The general feeling about Maryland is that the Terrapins are a “good” 1-1, as they took down Miami in Week 1 and gave West Virginia a tough run in Week 2. If Maryland wants to push Florida State for the ACC crown, though, it has to start a winning streak over its next few games. Can the Terps handle Temple at home this week?
After losing to LSU in their opener, the Ducks offense found its mojo and whopped its next two lesser foes into submission, outscoring them 125-27, but will now face its toughest opponent so far, as they head to Tucson to tangle with an Arizona Wildcats who have been pounded by a pair of top-10 teams.
Tulsa may be just 1-2 but they should feel no shame in being rolled by their in-state rivals Oklahoma and Oklahoma State. The task is no easier this week as they travel to Boise to take on yet another top 10 team – on the Smurf Turf where the Broncos almost never lose.
It is hard to tell right now whether UCF’s loss to FIU last week will turn into the category of “a good loss”. They were on the road and lost by only a TD (they gave up a offensive TD with 28 seconds left in the half) to a team that is really hot right now and just might win their league.
Lavell Edwards Stadium – Provo, Utah
Friday September 23 -Moneyline: BYU -150, UCF +130
Spread (ATS): BYU -3
Over/Under: 43
Odds courtesy of 5Dimes
ATS Stats Report
What is easy to tell is that they might have beaten themselves with their 10 penalties and unfortunate turnovers. The offense didn’t have a great game but the defense was pretty tight, limiting the dymanic T.Y. Hilton to just 36 yards from scrimmage before he came out of the game.
UCF won the time of possession battle against FIU, grinding away with a running game that was not having much success. They were able to keep that strategy because the game remained close but normally they do a better job than 3 yards per carry. Their elusive QB Jeff Godfrey needs to do a better job being more decisive. He is a run threat but got sacked 8 times. Combined with the penalties there were just too many negative yards plays to get anything going
UCF is a good team and they should be able to rebound against BYU, who has not looked very impressive in the early part of the season. These teams have never played so it is kind of a weird game to get a feel for. UCF is a long way from home and the spread is saying these teams are pretty close talent wise. A straight up win is definitely a possibility.
I am still in shock about BYU’s performance against rival Utah last week. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
You never want to lose 54-10, but doing so against a hated rival at home, that is just ridiculous. The even uglier part is that they were winning 10-7 before the wheels came off. You want to think they can bounce back because they are a veteran team who only lost by a point at Texas the week before but sometimes when you lose that badly it can linger a bit. Their mindset for this one is in doubt.
I had high hopes for BYU this season. Conference affiliation, or lack there of aside, they had a lot of talent coming back and an emerging star at QB – plus good coaching. You can look at the Utah game as an anomaly given that they lost 6 fumbles, but they didn’t look good against a weak Ole Miss team or against Texas either. This team just seems to look slow this year. They don’t appear to have any playmakers to fear which makes precision all the more important – and they don’t have it right now.
Whenever you see a three point spread for the home team it is interesting because it usually means the teams are about even. This doesn’t appear to be the case based on what we have seen thus far this season. BYU has struggled on offense averaging just 13ppg. Meanwhile the UCF defense has been solid as usual giving up just 6ppg.
Which ever unit wins the battle should held their team win the game…the smart money seems to be backing UCF
ATS Pick: UCF +3
Over/Under Pick: Over
Score Prediction: UCF 28 – BYU 20
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Miami is one of the speediest teams in the nation and they are coming off a big upset win, which really helps their BCS chances. Kansas State is 2-0, but they have played a couple of cream puffs and looked less than impressive beating one of them in a 10-7 home win vs. Eastern Kentucky.
The Cowboys (3-0) have beaten the Aggies (2-0) 3 straight times, but A&M is favored in this game that may be a barnburner with each team ranking in the top 20 in points scored per game. Texas A&M is a 4.5-point home favorite with a total of 70, yes 70!
Baylor (2-0) is looking for their first 3-0 start in 6 years and they have a Heisman hopeful under center facing a Rice team that does not have a dynamic offense, but is coming off a big upset over a Big 12 team in their last game. NCAAF lines have Baylor as a big 20.5-point home favorite in this game with a total of 67.
The odds makers sharpened their pencils for the second week in a row as the favorites went 8-7-1 against the spread. The home team had the edge at 10-6 ATS and the total went ‘over’ in 11 of the 16 games. We took a step backwards in Week 2 and are now 2-3-1 on our top picks.
Before falling to the Dodgers on Tuesday night, the San Francisco Giants had rattled off eight straight victories, just enough to keep them alive in the National League West hunt.
Week 3 of the NFL season is upon us and the Hot just keep getting Hotter while the Not Hot keep getting cooler. The trend toward scoring in the game cannot be denied and it is nice to see more Hot than Not this year in the NFL.
The Tar Heels are a perfect 3-0 heading into their first road game of the season. They are already 1-0 in conference play so if they can win this one they will have a serious leg up on the rest of the Coastal Division.
Date/Time: September 24, 2011, 9pm ET/6pm PT
Venue: Pepsi Center, Denver, Colorado, United States
Broadcast: Pay-per-view
Betting: Bet on UFC 135 at BetOnline.com
Main card:
Jon Jones (13-1): -550
Quinton “Rampage” Jackson (32-8): +400
What a main event! Jon Jones is an absolute nightmare matchup for Rampage in this one. Jones is big, athletic, long, quick, powerful and dynamic while Rampage is the same old one dimensional standup fighter. Expect Jones to easily dodge any of the telegraphed strikes thrown by Rampage and for the youngster to school the veteran in this one. Jones has too many tools and is too young and hungry for Rampage to have a chance. It will be exciting and it will end with a KO.
Pick: Jon Jones -550
Matt Hughes (45-8): +380
Josh Koscheck (17-5): -480
In a battle of legend vs. “wannabe legend“, Matt Hughes will attempt to slow Josh Koschek’s reassertion up the Welterweight ladder. Both men are very well versed, well rounded and can end this fight anywhere, anytime. I like the experience of Hughes and his relentless takedown game to overpower Kos. Hughes`s legacy is on the line here – something that he takes very seriously. In a close fight, take the veteran to prevail in a huge upset.
Pick: Matt Hughes +380
Rob Broughton (15-5-1): +300
Travis Browne (11-0-1): -400
In a Heavyweight clash of heavy handed strikers, one undefeated streak will end. Rob Broughton has won five straight fights while Travis Browne has never tasted defeat. I like Browne as the better technical striker in this one – a KO is almost certain!
Pick: Travis Browne -400
Nate Diaz (13-7): -260
Takanori Gomi (32-7, 1 NC): +200
A classic `clash of styles’ is featured in the Diaz/Gomi bout. Diaz is a submission fighter while Gomi prefers to keep the fight standing. With a lack of striking prowess, Diaz will have a difficult time closing the ground on the heavy handed Gomi. I like Gomi to catch Diaz in the second round ending the fight with a highlight reel KO.
Pick: Takanori Gomi +200
Mark Hunt (6-7): +275
Ben Rothwell (31-7): -350
Ben Rothwell returns to the Octagon after a stint of relative inactivity against kick boxer Mark Hunt. Octagon Rust and the fact that Rothwell has had his issues in the past defending kicks will be the difference in this fight. In an exciting brawl, expect the kick boxer to come out on top.
Pick: Mark Hunt +275
Preliminary card:
Aaron Riley (30-12-1): +240
Tony Ferguson (11-2): -300
A once highly touted prospect Aaron Riley will try to get his career back in order when he takes on dangerous striker Tony Ferguson at UFC 135. Riley has been susceptible to heavy hands recently – Riley has lost 2 of his last 4 fights by KO. That plays into the devastating striking game of Ferguson unfortunately for Riley. [ad-3573245]
Pick: Tony Ferguson -300
Tim Boetsch (13-4): -170
Nick Ring (12-0): +140
Nick Ring puts a perfect record on the line against Tim Boetsch who is coming off a huge win over Kendall Grove. Expect Boetsch`s size (a natural Light Heavyweight fighting at Middleweight) to be too much in this one. In this fight, size does matter.
Pick: Time Boetsch -170
Ricardo Romero (11-2): +130
James Te Huna (12-5): -160
Both of these fighters will be looking to rebound after losses in their last fights. Te Huna has an awful time defending against submissions – 4 of his 5 losses have come by way of submission. Romero on the other hand is very well versed in submissions – 5 of his last 6 wins have come via tapout. Romero wins this fight easily by, you guessed it, submission.
Pick: Ricardo Romero +130
Cole Escovedo (17-7): +160
Takeya Mizugaki (14-6-2): -200
In Bantamweight action, two fighters in desperate need of a win do battle. Mizugaki is known as a bit of a grinder – not scared to go the distance in his fights. Expect much of the same in this one with Cole Escovedo`s serious lack of takedown defense being his Achilles heel once again.
Pick: Takeya Mizugaki -200
Junior Assuncao (13-4-0): -125
Eddie Yagin (15-4-1) -105
Junior Assuncao returns to the Octagon after four years away when he takes on highly touted Eddie Yagin in Featherweight action. Assuncao is a Black Belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu but he will have a hard time with Octagon rust and with the all around prowess of a confident and recently impressive Yagin. Yagin recently submitted former Bellator champion Joe Soto – that’s enough for me.
Pick: Eddie Yagin -105
Both Penn State and Eastern Michigan come into this game with a 2-1 record. Eastern Michigan beat two FCS opponents before falling 31-3 against Michigan last weekend. Penn State was beaten badly at home by Alabama, but they did bounce back with a hard fought win over Temple last week.
OK, Washington. I’m finally ready to take you seriously. For years under coach Bruce Boudreau, you’ve had the league’s most exciting offense. But, for years, you’ve failed to address glaring needs at goaltender and defense.
It will be Brady Hoke and the Michigan Wolverines against the team Hoke coached last season this weekend in Ann Arbor. Hoke did a great job with the Aztecs of San Diego State, and they are certainly not an opponent that Michigan should take lightly.
The Texas El Paso Miners will try and knock the South Florida Bulls from the ranks of the unbeaten when the two teams square-off this upcoming Saturday night in Tampa. The kick-off is slated for 7 p.m. and the game will be available on ESPN3.com.
