Posted on 09/21/2006 3:39:54 PM PDT by MikefromOhio
Week Four College Football
Week Three was dubbed Separation Saturday by all of the big media outlets, but, sadly, only really three of the games lived up to the billing. Oklahoma-Oregon, Tennessee-Florida and especially LSU Auburn were the exceptions to this. As has been the norm for the past few years, a few of these games were not without their controversy and blown calls. Thankfully another week of college football is upon us. The Big Ten, Big East and Big XII conference schedules begins this week, while some of the SEC heavyweights take a week from conference competition.
As always, all rankings are from the ESPN.com Scoreboard page. The betting lines (used sorely for the basis of predictions) are from Yahoo.com. I will list any games of interest (FReepmail me if you want your team included and I will include them from here on out) and any other games listed in my Yahoo league. I have a new feature this week. In each game that I do not have any confidence, or any game that I think a team could have an unexpected struggle, I will post a picture of a landmine for illustration.
GAME of the WEEK
Saturday, September 23rd, 2006 3:30 PM on FSN (Subject to change)
(20) Arizona St. at (22) Cal (-7.5)
This happens to be a make or break game for Cal. For a team that was a sleeper pick to be in the national title game, having 2 losses coming out of September would be a major disappointment. Now for Arizona St, this is a yardstick game. They will be able to see where they stand with one of the supposed elites of the Pac-10. Look for Cal to try to stop the passing attack of ASU and look for ASU to try to hit Cal as much as possible, which is exactly what Tennessee did. The betting line just doesnt look quite right to me. It will be closer than a TD.
Cal 33 ASU 30
Thursday September 21st, 2006 (ESPN Thursday Night Game)
Virginia at Georgia Tech (-17)
Virginia is a major disappointment this year. Georgia Tech had a shot to beat Notre Dame and be easily in the top 15 had they done so (given that they would be 3-0 at this point).
Georgia Tech 35 Virginia 10
Saturday September 23rd 2006 (in ranking order)
(24) Penn State at (1) Ohio State (-16.5)
Ohio State 27 Penn State 7
Buffalo at (2) Auburn (-42)
Auburn 58 Buffalo 3
(3) USC (-21.5) at Arizona
USC 44 Arizona 13
(4) West Virginia (-21) at East Carolina
West Virginia 47 ECU 16
Kentucky at (5) Florida (-24)
Florida 34 Kentucky 7
Wisconsin at (6) Michigan (-14)
Michigan 23 Wisconsin 13
Iowa St at (7) Texas (-24.5)
Texas 43 Iowa St. 10
(8) Louisville (-14) at Kansas State
Louisville 38 K-State 10
Colorado at (9) UGA (-27)
UGA 28 Colorado 7
Tulane at (10) LSU (-36)
LSU 45 Tulane 6
Cincinnati at (11) Virginia Tech (-26.5)
VT 38 Cincy 8
(12) Notre Dame (-3.5) at Michigan St
Michigan St. 34 Notre Dame 27
(14) Iowa (-21) at Illinois
Iowa 34 Illinois 3
Marshall at (15) Tennessee (-22)
Tennessee 42 Marshall 9
Middle Tennessee St. at (17) Oklahoma (-28.5)
Oklahoma 48 Middle Tenn. St. 14
Rice at (18) Florida State (-30.5)
FSU 41 Rice 7
North Carolina at (19) Clemson (-16.5)
Clemson 24 North Carolina 7
(20) Boston College (-7) at NC State
BC 26 NC State 6
Troy at (23) Nebraska (-23.5)
Nebraska 28 Troy 7
Hawaii at (25) Boise State (-14.5)
Boise St. 52 Hawaii 27
52-8 Straight UP
40-19-1 Against the Spread
Boise St. 52 Hawaii 27
just a thought but I think this game is going to be a lot closer. Hawaii played Alabama real well two weeks ago
maybe...
But Boise has something going and it's in Boise, where Boise State plays absolutely their best football....
And I don't think Alabama is nearly as good this year as it was last year.
WAC games are fun :)
Watching GT now. Tech's defense looks pretty good.
yeah....
Tech game Notre Dame fits and I think it wasn't just a case of it being the first game of the year.
Of course Virginia is absolutely inept on offense, so it isn't much of a surprise.
I think I may have given them too much credit in my prediction.
wow...
unfortunately for him and for GT, Calvin Johnson will be in the NFL by the time he gets to play....
It's pretty bad when going down by 2 scores is considered a victory...
GT 10 - Virginia 0
Between the MNF game and the first half of this one ESPN has seen a total of 19 points scored this week on their games. That's a ratings grabber! /s
LOL
That's why Calvin Johnson will be making MAJOR $$$$$$ this time next year....
GT 17 - Virginia 0
I'm sure the Hokies are already looking forward to their traditional season ender, the Virginia game. The intra-state rivalry isn't looking like much of a rivalry this year, but no doubt both teams will rise to the occasion nonetheless.
LOL
nope...
I'm just wondering if they will score at this point...
GT looks awfully strong in the ACC all of a sudden....If they can get by Virginia Tech in their division, they'll face either BC or Clemson, depending how the rest of it shakes out...
yeah...
Virginia will probably improve a bit between now and then.
Of course Va Tech ALWAYS finds a way to lose a game that it shouldn't....maybe that's the one this year....
BTW, the VT/GT game is on the 30th, if I recall correctly. That's nine days from now.
yep
And VT has a relatively easy game this week with Cincy coming into town.....
GT has the offense to stop Virginia Tech, but Virginia Tech is the better team overall...
How good do you think Penn State is? The were beaten pretty soundly by Notre Dame who then got trounced the next week by Michigan.
I wonder if Penn State over achieved last year or if the Notre Dame game was just a bad match up for them or they just got caught flat.
I'm thinking this might be a pretty bad week for Penn State.
Honestly I had a hard time with that game.
I'm pretty sure OHio State will win but I'm not 100% convinced that it will be close to what I predicted.
The key to Penn State is the offense. Last year they were able to move the ball and control the clock. They haven't been able to accomplish that so much this year.
It comes down to Anthony Morrelli. If he's effective, and he hasn't been yet this year, it will be a good game. If he isn't and he was only 11 for 27 against Youngstown St, it will be a very long day for Ohio State.
Penn State's first team defense is still one of the best out there, but they don't have the depth they did last year and what depth they do have is relatively inexperienced.
GT always finishes stronger than it starts.
This year started differently for them.
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