Just gonna bang this one out real quick. I’m leaving work early to head to Syracuse for the Suns/Nuggets game which will be followed by what might be the busiest weekend in the history of the sports fan. More details to come next week.
The picks:
Connecticut at Rutgers (+1.5):
Wouldn’t it be nice if this was just a pillow fight to see who was less of a doormat in the conference? Instead, we have a one-loss team coming off a pasting at Chapel Hill taking on a one-win team coming off a couple close losses in the conference. I feel like the Huskies aren’t as good as their 5-1 record and the Knights aren’t quite as bad as their 1-5 record, but I think this year’s trends hold. UConn will grind it out and play solid defense, try not to get every punt blocked and pull out a close win.
Final score: Connecticut 20, Rutgers 13.
Georgia Tech at Clemson (+3):
Call me crazy, but I think GT is in trouble here. CJ Spiller won’t play which hurts the Clemson rushing attack, but James Davis is talented enough to carry the load. Feed him the ball and work in some efficient throws for Willy Korn to keep the triple option on the sideline. The Tigers should be able to pull it out without Tommy Bowden in the way anymore and with a lot to prove to validate even a little of the preseason hype.
Final score: Clemson 27, Georgia Tech 21.
Middle Tennessee at Louisville (no line at time of pick):
This was a shootout last year but I just don’t see these teams coming close to 100 points combined again. Louisville’s defense is still suspect, though, so this one could still be conducive to some scoring. MT hasn’t been lighting it up offensively but I still think they’ll punch a couple in. Cards roll, though.
Final score: Louisville 38, Middle Tennessee 20.
#23 Pittsburgh at Navy (+3):
This is exactly the kind of game we’d expect Pitt to blow in the Wannstedt Era. Navy will be out to control clock and run the Pitt defense ragged. Last year’s game produced a 48-45 double OT win for Navy, but this doesn’t seem to be the same old Pitt since getting their wake-up call from Bowling Green. Navy will get their rushing yards because that’s what Navy does, but Pitt will pick up the W.
Final score: Pittsburgh 30, Navy 21.
Week 8 Semi-Flimsy, Probably Unlikely But I’m Picking It Anyway Road Dog Upset Special
Wisconsin (+3.5) over Iowa
The Badgers are reeling after opening Big Ten play with a three-game losing streak. I’m willing to forgive the Ohio State and Penn State losses based on quality of opponent, but if they could have stopped the Buckeyes and not effed away the game at Michigan (which is becoming a worse loss every week) they’d be 5-1 and still ranked pretty high with only a loss to JoePa & Co. However, things as they are, this is a desperation game for U-Dubs. If they want to make a bowl game – period – this is a game they have to win. If they can’t beat a midpack Iowa team that scored 5 points against Iowa State, they’re done. I don’t see them rolling over this early in the season. They must win this one and they will.
Final score: Wisconsin 31, Iowa 17.
And now, part one of my sports tripleheader doubleheader* on Saturday.
That's really the face of South Florida football?
Syracuse (+24) at #19 South Florida:
Apparently George Selvie is going to be back this week. Great. Thanks for resting up for a few weeks so you can try and get a couple layups against Corey Chavers and pad your sack totals.
If I’m Mitch Browning, here’s what I want to do. Run the ball right at him all game. Bury him. He’s a smaller defensive end coming back from injury, so go right after him. I’m not advocating attempting to hurt him, but we have to exploit any weakness we find. If Delone and Doug are a go this week, all the better. A power rushing attack at a potentially still gimpy pass rusher gives us a shot to keep the Grohawk on the sidelines, studying phonics or whatever rudimentary class he’s enrolled in this semester.
Speaking of containing Grothe… I know GRob says we can’t defend him the same way we did WestVa last week, but I say give it a shot. If you have such a great idea of another way to stop him, you probably should have tried it before allowing him to lead an offense averaging over 500 yards a game in his two starts against us. So I say stay with what we did last week and add a wrinkle or two to stay ahead of the opposition. What’s the worst that can happen? They torch us again? I’m comfy rolling the dice on that and seeing if this creative scheme we had last week actually has any legs.
Let’s keep it close on Saturday, men. I’ll be at the pirate ship getting sloppy.
Final score: South Florida 38, Syracuse 17.
*Just received email notification that there has been a time change for one of the events for Saturday, which is now in direct conflict with another. Thanks for sucking ass, Dodgers.
