My plays so far
USC OVER 45.5............................$200.00
TCU OVER 45.5.............................$200.00 same as below
BC UNDER 41.5.............................$500.00
NC UNDER 53.5.............................$600.00
$1000.00 #201 Navy (+3) over Wake Forest (11 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 20)
Navy has covered seven of its last 10 meetings against ACC teams. They have already beaten Wake Forest once and I think they are about to do it again. The Deacons simply can’t stop the power option running game that the Middies employ and they are going to get run over again.
$900.00 #205 Memphis (+11.5) over South Florida (4:30 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 20)
South Florida has next to no motivation to play in this game and I think it will show. The Bulls simply are not that good and they are still getting too much respect from the oddsmakers. South Florida beat just two teams by more than two touchdowns this year and actually lost four times outright as a favorite. I think Memphis can move the ball on the ground and I think that the CUSA rep gets the better of their former conference mate.
$800.00 #207 BYU (+3) over Arizona (8 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 20)
We’re going with experience in this one. This is BYU’s fourth straight trip to the Las Vegas Bowl and they have had a lot of success in the previous three. They match up very well with Arizona and I don’t think that Mike Stoops is going to have a sound game plan for this one. Arizona’s defense did not play well on the road and I don’t know if they are going to be able to stop the disciplined Broncos. Getting points is a bonus. BYU wins this one.
$200.00 ‘Over’ 45.5 TCU vs. Boise State (8 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 23)
Here we have two of the best defenses in the country – ranked No. 2 and No. 3 in scoring – and they combine to allow just 23 points per game. However, these teams are used to dominating inferior opponents and the bottom dwellers in their conferences. Boise State averages nearly 40 points per game, and I think that they can manage somewhere around 30. And I am not sold that the Broncos defense is as good as the numbers suggest. That means points for the Horned Frogs too. There is definitely the chance of this being a close game and overtime could come into play. But the ‘under’ has been the play in TCU’s games this year so the oddsmakers are going to overadjust. The ‘over’ is 5-1 when Boise plays a team with a winning record and I think that’s the case here.
$500.00 #213 Notre Dame (-1) over Hawaii (8 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 24)
The Irish have taken a lot of guff this season and I think they have all the motivation in the world to come out and make a statement in this game. They haven’t won a bowl game since the 90’s and there have been rumors about Charlie Weis’ job security. I know that Hawaii is playing at home, but they are not as good as the Warrior teams we’ve seen the last two years. The line on this game has gone from the Irish as a small dog to a small favorite and I think that’s a solid indicator here. Hawaii is just 1-5 ATS in its last six nonconference games and I
$1000.00 #216 Central Michigan (-7) over Florida Atlantic (8 p.m., Friday, Dec. 26)
This year has been a disappointing one for the Owls and I think it’s going to end with a blowout loss. Central Michigan is playing essentially a home game, and FAU will only have about 1500 fans at Ford Field for this game. The Chippewas have won back-to-back Motor City Bowls, including a win over Purdue last year in a game where 60,000 fans attended! Central Michigan plays on this field for the MAC Championship Game as well, and have won titles on this very field. Dan LeFevour is going to be the best player on the field and this is a tremendous edge playing virtually a home game. Florida Atlantic has lost four of its last six road games, and their two wins were by a combined four points. They have been unimpressive away from Florida and I don’t think that they are going to show up in this one. Central Michigan wins in a blowout to put another feather in the MAC’s cap.