By Steve Rhodes
Mike Luce is away on a mission of national import.
Well, Western Kentucky coach Willie Taggart was right: His team did not lose to Alabama (1) last week by 39 points.
They lost by 35.
Always trust the oddsmakers over the coaches – they’re more ultra-objective because their paycheck depends on it.
One last look at last week before moving on to today:
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Alabammy Whammy
“[Alabama] lost running back Jalston Fowler for the season with a torn PCL, so the Tide will look to their deep bench if they decide to line up in the I-Formation,” Bama Hammer reports.
But this week’s opponent, Arkansas, has its own problems.
“Arkansas suffered a morale-crushing loss to Louisiana-Monroe last week, and it cost them the services of starting quarterback Tyler Wilson. The Razorbacks coaching staff have been dodgy on whether quarterback Wilson would play this weekend, but that’s just for show, and to force Alabama to prepare for him. Wilson will sit, and Arkansas will be forced to go with freshman Brandon Allen.”
Here’s the College Football Live Preview:
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The line is 20.
The College Football Report Substitute Free-Range Chicken is taking Bama.
Eagle Insurance
“This season, keeping track of Northwestern’s Kain Colter has become a simpler task,” the Boston Globe reports.
“Last year, Colter alternated between quarterback and wide receiver, passing for six touchdowns and scoring 12 more (nine rushing, three receiving).
“As a junior, Colter has stuck to quarterback, leading Northwestern to victories over Syracuse (42-41) and Vanderbilt (23-13).
“Colter made his first start at QB in a 24-17 win over Boston College in last season’s opener. The Eagles might not have known whether Colter was coming or going in that game (197 yards passing, 71 yards rushing), but they will have another chance to pin him down in Saturday’s nonconference game.”
The game is in Evanston but Northwestern is just a 3-1/2 point favorite so The College Football Report Substitute Free-Range Chicken advises taking BC.
Fighting Illini Fever
“University of Illinois starting quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase will not play in the team’s Saturday game vs. Charleston Southern,” Rant Sports reports.
If his name was Nathan Steelchase he’d tough it out – and get some endorsements. He should consider changing it. It’d be a lot cooler. Anyway . . .
“Scheelhaase suffered a sprained ankle in the season opening win against Western Michigan and had to sit out the week two loss at Arizona State. The team struggled mightily in his absence with sophomore Reilly O’Toole and Miles Osei sharing the reps at quarterback and neither had much success in the 45-14 drugging at the hands of the Sun Devils.”
Does that give Charleston Southern a chance?
No. There’s not even a line.
Best Coach Ever?
“St. John’s University on the edge of the Minnesota prairie is home to college football’s winningest coach,” AP reports. “Eighty-five-year-old John Gagliardi is 486-133-11 in 64 years of coaching.”
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For Entertainment Purposes Only Including Gambling
Here are the rest of today’s lines.
The College Football Report Substitute Free-Range Chicken likes Minnesota giving 4 and Wisconsin giving 13-1/2.
The Beachwood Sports Seal likes Massachusetts getting 45 against Michigan.
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Comments welcome.
Posted on September 15, 2012