Playing Devil's Advocate

Now you have found 2 people,don't be suprised when Cuse and Bowling Green win outright in week 1

lmao.. wow.. interesting post.. i think i'll do a write up on this game right now..

Minnesota @ Syracuse +6.5

Minnesota:
Minnesota did quite a turnaround last year, after only winning one game in 2007. They return 18 starters from last year's team including the entire offensive line. This should help the running game, which ran for only 3.1 yards per carry last season. Starting QB Adam Weber returns, with his 62% completion rating, along with RB DeLeon Eskridge. The main reason for hope on the offense is the WR unit, which returns Eric Decker, Ben Kuznia, and Brandon Green. Defensively, the reason for Minnesota's big turnaround was their ability to create turnovers. The big reason for their ability to create turnovers was DE Willie VanDeSteeg. Replacing him will be the biggest concern for the defense, because without his ability to get into the backfield, the defense will suffer. The three other starters return from the defensive line, as well as two starting LBs and three of the four secondary players.

Syracuse:
The excitement is building in Syracuse with the arrival of new coach Doug Marrone, after the departure of Greg Robinson. The offensive should be improved from last year, starting with the head coach. Marrone was the former offensive coordinator for the New Orleans Saints, and we all know about that offense. At the QB position, highly touted Duke transfer Greg Palus has been named the starting QB. He will have a deep WR corp to throw to, especiallly with the return of Mike Williams, who didn't play last season due to academic probation. He had one TD reception for 9 straight games in 2007 and also tied a Syracuse record with 60 receptions. Last years starting WRs Lavar Lobdell and Donte Davis return, along with a good safety valve in senior TE Mike Owens. The offensive line returns three starting offensive linemen, which should help provide protection for a new QB. They did lose RB Curtis Brinkley, but replacing him is Delone Carter, who rushed for 716 yards last year and was a first-team All-American in 2006. Defensively, the D-Line returns Arthur Jones who was an All-Big East selection. They did lose two D-Line starters, but the arrival of Jones's brother Chandler should help the pass rush. They return two starting LBs as well as all four defensive backs. The defense can only get better, as they are more experienced.

Overview:
This game seams like a huge mismatch in favor of Minnesota. What I think is gonna be the difference, however, is the excitement in Syracuse. This is new coach Marrone's first game and he is gonna have his team ready to play. The defense of Syracuse is underrated, and I think will be able to get pressure on the QB. They key to this game will be the play of Syracuse's freshman QB. If he can limit his mistakes, then Syracuse will be able to hang in this game. The running game should be able to produce yards, and help out Palus as well.

haha.. oh really??.. attitude has alot to do with college football.. Marrone brings in something that Syracuse has been lacking a long time.. he has people talking about them again, and like i said, he will have his team ready for this game.. players on the field don't always mean a victory.. just look at Minnesota in 2007, when they lost to North Dakota State..

i don't always take that approach.. i was on all three of those last year as well buddy..

i just did my research and came to my conclusion like i do with every game..

i may be wrong, i may be right, we all win and lose my friend..

lmaooooooo dude you cant be serious here, half the syracuse team quit already........ this will be a blow out. there is no argument

I forget, do we add +7 points or just +6.5 points to a team for the 'excitement' factor??

can someone explain to me then, if minny is such an overwhelming favorite in this game, with much more talent and such, why is the line only 6.5? i was expecting it to be somewhere around 9-10..

I'd recommended staying away from both games, better games to bet.  That's just my opinion...

Excitement factor

2008 Defense rankings:

Scoring-  32.7 - 101st
Rushing- 189.4 - 101st 
Passing- 225.1-  83rd
Total-  414.5-  101st

And that was with a healthy D..

absolutely not true.I am very familiar with the Bisons and your statement is inaccurate to say the least.

This is another statement I don't understand?

If you, yourself admit that the line should be 10 then Minny has extreme value at 6.5.

The only valid arguement I hear about this game is that the Gophers just are not that good of a team.  however, you can not justify that statement if you also side with UAB....Eastern Mich....as a majority of cappers are.

Although i agree with the argument......."hey there's 2 sides to EVERY game.......Vegas is not in the charity business......> no "gifts" exist...."

In college football ... when handicapping games....clearly a study of the physical match-up....(fundamental)...is the MOST important

NEVER is it more important than WEEK 1......so what you do is look to "play on"....an  experienced team (coach + qb +3/5 OL + 17+ starters.....)......ESPECIALLY if playing a team that is just the opposite.......you either "play on" in  this situation....or make damn sure you are not "going against" also.....which is why in okie st /ga game.....although i lean to the bulldogs....the fact that okie st returns a massive array of weapons...(and ga on road with new QB)......makes it okie st or nothing > so no play for me....
     * minny starts 18 upperclassmen...102 starts return on OL....only loss is S Brock......but capably replaced (?)  by Wisc transfer Kim Royston

Although minny at home would be perfect situation.....the fact that game is on the road + all this "optimism" coming out of cuse camp.......hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhhhahahaha
gives us excellent value....combined with minny's poor (but justified) poor finish

To decide to "play on" a team using a "situational".....approach......(minny lookahead / cuse fired up )....may be the way to go LATER in the year......but definitely not the advised way to go ...WEEK 1

By the way....BETCHA those that like syracuse here ....HAVE NOT STUDIED the matchup.....
     * example : minny's biggest weapon (game breakers) is probably b/u QB....(wildcat + some WR)....MarQueis Gray......2nd is probably WR Hayo Carpenter (JUCO transfer that can fly)....3rd may be WR/KR Troy Stoudermire (DB last year)
     *to address the weak running game minny is switching from ill-suited spread attack ..to multiple/ pro set attack......3 solid RB's + excellent blocking FB in Jon Hoese

As i've mentioned several times before......the KEY here is that Marrone is clearly TEARING the program down and starting over....as THERE WAS NO FOUNDATION to build on......get it ?
 SO.....his objective at this point is whipping guys into Marrone shape.......getting them do do things HIS WAY......and NOT ....the Robinson way.....(outgained by 3.8 miles in his 4 years) ..<.holy shit

SO while this process is underway.....you DO NOT want to bet on the cuse......as this whipping their ass takes time away from game prep.......** he could care less about minny right now** ....i promise you.....however....when signs indicate things are turning around.....you bet play on the cuse....tremendous value should be there....
      * note: NO SIGNS are evident at this point

Of course cuse could somehow pull out a win / cover.....(Weber throws 5 picks or whatever).....but point is to back the cuse here is what i feel is a serious handicapping error (the arguments to back the cuse so far not valid arguments).....i would say good luck anyway.....but since minny is my biggest wager by far that would be a lie......(5 units on minny to win...teased to pick'em.....1st leg won already.....+ 3 units at -6').....< 8 units also stupid....when i see something i really like ....gotta pull the trigger.?..> still learning myself.....

...well then i guess u have paid attention to me or DUAL...

bravo! 

i absolutely hate the logic of taking a team because you (an expert on linemaking?) think the line should be less in their favor... i see this shit on Covers so much and it only fucks with people's heads... don't do it!

my statement is dead on accurate to say the least, douchebag!  know what you are talking about before you make a statement like that...

the past 4 games against BCS division schools:

2006:  @ Ball St (W 29-24)

2007:  @ Minnesota (W 27-21)

2007:  @ CMich (44-14)

2008:  @ Wyoming (L 13-16)

 

that's 3-1, all on the road... clearly your mouth knows more than your brain...