Got a 3-1 in week-day CFB games LW. Did not feel good with SEC games and
glad I did not bet, or I would have had a very bad week last week.
BOL everyone.
Va Tech -3/57 at Pitts
Panthers got an ugly win 17-13 LY where Hokies backup QB Motley completed 45% for 110 yards and 3 INTs.
Under coach Fuente, the Hokies offense is rejuvenated with dual threat QB J. Evans (1611 passing yds, 19 TD
only 2 INT, 417 rushing yards 3 TD, and a QBR 167 #8 in the nation) The defense is also improving greatly from
#59 to #16 in scoring defense, and an impressive #7 in yards per play allowed at 4.39 ypp, though this number
is skewed a bit due to their opponents' inept-offense.
On the other hand, the Panthers offense is inflated by 10 ppg over LY. This is a by-product of playing vs poor
defenses, and also aided with 5 non-offensive TDs. Rushing attack is enhanced with the return of 2014 leading
rusher, James Conner (1765 yds and 26 TD) logging in 239 rush yards per game as a team. Uncharacteristically
their pass defense (allowed 299 passing yds per game #122) is so porous despites the return of many defensive
players from a very respected unit. Unless they can regroup (after the Bye) it could mean troubles vs QB Evans.
Besides the tripped-up at the unpredictable Syracuse, the Hokies dominated most games while the Panthers
struggled to put opponents away. The Panthers will need a lot of help from their great Special Team to keep
this game close.
Pick: Va Tech -3 (-115)
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Appalachian ST -5/44.5 at Georgia Southern
These 2 teams met LY with the Mountaineers dominated in a 31-13 home win. ASU controlled on both
sides of the ball, limiting the Eagles to only 252 total yards while produced 433 yards on offense.
This year the Eagles have a new HC and a new zone-read offense instead of the triple-option attack. The
team struggled with the new concept. Their main weapon, rushing attack, suffered heavily, regressed from
363 ypg and 6.48 ypc LY down to 264 ypg and 4.56 ypc. That's lot of loss production to make up with a
mediocre passing game.
Both teams possess good defense especially against the run, but the Mountaineers do have an edge with
their balanced offense and better QB. Statistically these 2 teams are very close to each other but the N'eers
played a harder schedule (#89 vs #123) and pretty much blew out their Sun Belt competitions while the Eagles
struggled vs far inferior teams than the Mountaineers.
Besides, I do like the Neers' coaching edge a lot.
Pick: Appalachian ST -5