The Bum's CFB Week # 1 Best Bets

[StarDust Bum]

Oklahoma starts 2011 by hosting Tulsa

TULSA GOLDEN HURRICANE (0-0)
at OKLAHOMA SOONERS (0-0)

Kickoff: Saturday, 8:00 p.m. EDT
Line: Oklahoma -24.5, Total: 64.5

Oklahoma begins what many expect to be an unbeaten season when the Sooners host Tulsa on Saturday night. The Sooners return two Heisman candidates in QB Landry Jones and WR Ryan Broyles to a team that finished 12-2 last year. Tulsa also tallied double-digit wins in 2010, including seven straight victories to close out the season.

The Sooners are too good to lose this game, but Tulsa is building a strong program. The Hurricane return eight starters on both sides of the ball from a team that racked up impressive road victories over Notre Dame, Houston and Hawaii during its late-season surge. Although Tulsa is more known for its no-huddle offense and dynamic duo of QB G.J. Kinne and WR Damaris Johnson, it is the opportunistic defense, coming off an FBS-best 24 interceptions that will keep this game close. Oklahoma is 1-4 ATS when favored by 10+ points in its past five non-conference tilts, giving further ammunition to load up on TULSA to keep the final margin under three touchdowns.

New head coach Bill Blankenship was promoted from quarterbacks coach and will not mess with an offense that averaged 45.9 PPG in winning its final seven games. He will lean most heavily on two seniors, QB G.J. Kinne (3,650 pass yds, 31 TD, 10 INT; 561 rush yds, 7 TD) and WR Damaris Johnson (872 rec yds, 560 rush yds, 13 total TD). The Golden Hurricane also return all five starting offensive linemen to a ground game that averaged 217 rushing YPG. On defense, Tulsa’s +17 turnover margin ranked second among FBS schools last year. But it was also the nation’s worst pass defense (319 YPG), which allowed 30.3 PPG (85th in nation). Many playmakers remain for new defensive coordinator Brent Guy, including OLB Shawn Jackson (8.5 sacks), DE Tyrunn Walker (12 TFL), LB Curnelius Arnick (5 sacks), FS Dexter McCoil (6 INT) and WS Marco Nelson (6 INT).

The Oklahoma offense is stacked with QB Landry Jones (4,718 pass yds, 38 TD, 12 INT), WR Ryan Broyles (FBS-best 131 catches; 1,622 yds, 14 TD) and WR Kenny Stills, who improved greatly his freshman season, finishing with 61 grabs for 786 yards and five scores. The ground game will certainly miss DeMarco Murray and his 15 rushing TD last year. Roy Finch (398 rush yds, 4.7 YPC), Brennan Clay (127 rush yds, 3.5 YPC) and incoming freshman Brandon Williams are all expected to carry the football this season under the tutelage of new offensive coordinators Josh Heupel and Jay Norvell.

There is no denying the Sooners are an explosive offensive football team, but the defense was weakened severely this offseason with the tragic death of MLB Austin Box and broken toe of leading tackler LB Travis Lewis that will keep him out of action for at least six more weeks. Including Box, the ball-hungry defense lost five starters from a unit whose 106 TFL was the third-most in the nation. OU also forced 32 turnovers (13 fumbles, 19 INT) and had 37 sacks last year. The pass rush has weakened a bit with DE Jeremy Beal and DT Pryce Macon leaving, but senior DE Frank Alexander (7 sacks, 13 TFL) remains. The Sooners secondary is excellent with four of five starters returning, including CBs Jamell Fleming (5 INT, 14 PD) and Demontre Hurst (3 FF, 11 PD), and nickel back Tony Jefferson (7 TFL, 7 PD).

[StarDust Bum]

Notre Dame opens season vs. South Florida

SOUTH FLORIDA BULLS (0-0)
at NOTRE DAME FIGHTING IRISH (0-0)

Kickoff: Saturday, 3:30 p.m. EDT
Line: Notre Dame -10, Total: 46.5

Notre Dame opens its BCS Bowl-hopeful season against Big East contender South Florida. This marks the first ever meeting between these two schools. South Florida is really an underrated program with 42 wins in the past five seasons, eight more than Notre Dame has.

USF’s rushing offense is going to be excellent this year with returning junior Demetris Murray (6 total TD, 4.4 YPC), and bulked-up transfers Darrell Scott (Colorado) and Dontae Aycock (Auburn). The key to USF hanging around in South Bend is for returning QB B.J. Daniels to make good decisions. The Bulls were 17th in the nation in total defense (318 YPG) and also have the depth in the secondary to contain Notre Dame star wideout Michael Floyd. The Irish will win this game, but not by double-digits. The pick is SOUTH FLORIDA.

The FoxSheets provide this four-star trend in support of the Bulls.

Play Against - Any team (NOTRE DAME) - in the first week of the season, after closing out last season with 3 or more straight spread covers, team that had a good record last season (60% to 80%) playing a team that had a winning record. (23-2 since 1992.) (92%, +20.8 units. Rating = 4*).

The Bulls are coming off an 8-5 season, but they were very fortunate with the final four wins coming by a total of 12 points. Daniels (11 TD, 13 INT) needs to improve in a big way for head coach Skip Holtz to opt to throw the football more. The defense returns six starters to a unit that finished among the top 25 in the nation in scoring defense (20.0 PPG), rushing defense (126 YPG) and passing defense (192 YPG).

A 7-2 finish to 2010 gives the Irish momentum for 2011. QB Dayne Crist (2,033 pass yds, 15 TD, 7 INT) is fully healed from his ruptured patella tendon and was named the starter late in the preseason. Star WR Michael Floyd (79 rec, 1,025 yds, 12 TD) was re-instated to the team in August after initially being suspended for driving under the influence. TB Cierre Wood (603 rush yds) should be able to gain some yards on the ground behind a solid offensive line. On defense, the Irish front four needs to do a better job pressuring the quarterback. However, the LBs are excellent, especially ILB Manti Te’o (133 tackles, 9.5 TFL) and OLB Darius Fleming (5.5 sacks).

[StarDust Bum]

Colorado seeking first road win since 2007

HONOLULU (AP) - Millions travel to Hawaii every year to enjoy the sand, surf and sun. Buffaloes, however, apparently aren't allowed anywhere near the water in Waikiki.

In hopes of snapping a 17-game road losing streak - 18 if you count a loss in the 2007 Independence Bowl - first-year Colorado coach Jon Embree didn't allow any beach time for his players as they prepared to open the season at Hawaii on Saturday night.

``The only beach they'll see is when they land and take off. I'm telling you, it's a business trip,'' Embree said. ``So they either have to get married and have a honeymoon there or maybe we go back there for a bowl game. It's not about the beach.''

The Buffaloes, making their debut as a member of the Pac-12, haven't won on the road since beating Texas Tech on Oct. 27, 2007. And Embree isn't shy about addressing the streak.

``It's not OK to lose 18 in a row,'' he said. ``The only way you get that point across is to talk about it. I think if you don't talk about it you're pretending like something hasn't happened. You're pretending like it's not there. I'm not afraid of it and they're not afraid of it. They understand the challenge that's in front of them and looking forward to it.''

Only five players on this year's squad experienced Colorado's last road victory, including senior guard Ryan Miller.

``It's humongous. I don't care what anybody says,'' Miller said about getting a road win. ``This is where we've got to start. ... We're going to play football. We're not going to enjoy the islands of aloha.''

The game marks the first time that Colorado is opening with a true road game since whipping Wisconsin in 1995 in coach Rick Neuheisel's debut.

But winning in the islands is no easy feat for any visiting team. The Warriors were 6-2 at Aloha Stadium last year, the fifth straight winning season at home. In addition to all the distractions of playing in paradise, Colorado had to endure a 3,300-mile flight and a four-hour time change.

Colorado will also be facing a Hawaii team still stinging from last year's loss in Boulder. Hawaii controlled the first half and took a 10-0 lead into the locker room, but ran out of gas in the second half and lost 31-13.

``First half we were like, `Yeah. We're doing it.' Then it comes back to bite us in the butt,'' said Hawaii linebacker Corey Parades, who had a career-high 16 tackles in the game. ``We can't let that happen to us this year. That kind of stuff humbled us as a team and gave us a reality check.''

Parades, who led the Warriors with 151 tackles last year, said the loss was a learning experience, which helped the team focus and regroup. Hawaii would win nine of its next 10 games, with its only loss coming to Boise State, and finish the season 10-4.

For Saturday, Parades is being moved to weakside linebacker from his usual middle linebacker position after Aaron Brown was suspended for the game because of his arrest a week ago following a fight at a Waikiki nightclub. Hawaii is also without starting 6-foot-4, 230-pound wideout Darius Bright, who was also arrested and replaced by Allen Sampson, generously listed as 5-foot-7 and 145 pounds.

While Hawaii returns six starters on defense, it returned only three on offense and lost a lot of firepower, including receivers Greg Salas, Kealoha Pilares and running back Alex Green, who were all drafted in the NFL.

The Warriors will still air it out behind quarterback Bryant Moniz, who last year led the nation in yards passing per game (360) and touchdown passes (39). He became just the 11th Football Bowl Subdivision quarterback to break 5,000 yards in a season. Moniz said the new faces are ready to step up.

``It's just a different person in the helmet. We still have the same offense and our great coaching staff that taught Kealoha and Greg. Now they're teaching new guys,'' Moniz said. ``It's just going to take some time to get comfortable in a game situation. But I think they're ready and hungry.''

Embree doesn't think Hawaii's offense will be any less effective.

``As long as they have the trigger guy it doesn't really matter. I kind of equate it to Peyton Manning,'' he said. ``He had guys go down last year and they just plugged some other guys in and he just kept on going. Their offense as long as they have their quarterback back there, they'll be just fine.''

Colorado will have senior quarterback Tyler Hansen, who hasn't played a game since rupturing his spleen Oct. 23. Hansen said he'll try to help control the ball and clock to help the defense out and keep Hawaii's explosive offense off the field.

``They can't do much on the sideline, so we're going to try to keep them on the sideline as much as possible,'' he said.

Hawaii is favored to win the WAC in its final season in the league before leaving for the Mountain West Conference. Last year, it was picked to finish near the bottom, but ended up winning a share of the WAC title. The Warriors have relished the underdog position, but they're in a new position this year without Boise State in the conference.

``I think we have good players. I think we have good leadership. I think we have a good, young team, but we've got to come out and perform,'' Hawaii coach Greg McMackin said. ``I can't predict (how we're going to do this season). If I could do that, everybody in Vegas could be doing that. All I know is this team has really worked hard.''

[StarDust Bum]

New Carr takes over as Fresno St. QB vs. Cal

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - When Jeff Tedford was an assistant coach at Fresno State, he played catch with a Nerf football with the younger brother of quarterback David Carr.

Derek Carr will be throwing a different type of football around Saturday when he makes his first career start for the Bulldogs against Tedford and the California Golden Bears at Candlestick Park.

``He's a very good player,'' Tedford said. ``Now he gets a chance to get his career started there and we hope to make it a little difficult on him. I like him and his family but we're opponents going into this week. I hope he doesn't start off successful.''

Derek Carr wants to build on what his older brother established at Fresno State when he helped coach Pat Hill's Bulldogs build a reputation as a giant killer willing to take on any opponent.

In David Carr's final season, the Bulldogs opened the year with successive wins against Colorado, No. 10 Oregon State and No. 23 Wisconsin and moved as high as eighth in the rankings. Then came back-to-back losses to Boise State and Hawaii that ended the quest for a BCS berth and the chance at a conference title.

``I want to come to Fresno to finish what Dave started and do it with Coach Hill,'' Carr said. ``I'm glad he's here. I wouldn't want to do it with anyone else. We're really looking forward to it. We have a good, fast team. We're young but we don't play like it.''

Fresno State has been passed in recent years by schools such as Boise State, TCU, Hawaii and Utah, who all managed to make it to a BCS game from a non-power conference.

The Bulldogs, despite a slew of notable wins and a few scares of major conference teams, have never even won an outright Western Athletic Conference title - even with future No. 1 overall draft pick David Carr at the helm.

``David accomplished an awful lot,'' Hill said. ``What David didn't accomplish was winning a league championship and getting us to the promised land like everyone is trying to get to one of those BCS games. Those are very, very lofty goals. ... Dave got us as high as (eighth) in the nation. We had a couple of tough losses there in a span of about eight days. I think David did a great job here. Derek wants to take this program further and wants to take it to another level. I'm behind him 100 percent on that because that's the way we all feel.''

The opener against Cal is part of a brutal nonconference schedule that is followed by a trip to No. 10 Nebraska, and also includes games against Mississippi, No. 5 Boise State and San Diego State.

While playing the tog dogs is nothing new for Fresno State under Hill, getting a chance to play in-state rival Cal is somewhat special.

The two schools have met only twice before despite being separated by a drive of only a few hours, with Fresno State winning 25-24 at Cal in 1995 and 17-3 at home in 2000.

The game will be played at a neutral site at Candlestick Park. Although Cal's campus is a short drive away, Fresno State is expected to have the bigger crowd with Hill saying as many as 22,000 Bulldogs fans could be in attendance. Cal, on the other hand, is struggling to sell out its allotment.

``We can't focus on where we're playing or what the environment will be like,'' Tedford said. ``We have to focus between the lines.''

The Bears are trying to rebound after going 5-7 and missing a bowl game last year for the first time since Tedford's initial season in 2002.

They will have to do it while breaking in a new quarterback in Buffalo transfer Zach Maynard and without last year's star running back Shane Vereen.

``Obviously we didn't have the season we wanted to last year,'' receiver Marvin Jones said. ``That doesn't happen in the Tedford era. We know that and it's in the back of our minds. We still think about that but it's a new season. Everyone is 0-0.''

Tedford has taken a more active play-calling role this summer and Cal should look somewhat different offensively with the more mobile Maynard at quarterback instead of pocket passers like Kevin Riley and Nate Longshore in recent years.

Maynard, the half-brother of star receiver Keenan Allen, threw for 2,694 yards and 18 touchdowns and ran for 300 yards in 2009 for Buffalo.

``He's elusive enough to make guys miss and smart enough to get down when he needs to,'' Tedford said. ``The biggest thing is the things he can do when things go wrong.''

[StarDust Bum]

Here is the early games.....Evening games posted later.

Saturday, September 3

Game Score Status Pick Amount

Utah State - 12:00 PM ET Utah State +23 500
Auburn - Over 57 500

Northwestern - 12:00 PM ET Northwestern +3.5 500
Boston College - Over 45.5 500

Miami (Ohio) - 12:00 PM ET Miami (Ohio) +19.5 500
Missouri - Over 48.5 500

Akron - 12:00 PM ET Ohio State -31.5 500
Ohio State - Under 47 500

Middle Tennessee State - 12:00 PM ET Middle Tennessee State +16 500
Purdue -

Kent State - 12:20 PM ET Alabama -38.5 500
Alabama - Over 47 500

Western Michigan - 3:30 PM ET Michigan -13.5 500
Michigan - Over 61 500

UCLA - 3:30 PM ET Houston -3 500
Houston - Over 61.5 500

Arkansas State - 3:30 PM ET Illinois -19.5 500
Illinois -

Minnesota - 3:30 PM ET Minnesota +23.5 500
Southern California - Over 51.5 500

UL Monroe - 3:30 PM ET Florida State -29.5 500
Florida State -

South Florida - 3:30 PM ET South Florida +10.5 500
Notre Dame - Under 47 500

Troy - 3:30 PM ET Troy +14.5 500
Clemson - Over 55.5 500

Brigham Young - 4:45 PM ET Mississippi +2 500
Mississippi - Over 56.5 500

San Jose State - 5:00 PM ET Stanford -29 500
Stanford - Under 53.5 500

Buffalo - 6:00 PM ET Buffalo +30.5 500
Pittsburgh -

Colorado State - 6:00 PM ET Colorado State -6.5 500
New Mexico - Under 49.5 500

[StarDust Bum]

LOOKING FOR AN ANGLE?

Colorado at HAWAII...Defending WAC co-champs UH amped-up for rematch following 31-13 setback at Boulder LY. Recall, Warriors had to first fly 5,000 miles to play Army in West Point, then stayed in Las Vegas to prepare for CU rather than returning to the islands. New era under first-year HC Jon Embree in Boulder, but Buffs have dropped 18 straight outside their home state. UH was a perfect 7-0 vs. spread in reg.-season games in Honolulu LY.

Ucla at HOUSTON...You can bet UH has been stewing all summer for this rematch after losing its top two QBs (including Heisman candidate Case Keenum) to season-ending injuries in LY's 31-13 Rose Bowl defeat. Coug rush defense, however, must toughen up after UCLA RBs rumbled for 265 yds. in 51 tries.

Oregon vs. Lsu (at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, TX)...LSU has captured 17 straight games in month of September. And Tigers are playing back-to-back contests at Cowboys Stadium after ripping Texas A&M 41-24 in LY's Cotton Bowl. Homecoming of sorts for U of O's prime-time weapons QB Darron Thomas (Houston product) and RB LaMichael James (Texarkana).

Colorado State at NEW MEXICO...Woebegone NM just 4-7 as home underdog since '09. CSU totally controlled the "pits" in 38-14 spread-covering series win LY, generating season-high 328 YR in 50 totes. Lobos also no wins or covers in September since '08. Dog had covered 10 straight in series until LY.

South Florida at NOTRE DAME...USF's second-year mentor Skip Holtz has excelled as a road underdog, dating back to his days as East Carolina HC (albeit just 1-2 in his debut in Tampa LY). Skip played/coached at Notre Dame, serving as an assistant under his dad, Lou, from '90-'93. Irish only 2-10-2 as DD chalk in South Bend since 2006 (0-0-2 LY).

UL-Lafayette at OKLAHOMA STATE...OSU is an eye-opening 18-7 as DD chalk in Stillwater since 2000. In LY's 54-28 victory at Lafayette, semi-distracted Cowboys ("sandwich spot" 'tween Texas A&M & Texas Tech) came out ho-hum in rare visit to a Sun Belt venue, trailing 21-17 at halftime. But refocused OSU outscored Ragin' Cajuns 37-7 after intermission.

Buffalo at PITTSBURGH...Since winning the MAC title in '08, UB has been on pointspread downturn, recording 5-16-1 spread mark vs. FBS squads L2Ys.

Minnesota at SOUTHERN CAL...USC led only 14-13 with 5:35 left in third Q at Minneapolis, when Trojan's dazzling WR/returner Robert Woods scored on 97-yd. KO return in eventual 32-21 win. Gophers did need 22-yd. TD pass with :11 left to cover 13-pt. spread. Probation-plagued USC only 1-5 vs. spread last 6 as DD home chalk (0-2 LY).

San Jose State at STANFORD...New regime at Stanford. But "The Tree" has won and covered 6 of past 7 vs. nearby SJS (DNP in '10). In typically early "play for pay" games, Spartans have dropped 8 consecutive road openers (2-6 vs. spread), losing by avg. 46-9 score.

Rice at TEXAS...UT had easily won (and covered) last 4 vs. old SWC foe Rice (avg. 54-10 score) prior to LY's 34-17 victory at Reliant Stadium. Horns missed 2 FGs and fumbled a punt on their own 20 with :43 left (led to Owl TD with :24 to go) in non-covering victory.

[StarDust Bum]

RETURNING
STARTERS: 2011
Off = Offensive; Def = Defensive; * = Quarterback
Off Def
Air Force Falcons ..................... 5 * 8
Akron Zips ................................ 6 * 8
Alabama Crimson Tide ............. 7 9
Arizona Wildcats ...................... 5 * 6
Arizona State Sun Devils ......... 7 6
Arkansas Razorbacks .............. 6 7
Arkansas State Red Wolves .... 7 * 7
Army Cadets ............................ 6 * 5
Auburn Tigers ........................... 3 3
Ball State Cardinals .................. 9 * 7
Baylor Bears ............................. 9 * 5
Boise State Broncos ................. 8 * 7
Boston College Eagles ............. 8 * 6
Bowling Green Falcons ............ 7 * 7
Buffalo Bulls ............................. 9 * 3
BYU Cougars .......................... 10 * 7
California Golden Bears ........... 7 5
Central Florida Knights ............. 6 * 4
Central Michigan Chippewas ... 8 * 6
Cincinnati Bearcats .................. 5 * 10
Clemson Tigers ........................ 8 5
Colorado Buffaloes ................... 9 * 7
Colorado State Rams ............... 7 * 6
Connecticut Huskies ................ 6 9
Duke Blue Devils ...................... 8 * 6
East Carolina Pirates ............... 6 * 7
Eastern Michigan Eagles ......... 7 * 7
Florida Gators .......................... 6 * 5
Florida Atlantic Owls ................ 7 5
Florida International Panthers .. 8 * 7
Florida State Seminoles ........... 8 8
Fresno State Bulldogs .............. 4 5
Georgia Bulldogs ...................... 5 * 7
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets ... 7 5
Hawaii Rainbow Warriors ......... 3 * 6
Houston Cougars ..................... 7 * 6
Idaho Vandals .......................... 5 8
Illinois Fighting Illini .................. 7 * 6
Indiana Hoosiers ...................... 6 6
Iowa Hawkeyes ........................ 5 5
Iowa State Cyclones ................ 6 7
Kansas Jayhawks .................... 7 * 8
Kansas State Wildcats ............. 6 7
Kent State Golden Flashes ...... 9 * 5
Kentucky Wildcats .................... 6 9
La-Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns ...... 6 * 7
La-Monroe Warhawks ..............11 * 8
Louisiana Tech Bulldogs .......... 6 7
Louisville Cardinals .................. 3 7
LSU Tigers ............................... 8 * 7
Marshall Thundering Herd ........ 5 9
Maryland Terrapins ................... 7 * 7
Memphis Tigers ........................ 3 5
Miami of Florida Hurricanes ..... 6 * 7
Miami of Ohio Redhawks ......... 8 * 9
Michigan Wolverines ................ 9 * 8
Michigan State Spartans .......... 7 * 6
Middle Tennessee State ........... 7 3
Minnesota Golden Gophers ..... 6 8
Mississippi Rebels .................... 9 5
Off Def
Mississippi State Bulldogs ........ 8 * 7
Missouri Tigers ......................... 9 7
Navy Midshipmen ..................... 8 3
Nebraska Cornhuskers ............ 6 * 7
Nevada Wolf Pack ................... 6 7
New Mexico Lobos ................... 6 * 9
New Mexico State Aggies ........ 9 * 8
North Carolina Tar Heels .......... 6 7
North Carolina State Wolfpack . 5 8
North Texas Eagles .................. 5 7
Northern Illinois Huskies .......... 9 * 4
Northwestern Wildcats ............. 9 * 7
Notre Dame Fighting Irish ........ 8 * 8
Ohio State Buckeyes ................ 6 5
Ohio U Bobcats ........................ 8 5
Oklahoma Sooners .................. 8 * 8
Oklahoma State Cowboys ........ 9 * 6
Oregon Fighting Ducks ............ 7 * 5
Oregon State Beavers .............. 8 * 4
Penn State Nittany Lions .......... 7 * 8
Pittsburgh Panthers .................. 6 * 8
Purdue Boilermakers ................ 7 * 9
Rice Owls ................................. 9 * 9
Rutgers Scarlet Knights .......... 10 * 5
San Diego State Aztecs ........... 8 * 5
San Jose State Spartans ......... 6 11
SMU Mustangs........................ 10 * 8
South Carolina Gamecocks ..... 7 * 6
South Florida Bulls ................... 4 * 6
Southern California Trojans ...... 6 * 7
Southern Mississippi Eagles .... 8 * 7
Stanford Cardinal ..................... 5 * 6
Syracuse Orangemen .............. 7 * 5
TCU Horned Frogs ................... 4 6
Temple Owls ............................. 8 * 5
Tennessee Volunteers .............. 7 * 6
Texas Longhorns ...................... 5 * 7
Texas A&M Aggies .................. 10 * 8
Texas Tech Red Raiders .......... 7 7
Toledo Rockets ......................... 9 * 9
Troy Trojans ............................. 6 * 8
Tulane Green Wave ................. 6 * 7
Tulsa Golden Hurricane .......... 10 * 8
UAB Blazers ............................. 7 * 8
UCLA Bruins ............................ 8 * 8
UNLV Rebels ............................ 7 4
Utah Utes ................................. 7 * 5
Utah State Aggies .................... 9 5
UTEP Miners ........................... 2 9
Vanderbilt Commodores ...........11 * 8
Virginia Cavaliers ..................... 8 9
Virginia Tech Hokies ................. 7 6
Wake Forest Demon Deacons . 7 * 9
Washington Huskies ................ 7 8
Washington State Cougars ...... 8 * 8
West Virginia Mountaineers ..... 8 * 4
Western Kentucky 'Toppers ..... 7 * 9
Western Michigan Broncos ...... 7 * 8
Wisconsin Badgers .................. 5 6
Wyoming Cowboys .................. 7 7

[StarDust Bum]

Evening MLB Best Bets !


NY Mets - 7:05 PM ET NY Mets -103 500
Washington - Under 8.5 500

Milwaukee - 7:05 PM ET Houston +122 500
Houston - Under 8.5 500

Cleveland - 7:10 PM ET Cleveland +120 500
Kansas City - Under 8.5 500

LA Dodgers - 7:10 PM ET LA Dodgers +141 500
Atlanta - Over 8 500

Philadelphia - 7:10 PM ET Florida +153 500
Florida - Over 7.5 500

Colorado - 8:35 PM ET Colorado +135 500
San Diego - Under 7 500

Minnesota - 9:05 PM ET Minnesota +246 500
LA Angels - Over 7.5 500

Arizona - 9:05 PM ET San Francisco -155 500
San Francisco - Over 6 500 [hr]




================================================== ================================================== =


Date WLT Pct Net Units Record

09/03/11 9-*2-*0 81.82% +*3400 Detail

09/02/11 3-*1-*0 75.00% +*950 Detail

09/01/11 7-*12-*0 36.84% -*3100 Detail

Totals 19-*15-*0 55.88% +1250

Evening CFB Best Bets :

Fresno State - 7:00 PM ET Fresno State +10 500
California - Over 48.5 500

Florida Atlantic - 7:00 PM ET Florida -35 500
Florida -

Ball State - 7:00 PM ET Indiana -5.5 500
Indiana -

UL Lafayette - 7:00 PM ET Oklahoma State -38 500
Oklahoma State -

Army - 7:00 PM ET Army +11 500
Northern Illinois - Over 54 500

East Carolina - 7:00 PM ET South Carolina -20.5 500
South Carolina - Over 62 500

Ohio - 8:00 PM ET Ohio -6.5 500
New Mexico State - Over 54.5 500

Tulsa - 8:00 PM ET Oklahoma -25 500
Oklahoma - Over 65.5 500

Rice - 8:00 PM ET Rice +24.5 500
Texas - Under 55 500

Boise State - 8:00 PM ET Boise State -3 500
Georgia - Over 50.5 500

Oregon - 8:00 PM ET Oregon -3.5 500
Louisiana State - Over 54.5 500

Louisiana Tech - 10:00 PM ET Louisiana Tech +12 500
Southern Mississippi -

Colorado - 10:15 PM ET Hawaii -6 500
Hawaii - Under 55.5 500

[StarDust Bum]

Sunday's Slate

September 3, 2011

With Week 1 of the 2011 NFL season not starting until Thursday, gamblers have to concentrate on college football Sunday with a pair of televised games on the docket.

Let’s start with a huge rivalry game between West Virginia and Marshall in Morgantown. Most betting shops, as of Saturday afternoon, were listing the Mountaineers as 23-point favorites with the total in the 55-56 range. Lucky’s in Las Vegas had the Thundering Herd at plus-1150 on the money line (risk $100 to win $1,150).

West Va. has a new head coach in Dana Holgorsen, who was brought in from Oklahoma St. as the coach-in-waiting behind Bill Stewart in an extremely odd scenario. Stewart also found it odd, allegedly attempting to talk a local media member into digging up dirt on Holgorsen.

Whatever the case, Stewart took a pink slip this summer and Holgorsen, the former offensive coordinator at OSU, is now the man in charge. (Wasn’t that the purpose anyway?)

WVU brings back eight starters on offense and four on defense from last year’s 9-4 squad that lost 23-7 to North Carolina St. in the Champs Sports Bowl. Holgorsen inherits the Big East’s best signal caller in junior Geno Smith, who completed 64.8 percent of his passes for 2,763 yards with a 24/7 touchdown-to-interception ratio in his first year as the starter.

Smith’s favorite target, Jock Sanders, is gone but Tavon Austin is back. Austin hauled in 58 receptions for 787 yards and eight TDs. Noel Devine, an explosive threat out of the backfield the last four years, has also departed.

Even though WVU’s ‘D’ lost a lot of key key pieces, the unit does return senior DE Bruce Irvin, who had 14 sacks last year. Terence Garvin, who might be the Big East’s best safety, also returns after leading the ‘Neers in tackles with 76. So does Keith Tandy, who led the Big East with six interceptions.

Marshall began the Doc Holliday Era by going 5-7 straight up and 4-7-1 against the spread. The Thundering Herd won four of its last five games and had it not let the WVU game get away, it may have gone bowling.

Marshall hosted the Mountaineers in Huntington in Week 2 and dominated for the first three quarters. The Herd led by a 21-6 count going into the final stanza, only to allow WVU to force overtime with 12 ticks left thanks to a TD pass from Smith and a two-point conversion. West Va. prevailed in the extra session on Tyler Bitancurt’s 20-yard field goal, but Marshall took the cash as a 12-point home underdog.

The Herd returns four starters on offense and nine on defense. It must replace veteran QB Brian Anderson, though. The job has been won by true freshman Rakeem Cato. His favorite target will most likely be Aaron Dobson, who finished 2010 with 44 catches for 689 yards and five TDs. WR Troy Evans (21 catches for 225 yards and 3 TDs LY) won’t be available after getting suspended indefinitely in the aftermath of being charged with four armed robberies.

On the injury front for WVU, its starting OG Josh Jenkins is out for the season with a knee injury.

ESPN will have the telecast at 3:30 p.m. Eastern.

The late game will take place at Kyle Field in College Station, where Texas A&M will host SMU. Most books are listing the Aggies as 15 ½-point favorites with the total in the 56-57 range. Bettors can take the Mustangs to win outright for a plus-450 return (risk $100 to win $450 per the LV Hilton early Saturday evening).

Texas A&M finished last season strong, winning six straight games to close the regular season and get Mike Sherman off the hot seat. Sherman deserves the credit thanks to a bold move to replace four-year starting QB Jerrod Johnson with Ryan Tannehill, who threw for 1,638 yards and 13 touchdowns.

The Aggies’ momentum was halted in a 41-24 Cotton Bowl loss to LSU, but they still come into this year with optimism galore. Most polls and/or publications have Texas A&M in the top-10 of the national rankings.

Sherman’s squad brings back 10 starters on offense and eight on defense. All of Tannehill’s WRs are back, including senior Jeff Fuller, who finished 2010 with 72 catches for 1,066 yards and 12 TDs. Fuller has been struggling with a hamstring injury but he will play.

SMU went 7-7 SU and 5-8-1 ATS last season. The Mustangs dropped a 16-14 decision to Army in the Armed Forces Bowl. They have been to back-to-back bowl games under June Jones after a postseason absence that dated back to 1984.

SMU has 10 starters back on offense and eight on defense. Jones has junior Kyle Padron under center after he threw for 3,828 yards with a 31/14 TD-INT ratio as a sophomore. Pardron has most of his WRs back with the exception of Aldrick Robinson, who had 65 catches for 1,301 yards and 14 TDs last year.

WRs Cole Beasley and Darius Johnson are back in the mix. Beasley finished 2010 with a team-high 87 receptions for 1,060 yards and six TDs, while Johnson had 78 grabs for 845 yards and six scores.

Jones has used more balance in his offense at SMU compared to his previous tenure at Hawaii. In fact, junior RB Zach Line rushed for 1,494 yards and 10 TDs last season, averaging 6.1 yards per carry.

SMU has been a double-digit underdog seven times over the last two years, going 6-1 versus the number. The Mustangs opened 2010 with a 35-27 loss at Texas Tech as 13 ½-point underdogs.

FSN will provide television coverage at 7:30 p.m. Eastern.

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West Virginia Hosts Marshall Thundering Herd

The Marshall Thundering Herd will meet up with the West Virginia Mountaineers in an in-state rivalry game that has been dubbed the “Friends of the Coal” Bowl. Sunday’s kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. (ET) at Milan Puskar Stadium in Morgantown, and will be televised nationally on ESPN.

West Virginia is one of three teams tied for 30th in the season-opening Don Best Oddsmaker Poll, a little lower than where the AP lists the Mountaineers, and should start the 2011 college football season in the win column. The Mountaineers have won all 10 previous meetings against the Thundering Herd.

Current betting odds have the Mountaineers listed as 23-point favorites and the total stands at 55 ½.

Last year’s contest was one of the more exciting games on either team's schedule, as West Virginia rallied from a 15-point deficit in the final 8:28 of the game to force overtime, eventually coming away with a 24-21 road win in Huntington. The Mountaineers grabbed the cash as 12-point road underdogs in that contest, while the teams slipped under the posted total of 46 at kickoff.

West Virginia head coach Dana Holgorsen will get his first look at the rivalry after becoming the school’s 33rd head coach during the offseason. He was named a finalist for the Frank Broyles Award while serving as Oklahoma State’s offensive coordinator last year, a distinction that goes to the nation’s top assistant coach.

Holgorsen’s offense led the nation in total offense and finished third in scoring offense. The Cowboys averaged 520.2 yards per game, while scoring 44.2 points a contest.

There’s been talk around the practice field that West Virginia junior quarterback Geno Smith is still trying to grasp the playbook. He will be entering his second year as the school’s signal-caller, throwing for 2,763 yards and 24 touchdowns in 2010.

Fans in Morgantown are accustomed to the Mountaineers opening things with a victory, as the program is 92-18-6 in home openers, including a 31-0 win over Coastal Carolina as 41½-point favorites. Bettors will be interested to know that West Virginia has failed to cover two of its last three games when matching up against Conference USA opponents.

Marshall head coach Doc Holliday treats this rivalry like it's the Wild West, as he closes practices off from the media for the only week of the season. Much was made of a 2006 incident when a spy from Morgantown was spotted at a Herd practice taking notes.

The 2011 schedule is daunting from the outset and it will be important for Holliday’s staff to keep spirits up on the sidelines. The Thundering Herd will open the season by playing six teams that participated in bowl games a year ago.

Marshall will combat Holgorson’s offensive system with nine returning starters on defense, including the entire secondary. It was a solid group a year ago, ranking fourth in Conference USA in both total (386 ypg) and scoring defense (28.8).

True freshman Rakeem Cato gets the nod at quarterback and will be taking on a Mountaineers defense that finished third nationally in allowing 261.1 yards per game a year ago.

The Thundering Herd have covered their last two meetings with teams from the Big East Conference.

Weather forecasts suggest game-time highs in the mid-80s and a 50 percent chance of scattered thunderstorms throughout. A southern wind of 5-10 mph will also be present.

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West Virginia hosts Marshall in Coal Bowl

MARSHALL THUNDERING HERD (0-0)
at WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINEERS (0-0)

Kickoff: Sunday, 3:30 p.m. EDT
Line: West Virginia -23, Total: 55.5

After a tumultuous spring of off-the-field issues, West Virginia is ready to get back on the field when it hosts in-state rival Marshall in the “Coal Bowl” on Sunday afternoon. New head coach Dana Holgorsen brings his high-flying offense from Oklahoma State, to try to give his Mountaineers their 11th win in 11 meetings with the Thundering Herd.

After these schools renewed their rivalry in 2006, WVU ran off five straight wins by an average of 21.6 PPG. But last year’s meeting was a true nail-biter with Marshall falling 24-21 in overtime. The difference in Sunday’s matchup is the quarterbacks. West Virginia sophomore Geno Smith, who helped his team erase a 15-point, fourth-quarter deficit in last year’s meeting, is head and shoulders above Herd true freshman QB Rakeem Cato. Smith also has a much better supporting cast on offense, particularly WR Tavon Austin. The pick here is for WEST VIRGINIA to win and cover.

This three-star FoxSheets trend also sides with the Mountaineers.

Play On - Favorites of 21.5 to 31 points (W VIRGINIA) - with 8 offensive starters returning. (89-44 over the last 10 seasons.) (66.9%, +40.6 units. Rating = 3*).

Former WVU assistant Doc Holliday enters his second season as Marshall’s head coach, looking to build on a 4-1 record to close out 2010. The offense is still subpar, after ranking 103rd in yardage (314 YPG) and 101st in points (20.8 PPG). In addition to concerns in the passing game with a true freshman QB, the tailback role is also unsettled, with unimpressive junior Martin Ward (345 rush yds, 3.6 YPC, 1 TD) as the best option. However, junior WR Aaron Dobson is a reliable target (44 rec, 689 yds, 5 TD) and the sound offensive line allowed just 13 sacks last year (T-17th in nation). The improving defense returns nine starters, most notably DE Vinny Curry (12 sacks, 18 TFL) up front, and LB Kellen Harris (68 tackles) who will try to offset the loss of stud LB Mario Harvey who had 143 tackles and 8.5 sacks. The entire secondary returns, featuring safeties Omar and Donald Brown (163 tackles and 6 INT combined).

In the past five seasons as an offensive coordinator at Texas Tech, Houston and Oklahoma State, Holgorsen’s teams racked up 2,617 points. Smith (65% completion rate, 2,763 yds, 24 TD, 7 INT) and Austin (58 rec, 787 yds, 8 TD) look very comfortable in this pass-happy attack. The ground game has some holes with Noel Devine and his 4,317 career rushing yards departed. The defense, which ranked thid in the nation in points (13.5 PPG) and yards (261 YPG) only returns four starters, but two of those players are excellent, in DE Bruce Irvin (14 sacks) and CB Keith Tandy (6 INT).

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SMU MUSTANGS (0-0)
at TEXAS A&M AGGIES (0-0)


Kickoff: Sunday, 7:30 p.m. EDT
Line: Texas A&M -15.5, Total: 56.5

No. 8 Texas A&M is ready to show the world that it belongs in the SEC when it hosts former Southwest Conference foe SMU on Sunday night at Kyle Field. Earlier in the week, the Aggies announced they are leaving the Big 12 to join the SEC, although the SEC has made no comment as to its expansion plans, if any.

Texas A&M is stacked this year on both sides of the ball with 17 starters returning. This includes QB Ryan Tannehill, who led his team to six straight wins to close out the 2010 regular season. SMU’s great signal caller, Kyle Padron, also returns, but he will be missing his top receiver in Aldrick Robinson who had 1,301 yards and 14 TD last year. The Mustangs are trying not to have a repeat of the school’s last trip to College Station in 2005, which ended in a 66-8 defeat. This game won’t be nearly as lopsided, but expect TEXAS A&M to win comfortably in front of its rowdy home crowd.

This three-star FoxSheets trend gives another reason to pick the Aggies.

Play On - Favorites of 10.5 to 21 points (TEXAS A&M) - good team from last season - outscored opponents by 7 or more points/game, with 8 defensive starters returning. (23-3 over the last 10 seasons.) (88.5%, +19.7 units. Rating = 3*).

June Jones’ run-and-shoot continues to work at SMU, as the Mustangs went 6-2 in Conference USA play. Padron (3,828 pass yds, 31 TD, 14 INT) is a rising star, but needs to help his team correct its minus-12 turnover margin. Padron will rely mostly on two strong inside receivers, Cole Beasley (1,060 rec yds) and Darius Johnson (845 rec yds). The ground game is also in good shape with TB Zach Line (1,494 rush yds, 6.1 YPC, 10 TD) running behind an all-senior O-line. Defensively, DEs Taylor Thompson (5.5 sacks) and Margus Hunt (45 tackles, 6.5 TFL) man the front line, while WLB Ja’Gared Davis (90 tackles, 9 sacks, 16 TFL) and MLB Taylor Reed (145 tackles) make plays all over the field. CB Richard Crawford (4 INT, 8 PD) leads three returnees in the adequate secondary.

Tannehill threw for 1,409 yards (235 YPG) with 11 TD and just 3 INT during the regular-season-ending win streak. His top two receivers, Jeff Fuller (72 rec, 1,066 yds, 12 TD) and Ryan Swope (72 rec, 825 yds, 4 TD) will help Tannehill continue to improve. But the heart of the offense is the dual rushing attack of Christine Michael (631 rush yds, 5.0 YPC, 4 TD), who suffered a broken leg in October, and Cyrus Gray, who filled in for Michael with seven straight 100-yard games and 10 TD to finish the season. Four starters return to the offensive line. The defense only lost three starters, but two of them were excellent in All-American OLB Von Miller and leading tackler LB Michael Hodges. However two strong LBs remain with senior ILB Garrick Williams (112 tackles, 5 TFL) and junior OLB Sean Porter (7 TFL, 6 PD). The secondary returns all four starters, but only ranked 89th in passing defense (234 YPG). Both CBs Coryell Judie and Dustin Harris had 4 INT last year, and both will be the key to slowing down the Mustangs’ run-and-shoot attack.

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Date WLT Pct Net Units Record

09/03/11 35-*16-*1 68.63% +*8150 Detail

09/02/11 3-*1-*0 75.00% +*950 Detail

09/01/11 7-*12-*0 36.84% -*3100 Detail

Totals 45-*29-*1 60.81% +6000

Sunday, September 4

Game Score Status Pick Amount

Marshall - 3:30 PM ET Marshall +23.5 500

West Virginia - Over 53.5 500

Southern Methodist - 7:30 PM ET Texas A&M -16 500

Texas A&M - Under 55.5 500

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Miami Hurricanes At Maryland Terrapins NCAA Betting Preview

Most of the Miami Hurricanes will open the 2011 schedule by visiting the Maryland Terrapins on Monday in an early and key Atlantic Coast Conference duel. But the bigger story for bettors revolves around who will not be taking the field due to NCAA sanctions handed down on Tuesday.

Eight Hurricanes will miss the season opener, including starting quarterback Jacory Harris.

The game is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. (ET) and will be televised nationally on ESPN. Miami opened as a 5½-point favorite but it's Maryland who is currently listed as a 3-point favorite according to the Don Best odds screen with the total at 47.

New Miami head coach Al Golden has a big challenge ahead of him in his first year at the school, as 12 of his players overall accepted improper benefits from former booster Nevin Shapiro before he even got there. Eight of them will miss at least game, led by Harris and safety Ray Ray Armstrong, who will miss four games along with tight end Dyron Dye.

Defensive lineman Olivier Vernon received the harshest penalty and must sit out six games.

Sophomore Stephen Morris will replace Harris under center for the Hurricanes, and he saw action in six games last season when they finished a disappointing 7-6. Morris played in most of the team’s 33-17 Sun Bowl loss to Notre Dame and performed well in relief of Harris.

Miami was 2-4 in the games Morris played, but one of the two wins came against the Terrapins last November 6. Morris threw for a season-high 286 yards and tossed the game-winning touchdown pass to wide receiver Leonard Hankerson with 37 seconds left.

The Hurricanes ended their season with three losses, both straight up and against the spread, and the ‘under’ is 6-1-1 in their past eight.

Maryland is coming off a successful 9-4 campaign that ended with a 51-20 rout of East Carolina in the Military Bowl. The Terps finished 2-10 in '09 and sent Ralph Friedgen out as ACC Coach of the Year. Friedgen was fired following the game after serving at his alma mater for 10 seasons.

Former Connecticut head coach Randy Edsall takes over the reins of the program and did an outstanding job building up the Huskies from a Division I-AA team in 1998 to a Big East co-champion last year. Edsall was 74-70 at UConn overall and has 12 starters coming back at Maryland, five on offense and seven on defense.

Sophomore quarterback Danny O’Brien was the ACC Freshman of the Year for the Terps last season, throwing 22 touchdown passes and finishing fourth overall in the conference with a 134.5 rating. O’Brien will be without top target Torrey Smith, who was selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the second round of the NFL draft.

Maryland closed out last year covering six of seven games with the ‘over’ going 5-1-1 during that stretch.

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What bettors need to know
Miami Hurricanes at Maryland Terrapins:

Miami Hurricanes at Maryland Terrapins (-4, 46.5)

THE STORY: Miami will be without six starters and two reserves when it opens at Maryland on Monday. Quarterback Jacory Harris, linebacker Sean Spence, wideout Travis Benjamin and five others were suspended by the NCAA from one to six games for receiving impermissible benefits from former booster/convicted felon Nevin Shapiro.

The investigation has overshadowed the Miami coaching debut of Al Golden, formerly of Temple, and the Maryland coaching debut of Randy Edsall, formerly of UConn. With the senior Harris ineligible, dual-threat sophomore Stephen Morris will start at quarterback. Morris, who runs a 4.6 forty, nearly beat out Harris in camp.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, ESPN. LINE: Maryland -4

ABOUT MARYLAND (2010: 9-4, 5-3 ACC): Edsall has a ton of offensive talent to work with, led by QB Danny O’Brien (2,438 yards, 22 TDs, 8 INTs), and RBs Davin Meggett (720 yards) and D.J. Adams (11 TDs). The Terps ranked second in the ACC in scoring last season (32.2 points) and should be near the top again. LB Kenny Tate leads seven returning starters on defense.

ABOUT MIAMI (2010: 7-6, 5-3 ACC): Harris and Morris split first-string reps during camp. Morris played extensively at the end of last season, throwing for 1,240 yards in six games with seven touchdowns and nine interceptions. Due to the suspensions, Golden is listing eight true freshmen and five redshirt freshmen on his two-deep depth chart.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Edsall finished 8-5 or better in his last four seasons at UConn.

2. Miami's suspended players are not allowed to travel to the game but can continue practicing with the team.

3. Miami won last year’s meeting 26-20 in Coral Gables, Fla., on a last-minute TD throw from Morris.

TRENDS

The Hurricanes are 4-10 ATS in their last 14 conference games and 1-5 ATS in their last six games overall.

The Terrapins are 6-1 ATS in their last seven games overall and 7-2 ATS in their last nine home games.

The under is 6-1-1 in the 'Canes' last eight games.

LINE MOVEMENT

Oddsmakers opened this game with the visiting Hurricanes favored by 6 to 5.5 points. The game was taken off the board following the news of Miami's player suspensions. Oddsmakers re-opened with the Terrapins favored by 3.5 points and most shops have moved up to Maryland -4.