Sunday's Card (Sept 3d)

[Irish]

Ole Miss (-3.5) over Memphis
Off-season changes to the Ole Miss offense is a very import thing going into this game. The Rebels managed a sad 73 rushing yards and 13.45 points per game. Brining in fresh blood to this team was a very good idea and it started with Offensive coordinator Dan Werner and offensive line coach Art Kehoe come over from Miami. That should make the ole miss offense more creative and the O-line much stronger. QB Brent Schaeffer comes over from Tennessee, and RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis comes in from Indiana. Shaffer and Ellis add productivity and talent to a decent o-line. Ole Miss has zero WR?s but they will have enough to make some catches, just nothing spectacular. Leave huge plays to Schaeffer and his scrambling ability. The rebels have a good defense led by LB Willis, this kid is a pro draft pick and is always around the ball. He will have help from a good secondary that is solid in coverage and hard hitting. The D-line need someone to step up and they will be looking to a trio of sophomores on the line to step up and fill the void in the pass rush. Defensive Co Ed Orgeron made strides with this group last year and should continue to improve as this season goes on. Memphis will look to replace D. Williams and it will be VERY hard considering he was a huge par of the tigers offense in the rushing and passing game. The Memphis line is very good but the lack of QB experience will hurt the tigers this season. Still too many questions in the playmaking department leave me to wonder about how productive Memphis will be. The defense is fast and flies around the ball but they play a 3 man line and Ole Miss should be able to push them around and get into the second level. Considering the Memphis offense will be inexperience and they will look to the defense to limit Ole Miss production, I think it will be a long day for the Tigers in Miss. Last season Memphis lost at home to Ole Miss 10-7 and this year IMO Miss is a better team and should be more productive on offense. Ole Miss will come out fired up they have a solid talent level and with the new coaches and players I would think Ole Miss is ready to turn a poor offense around. This game will come down to whether Ole Miss can turn the offense around and if their defense steps up to the challenge of the Memphis spread offense. I am looking for the defense to make some big plays and energize the crowd, the offense should be productive and Schaeffer will make yardage when plays break down and he is force to scramble. The rebels and its relatively fresh coaching staff should have a new approach to this game and the players should respond.

Cheers
Irish

 

[bryanz]

Nice breakdown of the game. I think the one point that you brought up, might work against Miss in this game . New players and coaches, may need a few to get things rolling. Memphis has the cohesiveness and experience edge. Looking for a low scoring hard fought game like last year. I watched that game. Memphis came within a play or two of wining in this series for the 3rd st time. Even thou Miss plays in the better CON they don't have much experience at wining games and closing teams out as a group. Should be a good game .

 

[johnnyb.]

good luck today, like the pick!

 

[Irish]

TCU (-7) over Baylor
Question marks are all over the TCU line, if they step up to the challenge the horned frogs have way to much speed and talent at the skilled position for the Bears. The line even though green has a lot of potential and with the backs TCU has they should be something to watch develop. 10 returning starters for TCU if you are counting their running backs. Merrill Hobbs and Brown are all very good backs and each complement the other. Ballard leads the passing attack coming out of no where in the end of last season showing all he is a force and can lead this offense to big things this season. The Baylor defense is young up front but they move players in and out all game to continue a fresh rush. There is no help from the LB?s as BU coaches are still looking for a standout to lead the second level on defense. However the secondary for Baylor are very skilled and make it easy for the D-line to rush because the QB is forced to hold the ball too long. TCU will mix the pass and run up and the secondary will be guessing which should lead to a few big plays down field. I am more impressed with screens to running backs and flankers for quick solid yards. Also looking for Ballard to have a big game considering his backs will take a lot of pressure off him. Defensively the frogs are solid on the d-line (Blake and Ortiz should get a rush) and at line backer, how ever they are weak in the secondary. They will need a lot of help this season to keep other teams from passing all over them. Still I think the frogs thought is to out score not stop the other team and they should do that in Baylor. Don?t forget TCU likes shoot outs because it gives their team a chance for creating turnovers, last year they led the NCAA with 40 turnovers and holding teams to 108 rushing yards per game. This is good because Baylor will look to throw more than run this season. QB Bell will look to move the ball to his talented WR and hope they can take pressure off the O-line that has struggled to run block. Still the D-line for the frog will pin their ears back and get to Bell and he has been known to throw the ball up for grabs when he feels pressure. Need the secondary for TCU to step up and the offense should do the rest.

Cheers
Irish

 

[rubiconed]

Thanks Irish. Jumped all over Miss @ -3 . GL

 

[Blackman]

Best of luck, on TCU as well. Should refer anyone to this thread, you've covered the game nicely.


Thanks for the hard work as usual.

 

[Irish]

TCU/Baylor OVER (47.5)
Both teams have experience offense and weather in Waco is permitting for passing and running.

Cheers
Irish

 

[DeadPrez]

good luck Irish

w/ you on the rebels

 

[Irish]

Mem/Ol Miss UNDER (39.5)

Teams played to a 10-7 score last year with Ol Miss wining at Memphis, this year I expect a little more offense but a lot of quesions for both team and a feeling out prcess for both coaches.

Cheers
Irish

 

[Irish]

Kentucky (+23) over Louisville
Kent has a good offensive line (still gave up 34 sacks last season which is very bad, but they have good tackles and an experienced inside 3) and RB Little will find holes against this Louisville defense that lost some big names from last years team. Louisville may have lost some players from last years defense but they still have a very good squad. Kent QB Woodson is a very raw QB, he has all the ability to be a great QB but he just can't turn that into productivity come game day. Behind this line he will have more time but if the offense sputters I would be surprised to see Pulley get some action. He isn't the passer Woodson is but he can scramble and that has made the coaching staff debate the starter at the QB position. The Kent defense was terrible last season but that was due to growing pains of young players and the expertise they bring this year should see some improvement by this unit. The LB's are very good and fast and they are the heart of the Kentucky defense. The wildcats need someone to step up on the D-line and help in the secondary but they will be a bit improved from last season. They will need to be against one of the toughest offenses in the Big East. Brohm, Bush and a host of others will move the ball at will but they lack consistency in some games and have been know to be a little too confident and lack the hungry. Last season Louisville went to Kentucky and won 31-24 and this team is a little better than last year, but Louisville is better on offense and they are home which is very tough for Kentucky. Still this is a rivalry game and these boys have a lot of pride and I'll go with the chalk because even if Louisville gets on top of Kentucky early the wildcats will not quit. Hoping to se Little in the open field and Woodson live up to some of his hype. LB Woodyard and Safety Williams have to get some production and get some stops and perhaps a big play or turnover. Key is staying with Louisville and the longer Kentucky can do this the more confidence the young players will develop.


Cheers
Irish