RED SHEET
OCTOBER 23, 2004 VOLUME 36, NUMBER 8
TEXAS TECH 40 - Texas 27 - (7:00 EDT) -- Line opened at Texas minus 1, and is now minus 2½. This one
couldn't set up more perfectly. The potent Raiders had last week off, following their 2nd 70-
pt outburst in as many home games. They catch the Longhorns off their bruising loss to
Oklahoma (174-yd deficit), as well as last week's draining effort vs Missouri (nearly a 60-yd
deficit, at home). Not the ************ for the complete focus needed in facing such an
overhead juggernaut. QB Cumbie has already thrown for 16 TDs & over 2,500 yds. A year
ago, the Raiders lost in heartbreaking fashion, in the final 0:46, after having taken the lead
with 2:03 left. Tech has waited a year for this one. Wrong team is favored.
RATING: TEXAS TECH 89
MINNESOTA 48 - Illinois 14 - (2:00) -- Line opened at Minnesota minus 19½, and is now minus 18½. Well,
the Gophers are back from their 2-game road trip, which turned out disastrously. Their
overland juggernaut, led by Maroney & Barber had staked them to the 13th spot in the land,
in both polls. However, their trip to Michigan resulted in a heartbreaking loss in the final 2
minutes, and having to face a suddenly potent MichiganSt squad the very next week, proved
too much. Minny was destroyed. But now back home, where Gophs are at their best, with
the Illini "D" just the needed medicine. Minny has run with relative ease against Illinois of
late, & with the season on the line, we look for the bounceback in style.
RATING: MINNESOTA 89
TOLEDO 63 - Central Michigan 13 - (7:00) -- Line opened at Toledo minus 23½, and is now minus 25. Why
does that 63 pt prediction sound familiar? Well, that is the score that the Rockets' first 2
opponents of the season posted, in Toledo's early exercise in masochism. But since that
more than shaky opening, the Rockets have been simply magnificent, not only winning their
next 5 games, but covering all 5, their last 4 by >15 ppg. QB Gradkowski sits atop the
national listings, with his current 78% completion rate in those 5 wins (121-of-155). Central
has regained the services of their quality RB, Seymour, but altho he has run for 131,
155, & 140 yds the past 3 weeks, note only 24, 14, & 10 pts on the scoreboard.
RATING: TOLEDO 88
Miami-Florida 19 - NORTH CAROLINA STATE 17 - (7:45) -- Line opened at Miami minus 7½, and is still
minus 7½. The 3rd (or 4th) ranked 'Canes continue to get it done. They had their backs to
the wall a week ago, but came from way back to nip Louisville in the last 0:49. What ever
they need to do, apparently. Thus, we don't call for the outright upset in this one, but make
no mistake, this Wolfpack array can stay with anyone. They currently rank as the #1 overall
defensive team in the nation, as well as #1 against the pass. They have a pair of losses, to
be sure, but both setbacks were of the joke variety. The underdog in NCSt games continues
as an unbelievably profitable money maker, covering 19-OF-20! Again!
RATING: NORTH CAROLINA STATE 88
AKRON 44 - Ball State 17 - (6:00) -- Line opened at Akron minus 9½, and is now minus 10. We continue to
buck the hapless Cardinals, in the visiting role. Thus far, BallSt has a 210-34 pt deficit in
that capacity. A week ago, the Cards (+13) gave up touchdowns in 5 of their opponents'
(BowlingGreen) first 6 possessions. And they've allowed 1,127 PYs in their last 3 outings
(ATS losses of 21, 14, & 25 pts). That bodes badly in this one, as Zip QB Frye is now
cooking, & should shred that invisible overhead BallSt "D". And to make matters worse,
Akron RB Biggs is rambling (165 & 150 RYs last 2 outings). Zips don't have many opportunities
to lay the wood, so have to see a duplication of their dismantling of Buffalo.
RATING: AKRON 88
INDIANAPOLIS 37 - Jacksonville 16 - (1:00) -- Line opened at Indianapolis minus 9, and is still minus 9.
There wasn't an early line on this contest, due to the status of Jag QB Leftwich's foot, but
word is that he is a go. The fact of the matter is that although Jacksonville apparently got
back on track a week ago, after a pair of setbacks, the Jags may be overwhelmed here. The
Colts had last week off, following their 2nd consecutive wipeout, & ATS destruction, in as
many home tries. The chalk is on a 6-1-1 spread run, when Indy takes the field, & remember
that the Colts amassed 28 FDs & 446 yds in their only loss, their opening week setback
at mighty NewEngland. Manning, James, Harrison, etc, deny Jag revenge shot.
RATING: INDIANAPOLIS 88
NEAR CHOICES (Rated 87): California, Wake Forest, Auburn, Purdue - NFL: NY Giants, Arizona, Denver
LINE MOVES (from largest to smallest move): Texas A&M (-13½ to -18); Louisville (-24 to -27); ColoradoSt
(-2 to -4½); Indiana (+16 to +14); Pittsburgh (-3½ to -5½); LaTech (Pick to -2); WestVirginia (-14½ to -16);
Texas (-1 to -2½); Georgia (-6 to -7½); NotreDame (-5½ to -7); Miami-Ohio (-22 to -23½); Toledo (-23½ to -
25) - NFL: NewEngland (-5½ to -6½). - TIME CHANGES: Wyoming/ColoSt: now 9:30 Friday; Oklahoma/
Kansas: now 1:00 Saturday; Minnesota/Illinois: 2:00; Missouri/OklahomaSt: 3:30; TexasTech/Texas: 7:00;
Georgia/Arkansas: 7:00; AirForce/Byu: 3:00; NoIllinois/WestMich: 3:00; Virginia/Duke: 1:00; Utah/Unlv: 7:00;
KansasSt/Nebraska: 2:10; MiamiFla/NoCarolinaSt: 7:45; SoCalifornia/Washington: 6:30; IowaSt/Baylor: 3:05;
NewMexico/SanDiegoSt: 6:30; Tennessee/Alabama: 3:30; BoiseSt/FresnoSt: 10:15...
RED SHEET ONLINE
RATINGS: 89 & ABOVE: SUPERIOR PLAY
88 & BELOW: ABOVE AVERAGE PLAY
Phille Steele Power Plays 4* (8-2 Last Week) Wisconson Texas A&M Auburn Notre Dame Florida St Kansas St USC Akron California Iowa St Middle Tenn LSU Ny Giants New England
I have used the infomation others have provided so here's a little payback for peoples hard work
SPORTS REPORTER
College
Super Best Bet
Wake Forest over Florida State by 7
Best Bets
Connecticut over Temple by 29
Purdue over Michigan by 17
Oregon over Stanford by 8
Recommended
Penn State over Iowa by 9
Maryland over Clemson by 4
Texas Tech over Texas by 7
NC State over Miami by 1
Akron over Ball State by 17
Houston over TCU by 3
Cincinnati over Memphis by 3
Florida Atlantic over La.Monroe by 21
PROS
Best Bet
NYG over Detroit by 17
Arizona over Seattle by 6
Recommended
Indy over Jacksonville by 16
Minnesota over Tennessee by 13
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