Go Big Week 3

[GoBigorGoHome]

just thinking out loud, none definite yet

north carolina -3
this team has inproved with coach davis, like them at home.

iowa state +17
is it just me or is 17 alot of points to give to a home team/rival state school

florida -8
just dont think tenn can hang in the swamp, secondary too weak

washington +4
just think vegas is trying to catch average joe who bets ohio state only cause of name here. wash is a better team, and will be hyped

ball state +7
this kid nate davis can throw on anyone

kentucky +7
lou D is weak and woodson has some very dangerous WR, FG game here

nebraska + 10 1/2
just think they will be ready for this game

new mexico state - 6 1/2
utep not the same, nmsu is

[joepa66]

BOL to ya Biggie......:beerbang:

[birdsfan5]

GL GoBig

[irishmike]

Good Luck!
I love Ball St.
Go Bucks!!!

[GoBigorGoHome]

Maryland +17.5

[FearTheRaven]

GL GoBig, remember when you were rocking the NCAA Tourney :beerbang:

[GoBigorGoHome]

Final Picks for SAT

USC Offense vs. Nebraska Defense
Two relatively inexperienced units square off, as USC's offense enters its second game with seven new starters and Nebraska's defense enters its third game with six new starters. Wake Forest churned out 235 rushing yards against Nebraska last Saturday, one week after mustering a measly 2 yards on the ground at Boston College. The linebacker trio of MLB Corey McKeon, SLB Bo Ruud and WLB Steve Octavien isn't quite as strong as USC's group, but it still ranks among the nation's premier units. Ruud has made a successful switch from weakside to strongside in order to make room for Octavien, who has proven to be a ferocious hitter with good cover skills. While it's good to see sophomore SS Larry Asante emerge as a tough run-supporter, it's not a good sign that a defensive back leads the Cornhuskers in total tackles through two games. McKeon, Ruud and Octavien have combined for a respectable 25 tackles through two games, but they aren't getting enough help from a defensive front that is breaking in four new starters this season. The inconsistent play of the defensive line has forced the linebackers to fight through too much trash in run support. So, instead of making plays behind or at the line of scrimmage, McKeon, Ruud and Octavien are stuck shedding blocks and then making tackles 3- and 4-yards downfield.


QB John David Booty is the focus of USC's offense. However, after studying Nebraska's aforementioned game film versus Wake Forest, it wouldn't be surprising if the Trojans made it a point early on to establish their ground game. USC's running back position is still crowded, but it seems that sophomores C.J. Gable and Stafon Johnson will get the most carries in the near future. Gable is a speedy and elusive threat in the open field, while Johnson is more of a one-cut "slasher" with good burst and power. They complement one another well, as seen in the opener when they combined for 132 yards and two scores on 20 carries. Senior Chauncey Washington, who is expected to return after missing the opener with a shoulder injury, is a strong inside runner. Meanwhile, also look for speedy freshman Joe McKnight to get involved on as a runner and receiver.

If the Trojans can establish a solid running attack early on it will avoid putting too much pressure on Booty and the passing attack. Booty is certainly capable of carrying the offense if necessary, but coach Pete Carroll and offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian would rather ease him into the game considering the inexperienced receiving corps and shuffled offensive line that surrounds him. Freshman David Ausberry is emerging as the next great USC receiver and he's joined by a couple of raw, but naturally gifted complements in sophomore Vidal Hazelton and junior Patrick Turner. However, as physically imposing as the Trojan receivers can be, Nebraska's secondary is more than capable of keeping them in check. CBs Armando Murillo and Cortney Grixby are solid starters and No. 3 CB Zack Bowman is the most talented of the bunch. After nearly two full years of battling injuries, Bowman is returning to form and making a difference on the field. He notched an interception at Wake Forest last week and it wouldn't be surprising if the Cornhusker coaches wind up assigning Bowman to one-on-one coverage versus Ausberry early in Saturday night's contest. If Nebraska's corners prove capable of holding up frequently in man-coverage it will free up FS Tierre Green to play center field in search of the big play. It also will allow SS Asante to cheat up as a fourth linebacker to provide better support versus the run, which is something the front-seven may desperately need in this game.

Nebraska Offense vs. USC Defense
After a shaky first couple of seasons, Lucky's career at Nebraska is finally taking off. When Brandon Jackson (Packers) elected to leave early for the 2007 NFL draft, it provided Lucky with the confidence he needed in order to finally emerge as the Cornhusker's premier back. With 323 yards and four touchdowns on 54 carries (6 yards per carry) through two games, Lucky has left little doubt that he's the right man for the job. He is a shifty back who shows good patience within the zone-blocking scheme and great burst to fit through creases once they open up. Lucky has benefited from a big, strong and technically sound offensive line that has opened up lots of gaping holes so far this season. However, there won't be nearly as much running room against USC's quick and powerful defensive front-seven. OC Brett Byford is a solid veteran but there's no doubt he will need consistent double-team help from his guards in order to contain disruptive NT Sedrick Ellis, who notched eight tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks in just 10 games played last season. The rest of the line should hold up fine versus the other three Trojan defensive linemen, but the double-team attention given to Ellis will prevent the Cornhuskers from consistently getting bigger bodies out on the second level versus MLB Rey Maualuga and WLB Keith Rivers. SLB Brian Cushing will spend most of his time anchoring versus the tight end in run support and rushing the quarterback on passing downs, while Maualuga's main focus is to plug the run between the tackles. Maualuga is strong and fast enough to fill inside gaps and force Lucky to bounce many of his intended inside runs to the outside. With that in mind, a big key in this game is the Nebraska coaching staff's creativity in terms of scheming ways to neutralize Rivers in this game. If they can't consistently get a fullback or tight end on Rivers in space without jeopardizing other areas of their blocking scheme, Rivers will use his sideline-to-sideline ability to bottle Lucky up on the ground.

QB Sam Keller has shown some promising signs in his first two starts. He has an excellent rapport with senior Terrence Nunn, who leads the team with 119 yards on eight receptions. Keller also has shown the ability to spread the wealth, as Nate Swift and Lucky both have seven receptions, and Maurice Purify, who missed the opener due to a one-game suspension, hauled in three passes in his return to the lineup last week. However, from what we've seen in his first two games at Nebraska and earlier in his career at Arizona State, Keller is not capable of picking apart the Trojan defense without the help of a solid rushing attack to keep the opponent honest. Keller will make some big plays when he's on the run, but he still has too much of a gunslinger's mentality. He tries to force too many throws into coverage and he tries to do too much after the initial play breaks down, which has been evidenced in his three interceptions through two games this season -- not to mention his five-interception performance versus USC in 2005. Making matters worse for Keller is that the Trojans match up extremely well from a personnel standpoint versus the Nebraska passing attack. Ellis and DE Lawrence Jackson anchor a defensive line that should get consistent pressure on Keller without help from the blitz. Rivers should do an outstanding job in underneath coverage and USC is deep enough at cornerback with senior Terrell Thomas and juniors Josh Pinkard and Cary Harris to hold Nunn, Swift and Purify in check.

Special Teams



This is one of the few areas that Nebraska has a noticeable edge. USC is breaking in a new place kicker following the tragic death of Mario Danelo during the offseason. So far, David Buehler is a perfect one-for-one on field goal attempts (36 yards), while also displaying outstanding leg strength on kickoffs with four of his seven attempts going for touchbacks. PT Greg Woidneck continues to be solid but unspectacular, as he averaged 43 yards on two attempts in the opener. Desmond Reed is reliable on punt returns but he's not a breakaway threat. He averaged 7.5 yards on four attempts versus Idaho. Vincent Joseph shows some promise returning kickoffs but only averaged 20.5 yards on two returns in the first game.

The Cornhuskers have shown promise in all phases of their special teams through two games. The team is using a two-man rotation of Alex Henery and Adi Kunalic to manage the kicking duties. The more accurate Henery handles shorter field goals (connected on both attempts inside 25 yards), while the strong-legged Kunalic handles the kickoffs and the longer field goals (connected on only attempt from 46 yards). Dan Titchener has done an excellent job as the Cornhuskers' punter thus far, as he's averaging 44.9 yards on seven attempts -- three of which have landed inside the opponents' 20-yard line and two others have been fair caught. Grixby is a proven commodity on kickoff returns and he has already made a difference in that department this season, averaging 27.3 yards on six returns. Grixby hasn't been as effective returning punts thus far, but Andre Jones will get more touches in that department after returning his only attempt 24 yards.

Overview
USC's defense matches up extremely well against Nebraska's offense. Rivers and Maualuga should keep Lucky in check, which will put too much pressure on Keller and the passing game. Keller is older and wiser, but he's still the same quarterback who threw four second-half interceptions to lose Arizona State the game versus USC in 2005. Booty will get more support from the ground game, which will eventually set up a couple of deep strikes to Ausberry and/or Hazleton to seal the deal. The emotions of playing at home will only carry Nebraska so far. Eventually talent will take over. And while Nebraska's talent level continues to improve each year under coach Bill Callahan, it's still nowhere near the level Carroll has compiled at the football factory known as USC.


USC - 9 1/2 5 Units

[GoBigorGoHome]

Tennessee Offense vs. Florida Defense
Florida's team speed on defense is excellent, but it's a relatively inexperienced unit. Meanwhile, Tennessee has a seasoned quarterback, depth at running back and an emerging receiving corps. Look for Volunteer offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe to take advantage by keeping the Gators off balance with his play calling. Passing on first down and situations with run-heavy tendencies will make it difficult for Florida's front four to fly upfield. Running on downs with pass-heavy tendencies could create running lanes and help keep the linebackers on their heels. The goal should be getting the defense to react rather than attack. However, don't expect Cutclife to take too many chances downfield. Tennessee's defense has looked suspect over the first two weeks. With that in mind, controlling the clock and limiting Florida's opportunities to put points on the board is critical. So unless the Volunteers fall behind early, quick scores don't have as much value as sustained drives.

Tennessee should have its most success pounding the ball between the tackles when it does run. RB Arian Foster is a powerful runner who rarely goes down with the first hit and has excellent size. Arguably more important, he runs behind an offensive line that has a substantial size advantage over the Gator defensive front but isn't as quick or agile. Attacking the heart of the run defense cuts down on the front five's blocking angles giving the offensive linemen the best opportunity to get into position against the front four. That said, the Volunteers have to get outside at times to keep Florida honest and look for Cutcliffe to turn to reserves LaMarcus Coker, Montario Hardesty and Lennon Creer when they do. All three are quicker around the corner than Foster and can shift to another gear when they get a seam. Cutcliffe should try to exploit the Gators' youth at linebacker by running misdirection with these backs as well. If LBs A.J. Jones, Brandon Spikes and Dustin Doe get caught overreacting to the initial action of the ball, Tennessee could break some long runs. Finally, it's important to note that the Volunteers can help their linemen by altering the cadence and using quick counts. However, The Swamp will be rocking and Tennessee has to avoid penalties that put QB Erik Ainge in situations with pass-heavy tendencies so discipline is a key to success.


Ainge is an efficient game manager who will take what the defense gives him and he'll make life difficult for Florida codefensive coordinators Greg Mattison and Charlie Strong. If Strong and Mattison, try to stack the line in an effort to take away the run, Ainge has the arm strength and accuracy to pick on raw DCs Markihe Anderson, Wondy Pierre-Louis and Joe Haden. Though wide receivers Lucas Taylor and Austin Rogers are fairly green themselves, they've been surprisingly impressive over the first two weeks of the season. If Strong and Mattison back their safeties off to help those corners, Ainge is smart enough to get the Volunteers into a running play or call a screen at the line. Of course, the Gator defensive line can take some pressure off its coordinators and corners with an effective pass rush that doesn't give Tennessee's receivers enough time to separate. Though LOT Eric Young gets into his set quickly, he doesn't slide particularly well and ROT Ramon Foster is even more of a concern. There is an excellent chance they have problems preventing defensive ends Derrick Harvey and Jermaine Cunningham from turning the corner.

Florida Offense vs. Tennessee Defense
Coach Urban Myer's spread scheme will put a tremendous amount of pressure on the Volunteers' run defense because it will keep questioning who is getting the ball after the snap. Meyer likes to run the draw-play to RB Kestahn Moore or the fake-draw before running QB Tim Tebow off tackle. He can put WR/RB Percy Harvin in motion and then either pitches it to him, runs Tebow or, you guessed it -- incorporates both by running the option. The point is that Tennessee's front seven must stay disciplined and execute individual responsibilities. If players overplay Tebow, it will create a seam for Harvin and he's tough to catch from behind, even if he is a little banged up right now. The explosive Tebow will turn upfield and tear off a chunk of yards if they overplay Harvin. And the Volunteers can't loose Moore in the shuffle either. Though he may be viewed as the weakest link in this backfield, he is still dangerous when he gets into space. In other words, the margin of error for a Tennessee run defense that is giving up an average of 4.6 yards per carry is as close to zero as it gets.

Both teams will be dealing with injuries when Tebow drops back to pass. First off, WR Andre Caldwell sprained the medial collateral ligament in his right knee last week and it's unknown whether he'll be able to play or if the injury will hinder him at this point. Secondly, DC Antonio Gaines sustained a season-ending knee injury last week. That said, the loss of Gaines is far more significant, and that's no shot at Caldlwwell. The reason is depth. With Gaines out of the lineup, Eric Berry moves from safety to replace him and Jarod Parish replaces Berry at safety. Moving Berry is a clear indication that Tennessee isn't real confident in its depth at corner so look for the Tennessee to have problems matching up with WRs Harvin, Louis Murphy and Riley Cooper. In addition, TE Cornelius Ingram should get some single-coverage matchups going against Parish. He has the quickness, athletic ability and top-end speed to take advantage when that happens. Adding to the challenge for highly-regarded defensive coordinator John Chavis is Tennessee should have some problems getting to Tebow. Though the Gators are without LOT Phil Trautwein, the Volunteers haven't been able to generate much pressure coming off the edge. And Tebow has the quick feet to buy himself time and the strength to break the occasional tackle.

Special Teams


Florida PK Joey Ijjas has connected on his only field goal attempt this year and he's been perfect on point-after attempts. However, he too is inexperienced so field goal attempts are a concern for the Gators as well as the Volunteers. Ijjas handles the kickoff duties too. Though he gets better distance than his Tennessee counterparts, he's kicked the ball out of bounds twice. And Tennessee kickoff return men Denarious Moore and Lennon Creer have both flashed big-play ability. Ijjas has to have a strong game to prevent the Volunteers from getting quality starting field position or possibly points consequently. Jonathan Hefney hasn't returned a punt for a touchdown during his tenure at Tennessee but the Gators would be wise not to underestimate him. He has great vision, can make the first defender miss and is fast enough to go a long way when he gets a seam. Keeping that in mind, P Chas Henry must continue to get good hang time on his kicks and be accurate if asked to kick away from Hefney.

Overview
The ingredients for an old-fashioned shootout in Gainesville are all here. Florida's undersized front will struggle to hold its ground against a far bigger Tennessee offensive line and power-back Foster. Foster's success will take pressure of QB Ainge, who will get the ball to WR's Taylor and Rogers working against a raw cornerback unit. On the flip side, the Volunteers have had problems slowing the run thus far and that's unlikely to change this week. With head coach Urban Myer's scheme keeping the front seven off balance, QB Tebow, WR/RB Harvin and RB Moore will find room to run. In addition, the loss of DC Gaines could be disastrous for an already thin secondary, so Tebow's success through the air should continue.

So, with all that in mind, it's hard to pick against Florida in this game. Tennessee's defense just hasn't played well enough to slow the Gator's dynamic attack. In addition, the noise level at The Swamp will cause the Volunteers to commit penalties that move their offense back and ultimately cause drives to stall.


Florida -8

[GoBigorGoHome]

Louisville Offense vs. Kentucky Defense
Louisville still spreads the field and frequently lines QB Brian Brohm up in the shotgun formation under new head coach Steve Kragthorpe. However, much like his predecessor and current Falcons head coach Bobby Petrino, Kragthorpe understands the importance of establishing the run. So expect a heavy dose of the ground game against a Kentucky defense that Kent State gashed for 324 yards last week. Anthony Allen is the primary back and a perfect fit for this offense. Allen has the quickness to exploit the vertical seams that the multiple-receiver sets create by stretching the field horizontally, and his size makes him tough to bring down once he gets into space. He has also benefited from running behind an offensive line that has done a good job of getting into position and that spells trouble for the Wildcats. The biggest concern about Kentucky's defense at this point is its ability to get off blocks. While WLB Wesley Woodyard is a tackling machine and 255-pound MLB Micah Johnson is big enough to clog up the middle, the linebackers are taking too long to disengage blocks opening the door for long gains. However, there is one concern here for the Cardinals, and that's depth. Allen can handle a heavy workload but he will need to be spelled at times. Since injuries to Brock Bolen and Sergio Spencer could keep them out of this game or hinder them George Stripling is expected to play a bigger role. Stripling, who has good speed, has had fumbling problems in the past so the Wildcats should look to strip and/or punch the ball out when he gets into the game.


While the running game will allow the Cardinals to control tempo, don't except Brohm to have a quiet day. Kentucky DC Trevard Lindley has a great blend of size, speed and instincts but he's surrounded by a weak supporting cast. Louisville's multiple-receiver sets will exploit that vulnerability by creating single-coverage matchups for WRs Harry Douglas, Mario Urrutia and JaJuan Spillman. And if the receivers are unable to get open for some reason, Brohm should be able to find TE Gary Barnidge over the middle. Barnidge's athletic ability allows him to get open against linebackers and his size causes matchup problems for safeties. With so many options don't expect Kentucky to have much success getting to the quarterback either. Brohm makes up for his lack of a quick release by reading the defense and making quick decisions. He should be able to get rid of the ball before the pass rush including relentless DE Jeremy Jarmon is able to close in. There is one other note here. Brohm generally does a good job of using his eyes and footwork to keep safeties off balance. He will make it difficult for FS Marcus McClinton who has excellent hands and instincts, to get into a position where he can make a play on the ball.

Kentucky Offense vs. Louisville Defense
A Louisville secondary that lost three starters during the offseason has appeared confused at times and the results have been breakdowns in the coverage. One solution to this problem is simplifying the coverage. And it's worth noting that QB Andre' Woodson does have some problems placing the ball between linebackers and safeties when he sees basic cover-2 and cover-3 defenses. However, this would still be a mistake against Woodson. Though he hasn't shown great touch at times, his decision making and poise have improved considerably. In addition, the Cardinals have not had a great deal of success getting to the quarterback with their front four and that's unlikely to change this week. So if they stay too conservative Woodson will take his time, go through his reads and methodically pick the defense apart. When Louisville does blitz, Woodson should see if it tries to match up with WR Keenan Burton in man coverage. Burton is fast enough to quickly get behind DCs Rod Council and Travis Norton and he shows good body control when tracking the ball downfield. In the event Burton isn't available when the Cardinals rush more than four, TE Jacob Tamme is a reliable safety valve over the middle. Tamme has the burst to get open quickly and he isn't going to drop many passes he should catch.

Woodson rightfully receives plenty of national attention but RB Rafael Little is just as important to this attack. Though he lacks ideal size and power, Little is elusive enough to make the first defender miss and balanced enough to pick up yards after contact when the defender doesn't wrap him up. This should raise a red flag for Louisville fans because they know that the Cardinals have done a poor job of tackling. All too often players are diving at the ball carrier's feet and/or taking poor pursuit angles that prevent them from getting into sound tackling positions. In addition, a Kentucky offensive line that had been a question mark heading into the season is playing like a cohesive unit. It's not a front that features a lot of maulers that can drive defenders off the ball. In fact, OTs Gary Williams and Justin Jeffries are the only two to break the 300-pond mark. However, the front five is quick, which allows it to get into position quickly and create enough of a seam for Little to exploit. The last point to make here is Kentucky does a good job of keeping Little fresh and explosive by rotating reserves Tony Dixon and Alfonso Smith in and out of the game. Both are averaging better than eight yards per carry at this point.

Special Teams


Kentucky leans on Tim Masthay to handle both the punting and the kickoff duties. His abilities as a punter can be best described as average. He gets just enough distance in his kicks and flashes enough touch to pin opponent's deep. That should be a little unsettling to Wildcats fans because Louisville's Trent Guy returned a punt 54 yards for a touchdown in the season opener and JaJuan Spillman is just as dangerous with the ball in his hands. On the other hand, Masthay gets excellent distance on his kickoffs and that should help limit the production of the Cardinals' dangerous return men. PK Lones Seiber keeps things interesting. He's strong enough to connect from long distances but he's inconsistent. In what could be a very close game, it's important he take advantage of the opportunities he gets to put points on the board. There is one final note here. With both teams fielding high-powered offense and weak defenses, there should be plenty of kickoffs in this one. Considering the NCAA moved kickoffs back five yards it will be interesting to see whether Flannery or Masthay wears down and whether there are any breakdowns in the coverage when players start to tire in the second half.

Overview
This offensive outburst could have fans heads swinging back and forth, as if they are spectators at the US Open tennis championships. Louisville RB Allen will have his way with what has been a porous Kentucky run defense and effectively set up the air attack for QB Brohm. Brohm will continue to put up big numbers against a Wildcat pass defense that will struggle to hurry his throws and stay step-for-step with his weapons at receiver. Meanwhile, Kentucky QB Woodson will thrive against a Cardinal secondary that has even more questions than the Wildcats. With Louisville forced to respect the big play in the passing game, RB Little will find plenty of room to run the ball effectively.

So, who gets the win? Expect Kentucky to upend Louisville for two reasons. The first is the Wildcats play at home and that will be a big factor in this in-state rivalry game. The second is Kentucky has the playmakers in the secondary to turn Brohm's mistakes -- even if only a few -- into turnovers and/or stalled drives. This game is all about quality offensive possessions, so if Kentucky's defense can generate one more takeaway than Louisville's, it will pull off the upset against the nation's ninth-ranked team.


Kentucky +5 5 Units

[GoBigorGoHome]

Ohio State Offense vs. Washington Defense
With QB Todd Boeckman making his first career road start and the Buckeyes turning the ball over five times last week, look for Ohio State to run early and often. The hope is that staying committed to the run will allow the Buckeyes to sustain long drives that effectively quiet the crowd and reduce the chances of turnovers. However, it will be tough sledding against a Washington run defense that is giving up an average of just 1.8 yards per carry. The Husky defensive line returns all four starters from a year ago and they have done a good job of controlling the line of scrimmage. In addition, OLBs E.J. Savannah and Dan Howell are reliable open-field tacklers who have been relentless in pursuit. Meanwhile, a talented Ohio State offensive line is not yet playing like a cohesive unit. It's struggling to consistently get into position and sustain blocks for RB Chris Wells, who has done little to help the big men up front. Though he has great speed for his size and he's broken some long runs, Wells has been impatient and inconsistent. If the Buckeyes are going to control the tempo of this game with its ground game, Wells will have to do a better job of setting his blocks up.


The most startling statistic from Washington's win over Boise State last week is zero second-half points for the Broncos. And a big reason the Huskies were able to get the second-half shutout was playing bend-but-don't break defense. Expect a similar approach this week for three reasons. The first is Washington will have a tough time matching up with WRs Brian Robiskie and Brian Hartline in man coverage. While DC Roy Lewis is coming off an impressive performance and explodes out of cuts, Vonzell McDowell Jr. is a true freshman and Ohio State will try to pick on him. The depth at corner will also be an issue when the Buckeyes spread the field because Byron Davenport sustained a hamstring injury that could sideline him this week. Secondly, Washington's back seven has done a good job of keeping receivers in front of it and wrapping up when a catch is made. Thirdly, Boeckman has been pressing in an effort to jumpstart the offense and this is his biggest game to date. Staying conservative and taking away the big play forces him to consistently make sound decisions and accurate throws. If he doesn't, it greatly improves the chances of a turnover. It's also important to note that Boeckman isn't a threat to run and consistently dropping seven men into coverage should force him to hold onto the ball for long periods of time. That gives the Husky pass rush an advantage.

Washington Offense vs. Ohio State Defense
The emergence of redshirt freshman QB Jake Locker has made Washington's running game far more dynamic than it was a year ago. With the mobile Locker at the helm, quarterback keepers and options are far more effective. And no one benefits more than RB Louis Rankin because Locker's abilities keep the backside of the defenses honest and prevent it from collapsing on him when he does get the carry. Add a relatively experienced offensive line to the equation and this clearly has the potential to be a potent ground attack most weeks. That said, this isn't most weeks -- and don't expect the Huskies to have much success running on Ohio State this week. Though DTs Doug Worthington and Todd Denlinger are first-year starters, they have done an excellent job of keeping blockers off MLB James Laurinaitis, who is one of the best in the land. Laurinaitis reads his keys quickly, takes the shortest path to the ball and deliver big hits. Making matters worse, Rankin is nursing an ankle injury. He's at his best making a crisp first cut and hitting the hole at full speed, which makes the injury that much more of an issue.

Locker isn't just a mobile quarterback. He's completed better than 61 percent of his passes even though receivers have dropped passes they should have caught and he's shown a willingness to take what the defense gives him by spreading the ball around. It's critical that he continue to play within himself and the scheme this week because WRs Marcel Reece and Anthony Russo don't match up well with DCs Malcolm Jenkins and Anderson Russell. Of course, it's easy for a quarterback to go through his progressions when he gets sound pass protections and chances are the Buckeyes force Locker to hurry his throws. The fact that the Huskies platoon Ben Ossai and Cody Habben at left tackle is a clear sign they don't feel completely comfortable with either. That should be unsettling for Washington fans with DE Vernon Gholston coming to town. Gholston's rare upper body strength allows him to quickly discard blockers and his closing speed is adequate when he gets a clear path to the quarterback. In addition, defensive coordinator Jim Heacock can feel comfortable bringing additional pressure from different areas of the field because of the ability of his corners to hold up in man coverage.

Special Teams


Washington P Jared Ballman hasn't been quite as effective as his Ohio State counterpart but he's been no slouch showing the ability to get quality hang time on his kicks and pin opponents deep. It's important he continue to play well and there are no breakdowns in the punt coverage because Buckeye return men Brian Robiskie and Malcolm Jenkins can turn on the jets when they get a seam. The one negative for Ohio State here is Brian Hartline fumbled a punt return last week. Ballman kicks off for the Huskies as well. Though he's shown adequate range in that role, he has yet to record a touchback and the kickoff cover unit has been shaky. If that doesn't change this week, it will open the door for explosive Ohio State return man Maurice Wells to make an impact. Wells is a dangerous open-field runner who reaches his top speed quickly. PK Ryan Perkins missed all of last year with knee a knee injury so there are obviously questions about how he'll fare and the first two games have done little to answer them. Last week he connected on a 34-yard field goal attempt and then had a 41-yard field goal attempt blocked. Field position is critical for the Hukies in this game, which means they can't afford another blocked field goal attempt. As a result, Perkins can't kick the ball too low, LS Danny Morovick must be accurate as well as crisp, holder Carl Bonnell must field the ball cleanly and the protection has to hold up.

Overview
Ohio State might have pulled away from both of its first two opponents this season, but some alarming trends are developing on offense. Expect those trends to come back to haunt the Buckeyes this week. The biggest concern has been the running game and it's unlikely to get back on track this week. Look for underachieving RB Chris Wells and his offensive line to struggle against a tough, high-energy Washington front seven. Without a consistent ground attack to keep the Buckeyes out of situations with pass-heavy tendencies, QB Boeckman will have to shoulder too much of the offensive load in his first road start. It's also worth noting that the Huskies upset win over Boise State and QB Locker's exciting style of play should have Husky Stadium shaking when Ohio State has the ball. Now, don't expect the Husky offense to put many points against a talented and proud Buckeye defense either, as RB Rankin will struggle to find room to work. However, Locker's ability to make plays with his feet and his arm will allow Washington to pick up some critical first downs that extend drives -- and that will ultimately be the difference in this upset.

Washington +4 2 Units


Wow ok no more writeups just picks

UNC -3

EMU +14

NMSU -5 1/2

KU -25

Florida -8

Washington +4 2 Units

Kentucky +5 5 Units

USC - 9 1/2 5 Units

[pmann]

GL Gobig ...great writeups as usual !!!

[BoKnows]

GL! Nice writeups...I am all over WA, KU, and the hated gators!!:beerbang:

[firedog25]

Nice write-up. Good luck, plays look good!