One of my favorite places to see a college football game is at Fresno State. Bulldog Stadium is a real treat and I enjoy parking my car just a short walk away from the stadium on the lawn of a very friendly frat house. They always insist on doing a shot of tequila with their visitors. This frat house has all the residents put their sound system speakers facing outwards in the windows on game day. It's wild. The tailgating at a Fresno State game and the atmosphere is as enjoyable as you'll ever encounter. I watch this program closely and look forward to my next visit to Fresno.
Here's what I know about the 2009 Bulldogs. They took Wisconsin to two overtimes at Wisconsin. They looked decent against 10th ranked Boise State while out rushing and out gaining the Broncos. They held onto the ball for three quarters against Cincinnati and managed to lose that game. They want a win tonight and they want a convincing win.
I'm looking for Fresno's Ryan Mathews to run all over the field tonight. Matthews ranks second in the nation with an average of 148 yards per game and is registering close to seven yards per carry. Hawaii allowed 352 yards rushing last week in a 27-6 loss to Louisiana Tech and is ranked 102nd (out of 120 teams) nationally in run defense. The Warriors' usually potent pass offense was limp last week, too. Hawaii failed to produce a touchdown for the first time in 62 games. Meanwhile - things got worse. Hawaii will be without their star Quarterback Greg Alexander. Hawaii will be using their third string quarterback since their 2nd string fractured a finger. So, in comes Bryant Moniz a native Hawaiian and former quarterback at Fresno City College. Basically, a junior college RESERVE walk on quarterback. In 2007, Moniz was taking backup snaps behind heralded but troubled (think criminal) transfer Derek Shaw at Fresno City College. Then just weeks before the season opener, Shaw was suspended for walking out of practice, and Moniz was thrust into the starting role. Moniz left Fresno City after one year and moved back to the island, where he enrolled in a local community college but didn't play football last season. Yep - A junior college backup. Now, he's taking snaps for Hawaii. Fresno State will be going after him.
Hawaii won in overtime at Fresno last year in a very bitter contest and I'll expect Fresno State to return the favor. I'm betting on Fresno State to win and cover against a short-handed Hawaii squad.
Fresno State -10.5
over
Hawaii
................................
Editor Note: Sunday 5:20 am
Final Score
Fresno State 42
Hawaii 17
...and it wasn't even that close. Fresno State took a 42-3 lead into the fourth quarter before calling off the Bulldogs.
Sports Monitor's Executive Selections went 7-2 against the pointspread for the college week and Fresno State was the highest rated play I released to the members - a Four unit win.
I'm not sure how many other professional handicappers looked into the background of Hawaii's starting quarterback to the degree I did. Makes it look easy, doesn't it? Wish it was that easy every week.
You got it free here, just by looking in. How about that?
