k: 
on paper - SDSU can hang with UCLA - no doubt about it
but in the back of my empty head - i see them doing what they always do against teams better than them - or at least from better conferences - and that is coming up short here.
against "hail to the victors" they got 3 TDs-ish so they didn't have to win - and it was a great play. but here - while they don't have to win to cover - they almost do. i have seen SDSU fail here so many times i can just see it happening once again.
they are "right there" in the last few minutes of the game - the cover in doubt both ways - and then SDSU does something stupid and blows the cover.
i have seen it happen WAY too many times and until SDSU shows me ONE TIME they can trade punches with a big boy for 60 minutes in a game where the line is not very big - i just have to either pass here or take UCLA - for i know SDSU will do something dumb come games end that will cost them a cover. i just know it!
but in the back of my empty head - i see them doing what they always do against teams better than them - or at least from better conferences - and that is coming up short here.
against "hail to the victors" they got 3 TDs-ish so they didn't have to win - and it was a great play. but here - while they don't have to win to cover - they almost do. i have seen SDSU fail here so many times i can just see it happening once again.
they are "right there" in the last few minutes of the game - the cover in doubt both ways - and then SDSU does something stupid and blows the cover.
i have seen it happen WAY too many times and until SDSU shows me ONE TIME they can trade punches with a big boy for 60 minutes in a game where the line is not very big - i just have to either pass here or take UCLA - for i know SDSU will do something dumb come games end that will cost them a cover. i just know it!
First let me say that you and WC are the men of the PAC 10, and that I always read and respect your analysis. In this case, however ASU was the play. Statistically my program had them as 6 - 7 point favorites on the road and 10-13 at home against this Oregon team.
Picked up. ASU+2 units, Cal+2 units and UCLA+1 unit
As a side note I see the northwest schools having a hard time in the PAC 10 this season. With the exception of Wash. St. Coaching has been been far superior (sp) in the AZ and Cal schools.
Picked up. ASU+2 units, Cal+2 units and UCLA+1 unit
As a side note I see the northwest schools having a hard time in the PAC 10 this season. With the exception of Wash. St. Coaching has been been far superior (sp) in the AZ and Cal schools.
Listen Prophet. I got to hand it to you for not letting your sentiments get in the way of your picks. That Oregon idea sure seemed appropriate from the payback angle. And some skepticism is still warranted at this point regarding ASU. I'd take it with a grain of salt if I were you too. But I do really wish you the best as a Sun Devil guy. Koetter seems to be growing into his Pac-10 niche nicely. He is quite a coach.
If you recall me mentioning it, and I'm sure you would find it interesting to think about it... this ain't gonna be a good season for Ducks. If I wasn't a bit biased sometimes, I'd have stuck by my guns. Wishing never got the job done. But the fact is that Duck hunters will do well in these parts both in the blind and on the gridiron this year. This team has no identity and will struggle for a while. I'm hoping they can turn it around by mid-season for Bellotti's sake, and as the winningest coach in the Pac-10 for the last 10 or so years, I expect that. Don't expect this game to be thier wake up call. I'd consider it more of a reality check.
And, FWIW, the Beavers who started out proud and full of juice, sure have imploded as a team. What should have been a breakout season has turned into a nightmare and I'm not sure that their shucking attitude can be fixed all to soon. The gig is up. Their lumbering linemen can't react to speedy rushers and protecting their QB is probably their biggest weakness. Anderson is playing like a scared school girl. I wonder sometimes if he needs corrective lenses too. But in this case, as a team, what a waste of talent. I'd like to see them get over it and go into some kind of salvage mode. Then they will shine. I still consider them dangerous.
Best of luck.
If you recall me mentioning it, and I'm sure you would find it interesting to think about it... this ain't gonna be a good season for Ducks. If I wasn't a bit biased sometimes, I'd have stuck by my guns. Wishing never got the job done. But the fact is that Duck hunters will do well in these parts both in the blind and on the gridiron this year. This team has no identity and will struggle for a while. I'm hoping they can turn it around by mid-season for Bellotti's sake, and as the winningest coach in the Pac-10 for the last 10 or so years, I expect that. Don't expect this game to be thier wake up call. I'd consider it more of a reality check.
And, FWIW, the Beavers who started out proud and full of juice, sure have imploded as a team. What should have been a breakout season has turned into a nightmare and I'm not sure that their shucking attitude can be fixed all to soon. The gig is up. Their lumbering linemen can't react to speedy rushers and protecting their QB is probably their biggest weakness. Anderson is playing like a scared school girl. I wonder sometimes if he needs corrective lenses too. But in this case, as a team, what a waste of talent. I'd like to see them get over it and go into some kind of salvage mode. Then they will shine. I still consider them dangerous.
Best of luck.
On my way out of Portland and wanted to give a wrapup of Devils victory. Two things of note as follower of PAC10 as it relates to Ducks/Devils.
1) This seems to be the first time Ducks don't have great passer and RB who can get to the corner. I cannot believe the downside of talent. Duck backers believe the loss of Tedford (HC Cal) part of the answer as he coached the QB's and managed the offense. WE SEE HIS BODY OF WORK IN THE MAKING
2) Devils extremely fast up front on defense but small. Bigger athletic teams like Cal, USC, WSU and Stanford have a very good chance of pushing them around. But if Walter gets hot then they may become shootouts as the WR corps finally coming around.
Oregon St - listened to the game and think they worst thing they did was bring back Mike Riley. He brought great talent into the program initially but it thrived under the cut-throat aggressive philosophy of D Ericksson. Also, I think by now based on last couple of years that they would have developed a BU QB for days when Mr Anderson (MATRIX) decides he's not interested. In the dictionary when they define the word "Enigma" (sp) there is a picture of Derek Anderson. I just don't get how someone can be so talented but just awful. PAC10 defenders know that he locks onto the primary receiver all the time and everybody jumps the routes. He throws more ints and near ints of any QB known to man. I can only guess that they have no one else in their program who can help.
It was great weather for the week but back to Big D for me
WinOne!!
1) This seems to be the first time Ducks don't have great passer and RB who can get to the corner. I cannot believe the downside of talent. Duck backers believe the loss of Tedford (HC Cal) part of the answer as he coached the QB's and managed the offense. WE SEE HIS BODY OF WORK IN THE MAKING
2) Devils extremely fast up front on defense but small. Bigger athletic teams like Cal, USC, WSU and Stanford have a very good chance of pushing them around. But if Walter gets hot then they may become shootouts as the WR corps finally coming around.
Oregon St - listened to the game and think they worst thing they did was bring back Mike Riley. He brought great talent into the program initially but it thrived under the cut-throat aggressive philosophy of D Ericksson. Also, I think by now based on last couple of years that they would have developed a BU QB for days when Mr Anderson (MATRIX) decides he's not interested. In the dictionary when they define the word "Enigma" (sp) there is a picture of Derek Anderson. I just don't get how someone can be so talented but just awful. PAC10 defenders know that he locks onto the primary receiver all the time and everybody jumps the routes. He throws more ints and near ints of any QB known to man. I can only guess that they have no one else in their program who can help.
It was great weather for the week but back to Big D for me
WinOne!!
win-one are you making plans to attend the USC game in two weeks? a bunch of us will be making the trip to LA. Let me know and we will meet up.As for ASU yeah they looked good especially on defense although I am not sure as to how bad Oregon is either.I am usually right on the money when it comes to ASU but you cant win them all.I ended up hedging my play a bit with a 2nd half play on ASU as I was not liking the way the game was going.Cal also came in strong for me.overall if I had to lose a big game that was one i was ok with.ASU will catch USC off a very big game which sets up well for them.If hill can continue to run the ball well than we will be fine.As mentioned their defense is extremely quick to the ball and playing with loads of confidence.I think the week off is coming at a good time as they can now get rested and have some injuries heal and get ready for the 2nd half of the season!. thanks for the responses guys.looking forward to another solid weekend.
