2* Temple -7 The UC Bearcats have a chance here because of Gunner Kiel, Mr. Enigma. Kiel was once thought of as a top NFL prospect, but now through injuries, personal issues, and being a head case, started the year as the 3rd stringer. It seems that HC Tuberville was desperate for some scoring, and Kiel had a good week of practice, so he thought,"What the hell." Kiel came through vs. ECU, passing for 300+ yards and stopping a skid where they lost 3 out of 4, only beating Miami OH by 7 points at home. I think this is a buy high opportunity for Temple bettors. And though Temple is coming off a huge stomping of USF, they really have played well for a number of reasons.
Temple is a very physical team on both sides of the ball, and should be riding a 5 game winning streak. Their loss at Memphis was due to a couple of turnovers and a Memphis KO return. But if you saw the game, it was clear that Temple was the better team. Temple's D has come a long way from their opening loss to Army. They swarm to the ball well, and collapse the pocket. Memphis and USF QBs seemed to have little time to pass. I think this matches up well with Kiel, who is a pocket passer who is fairly brittle. UC also doesn't run the ball very well so Temple can anticipate Kiel in the pocket for many plays. If they don't get to him, this 2* goes down in flames, but if they do, Temple's OL and running game will dominate. Generally, I play teams like Temple that play D well, run the ball well, and have enough of a pass game to keep their opponents honest. Walker, the Temple QB, is a senior and has had 3-4 games this year where he has passed well, and then a couple of stinkers. Temple has played the slightly tougher schedule. UC has played Miami OH, UT Martin, Purdue(a game Purdue threw away), UConn(losing by 11) and got beat badly by USF and Houston. UC has always hung on their pass-happy multiple receiver offense, but this year they start a whole new group of WRs with mixed results.
Temple is a very physical team on both sides of the ball, and should be riding a 5 game winning streak. Their loss at Memphis was due to a couple of turnovers and a Memphis KO return. But if you saw the game, it was clear that Temple was the better team. Temple's D has come a long way from their opening loss to Army. They swarm to the ball well, and collapse the pocket. Memphis and USF QBs seemed to have little time to pass. I think this matches up well with Kiel, who is a pocket passer who is fairly brittle. UC also doesn't run the ball very well so Temple can anticipate Kiel in the pocket for many plays. If they don't get to him, this 2* goes down in flames, but if they do, Temple's OL and running game will dominate. Generally, I play teams like Temple that play D well, run the ball well, and have enough of a pass game to keep their opponents honest. Walker, the Temple QB, is a senior and has had 3-4 games this year where he has passed well, and then a couple of stinkers. Temple has played the slightly tougher schedule. UC has played Miami OH, UT Martin, Purdue(a game Purdue threw away), UConn(losing by 11) and got beat badly by USF and Houston. UC has always hung on their pass-happy multiple receiver offense, but this year they start a whole new group of WRs with mixed results.
2* Wyoming +15 Been on almost Boise game this year, for or against. Have only lost one. Brian Hill will be the best RB out there tomorrow, not Jeremy McNichols. Wyoming's Hill is not only a power back, but has great shifty moves and can turn the corner with a burst of speed. Has already run for over 1,000 yards in just 7 games. I don't think Boise has faced anyone like him this year, and Boise is a little thinner on defense this week. They lose their STUD Gabe Perez, STUD meaning "stand up DL/LB". Perez is good. I also like that Wyoming has a dual threat QB who is inconsistent as a passer, but much better than what they have had going back to last year. Wyoming's OL is physical and I think that makes their running game extend drives, eating up clock, and helping a home underdog getting 15 points.
Now Boise has the advantage of having an excellent passing game, and Rypien is playing well. Wyoming will give up some big plays there. But Boise has had too many penalties this year, turnovers and special teams screw ups that have helped their underdog opponents cover. Their kicker isn't all that good. Biggest game in Laramie in a long while, and they are expecting a great crowd. Hill and the Cowboys will play off that emotion,hopefully, and make this a game. Maybe an upset win. Wyoming is 5-2, with a 3 point loss on the road to an improved EMU team, and a road loss to Nebraska that got out of control in the 4th quarter due to turnovers.
Now Boise has the advantage of having an excellent passing game, and Rypien is playing well. Wyoming will give up some big plays there. But Boise has had too many penalties this year, turnovers and special teams screw ups that have helped their underdog opponents cover. Their kicker isn't all that good. Biggest game in Laramie in a long while, and they are expecting a great crowd. Hill and the Cowboys will play off that emotion,hopefully, and make this a game. Maybe an upset win. Wyoming is 5-2, with a 3 point loss on the road to an improved EMU team, and a road loss to Nebraska that got out of control in the 4th quarter due to turnovers.
Thank you to the above posters. I hope the write-ups help you decide on a game or two.
Last two(probably). I follow the Oregon teams more than any others, although not a fan of either. Had to play these with all the info circulating in my head.
1* ASU +8.5 This many points to ASU playing a lousy Duck team is mostly due to ASU playing their 3rd or 4th string QB. I get that. But I think it's an overreaction. Justin Herbert is still very inexperienced and it's too soon to say how he'll be even long term. Cal's D is so pathetic that last week that your grandmother could score 14 off of them. Before that he was tested by UDub, and didn't do too bad considering they lost by 49. But ASU will be the first team that blitzes often, and will even bring pressure with the front 4. The Ducks OL is still a work in progress, and one of the weakest here in the past 5-7 years. Still Herbert will have some success. ASU is pretty good at QB pressure, sacks, and stopping the run, but if you get time to pass- their secondary is pretty bad. I also think ASU's run heavy offense will do pretty well. The Duck D and DC Hoke were extremely crushed by last week's lost @Cal. They don't defend the run or pass well. Look for a 300+ rushing day perhaps from ASU.
1* Wazzu -14 Was so close to grabbing the 13 last night but didn't know the status of Luke Falk. He's going to play, and even though he's banged up, well….he's always banged up and plays pretty good that way. This is a buy high on Oregon State opportunity. They have covered vs. Utah, UW and beat Cal. But all those games have a caveat. Cal: Davis Webb hurt his thumb in the 1st half and couldn't grip the ball, and man did it make a difference. Beavers won in OT vs. QB with no usable thumb and a terrible D. UW: The Huskies dominated to 31-0 by half, and then Chris Petersen pulled the starters 3Q early and just ran up the middle for a quarter and a half. The Beavers got a mercy cover here. Utah: In a monsoon and wind storm. Utah looked like the much better team, but the conditions made this a difficult game to do anything offensively. I really like this game and might make it a 2* because WSU has a running game and a good defense this year. Probably 3rd best in the PAC 12. These are 2 aspects they NEVER had in past years. As for the Beavs, I don't like their latest QB, Marcus Mcmaryion. He is too hard on himself, emotionless, and he was 3rd string on a team that has all crummy QBs. Garrettson, the starter, couldn't start in about 95% of the FBS teams in the country. The Beavs are also suffering from a lot of injuries and anymore this game will make them especially thin.
Last two(probably). I follow the Oregon teams more than any others, although not a fan of either. Had to play these with all the info circulating in my head.
1* ASU +8.5 This many points to ASU playing a lousy Duck team is mostly due to ASU playing their 3rd or 4th string QB. I get that. But I think it's an overreaction. Justin Herbert is still very inexperienced and it's too soon to say how he'll be even long term. Cal's D is so pathetic that last week that your grandmother could score 14 off of them. Before that he was tested by UDub, and didn't do too bad considering they lost by 49. But ASU will be the first team that blitzes often, and will even bring pressure with the front 4. The Ducks OL is still a work in progress, and one of the weakest here in the past 5-7 years. Still Herbert will have some success. ASU is pretty good at QB pressure, sacks, and stopping the run, but if you get time to pass- their secondary is pretty bad. I also think ASU's run heavy offense will do pretty well. The Duck D and DC Hoke were extremely crushed by last week's lost @Cal. They don't defend the run or pass well. Look for a 300+ rushing day perhaps from ASU.
1* Wazzu -14 Was so close to grabbing the 13 last night but didn't know the status of Luke Falk. He's going to play, and even though he's banged up, well….he's always banged up and plays pretty good that way. This is a buy high on Oregon State opportunity. They have covered vs. Utah, UW and beat Cal. But all those games have a caveat. Cal: Davis Webb hurt his thumb in the 1st half and couldn't grip the ball, and man did it make a difference. Beavers won in OT vs. QB with no usable thumb and a terrible D. UW: The Huskies dominated to 31-0 by half, and then Chris Petersen pulled the starters 3Q early and just ran up the middle for a quarter and a half. The Beavers got a mercy cover here. Utah: In a monsoon and wind storm. Utah looked like the much better team, but the conditions made this a difficult game to do anything offensively. I really like this game and might make it a 2* because WSU has a running game and a good defense this year. Probably 3rd best in the PAC 12. These are 2 aspects they NEVER had in past years. As for the Beavs, I don't like their latest QB, Marcus Mcmaryion. He is too hard on himself, emotionless, and he was 3rd string on a team that has all crummy QBs. Garrettson, the starter, couldn't start in about 95% of the FBS teams in the country. The Beavs are also suffering from a lot of injuries and anymore this game will make them especially thin.
