Week 3 Card (Sept 12th-16th)

[Irish]

Oregon (-4.5) over Oklahoma
The Ducks are coming home after playing a tough game against Frenson. The Ducks are 23-1 in non-conference games - 4-0 against ranked non-conference opponents - at Autzen Stadium under coach Mike Bellotti. The Sooners have outscored their opponents 41-17 after halftime, but have entered the locker room tied in each contest. The Ducks have played well but not against the rush and Peterson will be a huge challenge. The ducks have looked very balenced on offense and should show the Sooners a mix of pass and run. Considering Oklahoma gave up 20 to a poor Washington team, and 17 to a rebounding UAB team on their home field. Thompson hasn't looked very sharp in these games either completing about 61% of his passes and throwing 3 picks. The Oklahoma offense will be mostly run and considering Adrian Peterson carried 32 times for 165 yards last game the Ducks will have to commit more to the run. The Sooners allowed 384 yards, including far too many big plays including A 54-yard touchdown rush. Stewart did not play last week but they expect to get him back this week. One of the reasons I like this play is because the sooners have been beaten in one game by big passing plays and in the other game by big runs. The ducks can have an explosive running and passing game and the Oklahoma defense will struggle. Not only can Williams, Strong and a few other WR get pen down field but the Sooners have to watch out for the mobility of Dixon. Dixon throws a nice deep ball and has the ability to make big plays when the pass breaks down. I also like the way the ducks play at home, this will be a statement game for the ducks and the balence on offense should be the key. I would like to see Oregon put petterson on lock down but I doubt it so a mix of pass and run should have Oregon out scoring Oklahoma. Plus looking for the Ducks defense to play better with the crowd motivation behind them.

Cheers
Irish

 

[Irish]

Kentucky (-3.5) over Ol Miss
After watching Ol Miss the past two game aside from Willis they lack defense. Yes they have gotten a B12 shot from Schaeffer and Green Ellis. They have only one threat at WR and thats McCluster the true freshman. The Rebels allowed 471 yards against Missouri. Kentucky beat up on a very poor team last week but they showed in the Louisville game to have the ability to very explosive. Woodson has great weapons at WR with Burton and Lyons. I am not sure the Ol Miss defense can cover those two and if Woodson is dialed in they should have big games opening up the rushing game for Little. Both teams are young but I think the talent on Kentucky is a little better and they have some guys that play better with high energy and the home crowd should help in that department. The Cats have to come out and exploit this defense quickly, and not slow up. With a game at Florida next week the Cats might start looking ahead but bad teams normally don't do that. Both of these teams are mid tier in the SEC and in this battle I like speed and home field.

Cheers
Irish

 

[Irish]

Wash St (-13.5) over Baylor
Alex Brink has developed into the leader the Wash st hoped two seasons ago. 12 of 15 passes for 231 yards and three touchdowns against Idaho after a poor showing in Auburn. However 3 fumbles against Idaho just is NOT getting it done in the ball control department. Wash St played hard against Auburn but the Tigers talent and home field was too much in the second half. Baylor rebounded from a disappointed TCU game to spank a poor team. The wide open offense the bears have installed makes it very easy for them to move the ball. Shawn Bell and Shelton are quite the pair and they will look to hook up this weekend. The Bears forced turnovers in each quarter and finished with 5 takeaways. They will not see those type numbers saturday and it should me a dog fight for the Bears offense and defense. RB Mosley is battling Turf toe and the WR group has been a little dinged up. This game is off campus for Washington St but it is still in Seattle and Washington will fill the Seahawks stadium. All this does is make a solid crowd bigger and that will help Wash St. The bears offense is new to Baylor but the wide open passing game is not something Wash St in the PAC 10 hasn't seen. Baylor is an improved team but TCU was able to pass against them and Baylor was playing sloppy last week with penalties. That will not get it done against Washington St playing with emotion. The Washington St defense has to step up a bit but they are capible. The offense has the weapons and Brink is a good field general. I am looking for State to come out emotional charged playing in the States NFL stadium and get on top of the Bears. Bell is a good QB but does NOT have a strong arm and Washington state will not have to play the real deep ball and that will help the defense. This is a lot of chalk but I think Washington St can cover.

Cheers
Irish

 

[ajoytoy]

Irish,

gl on em all and great write-ups as usual

 

[BigSlick]

I love Oregon here - they should a lot of toughness (we already know they had playmakers) against the bulldogs LW. Good analysis.

 

[taoist]

I played Oreg -3' and Cuntucky -3' earlier in the week - pass on Wash St. Great write-ups as usual.... Best of luck this week.

 

[Irish]

Fresno (-3.5) over Washington
Fresno played Oregon tough last week and they are going to play a BAD Washington team that let Petterson run all over them last week. The bulldog defense hasn't played too poorly but they have a lot of toughness and should stick with the Huskies. Bannester has to stop throwing interceptions and the Fresno offense will be able to score. Washinton will not beat teams throw the air, Stanback has only throw for 300 yards in 2 games for 1 TD and 1 pick. The key for the Bulldogs is stopping Rankin and James. San Jose St was able to throw the ball against Washington and thats where Bannister will come in huge during this game. The fresno defense will key the run and it will be hard for washington to establish an offense. The huskies will have a tough time against the Bulldogs rushing game. I like the toughness of Fresno and the fact that this team came off a loss going up against IMO a poor defensive team. Yeah the huskies play well at home but the Bulldogs are he better team.

Auburn (-3) over LSU
LSU has played some easy teams and have beaten them up pretty bad. Auburn has defeated Washington State and Mississippi State by a combined score of 74-14 while LSU has outscored Louisiana-Lafayette and Arizona 90-6.Auburn has looked pretty tough against some decent talent and they will be fired up at home for this game. Despite how big LSU won, they turned the ball over three times in Arizona territory in a 45-3 win last Saturday. These squads have split their last six meetings, with the home team winning each time. This should a very good game but I like the home field advantage and considering LSU beat Auburn last season Auburn will be looking for revenge. Irons will run with power and Cox has to play a very good game but Auburn has some GREAT talent on defense. I think the Auburn defense makes a statement in this games and there will be a few big plays on defense at home for Auburn. The Auburn kicker was rubish and went 1-6, but I expect the home field will ease his pressure. This will be a very close game but I like Auburns talent on defense and Irons to grind the ball until playaction take them deep and throught the middle. Landry is very aggressive and if he is thinking Irons then Cox can have a big day.

Cheers
Irish

 

[AR182]

irish..

very nice writeups as usual ...

good luck

 

[Kramer]

Irish, really like your write-ups. Wish I had that
talent. I already am down on Oregon and Fresno.
Thinking about putting more on Oregon. This
will be ugly game for OU. Love both those plays.


:toast:

 

[Irish]

WVU (-16) over Maryland
WVU rolled over its first 2 teams but the starters were pulled early in their last game. The WVU team was looking at maryland during that contest. WVU/Mary is considered a heated rivalry and Slayton and Schmitt even wanted to go to Maryland. In the last contest WVU had a 24 point 4th quarter to beat the terps 31-19. The offensive line for WVU is much stronger than the terps D-line and WVU will control the line of scrimage. Understand William and Mary and mid tenn held Mary to mid 20s and the WVU defense will be a bit harder. The terps will lean on Hollenback but he will struggle in this game. If the Terps get in the redzone they will use Lance Ball and WVU will have to key on him and that will limit Marylands scoring. WVU plays EXTREMELY well at home and they will be emotionally fired up come game time on national TV. Pat White has developed into a duel threat, now he is a threat to pass as well as run. Understand White is completing 77 almost 78 percent of his passes. That is 3 out of 4 and that means drives will be sustained. Then you have to see Slayton rushes for 7.5 yards per carry. The WVU offense is explosive and the return team is also good. The defense is good but not great but they will be ready and fired up. I expect they actually play above the level. This will be a good game but WVU has more talent and at home. This was a rivalry when both teams had talent but WVU is the better team now. A lot of chalk but WVU's offense should run and pass for big plays all night.

Cheers
Irish

 

[Jabberwocky]

Thanks for all the good info and gl on your plays Irish.

 

[NIEM36]

good luck irish. great info as always.

 

[roymunson]

Love the Neers Tonight

Love the Neers Tonight

:firing:
Pack it up boys,,,were going on a Turtle Hunt..GO NEERS!!!!
How bout the first half Irish????

 

[Irish]

ASU (-10) over Colorado
aside from the elevation I do not think the buffalos can stay with this sundevul team on defense. Colorado has looked poor it both its games and the coaching staff does not have the talent to do what they want and the plasyers are not adapting to what the coaches want to do. Hawkins is in for an offense that should light his defense up and the passing game for ASU will not have any problem going deep or even running. Even though ASU is not the best running team. Still 10 points is a lot to spot a road team that does not play well away from home but ASU is far better than Colorado. The ASU defense isn't the greatest but they will not have to be considering what colorado has shown to do on offense. A loss to a 1-AA team and to rival Colorado St means this colorado team is a bit deflated and the home crowd won't be as energetic as it once was and ASU should have to battle overbaring noise.This is mostly a play on a good team vs. a bad one and the offense of ASU. Now saying that ASU can go into games sluggish but I still think the name colorado will get the sundevils ready to play.

Nevada (-2) against Colorado St
Again off the field problems and poor play has hampered the rams production. The rams are not terrible but they will struggle against the pistol offense. Nevada is a very good home team and they are hungry for a win at home. Bell is injured and he is the best player on Colorado st, he is the driving force for the rams and without him they have been in trouble. I do not think Nevada has a great defense but the offense will win this game at home with its fans behind them. If Nevada would have played the first half against Fresno they would have made a game of it and I do not see them starting that slow at home. In this game Nevada has the more potential and thats what I will base this play on.

Cheers
Irish

 

[pt1gard]

gl Irish

i love fresno and took dux long ago -1.5

nice writeups, thanx for the effort

gregg

 

[thebsmanofkent]

Large on Fresno St -3'.....Pat Hill as always will have his team prepared. FSU will play hard and they have a solid combo of running passing game,
along with rising QB in Brandstater. The OL has
3 all-conference players and should control the
play upfront. Washington has close to Zero Home Field advantage. Expect around 50,000 for the
game.....Bulldogs win it by 10-14 pts....Huskies
are pathetic in all phases

GL Irish....:SIB

 

[Irish]

Kansas (+4) over Toledo
This is a scary play considering the rockets play well at home. In 2004 the rockets got steamrolled but these are different teams. Kansas finally has a decent QB in freshman Meier but he is green and has made mistakes in hi 2 games. What I like about him is his mobility, he can scramble and make plays. The jayhawks will lean on RB Cornish who is a good running back and needs to start strong to take pressure off the QB. Kansas is reloading but they have a lot of talent. Mangini is hoping they learn as they go and he thinks the young secondary got a nice lesson last week. That secondsary gets a nive boost with Talib coming back after his suspension. I like the jayhawks aggressive defense and Hedford/Murph in the return games. Big challenge for LB Mortensen, he has to play well and make sure TE Hopkins is covered. Hopkins is the goto guy for toledo and Kansas has to adjust. Parmele is ok running the ball but not in last years form. Cochran is also young and has made big mistake in some situations. Cochran will air the ball out a Kansas must be into position to make the turn over. Mangini said the secondary has been in position but has not attacked the ball but expects them to as they gain experience. Like the Jayhawks running game, scrambling QB, defense and return game. Toledo will be a great match but I think the jayhawks have speed and talent. Wish they weren't so young and want to see the d-line step up and Kansas may win outright.

Cheers
Irish

 

[Jman90]

Iowa State +13.5

Iowa St is 7-1 ATS last 8 games vs Big 10 and 7-1 ATS in last 8 meetings vs Iowa.

I really like this one.

 

[Irish]

J thats a good one considering tate is banged up and they lost a WR during last weeks game. Still looking at a pass with Tate back this is a different team. Thanks for the info

Cheers
Irish

 

[Jman90]

Irish, I think Iowa St plays their best football vs Iowa every year. Should be a great game. GL this weekend.