Doc's Football - College & Pro
5 Unit Play. #8 Take Central Michigan -13 over Ohio U (Friday 8 pm ESPN 2) This will be the second to last game QB LeFevour plays for the Chippewas. He will get a chance to play on Sundays because he is that good. But the quarterback position is not the only strength of this team, as the Chippewas have a balanced attack. True NIU and Toledo did put up points against them, but that came when the game was already out of reach. As for Ohio, they are a well coached team, but not as strong as their record would indicate. They were outgained in wins over NIU and Buffalo and enter this game in Detroit with QB Scott and RB Garrett questionable. I do expect them to play since this game has great importance but they will not be at full strength.
Look for the Chippewas to make a statement that they are far and away the best team in the MAC. QB LeFevour shines and so do the Chips, as they win this game going away and likely will return to Detroit for the Pizza Pizza Bowl. CMU 42, Ohio U 17.
4 Unit Play. #14 Take Illinois -3 over Fresno State (Saturday 12:30 pm Big Ten Network) The Illini had one of the most disappointing seasons in the country and they never seemed to recover from the opening loss to Missouri. As for Fresno, they have played competitive at times, but the bottom teams from the WAC have helped make their record misleading. In a high scoring affair, look for the Illini to send their seniors off with a victory. QB Williams will be playing his final game of his career and this will be a chance to showcase his abilities. I was surprised that Illinois will retain Coach Zook, but that is the case and the underclassmen know they better perform. Illinois needs this game to gain momentum for next year and the cold weather will help them, as the homer gets the call. Illinois 38, Fresno State 21.
4 Unit Play. #24 Take Rutgers -1 over West Virginia (Saturday 12 pm ESPN) The Scarlet Knights are catching West Virginia at the perfect time, as the Mountaineers are coming off two big emotional games against Cincinnati and Pittsburgh. Defense will be the difference in this game as the Knights have the personnel to shut down West Virginia.
Rutgers has lost 14 straight against WVU. However, the Knights have four straight senior day games. Something has to give in this contest, but I always like to side with the home team. The 14-game losing streak will end in New Brunswick on Saturday. Rutgers 20, WVO 17.
4 Unit Play. #26 Take Washington +7 over California (Saturday 6:30 pm FSN) What a job Coach Sarkisian has done with this Huskies program. The team still lacks depth but under his leadership look for good things to come in the years ahead. QB Locker has played well this season and their shutout win last week against Washington State will give them a lot of confidence entering this game.
The Golden Bears have been up and down all year. They will play in a bowl game but I do not see any reason that they will be up for this game. The Huskies will not be going bowling and expect them to give an all-out effort in order to build momentum for 2010. I will call the straight-up victory. Washington 31, Cal 28.
4 Unit Play. #34 Take Under 41 ½ in Florida vs. Alabama (Saturday 4 pm CBS) Both teams have outstanding defense and I really question just how good the Tide are on offense. Scoring over 14 points may be very difficult for them. As for the Gators, their offense is loaded but this will be the best defense that they face in 2009. In championship games, usually teams test the water early which leads to less points being scored. The game last year was low scoring until Florida broke out in the fourth quarter, but I do not see that happening this season. All this leads me to believe that the total score will be kept in the low thirties. Florida 17, Alabama 14.
4 Unit Play. #6 Take Over 37 in New York @ Buffalo (Thursday 8:20 pm NFL Network) A very weak game takes place on Thursday night between two New York teams that will not be making the playoffs. This game does offer a little in intrigue since it is being played in Toronto. Buffalo is coming off their best performance of the season, putting up 31 points against the Miami Dolphins, a team that has already beaten the NY Jets twice this season. Both teams are susceptible to giving up big plays to the defense and I expect the combined score to be in the forties. This game will be played under perfect conditions in the Rogers Center and this will greatly benefit the offense. We will not worry about who wins this game and just collect with the over. NY Jets 24, Buffalo 20.
5 Unit Play. #45 Take Tennessee +7 over Indianapolis (Sunday 1 pm CBS) NFL Game of the Year. The Titans just win football games when QB Young is behind center. They will enter having won five straight games and have allowed 17 points or less in four of those five games. Now they face the 11-0 Colts, who have been the comeback kids of late. I believe that their luck will run out today, since the Titans are very familiar with them and have a strong defense that can contain QB Manning. The Colts are really banged up on defense with injuries to Sanders (out), Freeney (questionable), Francisco (doubtful), and Dawson (doubtful) all injured. The Titans still need to win if they have any chance of making the playoffs and that is just not the case with Indy. They have already clinched the AFC South and have all but locked up the No. 1 seed in the AFC. Indy has come back to win five straight games, so that tells you that they have not been blowing out opponents. RB Johnson is unstoppable once he gets to the corner and this will allow the Titans to control the football and take this one down to the wire. Tennessee and QB Young win again and we collect in the process as well. Tennessee 28, Indy 27.
4 Unit Play. #54 Take Washington +10 over New Orleans (Sunday 1 pm Fox) The Redskins are catching the Saints at just the right moment, as they are coming off a big win on Monday Night against New England. The Saints must play Atlanta and Dallas after Washington and I question that they will be able to cover this big of a number on the road. The Saints still have a lot of injuries on defense and I believe that this will eventually catch up with them. It did not last Monday but it will on a short week on Sunday. New Orleans 27, Washington 23.
PhatBaztard gave Buzz Sawyer 7 SBR Point(s) for this post.
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Originally Posted by doctacarta
It would be odd if someone didn't ask this everyday wouldn't it?
