Click Away for Free Picks from the Nations Best   CFB Bounce Back Teams Big Al McMordie Aug 2004 Some football teams look very different from one season to the next. This is especially true in college ball, where 20 to 80 percent of the starters graduate and have to be replaced with brand new faces. Sometimes new coaching staffs come in and other times talented freshmen come aboard. In many situations, teams simply don’t get the breaks one season, and the next year everything falls into place. Let’s take a look at some college football teams that are off frustrating seasons in 2003, yet may turn things around, both straight up and against the spread. Texas A&M: You need a competent coach in football to play competitive and win. The Aggies got their strong coach a year ago by inking Dennis Franchione. He had terrific success at Texas Christian and got the most of his players in his short tenure at Alabama. There were high hopes last fall that he would be able to bring offensive balance and tough defense -- Franchione trademarks -- to Texas A&M football, but absolutely everything seemed to go wrong in Year One. The Aggies started 2-0, but ended up with a frustrating 4-8 season and were a miserable 1-11 ATS! Clearly, line makers had overvalued what was a stumbling team with little defense. Texas A&M was 0-5 SU and ATS on the road where they were outscored by a 52-16 average! Texas A&M allowed 77, 45 and 46 points in its final three games. But there is hope. They did have a very strong running attack, and averaged 3.4 yards per carry in 2002, and improved to 4.4 yards per carry in Franchione’s first season. With eight starters back on both sides of the ball, plus junior QB Reggie McNeal and a proven, winning coach, they could be considerably better, especially ATS. Louisville: The Cardinals didn’t have a bad season at 9-4. But they started 7-1 before they stumbled down the stretch in coach Bobby Petrino’s first season. Petrino has a marvelous offensive mind with a history of developing some explosive offenses. He did so in Year One at Louisville, as that club averaged over 200 yards rushing and passing per game. Louisville returns 8 starters on both sides of the ball and is absolutely loaded on offense with senior QB Stefan LeFors, RB Mike Bush and WR J.R. Russell. In the final three games last year, the offense scored 66, 43 and 28 points, and they outscored teams by an impressive 34-27 average on the road where they won 4 of 6 games. This bunch could improve on that 4-7 ATS mark and, for totals players, please note that they went 'over' the total in their last 5 games. Notre Dame: Ty Willingham has enjoyed a season as Irish coach where everything seemed to go right (2002) and one where everything seemed to go wrong (2003, 5-7 SU, 4-8 ATS). A one-dimensional offense, a tough schedule and a defense that wasn’t tough enough doomed them last fall. But this team didn’t quit and went 3-1 SU and ATS to end 2003. With eight starters back on offense and six on ‘D’, they might not be as bad at home (1-5 ATS) as they were last year. Arizona: The Wildcats are off a 2-10 SU and 5-7 ATS season. But the coaching staff was cleaned out, and new coach Mike Stoops has arrived. Stoops worked with his brother Bob to build Oklahoma into a power and ran the defense on its national title team in 2000. He brings a winning attitude, a wide-open offense and new defensive schemes to town. Arizona should do better than 0-5 SU, 1-4 ATS on the road, which they did last year. Central Michigan: MAC teams can offer betting value, as well as big name programs. Central went 3-9 SU, 3-7 ATS last season. But a new coaching staff takes over, led by Brian Kelly, who built a Division II power at Grand Valley State. Kelly has some tools to work with, as Central Michigan had a strong running game (195.8 rushing ypg) in 2003 and returns workhorse back, sophomore Jerry Seymour (1,117 yards, 5.4 ypc). It’s not clear how the new coaching staff will do, but on paper they appear primed to take a step forward. Good luck, as always...Al McMordie. You can get Big Al's Guaranteed Selections right here!! Remember, you MUST WIN or there is no charge Owned and operated by Alliance Sports Media  Any information furnished by this site is for information and entertainment only and is not to be used in violation of any federal, state, provincial or local laws - Privacy Policy Contact Servus - Picks2bet.com