Tag: LSU Tigers (Page 2 of 13)

College Football Week 6, NFL Week 5 Free Picks

October 5, 2013 / Anthony Stalter

LSU vs. Mississippi State, 7:00PM ET
Zach Mettenberger joined the Heisman race with his stellar performance last Saturday versus Georgia. Unfortunately for him and the rest of the Tigers, the defense was downright brutal trying to defend Aaron Murray and the UGA offense. LSU has issues in its defensive backfield and it uncharacteristically didn’t generate any pressure with its front four last weekend. The Tigers are 0-3-1 against the spread in their last four conference games, while the Bulldogs are 5-1 against the number in their last six home games and 5-1 ATS in their last six home games versus a team with a winning road record. Take the value with the home dog.
FREE PICK: MISSISSIPPI STATE +7

Arizona State vs. Notre Dame, 7:30PM ET
While Stephon Tuitt and Louis Nix remain some of the best defenders in the country, Notre Dame’s defense hasn’t been nearly as impressive this season as it was a season ago. Meanwhile, junior quarterback Taylor Kelly has thrown for more than 300 yards in each of Arizona State’s first four games and junior transfer Jaelen Strong has racked up 433 receiving yards and two touchdowns. The Fighting Irish could have a difficult time keeping up on the fast track of Cowboys Stadium and their offense isn’t nearly consistent enough to keep pace. Brian Kelly’s squad is 0-5-1 against the spread in its last six games overall and 0-3-1 ATS in its last four games versus a team with a winning record. Lay the points with ASU.
FREE PICK: ARIZONA STATE -6

Lions vs. Packers, 1:00PM ET
The Lions are coming off a statement game against the Bears but they’ve always struggled in Green Bay. They’re 0-4 against the spread in their last four games versus the Packers and 4-11-1 ATS in their last 16 trips to Lambeau Field. Detroit has also had trouble over the years away from Ford Field, and is 1-4 against the number in its lat five road games. Green Bay should be well rested coming off the bye and is well aware that it can’t fall further behind in the NFC North. Expect Aaron Rodgers’ best effort and for the Pack to win in a rout.
FREE PICK: PACKERS -7

Saints vs. Bears, 1:00PM ET
The Saints are firing on all cylinders offensively, while Rob Ryan has made an immediate impact for their defense. Despite injuries, Ryan is getting the most out of his players and is generate consistent pressure on a weekly basis. That said, the Saints are coming off a short week of practice and had to leave a day early for Chicago because of inclement weather. Not only has their routine been affected, but they’re also taking on a Bears team that will be plenty pissed off after their ugly performance a week ago in Detroit. The Bears are 5-1 against the spread in their last six games after allowing more than 30 points in their previous game, while the home team is 4-0-2 ATS in the last six meetings between these two teams.
FREE PICK: BEARS PICK’EM

Keep tabs on the latest football lines at www.canadiansportsbooks.ca.

College Football, NFL

Let it go, Les Miles…

April 7, 2012 / Anthony Stalter

Remember Gunner Kiel? He’s the quarterback recruit from Indiana that spurned Les Miles and LSU for Notre Dame back in January. While speaking at an LSU national signing day banquet shortly after Kiel changed his mind, Miles publicly questioned whether Kiel even had the “chest” to lead the Tigers.

And now Miles is opening his mouth again.

From CBS Sports.com’s Dennis Dodd:

“I’m not bitter. I’m glad he stayed there. I really mean it. Here’s the truth: If you don’t have some swagger to you and you can step into this stadium and be able to know the advantage that you’re playing with the Tigers and you’re leading the program that has some real weight and clout, then you really need to stay home with your brothers.
“I don’t mean that [negatively]. I’m for him. He gets a chance to come in here and compete and start on a team that is a great team. I really meant what I said. I was talking more about the confidence and swagger. I was not demeaning. If he shows up, it means he has all those things …
“I mean it honestly, if it’s more about family for him, if it’s more being close to home … he would have never been successful as he needed to be. I mean it very respectfully …
“The guy we got now [Zach Mettenberger], he’s a confident son of a buck. He’s a throwin’, tough kid. If he continues to develop and learn and grow as a leader, no question.”

If you want to take Miles at his most literal word (and I know some will), go right ahead. But those comments reek of a man who is still bitter that a kid inevitably left him, the all mighty Les Miles, standing at the altar. When you have to say things like “I’m not bitter” and then go into a diatribe explaining yourself, guess what? You’re still bitter.

Recruits change their minds all the time. It’s just part of the business. After all, they’re kids, and they get swept up in the emotion and excitement of being recruited by big-time universities. Eventually their true feelings come to the surface and Kiel clearly wanted to stay close to his family in the end.

Miles should respect that but clearly he can’t. I’m not suggesting that Miles doesn’t believe what he says but it just looks like he’s trying too hard here. It’s like watching a guy get dumped by his girlfriend and then telling his friends that he’s better off because he never liked her much anyway. The whole thing is just sad for Miles.

College Football, External Sports

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Oklahoma State should get a shot at the BCS title

December 4, 2011 / Paul Costanzo

Oklahoma State proved Saturday night that it, not Alabama, should be playing for the BCS national title against LSU.

The Cowboys thoroughly dominated their rival Oklahoma, which just so happened to be a top 10 team. Offense, defense, you name it, OSU dominated it. The win was the kind of performance we needed to see from a team in the one-loss pack, as someone needed to distance themselves from the others.

Well, it should be that way, anyway. I’m doubtful it will, however.

It was decided when Oklahoma State lost to Iowa State that Alabama and LSU would be playing each other again in the BCS title game, and nothing was going to change the voters minds to change that. Not even this blowout victory. It was well before the Iowa State/OSU game, however, that folks decided Alabama and LSU were the two best teams in the country, and many said it wasn’t even close.

That very well may be true. LSU’s schedule, which includes a neutral site win against Oregon and a road win against West Virginia, helps prove that it is undoubtedly the top team in the country this year. The Tigers are also the country’s only unbeaten team, which helps make things easy.

But Alabama’s best win is an overtime loss to LSU. Seriously. The Tide beat Arkansas, and did so handily, which was also a big win. Outside of that, the Tide have two wins against teams with winning records (Auburn and Penn State). Oklahoma State, meanwhile, has six wins against teams with winning records. Sure the Iowa State loss was bad, but it also came on the road and the day after Oklahoma State lost two women’s basketball coaches in a plane crash. It’s awful to use that as an excuse, but it’s certainly something to think about.

Beyond that, however, there’s also the fact that the BCS’ goal is to crown a national champion. They say the goal is to find the top two teams, but in reality, it’s to find the top one, and we already know that’s not Alabama. The Tide had their chance to knock off LSU, and had it at home, but couldn’t do it. In a college football world where big-time nonconference games are a rarity, we’ll never know who the best team is if we allow divisional rematches in the BCS title game. Especially when there are deserving teams, capable of beating other top 10 teams by more than 30, sitting out there, waiting for their opportunity.

College Football, External Sports

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LSU survives in overtime, has inside track to national title game

November 5, 2011 / Paul Costanzo

Defense and kickers, that’s what might have just decided the national championship. LSU survived a 9-6 overtime slugfest tonight against Alabama in a matchup of the top two teams in the country.

It certainly wasn’t pretty, but that doesn’t mean it was bad football. Quite the contrary, actually. These are two defenses unlike many we’ve seen in college football, and that’s fun to watch. They’re big, they’re fast and they’re physical. And let’s remember, when these two teams aren’t playing each other, the offenses do just fine.

The key in this one wound up being Alabama’s ineptitude in overtime, as the Tide went backwards and were forced to try a 52-yard field goal, which missed, um, poorly. LSU merely had to run the ball and set up a field goal on its possession, and it did, kicking a 25-yard game winner from the center of the field.

But A.J. McCarron struggled all game long, and Nick Saban showed late the lack of confidence he had in his quarterback by not calling a timeout with a little less than 2 minutes left and LSU set to punt it away. A coach that’s confident in his quarterback and offense calls that timeout and gives them a chance to drive for a game-winning field goal. Saban sat on his timeout and played for overtime.

Now, unless there aren’t any unbeaten teams remaining, there’s no chance we get a rematch here, nor should we. While I feel these are the country’s two top teams, they’re certainly not unbeatable, not with those quarterbacks. If either team runs into a situation where its defense is struggling against a good team, it’s in a lot of trouble. Do you trust McCarron, Jarrett Lee or Jordan Jefferson to bring a team back at the end of a game? I don’t.

That said, would you bet on either defense failing? I wouldn’t.

College Football, External Sports, News

A.J. McCarron Alabama Crimson Tide Game of the Century Jarrett Lee Jordan Jefferson LSU Tigers Nick Saban SEC

Fade Material: College Football Week 10 Predictions

November 5, 2011 / Anthony Stalter

If you can figure out which two of my picks below will win and which two will lose, you’ll be in great shape for Week 10. Because .500 seems to be the number that suits me best these days.

Oklahoma State and Arizona State covered for me last Saturday, while Kansas State and Clemson did not. Everyone knew Clemson was going to fall at some point and leave it to ride the Tigers when they did. A-holes.

My 2-2 effort last week puts me at 21-13-2 ATS for the season. Again, chances are two of these four picks will be winners while two will be losers. Soooo, have fun with that.

Michigan @ Iowa, 12:00PM ET
I love me some Hawkeyes this week, even though they’re coming off an embarrassing loss to Minnesota last Saturday. Iowa has rarely been good as a heavy favorite under conservative coach Kirk Ferentz but as a home dog? Love ‘em. Michigan has only gone on the road twice this year, producing a 42-24 win over Northwestern and a 28-14 loss to Michigan State. The Wolverines aren’t road tested and the four points seems like a gift.
THE PICK: IOWA HAWKEYES +4

Texas A&M @ Oklahoma, 3:30PM ET
If you rode the Aggies when they blew up against Oklahoma State, Arkansas and Missouri, I feel for you. I haven’t picked for or against them all season, but I feel for you. That said, don’t be shy about taking A&M this Saturday. The Aggies have proven they can score on anyone and while they’re just 2-6 against the spread this season, that’s because they’ve been favored in every single game. I like them as a 14-point underdog, even on the road against an Oklahoma squad that got back on track last Saturday against Kansas State. Without leading rusher Dominique Whaley, I like A&M to keep things close this weekend in Norman. And hey, they’re not favored so you don’t have to worry about them choking away a lead. (As long as they stay within the 14, that is.)
THE PICK: TEXAS A&M +14

Arizona State @ UCLA, 7:30PM ET
At first glance I was all over the Sun Devils but the Bruins’ effort last week in a 31-14 beat down of Cal gave me pause, then inspired me to pick them this Saturday. When you get into November, college football becomes incredibly hard to predict. The lines are tighter, teams are trying to make one last push at a conference title or a bowl game, and it’s the squads that haven’t given up yet that are the most attractive. UCLA hasn’t given up and I think the Bruins will give ASU all it can handle this Saturday on their home turf.
THE PICK: UCLA BRUINS +8.5

LSU @ Alabama, 8:00PM ET
Honestly, I wouldn’t touch this game with your money. It could go either way and I’m not just talking about the side. The total seems ultra-low at 41 and too high at that same number considering both of these teams have excellent defenses. I just don’t know what to make of this battle royale. But this is arguably the biggest regular season game in the past decade so I couldn’t not give a prediction for it. While it’s awfully tempting to take the points with LSU, ‘Bama is on its home turf, has revenge on its mind after the Tigers beat them last season, and will have the best player on the field in Trent Richardson. Therefore, Roll Tide.
THE PICK: ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE –4.5

Last Week: 2-2
Season Record: 21-13-2

Check out College Football Point Spreads at Bullz-Eye.com.

College Football, External Sports

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Tag: LSU Tigers (Page 2 of 13)

College Football Week 6, NFL Week 5 Free Picks

Let it go, Les Miles…

Oklahoma State should get a shot at the BCS title

LSU survives in overtime, has inside track to national title game

Fade Material: College Football Week 10 Predictions

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