CFB Week 3 In Review
Week 3 of the college football season is in the books, and a few things have become apparent. The Notre Dame defense still stinks, John David Booty is pretty good, and instant replay can still get it wrong. A quick handicapper’s review follows.
The USC Trojans held the supposedly high-powered Nebraska Cornhuskers to just 211 total yards of offense, including only 68 yards on 36 rushes, in garnering a 28-10 win Saturday in the Rose Bowl, their 36th triumph in their last 37 games. Early Southern Cal bettors missed out on the cover; the Trojans opened up as 18 ½-point favorites. But the line later moved toward Nebraska, eventually settling at around 16. USC visits Arizona this Saturday night, while the Huskers host Troy.
The Auburn Tigers could muster just 182 yards of total offense Saturday vs. LSU’s Bayou Bengals, but managed to come away with a hard-earned 7-3 win and a cover of a 3 ½-point spread as home favorites. Auburn hosts powderpuff Buffalo this Saturday, while LSU entertains in-state foe Tulane.
The Florida Gators toughed out a 21-20 win over the Tennessee Volunteers in Knoxville Saturday, holding the Vols to –11 rushing yards. But Urban Meyer’s troops were unable to help out their financial backers, failing to cover the line as four-point road chalk. The Gators host Kentucky this Saturday, while Tennessee welcomes Marshall.
Notre Dame QB Brady Quinn will have a tough time winning the Heisman Trophy after Saturday’s dismal performance against the Michigan Wolverines. But actually, the whole debacle that was a 47-21 Big Blue win wasn’t all Quinn’s fault. He did throw three interceptions, but the one that was returned for a touchdown on the game’s opening drive wasn’t really his fault, bouncing off his receiver’s shoulder pads. It was really that suspect ND defense (more specifically, the pass defense) that let down Irish backers. Michigan is now 3-0 straight up as road underdogs over the last two seasons, while Notre Dame is now 2-4 ATS as home chalk over that same span. The Wolverines host Wisconsin in the Big 10 opener for both teams this Saturday, while the Irish continue the Big 10 portion of their schedule with a visit to Michigan State.
The Miami Hurricanes scored the first touchdown of the game last Saturday at Louisville as five-point road dogs, and trailed the Cardinals just 10-7 at the half. But these are obviously not the ‘Canes of old. Louisville outscored Miami 21-0 in the second half on their way to rolling to a 31-7 win and cover. The news is not all good, though, for the Cardinals; they’ll be without their great starting QB Brian Brohm for the next month or so after he suffered a hand injury in the first half. Louisville, now without two-thirds of their very talented starting offensive backfield, visits Big 12 Kansas State Saturday, while unranked (!) Miami has this week off before hosting Houston Sept. 30.
The Oregon Ducks got two TDs, a couple of very favorable officiating calls and a blocked field goal all in the last 72 seconds to come from behind and beat the Oklahoma Sooners 34-33 Saturday in Eugene. But Oregon was unable to cover the spread as six-point home favorites. The Ducks now have a week off before visiting Arizona State Sept. 30, while the Sooners host Middle Tennessee State this Saturday.
The TCU Horned Frogs held Texas Tech without a touchdown in a 12-3 win over the Red Raiders Saturday in Fort Worth. The Frogs covered the spread as two-point home chalk, and the game easily stayed under the posted total of 54. TCU, owners of the longest winning streak in Division 1 (13 games), continues its bid for an undefeated season when they visit BYU a week from Thursday, while Texas Tech hosts Southeast Louisiana Saturday.
The five-point underdog Clemson Tigers gave up nine points on blocked kick returns Saturday night to the Florida State Seminoles, and missed two extra-point attempts of their own, but held FSU to 204 total yards and scored the game-winning TD in the last 10 seconds in a 27-20 Bowden Bowl victory.
The Boston College Eagles salvaged a push for their financial backers Saturday with a 30-23 double-OT win over the feisty BYU Cougars as seven-point home favorites. The teams combined for 1,018 yards of total offense. BC visits North Carolina State Saturday night, while BYU hosts Utah State.
Big favorites overall had a pretty good week. Of the eight teams favored by 23 points or more, six (Minnesota, Ohio State, Virginia Tech, Texas, Alabama and Oklahoma State) covered the spread. Only Northern Illinois (-23 over Buffalo) and Texas A&M (-27 over Army) didn’t cover the bigger numbers of the day.
The USA Today’s Top 10 (excluding the No. 4 Auburn vs. No. 7 LSU matchup) went 6-2 straight up last week, 4-3-1 (we’ll call the USC win a push) against the spread.
By: Chance Harper
Week 3 of the college football season is in the books, and a few things have become apparent. The Notre Dame defense still stinks, John David Booty is pretty good, and instant replay can still get it wrong. A quick handicapper’s review follows.
The USC Trojans held the supposedly high-powered Nebraska Cornhuskers to just 211 total yards of offense, including only 68 yards on 36 rushes, in garnering a 28-10 win Saturday in the Rose Bowl, their 36th triumph in their last 37 games. Early Southern Cal bettors missed out on the cover; the Trojans opened up as 18 ½-point favorites. But the line later moved toward Nebraska, eventually settling at around 16. USC visits Arizona this Saturday night, while the Huskers host Troy.
The Auburn Tigers could muster just 182 yards of total offense Saturday vs. LSU’s Bayou Bengals, but managed to come away with a hard-earned 7-3 win and a cover of a 3 ½-point spread as home favorites. Auburn hosts powderpuff Buffalo this Saturday, while LSU entertains in-state foe Tulane.
The Florida Gators toughed out a 21-20 win over the Tennessee Volunteers in Knoxville Saturday, holding the Vols to –11 rushing yards. But Urban Meyer’s troops were unable to help out their financial backers, failing to cover the line as four-point road chalk. The Gators host Kentucky this Saturday, while Tennessee welcomes Marshall.
Notre Dame QB Brady Quinn will have a tough time winning the Heisman Trophy after Saturday’s dismal performance against the Michigan Wolverines. But actually, the whole debacle that was a 47-21 Big Blue win wasn’t all Quinn’s fault. He did throw three interceptions, but the one that was returned for a touchdown on the game’s opening drive wasn’t really his fault, bouncing off his receiver’s shoulder pads. It was really that suspect ND defense (more specifically, the pass defense) that let down Irish backers. Michigan is now 3-0 straight up as road underdogs over the last two seasons, while Notre Dame is now 2-4 ATS as home chalk over that same span. The Wolverines host Wisconsin in the Big 10 opener for both teams this Saturday, while the Irish continue the Big 10 portion of their schedule with a visit to Michigan State.
The Miami Hurricanes scored the first touchdown of the game last Saturday at Louisville as five-point road dogs, and trailed the Cardinals just 10-7 at the half. But these are obviously not the ‘Canes of old. Louisville outscored Miami 21-0 in the second half on their way to rolling to a 31-7 win and cover. The news is not all good, though, for the Cardinals; they’ll be without their great starting QB Brian Brohm for the next month or so after he suffered a hand injury in the first half. Louisville, now without two-thirds of their very talented starting offensive backfield, visits Big 12 Kansas State Saturday, while unranked (!) Miami has this week off before hosting Houston Sept. 30.
The Oregon Ducks got two TDs, a couple of very favorable officiating calls and a blocked field goal all in the last 72 seconds to come from behind and beat the Oklahoma Sooners 34-33 Saturday in Eugene. But Oregon was unable to cover the spread as six-point home favorites. The Ducks now have a week off before visiting Arizona State Sept. 30, while the Sooners host Middle Tennessee State this Saturday.
The TCU Horned Frogs held Texas Tech without a touchdown in a 12-3 win over the Red Raiders Saturday in Fort Worth. The Frogs covered the spread as two-point home chalk, and the game easily stayed under the posted total of 54. TCU, owners of the longest winning streak in Division 1 (13 games), continues its bid for an undefeated season when they visit BYU a week from Thursday, while Texas Tech hosts Southeast Louisiana Saturday.
The five-point underdog Clemson Tigers gave up nine points on blocked kick returns Saturday night to the Florida State Seminoles, and missed two extra-point attempts of their own, but held FSU to 204 total yards and scored the game-winning TD in the last 10 seconds in a 27-20 Bowden Bowl victory.
The Boston College Eagles salvaged a push for their financial backers Saturday with a 30-23 double-OT win over the feisty BYU Cougars as seven-point home favorites. The teams combined for 1,018 yards of total offense. BC visits North Carolina State Saturday night, while BYU hosts Utah State.
Big favorites overall had a pretty good week. Of the eight teams favored by 23 points or more, six (Minnesota, Ohio State, Virginia Tech, Texas, Alabama and Oklahoma State) covered the spread. Only Northern Illinois (-23 over Buffalo) and Texas A&M (-27 over Army) didn’t cover the bigger numbers of the day.
The USA Today’s Top 10 (excluding the No. 4 Auburn vs. No. 7 LSU matchup) went 6-2 straight up last week, 4-3-1 (we’ll call the USC win a push) against the spread.
By: Chance Harper
