Line Crusher Team
I am new to the team, so let me tell you what I do. I don't run through all the spreads, but I focus on the Big Ten and a few others. I don't make picks early in the week, but I do post my thoughts on initial picks. Spreads change, so inturn picks may change. As information becomes available, picks change. My point is that intital picks are just first glances. If you decide to use them and they workout, great. However, if you want a better chance wait for the end of the week.
Last week we hit big with my Friday night picks of Penn State, Iowa and Auburn/under. Put together with Line-Crusher's picks, we did really good.
This week 9 Initial picks and thoughts:
Big 10
Indiana +17: Iowa has just come off of a big game. A close game. The loss of their work horse running back, look for them to really work the run game. QB play is good for Iowa too. However, Indiana has a lot of players that are out for injury, but are Prob. However, Indiana will try to play spoiler and work the clock. Iowa will win, but not by -17. The only team Iowa put more the -17 up on was Iowa St. Watch the line on this one. Good chance of change.
Purdue +6.5: Purdue is a great team, they have the potential to win this game out-right. Wisonsin is coming off a bye week that was much needed from the big games with Ohio St. and Iowa. Which they lost. However, Wisonsin is not in the hole like Purdue. Purdue needs to win 3 out of the next 4, at Wisonsin, at Michigan, Michigan State, and at Indiana, to go to a bowl. They have the team to do it too. I think Purdue will hand Wisonsin their third start loss, but if not they will cover this spread.
Michigan State -3.5: MSU is coming off a close loss and no doubt they are still wondering how they heck Iowa screwed up their story book night. However, they will show how good they are this week. Minnesota is down a great wide receiver, but I believe that he wouldn't make a difference anyway. If Cousins plays for MSU, easy pick. If not, MSU is still a good bet.
Penn State -14: Penn State is just that good. Their defense is one of the best and their offense can put up the yards. Northwestern just barely beat Indiana last week.
Michigan -7: Michigan needs this win to go to a bowl. Next on their schedule is Purdue, at Wisconsin, and Ohio State. Illinois, is just not the team were last year. They have yet to show up to a Big 10 game. They points they allow in a game compared to the points that they field is greater them 7. Also, they have yet to loss a game by a margin of 7 or less. The trend will continue.
Outside the Big 10
UTEP -7: UAB has a quarterback and... thats about it. UAB has been on the road for the last two weeks and then to travel to west Texas; this team is tired. UAB's big win against Southern Miss is long in the past. UTEP is not much better, but the edge will have to go to UTEP. UTEP is more rounded, UAB is a QB.
Mississippi -3.5: Aurburn is on the down spin. It needs to get its offense back on track. However, Mississippi is back in the position where they are comfortable. They are not in the hunt for the SEC crown and all they have to do is play ball. They will against Auburn and Snead will have a great game too. With Todd playing for Auburn, I think they will stuggle. This will not be a blowout game, but look for Mississippi to cover.
Flordia -14.5: Flordia is good, but as we saw last week, when they don't have their head in the game they can be beat. Flordia will open things back up against Georgia. They have had them in their minds for two weeks. Georgia is just not Georgia this year. They are not well rounded and they need to be have a chance against be Flordia. Flordia's Defense is going to have a field day. Look for Tebow to saw that he is still one of the greats and Flordia will not come away from this cocktail party without a hangover.
I am new to the team, so let me tell you what I do. I don't run through all the spreads, but I focus on the Big Ten and a few others. I don't make picks early in the week, but I do post my thoughts on initial picks. Spreads change, so inturn picks may change. As information becomes available, picks change. My point is that intital picks are just first glances. If you decide to use them and they workout, great. However, if you want a better chance wait for the end of the week.
Last week we hit big with my Friday night picks of Penn State, Iowa and Auburn/under. Put together with Line-Crusher's picks, we did really good.
This week 9 Initial picks and thoughts:
Big 10
Indiana +17: Iowa has just come off of a big game. A close game. The loss of their work horse running back, look for them to really work the run game. QB play is good for Iowa too. However, Indiana has a lot of players that are out for injury, but are Prob. However, Indiana will try to play spoiler and work the clock. Iowa will win, but not by -17. The only team Iowa put more the -17 up on was Iowa St. Watch the line on this one. Good chance of change.
Purdue +6.5: Purdue is a great team, they have the potential to win this game out-right. Wisonsin is coming off a bye week that was much needed from the big games with Ohio St. and Iowa. Which they lost. However, Wisonsin is not in the hole like Purdue. Purdue needs to win 3 out of the next 4, at Wisonsin, at Michigan, Michigan State, and at Indiana, to go to a bowl. They have the team to do it too. I think Purdue will hand Wisonsin their third start loss, but if not they will cover this spread.
Michigan State -3.5: MSU is coming off a close loss and no doubt they are still wondering how they heck Iowa screwed up their story book night. However, they will show how good they are this week. Minnesota is down a great wide receiver, but I believe that he wouldn't make a difference anyway. If Cousins plays for MSU, easy pick. If not, MSU is still a good bet.
Penn State -14: Penn State is just that good. Their defense is one of the best and their offense can put up the yards. Northwestern just barely beat Indiana last week.
Michigan -7: Michigan needs this win to go to a bowl. Next on their schedule is Purdue, at Wisconsin, and Ohio State. Illinois, is just not the team were last year. They have yet to show up to a Big 10 game. They points they allow in a game compared to the points that they field is greater them 7. Also, they have yet to loss a game by a margin of 7 or less. The trend will continue.
New Mexico State +44: I am a big OSU fan and I never play my pick for this game. It ruins the game for me. However, New Mexico State is coming off another loss and have marked this game on the schedule. They will come out playing hard. OSU has to use this game a as a practice. They need to get their offense in line before next weeks Penn State game and then the Iowa game the week after. With Herron and Saine banged up look for Pryor to practice his pocket passing and their young backs to get some experience. OSU doesn't want to have anyone else hurt with another BIG 10 title hanging in sight. Look for play to last about 2 to 2.5 quarters and then simple and clock eating plays to be run.
Outside the Big 10
UTEP -7: UAB has a quarterback and... thats about it. UAB has been on the road for the last two weeks and then to travel to west Texas; this team is tired. UAB's big win against Southern Miss is long in the past. UTEP is not much better, but the edge will have to go to UTEP. UTEP is more rounded, UAB is a QB.
Mississippi -3.5: Aurburn is on the down spin. It needs to get its offense back on track. However, Mississippi is back in the position where they are comfortable. They are not in the hunt for the SEC crown and all they have to do is play ball. They will against Auburn and Snead will have a great game too. With Todd playing for Auburn, I think they will stuggle. This will not be a blowout game, but look for Mississippi to cover.
Flordia -14.5: Flordia is good, but as we saw last week, when they don't have their head in the game they can be beat. Flordia will open things back up against Georgia. They have had them in their minds for two weeks. Georgia is just not Georgia this year. They are not well rounded and they need to be have a chance against be Flordia. Flordia's Defense is going to have a field day. Look for Tebow to saw that he is still one of the greats and Flordia will not come away from this cocktail party without a hangover.