Jingling all the way

Merry Christmas all.

Like many of you, my holiday season has been busy this year. Basically I've got a road trip that will take me through Southern Massachusetts westward to Upstate NY and back to Eastern Mass. So I've got some car time ahead of me, but before I hit the road to continue spreading Christmas Cheer I'll let you in on a few things to look for in the upcoming bowl action.

Tonight
Motor City Bowl
Florida Atlantic vs Central Michigan

Congrats to Coach Schnellenberger for building an FAU program that is playing in back-to-back bowl games for the first time ever. The Owls are a program on the rise in the Sunshine State. But Central Michigan is no slouch. They can score and have put up big numbers all year. I like the Chips to take this one by about 10 points. Look for a score somewhere in the high 30s. If the Owls can figure out a way to contain NFL prospect Dan LeFevour this one could be closer than I expect. But otherwise, I think we're looking at a Central Michigan win in front of a hometown crowd. Prediction: CM 38, FAU 27.

I'll check back in with some more updates when time permits. Its time to log a few highway miles now (302 to be exact). Until next time, I wanna wish you a Merry Christmas from the bottom of my hea-ah-aaart.

-El Beavo

Slowing it down...

So you're living in Orlando and you don't know what to do next weekend, eh? Well I'll tell you what to do: get your buddies together, find a car, and GO TO THE FUCKING ST PETERSBURG BOWL, ASSHOLE!!

We have entered the slow period of time during every college football season where fans can recharge their batteries and take in some FCS playoff action they would normally miss out on. Whether your team(s) are bowl bound or in the midst of a coaching change, this weekend provides a little R&R before bowl mania kicks off. So take a deep breath, stretch your legs, and if you feel the need, snag yourself a cat nap. Because you're going to need all of the energy you can get next week.

Now, here is a continuation of our comprehensive bowl coverage, picking up where we left off:

12/20/08
Magic Jack St Petersburg Bowl
South Florida vs Memphis

I repeat- if you are reading this and you live in the state of Florida you should attend this game.

The Bulls have the home field advantage in this one, so expect a not-so-neutral field at Tropicana Field. And if you're a Bulls fan that's a good thing because you're going to need all the help you can get. USF is sputtering right now, losing 4 of its last five games after a season that started with such high expectations for Matt Grothe & Co. Since then, the Bulls have slipped from the rankings, their conference race, and the nation's radar. On the plus side, a solid performance in this game could be just what the doctor ordered. The Bulls need to pump some oxygen into their program- and fast- if they want to get back on track heading into spring practice. On the flip side, the Memphis Tigers are playing good football right now going 6-3 after an 0-3 start. Both teams' defenses appear to be superior to their opponents' offenses, so look for this to be a low-scoring affair. I give Memphis the edge based on offensive production and the lack thereof at USF.

USF Keys:
1. Eliminate turnovers- they are -7 in the turnover battle in their last 5 games.
2. Field position- Bulls' offense needs help from their defense
3. Create space for Grothe- he is the ideal "X-Factor" in an evenly-matched game like this

Memphis Keys:
1. Stay composed- Bulls are a desperate team right now- don't give them opportunities to make plays
2. Creativity on offense- don't let USF defense settle into groove
3. Lock down Grothe- the Bulls go where he takes them

12/20/08
Las Vegas Bowl
BYU vs Arizona

Don't let the numbers fool you. Both teams are averaging mid 30s in offensive production and 21 ppg yielded on defense. On paper, this baby looks even. But the Cougs are far superior to the happy-to-be-bowling Wildcats. Surely, if you're a BYU fan you were hoping for a better bowl bid than this, but it beats sitting at home this time of year. So there is a let down factor with BYU, who is coming off a 48-24 loss to Utah. But don't expect coach Bronco Mendenhall to let his Cougs wallow in self pity. They will be tuned up for an old fashioned ass whooping of Arizona come gameday. The Cats, on the other hand, are making their first bowl appearance in a decade. Their offense is potent, but mainly against teams with average or below average defenses. The old adage "sometimes the best defense is a good offense" certainly applies here, for both teams. Unfortunately for Arizona, the BYU offense is a juggernaut. I don't see the Cats keeping up with the Mormons in this one. Too much firepower and not enough answers on Stoops' sideline.

BYU Keys:
1. Play your game. You're the better team so just execute asshole.
2. Don't get caught watching the scoreboard. UA will get its share of points, but it can't get you down.
3. Stop marrying multiple people.

Arizona Keys:
1. Maximize breaks. Red zone attempts have to be TDs, not FGs. Turnovers must lead to pts.
2. Keep the game manageable- fall behind 2 TDs and its over.
3. Blitzing & run defense- take your chances on the deep ball; use pressure to create chaos.

12/21/08
New Orleans Bowl
Troy vs Southern Mississippi

The New Orleans Bowl Committee could not be happier with the game they've produced. This match up is intriguing on many levels, namely because it appears as though it'll be a shootout. Southern Miss finished with 4 wins to become bowl-eligible. Troy enjoyed another successful regular season campaign in the Sun Belt, nearly notching a landmark road win at LSU mid season.

Troy can hurt you in several ways on offense. They spread out their attack and force defenses to guard against more options than is possible. This leaves options available on every play unless you can get to the QB early and disrupt the timing and rhythm of their plays. Southern Miss has found its stride at the right time, entering the game red-hot on both sides of the ball. Their ball-hawking defense has been extremely efficient in the turnover battle, giving their offense great starting field position. If they continue this trend Troy will have all it can handle from the Eagles. The Sunday night time slot gives this game a higher profile than it would otherwise have, enabling more people to tune in for what promises to be a thriller.

Troy Keys:
1. Spread the ball around on offense.
2. Exploit 5-10 yard passing game. Get the ball in playmakers' hands in space.
3. Protect the ball. So Miss defense thrives on turnovers.

So Miss Keys:
1. Create Turnovers. +10 TO margin in last 4 games (all wins).
2. Control the tempo of the game.
3. Frustrate Troy's offense. Troy's attack is lethal when running smoothly. Force them to work outside their norm and your turnover opportunities will arise.

There. Three more bowl previews for you, free of charge. Don't thank me- tis the season to give. Get some rest this weekend because you're going to need it when we kick off the bowl games next weekend. Don't forget Montana @ James Madison tonight at 8 and Richmond @ Northern Iowa tomorrow at 4.

-Beav

Bryant @ BC basketball post game thoughts

I had the pleasure of attending a Bryant Bulldogs basketball game for the first time on Wednesday evening as a blog reader named Ray and I were able to score some last minute tix. Unfortunately the vistors didn't have what it took to upset Boston College, but what was a 31 point game with about 12 mins remaining actually turned into a competitive game down the stretch as Bryant rallied to close the game within about 10 points by the 4 minute mark. BC steadied themselves, however, shooting the ball well and making some athletic plays to finally seal the win.

For a while, Ray and I were wondering if BC, who looked flat, would be able to finish off a scrappy bunch from Bryant in search of only their second win in 8 tries. The Eagles looked flat at times, but coach Al Skinner did what he had to do to keep them focused and preserve the win in front of an empty Conte Forum. Had the Bulldogs' shot selection been better this one may have been closer, and indeed if they had an inside presence they would have given the Eagles all they could handle.

All in all it was a low energy game with little crowd involvement, save a few Bryant supporters that made the hour or so drive from Smithfield. Since the place was empty we pretty much had our pick of where we wanted to sit. Thus it surprised me that BC charged $20 a ticket for admission to an event scalpers could not give tickets away for (actually we paid $5). I think the athletic department should consider lowering ticket prices for games like this, or make them a part of a buy one get one ticket plan so they could get a few more bodies in the building and actually have an atmosphere with a pulse. So just for future reference, if you're planning on taking in a game at the Heights my advice would be to shop around online first to see what ticket deals you can get your hands on. Its not a bad way to spend your weeknight, but certainly not worth the $20 charged at the ticket office (however ACC games may be a different story- I've never attended one at BC).

Ray Bentley Update

Just a quick tip of the hat to Ray Bentley, who once again shouldered the load for ESPN2 by broadcasting the Division II playoff game between North-Somebody and Something Alabama State. We gave him a Beavie a few weeks ago to recognize his efforts in broadcasting the under-the-radar sports, and this past weekend was no different. Here's to you Ray Bentley- see you at the Las Vegas Bowl.

The "Beavies"

Allright guys, its time to hand out some awards here at the Beaver Dam. So we're starting the first edition of The Beavies. Hosted by yours truly, Beaver McBeavington, we'll take you through the best and worst figures in sports. Well, you know how the awards work, so I'm going to cut through the bullshit and get down to it...


Coach Most Deserving of a Nut Punch:

Jimmy Johnson. OK, so he doesn't coach anymore. But I challenge anyone over the age of 15 to think of someone you'd rather give the old 1-2 combo to than JJ? From his hair to his attitude to his on-air persona, this guy's gotta get under your skin. I don't care who you are, he'll get ya. Give him time to talk and you'll most definitely hear about how he did things at The U and in Dallas. One thing he doesn't mention? His failed attempt to make a running team out of the Miami Dolphins, a team who hadn't run the ball well since the days of Csonka and Kiick. A team armed with Dan Marino, arguably the best quarterback of all time. His strategy? Drafting criminals. Lawrence Phillips, Cecil "The Diesel" Collins, et al. Hey, it worked at The U and it worked in Dallas, so why not try it with the 'Fins?

Honorable Mention:
Bobby Petrino, Arkansas
Nick Saban, Alabama
Rich Rodriguez, Michigan

Guy I'd most like to have as a coach:

Mike Leach, Texas Tech. Runs a fun operation with a wide-open offense and loves to bust balls on the media. Hopefully Leach will ditch the Raiders after they failed to committ him to a long-term deal.

Mark Cuban. OK, so he's not a coach either. Big deal. Tell me it wouldn't be fun to play on a team he coached. Think about it- your team might suck but you'd be arriving in style anywhere you went and there would be endless opportunities to bust balls on your coach.

Honorable Mention:
Mike Ditka
Pete Carroll

Broadcaster you wish would get fired:

Tim McCarver. Timmy Mac is probably on top of a lot of peoples' lists. His constant Mr Obvious comments, and incessant need to fill dead air with his yammering makes this guy intolerable. I know I'm not alone when I say I sometimes watch his broadcasts with the mute button on.

Honorable Mention:
Terry Bradshaw
Joe Morgan
Tony Kornheiser

Broadcaster you'd sign to a franchise deal:

John Madden. I probably just pissed off a ton of people, but I'm sticking to my guns. Televised sports need more people like John Madden. There, I said it. Fuck you. At least when Madden is doing a game he'll get off topic, unlike some of these hard-ons who think that the only thing your mind is focused on is the game you're watching. My hat is off to Madden for being able to realize when a game is slow, peoples' minds are drifting so you might as well float along with them. When a game reaches blowout status, Madden is your man. He'll take color commentating to the next level by posing questions about what you are most likely contemplating- why the referees changed their uniforms, how much do the odds go up that you'll end up with a souvenir football if you sit in the first 5 rows of the stadium, why are the rules for tackling a quarterback so pussified now? And he'll go on and on until he runs out of time. The man deserves an award, so I'm here to give him a Beavie baby.

Honorable Mention:
Ray Bentley. THIS GUY deserves a raise. Fucking ESPN gives him the AFL and every Tuesday or Wednesday college football game they can get their hands on. And the guy does a terrific job selling himself that he's actually interested in the Dallas Desperados playoff chances vs the Arizona Rattlers. Watch an AFL game next season sometime and see what I mean. You'll find yourself wrapped up in talks about the "Jack" linebacker and his role in AFL ball.

There, that's episode 1 of the Beavies. We'll get you some more later in the year. This should be enough to get you through your Friday.

Syracuse Head Coach

Lately all of the speculation about Syracuse firing Head Coach Greg Robinson before the season is over has produced a lot of rumors. Mostly its the fans who want Robinson out- and quickly. There is a growing number of Orange fans who want change and want it now, in hopes of getting a head start on recruiting and preparations for next season. Let's take a look at some of the talk that's been going on and what it might lead to.

Right now there is an abundance of people predicting Lane Kiffin (fired by the Oakland Raiders yesterday) will be Robinson's successor. Kiffin is young (early 30s), has a little more than a season's worth of head coaching experience among the professional ranks (combined record of 5-15), zero head coaching experience at the college level, and ties to SU Athletic Director Darryl Gross. He was highly touted as an assistant before getting his first head coaching role- which he may have landed before he was ready for it. Sound familiar? It should if you follow the Orange, because essentially that's how Greg Robinson came to the Syracuse campus to take the reigns of an at-the-time-average-but-slowly-declining football program (it should be noted that Robinson had no previous head coaching experience whatsoever). I do not profess to be an expert on Lane Kiffin, but personally, I do not see him as the right man for the job. To me, if the Orange fire Robinson and hire Kiffin they are going in circles. They need to take a look at some other established coaches who have run programs, been to bowl games, and can recruit the NJ/CT market that SU used to own. Thus far under Robinson, the recruiting scene has been destroyed, they have been to zero bowl games, and they have produced just 2 Big East Conference wins.

As a fan, I've always felt that the Syracuse name is one to carry some weight; it should be able to draw recruits based upon its winning tradition, among many other selling points (they currently rank 14th on the all time wins list). Instead, we have watched the quality of SU recruits diminish for the last 4 seasons, and it will take some serious work to get back in power in the Northeast market. Given the state of the program and the obstacles they have to overcome, I believe Kiffin is the wrong hire for Syracuse at this point in time. In my opinion, they should focus on a coach who has collegiate coaching experience. Someone who has won, someone who has run a team and recruited, someone who has won bowl games- a guy with a 'national' name if you can get him. They need a coach who can come in and take over, rejuvenate the team with confidence, and establish a firm base for the program. The players may like Greg Robinson as a person, but it is clear in their actions and interviews that they do not believe in him as a coach.

Continuing on the path of speculation you will find former Michigan Head Coach Lloyd Carr. Many SU fans believe Carr is the right man for the job. In fact, rumors are circulating (none confirmed yet) about Lloyd sightings on the Syracuse campus. If this is true, I think Gross is in the right mind set. Another name I would throw into the fold would be Terry Bowden. He's a football pedigree, born and bred, and has the experience to go with it. As a fan, I would be happy with either of these two hires.

We could go on all day throwing names into the mix but the point is Syracuse needs a new head coach who can get them back to competing. That is the first step. Not winning national championships. Not winning conference titles. Playing competitive football games. Robinson has talked for hours upon hours about being competitive and seeing positive growth and results on the field and insisted that his teams are improving and about to take the next step. But in the 3 + seasons he's been working the SU sidelines we have seen no concrete evidence. The poor tackling/lack of conditioning/missed blocks/general look of confusion hinges on one thing: preparation. The Orange have not been properly prepared to win games. They need a coach who can teach them how to win, how to finish off a game. Hell, at this point I'd settle for someone who can teach them how to stay in a game.

When all is said and done I think you have to let Robinson stay until he can no longer reach his goal of going to a bowl this season. That was the team's goal at the start of the season and it is only fair to give Robinson a shot at reaching his goals with the group of seniors that he recruited. Right now they are 1-4. Barring some sort of miracle, they will likely be eliminated from bowl contention in a matter of weeks. At that point I think it is fair to let Robinson go and either work with an interim or bring in a new coach if the guy you want is willing to sign. While I agree that it would be a positive step for recruiting to bring in a new coach sooner than later, a football season is too precious, too valuable to just throw away. You cannot quit before you've even been eliminated from the post-season. SU fans need to sit tight for the time being. I know that is tough with it being bye week and all, but better days are ahead for sure. And the reality is that the list of available & attractive coaches is still too thin to be cashing in your chips at this point in the season.

week 2 picks

With no further ado, here are my picks for week 2.

My picks in Bold. Home team in CAPS.


NCAA Football
Thursday, Sept. 4
South Carolina 10 VANDERBILT 'Cocks shocked in Nashville

Friday, Sept. 5
BALL STATE 7½ Navy Cards in ball-deep with Navy, can't cover
Saturday, Sept. 6
MICHIGAN STATE 21½ E Michigan Sparty stops sucking, starts playing
SYRACUSE 4½ Akron Come on, they gotta beat the Zips.....Right??
MICHIGAN 14½ Miami OH Mich will get their pts since it is Miami OH
Northwestern 7 DUKE Bacher avenges last year's eyesore, wins big
BOSTON COLLEGE 7 Georgia Tech Always a tight matchup, Jackets cover
WVU 8½ ECU 1st the Chokies; and WVU has a way of losing these games
BOWLING GREEN 5½ Minn Gophers dig a hole early, can't get out
AUBURN 18½ Southern Miss Too many points to give the Eagles
ALABAMA 30 Tulane 'Bama too much for hard-luck Tulane
NEBRASKA 25½ San Jose State Neb pounds 2nd lightweight
OREGON 35½ Utah State Ducks too fast for Aggies
OKLAHOMA 20½ Cincinnati Prepared 'Cats cover in Norman
OHIO STATE 34 Ohio Tressel learns, rests starters earlier
WISCONSIN 21 Marshall Badgers sabotage Marshall plan
FLORIDA 21 Miami Fl Former rivalry now another UF 'W'
Texas Tech 9½ NEVADA Wild Westshootout overheats scoreboard
GEORGIA 23½ Cent Mich Lefevour has game effort vs Dawgs
PENN ST 16 Oregon St Beav not sold on Beavs in Beaver
WYOMING 3 Air Force Cowboys' offense redeems itself
NOTRE DAME 21½ San Diego St Cal Poly? Irish will roll
Texas A&m 2½ NEW MEXICO Aggies survive 0-2 start
PITTSBURGH 13 Buffalo McCoy leads the way for Panthers
OKLA STATE 16 Houston Gotta love Cougars
IOWA STATE 7½ Kent Your unsexy matchup award. No homo
WAKE FOREST 7½ Mississippi Wake overpowers Rebels
California 13½ WASHINGTON ST Already took the Cougs once
WESTERN MICH 6 NO Illinois Broncos by 3
USF 14 UCF Best football game in FL this week
Connecticut 7 TEMPLE Owls not ready till proven otherwise
KANSAS 20½ Louisiana Tech Hawk offense smoother this wk
MEMPHIS 4 Rice http://www.freerice.com/
UTAH 21½ Unlv Utes on everyone's radar, impress again
ARIZONA 22½ Toledo Rockets shitting their pants after UA 70 pt win
ARIZONA STATE 14 Stanford Devils have to play D; barely cover
Texas 26 UTEP Rowdy confines of the Sun Bowl don't mess w/Texas
IOWA 27 FIU Even Iowa can dunk if you give them a breakaway
ARKANSAS 12 UL Monroe Unfortunately Petrino gets his shit together
Tulsa 21 NORTH TEXAS This ain't your daddy's UNT
FLORIDA ATLANTIC 14 UAB Owls take flight after shaky week 1
Maryland 13½ MIDDLE TENN ST ACC continues to get bent over
LSU 24½ Troy State game ppd

Its good to be back

Well, this year's opening weekend may not have been as exciting as last year's, but it is still nice to have the season finally underway. It was also good to see some teams from non-BCS conferences flex their muscles (read East Carolina, Arkansas State). Congratulations to the Campbell University football team who played their first game since my father was born. The Camels lost 12-6 to Birmingham Southern in front of a sold-out crowd.

VEGAS, BABY:

On the handicapping front, my weekend was pretty similar to the ho-hum games that were played on the field. I finished up 42-39 overall- 1 game over .500 ATS and 2 games over for Totals. We'll look to improve on that mark this coming week now that we've had a look at most of the teams. One other note on the handicapping, if I may- I get so sick of all of these handicapping services that brag non-stop about their records in Thursday night non-conference games played on the East Coast in September. Do they honestly think they have a gift for picking these games more accurately than other games?? Like its as if they factor in that the game is being played on a Thursday night? Or was it the fact that the game is in September that swayed their pick from one team to another? All I can picture is some asshole sitting at a desk trying to pick a winner for the NC State/South Carolina game, when all of a sudden a lightbulb goes off and he remembers that this game is a non-conference matchup on the East Coast, so surely the Gamecocks will cover. And that's why you should use his services. Gimme a fuckin' break asshole. Just man-up and tell us that you called that game correctly, but also tell us that you blew the Stanford/Oregon State game the same night (for the record I did not hit on either of these games- just an example). There, I had to get that off my chest before we get into a season's worth of handicapping and you guys think I'm going to give you the ol' "I was 10-0 ATS in Saturday games involving teams using a 4-3 defense" routine.

ORANGE UPDATE:

Syracuse opened their season with another hope-stealing defeat, this time at the hands of Northwestern. The Orange are now 0-4 in openers under Greg Robinson, and have been offensively inept thus far. Unfortunately I was only able to watch the last quarter of the game as the Wilcats put the game away, but by looking at the box score it did not sound like a fun game to watch if you are an Orange fan.

Next up is Akron at 3:30 Saturday. The Orange are 4 point favorites.

LOCAL FORECAST:

The Ivy League teams remained idle this week, as did UNH, Holy Cross, and Sacred Heart.

The Northeastern Huskies took a beating during their road trip to Muncie to take on Ball State. They have a week off before back-to-back away games at Georgia Southern and Syracuse.

This week's Nut Kick Game (NKG) featured a close win from Rhode Island over Jersey-based Monmouth, 27-24. This one burned particularly bad because I was unable to attend due to work, but was within a few miles, or a drunken walk of the stadium. Burn #2 came when my colleague Ray showed up for a day at the beach wearing a shirt that just said "Jersey," which stung on its own, but then it reminded me of the Monmouth game I had missed, so it peppered me again.

Central Connecticut State topped Bryant, who is transitioning to FCS level football. I have yet to take in a game at Bryant but you can consider it on my to-do list. Rounding out the local action was UMASS, who started their season strong with a 28-16 win over Albany. Look for the Minutemen to win the A-10 this year and make another playoff appearance.

WEEKNIGHT PICKS:

I like Vanderbilt as 10-point home 'dogs against South Carolina. The 'Cocks put up some late scores against NC State that made the game look like more of a blowout than it really was, and Vanderbilt will not let SC come to Nashville and dominate on both sides of the ball. The Commodores won last year's meeting, so look for a motivated SC team seeking revenge. Should be a close game- I like Vandy to win outright by a field goal or less.

With no offense to Towson, Navy will have its first real test under first year Head Coach Ken Niumatalolo on Friday night as they travel to Muncie (2 Muncie mentions in the same blog?) to face a Ball State team that is coming off of a bowl season. Uncle Sam wants YOU to take Navy +7.5.

That's all for now.

Beav

The Beav's Picks: week 1

Hey there, thanks for stopping by. We're glad you could join us for another exciting year of beating the spread. This year we've decided to go at it bloggy-style so we can mix in some "Beaver Tales" from tailgating scenes across the country (well, mainly from the Northeast, but across the country when we can pull it off). Here are your picks for week 1 of the football season (for entertainment purposes only, obviously):

UTEP @ Buffalo -3 UNDER 58.5 Turner Gill opens as a winner
Troy -6.5 @ Mid Tenn OVER 53 Trojans win heated rivalry
Vandy +4 @ Miami OH OVER 40.5 "Friendly" road environment for the 'Dores
Wake -12 @ Baylor UNDER 51 Bears still searching for answers
NC State +13.5 @ South Carolina OVER 45 Battle of coaches comes down to special teams
Oregon State -3 @ Stanford OVER 46 Huge impact in the lower-class of the Pac 10
Temple @ Army +7.5 OVER 43 Cadets could surprise with an outright win
SMU @ Rice -3.5 UNDER 71 Mustangs not as cool as their name; clawed by Eagles
Syracuse +11.5 @ N'Western OVER 57.5 Hoping for a good start
W.Kentucky @ Indiana -20.5 UNDER 56 Better matchup on the hardwood
Va Tech -9.5 @ East Carolina OVER 48 Pirates keep it close, VT pulls away in the end
Bowling Green @ Pitt -13 UNDER 56.5 Panthers' running game too strong for weak BG Def
Akron @ Wisconsin -26.5 UNDER 53.5 Pretender Wisconsin will look the part
Hawaii +35 @ Florida OVER 71.5 Colt who? Hawaii rebuilds, struggles in The Swamp
Ohio @ Wyoming -11 OVER 52.5 Cowboys ride roughshod over the Bobcats
Utah +3.5 @ Michigan OVER 40.5 Brian Johnson shakes Michigan all night long
Oklahoma St -7 @ Washington St UNDER 68 Mike Gundy proves his Manhood in Pullman
USC @ Virginia +19.5 OVER 45.5 Too many pts to lay with USC QB situation
Tulsa -13.5 @ UAB UNDER 67.5 You think of a comment for this game
TCU @ New Mexico +7 OVER 42 Lobos catch TCU off guard, possibly win outright
Miss State -8 @ La Tech OVER 45.5 Sylvester Croom keeps it rolling at MSU
UL Monroe @ Auburn -26 OVER 48 Tiger reserves thrilled to get some work in this one
Memphis @ Ole Miss -7.5 UNDER 55 Rebels take the upper hand in recruiting battle
W. Michigan +14 @ Nebraska UNDER 62 Huskers caught shucking their corn, dodge upset
Florida Atl @ Texas -24 OVER 67 McCoy puts up big numbers in UT win
Florida Int @ Kansas -36 OVER 57.5 Trap game for KU after Va Tech win? Baby please
N. Illinois +8.5 @ Minn UNDER 59 Welcome opponent for UM team desperate for wins
Ark State @ Texas AM -20 UNDER 54 Sherman marches Aggies to victory in debut
UL Lafayette @ So Miss -10.5 OVER 52.5 Long season for the Ragin' Cajuns starts here
North Texas @ Kansas State -24.5 UNDER 70.5 K-State starts off with a tune-up
BC -9.5 @ Kent State UNDER 49.5 BC defense finds a way to win
Michigan State +5 @ Cal OVER 58.5 Spartans slip under the radar to cover
Alabama @ Clemson -4.5 UNDER 48 'Bama not ready for Clemson attack
Illinois @ Missouri -8.5 OVER 59.5 Rematch of last year's shootout should be exciting
Washington @ Oregon -13.5 Important conference game for both squads eyeing a bowl
Idaho @ Arizona -27 UNDER 63.5 Vandals can't steal this one. Will they steal any??
Utah State +12.5 @ UNLV UNDER 49 Rebels not worthy of double-digit favorite
Kentucky @ Louisville -3.5 OVER 58.5 L'ville gets revenge after last year's loss
Colorado -11 @ Colorado State UNDER 59.5 Karma bites CSU after ditching Lubick
Fresno State +5 @ Rutgers UNDER 61 Rutgers survives home upset, keeps choppin'
Tennessee -7.5 @ UCLA OVER 46.5 UCLA volunteers for a beat-down

Talk to you soon.

-Beav