Now that the rent check went through, these Brave souls have come out of hiding and are willing to put it on the line. In comments.
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Great Handicappers Challenge Gets Under Way
Dan Hinxman Reno Gazette-Journal
Week One of the Great Handicappers Challenge is in the chute, waiting only for the starting gun.
To rehash a bit what was introduced in last week’s column, this space will bring to you a weekly football handicappers challenge, pitting two online handicappers, a rotation of local sports book managers and yours truly in a winner-take-all format. It’s like a no-limit Texas Hold’em tournament, except there’s nothing in the pot to win except bragging rights. And nobody in the challenge is named Texas Dolly.
So, without further ado, the picks ...
LEE STERLING paramountsports.com Sterling likes Bowling Green plus-3 vs Wisconsin on Saturday, and apparently so do many others. The line was as high as 4.5 and has dropped to 2.5.
“Bowling Green’s offense returns the top skill position players on offense at quarterback, running back and wide receiver,” Sterling says. “(Last season), they scored 38 points in 10 of their 12 games.
“Wisconsin lost its front four on defense to graduation and all four defensive backs to graduation or injury. “Wisconsin is not nearly the team it was the last three years and will be lucky to scratch out a winning record. Barry Alvarez announcing his retirement at the end of the season has only had a negative effect on team morale in preseason practices.”
LEO MENDELSOHN thehooksfootballpicks.com Mendelsohn isn’t convinced that the Boise State Broncos deserve all the hype they’ve been getting this year ... at least not in this matchup — they take on the Georgia Bulldogs in Athens, Ga., on Saturday. Georgia, a 7-point favorite earlier this week, is a 7.5-point favorite.
“Georgia has all five offensive linemen back (average size, 6-foot-5, 315 pounds), and they are all upperclassmen, which means they’ve played together for a while,” Mendelsohn says. “These guys will open some huge holes for the talented backfield of the Bulldogs.
“The Broncos are getting too much respect. When was the last time the Broncos went on the road to get a big victory outside the WAC? There will be no blue turf mystery in this game, just some old-fashioned manhandling by a bigger and stronger team.
SPORTS BOOK MANAGER Chuck Thomas, Circus Circus UCLA opened as an 8-point favorite in its road game against San Diego State on Saturday. It has dropped to 7.5, and Thomas believes it’s going the wrong direction. “UCLA is basically returning its whole offensive team,” Thomas says. “They were very good last year against the spread.
“San Diego State graduated some good linebackers. I think UCLA will really dominate them.”
MY TWO CENTS The money on Saturday’s Wyoming-Florida game in Gainesville, Fla., is moving toward the Gators — from 22 to 22.5 points — but the underdog Cowboys are the better play.
Wyoming, which just a few short years ago was one of the worst teams in the country, has been mentioned as a top-25 team in some publications. The Cowboys return 17 starters, including one of the nation’s top quarterbacks in Corey Bramlet. The Wyoming offense is legit, and third-year coach Joe Glenn has this team headed in the right direction. This is a classic nothing-to-lose game for Wyoming.
Florida has a new coach in Urban Meyer, who led Utah to a dream season last year that included a 45-28 win over Wyoming in Laramie, so you know the Cowboys would love to stick it to the former Ute coach.
The Gators are the better team, and they have a significant advantage in team speed. But the Cowboys will score some points, enough to stay within the spread.
That's the vibe 99 percent of college football analysts have echoed since the Trojans won their second straight title in January.
Apparently there's no other choice.
Instead of hearing about other title contenders, you'll hear something like this: "(Blank) has a chance to get to the championship gamebut (blank) won't beat USC."
With Heisman winner Matt Leinart and uber-athlete Reggie Bush the nation's best player returning, it makes sense.
When I was in Las Vegas two weeks ago, bookies gave the Men of Troy 8 to 5 odds to win the Rose Bowl. The closest contender was Texas, who had 6 to 1 odds. Purdue was 50 or 60 to 1, depending on the sports book.
I'd never made an official sports bet in my life, but I decided to give it a try.
I started with a few objectives.
1. Get good enough odds to make the bet worth it. Goodbye USC. 2. Possess the talent to beat USC. 3. Have a schedule conducive to a title run. 4. Stay away from trendy picks. Adios Texas, Ohio State and Tennessee.
I settled on Oklahoma, Florida and Virginia Tech at $10 apiece.
All had favorable odds Oklahoma at 10 to 1; Florida at 12 to 1 and Virginia Tech at 20 to 1.
If any of the three teams win, I'll make at least $80 not bad for a novice gambler.
All three are top-10 teams with a game-changing player or two.
Oklahoma's Heisman finalist Adrian Peterson nearly topped 2,000 yards rushing as a freshman last year. He added 10 pounds of muscle during the offseason in hopes of breaking that mark in '05.
Gator quarterback Chris Leak is always mentioned among the top players in the nation. With new coach Urban Meyer's offense, Leak should be a Heisman front-runner.
The Virginia Tech defense was good enough to carry it to a BCS game last year. With a Vick Marcus, not Michael behind center again, the Hokies look similar to the '99 team that made it to the title game.
As for the schedules, all three have one or two make or break games. Oklahoma has Texas; Florida has Tennessee and Georgia; and Virginia Tech has Miami.
All of those are home or neutral site games for the teams I picked. A win in any of those games provides a quality win to help sway the BCS voters later in the year.
When one of the three runs for the Roses, they'll give the Trojans a run for their money; and give me a nice return on an investment.
John Jeanguenat is a senior in the School of Management. He believes losing offensive coordinator Norm Chow will cost USC a national title.
For a number of years, I have been looking for a college football program to call my own. I had rejected the game for, oh, the past couple of decades or so because, as I have stated time and again to moans and groans from Sports Nation, college football has absolutely nothing to do with college.
Still, in an effort to recapture the joy of my youth — for instance, I recently called my fourth-grade teacher and asked her to test me again on multiplication tables — I wanted to feel the thrill and excitement of Saturday afternoons on the gridiron.
I have found my team: The University of Tennessee. Phillip Fulmer, head coach since 1992, has fostered a program that pursues excellence on and off the field.
Actually, let me amend that — it pursues excellence on the field and pursues the best legal representation money can buy off the field.
I love the spirit of the Volunteers because these aren't just student-athletes who have to go to class and practice every day; these are student-athletes who have to go to class, practice and court every day.
Over the last year and a half, according to USA Today, Tennessee football players have been in at least 20 incidents involving shoplifting, assault, gun charges, motor vehicle citations, disturbing the peace and failing a drug test. Twelve Tennessee players have been arrested since the end of last season.
All Tennessee players are given a "Think Card" — a series of questions designed to help them think through difficult situations — which fits in their wallet.
The problem is, many Tennessee players don't carry a wallet; they carry a money clip.
Here is your typical Tennessee player's daily routine: • 9:55 a.m.: Call friend and ask him to go to 10 o'clock typing class to take notes for you. • Noon: Lunch. • 1:15: Punch somebody off-campus. • 1:35: Commit some garden-variety, misdemeanor-type crime. • 2:05: Call friend to post bail for you. • 2:10: Call coach Fulmer to let him know you might be running late for practice.
Despite countless brushes with the law, Tennessee's student-athletes are ranked No. 3 in the Associated Press football poll.
(NCAA devotees love to use the term "student-athlete," then forget that "student" actually comes first. That means, theoretically, you attend class before you attend practice. Similarly, when I was in my heyday at Maryland, I was a "student-drinker" — first I carried books by day, then beers by night. Trust me, I didn't earn a 2.88 GPA by tapping kegs before noon.)
(Incidentally, let me congratulate the fine student-athletes at USC as the school pursues another national title led by Heisman Trophy winner Matt Leinart. Leinart needs two units to earn his sociology degree, so he is taking just one course this year — ballroom dancing. If I were making this up, I would admit it, but I'm not, so I wish Leinart and the Trojans the best of luck on both the football field and the dance floor!)
(And while I'm in a genial mood, kudos to the Atlantic Coast Conference. At least eight of its 12 teams will play in bowls if they qualify. The other four ACC schools would advance to the NHL playoffs.)
I'm rooting for the Volunteers because they have a harder road to victory. You think it's easy working the blocking sled with a subpoena in your back pocket? Tennessee players have to be in shape — in their backpacks, they carry a playbook, a textbook and a law book.
Hey, you try winning a national championship when half your defense is in county lockup any given Tuesday. Anyway, I expect Tennessee to begin its 13-0 campaign Saturday by thrashing UAB at home, provided jury selection is over by halftime.
It's been eight seasons since I've done this (officially, that is ... by the way, if anyone sees my brother-in-law in San Antonio, tell him he owes me 600 bucks). Thus, I'm going to need a little time to shake off the rust.
There. Done. Rust gone.
We'll pick between six and eight games a week, including the Large Lock Of The Week. The team listed first is the team we're taking.
Take Oregon (minus-8.5) at UH. The Coogs may be coming on strong, but the Ducks' quarterback is named Clemens (Kellen ... no relation, although he could be a long-lost son considering that first initial ... in fact, he probably thinks he's due a Cy Young Award). You know how Clemenses do in this town. His only complaint afterward will be a lack of run support.
Take Texas A&M (minus-1.5) at Clemson Fun-loving, super-athlete and Aggie tight end Martellus Bennett breaks through with a decisive touchdown in the third quarter, then holds a televised press conference in the endzone. He declares for the NHL draft, explaining that the real reason he wears No. 3 is because that's how many sports he'll play.
Take Kent State (plus-18.5) at Michigan State. Spartans might lose against the spread, but at least they win the fight in the parking lot afterward.
Take Texas (minus-40) versus Louisiana-Lafayette Why this game is on TV, I have no idea. By halftime, it will be such bad TV that fans will be flipping through the channels looking for a WNBA game.
Take Virginia Tech (minus-4) at North Carolina State. Sure, winning a road game in Carolina will be nice, but the real fun could come later, when the Hokies could head to Bristol Motor Speedway. Of course, fans will be required to wear halter tops and/or dip snuff. But at least after the game, players can shower right there in the infield.
Take USC (minus-34.5) at Hawaii. Former Oilers loon Jerry Glanville breaks back into coaching at Hawaii ... against the powerful Trojans, no less. Feel free to call his debut, "Stagger Lei." And for gosh sakes, learn the mascots' names.
Take Pitt (minus-3) versus Notre Dame. Fighting Irish fans are waking up the echoes, again, with Charlie Weis in charge. But no matter how you say it, having seven true freshman on the two-deep sounds like it's not going to be this year.
Take South Carolina (minus-20.5) versus Central Florida. Oh, how I missed Steve Spurrier in college football ... the way he threw his visor, the way he smirked and turned his head in that cocky way. The way he said, "It's a great day to be a Gator" in the post-game press gatherings. And the way his teams always JUST HAPPENED to cover the spread against inferior teams.
I need to stop before I get all teary. But things are going so well for S.C. right now, their mascot even got named as an All-American.
The Central Florida mascot tried to enter the contest, but no one wanted to dress up as a loser.
Large Lock Of The Week: Take the OVER (56) in the OU-TCU opener.
There is so much youth on both defenses, Fran Drescher and all the nannys in the world couldn't keep up with all those kids taking baby steps.
Parlay Like It's 1999: Take the over in OU-TCU with Virginia Tech minus-4.
A new quarterback is running the show at Georgia, and everyone is wondering if little-used senior D.J. Shockley can pass the test. He is not being handed a lot of respect.
But how much respect is too much for Boise State? The Broncos, who have routinely dominated mediocre opponents, now go on the road to play the big boys of the Southeastern Conference.
The Bulldogs are 7-point favorites in Saturday's season opener for both teams, and Northcoast Sports handicapper Phil Steele said he expects Georgia to cover a number that appears a little low.
Shockley, who played sparingly behind four-year starter David Greene, was the nation's No. 3-rated QB out of high school. He isn't without talent and he is surrounded by it, including sophomore running back Thomas Brown.
"I think Shockley will fare much better than expected. Everybody says this guy can't throw the football, and his strength is running. Georgia has one of the better running games in the country," Steele said.
Boise State went 11-1 last year and was the nation's highest-scoring team. Junior quarterback Jared Zabransky and senior running back Lee Marks return, so the Broncos won't see much of a drop-off.
But the Bulldogs, with better athletes and more depth, return seven defensive starters and should wear down Boise State.
"The heat and humidity in the South is going to be a big factor, especially in the second half," Steele said. "The Bulldogs, even with South Carolina on deck, will be motivated for this overrated opponent."
Steele analyzes two more of his best bets for Saturday:
WISCONSIN (-2) over Bowling Green: This is an interesting matchup between Falcons QB Omar Jacobs, running back P.J. Pope and a Badgers defense that returns only four starters. Wisconsin lost all four starters on the defensive line and all were NFL draft picks.
Bowling Green might be the strongest team in the Mid-American Conference. But the Badgers still have talent and I like a Big Ten team laying less than a field goal at home.
BRIGHAM YOUNG (+3) over Boston College: The Cougars will be one of the most improved teams in the country and should end up in a bowl game. They return veteran QB John Beck, a good wideout in Todd Watkins and an underrated defense.
The altitude in Provo, Utah, could be a huge advantage for BYU, which has beat Notre Dame, Georgia Tech and Syracuse in its last three home openers. The Eagles are the more talented team, but the situation favors the Cougars.
5 comments:
Great Handicappers Challenge Gets Under Way
Dan Hinxman
Reno Gazette-Journal
Week One of the Great Handicappers Challenge is in the chute, waiting only for the starting gun.
To rehash a bit what was introduced in last week’s column, this space will bring to you a weekly football handicappers challenge, pitting two online handicappers, a rotation of local sports book managers and yours truly in a winner-take-all format. It’s like a no-limit Texas Hold’em tournament, except there’s nothing in the pot to win except bragging rights. And nobody in the challenge is named Texas Dolly.
So, without further ado, the picks ...
LEE STERLING
paramountsports.com
Sterling likes Bowling Green plus-3 vs Wisconsin on Saturday, and apparently so do many others. The line was as high as 4.5 and has dropped to 2.5.
“Bowling Green’s offense returns the top skill position players on offense at quarterback, running back and wide receiver,” Sterling says. “(Last season), they scored 38 points in 10 of their 12 games.
“Wisconsin lost its front four on defense to graduation and all four defensive backs to graduation or injury.
“Wisconsin is not nearly the team it was the last three years and will be lucky to scratch out a winning record. Barry Alvarez announcing his retirement at the end of the season has only had a negative effect on team morale in preseason practices.”
LEO MENDELSOHN
thehooksfootballpicks.com
Mendelsohn isn’t convinced that the Boise State Broncos deserve all the hype they’ve been getting this year ... at least not in this matchup — they take on the Georgia Bulldogs in Athens, Ga., on Saturday. Georgia, a 7-point favorite earlier this week, is a 7.5-point favorite.
“Georgia has all five offensive linemen back (average size, 6-foot-5, 315 pounds), and they are all upperclassmen, which means they’ve played together for a while,” Mendelsohn says. “These guys will open some huge holes for the talented backfield of the Bulldogs.
“The Broncos are getting too much respect. When was the last time the Broncos went on the road to get a big victory outside the WAC? There will be no blue turf mystery in this game, just some old-fashioned manhandling by a bigger and stronger team.
SPORTS BOOK MANAGER
Chuck Thomas, Circus Circus
UCLA opened as an 8-point favorite in its road game against San Diego State on Saturday. It has dropped to 7.5, and Thomas believes it’s going the wrong direction.
“UCLA is basically returning its whole offensive team,” Thomas says. “They were very good last year against the spread.
“San Diego State graduated some good linebackers. I think UCLA will really dominate them.”
MY TWO CENTS
The money on Saturday’s Wyoming-Florida game in Gainesville, Fla., is moving toward the Gators — from 22 to 22.5 points — but the underdog Cowboys are the better play.
Wyoming, which just a few short years ago was one of the worst teams in the country, has been mentioned as a top-25 team in some publications. The Cowboys return 17 starters, including one of the nation’s top quarterbacks in Corey Bramlet. The Wyoming offense is legit, and third-year coach Joe Glenn has this team headed in the right direction. This is a classic nothing-to-lose game for Wyoming.
Florida has a new coach in Urban Meyer, who led Utah to a dream season last year that included a 45-28 win over Wyoming in Laramie, so you know the Cowboys would love to stick it to the former Ute coach.
The Gators are the better team, and they have a significant advantage in team speed. But the Cowboys will score some points, enough to stay within the spread.
Columnist puts money on darkhorse contenders
John Jeanguenat
Purdue Exponent
This year it's USC ... and everyone else.
That's the vibe 99 percent of college football analysts have echoed since the Trojans won their second straight title in January.
Apparently there's no other choice.
Instead of hearing about other title contenders, you'll hear something like this: "(Blank) has a chance to get to the championship gamebut (blank) won't beat USC."
With Heisman winner Matt Leinart and uber-athlete Reggie Bush the nation's best player returning, it makes sense.
When I was in Las Vegas two weeks ago, bookies gave the Men of Troy 8 to 5 odds to win the Rose Bowl. The closest contender was Texas, who had 6 to 1 odds.
Purdue was 50 or 60 to 1, depending on the sports book.
I'd never made an official sports bet in my life, but I decided to give it a try.
I started with a few objectives.
1. Get good enough odds to make the bet worth it. Goodbye USC.
2. Possess the talent to beat USC.
3. Have a schedule conducive to a title run.
4. Stay away from trendy picks. Adios Texas, Ohio State and Tennessee.
I settled on Oklahoma, Florida and Virginia Tech at $10 apiece.
All had favorable odds Oklahoma at 10 to 1; Florida at 12 to 1 and Virginia Tech at 20 to 1.
If any of the three teams win, I'll make at least $80 not bad for a novice gambler.
All three are top-10 teams with a game-changing player or two.
Oklahoma's Heisman finalist Adrian Peterson nearly topped 2,000 yards rushing as a freshman last year. He added 10 pounds of muscle during the offseason in hopes of breaking that mark in '05.
Gator quarterback Chris Leak is always mentioned among the top players in the nation. With new coach Urban Meyer's offense, Leak should be a Heisman front-runner.
The Virginia Tech defense was good enough to carry it to a BCS game last year. With a Vick Marcus, not Michael behind center again, the Hokies look similar to the '99 team that made it to the title game.
As for the schedules, all three have one or two make or break games. Oklahoma has Texas; Florida has Tennessee and Georgia; and Virginia Tech has Miami.
All of those are home or neutral site games for the teams I picked. A win in any of those games provides a quality win to help sway the BCS voters later in the year.
When one of the three runs for the Roses, they'll give the Trojans a run for their money; and give me a nice return on an investment.
John Jeanguenat is a senior in the School of Management. He believes losing offensive coordinator Norm Chow will cost USC a national title.
Couch Slouch
Tennessee's defense can't afford to rest
By Norman Chad
For a number of years, I have been looking for a college football program to call my own. I had rejected the game for, oh, the past couple of decades or so because, as I have stated time and again to moans and groans from Sports Nation, college football has absolutely nothing to do with college.
Still, in an effort to recapture the joy of my youth — for instance, I recently called my fourth-grade teacher and asked her to test me again on multiplication tables — I wanted to feel the thrill and excitement of Saturday afternoons on the gridiron.
I have found my team: The University of Tennessee.
Phillip Fulmer, head coach since 1992, has fostered a program that pursues excellence on and off the field.
Actually, let me amend that — it pursues excellence on the field and pursues the best legal representation money can buy off the field.
I love the spirit of the Volunteers because these aren't just student-athletes who have to go to class and practice every day; these are student-athletes who have to go to class, practice and court every day.
Over the last year and a half, according to USA Today, Tennessee football players have been in at least 20 incidents involving shoplifting, assault, gun charges, motor vehicle citations, disturbing the peace and failing a drug test. Twelve Tennessee players have been arrested since the end of last season.
All Tennessee players are given a "Think Card" — a series of questions designed to help them think through difficult situations — which fits in their wallet.
The problem is, many Tennessee players don't carry a wallet; they carry a money clip.
Here is your typical Tennessee player's daily routine:
• 9:55 a.m.: Call friend and ask him to go to 10 o'clock typing class to take notes for you. • Noon: Lunch. • 1:15: Punch somebody off-campus. • 1:35: Commit some garden-variety, misdemeanor-type crime. • 2:05: Call friend to post bail for you. • 2:10: Call coach Fulmer to let him know you might be running late for practice.
Despite countless brushes with the law, Tennessee's student-athletes are ranked No. 3 in the Associated Press football poll.
(NCAA devotees love to use the term "student-athlete," then forget that "student" actually comes first. That means, theoretically, you attend class before you attend practice. Similarly, when I was in my heyday at Maryland, I was a "student-drinker" — first I carried books by day, then beers by night. Trust me, I didn't earn a 2.88 GPA by tapping kegs before noon.)
(Incidentally, let me congratulate the fine student-athletes at USC as the school pursues another national title led by Heisman Trophy winner Matt Leinart. Leinart needs two units to earn his sociology degree, so he is taking just one course this year — ballroom dancing. If I were making this up, I would admit it, but I'm not, so I wish Leinart and the Trojans the best of luck on both the football field and the dance floor!)
(And while I'm in a genial mood, kudos to the Atlantic Coast Conference. At least eight of its 12 teams will play in bowls if they qualify. The other four ACC schools would advance to the NHL playoffs.)
I'm rooting for the Volunteers because they have a harder road to victory. You think it's easy working the blocking sled with a subpoena in your back pocket? Tennessee players have to be in shape — in their backpacks, they carry a playbook, a textbook and a law book.
Hey, you try winning a national championship when half your defense is in county lockup any given Tuesday.
Anyway, I expect Tennessee to begin its 13-0 campaign Saturday by thrashing UAB at home, provided jury selection is over by halftime.
Large college football picks
John P. Lopez
Houston Chronicle
It's been eight seasons since I've done this (officially, that is ... by the way, if anyone sees my brother-in-law in San Antonio, tell him he owes me 600 bucks). Thus, I'm going to need a little time to shake off the rust.
There. Done. Rust gone.
We'll pick between six and eight games a week, including the Large Lock Of The Week. The team listed first is the team we're taking.
Take Oregon (minus-8.5) at UH.
The Coogs may be coming on strong, but the Ducks' quarterback is named Clemens (Kellen ... no relation, although he could be a long-lost son considering that first initial ... in fact, he probably thinks he's due a Cy Young Award). You know how Clemenses do in this town. His only complaint afterward will be a lack of run support.
Take Texas A&M (minus-1.5) at Clemson
Fun-loving, super-athlete and Aggie tight end Martellus Bennett breaks through with a decisive touchdown in the third quarter, then holds a televised press conference in the endzone. He declares for the NHL draft, explaining that the real reason he wears No. 3 is because that's how many sports he'll play.
Take Kent State (plus-18.5) at Michigan State.
Spartans might lose against the spread, but at least they win the fight in the parking lot afterward.
Take Texas (minus-40) versus Louisiana-Lafayette
Why this game is on TV, I have no idea. By halftime, it will be such bad TV that fans will be flipping through the channels looking for a WNBA game.
Take Virginia Tech (minus-4) at North Carolina State.
Sure, winning a road game in Carolina will be nice, but the real fun could come later, when the Hokies could head to Bristol Motor Speedway. Of course, fans will be required to wear halter tops and/or dip snuff. But at least after the game, players can shower right there in the infield.
Take USC (minus-34.5) at Hawaii.
Former Oilers loon Jerry Glanville breaks back into coaching at Hawaii ... against the powerful Trojans, no less. Feel free to call his debut, "Stagger Lei."
And for gosh sakes, learn the mascots' names.
Take Pitt (minus-3) versus Notre Dame.
Fighting Irish fans are waking up the echoes, again, with Charlie Weis in charge. But no matter how you say it, having seven true freshman on the two-deep sounds like it's not going to be this year.
Take South Carolina (minus-20.5) versus Central Florida.
Oh, how I missed Steve Spurrier in college football ... the way he threw his visor, the way he smirked and turned his head in that cocky way. The way he said, "It's a great day to be a Gator" in the post-game press gatherings. And the way his teams always JUST HAPPENED to cover the spread against inferior teams.
I need to stop before I get all teary. But things are going so well for S.C. right now, their mascot even got named as an All-American.
The Central Florida mascot tried to enter the contest, but no one wanted to dress up as a loser.
Large Lock Of The Week: Take the OVER (56) in the OU-TCU opener.
There is so much youth on both defenses, Fran Drescher and all the nannys in the world couldn't keep up with all those kids taking baby steps.
Parlay Like It's 1999:
Take the over in OU-TCU with Virginia Tech minus-4.
Handicapper Steele likes favorite Georgia
By Matt Youmans
Las Vegas Review-Journal
A new quarterback is running the show at Georgia, and everyone is wondering if little-used senior D.J. Shockley can pass the test. He is not being handed a lot of respect.
But how much respect is too much for Boise State? The Broncos, who have routinely dominated mediocre opponents, now go on the road to play the big boys of the Southeastern Conference.
The Bulldogs are 7-point favorites in Saturday's season opener for both teams, and Northcoast Sports handicapper Phil Steele said he expects Georgia to cover a number that appears a little low.
Shockley, who played sparingly behind four-year starter David Greene, was the nation's No. 3-rated QB out of high school. He isn't without talent and he is surrounded by it, including sophomore running back Thomas Brown.
"I think Shockley will fare much better than expected. Everybody says this guy can't throw the football, and his strength is running. Georgia has one of the better running games in the country," Steele said.
Boise State went 11-1 last year and was the nation's highest-scoring team. Junior quarterback Jared Zabransky and senior running back Lee Marks return, so the Broncos won't see much of a drop-off.
But the Bulldogs, with better athletes and more depth, return seven defensive starters and should wear down Boise State.
"The heat and humidity in the South is going to be a big factor, especially in the second half," Steele said. "The Bulldogs, even with South Carolina on deck, will be motivated for this overrated opponent."
Steele analyzes two more of his best bets for Saturday:
WISCONSIN (-2) over Bowling Green: This is an interesting matchup between Falcons QB Omar Jacobs, running back P.J. Pope and a Badgers defense that returns only four starters. Wisconsin lost all four starters on the defensive line and all were NFL draft picks.
Bowling Green might be the strongest team in the Mid-American Conference. But the Badgers still have talent and I like a Big Ten team laying less than a field goal at home.
BRIGHAM YOUNG (+3) over Boston College: The Cougars will be one of the most improved teams in the country and should end up in a bowl game. They return veteran QB John Beck, a good wideout in Todd Watkins and an underrated defense.
The altitude in Provo, Utah, could be a huge advantage for BYU, which has beat Notre Dame, Georgia Tech and Syracuse in its last three home openers. The Eagles are the more talented team, but the situation favors the Cougars.
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