Will the Traps be Sprung?
By Judd Hall
The one thing about college football that’s totally different than the pro game is how much more emotion factors into outcomes. Don’t get me wrong, talent is the most important portion of how a program will come out on top. Yet teams coming off of a big win have a tendency of laying an egg in either an outright loss or failing to cover the number.
Last year we saw it happen to the Trojans when they went Oregon State the week after pimpslapping Ohio State. And Southern California is nothing if not consistent by failing to win last Saturday on the road against the Huskies. Some will claim that USC lost because Matt Barkley wasn’t in the lineup. I don’t buy that one bit, but people need excuses.
What I will buy this week is there are a few teams that are primed for a trap spot.
Spartan Downfall…
I don’t think I was the only person that fully expected Michigan State to walk out of South Bend with a win over the Fighting Irish last weekend. The Spartans were marching down on a 10-play, 62 yard drive with thoughts of at least tying the score at 33 all. Yet Kirk Cousins got picked off with under a minute to play and preserve Notre Dame’s 33-30 win.
The Spartans head to Wisconsin as three-point road underdogs this week.
The Badgers haven’t exactly been world beaters this season. How could you call them as such when they have a pair of lackluster wins against Northern Illinois and Fresno State? Even a 44-14 triumph over Wofford doesn’t look as good as it could after the previous close calls in 2009.
What Wisconsin does have on its side is the fact that the Spartans are 1-4 straight up and 2-3 against the spread in their last five trips to Camp Randall Stadium.
Husky Hangover…
Hey, did you hear that the Huskies beat Southern Cal last weekend?!?
Yes, Washington has been ESPN’s darlings ever since pulling off the upset last Saturday afternoon. I can’t blame them when you consider this team has two wins this year after losing all 12 tilts under Ty Willingham in 2008.
The only bad side for Steve Sarkisian’s is an emotional let down this Saturday on the road against Stanford, who is listed as a seven-point home “chalk.”
The Cardinal had a real chance to be entering this game with a 3-0 record. Unfortunately, their offense went AWOL in the second half at Wake Forest. Still, this is a much better team than what we’ve seen from the school in Palo Alto in recent memory.
Something else to keep in mind for this game is that Jim Harbaugh’s squad has owned Stanford Stadium. The Cardinal are 5-1 SU and ATS since 2008. It’s going to be a tall order for Washington to come in and at least cover this weekend.
Fear the Quack Attack…
Last year, the Golden Bears flew in the day before their early afternoon tilt against Maryland and were destroyed. This season, Jeff Tedford decided to bring California to Minneapolis last Thursday to get used to the time zone. The move definitely helped Jahvid Best rack up a modern school-record five touchdowns in a 35-21 win over Minnesota.
That type of performance definitely gives the Bears a little clout, which turned into Las Vegas Sports Consultants listing them as seven-point road favorites against Oregon.
This game is a prickly one for Cal as they’re coming off of the quality road win the week before. But they also have a huge showdown with the Trojans in Berkley on Oct. 3.
After losing LeGarrette Blount for the season, all the Ducks have done is gain 410 total yards on the ground with six touchdowns. Plus, Oregon is coming off of a nice 31-24 win over the Utes.
Something else to consider is that the home team is 5-1 SU and 4-2 ATS in the last six head-to-head meetings.
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