Thanks to UTSA and Penn State, Dobs Nation crushed it week 1 with a 5-1 record. Week 2 brings some tasty match-ups, but enough pillow talk, let’s win some F’ing money.
Lock it the F&^k Up:
Temple -6.5 @ Akron:
This spread is at least a touchdown too low…at least. Akron is one of the bottom five teams in the nation, easy, and frankly it may be worse than UMass and Bowling Green. Yes, Temple got the bag beat out of them by Schiano last weekend, but I’d argue that the talent differential between Temple and Akron is wider than that of Temple and Rutgers.
I think this is a simple overreaction to week 1. Rutgers dropped 61 on Temple and Auburn dropped 60 on Akron. Yes, Auburn is almost certainly a better football team than Rutgers, but if you make bets based on the transitive property than you’re a dumb ass. The fact of the matter is Temple actually played RU pretty tough, the Zips made Bo Nix look like Joe Montana.
Bottom line, Temple is not a very good football team. It’s not a horrible team, it’s just not a good one. Akron isn’t a horrible team, it’s an unbelievably horrible football team. It’s basically a High School JV Field Hockey team playing in the MAC. Temple might win one game this season, but it will absolutely be this one. It’s going to be a fucking blood bath: Temple 34 Akron 14
We’ve Seen This Movie Before:
Iowa +4.5 @ Iowa State:
I don’t think it matters that this game is in Ames, it’s Iowa vs Iowa State, and until I see otherwise, the Hawkeyes own the state of Iowa. While I’ve heard that Iowa is a trendy dog, all I seem to see is the “experts” picking Iowa State.
Maybe this is the year the ISU finally exercises its demons and takes over football dominance in the state of Iowa. Maybe. What this line tells me is that it’s happening, and I’m not convinced that it is. I’m not convinced that Iowa State is the better football team, and I’m definitely not buying that the Hawkeyes lose this game by more than a FG.
My projection is for Iowa to win outright, but I have plenty of comfort in the 4.5 I’m getting: Iowa 27 Iowa State 24
Rutgers -1.5 @ Syracuse:
I love this weekend. We’re bringing back a couple of fun old rivalries, and while Rutgers @ Syracuse isn’t as redneck as UT @ Arkansas, that game won’t have nearly as many Italians as Rutgers and Cuse.
There’s a lot going on in this game:
1) Overreaction to Cuse beating a MAC team and Rutgers stomping Temple.
2) Schiano going back to the dome to face a team that he owns.
3) A Rutgers football game featuring a QB named Tommy DeVito from NJ, but who isn’t playing for Rutgers…fuck that guy.
Bottom line, Rutgers is better coached, and has significant advantages on special teams and defense. Rutgers will win this game by dominating Cuse at the point of attack. I don’t see Syracuse being able to consistently move the ball against Rutgers, and Tommy DeVito is going to have a LONG afternoon: Rutgers 27 Syracuse 13
Washington +6.5 @ Michigan:
Yes, Washington lost to Montana in week 1. I get it, I do. And yes, Dobs has UW over 9 win total and to win the conference. Those are going to be tough sledding if you can’t beat Montana, but I’m giving UW one more shot.
The bottom line is this was a 1.5 point line a week ago, and this line just moved too much based off one week. Especially given that UW was without its top 4 WRs. The Huskies still boast a potentially dominant defense, and I’m just not terribly high on Michigan this year. There’s a decent chance Washington wins this game, but even if they don’t, Michigan isn’t winning this game by more than a touchdown: Michigan 24 Washington 22
Liberty -4.5 @ Troy:
I’m usually on the side of Troy, but I just happen to be very high on this Liberty team. This is an explosive offense that Troy simply won’t be able to keep up with.
There’s no real numbers to go off of at this point in the season, but Troy just doesn’t keep this game all that close. Liberty is too good, too explosive; the talent differential is too high: Liberty 38 Troy 24
Good luck everyone. Follow @BigDobs82 on twitter for more.