Horned Frogs vs Jayhawks NCAA Football Spread/Handicapping
The TCU Horned Frogs made a big step up when they entered the Big 12. Having said that, there is still one “layup” in the Big 12 right now and that is the Kansas Jayhawks.
The TCU Horned Frogs made a big step up when they entered the Big 12. Having said that, there is still one “layup” in the Big 12 right now and that is the Kansas Jayhawks.
Its a new era in Houston. No more Case Keenum and no more Kevin Sumlin. Hopefully not no more victories. They are off to an 0-2 start including a bad opening game against Texas State in which the Cougars scored just 13 points.
The Louisville Cardinals are considered the cream of the crop in the Big East, but the Cardinals are hoping to accomplish even bigger things this year. Louisville has started the season off with two wins, but this will be their biggest test of the season.
This was expected to be a meeting of two top ten teams, but it didn’t work out the way it was planned. Arkansas lost as a 30-point home favorite against Louisiana-Monroe last weekend. John L. Smith will try to rally the troops this weekend, but they’ll face a very stiff test.
When WSU (1-1) brought in Mike Leach many thought the Cougars would have a high powered offense like Leach’s Texas Tech had, but after only 2 games the Cougars only rank 107th in the nation in points per game.
Utah State should be feeling as about as good as could be coming into this tough road matchup. Last week, in a rare nationally televised game, they beat Utah in overtime. They hadn’t beaten the Utes in some time and will look to carry that momentum into Madison.
Oklahoma State was a double-digit favorite in Arizona last week, but the Cowboys were blasted by the Wildcats.
I am not sure the Fighting Irish deserve that #19 ranking after wins over Navy and Purdue, the latter a nail-biter at home.
It has been a pretty ugly start for Idaho. First they lose to FCS Eastern Washington (at home) while scoring just 3 points. Things were a little better last week as they hung in there on the road against Bowling Green losing by just 8.
In one of the Saturday night games this week, the home team’s defense is going to get a serious test in Week 2. The Oklahoma State Cowboys bring their high-powered attack to southern Arizona to square off against the Wildcats in the desert heat.
#19 OSU Cowboys at Arizona Wildcats
Saturday, Sept. 8, 2012, 10:30 pm EST
Venue: Arizona Stadium, Tucson AZ
Gambling Odds from Sportsbook.com:
Spread: Ok. St. -10.5, Arizona +10.5
MoneyLine: Ok. St. -385, Arizona +325
Over/Under: 70.5
Frankly, things look to be breaking pretty well in the Cowboys’ favor.
Arizona just narrowly edged out Toledo last week, winning 24-17 in OT. Yes, this is against the MAC’s Toledo Rockets in Arizona’s season opener. Clearly, it wasn’t a very convincing win. Quarterback Matt Scott had a big day, tossing for nearly 400 yards, but the Oklahoma State secondary won’t be as liable to yield big gainers as Toledo was.
The Cowboys’ offense seems to have become more of a scheme-specific success. In recent seasons, both QB Zac Robinson and Brandon Weeden have excelled in a high-powered spread attack.
Now, Ok. State hopes it can be redshirt freshman J.W. Walsh that carries the torch. If last week is any indication, things will be just fine in Stillwater – the Cowboys crushed FCS Savannah State 84-0, the most thorough drubbing of the college football slate in Week 1.
Running back Joseph Randle will be a key piece for the Cowboys in 2012; he and sophomore Desmond Roland both put up 100+ rushing yards and multiple TDs in just single-digit carries in a laugher. Without a prominent passer established, the Cowboys game-plan might have more emphasis on the run in ’12, which shouldn’t slow them down one bit. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
For Arizona to nab an upset at home, Scott must air the ball out to talented WR Dan Buckner, a Texas transfer. Let’s also not forget that the Wildcats are breaking in the polarizing Rich Rodriguez as head coach. Even though Rich-Rod crashed and burned at Michigan, the Wildcats are hoping he can have more success in a program with less scrutiny.
Still, it seems that from a defensive perspective, if Oklahoma State can be anything more balanced than an offensive slot machine, it will not only lay the hurt on Arizona this week, but have a successful 2012 campaign also.
The Cowboys have a few players on “D” – CB Brodrick Brown, LB Shaun Lewis and DL Nigel Nicholas come to mind – but Arizona should still be able to drop some points on the visitors.
Expect Oklahoma State to win what will be a high-scoring contest, though that doesn’t necessarily mean that the finished product will be close.
The marching bands will need a lot of air in their collective lungs, because there’s going to be some touchdowns scored in this game.
#19 Oklahoma State vs. Arizona Score Prediction: Ok. St. 49, Arizona 30
The conference slate gets started right off the hop for the Georgia Bulldogs and the Missouri Tigers. The ‘Dawgs will see what one of the SEC newcomers brings to the table nice and early in the season.
I have to admit that I am bullish on Miami this season. I didn’t get to see a ton of their opener against Boston College but they won in hostile territory and that is what this program needs wins…they just need to get their confidence back – the swagger.
This game represents an excellent Week 2 match-up in college football. Over the past couple seasons under head coach Bo Pelini, Nebraska has been a very good football program that hasn’t quite been able to get over the hump.
The FCS team from Louisiana’s African-American institution will travel west to the Dallas-Fort Worth area to fight the heat; not only from the blistering sun this time of year but from an upstart ranked team looking to prove to everyone they belong in the Big 12.
It is sort of amusing to call the Hogs playing in Little Rock a “neutral site”, though it’s technically correct. Arkansas leaves the familiar confines of Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville to travel down the I40 to the state capital.
Oklahoma looked rather unimpressive in a 24-7 victory over UTEP last week; the Sooners get a chance to re-focus and crush an FCS opponent in Florida A&M in Week 2.