Friday Night & Saturday Football

[smallmafia]

Here we go again, another season, and time to keep track of your picks.

Here's your Mafia picks for this weekend.

New Mexico +3 1/2
Navy -7
Mississippi -3 1/2
Washington -2 1/2
Pitt +1


Good Luck to all this weekend and let stat's speak for themselves

The DON-

[TG]

DonJuan-

Like your NMEX & NAVY picks already laid the wood w/ these.
I am on the other side of OLE MISS.

I like Memphis, they are going to be a solid team this year.
11-5 starters return from a 9-4 team, they have a couple of experienced players on offense both QB Wimprine and RB DeAngelo Williams. Williams is a stud 10 straight 100 yard games last yr., led nation in all-purpose yrds., and was named Con USA Off. player of the yr. QB Danny Wimprine has his entire 4 man receiver corps back from last yr (where he put up some pretty good #'s) over 3,000 yrds passing and 20+ TD's.
Defense lost a few starters but the TIGERS might not care!!!





"I am not The Fresh Prince, Carlton or Phillip Banks but I make enough cash deposits to fill up banks"

[smallmafia]

Washington States Playes to Watch


THIS WEEK'S GAME: Washington State at New Mexico, Sept. 3 -- Potentially a dangerous trip for a Cougar team that has won 10 games each of the past three seasons but is virtually starting over after losing all but six starters.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

QB Josh Swogger -- The sophomore gets his first start and while the coaches are raving about his leadership ability, he remains unproven for now, having thrown five interceptions and just one touchdown last season.

RB Chris Bruhn -- Cougar coaches may not want to depend on Swogger and a relatively inexperienced receiving corps, and may instead turn to Bruhn and a veteran offensive line to lead what could be a powerful running attack.

MLB Will Derting -- Derting played outside linebacker last year when he was able to benefit from a lot of cleared lanes created by a veteran defensive line. Now he's in the middle and also is dealing with a dislocated wrist.


Scouting Washington St.

SCOUTING THE OFFENSE
WSU will again run primarily a spread, one-back offense looking for big plays in its passing game. But the Cougars have tried to incorporate more running the past few years, and may do so even more this season until Swogger proves himself. That could mean a big year for senior RB Chris Bruhn, a bigger, more powerful back than WSU usually lines up. The Cougars have a veteran line led by left tackle Calvin Armstrong, who is generally regarded as one of the best at his position in the nation.

SCOUTING THE DEFENSE
Just two starters are back -- linebacker Will Derting and cornerback Karl Paymah -- so the Cougar defense is a bit of an unknown. Coach Bill Doba promises it will still be an aggressive unit like the one that last year led the nation with 48 takeaways. The key is the health of Derting, the one proven playmaker on the unit. Derting suffered a dislocated wrist in fall camp but plans to play with the aid of a special cast.




New Mexico's Players to Watch

Washington State at New Mexico, Sept. 3 -- The second meeting between the two schools. The Cougars won last year's hard-fought matchup in Pullman, 23-13.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

RB DonTrell Moore -- The first-team all-Mountain West Conference pick led the league in rushing as a sophomore with 1,450 yards on 276 attempts. He scored 19 rushing touchdowns.

QB Kole McKamey -- The athletic sophomore takes over for steady three-year starter Casey Kelly at quarterback. He's a very good runner who has even lined up at wide receiver for the Lobos in the past.


Scouting New Mexico

SCOUTING THE OFFENSE
There's no secret what the Lobos want to do here ... run the football. Rocky Long enjoys playing a smashmouth style of football, and he has the running backs to do it -- 2003 Mountain West Conference rushing leader DonTrell Moore and Oklahoma State transfer D.D. Cox. Long also has a fine offensive line, led by all-MWC picks Claude Terrell and Ryan Cook. New Mexico averaged 210.0 yards per game rushing last season and may be able to top that this year with athletic sophomore Kole McKamey taking over at quarterback.

SCOUTING THE DEFENSE
Long's 3-3-5 blitz-from-all-angles defense has been copied by many teams in the Mountain West Conference, which takes away some of its effect. Still, the Lobos led the MWC in rushing defense, allowing just 86.1 yards per game and 2.6 yards per carry while also rolling up 39 sacks. Cornerback Gabriel Fulbright might be the best cover man in the conference.


Hope this will help in makin your decision

The DON

[Rammajamma32]

Great analysis mafia. Make me feel better about being on the Lobos tonight. BOL!!!

[smallmafia]

NB Bro,

I'll do what I can on games I'm posting to hopefully make people feel a little better about their picks. But we all know that it comes down to the boyx playin. So GL

The DON

[Domer]

going against you tonight, but good luck tomorrow. :thumbs:

[smallmafia]

GL then my friend

The DON