Fearless Week 2 predictions
Decent weekend leading up to the big game between USC and Ohio State. I most am looking forward to the Miami-Florida game -- I think both need to show what they have to offer (be it one for an ACC title, the other for a national title).
I also want to see BYU and Washington. The game is a pick 'em, but I think BYU can really make some things happen. I'd also stay away from a lot of the big lines that were so enticing last weekend. --Abramson
South Carolina (-9.5) at Vanderbilt
Abramson: I might be the only person in the New York area watching this great Thursday night matchup. I'll take Vandy to cover, but I like South Carolina to win a close one (I'm not sure how much I like it...), assuming the Gamecocks take care of the ball.
Rose: I like Vanderbilt in this one to cover and win the game. The quarterback situation for the Gamecocks scares me. And I agree with Adam -- South Carolina absolutely must take care of the ball, which I don't think they will on the road. A late turnover by South Carolina puts Vandy in position to win it.
Oregon State at Penn State (-15)
Abramson: Tricky line. Oregon State fell flat against Stanford and gave up the big play on the ground. Penn State has that ability with a number of weapons, including Daryll Clark. I'll take the Lions to cover.
Rose: I like Penn State to win the game, something in the neighborhood of 34-21. Penn State won't cover. The Nittany Lions have a lot of talent on offense and should be able to run on the Oregon State defense. My one concern is Penn State's pass coverage. The Beavers can do damage with their passing attack. Penn State had a few breakdowns in pass coverage last week against Coastal Carolina.
Miami at Florida (-21)
Abramson: Because this game is in primetime, people will see why I think Miami can make a legit ACC title run in a down year. I like the Gators to win, but it'll be closer than the 21 points. Let's keep a close eye on new starting QB Robert Marve (suspended last week). Expect to see a healthy dose of Jacory Harris running the ball, as well.
Rose: Florida will win this one in a blowout. I'm going with the Gators, 45-14. I just don't think the Hurricanes can stay with Tim Tebow and Co. Plus, I really like the Florida defense.
BYU at Washington
Abramson: I can't believe this game is a pick 'em. Max Hall is going to light up Ty Willingham's defense. Cougars by double digits.
Rose: I'm with Adam. BYU wins this one easily, at least by three touchdowns.
Mississippi at Wake Forest (-8)
Abramson: Right now Wake Forest is looking like the safe pick of the downtrodden conference. Riley Skinner has a tougher test this week and will cruise past the Rebels.
Rose: Wake Forest is definitely flying under the radar, both in the ACC and nationally. Skinner will be impressive and the Demon Deacons will win by double digits.
Rice at Memphis (-3)
Abramson: Chase Clement and Jarett Dillard can team up for some serious points and I'm not sure the Tigers can keep up with what Rice can do on offense.
Rose: Yes, Rice can score. So that's my pick.
Georgia Tech at Boston College (-7.5)
Abramson: I'm willing to guess that BC has no idea what new coach Paul Johnson has up his sleeve. I like GT to win this one on the road.
Rose: Boston College is always a tough place to play, so I can understand the Eagles being favored by a touchdown. But I think Georgia Tech wins a close one on the road.
West Virginia (-9) at East Carolina
Abramson: I was rather impressed with Skip Holtz's Pirates, but I think West Virginia's offense will be a complete change from what Virginia Tech offered last week and it will leave ECU in shell shock.
Rose: I don't think East Carolina can do it again. Pat White was so impressive last week and I think he continues this week as the Mountaineers win by two touchdowns.
Texas A&M (-3) at New Mexico
Abramson: Tough game to pick. Is Texas A&M as bad as they played last week? Is New Mexico as bad as they looked last week against TCU? That's more likely, so, despite letting me down time and time again, I'll take Texas A&M to win with a little defense and a lot of Mike Goodson (don't bother to pass, Mike Sherman).
Rose: Neither team looked good last week. But I believe Texas A&M is the better team and will win by at least seven points.
Minnesota at Bowling Green (-4.5)
Abramson: I'll take Bowling Green and quarterback Tyler Sheehan to be one of this year's feel good stories.
Rose: Bowling Green played well last week against Pittsburgh. There's no way I see Bowling Green losing to Minnesota at home. Bowling Green by 14.
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Comments (15)
Its great how this is a new york paper and you don't even write about a new york team that could be the feel good story of the year in Buffalo. They had a huge win last week and a win at Pittsburgh should make them a legitimate candidate for a bowl game. What are you thoughts?
Hey, Bulls..let them win this week, and then ask the question. You understand, that Buffalo is probably closer to Pittsburgh, than Long Island. Heck, we know it is closer to Toronto than Long Island. Would like to see them win, but that whole "New York" paper thing, is a bad argument. Why don't Sacramento papers cover teams in LA?
Eh I know you are right.. i just know if it was Syracuse that had the bright future they would be getting coverage.
1) Go Bulls! Dad is a UB alum
2) Adam, where are you seeing BYU-Washington as a pick'em? Sportsbook.com has BYU -9
BullsFan--Let's wait and see on the Bulls.
Jeremy -- I guess there's an obvious mistake where I get my lines. I still like BYU -9. Mike will be in the office later. I'll ask him.
Pittsburgh to Buffalo = four (4) hours
Buffalo to Long Island = eight (8) hours
Heck Pittsburgh to Buffalo is only 7.5 hours.
Having said that, GO BUFFALO, BEAT PITT!!!! :-)
Back to the games of the week... is it sacrilege to beat against your own team? Well that's exactly what I'm going to do.
Last week I picked ECU in their battle with VT. This week, IMHO, ECU matches up even better against WVU.
ECU has a couple of extremely good defensive ends. Those ends can bottle up the outside running game, forcing Devine and White between the tackles. Hanna will cause the game to be played under very wet slippery conditions, limiting the passing game.
This will force WVU to play a tough grinding "up the middle" ground game. Not WVU's forte. Zack Hulce and Terrence Kerns have been in coach Stewarts doghouse. Kerns didn't even dress for 'Nova. If WVU is going to beat ECU Jeff Mullins will need some production from his only RB's over 5'8"
WVU in a squeeker 13-10
Thanks for the backup there, B&G...
As for your Syracuse comment, Bulls...you seem to forget the fact that Syracuse had about a 75 year head start to build up a fan base on LI. If there were enough LI kids playing for UB, you would see it. You would certainly see it before you saw any Islander related material. Oops, sorry wrong blog for that comment (Sorry, Adam & Mike, cheap shot, I know at one of your colleagues but I could not resist).
No problem Paul, of course I meant to say Pitt-LI was 7.5 hours.
Anyway, after going two for two last week, I was trying to come up with a second bet for this week.
Here at 11:59 I finally found it. GT +6.5 over BC.
Coach Paul Johnson himself is worth a TD.
I hate being right.
ECU leads WVU 17-3 at the half.
WVU has NO game up the middle.
On a more optimistic note, GT over BC. To be honest I can't take to much credit for calling that, who didn't see that coming?
Wisc, OSU and Michigan underwhelmed.
Paul, as much as I hate to admit it, you're right:
1) SEC
2) Big 12
3) Pac-10
Everyone else.
B&G, well, as they said at the beginning of the broadcast, WVU is starting a lot of freshmen & sophomores, and they are clearly the best team in the conference. Which means a clearly down year for the Big East. The ACC has long been awful in football, and the great theft of Miami & BC has not exactly paid the dividends they thought it would. And you still have to show me how the Big 12 is better than the Pac-10. As I said earlier in the week, it might be, but one week into the season is too early to tell.
Paul,
There's not much separation in my mind between the Big 12 and the Pac-10. Certainly the Pac-10 is better at the top w/ USC. I'm just of the opinion that when you get to 3-4-5, the Big 12 is a bit deeper than the Pac-10.
Either way, anyone arguing for the Big Ten or Big East needs to get their head examined.
I'm pulling for USC to totally destroy OSU next week.
I just hope my Mountaineers can make a game of it in the next half.
Hey, btw, I'm headed to NM next week. Any suggestions of what I should do when visiting your neighbor?
I'm sick... for the last nine (9) months I've been excited about the college football season. I feel as though I've been kicked in the gut.
Congrats to ECU, if they aren't a Top 20 team... well...
B&G, I have not been lived in AZ since 1990. I live on LI...
As for NM, I lived there for a year, just before I moved back here. What part of NM are you going to, it is a very interesting state. I liked it a lot...
Can't get down about your 'neers...every team, has down cycles. Except maybe USC. WV lost a lot of great talent last year. Especially one of my favorite players to come out of college in a while, Mr. Schmidt. That dude was nasty.
Paul,
I didn't realize you were on LI. Maybe sometime those of us here on the island should get together and and watch a game.
I'm headed into ABQ on Sat, up to Taos on Monday, checking out of Taos Wednesday, then two days of ?????? before flying back to NY Saturday morning. I figured maybe we'd drive up to the Farmington/Navajo lake area or just spend Thursday-Friday in Santa Fe. Not sure. Looking for suggestions.
ABQ is really nice, as is the Farmington area. (laughing) They would not let me in Santa Fe, I am not blue blood...and I thought that Carlsbad was really nice, probably the greenest part of the state, but it is all the way on the opposite side of the state. I lived in Alamogorodo for a year and liked it, so...I did go all over the stae the year I was there. As for getting together, I am down with it...wife works weekends, but we can figure something out.