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HEY GUYS...I'M SO SORRY FOR NOT HAVING TIME TO POST NFL THIS WEEKEND...WENT AN AMAZING 6-1. WELL ANYWAYS HERE;S MY ONLY SELECTION FOR TONIGHT.
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AUBURN (4 - 0) at S CAROLINA (3 - 1)
Week 5 Thursday, 9/28/2006 7:30 PM
vs. 
Analysis
Yes I am aware that South Carolina will be fired up; probably open strong with some defensive stops, spitting out “revenge”…for 41 point loss at the hands of this Auburn team last season 48-7! But I cannot ignore the fact that on paper, this seems like pretty much a no-contest, and sometimes, what seems like a no-contest really is a no-contest. Auburn (4-0 SU & 3-1 ATS) will lean on its mammoth offensive line and a deep backfield and junior QB Brandon Cox (15 touchdowns, 8 interceptions in 2005). No. 3 Auburn had a dominating defensive performance in a 7-3 win over sixth-ranked LSU, before taking it easy last week. After a slow start, the Tigers managed to get their offense going a little bit, armed with a lot of backup players, and pushed aside the pesky Buffalo for a 38-7 victory. With starting running back Kenny Irons held out of the game, the offensive plan was aimed at leaning on the running game and using a lot of players. The Tigers led just 10-0 at halftime. The Auburn defense is outstanding up front and should have little trouble stopping a nearly non-existent South Carolina running game (81 and 35 yards rushing in its two SEC games). Auburn out gained Washington State 484-274, gaining 293 yards on the ground without a turnover. As mentioned above, Auburn’s star tailback Kenny Irons sat out of last weeks game. Well he was not the only one as their QB Brandon Cox also sat out that game and both should be primed and ready for this nationally televised contest.
Meanwhile, South Carolina, (3-1 SU & 2-1 ATS) are not playing the kind of dazzling offense Steve Spurrier would like, averaging 21 just points per game. A problem here is that South Carolina is allowing 176 yards rushing per game, and that's Auburn's strength. Wofford ran for 290 yards and Georgia had 198. Last year's loss was the second-worst loss of his 17-year college career for Steve Spurrier. One good thing is that last year quarterback Syvelle Newton didn't play, so Spurrier was forced to start Antonio Heffner, his first career start! This time, Newton will start. He's elusive, and will test a Tigers’ defense ranked second in the SEC with 13 sacks in four games. Spurrier said blown assignments are to be expected with an inexperienced Gamecock line with two freshman starters, right guard Garrett Anderson and left tackle Hutch Eckerson. That could pose big problems, so it will be up to the South Carolina defense to try and keep them in it. Again, don’t be all that concerned here when South Carolina comes out strong on defense. Just wait for the game to progress as Auburn’s talented offensive front and OC Al Borges’ creative play calling will wear down an average South Carolina defense in the second half. On offense, South Carolina does not have a quarterback that can play and succeed against a defense of this level, and/or counter what an offense like Auburn's can do. South Carolina was extremely lucky last season to be on the right side of a lot of good fortune created by their defense. Offensively, they logged the fewest plays in the nation -- that's what happens when a ''down'' offense plays against SEC defenses. Even against Mississippi State to begin this season, South Carolina logged only 55 offensive plays and against Georgia, only 56. They got really lucky to cover against Mississippi State and they got shut out by Georgia.
From a technical standpoint, Auburn is dominant. First, South Carolina Steve Spurrier is only 6-9 ATS at home for South Carolina, while Auburn is an impressive 7-2 ATS its their last 9 road games. Moreover, Auburn has dominated SEC teams over the past two-plus years. The Tigers are 18-1 SU in conference play and are 15-3 ATS over that span, The Gamecocks are averaging less than eight points a game against lined competition this fall and are a woeful 1-16 ATS in their last 17 games scoring 14 or less. One last item to consider is the following. Auburns melancholy performance against Buffalo last weeks adds some significant value to this line. As mentioned above, Auburn rested many players and by playing basically a "scrimmage" last week vs. Buffalo, missing the spread by just -11 points give the perception that Auburn was an overvalued team. Meanwhile, Spurrier opened up his offense against outclassed Florida Atlantic last Saturday, beating the spread by +9 points…Undervalued! Sorry Mr. Linesmaker were much smarter then that. Lay it!
Verdict: Auburn 38, So Carolina 7
OPINION SELECTION ON AUBURN -13.5
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AUBURN (4 - 0) at S CAROLINA (3 - 1)
Week 5 Thursday, 9/28/2006 7:30 PM
vs. Analysis
Yes I am aware that South Carolina will be fired up; probably open strong with some defensive stops, spitting out “revenge”…for 41 point loss at the hands of this Auburn team last season 48-7! But I cannot ignore the fact that on paper, this seems like pretty much a no-contest, and sometimes, what seems like a no-contest really is a no-contest. Auburn (4-0 SU & 3-1 ATS) will lean on its mammoth offensive line and a deep backfield and junior QB Brandon Cox (15 touchdowns, 8 interceptions in 2005). No. 3 Auburn had a dominating defensive performance in a 7-3 win over sixth-ranked LSU, before taking it easy last week. After a slow start, the Tigers managed to get their offense going a little bit, armed with a lot of backup players, and pushed aside the pesky Buffalo for a 38-7 victory. With starting running back Kenny Irons held out of the game, the offensive plan was aimed at leaning on the running game and using a lot of players. The Tigers led just 10-0 at halftime. The Auburn defense is outstanding up front and should have little trouble stopping a nearly non-existent South Carolina running game (81 and 35 yards rushing in its two SEC games). Auburn out gained Washington State 484-274, gaining 293 yards on the ground without a turnover. As mentioned above, Auburn’s star tailback Kenny Irons sat out of last weeks game. Well he was not the only one as their QB Brandon Cox also sat out that game and both should be primed and ready for this nationally televised contest.
Meanwhile, South Carolina, (3-1 SU & 2-1 ATS) are not playing the kind of dazzling offense Steve Spurrier would like, averaging 21 just points per game. A problem here is that South Carolina is allowing 176 yards rushing per game, and that's Auburn's strength. Wofford ran for 290 yards and Georgia had 198. Last year's loss was the second-worst loss of his 17-year college career for Steve Spurrier. One good thing is that last year quarterback Syvelle Newton didn't play, so Spurrier was forced to start Antonio Heffner, his first career start! This time, Newton will start. He's elusive, and will test a Tigers’ defense ranked second in the SEC with 13 sacks in four games. Spurrier said blown assignments are to be expected with an inexperienced Gamecock line with two freshman starters, right guard Garrett Anderson and left tackle Hutch Eckerson. That could pose big problems, so it will be up to the South Carolina defense to try and keep them in it. Again, don’t be all that concerned here when South Carolina comes out strong on defense. Just wait for the game to progress as Auburn’s talented offensive front and OC Al Borges’ creative play calling will wear down an average South Carolina defense in the second half. On offense, South Carolina does not have a quarterback that can play and succeed against a defense of this level, and/or counter what an offense like Auburn's can do. South Carolina was extremely lucky last season to be on the right side of a lot of good fortune created by their defense. Offensively, they logged the fewest plays in the nation -- that's what happens when a ''down'' offense plays against SEC defenses. Even against Mississippi State to begin this season, South Carolina logged only 55 offensive plays and against Georgia, only 56. They got really lucky to cover against Mississippi State and they got shut out by Georgia.
From a technical standpoint, Auburn is dominant. First, South Carolina Steve Spurrier is only 6-9 ATS at home for South Carolina, while Auburn is an impressive 7-2 ATS its their last 9 road games. Moreover, Auburn has dominated SEC teams over the past two-plus years. The Tigers are 18-1 SU in conference play and are 15-3 ATS over that span, The Gamecocks are averaging less than eight points a game against lined competition this fall and are a woeful 1-16 ATS in their last 17 games scoring 14 or less. One last item to consider is the following. Auburns melancholy performance against Buffalo last weeks adds some significant value to this line. As mentioned above, Auburn rested many players and by playing basically a "scrimmage" last week vs. Buffalo, missing the spread by just -11 points give the perception that Auburn was an overvalued team. Meanwhile, Spurrier opened up his offense against outclassed Florida Atlantic last Saturday, beating the spread by +9 points…Undervalued! Sorry Mr. Linesmaker were much smarter then that. Lay it!
Verdict: Auburn 38, So Carolina 7
OPINION SELECTION ON AUBURN -13.5
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