This week in the NCAA - Week 1

Last year's record on TBR posted picks: 20-17. Not great, but no one went to the poor house either. Here's to a better season in '03.
As always, add 'em if ya got 'em. I will take winners from anyone.

BYU (-3.5) - Ga Tech wants to start a freshman QB on the road in Game 1. They have suspensions all over the place and BYU gets a truckload of people back on a D that couldn't be any worse than it was last year. Plus, they stole New Mexico's D coordinator and that guy is good. If I remember correctly, the BYU game last year was the game where Hollings was lost for the season running out the clock for Tech while having a 2 TD lead. The football gods have punished Tech since - for not taking Hollings out - and will continue to do so here.


Wisconsin (-3) at WVU - Wiscy went up 34-3 on WVU at home last year and coasted to a win with a worse team than they have now. Am I worried about the fact that Wiscy is starting the season at a rotten place like WVU? Sure. But I had this game rated at better than a TD on the side of Wisconsin. WVU lost 6/7 starters on D and numerous OL. The Badgers return a track team on offense.


Auburn (-3.5/4) hosting Southern California - 6 weeks from now I might have taken USC in this game. Not in the opener though. These teams will run, run and run some more. I'm tempted to play under the total instead and root for both D's, but I'm going ahead and taking Auburn instead at home. If it turns out that Auburn has been sitting around reading their press clippings all summer and they lay an egg, I am gonna be piseed.


Mizzou (-3.5) over Illinois at Kansas City - Not much D in this game. The Mizzou QB - Smith - went for something like 800 total yards in this game last year. I don't see why this year will be any better. Lots of offense in this game.


Colorado St. (-2) over Colorado in Denver - This game always means more to Colorado St. This year they probably have as much talent as the Buffs too.


Kansas St. (-37) - If I am lucky, this will be covered early in the third so I can go to bed. K St will score 60+ in this game. That should be enough.

One other thing... I would not bet on UGA if my life depended on it at this point. Man, that game looks/smells like a stinker. I just don't have the stones to take Clemson either.

That's it. Good luck. I'm just glad football season is finally here.

 

i'm hearing that maryland is ripe for an upset tonight.

also, fsu is a big unknown at this point. either the defense is that good, or the offense is that bad. a lot will depend on rix and his decision-making.

lots of depth on the defense. hardly any seniors on either side of the ball. none that will be missed next season. if this is a 3-loss season, look out next year.

 

I passed on Maryland because I am scared of the upset too. The Huskies beat Wake last year so I don't just expect them to play dead for Maryland. Plus Maryland is missing Perry (RB), Suter (WR/KR), two linemen, and McBrien (QB) is questionable but will play. Throw in the fact that Maryland looked awful in their opener last year (granted, it was ND but MD should not have looked THAT bad) and you get deeper into doubt. Not a situation where I wanted to lay the 8.5/9.

I was VERRRY tempted by UNC because I agree with you that FSU is untested and might actually be looking ahead. But I just did not have the stones to pull the trigger on a bunch of untested UNC kids either - I don't care HOW many starters they have coming back.

 

You did take Duke didn't you?

 

fsu players are talking about this as the "payback" game for the 2001 game. they say that this has been their focus throughout practices.

 

I think you will win that bet with Dave. Especially if UVA has been reading press clippings all summer. But I just couldn't bring myself to take Duke either.

 

maryland down 10-7.

 

Georgia tech will win. Ball will throw for 4 TD's.

 

Forgot to put they're playing Troy State. I sure hope the defense comes to play this time!! Troy State shouldn't be able to put up as much as Cal did against us. I'm hoping for a high scoring game as well, but we'll have to wait and see.

And I'm glad football season is finally here as well!

 

i'm hearing that maryland is ripe for an upset tonight


called taht one...even if they do squeak a win out in OT