Public Enemies - Week 4
By Kevin Rogers
Where does the public perception lie this week? Is it with the Washington Huskies, who pulled off a mammoth upset of Southern Cal? What about the University of Miami, is the "U" back following two conference wins? This week, we'll take a look at those teams, as well as some others to see if the public is buying into what these schools are selling.
Miami (FL) at Virginia Tech - 3:30 PM EST
Randy Shannon's Hurricanes are back on the national landscape, after starting the season with victories over Florida State and Georgia Tech. There's plenty of buzz surrounding sophomore quarterback Jacory Harris, who has thrown for 656 yards, while completing 69.5% of his passes. The Canes are back in the top-10, as they take on conference rival Virginia Tech.
The Hokies have been tested twice in three games, losing to Alabama, while rallying past Nebraska this past week. QB Tyrod Taylor has completed only 47.6% of his passes, but the biggest connection he made was the 81-yard strike to wideout Danny Coale against the Huskers. That hookup led to the go-ahead touchdown in the waning seconds, helping Virginia Tech to a 2-1 record.
Frank Beamer's club has been outgained in the yardage and first down categories against Alabama (498-155 yards, 22-11 FD) and Nebraska (343-278 yards, 18-11 FD). On the flip side, the Canes put up 476 yards on FSU and 454 yards on Georgia Tech.
VI capper Joe Nelson says the underdog role is a favorable spot for the home team in this contest, "The Hokies have been home underdogs just three times in the last eight years and they are 3-0 in those situations." Nelson also points to UM's struggles in Blacksburg over the years, "Miami has scored more than 16 points just once in the last six meetings of this series and the last trip to Blacksburg was a 44-14 romp."
The Canes are listed as a 2 ½ point road favorite in several spots, while the number has slowly climbed to three at Bodog.com.
Ohio at Tennessee - 7:00 PM EST
As expected, the Volunteers lost at top-ranked Florida last week. However, the manner Lane Kiffin's team lost in was surprising, easily covering as 30-point underdogs in a 23-13 loss. The game-plan worked to perfection, keeping the ball on the ground and out of Tim Tebow's hands (as well as UT quarterback Jonathan Crompton's hands). The Gators did outgain the Vols, 323-210, but were held to just two touchdowns.
Ohio hasn't exactly taken on the best competition the first three weeks, battling a rebuilding UConn squad, then North Texas and Cal-Poly. The Bobcats have won the last two games, but have been burned on the ground against UConn (259 yards) and Cal-Poly (239 yards).
Nelson notes that Frank Solich has given big-name schools fits in the past. "Last season Ohio played very competitively on the road against two Big Ten teams, Ohio State and Northwestern, while Virginia Tech had trouble pulling away from the Bobcats in 2007. In '05, Ohio led an upset over Pittsburgh, and in '06 the Bobcats beat Illinois, so this is the type of game Solich lives for," Nelson says.
"This game has again been one of the big movers as the line has climbed from the early week numbers. In the last two weeks the line move on the Tennessee game has been dead wrong and it could be again this week as Ohio will be a tough team to blow out," Nelson concludes.
The Volunteers are listed as 22-point home 'chalk' in most places.
Washington at Stanford - 9:00 PM EST
The Huskies shocked the college football world by knocking off USC, 16-13, picking up their first conference win since beating Cal in November of 2007. Stanford, meanwhile, has won two of their first three games, including a conference victory over Washington State to open the season.
Washington played well in a loss to LSU to open up the season, before downing Idaho and USC. Steve Sarkisian spent eight seasons running Pete Carroll's offense in L.A., as the Huskies head coach had a good grip on what USC would run. However, UW allowed 250 rushing yards to a USC team that was without QB Matt Barkley. The Huskies may be in a look-ahead spot here too, heading to South Bend next week to battle Notre Dame.
Nelson says that a letdown after USC isn't always the case, "The teams that beat USC the past two years in similar situations (Stanford in 2007 and Oregon State in 2008) ended up losing, but covering as small underdogs the next game so the letdown logic may be overestimated."
Stanford beat Washington last season, 35-28 at Husky Stadium, as the Cardinal outgained the Huskies, 466-377. UW could not stop the Stanford ground attack, which compiled 244 yards rushing on 36 carries.
The Cardinal is listed as a seven-point favorites in most shops.
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