4-Unit Play. #136 Take Stanford (+3) over Oregon State (9 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 28)-108 WINNER
We’re going to take a shot with Jim Harbaugh and the home dogs of Stanford. The Cardinal welcomes back a host of experience, including 16 starters, and should be roaring to go for this home opener. Harbaugh has this team and this program revitalized, and they’ll look to use that energy to overtake an Oregon State team in transition. The Beavers have to replace their entire front seven and will be without safety Al Afalava. Also, OSU All-Pac-10 guard Jeremy Perry will not even make the trip. The Cardinal upset OSU in 2005 and played them tough on the road last year before falling. I’m looking for an outright win here.
3-Unit Play. #145 Temple (-7) over Army (7 p.m., Friday, Aug. 29)-108 WINNER
This is a revenge game for the Owls, who lost 37-21 at home against the Black Knights last season. But Temple actually “won” the stats in that game, and bring back 21 starters (11 on from the MAC’s No. 1 defense) from the club that took the field that day. Army is one of the most inexperienced teams in the country, with just eight returning starters. Al Golden has his Temple program headed in the right direction and I think they step off with a big win to open the season. The Owls are 6-2 ATS in their last eight against Independants and are 4-1 ATS in their last five games on turf.
4-Unit Play. Take ‘UNDER’ 40.5 Utah at Michigan (3:30 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 28)-105 LOST
Neither one of these clubs boast what can be called an “explosive” offense, and I think two big, physical lines will control this contest. The Wolverines are playing their first game in Rich Rodriquez’s spread offense attack and this will be the first start for many of the skill players for UM. Michigan does return seven starters from a powerful defense and 11 of their top 15 tacklers from 2007. The teams combined to allow just 38 points last year and I think it will take at least a quarter for both clubs to work the jitters out. The ‘under’ is 7-1 in Utah’s last eight road games and 9-3 in Michigan’s last 12 home contests.
6-Unit Play. #171 Take Oklahoma State (-7) over Washington State (3:30 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 30)-108 WINNER
This is my Game of the Month and I think we’ve found a great spot to attack the books early in the year! Oklahoma State brought back several key weapons from the No. 22 scoring team in the nation last year, including Zac Robinson to quarterback the Cowboys’ no-huddle spread option attack. Wazzou, on the other hand, is trying to replace the program’s all-time leading passer, Alex Brink, while learning a new system under new coach Paul Wulff. On top of that, the Cougars will be starting a freshman at left tackle, as starter Vaugh Lesuma is likely out with a bad back, and starting DT Andy Roof was just expelled from school this week. This game is being played on the turf of Qwest Field, which negates some of the home-field advantage for WSU. We’re going with a team that has more overall experience and more familiarity in its system, and we’re looking for a double-digit win by the talented team from the Big 12.
3-Unit Play. #203 Arkansas State (+19) over Texas A&M (7 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 30)-105 WINNER
Here we are going to play against another coach making his debut in the college ranks. Mike Sherman comes to A&M from the NFL and is implementing a completely new offensive scheme, going against the classic option-based attack the Aggies have run for years. Texas A&M is 3-0 against Arkansas State, but its average margin of victory is just 18 points. While I think the Aggies win this one, I think this number is too high and that the Red Wolves offense will be able to move the ball well enough to keep us under it.
4-Unit Play. #162 Take Oregon (-13.5) over Washington (10 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 30)-108 WINNER
The Ducks have dominated this Pac-10 rivalry over the past several years, earning a 4-0 record both straight-up and against the spread. Oregon’s average margin of victory in those games has been 22.5 points and per game and it’s been since 2000 that this series has been decided by less than 20 points. Oregon welcomes back a load of talent on both sides of the ball from a team that rushed for nearly 500 yards against the Huskies last year! Mix in the fact that the Huskies will be relying on a bunch of rookie starters – playing their first game in one of the toughest venues in the country – and I’m looking for a blowout. The favorite is 5-0 ATS in the last five meetings, the home team is 4-1 ATS, and the Ducks are 4-1 ATS in their last five at home against the Huskies.
3-Unit Play. #209 Colorado (-10.5) over Colorado State (7:30 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 31)-105winner
We’re siding with the road chalk in this rivalry game out west. Dan Hawkins is in his third year at CU and his son, Cody, leads an offense that should be much stronger with outstanding freshman running back Darrell Scott leading the way. CSU coach Steve Fairchild is making his first start as a head coach at any level and simply doesn’t have the talent to keep up with a rugged Big 12 team.
3-Unit Play. #211 Fresno State (+5) over Rutgers (4 p.m., Monday, Aug. 1)-107
Are you ready for some Monday afternoon football? The Bulldogs of Fresno State have a chance to be a BCS sleeper in the mold of Boise State and Hawaii over the last two years. Fresno returns 10 starters from an offense that finished No. 38 in the country last year. I think they can win this game outright and we’re getting good value on a team that started the season in the Top 25.
ADDING MICH ST UNDER 54-105.........$300 LOST
6-2 +$1565.00
What a sensational way to start the season!:toast:AA