Chris Jordans 2 picks for today..
Chris Jordan
Chris Jordan Saturday night sweep ...
200♦ CALIFORNIA - This is a true revenge game for the Bears, and with Maryland having to travel to the West Coast time zone and play at what will be 10 p.m. to them, I don’t give the Terrapins any shot today.
This is a talented team that returns 15 starters on offense and defense to a team that won nine games last year. And as far as I can tell, the Bears have every intention of winning the Pac 10 that USC has. The Bears are stacked at the skill positions, there is experience in the trenches and there’s an overall sense this team by this team that is can finish September 4-0 and head into its home clash with Southern Cal on Oct. 3 with virtually everything on the line.
Meanwhile, the Terps might be in the top 60 in the nation, they’re one of the youngest and inexperienced teams in the nation, there is uncertainty in the trenches and though the talent that was recruited and brought in is highly regarded, I think this team has its hands full far from home.
This is a helluva road trip for the Terps, who play their next four games at home. My guess is coach Ralph Friedgen just wants to get out of this one unscathed on the injury front. That’ll be tough, cause Cal has had this date circled for months!
Legit revenge situation here, as Cal rolls large!!!
100♦ TEXAS AM - This is another mismatch, and it’s mainly because of the Lobos, who are under a new regime and will feel the growing pains with a new coaching staff in place. Former coach Rocky Long – a defensive genius – is now the D-Coordinator at San Diego State, and now the entire stop unit faces a new system to learn. This isn’t the best way to start the season, against a Big 12 team that has nine starters back on offense, including talented junior quarterback Jerrod Johnson.
The Aggies are looking to improve on last year’s 4-8 season, and a favorable schedule in September could have them 3-0 heading into a clash with Arkansas on Oct. 3. On deck are home clashes with Utah State and Alabama-Birmingham, so there’s not to squirm about. Big 12 mid-range versus Mountain West mediocre … I’ll lay the chalk.
Chris Jordan
Chris Jordan Saturday night sweep ...
200♦ CALIFORNIA - This is a true revenge game for the Bears, and with Maryland having to travel to the West Coast time zone and play at what will be 10 p.m. to them, I don’t give the Terrapins any shot today.
This is a talented team that returns 15 starters on offense and defense to a team that won nine games last year. And as far as I can tell, the Bears have every intention of winning the Pac 10 that USC has. The Bears are stacked at the skill positions, there is experience in the trenches and there’s an overall sense this team by this team that is can finish September 4-0 and head into its home clash with Southern Cal on Oct. 3 with virtually everything on the line.
Meanwhile, the Terps might be in the top 60 in the nation, they’re one of the youngest and inexperienced teams in the nation, there is uncertainty in the trenches and though the talent that was recruited and brought in is highly regarded, I think this team has its hands full far from home.
This is a helluva road trip for the Terps, who play their next four games at home. My guess is coach Ralph Friedgen just wants to get out of this one unscathed on the injury front. That’ll be tough, cause Cal has had this date circled for months!
Legit revenge situation here, as Cal rolls large!!!
100♦ TEXAS AM - This is another mismatch, and it’s mainly because of the Lobos, who are under a new regime and will feel the growing pains with a new coaching staff in place. Former coach Rocky Long – a defensive genius – is now the D-Coordinator at San Diego State, and now the entire stop unit faces a new system to learn. This isn’t the best way to start the season, against a Big 12 team that has nine starters back on offense, including talented junior quarterback Jerrod Johnson.
The Aggies are looking to improve on last year’s 4-8 season, and a favorable schedule in September could have them 3-0 heading into a clash with Arkansas on Oct. 3. On deck are home clashes with Utah State and Alabama-Birmingham, so there’s not to squirm about. Big 12 mid-range versus Mountain West mediocre … I’ll lay the chalk.
Jack Jones
NCAAF
15* on Kentucky -15
Miami of Ohio has fallen hard after several prosperous years in the MAC. Last season they managed just a 2-10 record, including a 4-7 record against the spread. This season the Redhawks welcome a new coaching staff, new style of offense, and many new players to the team. It's going to be another long season for Miami Ohio fans. Kentucky has been flying under the Radar in the SEC. They aren't one of the powerhouses in the conference just yet, but the program is moving in the right direction. Last year the Wildcats struggled offensively in the conference, but they will be facing a Miami team Saturday that allowed about 33 points per game a year ago. A real show-stopper hasn't emerged on the Kentucky offense just yet, but they will move the ball down the field, and they will put up a lot of points over a program in the process of a complete overhaul.
15* on Illinois -6.5
Take the Illionis Fighting Illini over the Missouri Tigers on Saturday. Missouri loses two of their most productive players from a year ago in QB Chase Daniel and WR Jeremy Maclin. In fact, the Tigers return just 10 of their 22 starters from a year ago, which has most fans and experts calling this season a rebuilding year for this Missouri program. Illinois has not played well against this Missouri team in recent years, losing 6 of the last 7 meetings, but they get their best chance in recent memory today with a solid core of players returning, including multi-talented QB Juice Williams, who is one of the most dangerous weapons in the Big 10 this season. Juice will rack up yards on the ground and through the air against an inexperience Missouri defense. Williams will need to be the go-to guy if the Illini want to pick up a win in their opener, but don't be surprised to see someone like WR Junior Arrelious Benn step up and help the Illinois cause. This is Williams' senior year. He has enough talent around him, and is catching Missouri at just the right time to walk away with a victory in his first game of the 2009 season.
15* on UAB -6
Rice's amazing offense from a year ago has been completely gutted with the departure of 7 offensive starters, of who accounted for 97% of the team's passing yards, 93% of their rushing yards, and 64% of their receiving yards. UAB returns all 11 starters on offense from last year's team, and while the Blazers didn't light-up the scoreboard, they did average almost 370 yards of total offense per game, and with the whole squad back, those numbers will continue to improve. Senior QB Joe Webb is a versatile player for UAB, coming off a season where he led the team in passing and rushing. Webb also has some solid returning receivers to throw to, making my expectations for the Blazers in this game, and in Conference USA this year much higher than the 4-8 season they turned out in 2008.
20* No Doubt Rout on Stanford -17
This game has all of the makings of another blowout after Stanford's 58-0 thrashing of the Cougars. Washington State is one of the 10 worst teams in college football, and they arguably have the worst offense-defense combo of any team in a major conference. The Cougars gave up 44 points per game defensively, while scoring a mere 12.7 points per game on offense. Washington State returns 15 of their 22 starters from a year ago, and while that's a good thing for some programs, I can't see these returning players taking their game to a much higher level than they performed at last season. Stanford managed just a 5-7 record last year, but they return 17 starters from last year's squad, which was solid enough offensively to post 350 yards per game. Their defense somewhere in the middle of the pack, but they should have no problems with this Washington State attack. While 58-0 isn't likely for a second straight season, it's still going to be a cake walk for the Cardinal tonight.
20* Bailout Blowout on UCLA -19
The Bruins had their problems on offense last year, but they return 9 offensive starters this year, which means they will make less mistakes and be more consistent on that side of the ball. They also get a virtual cupcake in their home opener with San Diego State, a team that went 2-10 last season (0-6 on the road) and had one of the worst defenses in the nation. The Aztecs gave up an eye-popping 40.5 points per game on the road last season. Expect Rick Neuheisel's offense to be much more productive this year, and much less apt to turning the ball over. UCLA cruises in their opener over San Diego State.
MLB
15* on Texas Rangers -128
Take the Rangers over the Orioles as Texas continues to fight for the AL Wildcard. Kevin Millwood is starting for the Rangers and has been solid this season, going 10-8 with a 3.61 ERA with a 1.34 WHIP. Millwood is backed by a strong Texas offense that is hitting .280 as a team and averaging over 5 runs per game over their last 7 contests, where the Rangers are 5-2 over that stretch, including winning their last 4 games in a row. Baltimore has been the exact opposite of Texas over the their last 7 games, going just 2-5 while hitting .259 as a team and scoring just over 4 runs per game. The Orioles throw Brian Matusz, who has seen some success in limited innings earning a 3-2 record, but who has a 5.28 ERA and 1.73 over his 6 starts. The Rangers are just 2 games back from the Red Sox in the AL Wild Card race and they should put their best foot forward against a Baltimore team with nothing to play for.
NCAAF
15* on Kentucky -15
Miami of Ohio has fallen hard after several prosperous years in the MAC. Last season they managed just a 2-10 record, including a 4-7 record against the spread. This season the Redhawks welcome a new coaching staff, new style of offense, and many new players to the team. It's going to be another long season for Miami Ohio fans. Kentucky has been flying under the Radar in the SEC. They aren't one of the powerhouses in the conference just yet, but the program is moving in the right direction. Last year the Wildcats struggled offensively in the conference, but they will be facing a Miami team Saturday that allowed about 33 points per game a year ago. A real show-stopper hasn't emerged on the Kentucky offense just yet, but they will move the ball down the field, and they will put up a lot of points over a program in the process of a complete overhaul.
15* on Illinois -6.5
Take the Illionis Fighting Illini over the Missouri Tigers on Saturday. Missouri loses two of their most productive players from a year ago in QB Chase Daniel and WR Jeremy Maclin. In fact, the Tigers return just 10 of their 22 starters from a year ago, which has most fans and experts calling this season a rebuilding year for this Missouri program. Illinois has not played well against this Missouri team in recent years, losing 6 of the last 7 meetings, but they get their best chance in recent memory today with a solid core of players returning, including multi-talented QB Juice Williams, who is one of the most dangerous weapons in the Big 10 this season. Juice will rack up yards on the ground and through the air against an inexperience Missouri defense. Williams will need to be the go-to guy if the Illini want to pick up a win in their opener, but don't be surprised to see someone like WR Junior Arrelious Benn step up and help the Illinois cause. This is Williams' senior year. He has enough talent around him, and is catching Missouri at just the right time to walk away with a victory in his first game of the 2009 season.
15* on UAB -6
Rice's amazing offense from a year ago has been completely gutted with the departure of 7 offensive starters, of who accounted for 97% of the team's passing yards, 93% of their rushing yards, and 64% of their receiving yards. UAB returns all 11 starters on offense from last year's team, and while the Blazers didn't light-up the scoreboard, they did average almost 370 yards of total offense per game, and with the whole squad back, those numbers will continue to improve. Senior QB Joe Webb is a versatile player for UAB, coming off a season where he led the team in passing and rushing. Webb also has some solid returning receivers to throw to, making my expectations for the Blazers in this game, and in Conference USA this year much higher than the 4-8 season they turned out in 2008.
20* No Doubt Rout on Stanford -17
This game has all of the makings of another blowout after Stanford's 58-0 thrashing of the Cougars. Washington State is one of the 10 worst teams in college football, and they arguably have the worst offense-defense combo of any team in a major conference. The Cougars gave up 44 points per game defensively, while scoring a mere 12.7 points per game on offense. Washington State returns 15 of their 22 starters from a year ago, and while that's a good thing for some programs, I can't see these returning players taking their game to a much higher level than they performed at last season. Stanford managed just a 5-7 record last year, but they return 17 starters from last year's squad, which was solid enough offensively to post 350 yards per game. Their defense somewhere in the middle of the pack, but they should have no problems with this Washington State attack. While 58-0 isn't likely for a second straight season, it's still going to be a cake walk for the Cardinal tonight.
20* Bailout Blowout on UCLA -19
The Bruins had their problems on offense last year, but they return 9 offensive starters this year, which means they will make less mistakes and be more consistent on that side of the ball. They also get a virtual cupcake in their home opener with San Diego State, a team that went 2-10 last season (0-6 on the road) and had one of the worst defenses in the nation. The Aztecs gave up an eye-popping 40.5 points per game on the road last season. Expect Rick Neuheisel's offense to be much more productive this year, and much less apt to turning the ball over. UCLA cruises in their opener over San Diego State.
MLB
15* on Texas Rangers -128
Take the Rangers over the Orioles as Texas continues to fight for the AL Wildcard. Kevin Millwood is starting for the Rangers and has been solid this season, going 10-8 with a 3.61 ERA with a 1.34 WHIP. Millwood is backed by a strong Texas offense that is hitting .280 as a team and averaging over 5 runs per game over their last 7 contests, where the Rangers are 5-2 over that stretch, including winning their last 4 games in a row. Baltimore has been the exact opposite of Texas over the their last 7 games, going just 2-5 while hitting .259 as a team and scoring just over 4 runs per game. The Orioles throw Brian Matusz, who has seen some success in limited innings earning a 3-2 record, but who has a 5.28 ERA and 1.73 over his 6 starts. The Rangers are just 2 games back from the Red Sox in the AL Wild Card race and they should put their best foot forward against a Baltimore team with nothing to play for.
Leroy's College Challenge
<TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR vAlign=bottom><TD height=40>Leroy's College Challenge Contest</TD><TD align=right> </TD></TR><TR><TD colSpan=2><HR class=page_title_pin SIZE=1></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Top 7 Consensus Picks 1) Georgia (+5.5) at Oklahoma State
2) Nevada (+14.5) at Notre Dame
3) Illinois (-6.5) vs. Missouri
4) Minnesota (-6.5) at Syracuse
5) UTEP (-8.5) vs. Buffalo
6) UAB (-5.5) vs. Rice
7) Wake Forest (-1.5) vs. Baylor
<TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR vAlign=bottom><TD height=40>Leroy's College Challenge Contest</TD><TD align=right> </TD></TR><TR><TD colSpan=2><HR class=page_title_pin SIZE=1></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Top 7 Consensus Picks 1) Georgia (+5.5) at Oklahoma State
2) Nevada (+14.5) at Notre Dame
3) Illinois (-6.5) vs. Missouri
4) Minnesota (-6.5) at Syracuse
5) UTEP (-8.5) vs. Buffalo
6) UAB (-5.5) vs. Rice
7) Wake Forest (-1.5) vs. Baylor
