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Confidential Kick-Off!!
11 *VANDERBILT over Wake Forest
Late Score Forecast:
*VANDERBILT 32 - Wake Forest 23
Southern CKO sources report veteran, smartly-coached Vandy has been able to quickly shake off painful 25-24
come-from-ahead loss vs. rival Tennessee (FG kicker missed 3 of 4!) in preparation for "monumental" match vs.
Wake Forest. After all, 'Dores become bowl eligible with their 1st non-losing season since 1982 with victory
here! We like their chances. Vandy's well-balanced attack, directed by more careful QB Adams (4 TDs, no ints.
last 2 games) will do damage vs. penetrable WF defense which has allowed 36 pts. or more in 3 road games in '07.
And after facing a challenging trio of gifted, rifle-armed QBs in Tebow, Woodson & Ainge over past 3 weeks,
swift, gang-tackling Vandy defense (just 19 ppg in 5 home games) will be prepared for Deacons less-dynamic aerial
game generating fewer than 200 ypg (only 10 TDP). Moreover, 'Dores won't be fooled by Grobe's myriad of
misdirection plays, having upset Deacons 24-20 in Winston-Salem in '05
10 *UCF over Utep
Late Score Forecast:
*UCF 52 - Utep 24
Hot meets cold in this game, as UCF has won 5 straight, posting a 4-1 spread mark as star RB Kevin Smith rushed
for 206 ypg and 14 TDs in that streak. Contrast that success with slumping UTEP, which has exactly the reverse
record (0-5 SU, 1-4 vs. the number) and has yielded 45 ppg & 528 ypg in that nosedive. The UTEP defense yields
5.0 ypc and ranks 100th against the run, so "24-K" (Smith), who leads the nation in scoring at 13.6 ppg, figures
to continue his productive surge. UCF sr. QB Kyle Israel is also contributing, completing 69% of his passes in
the Golden Knights last 5. It will be a raucous crowd at the new Bright House Networks Stadium, where the first 5
games have resulted in 5 of the top 8 all-time crowds for UCF home games.
10 *RICE over Tulsa
Late Score Forecast:
*RICE 37 - Tulsa 38
Realize a win here gives Tulsa a spot in the C-USA championship game, but a victory won't come easily in Houston.
Few QBs (if any) are hotter than Rice triggerman Chase Clement, who's thrown for 1112 yards & 12 TDs in the last
3 games. The Owls have put up 43 ppg, and Clement and jr. WR Jarett Dillard have hooked up 33 times in that run,
with Dillard catching 2 TD passes in each of the three games. Okay, so Rice doesn't play defense, but that's not
exactly Tulsa's forte either. The Golden Hurricane gives up 34 ppg & ranks 104th in total defense this season,
and Tulsa has had turnover issues (-8 ratio). Certainly Tulsa QB Paul Smith (3rd in the country in total offense)
will do damage, but Clement will trade him TD-for-TD all the way
10 WASHINGTON ST. over *Washington
Late Score Forecast:
WASHINGTON ST. 30-*Washington 24
Admittedly, Washington State's 8-TO nightmare vs. Oregon State was bad enough to prompt a visit from Mike Wallace
to see what really happened vs. Beavers. But Pac-10 sources convinced those shenanigans unlikely to occur in
heated Apple Cup, where Cougs should be focused to atone for bitter 3-point home loss to U-Dub in '06 that
knocked WSU out of bowl picture. Can't blame Cougar "D" for the result vs. OSU, and Bill Doba's stop unit has
indeed played much better in second half of season since young 2ndary matured and platoon switched to 3-4
alignment. And no surprise if WSU QB Brink exploits burnable Husky "D" in his final game as a Coug. Meanwhile, UW
unreliable as chalk (2-8 last 10 in role) with either Jake Locker or backup Carl Bonnell (just 7 of 19 vs. Cal)
at QB.
10 WASHINGTON over *Tampa Bay
Late Score Forecast:
WASHINGTON 20 - *Tampa Bay 13
(Sunday, November 25)
Don't count the Redskins out just yet! Although Washington has lost 3 of its last 4 and relinquished a pole
position in the NFC wildcard race, developments in last Sunday's near-miss at Dallas indicate Redskins could
still figure somewhere in the playoff mix. In particular, WR Santa Moss (9 catches vs. Cowboys) appears fully
recovered from recent heel injury that limited his effectiveness the past month. And the legit deep threat Moss
provides is once again giving QB Jason Campbell the confidence to look downfield after being forced to dink and
rely on RB Clinton Portis' thrusts in recent weeks. Granted, Tampa Bay opening up some daylight in soft NFC
South, but Buc attack remains somewhat limited with young OL often struggling to provide QB Garcia proper pass
protection.
TOTALS: OVER (51) in the Houston-Cleveland game--Some way, some how (Josh Cribbs' returns are helping), Cleveland
has found a way to go "over" 9-0-1 TY!...UNDER (41) in the Minnesota-N.Y. Giants game--Giants' back seven
improving; Vikes much prefer the overland route.
HONORABLE MENTION (Nine-Rated Games): CINCINNATI (-20) at Syracuse...Bearcats, with their takeaway defense and
much-improved offense, too much for limited, downtrodden Syracuse...MEMPHIS (-8) vs. Smu--Tigers have come out of
nowhere to enter bowl picture; Mustangs' defense has too little rush, way too little coverage to cool down hot
Memphis QB Hankins...NORTHERN ILLINOIS (+8) over Ball State--Prideful Northern still tough to beat in DeKalb
despite slew of early-season injuries...TEMPLE (+11) at Western Michigan--Slowly ascending Owls enjoying being
back in the MAC, where they're 5-1 vs. the spread in 2007...NEW YORK GIANTS (-7) vs. Minnesota--Somewhere along
the line, the Vikings' limited QBing is likely to fail under the pressure of the G-men's pass-rushers.
11 *VANDERBILT over Wake Forest
Late Score Forecast:
*VANDERBILT 32 - Wake Forest 23
Southern CKO sources report veteran, smartly-coached Vandy has been able to quickly shake off painful 25-24
come-from-ahead loss vs. rival Tennessee (FG kicker missed 3 of 4!) in preparation for "monumental" match vs.
Wake Forest. After all, 'Dores become bowl eligible with their 1st non-losing season since 1982 with victory
here! We like their chances. Vandy's well-balanced attack, directed by more careful QB Adams (4 TDs, no ints.
last 2 games) will do damage vs. penetrable WF defense which has allowed 36 pts. or more in 3 road games in '07.
And after facing a challenging trio of gifted, rifle-armed QBs in Tebow, Woodson & Ainge over past 3 weeks,
swift, gang-tackling Vandy defense (just 19 ppg in 5 home games) will be prepared for Deacons less-dynamic aerial
game generating fewer than 200 ypg (only 10 TDP). Moreover, 'Dores won't be fooled by Grobe's myriad of
misdirection plays, having upset Deacons 24-20 in Winston-Salem in '05
10 *UCF over Utep
Late Score Forecast:
*UCF 52 - Utep 24
Hot meets cold in this game, as UCF has won 5 straight, posting a 4-1 spread mark as star RB Kevin Smith rushed
for 206 ypg and 14 TDs in that streak. Contrast that success with slumping UTEP, which has exactly the reverse
record (0-5 SU, 1-4 vs. the number) and has yielded 45 ppg & 528 ypg in that nosedive. The UTEP defense yields
5.0 ypc and ranks 100th against the run, so "24-K" (Smith), who leads the nation in scoring at 13.6 ppg, figures
to continue his productive surge. UCF sr. QB Kyle Israel is also contributing, completing 69% of his passes in
the Golden Knights last 5. It will be a raucous crowd at the new Bright House Networks Stadium, where the first 5
games have resulted in 5 of the top 8 all-time crowds for UCF home games.
10 *RICE over Tulsa
Late Score Forecast:
*RICE 37 - Tulsa 38
Realize a win here gives Tulsa a spot in the C-USA championship game, but a victory won't come easily in Houston.
Few QBs (if any) are hotter than Rice triggerman Chase Clement, who's thrown for 1112 yards & 12 TDs in the last
3 games. The Owls have put up 43 ppg, and Clement and jr. WR Jarett Dillard have hooked up 33 times in that run,
with Dillard catching 2 TD passes in each of the three games. Okay, so Rice doesn't play defense, but that's not
exactly Tulsa's forte either. The Golden Hurricane gives up 34 ppg & ranks 104th in total defense this season,
and Tulsa has had turnover issues (-8 ratio). Certainly Tulsa QB Paul Smith (3rd in the country in total offense)
will do damage, but Clement will trade him TD-for-TD all the way
10 WASHINGTON ST. over *Washington
Late Score Forecast:
WASHINGTON ST. 30-*Washington 24
Admittedly, Washington State's 8-TO nightmare vs. Oregon State was bad enough to prompt a visit from Mike Wallace
to see what really happened vs. Beavers. But Pac-10 sources convinced those shenanigans unlikely to occur in
heated Apple Cup, where Cougs should be focused to atone for bitter 3-point home loss to U-Dub in '06 that
knocked WSU out of bowl picture. Can't blame Cougar "D" for the result vs. OSU, and Bill Doba's stop unit has
indeed played much better in second half of season since young 2ndary matured and platoon switched to 3-4
alignment. And no surprise if WSU QB Brink exploits burnable Husky "D" in his final game as a Coug. Meanwhile, UW
unreliable as chalk (2-8 last 10 in role) with either Jake Locker or backup Carl Bonnell (just 7 of 19 vs. Cal)
at QB.
10 WASHINGTON over *Tampa Bay
Late Score Forecast:
WASHINGTON 20 - *Tampa Bay 13
(Sunday, November 25)
Don't count the Redskins out just yet! Although Washington has lost 3 of its last 4 and relinquished a pole
position in the NFC wildcard race, developments in last Sunday's near-miss at Dallas indicate Redskins could
still figure somewhere in the playoff mix. In particular, WR Santa Moss (9 catches vs. Cowboys) appears fully
recovered from recent heel injury that limited his effectiveness the past month. And the legit deep threat Moss
provides is once again giving QB Jason Campbell the confidence to look downfield after being forced to dink and
rely on RB Clinton Portis' thrusts in recent weeks. Granted, Tampa Bay opening up some daylight in soft NFC
South, but Buc attack remains somewhat limited with young OL often struggling to provide QB Garcia proper pass
protection.
TOTALS: OVER (51) in the Houston-Cleveland game--Some way, some how (Josh Cribbs' returns are helping), Cleveland
has found a way to go "over" 9-0-1 TY!...UNDER (41) in the Minnesota-N.Y. Giants game--Giants' back seven
improving; Vikes much prefer the overland route.
HONORABLE MENTION (Nine-Rated Games): CINCINNATI (-20) at Syracuse...Bearcats, with their takeaway defense and
much-improved offense, too much for limited, downtrodden Syracuse...MEMPHIS (-8) vs. Smu--Tigers have come out of
nowhere to enter bowl picture; Mustangs' defense has too little rush, way too little coverage to cool down hot
Memphis QB Hankins...NORTHERN ILLINOIS (+8) over Ball State--Prideful Northern still tough to beat in DeKalb
despite slew of early-season injuries...TEMPLE (+11) at Western Michigan--Slowly ascending Owls enjoying being
back in the MAC, where they're 5-1 vs. the spread in 2007...NEW YORK GIANTS (-7) vs. Minnesota--Somewhere along
the line, the Vikings' limited QBing is likely to fail under the pressure of the G-men's pass-rushers.