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Marshall (1-0) at Wisconsin
(1-0),
12:00 EST Big Ten Network
Why to watch: Is
Wisconsin really a national
title contender? The 38-17 win
over Akron was far more
impressive than is might appear
as Badger mistakes near the goal
line kept the game from being a
brutal blowout, but with a nasty
road trip to Fresno State ahead,
followed up by a killer stretch
of games against Michigan, Ohio
State, Penn State, Iowa,
Illinois and Michigan State, the
team needs to sharpen up now.
Marshall has improved with the
most experienced, talented team
in the Mark Snyder era, but it
needs a splashy, signature win
to finally turn things around.
This would be it. The opening
day win over Illinois State
showed off a balanced attack
with a good running game, but
the defense struggled a bit
giving up 327 yards. The
Conference USA slate kicks in
for the Herd next week against
Memphis.
Why Marshall might win:
Wisconsin continues with its
nasty habit of letting inferior
teams hang around. The Badgers
dominated the Zips but the game
was way too close over the final
three quarters because the
offense struggled to drop the
hammer and end the drama.
Marshall has just enough pop in
the passing game and just enough
experience to come up with the
big play here and there to turn
the momentum around if the
Badgers don't put the game away.
Even though the UW defense has
gotten healthier, there are
still major dings dating back to
last year. The Badgers are
hardly 100%.
Why Wisconsin might win:
The offensive line is really,
really good. It has been fine
over the last few years, but
against Akron, it was a tight,
dominant unit that appears ready
to take the production to
another level. The line has been
building to this point over the
last few seasons, and it should
come out and steamroll the
Marshall defensive front. The
running game cranked out 404
yards on Akron and should hover
around 300 against the Herd.
Who to watch: Can Allan
Evridge actually play? The
Badger quarterback has been
biding his time for the last few
seasons, but he was hidden a bit
last week against Akron and was
a bit too shaky. He threw a bad
interception in the end zone to
kill a late first half drive
that led the way to a late Akron
field goal, and he hung up a few
other throws that should've been
picked off. He'll have to be
more than just a caretaker over
the next several games, and it
has to start this week.
What will happen:
Marshall will keep it
interesting for just over a
half, and then the Wisconsin
running game will pound its way
to a double-digit win.
CFN Prediction: Wisconsin 34 ...
Marshall 10 ... Line: Wisconsin
-20.5
Must See Rating:
(5 Entourage premiere
- 1
One Tree Hill premiere) …
2
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Click here to receive ATS
Consultants FREE selections
Southern Miss (1-0) at
Auburn (1-0)
12:30 EST, GamePlan
Why to watch:
The Larry Fedora era got off to a
rousing start at Southern Miss as the
Golden Eagles destroyed UL Lafayette
51-21 with 633 yards of total offense.
Meanwhile, the Tony Franklin era got off
to a rousing start at Auburn as the new
offensive coordinator's attack ripped
off 406 yards of total offense in a 34-0
win over UL Monroe. Now that the two
teams have dispensed with the Sun Belt,
they'll play an important game for each
team. The Tigers kick off SEC play next
week against Mississippi State and face
LSU in two weeks. Any and all bugs have
to be worked out of the system by then.
Meanwhile, Southern Miss can make a huge
splash for itself, as well as for
Conference USA, if everything works out
perfectly and Damion Fletcher and the
boys can pull off the upset. Outside of
Boise State, there isn't a team on the
schedule for the Golden Eagles to worry
about until a mid-November date at UCF.
Why Southern Miss might win:
Auburn can't throw the ball. At least,
its passing game is still suspect with
the running game used to get the offense
moving. The Tigers have been able to get
away with a mediocre passing attack for
the last few years, and while the Golden
Eagles have a strong secondary,
All-America LB Gerald McRath and the
boys should be able to focus all of
their attention on stopping the run.
While that might sound good in theory
...
Why Auburn might win: USM got run
over last week. It was a 30-point win,
but giving up 263 yards on the ground
isn't a plus. While running the ball is
all UL Lafayette can do, the Golden
Eagle defense still had a few problems
early on and failed to generate any push
in the backfield. Auburn's offensive
line is among the best in America and
should be able to dominate from the
start. When the Tigers do try to throw
the ball, the quarterback won't have
much of a problem. What is an issue is
...
Who to watch: ... who the starting
quarterback will actually be. Kodi Burns
is the better overall threat for the
running aspect of the spread offense,
but Chris Todd is the better passer.
Burns suffered a major cut on his leg
against ULM in the third quarter, and
now Todd has been named the starter, for
this week, at least, after completing
nine of 18 passes for 70 yards and a
touchdown with an interception.
Burns completed four of nine passes for
15 yards, but he ran for 69 yards. For
Southern Miss, all eyes will be on
Fletcher, who tore off 232 yards and two
touchdowns on just 21 carries against
ULL.
What will happen: Each defense
will dominate for the first 20 minutes
or so, and then the Auburn offensive
line will take over. The Tiger offense
might not be pretty, but it'll look far
better than a USM attack that'll do next
to nothing in the passing game.
CFN Prediction: Auburn 26 ...
Southern Miss 7 ... Line: Auburn -18.5
Must See Rating:
(5 Entourage premiere - 1
One Tree Hill premiere) …
2.5
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Click here to receive ATS Consultants
FREE selections
UAB (0-1) at Florida Atlantic
(0-1),
4:00 EST
Why to watch:
UAB is improving, but on a
seven-game losing streak it's
hard to show a noticeable
improvement. The Blazers are
making baby steps, but they need
a win, and they need it now with
a trip to Tennessee to follow.
UAB would like to get where FAU
is and be a competitive player
week in and week out, but the
Owls were put in their place
last week by a jacked up Texas
team, given ammunition when Owl
head coach Howard
Schnellenberger called the
Longhorns soft. With trips to
Michigan State and Minnesota
ahead, the Owls likely need to
win this week to avoid an 0-4
start.
Why UAB might win: The
FAU defensive line is quick and
active, but it can be pushed
around a little bit. UAB showed
some muscle last week rushing
for 245 yards against Tulsa, and
while the offense has finally
started to wake up, it'll need
better play from the defense to
have a chance. Getting to FAU QB
Rusty Smith shouldn't be a
problem, but ...
Why Florida Atlantic might
win: ... forcing him to make
mistakes will be an issue. UAB
got roasted by Tulsa last week
for 601 yards of total offense
including 361 through the air.
FAU doesn't have the Tulsa
attack, but it has speedy
targets who shouldn't have much
of a problem getting deep. If
this gets into a shootout in any
way, FAU is far better equipped.
Who to watch: UAB QB Joe
Webb started to show what he
could do at the end of last
year, and now he appears on the
verge of being a major
Conference USA star. The junior
threw for 169 yards and two
touchdowns with an interception,
and ran for 136 yards, but he
didn't get the win. He needs
more help around him, but for
now, he has the talent to keep
UAB in games by himself.
What will happen: FAU
will take out its frustrations
from the Texas game on a hapless
UAB defense that'll generate a
little bit of pressure, but will
give up well over 300 yards to
Smith and the Owl passing
attack.
CFN Prediction: Florida Atlantic
35 ... UAB 20... Line: Florida
Atlantic -13
Must See Rating:
(5 Entourage premiere - 1
One Tree Hill premiere) …
1.5
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Click here to receive ATS Consultants
FREE selections
Tulsa (1-0) at North Texas (0-1),
7:00 EST
Why to watch:
At least for one game, it
appears there’ll be life after
record-smashing QB Paul Smith in
Tulsa. After a slow start, the
Golden Hurricane rolled to a
45-22 win over UAB behind three
Paul Johnson touchdown passes.
The senior was flawless, making
good use of his myriad weapons
and throwing just four
incompletions. With a league
game already in the win column,
Tulsa will be favored remain
unbeaten until the schedule
stiffens in late October. In
many ways, North Texas would
like to be where Tulsa is, a
dangerous mid-major with a
point-a-minute offense. Neither
will come to fruition anytime
soon, as evidenced by last
weekend’s 45-6 flogging at the
hands of Kansas State. It’s only
Todd Dodge’s second season in
Denton, but he needs to start
showing some progress with the
Mean Green.
Why Tulsa might win: It’s
going to be a while before
someone can slow down the
Hurricane offense. The attack
was as efficient as ever,
generating 360 yards through the
air and 240 yards on the ground
in the win over the Blazers.
Johnson was terrific in the
game, getting the ball in the
hands of his playmakers, like WR
Brennan Marion and FB Charles
Clay. The Mean Green doesn’t
have nearly enough talent on
defense to keep this juggernaut
under 50.
Why North Texas might win:
If the Mean Green has any chance
of authoring an upset, it’ll
have to expose a Tulsa defense
that’s flush with new starters
and coming off a shaky effort.
The Hurricane yielded 414 yards
and 21 first downs to the
usually quiet UAB offense. While
the North Texas offense is
hardly a sure thing, it will
attack through the air with an
inventive passing game and
prolific WR Casey Fitzgerald.
Who to watch: In just 15
career games, Clay has already
become one of the most dangerous
offensive weapons in Conference
USA. Labeled a fullback, he’s
more of an H-back, who’s big
enough to run over defenders and
quick enough to jet past them.
With so much attention being
given to the backs and
receivers, he’s a nightmare for
linebackers in one-on-one
coverage.
What will happen: The
Tulsa train will continue down
the tracks, steamrolling a North
Texas program that’s laboring
badly on both sides of the ball.
Behind another 500-yard day from
the offense, the Hurricane won’t
be tested past halftime.
CFN Prediction: Tulsa 51 ...
North Texas 21 ... Line: Tulsa
-21
Must See Rating:
(5 Entourage premiere - 1
One Tree Hill premiere) …
2
-
Click here to receive ATS Consultants
FREE selections
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Conference USA Week One Fearless
Predictions, Part 2
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