COLLEGE ANALYSIS
KEY: Home team in CAPS. *—indicates night game. Statistics after game writeups are
listed in the following order: Score of game, first downs, rushing attempts/rushing yards,
passes completed/passes attempted/passes intercepted/passing yards, and fumbles lost.
In each statistical category the leader is listed first. SR—Series Record.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3
*South Carolina 24 - NORTH CAROLINA STATE 23—Well aware NCS
eager to avenge LY’s embarrassing 34-0 shutout in Columbia (see Looking for
an Angle), but still prefer to “take” with USC squad possessing more weapons
due to HC Spurrier’s recent recruiting hauls. TGS scouts report ‘Cocks
previously-unsteady soph QB Stephen Garcia has honed his decision-making
(less freelancing) under tutelege of new QB coach G.A. Mangus. And with a
group of RBs providing greater burst TY (112th in rushing LY) and a nastier OL,
Garcia works play-action to a dynamic WR corps (gifted 6-3 frosh WRs Bennett
& Jeffrey ready to make early impact) vs. thin, rebuilding Wolfpack 2ndary
coping with a couple of unexpected preseason departures. And while USC
missing suspended 6-8, 281 DE Clifton Geathers, that loss is more than offset
by season-ending injury to State’s ubiquitous LB Nate Irving (80 tackles, 11
TFL, 4 ints. LY). USC’s unorthodox 4-2-5 defense not easily solved, and NCS
just 3-11 as home chalk since ‘04. CABLE TV—ESPN
(08-S. CAR. 34-Ncsu 0...S.20-10 S.42/171 N.37/89 S.17/27/4/198 N.5/20/2/49 S.0 N.2)
(08-SOUTH CAROLINA -14 34-0...SR: EVEN 26-26-4)
*UTAH 30 - Utah State 14—With nationally-ranked Utah needing to rebuild
on offensive side (replacing 7 starters including school’s No. 2 all-time leading
QB Brian Johnson), not so sure Utes easily garner their 15th straight victory (12th
consecutive in series) vs. instate rival Utah State. After all, Aggies’ nononsense
1st-year HC Gary Anderson should have a plan on how to attack the
aggressive, gap-control Ute defense (17 ppg) after serving as Utah d.c. L5Ys.
Utah State’s athletic jr. QB Diondre Borel (9 starts LY, 56%), who is directing
new no-huddle attack with nearly all key weapons back, has good running skills
(855 YR LY!). Behind revamped OL (lost 3 starters), Utah’s untested, stillcompeting
QBs juco Terrance Cain and/or true frosh Jordan Wynn might not
carve up reshuffled, fortified (with several jucos), seasoned Aggie defense,
especially with top 3 Ute WRs graduating. Visitor 7-1-1 last 9 in series.
(08-Utah 58-UTAH ST. 10...U.29-8 U.48/233 S.25/27 U.23/32/1/213 S.9/23/1/89 U.2 S.2)
(08-Utah -24' 58-10 07-UTAH -21' 34-18 06-Utah -20 48-0...SR: Utah 76-28-4)
*BOISE STATE 34 - Oregon 32—Don’t tell Boise supporters that it’s too
early to start talking about the BCS. And Broncs (no reg.-season losses on blue
carpet since ‘01!) retain enough elements (including soph southpaw QB Moore)
from LY’s 12-1 squad to make a run at postseason party. But rebuilt BSU front
7 could be a bit vulnerable vs. potent Duck weapons QB Masoli & RB Blount,
while Pac-10 sources say UO won’t miss a beat with new HC Chip Kelly (Mike
Bellotti’s o.c. past 2 years). Remember that Ducks were down to 3rd-string QB
Thomas in LY’s home loss vs. Broncos. CABLE TV—ESPN
(08-Boise St. 37-ORE. 32...O.29-16 O.52/227 B.35/38 B.24/36/1/386 O.16/32/3/237 B.1 O.1)
(08-Boise State +10' 37-32...SR: Boise State 1-0)
ADDED GAMES
*Troy 35 - BOWLING GREEN 24—Can’t expect much right away from BG
side still adjusting to new HC Dave Clawson and his staff. Falcon defensive
questions remain unanswered, as BG returns just 3 starters after dismissing NT
Michael Ream and had to hold out star S P.J. Mahone from recent scrimmages
with a neck problem. Troy averaged 33 ppg after Levi Brown took over at QB
LY, as he threw 15 TDs & just 3 ints. in 8 starts. Brown played for Clawson at
Richmond in 2005-06, so he should know how to attack the defensive scheme.
Trojans are 7-3 last 10 as a road favorite and have an explosive rush game led
by 5-7 jr. DuJuan Harris (5.1 ypc, 14 TDs LY). A defense that boasts 4 players
on the Lombardi watch list and one of the best kickers in the southeast in sr.
Sam Glusman (108 pts.) give Troy more edges. (FIRST MEETING)
*BALL STATE 42 - North Texas 17—Realize Ball State attack won’t get
quite the same production now that star QB Nate Davis and 4 offensive linemen
have moved on, but see little percentage in backing North Texas. The not-so-
Mean Green defense has yielded 47 & 48 ppg the last two seasons, and UNT
has a 16-30 spread mark in last 46 games on the line. North Texas has dropped
its last 3 openers by a combined score of 180-23, and BG star RB MiQuale
Lewis should do some damage facing Mean Green defense that’s yielded 5.6
ypc under Todd Dodge, who’s son, RS frosh QB Riley Dodge, will be under
tremendous pressure from vet Card DL. CABLE TV—ESPNU
(FIRST MEETING)
TECHNICIAN'S CORNER...featuring the tech edge!
COLLEGE
SOUTH CAROLINA at NC STATE (Thursday, September 3)... NCS
closed with a rush last season, covering its last 8 games. Although
Wolfpack was not favored in any of those! NCS just 1-6 as chalk since
‘06 (1-2 under O’Brien since '07), but Wolfpack was 5-0 vs. spread in
revenge role LY and will be looking for some after absorbing 34-0
pasting in last season’s opener. Spurrier has covered just 5 of last 18
on board (5-11-2 vs. line). He’s also just 2-6 last 8 as dog, and 2-7 vs.
number last 9 away from Williams-Brice Stadium. Tech edge-NCS,
based on recent trends.
UTAH STATE at UTAH (Thursday, September 3)...Road team is 4-0-
1 vs. line last 5 and 7-1-1 against spread last 9 in this in-state rivalry.
Utes 14-6 vs. number last 20 on board overall, although they were
only 1-2 vs. line laying DDs at Salt Lake City LY. Note Utah “over” 11-
2 last 13 on board. Utags not bad lately, either, 13-6 vs. spread last 19
on board, and covered 8 of last 12 away from Logan. Andersen debut
for Utags. Tech edge-Utah State, based on series and team trends.
OREGON at BOISE STATE (Thursday, September 3)...Chip Kelly
debut at UO. Bellotti was 13-6 vs. line his last 19 as dog away from
home. Ducks 6-2 vs. line in non-Pac 10 action since ‘07 with one of
those defeats vs. Boise LY. Boise only 2-2 vs. line on blue carpet LY
but 39-15 in role since ‘99. Interestingly, Broncos have covered only
2 of last 7 in first game of season on board. Tech edge-slight to
Oregon, based on team trends.
TROY at BOWLING GREEN (Thursday, September 3)...Troy now 7-
2 vs. number last 9 as visiting favorite. Trojans also 8-4 vs. line last 12
vs. non-Belt foes. Clawson debut at Bowling Green, which
nonetheless covered 12 of last 17 on board for Brandon. Falcons were
3-0 as a dog LY and are 7-1 as a regular-season dog since ‘07, also 5-
2 vs. line in reg.-season vs. non-MAC foes since ‘07. Tech edge-slight
to Troy, based on team trends.
NORTH TEXAS at BALL STATE (Thursday, September 3)...Ball
begins the Stan Parrish era. Cards, however, were only 2-5 vs.
number laying DDs the past two glory years under Brady Hoke despite
19-10 spread mark last 29 on board. Todd Dodge just 4-8 vs. line LY,
and UNT only 7-14 vs. spread as visitor dating back to ‘06. Dodge also
just 6-11 as DD dog since ‘07. Tech edge-slight to Ball State, based
on UNT negatives.
The Gold Sheet 9/3
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