Dave Busk

5 Unit Pick #356 Take Washington State (+2) over Hawaii (Sept. 12, 7:00)

Hawaii head coach Greg McMakin did a nice job stepping into that role and winning seven games and taking Hawaii to a bowl game after June Jones bolted the program. Hawaii returns just two starters on the defensive side of the ball this year and has a lot of young guy’s hitting the mainland for the first time visit Washington State. As bad as Washington State was last year and they were bad I don’t think they should be a dog in this situation. Washington State lost last week vs. Stanford in week one in a neutral field game vs. Stanford 39-13, but this team will improve this year. Second year head coach Paul Wolff put this program through a rigid off season workout program and they have installed a no huddle offense, they have a combined 14 starters back from a team that lost at Hawaii last year in the last game of the year at Hawaii 24-10. I like the Pac ten team here and I think they should be the favorite. Great Value

4 Unit Pick #365 Take Houston (+15) over Oklahoma State (Sept.12, 3:30)

These two teams scored a combined 93 points as Oklahoma State registered a 56-37 comeback win vs. Houston ironically in week two of the 2008 season. Big difference this year, Oklahoma State is coming of a big win vs. Sec power Georgia and I think they could be a little full of themselves here. That was a physical game last week and I’ am sure it took a toll on the Cowboys. They now have to deal with standout Houston quarterback Case Keenum who rip apart Okie State and has thrown over 300 yards in 14 of his last 15 starts. I think it will be awful hard for the favorite to cover this how number in what should be another shootout.

2 Unit Pick Take Over (45.5) Iowa at Iowa State (Sept. 12, 12:00)

The last two games of this rivalry have been low scoring with a 17 -5 Iowa in 2008 and 15-13 Iowa State win in 2007. I think this year will play out much different with Iowa State improving their power on that side of the ball with Florida Transfer Bo Williams and returning quarterback Austen Arnaud with the addition of new offensive coordinator Tom Hearn who set records with the Rice offense the last two years and installing the spread offense. Iowa offensive improved by fifty yards a game in 2008 from 2007 and have quarterback Ricky Stanza back along with three offensive lineman from 2008. Last year total closed at 48 in that low scoring game and now the odds maker has made adjustment but I believe it is the wrong adjustment, I made this total 51 by my numbers and I’ am playing that value.

1 Unit Pick Take Over (38) South Carolina at Georgia (Sept. 12,

First Georgia quarterback Joe Cox is going to play and if he didn’t I would still be on the over here. This total is all about precipitation after South Carolina 7-3 win at North Carolina State and Georgia holding a powerful Oklahoma State offense to 24 points. This is just two low for two offensive minded coaches and while this is not a big play on the weekend it is still a play.