The Michigan State Spartans and the Ohio State Buckeyes meet in one of the more attractive matchups in what is a very light and uninspiring week five college football schedule.
2012 NCAA College Football – Week Five Preview
In the realm of sport betting online, you're going to find games that always stand out in some way – not just for you, but among bookies in Vegas and other places where bets are taken. Various Topbettinglines.com reviews would have a lot to say about these games, even though the casual fan might not be enthralled with the quality of competition.
Such is the case for the first game in this weekend preview.
The Big Ten Conference has simply been awful through four weeks of play. Yet, betting experts will be very interested to see how Ohio State and Michigan State perform at 3:30 p.m. Eastern time this Saturday.
Michigan State will win this game because Ohio State is not as strong as the Spartans are on either side of the ball. It's true that Michigan State was blasted at the line of scrimmage by Notre Dame, but Ohio State has been less than fully convincing in the trenches this season. The Buckeyes were outplayed by a California team that is assuredly not as strong as Michigan State in terms of line play. Michigan State's defensive line should dominate Ohio State's inconsistent offensive front. On the other side of the ball, in the matchup that will probably decide the game, the Spartans know that Ohio State's front seven does not tackle well, especially the linebackers. If Le'Veon Bell can get a small hole on a running play, he should be able to make very good yardage with it.
One also has to realize that Ohio State has played four home games this season. This is the Buckeyes' first road game under new coach Urban Meyer. The chances are very reasonable that Ohio State will have to go through some hardships before it becomes a fully confident team away from home. The 2013 season might be set up for Ohio State to dominate the Big Ten, but in 2012, it looks as though it's Michigan State's year to win the conference.
Ohio State will put up a good fight, but Michigan State's offensive line will probably make just enough blocks to spring Le'Veon Bell for a pair of touchdowns. Michigan State won't score 30 points; it will probably settle for 24. That will be enough, however, since the Spartans will hold Ohio State to 17 points.
At 4 p.m. Eastern, California hosts Arizona State. Betting on the unpredictable Golden Bears is like online poker. With Cal, every week is an adventure into the unknown.
Arizona State and Cal have been two of the more underachieving programs in the Pac-10 (now the Pac-12) over the past few decades. Arizona State made the Rose Bowl for only the second time in the program's history in 1996, while California has not made the Rose Bowl since 1959.
Already this season, both programs have suffered stomach-punch losses in non-conference games. Arizona State trailed Missouri, 24-20, and had the ball on the Missouri 1 in the final minutes of regulation. However, a third-and-goal run was stuffed for a two-yard loss, and a fourth-and-goal pass from the 3 fell incomplete, denying Arizona State a touchdown and a lead. The Sun Devils forced a Missouri punt and got the ball back in the Tigers' third of the field, but they could not do anything on their ensuing possession and absorbed a four-point defeat.
Cal's agonizing loss came at Ohio State. The Golden Bears carried the run of play for most of the day but missed three field goals, the last one coming in a 28-28 tie with 4:25 left in regulation. What should have been a 37-28 win turned into a 35-28 defeat, the second loss of the season for coach Jeff Tedford's team.
In a battle between two underachievers, give the nod to the home team, which is Cal. This game should be close and unpredictable. Arizona State historically performs poorly on the road.
Finally, at noon eastern, Miami hosts North Carolina State. Both of these teams are trying to fight to the top of the Atlantic Coast Conference but have been very inconsistent so far this season. Expect Miami, playing at home and being confident after its road win at Georgia Tech, to beat North Carolina State in a close contest.
0 comments:
Post a Comment