VINCE YOUNG TO START, HOKIE FLAMEOUT & MY COLLEGE PLAYS
When the guy who signs the checks wants a different quarterback, even a coach with 15 years of tenure pays attention. Tennessee Titan coach Jeff Fisher announced yesterday Vince Young would start this Sunday against Jacksonville. Titan owner Bud Adams had voiced his opinion in the newspaper earlier this week about his preference for Vince Young over Kerry Collins. The 0-6 Titans owe Young a $4.2 million roster bonus March 1st, it's time to see if they want to keep him & pay him that kind of money.
The game between the St. Louis Rams & Detroit Lions will be blacked out in the Detroit market as there are over 10,000 seats remaining for this game between 2 teams with a combined 1-11 record. Hard to believe such an epic matchup in a market with 15% unemployment, can't sell out. The Chargers had to get an extension for 4th time in 4 games this season. They only need to peddle 1,000 tickets, so I doubt a blackout is in the offing. The Cardinals also need to sell slightly more than 1,000 tickets to keep the game on in the Phoenix market.
New Orleans fullback Heath Evans has been placed on I.R. with a torn ACL. Evans was brought in for his play as well as his positive leadership in the locker room. Evans had 3 touchdowns this season. The Saints signed Kyle Eckel Thursday & he practiced yesterday. This is a major loss to New Orleans, Evans was a solid lead blocker & safety valve receiver, plus a steady influence. Several Saints, including Reggie Bush, are talking of an undefeated season, pretty early for that in my opinion, altho with their schedule being what it is, I do see them 10-0 in 4 weeks.
Virginia Tech has gone from a shot at the BCS Championship game 3 weeks ago to just an also-ran ACC team. They suffered a shocking upset at home last night to North Carolina 20-17, as the Tar Heels kicked the game-winning field goal with no time left. Freshman sensation RB Ryan Williams, fumbled at the Hokie 40 with about 2 minutes to play. These mid-season home upset losses are becoming all too common in Blacksburg. This was the Tar Heels first conference win of the season. The ACC has been dreadful this year, Florida State, Maryland, Virginia & North Carolina State all having down years. Miami has been surprising but they won't even play in the conference championship game. Looks like Georgia Tech & Clemson will get there with a BCS bowl date as the reward.
I bitched yesterday about ABC televising the Texas-Oklahoma State & USC-Oregon games at the same time in a regional format. Good news, ESPN is going to show the other game regardless of your region. So you can watch either/both games Saturday night on ABC/ESPN at 7 PM CDT. It's very good news since there aren't too many quality matchups for Saturday & now we can see both of these games. Here's how I see the day's marquee games.
Georgia vs. Florida at Jacksonville
The "World's biggest outdoor cocktail party" played annually in Jacksonville lists the Gators as a 15-point favorite. The Bulldogs have been a major disappointment, their offense has sputtered from time to time & their secondary has been porous to say the least. Florida hasn't thrown the ball well, Tim Tebow has been hot 'n cold & if not for a couple of favorable calls by officials, they could very well have lost their last 2 starts. Georgia's down season could be totally salvaged by a win tomorrow, but they've just been too inconsistent. I will most likely stay away from this one, neither team playing well enough to back. CBS 2:30 CDT
Texas at Oklahoma State
The Longhorns have a bad history in Stillwater. They get off to a bad start & have to come from behind to eek out a narrow win. They don't cover at Oklahoma State either. But with the injuries & suspensions the Cowboys have suffered this season, I can't side with them. Texas appears to be hitting their stride right now, looking toward the BCS Championship Game they should've been in last season. No wager here either. ABC/ESPN 7PM CDT
USC at Oregon State
Let's see if I have this right. Oregon loses to 14th ranked Boise State on opening night. USC loses to unranked Washington, a team that was 1 game removed from a 15-game losing streak. USC is ranked #5 & Oregon is #10. Oregon has demolished their last 2 opponents, including the aforementioned Washington Huskies, 43-19. The Trojans have hung on to win against Notre Dame & Oregon State the last 2 weeks, not covering either game. The 3 1/2 points USC is laying tomorrow is the right number. Oregon depends on QB Jeremiah Masoli's running & the receiving of TE Ed Dickson. Their outside passing game isn't much, which could really hurt them if the Trojans can slow the run & All-American safety Taylor Mays shuts down Dickson. I don't see USC scoring a lot either, the Oregon defense spurred this resurgence since the Boise loss.If anything, I'd be inclined to bet the under. I'm going to see where that number is tomorrow & if it stays at 47 1/2, I'll take it for a small play. ABC/ESPN 7PM
Southern Mississippi at Houston(-6 1/2)
The Houston Cougars have been very, very good to me. Three bets, three winners. One bet on So. Miss., one win. Southern Miss has a pretty decent pass defense but Kansas' Todd Reesing blew up the Golden Eagle secondary for 331 yards & 3 touchdowns just 4 weeks ago. So. Miss lost their starting QB, Austin Davis, for the season & since their upset loss at Louisville, they've played pretty well, albeit against 2 stiffs, Tulane & Memphis. Once again I'm taking the Cougars & looking for a 2-touchdown margin.
Michigan State(-3) at Minnesota
Michigan State is coming off a brutal last-play-of-the-game loss against Iowa. The Spartans are a pretty decent Big-10 team. Minnesota isn't, they managed 7 points in their last 2 games & that was with all-everything WR Eric Decker, now he's gone for the regular season with a foot injury. QB Adam Weber no longer has the security blanket he's had for the last 3 years. Both teams are 4-4, but they're headed in different directions, the Spartans should be headed to a decent bowl game while the Gophers will be hard pressed just to get to 6-6. Small play on the Spartans provided there's no line move. Big-10 Network 7PM.
Today's real name of the day: Shawnbrey McNeal, running back, Texas.
The game between the St. Louis Rams & Detroit Lions will be blacked out in the Detroit market as there are over 10,000 seats remaining for this game between 2 teams with a combined 1-11 record. Hard to believe such an epic matchup in a market with 15% unemployment, can't sell out. The Chargers had to get an extension for 4th time in 4 games this season. They only need to peddle 1,000 tickets, so I doubt a blackout is in the offing. The Cardinals also need to sell slightly more than 1,000 tickets to keep the game on in the Phoenix market.
New Orleans fullback Heath Evans has been placed on I.R. with a torn ACL. Evans was brought in for his play as well as his positive leadership in the locker room. Evans had 3 touchdowns this season. The Saints signed Kyle Eckel Thursday & he practiced yesterday. This is a major loss to New Orleans, Evans was a solid lead blocker & safety valve receiver, plus a steady influence. Several Saints, including Reggie Bush, are talking of an undefeated season, pretty early for that in my opinion, altho with their schedule being what it is, I do see them 10-0 in 4 weeks.
Virginia Tech has gone from a shot at the BCS Championship game 3 weeks ago to just an also-ran ACC team. They suffered a shocking upset at home last night to North Carolina 20-17, as the Tar Heels kicked the game-winning field goal with no time left. Freshman sensation RB Ryan Williams, fumbled at the Hokie 40 with about 2 minutes to play. These mid-season home upset losses are becoming all too common in Blacksburg. This was the Tar Heels first conference win of the season. The ACC has been dreadful this year, Florida State, Maryland, Virginia & North Carolina State all having down years. Miami has been surprising but they won't even play in the conference championship game. Looks like Georgia Tech & Clemson will get there with a BCS bowl date as the reward.
I bitched yesterday about ABC televising the Texas-Oklahoma State & USC-Oregon games at the same time in a regional format. Good news, ESPN is going to show the other game regardless of your region. So you can watch either/both games Saturday night on ABC/ESPN at 7 PM CDT. It's very good news since there aren't too many quality matchups for Saturday & now we can see both of these games. Here's how I see the day's marquee games.
Georgia vs. Florida at Jacksonville
The "World's biggest outdoor cocktail party" played annually in Jacksonville lists the Gators as a 15-point favorite. The Bulldogs have been a major disappointment, their offense has sputtered from time to time & their secondary has been porous to say the least. Florida hasn't thrown the ball well, Tim Tebow has been hot 'n cold & if not for a couple of favorable calls by officials, they could very well have lost their last 2 starts. Georgia's down season could be totally salvaged by a win tomorrow, but they've just been too inconsistent. I will most likely stay away from this one, neither team playing well enough to back. CBS 2:30 CDT
Texas at Oklahoma State
The Longhorns have a bad history in Stillwater. They get off to a bad start & have to come from behind to eek out a narrow win. They don't cover at Oklahoma State either. But with the injuries & suspensions the Cowboys have suffered this season, I can't side with them. Texas appears to be hitting their stride right now, looking toward the BCS Championship Game they should've been in last season. No wager here either. ABC/ESPN 7PM CDT
USC at Oregon State
Let's see if I have this right. Oregon loses to 14th ranked Boise State on opening night. USC loses to unranked Washington, a team that was 1 game removed from a 15-game losing streak. USC is ranked #5 & Oregon is #10. Oregon has demolished their last 2 opponents, including the aforementioned Washington Huskies, 43-19. The Trojans have hung on to win against Notre Dame & Oregon State the last 2 weeks, not covering either game. The 3 1/2 points USC is laying tomorrow is the right number. Oregon depends on QB Jeremiah Masoli's running & the receiving of TE Ed Dickson. Their outside passing game isn't much, which could really hurt them if the Trojans can slow the run & All-American safety Taylor Mays shuts down Dickson. I don't see USC scoring a lot either, the Oregon defense spurred this resurgence since the Boise loss.If anything, I'd be inclined to bet the under. I'm going to see where that number is tomorrow & if it stays at 47 1/2, I'll take it for a small play. ABC/ESPN 7PM
Southern Mississippi at Houston(-6 1/2)
The Houston Cougars have been very, very good to me. Three bets, three winners. One bet on So. Miss., one win. Southern Miss has a pretty decent pass defense but Kansas' Todd Reesing blew up the Golden Eagle secondary for 331 yards & 3 touchdowns just 4 weeks ago. So. Miss lost their starting QB, Austin Davis, for the season & since their upset loss at Louisville, they've played pretty well, albeit against 2 stiffs, Tulane & Memphis. Once again I'm taking the Cougars & looking for a 2-touchdown margin.
Michigan State(-3) at Minnesota
Michigan State is coming off a brutal last-play-of-the-game loss against Iowa. The Spartans are a pretty decent Big-10 team. Minnesota isn't, they managed 7 points in their last 2 games & that was with all-everything WR Eric Decker, now he's gone for the regular season with a foot injury. QB Adam Weber no longer has the security blanket he's had for the last 3 years. Both teams are 4-4, but they're headed in different directions, the Spartans should be headed to a decent bowl game while the Gophers will be hard pressed just to get to 6-6. Small play on the Spartans provided there's no line move. Big-10 Network 7PM.
Today's real name of the day: Shawnbrey McNeal, running back, Texas.
Comments