College football is a tough nut to crack this weekend. Most of the big games are hairier than Robin Williams, and a lot of the top teams haven't even had a nationally televised games yet. My strategy in college football is to take the home team whenever possible, don't bet on games you are emotionally invested in, and crack is only a weekend drug. Remember that, Miami Hurricanes.
That being said:
~SEC conference openers are always tough, but I'm taking FLORIDA (-7) to cover over Tennessee this weekend at home. It looks like Tebow is for real from what I've seen so far, and I could use the Tenneesse defense to strain my spaghetti. I don't think Cal is as special as everyone else does yet, and the Vols looked like the Cleveland Browns bench against the Golden Bears. I have Florida pulling away late and making everyone think "Huh, maybe last year's champions should be in this year's title talk, huh?"
~I'm going to go out on a limb so far from the tree that it will even blow Stanford's collective mind: Michigan. Notre Dame is starting the 108th boyscout troop at QB, and no matter how much I have enjoyed the suffering of the Wolverines so far, I can't imagine them losing a third straight game at home to open a season. That has never happened, and for the sake of the Great Lakes Area Suicide Hotline, I hope it never does. I'm taking MICHIGAN, even (-8) to beat the Cryin' Irish this weekend in the Big House.
~I know Oregon looked good trouncing Big Blue, but (-16) this weekend over a Fresno State team that hung 40+ points on Texas A&M? Uh, no. I'll take FRESNO STATE, a team that can handle the Ducks' spread if they can manage to shield their eyes from the glare reflecting off of their god-awful uniforms.
And in the NFL...
~Speaking of the Browns, I can't believe they're only laying 7 to the Bengals. I'll take CINCINNATI to hang 30 plus on Cleveland. This is a game where I'd happily take the OVER, too, at 41.
~Even if the Giants weren't starting Andre the Giant at QB, and missing him at RB, I'd take the Packers (+1) to go into New Yawk and pull out the win. The Green Bay defense is for real, the Giants' secondary is so suspect even Brett Favre could find a hole in it, and... well, that's pretty much the story of this game.
~Lastly, I'm taking the CHARGERS (+3.5) against the Pats in New England. I don't buy into the notion that all the drama this week is going to be a distraction for New England, but I don't think it's going to matter. San Diego looked solid against the Bears. I think this is going to be a high-scoring game, even though the San Diego rushing defense is pretty solid.
Comments (1)
Even though I'm a Giants fan, I agree that the Packers seem to have pulled a decent team together. I've been a Brett Favre fan since I saw a game his rookie year and realized what a talent he was, so I have no problems picking the Packers over my Giants. Besides, they beat the Eagles last week, and that was a good thing, all around.
It shows how weak the Giants are that the potential loss of Eli Manning and the actual loss of Brandon Jacobs has placed the entire season in jeopardy. This is what happened to the Jets a couple of times in recent years when season-ending injuries to Vinny Testaverde and Chad Pennington in the first game of the season turned a promising season into a complete disaster. And both NY teams saw injuries top their quarterbacks in game 1. It makes me wish the NFL didn't have a rule which prevented the networks from showing alternate games opposite the Giants and Jets games. When both local teams suck, we are stuck with a bunch of crappy games. . . .
What's your take on the USC-Nebraska game? That might be one actually worth watching. . . .
I was disappointed to learn that the Patriots were cheating. Why would they bother, especially since they are better than most of the competition, including their week one opponent (the Jets)? Cheating like that only tarnishes the success they have had, much as the allegations that Cardinals pitcher-turned-outfielder Rick Ankiel--who is the best story in all of baseball this year--used HGH in 2004-2005 has tarnished the great story of his reemergence as a bona fide hitter and fielder. Regardless of the scandal and Bill Belichik's $500K payment to the NFL commissioner, I think the Patriots are the best team in the AFC this year. The Chargers looked good last week, but at times their offense looked disorganized, and the Patriots defense won't be forgiving. Plus, Tom Brady is no Rex Grossman, who couldn't hang on to the ball if it were glued to his hands. (The Bears would be a serious Super Bowl team if they had a real quarterback.)
Thanks for posting your thoughts on the college and pro games. They make great reading!