Wednesday, September 17, 2014

BREAKING: Columbia Two-Deeps Released/Betting Lines as Well

Here are the headlines from the game notes release:

(take some of this with a grain of salt as all two-deeps, especially Columbia's, are not always 100% forthcoming). 

1) WR Connor Nelligan is not on the two-deep at all. I assume his is still banged up from his injury in the scrimmage last week. But I have a STRONG feeling he will play on Saturday. But in his possible absence, Cameron Dunn, Scooter Hollis, and Ryan Flannery get the start in a three-WR set. Isaiah Gross does not appear on the two-deep either.

2) LB Vinny Pugliese is also not on the two-deep. Injuries are the reason. So that's two key seniors not playing Saturday. Sophomore Giamarco Rea gets the start in what would be Pugliese's spot. Max Keefe gets the start at one LB position over Kal Prince, who was expected to win that job.

3) Freshman Bewley Wales gets the start at LG. Kendall Pace, who is a sophomore despite the mistake in the notes, is the starter at LT. Three of the backups on the O-line are freshmen.

4) Kevin McCarthy gets the start over Brock Kenyon at FS.

5) Freshman Chris Shroer, the RB I think is the most promising on our roster, cracks the two-deep backing up Cameron Molina. 

6) Niko Padilla's supporting cast in the Front Four is Toba Akinleye, JD Hurt and Roy Schwartz. But of course, D-line players are shuttled in and out frequently, so in addition to the starters you have to mention Eric StockWilliam Carson, freshman Lord Hyeamang, and freshman Dominic Perkovic.

7) Freshman Noah Zgrablich indeed gets the start at PK, sophomore Cameron Niziaklek starts at Punter.

8) Despite some great reports about freshman QB Anders Hill, junior Trevor McDonagh will back up Brett Nottingham.


IVY BETTING LINES

Fordham is slated as a 27 1/2 point favorite over Columbia.

Cornell is the only other Ivy underdog, by 4 1/2 points at Colgate.

Harvard is a 15 1/2 point favorite over Holy Cross at home Friday night.

Brown is a 16 1/2 point favorite over Georgetown in D.C.

Penn is a 12 1/2 point favorite over Jacksonville in Florida.

Yale and Lehigh are pick 'em at the Bowl.

Princeton is a 21 point favorite at San Diego.

And Dartmouth is an 18 1/2 point favorite at home against Central Connecticut State.

Here's what The Sports Network's Craig Haley has to say about the CU-Fordham game:

"No. 18 Fordham (2-1) at Columbia (0-0), 12:30 p.m. With struggling Ivy League member Columbia playing for the first time after going 0-10 last season, Fordham should score over 50 points for the third time this season. The nationally ranked Rams have won eight times in the 12 annual meetings since the two schools began playing for the Liberty Cup following 9/11."

You can read more from Haley here.


19 comments:

Big Dawg said...

Jake

I think you would be performing a service if you provided the average line weights as with the other teams.

Anonymous said...

I'm concerned about the D backs.
2 Juniors starting that have a total of 16 tackles between them.
Are we going from the frying pan into the fire?
A 5'8" corner is scary with so many 6'+
WRs and TEs.

Jake said...

I use 5Dimes

Anonymous said...

I see 5dimes is .eu. Funny how the world works now. All lines come out of Vegas. They don't publicize their lines (they toe the line with regulatory stuff in other states) yet the info gets out, all the way to Europe for bettors on U.S. football.

I miss the old days of seeing the lines in Newsday.

oldlion said...

Pete must really like the first year class with 11 on the two deep.

Roar Lion said...

Do we really have 14 freshmen on the two-deep? And Nelligan, Connors and Gross are all injured? Pugliese is out indefinitely? Our LBs weigh 217 and our DEs weigh 230? I hate to say but a smart bet would be Fordham -37. I sincerely hope I am wrong.

Jake said...

Well, Roar Lion you may be right... but this is all part of Pete's plan to make sure we start winning LAST. It would be terrible if we started winning before we accomplish everything else.

Geez, I sure hope we're closing to learning how to lose right. I guess Pete wants another 0-10 season just to be sure.

oldlion said...

The coaches know that they have to turn it around this year. So the only inference I can draw is that the many freshmen in the two deep are better right now than the guys they have supplanted . I can't see another explanation because for this staff the future has to be now.

Roar Lion said...

Old Lion, we are both pulling for the same thing but did Pete feel less urgency last year? Only now does he realize that his job is to win football games? I continue to be mystified by the weight of our players and by some of the personnel decisions. We have at least two veteran OLs who started and played many games two years ago who aren't on the two-deep. Did the OL depth improve that much? The WR situation is frightening, as Nelligan, Connors and Gross are all game-tested and yet evidently hurt or not good enough to play. I truly hope the answer is our underclassmen are really good. We will know on Saturday. Good luck Lions.

Roar Lion said...

I should add that Jake did an amazing job this week with the previews and all the blog posts. It is astonishing that CU does nothing to promote football or our players.

Anonymous said...

Dartmouth should go 1-0 as well after beating a very beatable Central Connecticut State team. Wish Columbia was playing them instead of Fordham. They would actually have a pretty good chance in that one.

Anonymous said...

It appears to me that we were better on paper at the start of last season than we are on the recent 2deep release. This is scary!

Unknown said...

Once again we have the tallest, lightest line in the league. Although Penn's line averages about the same (272) they average 1.8 inches shorter. I hope we have a few bad asses on our O-line. Tall, lanky o-linemen are typically make better underwear models than blockers.

DOC said...

Ooo La La Sasson ! Yes, Bob lets hope not !

alawicius said...

Most of you guys are real downers and way too hard on Pete. If we win you merciless antagonists don't deserve it!

Anonymous said...

Alawicius, if Columbia wins, I will send you a pint of Northern California's finest craft ale. In fact, if they have a lead in the 4th quarter i will honor that offer as well.

Anonymous said...

I was a 3/4 win guy until I saw the 2 Deep. Not so sure of any wins now,
Hope Jake was right about fake starters and backups. Nottingham will have to throw 4/5 TDs a game to cover weak D, if the lineup is correct.
Even 5 may not be enough.

alawicius said...

Thanks, Al's, but a lion win is worth a case (make it dark, please).

Seeunt said...

too hard on pete?? the jokes are awesome on this blog. where are the apples..oh wait they have been polished by Alawicius yet again.
Look even Pat is questioning his own judgement. you guys hope for wins, i hope for no major injuries. Things needed to prepare for the Fordham game
1. make sure buses show.
2. get Nottingham's blood type
3. Call local EMT's to make sure they are at the game.
4.Mapquest nearest hospital just in case.

yup, looks good