Bankroll: $10,000
Available: $8,738
Record:80-91-1
MLB:78-87-1(-912)
NCAAF:2-4(-350)
(W)BYU -3.5(2 units):GT is starting a true freshman QB and was hit by the injury bug last week as thier starting center, Hugh Reilly, is sidelined. Gailey may say that he is not concerned, but you never want to lose your starting center as he is responsible for any adjustments in the blocking schemes on the line. In addition to injuries, the Yellow Jackets lost 10 players to academic suspensions. The Cougars are going to run a 3-3-5 defense in hopes of being more aggressive and disrupting the GT offense.
(W)NIU +8.5(2 units):It has been a long 5yrs for Huskies program to turn corner and start winning, but the administration was patient with Novak and he has the team believing they can win rather than expecting to lose. The Huskies are strong up front on both sides of the ball and return Micheal Turner at RB. Turner came just .96 ypg from being the leading rusher in the nation last year. Maryland is a formidable opponent, but I don't think the MAC gets the respect it deserves by alot of people. Maryland's QB McBrien is listed as questionable with a groin injury. If that's not healed all the way and he still plays, it is going to make it rough. I like the fact NIU knows it is a legitimate contender for the MAC West title. I look for them to a have a great game in front of the home crowd.
(L)LaTech +28(2 units):Miami is, well, Miami. The Hurricanes are starting Brock Berlin. I watched Berlin at Florida and he has an average, if not, below average arm. He may have gotten smarter, but from what I have seen of him he doesn't make the best decisions either. Other than that, there is not alot of negatives you can say about Miami. But I really think the Bulldogs have a shot at keeping this game under the number. Luke McCown is a good QB and if the WRs can catch the ball instead of hitting it in the air for an interception, the Bulldogs should be able to hang in the game. La Tech is 41-21-3 all time at Independence Stadium, so they like the surroundings. Since '95 the Bulldogs are 6-2 as home dogs. I know Miami has made more than a few dog players cry when handing the money over to Guido, but I'm going to have go with my gut.
(L)Akron -12(2 units):This a big rivalry game as the two schools are only 14 miles apart. The Zips are returning all 11 starters on offense, while the Golden Flashes return just four starters on defense. The Zips return one of the more talented QBs in the confrence, Charlie Frye. Frye got his chance at the starting position when the Zips top QB went down with an injury in 2001. As a freshman, the 6'4" 213 lbs. Jr., with a rocket for an arm, became only the 4th QB in school history to throw for more than 2,000 yds., setting school records in completions and completion%. Last year he smashed his own record by throwing for 2,800+ yds with a 65.8% completion rate. He had a TD/INT ratio of 15/9 which is remarkable when you realize that after the 3rd game he played the rest of the year with a broken thumb. Akron, in my opinon, holds a definite advantage on the line of scrimmage, with five starters that avg. 309lbs and have an avg. BP of 460 lbs. Kent is switching to a 3-4 defense with only 1 starter returning on the line. I think this is going to be where the game will be won as I forsee the Zips running right at the Flashes.
Clemson +2.5(2 units):Georgia opens the season shorthanded, both offensively and defensively. They have likely lost rFr WR Cedric Haywood, who on Wednesday tore an anterior cruciate ligament in practice while doing punt drills. They are also with out Mario Raley and Bryan McClendon. The two were suspended after they were found with marijuana in a campus dorm. This leaves the Dawgs thin at the WR positon. Defensively the Bulldogs will be without DE Will Thompson(59 tackles, 6 sacks) who has a broken fibula that will take 4-6 mos. to heal. He is joined by starting DT Ken Veal(ankle). FS Kentrell Curry(stress fracture), DB Tim Jennings(suspension) and DB DeMario Minter(suspension) will also be inactive leaving the Dawgs thin in the secondary. This is a make or break year for Bowden. The pressure to produce immediately has squarely fallen on his shoulders. The Tigers normally employ a 3 WR set and this should pose problems for the depleted secondary of Georgia. Death Valley used to be a significant homefield advantage for the Tigers, but the mystique has worn off somewhat. Hopefully, they can bring back some of that mojo on Saturday.
Clemson is 19-3-1 in home openers since 1980, but the Tigers are 3-6 both SU and ATS vs. Georgia since '84.
Mississippi -13(2 units):Vandy is perpetually the doormat of the SEC. They get little fan support from the student body. Thier stadium holds between 30-40,000 and if the fans of the opposing team did not come, I would dare say that it would only be 10-20% full. Bobby Johnson stated in the offseason that this team will probably be worse this year and it would take at least another season before anyone could see an upswing. The QBs, while they have been in the system for a year, have really not proven anything as of yet and the WRs aren't that impressive. On defense the area they need to be strong, the secondary, they aren't. With Eli Manning and their receiving corps, Ole Miss should be able to take advantage of Vandy's weaknesses. Thier defense is bigger and stronger up front and more experienced and talented in the secondary. This Rebel team is probably the most talented they have had in a decade.
The home team in this series is 1-7-1 ATS in the series. Ole Miss is 20-11-1 ATS in SEC road games since '95
Available: $8,738
Record:80-91-1
MLB:78-87-1(-912)
NCAAF:2-4(-350)
(W)BYU -3.5(2 units):GT is starting a true freshman QB and was hit by the injury bug last week as thier starting center, Hugh Reilly, is sidelined. Gailey may say that he is not concerned, but you never want to lose your starting center as he is responsible for any adjustments in the blocking schemes on the line. In addition to injuries, the Yellow Jackets lost 10 players to academic suspensions. The Cougars are going to run a 3-3-5 defense in hopes of being more aggressive and disrupting the GT offense.
(W)NIU +8.5(2 units):It has been a long 5yrs for Huskies program to turn corner and start winning, but the administration was patient with Novak and he has the team believing they can win rather than expecting to lose. The Huskies are strong up front on both sides of the ball and return Micheal Turner at RB. Turner came just .96 ypg from being the leading rusher in the nation last year. Maryland is a formidable opponent, but I don't think the MAC gets the respect it deserves by alot of people. Maryland's QB McBrien is listed as questionable with a groin injury. If that's not healed all the way and he still plays, it is going to make it rough. I like the fact NIU knows it is a legitimate contender for the MAC West title. I look for them to a have a great game in front of the home crowd.
(L)LaTech +28(2 units):Miami is, well, Miami. The Hurricanes are starting Brock Berlin. I watched Berlin at Florida and he has an average, if not, below average arm. He may have gotten smarter, but from what I have seen of him he doesn't make the best decisions either. Other than that, there is not alot of negatives you can say about Miami. But I really think the Bulldogs have a shot at keeping this game under the number. Luke McCown is a good QB and if the WRs can catch the ball instead of hitting it in the air for an interception, the Bulldogs should be able to hang in the game. La Tech is 41-21-3 all time at Independence Stadium, so they like the surroundings. Since '95 the Bulldogs are 6-2 as home dogs. I know Miami has made more than a few dog players cry when handing the money over to Guido, but I'm going to have go with my gut.
(L)Akron -12(2 units):This a big rivalry game as the two schools are only 14 miles apart. The Zips are returning all 11 starters on offense, while the Golden Flashes return just four starters on defense. The Zips return one of the more talented QBs in the confrence, Charlie Frye. Frye got his chance at the starting position when the Zips top QB went down with an injury in 2001. As a freshman, the 6'4" 213 lbs. Jr., with a rocket for an arm, became only the 4th QB in school history to throw for more than 2,000 yds., setting school records in completions and completion%. Last year he smashed his own record by throwing for 2,800+ yds with a 65.8% completion rate. He had a TD/INT ratio of 15/9 which is remarkable when you realize that after the 3rd game he played the rest of the year with a broken thumb. Akron, in my opinon, holds a definite advantage on the line of scrimmage, with five starters that avg. 309lbs and have an avg. BP of 460 lbs. Kent is switching to a 3-4 defense with only 1 starter returning on the line. I think this is going to be where the game will be won as I forsee the Zips running right at the Flashes.
Clemson +2.5(2 units):Georgia opens the season shorthanded, both offensively and defensively. They have likely lost rFr WR Cedric Haywood, who on Wednesday tore an anterior cruciate ligament in practice while doing punt drills. They are also with out Mario Raley and Bryan McClendon. The two were suspended after they were found with marijuana in a campus dorm. This leaves the Dawgs thin at the WR positon. Defensively the Bulldogs will be without DE Will Thompson(59 tackles, 6 sacks) who has a broken fibula that will take 4-6 mos. to heal. He is joined by starting DT Ken Veal(ankle). FS Kentrell Curry(stress fracture), DB Tim Jennings(suspension) and DB DeMario Minter(suspension) will also be inactive leaving the Dawgs thin in the secondary. This is a make or break year for Bowden. The pressure to produce immediately has squarely fallen on his shoulders. The Tigers normally employ a 3 WR set and this should pose problems for the depleted secondary of Georgia. Death Valley used to be a significant homefield advantage for the Tigers, but the mystique has worn off somewhat. Hopefully, they can bring back some of that mojo on Saturday.
Clemson is 19-3-1 in home openers since 1980, but the Tigers are 3-6 both SU and ATS vs. Georgia since '84.
Mississippi -13(2 units):Vandy is perpetually the doormat of the SEC. They get little fan support from the student body. Thier stadium holds between 30-40,000 and if the fans of the opposing team did not come, I would dare say that it would only be 10-20% full. Bobby Johnson stated in the offseason that this team will probably be worse this year and it would take at least another season before anyone could see an upswing. The QBs, while they have been in the system for a year, have really not proven anything as of yet and the WRs aren't that impressive. On defense the area they need to be strong, the secondary, they aren't. With Eli Manning and their receiving corps, Ole Miss should be able to take advantage of Vandy's weaknesses. Thier defense is bigger and stronger up front and more experienced and talented in the secondary. This Rebel team is probably the most talented they have had in a decade.
The home team in this series is 1-7-1 ATS in the series. Ole Miss is 20-11-1 ATS in SEC road games since '95
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