Anyone who has watched -- and wagered on -- Southern Cal so far this season, has probably seen enough of the Trojans to last them a year.
It’s early, certainly, and they are indeed 2-0, make no mistake. But Lane Kiffin, in Year 1 of his head-coaching tenure at USC, has underwhelmed to say the least. Two games against two rebuilding programs — Hawaii and Virginia — and not a cover to be had anywhere.
“Trust me,” said Tony Sinisi, of Las Vegas Sports Consultants, “USC has been a huge, huge disappointment.”
But as bad as they’ve been — as lethargic, as boring, as un-Trojanlike as they’ve looked — one thing is for sure: They have not been Minnesota.
“The depth of my disappointment, right now, you can’t measure it.”
Those were the words on one Tim Brewster, coach of the embattled Golden Gophers. You know, the team that just lost at home, 41-38, to South Dakota of the FCS. The state of Minnesota, after that disgrace, is now abuzz with a Brewster Watch — it’s just a matter of when, not if, he gets fired — and all the while, there are still 10 games left in the season.
“We can't let this game,” Brewster said, “define us, define our season."
OK, well, if that loss doesn’t define the Gophers’ year, then perhaps this next one may. That’s because USC — despite its slow start, despite its share of problems, despite its youth — is coming to town Saturday with plenty of talent, and plenty of time to put it all together.
“What’s going on at Minnesota might just be horrific,” Sinisi said. “The statistics vs. South Dakota were uglier than the actual score. I believe the wheels are coming off and the coach seems well on his way out. Even with what’s going on at USC, we’re going to make Southern Cal 21-point favorites here.”
And with that, let’s take a look at some other marquee games this weekend, and some of the opening opinions coming from Las Vegas:
Cincinnati (+3) at N.C. State
“The jury is out on both teams,” Sinisi said. “It’s early, and there’s plenty of time for them to develop an identity. We’ll go on the home team with a field goal.”
Kansas (+4) at Southern Miss
“This Kansas situation just illustrates that in today’s college football, if you’re not ready, you’re going to get beat,” Sinisi said. “Kansas laid an egg in Week 1, and then came out was ready to play in Week 2. Georgia Tech wasn’t, so Kansas got them. But Southern Miss is quality, and they’re at home, and you don’t know what Kansas may have from one week to the next. Tough game.”
Cal (-3) at Nevada
“Nevada is a quality opponent, and will be a real test for this Cal team,” Sinisi said. “Cal has been a tease in recent years. They look good, they have good early wins, but then, they can never get over the hump. This will be one of those hump games.”
Maryland (+14) at West Virginia
“Maryland is 2-0, but Navy, in Week 1, really moved the ball well against them,” Sinisi said. “That bodes well for West Virginia.”
Georgia Tech (Off) at North Carolina
“We’re going to hold off,” Sinisi said. “We have to be certain who is, and who isn’t going to play for North Carolina. There’s probably a six-point swing on this game, depending on who plays, and who doesn’t.”
Arkansas (Pick) at Georgia
“I still think Georgia is a quality team. They certainly didn’t disgrace themselves at South Carolina,” Sinisi said. “But Arkansas, I believe, is loaded more than any other year. They could be the real deal.”
BYU (+8) at Florida State
“This is going to be a tough game because a lot of people really thought Florida State was going to be great this year,” said John Avello, of the Wynn Hotel Sportsbook. “The public liked Florida State at Oklahoma, and got burned. But still, for this one, they’re at home, and BYU hasn’t shown much.”
Air Force (+17) at Oklahoma
“Air Force looked good vs. BYU, but this is a different deal, because they’re on the road,” Sinisi said. “It’s not who you play, it’s when you play, in college football. More than anything, this is not a game where the talent is close, it’s just who has the better attitude.”
Nebraska (-6) at Washington
“This is tough, because Nebraska has had two soft games. They haven’t been tested,” Avello said. “And Washington is a decent team. They finally put it together against Syracuse, and they have talent. But Nebraska — because of who they are, and what’s expected of them — is the favorite.”
Arizona State (+15) at Wisconsin
“I’ve got a real feel for Wisconsin, they are top echelon Big Ten, and are showing it,” Sinisi said. “And Arizona State is a real question mark. They are going into one of the tougher places to play. And traveling from the west to the east is a tough deal for a young team.”
Florida (-14) at Tennessee
“Florida has issues this year,” Sinisi said. “They are not the same, and that’s understandable. Tennessee, though, is a team you can get healthy with ... quick. We’re going with 14, and might even go higher.”
Clemson (+6) at Auburn
“This shapes up to be a good one,” Avello said. “The school locations are pretty close, and there’s some history. Auburn, though, with the home field, is going to get the nod.”
Notre Dame (+3) at Michigan State
“Notre Dame fought back vs. Michigan, and I think they’re on the right track,” Avello said. “But Michigan State plays well against Notre Dame historically. At home, they have to be laying points here. But it’ll probably be a close one … right down to the wire, like the Notre Dame-Michigan game.”
Texas (-7.5) at Texas Tech
“Texas Tech is a little bit of a mystery, with no Mike Leach,” Sinisi said. “Texas hasn’t reloaded in devastating fashion, resultwise, so far. They are not murdering teams, let’s put it that way. But on reputation here, they’re going to lay more than a touchdown.”
Iowa (-2) at Arizona
“Arizona is still a question mark overall,” Sinisi said. “Iowa is a real quality Big Ten program, and with the travel considered, they’ll be the small favorites here.”
It’s early, certainly, and they are indeed 2-0, make no mistake. But Lane Kiffin, in Year 1 of his head-coaching tenure at USC, has underwhelmed to say the least. Two games against two rebuilding programs — Hawaii and Virginia — and not a cover to be had anywhere.
“Trust me,” said Tony Sinisi, of Las Vegas Sports Consultants, “USC has been a huge, huge disappointment.”
But as bad as they’ve been — as lethargic, as boring, as un-Trojanlike as they’ve looked — one thing is for sure: They have not been Minnesota.
“The depth of my disappointment, right now, you can’t measure it.”
Those were the words on one Tim Brewster, coach of the embattled Golden Gophers. You know, the team that just lost at home, 41-38, to South Dakota of the FCS. The state of Minnesota, after that disgrace, is now abuzz with a Brewster Watch — it’s just a matter of when, not if, he gets fired — and all the while, there are still 10 games left in the season.
“We can't let this game,” Brewster said, “define us, define our season."
OK, well, if that loss doesn’t define the Gophers’ year, then perhaps this next one may. That’s because USC — despite its slow start, despite its share of problems, despite its youth — is coming to town Saturday with plenty of talent, and plenty of time to put it all together.
“What’s going on at Minnesota might just be horrific,” Sinisi said. “The statistics vs. South Dakota were uglier than the actual score. I believe the wheels are coming off and the coach seems well on his way out. Even with what’s going on at USC, we’re going to make Southern Cal 21-point favorites here.”
And with that, let’s take a look at some other marquee games this weekend, and some of the opening opinions coming from Las Vegas:
Cincinnati (+3) at N.C. State
“The jury is out on both teams,” Sinisi said. “It’s early, and there’s plenty of time for them to develop an identity. We’ll go on the home team with a field goal.”
Kansas (+4) at Southern Miss
“This Kansas situation just illustrates that in today’s college football, if you’re not ready, you’re going to get beat,” Sinisi said. “Kansas laid an egg in Week 1, and then came out was ready to play in Week 2. Georgia Tech wasn’t, so Kansas got them. But Southern Miss is quality, and they’re at home, and you don’t know what Kansas may have from one week to the next. Tough game.”
Cal (-3) at Nevada
“Nevada is a quality opponent, and will be a real test for this Cal team,” Sinisi said. “Cal has been a tease in recent years. They look good, they have good early wins, but then, they can never get over the hump. This will be one of those hump games.”
Maryland (+14) at West Virginia
“Maryland is 2-0, but Navy, in Week 1, really moved the ball well against them,” Sinisi said. “That bodes well for West Virginia.”
Georgia Tech (Off) at North Carolina
“We’re going to hold off,” Sinisi said. “We have to be certain who is, and who isn’t going to play for North Carolina. There’s probably a six-point swing on this game, depending on who plays, and who doesn’t.”
Arkansas (Pick) at Georgia
“I still think Georgia is a quality team. They certainly didn’t disgrace themselves at South Carolina,” Sinisi said. “But Arkansas, I believe, is loaded more than any other year. They could be the real deal.”
BYU (+8) at Florida State
“This is going to be a tough game because a lot of people really thought Florida State was going to be great this year,” said John Avello, of the Wynn Hotel Sportsbook. “The public liked Florida State at Oklahoma, and got burned. But still, for this one, they’re at home, and BYU hasn’t shown much.”
Air Force (+17) at Oklahoma
“Air Force looked good vs. BYU, but this is a different deal, because they’re on the road,” Sinisi said. “It’s not who you play, it’s when you play, in college football. More than anything, this is not a game where the talent is close, it’s just who has the better attitude.”
Nebraska (-6) at Washington
“This is tough, because Nebraska has had two soft games. They haven’t been tested,” Avello said. “And Washington is a decent team. They finally put it together against Syracuse, and they have talent. But Nebraska — because of who they are, and what’s expected of them — is the favorite.”
Arizona State (+15) at Wisconsin
“I’ve got a real feel for Wisconsin, they are top echelon Big Ten, and are showing it,” Sinisi said. “And Arizona State is a real question mark. They are going into one of the tougher places to play. And traveling from the west to the east is a tough deal for a young team.”
Florida (-14) at Tennessee
“Florida has issues this year,” Sinisi said. “They are not the same, and that’s understandable. Tennessee, though, is a team you can get healthy with ... quick. We’re going with 14, and might even go higher.”
Clemson (+6) at Auburn
“This shapes up to be a good one,” Avello said. “The school locations are pretty close, and there’s some history. Auburn, though, with the home field, is going to get the nod.”
Notre Dame (+3) at Michigan State
“Notre Dame fought back vs. Michigan, and I think they’re on the right track,” Avello said. “But Michigan State plays well against Notre Dame historically. At home, they have to be laying points here. But it’ll probably be a close one … right down to the wire, like the Notre Dame-Michigan game.”
Texas (-7.5) at Texas Tech
“Texas Tech is a little bit of a mystery, with no Mike Leach,” Sinisi said. “Texas hasn’t reloaded in devastating fashion, resultwise, so far. They are not murdering teams, let’s put it that way. But on reputation here, they’re going to lay more than a touchdown.”
Iowa (-2) at Arizona
“Arizona is still a question mark overall,” Sinisi said. “Iowa is a real quality Big Ten program, and with the travel considered, they’ll be the small favorites here.”
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