The NFL may start on September 8th, but the real football season, gambling season, begins September 1st. The gridiron battles are finally starting up again, nearly seven months since the last game. This, of course, was the Patriots crushing loss by four in the Super Bowl to Philly. Yes the Pats may have won the actual game, but they didnt cover the seven-point spread, as Greg Lewis scored a junk touchdown with under two minutes left in the game to cut the lead to three. Lets hope a strong weekend of college picks will start the season off right. All picks are by the spread, home team in caps.
Miami -3 FLORIDA STATE (9/5) The final game of the opening weekend is also the best one. These two rivals always play an exciting game, with the recent results clearly being in Miamis favor, as they have gone 6-0 against the Seminoles in the last five seasons (one win was in a bowl game). The Canes will be led by their defense, which has 9 returning starters and the top defensive recruit in the country, ex-con linebacker Willie Williams (arrested twelve times in four years).
Florida State enters the season with a giant question mark at quarterback. Gone is quarterback abortion Chris Rix, who poisoned the Noles offense for the last four seasons. Wyatt Sexton was supposed to be the starter, but was diagnosed with Lyme disease during the spring and is taking the season off. Instead, Drew Weatherford, who was injured on his first play of the season last year, will step in. Thankfully hell have star RB Leon Washington to take some of the load off. Even though Florida State is 52-1 at home vs. ACC opponents, I still believe Miami will continue their winning streak against the Seminoles with a strong defensive performance.
Pick- Miami
PITT -3.5 Notre Dame (9/3) The past 10 years, this game has been particularly one-sided, as Notre Dame has won and covered 8 of the last 10 meetings. Last year, though, Pitt won at South Bend 41-38. In that game, returning QB Tyler Palko threw for 5 touchdowns. His main target is also back; WR Greg Lee, who had nearly 1,300 yards last year as sophomore. To make matters worse for the Irish, their defense only returns three starters. On the flip side of that, they also are returning 10 starters to their offense that received a major upgrade with the hiring of Charlie Weis as the head coach. The problem for Weis is he has the wrong Brady this time around. Instead of three-time Super Bowl Champion Tom Brady, he is now directing Brady Quinn, whose decision making last year was horrendous at best. Notre Dame enters the season having gone 2-8 against the spread in their last 10 away openers. Expect the trend to continue.
Pick Pittsburgh
Texas A&M -1 CLEMSON (9/3) The second-best game of the weekend slates two exciting, multi-purpose quarterbacks battling it out in Clemsons Charlie Whitehurst and Texas A&Ms Reggie McNeal. The Aggies return 17 starters from last season (9 on offense, 8 on defense) and are in year three of Coach Dennis Franchione's regime, which included a top 10 recruiting class this past season. The last time we saw Clemson they were brawling with South Carolina in the final game of last season, which cost them a chance to go to a bowl game after winning five of their last six. Despite the fact the Tigers are 22-4-1 in home openers, I see A&M making a statement and winning a close game on the road.
Pick- Texas A&M
AUBURN -7 Georgia Tech (9/3) Not many teams were hit harder with losses than Auburn. Not only did they lose their leader in QB Jason Campbell, but more importantly their incredible backfield of Ronnie Brown and Cadillac Williams. The tandem of Williams & Brown racked up over 2,000 yards rushing and 20 touchdowns last season. On the other hand, Georgia Tech returns starting multi-threat QB Reggie Ball, 2003 ACC rushing leader P.J. Daniels and 2004 ACC Freshman of the Year WR Calvin Johnson. Auburn may have won 15 games in a row, but itll be tough to continue that streak with the substantial losses to their offense.
They might win this one, but it wont be by much. Take the points.
Pick- Georgia Tech
Boston College -4 BYU (9/3) The Eagles have perennially struggled against ranked teams, almost always getting their victories against the hack teams in their old conference (Big East) or against their cupcake non-conference opponents. Lucky for them, BYU isnt very good this year. The Cougars have uncertainty at quarterback, never a good sign in a spread offense, and their usual dominance at home has faded away in recent years, having lost eight games in Provo the last two years.
BC Football's alcohol equivalent
Most importantly for BC, the Eagles return ACC Defensive Player of the Year favorite DL Mathias Kiwanuka, and have experience at the quarterback position with Quentin Porter coming back from injury after being red-shirted last year. I detest Boston College and usually will never pick them, but have to with the line only at four points.
Pick- Boston College
Ucla -7 SAN DIEGO STATE (9/3) In the past 5 years, San Diego States highest win total is four. Since joining the Mountain West, they have had one in conference winning season in seven years. The last time this team was any good was when Marshal Faulk played for them. UCLA comes into the game led by the two Drews, senior QB Drew Olson, who was recently cleared to play this season and RB Maurice Drew, who ran for 1,000 yards last season, including 322 vs. Washington. In the last twenty meeting between the teams, UCLA is 19-0-1. No reason to think they wont make it 20-0-1.
Pick- UCLA
ARIZONA ST -26 Temple (9/1) Arizona State returns this season with 8 offensive starters, but its the loss of two of them, RB Loren Wade (thrown off team) and QB Andrew Walter (NFL), that seems to be drawing the most attention. Regardless, they still return all-conference WR Derek Hagan and the QB they have, replacing Walter, strong-armed Sam Keller, last seen coming into last years Sun Bowl and leading a last-minute victory against Purdue. They are going up against a Temple team that has a) won only three games in the last two seasons, b) hasnt won more than four games in a season since 1990, c) hasnt been to a bowl game in 26 years & d) is 1-14 in their last 15 road games as an underdog. The Sun Devils have won their last 6 home openers; no reason to think they wont be able to name the score in this one.
PICK- Arizona State
Utep 10.5 NEW MEXICO STATE (9/3) Entering Mike Prices first season as coach of UTEP in 2004, they had consecutive seasons with only two wins. Last year they won eight games in his first season, and will enter this season with Carson Palmers brother Jordan at QB and former UCLA standout Tyler Ebbel at running back. Hal Mumme, who was last heard from resigning in disgrace from Kentucky in 2002, enters his first year as coach of a horrible New Mexico State team. He brings with him ideas for a high-powered passing offense: unfortunately, the team was built for a strong running attack and thus lacks the personnel to come remotely close to carrying out his plans. The future 2005 Conference USA champions UTEP should lay a Tyson-against-McNeely-like beating on the Aggies.
Pick-UTEP
Louisville -21 KENTUCKY (9/4) Speaking of Hal Mumme, the Wildcats are finally done with their 3-year probation thanks to his shady dealings in Lexington. This was a tough summer for the Cats, as the strength of their team, their linebackers, was decimated with problems. One withdrew from school, one suffered a spinal cord injury, and another was booted off the team. This doesnt bode well for their opening week game. Last year Louisville had the number one offense in the country, led by QB Stefan LeFors. Although LeFors departs, in his place comes Brian Brohm. Brohm is the biggest recruit ever landed by the Cardinals and should step nicely into an offense that returns eight starters. Louisville probably wont lose a game the entire season and should continue their dominance against the Wildcats, which includes covering 5 of the last 6 meetings.
much like Tyson was vs. McNeely, UTEP is a lock
Pick- Louisville
UTAH -7 Arizona (9/2) The Utes enter the season riding a 16-game winning streak, including winning every game last season by at least 14 points. They are also another team coming into the season facing heavy losses, most notably QB Alex Smith, who was only the #1 pick in the 2005 NFL Draft. They also have a first-year head coach and a new offensive and defensive coordinator. Fortunately for them they are matched up against an Arizona team that is not only terrible on turf (1-12 last 13 games), but more importantly had their slated starting quarterback, Richard Kovalcheck, miss all of spring practice with back surgery. Utah should be able to continue their winning streak with a double-digit win against the Wildcats.
Notre Dame (9-2) Posted: 11/28/2005by: Wallflower "The problem for Weis is he has the wrong Brady this time around. Instead of three-time Super Bowl Champion Tom Brady, he is now directing Brady Quinn, whose decision making last year was horrendous at best. Notre Dame enters the season having gone 2-8 against the spread in their last 10 away openers. Expect the trend to continue."
I'm just curious as to whether or not you've eaten your words yet....
What's up Posted: 9/8/2005by: Freddy Beisel Where are this weeks picks? Idiot Posted: 9/7/2005by: asdf Nice first two picks... assclown My Bad Posted: 8/31/2005by: Dr. Porkenveto Sorry about that. My OSU friend has been talking so much shit to my Texas friend that I just assumed it was this weekend. hey doc pork Posted: 8/30/2005by: rolltide ohio state doesnt play texas until next week, this week they are playing miami ohio... the more gambling articles the better WTF? Posted: 8/29/2005by: gtiller If anybody thinks ND will beat Pitt, you have lost your fucking minds. Last year's Pitt/ND game was great, plus it had the best quote of the year... Tyler Palko, Pitt's QB, after the game said "I'm so proud of these fucking guys" on live national television. Now that is some exciting shit.
By the way, I'm a Tennessee fan, and I hope you all like it when you hear Rocky Top all fucking year long and at the Rose Bowl. Ohio State v Texas Posted: 8/29/2005by: Dr. Porkenveto Hey Mann,
Any thoughts on this game? I hope you don't shy away from the REAL matchups all season... you know, the games people will actually watch. Good column, though. snuffalufogus Posted: 8/29/2005by: puppet penis ohhh bird. Patrick is a Douche... Posted: 8/29/2005by: SC23 Of course it was a junk touchdown, an when referencing the elite of college football...Notre Dame shouldn't be mentioned with Miami right now. They have fallen so far down its redonkulous....great article...keep it up. Brady Quinn ....Heismann Sleeper? Not sure what you've all been smoking Miami is fixin' to . . . Posted: 8/29/2005by: Frisco Ho Wax that ass. Book that sh_t.
The Pac-10 (except for USC) is pussy. If a Pac-10 team is favored, take the points. I assume you all noticed which conference Walt Harris went to?
