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THE GOLD SHEET NEWSLETTER
COLLEGE ANALYSIS
THURSDAY, AUGUST 29
♦♦♦♦♦♦♦ KEY RELEASES ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦
FRESNO STATE by 21 over Rutgers (Thursday, August 29)
*SOUTH CAROLINA 31 - North Carolina 26—USC’s Steve Spurrier haslofty goals (like a BCS title) in 2013. But in this border-war (only 2nd meetingsince 1991), prefer to “take” with probation-free UNC, which is 3-1 as a DD roaddog since 2008. Tar Heels’ warp-speed attack (school-record 40.6 ppg LY) isexpertly directed by dynamic 6-3 sr. QB Bryn Renner (3,356 YP, 28TDs, 7 ints.LY), who’ll execute an expanded package. UNC's rebuilt OL (2 starters back)must cope with the Gamecocks’ dominant DL, led by sack-crazed A-A DEJadeveon Clowney. But if Heel RB duo of bruising A.J. Blue (5.3 ypc LY) &speedy Romar Morris (5.6 ypc) can be supportive, Renner finds rhythm with 6-4 soph WR Quinshad Davis (61 catches LY) & 6-4 TE Eric Ebron (40 grabs, 7TDs). The ol’ ball coach loves his 2-QB system. But with no proven playmakersin the elite class of departed RB Marcus Lattimore, UNC’s reportedly improved4-2-5 defense—anchored by 6-6, 265-pound sr. DE Kareem Martin (15.5 TFLLY) & sr. FS Tre Boston (86 tackles, 4 ints. LY)—limits its big-play allowance.CABLE TV—ESPN(DNP...SR: North Carolina 34-17-4)
*MINNESOTA 27 - Unlv 19—President Obama was only a few months intohis first term (October 2009) the last time UNLV won a road game! And nowReb HC Bobby Hauck is under even more fire in Vegas after his lone supporter(AD Jim Livengood) resigned in June. But Rebs return almost all of their 2012starters, including catalysts QB Nick Sherry & RB Tim Cornett. A bit risky to layDDs with Jerrry Kill’s Minny bunch that scored 14 or fewer in 5 of QB PhilipNelson’s 7 starts LY. TV-BIG 10(12-Min. 30-UNLV 27 (OT)...M.22-18 M.46/209 U.37/159 M.17/30/1/269 U.16/35/3/116 M.1 U.0)(12-Minnesota -8' 30-27 (OT)...SR: Minnesota 1-0)
*Tulsa 26 - BOWLING GREEN 23—Respect veteran MAC rep BG, but favorTulsa side that owns high-quality offense and is 7-2 as a road dog L3Ys. GoldenHurricane QB Green threw for 2592 yds. LY, and is joined again by his top 3recs. and a pair of RBs who combined for 2044 YR. BG returns 10 members ofthe MAC’s best defense, but the Falcons have been foiled by higher-qualityattacks, yielding 27 ppg against bowl teams in ‘12. Tulsa has scored 34 ppg for3rd-year HC Bill Blankenship, going 11-3 with a bowl win LY.(10-TULSA -17 33-20...SR: Tulsa 3-0)
*UCF 45 - Akron 17—Akron might climb out of the MAC basement under2nd-year mentor Terry Bowden, who has transfer jr. QB Nick Hirschman (2starts at Colorado LY) available to run his spread if soph dual-threat Kyle Pohlfalters. But with UCF mentor George O’Leary claiming he has his mostexplosive “O” in 10 years in Orlando, Zips will be victimized (again), as theywere in 56-14 smashing in the Rubber City year ago. UCF’s dart-throwing jr. QBBlake Bortles (63%; 25 TDs, 7 ints. LY), RB Storm Johnson & classy WR corpsshould light up the yielding Akron “D” (35.7 ppg), which allowed a whopping 30TDP in 2012. The Zips No. 1 weapon, RB Jawon Chisholm (953 YR LY), will bestymied by the beefier, more physical Knight DL, bolstered by 303-pound sophDT Demetris Anderson (Western Michigan transfer).(12-Ucf 56-AKRON 14...A.19-18 U.46/206 A.27/69 A.31/54/1/256 U.14/19/1/180 U.0 A.3)(12-Ucf -24 56-14...SR: Akron 5-3)
*Utah St. 23 - UTAH 19—Hmmm. Kyle Whittingham’s answer to revive aflagging Utah “O” (ranked 105th LY) was to enlist Dennis Erickson as a new co-o.c. Which might have been a bold move years ago; in 2013, we’re not so sure.Meanwhile, MWC sources report a seamless transition at USU, where formero.c. Matt Wells was promoted to succeed Gary Andersen (to Wisconsin). Utagswere seven points from being a BCS Buster LY and return almost all key cogs,including electric QB Keeton.(12-UTAH ST. 27-Utah 20 (OT)...U.19-16 S.35/164 U.42/96 U.19/39/0/229 S.22/32/0/216 S.2 U.1)(12-USU +7 27-20 (OT)...SR: Utah 76-30-4)
*VANDERBILT 24 - Mississippi 21—“Resurrectionist” 2nd-year HC HughFreeze has Ole Miss back on the map in the SEC, and Vandy must deal with thedistraction of rape allegations (resulting in the suspension of 2nd-leading WRChris Boyd). Still, favor the confident Commodores, riding a seven-game winstreak and boasting its most talented OL & DL in decades under charismatic 3rd-year mentor James Franklin. Ole Miss’ athletic but error-prone QB Bo Wallace(22 TDs, SEC-high 17 ints. LY) must demonstrate wiser decision-making vs.the stingy Vandy “D” (18.7 ppg). With a nifty RB duo of Wesley Tate (8 TDs LY)& Brian Kimbrow (5.3 ypc) allowing sr. QB Austyn Carta-Samuels (14 of 25 in5 appearances LY; two-year starter at Wyo) to work play-action to 6-3 sr. WRJordan Matthews (94 grabs LY), the Commodores notch their 4th straight upsetvictory in series. Key kicking edge goes to ‘Dores’ Carey Spear (20 of 24 FGsLY). CABLE TV—ESPN(12-Vandy 27-MISS. 26...M.24-17 V.36/104 M.40/55 M.31/50/0/403 V.20/35/0/267 V.1 M.0)(12-Vandy +2' 27-26 11-VANDY +2' 30-7 10-Vandy +12 28-14...SR: Mississippi 47-38-2)
***FRESNO ST. 37 - Rutgers 16—Veteran FSU (15 starters back) is outto erase the bad taste of LY’s 43-10 blowout at the hands of SMU in the HawaiiBowl. Mission accomplished. In Year Two of Tim DeRuyter’s no-huddle, asBulldogs’ NFL-ready sr. QB Derek Carr (37 TDP, only 7 ints. LY; 63 career TDP)& his solid WRs (Davante Adams 102 grabs LY) prosper vs. RU’s re-structuredback 7, which lost LB Khaseem Greene & DBs Duron Harmon & Logan Ryan tothe NFL. With the Knights’ under-performing RB jr. Savon Huggins (3.4 ypc)attempting to fill the big cleats of 1,000-yd. rusher Javon Jamison (left early forNFL), QB Gary Nova (7 TDs, but 13 ints. over last 6 games)—who struggledmightily over the second half of LY—won’t relocate his groove vs. FSU’s highly-disruptive “D,” which amassed 40 sacks & 35 takeaways LY, including 22 picksby a ball-snatching secondary. Bulldogs a perfect 6-0 as home chalk LY!(DNP...SR: Fresno St. 1-0)
*Southern Cal 38 - HAWAII 10—These coaches served on Pete Carroll’sfirst staff at USC. Twelve years later, both are under fire, Lane Kiffin for theTrojans’ 1-5 stretch-run fade in 2012, and Norm Chow for both his 3-9 initialseason and for the dismissal of his offensive coordinator just before the start ofAugust practice (Chow will handle the job himself). USC led 35-0 at the H inLY’s game and will use both QBs Max Wittek & ascending Cody Kessler,seeking to jet-start WR Marqise Lee’s stat page. The Trojans’ new, aggressive5-2 hybrid defense could be a nightmare for Hawaii’s 6-5, 235 pocket-passingtransfer QB Taylor Graham (via Ohio State). Starting RBs for both teams(USC’s Redd, knee; Hawaii’s Iosefa, foot) both nursing injuries.(12-S. CAL 49-Hawaii 10...S.20-19 S.23/81 H.32/56 S.26/41/0/394 H.24/39/2/208 S.1 H.2)(12-USC -42 49-10 10-Usc -21 49-36...SR: Southern Cal 8-0)
COLLEGE ANALYSIS
THURSDAY, AUGUST 29
♦♦♦♦♦♦♦ KEY RELEASES ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦
FRESNO STATE by 21 over Rutgers (Thursday, August 29)
*SOUTH CAROLINA 31 - North Carolina 26—USC’s Steve Spurrier haslofty goals (like a BCS title) in 2013. But in this border-war (only 2nd meetingsince 1991), prefer to “take” with probation-free UNC, which is 3-1 as a DD roaddog since 2008. Tar Heels’ warp-speed attack (school-record 40.6 ppg LY) isexpertly directed by dynamic 6-3 sr. QB Bryn Renner (3,356 YP, 28TDs, 7 ints.LY), who’ll execute an expanded package. UNC's rebuilt OL (2 starters back)must cope with the Gamecocks’ dominant DL, led by sack-crazed A-A DEJadeveon Clowney. But if Heel RB duo of bruising A.J. Blue (5.3 ypc LY) &speedy Romar Morris (5.6 ypc) can be supportive, Renner finds rhythm with 6-4 soph WR Quinshad Davis (61 catches LY) & 6-4 TE Eric Ebron (40 grabs, 7TDs). The ol’ ball coach loves his 2-QB system. But with no proven playmakersin the elite class of departed RB Marcus Lattimore, UNC’s reportedly improved4-2-5 defense—anchored by 6-6, 265-pound sr. DE Kareem Martin (15.5 TFLLY) & sr. FS Tre Boston (86 tackles, 4 ints. LY)—limits its big-play allowance.CABLE TV—ESPN(DNP...SR: North Carolina 34-17-4)
*MINNESOTA 27 - Unlv 19—President Obama was only a few months intohis first term (October 2009) the last time UNLV won a road game! And nowReb HC Bobby Hauck is under even more fire in Vegas after his lone supporter(AD Jim Livengood) resigned in June. But Rebs return almost all of their 2012starters, including catalysts QB Nick Sherry & RB Tim Cornett. A bit risky to layDDs with Jerrry Kill’s Minny bunch that scored 14 or fewer in 5 of QB PhilipNelson’s 7 starts LY. TV-BIG 10(12-Min. 30-UNLV 27 (OT)...M.22-18 M.46/209 U.37/159 M.17/30/1/269 U.16/35/3/116 M.1 U.0)(12-Minnesota -8' 30-27 (OT)...SR: Minnesota 1-0)
*Tulsa 26 - BOWLING GREEN 23—Respect veteran MAC rep BG, but favorTulsa side that owns high-quality offense and is 7-2 as a road dog L3Ys. GoldenHurricane QB Green threw for 2592 yds. LY, and is joined again by his top 3recs. and a pair of RBs who combined for 2044 YR. BG returns 10 members ofthe MAC’s best defense, but the Falcons have been foiled by higher-qualityattacks, yielding 27 ppg against bowl teams in ‘12. Tulsa has scored 34 ppg for3rd-year HC Bill Blankenship, going 11-3 with a bowl win LY.(10-TULSA -17 33-20...SR: Tulsa 3-0)
*UCF 45 - Akron 17—Akron might climb out of the MAC basement under2nd-year mentor Terry Bowden, who has transfer jr. QB Nick Hirschman (2starts at Colorado LY) available to run his spread if soph dual-threat Kyle Pohlfalters. But with UCF mentor George O’Leary claiming he has his mostexplosive “O” in 10 years in Orlando, Zips will be victimized (again), as theywere in 56-14 smashing in the Rubber City year ago. UCF’s dart-throwing jr. QBBlake Bortles (63%; 25 TDs, 7 ints. LY), RB Storm Johnson & classy WR corpsshould light up the yielding Akron “D” (35.7 ppg), which allowed a whopping 30TDP in 2012. The Zips No. 1 weapon, RB Jawon Chisholm (953 YR LY), will bestymied by the beefier, more physical Knight DL, bolstered by 303-pound sophDT Demetris Anderson (Western Michigan transfer).(12-Ucf 56-AKRON 14...A.19-18 U.46/206 A.27/69 A.31/54/1/256 U.14/19/1/180 U.0 A.3)(12-Ucf -24 56-14...SR: Akron 5-3)
*Utah St. 23 - UTAH 19—Hmmm. Kyle Whittingham’s answer to revive aflagging Utah “O” (ranked 105th LY) was to enlist Dennis Erickson as a new co-o.c. Which might have been a bold move years ago; in 2013, we’re not so sure.Meanwhile, MWC sources report a seamless transition at USU, where formero.c. Matt Wells was promoted to succeed Gary Andersen (to Wisconsin). Utagswere seven points from being a BCS Buster LY and return almost all key cogs,including electric QB Keeton.(12-UTAH ST. 27-Utah 20 (OT)...U.19-16 S.35/164 U.42/96 U.19/39/0/229 S.22/32/0/216 S.2 U.1)(12-USU +7 27-20 (OT)...SR: Utah 76-30-4)
*VANDERBILT 24 - Mississippi 21—“Resurrectionist” 2nd-year HC HughFreeze has Ole Miss back on the map in the SEC, and Vandy must deal with thedistraction of rape allegations (resulting in the suspension of 2nd-leading WRChris Boyd). Still, favor the confident Commodores, riding a seven-game winstreak and boasting its most talented OL & DL in decades under charismatic 3rd-year mentor James Franklin. Ole Miss’ athletic but error-prone QB Bo Wallace(22 TDs, SEC-high 17 ints. LY) must demonstrate wiser decision-making vs.the stingy Vandy “D” (18.7 ppg). With a nifty RB duo of Wesley Tate (8 TDs LY)& Brian Kimbrow (5.3 ypc) allowing sr. QB Austyn Carta-Samuels (14 of 25 in5 appearances LY; two-year starter at Wyo) to work play-action to 6-3 sr. WRJordan Matthews (94 grabs LY), the Commodores notch their 4th straight upsetvictory in series. Key kicking edge goes to ‘Dores’ Carey Spear (20 of 24 FGsLY). CABLE TV—ESPN(12-Vandy 27-MISS. 26...M.24-17 V.36/104 M.40/55 M.31/50/0/403 V.20/35/0/267 V.1 M.0)(12-Vandy +2' 27-26 11-VANDY +2' 30-7 10-Vandy +12 28-14...SR: Mississippi 47-38-2)
***FRESNO ST. 37 - Rutgers 16—Veteran FSU (15 starters back) is outto erase the bad taste of LY’s 43-10 blowout at the hands of SMU in the HawaiiBowl. Mission accomplished. In Year Two of Tim DeRuyter’s no-huddle, asBulldogs’ NFL-ready sr. QB Derek Carr (37 TDP, only 7 ints. LY; 63 career TDP)& his solid WRs (Davante Adams 102 grabs LY) prosper vs. RU’s re-structuredback 7, which lost LB Khaseem Greene & DBs Duron Harmon & Logan Ryan tothe NFL. With the Knights’ under-performing RB jr. Savon Huggins (3.4 ypc)attempting to fill the big cleats of 1,000-yd. rusher Javon Jamison (left early forNFL), QB Gary Nova (7 TDs, but 13 ints. over last 6 games)—who struggledmightily over the second half of LY—won’t relocate his groove vs. FSU’s highly-disruptive “D,” which amassed 40 sacks & 35 takeaways LY, including 22 picksby a ball-snatching secondary. Bulldogs a perfect 6-0 as home chalk LY!(DNP...SR: Fresno St. 1-0)
*Southern Cal 38 - HAWAII 10—These coaches served on Pete Carroll’sfirst staff at USC. Twelve years later, both are under fire, Lane Kiffin for theTrojans’ 1-5 stretch-run fade in 2012, and Norm Chow for both his 3-9 initialseason and for the dismissal of his offensive coordinator just before the start ofAugust practice (Chow will handle the job himself). USC led 35-0 at the H inLY’s game and will use both QBs Max Wittek & ascending Cody Kessler,seeking to jet-start WR Marqise Lee’s stat page. The Trojans’ new, aggressive5-2 hybrid defense could be a nightmare for Hawaii’s 6-5, 235 pocket-passingtransfer QB Taylor Graham (via Ohio State). Starting RBs for both teams(USC’s Redd, knee; Hawaii’s Iosefa, foot) both nursing injuries.(12-S. CAL 49-Hawaii 10...S.20-19 S.23/81 H.32/56 S.26/41/0/394 H.24/39/2/208 S.1 H.2)(12-USC -42 49-10 10-Usc -21 49-36...SR: Southern Cal 8-0)
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