College Football Play of the Day for 10/8/11: Georgia Tech

Nobody has been able to stop Georgia Tech and their running game this season.  I don't expect Maryland to be able to handle it either.

GA Tech is giving Maryland 14.5 pts today, you should give it. 

TheTerrapins are 7-19 ATS in their last 26 games after allowing less than 20 points in their previous game.  They won't allow less than 20 against the Yellow Jackets.

Verdict:  Take GA Tech and give the 14.5

Bonus Pick:  We have an honorable mention bonus pick today.  Vandy +29 against Alabama.  Too many points, take Vandy.

College Football Play of the Day for 10/1/11

Texas A&M

Texas A&M at Arkansas, with the home team getting 2.5 points.

The way I look at it, it's only 2.5 points and A&M has looked like a much more potent team that Arkansas this season.  This will be a conference game as early as next year with the Aggies joining the SEC.

Now it's just a great matchup.

The Aggies are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games as a favorite and 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games overall.

Look for the Aggie's offense to pick apart the Arkansas D, first by the run, then by air and win by about 10 points.

Take A&M and give the points.

Can Houston Nutt Survive the Season at Ole Miss?

There were many questions about Houston Nutt's job status coming into the 2011 college football season.  Nobody was happy after a 4-8 season; that included fans, alums, players, and administration.

Nutt failed to help his job security Saturday in a 30-7 loss to Vanderbilt in the Southeastern Conference opener for both teams.

“I’m just real disappointed, very disappointed because I know we’re better than that,” a dejected Nutt said.

Scoreless midway through the second quarter, the Rebels allowed Vanderbilt to pull away with 21 points inside the final six minutes before halftime. The Commodores (3-0) now have won five of the last seven games in this series.

The Rebels looked far from sharp with five turnovers, six penalties and a bevy of missed tackles.

If there was just one aspect of the game the Rebels needed improvement in that would be one things.  The problem is Ole Miss isn't doing anything well.

The Rebels showed a lack of discipline with four false start penalties by three different offensive linemen. Center A.J. Hawkins also sailed a snap high over Mackey’s head early in the third quarter, leading to a safety when Jeff Scott kicked it through the end zone.

Nutt said he was most disappointed in the offense after a good week of practice. He even got senior running back Brandon Bolden back from a hairline fracture in his left ankle in the opening loss to BYU. Bolden ran eight times for 39 yards, though not nearly enough.

To Nutt's credit, he didn't sugar coat the situation.  “We could never get anything in synch, could never get anything going offensively,” Nutt said. “That’s what was frustrating. Just looked bad, looked really bad.”

It doesn't get any easier for the Rebels in the coming weeks.  The first four SEC opponents on the schedule are Georgia, Alabama, Arkanssas, and Auburn.  At 2-6, can Nutt keep his job?

Week 2 NFL Odds

Date & Time	Favorite	Spread	Underdog	Total	Money Odds
9/18 1:00 ET	At New Orleans	-6.5	Chicago	47	-$300 +$250
9/18 1:00 ET	At Detroit	-8.5	Kansas City	45	-$400 +$330
9/18 1:00 ET	At NY Jets	-9.5	Jacksonville	38.5	-$410 +$350
9/18 1:00 ET	At Buffalo	-3.5	Oakland	42.5	-$185 +$165
9/18 1:00 ET	At Washington	-4	Arizona	44	-$210 +$180
9/18 1:00 ET	Baltimore	-6	At Tennessee	37.5	-$270 +$230
9/18 1:00 ET	At Pittsburgh	-14.5	Seattle	40.5	-$850 +$675
9/18 1:00 ET	Green Bay	-9.5	At Carolina	46	-$500 +$400
9/18 1:00 ET	At Minnesota	-3	Tampa Bay	40.5	-$165 +$145
9/18 1:00 ET	Cleveland	-2.5	At Indianapolis	38	-$140 +$120
9/18 4:05 ET	Dallas	-3	At San Francisco	42.5	-$170 +$150
9/18 4:15 ET	Houston	-3	At Miami	47.5	-$150 +$130
9/18 4:15 ET	At New England	-7	San Diego	53.5	-$340 +$280
9/18 4:15 ET	At Denver	-4.5	Cincinnati	40	-$225 +$180
9/18 8:25 ET	Philadelphia	-2.5	At Atlanta	49	-$140 +$120

Monday Night Football Odds

9/19 8:35 ET	At NY Giants	-4.5	St. Louis	43.5	-$220 +$180

Highlights of the U.S. Open Women's Qualifying Draw

Galina Voskoboeva

While the men's draw is pretty appealing, the women's draw is a little thin this year, if you ask me.

The top seed is Galina Voskoboeva of Kazakhstan and she had a great run earlier this month at the Roger's Cup in Canada.  She is a player who is well coached and is top-30 potential in the near future.  

Marina Erakovic of New Zealand in the #2 seed and she also has had a pretty good summer.  American, Madison Brengle finds herself in a tough section of the draw.

Julia Cohen is playing pretty well, but she has a tough test with Romina Oprandi of Italy in round one.

Another American that is playing well is Alexa Glatch.  Glatch has been riddled with injuries throughout her career, but she appears healthy going into this week.  Glatch is seeded #27, but she stands a good chance of advancing.

I've been a believer in Californian, Krista Hardebeck for some time.  She has a tough draw.  She plays Chichi Scholl in round one and could then meet tour vet, Andrea Hlavackova in the second round.

Robin Anderson won this years, National Playoff and she actually didn't fare too poorly with her draw.  She takes on Naomi Broady of Britain.  

Further down the draw, how about a first round encounter between Maria Elena Camerin and Michaella Krajicek of The Netherlands.  Also in this portion of the draw you will find, Nicole Gibbs, Ashley Weinhold, and Laura Robson.  Robson better start qualifying for some tournaments soon.  

Pay close attention to 15-year old American, Taylor Townsend.  Townsend has drawn, and could upset Anantxa Parra Santonja.  

Further down the draw, I'm rooting for Aleksandra Wozniak of Canada, the #18 seed who is returning to the tour again from injury.

Who will survive qualifying?