1. #1
    Chance Harper
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    Tebow, Florida Gators good bets to rout Hawaii

    Tebow, Florida Gators good bets to rout Hawaii

    Tim Tebow will begin his quest to become just the second collegian to win two Heisman Trophies when he and the Florida Gators hit the turf in Gainesville on Saturday against the visiting, and rebuilding, Hawaii Warriors. With the current spread listing the Gators as five-TD favorites, Tebow should have a strong day and Florida should be on their way to being one of the top teams in the strong SEC.


    We’re off and running with the first week of the 2008 college football season. The excitement may be a little muted, since most of the top teams in the Football Bowl Subdivision will be playing cupcake opponents, some in matchups with no betting odds attached.

    Nonetheless, this is a great time to be a chalkeater. Favorites were 32-15 against the spread during the opening week of the 2007 campaign. No reason to expect much different this year.


    Hawaii at No. 5 Florida (-34½)
    Saturday, Aug 30, 12:30 p.m. (ET)

    The Warriors went to a BCS bowl game last season. The Gators did not. But this giant pointspread is entirely legitimate. Hawaii’s football program – which was already ranked No. 53 out of 119 teams on last year’s Fremeau Efficiency Index – is falling apart. With QB Colt Brennan (58 TD passes in 2006) graduating, coach June Jones saw the writing on the wall and skipped town for Southern Methodist.

    “It’s a sad day. It feels like the end of an era,” Brennan told reporters while clearing out his UH locker.

    The beginning of the Greg McMackin Era starts Saturday afternoon. McMackin was Hawaii’s defensive co-ordinator under Jones, and the Warriors 4-3 defense led the WAC last year in sacks (38.5) and yards allowed per play (4.7). Seven starters are gone from this unit, but there’s enough star talent to make it hard for the Gators to really blow this one out.

    Otherwise, it’s all Florida in this one. The Gators (9-4 SU, 8-4 ATS in 2007) were No. 5 in efficiency last year, and should be at least as good in 2008 with Heisman winner Tim Tebow returning to run one of the best offenses in the nation. The total for this matchup is 70½ points.


    No. 24 Alabama vs. No. 9 Clemson (-4½)
    Saturday, Aug 30, 8:00 p.m. (ET) ... Georgia Dome, Atlanta

    This looks like the Game of the Week on paper. The Crimson Tide (7-6 SU, 3-9 ATS) are No. 24 on the Associated Press rankings and just missed the coaches poll by one spot. The Tide plan on better results this year with Jim McElwain joining the team as offensive co-ordinator. Alabama has a strong line protecting quarterback John Parker Wilson (18 TD, 12 INT last year), and coach Nick Saban has put together a monster recruiting class. However, the defense has gone through a lot of turnover; only five starters are returning for 2008.

    The Tigers (9-4 SU, 6-6 ATS) finished second in the ACC’s Atlantic Division each of the past two years. They’ll try to make that final leap with one of best offenses in the nation: QB Cullen Harper 27 TD, 6 INT) is going into his second full year at the helm, with the support of tailback tandem James Davis and C.J. Spiller. Although Clemson has to rebuild its offensive line, the Tide defense is not well equipped to take advantage. And don’t let the ACC/SEC comparison fool you; Clemson was ninth in efficiency last year compared to 25th for Alabama.


    No. 19 Illinois vs. No. 7 Missouri (-8½)
    Saturday, Aug 30, 8:30 p.m. (ET) ... Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis

    The Fighting Illini (9-4 SU, 7-5 ATS) appear to be highly overrated going into the new season. They snuck into the Rose Bowl last year coming out of a rather mild Big Ten Conference – in terms of efficiency, Illinois was ranked No. 29 in the FBS. Michigan was No. 22, but had to settle for the Capital One Bowl against Florida. Things could go downhill from there for the Illini. RB Rashard Mendenhall has turned pro, leaving QB Juice Williams to fend more for himself behind a thin offensive line.

    Missouri (12-2 SU, 10-3 ATS) is 14-7 lifetime in this Arch Rivalry contest. The Tigers won last year’s chapter 40-34 as 5½-point faves, building a big early lead and hanging on to avoid the matador cover. Missouri, No. 9 in efficiency in 2007, brought QB Chase Daniel and the Tigers spread offense to within an eyelash of a national championship appearance. Daniel is back, and the Tigers have a major advantage in this matchup because of it.

  2. #2
    Willie Bee
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    The Bama-Clemson game is the one contest this week that really has me excited for the start of college football. Think I'll be pulling for the Tide, mostly for my little girl who is a Bama fantatic

  3. #3
    freeVICK
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    bad bet. im a true die hard hawaii fan. and 35 points is too much. florida is the square play. "colt brennan, all our wrs, june jones.... etc..." everything thinks hawaii will suck big time.

    BUT no one knows that our defense WILL be something special. our D is a legit top 25 and im not kidding. we wouldnt lose by 35 to anyone period.

    take hawaii +35 trust me

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