Marc Lawrence Sports Handicapping News

WEEK FOUR FOOTBALL REVIEW...

LAST WEEK'S COLLEGE & NFL GAMES - INSIDE THE STATS...

13 teams won the game yet lose the total yardage last week. I call these ‘inside-out’ stat wins.  Those teams were: Akron (Kent State), Arizona State (Oregon State), Connecticut (Pittsburgh), Eastern Michigan (Howard), Florida Atlantic (North Texas), Illinois (Indiana),  Kentucky (Arkansas), Nebraska (Ball State), Northern Illinois (Idaho), Oklahoma State (Texas Tech), Syracuse (Louisville), and TCU (SMU).

The following teams have gained 200 or more rushing yards in every game to date: Arkansas, Kansas, Kent State, Navy, Oregon, Rutgers, Southern Cal, and West Virginia. The Razorbacks, and Mountaineers have rushed for more than 300 yards in all games.

The following teams have allowed 200 or more rushing yards in every game to date: Marshall, Nevada, NC State, Troy, and Western Michigan.

The following teams allowed less than 100 yards rushing in every game: Boston College, Florida, Kansas State, LSU, Oklahoma, and Oregon State.

The following teams have rushed for less than 100 yards in all four games: Army, Notre Dame and Syracuse.  The Fighting Irish are averaging 26 RYPG.

The STAT KINGS are LSU and Oklahoma.  Both teams have held every opponent to season-low yardage.

The STAT QUEEN is still Minnesota, who has allowed more than 500 yards in all four games this season.

On the NFL front, The STAT KINGS are Dallas, New England and Pittsburgh. All teams are 3-0 SU, ATS & ITS – with every stat win by the Pats by more than 200 yards.

The STAT QUEEN is Buffalo, who has been outgained by 197 or more yards in all three games.  They’ve allowed opponents’ season high yardage in all three contest.

Another team knocking on the STAT QUEEN door is the Chicago Bears.  They’ve gained season low yards (best defensive yardage effort by their opponents) in all the games.

My Late Phone Service took a dip last week, going 3-4 overall.  Most disappointing results were the St. Louis Rams (a 4* loser) and the New Orleans Saints on Monday night.  Michigan stepped up and delivered as a 4* winner (our College Football False Favorite Game of the Month).

Have a great week...

WEEK THREE FOOTBALL REVIEW...

LAST WEEK’S COLLEGE & NFL GAMES – INSIDE THE STATS...

In keeping a pulse on how college football teams fare statistically in head-to-head matchups, there we fourteen teams that managed to win the game yet lose the total yardage last week. I call these ‘inside-out’ stat wins.  Those teams were: Air Force (Tcu), Ball State (Navy), Clemson (Furman), Duke (Northwestern), Florida State (Colorado), Kentucky (Louisville), Mississippi State (Auburn), New Hampshire (Marshall), NC State (Wofford), New Mexico (Arizona), Penn State (Buffalo), Tulsa (Byu), Virginia (North Carolina), and Wake Forest (Army). 

Major surprises inside these numbers were: DUKE, losing the stats by 197 yards in a 6-point win over Northwestern; MISSISSIPPI STATE, lost the stats by 110 yards in a 19-14 upset win at Auburn; and TULSA, a 55-47 winner over BYU, yet a 99-yard stat loser in the game.

The following teams have gained 200 or more rushing yards in every game to date: Arkansas, California, Houston, Indiana, Kansas, Kent State, Navy, Oregon, Rutgers, Southern Cal, Texas A&M and West Virginia.  The Razorbacks, Ducks and Mountaineers have actually rushed for more than 300 yards in all games.

The following teams have allowed 200 or more rushing yards in every game to date: Marshall, Nevada, NC State, Toledo, Troy, Tulane and Western Michigan.

The following teams allowed les than 100 yards rushing in every game: Air Force, Boston College, Florida, Georgia Tech, Illinois, Kansas State, LSU, Oklahoma, Penn State and Oregon State.

The following teams have rushed for less than 100 yards in all three games: Army, Baylor, Hawaii, North Texas, Notre Dame and Syracuse.  The Fighting Irish have rushed for a combined total of MINUS 14 YARDS. That tells you all you need to know about Charlie's Angels this year.

The STAT KING is LSU, who has allowed less than 150 yards in each game to date.  The STAT QUEEN is MINNESOTA, who has allowed more than 500 yards in every game this season.

With only two games to report on the NFL front, the Bills have been outstatted by 197 and 286 yards to start the season, while the Patriots have won the stats by more than 200 yards in both of their first two games.  The Broncos are right on New England’s heels, having won the stats by 188 and 286 yards in their first two contests. The Steelers follow with stat wins of 114 and 197 yards.

The QUEER STAT OF THE WEEK belongs to SAN FRANCISCO.  The Niners have opened the season 2-0 despite the fact they have managed to muster just 194 and 186 yards of offense in each game.

If you like stats and info like this, then be sure to check out the first issue of the MIDWEEK ALERT Football Newlstter this Wednesday at www.PLAYBOOK.com.  It's the Racing Form of football newsletters!

My Late Phone Football Service has managed to stay ahead of the game through the first three weeks of the season. College Football has been great (7-3), but the NFL is off to a slow start (1-3).

Have a great week…

Week Two Football Review...

LAST WEEK’S COLLGE GAMES – INSIDE THE STATS...

Sixteen teams managed to win the game yet lose the total yardage.  I call these ‘inside-out’ stat wins.  Those teams were: Army (Rhode Island), Boston College (NC State), California (Colorado State), Central Michigan (Toledo), Cincinnati (Oregon State), Idaho (Cal Poly Slo), Nebraska (Wake Forest), Northern Illinois (Southern Illinois), Northern Iowa (Iowa State), Northwestern (Nevada), Ohio U (La Lafayette), Smu (North Texas), South Carolina (Georgia), Texas A&M - again (Fresno State), Ucla (Byu), Washington (Boise State), 

Biggest surprises inside these numbers was CINCINNATI beating Oregon State 34-3, yet being outgained 310-22, and SMU beating North Texas 45-31 yet being outyarded 613-434, and CENTRAL MICHIGAN topping Toledo 52-31 despite losing the stats 482-462.

CINCINNATI has benefited form opponent’s TO’s (6 and 7) in the first two games.  Other 'Sara Lee Turnover' teams are LOUISVILLE 0-8, and LSU 0-8, while TO’s have literally killed NORTHERN ILLINOIS out the gate , 8-1…

Week One Football Review...

Now that Week One of the 2007 college football season is in the books, and the dust has settled, here’s one handicapper’s take on how things shook out…

Biggest headline maker was Michigan’s stunning loss to Appalachian State – in the ‘Big House’, no less.  Upon closer inspection I would likely have been all over the Mountaineers, had their been a line on this game.  After all they were a two-time Division 1-AA champion looking for respect.  The Wolverines had home games against Oregon, Notre Dame and Penn State waiting on deck.  All the kind of stuff of which upsets occur… Twelve teams managed to win the game yet lose the total yardage.  I call these ‘inside-out’ stat wins.  Those teams were: Appalachian State (Michigan), Auburn (Kansas State), Central Florida (NC State), Colorado (Colorado State), Louisiana Tech (Central Arkansas), Miami Ohio (Ball State), Mississippi (Memphis), Missouri (Illinois), Oregon (Houston), Texas (Arkansas State), Texas A&M (Montana State) and UTEP (New Mexico)… You know your team is in trouble when they average less than two 1st downs per quarter in a game.  Such was the case for Virginia (5), San Jose State (7) and Florida International (7) last week.  For what it’s worth they lost by a collective score of 127-6…

You know it’s likely to be a tough season when you lose your starting quarterback and featured running back midway through the second quarter in your season opener.  That’s what happened to Utah, who saw transfer RB Matt Asiata break his leg with 4:46 remaining in the opening quarter.  Then with almost the exact same time remaining in the second quarter star QB Brian Johnson suffered a separated shoulder.  Asiata is out for the season; Johnson is gone for six weeks.  "We've got some problems to solve," said coach Kyle Whittingham. "No one's going to feel sorry for us."

Finally, hats off to East Carolina.  The Pirates went into an absolute ‘no-win’ situation when they visited Virginia Tech, yet nearly sprang the upset.  The game was dedicated to the memory of those who lost their lives in the campus killings earlier this year as everyone in Blacksburg was running on emotion.  To their credit, Skip Holtz’s group actually outplayed the Hokies before finally falling, 17-7 as 27-point dogs.  Keep an eye on this club. They are, indeed, a very talented team…

Back next week with more on the College and NFL side of things...