Waiting for August 30

[NY Reb]

I always look forward to college football more than any other season. There's nothing like it. Trying to beat the point spread in this sport is a fascinating challenge that goes beyond the opportunity to pick up some extra money. I won my first bet back in high school in the 60's. I won my last one with Ohio St in the National Championship game. I can't wait for this season to begin.

I already have my eye on a couple of potential big games that take place over the first weekend. I'm not going to let the cat out of the bag just yet, but I'll be keeping a close eye on how the line develops. I think at least one of them is going to be way off, to the great benefit of those of us who spot it.

Just a few thoughts: Please chime in with your own comments.

Auburn is getting a lot of preseason hype. USC is a very good team who will be up for the challenge. Is Auburn's hype going to have them favored by more than they're like to cover? This is, to me, the season's first major collision of top teams.

An interesting meeting is Southern Miss heading out to play California. How much will Cal fall from last year, and how much will USM improve? Southern Miss will probably be favored in this game. Will they be the wrong favorite?

Clemson gets Georgia at home. Could this be a possibility for one of the season's first big upsets?

How will FSU do in their trip to North Carolina? Do the Tarheels play them close with the possibility of an upset? Or do the 'Noles come out charged up for a big year?

Alabama hasn't even had their first practice with their new coach. Will they cover the spread against an improving South Florida team?

Washington also has yet to practice under their new coach. At this writing, they don't even know who he will be. Will they be ready to go against defending champion Ohio St?

How will Wisconsin fare on the road against West Virginia?

For a really interesting point spread, take a peek at Indiana at Connecticut. Who you gonna go with?

Will this be the year Colorado finally beats Colorado St?

And finally, after the Big East went 4-1 in last season's bowl games, I jokingly posted "Break up the Big East!" I had no idea they were going to take me seriously.

Any comments on the above games or others, I'd love to hear about it. I'm hungry for some real college football discussion.

 

[Send it in]

Hey Reb, interesting question about the Noles and Heels. Are they expecting the Heels to receive a bowl bid this year? Enquiring minds want to know. As for the season I can't wait myself, I sure am ready for one of them 10 stars, how bout you? gltu this year Reb!!

 

[NY Reb]

Thanks, Send it in. I hope you have a great year yourself.

 

[NY Reb]

Send it in, somehow I doubt NC will be bowling this year, as they could finish as low as 7th in the conference. With 16 starters back, though, including QB Durant, they could be highly improved. The opening game against FSU will tell a lot. They could definitely be a very live home dog.

 

[Send it in]

thanks Reb!!

 

[saint]

The heels will probably get it handed to them against FSU. Lately they haven't played well at home, they have a defense that was just about last in every category in the ACC last year, and 1 year difference isn't enough for their young team. Their offense should be fine, I expect Durant to have a great year. The O-line is returning all 5 starters which is encouraging. One of the biggest indicators about this year is the running game. J. Lewis pretty much can't do sh*t. I'm looking forward to seeing the transfer named Chad Scott and a true freshman to put up some running yards. It doens't matter how many points are on the board, though, if defense can't stop anyone.

With the heels tough schedule, they very well may open up the season 0-6 or so. I'll post write-ups for each game as I've gone to every football game in the last 6 years, am still in chapel hill and have some friends with the guys on the team. I'm hoping myabe some other ACC guys could chime in. I know AJoyToy is a state boy but he seems to be knowledgeable so maybe we can make a dent in the ACC this year.

 

[saint]

Oh yeah, and as far as a bowl game...that would take a minor miracle. .500 is a far enough stretch with this schedule:

FSU
Syracuse
at Wisconsin
at NC State
UVA
at ECU
Arizona State
at Clemson
at Maryland
Wake Forest
at GT
Duke

are you kidding me Their first win probably won't be until ECU and that will be a tough game.

Also for that FSU game, it's on ABC at 8pm. The few games the heels have been on national tv in recent memory they have sucked. Something to keep in mind.

d-

 

[mw]

Saint -- UNC had a ton of injuries to the defensive linemen plus the injury to Durant, etc, and there is talent on the roster -- as you know. So we can expect at least some improvement this year. My question is what do you think of the new defensive coordinator? The defense was horrible last year, but I don't know how much of the drop-off was due to the injuries and how much was due to Huxtable replacing Tenuta. To me, this question is the key to evaluating UNC's prospects.

Reb -- good luck to you and your Rebels this year. I'll be making the trip to Oxford for the first time in 5 years to see the Bama game.

 

[ND2002HORNS]

I agree with the synopsis about UNC, their schedule is too tough and getting to a bowl game would be a minor miracle.
Gotta love the college foots talk with only 3 weeks until the first game! The season can't start soon enough.

HORNS

 

[NY Reb]

I agree that the Tarheels will have their hands full against FSU in their season opener. For one thing, for some reason, they rarely cover in their season openers. The main thing, however, is that the Noles are on the warpath! They know they've lost a lot of respect in the last couple of years, and they are chomping at the bit to get back in the hunt for the NC. This game could get ugly.

BTW, Chad Scott, the RB transfer from Kentucky, is the real deal. I've seen him play, and he has some true talent. He'll make his mark before he leaves Chapel Hill.

Thanks, mw. Hope you enjoy your trip to Oxford. Ole Miss looks to have their best team in years, just so nothing untoward happens to Eli.

Thanks for participating in the discussion, guys. It's fun to have a little football talk.

 

[ajoytoy]

Oh yeah, and as far as a bowl game...that would take a minor miracle. .500 is a far enough stretch with this schedule:

FSU
Syracuse
at Wisconsin
at NC State
UVA
at ECU
Arizona State
at Clemson
at Maryland
Wake Forest
at GT
Duke

are you kidding me Their first win probably won't be until ECU and that will be a tough game.

Also for that FSU game, it's on ABC at 8pm. The few games the heels have been on national tv in recent memory they have sucked. Something to keep in mind.

d-

you guys have a good chance to beat syracuse IMO (with it being at home)....probably get blown away against FSU, but will learn from it....UNC had a great recruiting class and COULD be the Virginia of last year....still will not finish higher than 4 or 5th, but a lot better than the 7 that you are projected...as long as you guys lose to us, i hope you win all the other games

ACC will be a interesting conference this year....cannot wait...


reb:

as for our game in Columbus: we have a CHANCE...depends on how quickly our team gels in the first 2 games...will be a challenge and i will NEVER doubt Amato...he has so many rabbits up his sleeves for the big games....if both teams win their first 2 then i think that the line will be around 6.5-7 for the game....if it is higher than that, i will be all over the points

gl to all and will try to visit more and chime in

toy

 

[NY Reb]

Thanks, Toy. Yeah, give me a touchdown to play with, and I'll be all over the Pack. That game's gonna be closer than most folks expect. a field goal could decide it easily -- either way!

Thanks for your visit.

 

[bear]

Uconn should be all over Indiana..........Packed house, new stadium, Orlovsky....6'5" 60%, 2400 yds....pro scouts a plenty
HS All American.. Some good receivers and an exceptional newcomer if he's ready..... wr Seth Fogarty from W Va....

Add: Terry Cauley 124.7 YPG .....1200 + yds most of all frosh rbs...including 191 vs Iowa State at Ames

Defense ....5th vs pass and 19th overall.........8 return 15 starters overall and a young developing team that finished STRONG....and is pumped.

Indiana will be improved over last year but will not be able to stop CT. lotta points and a

Nice little home dog!

bear

 

[ajoytoy]

Thanks, Toy. Yeah, give me a touchdown to play with, and I'll be all over the Pack. That game's gonna be closer than most folks expect. a field goal could decide it easily -- either way!

Thanks for your visit.

http://www.madjacksports.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=103040


early lines shows a double digit spread....would be all over that...think we lose by less than 7

we will see how that changes....OSU plays 2 ranked team, while we play (to true form) average to below average teams...Wake will be a challenge...are a good team, but we SHOULD win (we better!!)

also the Clarett issue is still there....will be interesting to see what happens there!!

less than a month away!!!

i hope everyone is jacked up as much as i am!!

talk to ya soon Reb!!


toy

 

[NY Reb]

Hey bear, that's interesting info about Uconn. I don't know a whole lot about them, but they definitely caught my attention last season, especially with their big win over Iowa St. Keep us updated, ok?

Toy, I am looking forward to that Ohio St game. We'll learn a lot about them when they play Washington.

 

[BuckWheat]

Just call me Crazy

At the end of the Season, Colorado St. will be suing the BCS for a Bowl Game I believe Col.St. could go undefeated this year if they can get past Colorado. The only other tough game on their schedule is Fresno St.

The Conneticut game scares me. Why is Indiana favored? Conneticut was a 20 point dog in their Bowl game against
Iowa St., and they win the game by 17 points. I can't remember a 20 point dog winning a game.

 

[NY Reb]

BuckWheat, Colorado St could go undefeated. But upsets happen at the unlikeliest times, and at the hands of teams with less talent, which is why they are upsets. Besides Fresno St, they could go down to California, Miami (OH), BYU, or New Mexico. None of these teams will be pushovers, and all but one will be road games. And the home game against Miami (OH) could be the toughest of the bunch.

The Connecticut game fascinates me.

Take care.

 

[NY Reb]

Finally pulled the trigger.

In the last few days Auburn has gone from a pick'em to a 3-point favorite. It might go down again, but it also might keep going up. Even a half-point more could make a difference in a game decided by a field goal. So I've placed my first wager for the 2003 season:

7* Auburn -3

Write-up with reasoning will be posted on game week with other plays.

 

[Scott4USC]

I don't know if that was a smart bet. Lienhart, the starting QB for USC, has stepped up his game at USC practices and is clearly the #1 starter. This was a worry of many Trojan fans and like i said, if the QB for USC plays good against AU, USC will win by double digits.

Also, the running backs for USC has been tearing it up and looking impressive. Freshman Reggie Bush is getting comparisons to Mike Vick as an exciting player. I have seen him practice and he is the real deal but he should be because he was the #1 RB out of high school.

USC practices have been very crisp and very intense. Carroll is scrimmaging the players very hard and players are getting dinged up, luckily no serious injuries. Last year USC did not scrimmage because of depth issues, and it showed when AU ran on USC successfully in 1st half. In the 2nd half the USC defense shut them down and USC was the better conditioned team. This year USC has depth at most positions and Pete Carroll is scrimmaging the guys really hard and the players are responding.

IMO you def. jumped the gun with this bet and i would have waited to read more about the USC practice reports. USC just needs to find a QB and Lienhart is stepping up. Watch out.

 

[NY Reb]

Certainly respect your opinion, Scott, and I hope your team enjoys a super year. Up here in the Catskills of New York I have no bias towards either team and feel that I have a pretty objective perspective. For various reasons, which I will reveal in due time, I think Auburn will be the double-digit winner. Something like 17-7, or perhaps more like 24-14. I am looking forward to the game with tremendous zest.

Take care, buddy.