Box and Bama....

[Box and one]

Way behind today.
I'm going to post these early games because my top picks are all tonite.

Mississippi +3.5 over Texas Tech
Like Rebels here a lot.Manning and Kling are top passers.But Williams at RB could have a field day vs TT defense.I think w/o a running game Miss D can hold TT offense down.I do not think TT defense can stop Manning and co.I like Miss to win this outright.TT home opener trend does scare me but looked who they played in those games.New mex,North Texas[a great school of high learning though]UTEP,SW La,etc.
Smoo's run attack gave TT problems last week.Rebels have a better running game and a QB that has a father and some brothers that aren't to bad.

Clemson +1 over Ga Tech
This was a pick'em game but now has the Tigers as the dog.The trend is the dog is 12-1 in this series.Clemson will not lose this game at home.Bowden will break down Ga Tech offense and the Tigers win this game.

Michigan -5 over ND
I could of had this number at 4 yest.But like everyone in the world is saying'ND has no Off. scores,etc,etc.Michigan is a better team.The trends favor the Irish big time.ND offense had so much trouble vs Purdue and Maryland.If those defenses stopped them Michigans D is even tougher.
Ohio St -7 over wash St.OL dominates and wears down WSU.Clarett is the real deal
Some smaller plays..that could be blowouts
Miami -37 over Temple.
Temple Qb McGann is 6'6.Thats bad guys.Canes love big targets.Canes could have more receptions then Owls WR's.
Auburn-20 over Vandy.
Vandy cannot stop Tiger running game.Williams will have a huge game

I'll post these now and come back and write up my stronger picks.
Love Bama vs NT
Like So Miss,Iowa St,Col St and of course will break down the 2 worst teams in the US.Army-Rutgers GL

 

[Box and one]

Bama -21 over my North Texas.It's my 1st luv game of the yr.
NT played a decent game vs Texas losing 27-0.What came out of that game was NT's defense shut down Benson and Simms.Simms was sacked 6 times and BJ and Williams did nothing in the NT secondary.Brown did not sub until 5 minuts to go.No one scored in the 2nd half.Mean green defense played great.Even some of UT's TD's were because of fumbles and special teams.
Lweek NT played Nicholls St.A weak D-1-AA.Well NT struggled vs them.Not on defense but on offense.They won 23-0 but struggled.Dickey did play conservativly because Hall his Qb got hurt.He was hurt in the Texas game.Pectoral muscle strain.Texas put 10 men on the line and he still wouldn't pass the ball.Back to the Nicholl game.
Smith a frosh Qb replaced Hall.He cannot throw the ball.He was 3-7 for 43 yds.Nicks also put 10 guys on the line and Dickey wouldn't throw the ball.NT used Galbraith and the running game to beat Nicholls.But they only had a total of 210 yds with 12 FD's.
NT has no offense.They were shutout by Texas and almost Nickel.They are the only team in the nation that has played 2 games and doesn't have a 100 yds in the air.Even the wishbone teams have over a 100,and NT doesn't play the "wish".
NT D's is pretty sound.Brandon Kennedy at 5'10 325 is one of the top DT's in the nation.He is so small you can't block him.His quickness and strength is the anchor of the Mean green D-line.He gave Texas all sorts of problems and was doubled teamed.NT defnse has almost everyone back from lyr.
Offense has some good Wr's that are fast,a decent OL,and Galbreath a 1,000 yd rusher.
But with hall out Frosh Smith will be in big time trouble.NT must run the ball. But....
The Bama defense is coming off an almost comeback win vs OU last week.They held OU to -23 yds rushing.On 23 carries they were stuffed at the line of scrimmage.
Bama rushing offense with Gallaway and Beard will be to much for NT defense.The OL of Bama is much better then the Texas OL.These guys avg. 6'4 304.They run multiple sets and can over power you or out finesse you. There nickname is the "pancake posse".I see them opening up big holes for bama Rb's all day and giving Watts big time protection when he passes.
Bama has one of the best rushing defenses in the country.If NT's only strength is running the ball they are playing into bama's greatest strength.
NT cannot pass the ball.So if Texas and Nicholls put 10 guys on the line my "boys" are in big trouble tonite.NT ranks 117th in passing offense and 116th in scoring.
Add that NT's special teams are terrible.A new punter,new snapper,and new kicker.Just before the UT game the new kicker couldn't hit an extra pt.He kept hitting line drives.
Brandon Kennedy blocked 2 of them.And he's 5'9,maybe 6'3 with his hands up.I pray to god he had his hands up.Kennedy is also going up against one of the best centers in the nation in Ephraim.
Nt's defense will be on the field all day.NT will not score a pt today.Maybe a def.score but not offensive.Bama will wear down this tough defense and by the 3rd qrt will open this game up.
Bama wins big and covers easy.
It's a "luv game for me. I'll be back later with a few more games. I hate going against my alma mater.I promise to send a small check to the NT alumni assc as long as Bama wins by 22 pts or more.

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[Box and one]

Rutgers +4 over Army
Both are at the bottom of all the ratings.Both have been beaten up by D-1-AA last week..Both coaches talked a big game coming in and both have lost almost every game they have coached the past 2 yrs.Both teams have their best players questionable for tonites game.Army's Nevels and RU's TE Smith.Both have many freshman starting.Berry vs Holy cross last week put his 11 fastest players on the kickoff team.HC ran 2 back for TD's for a total of 209 yds.
Rutgers OL is in disarray.Injuries,missed assighments,etc.Players are replacing other players thru "default".Both coaches in their press conferences said the same thing.Their loss last week was the worst of their career.
Army is favored by 4.I can't believe that.Is Rutgers that bad.Army is playing away.It's homecoming and if you get their early in Piscataway,NJ tonite you get a Rutgers sticker for the 1st 10,000 people that arrive.
Nevels has a hamstring and hasen't practiced all week.Berry will wait till gametime.Rutgers Smith who has the only 2 scores so far was on crutches Thur.Schaino will do the same.
Both teams have QB problems tonite.Frosh Dahman will start and Trump replaces Cubit.
I'll have to take Rutgers +4 because everyone up here is going with Army.Both teams are bad.But my favorite stat of all time is Army cannot win on grass.Never,ever.And Rutgers plays on grass.Army has lost 29-31 on grass going back to the mid-80's.Rutgers groundkeepers haven't cut the grass in 2 weeks.

Like Colorado St -2 over Louisville.
They are battle tested.Sonny is a better coach.He will attack Ragu and that weak OL all day.Cards defense is great but will bend just a little to give the Rams a 7-10 pt win.Ragu will be ducking Ram blitzes.

Iowa St +3.5 over Iowa
Like Senneca.Should be a close game.I'll take the dog when teams are almost even

Fl St -14 over Maryland
I think the Terps are in big trouble tonite.

Florida - whatever over Ohio
If Ohio lost to Norteastern 31-0 the gators could double that.This game lets us know what kind of a heart Zook has.Small lean because we don't know Zook.And Buffalo beat this team 44-0 last yr.

So Miss -10 over Memphis.
Memphis had trouble with Miss. running game.So Miss has a better running game with Nix and co.So Miss defense could shut down Memphis.

Thats it for me.Way to many games.The Rutgers game is to played very lightly.I really hope Army wins this but the Scotch turf fertilizer has been fermenting for a few weeks now.If Rutgers wins this game, the game ball will go to the Rutgers ground keepers. GL

 

[NJO]

thanks for the write-ups here, Box -- great information, with a dash of humor and a pound of personality!

 

[pt1gard]

Box and one

Box and one

have to bow to you on rutgers call, one of worst of my career, wish I wouldnt have used them in parlay to USC, oh well ....


I see Nova, who beat rutgers, lost at home today to the Black Bears--it all makes sense now, haha

nice call on Bama!!

take care, gregg