Season record: 2-1 +0.9 UNITS (East Carolina +8 pending)
Saturday half-time service: 2-1 +0.9 UNITS
Sunday Night Week 3 Early Looks (To be used as an early handicapping tool, these are NOT official RAS plays.)
Penn State -10 - Lions were clearly "vanilla" on both sides of the ball in 23-10 season opening win over Temple. They played better in the second half and will continue to show improvement this week. They have an experienced QB in Zack Mills and an explosive triple threat in QB/RB/WR Mike Robinson. Secondary is said to be best in years. Front seven is young but promising. BC comes in after a devastating home loss to double digit underdog Wake Forest. Serious question marks surround first year starting QB Porter who had two fumbles including one on final drive. His decision making has caused many fans to already call for backup Peterson to take over. BC was called for 12 penalties (7 offsides) in opener. Happy Valley is a tough place for this team to rebound without a solidified QB.
Cal -2.5 - Bears look to be for real. Head coach Jeff Tedford has to be considered one of the top coaches in the country. It was expected that with an offensive minded coach their offense would be fine this season, but concerns surrounded the defense that returned only two starters. After a respectable performance in game one vs KSU, they held a good Southern Miss team to zero offensive points last week in a 34-2 win. Cal has a small edge being one of only two teams to have already played two games. CSU was overrated last season and have now lost three straight games outright that they have been favored in dating back to last year. Rams are 5-10 on the road in September since 1996 and are 2-7-1 ATS last 10 vs Pac-10 teams.
Kansas +11.5 - Jayhawks added an influx of JC talent and made great strides in weight room during the offseason for second year head coach Mangino. QB Bill Whittemore (Big 12 offensive newcomer of the year) is still a well kept secret and sophomore star LB Floodman has returned on defense after redshirting last season (had 8 tackles in 1st half of first game before injury.) KU gave up four turnovers and fell behind 14-0 at half-time last week vs Northwestern. They opened the 3rd quarter with a long drive that ended at the 3 yard line with a missed field goal. They still managed to fight back and tie the game at 14-14 before losing 28-20 to a very comparable opponent to this one. With several JC transfers dotting the depth chart, KU is likely to improve even more than most teams from game one to game two. UNLV is improved but still lacking key intangibles (play calling, discipline, etc) that almost cost them a victory over a less talented Toledo team in home opener. Rebels are 4-13 ATS since 1997 on artificial turf.
Oklahoma State -20 - This is a very good OSU team. They return a 3,000 yard passer, 1000 yard rusher, and 1500 yard receiver from last years 8-5 bowl winning team. They led at Nebraska 7-3 at half last week but two third quarter fumbles led directly to Nebraska touchdowns and a 17-7 setback. Credit an inspired Cornhuskers defensive effort but this talented balanced offense will have its way with an outmatched Wyoming squad. MWC team has only beaten three I-A opponents in last three plus seasons. They brought in an entirely new coaching staff which may take some adjustment time. They were out gained by 119 yards last week vs I-AA foe Montana State despite +4 turnovers. OSU went 5-1 ATS at home, 2-0 ATS as a double digit favorite, and 3-1 ATS after a straight up loss last season under reigning Big 12 coach of the year Les Miles.
South Carolina +3.5 - Gamecocks will look to make amends for seven turnover debacle at UVA last season. USC was depleted with injuries and suffered some bad breaks or they would have been a bowl team last season. This year they are said to have more talent and depth than any Holtz coached team here. UVA QB Schaub left last game and is expected to miss with a shoulder injury. Second string QB Martinez survived at home vs Duke in backup role but on the road in Columbia in starting role will be much tougher. Expect young UVA team to not play as well on the road (10-4 ATS at home, 5-6 ATS on road under Groh). Holtz will to find a way to win this one.
Memphis +8 - Tigers bring in former Miss State defensive coordinator Joe Lee Dunn and with 8 starters back should have a dominating defense. Offensively they return an experienced QB and very good RB & WR. They had an easy 40-10 feel good win over Tenn Tech last week. Ole Miss was fortunate to escape with a win at Vandy in season opener thanks to two long field goals and some untimely Vandy turnovers. Doug Buckles, one of their best offensive lineman left the game with a knee injury and is "?" for this game. Memphis traditionally plays SEC teams tough (11-7 ATS since 95) and fans are especially excited when one visits Memphis.
Good luck,
Edward
Saturday half-time service: 2-1 +0.9 UNITS
Sunday Night Week 3 Early Looks (To be used as an early handicapping tool, these are NOT official RAS plays.)
Penn State -10 - Lions were clearly "vanilla" on both sides of the ball in 23-10 season opening win over Temple. They played better in the second half and will continue to show improvement this week. They have an experienced QB in Zack Mills and an explosive triple threat in QB/RB/WR Mike Robinson. Secondary is said to be best in years. Front seven is young but promising. BC comes in after a devastating home loss to double digit underdog Wake Forest. Serious question marks surround first year starting QB Porter who had two fumbles including one on final drive. His decision making has caused many fans to already call for backup Peterson to take over. BC was called for 12 penalties (7 offsides) in opener. Happy Valley is a tough place for this team to rebound without a solidified QB.
Cal -2.5 - Bears look to be for real. Head coach Jeff Tedford has to be considered one of the top coaches in the country. It was expected that with an offensive minded coach their offense would be fine this season, but concerns surrounded the defense that returned only two starters. After a respectable performance in game one vs KSU, they held a good Southern Miss team to zero offensive points last week in a 34-2 win. Cal has a small edge being one of only two teams to have already played two games. CSU was overrated last season and have now lost three straight games outright that they have been favored in dating back to last year. Rams are 5-10 on the road in September since 1996 and are 2-7-1 ATS last 10 vs Pac-10 teams.
Kansas +11.5 - Jayhawks added an influx of JC talent and made great strides in weight room during the offseason for second year head coach Mangino. QB Bill Whittemore (Big 12 offensive newcomer of the year) is still a well kept secret and sophomore star LB Floodman has returned on defense after redshirting last season (had 8 tackles in 1st half of first game before injury.) KU gave up four turnovers and fell behind 14-0 at half-time last week vs Northwestern. They opened the 3rd quarter with a long drive that ended at the 3 yard line with a missed field goal. They still managed to fight back and tie the game at 14-14 before losing 28-20 to a very comparable opponent to this one. With several JC transfers dotting the depth chart, KU is likely to improve even more than most teams from game one to game two. UNLV is improved but still lacking key intangibles (play calling, discipline, etc) that almost cost them a victory over a less talented Toledo team in home opener. Rebels are 4-13 ATS since 1997 on artificial turf.
Oklahoma State -20 - This is a very good OSU team. They return a 3,000 yard passer, 1000 yard rusher, and 1500 yard receiver from last years 8-5 bowl winning team. They led at Nebraska 7-3 at half last week but two third quarter fumbles led directly to Nebraska touchdowns and a 17-7 setback. Credit an inspired Cornhuskers defensive effort but this talented balanced offense will have its way with an outmatched Wyoming squad. MWC team has only beaten three I-A opponents in last three plus seasons. They brought in an entirely new coaching staff which may take some adjustment time. They were out gained by 119 yards last week vs I-AA foe Montana State despite +4 turnovers. OSU went 5-1 ATS at home, 2-0 ATS as a double digit favorite, and 3-1 ATS after a straight up loss last season under reigning Big 12 coach of the year Les Miles.
South Carolina +3.5 - Gamecocks will look to make amends for seven turnover debacle at UVA last season. USC was depleted with injuries and suffered some bad breaks or they would have been a bowl team last season. This year they are said to have more talent and depth than any Holtz coached team here. UVA QB Schaub left last game and is expected to miss with a shoulder injury. Second string QB Martinez survived at home vs Duke in backup role but on the road in Columbia in starting role will be much tougher. Expect young UVA team to not play as well on the road (10-4 ATS at home, 5-6 ATS on road under Groh). Holtz will to find a way to win this one.
Memphis +8 - Tigers bring in former Miss State defensive coordinator Joe Lee Dunn and with 8 starters back should have a dominating defense. Offensively they return an experienced QB and very good RB & WR. They had an easy 40-10 feel good win over Tenn Tech last week. Ole Miss was fortunate to escape with a win at Vandy in season opener thanks to two long field goals and some untimely Vandy turnovers. Doug Buckles, one of their best offensive lineman left the game with a knee injury and is "?" for this game. Memphis traditionally plays SEC teams tough (11-7 ATS since 95) and fans are especially excited when one visits Memphis.
Good luck,
Edward
