09-01-2001, 12:52 PM
Well lets hope losing isn't a trend itself.
South Carolina -19.5 Gamecocks return a lot of talent from a solid, yet not spectacular team last year. This year they will focus on possibly becoming that spectacular team. Holtz is finally settled in with mostly his guys. He will want a chance to lay into a team that was 10-2 last year. Boise had a dream season playing at big boys level and getting themselves promoted up a league. Now they will slip back as the tougher schedule and lack of experience slows their progress. They lost their incredibly successful and popular coach to ASU and open on the road with only 10 returning starters and have to replace a very capable QB. Doesn't look good as Columbia is ready for a big year and will make this an intimidating venue. Big time school versus small time school, big time has lots of players back and small time doesn't. Looks like a big mismatch but the number isn't that unreasonable. South Carolina 48 Boise St. 14
Other games I considered
Washington St already won easily, this could be the surprise team of the Pac 10, but they easily handled a lower level team in a rivalry matchup they had revenge motivation for.
Colorado worried me with their less than sharp performance, but I think there is a definite talent edge here early in the season as Lubick will have to get his JUCOs up to speed. Number is reasonable, but the lack of execution and the rivalry nature of this game makes me pause.
Bowling Green has nowhere to go but up. Missouri lost a rare talent for themselves in Smith and could be looking at rebuilding this year. Hard though to support a lower level team on the road after a 2-9 year, but BG could be close to the top of the MAC come year end.
Penn State will definitely have a better season despite the lack of returning starters. Paterno is loaded with talent coming in and they almost by default should play better. Miami is going to have to live up to its billing right here and boy this is a tough spot to open the season. The Canes could very well get upset here, this looks like a big trap. I made it pretty clear what I thought of Miami already, maybe this is the first chance for the public to see their lofty spot isn't quite warranted. Lions should have a great run defense this year and with green receivers for Miami they might have some trouble with the offense here.
Fresno State still looks good to me, but boy last week killed all line value here. In some ways its nice to see they can play at such a level before putting money on them, but without last weeks game I get more than a TD here. Still I like their chances for a straight up win as its a TV game for a program starving for attention. Fresno has some of the most loyal and vocal fans around, they have to be absolutely fired up for this one. Beavers will have to jump out to an early lead if they want to win here. Fresno's defensive speed surprised me and it will be very useful at stopping the outside runs of Simonton. Smith is an overrated QB, I wouldn't be surprised if he lost his job before year end. The guy threw for under 50% last year but his return is called a positive??? If the guy had a gun I could see it but he is mediocre armed and not the fastest runner either. This team has pretender written all over them.
South Carolina -19.5 Gamecocks return a lot of talent from a solid, yet not spectacular team last year. This year they will focus on possibly becoming that spectacular team. Holtz is finally settled in with mostly his guys. He will want a chance to lay into a team that was 10-2 last year. Boise had a dream season playing at big boys level and getting themselves promoted up a league. Now they will slip back as the tougher schedule and lack of experience slows their progress. They lost their incredibly successful and popular coach to ASU and open on the road with only 10 returning starters and have to replace a very capable QB. Doesn't look good as Columbia is ready for a big year and will make this an intimidating venue. Big time school versus small time school, big time has lots of players back and small time doesn't. Looks like a big mismatch but the number isn't that unreasonable. South Carolina 48 Boise St. 14
Other games I considered
Washington St already won easily, this could be the surprise team of the Pac 10, but they easily handled a lower level team in a rivalry matchup they had revenge motivation for.
Colorado worried me with their less than sharp performance, but I think there is a definite talent edge here early in the season as Lubick will have to get his JUCOs up to speed. Number is reasonable, but the lack of execution and the rivalry nature of this game makes me pause.
Bowling Green has nowhere to go but up. Missouri lost a rare talent for themselves in Smith and could be looking at rebuilding this year. Hard though to support a lower level team on the road after a 2-9 year, but BG could be close to the top of the MAC come year end.
Penn State will definitely have a better season despite the lack of returning starters. Paterno is loaded with talent coming in and they almost by default should play better. Miami is going to have to live up to its billing right here and boy this is a tough spot to open the season. The Canes could very well get upset here, this looks like a big trap. I made it pretty clear what I thought of Miami already, maybe this is the first chance for the public to see their lofty spot isn't quite warranted. Lions should have a great run defense this year and with green receivers for Miami they might have some trouble with the offense here.
Fresno State still looks good to me, but boy last week killed all line value here. In some ways its nice to see they can play at such a level before putting money on them, but without last weeks game I get more than a TD here. Still I like their chances for a straight up win as its a TV game for a program starving for attention. Fresno has some of the most loyal and vocal fans around, they have to be absolutely fired up for this one. Beavers will have to jump out to an early lead if they want to win here. Fresno's defensive speed surprised me and it will be very useful at stopping the outside runs of Simonton. Smith is an overrated QB, I wouldn't be surprised if he lost his job before year end. The guy threw for under 50% last year but his return is called a positive??? If the guy had a gun I could see it but he is mediocre armed and not the fastest runner either. This team has pretender written all over them.