Week One Card (Aug 30- Sept 1st)

[Irish]

South Carolina (-6.5) over Vandy
Questions a bunch to fill the gamecocks secondary and playing a guy named Rodgers. That's enought to scare most but I'm not sold that Vandy will give him enough time to throw. Basically you have to wonder who is south Carolina on defense. We should feel pretty strong the are Lattimore on offense. Is this the year of the end rusher for SC with Clowney on the edge? Are the linebacker going to be able to get in the backfield with all the new faces on the defensive line. Tonight I am going off athletic ability vs a weak Vandy offensive line. I think SC can send a lot at Rodgers and unless I missed something last year they will shut him down. Unlike big bro this Rodgers rarely scrambles to buy time to throw. If is in his face he is running then the speed of south carolina can contain him. Week one always presents questions but you have to think defensive vs offensive line is advantage gamecocks. Past injured runners a plenty in this game as both return back off injury. Although I am not a big fan of the gamecock line I think the have and advantage with Lattimore falling forward. It will be a test but he seems to always get positive yards and if he has the push in the knee he can help ease pressure on the gamecock qb. His presence should be enough to go play action on the first play for a big game. I like Vandy and this team always plays well at home but I have to think south Carolina is the better overall team in the speed and playmaking department. I can't wait to watch but I am thinking that with so many unknowns on vandys offense the gamecocks dial up a ton of rush. If they do that I just don't think Vandy can keep Rodgers off his back. The rush also shortens the amount of time the inexperience secondary has to cover. Looking forward to seeing Carolina's qb play. They havent really had a great qb under center and I think this kid is ready to make so big steps.

GL to all this season

Cheers
Irish

 

[Irish]

Not a good start, that QB needs to slide a bit more.


Boise (+7) over Mich St
I am very interested in why everyone looks at boise as a full TD less than Michigan because they are on the road and lost talent from last year. Perhaps I am missing something in the fact Peterson has won six season openders against some of the best teams in college football aqnd in some of those games he did not have returning players at every postion. I am well aware of the broncos losing nine starters on defense, the most wining QB in ncaa the top running back and I am sure a few other players of importance. I mean I'll give Mich state credit on defense they are a good group but I think Boise recruits well on defense and from what I have seen they are very fast and an impressive front seven. Reminder they have held VT, Georgia and Oregon in the run game. Thats some player but more gameplan. Not like Boise throws out a hundred first rounders every year. They have a smart coach and solid talent base. Please remember that even though Mich state returns a solid defensive core they are looking to answer questions at WR and QB. I mean I am more looking at this like system vs MSU defense and run game. Hawkins and Peterson have been able to plug and play at Boise and I am sure they will do the same with the guys that are on the field. Granted they might not have the special player but they have a good group. I am interested to see if Mich state sends the house. I hope they dial it up because the QB for Boise is a decent runner, remember back in the Zabranski/Dinwitty days. Should be a fun game to watch but I would rather take a TD against a team that has always changed moving parts compared to a team that will lean heavy on the run and hope to hold on defense. Should be a fun game to watch.

NC State (+3.5) over Tenn
Whats in a name, well it looks like 3 points. If Tenn was in any other conference they would not be a three point fav coming in off last season where they were calling for the coaches head. 1-7 in the SEC last year yet they are the fav because they play in the football confrence while NC state is in the basketball confrence. Now I LIKE Tennesse on offense in regard to line. They return a solid group but they would not be one of the top lines in the country (JMHO). Defense, sorry to say edge goes in favor of NC state. They return all the players from a great coverage unit and added an all american. That means they can dial up some different looks involving blitzes because they can trust man or cover one. I see this a more a passing game then a running game but Tenn will attempt the run a bit more. Both teams have a solid quarterbacks and a decent group of recievers. I think O'Brien is head and shoulders above Dooley regarding coaching ability. This will be a very explosive game but I liked what NC state brings to the table even if they are not a one man running game. They will throw a bunch of backs at Tenn and see what sticks. I mean don't get me wrong Tenn could be much deeper than NC St but I don't see it. QB edge to NC St because he has more experience, WR Tenn has edge speed but not by much, Oline Tenn slight edge, defensive line edge NC St on edge, LB smash, secondary NC edge, kicking smash and coaching NC st. SO either Tenn shows me something they haven't in the two years under dooley (11-14) or they show that they are just not as organized and finely tuned and make mistakes or are out gameplaned. I think NC secondary causes Bray a lot of issues and then Dooley has to press and it will cause problems. Or Tenn uses that edge in athletic recruiting being in the SEc and puts the pieces together and over comes the suspension of the best WR and punches NC in the mouth. Either way I like the three with the edge NC st shows.


I'm gonna try and drop into some guys threads and say GL. If I miss a thread apologies. GL to all at MJ's.

:toast:

Cheers
Irish

 

[Statman02]

on both......gl to us

 

[LDB]

good luck this season buddy... :0074

 

[Irish]

LDB
Thanks brother... hope the family is good!

Like it statman... GL

Cheers

 

[#cruncher]

Your always a good read Irish and usually profitable.

 

[Corley1011]

Good to have you back Irish :toast:


GL this year!! :toast:

 

[capping-guru]

Always appreciate the write-ups! You are one of the best cappers on here and I always look for your work. GL this season!

 

[tulah]

Always appreciate the write-ups! You are one of the best cappers on here and I always look for your work. GL this season!

:iagree:

Best of luck this season Irish:toast:

 

[Irish]

Hanks guys!
Split the night 1-2 on the season.

Top O The Morn
ND (-14.5) over Navy
Well I think this is terrible value as I'm sure the book knows every person likes the thought of ND in the emerald city. I am looking practicality. I wonder if navy will run the option. Nd has a lot of speed at defense this year. I think Chip has the players in place to see some of the offense he made his name on. I really like the ND oline. I have question with the qb but this guy "won" the job. I hope he won it and wasn't just the best option. I am sure ND will be more taken with the trip than Navy but after the nerves settle down I see the ND offense consistently moving the ball and the defense well positions to limit the option. Navy will be a tough test but I think nd has the talent to back up the fighting Irish swagger. FYI watch the linebackers for ND. We all know #5 but some new faces should jump off the film at you.

Morning Jameson Patato eggs and links. Yes please.
Cheers
Irish

 

[capping-guru]

Irish off to a great start! GL

 

[Irish]

Clemson (-3.5) over auburn
No Watkins hurts but Boyd is the guy I think makes the difference. Going into his second year as a starter Boyd has to emerge into a special player. Aurburn is fast on defense so I think if Boyd uses his legs and arm he can lead. Lemson to big things this year. Both tigers have questions on offensive line and solid playmakers on the defensive fronts. Special players scatter through both teams at skill position. Really qb is the position that this game hinges on. Do these returning qbs step up. If I am looking at those guys I lean Boyd and that is where I think Clemson will edge. They will move the ball better keeping Aurburn off balance. This mix of pass and qb scramble is the edge I am really leaning on.

Don't have a ton of time to write these up.
Northwestern over Cuse
Like the coaching and offense for the wildcats. They have a qb that saw action last year. Cuse has a solid returnIng group but northwestern has a bit more outside speed.

Marshall (+27) over WVU
I am high on WVU but these pass offenses often take a few games before the fire. Every year in the friends of coal the herd come to play. I see WVU winning but I see Marshall fighting. Remember they do get some solid recruits. The old coach that used to bring in guys like Irvine and Devine is bringing in herd players. Expect the little brother in the state to push back until big bro smacks them towards the end of the game. WVU has great up side on offense but I expect timing might be off.

Miami (-2.5) over BC
Just think Miami has a lot of unknown potential to be a fast scary team.

Mich (+14) over bama
Bama head above mich but I want to see what the wolverines rb k now that Hoke has his guys and his gameplan.


Cheers
Irish

 

[Irish]

Kentucky(+13.5) over Louisville
I like the cards talent and they have done a good job recruiting. Kentucky has looked bad the past two years losing seven in each. Joker Phillips is going to either put it together or he is out. Louisville has a good defense and the the best player in bridgewater. Now looking at Kentucky they have talent but it isn't deep. They need to play as a unit if they don't want to be exposed. Can the wildcats find a player at qb. That is the biggest question considering they haven't had a reliable player at qb in many years. Now this is a rivalry game and it is a big boost for whoever wins regarding recruiting. Both team have all state players but Louisville has a farther reach recruiting. Those kids are coming because of Strong and that's the advantage. Still I think the Cats are starting off the season with a lot of hope and expectations. I do have concerns because those hopes are not seen on the field over the past two years. Still I have not seen why Louisville deserves the respect they are getting in the pre season. Both teams will play hard and I like the points. Cards can make me a believer after this game but going in I see two mid teams that are equal on most fronts. In that case I bite on the points.

SMU (+7.5) over Baylor
This is a play based on the players Baylor lost. This is not a team that is two or three players deep in positions and they lost a lot of special players that you can't just replace. June jones is in the make or break time of turning this team around. He has made baby steps but I think the have enough talent to stay I. This game and even win it. I question both teams on defense. Both teams run spread offenses and I just think it will be tougher for Baylor to get those big plays. This looks like a game where it goes back and forth with a lot of big plays.

SMU/Baylor OVER 58.5
Same info as above because looking over this we can see big scoring plays in abundance. Each team have the ability to post 30 easy. These offenses tend to start slow but when you have had the same coach running this gameplan for over three years the team should know how to fire

Cheers
Irish

Plus one one the season so far.

Cheers
Irish