Week 10 Musings

Another horseshit week for the musings last week(4-7), but who's counting? Only a couple of the losses were bad calls, the games just all seemed to find a way to lose. I especially like that my rationale for the Idaho -3 play was "we just need the Vandals to eke out a W in this one." Sounds great, dipshit, but what happens if they win by 1? Then a "win" won't constitute a "win" now would it? That's why you keep going 4-7 every week, jackass! The Indiana v Iowa play, as I'm sure everyone knows was kind of the icing on the cake as far as this year goes. Generally, you would feel pretty comfortable being up 21-7 with 8 minutes left in the third quarter about to snap the ball from the opponent's 2 yard line. You'd be pretty comfortable in your chances of grabbing the upset if you're Indiana, that is. Throw in a 17 1/2 point spread, and you wouldn't even fathom the possibility of losing your wager. Of course, you wouldn't know that a thrice tipped pass would land in a fleet safety's arms in stride for 6, then your defense would give up back to back 1 play drives covering a total of 156 yards, and then to top it off, you'd give up a 30 yard TD on a line plunge when the other team is practically trying not to score as they run the clock out. Indeed, it was among the worst beats ever. There have been more painful ones on a hail mary or whatever, but never have I seen a game where so many things had to happen in so short a time period. you seriously couldn't have dreamed it up. Whatever....get em all out of the way now.

One positive development from last week, despite the fact that it was naturally a big L on the musings, was that USC got their collective heads handed to them. Even though I'm not a huge fan of Oregon, it sure was nice to see Pete Carroll and co get the shit kicked oput of them. And get the shit kicked out of them they did: 613 yards of total offense, almost 400 yards rushing. However, as I feel completely contented about USC's loss, I must say that I feel a void in my life right now. Except for maybe DickRod, there really aren't any coaches that a feel I large amount of vitriol for. Lloyd Carr is long gone, Tuberville is as well. Bill Stewart is a guy I feel more sorry for than anything else, and Les Miles's team isn't really good enough to work up a lather about. This is something I really need to examine. I need to look inward and find more hate. I've become soft, and I can't tolerate that.

Let's move on to this week...obviously I had nothing during the week..kind of an uneventful slab of games these weeknights.

1. Northwestern +17(buy it if you can) @Iowa: Again, we fade this Iowa outfit. They did everything they could to cough up their unbeaten season last week until the 4th quarter, at which point Indiana remembered that they were a collection of heartless, soul-less quivering JELLO molds and folded like a bunch of lawn chairs. Now here Iowa is again. facing a team in Northwestern that is pretty well coached and beat them in Iowa City last year. Iowa, despite what happened in the 4th quarter last week, is not explosive, and Northwestern is more sound defensively than Indiana is. QB Mike Kafka is going to play, and if you watched NW play Penn St last week, before Kafka got dinged up, you noticed that they were getting the better of the scrimmaging. Iowa has a trip to Columbus on deck, so despite what happened to them last week, I don't think NW will get Iowa's best shot. I must say that it would not totally shock me if NW somehow pulled off the upset to the cheers of millions across the country. Not likely, but not inconceivable.

2. Wisconsin -10 1/2 @Indiana: You might think that this is just a hate crime against Indiana for what they put me through last week, and you might be right, since I've had a scowl on my mouth ever since that game ended on Saturday, but I just don't see any way IU can keep this one competitive through 3 quarters. Can they possibly conjure up a solid effort here against a team that has literally owned them the past few years? Yes...that's right...Wisconsin players have ownership papers and actually bring Indiana home and put them in their collective closets at night. They literally own them. I'd call 55-20.,33-3, and 52-17 in the last 3 meetings ownership. In their last 4 games, Indiana has given up 480 yards to Iowa(not a juggernaut by any means), 474 to Northwestern(their best skill position guys are named Zeke Markshausen and Arby Fields, ok?...), 443 to Illinois (105th ranked offense at the time) and 536 to Virginia (116th in total offense. Has failed to crack 200 yards in a game since.) Now they're in a position where if they lay down they have an excuse to do so because so many people think they got screwed last week, plus they're Indiana, so it's in their nature. I foresee a lot of John Clay trotting into the endzone.

3. Kent St -3 1/2(buy it to 3 if feasible) @Akron: Kent is a team that is headed in the right direction. They made the sound decision of handing the keys to the offense to a young player who proved worthy of some trust. They sit at 5-4 with everything to pay for, and now they face Akron, who can't get out of their own way offensively and sit at 1-7. Kent's defense has been stout lately, so it would surprise me greatly if Akron has much success against them.

4. @Alabama -7 1/2 v LSU: It's true that Jordon Jefferson has looked better in recent weeks, but he is by no means a QB who can read and react to that defense. Bama is coming off their close one, with the narrow victory over Tennessee. I don't think they'll be challenged again until they play Florida in the SEC championship, and certainly not by this LSU outfit. Saban v Miles is like the Lions v the Christians as far as a test of wits, and I think the Bama offense will respond to all the hand wringing and national criticism. I think this one will end up somewhere in the 24-7 range.Good possibility for non offensive TDs for Bama as well.

5. Duke +10 @North Carolina: Despite what they did at VT last Thursday night, UNC remains a limited offensive club. They still rank 110th in total offense, and although their D is pretty solid and very fast, David Cutcliffe and Thad Lewis just don't look like they're going to be stopped
this year, as they have dropped points on solid defenses like Virginia Tech and Virginia on the road. Defensively, Duke has held their own, and as we've mentioned, doing so against the squirt gun capapbilities of TJ Yates and that taffy pulling offense is not going to like performing rocket science.

6. @Stanford +7 v Oregon: I realize that I have been going against Oregon and losing recently, but this is too juicy of a spot to pass up. First off, Stanford has played very well at home, and have some skill position people to give Oregon problems. Oregon is smallish up front, and Stanford has bludgeoned people at times with Toby Gerhart's muscular running. Also, Oregon is coming off that performance against USC. As impressive as it was, they are not likely to repeat it immediately on the road. I think Stanfard can play well enough that they can win this game due to how balanced they are throughout their team. They can run, and they've had success throwing it as well. I just think it's a tough matchup for the Ducks.

7.Wake Forest +16 @Georgia Tech: Listen, I like Georgia Tech a lot, I dare say significantly more than the next Tom Dick or Harry, but they are without a doubt due for a "clunker" type performance. They've covered several games in a row, and now face a Wake team that can exploit their weakness, which is pass defense. Riley Skinner has been cleared to play, and that's a good thing if you're a Deacs fan since he is the reason that Wake is ranked 21st in passing efficiency. Tech is ranked 102nd against the pass. There's some danger of Wake feeling sorry for themselves, coming off the heartbreak of last week when they got their still beating hearts ripped out of their chests in that Miami loss, but when you consider that there are some definite strong edges for Wake in this one, and that they are getting 16, and their well coached... you have the recipe for a play.

8. Vanderbilt +35 @Florida: Florida put up some points last week, but I'm curious to see if they can ring up scores against a defense not coordinated by Willie Martinez and that putrid Georgia coaching staff. We're talking about a staff whose only idea for how to motivate their team is to dress them up in complete abominations of uniforms. Red facemasks? Come on. Anyway, Vandy is struggling, and I think the fact that they were chasing Josh Nesbitt and co around like Special Olympians last week might have something to do with this spread, but I think the Dores have enough prode and competence, especially in their coaching staff, to avoid getting drubbed by more than 35. Spikes is missing, both Hernandez and Riley Cooper are rumored to be banged up...this might be a game in which Florida is just looking to get it over with coming off the Georgia game. Vandy probably only needs 1 Td to cover this, and since they went back to Mackenzi Adams, I think they'll be able to do so.

9. Oklahoma -4 1/2 @Nebraska: Can anyone look at this Nebraska offense right now and predict they score more than 10 points on Oklahoma if they are engaged? They've scored 9 on iowa st, 10 on Texas Tech and 13(offensively) on baylor the past 3 weeks. They have no idea who their QB is, all of their running backs are completely banged up to the point that their playing hot potato with the playbook, and they have no playmakers at receiver. It's true that oklahoma gave up some points to K State last week, but that was after the game was over. They aren't going to lookk like that again this week. On the other hand, Nebraska has a stout defense themselves., but even with Landry Jones under center, Oklahoma is far superior to nebraska on offense. I can't see the huskers mounting enough offensive yardage to stay in this one, even at home in what will probably be a nice atmosphere in Lincoln.

10. UCONN +17 @Cincinnati: This game became more difficult for UCONN when they scheduled it at night, but this team continues to play hard and smart every single week. i remember telling myself that I will not miss any more opportunities to ride these guys as dogs, and here they are getting 17. granted, it's against a legitimate squad in Cincy, but I like how UCONN is coached, and their offense has show a lot of balance this year. Starting QB Endres is out, but backup Frazer has experience and threw for 300+ in relief last week against Rutgers, including what should have been a game winning drive. Cincy still has not had the close shave win that all really good teams have, and I think it comes in this game. UCONN is a solid squad. If they get blown out here, just tip your cap to the growing legend of Brian Kelly.

11. @Hawaii +2 1/2(you might get 3) v Utah St: Yes, Utah St is much better, and on paper they have a nice offense, but they are not ready to be a favorite in games like this. They are a good play in games like last week at Fresno, where they can sneak up on teams and come in under the number, but not in games that they have to cover. I haven't checked but I am willing to bet that they have never won on the island. They've been a road favorite once before this year, at New mexico St, and they lost that game outright to probably the least talented team in the country. Hawaii still has the ability to burn you in the passing game, and Utah st's d has been nothing to write home about. I don't think they can get it done in this spot on the island. As a dog, maybe. Not as a favorite.

others: I see USC(-10) bouncing back and thumping ASU. ASU has a decent defense, but they are limited offensively, and USC will be out for redemption. Oregon St is gettting 7 at Cal. Cal is better than them, but these are the types of late in the year games that OSU wins and cal loses.....I think Pitt has a chance to thoroughly destroy Syracuse, laying 21. The Cuse is feeling sorry for itself right now, and Pitt is clicking....Penn St is the better team in their game with Ohio St and I expect them to win. the line moved to 5 however, so it droipped out of the musing category. ohio St is going to have all kinds of problems scoring in that one. Look for increased heat on Tressel if they can't get their shit together. I also have a feeling on the following...K St +2 1/2 at home against Kansas, Colorado St to beat a terrible UNLV team in what amounts to a pick em game, and I think Army hangs with Air Force despite their probably inability to score much of anything against that AF defense....That's it....have a good week, and fade away!!!!