September 14, 2007
Vegas Line: Utah + 14.5 ~ + 16.5
The spread for this week's game is a little on the odd side, as if the betting community doesn't know what to make of the #11 ranked team in the country. The spread opened at UCLA -16 with the over/under at 48. Since then the spread has alternately tightened and widened. -14.5 to -16.5 and th O/U 43.5 to 45. Weird. Here we have a Utah team that has lost all of its playmakers on offense, and some on defense, sporting one of the worst offenses AND worst defenses in the country, after having played no one of significance. On the other side of the ball we have UCLA, stacked with talent and experience and a 2 game winning streak along with a high ranking. What is wrong with this picture?? We simply don't get it.
If you believe the oddsmakers, UCLA will win 32 - 16 or thereabouts. We don't see how this offense can score 16 points on us or can hold the same offense that put up nearly 50 points on Stanford to just 32. As we said earlier, our prediction is 41-7. The strange odds could be the result of bettors getting burned by Dorrell mostly every game we were favored in last year. This year they have no belief in his teams. Just wait until we play Cal and SuC, or Oregon, Washington and Arizona State when we should be favored. Let's see what the spreads are then.
Looking around the college game, we see that SuC is a 10 point favorite over Nebraska … guess bettors have a liking for Carroll. We think it could be closer, although we wouldn't be surprised if it gets away from Nebraska too. Wonder why Training Jay left a promising season for Dorrell's offense. Meanwhile, Ohio State is closely favored by 5 over Washington at Seattle. Should be a good test for Willingham. We'd love to see the Huskies send yet another Big 10 team into a tailspin. Alabama is a field goal favorite over Arkansas in what should be a great SEC battle at Bama. And finally, in a game of futility, either of Notre Dame or Michigan will finish their game with an opening 0-3 record for their season and the bettors have Michigan winning finally by 8. Great games for the weekend. Go Bruins!!
1 Comment on Vegas Line: Utah + 14.5 ~ + 16.5
September 16, 2007
BruinOC @ 9:12 am:
Dorrell throws Everett under the bus -
As we all know, Dorrell’s always in need of a scapegoat,likes to find a scapegoat. Generally, it’s been the coaches - well you can add players now….
Dorrell called Everett’s gaffe the biggest play of the game.
“That might have changed a little bit of the momentum of the game,” Dorrell said. “We’ve got to make those plays.”
Hopefully Bruce Davis and the players will address this issue since it’s already been widely noted that the team had a ‘weak’ week of practice (which is the responsibilty of the HC, OC & DC).
Dan’s got a decision to make….