Saturday, September 23, 2023 BYU vs. Kansas (NCAAF) 3:30 PM EDT BYU Premium Pick YouWager Play Title: Mike's CFB Saturday Big 12 Newcomer Play Play Selected: Point Spread: +9.5/-105 Rating: 8* WIN) These 2 teams have just a little film on each other from earlier in the month. In fact, the last 2 times they met was in the 1992 Aloha Bowl when Glen Mason's Jayhawks edged Lavell Edwards' Cougars 23-20. This season we'll see former USC/Pitt QB Kedon Slovis slingin' it for BYU. It's the school's 1st conference game since 2010 & initial Big 12'er (joined July 1st). HC Kalani Sitake (former FB @ BYU in the 90's) is into his 8th season (59-34 overall) & has 15 starters back on both sides of the ball. What I like about their situation is them being an away underdog. In this specific role, they've responded excellent with a current 12-4 ATS record & good for a 75% return to the window. Last week, these SAME Cougars were dogs' of 8 1/2 & playing @ a tough SEC venue like Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville. How did they respond? They were outgained by 100 yards on the ground but made key adjustments & pulled out the OUTRIGHT 38-31 upset to push their SU record to 3-0. This team is very resilient as they overcame 2 double-digit deficits (1 early & 1 late) to still come out on top. Yes, they play an equally talented 3-0 SU Kansas squad (17 starters back) under the direction of their upstart HC Lance Leipold (3rd season here, 11-17 overall). QB Jalon Daniels is back for a 4th season (a Redshirt Junior) with a career 28/12 TD/INT ratio. My bottom line says I don't like they way the Jayhawks went into Nevada (a team who ranks next to last in total defense (132nd) & got out-rushed 150-143 & barely survived 31-24. What I do like is the way BYU continually comes back in the dog role. They went to Boise State as an almost identical dog (+ 8 1/2) & came out with a 31-28 win. With Kansas having a big revenge game @ Texas next week (the Longhorns brought out a can of whoop ass on them 55-14 late last year), we're going to David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium in Lawrence to play the BYU COUGARS (buying to + 11 1/2 @ -160) as my 8 Star CFB Saturday Big 12 Newcomer Play! Maryland vs. Michigan State (NCAAF) 3:30 PM EDT Maryland Premium Pick YouWager Play Title: Mike's 2nd Leg CFB Play of The Afternoon Play Selected: Point Spread: -7/-115 Rating: 9* (WIN) There's simply a coaching mismatch here! We have Maryland's Mike Locksley against interim Michigan State HC Harlon Barnett. I'm also very high on the Terrapins' starting QB Taulia Tagovailoa (the most experienced QB in the Big 10) whose turned in a nifty 5/2 TD/INT ratio, 889 passing yards thus far. He also broke the school record for career passing yards (now over 8,700 yards) over Scott Milanovich who held it since 95'. Tagovailoa is in his 5th year after coming over from Alabama after his freshman season. When Mel Tucker still was roaming the sidelines, Tagovailoa put up 314 yards & a TD in a decisive 27-13 win over these Spartans (2-1 SU this season) last season. Maryland currently sits @ 3-0 SU & have out-scored their 3 non-conference opponents by a lopsided 118-40 count. My bottom line stresses that the MSU defense struggled versus a talented & mobile QB last week when they got warped 41-7 by Michael Penix & the Washington Huskies. Maryland can score in a hurry as witnessed by them running off 42 unanswered points versus Virginia (they were down 14-0) last week. Interesting enough, Maryland was also down to Charlotte 14-0 the previous week before winning by 18. I love the fact that Locksley added some key new coaches on offense that include. He started by adding OC Josh Gattis (who came over from Penn State & worked with Locksley @ Bama' in 18'). Adding to the mix is 30+ year vet Kevin Sumlin (who had coaching stints @ Houston, Texas A&M & Arizona). Sumlin was a LB @ Purdue & played with QB Jim Everett, WR Mel Gray, CB Cris Dishman & HOF CB Rod Woodson. These coaches will THRIVE as assistants! We're set & ready to go to Spartan Stadium in East Lansing to play 9 Stars on the 2nd Leg of my CFB Play of The Afternoon on the MARYLAND TERRAPINS (buying to - 2 1/2 @ -305) but also parlayed with BYU + 11 1/2 @ a sweet +118! Mike Handzelek's 2023-24 CFB Overall Record: 5-2 for 71% +150 units