Picks of the Week
Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2005 9:47 am
Last Week: 4-1
Year to Date: 4-1
Nebraska -6.5 vs. Wake Forest
OK, did anyone ever think that we would see a game in Lincoln where Nebraska would be favored over Wake Forest by less than a touchdown? It's sad that this is what Nebraska football has become, not even considering a sloppy 25-7 win over 1-AA Maine last week. But, Wake's best defender, LB Jon Abbate, has a bum hamstring and will see only limited action, and Wake has a young team, too, it's QB making only his second start in a very, very tough place to play. Also, of the last 7 wins that Wake has, 4 have come against Duke and East Carolina. Nebraska may not be Nebraska anymore, but they ain't Duke and East Carolina.
Stanford -2.5 at Navy
Navy's option works well against teams running a 4-3 or 4-2-5, but not against a 3-4, where the OLBs can get to the corner quickly. Unfortunately for Navy, Stanford runs a 3-4, and they run it well. Moreover, Stanford has a solid passing attack, and Walt Harris' west coast offense has gone over much better than the Fun N Gun that they ran last year. Navy has no pass rush, not much in terms of a secondary, and a one-dimensional offense. Not a good matchup for Navy at all.
Virginia Tech -20 at Duke
If Tech can put up decent numbers against a very tough NC State defense, they should roll over Duke like they weren't even there. Only risk here, as with all high point lines, is that Tech will get out to a 42 point lead and watch the 2nd and 3rd team give enough back, but I don't think that'll happen here.
Clemson +3 at Maryland
I don't get this one. Clemson knocks off a tough, tough Texas A&M team and Maryland squeaks by a one-dimensional Navy team and Maryland is favored. Charlie Whitehurst is going to seriously test a weak Maryland secondary, and I don't see Maryland's young offense being able to do much against an underrated defense. Clemson does have the tendency to give up the big play, but Maryland doesn't have enough weapons to really take advantage of those situations. Ought to be a close one, but I like Clemson and the field goal.
Louisiana State +2 at Arizona State
Hurricane or no hurricane, this is one loaded LSU team. Yes, their minds may be elsewhere, but what a motivation to have than to get a big win to bring a small smile to folks who damn sure need one? ASU is starting an untested sophomore at QB and a true freshman at RB, and they'll be facing one of the 5 best defenses in the country. It's very easy to envision LSU pitching a shutout in this game, or at least holding ASU to a touchdown or less, which makes the points just all the more attractive.
Year to Date: 4-1
Nebraska -6.5 vs. Wake Forest
OK, did anyone ever think that we would see a game in Lincoln where Nebraska would be favored over Wake Forest by less than a touchdown? It's sad that this is what Nebraska football has become, not even considering a sloppy 25-7 win over 1-AA Maine last week. But, Wake's best defender, LB Jon Abbate, has a bum hamstring and will see only limited action, and Wake has a young team, too, it's QB making only his second start in a very, very tough place to play. Also, of the last 7 wins that Wake has, 4 have come against Duke and East Carolina. Nebraska may not be Nebraska anymore, but they ain't Duke and East Carolina.
Stanford -2.5 at Navy
Navy's option works well against teams running a 4-3 or 4-2-5, but not against a 3-4, where the OLBs can get to the corner quickly. Unfortunately for Navy, Stanford runs a 3-4, and they run it well. Moreover, Stanford has a solid passing attack, and Walt Harris' west coast offense has gone over much better than the Fun N Gun that they ran last year. Navy has no pass rush, not much in terms of a secondary, and a one-dimensional offense. Not a good matchup for Navy at all.
Virginia Tech -20 at Duke
If Tech can put up decent numbers against a very tough NC State defense, they should roll over Duke like they weren't even there. Only risk here, as with all high point lines, is that Tech will get out to a 42 point lead and watch the 2nd and 3rd team give enough back, but I don't think that'll happen here.
Clemson +3 at Maryland
I don't get this one. Clemson knocks off a tough, tough Texas A&M team and Maryland squeaks by a one-dimensional Navy team and Maryland is favored. Charlie Whitehurst is going to seriously test a weak Maryland secondary, and I don't see Maryland's young offense being able to do much against an underrated defense. Clemson does have the tendency to give up the big play, but Maryland doesn't have enough weapons to really take advantage of those situations. Ought to be a close one, but I like Clemson and the field goal.
Louisiana State +2 at Arizona State
Hurricane or no hurricane, this is one loaded LSU team. Yes, their minds may be elsewhere, but what a motivation to have than to get a big win to bring a small smile to folks who damn sure need one? ASU is starting an untested sophomore at QB and a true freshman at RB, and they'll be facing one of the 5 best defenses in the country. It's very easy to envision LSU pitching a shutout in this game, or at least holding ASU to a touchdown or less, which makes the points just all the more attractive.
