11 CENTRAL MICHIGAN over *Arizona
Late Score Forecast:
CENTRAL MICHIGAN 23 - *Arizona 24
Central Michigan HC Butch Jones is building a MAC powerhouse at Mt. Pleasant. The Chippewas, who own the
best recruiting class in the MAC, have 10 regulars back on defense and figure to improve considerably with 11
upperclassmen starting on the stop unit. Little needs to be said about QB Dan LeFevour, who completed 69% last
season and has thrown for 74 touchdowns and run for an additional 32 scores in his CMU career. His top three
targets return, and they combined for 199 catches LY. Arizona is retooling at QB, and running game keyed by
Grigsby & Antolin might not be as effective without graduated QB Tuitama (65%, 3088 YP, 23 TDs LY), and with
top returning receivers TE Gronkowski (47 recs.) and WR Dean (53) possibly limping from camp injuries.
10 OKLAHOMA over Byu
Late Score Forecast:
OKLAHOMA 43 - Byu 10
(at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, TX)
Yes, there is a concern that the rebuilt Oklahoma OL (four new starters) could have some problems against the
veteran, stunting BYU 3-4 defense, especially sr. DEs Jan Jorgensen & Brett Denney. However, a similar concern exists on the Cougar side as well, with BYU having lost its starting LT & LG to season-ending injuries, meaning the Cougars have zero returning starters in their forward wall vs. the deep OU defense that was fourth in the nation in sacks LY. HC Bob Stoops wants his no-huddle offense (716 points LY, most in NCAA history) to execute even faster TY, and insiders in Norman say Heisman Trophy-winning QB Sam Bradford (50 TDs, 8 ints. LY; merdifully benched in second halves of blowouts) has taken to the challenge. Sooners 12-4 vs. the spread their last 16 on the board (12-2, when excluding bowl games).
10 MIDDLE TENNESSEE over *Clemson
Late Score Forecast:
MIDDLE TENNESSEE 24 - *Clemson 31
Sun Belt sources have alerted us to keep our eyes on underrated MTSU bunch that has seamlessly adapted to
progressive first-year o.c. Tony Franklin and his advanced spread formations. Franklin weaved similar magic a
few years ago at Troy, and word is that dynamic jr. QB Dasher appears to be the perfect triggerman for new-look
Blue Raider attack that should help Murfreesboro crew punch above its weight in Death Valley. And small but quick Blue Raider “D” not likely to get overrun by new-look Clemson “O” in its own adjustment phase with RS frosh QB Parker making first career start.
10 *MEMPHIS over Ole Miss
Late Score Forecast:
*MEMPHIS 26 - Ole Miss 31
(Sunday, September 6)
CKO sources firmly believe C-USA contender Memphis not getting sufficient respect from oddsmakers, considering
Tigers won 6 of their final 9 regular season games LY (including Southern Miss upset), coinciding with the
emergence of swift juco RB Curtis Steele (1123 YR, 7 TDs), who only had 15 carries for 83 yds. in his debut at Ole Miss LY. And Memphis’ sr. QB Hall (57%, 2,275 YP, 11 TDs) itching to hook up with his sure-handed, tall WRs for full 4 Qs after getting knocked out with an injury LY. So, Tigers should hang tough in this intense, underdogoriented series (dog 4-2 last 6), which will sadly be interrupted for at least two years since the Rebel A.D. felt series was getting too “stale.” Morever, the fortified Tiger defense (with jucos & highly-regarded SEC transfers) won’t be overwhelmed by Ole Miss’ all-star QB Jevan Sneed and mates, especially since Memphis now has
strategy to counteract the surpising “wildcat formation” unleashed for 1st time in ‘08. Last year, Tiger mentor
Tommy West claimed his team wasn’t emotionally ready to play, but with Ole Miss suddenly dropping out of
series, not the case TY.
10 *COLORADO over Colorado State
Late Score Forecast:
*COLORADO 34 over Colorado State 13
(Sunday, September 6)
Colorado’s 38-17 victory over CSU in 2008 took place at neutral Mile High Stadium in Denver, with the Buffaloes
out-rushing the Rams 153-71. That rush edge could be even bigger TY, with the game in Boulder, CU owning a
plethora of talented & seasoned RBs, and Colorado State rebuilding virtually its entire defensive front seven.
Moreover, Ram HC Farris was disappointed in his QBs most of spring and much of August, before naming 6-2 sr.
Grant Stucker, who is 3 of 5 passing in his four career appearances. Therefore, must count on more-experienced
Buffalo signal callers Hawkins & Hansen—even with their own limitations—to have greater success. The intensity of this rivalry should not be underestimated. But host CU appears to hold important firepower edges in this year’s clash.
TOTALS: UNDER (52) in the Utah State-Utah game (Thursday night)—Utah defense still plenty rugged, while last year’s Ute defensive coordinator, Gary Anderson, is now the Aggies’ head coach!...OVER (64) in the Oregon-Boise State game (Thursday night)—Both offenses should be at their tricky, wideopen best for this shootout on the blue carpet in a game the Broncos cannot afford to lose if they want to be a BCS buster...UNDER (47) in the Connecticut-Ohio U. game—Huskies’ conservative style is to run & defend; well-coached Bobcats will yield points grudgingly on home turf...UNDER (38) in the Virginia Tech-Alabama game—With ground-oriented offenses vs. powerful defenses, this seems like a natural “under,” unless the defenses set up easy points, that is.
NINE-RATED GAMES: TEXAS A&M (-14½) vs. New Mexico—Mike Sherman has his offense in place; if he is right about Aggies’ added speed on defense, all the Lobo changes under new coach Locksley should be too many for them to absorb in their first game...SAN JOSE STATE (+34) at Southern Cal—Dick Tomey has upgraded the Spartan defense during his stay; this is mostly a “training” game for USC true frosh QB Matt Barkley, who will NOT be asked to reach
Mark Sanchez’ levels in Barkley’s first college appearance, especially with a trip to Columbus on deck...WASHINGTON (+17) vs. Lsu—Yes, Huskies were 0-12 LY, but they still have a core of talented players and are a different team now that dynamic QB Jake Locker is back from injury.
Cko confidential kick-off 9/5
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