I like JH at QB, but I have to keep asking myself what happens when he actually faces a pass rush and can't sit back there floating the ball to his choice of receiver. Yes, defensive depletion hurts your record, and yes, the offensive has been explosive at times. I don't think they'll be a NC contender next year, as I agree with pander that they win only about 9 games, but they will be much better ranked...or at least do a better job of holding onto their rankings when they get up there next year. Good luck to them. I don't really hate them as much as I do FSU, mostly because they've been off our schedule and faded to being a nobody in recent years. Nice to see them come back, compete with UF, and see USF fighting to be somebody - I have plenty of state pride (as long as UF is on top
).
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Friday Fun:
9:30 PM ET
No. 6 Boise State at Utah State (+23.5) - only on here because of the 3 Friday night games, it's the best. Sounds like the wife gets taken out for date night, no TV to watch.
Saturday for the weakest weekend of the season :
12:00 PM ET
No. 10 Ohio State at Michigan (+12.5) - A chance for MICH to play spoiler, to make tOSU possibly share the title. A chance for Sr. Day in Ann Harbor, to get Rich Rod a little cooler in his seat, and give a spark for the future. I'm going to hope MICH wins, despite how much I hate them, and it's less about hating on tOSU for this week as much as it is about hoping MICH can provide some level of competition for them in the future.
12:00 PM ET
Duke at No. 20 Miami (FL) (-20) - Showing on EspnU...da 'U'
Meh, even with a depleted defense, UM rolls this one.
12:00 PM ET
Maryland at Florida State (-19) - Shit. FSU is favored by that much, they will probably make a bowl game with this win, regardless of what UF does to them next week
12:30 PM ET
Oklahoma at Texas Tech (+6.5) - Really? TT isn't favored? I say it's pile on time, and TT takes the chance to kick OU while they down and falling lower.
1:00 PM ET
Kent State at Temple (-11) - Why is this here? Because Temple is 6-0 in conference and has a solid shot of at least sharing the MAC conference title. How many times have you ever heard of that? And yes, I probably just jinxed them.
2:30 PM ET
Connecticut at Notre Dame (-6) - On NotrelameBroadcastCunts, of course 8). And yes, I'm pulling for UConn with the upset. Gawd I hate ND.
3:30 PM ET
No. 8 LSU at Mississippi (-4) - I'm surprised the line is that close, but then again, I'm not. This could have been for the SEC Western Division...but it's not. Both schools have something to prove, but I see LSU winning this one, probably in a 27-10 type of game. The only caveat is if they are looking ahead at anything (next game ARK? Bowl game?)....probably not, they should win strong.
3:30 PM ET
No. 14 Penn State at Michigan State (+3) - PSU is only favored by a field goal? I suppose so, given the fight MSU gave to Iowa recently. How about a classic Big10+1 game, in the snow, with either 3-0 or 10-7 PSU winning? I'll go 13-7, why not.
5:00 PM ET
No. 19 Oregon State at Washington State (+31.5) - Why is this here? A win puts OSU in a position to play OU for the PAC-10 title
A bit bigger than the already huge in-state rivalry game they usually have.
7:00 PM ET
Vanderbilt at Tennessee (-17) - I wish Vandy would beat them. I don't think they'll even cover the spread. Vandy defense will play decent, but still make TN look better than they are; and the Vandy offense won't do shit against Monte
7:30 PM ET
No. 25 California at No. 17 Stanford (-8) - A win keeps Stanford close to a share of the PAC-10 title. When's the last time you heard that? I don't know if Best is playing for Cal, but they will lose, regardless, IMO. - Edit, I'm wrong. To share the title, they'd need OSU to lose this week to Wazzu (highly unlikely) and then have OSU beat OR....but OSU already beat Stanford so the tiebreaker means the best the Cardinal can do is tie for second
Moving on.
7:45 PM ET
Kentucky at Georgia (-9.5) - are we set for another high scoring track meet with the way UGA's defense is playing? Maybe. Will UGA win? Maybe. I don't see this being bigger than a 10 point differential at the end of the game, but I do think both teams score more than 20.
*Special condolences to our UGA bretheren, as UGA VII recently passed. Reports are it was a heart related condition, speculation persists it was from to many heart breaking losses to the Gators.
7:45 PM ET
Kansas State at Nebraska (-17) - Why is this here? Winner takes the Big12 North and plays TX in the conference title game. For KSU, that would mean going in with a 7-5 record...including a loss to LA-Laffeyette....w00t.
At least NEB might make a game of it against TX...probably not, but they might.
8:00 PM ET
No. 11 Oregon at Arizona(+6) - College Game Day!!! :Yawn:
Win this, and OR is a rivalry game away from an outright PAC10 title and the Rose Bowl (where they promptly beat tOSU's ass, simply so I can win a bet :D
).