NCAA Week Six Ponderings

Had a decent week, going 3-2-1 in the colleges and 2-1 in the NFL, but it feels like I left some meat on the bone. Here's some early thoughts on Week Six. As always, thoughts and opinions are welcome.

Thursday, Sept. 2nd

Sam Houston -2' at NEW MEXICO ST. - Not that the Aggies are very good, but what have the Bearkats done this season to deserve to be road chalk?

Friday, Oct. 3rd

DELAWARE -2' vs. Wku - The new kids on the FBS block have won ten straight in the Hen House and are off a bye. Hilltoppers are on the road for the second straight week and are off a 27-22 win at Missouri St., the other FBS newcomer.

SAN JOSE ST. -2' vs. New Mexico - Feels like the wrong team is favored here. Lobos are playing better ball and would love to spoil the Spartans' homecoming.

Saturday, Oct. 4th - Happy birthday to me! Hope it's a profitable one.

Army -7 at UAB - Black Knights are a far cry from last year's team. Second straight road trip, off a 28-6 beating at ECU, while the Blazers are off a bye and looking to avenge last season's 44-10 loss at West Point.

NOTRE DAME -20' vs. Boise St. - If the Broncos can play clean they can hang with the Irish, at least as far as the spread is concerned. But if they make the same kind of mistakes they made in the Fiesta Bowl against Penn St. and this year's loss at USF, it'll be a long afternoon.

Miami-Oh -5' at NIU - Redhawks are 4-2 SU and 5-1 ATS in this series under HC Chuck Martin, but I wouldn't be shocked to see the Huskies turn the tables on Homecoming.

APPALACHIAN ST. -1' vs. Oregon St. - Beavs are off a heartbreaking overtime loss at home to Houston, a game they should've won, and now have to travel coast to coast to take on the Mountaineers, who are licking their wounds after their beatdown at Boise.

James Madison -19' at GEORGIA ST. - Dukes are on a roll. Hard to see the Panthers putting up much resistance here.

Washington -6' at MARYLAND - This is the Huskies' second of three straight games vs. a team off a bye, and they're off a humbling 24-6 loss at home to Ohio St. Now they have to travel to the East Coast to take on the undefeated Terps. UW was 0-5 SU and ATS outside the Pacific time zone last year. Deja Vu?

ALABAMA -10' vs. Vanderbilt - Since the beginning of last year the Commodores are 10-2 ATS as a dog (7-0 on the road), with seven outright wins! I'm sure the Crimson Tide would love to avenge last season's 40-35 shocking loss in Nashville a season ago, but Vandy's out to prove it wasn't a fluke. 

Texas Tech -11' at HOUSTON - I'm a believer in the Red Raiders. They look like the best team in the Big 12 and are off a bye. The Cougars had their hands full in Corvallis last week, and this will be a much bigger test.

TEXAS A&M -14 vs. Mississippi St. - Sometimes a push feels like a loss, which was my case last week when the Bulldogs lost by a touchdown in a tough overtime loss at home to Tennessee. If you had the closing line of +7' it was a winner though, and Missy St. is now 4-1 SU, and 4-0 ATS, while the Aggies are 0-3 as home chalk. Seems like too many points here.

MEMPHIS -20' vs. Tulsa - Tigers are in the catbird's seat for the G5 playoff berth. I'm not stepping in front of them here.

Duke -3 at CALIFORNIA - Blue Devils took advantage of Syracuse missing their starting QB and rolled to a 38-3 win on the road. Now they're on the road again, on the left coast with a 10:30 pm Eastern start time! It's Homecoming for the Golden Bears, off a 28-24 upset win at Boston College. Leaning home dog here.

App St, Tx Tech, and Cal are appealing to me. 

I was also really liking Washington. They were in that OSU game for a long time and I thought they looked really good. You hate the west coast traveling east angle if you like Washington, but it is a 1230 Pacific start at least. I really havent seen Maryland play at all, but beating Wisconsin doesnt impress me like playing tough vs OSU

@Yanasaur

Maryland has something Washington doesn't have, and that's a Power Four win on the road (as a 10' point dog). I agree that Wisconsin is having a down year, but it was still an impressive win. Now the Terps have had two weeks to prepare for the Huskies, who were bruised and battered by Ohio St. last week. Until UW proves to me they can win outside the Pacific time zone I'll be fading them.

@Boisestateand8

 You dont think Washington looked good in that game? Maybe its just me. I thought they looked great. There was a key point in the game where Washington had them stopped on a drive and then there was a very questionable roughing the passer penalty where the defender really wasnt trying to hit him, made light contact and drew the flag. OSU then scored the TD to put the game realistically out of reach and the wheels came off. 

@Yanasaur

 I think the Huskies gave it all they had. They just wore down in the fourth quarter.

GL

Wishing you nothing but the best for Saturday since it's your birthday!

Thanks brother! BOL to you as well! 

Another game of note.

CINCINNATI -1' vs. Iowa St. - Seems like the logical play would be to take the ranked team as a slight dog here, but as Lee Corso would say "Not so fast my friend". Bearcats QB Brendan Sorsby can sling it and the 'Clones are missing starting CBs Jeremiah Cooper and Jontez Williams, who are both out for the year. Both players were preseason Big 12 first team selections. Cincy has lost both previous meetings since joining the Big 12 and is looking for some payback. They might get it here.

Was leaning New Mexico St. tonight, and still am slightly, but it's a short week for them and Sammy is off a bye, so no play for me on this garbage game.