Making it a poll this week. There are 28 games with a 10+ point underdog. I'm picking the top 16 (IMHO) including all the AAC games. If you want one of the other 12, just post that.

Not in poll:
MTSU over Minnesota (17.5) 
UNM over Arizona State (27) 
Troy over Duke (18.5) 
SJSU over Auburn (30.5) 
Vandy over Mississippi (19.5) 
Ball St over Iowa (17) 
Ark St over Tenn (17) 
UMass over Colorado (17) 
UTEP over Texas Tech (19) 
FAU over Alabama (40.5)
UAB over Miss St (29) 
EMU over Florida (38) 

ECU will prove USC is a pretender. My next pick would be VT over O$U - it's early and VT will test the O$U secondary (where they're weakest).

There are actually quite a few possibilities this week. I'm not sure which way I'm going yet. VT, ECU, Tulane, Akron, Memphis, and Michigan St all have good chances.

Memphis +24 and MTSU +17.5

ODU, Memphis, ECU to cover if I were a betting man. Homer pick would be ECU straight up.

My poll pick is ODU.

Man, I'd hate being in ECUs shoes. A good team coming off an embarrassing loss is always a rough card to draw IMO.

I'm going Tulane over GT. GT is their typical mediocre selfs and Tulane will be amped up with the new stadium.

I do think ECU and Memphis have really good chances. USC will be out their top RB and UCLA didn't look like world beaters this week. Like someone on twitter said on saturday, Memphis made Bridgewater and Bortles look pretty average last year.

If I was a betting man... that 11:1 money line on memphis looks pretty good.

Tulane!!!!!!

(09-02-2014 11:16 AM)UCF08 Wrote:  Man, I'd hate being in ECUs shoes. A good team coming off an embarrassing loss is always a rough card to draw IMO.

We have beat them enough times in past years that they give us some respect. We can't sneak up on them anyway. If you wish to levy sympathy upon us, do so if we win. Those Bubba fans don't take kindly to losing. The last time we won, an angry Gamecock fan tried to pull a Tony Stewart on an elder friend of mine. The cocker was so mad leaving the parking lot that anything purple and gold was collateral damage.

(09-02-2014 11:16 AM)UCF08 Wrote:  Man, I'd hate being in ECUs shoes. A good team coming off an embarrassing loss is always a rough card to draw IMO.

Well it depends on what the real reason for the embarrassing loss is. Did they get humiliated because they had a poor defensive game plan or scheme, because they overlooked A&M, because A&M is one of the best teams in the country, or because they lack the talent to run the correct scheme to stop the air raid? If it's #4 it doesn't really matter how pissed off they are the same thing will happen again. The thing I saw that was very troubling for USC was the A&M QB wasn't making super difficult throws into really tight windows, he was throwing the ball to guys who had no one around them. They were running a soft zone all game long and unless you can get pressure quickly on a QB that will get you killed against an air raid team.

I'd throw Grambling in that vote unless Houston is considered the underdog.

(09-02-2014 11:50 AM)UHDC Wrote:  I'd throw Grambling in that vote unless Houston is considered the underdog.

No line on that game (yet?)

Can someone help me understand this? How is GT a 10 point favorite over Tulane, but the money line is even? (ie pay 110 to win 100 for both).

(09-02-2014 11:53 AM)SublimeKnight Wrote:  Can someone help me understand this? How is GT a 10 point favorite over Tulane, but the money line is even? (ie pay 110 to win 100 for both).

Triple option and a good, not great D. Tulane's strength is against the pass, getting picks, the problem GT doesn't pass. And their score drives can go 7 minutes.

Think about, GT has long drive, scores 7, taking 6:30, forces a 3 and out, 1:30, another long drive ending in 7 points, 6:45 used, they kick to Tulane with 15 seconds left in the quarter.

(09-02-2014 11:43 AM)JDTulane Wrote:  Tulane!!!!!!

Homer pick much? Just kidding. I picked Tulane for the poll upset. I thought going into this year they were a bit underrated in the conference and would finish the year better than expected. Tough double-overtime loss on the road against Tulsa last week. This week is another matter. The atmosphere at newly opened Yulman Stadium will be absolutely freaky electric hysteria. Georgia Tech has obviously played in some hostile environments in the ACC and in other P5 stadiums. However, I predict the Green Wave will feed off the wild azse home crowd and go FULL TSUNAMI on GT. Just a hunch and it won't cost me anything if I'm wrong.

CSU over Boise straight up.

(09-02-2014 10:09 PM)JHG722 Wrote:  CSU over Boise straight up.

No doubt. Colorado State is winning the Mountain West, they could get 10 wins this year.

(09-02-2014 11:48 AM)b0ndsj0ns Wrote:  

(09-02-2014 11:16 AM)UCF08 Wrote:  Man, I'd hate being in ECUs shoes. A good team coming off an embarrassing loss is always a rough card to draw IMO.

Well it depends on what the real reason for the embarrassing loss is. Did they get humiliated because they had a poor defensive game plan or scheme, because they overlooked A&M, because A&M is one of the best teams in the country, or because they lack the talent to run the correct scheme to stop the air raid? If it's #4 it doesn't really matter how pissed off they are the same thing will happen again. The thing I saw that was very troubling for USC was the A&M QB wasn't making super difficult throws into really tight windows, he was throwing the ball to guys who had no one around them. They were running a soft zone all game long and unless you can get pressure quickly on a QB that will get you killed against an air raid team.

You saw the same thing I saw. They were not prepared to play, did not have the talent in the secondary to play the scheme the coaches had prepared them for, and they made that A&M QB look like Tom Brady.

My thought watching it was that Carden would pick them apart.

It wasn't just that they gave him time to throw (which they did), there was acres of space for him to throw into safely. Press coverage would have at least made his life difficult and probably stopped A&M from running so easy from the spread.

It was one of those games where you honestly scratch your head and wonder if this is the same Spurrier that ESPN aired a glowing documentary on the night before.

It appears the only correct answer this week was VT over tOSU. Good job Bearcat2012 and RedRocker.