Real Animal
Pick title: 5* Central Michigan -3
Pick Date: 12/01/2007
Pick description:
This one should be easy. Despite having nothing to play for, Central Michigan had a 639-323 advantage in total yards last week at Akron. When it comes to the MAC, the Chippewas are the kings of this conference. They have only lost two league games in two years. Check out 15-2 ATS in their last 17. Last year in this spot against Ohio University, Central Michigan was also a 3-point favorite and won 31-10 on this field. Without question, CMU QB Dan LeFevour is the player of the year in the MAC for the 2nd straight season. He?s thrown 22 touchdowns against 11 picks this year and now owns a 48-21 ratio the past two seasons. He also leads the team in rushing with 838 yards and 15 touchdowns on the ground. Last week alone he accounted for a record 514 total yards of offense. The Chippewas are 9-0 SU and 8-1 ATS against the MAC East teams the last three years. Check out the total in this game: Interesting to note that Miami is 3-19 ATS when they allow 28 points or more in conference action. Miami of Ohio is without their top two running backs in Brandon Murphy and Andre Bratton. Their 3rd string RB, Austin Sykes, was hurt a few weeks ago and sat out the last game. Meanwhile Miami of Ohio QB Daniel Raudabaugh has thrown five interceptions in his last two games. Miami of Ohio hasn?t played a road game since October 27th and haven?t played indoors in a bowl since 2004, when they lost against Toledo here 35-27 in the MAC title game. The RedHawks have allowed 30 points per game on the highway this year. Miami of Ohio is 1-5 on the road this year and 3-10 SU outside Oxford the last two seasons. Get a load of these numbers for Central Michigan: In conference play, the Chippewas are averaging 43 points a game, 220 yards on the ground, and 290 in the air. That?s 510 yards of offense producing 43 points as an average. On November 14th I watched one of the worst games of the year when Miami barely beat Akron 7-0 at home. Central Michigan went to Akron the following week and enjoyed a 316-yard advantage on the Zips. Keep in mind the RedHawks lost at Temple this year. Do I need to say anything else? 5* Championship Day BEST BET on Central Michigan ?3.
Pick title: 3* Central Florida -7 on the buy @ -120 at Olympic
Pick Date: 12/01/2007
Pick description:
Central Florida beat Tulsa by 21 points on their home field in October and displayed sensational balance on offense with 229 yards rushing and 224 yards passing. The Tulsa defense has hit rock bottom. Last week they allowed Rice 43 points and over 700 yards in total offense. The fact that this game is being played on Central Florida?s home field at Bright House Networks Stadium is a huge advantage for the Knights, especially considering this is the 3rd consecutive road game in as many weeks for the Golden Hurricane. UCF enters Saturday having won six consecutive games by margins of 21, 17, 334, 14, 29, and 16 points. Last week they enjoyed a 213-28 advantage on the ground against UTEP. It?s amazing that Tulsa is playing in this game considering they?ve allowed 43 points or more five times this year. The key here is that Central Florida can pound away with Kevin Smith, the nation?s leading ground gainer. UCF is very solid against the pass allowing over 300 yards just twice on the year. This should frustrate QB Paul Smith, who has thrown for 39 touchdowns this year. But the Knights can counter with 32 sacks and 20 interceptions. The intangible is that UCF should be able to pressure Smith and force him into errors. I find it impossible to pass up UCF on their home stadium in a championship atmosphere and giving single digits against a woeful defense. 3* Central Florida ?7 on the buy.
Pick title: 4* Navy -7 in the first half @ -115 at Olympic and 3* Navy 'OVER' 33
Pick Date: 12/01/2007
Pick description:
Both teams highly familiar playing on artificial turf in Baltimore, home of the Ravens. But that?s about where the similarity stops. Army played three games in November and allowed 437 rushing yards to Air Force, 404 rushing yards to Rutgers, and 425 passing yards to Tulsa. I just scanned the other 118 FBS teams and only Minnesota allowed more than 400 yards in a single category in three straight games. But that was passing yardage. Army has the dubious distinction of being the only team out of 119 to allow over 400 rushing yards in back-to-back games. Navy is 5-0 versus Army with Coach Paul Johnson with the five victories coming by 27 points per game. The team that has rushed for more yards in this rivalry is 12-3 ATS the last 15 years. I know it?s tough to lay double digits with a team that is allowing 40 points per game. That?s why I also have to believe this will be a shootout. Keep in mind three weeks ago Navy and North Texas combined for 136 points. This total is less than half of that. What?s scary is the Middies now get the services back from QB Kaheauku-Enhada. He sat out the game against Northern Illinois two weeks ago. Navy has scored 46 or more points in 5/8 games recently. They?ve scored 42 or more 3/5 years against Army. The Middies will run wild on the Cadets in Baltimore. Watch the #1 rushing team in the nation two consecutive years put up at least 40 points here. My only concern here is that Navy will not want to embarrass Army by piling on points in the 2nd half. 4* on Navy ?7 and 3* ?OVER? 33 ? in the first half.
Pick title: 5* Central Michigan -3
Pick Date: 12/01/2007
Pick description:
This one should be easy. Despite having nothing to play for, Central Michigan had a 639-323 advantage in total yards last week at Akron. When it comes to the MAC, the Chippewas are the kings of this conference. They have only lost two league games in two years. Check out 15-2 ATS in their last 17. Last year in this spot against Ohio University, Central Michigan was also a 3-point favorite and won 31-10 on this field. Without question, CMU QB Dan LeFevour is the player of the year in the MAC for the 2nd straight season. He?s thrown 22 touchdowns against 11 picks this year and now owns a 48-21 ratio the past two seasons. He also leads the team in rushing with 838 yards and 15 touchdowns on the ground. Last week alone he accounted for a record 514 total yards of offense. The Chippewas are 9-0 SU and 8-1 ATS against the MAC East teams the last three years. Check out the total in this game: Interesting to note that Miami is 3-19 ATS when they allow 28 points or more in conference action. Miami of Ohio is without their top two running backs in Brandon Murphy and Andre Bratton. Their 3rd string RB, Austin Sykes, was hurt a few weeks ago and sat out the last game. Meanwhile Miami of Ohio QB Daniel Raudabaugh has thrown five interceptions in his last two games. Miami of Ohio hasn?t played a road game since October 27th and haven?t played indoors in a bowl since 2004, when they lost against Toledo here 35-27 in the MAC title game. The RedHawks have allowed 30 points per game on the highway this year. Miami of Ohio is 1-5 on the road this year and 3-10 SU outside Oxford the last two seasons. Get a load of these numbers for Central Michigan: In conference play, the Chippewas are averaging 43 points a game, 220 yards on the ground, and 290 in the air. That?s 510 yards of offense producing 43 points as an average. On November 14th I watched one of the worst games of the year when Miami barely beat Akron 7-0 at home. Central Michigan went to Akron the following week and enjoyed a 316-yard advantage on the Zips. Keep in mind the RedHawks lost at Temple this year. Do I need to say anything else? 5* Championship Day BEST BET on Central Michigan ?3.
Pick title: 3* Central Florida -7 on the buy @ -120 at Olympic
Pick Date: 12/01/2007
Pick description:
Central Florida beat Tulsa by 21 points on their home field in October and displayed sensational balance on offense with 229 yards rushing and 224 yards passing. The Tulsa defense has hit rock bottom. Last week they allowed Rice 43 points and over 700 yards in total offense. The fact that this game is being played on Central Florida?s home field at Bright House Networks Stadium is a huge advantage for the Knights, especially considering this is the 3rd consecutive road game in as many weeks for the Golden Hurricane. UCF enters Saturday having won six consecutive games by margins of 21, 17, 334, 14, 29, and 16 points. Last week they enjoyed a 213-28 advantage on the ground against UTEP. It?s amazing that Tulsa is playing in this game considering they?ve allowed 43 points or more five times this year. The key here is that Central Florida can pound away with Kevin Smith, the nation?s leading ground gainer. UCF is very solid against the pass allowing over 300 yards just twice on the year. This should frustrate QB Paul Smith, who has thrown for 39 touchdowns this year. But the Knights can counter with 32 sacks and 20 interceptions. The intangible is that UCF should be able to pressure Smith and force him into errors. I find it impossible to pass up UCF on their home stadium in a championship atmosphere and giving single digits against a woeful defense. 3* Central Florida ?7 on the buy.
Pick title: 4* Navy -7 in the first half @ -115 at Olympic and 3* Navy 'OVER' 33
Pick Date: 12/01/2007
Pick description:
Both teams highly familiar playing on artificial turf in Baltimore, home of the Ravens. But that?s about where the similarity stops. Army played three games in November and allowed 437 rushing yards to Air Force, 404 rushing yards to Rutgers, and 425 passing yards to Tulsa. I just scanned the other 118 FBS teams and only Minnesota allowed more than 400 yards in a single category in three straight games. But that was passing yardage. Army has the dubious distinction of being the only team out of 119 to allow over 400 rushing yards in back-to-back games. Navy is 5-0 versus Army with Coach Paul Johnson with the five victories coming by 27 points per game. The team that has rushed for more yards in this rivalry is 12-3 ATS the last 15 years. I know it?s tough to lay double digits with a team that is allowing 40 points per game. That?s why I also have to believe this will be a shootout. Keep in mind three weeks ago Navy and North Texas combined for 136 points. This total is less than half of that. What?s scary is the Middies now get the services back from QB Kaheauku-Enhada. He sat out the game against Northern Illinois two weeks ago. Navy has scored 46 or more points in 5/8 games recently. They?ve scored 42 or more 3/5 years against Army. The Middies will run wild on the Cadets in Baltimore. Watch the #1 rushing team in the nation two consecutive years put up at least 40 points here. My only concern here is that Navy will not want to embarrass Army by piling on points in the 2nd half. 4* on Navy ?7 and 3* ?OVER? 33 ? in the first half.