#16 TCU 1st To Go Down, Top 25 Saturday Matchups and Take Em To The Bank

Friday Wrap-Up

Baylor 50 #16 TCU 48

Mr. Diehard's Take: He is that good!
My Friday Night Take Em To The Bank starts 0-1 thanks to that kid!

QB Robert Griffin III lit up last year's #1 ranked defense going 21/27 for 359 yards and 5 big TDs in a shootout in Texas with the Bears racking up 564 total yards. RB Terrance Ganaway rushed for 120 yards and a TD and caught 6 passes for 126 yards and 2 TDs. WR Kendall Wright caught 12 balls for 189 yards and 2 TDs. Chancey Casey and Mike Hicks led the defense with 10 tackles each. 

TCU's QB Casey Pachall threw for 251 yards, 4 TDs and 1 Int. WR Logan Brock caught 2 TDs to lead the Horned Frogs Offense.  TCU is out of my Top 25!

#19 Michigan State 28 Youngstown State 6


SATURDAY TAKE EM TO THE BANK MATCHUP OF THE WEEK

#3 LSU (0-0) (+3.5) vs #4 Oregon (0-0)

Mr. Diehard's Take: This is a big one. A rare first week Top 5 matchup. Oregon comes to Jerryworld looking to atone for the loss against Auburn for the National Championship last season. LSU is ready to get on the field and take out their frustrations with being in the news for all the wrong reasons the last few weeks.

Its hard for me to go against an SEC team in a big game.
LSU +3.5 wins outright.  Take Em To The Bank!

Other Take Em To The Bank Picks


#6 Boise State (0-0) (-3.5) vs #18 Georgia (0-0)

Mr. Diehard's Take: A big game for both teams at the Georgia Dome. Quiet as its kept this could be the game that determines if Georgia coach Mark Reicht stays on or gets off the hot seat. I can't see Boise State whipping Georgia in their own backyard.
Georgia +3.5 in the upset. Take Em To The Bank!

#15 Notre Dame (0-0) (-10.5) vs USF (0-0)

Mr. Diehard's Take: Notre Dame looks to righten the ship after a subpar debut season for coach Chip Kelly. But USF coach Skip Holtz made a national name out of East Carolina by surprising ranked teams. Maybe not a win, but USF will go blow for blow with ND.

USF +10.5 covers. Take Em To The Bank!

#14 South Carolina (0-0) (-20.5) vs East Carolina (0-0)

Mr. Diehard's Take: Speaking of the ECU Pirates, they are on the same stage today that they were when they upset a Top 20 team in Virginia Tech at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte. Steve Spurrier is playing Quarterback musical chairs and the Pirates are a dangerous offense team and has a much improved defense. This game will be closer than what people think.


East Carolina +20.5 covers. Take Em To The Bank!

Southern Miss (0-0) (-13.5) vs. Louisiana Tech (0-0)

Mr. Diehard's Take: Southern Miss is a sleeper BCS Buster, Louisiana Tech is Louisiana Tech. I smell blowout!

Southern Miss (-13.5) covers easy. Take Em To The Bank!

Other CFOD Top 25 Teams in Action:

#1. Alabama vs. Kent State
#2 Oklahoma vs. Tulsa
#5 Florida State vs. Louisiana Monroe
#7 Stanford vs. San Jose State
#8 Oklahoma State vs. Louisiana Lafayette
#10 Nebraska vs. Chattanooga
#11 Arkansas vs. Missouri State
#12 Virginia Tech vs. Appalichian State
#17 Ohio State vs. Akron
#20 Missouri vs. Miami (OH)
#22 Florida vs. Florida Atlantic
#24 USC vs. Minnesota

Have A Great Saturday!!!

Week 1 Friday Night Matchups

Tonight we get to see last year's undefeated TCU Horned Frogs in action on the road at Baylor and Michigan State open up at home against Youngstown State.


Mr. Diehard's Friday Night Take Em To The Bank Special

#16 TCU (0-0) (-3.5) at Baylor (0-0)

ATS Trend Fact: TCU 3-0 ATS vs Baylor Last 3 Games

Mr. Diehard's Take: Tonight we see a rebuilding TCU with only 8 returning starters take on Baylor and their dangerous QB Robert Griffin. Alot of experts are calling for an upset, but need I remind you that Baylor is 0-3 vs TCU since 2006 including a 10-45 drilling at TCU last year.
TCU easily covers the 3.5 points, Take Em To The Bank!


Other CFOD Top 25 Action
#19 Michigan State (0-0) (-34.5) vs Youngstown State (0-0)

Thursday Night Wrap Up: Wisconsin Rolls But Doesn't Cover, Mr. Diehard 1-0

No surprises last night. Well, maybe Kentucky struggling against Western Kentucky, but outside of that all of the favorites handled their business.

#23 Mississippi State 59  Memphis 14

Mr. Diehard's Take: Color me 1-0 with my Thursday Take Em To The Bank pick with Mississippi State easily covering the 31 points by the 3rd quarter. Vick Ballard looked spectacular with 10 rushes for 166 yards and 3 TDs including a 66 yard TD run. QB Chris Relf was solid going 13/21 for 202 yards and 2 TDs and WR Jameon Lewis had 4 Rec for 113 yards and a TD. The offense put up a whopping 645 yards and the defense looked solid.  Next week at Auburn is going to be very interesting.

#13 Wisconsin 51 UNLV 17
Mr. Diehard's Take: Russell Wilson looked spectacular last night going 10/13 for 255 yards and 2 TDs plus 62 yards rushing and 1 TD, a 46 yard spectacular scamper. Montee Ball steamrolled the Rebels defense with 10 rushes, 64 yards and 3 TDs plus 67 yards receiving and a TD. Louis Nzegwu led the defense with 2 sacks. The Badgers get a tougher opponent next week at home against Oregon State, but this team looks scary!

# 25 Arizona State 48 UC Davis 14
Brock Osweiler threw for 262 yards and 2 TDs (both to WR Aaron Pflugrad). Vontaze Burfict Jr. led the defense with 3 sacks.

Other games of note:
Utah 27 Montana State 10
Syracuse 36 Wake Forest 29 OT
Kentucky 14 Western Kentucky 3

Week 1 Thursday Night Matchups

Finally toe meets leather tonight as College Football kicks off. The only grip I have is that there is not a decent game tonight, but after an offseason of scandals I will take just about anything.

Every Thursday yours truly will give you a "Take Em To The Bank" point spread pick and Saturdays you will get 7 picks. For entertainment purposes only unless you are some sort of degenerate gambler who has nothing better to do than to listen to some Joe Blow with a blog. Also, if a Division 1 school is going up agains a sister of the poor Division II school, I will not even lower myself to try to review it.   So let's get it on!!!

Mr. Diehard's Take 'Em To The Bank Thursday Night Special

#23 Mississippi State (0-0)  (-31) at Memphis (0-0)

ATS Trend Fact: Memphis 1-4 ATS last 5 at home

Mr. Diehard's Take: After trashing Memphis last year in Starksville, I don't see a reason why Mississippi State doesn't roll over one of the weakest teams in Division 1 football again.
Bulldogs roll!

Mr. Diehard's Pick: Mississippi State -31


Other CFOD Top 25 Games:

#13 Wisconsin (0-0) (-35.5)  vs. UNLV (0-0)

ATS Trend Fact: Wisconsin 1-4 ATS last 5 vs UNLV

Mr. Diehard's Take: This is the Thursday night game of the week? The debut of former NC State Star QB Russell Wilson is the only highlight in this yawner. I expect the Badgers to run all over these guys and the starters to be out of there by the start of the 4th Quarter.
Wisconsin whips UNLV!


#25 Arizona State (0-0) (-36)  vs UC Davis (0-0)

CFOD TOP 25 MATCHUPS FOR WEEK ONE

CFOD TOP 25 WEEK ONE MATCHUPS

1. ALABAMA (0-0) VS. KENT STATE (0-0) 9/3/2011 12:20PM


2. OKLAHOMA (0-0) VS. TULSA (0-0) 9/3/11 8:00PM


3. LSU (0-0) VS #4 OREGON (0-0) 9/3/11 8:00PM


4. OREGON (0-0) VS. #3 LSU (0-0) 9/3/11 8:00PM


5. FLORIDA STATE (0-0) VS. LOUISIANA-MONROE (0-0) 9/3/11 3:30PM


6. BOISE STATE (0-0) VS. #18 GEORGIA (0-0) 9/3/11 8:00PM


7. STANFORD (0-0) VS. SAN JOSE STATE (0-0) 9/3/11 5:00PM


8. OKLAHOMA STATE (0-0) VS. LOUISIANA-LAFAYETTE (0-0) 9/3/11 7:00PM


9. TEXAS A/M (0-0) VS. SMU (0-0) 9/4/11 7:30PM


10. NEBRASKA (0-0) VS. CHATTANOOGA (0-0) 9/3/11 3:30PM


11. ARKANSAS (0-0) VS. MISSOURI STATE (0-0) 9/3/11 7:00PM


12. VIRGINIA TECH (0-0) VS. APPALICHIAN STATE (0-0) 9/3/11 12:30PM


13. WISCONSIN (0-0) VS. UNLV (0-0) 9/1/11 8:00PM


14. SOUTH CAROLINA (0-0) VS. EAST CAROLINA (0-0) 9/3/11 7:00PM


15. NOTRE DAME (0-0) VS. USF (0-0) 9/3/11 3:30PM


16. TCU (0-0) VS. BAYLOR (0-0) 9/2/11 8:00PM


17. OHIO STATE (0-0) VS. AKRON (0-0) 9/3/11 12:00PM


18. GEORGIA (0-0) VS. #6 BOISE STATE (0-0) 9/3/11 8:00PM


19. MICHIGAN STATE (0-0) VS. YOUNGSTOWN STATE (0-0) 9/3/11 8:00PM


20. MISSOURI (0-0) VS. MIAMI (OH) (0-0) 9/3/11 12:00PM


21. WEST VIRGINIA (0-0) VS. MARSHALL (0-0) 9/4/11 3:30PM


22. FLORIDA (0-0) VS. FLORIDA-ATLANTIC (0-0) 9/4/11 7:00PM


23. MISSISSIPPI STATE (0-0) AT MEMPHIS (0-0) 9/1/11 8:00PM


24. USC (0-0) VS. MINNESOTA (0-0) 9/3/11 3:30PM


25. ARIZONA STATE (0-0) VS. UC DAVIS (0-0) 9/1/11 10:00PM


Mr. Diehard's  Take: 2 key matchups this week. LSU/Oregon in Dallas is the premier matchup with BCS Title ramifications. Boise State/Georgia is the #2 matchup with Boise State trying to prove that they can take on a top SEC team and Georgia seeking a win over a Top 10 team. Notre Dame/USF is an interesting matchup. My Take Em To The Bank Picks coming later this week.

CFOD PRESEASON TOP 25

HERE IS THE OFFICIAL CFOD PRESEASON TOP 25

1. ALABAMA

2. OKLAHOMA

3. LSU

4. OREGON

5. FLORIDA STATE

6. BOISE STATE

7. STANFORD

8. OKLAHOMA STATE

9. TEXAS A/M

10. NEBRASKA

11. ARKANSAS

12. VIRGINIA TECH

13. WISCONSIN

14. SOUTH CAROLINA

15. NOTRE DAME

16. TCU

17. OHIO STATE

18. GEORGIA

19. MICHIGAN STATE

20. MISSOURI

21. WEST VIRGINIA

22. FLORIDA

23. MISSISSIPPI STATE

24. USC

25. ARIZONA STATE