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Johnny Mo-Tulsa -25-

Yes, it seems obvious, especially with Tulane first year HC Johnson being recently hospitalized and RB Darkwa being downgraded to doubtful with an ankle injury.  First week showing by the Green Wave in allowing Rutgers just 309 yards and 24 points, indicates that normal defensive attrition may not have set in as it often does later in the year.  Certainly Tulsa will be looking for a bounce back effort after the Iowa State loss, but it was a game in which the Golden Hurricane allowed 441 yards and 38 points.  History book may not apply.

VERDICT-DISAGREE

Utah State at Utah - last week both teams won their openers with no problems at all, if anything utah state's performances was the stronger of the two statistically. this one is a simple handlcap, one team see this as a rivalry game utah state and  the other doesnt Utah , who will be looking ahead to playing byu next week, so the only player here is utah state +7.5

UL Monroe +30..........Arky has bama on deck  and may not be focused for full 60 min and also not wanting to show Bama too much for the tape......think Monroe can sneak in under 30

BOWLING GREEN -16.5 over Idaho: Bowling Green is off an impressive showing in the Swamp vs the Florida Gators, as they lost by just 13 points as 28 point dogs. The Falcons are a team on the rise in the MAC, with 18 starters back, including QB Matt Schilz (3024 yrds and 28 TD’s last year), their top 3 RB’s, 4 OL and their top 8 tacklers from a year ago and they will be a very tough out for most teams on their schedule this year. Just ask Florida.  Last year Idaho had a very bad, going 2-10 and they bring back just 10 starters (5 on each side of the ball) from that team. Well this year may be just as long for them. The Vandals opened their season at home vs FCS opponent Eastern Washington and were beat by a 20-3 score and were outgained in the game by a 415-237 count. Now they must take to the road and play a very improved Falcon team that was only outgained by the Gators by just 15 yards and also became just the third team in the last 4 years to out firstdown the Gators by 7 (22-14) or more at the Swamp. Bowling Green is a much improve team over last year’s edition that won by 17 points at Idaho and with this game being on their home field and with Idaho really looking bad so far, I will expect the Falcons to take this one by at least 21 points.

SO4 - Utah State

Lost of love for the Utes who have a great coach in Whittingham, 16 returning starters and a superb history on the road against non-conference foes.  Utah State is making positive strides under their current coaching regime and has QB Keeton who is just coming into his own in  his second season.  Expect a closely contested game with the ATS winner revealed on this site by noon eastern time tomorrow.

JUDGE JOE  -  We do not give Final verdicts on weekday night primetime games.

Deliveryman3 - UL Monroe

Series history reveals this has been a traditional no show game for the Razorbacks.  ULM has covered the last 3 visits.  Key to this week's win, no cover, for Arkansas is not only the look ahead to Alabama but the fact this is a defense that allowed 24 PPG last year and showed little improvement in their opener.  It's the first game for the Warhawks who have been prepping for an entire month for this big name foe. 

VERDICT - AGREE

Jeff Scott Sports - Bowling Green

Divergent Week #1 results resulted in a bloated opening line.  Wk #2 in CFB is synonymous with these inflated lines being bet up by the public.  Regrettably, this line has soared into the stratosphere.  Lots of momentum players have found their way to the poor house chasing line moves of more than 3 points off the opener.  In addition, jumbo QB Blackman who missed the E Wash opener is expected to make post and improved the Vandals offensive fortunes. 

VERDICT - HUNG JURY

Texas Tech -18 over Texas State

First, I think this line should at least be 21. Tech is loaded with offensive talent and should score 45 to 50 minimum. With the total set at just 60 I have a hard time seeing Texas State keeping this close. Plus Texas State will have to come down from an emotional high off the win versus Houston.

Scarlet 99-

Judge Joe sees this another way, Texas State HC Franchione has been priming for this season.  He has imported a number of JUCOs and stock piled red shirt freshmen to ensure that his defense would be ready for the step up in class.  It clearly paid off last week in the Bobcats first game.  Even if TTRR shows defensive improvement themselves, they would need to make a gigantic leap over the 39 PPG defensive allownace of last year to deserve this level of favoritism.  The Bobcats actually led this game at the half last year, 10-9, before being worn down in the 2nd half in Lubbock.  That doesn't happen this year with a team that is bigger, faster, stronger, and plenty amped for their home opener.  Fully acknowledge the downward line adjustment from week 1, but every season there's a team one whom the linemaker can't adjust quickly enough.  This year it could well be the Bobcats.

VERDICT- DISAGREE

Memphis +23 @ Arky State

Joe, I have been tempted here to make a small play on the tigers.  LY State had a much better seasoned team and waxed memphis IN memphis.  Gus doesn't have the fire TY, but name recog and uptempo suggestion has bettors going that way.  Early season suggestion w/ duck duel may have bettors lured by past season expectations here, but in reality the ducks literally gave them the back door and were running 3rd, 4th, 5th string by game's end.

A season opener for new HC Malzahn steering an ATS covering machine LY, will all the hoopla of mardi gras fat tuesday.  But Alpin cannot win this game alone, and red wolves have lost plenty, esp. on o-line.

Local reports indicate that Malzahn has "no information to go on" here in playing memphis, except their last game and last year stuff.  He admits being unprepared in this situation, and struggling to find solid game plan.

I wonder if Memphis has turned the everlasting corner to at least be competitive here, and look to cover the (what appears) inflated number?  A mangy mutt for sure, and no bettor in their right mind could ever back this tiger squad.  But lettuce remember that ASU has not been privy to the high life for long, and generally regarded as a middle-of-the-pack team that hails from a suitcase college in jonesboro, Ark.

I don't see the spread seperation here, and malzahn (despite preface) looks and talks like he is going to keep this game close to his chest to ensure that the indians get an inaguaral home opener win to start the season.  Barring major collapse from Memphis and TO margin w/in reason, has me thinking this game is MAX 21 pts. and that would be gracious.  

There is major rebuild going on in Jonesboro, and the high flying covering machine of LY is sure to return to the mean (esp. in sunbelt play); but this could be an opportune time to jump on that wagon with an enormous spread, fueled by mis-perception.

Memphis travels (including soybean and cotton cutting corners), just a little over 70 minutes here to get to Hwy 1 in Jonesboro.  Home field advantage is minimal, as most kids leave for their prospective map-dot home towns on the weekend.

Thx

Pick:  Memphis University Tigers +21