Armadillo Sports
Wednesday’s 6-pack:
— Astros 4, Rangers 2- Framber Valdez had no-hitter broken up in 9th inning.
— Phillies 6, Dodgers 2- Sosa/Schwarber hit back/back home runs.
— White Sox 5, A’s 1- Chicago ends their 21-game losing skid.
— Cubs 7, Twins 3- Cubs are 17-4 when Imanaga pitches.
— Serbia 95, Australia 90, OT- Aussies led by 24 in second quarter.
— Team USA 122, Brazil 87- Game was 63-36 at halftime. Americans play Serbia in the semi-finals Thursday.
Quote of the Day
“Trust everybody, but you cut the cards.”
Finley Peter Dunne
Wednesday’s quiz
Nick Saban’s first head coaching job was at Toledo; which current NFL head coach was a linebacker on that team?
Tuesday’s quiz
In the movie Airplane!, Peter Graves was the airplane’s pilot; Kareem Abdul-Jabbar played the plane’s co-pilot.
Monday’s quiz
Chicago Bears last played in a Super Bowl after the 2006 season; Rex Grossman was their QB in that game.
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Wednesday’s Den: Part 2 of our Big 18 football preview……..
There are 18 teams in the Big 10 now, so we’re calling it the Big 18
— Maryland
Terps have had three straight winning years (7-6/8-5/8-5).
Maryland has 4 starters back on offense, 8 on defense.
Terps have 21 returning starts on OL.
Soph QB Morris started six games at NC State.
Since 2018, Maryland is 12-9 ATS as a home favorite.
Since 2018, Maryland is 3-14 ATS as a road underdog.
Under Locksley, Terms are 11-4 ATS in non-league games.
Terps won last three bowl games, giving up 11.7 ppg.
— Washington
Washington went 25-3 last two years, now is in a rebuild.
New coach Fisch was at Arizona; new DC is Steve Belichick.
Huskies have 2 starters back on offense, 4 on defense.
Huskies have 36 returning starts on offensive line, none of them here.
Senior QB Rogers started 40 games at Mississippi State.
Since 2020, Washington is 9-12-1 ATS as an home favorite.
Since 2018, Huskies are 18-33 ATS in conference games.
In his career, Fisch is 16-9 ATS as an underdog.
Washington is 3-1 SU in last four bowls; they lost national title game LY
— Indiana
Last 3 years, Hoosiers went 9-27; now they’ve got a new coach.
Curt Cignetti was 52-10 in five years at James Madison.
Hoosiers have 10 starters back on offense, 11 on defense.
Hoosiers have 119 returning starts on the offensive line.
Senior QB Rourke started 33 games at Ohio U.
Last three years, Indiana is 10-17 ATS in conference games.
In his career, Cignetti is 13-7 ATS as an underdog.
Since 2015, Hoosiers are 22-31 ATS coming off a loss.
Indiana lost its last six bowls; their last bowl win was in 1991.
— Movie of the Day: The Way, Way Back (2013)- A shy 14-year old goes on summer vacation with his mother, her overbearing boyfriend, and the boyfriend’s daughter. Having a rough time fitting in, the kid finds an unexpected friend in Owen, manager of the Water Wizz water park.
Steve Carell, Sam Rockwell, Toni Collette, Allison Janney, Rob Corddry; good cast. The two guys who wrote the movie also have small roles in it.
— Illinois
Last three years under Bielema, Illinois was 5-7/8-5/5-7.
Illinois has 6 starters back on offense, 7 on defense.
Illini has 77 returning starts on OL.
Junior QB Altmyer has 10 career starts.
Under Bielema, Illinois is 4-10 ATS as a home favorite.
Under Bielema, Illinois is 11-3 ATS in road games.
In his career, Bielema is 24-16-1 ATS as a road underdog.
Illinois is 3-2 SU in last five bowls; they were underdog in 4 of 5 games.
— UCLA
Last three years, UCLA was 25-13, but Chip Kelly bolted to be OC at Ohio State.
New coach Foster is 44, has no head coaching experience.
Eric Biemiemy is the new OC (14 years as an NFL assistant)
UCLA has 7 starters back on offense, 5 on defense.
Bruins have 101 returning starts on the offensive line.
Senior QB Garbers started 6 games last year.
Last 10 years, UCLA is 16-29 ATS as a home favorite.
Last 10 years, UCLA is 24-35-1 ATS coming off a win.
Last four years, Bruins are 10-6 ATS as an underdog.
UCLA is 1-3 SU/ATS in its last four bowl games.
— Minnesota
Gophers were 5-7 last year, their worst season since 2017.
Gophers have 8 starters back on offense, 8 on defense.
Minnesota has 70 returning starts on the offensive line.
Senior QB Brosmer started 36 games at I-AA New Hampshire.
Since 2019, Minnesota is 9-4-1 ATS as a road favorite.
Last two years, Gophers were 7-12 ATS in conference games.
In his career, Fleck is 24-14-1 ATS as a road underdog.
Minnesota won its last seven bowl games.
— Famous birthdays, August 7th
Freddy Brown, 76
Wayne Knight, 69 (Happy birthday…….Newman)
Joe Cocozzo, 54
Charlize Theron, 49
Tommy Kahnle, 35
Mike Trout, 33
Kyler Murray, 27
Jalen Hurts, 26
Tommy DeVito, 26
— Northwestern
Northwestern went 8-5 with an interim coach LY, after 3-9/1-11 years.
Interim coach is now the full-time head coach.
Wildcats have 7 starters back on offense, 8 on defense.
Wildcats have 78 returning starts on offensive line.
Senior QB Wright has 14 career starts, at Vandy/Mississippi State.
Since 2018, Northwestern is 4-12-1 ATS as a home favorite.
Last ten years, Northwestern is 24-13 ATS as a road underdog.
Last nine years, Wildcats are 49-31 ATS in conference games.
Northwestern won its last five bowl games, were underdog in three of them.
— Michigan State
Last two years, Spartans went 5-7/4-8, then fired the coach.
New coach Smith comes from Oregon State, his alma mater.
MSU has 5 starters back on offense, 10 on defense.
Spartans have 31 returning starts on the offensive line.
Soph QB Chiles was a sub at Oregon State LY, playing every third series.
Last three years, MSU is 7-3 ATS as a home favorite.
Since 2018, Spartans are 5-10 ATS as a home underdog.
Last three years, Spartans are 8-2 ATS in non-league games.
Michigan State is 3-1 SU/4-0 ATS in its last four bowls.
— Purdue
Purdue was 4-8 last year, its 4th losing season in six years.
Boilermakers have 8 starters back on offense, 6 on defense.
Purdue has 165 returning starts on the offensive line.
Senior QB Card has 16 career starts.
Since 2018, Purdue is 4-15 ATS as a home favorite.
Last ten years, Purdue is 25-10 ATS as a road underdog.
Since 2020, Boilers are 13-21 ATS in conference games.
Purdue lost four of last five bowl games, giving up 52.8 ppg.