Gators RB problem doesn’t trouble sharps
Andrew Folkes
No. 11 Florida coach Urban Meyer is taking his sweet time naming a starting running back for Saturday’s contest against Wyoming.
But sharp bettors aren`t worried. They figured the running back question mark had already been worked into Florida’s 23-point spread.
“We would have anticipated that Meyer was going to rotate his running backs a lot in this one anyway,” says Expert David Malinsky. “We are not sure there will be a single game all season in which [one particular running back] will get more than 15 carries. So for this particular game, it probably is not a huge disadvantage for them.”
Junior tailback DeShawn Wynn was projected to be the starter during the offseason, but his poor work ethic has seen him fall out of Meyer’s favor. There’s been much speculation in the Florida media that he’ll be held out of Saturday’s contest altogether.
“There are going to be some players who won`t play because they haven`t done what they`ve needed to do,” Meyer told the Miami Herald. “Is DeShawn one of those? I don`t know yet, I`ll have to make that decision on game day.”
If Meyer does sit Wynn, it’ll be left to junior Skyler Thornton, redshirt freshman Markus Manson and true freshman Kestahn Moore to share the carries. Having gained 163 yards in the final four games of 2004, Thornton has the most impressive resume of the lot.
But due to the nature of Meyer’s preferred spread offense, the Gators need little more than a warm body in the backfield.
“The way that Meyer runs his schemes, the quarterback carries a huge role, and the running back is reduced to a supporting level,” explains Malinsky.
“Many of the carries come out of misdirection, option, or even through trap blocking schemes, so there are plenty of X’s and O’s to spring the runner into the open field, instead of him having to use his own abilities.”
With the starting job apparently still up for grabs, you’ve also got to think that these rushers will have a little extra motivation when they take the field Saturday.
“Having everyone hungry can work this early in the season, and it is a particular issue with Wynn, who has never brought a good work ethic to the table,” says Malinsky. “The reserves simply try a little harder now, since they know that the door is wide open for them to earn a starting spot if they can show well.”
Oddsmakers have set the total at 58 ½.
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****** THESE ARE NOT MY PICKS***** I just found them on the net and they have some good info so I am posting them.
College Four-play: Week 1
Jon Campbell
OK, Jon. Breathe. Contain yourself.
For the past couple of weeks I’ve had to keep telling myself this over and over. For me, the first Saturday of the college football season is like Christmas, Thanksgiving, and finding my lost car keys all rolled into one. Hyperventilation is imminent if I don’t talk myself through it
There are junkies who get less edgy when waiting for their fix. Just ask any one of the college football players who were arrested for drug possession during the offseason.
If you think that’s insensitive, Four-play is probably not your bag. Proceed to your favorite generic sports website where feel-good stories of rebuilding programs and straight up winners try to shadow the only thing that really matters: offending people.
Actually, the only thing that really matters is the pointspread. But if I can offend some people and help you win your bets along the way, I can punch out at the end of the day knowing I’ve fulfilled my weekly duty to this column.
Last year I accomplished both objectives. I received a record number of huffy emails while managing to post a 31-25 record on the season. It’s a tough act to follow, but check Four-play out every Friday to see if I can pull out a repeat performance.
Your thoughts and emails are always welcome, even if you happen to be drunk when you write them. Now let’s get this season going.
Duke vs. East Carolina
Picture this: You’re doing such a craptacular job at work that your Dad, who happens to be your boss and about 100 years old, demotes your sorry butt to the mail room. That’s what happened to East Carolina incoming coach Skip Holtz when he was at South Carolina.
Before the start of last season, Papa Lou ripped the offensive coordinator’s clipboard from his son’s bumbling mitts and told him to go work with the quarterbacks. ECU was so impressed when the Cocks’ quarterbacks threw 15 interceptions to 13 touchdowns last year, they decided he was the perfect man to take over one of the most laughable programs in the nation.
I couldn’t agree more. If Duke can’t beat these losers, they might want to consider forfeiting their ACC schedule this season to save some humiliation.
My Pick: Duke –2 ½
Boise State vs. Georgia
I have two words for Georgia coach Mark Richt: Alcoholics Anonymous.
Richt might want to consider imposing regular meetings on his team after a hazy offseason that could fill a jail cell with the number of Georgia players who committed alcohol-related offenses. Two projected starters, LB Derrick White and DT Kedric Golston, were among those suspended for their boozehound efforts and White was later hurled off the team.
Not good considering the Bulldogs woofed good bye to their top defensive player, David Pollack, and top offensive threat, David Greene, at the close of last season. Now Georgia faces the team I would least like to play from a non-BCS conference in its season opener, Boise State.
My Pick: Boise State +7 ½
Texas A&M vs. Clemson
Last year A&M put a Texas whoopin’ on the Tigers Sept. 18 in a 27-6 win as a 1 ½-point favorite. But that was in College Station, where football games are the meaning of life.
This year’s game is in Death Valley.
"Clemson is probably one of the more louder stadiums that you will be in," Texans defensive end Travis Johnson told the Chronicle recently.
What the former Seminole Johnson says is true. But A&M is probably a more gooder team than the Tigers this season and they should be able to pull out a win here.
It’s why this line opened as a pick ‘em, but has since moved to as high as –3 at a couple of online sportsbooks. Take ‘em at –2 while you still have the chance.
My Pick: Texas A&M –2
Miami vs. Florida State
When Miami backers look at Florida State, they must see something that resembles an ATM machine. The Canes have won the last six meetings in this series and they covered the number five times during that span.
Last year Seminoles backers had what was shaping up to be a pretty good day at the Orange Bowl when FSU QB Chris Rix started throwing the ball away like it was going to blow up in his hands. Miami won in overtime and Florida State supporters contemplated suicide.
I could talk about the new starting quarterbacks on both sides of the ball for this year`s game, but anyone who knows this series knows it`s really about defense. And Miami just happens to have nine returning starters to a defense that looks like it could stop the tide from flowing in. That unit goes up against an FSU offense that is trying to bounce back from its worst performance in about 25 years.
Good luck.
My Pick: Miami -3
JT
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