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ROCKYS
PUBLISHERS PREFERRED PLAY
STANFORD -17 ov San Jose State
San Jose State program in turmoil, even with talk that the administration is attempting to sabotage its athletic program. Worst, the TREE has destroyed SJS over the last several seasons, including last years thumping 31-10, after trailing by, you got it, 10-0. Stanford returns a good core of 14 starters, and a defense that should be solid. Cardinals are also 13-4 ATS last 4 years in September, have gone 4-1 ATS in season openers at HOME - and again have beaten SJS last 3 seasons, covering all games 31-10, 63-26, and 41-14. Spartans on the other hand return only 3 starters from a season ago, and really UNDERACHIEVED at 3-8 with a loaded squad of veterans. What to do with newcomers? Not much, and changing defensive coordinators no joy ride either. Stanford 4-1-1 ATS last season at home, and are now 7-3-1 vs spread as host since '02. Spartans were 0-4-1 ATS as road dog as season ago, and their outlook is more of the same, especially since several of their key players they have are in academic limbo. STANFORD 41-13
10* UNDERDOG GAME OF THE WEEK
CINCINNATI +16 at Ohio State
line opened at +17 and has dropped a notch and for good reason. You can bet OSU mentor Tressel hates looking across the field to see his ex assistant now head honcho for the invading Cats. Points should be at a premium as OSU style of play keeps it close to the vest winning 7 games by a TD or less in a 11-2 season. CINCY meanwhile has gone 8-2 ATS as road dogs last 10 chances and has the veteran offense needed to keep this close with QB Gino Guidugli leading the way as Cincys all time leading passer. Season ago, Cincy suffered losses 5 to be exact, by a TD or less, so this sets up nicely. As menioned earlier new head coach Mark Dantonio inherits 17 returning starters, and should have a good enough game plan against the Buckeyes, considering that he helped built and lead the OSU defense as their defensive coordinator. Has the guns to pull the outright upset. Bearcats also 5-1 ATS vs the Big Ten over the last several years . OHIO STATE 17-13
10* NEWSLETTER GAME OF THE WEEK
IOWA -29 ov Kent State
Usually don't like laying this type of wood as a key game, but with the Hawkeyes loaded, and KSU missing their top player in QB Cribbs, how can we not take advantage? IOWA has been golden at home, a dominant force in every sense of the word. with 7-0 spread mark at home last season and now at 19-3 ATS last 22 as host, with 15-3 mark as home chalk in that span, with an even better spread mark of 11-0 laying double digits, which includes 9 straight at home in Iowa City. Golden Flashes will be without QB Cribbs thanks to marijuana possession charge - and are 0-5 outright vs Big Ten losing by an average score of 40-9, but luckily are 2-2 ATS in those matches. Last trip to Iowa in 2001 resulted in 51-0 whitewash while taking 27. Look for more of the same. IOWA 49-6
BEST OF THE REST
NEW MEXICO STATE +21 at Arkansas
Hogs lost everyone except QB and only led 21-17 after 3 last season, before Hogs depth took over. Arkansas no longer has that luxury here, with NMS returning 10 on defense. Hogs 3-6 ATS as double digit favorite lately, and Aggies not bad 5-2 mark as dog.
UCLA -pk ov Oklahoma State
Can't understand why all the hype over Okie State. Returning QB Josh Fields bailed to pursue a career in baseball, and top elite players RB Bell and WR WOods are no longer enrolled. OSU 1-4 ATS as visiting dog since '02 and 4-13 ATS last 17. UCLA 9-1 ATS in season home openers - return 9 offensive starters and a key core of defenders from the nations #18 rated defense from a season ago.
NOTRE DAME -3.5 at BYU
everyone will probably be all over BYU for this home opener - but fact is that the Irish figure to crush the Cougars on the line of scrimmage and thats all folks!
PUBLISHERS PREFERRED PLAY
STANFORD -17 ov San Jose State
San Jose State program in turmoil, even with talk that the administration is attempting to sabotage its athletic program. Worst, the TREE has destroyed SJS over the last several seasons, including last years thumping 31-10, after trailing by, you got it, 10-0. Stanford returns a good core of 14 starters, and a defense that should be solid. Cardinals are also 13-4 ATS last 4 years in September, have gone 4-1 ATS in season openers at HOME - and again have beaten SJS last 3 seasons, covering all games 31-10, 63-26, and 41-14. Spartans on the other hand return only 3 starters from a season ago, and really UNDERACHIEVED at 3-8 with a loaded squad of veterans. What to do with newcomers? Not much, and changing defensive coordinators no joy ride either. Stanford 4-1-1 ATS last season at home, and are now 7-3-1 vs spread as host since '02. Spartans were 0-4-1 ATS as road dog as season ago, and their outlook is more of the same, especially since several of their key players they have are in academic limbo. STANFORD 41-13
10* UNDERDOG GAME OF THE WEEK
CINCINNATI +16 at Ohio State
line opened at +17 and has dropped a notch and for good reason. You can bet OSU mentor Tressel hates looking across the field to see his ex assistant now head honcho for the invading Cats. Points should be at a premium as OSU style of play keeps it close to the vest winning 7 games by a TD or less in a 11-2 season. CINCY meanwhile has gone 8-2 ATS as road dogs last 10 chances and has the veteran offense needed to keep this close with QB Gino Guidugli leading the way as Cincys all time leading passer. Season ago, Cincy suffered losses 5 to be exact, by a TD or less, so this sets up nicely. As menioned earlier new head coach Mark Dantonio inherits 17 returning starters, and should have a good enough game plan against the Buckeyes, considering that he helped built and lead the OSU defense as their defensive coordinator. Has the guns to pull the outright upset. Bearcats also 5-1 ATS vs the Big Ten over the last several years . OHIO STATE 17-13
10* NEWSLETTER GAME OF THE WEEK
IOWA -29 ov Kent State
Usually don't like laying this type of wood as a key game, but with the Hawkeyes loaded, and KSU missing their top player in QB Cribbs, how can we not take advantage? IOWA has been golden at home, a dominant force in every sense of the word. with 7-0 spread mark at home last season and now at 19-3 ATS last 22 as host, with 15-3 mark as home chalk in that span, with an even better spread mark of 11-0 laying double digits, which includes 9 straight at home in Iowa City. Golden Flashes will be without QB Cribbs thanks to marijuana possession charge - and are 0-5 outright vs Big Ten losing by an average score of 40-9, but luckily are 2-2 ATS in those matches. Last trip to Iowa in 2001 resulted in 51-0 whitewash while taking 27. Look for more of the same. IOWA 49-6
BEST OF THE REST
NEW MEXICO STATE +21 at Arkansas
Hogs lost everyone except QB and only led 21-17 after 3 last season, before Hogs depth took over. Arkansas no longer has that luxury here, with NMS returning 10 on defense. Hogs 3-6 ATS as double digit favorite lately, and Aggies not bad 5-2 mark as dog.
UCLA -pk ov Oklahoma State
Can't understand why all the hype over Okie State. Returning QB Josh Fields bailed to pursue a career in baseball, and top elite players RB Bell and WR WOods are no longer enrolled. OSU 1-4 ATS as visiting dog since '02 and 4-13 ATS last 17. UCLA 9-1 ATS in season home openers - return 9 offensive starters and a key core of defenders from the nations #18 rated defense from a season ago.
NOTRE DAME -3.5 at BYU
everyone will probably be all over BYU for this home opener - but fact is that the Irish figure to crush the Cougars on the line of scrimmage and thats all folks!
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