Saturday's Games
Televised Games
Iowa pounded Ohio State last year, 33-7,outgaining Buckeyes 448-177, just third time they've covered in last 13 games of this series; Tate was 26-39/331 passing last year. OSU was 10-19 on third down last week, an improvement; they're 8-4 vs spread before a bye, and 14-9 as home favorite since '02. Iowa is 11-5 as road dog since '00.
Virginia Tech went to Atlanta and beat Georgia Tech last year, 34-20, in game that GT was just 14-29 passing. GT QB Ball missed last week's game with viral meningitis, but is going to play here, as he'll split time with Bennett. Jackets are 14-6 as road dog since '98, having won at Auburn in season opener. Hokies are 5-9 in last 14 tries as conference home favorite; they won their last two games by identical 45-0 scores over patsies.
Minnesota is 3-0 this year, outscoring foes 143-38, but they step up in class here, vs Purdue club that has beaten Gophers last three meetings, including 35-28 in last visit here. Boilers are 9-2-1 vs spread in last dozen series games. Minnesota has run ball for 311+ yards in all three games in '05; they're 18-9 as favorite since '01, but just 9-15 vs spread in last 24 Big 11 home games. Purdue just 4-8 vs spread on carpet, 8-18-2 on Big 11 road; they host Notre Dame next.
Home side covered six of last eight Penn State-Northwestern games, as teams split last two at this site, with State losing 17-7, winning 38-35. First road game for Lion squad that covered only two of last 12 Big 11 openers, and was outgained 391-280 in 14-7 loss at Northwestern last year. So far in '05 Paterno's group looks improved, outscoring three stiffs 105-40. Northwestern allowed 89 points in last two games; they've allowed 180+ yards rushing in all three '05 games.
Sandwich game for Michigan St, which is 2-3 vs spread as favorite, game after beating Notre Dame; they play Michigan next week. Spartans won last three post-ND games, all by 10+ points. Spartans won last three series games by 4-35-13 points; they had 253 rushing yards in last year's 38-25 win over Illinois, which led Cal 17-7 at half in Berkeley last week, before losing
35-20. Illini has just one takeaway in three games. State scored 49-42-44 in three games, with 488 yards the least they've gained in a game.
Louisville routed South Florida 41-9 last year, outgaining Bulls 517-203; so far this season, they scored 94 points, outrushed foes 324-89, with +5 turnover ratio and first half scoring edge of 63-17. Cards did lose last visit here in OT, 31-28, but USF was
3-21/67 passing in last year's game, horrible numbers. Bull opponents just 4-34 on third down this year, but Penn State had an 262-97 edge in ground over them, and Louisville is better than Penn State.
Maryland covered last six games vs Wake Forest, winning last two at this site, 27-20/41-28; Terps are 18-10 vs spread on ACC road since '98, but this is their first road game, after tough losses at home vs Clemson, West Virginia, in which they allowed 59 points, and were outgained on ground, 415-106. Wake won last week, but allowed East Carolina to score 34 points (44-34), not a good sign. Terps are 6 for last 26 on third down, 0-3 as faves and have total of just 106 rushing yards in last two games.
Georgia covered five of last six games vs Miss State, but just two of last ten before a bye; they're running ball for 233 yards a game, have +6 turnover margin and outscored foes 61-26 in second half of games. MSU starting UGa-LSU-Florida gauntlet; they lost 28-0 at Auburn, and haven't scored point in first half of last two games. Dawgs allowed 131 rushing yards on 61 tries in last two games; State doesn't have passing gameto provide any balance.
Florida beat Tennessee, but critics sniping at spread offense, since QB Leak not running out of it, which makes offense one-dimensional; Gators' best WR was hurt last week, so guests are thin, but play foe that got crushed by Indiana last week, trailed Idaho State at half and was outrushed by Florida last year, 262-73. Wildcats are 9-14 as home dog since '98, 1-0 in '05. Florida also in sandwich though, as this game falls between Tennessee, Alabama games.
Ty Willingham coached Notre Dame last three years, was 21-15, he recruited most of their players, and did OK with them, before getting ax (unfairly); he beat Washington 38-3 last year, as 11-point home favorite, with -4 turnover ratio killing 1-10 Huskies. Irish off first loss of Weis era, OT setback to Michigan State, while Huskies hammered Idaho for Ty's first win in Seattle. Huskies allowed 557 yards on this field vs Cal, which was using backup QB, in 56-17 loss. This game is personal.
Noontime heat, humidity in Orange Bowl won't help Colorado squad that is 16-8 as road dog in last 24 tries, as Barnett is most always sturdy dog. Buffs have 881 total yards and six INTs in first two games. Miami survived OT at Clemson, 36-30 after losing at Florida State- they trailed at half in both games. This is start of deathly four-week stretch for Colorado (Big 12 play starts next week). Home opener for 'canes (5-13 as home fave last three years).
USC has injury issues in secondary, but awesome firepower on offense (133 points in first two games) and should riddle Oregon defense that allowed 412 yards at Houston, 530 vs Fresno St last week. Trojans are 7-4 vs spread in last 11 series games, but last three series were all decided by 11 or less points, with USC winning last visit here, 44-33, in '02. Ducks are 4-1 as home dog since '98. Trojans outscored first two foes 63-13 in first half.
First home game for LSU should ne emotional, but weather map says more heavy rain for Baton Rouge Saturday, so Vols-LSU should be quagmire as Fulmer looks to avoid 0-2 start in SEC. Teams haven't met since LSU pulled upset in '01 SEC title game; Bayou Bengals covered last four series games. Tennessee has issues on offense, but have settled on Ainge as starting QB; they lost 16-7 at Florida after 17-10 struggle vs UAB in opener. Vols yet to score 2nd half point; they threw 35 incompletions in first two games. Game has been postponed to Monday, 7:30.
Michigan lost its road opener six of last seven years (0-7 vs spread); they're 3-7 vs spread in last ten games vs Badgers, with last three having average total of 32.7. Night game in Mad City, so crowd will be juiced; Wisconsin allowed total of 12 points in last five halves, after 35-all first half in opener vs Bowling Green. Alvarez 4-1 as home dog since '01. Michigan is 8-20 as road favorite since '98.
Home team is 16-1-1 vs spread in Arizona St-Oregon St series, with Sun Devils losing 45-17 in last visit to Reser Field. Anonymous coach quoted on espn.com this week, about how Arizona State QB Keller is better than last year's starter Walter by decent amount, and Walter made Oakland Raiders squad this summer, so respect ASU squad that lost wild game vs inspired LSU, getting two kicks blocked in fourth quarter, but crushed Northwestern last week- they're 0-3 as road favorite last two years. Beavers are 7-4 as home dog since '98.
Idaho finally gets home game after going 0-3 on road; they've allowed 17+ points in every half so far this year. Vandals lost 52-21 at Hawai'i last year, getting QB sacked 10 times, but Rainbow Warriors is 0-2, losing by combined 74 points to superior foes, and getting outscored 49-3 in first half of those games. Not much to choose from here; Idaho is favored at home for first time in three years (2-8 as home fave since '98).
