It’s week 3 and jamie came up with another batch of prop bets. This week Michigan hosts UMass and the thought is some underclassmen and freshmen will get a chance at hitting a few over/unders.
The Odds-On Favorite
[Ed. Special post written by a RAWRCATZ alum]
Stop what you’re doing. I see what you did. Shame on you. Go grab your bracket, are you sure you’re finished? I’m lol’ing right now since you picked Winthrop. Trust me, that isn’t your only mistake. Check out the Midwestern Regional. *shakes head* YOU’VE MADE A HUGE MISTAKE. Georgetown OVER Ohio University? Are you kidding me, have you seen the last week of college basketball? One of the hottest teams in America right now, and you picked against them. Cross it out, log in, or resubmit to your office pool. Whatever way you entered your bracket, change it NOW. Why? Well, here are the Top 5 reasons to pick the RAWRCATZ over the Hoyas.
1. Armon Bassett just exploded for 31 points per game in the MAC tourney (4 days). IN THE MAC. AS A #9 SEED. IN AMERICA. The former IU guard transferred to OU after the IU-death penalty and this is his first year back and look what he’s done:
| GM | MIN | PTS | REB | AST | TO | A/T | STL | BLK | PF | FG% | FT% | 3P% | PPS |
| 31 | 34.5 | 16.9 | 3.2 | 3.5 | 2.1 | 1.6/1 | 1.2 | 0.1 | 1.3 | .388 | .823 | .344 | 1.33 |
Pick RAWRCATZ.
2. Ohio against the spread. The RAWRCATZ were 18-12 ATS. They’ve covered 11 of 12 games dating back to Super Bowl weekend. If that doesn’t scream LOCK, I don’t know what to tell you. The RAWRCATZ haven’t lost in March and that isn’t going to end. Pick RAWRCATZ. Read more »
All the hullabaloo today in the sports world is the official beginning of the NFL season and the champion Pittsburgh Steelers attempt at defending their title and winning an unprecedented seventh Super Bowl. Make no mistake, the game tonight against the Titans will be a blast to watch. But, dont forget about the college football action going on down the dial. Its a good one in the heart of ACC country.
Clemson travels to Atlanta to take on Georgia Tech in one of the more underrated football series across the college football landscape. In a game where each team looks to land an opening salvo in the chase for league honors, we fans can only hope the game comes close to equalling the ACC showdown we saw Monday night between FSU and Miami. Even if it cant do that, all it has to do is live up to the standard Clemson/Georgia Tech matchup, and the game will be close and remain in doubt well into the fourth quarter. Fourteen of the last 20 games in this series have been decided by five points or less. Expect this game to go down to the wire with any of these storylines likely to impact the final.
The ACC may not come close to providing us a legitmate BCS Title threat, but the race for the division titles among the top 6-8 teams in the league has been as dramatic as anything else the last couple of seasons in the college football world. Every game seems to swing the race in a different direction and important tie breaking CHIPS! are up for grabs in every tet-a-tet. Tonight’s game won’t determine any final outcomes, but, like Monday night’s affair, it will point us down the initial road of the race.
The media picked both of these teams to finish in second place in their respective divisions. But, with preseason favorites Florida State and Virginia Tech looking vulnerable after opening weekend, the winner of this game may become a de facto favorite coming out of the first month. Can either of these clubs show that they have the chops to take advantage of the wavering favorites in the league race? Tonight we’ll get some answers.
The main attraction will be two of the best tailbacks in the country, let alone the ACC. The same aforementioned media tabbed Clemson’s CJ Spiller and Tech’s Jonathan Dwyer as 1-2 for preseason player of the year. Tonight might not determine who the best tailback is, but, if each live up to their hype we’ll be watching two of the best home run hitters in the college game. In their different way–Spiller, quick, shifty with breakaway speed and Dwyer, powerful, between the tackles with surprising football speed–each are a threat to take any carry to the house.
Both teams enter the game after walking through a yawner against overmatched competition. Clemson upended Middle Tennessee State 37-14. It was a workmanlike opener, but now the Tigers fave their first hurdle of the season. Clemson fans have had this game circled for months and a school of thought exists that this game is a make or break for the Tigers true ACC hopes this season. Tech eased by Jacksonville State 37-17 in a sloppy contest that left Jacket Coach Paul Johnson in a pissy mood. Read more »
Week One is in the books. We survived a shaky Saturday and came out with a 9-7 record. That’s good for both a small profit and a wildcard berth into the NFL playoffs. Before moving on to any Week Two discussion, we must take a quick look back at last week’s card.
THE GOOD
Weekday Bookends. We didnt have a great Saturday, but thanks to being on the right side of the plethora of weeknight games offered on opening weekend, we ended up on the positive side of the ledger. A 2-1 Thursday night and a 2-0 Monday night bookended the weekend for an overall winning record. This is encouraging. Over the years, I have done well during midweek games and perhaps this is a sign the mojo has carried over to the blog.
Steele Dogs. Our working theory to jump on Phil Steele’s Most Improved Teams when the oddsmakers install them as underdogs passed the initial test picking up four winners against just two losses. Akron, UL-Monroe, Baylor and San Diego State covered the early week number. Toledo and Ohio U did not. We’ll take the two out of every three clip the whole way. We’re looking at least another half dozen plays from this pool this weekend and post our thoughts on the matter before the weekend.
THE BAD
Summer picks. Six weeks before opening week, I highlighted three games to play the first weekend. Boise State vindicated my analysis Thursday night. We were off to a good start. Saturday? Not so much. Nevada got blown out by the Irish and never were within the 2-TD spread once the middle of the second quarter rolled around. At least Virginia Tech was in the ball game and actually had possession in the final four minutes with a chance to score and sneak under the spot. Alas, Tyrod Taylor as Pocket Passer needs way more seasoning before its ready to wear against a killer SEC defense.
Georgia. Catching six points looked great especially after the Dawgs marched down the field on their opening drive for a touchdown. However, it was the only TD Georgia would score en route to a 14-point loss to Oklahoma State. I am not burying Georgia, but the post Matt Stafford era has a long way to go before they’ll score consistently in the SEC. If they dont pick up as the seasongoes on, will they go through an Auburn 2008 type of year? Read more »
Monday Night Football is so much cooler when its A.) college football and B.) a doubleheader.
We’ll review the first week later as, technically, it’s not over yet. Instead, some briefs words on tonight.
I love this Cincy-Rutgers matchup. It’s last year’s Big East Champ vs this year’s predicted Big East Champ. Rutgers has become a bit of a darling this offseason and I’ve seen plenty of people tabbing them for the Big East’s BCS bid. That goal takes a serious hit with a home loss to the current belt holder. The winner tonight will lord a big tie breaking chip over the loser for the rest of the season.
We also know that many people are backing Rutgers hard at the window. Their Las Vegas O/U total for the regular season was 8 wins. Everybody is on Rutgers, so much so that the odds grew all summer long until the Knights were 1/3 to hit the Over. You need to wager 300 to win 100. A lot of folks are investing a larger sum of money than usual for just the standard reward in this case. A loss by Rutgers tonight makes that risk shakier.
As for the Bearcats, if they weren’t replacing 10 starters on defense, I could see them being the Big East favorite. They do have most of their offensive personnel back. If new faces on defense can get through without too many growing pains, the Bearcats will probably still be in the mix. But, they have to win with their offense this year, something they didnt need to do in recent seasons with that now departed defensive core. We’ll see how far they along they are in that transition tonight.
As for the night cap, how can anyone call themselves a college football fan and not be fired up with the Canes and Noles tee it up? Talent, bravado and hate will all be on display. This rivalry remains bitter, even if the national stakes are not on the table. However, I do think the results of this weekend have made this game a bit more relevant.
Everyone has talked about Miami’s brutal first leg. But after watching Virginia Tech and Oklahoma this weekend get thouroughly outclassed in the trenches has already made me feel more bullish about the Canes chances to survive it. Watch Miami’s defensive front and point of attack tonight. This is the best, young defensive line out there. If they standout tonight against FSU, you have to think they have a good chance of doing what Bama and BYU did to the Hokies and Sooners offensvie lines. Other than Mount Cody, I would not trade anyone in the Canes rotation up front on defense for anyone in Bama or BYU’s group.
It’s still a tough schedule. A week ago, I would have suggested the Canes would be doing great just to sneak out of their first four (they also host GTech) with a split. Now I think they have a good puncher’s chance at 3-1, especially if they win tonight against the Noles. Friday, I would have laughed at the notion of them beating OU, even at home. Now, without Bradford, I almost expect it, especially if Miami looks good tonight. Getting off the a 3-1 start would put the currently unranked Canes probably around the 15 spot after the first weekend of October. If they keep winning from there, they’ll be in the top 10 by November. After their first four games, the Canes will be favored in seven of their final eight games. So it they come out this first leg standing, then look out and get your fatigues ready. Read more »
jamie mac @ MGoBlog
