By Bob Gaughan
2024 record 11-5
2023 Record 82-71-3
2022 Record 68-41-2
2021 record 62-49
2020 record 52-52-4
2019 Record 62-41-2
2018 Record 72-50-3
Total: 407-308-14=56%
MR. OVER/UNDER: HOUSTON -6 over JACKSONVILLE
Enough with all the upsets. It’s time for the better teams to start stepping up to the plate. The problem is, figuring out who are the better teams. One of the teams I expected to be better than last year are the Houston Texans. They were a surprise team last year, with a rookie QB, and expected to be even better this year. The only problem is, when you finish at the top of your division, you’re going to start getting a harder schedule. This week the Texans take on a Jaguars team that was humiliated by the Bill’s on Monday night. So the Jaguars travel to Houston to play their 3rd away game of this early season. Houston was embarrassed last week at home by Green Bay. I expect them to get their act together if they expect to make the playoffs this year. Giving away 6 is not the best of odds, but Jacksonville has scored less points every week, going from 17 to 13 to 10. I’ll take the Texans -6
Man in Stripes: Rutgers -2 over Washington (Friday Night)
With the new look conferences in college football, some teams will have decided advantage with travel, and with conference play starting, we will head to Newark,NJ, with some Friday night lights!!!!!Washington, a newbie to the Big 10, playing late Saturday night, now has to travel across the country on a short week to face a good Rutgers team. The Scarlet Knight D strength is against the pass, which is Washington's strength. Look for Rutgers to bound the ball and control the clock. I like the under here too. But, I'll take the situational advantage, at home, giving less than a FG.
Mono: Bengals-Panthers Over 46.5
I busted the perfect week for us last week and got caught in a trap. Let’s shake that one off. Going with the Over 46.5 in the Bengals - Panthers matchup this weekend. The Bengals are off to a brutal 0-3 start, having lost all 3 by one score. Aside from the offensively challenged patriots, the Chiefs and Commanders have had their way against this defense. They travel to Carolina who just saw Andy Dalton turn back the clock last weekend in Vegas. He’s got some weapons over there with Dionte Johnson and the rookie Leggette looked good. He’s missing Theilen here but Hubbard had major success out of the backfield both in the passing and rushing game. They should have enough success here to get at least 2 scores if not 17-20 points. Joe Burrow and this Bengals offense have had no problem moving the ball beyond that week 1 head scratcher. He’s coming off of a 3 td game with him and Chase renewing their connection. Minus a terrible timed fumble for Burrow against the Chiefs and that dud against New England and they wouldn’t find themselves in such a desperate spot. Both defenses here will have trouble stopping the opposing offense, especially Carolina’s. Burrow and this Bengals offense may very well score 30 themselves and I think the Panthers can keep pace enough to get us over the number. Take over 46.5
Brutal: Illinois +19 Over Penn State
Brett Bielema seemed to have it all in 2012. He had successfully coached the Wisconsin Badgers for seven seasons and could almost name his price for a contract extension in Madison. Instead, (under the premise that the university would not pay his assistant coaches more), he abandoned the Conference he grew up around and heeded the siren call of the SEC, and soo-eeeed his way to Fayetteville to coach the Arkansas Razorbacks. From 2012 to 2017 he did, but the results were mediocre and he was fired while walking off the field In November after blowing two 14 point leads to Mizzou and culminating the season with a 4-8 record and unforgivably, a 1-7 record in the SEC. Then he went to the NFL for a couple of seasons and won a Super Bowl ring, but only worked as an assistant coach or advisor. So in 2021 he returned to the Big X as the head coach of Illinois.
Mr. Bielema belongs back in the Midwest where he was born. Not only did he successfully coach Wisconsin ( where by adding three passing plays to the playbook, he doubled the number of aerial options that previous head coach Barry Alvarez would allow the Badgers to run in their highly un-innovative offensive philosophy), but he played high school ball in Illinois and defensive end in Iowa. His origin story has parallels with Greg Schiano at Rutgers; both head coaches are big on hard nosed defense, special teams and improving overall depth,
Early in his tenure at Champaign-Urbana Brett Bielema got a signature win in 2021 with an 20-19 NCAA record nine overtime victory over, ..... you guessed it, Penn State! Here in 2024, both teams are ranked, undefeated, and navigating their way through the new, bloated Big X. However the pressure is all on the Nittany Lions from State College. For years they have been the defacto bronze medalist in the Big XVIII, errr Big X, behind Ohio State and Michigan. Penn State has a history of spectacular, disappointing losses at the most inopportune moments. Penn State has only beaten an average West Virginia team, struggled against a supposed MAC cupcake Bowling Green winning by only a touchdown and then wiping out one of the worst teams in the country, Kent State. Illinois may be a little tired after their emotional 31-24 overtime win over Nebraska last week, but unless Penn State gets a big lead early, I think the Illini will be around to play a tight fourth quarter and maybe even pull off the upset.
Like Ohio State, Penn State usually beats up on patsies early in their padded season. Unlike Ohio State, the Nittany Lions often struggle when they get past the MAC and take on other good Big 10 teams. We will see on Saturday if Illinois is a good team; the Illini are certainly no longer a patsy. We will take the three scores and side with the alma mater of Hugh Hefner, Larry (Oracle) Ellison, George Halas, Ray Nitschke, Dick Butkus, Jeff George, Chase Brown and the late, great Chuck Dickerson.
Bob: Washington and Arizona Over 50.5 points
Pretty simple here I love both offenses and don’t like either defense. Washington is the surprise offense so far this year n he NFL. Jayden Daniels has been outstanding so far. He’s hitting 80 percent of his passes and is using his legs effectively. The Commanders haven’t had to punt the last two games, they’ve gone 13 straight possessions without a punt. Washington has yet to commit a turnover so far. Arizona has been good so far offensively. Kyler Murray, James Connor, Marvin Harrison Jr and Trey McBride are solid weapons. Arizona’s defense is one of the worst. Arizona has allowed opposing QB’s to hit on 75 percent of their passes. The Commanders are averaging giving up almost 30 points per game. The two offenses rank in the top five in terms of points per game.
Comentários