Record: 1 - 1 Units: -0.6
Ok got a couple games on the card tonight that i'll take a shot at. All games are for 1 unit unless otherwise noted as i always stay small early on in the season. As always good luck tonight guys .......
Utah St vs. Utah (-19)
This game between Utah and Utah St is somewhat of a rivalry although Utah has been much better lately. Utah was a very disappointing team last year as they were projected to win the MWC title but fell way short at (5-6). This year they bring in new head coach Urban Meyer from Bowling Green. He should have a solid effect on the Utah offense that ranked 89th in the nation in '02. They return 6 starters on that side of the ball this year and should show some solid improvements. On defense they led the MWC in yardage and return 5 starters from last years team. With what still seems to be alot of talent on Defense they should repeat if not improve on last years numbers.
Utah St comes into this year off of a (4-7) record but wasn't as bad as the record looked as they were very competitive most of the season. They return 5 starters on the offensive side of the ball but lose a huge one in All-Time passing leader QB- Jose Fuentes. Will be tough to replace the numbers Fuentes put up and the Utah St offense will probably start off slow and see some decline in numbers. On defense they return 7 starters from a squad that was horrible last year as the nations 7th worst 39.3 ppg. SO they look to switch from a 4-3 to a 3-4 and even with the 7 starters coming back this will be a new look for the whole team and may take a while for them to adjust.
I look here and say where is the motivation of Utah to come out and really beat up on a lesser team in Utah St. I think the rivalry angle here doesnt play a huge part, but i do see Utah wanting to come out and have a solid start to the season with a new HC and comin off a disappointing season last year. I think these kids have somethin to prove in many ways. With all the changes at Utah St i think they may struggle quite a bit early and be in for a long season.
I'll play .... Utah (-19) 1 unit
Kent vs Akron (-12)
Akron comes into this season off of a (4-8) record last year but with wins in 3 of there final 4 games. On offense the Zips return 11 starters including QB- Charlie Frye and RB- Bobby Hendry which were two of there most productive players. With the solid depth returning on offense and a couple solid playmakers the Zips should be solid on that side of the ball in '03. On defense the Zips return 6 starters for a squad that yielded 31.6 PPg last season but only 19.3 PPg in the second half of the season. Now this makes for some optimism that the defense can be much better but i think there are still some holes and they are suspect until proven otherwise.
Kent St comes into this season off of a really disappointing (3-9) record. This team was awful on both sides of the ball and just looked horrible all season. On offense they ranked 115 in the nation only averaging 16.8 PPg. They also had a T/O differential of -1.3 which ranked 112 overall. On defense they were just as bad yielding 35.3 PPg which ranked 103 overall. They gave up over 200 yards on the ground per contest. They return 5 starters on Defense which can really be no worse than last year. Only bright spot for Kent the whole season was QB- Joshua Cribbs who had a solid year especially considering the talent that surrounded him.
With all the info above i look at this game and say why the hell is Akron just a 12 p favorite. On paper and strictly by the numbers i could make a case for a 20+ point line in this one. All i can see is that the Zips defense is still suspect and that Kent has to improve as they cant play any worse than last season. Akron beat Kent at the end of last season (48 - 10) and they come into this one givin only 12 pts. Very odd i think and i can see the world on Akron in this one as anyone can see the mis-match here. But just cant make a case for Kent at all so even though it looks like a trap i'll play it small.
My Play ...... Akron (-12) 1/2 unit
Miami (-28) vs La Tech
Not gonna make a huge write-up here as most everyone knows about Miami and how they just re-tool. Once again they seem to have some real solid big playmakers on offsense and are one of the nations top teams again. On defense they bring back 7 starters and as good as there offense can be there defense should be just as good as they ranked 4th nationally last year.
La Tech on the other hand really was disappointing last year as they were thought by many to have a shot at the WAC crown and finished the year at just (4-8). On offense the Bulldogs have a great QB in Luke McCown even though he had a very shaky season in '02. The offense only averaged 26.7 PPg and had a -1.1 T/O differential which was way below par for this La Tech team. Now they bring back 7 offensive starters and will have to be much better this year and protect the football. Now La Tech's big weakness is on defense where they allowed 35.5 PPg last year which ranked 104 overall and also allowed an outrageous 441 yard of total offense per game. With 5 starters returning on Defense they hope some of the younger guys coming in can help to improve from last years efforts but really dont see a great chance for that to happen althougn it will be hard to play any worse.
Always hate layin this many points on a teams season opening game and especially on the road. This La Tech team can score and score often if McCown is playing well but against this Miami defense i see them as just being overmatched in the long hall. But i can still see em getting some points on the board and the over may be worth looking at in this one as miami should have no prob moving the ball on this La Tech Defense. Not much motivation here for Miami but when have they ever needed much of that to beat a team by 30 or more. I really like La Tech as they are one of my home squads but just cant play this one even with so many points (28). Once again gonna keep it small though as a backdoor is possible.
My play .......... Miami (-28) 1/2 Unit
Ok got a couple games on the card tonight that i'll take a shot at. All games are for 1 unit unless otherwise noted as i always stay small early on in the season. As always good luck tonight guys .......
Utah St vs. Utah (-19)
This game between Utah and Utah St is somewhat of a rivalry although Utah has been much better lately. Utah was a very disappointing team last year as they were projected to win the MWC title but fell way short at (5-6). This year they bring in new head coach Urban Meyer from Bowling Green. He should have a solid effect on the Utah offense that ranked 89th in the nation in '02. They return 6 starters on that side of the ball this year and should show some solid improvements. On defense they led the MWC in yardage and return 5 starters from last years team. With what still seems to be alot of talent on Defense they should repeat if not improve on last years numbers.
Utah St comes into this year off of a (4-7) record but wasn't as bad as the record looked as they were very competitive most of the season. They return 5 starters on the offensive side of the ball but lose a huge one in All-Time passing leader QB- Jose Fuentes. Will be tough to replace the numbers Fuentes put up and the Utah St offense will probably start off slow and see some decline in numbers. On defense they return 7 starters from a squad that was horrible last year as the nations 7th worst 39.3 ppg. SO they look to switch from a 4-3 to a 3-4 and even with the 7 starters coming back this will be a new look for the whole team and may take a while for them to adjust.
I look here and say where is the motivation of Utah to come out and really beat up on a lesser team in Utah St. I think the rivalry angle here doesnt play a huge part, but i do see Utah wanting to come out and have a solid start to the season with a new HC and comin off a disappointing season last year. I think these kids have somethin to prove in many ways. With all the changes at Utah St i think they may struggle quite a bit early and be in for a long season.
I'll play .... Utah (-19) 1 unit
Kent vs Akron (-12)
Akron comes into this season off of a (4-8) record last year but with wins in 3 of there final 4 games. On offense the Zips return 11 starters including QB- Charlie Frye and RB- Bobby Hendry which were two of there most productive players. With the solid depth returning on offense and a couple solid playmakers the Zips should be solid on that side of the ball in '03. On defense the Zips return 6 starters for a squad that yielded 31.6 PPg last season but only 19.3 PPg in the second half of the season. Now this makes for some optimism that the defense can be much better but i think there are still some holes and they are suspect until proven otherwise.
Kent St comes into this season off of a really disappointing (3-9) record. This team was awful on both sides of the ball and just looked horrible all season. On offense they ranked 115 in the nation only averaging 16.8 PPg. They also had a T/O differential of -1.3 which ranked 112 overall. On defense they were just as bad yielding 35.3 PPg which ranked 103 overall. They gave up over 200 yards on the ground per contest. They return 5 starters on Defense which can really be no worse than last year. Only bright spot for Kent the whole season was QB- Joshua Cribbs who had a solid year especially considering the talent that surrounded him.
With all the info above i look at this game and say why the hell is Akron just a 12 p favorite. On paper and strictly by the numbers i could make a case for a 20+ point line in this one. All i can see is that the Zips defense is still suspect and that Kent has to improve as they cant play any worse than last season. Akron beat Kent at the end of last season (48 - 10) and they come into this one givin only 12 pts. Very odd i think and i can see the world on Akron in this one as anyone can see the mis-match here. But just cant make a case for Kent at all so even though it looks like a trap i'll play it small.
My Play ...... Akron (-12) 1/2 unit
Miami (-28) vs La Tech
Not gonna make a huge write-up here as most everyone knows about Miami and how they just re-tool. Once again they seem to have some real solid big playmakers on offsense and are one of the nations top teams again. On defense they bring back 7 starters and as good as there offense can be there defense should be just as good as they ranked 4th nationally last year.
La Tech on the other hand really was disappointing last year as they were thought by many to have a shot at the WAC crown and finished the year at just (4-8). On offense the Bulldogs have a great QB in Luke McCown even though he had a very shaky season in '02. The offense only averaged 26.7 PPg and had a -1.1 T/O differential which was way below par for this La Tech team. Now they bring back 7 offensive starters and will have to be much better this year and protect the football. Now La Tech's big weakness is on defense where they allowed 35.5 PPg last year which ranked 104 overall and also allowed an outrageous 441 yard of total offense per game. With 5 starters returning on Defense they hope some of the younger guys coming in can help to improve from last years efforts but really dont see a great chance for that to happen althougn it will be hard to play any worse.
Always hate layin this many points on a teams season opening game and especially on the road. This La Tech team can score and score often if McCown is playing well but against this Miami defense i see them as just being overmatched in the long hall. But i can still see em getting some points on the board and the over may be worth looking at in this one as miami should have no prob moving the ball on this La Tech Defense. Not much motivation here for Miami but when have they ever needed much of that to beat a team by 30 or more. I really like La Tech as they are one of my home squads but just cant play this one even with so many points (28). Once again gonna keep it small though as a backdoor is possible.
My play .......... Miami (-28) 1/2 Unit
