College & Pro News & Notes
Ohio State @ Wisconsin- Badgers mental state an issue after blowing 19-0 halftime lead in Ann Arbor last week…Buckeyes look energized with Pryor at helm…Beanie Wells returns to backfield for OSU…Ohio State 9-2 ATS last 11 times as visitor…but Wiscy always tough at Camp Randall, going 27-1 SU last 28 at home
Oregon @ USC- Ducks won 24-17 last year at Autzen, rushing for 180+…Bellotti 14-6 ATS as dog last 5 years…Trojans D shredded for 176 last Thursday against Beavers…LB’s Maualuga & Cushing not 100%
Auburn @ Vanderbilt- Tigers offense really struggling, scoring just 7 second half points in 3 SEC games…but stop unit is TOUGH, allowing only 11 of 76 on third down (14%)…Vandy already 2-0 in conf action…Commodores have held all 4 opponents to 21 pts or less
Rutgers @ West Virginia- visitor has covered 3 straight and 5 of last 6, but Scarlet Knights 0-3 SU & ATS so far in ‘08…Rutgers on 1-7 ATS slide
Illinois @ Michigan- Wolverines still don’t have proper personnel for Rodriguez offense…hate to lay even small wood with team still adjusting, especially against quality opponent…Illinois QB Williams has clear edge over counterpart Threet…WR Benn explosive for Zook’s team
Arizona State @ Cal- RB Best out for Bears…should be shootout in Berkeley with Riley/Longshore vs Carpenter…ASU has lost last 2 at Cal by combined 76-21…Devils won 31-20 last year in Tempe
Pittsburgh @ Jacksonville- Jags have won 4 straight against Steelers (by 6, 9, 7 & 2 pts), incl regular season and playoff game at Heinz last year…Pitt hurting on both lines and at RB…Jax getting O-Line back to normal
Tampa Bay @ Denver- Broncos have allowed 30+ points in 3 straight games, 117 total, second most in entire league…Griese facing a former employer for second consecutive Sunday (Chicago last week), has 4 TD 6 INT this year for Bucs…T Bay 7-3 “over” last 10 on road…Denver “over” all 4 games this year…12 of last 14 at Invesco Field have gone “over”
Seattle @ NY Giants- Seahawks 1-5 SU & ATS last six trips to eastern time zone…Burress out for Big Blue…G-Men just 1-3 SU off bye under Coughlin
New England @ San Francisco- O’Sullivan sacked 19 times already, only 4 TD passes…Pats coming off regular season loss for first time since Dec ‘06…visitors aging LB’s will have hands full with versatile Gore
Chicago @ Detroit- Lions had 5 wins last year, two of them against Bears…Rudi Johnson to be main ball carrier for host…Chicago without suspended Tommie Harris…Beras 2-2 SU with both losses by 3 points
Tennessee @ Baltimore- Titans have allowed just 6 first quarter points thru 4 games, and ZERO points in third quarter, only 10 in fourth…Fisher obviously preparing team well, and making excellent adjustments at half…this will be Ravens first non-divisional game this year
Buffalo @ Arizona- Bills have 3 straight come from behind wins…CB McGee and return man Parrish OUT…Warner 3 fumbles and 3 INT’s last week in loss…Boldin not likley to play…look for small but capable Steve Breaston to shine at WR