REBOUNDED NICELY FROM THE VERY DISAPPOINTING COLLEGE CARD ON SATURDAY WITH A NICE SUNDAY. STILL HAVING A HARRD TIME SWALLOWING NOTRE DAMES LAST MINUTE SPREAD GIVE AWAY, BUT WE WILL BE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THOSE GAMES SOON. JUST AN FYI, I ACTUALLY BET ALL THE GAMES ON MY CARD, SO OFTEN TIMES I WILL NOT RLEASE A SELECTION JUST TO GIVE ONE OUT, AS I AM NOT INTERESTED IN LOSING EITHER LOSING THE MONEY OF THOSE WHO FOLLOW THESE PLAYS, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY MY OWN MONEY. AS SUCH, IF THERE ARE ONLY A FEW GAMES THAT I LIKE ON A GIVEN WEEKEND THEN THOSE WILL BE THE ONLY PLAYS I WILL GIVE OUT. THAT BEING SAID THESE ARE THE GAMES THAT I HAVE PLAYED ALREADY! AS ALWAYS I PLAY ALL GAMES AT $100/UNIT SO ADJUST THE RATING ACCORDING TO HOW YOU BET. GOOD LUCK IF YOU PLAY!
8* MY TOP PLAY...VERY RARE (23-8 ) LAST YEAR IN FOOTBALL (74%)
6-7* HIGH RATED SELECTION ONLY WHEN ALOT OF GAMES ON THE CARD TO CHOSE FROM (WELL OVER 60%)
5* EXCEPTIONAL PLAY USUALLY HIGHEST WHEN ONLY A FEW GAMES
4* VERY STRONG SELECTION
3* STRONG SELECTION
2* PROBABLE COVER (MOST COMMON RATING)
1* A GAME THAT SHOULD COVER
OPINION PLAY: GAME THAT I THINK MAY WIN BUT OFTEN JUST TO WATCH A GAME OR A LEAN USUALLY 1/2 A UNIT.
Season Record: College 9-10 47.6% (-3.60) -$360
Season Record: NFL 5-2 71.4% (+4.70) +$470
SUMMARY OF PLAYS NCAA FOOTBALL:
(3) RUTGERS -6
(2) BOISE STATE -21
(2) SOUTH CAROLINA/GEORGIA UNDER 40.5
(2) UAB -10.5
SUMMARY OF PLAYS NFL FOOTBALL:
FORTHCOMING CHECK BACK LATER
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DETAILED WRITEUPS NCAA FOOTBALL
RUTGERS (1 - 1) at ARMY (0 - 1)
Week 3 Saturday, 9/13/2003 3:30 PM
125 RUTGERS -6.5
126 ARMY
Detailed Analysis
This game perhaps will win the award as one of the least watchable games of the year...but does that mean I can't bet on it? The Rutgers Scarlet Knights try to double last season's win total on Saturday when they head to West Point to take on the Army Black Knights in non-conference action from Michie Stadium. The Scarlet Knights have already equaled last year's win total of one, with an opening-day victory over Buffalo, 24-10. The win snapped the Scarlet Knights' nine-game losing streak dating back to last season. However, the victory was short lived as Rutgers was defeated by Michigan State, 44-28 last Saturday. With a 1-1 mark on the season, the Scarlet Knights shouldn't have trouble building on their 1-11 mark from a year ago. As for Army, it also finished last season 1-11 and did not get off to a good start this year either. In their season opener against Connecticut, the Black Knights were manhandled, 48-21. It was the third consecutive loss for Army dating back to a season ago. The Black Knights will be playing a school-record 13 games this season, which includes a tough stretch of Conference USA contests.
Rutgers gained only 330 yards of total offense against Michigan State, but was still able to produce 21 points. The offense moved the ball through the air effectively, gaining 266 yards, but struggled on the ground with just 64 yards. Ryan Hart had a respectable day, completing 14-of-31 pass attempts for 266 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. He has now completed 56.5 percent of his passes for nearly 500 yards and three touchdowns through the first two games of the season. Harts' favorite target, Shawn Tucker, hauled in five balls for 118 yards and a score against Michigan State. Tucker had only three receptions for 44 yards in the season opener against Buffalo. Brian Leonard led the rushing attack with 31 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries. Justin Hairston didn't fare much better either, gaining only 22 yards on 13 totes. Hairston had 88 yards and a score last week versus Buffalo. Overall, the Rutgers' offense was last in the nation last season so scoring more than 21 points in the first two games of the season is definitely a promising sign. Defensively, Rutgers was torched for 485 yards by MSU, including 351 yards via the pass. However, the defense did manage to record three sacks while also picking off two passes. Jarvis Johnson led the unit with 10 tackles in addition to registering a sack. He now has 14 stops on the year. Bryan Durango made seven tackles, while David Harley came up with five. Brandon Haw accounted for four tackles and also picked off a pass which he returned 61 yards for a touchdown. Willie Beckford had a solid all-around game with four tackles, a sack and an interceptions. Nate Jones made only four tackles after recording nine in the season opener against Buffalo. Alfre Peterson and Raheem Orr each registered a sack in the losing cause. Orr leads the team on the season with 2.5 sacks. The Scarlet Knights had trouble slowing down Michigan State's passing game, but did a decent job overall.
Army could only muster 244 total yards of offense in its setback to UConn. The offense gained only 44 yards on the ground, while throwing for a respectable 200 yards. The Black Knights' biggest setback in the game came on third downs, where they converted just 8-of-22 opportunities. Play caller Zac Dahman completed 17-of-29 passes for 143 yards and two touchdowns, but was also picked off once. He was replaced by Reggie Nevels, who completed just 9-of-21 pass attempts for 57 yards. On the receiving end was Aaron Alexander, who caught five passes for 68 yards and a score. As for the running attack, it was led by Carlton Jones and his 48 yards on 15 carries. Seth Gulsby was a nice change of pace with eight carries for 32 yards. The offense was aided by the special teams, which saw Ray Stith return a 63-yard punt for a score. Overall, the Army offense stumbled a bit, not scoring in the first half, but did appear more organized in the second. On the defensive side of the ball, Army permitted 481 total yards, including 317 through the air. The unit did a respectable job on third downs, holding UConn to just 3-of-11 on its conversion attempts, but failed to record a sack. The defense also came up with only two turnovers, both on interceptions. Delente Brewer led the charge with seven tackles and one interception. He picked off two passes last season to lead the team, displaying his ability to blanket opposing pass catchers. Jonathan Lewis finished second on the team with six tackles, while Brian Hill made five and half stops. Chuck Wilke came up with the team's second interception to go with his two stops. The bottom line is the Army defense played poorly and things will only get harder as the season goes on.
So why have I chosen this game? Consider this, Rutgers is returning an experienced squad this year and they have been able to move the ball consistently in their previous two outings (see above), putting up 24 points at Michigan State last week. They have a good young QB in sophomore Ryan Hart. Hart played well in a 24-10 victory over Buffalo, and they ran for 181 yards rushing, which means the offense should be able to move the ball against a pitiful Army 'D'. On the other side of the ball Army was manhandled in a CUSA game at Cincinnati. They only managed 44 yards on 37 carries and looked totally out of sync. To put icing on the cake, Army got bad news this week with the loss of QB Reggie Nevels, and Army's starting FS, playmaker Lucius Weaver, is suspended for this contest. With the loss of Weaver, Rutgers well balanced offense which has been especially effective over the top, will be able to take advantage of Weaver's absence. This years Rutgers squad is a much better team improved team (albiet still terrible when compaired with the rest of the league), while Army will be hard pressed to match last years 1 win total. Rutgers beat Army 44-0 last season and are 2-0 last 2 ATS. All signs point to another easy win. This one could get ugly...DD Road cover.
Projected Score: Rutgers 36, Army 21
PLAY 3* UNITS ON RUTGERS -6
BOISE ST (1 - 0) at IDAHO (0 - 2)
Week 3 Saturday, 9/13/2003 7:30 PM
177 BOISE ST -21.5
178 IDAHO
Detailed Analysis
The Broncos of Boise State will play outside the Western Athletic Conference and continue their intrastate rivalry this weekend as they travel to the Kibbie Dome, to battle the Sun Belt Conference Idaho Vandals. This will be the 33rd meeting between the two schools, with the Vandals clinging to a 17-14-1 all-time advantage. The Broncos have closed the gap however, currently holding a four-game win streak in the series. Boise State was impressive in its season-opener, demolishing Idaho State, 62-0. With the win over Idaho State, the Broncos now have the second longest win streak in the nation. The 12-game win streak broke the school's current record, which was posted by the 1979-1980 teams. After the matchup with the Vandals, the Broncos will travel to Oregon State to take on the Beavers. The Vandals have had a more disappointing season to date. The squad has scored a total of five points in its first two games in 2003. In the opening game against Washington State the team fell 25-0. This past week against Eastern Washington, the Vandals fell yet again, this time, 8-5. After the Vandals square off against the Broncos, the team will travel to Washington to take on the Huskies. When these two teams met last season, the Bronco offense was too powerful, racking up 503 yards on just 62 plays from scrimmage. Idaho did post 365 yards in the contest, but the passing game allowed two interceptions. With the 38-21 loss, the Vandals have not won a game in this series since 1998, when they defeated Boise State, 36-35, in overtime.
Full throttle is the best way to describe the offense for the Broncos in their season-opener. Boise State assaulted the Idaho State defense, posting 587 total yards in the contest. The 62-0 win was the second largest margin of victory in school history. QB Ryan Dinwiddie is poised to make his senior season his most memorable, and he got off to a good start against the Bengals. Dinwiddie converted 16-of-30 pass attempts for 235 yards and two touchdowns. Dinwiddie's consistent play has moved him up the career charts at BSU. After the win, Dinwiddie moved into third all-time at Boise State with 5,698 yards. The rushing attack also proved to be too much for Idaho State, as the Broncos rushed for a total of 259 yards on 47 carries.
David Mikell fell one yard shy of 100-yards, but he did hit the end zone twice. Donny Heck and Brad Lau both added touchdown runs for the offensive unit. Despite playing as a backup for three season, Mikell pushed his career total to 1,625 yards on the ground, placing him 10th overall in the school's history. The ball was spread throughout 10 receivers in the season opener. Tony McPherson led the group with three receptions for 71 yards and Jerry Smith and Lawrence Bady both added touchdown receptions. The offense accomplished its job by scoring fast and often, and the defensive unit did its job as well, stopping the Bengals from putting any points on the board. The shutout against Idaho State was the first by a Bronco defense since the 2000 season when they blanked North Texas, 59-0. The Bengal offense was practically non-existent, racking up only 152 yards in the contest. The ground game was completely shut down by the defensive unit as it finished the game with just six yards. The squad also held the passing attack under control, as Idaho State threw for just 146 yards, averaging just 2.6 yards per completion. The unit completely dominated the Bengals, allowing their offensive squad to complete just two of their 18 third down conversion attempts. Last season's leading tackler, Andy Avalos recorded five tackles in the season opener again Idaho State.
The Vandals have struggled terribly on the offensive side of the ball, considering Idaho State has managed to score only a measly five points in its opener against Washington State, the offensive unit was held to only 250 total yards and it was also blanked on the scoreboard. The Vandals fell to I-AA Eastern Washington in their second contest of the season. The 8-5 final score was a devastating and tough blow for the team. The offense put up better numbers against the Eagles, but still came out with the same result. Malfred Shaw, who rushed for 70 yards against Washington State, broke the century mark against the Eagles, gaining 102 yards on 21 carries. The squad could not find a rhythm against the Eagles as the unit was on the field for only 27 minutes. Michael Harrington has completed only 32-of-71 pass attempts for 315 yards in both games. Harrington has thrown three interceptions, but has yet to throw a touchdown pass on the season. Orlando Winston, who is taking over for Josh Jelmberg, has eight receptions and 108 yards in the first two games to pace all receivers.
The Vandals were abused in their first game of the season, allowing 466 yards against Washington State. However, the defense stepped it up a notch against the Eagles. Despite the loss, the defense held its own against Eastern Washington and even though the Eagles could only muster 224 yards and one touchdown against the Vandals, that was enough for the victory. In that contest, the Idaho defense recorded a safety and held the Eagles to only 31 yards on 29 rushing attempts. The 31 yards were a big improvement compared to the 339 yards allowed against the Washington State rushing attack. The unit held Eastern Washington to only 11 first downs and 5-of-17 on third down conversions. In each contest, the secondary has held both opposing offenses under 200 yards through the air. Washington State threw for only 127 yards and Eastern Washington gained only 193 yards.
This game is greatly impacted by the terrible leg injury of Idaho's fullback Keith Greer who is now fighting for his life after complications from surgery. It looks like this story has already influenced Idaho on the field after a "nine inning" baseball score loss to Eastern Washington 8-5. Last week, Idaho could only muster 175 yards of offense and just 31 yards on the ground. WAC champ, Boise State, looks to keep rolling after crushing Idaho State 62-0 last week. Last year's matchup saw Idaho finish with an ATS victory but lost soundly 38-21. Idaho's offense appears to be much different than a year ago. The Broncos' offense should be too much for the Vandals to handle, and with the lack of offense Idaho possesses, the Vandals will have little chance of keeping pace. The boys from Boise should easily keep their title as Spud State Champs with a total whitewash of the state of Idaho.
Projected Score: Boise St 45, Idaho 10
PLAY 2* UNITS ON BOISE STATE -21
WWTS CURRENTLY HAS THIS GAME AT -20.5
IF 21.5 I RECOMMEND BUYING 1/2 POINT DOWN TO 21
S CAROLINA (2 - 0) at GEORGIA (2 - 0)
Week 3 Saturday, 9/13/2003 3:30 PM
127 S CAROLINA 40.5
128 GEORGIA -14
Detailed Analysis
Quarterback David Greene is having trouble getting Georgia's offense into the end zone. The eighth-ranked Bulldogs need him to step up his performance Saturday as they attempt to end their touchdown drought against rival South Carolina in the Southeastern Conference opener for both teams. Georgia has driven inside the 20-yard line 10 times in the first two games this season, but has just four touchdowns. "It's been frustrating," Greene said. "It's not like we've been terrible. We just haven't had a whole lot of execution." Greene completed 73 percent of his passes (33-of-45) for 470 yards in victories over Clemson and Middle Tennessee State, but he's passed for only one touchdown. "I've been decent," he said. "Not terrible, but not great either. Obviously, if you're not scoring touchdowns, you're not getting the job done as a quarterback." Greene threw for 267 yards in a sloppy 29-10 victory over Middle Tennessee on Saturday. Wide receiver Fred Gibson pulled his hamstring in the game and may miss Saturday's game against the Gamecocks. "You never know how quickly a guy can recover from that," Richt said of his top receiver.
South Carolina has won two of the last three in the series. Only Florida, which has taken three straight from the Bulldogs, has fared as well in recent years. In 2000, the Gamecocks were an overwhelming underdog at home. Yet, Bulldog star Quincy Carter threw five interceptions and South Carolina stunned the Bulldogs 21-10. The next season at Georgia, the Gamecocks again pulled off the surprise, winning 14-9 for only their sixth victory in 29 games in Athens. Last year's contest also came down to the wire, with Georgia pulling out a 13-7 win in a game full of missed opportunities for South Carolina. Andrew Pinnock fumbled twice near Georgia's goal line, the last coming in the game's final minutes. The Bulldogs' lone touchdown came on an incredible end zone interception and return by defender David Pollack.
"We've not even scored a touchdown against them since I've been here," Georgia coach Mark Richt said. That's right coach, Georgia (2-0) has gone two straight years without an offensive touchdown against the 25th-ranked Gamecocks (2-0). At least the Bulldogs don't have to contend with Charlie Strong, the former Gamecocks defensive coordinator who moved to Florida this season. South Carolina has shifted from the unorthodox 3-5-3 alignment that Strong favored to a more conventional 4-3 under new coordinator Chris Cosh. "They are very different scheme-wise," Richt said. "They look very much like our defensive scheme. The blitzes are identical. The coverage is identical."
Despite its fast start, South Carolina coach Lou Holtz doesn't want his players to become overconfident heading into Saturday's showdown. "We're not laboring under any misconceptions that we think we're an excellent football team," Holtz said Monday. The Gamecocks showed promise by upsetting then-No. 15 Virginia 31-7 Saturday, a win that resulted in their rise to No. 25 in this week's rankings. Quarterback Dondrial Pinkins connected with Troy Williamson on a record-setting 99-yard touchdown play to set the tone for South Carolina.
This is the 12th time that Georgia and South Carolina meet to open an SEC season. The Bulldogs have won seven of those meetings. Georgia leads the overall series 40-13-2, including 23-6 in Athens and 18-5 in Sanford Stadium. He may look it, but, Lou Holtz certainly is not dead yet. After laying an egg in the first week, "Sweet" Lou rallied the troops and stomped an injured Virginia in Charlottesville, 31-7. This week will also require every bit of Lou's guile as the Gamecocks walk in between the Hedges. Let the "poor mouthing" begin! Georgia had a very pedestrian effort last week against Middle Tennessee State, 29-10. However, the Bulldogs did lose WR Fred Gibson to a hamstring and the latest report says he will not play here. This injury could impact what has become a traditionally low scoring affair. The last five years, this game has gone UNDER the total five consecutive times. Neither team has averaged 15 points in the past 5 years in this contest. Defense will be the story again this year as South Carolina's new 4-3 setup has been very strong so far, only allowing one touchdown to this point. Georgia has not been a slouch either, shutting out Clemson in the first week, 30-0. Georgia is 12-2 SU, but only 3-8-2 ATS at home in the past three years under the helm of Mark Richt. Despite their wonderful performance last week, South Carolina is just 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games on the road and 1-3 ATS against Georgia in the last 4 games. As they say in the South, "Tradition is all we have left!" Tradition (and defense) is what to expect in this clash.
Projected Score: Georgia 21, So Carolina 14
PLAY 2* UNITS ON SOUTH CAROLINA/GEORGIA UNDER 40.5
TROY ST (0 - 2) at UAB (1 - 1)
Week 3 Saturday, 9/13/2003 7:00 PM
181 TROY ST
182 UAB -10.5
Detailed Analysis
Troy State (0-2) is on a brutal road trip, having gotten blasted at Kansas State and at Minnesota. The Trojans young offensive line features 3 new starters. In their previous two outings against K-State and Minnesota the Trojans were outscored by a 12 - 89 point margin. Now they travel to UAB, so you have to wonder how beat up and tired this traveling road show is. Alabama-Birmingham has an experienced offense led by sophomore QB Darrell Hackney and junior WR Roddy White. UAB topped Baylor 24-19 in the opener, then lost a tough 17-12 game at home to Conference USA rival Southern Miss last week. But the Blazers beat themselves last week against Southern Mississippi. They had 4 TO's in the contest and were able to move the ball well most of the day...so I don't think they'll have much trouble going downfield against Troy St. UAB has a prolific offense with playmakers at the skill positions. The Blazers star QB is a little knicked up, but he's had a few extra days to heal (last played on Thursday night) and is expected to start on Saturday.Finally, UAB's new defensive coordinator is Wayne Bolt, who ran Troy State's defense for the last 12 seasons. UAB's 'D' is much improved because of him this fall and even with Bolt, UAB beat a much better Troy team 27-26 last season. Blazers are an experienced team motivated by a home loss going against a tired inexperienced team. This game has the makings of a blowout!
Projected Score: UAB 37, Troy State 17
PLAY 2* UNITS ON UAB -10.5
8* MY TOP PLAY...VERY RARE (23-8 ) LAST YEAR IN FOOTBALL (74%)
6-7* HIGH RATED SELECTION ONLY WHEN ALOT OF GAMES ON THE CARD TO CHOSE FROM (WELL OVER 60%)
5* EXCEPTIONAL PLAY USUALLY HIGHEST WHEN ONLY A FEW GAMES
4* VERY STRONG SELECTION
3* STRONG SELECTION
2* PROBABLE COVER (MOST COMMON RATING)
1* A GAME THAT SHOULD COVER
OPINION PLAY: GAME THAT I THINK MAY WIN BUT OFTEN JUST TO WATCH A GAME OR A LEAN USUALLY 1/2 A UNIT.
Season Record: College 9-10 47.6% (-3.60) -$360
Season Record: NFL 5-2 71.4% (+4.70) +$470
SUMMARY OF PLAYS NCAA FOOTBALL:
(3) RUTGERS -6
(2) BOISE STATE -21
(2) SOUTH CAROLINA/GEORGIA UNDER 40.5
(2) UAB -10.5
SUMMARY OF PLAYS NFL FOOTBALL:
FORTHCOMING CHECK BACK LATER
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DETAILED WRITEUPS NCAA FOOTBALL
RUTGERS (1 - 1) at ARMY (0 - 1)
Week 3 Saturday, 9/13/2003 3:30 PM
125 RUTGERS -6.5
126 ARMY
Detailed Analysis
This game perhaps will win the award as one of the least watchable games of the year...but does that mean I can't bet on it? The Rutgers Scarlet Knights try to double last season's win total on Saturday when they head to West Point to take on the Army Black Knights in non-conference action from Michie Stadium. The Scarlet Knights have already equaled last year's win total of one, with an opening-day victory over Buffalo, 24-10. The win snapped the Scarlet Knights' nine-game losing streak dating back to last season. However, the victory was short lived as Rutgers was defeated by Michigan State, 44-28 last Saturday. With a 1-1 mark on the season, the Scarlet Knights shouldn't have trouble building on their 1-11 mark from a year ago. As for Army, it also finished last season 1-11 and did not get off to a good start this year either. In their season opener against Connecticut, the Black Knights were manhandled, 48-21. It was the third consecutive loss for Army dating back to a season ago. The Black Knights will be playing a school-record 13 games this season, which includes a tough stretch of Conference USA contests.
Rutgers gained only 330 yards of total offense against Michigan State, but was still able to produce 21 points. The offense moved the ball through the air effectively, gaining 266 yards, but struggled on the ground with just 64 yards. Ryan Hart had a respectable day, completing 14-of-31 pass attempts for 266 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. He has now completed 56.5 percent of his passes for nearly 500 yards and three touchdowns through the first two games of the season. Harts' favorite target, Shawn Tucker, hauled in five balls for 118 yards and a score against Michigan State. Tucker had only three receptions for 44 yards in the season opener against Buffalo. Brian Leonard led the rushing attack with 31 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries. Justin Hairston didn't fare much better either, gaining only 22 yards on 13 totes. Hairston had 88 yards and a score last week versus Buffalo. Overall, the Rutgers' offense was last in the nation last season so scoring more than 21 points in the first two games of the season is definitely a promising sign. Defensively, Rutgers was torched for 485 yards by MSU, including 351 yards via the pass. However, the defense did manage to record three sacks while also picking off two passes. Jarvis Johnson led the unit with 10 tackles in addition to registering a sack. He now has 14 stops on the year. Bryan Durango made seven tackles, while David Harley came up with five. Brandon Haw accounted for four tackles and also picked off a pass which he returned 61 yards for a touchdown. Willie Beckford had a solid all-around game with four tackles, a sack and an interceptions. Nate Jones made only four tackles after recording nine in the season opener against Buffalo. Alfre Peterson and Raheem Orr each registered a sack in the losing cause. Orr leads the team on the season with 2.5 sacks. The Scarlet Knights had trouble slowing down Michigan State's passing game, but did a decent job overall.
Army could only muster 244 total yards of offense in its setback to UConn. The offense gained only 44 yards on the ground, while throwing for a respectable 200 yards. The Black Knights' biggest setback in the game came on third downs, where they converted just 8-of-22 opportunities. Play caller Zac Dahman completed 17-of-29 passes for 143 yards and two touchdowns, but was also picked off once. He was replaced by Reggie Nevels, who completed just 9-of-21 pass attempts for 57 yards. On the receiving end was Aaron Alexander, who caught five passes for 68 yards and a score. As for the running attack, it was led by Carlton Jones and his 48 yards on 15 carries. Seth Gulsby was a nice change of pace with eight carries for 32 yards. The offense was aided by the special teams, which saw Ray Stith return a 63-yard punt for a score. Overall, the Army offense stumbled a bit, not scoring in the first half, but did appear more organized in the second. On the defensive side of the ball, Army permitted 481 total yards, including 317 through the air. The unit did a respectable job on third downs, holding UConn to just 3-of-11 on its conversion attempts, but failed to record a sack. The defense also came up with only two turnovers, both on interceptions. Delente Brewer led the charge with seven tackles and one interception. He picked off two passes last season to lead the team, displaying his ability to blanket opposing pass catchers. Jonathan Lewis finished second on the team with six tackles, while Brian Hill made five and half stops. Chuck Wilke came up with the team's second interception to go with his two stops. The bottom line is the Army defense played poorly and things will only get harder as the season goes on.
So why have I chosen this game? Consider this, Rutgers is returning an experienced squad this year and they have been able to move the ball consistently in their previous two outings (see above), putting up 24 points at Michigan State last week. They have a good young QB in sophomore Ryan Hart. Hart played well in a 24-10 victory over Buffalo, and they ran for 181 yards rushing, which means the offense should be able to move the ball against a pitiful Army 'D'. On the other side of the ball Army was manhandled in a CUSA game at Cincinnati. They only managed 44 yards on 37 carries and looked totally out of sync. To put icing on the cake, Army got bad news this week with the loss of QB Reggie Nevels, and Army's starting FS, playmaker Lucius Weaver, is suspended for this contest. With the loss of Weaver, Rutgers well balanced offense which has been especially effective over the top, will be able to take advantage of Weaver's absence. This years Rutgers squad is a much better team improved team (albiet still terrible when compaired with the rest of the league), while Army will be hard pressed to match last years 1 win total. Rutgers beat Army 44-0 last season and are 2-0 last 2 ATS. All signs point to another easy win. This one could get ugly...DD Road cover.
Projected Score: Rutgers 36, Army 21
PLAY 3* UNITS ON RUTGERS -6
BOISE ST (1 - 0) at IDAHO (0 - 2)
Week 3 Saturday, 9/13/2003 7:30 PM
177 BOISE ST -21.5
178 IDAHO
Detailed Analysis
The Broncos of Boise State will play outside the Western Athletic Conference and continue their intrastate rivalry this weekend as they travel to the Kibbie Dome, to battle the Sun Belt Conference Idaho Vandals. This will be the 33rd meeting between the two schools, with the Vandals clinging to a 17-14-1 all-time advantage. The Broncos have closed the gap however, currently holding a four-game win streak in the series. Boise State was impressive in its season-opener, demolishing Idaho State, 62-0. With the win over Idaho State, the Broncos now have the second longest win streak in the nation. The 12-game win streak broke the school's current record, which was posted by the 1979-1980 teams. After the matchup with the Vandals, the Broncos will travel to Oregon State to take on the Beavers. The Vandals have had a more disappointing season to date. The squad has scored a total of five points in its first two games in 2003. In the opening game against Washington State the team fell 25-0. This past week against Eastern Washington, the Vandals fell yet again, this time, 8-5. After the Vandals square off against the Broncos, the team will travel to Washington to take on the Huskies. When these two teams met last season, the Bronco offense was too powerful, racking up 503 yards on just 62 plays from scrimmage. Idaho did post 365 yards in the contest, but the passing game allowed two interceptions. With the 38-21 loss, the Vandals have not won a game in this series since 1998, when they defeated Boise State, 36-35, in overtime.
Full throttle is the best way to describe the offense for the Broncos in their season-opener. Boise State assaulted the Idaho State defense, posting 587 total yards in the contest. The 62-0 win was the second largest margin of victory in school history. QB Ryan Dinwiddie is poised to make his senior season his most memorable, and he got off to a good start against the Bengals. Dinwiddie converted 16-of-30 pass attempts for 235 yards and two touchdowns. Dinwiddie's consistent play has moved him up the career charts at BSU. After the win, Dinwiddie moved into third all-time at Boise State with 5,698 yards. The rushing attack also proved to be too much for Idaho State, as the Broncos rushed for a total of 259 yards on 47 carries.
David Mikell fell one yard shy of 100-yards, but he did hit the end zone twice. Donny Heck and Brad Lau both added touchdown runs for the offensive unit. Despite playing as a backup for three season, Mikell pushed his career total to 1,625 yards on the ground, placing him 10th overall in the school's history. The ball was spread throughout 10 receivers in the season opener. Tony McPherson led the group with three receptions for 71 yards and Jerry Smith and Lawrence Bady both added touchdown receptions. The offense accomplished its job by scoring fast and often, and the defensive unit did its job as well, stopping the Bengals from putting any points on the board. The shutout against Idaho State was the first by a Bronco defense since the 2000 season when they blanked North Texas, 59-0. The Bengal offense was practically non-existent, racking up only 152 yards in the contest. The ground game was completely shut down by the defensive unit as it finished the game with just six yards. The squad also held the passing attack under control, as Idaho State threw for just 146 yards, averaging just 2.6 yards per completion. The unit completely dominated the Bengals, allowing their offensive squad to complete just two of their 18 third down conversion attempts. Last season's leading tackler, Andy Avalos recorded five tackles in the season opener again Idaho State.
The Vandals have struggled terribly on the offensive side of the ball, considering Idaho State has managed to score only a measly five points in its opener against Washington State, the offensive unit was held to only 250 total yards and it was also blanked on the scoreboard. The Vandals fell to I-AA Eastern Washington in their second contest of the season. The 8-5 final score was a devastating and tough blow for the team. The offense put up better numbers against the Eagles, but still came out with the same result. Malfred Shaw, who rushed for 70 yards against Washington State, broke the century mark against the Eagles, gaining 102 yards on 21 carries. The squad could not find a rhythm against the Eagles as the unit was on the field for only 27 minutes. Michael Harrington has completed only 32-of-71 pass attempts for 315 yards in both games. Harrington has thrown three interceptions, but has yet to throw a touchdown pass on the season. Orlando Winston, who is taking over for Josh Jelmberg, has eight receptions and 108 yards in the first two games to pace all receivers.
The Vandals were abused in their first game of the season, allowing 466 yards against Washington State. However, the defense stepped it up a notch against the Eagles. Despite the loss, the defense held its own against Eastern Washington and even though the Eagles could only muster 224 yards and one touchdown against the Vandals, that was enough for the victory. In that contest, the Idaho defense recorded a safety and held the Eagles to only 31 yards on 29 rushing attempts. The 31 yards were a big improvement compared to the 339 yards allowed against the Washington State rushing attack. The unit held Eastern Washington to only 11 first downs and 5-of-17 on third down conversions. In each contest, the secondary has held both opposing offenses under 200 yards through the air. Washington State threw for only 127 yards and Eastern Washington gained only 193 yards.
This game is greatly impacted by the terrible leg injury of Idaho's fullback Keith Greer who is now fighting for his life after complications from surgery. It looks like this story has already influenced Idaho on the field after a "nine inning" baseball score loss to Eastern Washington 8-5. Last week, Idaho could only muster 175 yards of offense and just 31 yards on the ground. WAC champ, Boise State, looks to keep rolling after crushing Idaho State 62-0 last week. Last year's matchup saw Idaho finish with an ATS victory but lost soundly 38-21. Idaho's offense appears to be much different than a year ago. The Broncos' offense should be too much for the Vandals to handle, and with the lack of offense Idaho possesses, the Vandals will have little chance of keeping pace. The boys from Boise should easily keep their title as Spud State Champs with a total whitewash of the state of Idaho.
Projected Score: Boise St 45, Idaho 10
PLAY 2* UNITS ON BOISE STATE -21
WWTS CURRENTLY HAS THIS GAME AT -20.5
IF 21.5 I RECOMMEND BUYING 1/2 POINT DOWN TO 21
S CAROLINA (2 - 0) at GEORGIA (2 - 0)
Week 3 Saturday, 9/13/2003 3:30 PM
127 S CAROLINA 40.5
128 GEORGIA -14
Detailed Analysis
Quarterback David Greene is having trouble getting Georgia's offense into the end zone. The eighth-ranked Bulldogs need him to step up his performance Saturday as they attempt to end their touchdown drought against rival South Carolina in the Southeastern Conference opener for both teams. Georgia has driven inside the 20-yard line 10 times in the first two games this season, but has just four touchdowns. "It's been frustrating," Greene said. "It's not like we've been terrible. We just haven't had a whole lot of execution." Greene completed 73 percent of his passes (33-of-45) for 470 yards in victories over Clemson and Middle Tennessee State, but he's passed for only one touchdown. "I've been decent," he said. "Not terrible, but not great either. Obviously, if you're not scoring touchdowns, you're not getting the job done as a quarterback." Greene threw for 267 yards in a sloppy 29-10 victory over Middle Tennessee on Saturday. Wide receiver Fred Gibson pulled his hamstring in the game and may miss Saturday's game against the Gamecocks. "You never know how quickly a guy can recover from that," Richt said of his top receiver.
South Carolina has won two of the last three in the series. Only Florida, which has taken three straight from the Bulldogs, has fared as well in recent years. In 2000, the Gamecocks were an overwhelming underdog at home. Yet, Bulldog star Quincy Carter threw five interceptions and South Carolina stunned the Bulldogs 21-10. The next season at Georgia, the Gamecocks again pulled off the surprise, winning 14-9 for only their sixth victory in 29 games in Athens. Last year's contest also came down to the wire, with Georgia pulling out a 13-7 win in a game full of missed opportunities for South Carolina. Andrew Pinnock fumbled twice near Georgia's goal line, the last coming in the game's final minutes. The Bulldogs' lone touchdown came on an incredible end zone interception and return by defender David Pollack.
"We've not even scored a touchdown against them since I've been here," Georgia coach Mark Richt said. That's right coach, Georgia (2-0) has gone two straight years without an offensive touchdown against the 25th-ranked Gamecocks (2-0). At least the Bulldogs don't have to contend with Charlie Strong, the former Gamecocks defensive coordinator who moved to Florida this season. South Carolina has shifted from the unorthodox 3-5-3 alignment that Strong favored to a more conventional 4-3 under new coordinator Chris Cosh. "They are very different scheme-wise," Richt said. "They look very much like our defensive scheme. The blitzes are identical. The coverage is identical."
Despite its fast start, South Carolina coach Lou Holtz doesn't want his players to become overconfident heading into Saturday's showdown. "We're not laboring under any misconceptions that we think we're an excellent football team," Holtz said Monday. The Gamecocks showed promise by upsetting then-No. 15 Virginia 31-7 Saturday, a win that resulted in their rise to No. 25 in this week's rankings. Quarterback Dondrial Pinkins connected with Troy Williamson on a record-setting 99-yard touchdown play to set the tone for South Carolina.
This is the 12th time that Georgia and South Carolina meet to open an SEC season. The Bulldogs have won seven of those meetings. Georgia leads the overall series 40-13-2, including 23-6 in Athens and 18-5 in Sanford Stadium. He may look it, but, Lou Holtz certainly is not dead yet. After laying an egg in the first week, "Sweet" Lou rallied the troops and stomped an injured Virginia in Charlottesville, 31-7. This week will also require every bit of Lou's guile as the Gamecocks walk in between the Hedges. Let the "poor mouthing" begin! Georgia had a very pedestrian effort last week against Middle Tennessee State, 29-10. However, the Bulldogs did lose WR Fred Gibson to a hamstring and the latest report says he will not play here. This injury could impact what has become a traditionally low scoring affair. The last five years, this game has gone UNDER the total five consecutive times. Neither team has averaged 15 points in the past 5 years in this contest. Defense will be the story again this year as South Carolina's new 4-3 setup has been very strong so far, only allowing one touchdown to this point. Georgia has not been a slouch either, shutting out Clemson in the first week, 30-0. Georgia is 12-2 SU, but only 3-8-2 ATS at home in the past three years under the helm of Mark Richt. Despite their wonderful performance last week, South Carolina is just 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games on the road and 1-3 ATS against Georgia in the last 4 games. As they say in the South, "Tradition is all we have left!" Tradition (and defense) is what to expect in this clash.
Projected Score: Georgia 21, So Carolina 14
PLAY 2* UNITS ON SOUTH CAROLINA/GEORGIA UNDER 40.5
TROY ST (0 - 2) at UAB (1 - 1)
Week 3 Saturday, 9/13/2003 7:00 PM
181 TROY ST
182 UAB -10.5
Detailed Analysis
Troy State (0-2) is on a brutal road trip, having gotten blasted at Kansas State and at Minnesota. The Trojans young offensive line features 3 new starters. In their previous two outings against K-State and Minnesota the Trojans were outscored by a 12 - 89 point margin. Now they travel to UAB, so you have to wonder how beat up and tired this traveling road show is. Alabama-Birmingham has an experienced offense led by sophomore QB Darrell Hackney and junior WR Roddy White. UAB topped Baylor 24-19 in the opener, then lost a tough 17-12 game at home to Conference USA rival Southern Miss last week. But the Blazers beat themselves last week against Southern Mississippi. They had 4 TO's in the contest and were able to move the ball well most of the day...so I don't think they'll have much trouble going downfield against Troy St. UAB has a prolific offense with playmakers at the skill positions. The Blazers star QB is a little knicked up, but he's had a few extra days to heal (last played on Thursday night) and is expected to start on Saturday.Finally, UAB's new defensive coordinator is Wayne Bolt, who ran Troy State's defense for the last 12 seasons. UAB's 'D' is much improved because of him this fall and even with Bolt, UAB beat a much better Troy team 27-26 last season. Blazers are an experienced team motivated by a home loss going against a tired inexperienced team. This game has the makings of a blowout!
Projected Score: UAB 37, Troy State 17
PLAY 2* UNITS ON UAB -10.5
