same high level again the next week for the conference also-ran. Below are very dangerous letdown games for each team. These might be sandwich games, games a team and the fans won't take seriously, the game after a big rivalry, the game before a big game or just a game that the team just won't be stoked for and could turn into a painful loss against an inferior opponent. If you find yourself arguing that these games will be easy, you're jumping into the same trap these teams might fall into. At the very least, these could be tougher than your favorite team might think.
- 2002 Landmines for Every Team


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ACC
Clemson - Duke, Nov. 15
Duke - Rice, Sept. 13
Florida State - Clemson, Nov. 8
Georgia Tech - at Vanderbilt, Sept. 27
Maryland - NIU, Aug. 30
UNC - Duke, Nov. 22
NC State - at Wake Forest, Sept. 6
Virginia - at UNC, Oct. 4
Wake Forest - East Carolina, Nov. 8

ACC vs. 2002 Landmines 7-3
Losses: North Carolina, Virginia, Wake Forest
Close Calls: Florida State Big East
BC - at UConn, Sept. 13
Miami - at BC, Sept. 20
Pittsburgh - at Toledo, Sept. 20
Rutgers - at Army, Sept. 15
Syracuse - UCF, Sep. 20
Temple - at MTSU, Oct 4
Virginia Tech - at West Virginia, Oct. 22
West Virginia - at East Carolina, Sept. 6

Big East vs. 2002 Landmines 8-0 Close Calls: Miami, Syracuse, West Virginia Big Ten
Illinois - at Indiana, Nov. 8
Indiana - at Conn, Aug 30
Iowa - Miami U., Aug. 30
Michigan - at Minnesota, Oct. 11
Michigan St - Louisiana Tech, Sept. 13
Minnesota - at Northwestern, Oct. 4
Northwestern - Miami Univ., Sept. 13
Ohio State - Bowling Green, Sept. 20
Penn State - at Northwestern, Nov. 8
Purdue - at Wake Forest, Sept. 13
Wisconsin - at West Virginia, Aug. 30

Big Ten vs. 2002 Landmines 9-2 Losses: Illinois, Northwestern Close Calls: Indiana, Michigan, Ohio State Big XII
Baylor - at North Texas, Sept. 6
Colorado - at Iowa State, Nov. 15
Iowa State - at Northern Illinois, Sept. 27
Kansas - at Wyoming, Sept. 13
Kansas State - Marshall, Sept. 20
Missouri - at Ball State, Sept. 6
Nebraska - at Southern Miss, Sept. 25
Oklahoma - Fresno State, Sept. 13
Oklahoma State - at SMU, Sept. 20
Texas - at Iowa State, Oct. 18
Tex A&M - Utah, Sep 6
Texas Tech - New Mexico, Sept. 6

Big XII vs. 2002 Landmines 11-1 Losses: Missouri
C-USA
Army - UConn, Sept. 6
Cincinnati - at UAB, Oct. 11
East Carolina - at Army, Oct. 18
Houston - at UL Lafayette, Sept. 13
Louisville - at South Florida, Oct. 4
Memphis - at Houston, Oct. 18
South Florida - at East Carolina, Nov. 8
Southern Miss - at Cincinnati, Oct. 4
TCU - at South Florida, Oct. 10
Tulane - at Army, Sep 20
UAB - at Baylor, Aug. 30

C-USA vs. 2002 Landmines 4-6
Losses: Army, Cincinnati, ECU, Memphis, USM, UAB
Close Calls: TCU MAC
Akron - at CMU, Nov. 8
Ball St - at EMU, Nov. 15
BGSU - at Ball State, Nov. 22
Buffalo - Colgate, Sep 13
CMU - at Navy, Nov. 22
Eastern Mich - Western Illinois, Sept. 4
Kent State - Youngstown State, Sept 13
Marshall - at Troy State, Sept. 27
Miami - at Ohio, Nov. 22
NIU - at CMU, Oct. 11
Ohio - at Buffalo, Oct. 25
Toledo - at Ball State, Oct. 25
UCF - at EMU, Nov. 8
WMU - at UConn, Nov. 1

MAC vs. 2002 Landmines 10-4
Losses: Akron, Buffalo, Ohio, WMU,
Close Calls: Ohio, Kent St, EMU Mountain West
Air Force - at Army, Nov. 9
BYU - New Mex, Nov. 16
Colorado St - at SDSU, Nov. 16
New Mexico - at Utah St, Oct. 19
San Diego State - at Idaho, Sept. 21
UNLV - Wyoming, Nov. 2
Utah - A Force, Sept. 28
Wyoming - at Cent. Michigan, Sept. 7

MWest vs. 2002 Landmines 3-5 Losses: BYU, New Mexico, SDSU, Utah, Wyoming
Close Calls: UNLV Pac 10
Arizona - TCU, Sept. 27
Arizona State - at North Carolina, Oct. 18
Cal - at Utah, Sept. 11
Oregon - at Miss State, Aug. 30
Oregon State - at Fresno State, Sept. 6
Stanford - San Jose State, Sept. 13
UCLA - at Stanford, Nov. 1
USC - at Arizona, Nov 15
Washington - at California, Nov. 15
Wash State - New Mexico, Sept. 20

Pac 10 vs. 2002 Landmines 8-1 (WSU and Hawaii didn't play) Losses: Stanford
Close Calls: Arizona, USC, Wash.
SEC
Alabama - Southern Miss, Oct. 11
Arkansas - North Texas, Sept. 20
Auburn - Miss St, Oct 18
Florida - at Kentucky, Sept. 27
Georgia - at Clemson, Aug 30
Kentucky - at Vanderbilt, Nov. 15
LSU - at Miss, Nov. 22
Mississippi - at Vandy, Aug. 30
Miss St - at Tulane, Sept. 13
South Carolina - Kentucky, Oct. 11
Tennessee - South Carolina, Sept. 27
Vandy - Navy, Oct. 11

SEC vs. 2002 Landmines 11-1 Losses: Florida Close Calls: South Carolina, Vandy Sun Belt
Arkansas St - at Utah State, Oct. 25
Idaho - Eastern Washington, Sept. 6
MTSU - at Utah St Nov. 1
New Mex St - at UL Monroe, Oct. 25
North Texas - at UL Monroe, Nov. 8
UL Lafayette - Florida International, Nov. 8
UL Monroe - N'western St, Sept. 20
Utah State - Troy State, Nov. 15

Sun Belt vs. 2002 Landmines 4-3 Losses: Idaho, MTSU, NMSU Close Calls: UL Lafayette, UL Monroe
WAC
Boise State - at Louisiana Tech, Oct. 4
Fresno State - San Jose State, Nov. 15
Hawaii - San Jose St, Nov. 2
La Tech - at UL Lafayette, Sept. 6
Nevada - at Rice, Nov. 1
Rice - at Houston, Aug 30
San Jose St - at Rice, Oct. 4
SMU - at Tulsa, Oct. 25
Tulsa - Arkansas St, Sept. 20
UTEP - Sam Houston St, Sept. 27

WAC vs. 2002 Landmines 7-3 Losses: SMU, Tulsa, UTEP Close Calls: Hawaii, Louisiana Tech, Rice
Independents
Connecticut - at Kent State, Oct. 18
Navy - Eastern Michigan, Sept. 20
Notre Dame - Michigan State, Sept. 20
Troy State - at MTSU, Nov. 8

Ind vs. 2002 Landmines 4-2
Losses: Navy, Utah State
Close Calls: South Florida




Pasted this from Fox sports.Thought it was intresting.I like the sept 6th matchup with Baylor-North Texas.NT could win this outright.Have no idea of the spread.Also Indiana-Conn next week.Conn looks tough but lost a solid starter[Jones] in the Def backfield and another good one injured.DB's are weak.But offense is tough.Indy is a B-10 school but lyr won its opener to powerhouse William and Mary 25-17.Conn is coming off that big win lyr vs Iowa St 37-10.Has a solid Qb in Orlovsky and a 5'7 stud Rb in Caulley.Orlovsky is 6'5 with a rifle of an arm. Well its getting close to the season.

 

[fletcher]

UCONN will win and cover some games this year i like this team

 

[Chopsticks]

Great to see you sharing all of this info box!!!! I'll REALLY be looking forward to your write ups and picks this upcoming season. Best of luck brother!!!!

 

[ND2002HORNS]

Box - Glad to see you in the College Foots forum for the upcoming. Your analysis and knowledge is a great asset to the forum.

HORNS

 

[Box and one]

Fletcher..Conn can win 9 games this yr.They can beat Indiana.Will beat my boys of the Hudson[Army],Buffalo,Lehigh,Kent St,Akron,West Mich,Rutgers and Wake.Not a tough schedule.They will lose to BC but have them at home. Have Vir Tech and NC St on the road.
Orlovsky is the real deal.OL is big and RB Caulley had the most yardage of any freshman in the country[over1200] He scored 16 td's and can catch the ball in the backfield.He avg. more yds then Clarett of OSU.

Thanks ND-horns and Chopsticks.

Am going to play 2 prop bets before the season.Have been real lucky with these even though they are "dumb' plays.

Notre Dame 8 wins
Texas AM 6.5
Texas 10
Arkansas 7.5

Like the under in Texas.
I think they beat New Mex St,Arkansas, Rice, Tulane,Iowa St,Baylor,and Texas Tech. Maybe Arkansas in that group might have a chance but the game is in Austin.

Thats 7 wins. They have Kansas St at home which I think they lose.OU in Dallas.And Ok St and Texas AM away.Also have Neb at home.
That means they have to win 3 of those 5 games left for me just to "push".
Lyr they just beat OSU at home by 2 pts,beat Neb by 3,lost to TT by 4,

With new Qb and some changes I think I might win this with Texas getting 9 wins. AM is due for an upset.OSU in Stillwater could spell problems.OU is automatic.So is KSU,I think.

Any thoughts on this play.......

Arkansas under 7.5 looks good too.

They should beat Tulsa,North Texas, andNew Mex St. Thats 3. They should lose to @Texas,@Bama,and @LSU. That leaves Auburn and Florida at home.I think they lose those 2.Then they have South Car and Miss St at home. And road games at ole Miss and Kentucky.Thats a tough schedule.I know they are loaded with talent and Nutt is a good coach.
So if they sweep SC,Miss,Kenty and Miss St that leaves 7 wins.
Damn. It doesn't look as good when I started this.If they beat Auburn or Florida at home I'm cooked.Have to rethink this one.Any suggestions.. Maybe North Texas will do it in Little Rock.Back in 1968 with Arkansas ranked No 3 or 4,North Texas St with Mean Joe Greene actually won the game.Steve Ramsey,the greatest Qb I have ever seen threw a pass to Ronnie Shanklin in the end zone with a few minuts on the clock.The ref called off the TD and said Shanklin trapped it.
Worst call ever.NT lost 17-15. I could go on and on.

 

[mw]

Box, I like Arkansas over 7.5 -- they'll probably get two W's out of the 5 you penciled in as losers.

 

[Box and one]

MW,which ones? Can they beat Bama,Texas or LSU on the road. Or Auburn and Florida at home.They will be 7-5.You think they will beat 2 of those teams.Intrested to know which ones you think.
I know there talented and have almost everyone coming back.But they could also stumble at Ole Miss with Manning.
They have such a tough schedule.....

 

[bear]

Hey Box

Good to see ya again......
I too am high on CT this year and I give them a fair chance to beat BC at home.
They gave em fits at the "Heights" last year before stalling out with under 2 min left.....Led at the half and for much of the game.. They'll be up for that one.
We'll have to see how things look early on. Especially at the corners. The team is well coached...BIG improvement in the second half of last year... turnover ratio, points off turnovers, fewer sacks, etc., etc.
I see they're -4 to open.....not too pleased with that number but still think they get bthe W.

Hey ....."say it aint so" Timmy O'T
Looks like a developing mess at Fairfield U...... so we'll have to see how that one plays out too.
Drugs, assistants writing papers, "Jebbies" are not gonna be too happy with that kinda publicity.


GL and hope you had a good summer!
1 more week and its back to the classroom eh...
Have a good year!

bear

 

[mw]

Can they beat Bama,Texas or LSU on the road. Or Auburn and Florida at home.

Yes, yes, yes, yes, and yes.

I think they will beat Bama. Texas/Arkansas is much bigger to UA than to UT, and UA may duplicate what it did in the Cotton Bowl a couple years ago. A win at LSU is possible -- less than 50-50, but entirely possible. Arkansas is favored by 3 over Florida at the moment, and there's no reason they can't beat Auburn at home. Two wins seems the most likely outcome, though more or less is entirely possible.