Week One

[JEFF]

Well, fellas, it's finally here. This offseason seemed especially long and it's good to see all the old names around this place. Hope everyone has been doing well. With no further adue...I rate plays between 1 and 4*.


UMD/N. Illinois under 52, 2*

Maryland may have one of the nation's best defenses this year. Friedgen is known as an offensive guru, so you don;t hear much about it, but this team has lockdown DBs, a couple nasty DTs and a bunch of fast, athletic linebackers.

NIU has been hyping up Turner as the Heisman candidate, so why would you do anything but try to ride him here? Despite the fact they went 8-4 last year, they were actually outgained by opponents. Meantime, Maryland gave up just 16.3 PPG last year and that includes 37 vs FSU and 48 vs UVA.

Another major factor I'm looking at is that MD has FSU coming up in Week two. You think Friedgen might try to use a vanilla gameplan this week and just try to pound the ball? I do.

Biggest danger in this play is if MD blows them out and it becomes one of those games where a bunch of meaningless points are padded on at the end. On the other hand, if the Terps get a big lead, they'll be pretty conservative. Either way, I don't see NIU scoring more than 17 points.

More to come...

 

[ND2002HORNS]

I wonder how good the other Maryland RB's are as Perry is out. Great info and solid opinions about the under. I will definitely take a look. GL

HORNS

 

[DR STRANGELOVE]

nice to see you back Jeff!

Hope all is well!

 

[pt1gard]

hey jeff

hey jeff

just getting ya back for saying HI in the other thread ... I agree with under and Terps have 10/11 top tacklers back too boot


gl, gregg

 

[BASON]

With regards to the running back issue, Josh Allen is actually a much better runner than Perry. He is only a sophmore and will be a star. He will go well over 100 tonight.

I agree that MD's defense is very good and that Turner will not be able to run the ball.

Good luck!

 

[worm44]

Cant believe all the people on N.Ill....Maryland all nite

 

[JEFF]

Anthony -- What's up with the permanent name change my man? I thought TTM$ was pretty, well, money. Nice avatar, too.

Gregg- Hope hoops is treating you well. I'll email you this weekend.

NDHorns- Bason is correct -- Allen is a star in the making. 8 Tds in 60 carries last year and about 6 ypc .. as a true freshman. And they have a few kids behind him who can go, including the Ohio State transfer Maldonado, who was an All American in HS.

Back in a bit.

 

[JEFF]

Teaser: UMD -2.5, UConn pick, 2*

I like the Terps to possibly win big, but several circumstances scare me a bit about laying 8.5. No way Terps lose this one. Meantime, UConn opens up a new era in its first game in its brand new 45,000 person facility. Indiana was terrible against the run last year, ranking 113th. Its top tackler, a freshman LB, transferred to walk on at Ohio state.

This UConn team has the potential to be a big money maker this year. Good QB, excellent RB in Caulley and an improving level of skill in the program. This is a program on the rise. I simply cannot see them losing this season opener to a very suspect IU team.



Kent +13, 1* Too many points for a team with so many defensive issues. Yes, Akron has its whole offense back, but lets not make them the 99 Rams. Kent has a poor man's Vick in Josh Cribbs and returns a very good RB in Alston. If their D plays well, they'll have a chance to be in this one in the late stages. So getting 13 is too good to pass on, even if it means betting on a team that was very bad ATS and in general last year.

BTW, the consensus on Akron is 70%

Prop: NIU team total under 21.5 (-120), 2*

Like this one a bunch. Under Friedgen, Terps have allowed more than 21 points five times in 26 games. Those were the only five losses during his two seasons: FSU twice, Florida, UVA and Notre Dame. NIU is not in that class.

 

[baltimore buc]

Cant believe all the people on N.Ill....Maryland all nite

My two consensus reports have 70% on Maryland? Would like to know where you got this information? That is one of the main reasons I am on the Huskies tonight. Maryland is a little banged up {Starters Bruce Perry (ankle), Lamar Bryant (broken foot) and Steve Suter (hamstring)}, traveling to a non-conference oponent, with the look ahead to the Noles next week. Plus the fact that 3/4 of the public are on Maryland.

I am with Northern Illinois -8 for 1 unit.

Good Luck To All

 

[TJBELL]

I am with Northern Illinois -8 for 1 unit.

Good Luck To All

Hope ya' mean +8!!!

 

[baltimore buc]

Hope ya' mean +8!!!

Whoops

Huskies +8

Thanks

 

[TJBELL]

Lived in Elkridge for 2+ years and worked in Columbia, MD too.

Glad to be here in Florida.

Good luck Baltimore Buc !!!!!

 

[JEFF]

Akron/Kent over 61, 2*


P.S. What's up T.J. (AKA Mr. Halftime ).

 

[baltimore buc]

Lived in Elkridge for 2+ years and worked in Columbia, MD too.

Glad to be here in Florida.

Good luck Baltimore Buc !!!!!

Thanks TJBELL - grew up north of Pittsburgh, moved to Baltimore about 5 years ago, hence Baltimore Buc. First love, watching college football, 2) MY BUCCOS, although they are rebuilding, 3) LETS GO PENS 4) STILLERS, although living in Baltimore makes being a Stillers fan even more fun.

Columbia - nice area.

GL

 

[JEFF]

Teaser costs me a big night ... that pretty much sums up teasers. No matter how good they look...

4-1, +4.3*

 

[DR STRANGELOVE]

nice job jeff!

 

[ND2002HORNS]

Great night!

HORNS

 

[taoist]

...nice night, Jeff. keep 'em coming.

 

[JEFF]

Thanks very much for the props fellas.


Adding Toledo pick (BOS), 2*

This doesn't have much to do with the loss of Johnson, although that is a blow. Wide receivers are replaceable.

I do think that the suspensions could be playing on the minds of other kids who are going to miss games and create a general distraction. Toledo on the other hand comes in focused. They have the better coach, a big and talented OL and a system that is proven to work. This team gained seven yards perplay last year, 2nd in the nation! I'm sure they wouldn't mind erasing that awful bowl game loss either.

 

[JEFF]

Adding Clemson+3, 2*

Huge game for Bowden. Must win. I think he's got the parts to do it. Clemson has a lot of talent but remains underrated. The OL and WR corps return basically complete. QB WHitehurst has plenty of WR targets and an emerging HB in Kelly.

UGA is hurting with a ton of injuries and some suspensions. They're especially short on bodies in the secondary, not a good omen against Clemson. There's gonna be 80k in Death Valley. This line should be a pick em.