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HAPPY THANKSGIVING (THE TURKEY SHOOTOUT)
NFL
(1) WASHINGTON/DALLAS OVER 34
NCAA
(3) ARKANSAS -5
(2) MISSISSIPPI STATE +9.5 pending do not play yet!
(2) TEXAS A&M +14
(2) ARKANSAS/LSU UNDER 43
(2) COLORADO/NEBRASKA OVER 53
(1) COLORADO -1.5
DETAILED ANALYSIS
WASHINGTON (5 - 6) at DALLAS (4 - 7)
Week 13 Thursday, 11/28/2002 4:05 PM
Steve Spurrier already understands the rivalry between the Skins & Cowboys. With their brash coach getting his introduction to one of football's best rivalries, the Redskins try to snap a nine-game losing streak against the Cowboys when the teams meet on Thanksgiving at Texas Stadium. When he was introduced as Redskins coach on January 14, Spurrier showed his flamboyant nature, wasting little time in calling out the Cowboys. "I've already told (Redskins owner) Daniel Snyder that the first game ball I'm going to give him is after we play the Cowboys ," Spurrier said. "I've learned that's a game that the fans really want to win and I'll do my part to see that's a game we win." That had to be music to the ears of Snyder and Redskins fans, who have watched the Cowboys begin to dominate the bitter NFC East rivalry. Since becoming the Redskins' owner in 1999, Daniel Snyder has yet to taste victory against Dallas' boisterous owner Jerry Jones, with his team losing all six games. The Redskins have not beat the Cowboys since a 21-16 victory at Washington in October 1997.
The Cowboys have participated in 34 Thanksgiving games since 1966, posting a 21-12-1 record. But they have lost four of their last five games on the holiday. In last season's meeting here, Tim Seder kicked a 28-yard field goal as time expired, giving the Cowboys a 9-7 victory. The Cowboys completed the season sweep in Washington as Emmitt Smith rushed for 102 yards and a touchdown in a 20-14 victory. On Sunday, the Cowboys finally got their offense going and snapped a four-game losing streak with a 21-19 victory over the Jags. Chad Hutchinson led the way, passing for 301 yards and two touchdowns. It was just the third time in 11 games this season that Dallas scored over 14 points. Dallas is in last place in the division, but only a game back of Washington.
Spurrier's fourth quarterback change of the season proved to be the right one as the Redskins posted a surprising 20-17 victory over the St. Louis Rams. Danny Wuerffel rewarded Spurrier's faith, playing a mistake-free game, completing 16-of-23 passes for 235 yards. Stephen Davis carried the load on the ground, rushing for 88 yards and three touchdowns. Low and behold, the Redskins (5-6 SU, defeated the Rams 20-17 Sunday, giving coach Steve Spurrier an improbable victory based on defense, ball control and an error-free game from Danny Wuerffel. Stephen Davis scored three touchdowns and ran for 88 yards on 31 carries for the Skins. Chad Hutchinson completed 16 of 24 passes, leading Dallas to a 21-19 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday. The Cowboys scoring drives covered 99, 69 and 65 yards, giving Dallas (4-7 SU, ) three offensive touchdowns for the first time this season. Joey Galloway caught seven passes for 144 yards and both touchdowns. Emmitt Smith ran 20 times for 73 yards and a touchdown and Hambrick had 38 yards on four carries. Neither team is going anyplace but this game should provide good nap-time after Thanksgiving dinner. Redskins won both a year ago, and should be enough offense to go OVER.
Projected Score: Washington 21, Dallas 17
PLAY 1* UNIT ON THE OVER 34
MISSISSIPPI ST (3 - 8) at MISSISSIPPI (5 - 6)
Week 14 Thursday, 11/28/2002 7:45 PM
Mississippi State has struggled badly this season at 3-8 SU/3-7 ATS. Jackie Sherrills team has looked unimpressive most of the year, and they are getting outscored by a 28-19 average. They did show some life last week in a 26-19 loss to Arkansas, rallying late to get an ATS cover. RB Justin Griffith ran 13 times for 72 yards for the Bulldogs, while quarterback Kyle York tossed a pair of touchdown passes in relief of Kevin Fant. York for the season has 3 touchdowns and 10 interceptions while completing 48% of his passes. Ole Miss has fallen hard the last month. The Rebels have lost five in a row after last weeks frustrating 14-13 loss to LSU. QB Eli Manning has been strong (18 TDs, 13 INTs) and the team averages 27 points per game. They have no balance with 98 yards rushing, 265 yards passing per game. Its Eli or nothing. The defense is also problem, allowing 27 ppg. The defense has give up 42, 48, 31, 31 and 14 points the last five games, all losses. A year ago, Mississippi State won 36-28 as a dog, but two years ago on this same field, Manning and Ole Miss went wild in a 45-30 win as a +6 dog. In analyizing this game there is just simply no way the Ole Miss is 9.5 points better than its opponent. My line insdicated that Ole Miss should be favored by at most a touchdown. I'm taking the added value in this game, I have to, its Thanksgiving and I have to gamble!
Projected Score: Mississippi 30, Miss St 27
PLAY 2* UNITS ON MISSISSIPPI STATE +9.5
TEXAS A&M (6 - 5) at TEXAS (9 - 2)
Week 14 Friday, 11/29/2002 12:00 PM
Chris Simms makes his last home appearance Friday when 10th-ranked Texas hosts Texas A&M in their traditional regular season finale. Simms will finish in the top five on Texas' all-time list in every major passing category and needs one victory to become the first quarterback to lead the Longhorns to consecutive 10-win campaigns. Texas (9-2, 5-2 Big 12 South) has not strung together two straight 10-win seasons since capturing back-to-back national championships under Darrell Royal in 1969 and 1970. But like his coach, Mack Brown, Simms has been criticized for not being able to win a big game. Any lingering national championship hopes for Texas were dashed in a 42-38 loss to Texas Tech on November 16. But Simms could not blamed for the defeat as the Longhorns' defense allowed Texas Tech's Kliff Kingsbury to pass for 473 yards and a Big 12 Conference-record six touchdown passes. Simms has led Texas to a 24-6 record as a starter. He ranks fifth on the Longhorns' all-time list for wins. Texas, which is riding an 18-game home winning streak, is looking to finish unbeaten at Memorial Stadium for the third straight season and the fourth time in five years under Brown.
Texas A&M (6-5, 3-4) has endured a disappointing campaign and can avoid only its second non-winning season in 14 years under R.C. Slocum with a win on Friday. The Aggies went 6-6 in 1996. The highlight of Texas A&M's season came on November 9, when it shocked Oklahoma, 30-26, a loss that could cost the Sooners a shot at the national championship. But the Aggies suffered a classic letdown and fell at home to Missouri, 33-27, in overtime the following week. Texas and Texas A&M are meeting for the 111th time, tied for the third-longest series in Division I-A. Friday marks the seventh straight year the game will be play on the day after Thanksgiving. Texas has won the last two meetings, including a 21-7 victory at Texas A&M last year, and leads the all-time series, 69-34-5. The teams have split the last 10 contests. The game will be especially emotional for Texas A&M after 18-year-old freshman defensive end Brandon Fails collapsed at his dorm room on Monday morning and later died. Fridays clash with the hated A&M Aggies will be Chris Simms swan song in front of the home folks. Hes had an okay career, but when you consider the excitement around his signing with the Longhorns, youd have to consider his stay in Austin, somewhat of a disappointment. Just five years ago, Mack Brown had Texas faithful believing they had all but wrapped up at least one national title just by inking the highly sought high school star. Unfortunately, Brown and Simms were never able to win the big one. Heres a chance for a little atonement. Beating A&M one more time would not be a bad consolation for Simms. The game may fall on the senior signal-callers shoulders. The Longhorns have not put together a dominant running performance in a month, and their per-carry average is on track to be the lowest in 14 years. So, we probably wont see a repeat of last years game when UT won 21-7, basically running through A&M all day with Cedric Benson. The problem for A&M in this contest is the injury to freshman QB Reggie McNeal. He was inserted in the upset win over OU a couple weeks ago after the Aggie offense looked stuck in neutral with Dustin Long under center. Defensively, look for A&M to place their safeties closer to the line of scrimmage this week, rather than drop them back to play the pass. When that happens, I expect Simms and WR Roy Williams to hook up enough to produce the WIN but not the cover.
Projected Score: Texas 30, Texas A&M 21
PLAY 2* UNITS ON TEXAS A&M +14
LSU (8 - 3) at ARKANSAS (8 - 3)
Week 14 Friday, 11/29/2002 2:30 PM
With Alabama on probation, the door is open for LSU or Arkansas to win the Southeastern Conference West title. The No. 18 Tigers face the Razorbacks on Friday at Little Rock, with the winner heading to Atlanta to play for the conference title and a berth in a major bowl game. If they were eligible for postseason play, the Crimson Tide would have already clinched the West with their 6-2 conference record that included a victory over LSU. Instead, either the Tigers (8-3, 5-2) or Razorbacks (8-3, 4-3) will be the team facing fifth-ranked Georgia at the Georgia Dome on Dec. 7. LSU would tie Alabama for the West's best record with a victory. An Arkansas win would cause a three-way tie for second among the Tigers, Razorbacks and Auburn, with Arkansas winning the tiebreaker with victories over the other two teams.
The Tigers kept alive their hopes of defending their SEC title by beating Mississippi 14-13 last Saturday. Marcus Randall came off the bench to throw a fourth-quarter touchdown pass as LSU rebounded from its 31-0 loss to Alabama a week earlier. Randall was the starter earlier this season before being benched in favor of Rick Clausen. LSU coach Nick Saban said he hasn't yet made a decision on the quarterback situation. The LSU defense bounced back to allow just 279 yards and one touchdown against Ole Miss. The Tigers had the nation's top-ranked defense before yielding 477 yards and four touchdowns against Alabama.
"LSU has a great football team," Arkansas coach Houston Nutt said. "They're great on both sides of the ball: great skill, great lineman, great speed and great special teams. It's no secret. "On defense they don't give up very much, that's why they're second or third in the country (actually fifth). There is a reason why they're the defending SEC champions." Arkansas has won five straight and is 6-1 since its six-overtime loss to Tennessee on Oct. 5. Freshman De'Arruis Howard ran for a career-high 121 yards and the Razorbacks held off a Mississippi State rally in a 26-19 victory last Saturday. The Razorbacks intercepted two passes and did not commit a turnover. Their plus-21 turnover margin is tied for the best in the nation and could be a key in Friday's game. LSU is in the middle of the pack nationally, forcing 23 turnovers but committing 22. "They have been hard to take the ball way from and they gave been very opportunistic on defense and special teams in getting the ball back," Saban said. "I think turnovers and big plays are the biggest factor of outcomes of games, so we cannot give them any opportunities. "It is going to be really important that we do not turn the ball over, and if we create turnovers then that will be an advantage for us in the game."
LSU leads the series 29-16-2 and has won six of the last eight meetings. However, Arkansas has won the last two meetings at War Memorial Stadium. Look for a lot of running and tough defense in this game. A young LSU team (8-3 SU, 5-5 ATS) bounced back from a 31-0 train-wreck against red-hot Alabama with a 14-13 comeback win over Mississippi last week. The running game is still very talented with Domanick Davis and Labrandon Toefield and the defense has played exceptionally well (16 ppg). LSU has also been lucky, pulling out a miraculous 33-30 win at Kentucky on a 75-yard tipped TD pass on the games final play! Arkansas (8-3 SU, 6-5 ATS) loves to run the football behind RB Fred Talley and running QB Matt Jones. The Razorbacks average 240 yards rushing per game and outscored teams by a 30-18 average. Theyve won 5 in a row (2-3 ATS) and followed a 23-0 shutout at South Carolina with a 24-17 win over Lafayette and a 26-19 win over Mississippi State. Both teams love great defense and ball control. Dont look for a game similar to last year, a 41-38 LSU win. Two years ago on this same field, Arkansas won 14-3. Deja Vu!
Projected Score: Arkansas 20, LSU 14
PLAY 3* UNITS ON ARKANSAS -5
PLAY 2* UNITS ON THE UNDER 43
COLORADO (8 - 3) at NEBRASKA (7 - 5)
Week 14 Friday, 11/29/2002 3:30 PM
Colorado has already clinched its second straight Big 12 North crown. But the Buffaloes still have one more goal to accomplish before meeting Oklahoma in the conference title game. The 13th-ranked Buffaloes (8-3, 6-1 Big 12) look to notch their first win in Lincoln, Neb. in more than a decade when they take on struggling Nebraska (7-5, 3-4) at Memorial Stadium. "It's a big game for our program, our state, our fans, boosters and supporters," Buffaloes coach Gary Barnett said. "We have not beaten Nebraska in Lincoln since 1990 so we know what a difficult task that is." Behind Eric Bieniemy's four fourth-quarter touchdowns, Colorado enjoyed a 27-12 win over No. 2 Nebraska that season, paving the way for Colorado's first and only national championship. The Cornhuskers have won five straight at home since that setback, which was also the last time Colorado celebrated consecutive triumphs over Nebraska. The Buffaloes are in position to win back-to-back contests after rolling to a 62-36 victory in last year's matchup against then-No. 2 Nebraska, ending the Cornhuskers' nine-game win streak in the series. Nebraska has won only seven of 14 games since that debacle. "That was a devastating game for us at the end of the year," Huskers coach Frank Solich said, "but I don't think that had a great carry-over effect." Yet, the Buffaloes feel they can prolong Nebraska's woes. "It won't feel like a complete season until we beat Nebraska," Buffs wide receiver Derek McCoy said. Colorado opened the season with a 1-2 record, but has since won seven of eight games. Its lone loss during the stretch came in mid-September - a 27-11 road loss at No. 3 Oklahoma. Despite the three disappointments, the Buffaloes clinched the North Division title with 41-27 win over fading Iowa State on Nov. 16. However, Colorado tailback Chris Brown, who rushed for 127 yards and a touchdown, left the game with a bruised sternum and his status for Friday's contest remains uncertain. "I don't feel great about his chances," Barnett said. "Chris wants to play, and if Chris can play we will let him. ... He's a game time decision." The Doak Walker Award and Heisman Trophy candidate is third in the nation in rushing with 1,744 yards. He is averaging 6.3 yards per carry, 158.6 yards per game and has scored 18 touchdowns. While Colorado can clinch its second Bowl Championship Series bid in as many seasons with a victory, Nebraska is looking to take another step in preserving a proud, unprecedented streak.
Though the Cornhuskers have lost more games than any Nebraska team since 1961, and will finish with a non-winning conference record for the first time since 1968, they still can stretch their trend of nine-win seasons to 34 straight years. But they'll need to beat the Buffaloes and then win their bowl game. "It's a very big game for us for a lot of reasons," Solich said. "We're playing a great football team, for one. "Another is that our year has been an up and down one. We want to finish on a high note."
Colorado HC Gary Barnett exposed the Huskers weakness last year in the Buffs 62-36 victory. CU ran counter-traps all day long and the NU linebackers were out of position from the opening kickoff until the final gun! Miami, Penn State, Iowa State, and Kansas State, all followed the blue print - and all 4 teams whipped Nebraska with little resistance. The Husker defensive coaches did not learn from the loss to CU, and facing one of the more powerful running games in the nation is not something NU's defense is ready to handle. Many bettors will be talking revenge this week, but we'll side with the visitor. CU has outplayed NU 3 straight seasons, but the Big Red was able to win 2 of those tilts. Colorado evens up the 4 year, run with a second straight series win. Let's reiterate, last year the score was 62-36 so we can expect another high scoring affair to cover the generous 53 posted.
Projected Score: Nebraska 31, Colorado 35
PLAY 2* UNITS ON THE OVER 53
PLAY 1* UNIT ON COLORADO -1.5
NFL
(1) WASHINGTON/DALLAS OVER 34
NCAA
(3) ARKANSAS -5
(2) MISSISSIPPI STATE +9.5 pending do not play yet!
(2) TEXAS A&M +14
(2) ARKANSAS/LSU UNDER 43
(2) COLORADO/NEBRASKA OVER 53
(1) COLORADO -1.5
DETAILED ANALYSIS
WASHINGTON (5 - 6) at DALLAS (4 - 7)
Week 13 Thursday, 11/28/2002 4:05 PM
Steve Spurrier already understands the rivalry between the Skins & Cowboys. With their brash coach getting his introduction to one of football's best rivalries, the Redskins try to snap a nine-game losing streak against the Cowboys when the teams meet on Thanksgiving at Texas Stadium. When he was introduced as Redskins coach on January 14, Spurrier showed his flamboyant nature, wasting little time in calling out the Cowboys. "I've already told (Redskins owner) Daniel Snyder that the first game ball I'm going to give him is after we play the Cowboys ," Spurrier said. "I've learned that's a game that the fans really want to win and I'll do my part to see that's a game we win." That had to be music to the ears of Snyder and Redskins fans, who have watched the Cowboys begin to dominate the bitter NFC East rivalry. Since becoming the Redskins' owner in 1999, Daniel Snyder has yet to taste victory against Dallas' boisterous owner Jerry Jones, with his team losing all six games. The Redskins have not beat the Cowboys since a 21-16 victory at Washington in October 1997.
The Cowboys have participated in 34 Thanksgiving games since 1966, posting a 21-12-1 record. But they have lost four of their last five games on the holiday. In last season's meeting here, Tim Seder kicked a 28-yard field goal as time expired, giving the Cowboys a 9-7 victory. The Cowboys completed the season sweep in Washington as Emmitt Smith rushed for 102 yards and a touchdown in a 20-14 victory. On Sunday, the Cowboys finally got their offense going and snapped a four-game losing streak with a 21-19 victory over the Jags. Chad Hutchinson led the way, passing for 301 yards and two touchdowns. It was just the third time in 11 games this season that Dallas scored over 14 points. Dallas is in last place in the division, but only a game back of Washington.
Spurrier's fourth quarterback change of the season proved to be the right one as the Redskins posted a surprising 20-17 victory over the St. Louis Rams. Danny Wuerffel rewarded Spurrier's faith, playing a mistake-free game, completing 16-of-23 passes for 235 yards. Stephen Davis carried the load on the ground, rushing for 88 yards and three touchdowns. Low and behold, the Redskins (5-6 SU, defeated the Rams 20-17 Sunday, giving coach Steve Spurrier an improbable victory based on defense, ball control and an error-free game from Danny Wuerffel. Stephen Davis scored three touchdowns and ran for 88 yards on 31 carries for the Skins. Chad Hutchinson completed 16 of 24 passes, leading Dallas to a 21-19 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday. The Cowboys scoring drives covered 99, 69 and 65 yards, giving Dallas (4-7 SU, ) three offensive touchdowns for the first time this season. Joey Galloway caught seven passes for 144 yards and both touchdowns. Emmitt Smith ran 20 times for 73 yards and a touchdown and Hambrick had 38 yards on four carries. Neither team is going anyplace but this game should provide good nap-time after Thanksgiving dinner. Redskins won both a year ago, and should be enough offense to go OVER.
Projected Score: Washington 21, Dallas 17
PLAY 1* UNIT ON THE OVER 34
MISSISSIPPI ST (3 - 8) at MISSISSIPPI (5 - 6)
Week 14 Thursday, 11/28/2002 7:45 PM
Mississippi State has struggled badly this season at 3-8 SU/3-7 ATS. Jackie Sherrills team has looked unimpressive most of the year, and they are getting outscored by a 28-19 average. They did show some life last week in a 26-19 loss to Arkansas, rallying late to get an ATS cover. RB Justin Griffith ran 13 times for 72 yards for the Bulldogs, while quarterback Kyle York tossed a pair of touchdown passes in relief of Kevin Fant. York for the season has 3 touchdowns and 10 interceptions while completing 48% of his passes. Ole Miss has fallen hard the last month. The Rebels have lost five in a row after last weeks frustrating 14-13 loss to LSU. QB Eli Manning has been strong (18 TDs, 13 INTs) and the team averages 27 points per game. They have no balance with 98 yards rushing, 265 yards passing per game. Its Eli or nothing. The defense is also problem, allowing 27 ppg. The defense has give up 42, 48, 31, 31 and 14 points the last five games, all losses. A year ago, Mississippi State won 36-28 as a dog, but two years ago on this same field, Manning and Ole Miss went wild in a 45-30 win as a +6 dog. In analyizing this game there is just simply no way the Ole Miss is 9.5 points better than its opponent. My line insdicated that Ole Miss should be favored by at most a touchdown. I'm taking the added value in this game, I have to, its Thanksgiving and I have to gamble!
Projected Score: Mississippi 30, Miss St 27
PLAY 2* UNITS ON MISSISSIPPI STATE +9.5
TEXAS A&M (6 - 5) at TEXAS (9 - 2)
Week 14 Friday, 11/29/2002 12:00 PM
Chris Simms makes his last home appearance Friday when 10th-ranked Texas hosts Texas A&M in their traditional regular season finale. Simms will finish in the top five on Texas' all-time list in every major passing category and needs one victory to become the first quarterback to lead the Longhorns to consecutive 10-win campaigns. Texas (9-2, 5-2 Big 12 South) has not strung together two straight 10-win seasons since capturing back-to-back national championships under Darrell Royal in 1969 and 1970. But like his coach, Mack Brown, Simms has been criticized for not being able to win a big game. Any lingering national championship hopes for Texas were dashed in a 42-38 loss to Texas Tech on November 16. But Simms could not blamed for the defeat as the Longhorns' defense allowed Texas Tech's Kliff Kingsbury to pass for 473 yards and a Big 12 Conference-record six touchdown passes. Simms has led Texas to a 24-6 record as a starter. He ranks fifth on the Longhorns' all-time list for wins. Texas, which is riding an 18-game home winning streak, is looking to finish unbeaten at Memorial Stadium for the third straight season and the fourth time in five years under Brown.
Texas A&M (6-5, 3-4) has endured a disappointing campaign and can avoid only its second non-winning season in 14 years under R.C. Slocum with a win on Friday. The Aggies went 6-6 in 1996. The highlight of Texas A&M's season came on November 9, when it shocked Oklahoma, 30-26, a loss that could cost the Sooners a shot at the national championship. But the Aggies suffered a classic letdown and fell at home to Missouri, 33-27, in overtime the following week. Texas and Texas A&M are meeting for the 111th time, tied for the third-longest series in Division I-A. Friday marks the seventh straight year the game will be play on the day after Thanksgiving. Texas has won the last two meetings, including a 21-7 victory at Texas A&M last year, and leads the all-time series, 69-34-5. The teams have split the last 10 contests. The game will be especially emotional for Texas A&M after 18-year-old freshman defensive end Brandon Fails collapsed at his dorm room on Monday morning and later died. Fridays clash with the hated A&M Aggies will be Chris Simms swan song in front of the home folks. Hes had an okay career, but when you consider the excitement around his signing with the Longhorns, youd have to consider his stay in Austin, somewhat of a disappointment. Just five years ago, Mack Brown had Texas faithful believing they had all but wrapped up at least one national title just by inking the highly sought high school star. Unfortunately, Brown and Simms were never able to win the big one. Heres a chance for a little atonement. Beating A&M one more time would not be a bad consolation for Simms. The game may fall on the senior signal-callers shoulders. The Longhorns have not put together a dominant running performance in a month, and their per-carry average is on track to be the lowest in 14 years. So, we probably wont see a repeat of last years game when UT won 21-7, basically running through A&M all day with Cedric Benson. The problem for A&M in this contest is the injury to freshman QB Reggie McNeal. He was inserted in the upset win over OU a couple weeks ago after the Aggie offense looked stuck in neutral with Dustin Long under center. Defensively, look for A&M to place their safeties closer to the line of scrimmage this week, rather than drop them back to play the pass. When that happens, I expect Simms and WR Roy Williams to hook up enough to produce the WIN but not the cover.
Projected Score: Texas 30, Texas A&M 21
PLAY 2* UNITS ON TEXAS A&M +14
LSU (8 - 3) at ARKANSAS (8 - 3)
Week 14 Friday, 11/29/2002 2:30 PM
With Alabama on probation, the door is open for LSU or Arkansas to win the Southeastern Conference West title. The No. 18 Tigers face the Razorbacks on Friday at Little Rock, with the winner heading to Atlanta to play for the conference title and a berth in a major bowl game. If they were eligible for postseason play, the Crimson Tide would have already clinched the West with their 6-2 conference record that included a victory over LSU. Instead, either the Tigers (8-3, 5-2) or Razorbacks (8-3, 4-3) will be the team facing fifth-ranked Georgia at the Georgia Dome on Dec. 7. LSU would tie Alabama for the West's best record with a victory. An Arkansas win would cause a three-way tie for second among the Tigers, Razorbacks and Auburn, with Arkansas winning the tiebreaker with victories over the other two teams.
The Tigers kept alive their hopes of defending their SEC title by beating Mississippi 14-13 last Saturday. Marcus Randall came off the bench to throw a fourth-quarter touchdown pass as LSU rebounded from its 31-0 loss to Alabama a week earlier. Randall was the starter earlier this season before being benched in favor of Rick Clausen. LSU coach Nick Saban said he hasn't yet made a decision on the quarterback situation. The LSU defense bounced back to allow just 279 yards and one touchdown against Ole Miss. The Tigers had the nation's top-ranked defense before yielding 477 yards and four touchdowns against Alabama.
"LSU has a great football team," Arkansas coach Houston Nutt said. "They're great on both sides of the ball: great skill, great lineman, great speed and great special teams. It's no secret. "On defense they don't give up very much, that's why they're second or third in the country (actually fifth). There is a reason why they're the defending SEC champions." Arkansas has won five straight and is 6-1 since its six-overtime loss to Tennessee on Oct. 5. Freshman De'Arruis Howard ran for a career-high 121 yards and the Razorbacks held off a Mississippi State rally in a 26-19 victory last Saturday. The Razorbacks intercepted two passes and did not commit a turnover. Their plus-21 turnover margin is tied for the best in the nation and could be a key in Friday's game. LSU is in the middle of the pack nationally, forcing 23 turnovers but committing 22. "They have been hard to take the ball way from and they gave been very opportunistic on defense and special teams in getting the ball back," Saban said. "I think turnovers and big plays are the biggest factor of outcomes of games, so we cannot give them any opportunities. "It is going to be really important that we do not turn the ball over, and if we create turnovers then that will be an advantage for us in the game."
LSU leads the series 29-16-2 and has won six of the last eight meetings. However, Arkansas has won the last two meetings at War Memorial Stadium. Look for a lot of running and tough defense in this game. A young LSU team (8-3 SU, 5-5 ATS) bounced back from a 31-0 train-wreck against red-hot Alabama with a 14-13 comeback win over Mississippi last week. The running game is still very talented with Domanick Davis and Labrandon Toefield and the defense has played exceptionally well (16 ppg). LSU has also been lucky, pulling out a miraculous 33-30 win at Kentucky on a 75-yard tipped TD pass on the games final play! Arkansas (8-3 SU, 6-5 ATS) loves to run the football behind RB Fred Talley and running QB Matt Jones. The Razorbacks average 240 yards rushing per game and outscored teams by a 30-18 average. Theyve won 5 in a row (2-3 ATS) and followed a 23-0 shutout at South Carolina with a 24-17 win over Lafayette and a 26-19 win over Mississippi State. Both teams love great defense and ball control. Dont look for a game similar to last year, a 41-38 LSU win. Two years ago on this same field, Arkansas won 14-3. Deja Vu!
Projected Score: Arkansas 20, LSU 14
PLAY 3* UNITS ON ARKANSAS -5
PLAY 2* UNITS ON THE UNDER 43
COLORADO (8 - 3) at NEBRASKA (7 - 5)
Week 14 Friday, 11/29/2002 3:30 PM
Colorado has already clinched its second straight Big 12 North crown. But the Buffaloes still have one more goal to accomplish before meeting Oklahoma in the conference title game. The 13th-ranked Buffaloes (8-3, 6-1 Big 12) look to notch their first win in Lincoln, Neb. in more than a decade when they take on struggling Nebraska (7-5, 3-4) at Memorial Stadium. "It's a big game for our program, our state, our fans, boosters and supporters," Buffaloes coach Gary Barnett said. "We have not beaten Nebraska in Lincoln since 1990 so we know what a difficult task that is." Behind Eric Bieniemy's four fourth-quarter touchdowns, Colorado enjoyed a 27-12 win over No. 2 Nebraska that season, paving the way for Colorado's first and only national championship. The Cornhuskers have won five straight at home since that setback, which was also the last time Colorado celebrated consecutive triumphs over Nebraska. The Buffaloes are in position to win back-to-back contests after rolling to a 62-36 victory in last year's matchup against then-No. 2 Nebraska, ending the Cornhuskers' nine-game win streak in the series. Nebraska has won only seven of 14 games since that debacle. "That was a devastating game for us at the end of the year," Huskers coach Frank Solich said, "but I don't think that had a great carry-over effect." Yet, the Buffaloes feel they can prolong Nebraska's woes. "It won't feel like a complete season until we beat Nebraska," Buffs wide receiver Derek McCoy said. Colorado opened the season with a 1-2 record, but has since won seven of eight games. Its lone loss during the stretch came in mid-September - a 27-11 road loss at No. 3 Oklahoma. Despite the three disappointments, the Buffaloes clinched the North Division title with 41-27 win over fading Iowa State on Nov. 16. However, Colorado tailback Chris Brown, who rushed for 127 yards and a touchdown, left the game with a bruised sternum and his status for Friday's contest remains uncertain. "I don't feel great about his chances," Barnett said. "Chris wants to play, and if Chris can play we will let him. ... He's a game time decision." The Doak Walker Award and Heisman Trophy candidate is third in the nation in rushing with 1,744 yards. He is averaging 6.3 yards per carry, 158.6 yards per game and has scored 18 touchdowns. While Colorado can clinch its second Bowl Championship Series bid in as many seasons with a victory, Nebraska is looking to take another step in preserving a proud, unprecedented streak.
Though the Cornhuskers have lost more games than any Nebraska team since 1961, and will finish with a non-winning conference record for the first time since 1968, they still can stretch their trend of nine-win seasons to 34 straight years. But they'll need to beat the Buffaloes and then win their bowl game. "It's a very big game for us for a lot of reasons," Solich said. "We're playing a great football team, for one. "Another is that our year has been an up and down one. We want to finish on a high note."
Colorado HC Gary Barnett exposed the Huskers weakness last year in the Buffs 62-36 victory. CU ran counter-traps all day long and the NU linebackers were out of position from the opening kickoff until the final gun! Miami, Penn State, Iowa State, and Kansas State, all followed the blue print - and all 4 teams whipped Nebraska with little resistance. The Husker defensive coaches did not learn from the loss to CU, and facing one of the more powerful running games in the nation is not something NU's defense is ready to handle. Many bettors will be talking revenge this week, but we'll side with the visitor. CU has outplayed NU 3 straight seasons, but the Big Red was able to win 2 of those tilts. Colorado evens up the 4 year, run with a second straight series win. Let's reiterate, last year the score was 62-36 so we can expect another high scoring affair to cover the generous 53 posted.
Projected Score: Nebraska 31, Colorado 35
PLAY 2* UNITS ON THE OVER 53
PLAY 1* UNIT ON COLORADO -1.5
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