Black Widow
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1* on TCU -10.5
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TCU heads to Virginia to take on a team that had perhaps the worst loss in Week 1. The Cavaliers lost at home 26-14 to William & Mary, committing 7 turnovers in the process. Clearly, they’ll be looking to bounce back this week but it won’t be easy against a very good TCU team that has BCS aspirations. But it’s also clear that Virginia is lacking talent. The Cavaliers return just 11 starters this season, and they still have no idea who to play at quarterback. Their QB’s combined for 130 yards passing in the opener with 0 touchdowns and 3 interceptions. This team is clearly in rebuilding mode. TCU, on the other hand, is primed for a BCS run with a plethora of talent back on offense. QB Andy Dalton and a stable of talented running backs return to lead an offense that finished second in the MWC with 421 yards per game. Their defense gave up 217 yards per game last year, good for No. 1 in the country. The Horned Frogs are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games as a favorite of 10.5 or greater. TCU is 25-10 ATS in their last 35 games as a favorite overall. Virginia is 3-9 ATS in their last 12 non-conference games and 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games vs. MWC foes. Take TCU and lay the points.
Terron Chapman
USC vs. Ohio State
Play: USC -6.5
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The Ohio St Buckeyes will look for revenge at The Horseshoe Saturday evening when they play host to the USC Trojans. The Trojans embarrassed the Buckeyes in last seasons meeting, 35-3 at the Coliseum in Los Angeles, and while the venue may change for this rematch, I don’t expect much else too. The Trojans enter this one as a 6.5 point favorite and rightfully so. Even with a true freshman at quarterback, the Trojans have too much talent for the Buckeyes.
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The Buckeyes barely escaped a scrappy Navy team Saturday, 31-27, thanks to a last second failed two-point conversion try for the Midshipmen. Even though the Buckeyes defense returns seven starters, they struggled against Navy, allowing 342 yards, including 156 yards in the air and two touchdown passes. Not a good sign with a dominant Trojans line and a plethora of running backs visiting Columbus. USC has arguably the best group of running backs in the country, and that should help to take the pressure off of freshman signal-caller Matt Barkley.
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Terrelle Pryor and the Buckeyes offense looked suspect in the opener. Navy plays hard, but is not in the same class athletically as the Trojans. Ohio St failed to run the ball with any consistency and the passing game looked shaky. The Trojans defense looked just as dominant as last season’s unit which finished second in the nation, Saturday against San Jose St, allowing just 121 yards in total offense.
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The Trojans defense alone makes them at least a field goal favorite for this one. When you consider the firepower the Trojans have on offense, one should start to get a better understanding as to why they are pegged as a road favorite of nearly a touchdown. The home field may keep this one close through the first half, but too many weapons will provide the Trojans with the ability to pull away. Lay the points.
Play on the USC Trojans for 1 unit.
Matt Fargo
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Purdue vs. Oregon
Play: Oregon -12
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I was on Oregon in Week One against Boise St. and the Ducks were dominated on the road. The big story was obviously the punch thrown by LeGarrette Blount and his loss will no doubt hurt the Ducks this season but this game will not factor in as much. The Ducks know they are a tarnished team right now so they will be out to prove something this week against a Big Ten team. It is expected to be a long year for Purdue this season. The Boilermakers are coming off a 21-point victory over Toledo in their opener but it was not as impressive as that final margin indicates. They outgained the Rockets by just 42 total yards and the defense, which was supposed to be the strength, allowed 493 total yards. The offense really looked good as Purdue brought in nine new starters and tallied 535 yards of total offense but that came against Toledo who was 77th in the country in total defense a season ago. The Oregon defense did a very good job against a very potent Boise St. offense as it held the Broncos to just 338 yards and 19 points and that was on the blue turf in Boise. A return home to Autzen Stadium should fire this team up even more. The Ducks came away with a victory last season in Lafayette in overtime so they will not be looking past the Boilermakers in this one. Purdue jumped ahead early in that game but Oregon fought back and ended up outgaining the Boilermakers by close to 100 total yards. Based on last year’s outcome as well as the results of the first week, this line may seem high and the public is biting on it already yet the number is moving the other way. I expect Jeremiah Masoli to have a big game here as he did not play well last week and he came in touted as a possible sleeper Heisman candidate. The Boilermakers gave up 423 yards passing last week and that does not bode well considering it is 2-12-2 ATS in its last 16 games after allowing more than 280 yards passing in their previous game. Oregon meanwhile is 12-3 ATS in its last 15 home games as a favorite of 10.5 or more points and falls into a solid situation carrying over from last season. Play on home favorites in the first month of the season, after closing out last season with four or more straight wins and finished with a winning record overall. This situation is 30-9 ATS (76.9 percent) over the last five seasons with the average point differential being +28.8 ppg.
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3* Oregon Ducks
DAVE MALINSKY
Kent St. @ Boston College
PICK: Kent St. +21.5
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"There are going to be problems with any job. No one needs to feel sorry for us and what I inherited. What I inherited was a great job at a great university, with great people and great players. Now, do we have our work cut out for us? Yes. Do we have a plan? Yes. Is the future bright? Yes. There's a lot of positive things."
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That was how new Boston College head coach Frank Spaziani made his entrance, taking over a program filled with issues throughout (three head coaches in three years can do that). Yet the Eagles opened with a 54-0 lambasting of Northeastern, and the marketplace is treating them as though all is well this week. It isn’t. Whipping an FCS team that lost 10 games LY does not mean a whole lot, and if anything it could actually be construed as a negative opener, in that some of the key issues were not able to be addressed. So we gladly take the value being offered here.
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The Eagles have problems on both sides of the ball. There is not a QB that has ever taken a snap in a lined game, and by using Jason Tuggle (red-shirt freshman), David Shinskie (playing football again after six years as a pitcher in the Minors, and not around for spring practice), Cody Boek (played FB and on the special teams LY) and Mike Marscovetra (true freshman) all on Saturday none of them got a chance to get the kind of reps needed to run the offense well. Having split the snaps through fall practice as well, the chemistry of the passing game is an awkward mix.
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Meanwhile that usually staunch defensive interior has to cope with the loss of 1st round (B. J. Raji) and 2nd round (Ron Brace) NFL draft picks, and injury and illness has taken away key LB’s Mark Herzlich and Mike McLaughin, with starter Will Thompson also missing Saturday, though he should return this week. Without Thompson they started two freshman and a sophomore at LB, and since Thompson is only a soph himself they are extremely untested. And while many times established programs can look to veterans to help steady the ship while young players develop, B. C. only has seven senior starters, and only two more on the second unit. This is a team that will be a work in progress, and there is absolutely no scoreboard urgency here, with a brutal cycle of six straight games against bowl opponents on deck, starting with a revenge affair at Clemson next week.
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This is not all anti-Boston College, however. Kent State brings play-on potential in several areas, with a veteran OL leading the way for the cut-back runs of Eugene Jarvis, which can be especially effective against young LB’s; an emerging offensive weapon in freshman WR Tyshon Goode (six catches for 84 yards in his debut); and the defense has a chance to be vastly improved. Michigan transfer Cobrani Mixon quickly made his presence felt at MLB, earning M.A.C. defensive Player of the Week honors in his first game with the Golden Flashes, while Kevin Hogan (3rd in career sacks at Kent) adds a pass rush up front, and there are six members of the secondary with starting experience. They should never lose contact with a favorite that lacks the explosiveness, cohesion and any real intent to get this one by a big margin.
Info Plays
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3* on BYU -17
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1.) Most may be predicting a letdown for BYU here, but we don't see it happening this early in the season. The Cougars proved they are for real with a 14-13 victory over then-No. 3 Oklahoma last week. Their defense was the big surprise, but considering the Cougars returned 8 starters on the stop unit it shouldn't be that big of a shocker. They also have all-everything QB Max Hall back, and all he did last week was pass for 329 yards against a very good Sooners' defense. Tulane lost 13-37 in their home opener last week to Tulsa, and the Cougars are a far more talented team, especially defensively, than the Golden Hurricane are this season. Tulsa put up 201 rushing yards and 211 passing yards on only 20 attempts in that game, so it appears once again this Tulane defense cannot stop anybody after going 2-10 last year.
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2.) System Play. We'll Play On - Favorites of 10.5 to 21 points (BYU) - good passing team from last season - averaged 8 or more passing yards/attempt, in non-conference games. This is a 27-6 ATS System hitting 81.8% over the last 5 seasons. Also Tulane is 6-19 ATS in home games after allowing 37 points or more since 1992. This is a complete mismatch and the final score will show it. Bet BYU on the road.
Craig Trapp
BYU vs. Tulane
Play: Tulane +17.5
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Trap games usually happen when a team is looking ahead or coming off a very tough fought win. Well BYU is coming off both of these. BYU pulled a huge upset in week 1 of college football beating power house Oklahoma. They have moved up in the ranking to #9 earning a ton of respect from voters. Tulane was beat very handily at home verse Tulsa this past Saturday so I am sure BYU will be thinking this one is in the bag. Even more likely is BYU is looking forward to Week 3 and a huge home game against Florida State.
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Pretty hard to just smell the perfume that everyone is spraying and this young team has to be tempted to drink the perfume. Now I am not saying that BYU is going to lose to Tulane but do think that the Green Wave will be pumped and give them a good first half.
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BYU is one of the most penalized teams in College Football and with all the distractions and media attention has to make it tough for BYU to concentrate on preparation this week. They better not sleep on Tulane as they are much better than they looked against Tulsa.
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Don't fall into the Trap this week instead take the +17.5 and Tulane.
Alex Smart
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Central Michigan @ Michigan St.
PICK: Central Michigan +14.5
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Central Michigan travels 70 miles south on U.S. Route 127 to visit Michigan State Saturday afternoon in a interesting non conference battle .Central Michigan of the MAC enters into this tilt vs Big 12 favorite Michigan State as worthy underdogs in this spot . I'm betting on the big arm of QB Dan LeFevour,one of the all time top NCAA career yards leaders (11,828 Total yards) to be on display for NFL scouts , vs a Michigan State side that is highly likely to be looking ahead to next weeks confrontation with their long time rivals Notre Dame. I know the vaunted Chippewas offense looked muted last week, vs the Arizona Wildcats in a sleepy 16-9 loss covering as 13.5 point dogs ,but what was impressive was a Chips D, that allowed a PAC 10 side to just six first downs in 16 third downs situations for a lowly (37.5 percent), including 3-for-10 on third downs on CMU’s side of the 50-yard line. I also know Michigan State was explosive in 44-3 win vs lower tier Montana State , but after that kind of adrenalin filled effort, a let down performance is a strong possibility. Final notes & Key Trends: Michigan State has covered just 1 game in their L/9 opportunities before playing the Fighting Irish. Central Michigan is 3-0 ATS L/3 vs Big 10 and 9-0-2 ATS in their L/11 back to back away games. ..... Play on Central Michigan to cover
Vernon Croy
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Notre Dame vs. Michigan
Play: Michigan +3.5
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We are getting very good line value here with the Wolverines Saturday afternoon since they will be able to move the ball on the ground. Michigan rushed for 242 yards in their first game of the season and I look for them to dominate the tempo of this game by establishing a solid running game which will wear down the Fighting Irish defense. Michigan held the Fighting Irish scoreless in their previous two home games against them and Michigan's defense looked solid last week against the Western Michigan Broncos holding them to just 7 points. The Michigan defense allowed just 38 total rushing yards last week and just an average of 1.6 yards per rush while the Notre Dame defense allowed 153 total rushing yards and 5.3 yards per rush. Michigan dominates this game on the ground Saturday afternoon which will keep the Notre Dame offense off the field and wear down the Fighting Irish defense. Take the Michigan Wolverines as my NCAA Football Free Play for Saturday afternoon.
Carlo Campanella
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Stanford vs. Wake Forest
Play: Stanford +3
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Both teams opened their season last Saturday, with the much improved Stanford squad destroying Washington State on their own turf, 39-13. Stanford finished at 5-7 in an extremely tough PAC 10 Conference last season, but played well and returned 17 of 22 starters from that squad. Wake Forest lost their home opener, 24-21, to an improving Baylor team that was only 4-8 last season. Wake Forest returned senior QB Riley Skinner, however, they have many holes on the defensive side of the ball. Last Saturday they allowed Baylor to put up 197 rushing yards and things will only be tougher this weekend against a Stanford offense led by RB Gerhart that gained an incredible 288 rushing yards! Last year Gerhart gained 1,176 rushing yards on an 5.4 yards per carry! With the public backing Wake Forest, feeling that they won’t lose back-to-back home games behind senior QB Riley Skinner, we’ll take the points with a Stanford squad that will dominate the line of scrimmage.
7* PLAY ON Stanford
John Martin
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1 Unit on Air Force +3.5
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Air Force is one of the better teams in the MWC that nobody is talking about. That's because this conference is so stacked, that Air Force is picked to finish 4th in the league with teams like BYU, TCU and Utah ahead of them. All Air Force did in their Week 1 game was beat Nicholls State 72-0 while putting up 474 rushing yards. I don't care if they were playing a high school team, that's still impressive. Minnesota went into Syracuse last week as a 7-point favorite and were lucky to escape with a 23-20 win in overtime. They won't be so fortunate this week because Air Force is the real deal. The Falcons are 11-0 ATS when the total is between 42.5 and 49 over the last 3 seasons. Air Force is 8-0 ATS after playing a non-conference game over the last 3 seasons. The Falcons are 9-1 ATS llowing 14 points or less last game over the last 3 seasons. Cash in with Air Force as the underdog.
Totals 4 U
UCLA @ Tennessee
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The UCLA Bruins (1-0) came out of hibernation still a little sleepy and found themselves down 14-3 to San Diego State last Saturday, thanks to a couple turnovers by 6’2” 219 redshirt freshman QB Kevin Prince (18 of 29 for 176 yards, TD, 2 INT, FUM), before shaking out the cobwebs and holding the Aztecs to just 116 yards over their last 43 plays on the way to a 33-14 victory at the Rose Bowl. Prince isn’t the only young player to be tested by 2nd-year Coach Rick Neuheisel (4-8 in 2008). 8 true freshmen, 10 redshirt freshman, and 12 sophomores saw action for the Bruins last week including 8 that made their first career starts…
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Youth along the offensive line (3 sacks allowed and 3.8 yards per rush vs. SDST) may be this squad’s choke point. Knee injuries to senior starting guards Micah Kia (out for season) and Nick Ekbatani (out for weeks) leaves the front line with a freshman, 3 sophomores, and a junior that measure in at 6’3” and 316 pounds per man. If they can keep Prince upright, this crew has plenty of weapons. Running backs 5’10” 201 freshman Jonathan Franklin (12 for 43 and TD) and 6’0” 235 sophomore Derrick Coleman (4 for 69 and TD) make a decent speed/power combo. 6’3” 243 senior TE Ryan Moya led all PAC 10 tight ends with 38 catches last season. 6’3” 205 sophomore WR Taylor Embree (6 for 97) pairs with blazing 5’11” 172 senior WR Terrence Austin (6 for 37 and TD, 8.3 PR, 49.0 KR) – who set the team’s single season record in 2008 with 1878 all-purpose yards – while the 6’3” 219 sophomore WR Nelson Rosario is an intriguing big target with a 25.0 foot long jump on the books.
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The Bruins defense is better prepared to compete right now – especially the UCLA front seven. Preseason All-American 6’2” 300 junior LDT Brian Price (3 T) was first team All-PAC 10 last season with 14 tackles for loss while 6’1” 240 senior MLB Reggie Carter (team best 83 T in 2008) and 6’1” 234 senior WLB Kyle Bosworth (55 T, 5 ½ S, 11 TFL in 2008) have both made the Lombardi Watch List with Carter also adding Lott and Bednardik Watch List honors. The defensive backfield may be led by the stoppers’ best player, 5’11” 180 senior RCB Alterraun Verner, but he is surrounded by youngsters and last week’s loss of starting LCB Aaron Hester to fractured fibula can’t help. Preseason All-American Verner led the NCAA with 1.67 passes defensed per game in ’08 and returned a blocked field goal 70 yards for a score last week but without some balance, he will be easy to avoid. 5’8” 160 sophomore LCB Courtney Viney (2 T) replaces Hester but it was 6’1” 197 sophomore FS Rahim Moore that stepped up big with 3 interceptions against the Aztecs. Junior PK Kai Forbath nailed attempts of 49 and 50 yards in the opener, giving him 7 career makes of 50+ yards.
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The Tennessee Volunteers (1-0) opened the Coach Lane Kiffin Era last Saturday with a dominating 63-7 victory at Western Kentucky in which Big Orange out-gained the Hilltoppers 657 to just 83 yards, out-marched them 34 to just 6 first downs, and posted touchdowns by 7 different players. It will take more than this rout of a clearly overmatched opponent to eclipse the legacy of Phil Fulmer and David Cutcliffe but the ground game of major college football’s youngest head coach was simply dominating despite the loss in fall practice of Outland Trophy Candidate C Josh McNeil (knee, return uncertain), racking up 380 yards on 44 carries (8.6 yards per carry) with 4 scores.
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6’1” 260 senior C Cody Sullins did a superb job in for McNeil and got plenty of help from returning starters 6’5” 330 junior LT Chris Scott, 6’4” 300 senior LG Vladimir Richard, and 6’3” 324 senior RG Jacques McClendon in busting open holes and allowing zero sacks. Including the undersized Sullins, this crew averages 6’3 ½” and 309 pounds per man. 6’0” 215 senior RB Montario Hardesty has been the team’s starter for the last 3 seasons but this is the first campaign he enters healthy and it showed in the opener with 160 rush yards and a score in 18 carries. 6’0” 215 freshman Bryce Cooper entered as the nation’s top running back recruit and debuted with 11 carries for 104 yards and a TD while 5’10” 186 freshman RB David Oku (8 for 42) punched in a pair of late short touchdown runs in relief. At the trigger this season is 6’4” 228 senior Jonathan Crompton (21 of 28 for 233 yards, 5 TD, 2 INT) – who appeared in 8 games in 2008 (86 of 167 for 899 yards, 4 TD, 5 INT) – but injuries have left questions about his receivers. 6’6” 240 junior TE Luke Stocker should be a fine red zone target as he proved with a pair of scoring grabs against Western but the holes left by WR Gerald Jones (ankle, several weeks) and WR Austin Rogers (knee, out for season) are tough fills. 5’10” 180 freshman Marsalis Teague (6 for 86 and TD) and 6’3” 207 senior Quinten Hancock (5 for 65 and TD) got the action in the opener and will start again this week.
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With 12 tackles for loss last week including 5 quarterback sacks, pretty much everyone got in on the action for Tennessee stoppers but there are some key players to keep your eyes on this season. 6’4” 257 LDT senior LDT Wes Brown (moved from end last year), 6’1” 220 senior WLB Rico McCoy (6 T, TFL), and 5’10” junior FS Dennis Rogan (2 T) each return from 12 start seasons as does this crew’s undisputed leader, Preseason All-American 5’11” 203 junior SS Eric Berry (3 T). During his 2008 campaign (72 T, 8 TFL, 3 S), Berry racked up 7 interceptions on the way to All-American and SEC Defensive Player of the Year honors but it is what he does after he makes the pick that is really eye-popping. In just 2 season, Berry has returned 12 interceptions for 487 yards – leaving him only 14 pick return yards short of Terrell Buckley’s all-time NCAA record. Facing a freshman quarterback this week, you just may have a chance to witness history! Tennessee travels to Gainesville next week to tangle with the #1-ranked Gators.
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SELECTION: The Bruins topped the Volunteers 27-24 in overtime at the Rose Bowl last season but Lane Kiffin’s group is just more talented and experienced for the rematch at Neyland Stadium. You can check it out on ESPN at 4:00 PM EST Saturday afternoon and take Tennessee –9.
Steve Zukiel
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Pittsburgh U vs. Buffalo U
Play Buffalo U +11
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In this contest, my money is on the Buffalo Bulls.
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Pittsburgh as not been a good favorite as of late, as they are just 2-7 ATS in their last nine giving up points. Meanwhile, the Buffalo Bulls, an outright underdog winner last week, is now an amazing 10-1 ATS in their last 11 in that role. Pittsburgh's QB Stull only passed for 49 yards in the first half against Youngstown State last week. I like what Turner Gill has done with this Bulls' squad and I am not saying they are going to win this football game, but I do believe they are going to stay within the number. Take Buffalo.
LARRY NESS
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Pittsburgh @ Buffalo
PICK: Buffalo +10.5
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Buffalo joined Division I in 1999 and went a pathetic 10-69 through 2005. Turner Gill was named head coach for the 2006 and in his third year (2008), won the weak MAC East with a 5-3 mark and then shocked unbeaten and 12th-ranked Ball State in the MAC championship game, 42-24. While the Bulls lost the International Bowl 38-20 to U Conn, the 2008 season was an unqualified success. QB Drew Willy has graduated (had a 40-12 TD-to INT ratio his last two seasons) but RB Starks, who ran for 1,333 yards last year and 17 TDs (also had 52 catches), was coming back. However, he saw his season wiped out with a shoulder injury two weeks ago. Zach Maynard takes over at QB and he was 12-of-19 for 159 yards with one TD and no interceptions as the Bulls shocked UTEP at El Paso last Saturday, 23-17. RBs Thermilus had 79 yards (one TD) and Henry had 55 yards (TD) while WR Naaman Roosevelt, who set single-season school records in receptions (104), receiving yards (1,402) and receiving TDs last year, caught five passes for 91 yards and a TD. The Bulls return eight starters on defense and Buffalo held the Miners to just 17 points at home last week (UTEP averaged 32.9 PPG in 2008). QB Trevor Vittatoe threw 33 TD passes in 2008 and passed for 3,274 yards last year for UTEP but the Bulls held him without a TD pass in 45 attempts and to a modest 233 yards in the win. Pitt opened last year by losing 27-17 to Bowling Green but made certain there was no repeat of last season's oepning game upset by taking a 21-3 lead over Youngstown State at halftime. RB Dion Lewis scored three TDs by halftime while running for 129 yards in his first college start, replacing LeSean McCoy (who left for the NFL after rushing for 2,816 yards and scoring 35 TDs in two seasons). However, starting QB Bill Stull, who slumped badly during the second half of last season after getting a concussion against Rutgers, was booed on his first incompletion and had only 44 yards passing at halftime. He finished just 11-of-16 for 123 yards without a TD and one interception. Tino Sunseri, a redshirt freshman who pushed Stull for the starting job during the off-season, found Jonathan Baldwin on a 42-yard completion immediately after replacing Stull in the third quarter and later hooked up with Aundre Wright on a six-yard scoring pass play. Sunseri was 5-of-8 for 80 yards. These teams met last year at Pitt with the Panthers escaping with a 27-16 win. Pitt barely outgained the Bulls (352-348) and both teams had 22 FDs. The Panthers are just 2-7 ATS in their last nine games when favored and the Bulls are now 10-1 ATS in their last 11 games as an underdog. Take the points.
BEN BURNS
TCU @ Virginia
PICK: Virginia +11.5
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This is an interesting matchup. It features a TCU team which has yet to play against a Virginia team which was upset by William and Mary in its opener.
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In my opinion, those week one results (or lack thereof) have helped to create some line value here. The betting public saw the Cavaliers get embarrassed, the first time they lost to a FCS team (1-AA) since 1986, and now thinks they stink. Knowing that TCU is expected to be strong and knowing that they've had an extra week to prepare, many will expect the Horned Frogs to win this one convincingly. While that's certainly possible, I see things differently.
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Having an extra week to prepare for an opponent is generally a good thing. There is no doubt that Gary Patterson and his staff will have their players familiar with what Virginia brings to the table. However, there's also something to be said for actually having played a "real" game. Often, that first game allows a team to work out some kinks and the Horned Frogs are one of only two teams in the country which didn't get that opportunity. Of course, in Virginia's case, with seven turnovers in their opener, there were/are an awful lot of "kinks to work out."
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As for the Cavs, they can either hang their heads and sulk or try and bounce back and try and at least salvage their season. I expect it to be the latter and look for them to deliver a much better effort. Virginia Head Coach Al Groh concurs. He was quoted as saying: "There are 11 more weeks to go. There will be a lot of negativity out there. Some of it well deserved. We can either crack or we can stick together. One thing we have never done around here is crack."
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While a "better effort" may not be enough for the Cavs to score the outright upset, I do expect it to at least keep them competitive. While Virginia has gone 5-3 ATS the last eight times it was getting points, TCU has gone 3-5 ATS the last eight times it was laying points on the road.
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It's also worth noting that this over/under line is currently down to 40.5 at most shops, which is among the lowest on the entire board. With that type of number, this is expected to be a relatively low-scoring game. That typically getting double-digits on the pointspread that much more attractive. Note that the Cavs are 8-3 SU/ATS the last 11 times that they played a home game with an o/u line of 42 or less. Consider taking the points.
Allen Eastman
Take ‘Over’ 52.5 Memphis at Middle Tennessee State
Here we have two spread offenses going up against two weak defenses and we should see some points here. Both defenses gave up 35 or more points last week against BCS teams and watched their own offenses scuffle. I think the points will be there again and the defense will not. Dating back to last year MTSU has gone ‘over’ in six of eight games.