The standard hangover theory – play against a team that registered an upset the week before, especially when that team is on the road the following week – worked like a charm last week.
Miami was the nation’s darling … for seven days. But the Hurricanes, dropped easily by Virginia Tech, 31-7, couldn’t muster the same energy they used to dispatch Georgia Tech the week before. Now, to be fair, Miami was favored to beat Georgia Tech, but the 33-17 victory was viewed by many as an upset, because the Yellow Jackets were ranked higher at the time. Either way, the hangover cashes in.
Let’s stay in the Sunshine State. Florida State played into the Miami Love Affair as well. Because they lost to supposedly resurgent Miami, and hammered BYU two weeks later, all of a sudden, the Seminoles were “back.” Until South Florida dropped them, 17-7, in Tallahassee.
Now, the hangover school of thought is just like any other: It only looks good, when it cashes in. And it may not this week, of course, because of the teams you have to lean on. But there are options out there, one way or the other:
SOUTH FLORIDA: Perhaps we should call this Six Degrees of Miami? Either way, the Bulls now have the spotlight, as people are calling them the next great team in Florida, and how great it is that they knocked off an ACC giant. They did so without their top quarterback – Matt Grothe – and so the team looks even more sound now. Take from that what you will, but Syracuse is the next stop for the Bulls, and it looks – spreadwise – that they’ll have to win by a touchdown if you dodge the hangover and bet the visiting Bulls.
VIRGINIA TECH: Another branch from the Miami tree, the Hokies just stomped the Hurricanes, and despite the rankings, that was an upset, because Miami was favored. Now the Hokies have to get up for Duke, in Durham. Not a bad trip, certainly, but you’ll have to cover 17 it looks like, to cash in. Food for thought.
OREGON: Nobody looked more impressive than the Ducks, who bottled up Cal, 42-3. Now, they have to ratchet up enough energy to dispose of Washington State. Like Virginia Tech – because you’d have to play a bad Duke team to cash in — tread lightly with this one, because the Cougars are terrible. That said, you’ll be getting a 32-point headstart. You may need every ounce of it, though, because Oregon can be a tough, tough place to play. Ask the Golden Bears.
Either way, be careful. The hangovers out there – because of Duke and Washington State – might be worth watching this week, instead of playing.
FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS
Pitt let one slip away last week at N.C. State, 38-31, but has an opportunity to recover. The Panthers (3-1) meet Louisville (1-3) in Kentucky on Friday night, and the preseason choice to win the conference is a 6.5-point favorite.
The Panthers showed they clearly have holes on the defensive end, but Louisville is not N.C. State. The Cardinals have yet to defeat a Division I team, and lost to Pitt, 41-7, last season.
ON CAMPUS
In tomorrow’s “On Campus” column in The Post, we highlight the marquee Pac-10 game of the week, Southern Cal at Cal, two teams eager to regain the national spotlight.
OFF THE GRID
In tomorrow’s “Off the Grid” in The Post, we break down these two under-the-radar contests:
1. Oregon State at Arizona State
2. Tulsa at Rice
“Off the Grid” went 3-0 last week, and is 8-4 on the season.
STEELE TOWN
As always, we take a good look at philsteele.com before our week’s action kicks off. Phil breaks down his Top 25 selections this week, right here:
http://www.philsteele.com/top25/2009/wk5_top25.html
tsullivan@nypost.com