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| Visitor vs Home |
Score |
Spread |
Total |
Money |
397 La Tech
398 Hawaii
|
23
34
|
|
|
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 Time 2004-11-06 23:00:00 |
WIN
|
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I pick "
(398) Hawaii
".
When last seen, Hawaii was losing at Boise State 69-3! The 66-point loss was the worst in the June Jones era and matched the school record. Timmy Chang was expected to pass Ty Detmer's NCAA career passing yardage mark in that game but now he'll do it tonight, needing just 14 yards for the record. La Tech comes in with a porous defense against both the run and the pass. Since Hawaii doesn't run much (95.9 YPG) that's not much of a concern but against Chang and a Hawaii passing game that ranks second to only Texas Tech nationally, it spells TROUBLE! La Tech has allowed 19 TD passes, the most of any school in the WAC and the third-highest total in the nation! Offensively La Tech relies solely on Ryan Moats but despite his 151.6 YPG average the team averages 182.6 YPG on the ground. QB Kubik barely completes 50% of his passes and has thrown just four TD passes with eight interceptions! La Tech averages just 22.8 PPG, an average that ranks them just 78th nationally. La Tech has been outclassed on the road in games at Miami-Fla, Tennessee and Auburn with its only win coming at SMU. Hawaii is WAY BETTER than SMU but not in the class of the others. However, after getting shocked at home by Fla Atlantic, Hawaii has won three straight at home by 28, 22. and 18 points. With Chang poised to set a new NCAA record and the memory of Boise's 69-3 PASTING still fresh, it's ALL Hawaii here! 10* Hawaii.
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| Visitor vs Home |
Score |
Spread |
Total |
Money |
393 Oklahoma St
394 Texas
|
35
56
|
|
|
|
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|
Time 2004-11-06 19:00:00 |
WIN
|
|
I pick "
(394) Texas
".
Both of these teams own OUTSTANDING running attacks but questionable passing games. OSU may rate a small edge in passing though, as Woods has been somewhat effective lately while Texas QB Young has averaged under 80 YPG passing, completed 46.8% of his passes plus thrown two interceptions in his last four games. However, this game WILL NOT be decided through the air. It will decided on the ground and by the defenses! Texas is the nation's second-best rushing team at 304.8 YPG and OSU's rush defenses was bowled over by Adrian Peterson last week plus allows 4.2 YPC and almost 160 YPG on the year. The Longhorns' Cedric Benson had 180 yards in last year's meeting at Stillwater (Texas won 55-16) and he's topped 100 yards in all three of his career games vs the Cowboys. The Texas defense has been great all year (13.4 PPG allowed ranks 8th in the nation) and the last two weeks has held Tex Tech and Colrado to a combined minus-14 yards rushing! For the year, Texas allows just 114.4 YPG rushing and 3.3 YPC. Texas can't win the Big-12 South (unless you believe Okla will lose TWICE!!) but it does have a GREAT shot at a BCS Bowl! OSU off a heart-breaking three-point loss to Okla last week (tying FG just missed!) gets a trip to Austin Saturday. Playing against this defense is NOT what the doctor ordered! OSU has been outscored 193-76 the last five years by Texas and it WON'T be close this year EITHER. CFB Blow-Out Game of the Year 10* Texas.
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| Visitor vs Home |
Score |
Spread |
Total |
Money |
387 Stanford
388 Arizona St
|
31
34
|
|
|
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|
Time 2004-11-06 18:30:00 |
|
|
I pick "
(388) Arizona St
".
Neither Arizona St nor its QB Andrew Walter has been able to STEP-UP vs the Pac-10 elite in 2004, meaning USC and Cal. However, don't expect the Sun Devils to pack it in, as they have three very winnable games remaining and could finish 9-2 after a 5-7 year in 2003! Stanford got shut out last week by UCLA and HOW BAD IS THAT!. The Bruins entered that game allowing 28.4 PPG and even after the shut out rank just 101st in yards allowed at 433.8 YPG! Stanford QB Trent Edwards is off a nasty game in which he threw three interceptions and the Cardinal have scored more than 15 points in just ONE of their last four games. ASU should remember last year's loss to the Cardinal 38-37, Stanford's lone Pac-10 win of 2003. Stanford is just 3-8-1 ATS on the Pac-10 road lately and I see ASU easily rebounding in its Homecoming game here! Walter needs just one TD pass to tie John Elway's career Pac-10 mark and he'll get MANY more than just ONE in this game. Pac-10 Game of the Month 10* Arizona State.
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| Visitor vs Home |
Score |
Spread |
Total |
Money |
315 Minnesota
316 Wisconsin
|
14
38
|
|
|
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|
Time 2004-11-06 15:30:00 |
WIN
|
|
I pick "
(316) Wisconsin
".
The Gophers are in another second-half fade as they've lost THREE of their last four games! Since setting a school record by topping 100 yards in seven straight regular season games RB Laurence Maroney has averaged just 71.7 YPG over his last three contests. He and RB partner Barber will now face the Wisconsin defense allowing a nation-best 8.5 PPG, just 89.1 YPG rushing (2.9 YPC) and 236.4 YPG overall (second-best). Minnesota QB Cupito completes less than 50% of his passes, so the Gopher running game can't expect much help. While Wisconsin has a GREAT defense the team's offense is scoring just 21.1 PPG (second-worst in the Big-10). Anthony Davis is a STAR but QB John Stooco, like Cupito, leaves much to be desired! Minnesota is 4-12 ATS in Nov road games recently and has covered just ONE of its last six trips to Madison. Wisconsin can't afford a slip-up in its final home game with road games remaining at Mich St and Iowa. They WON'T slip-up vs fading Minnesota! Big-10 Game of the Month 10* Wisconsin.
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| Visitor vs Home |
Score |
Spread |
Total |
Money |
351 San Diego St
352 BYU
|
16
49
|
|
|
|
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|
Time 2004-11-06 15:00:00 |
WIN
|
|
I pick "
(352) BYU
".
BYU is off a bye week and a team that had struggled with its running game has seen Curtis Brown top 100 yards in his last three outings. That's good news for the Cougars as QB John Beck has led the way in leading the team to 283 YPG passing, the highest average in the MWC. San Diego St goes with Kevin O'Connell making just his third start and playing behind a young and battered OL. BYU loves to blitz with its front seven and while its pass defense has been shaky, I'm not sure O'Connell has the ability to take advantage of it. BYU's rush defense is just fine, allowing just 3.2 YPC. SD St has lost five straight games both SU and ATS and is on the road for the FOURTH time in six weeks. The Aztecs have gone just 2-12 SU in Provo and BYU has covered SIX of the last seven meetings between the two schools overall. SD St allowed 51 points last week vs Utah at home and while the team probably won't give up that much here, they won't stay within twop TDs of the Cougars either. MWC Game of the Month 10* BYU.
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| Visitor vs Home |
Score |
Spread |
Total |
Money |
389 Arkansas
390 So Carolina
|
32
35
|
|
|
|
|
|
Time 2004-11-06 12:30:00 |
|
|
I pick "
(390) So Carolina
".
Arkansas returned the fewest starters of any Division 1-A team this year and the team has struggled in 2004. After opening 3-1, the Razorbacks have lost three straight to Florida (down by 31 points in the late 3Q), Auburn (down 30 points in the late 2Q) and to Georgia (outgained 513-278). QB Matt Jones is superb but he gets little help as he is the team's leading rusher as well. South Carolina is off a 43-29 loss to Tenn last week but the team did gain 567 yards and get 30 FDs vs a very good Volunteer defense. QB Pinkins passed for over 300 yards and the team ran for 226 yards vs Tenn. South Carolina is a small favorite at home in this one and series history shows the favorite at 9-1 ATS the last 10 games and the home team at 8-3 ATS the last 11 contests. Lou Holtz needs one more win to get his team bowl eligible and he probably doesn't want to count on winning at Florida or Clemson, the team's only two games after this one. 10* South Carolina.
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| Visitor vs Home |
Score |
Spread |
Total |
Money |
327 Kansas St
328 Missouri
|
35
24
|
|
|
|
|
|
Time 2004-11-06 12:30:00 |
|
|
I pick "
(328) Missouri
".
These are two of the Big-12's biggest dissapointments in 2004, especially KSU. After pasting Oklahoma in last year's Big-12 title game, who would have thought the Wildcatss would enter this contest at 3-5, the worst start for KSU since Snyder's first year in Manhattan? Sproles was expected to be a Heisman contender but he's DISAPPEARED in almost EVERY big game! Missouri had the North title in its site but has lost three straight. QB Brad Smith is not running as effectively as he has the last two years but Missouri's defense is greatly improved, allowing just 16.9 PPG (22nd). Considering KSU's defense has IMPLODED, allowing 29.8 PPG after allowing between 11.8 PPG and 18.6 PPG over the last six years, the Tigers have a huge edge here. Leading rusher Damien Nash is back after a one-game suspension and Missouri has been an excellent home team lately. When the team blew a 17-0 first-half lead and lost to OSU a couple weeks ago, that ended a nine-game home winning streak, including a 5-0 SU and ATS record in Big-12 home games. KSU has won 11 straight over Missouri but KSU is NOT the team it once was (see loss at Kansas earlier this year ending a similar winning streak over the Jaywhawks). 10* Missouri.
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| Visitor vs Home |
Score |
Spread |
Total |
Money |
335 Pittsburgh
336 Syracuse
|
31
38
|
|
|
|
|
|
Time 2004-11-06 12:00:00 |
WIN
|
|
I pick "
(336) Syracuse
".
Pitt has rebounded from some poor play earlier this year and actually has a chance at the Big East title if the team wins here. That being said the Panthers are NOT a very good team and will have their hands full at Syracuse. Syracuse is an underrated team that has lost ONLY to ranked opponents this year and enters this game having covered SIX of its last seven games! Syracuse beat U Conn at this site last week 42-30 and will playing its final home game of the year in this one and maybe the final home game-ever for Pasqualoni at Syracuse! Pitt can't run (just 108.7 YPG ranking 98th and just 2.8 YPC) and QB Palko though improving,is VERY average! The Syracuse defense has been OK (21 PPG and 320.8 YPG) and its weakness (vs the run) shouldn't be a problem vs Pitt. The offense is improving as QB Patterson has thrown just one interception in his last three games (84 atts) and RBs Reyes and Rhodes give the Orangemen a solid duo! Syracuse is an impressive 24-9-1 ATS at home since 1999 and SPOIL Pitts's Big East title hopes. 10* Syracuse.
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| Visitor vs Home |
Score |
Spread |
Total |
Money |
703 PHX Suns
704 PHI 76ers
|
108
98
|
|
|
|
|
|
Time 2004-11-05 19:00:00 |
|
|
I pick "
(704) PHI 76ers
".
Who are these Suns? Last year was the team's worst in 16 years going 29-53 but with the addition of free-agent guards Nash and Richardson joining Stoudemire, Marion and Johnson, the Suns were 7-1 in the preseason. They then opened the regular season with a 112-82 home win but then again, it was ONLY Atlanta! The 76ers are off a MISERABLE season last year in which the team went 33-49. Expect a new attitude this year and it showed right off with a nice comeback win Weds night in Boston (won 98-95). Iverson led the way with 30 points and second-year guard Korver added 12 points. At center, Jackson (15 points) and Dalembert (10 rebs) split time with excellent results. The Sixers could easily bounce back to be the Atlantic's best team this season and I'm not ready to get too excited about the Suns until I see them play more, especially on the road. Speaking of the road, Phoenix opens a four-game road trip with this game tonight and remember the Suns were just 11-30 SU away from home last year. A VERY short price says PHILADELPHIA here. Inter-Conf Game of the Week 10* 76ers.
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| Visitor vs Home |
Score |
Spread |
Total |
Money |
505 MIN T'wolves
506 DEN Nuggets
|
92
94
|
|
|
|
|
|
Time 2004-11-04 22:30:00 |
|
|
I pick "
(506) DEN Nuggets
".
The Nuggets had a bad opening night on Tuesday in LA not only losing to the Lakers but more importantly losing shooting guard Voshon Lenard to an injury. However, this a a good Nuggets team that still has plenty of talent. Kenyon Martin joins Carmelo to form an outstanding forward duo and Camby and Nene give this team an excellent front court. The T-Wolves have the reigning league MVP in KG plus Sprewell and Cassell to go along with a deep bench. Spre has been complaining all fall over his contract and had just 10 points vs the Knicks last night (KG had his usual 28-20!) in a game in which the T-Wolves never really shook the Knicks (won 99-93). Minnesota was 27-14 SU on the road last year but will face a Denver team here in its home opener. The Nuggets went 29-12 SU at home last year where they averaged 6.5 PPG more than they did on the road. The Nuggets were bounced from the playoffs last year by these T-Wolves and even with the loss of Lenard are the side tonight. TV Game of the Week 10* Nuggets.
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