Steve Duemig Thursday 20 Dime - Iowa State Okay, this line has to be a MAC love fest type of line. Fact is Iowa St is a healthy 15-4 against MAC opposition and 3-0 as hosts. They return a veteran O-Line, a SR starting QB in Arnaud, and veteran Wr's. N.ILL on the other hand, was dominated up front last year by USF in their bowl game and I didn't notice them getting better over the off season. Lay the points with the Cyclones. 10 Dime - Southern California Some may think that USC has nothing to play for, and they don't from a BCS standpoint. But from a pride standpoint they do. I know that Lane Kiffin will have them fired up and a very good personal friend of mine, his Dad Monte will definitely have them fired up to play the best they can. Line has inched up on USC instead of the normal "shoot up" This game is simply David and Goliath with USC possessing a veteran front 4 that will absolutely dominate an ALL NEW O-line for the Rainbow warriors. Kiffin will not be afraid to run up the score here and should do so easily. Lay the points but just for a little to we really get the feel of this team. They could be a bargain early.
WIN OR LOSE SPORTS BETTING PLAYS OF THE DAY CFB Northern Illinois +4 (-103) CFB Northern Illinois ML +170
Cajun Sports Game: Florida Atlantic Owls @ UAB Blazers Date/Time: Thursday Sept 2 / 8:00PM EST Selection: 3* UAB Blazers -15 Analysis: The college season opens for the UAB Blazers in Birmingham against a foe they dominated in last season's matchup winning 56 to 29 in the Steel City. Revenge is not really in play here because the Owls are in a major rebuilding mode after suffering huge losses due to graduation. Those losses include eight offensive starters with four-year starting QB Rusty Smith at the top of the list and the entire offensive line. UAB on the other hand returns seventeen starters from a season ago. Conference USA has had their way with Sun Belt Conference opponents going 14-8 against the spread their last twenty-two meetings including a perfect 5-0 both straight up and against the number the last two years. The host is also perfect going 4-0 SU and ATS when UAB faces off against the Sun Belt Conference. Under the direction of Head Coach Neil Calloway, the Blazers have improved each season and we expect them to continue that progression beginning here tonight. Florida Atlantic has struggled as a non-conference double-digit underdog going 1-12 against the number and we project number 13 in Birmingham on Thursday night. Lay the chalk with the Blazers as they bury the Owls to open the season. PROJECTED FORECAST: 3* UAB BLAZERS 47 Florida Atlantic Owls 19
Sportsbook Breakers 4-STAR Usc (-20.5) over HAWAII- Talk about a team with something to prove. USC has listened as their program has been run through the coals with nothing they can do about it. Now it's an Us vs. Them mentality and USC can finally take out the frustration on the field. The Trojans know if they can compete for a pseudo-National Championship there can't be a single slipup along the road and that starts with the need for a blowout win tonight. USC has not been a team to look ahead in game one of the year. They have covered in four of the past five seasons in week one, with wins by 46 (at Hawaii), 36, 28, 45 and 53. The only ATS loss was that 28 point win in 2007, which did not cover the lofty line. That is despite playing Ohio St. in week two the past two seasons. With Virginia the week two opponent this year, there's no chance USC will be looking ahead. Speaking of that 2005 opener, that's the last time USC faced Hawaii, a 63-17 Trojan victory at Hawaii. This is a good situation for big programs as major Conference teams (big six) are 10-0 ATS (8.8 ppg.) and 11-0 SU (37.5 ppg.) since 2003 in the season opener versus teams that they beat by 45+ in their last meeting, if that meeting did not occur last season. (game number=1 and season>=2003 and P:margin>=45 and (conference='ACC' or conference='B10' or conference='B12' or conference='P10' or conference='BE' or conference='SEC') and Prest>370). This is also a good spot for USC, as their defensive work could have been even better in that game. USC is 10-0 ATS (14.9 ppg) since 2003 when facing a team they allowed between 14 and 18 points to last meeting, as at least a five point favorite (14<=Points<=18 and season>=2003 and team= 'USC' and P:line<=-5). They allow an average of just 11.2 points in these instances. Hawaii returns 13 starters but most problematic has just one returning to the offensive line. USC has top 10 units in the country on the defensive line and linebacking corps, and they will have a field day on Hawaii's backfield. You might think Hawaii is the kind of scrappy team which gets up for these major conference games and keep them close but since 2003 they are just 2-7 ATS since 2003 as a dog of at least nine points against non-conference teams. If Lane Kiffin can do anything as a coach it's motivate his players. Hawaii has had three chances against USC in the past dozen years and has gone 0-3 ATS. Look for the Trojans to strike early and often in this one and make it four straight. SPORTSBOOK BREAKERS PREDICTION: USC 45, HAWAII 14
SYNDICATE SHARPS SYNDICATE SHARPS (TWITTER & ELITECAPPERSPICKS) (20-13 Overall Picks Streak) CFB THU:(6 **MEMBERS** OPENING NIGHT PICKS) 8:00PM *5* IOWA STATE -4.5 (-103) 8:00PM *5* IOWAS STATE -ML (-190) 8:30PM *4* PITTSBURGH +3 (-106) 8:30PM *3*PITTSBURGH -ML (+134) 11:00PM *2* HAWAII +21 (-109) MLB THU:(4 **MEMBERS** PREVIEW PICKS) 7:05PM *5* BOSTON RED SOX -ML (-131) 7:10PM *5* PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES -ML (+112) 7:10PM *3* PHILLIES/ROCKIES OVER 9 (-107) 8:10PM *5* DETROIT TIGERS -ML (+107)
SEABASS NFL 100* KC 100* Wash under 200* Buff over NCAAF 50* Pitt 50* USC under 50* N Iowa over 100* SC under
Triple Threat Sports 4* NY Jets (+) over Philadelphia Andy Reid has shown no real concern regarding the final week of preseason in his career, as the Eagles are 1-9 SU in the final week of the exhibition season in his tenure, and that includes a 38-27 Jets win in this spot last year. Jets are off a loss and are 3-0 SU and ATS after a preseason loss for Ryan. Another factor is that this will be the final game for the Hard Knocks cameras for Gang Green, and Hard Knocks teams are 5-1 ATS in the final week of the preseason since the series started. That is not an accident, as teams do want to end the series with a win for national TV. Finally, Kellen Clemens, a former starter in this league, is going to be the QB for most of the second half against the Philly reserves. J-E-T-S! 2* Baltimore/St Louis Under St Louis played a game that had 71 points scored last week, and that has this line higher than it should be. Teams do tend to come back down to earth after such a showing, especially in the preseason, and note that the Rams had averaged just 13 ppg the first two weeks of the preseason. As for Baltimore, they are 2-9 to the Under in the preseason for Harbaugh, 0-5 to the Under in away games.
Winning Points Late Phones Football College 5 Utah 3 USC NFL 6 Baltimore 4 Jacksonville 3 New England