Trips Right is once again lampooned in an exotic destination without Internet access. This week's locale is West Virginia, where he is on set with Jesco White filming a sequel to the cult classic movie The Dancing Outlaw. (Imagine chooky in tap dancing shoes).
This week's picks:
Arkansas -1 vs. A&M. Two units.
The Aggies come into this interconference tilt with a satisfying 3-0 start. They'll face a talented but young Arkansas club looking for a signature win after a disappointing loss to Georgia and a smooth buttfucking by the fighting Nick Sabans. Each side has playmakers galore on offense to go along with a suspect defense. But I like the Arkansas defense a tad better than an untested Aggie stop unit who gave up 340 yards passing to the Aggies of Utah State. The Razorbacks need this one, and the Aggies are probably thinking about winning a national championship. No word if the teams will be forced to provide their own cage dancers at Jerry's World. On that front, I have to words for Bill Byrne. Out source. 35 to 24 Pigs.
East carolina -2.5 vs Marshall. Two Units.
This is a bet of strength on strength. And it appears as if the Pirates better is better than Marshall's better. Darius Marshall, Marshall's horse, has torn up the horrid rush defenses of Bowling Green and Memphis. His 17 carry 109 yard game against VA Tech is nice on it's face, but if you take away a 61 yard rush on a busted assignment, Darius averaged about 3 yards a carry. East Carolina's rush defense is in the ballpark with the Hokies allowing a paltry 3.39 yards per carry to a schedule that includes North Carolina and West Virginia. I like the Pirates to force Marshall to be something they aren't...a passing club. Skip Holts' group spittles their way to a solid 24 to 17 win.
Nevada -2 vs UNLV. two units
This is an X's and O's bet stemming from UNLV's inability to stop read option teams, running quarterbacks, and running teams in general. With Engleberg Humperdink at QB, I fully expect the Wolfpack to move the ball at will on a porous Rebel front. The 'Pack's struggles against passing squads are well chronicled, but the superior passing competition they've faced this year in the form of Mizzou and Notre Dame, coupled with homefield should mitigate this weakness. Also, a short number doesn't hurt when you have a home team that will be able to run and stop the run. 'Pack wins by a TD. 41 to 34.
Colorado State -3 @ Idaho. 1 unit
Colorado State has given up an average of 3.4 yards per carry against a schedule that includes Colorado, Nevada and BYU. Idaho has rushed it for just 4.3 yards per carry against a schedule of defenses like
NMSU, NIU, and SDSU. CSU is a step up in class defensively for Idaho. On the other side of the ball, Colorado State's oline should be able to overpower the smallish Vandal front. 28 to 20 CSU.
Northwestern/Purdue under 59.5. 1 unit
Two short passing, ball control big 10 teams playing in an 11 am. game? What's not to like? No gamebreakers and bend but don't break defenses to keep the clock moving. It'll take two defensive TD's or special teams TD's to push the number over. I'm betting against that. 28 to 21 Purdue.
Miami +7 vs. OU. 1 unit
The only legitimate defense the Sooners have faced held them to 13 points, 15 first downs, 3.8 yards per carry, 147 yards passing, and knocked out Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford. The other two defenses the Sooners have faced couldn't fog a mirror and it's the primary cause of Oklahoma fool's gold.
Defensively, the Sooners are nasty, so this ballgame rates to be a low scoring affair which makes getting a TD huge. I like the 'Canes to replicate the defensive success the Cougars enjoyed against a porous and inexperienced Oline playing their first road game of the season. Harris makes just enough plays to move the chains for Miami. The U 21 OU 17. (I also like the under 49 here a bunch. So I'll post it.)
OU at Miami. Under 49. 1 unit.
Neither team can score. And that helps with unders and shit.
Good luck on your action.
Now back to your regularly scheduled Vasherized programming.
Trips has apparently been snorting chalk with the hillbillies but he'll do anything for a nice line.
One stat to keep in mind with the CSU pick -- the state of Idaho is a clean 8-0 ATS.
