Thursday September 12

Paid Pick

Marshall (+11.5) over Virginia Tech.  3 Units.  This game is Marshall's shot at the big time and this game is their first hurdle on a potential path to BCS.  Va. Tech's offense has looked slightly anemic in two starts against very weak opposition and they now have lost their returning starter at QB for most of the season.  On the other hand, the Hokies have one of the best defenses in the nation each year and two strong running backs to pound the ball on the ground.  Marshall should be able to move the ball with the amazing Byron Leftwich at Quarterback. 

Free Pick

Marshall/Va. Tech Under  57.5.   1 Unit.  This game may be lower scoring then everyone thinks with Virginia Tech possessing a great defense but not much of a passing game.  Marshall's defense will be pumped up to stop Virginia Tech on the ground and to force an unproven QB to beat them through the air.

Saturday September 14

Paid Picks

Michigan (-3.5) at Notre Dame.  2 Units.  No matter how good of a defense your team has, the offense should score at least once in a while.  While playing Michigan, Notre Dame will lose and may still not have an offensive touchdown.  The Michigan road favorite jinx will end while the divine light of touchdown Jesus will fail to shine on a victory for the Golden Domers in South Bend.

UCLA (-6.5) at Oklahoma St.  3 Stars.  We are very confused because Oklahoma State is not a very good football team and UCLA is a pretty strong team that just pulled off a tough win at home over a very hot team.  Oklahoma St. has put up about 80 points in their first two games against teams with weak defenses and poor running games.  Paus and Company should put 500 yards of offense in romp.

***********ADDED GAMES At 3PM Eastern 9/12/02 ****************

Clemson/Georgia Tech over 51.5.  1 Unit.  The last 6 games in this series have been tight with winning margin of 3 points every time, but the total scores have been getting higher.  We just don't see the defenses playing a huge factor and anyway 51 points is not much nowadays. 

Cal/Michigan St. under 58.  2 Units.  Cal has been able to score against their weaker opponents so far but will be stifled by strong Spartan defense.  Michigan St.  barely got the offense moving enough to beat Rice and there is nothing really to motivate them to blow out Cal.

Mississippi (+4) at Texas Tech.  3 Units.  Texas Tech has stumbled to begin the season when they were finally supposed to be good, while Mississippi has discovered a running attack to help take the burden off of Eli Manning's young shoulders.  Mississippi has been a solid dog going 17-8 ATS and 6-1 ATS playing on the fake stuff.  Texas Tech is suffering from the loss of Ricky Williams who was their leading rusher and caught 70 dump passes out of the backfield and no one has filled this massive void.

Tulane (+8.5) at  East Carolina. 2 Units.   Tulane is on track to have decent year behind their strong running back Moore.  East Carolina looks to be lost in the piedmont marshes with the offensive talent that graduated gone.

Kentucky (-17) over Indiana.  2 Units.   Indiana has fallen to new low to begin this season and Kentucky has shown new life beyond anyone's expectations.  Kentucky has covered 5 of the last 7 in this series and Indiana has been weak outside the conference going 2-8 ATS. 

Southern Miss (-10.5) over Memphis.  2 Units.  Southern Miss has dominated this series covering 9 of the last 10 meetings, except last season when they were upset as a decent sized favorite, so revenge will be a factor.  Southern Miss had also benefited from the return of star TB Nix back to form after a year away with an injury.  Although Memphis has a rejuvenated passing game, they were not impressive against Ole Miss last week and Southern has a stingier defense.   

Florida State (-14) at Maryland.  2 Units.  Maryland is not the same team as last year and it has already showed in the first two games.  Florida State is looking strong offensively as always but they should be rested and ready on defense after two straight failures to cover in wins. 

Utah (-3) at Arizona.  2 Units.  Utah seems to have everything together this year and trip to hardly scary Arizona will not bring out any fear.  Arizona is one of the worst home teams in the nation with an 0-11 ATS record at home v. opponents with a winning record and 0-7 as an Home Dog.   We don't think the Wildcats, fresh off a win against cream puff Northern Arizona will be ready for the Utes. 

Missouri (-3) at Bowling Green.  3 Stars.  Revenge should be sweet this weekend for an improved Missouri against a solid but unchallenged Bowling Green.  There is a strong buzz around the new QB RS Frosh Smith who has been great so far on the ground and through the air.

Central Michigan (-2) over Akron.  2 Units.  The Zips are lacking any Zip this season, as they have been destroyed in their first two games.  Central Michigan beat Wyoming last week and should not have much more trouble against Akron.

South Florida (+13) over Arkansas. 2 Units.  USF snuck up on the Div 1 scene last year upsetting Pitt as a 23 point road dog and we think they may do it again this week.  The Bulls went 6-1-1 in lined games LY and return most of that team.  If they get their strong passing game started, the ground based Razorbacks may not catch up. 

Free Picks

ADDED******    Cincinnati (-5) over West Virginia.  2 Units.   This is actually a big game in Cincinnati for a couple of reasons: recruiting against their neighboring school West Virginia, Cincinnati's great comeback to beat TCU, and the Bearcats are 0-10-1 in a series that has not been played since 1989.  Cincy is 11-3 ATS off a bye, 8-2 ATS as a favorite <7 and 10-4 ATS at home.  West Virginia who are still struggling to rebuild are a dismal 4-11 ATS on the Road and 4-10 as a dog.

Iowa State (+3.5) at Iowa.  2 Units.  Well Iowa has looked better then we expected going into this year with all new starters at the offensive skill positions, but they are stepping up to play a better level of team this week.  Both teams have not had trouble scoring against weaker teams, but Iowa was tested at Miami of Ohio last week.  Iowa has allowed lots of yardage through the air even to Akron, while the Cyclone defense has stonewalled two weak opponents after an okay performance against Florida State.  Iowa St. has won and covered the last 4 in the series and 5 of the last 7 in Iowa City.

Florida (-41.5) over Ohio U.  2 Units.   Florida will be playing for keeps this week after gets ripped by Miami last week.  On the other hand, Ohio U. enters on a low note after getting shut out by 1-AA Northeastern at home.  This game will be ugly.