COLLEGE FBALL KICKOFF - THURSDAYS GAMES

[Bettorsworld]

WEEK ONE - THURSDAY, AUG 31 Boston College -13.5 @ Central Michigan - When Central Michigan stepped up in class last year, they were handed a 40-3 defeat at the hands of Penn State. We think the number on this game is probably about right. However there is some added motivation on the C Mich side of the ball. This game will be only the 7th night game at Kelly stadium ever and will be televised on ESPN 2. Easter Mich @ Ball State -4.5 - Here's a game between two 4-7 teams from a year ago. They hooked up last year at E Mich with Ball State squeaking by 26-25. Note that Ball State lost 6 of it's first 7 games last year and will certainly be looking to start off better this year. We just can't see any significant changes on either team here as both return plenty of starters. E Mich +4.5 would be the way to lean here as an outright win well within reach. Temple @ Buffalo -6.5 - Can it get any worse than this? No wonder College football is starting off the year with several games on a Thursday night. These games are terrible. Buffalo is coming off a 1-10 year while Temple is off an 0-11 year. Both teams have new coaches and both will want to kick off the new regimes with a win. Can't see Buffalo being favored by 6 here. This game has nailbiter written all over it. Take the +6 with Temple. Northwestern -4 @ Miami Ohio - Miami Ohio lost several starters at key positions including QB. Northwestern on the other hand returns 7 on offense and 6 on defense from a team that played Penn State tight and beat Iowa and Wisconsin last year. We'll side with what appears to be the better team here and lay the -4 with Northwestern. Also note the last time these two hooked up was in 2003 when Miami Ohio pasted Northwestern 44-14. Pay back time. Minnesota -16 @ Kent - Minnesota gets to see what life is like after losing RB's Maroney and Russell. Kent off a nice 1-10 year, and this year shouldn't be much better. Have to go with the huge class difference here. This one could be blow out city. Minny -16 is the only way to look here. Toledo @ Iowa State - 7.5 - Seems like Toledo strings together 9 win seasons year after year. But you have to look at the class difference when teams like this meet. Iowa State plays the likes of Oklahoma, Texas and Nebraska while Toledo plays the likes of Temple, Buffalo and Eastern Michigan. Big things expected from both squads this year but we have to side with the talent here and an offense that figures to be among the best, if not the best, in the big 12. LAY IT! South Carolina -6.5 @ Mississippi State - South Carolina and Mr Spurrier in off a 7-5 campaign last year only losing to Georgia by 2 and beating Florida and Tennessee. Mississippi St on the other hand, didn't come within a touchdown of any quality team they played last year. While they do return 16 starters, we can't back them until they show us they are worthy. South Carolina -6.5 UTEP @ San Diego State -1.5 - SD ST looks to new head coach Chuck Long to turn things around but they are kicking off the year against a UTEP squad that was 8-4 last year and returns just about every key starter from a year ago. UTEP started off last year 8-1 and was ranked in the top 25. Look for Jordan Palmer (Carsons Bro) and company to cover this very small spot and start the year off with a straight up win on the road. Florida International @ Middle Tennessee State -11 - Florida Intl beat Midd Tenn 35-31 in the last game of the season last year. We think the number is too high here as we just don't think that much has changed since a year ago. Both squads lost some players (although Midd Tenn returns most of it's offense) and while Midd Tenn would appear to be a little more talented, we think Florida Intl can stay within the generous spot here.

[Jeff]