Monday Musings

Hello out there in the blogosphere, I know that I said I'll be back on Wednesday, but I saw some things on the opening day lines that jumped out at me.  As Michael Buffer says, "Let's Get Ready to Rumble!"

I really like Georgia Tech (-3.5) vs. Louisville.  Gone are the days of Teddy Bridgewater and Lamar Jackson, and the people in Papa John's Stadium are ready to throw up their pizza.  Louisville has 2 wins on the season...one against the Sycamores of Indiana State (no, Larry Bird didn't show up and rain threes on the Cardinals defense)

 and a Western Kentucky team that they struggled with for four quarters.  The other three losses?  They got blown out by Alabama, got throttled by Virginia, and they lost to Florida State.  They lost to Florida State, a team that could barely beat Samford.  Louisville is a far cry from what they used to be, and Georgia Tech does a fantastic job of controlling the ball and running the clock when they're ahead.  The triple option offense isn't very sexy, but it gets the job done.  As my friend says, "If I was a service academy (besides Air Force) I would ask Paul Johnson how much money it would take to get him to come and coach at my program, because all he does is have success at Georgia Tech running the triple option."

Again, I'll give some points here and state that Illinois probably covers against Rutgers (ILL - 2.5).  Illinois, while it hasn't played wonderfully throughout the season, did impress me enough against Penn State (albeit through three quarters) to place my faith in the Fighting Illini.  Rutgers doesn't know what to do with themselves.  They think they're a football school that belongs in the Big Ten.  They don't belong in the Patriot League, let alone the Big Ten.  Don't believe me?  Here are Rutgers 2018 results so far:
Week 1 - Beat Texas State 35-7 (zzz....zzzz....wake me up later....)
Week 2 - Lost to Ohio State 52-3 (Yeah, you belong in the Big Ten all right.....The ESPN bottom 10!)
Week 3 - Lost to Kansas 55-14 (KANSAS!  They got blown out by KANSAS!  I could see if they were playing basketball, but NO!  Football!  That's a disgrace.)
Week 4 - Lost to Indiana 24-17 (OK, a better showing here, but still.....a loss)

They have a grand total of 8 touchdowns on the year.  8!  5 players singlehandedly have more touchdowns then they do, including John Ursua (13), Devin Singletary (12), and Travis Etienne (9).  They are tied with 5 players with 8, including Benny Snell Jr. and J.J. Arcega-Whiteside.  I doubt they'll be a favorite at any time this season, which includes trips to Madison and Spartan Stadium, along with games against Michigan and Penn State at home.  Oh, Rutgers.  It seemed like only yesterday that Ray Rice was chewing up yardage and Gary Nova was throwing TD passes left and right.  Now, it looks like Rutgers may have trouble beating Bergen Catholic.

A Headline from the Washington Post on September 15th.
Only Rutgers could make Kansas look this good. (P.S. Kansas is still bad.)

Look at this line and tell me what's wrong:

Kentucky (+6.5) at Texas A&M

Don't see it?  I do.  Kentucky is still disrespected by the college football universe.  Don't look now guys, but Kentucky is legit and is for real.  Read my earlier post about Benny Snell Jr. if you don't believe me.  Jimbo Fisher, while he will eventually turn Texas A&M around, doesn't have them pointing in the direction that he really wants them to go in.  If you don't believe me, just ask Tyrel Dodson:

I think that 6 points is way too many to give a very good Kentucky team that can run the ball and play defense.  I think that Kentucky will cover, but may win the game outright.  I think it's time that people started believing in Kentucky (I know, as I say that, they go out and play a crap-tacular game and lose badly and everyone thinks I'm an idiot.)

Thoughts and Prayers go out to the Abercrombie family as well as the entire Tennessee State football team.  If you didn't hear about it, Tennessee State linebacker Christion Abercrombie was rushed to the hospital and had to have emergency head surgery after he collapsed on the sideline.  I wish Christion, the Abercrombie family, and the entire Tennessee State football family my best thoughts and prayers, and to Christion, get well soon!