CFB 9/21: A Very Live Big Dog And A Compelling Road Favorite

YTD 3-2 +0.8 units

all plays 1*

1* South Florida +17

Miami-FL has looked very good but the competition has been weak.  But South Florida has taken a huge step forward.   They played Alabama dead even for three quarters and pasted Southern Miss ( a team I like) in a letdown spot.  USF has almost everybody back from last year and ended last season on  a high note.  Miami has a good QB in Cam Ward but USF's Brown is a dual threat QB who leads his team in rushing.  Home game in Tampa for USF.  Maybe a little bit more important for an emerging team like USF than a simple non-conf game for Miami.  17 is a lot of points (maybe toss in a bit on ML)

1*  USC  -5

USC looks outstanding this year despite the loss of Caleb Williams.  The new QB is very good but more importantly the defense is vastly improved over last year's mess.  USC off the  bye, too.  Michigan hasn't gotten its act together yet after massive losses to the NFL, including Harbaugh.   First Big Ten game for USC.   Michigan wa pasted at home by Texas and USC may be almost as good as Texas.

Also,

Opinion Only:

Southern Miss +6

(so my plays are USF, USC and USM)

@Griswold1

 I like that USF narrative. I want to bet USC, but so is the rest of joe public. It's too obvious. There's gotta be a catch. 

Good luck Gris.  

@Griswold1

Nice write ups That USC game will be a great one but like they said above, everyone will be on USC.. I think this will be a great barometer of how great USC is for the rest of the year.

@Griswold1

 Just to play Devil's advocate, Brown is more a runner than a passer, in particular against a good Miami defense comparable to Bama's defense. Brown was only 15-35, 103 yds vs Bama but had 105 yds rushing. And Cam Ward isn't just a "good" QB, he's an outstanding QB. While it's a non conference game, alot of these players are familiar with each other from their HS days here in Florida. All that being said, 17 points is alot of points and I love what former Tennessee O.C. Alex Golesh has brought to USF in only his second year as HC, he was the right man for the job. This game is the talk of the town, well, behind the Bucs early season success anyway, and it will be a lively crowd at Ray Jay Saturday night, I'm contemplating going but I'll leave the betting to the rest of you. Good luck!

@Griswold1

 Bol this week

@Griswold1

 Any other U's you like?