Service Plays (Monday)

[wayne1218]

Post or look for your Service Plays here

[wayne1218]

********* Predictions

East Carolina (0-0) at Cincinnati (0-0)
Monday, September 01, 2003

Latest Line: East Carolina +8.5 O/U: 56

GAME NOTES: The Cincinnati Bearcats begin their 116th season of football action on Labor Day when they take on the East Carolina Pirates in Conference- USA action from Nippert Stadium. The Pirates enter the 2003 season with a new head coach in John Thompson, who inherits a squad that finished a dismal 4-8 last season. The team lost all of its non-conference games, but did manage to finish a respectable 4-4 in the league. This year's team returns 13 starters, including several key players on offense. As for Cincinnati, it returns only 10 starters back from last year's team, which finished 7-7 overall and was co- champions of C-USA with a 6-2 mark. The title was only the second in the school's history and the first since 1964. With the co-championship came a berth in the New Orleans Bowl where the Bearcats were upset, 24-19 by Sun Belt champion North Texas. Cincinnati is the only team in Conference-USA history to finish in the top two, three seasons in a row (finishing second in both 2000 and '01), but a fourth season may not be likely with only a few key players returning. Today's game marks the 16th all-time meeting between the two schools with ECU holding a 12-3 advantage. In the last game of C-USA action last season, it was Cincinnati that defeated the Pirates, 42-26. However, the Bearcats are just 2-5 versus ECU in Cincinnati.

With a new head coach comes a much-needed new offensive scheme for the Pirates. Traditionally a passing team, ECU had the pieces to become a strong run team in 2003, but an injury to preseason All-Conference-USA tailback Art Brown had put a dapper on that. Brown rushed for 1,029 yards and 14 touchdowns last season, but injured his right knee in practice and will miss the season.

With his loss, junior Marvin Townes is slated to get the majority of the carries. Last year, Townes finished second on the team with 304 yards and two touchdowns. Taking over at quarterback will be junior Desmond Robinson. The junior is a mobile quarterback who will add a rushing element to the position.

He played in a few games last season, throwing for 250 yards and two interceptions. With an experienced offensive line and shorter passing game this season, Robinson should be able to limit his mistakes. As for the wideouts, the team lost its top two from a year ago, but four players with experience are back. Terrance Copper, an elusive receiver, caught 30 passes for 395 yards last season, while possession receiver Richard Hourigan grabbed 19 balls for 185 yards. Tight end Tutu Moye will also see more action after pulling down 16 passes for 185 yards a year ago.

With only five starters returning from last year's defensive unit, the Pirates appear to be in bad shape. However, in 2002 the defense ranked a pathetic 106th in the nation, so some new faces certainly could help. Up front the team returns only one starter in tackle Damne Duckett. The 6-7 300-pound Duckett made 45 stops last season, but wasn't able to record a sack. As for the linebackers, two solid performers are back in Chris Moore and Josh Chilsom.

Moore was one of the top freshman linebackers in the country last season, finishing with 72 tackles and 3.5 sacks, despite missing the final three games with an injury. As for Chilsom, he finished fourth on the team with 74 tackles and first with four sacks. The secondary welcomes back a pair of starters in strong safety Travis Heath and cornerback Reicko Jones. Heath, a hard hitter, made 45 tackles last season, while Jones made 43 stops and broke up six passes. Overall, this defensive unit has a lot of work to do if it hopes to improve on the 445.7 ypg of total offense it allowed in 2002.

In 2002, Cincinnati racked up nearly 400 total yards per game, ranking the squad 33rd in the nation in total offense. This season the team returns only a few key players from a year ago, but one of them is Second Team All-Conference quarterback Gino Guidugli. A solid passer, Guidugli threw for a conference- best 3,543 yards and 22 touchdowns. However, he was also picked off 21 times, including five times against North Texas in the New Orleans Bowl. Guidugli will be throwing to a whole new corps of wideouts, as Cincy's top four receivers from a year ago have departed. Filling in this year will be former backup quarterback George Murray II, who caught 26 passes for 278 yards last season. Another void that needs to be filled is at the tailback spot as the departure of DeMarco McCleskey, who led the team last year with 1,361 yards and 15 touchdowns, has left a huge void. Richard Hall, his backup last season, will assume the starting tailback position after rushing for 264 yards and three touchdowns last season. Hall has good speed and with three starters returning on the offensive line he may be ready to become a star in C-USA.

With the 21st-ranked defense in the nation last season, the Bearcats had the ability to stop teams at will. This year may be a different story as the team is only returning five starters from a unit that allowed just 318.1 total ypg last season. Anchoring the defensive line will be Trent Cole, who was an undersized tackle last season. He will now move to his natural spot on the outside where he can utilize his strength and quickness. Despite playing out of position last season, Cole was still able to make 87 tackles, five sacks and post and 12 TFLs. Cole will have to fill the shoes of the departed two- time All-Conference pick Antwan Peek, who led the Bearcats in '02 with 100 tackles, 15 TFLs and six sacks. Leading the linebacking corps will be Jamar Enzor, who made 91 tackles and 4.5 sacks last season. The group also returns outside linebacker Jason Russell and Tyjuan Hagler. The two combined for 137 tackles, including 26 for losses. In the secondary, two quality starters return in strong safety Doug Monaghan and cornerback Zach Norton. Monaghan, who recorded 101 tackles in his freshman year, made 88 stops last season.

Norton is the team's top pass defender and broke up a team-leading 17 passes in '02. While there is certainly spots to fill, there are enough players still around with experience to field a respectable defense.

This game will mean a little more than most opening games considering it is a conference tilt and nobody wants to start off with a loss in league action.

Cincinnati typically fields a solid team year after year and this season should be no different. ECU struggled in 2002 despite a veteran team and now will have to rely on some inexperienced players. The bottom line is the Bearcats simply have more talent and should be able to win this one at home.

Predicted Outcome: Cincinnati 38, East Carolina 21
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25) T-C-U (0-0) at Tulane (0-0)
Monday, September 01, 2003
By Ralph Lauro, College Football Staff Writer
Latest Line: Tcu -6.5 O/U: 52


GAME NOTES: The 25th-ranked Texas Christian Horned Frogs begin their Conference-USA title defense tonight, when they travel to New Orleans to take on league foe, the Tulane Green Wave from the Superdome. Last season was one of the best in school history for TCU, as the team finished 10-2 overall and 6-2 in C-USA, earning a share of the league title with Cincinnati. With the successful regular season came a a bid to the Liberty Bowl, where the Horned Frogs defeated Colorado State, 17-3, earning them a final ranking of 23rd in the nation. The team has now made it to five consecutive bowl games and has won 10 game in a season twice in the last three years. As for Tulane, it rebounded from a dismal 3-9 season in 2001 by going a solid 8-5 in '02, including an even 4-4 mark in conference. With the solid turnaround, the Green Wave accepted a bid to play in the Hawaii Bowl, where they upset the host Rainbow Warriors, 36-28. It was the first bowl that Tulane had been to since 1998 when it defeated BYU in the Liberty Bowl. This contest marks the 11th all-time meeting between these two schools on the gridiron, with TCU holding a 7-3 advantage, including a 17-10 victory in Texas last year.

In 2002, the Horned Frogs were led by a strong running attack and this year should be no different with two outstanding backs running behind a solid line.

Sophomore Lonta Hobbs took the league by storm last season, rushing for 1,029 yards and 12 touchdowns in just eight games. His 6.6 ypc average helped him become Conference-USA Freshman of the Year. Hobbs is not the only tailback with experience or talent as last year's season-opening running back Ricky Madison also returns. Madison led the team in rushing in the first four games of the season before being injured. He ended '02 with 746 yards and three touchdowns. Madison saved his best game for last, rushing for 111 yards in the Liberty Bowl win over Colorado State. Handing the ball off to these talented backs will be play caller Tye Gunn. The sophomore played like a seasoned veteran last year, going 4-0 before tearing up his knee. Gunn has a strong arm and threw for 632 yards and six touchdowns during his freshman campaign.

Catching Gunn's passes will be a wide receiver corps that lost its top two players from a year ago. However, the team returns two other players with starting experience, including Reggie Harrell. At 6-3, Harrell possesses excellent size which will surely cause matchup problems for opposing defenses.

Paired with Harrell will be Kevin Brown, who caught 16 balls for 208 yards last season. Overall this unit was young yet very good last season. This year they should be even better with a massive offensive line and a year of experience under its belt.

There is no question that the defense is the heart and soul of the TCU squad, as the unit finished the 2002 season with the top ranking nationally. TCU was number one against the run, holding opponents to just 64.8 ypg and 1.98 yards per rush. The Frogs were the only team in the country to allow fewer than two yards per carry last year. This season's defense has the potential to be just as strong with the return of four seniors along the defensive line. Nose tackle Chad Pugh and defensive end Bo Schobel are the most noticeable players.

Pugh had 16 TFLs and 5.5 sacks in '02, while Schobel recorded 57 tackles, 19 TFLs and 7.5 sacks. At the linebacker spot is where the Horned Frogs were dealt the biggest blow, as C-USA Defensive Player of the Year and Second Team All-American LaMarcus McDonald left early for the NFL. McDonald led the team with 118 tackles, 21 TFLs and 8.5 sacks. Replacing him will be no easy task, but the team is confident that junior Martin Patterson can do the job.

Patterson registered 53 tackles (10 for losses) and 1.5 sacks in 2002. He will be joined by Josh Goolsby, who has starting experience. The biggest concern for TCU this season comes in the secondary, as the squad lost three starters from 2002, including First Team All-Conference member Jason Gross, who tied a school record with eight interceptions last year. Safety Marvin Godbolt is the most experienced player in the secondary. He missed several games last season, but his First Team Freshman All-American recognition in 2001 shows his obvious skill level.

The Green Wave was able to produce a solid 27.8 ppg in 2002, and should be able to do even better this season with 10 starters returning on offense.

Leading the unit is quarterback J.P. Losman, who has a ton of experience in running this offense. Losman threw for 2,368 yards and 19 touchdowns last year and should easily improve on those numbers with the talent surrounding him.

One of the most talented players on the team is tailback Mewelde Moore. The senior running back had a little bit of a down year last season, but that is only because of the monster numbers he put up the season before. He led the team in '02 with 1,128 rushing yards and six touchdowns, while also catching 52 passes for 545 yards and three touchdowns. For his career Moore has racked up 5,182 all-purpose yards and 27 scores. As for the wideouts, they return everyone from a unit that helped the team average 203.5 ypg in the air last season, including Roydell Williams. The junior was supposed to be the team's starting receiver last season, but he suffered a broken ankle in the third game of the year and missed the rest of the year. In 2001 he made 56 catches for 886 yards and 11 touchdowns, showing his enormous potential.

Defensively, Tulane surprised everyone last season by holding opponents to 21.7 ppg and 371.9 ypg. The team did an exceptional job against the pass, allowing just 191.9 ypg, but struggled against the run, yielding 180.1 ypg.

This year, Tulane returns only three starters and the potential for a decline is certainly possible. The Green Wave return no starters on the defensive line which may not be bad news considering the yardage the team allowed on the ground last season. The line will try to plug holes by moving linebacker Daniel Nevil to an end position. In 2001, Nevil was second on the team with 112 tackles, including 12 for lost yardage. The team also hopes that sophomore Michael Roberts will have a bigger impact after finishing with 27 tackles and one sack in his freshman season last year. The good news for Tulane is that it returns all three starting linebackers from a year ago. Leading the unit is sophomore Anthony Cannon, who led all freshman in the nation with his 114 tackles. Alongside Cannon will be Brandt Quick, who was third on the team with 97 tackles. The third and final piece to the linebacking corps is Brandon Spincer. Spincer, a member of the C-USA All-Freshman team two years ago, sat out the 2002 season for academic reasons. His return will help a young defense immensely. The secondary is also young and inexperienced. Cornerback Sean Lucas, who made the C-USA All-Freshman team last season, recorded 54 tackles and two interceptions, and will be counted on heavily to stop the opposition's best wideout. Trawick Boger will solidify the strong safety spot after recording 57 tackles and two interceptions last season.

TCU is on the verge of becoming one of the top teams in the nation and with a healthy group of returning players it may happen this year. Tulane overachieved last season largely because of its defense, which surprised many by the way it played. The Horned Frogs simply have too much on both sides of the ball for the Green Wave to handle and should be able to start off the 2003 season on the right foot.

Predicted Outcome: TCU 31, Tulane 17

[wayne1218]

Harmon Forecast

Cinn. 28-10

TCU 20-19

[golfguru]

any northcoast

thanks

[mwh1959]

ANIMALS PICKS

The Animal has a 4- * for tonight. if any one gets it.


THANKS

[predator]

Bryan Leonard | bio - (won 6 of 7)
PICK: NY Yankees Write-up
Bodog Line
Mike Lee Sports | bio - (won 13 of 17)
PICK: Giants/D'Backs OVER
Bodog Line
Marc Lawrence | bio - (won 3 of 4)
PICK: Montreal Expos Write-up
Bodog Line
Mike Neri Sports | bio
PICK: Pass

Z-Play | bio - (won 7 of 10)
PICK: KC Royals
Bodog Line
K & B Sports | bio - (won 3 of 4)
PICK: Pass

Sports Unlimited | bio - (won 11 of 12)
PICK: Pass

Dr. Bob Sports | bio - (won 7 of 8)
PICK: TCU Write-up
Bodog Line
The Animal | bio
PICK: San Francisco Giants Write-up
Bodog Line
JB Sports | bio - (won 7 of 8)
PICK: Tulane
Bodog Line

[fishboy]

animal is on tcu 4 1/2
also phl 4
sf 3

proceed with caution- he's 1-7 of late in ncaa and been crappy with bases for the past couple of weeks

[AllNight]

Does anyone have these plays?

Root, Cokin, S. Spreitzer. All of these guys hit their big plays yesterday. I hope someone has any of them today. Please post them if you got them!!!

I know Feist has TCU.

[predator]

horned frogs

dr bob op tcu
exec op tcu
northc 2* tcu ov, op tcu
pp of pitt op tcu
winning pts reg tcu
jimfeist inner circle tcu

think i'll be betting the green wave

[trap]

Wildcat: 5* on TCU and TCU 'OVER' (regulars)

North Coast: 2* opinion on TCU 'OVER'

Carolina Sports: 5-3 college after 2-0 Sunday. 4* on TCU 'UNDER' (failry big play)

Private Players of Pitt: Opinions only on East Carolina and TCU

California Sports: Opinions on Cincinnati and 'OVER'

Wayne Root: 2* Tulane

Many services are passing today including Texas Sports Wire, Preferred Picks, Doc, Gold Sheet, and ASA.

[predator]

trap?

do u know if roots pick is a millinoaire release?on his website he has a cfb millionaire release?thanks

[meteor]

did anyone get wildcat's 10* release this weekend?if so what was it?thanks

[4breakout]

Wildcat i believe was Wisconsin, not 100% sure though.