THURSDAY FOOTBALL

Thursday night football is in full force tonight. We have 3 college games and 1 NFL game this is going to be off da hook! Due to the bonus games this week, we are going to give some bonus breakdowns!!! Who isn't excited for that? I know that Dave and I are! For the games we have the Raiders @ the Chargers, Ohio @ Central Michigan, Houston @ Tulane, and Virginia Tech @ Georgia Tech. Honestly we aren't going to break down the Ohio/Central Michigan game unless somebody sends a request for that. The other three games were on our initial picks, so we will give a breakdown of each.

Thoughts from Vince...

Raiders @ Chargers -7. The Chargers and Phillip Rivers are a tough team to figure out, but I think this is one game we can safely say they are going to win. Oakland comes in with nothing positive happening since the emotional win at Houston when Al Davis died. Since then they have lost one of the most dynamic backs in the league, Darren McFadden, signed and mortgaged the future for a washed up QB in Carson Palmer, signed a receiver who couldn't make an Arena League squad in TJ Houshmandzadeh, and lost to Tebow by 14 in Oakland? Palmer is doing well 3 TD's and 6 INT's, before long he will catch up with Rivers. The Chargers have won 13 out of their last 15 against the Raiders, and there is no reason to think they won't win this one. They get Matthews back, who I think is a great compliment to Tolbert, not the other way around. Rivers did better throwing to bums before so even without Floyd in the lineup he will be able to hit Jackson and dump it off to the backs, especially Tolbert. I look for Tolbert to have a rushing TD, a receiving TD, Rivers to have 2 TD's with the second going to Jackson, and Rivers only turning the ball over once on an INT because they get up early and rely on the two headed monster of a running game they potential have. That will help burn the clock and keep this game on the under as well. I am laying the points be it 7, 7.5, 8 taking San Diego and will also take the under of 48.
Raiders 13 Chargers 24

Houston @ Tulane +34.5. Has anybody watched Houston play this year? I know they aren't on normal times, and don't get a lot of probs, but this team is impressive, at least on the offensive side of the ball. They lead the Nation in scoring at almost 53 points a game, and they put up over 600 yards of offense a game which also leads the nation. They are finally getting a little respect from the BCS as well, moving up to 11th in the Country. They are 9-0 and will easily move to 10-0 tonight. Tulane only scores 23 points per game and they give up 36 to teams like Memphis and Southern Methodist. Speaking of how do you lose 45-24 to Southern Methodist and actually cover? Being a 26.5 point underdog to Southern Methodist says it all to me, how is this line only 35? I guess it is a home game for Tulane, and Houston could look past them? Case Keenum didn't do much last week with only 2 passing TD's and 2 rushing TD's, but they still covered and rolled UAB 56-13. I don't see anyway this isn't a blowout? Houston is 7-2-1 ATS this year, and have been hot lately, lay the points and take the team that wants to make a BCS argument.
Houston 63 Tulane 7

Virginia Tech @ Georgia Tech +1. What can we say about Frank Beamer? Frank Beamer is a good coach, and he has a problem getting through the season unbeaten. They have already had their one stinker this year, and lost to Clemson 23-3. Doesn't really add up to me? And of course people will argue that Georgia Tech beat Clemson so Georgia Tech should be VT blah blah. I don't buy that crap ever. Two stats make this game easy for me to pick, VT points allowed and rushing yards allowed. They rank 6th in both categories in the nation. In contrast to Clemson, who is 54th in points allowed and 96th against the run. The reason Clemson beat VT was because VT is 66th against the pass and just couldn't shut down the passing game. Georgia Tech can't pass, all they do is run, and that is right into the strength and teeth of VT's defense. I think both teams will be able to put up some points, but I see VT coming out on top in this one. Should be a great game and will probably come down to the end of the game but VT finds a way.
Virginia Tech 28 Georgia Tech 24

Thoughts From Dave....

Raiders @ Chargers (-7): The Raiders without a healthy Darren Mcfadden are like the Colts without manning. They struggle to find an identity. They say one player doesn't make a team, and I myself believe that, but I have come to question that after the Colts, who are usually a division leader, have yet to win a game since his departure with the high ankle injury. To be exact they have been out scored 66-24 in 2 games. And after the Chargers offense looked a little sharper last week vs Green Bay, I look for Phillip Rivers and company to steamroll a team without their go to back and a QB that is trying to remove the rust that comes with a 18 month layoff. Charger dominate at home 38-17.


Houston @ Tulane (34.5) I know some folks were let down after Keenum only accounted for 4 TD (2 thru the air & 2 on the ground), but this is what we have come to expect from the high octane no defense playing Cougars of Houston. Houston rolls, but Tulane is going to put some points on the board.
Houston 73 Tulane 24

Virginia Tech at Georgia Tech (1): I really like this game here, I like it b/c I think its a game that will show the voters that VT is the most over rated team in the Top 25. Ask yourself this, who have the beat?? You could potentially make a case for Miami (5-4), one game above .500. The only game in my mind they have played is the one where they got their ass handed to him and kept out of the endzone (23-3) against Clemson. Did you catch their last game where the edged out Duke, 14-10, hey Duke is a great win in basketball, but when your playing football, thats pathetic. Georgia Tech takes Beamer ball and shoves it right up where the sun don't shine!
GT 41 VT 24