Louisville curb stomped Kentucky 41-0 Bowl Season is underway and my confidence picks are off to a good start. I’ve only lost one with 5 points allocated. I currently sit at 7th in max remaining points - out of 68. It probably won’t hold but I’ll bask in the glory for now.
Time to make some investments in individual games. Over Championship week I went a devastating 1-4 to bring the overall record under .500 for the first time at 24-26. I blame the Thanksgiving caloric overload.
Plenty of games left to get back the winning side of the ledger, starting with:
Louisville -11.5 vs Toledo – The Rockets have a history of punching above their weight. They started the season with a close loss to an SEC team in Kentucky. But they are dealing with a huge turnover in the coaching staff. HC Jason Candle is leaving for UConn, DC Vince Kehres has left for Syracuse, while Co-DC Ross Watson has left for Iowa State. Add to that Special teams coordinator Stanton Weber has left for Kansas State. The staff is so depleted that several graduate assistants are expected to step up and play bigger roles.
With all the coaches leaving, the players are opting out too as well as their starting QB out with n injury. Freshman QB Kalieb Osborne will get the nod. He was unimpressive in his first start against Central Michigan
Louisville’s coaching staff is intact despite several programs trying to woo HC Jeff Brohm. Louisville is missing some key players too but has the depth that a MAC school does not. And by the way, Toledo may have lost to Kentucky, Louisville destroyed them 41-0 to finish out the regular season.
It’s a big spread but Toledo is just too depleted to keep up.
Time to make some investments in individual games. Over Championship week I went a devastating 1-4 to bring the overall record under .500 for the first time at 24-26. I blame the Thanksgiving caloric overload.
Plenty of games left to get back the winning side of the ledger, starting with:
Louisville -11.5 vs Toledo – The Rockets have a history of punching above their weight. They started the season with a close loss to an SEC team in Kentucky. But they are dealing with a huge turnover in the coaching staff. HC Jason Candle is leaving for UConn, DC Vince Kehres has left for Syracuse, while Co-DC Ross Watson has left for Iowa State. Add to that Special teams coordinator Stanton Weber has left for Kansas State. The staff is so depleted that several graduate assistants are expected to step up and play bigger roles.
With all the coaches leaving, the players are opting out too as well as their starting QB out with n injury. Freshman QB Kalieb Osborne will get the nod. He was unimpressive in his first start against Central Michigan
Louisville’s coaching staff is intact despite several programs trying to woo HC Jeff Brohm. Louisville is missing some key players too but has the depth that a MAC school does not. And by the way, Toledo may have lost to Kentucky, Louisville destroyed them 41-0 to finish out the regular season.
It’s a big spread but Toledo is just too depleted to keep up.
Charlie Huff stayed a year at USM and then said his goodbyes before heading to Memphis Western Kentucky ML vs Southern Miss (+102) – Unlike the first game, there are very few opt outs in this game. But there is one big one, Southern Miss HC Charlie Huff came from Marshall last year and did a one and sone at USM. He’s headed off to Memphis. This time though, his players that came from Marshall won’t be following him. Blake Andersen will be the HC for the Bowl. Andersen was HC at Utah State before getting canned for not reporting sexual misconduct by his players.
I’m going with Western Kentucky’s more explosive offense (USM’s longest running play was 27 yards) and better defense to win a tight game. WKU can also sustain drives ranking 32nd in 3rd down conversion, USM was 113th is getting of the field on third down.
UNLV vs Ohio Under 64.5– At the end of the regular season, Ohio suspended their HC Brian Smith. No reason was given at the time. Now we know. He was fired for banging a co-ed as well as putting a little extra in his coffee.
At least he didn’t grab some knives and threaten his undergrad girl friend and get arrested. Got to step up your game Ohio. Michigan has set the bar. DC John Hauser will take the reins today.
These teams are very similar in one way. The defenses are next level bad. Defense is considered something to do while the offense gets a breather. That said the total has inched up just a bit too high.
UNLV has cashed the Under in four of its last five games and this game will be played at a methodical pace as neither team pushes the tempo (UNLV 89th in plays per minute, Ohio 101st).
I’m going with Western Kentucky’s more explosive offense (USM’s longest running play was 27 yards) and better defense to win a tight game. WKU can also sustain drives ranking 32nd in 3rd down conversion, USM was 113th is getting of the field on third down.
UNLV vs Ohio Under 64.5– At the end of the regular season, Ohio suspended their HC Brian Smith. No reason was given at the time. Now we know. He was fired for banging a co-ed as well as putting a little extra in his coffee.
At least he didn’t grab some knives and threaten his undergrad girl friend and get arrested. Got to step up your game Ohio. Michigan has set the bar. DC John Hauser will take the reins today.
These teams are very similar in one way. The defenses are next level bad. Defense is considered something to do while the offense gets a breather. That said the total has inched up just a bit too high.
UNLV has cashed the Under in four of its last five games and this game will be played at a methodical pace as neither team pushes the tempo (UNLV 89th in plays per minute, Ohio 101st).
