Weekend Card (Sept 8th-10th)

[Irish]

GT (-12.5) over UNC
At home this GT team will look to crush the in state rival. UNC came on to play well last year but some key subtractions are going to make it a little harder to compete. Not only do they need to replace the QB but the starting RB, they were the heart and soul of that offense. They return a solid line but the d line for GT is too strong. 9 starters, not including top tackle Chase Page, and best secondary player Sensabaugh return to a UNC defense that finished 109th in the nation allowing 446.5 yards and 31.83 points per game. Now not only does the GT offense have key skill players but they were part of the team that lost by 20 at UNC last year. A better team, with revenge on their mind should be enough.

Cheers
Irish

[Irish]

Georgia (-16.5) over S.Carolina
Spurrir was lucky in his first game back but he is not going to be so lucky this week. I underestimated the Georgia defense last week and they were everywhere against Boise and I do think Boise has a better offense that the gamecocks. The real story will be on defense, the gamecock defense looked pretty bad and #9 joseph was repeatedly burned. Mind you this was against a demoralized UCF team that lost 11 in a row last year. Now the gamecocks go into Georgia a team that nows how bad FLA ran it up on them in bad years. The bulldogs will be foaming at the mouth for this one.

Cheers
Irish

[Irish]

MTSU (-3) over No. Texas

Hard to go against 2 of the best RB's in collge football but looking at the numbers I have to give the edge to Blue Raider defense. The Mean Green lose three from the line including the center. The do have play makers at WR and the QB can make the throws. Still the MTSU defensive front seven will be the best in the league with eight great options at LB and a good D-line with excellent pass rushers and some big, tough tackles. This will help against the run but MTSU needs improvement from the nation's 112th ranked pass defense. Going into Bama and only giving up 90 rushing yards isn't bad but giving up 200 plus passing is always the problem. BUT the Mean green defense is just terrible. The entire D-line is being replaced and they loss their best players in safeties Jonas Buckles and Markeith Knowlton.This defense allowed 414 yards and almost 30 points per game. They do have better LBs then last year but if first contact is at the second level MTSU will be solid rushing. Now even though the Mean Green have two outstanding RBs only one will be in formation at a time, so the defense just has to key on him. The returning playmakers for MTSU having a game under their belt against a great bama defense should have enough to get it done on their home field.

Cheers
Irish

[egthareal]

I like the reasoning on the NO. texas game - keep the good advice comin. I'm placing my wagers as we speak. Thanks again.

--EG

[Irish]

ND (+7) over Mich
I am no where thinking the Irish are taking home the national championship but they have a great head coach and winning in Pitt gives these boy confidence. Michigan allowed 411 total yards of offense against No. Ill. No. Ill rushed for 211 and gave the ball away FIVE times and blocked a FG. Yet the offense only managed 33 points. Carr was flat out pissed at the defensive effort and said they got pushed around a lot more than he wanted to see. Now the ND defense isn't top 10 but they should be better than No. Ill and they now have an offensive game plan. Not sure if Mich has the defense to keep ND off the board and in this heated game I'll take a TD.

Cheers
Irish

[Irish]

TCU (-15) over SMU

Dangerous place to be after an emotional game with Okla, but SMU is that bad. BUT the Stangs are coming off a heart breaker against Baylor. Baylor didn't score on drives starting inside the SMU 28, 20 and 13!! The defense for the horned frogs should be all over the stangs. Smu has a scrambling QB but they rotate with a pocket passer.The team only averaged 12 points per game over the first eight. I'm not jumping on the frogs bandwagon but as long as they don't go into SMU too flat they should look to beat up on the stangs. In a down year last season the Frogs beat this team 44-0.

Cheers
Irish

[Irish]

small plays on Pitt (-14) and the over 48

Looking for Pitt to rebound and Ohio to fight each team has zero defense and baring stupid mistakes should move the ball. Expect the same type of game that was last week with Ohio vs N'Western. Expect a few more points because the panthers have to build a little bit after the ND loss.

Cheers
Irish

[tiptheboss]

Nice call on the Irish.

[Irish]

thanks got my teeth kicked in this weekend.

[peyton999]

I am no where thinking the Irish are taking home the national championship but they have a great head coach and winning in Pitt gives these boy confidence... I expect a few more points because the panthers have to build a little bit after the ND loss.