Tweet
9/29 - 10/2
4* Rice +11 over Army - We took a look at Rice plus the points when the lines were posted Sunday night and put them on our list of potential plays. Because quite frankly, Army has not earned the right to be such a heavy favorite over anyone. Rice lost by one to an undefeated Houston team, they lost by 10 to UCLA and then got steamrolled by two of the most prestigious football programs in the country, Texas and Florida State. Army on the other hand, lost to Arkansas State, barely got by Kent, Barely got by Baylor and hung tight with Texas A&M in a four point loss in a game they could have won. But as we started to look at this game, tragedy struck. Rice freshman defensive back Dale Lloyd collapsed and died after practice Monday. After some thought, the consensus was to play this week and dedicate this game and the rest of the season to Lloyd. From a handicapping standpoint, one of two things will happen here. Either Rice will come out and play the game of their lives for their fallen teammate, or they will be so disinterested in the game that they will simply go through the motions and get blown out of the building. Over the years this type of situation has come up here and there and it's been our experience that teams having just gone through something as emotional as this tend to step up to the plate and play their hearts out. The game acts as a welcome diversion to the events surrounding it. Brett Favres Monday night game after his father passed away comes to mind. Admittedly we're taking a shot here as this could backfire on us. But we liked Rice in this one prior to the tragedy and feel that this unfortunate incident will actually benefit this team on the playing field this week. We also feel that after playing Florida State and Texas back to back, Army will seem like a Pop Warner team to Rice.3* Northwestern +19.5 over Penn State - Too many points. Northwestern comes to play when they hook up with Penn State. Last year saw a 34-29 win by Penn St. Northwestern won the two before that straight up and in 2001 lost by 3. If Northwestern can hang with the Penn State of a year ago that went 11-1, then we gotta take almost 20 points this time around. Sure Northwestern hasn't looked that great this year, They lost to New Hampshire. But Penn State hasn't exactly set the world on fire and they are in off a devastating loss last week as they were picked off for TD's twice in the final three minutes against the number one team in the nation in a game they could have won!
3* Toledo +16.5 over Pittsburgh - We look at this game as a one team teaser. Game opened Pitt -11.5 and now we can get 16.5. Gotta take all that added value. Toledo is a dangerous team to give 16+ points too as they can put points on the board. They lost a shootout to Iowa State 45-43, put up 37 on Kansas and then pasted a Mcneese State team last week. Pit has won 3 games this year but it's been against Virginia, Cinci and the Citadel. Certainly nothing to warrant being a 16 point favorite over any team. Plus, it's Dave Wanstadt!
3* Navy +2.5 over UCONN - Navy in off an 8-4 season last year and returns just about their entire team from a year go. Neither team has looked impressive thus far against sub par competition. Navy looking for a little revenge for the last time these two hooked up when Connecticut embarrassed Navy 38-0. We think Navy can win this one straight up. Shop for +3
3* Ohio State -6.5 over Iowa - When two teams play in the same conference and see each other year after year over a long period of time, you can learn alot about the recruiting capabilities and the consistent talent level of the two schools. Sometimes you see two programs play each other neck and neck year after year. One close game after another. This tells you that they are relatively equal in their recruiting. While some teams simply pound other teams year after year. This situation tells you that one team is obviously able to recruit the better players from what amounts to the same recruiting pool. Such is the case in Iowa and Ohio State. Ohio State gets the talent. Iowa doesn't. Just a look at the scoreboard over the years will tell you that. In 2004 Iowa upset Ohio State 33-7. Hey, it happens. But over the last 10 years, Ohio State not only won every other game straight up, but they would have covered laying -6.5 in every one of those games. The average score was 34-17 Ohio State. Can't see that changing this time around.
3* Alabama +15 over Florida - Florida looking to avenge last years pounding at the hands of the Tide by the score of 31-3. They might get their revenge but not so sure they will get the cover. If you throw out the Central Florida and Southern Miss games, Florida squeaked by Tennessee by a point and beat Kentucky last week 26-7, failing to cover as favs in both of those. In the meantime Bama is a 1 point heartbreaker to Arkansas away from being undefeated. Just don't see a 15 point difference between these two teams unless Alabama simply doesn't show up. Note that +16 was available briefly on this game as a pretty strong move came in on Florida. So shop around!!!
We're fairly certain that there will be UPGRADES to these plays PLUS additional releases so make sure to check back!!!
Comment