Malinsky Saturday Total Write Ups
4* #143 CLEMSON/SOUTH CAROLINA Over
We see the opportunity for big plays from both teams in this one, and in a serious grudge rivalry in which both can empty out their playbook, this Total has been set far too low.We chart offensive “Home Run” plays as any of 40 yards or more, and Clemson has been one of the best in the nation in that regard, with 10 already. And that is just from the offense – the special teams and defense have also added five more TD’s. It has taken some time to get the new offensive schemes installed but now we are seeing a real balance in play, with C. J. Spiller a big threat overland, and the passing attack reaching 200 yards in the last four lined games. Now they get ample opportunities against a depth-shy South Carolina defense that has not forced a turnover since October 17th. And having scored at least 34 points in each of their last six games they bring the confidence to take advantage.The Gamecocks can counter, however. That young WR corps is among the most talented in the nation, and QB Stephen Garcia has gown up in a major way this season, including four different S.E.C. games in which he threw for at least 300 yards, no small accomplishment in that league. But when the schedule includes games against four of the Top 20 in the nation in Total Defense, the overall numbers are not going to be awe-inspiring. Now they get two weeks to add some wrinkles to the playbook for this showdown, and we expect Steve Spurrier to have his offense playing aggressively from the opening series.
4* #174 HOUSTON/RICE Under
Last week we turned a 4* Under ticket with Rice, noting that a team this inept offensively should not have been priced where they were. Now we have more of the same, and we go to the well again.Only one Owl game has reached this plateau all season, that being an outing vs. Navy that reached 77. Seven of the other 10 games finished double figures below this count. And that is what happens when part of the game equation is an offense that rates 110th in Rushing, 113th in Pass Efficiency and 108th in Scoring. That is a serious anchor for any Total put in this high range. And note that even in scoring 30 points vs. U.T.E.P. last Saturday the Rice offense produced little, generating only 16 first downs and 227 yards on 66 snaps. Six Miner turnovers did the trick. But the Owls did win the game, however, and that makes it two in a row, which is an important factor here. Late-season momentum has them practicing at a crisper level, and the game plans are also being laid out to win, and not just to go through the motions – there have only been 41 passes thrown those past two games in 122 offensive snaps.Yes, Houston can score at will here. But the Cougars would have gone 6-4 to the Under at this plateau in lined games, and note that Kevin Sumlin’s focus is only about getting the “W”, and not on expanding the scoreboard. A win puts Houston in the Conference USA Championship game next Saturday, and with this already being the 10th game in as many weeks, the focus in the second half will be on keeping his key players fresh, especially since next week’s game could well end up being a road trip to face East Carolina. With the underdog slowing the pace early, and the favorite holding back late, this becomes even more of a mountain to overcome.
4* #188 SAN JOSE STATE/NEW MEXICO STATE Over
you just do not find defenses this bad in this Total range. So in a game in which we can expect Dick Tomey and DeWayne Walker to have wide-open game plans, allowing their players to go out and have some fun, this is a very low bar to step over.How bad are these defenses? New Mexico State is #105 in Total Defense and #102 in Scoring. That makes the Aggies the best on the field this day, because San Jose State is #117 and #110 in those same categories. And note that those numbers might even be a touch misleading, because in many of their games opponents were backing off with big leads. That will not be the case here, with Walker going all out to win this one, knowing that his team has no chance to compete vs. Boise State next week, and Tomey using up all of the wrinkles in his playbook in his last-ever home game.Note that while opposing teams let up late to make these awful defenses look a bit less ugly, we can not say the same about the flip side of the equation. When out-manned badly this season Walker focused more on keeping the clock moving than anything else, which explains Run to Pass counts of 43-15 for his team vs. Fresno State, 30-15 vs. Ohio State and 33-19 vs. Nevada over the past month. That changes here with a chance to go after the win, instead of just trying to hang around. Meanwhile after going up against seven likely bowl teams already, Tomey’s offense will relish this chance to step way down in class, and also to make something special happen for a well-liked head coac