Temple screwed me... Ouch... Lost a lot on them. Who would have thought they would have their worst performance as a collective unit in a bowl game....made ely from Toledo look like Aaron Rogers lol. Dude made some big throws but every damn WR was open with 2-3 yards of separation. Oh well on to the next one
Missed the end of the Toledo game. Shouldn't have been that close… glad I didn't watch. Overall: 9-2 + 23.6 units
Can't seem to find anything for today, but I'll make a fun bet on:
Bowling Green -7
Ga. Southern another Sun Belt team, that has a pretty poor passing game. BG will have the time to prep for playing their triple option, while I'm not sure GS can really prepare for the BG offense. I don't like the way GS has played vs. better competition, and ended the season with a loss to Ga. State at home, where the coach pulled the starters in the 2nd half. Both teams lost their head coaches, but Willie Fritz's departure seems more abrupt. BG assistants all stayed for the bowl game, many seniors, and I think they go out on a positive note. A bowl game in Mobile doesn't seem too exciting for either team. Might make this a 1* later, although I don't like the RLM here.
Can't seem to find anything for today, but I'll make a fun bet on:
Bowling Green -7
Ga. Southern another Sun Belt team, that has a pretty poor passing game. BG will have the time to prep for playing their triple option, while I'm not sure GS can really prepare for the BG offense. I don't like the way GS has played vs. better competition, and ended the season with a loss to Ga. State at home, where the coach pulled the starters in the 2nd half. Both teams lost their head coaches, but Willie Fritz's departure seems more abrupt. BG assistants all stayed for the bowl game, many seniors, and I think they go out on a positive note. A bowl game in Mobile doesn't seem too exciting for either team. Might make this a 1* later, although I don't like the RLM here.
Tonight's game should be called the Mobile Misery Bowl. Bad weather, coaches left, both teams getting underwhelming bowl invitations, and probably less that 15,000 fans. Being in Mobile for the holidays is bad enough….
7* Marshall -5 One of the angles I like here is the different perspective the 2 head coaches are taking on this bowl game. UConn's HC, Bob Diaco, wants his players to savor the whole experience, enjoy being in a bowl(finally), and have a good time. I think UConn fits into that category of "just happy to be here". Marshall's HC, Doc Holliday, has a lot of players from Florida(he's been a great recruiter there), and he is fine about them reuniting with families. But he doesn't schedule many extracurricular activities, and lets his guys know that THIS is about winning a football game. Holliday has been very successful prepping his players for bowl games, and they usually exceed the expectations. Personally, I like Holliday for his demeanor and the fact that he has been offered chances to coach at higher profile schools, but stays loyal to Marshall.
Fairly inept offenses normally lose bowl games, and sometimes big. UConn fits that description to a T. Their QB, Shireffs, is okay, although when I've seen him, he's usually running for his life due to his poor OL. He has some mobility, or is it a survival running style? But UConn's offense is not there to score as much as to play it safe, don't turn the ball over, and let the defense win the game. Diaco, last year, basically called his team a dumpster fire- speaking in a way that you NEVER hear coaches demean a team. This year he only undermines the offense in the press(and practices, I'm sure). Diaco is a long time DC, and a good one, but I wonder if he compares his 2 units more than unites them as a team. Now Marshall is an average running team, but UConn is worse(3.4 ypc). It seems that the OL doesn't run or pass block all that well. This play says that a poor running AND passing and team will generally fail in a bowl game. Shireffs has thrown just one pass since November 7. And they upset Houston at home, with Greg Ward out for 90% of the game.
Marshall has a freshman QB, or this would be a 9*. Chase Litton has the poise and stats and wins that make me believe. 22 TDs, 7 int, and only 15 sacks in 10 starts. He also has an experienced and talented receiving corps. Marshall will not play conservative here, and will make the tough UConn D work hard to contain them. Marshall is the more athletic team, the more bowl-hardened team, and the better coached team. Diaco has revitalized a very bad UConn team, but I just don't think they are THAT much better to win this bowl game.
7* Marshall -5 One of the angles I like here is the different perspective the 2 head coaches are taking on this bowl game. UConn's HC, Bob Diaco, wants his players to savor the whole experience, enjoy being in a bowl(finally), and have a good time. I think UConn fits into that category of "just happy to be here". Marshall's HC, Doc Holliday, has a lot of players from Florida(he's been a great recruiter there), and he is fine about them reuniting with families. But he doesn't schedule many extracurricular activities, and lets his guys know that THIS is about winning a football game. Holliday has been very successful prepping his players for bowl games, and they usually exceed the expectations. Personally, I like Holliday for his demeanor and the fact that he has been offered chances to coach at higher profile schools, but stays loyal to Marshall.
Fairly inept offenses normally lose bowl games, and sometimes big. UConn fits that description to a T. Their QB, Shireffs, is okay, although when I've seen him, he's usually running for his life due to his poor OL. He has some mobility, or is it a survival running style? But UConn's offense is not there to score as much as to play it safe, don't turn the ball over, and let the defense win the game. Diaco, last year, basically called his team a dumpster fire- speaking in a way that you NEVER hear coaches demean a team. This year he only undermines the offense in the press(and practices, I'm sure). Diaco is a long time DC, and a good one, but I wonder if he compares his 2 units more than unites them as a team. Now Marshall is an average running team, but UConn is worse(3.4 ypc). It seems that the OL doesn't run or pass block all that well. This play says that a poor running AND passing and team will generally fail in a bowl game. Shireffs has thrown just one pass since November 7. And they upset Houston at home, with Greg Ward out for 90% of the game.
Marshall has a freshman QB, or this would be a 9*. Chase Litton has the poise and stats and wins that make me believe. 22 TDs, 7 int, and only 15 sacks in 10 starts. He also has an experienced and talented receiving corps. Marshall will not play conservative here, and will make the tough UConn D work hard to contain them. Marshall is the more athletic team, the more bowl-hardened team, and the better coached team. Diaco has revitalized a very bad UConn team, but I just don't think they are THAT much better to win this bowl game.
4* Washington -8.5 This seems like a lot of points for a team (UW) that isn't known for its offense, and struggled at times to score. But there's more to this game than just a 6-6 record and below average PAC 12 offensive stats.
* UW has the best defense in an offense crazy conference. They have had to face every kind of offense you can think of except the triple-option attacks of the military academies or Ga. Southern. They only got really whupped by Stanford, a game where Kevin Hogan played lights out(and McCaffrey of course).
* They are a young team that progressed during the year, and will benefit from the extra practices prepping for a bowl game. They are capable of a big win, and since these bowl games are like a one game season, I can see that happening here. Beat USC on the road, killed WSU(minus Falk), crushed Arizona, and would have beaten Oregon but Vernon Davis was just amazing that day beating UW by 6.
* RB Myles Gaskin is ranked #5 as best freshman in the nation, and QB Browning #7. Gaskin exploded after becoming the starter, and I think he'll be the key to UW's victory here. Also, watch out for RS freshman Chico McClatcher, who might be the best playmaker on the offense, but didn't get playing time until the 2nd half of the year. Coach Petersen isn't afraid to allow his very talented freshman play significant time. Same way he did it at Boise.
* Coach Chris Petersen is turning this team around in confidence, discipline, and in their ability to win. Took 2 years after the Sark mess. On the subject of Petersen, he's another reason to like UW here. He has admitted that his team wasn't ready to play OK. ST last year in the bowl game, and they got down 24-0 in the 1st half. They lost by 8, but I think it was a good lesson, and we'll see a motivated, prepared Husky team early on in Dallas.
* SMiss will have a difficult time in the passing game. UW's pass defense has played very well considering the pass happy offenses they've faced. Now SMiss can run the ball too, so this won't be an easy mark, but UW's DL stymied some good runners this year(Royce Freeman, McCaffrey below his average, Devontae Booker at 4.4 ypc.
* Jake Browning has made great strides this year, and his biggest problem was holding the ball too long(29 sacks) and the occasional int. Once his running game got going, and it appeared that his OL could run block, he showed a lot of promise. Granted, this is only a 4* for me because a freshman QB and a freshman RB could have issues- but in my following of the UW program, I love the competitiveness and poise of both of these players.
* SMiss has had a very good season, but like UConn, they are coming out of an utter mess. They have played some poor competition, winning 8 of their 9 wins against some cream puffs. Their signature win over La. Tech was impressive, but stud RB Kenneth Dixon hardly played and had a seriously sprained ankle. I don't think they've seen a defense this good.
I think in this game we'll see the UW offense be the difference maker. Petersen gets his team ready and motivated for a large margin victory- at least that's my opinion.
* UW has the best defense in an offense crazy conference. They have had to face every kind of offense you can think of except the triple-option attacks of the military academies or Ga. Southern. They only got really whupped by Stanford, a game where Kevin Hogan played lights out(and McCaffrey of course).
* They are a young team that progressed during the year, and will benefit from the extra practices prepping for a bowl game. They are capable of a big win, and since these bowl games are like a one game season, I can see that happening here. Beat USC on the road, killed WSU(minus Falk), crushed Arizona, and would have beaten Oregon but Vernon Davis was just amazing that day beating UW by 6.
* RB Myles Gaskin is ranked #5 as best freshman in the nation, and QB Browning #7. Gaskin exploded after becoming the starter, and I think he'll be the key to UW's victory here. Also, watch out for RS freshman Chico McClatcher, who might be the best playmaker on the offense, but didn't get playing time until the 2nd half of the year. Coach Petersen isn't afraid to allow his very talented freshman play significant time. Same way he did it at Boise.
* Coach Chris Petersen is turning this team around in confidence, discipline, and in their ability to win. Took 2 years after the Sark mess. On the subject of Petersen, he's another reason to like UW here. He has admitted that his team wasn't ready to play OK. ST last year in the bowl game, and they got down 24-0 in the 1st half. They lost by 8, but I think it was a good lesson, and we'll see a motivated, prepared Husky team early on in Dallas.
* SMiss will have a difficult time in the passing game. UW's pass defense has played very well considering the pass happy offenses they've faced. Now SMiss can run the ball too, so this won't be an easy mark, but UW's DL stymied some good runners this year(Royce Freeman, McCaffrey below his average, Devontae Booker at 4.4 ypc.
* Jake Browning has made great strides this year, and his biggest problem was holding the ball too long(29 sacks) and the occasional int. Once his running game got going, and it appeared that his OL could run block, he showed a lot of promise. Granted, this is only a 4* for me because a freshman QB and a freshman RB could have issues- but in my following of the UW program, I love the competitiveness and poise of both of these players.
* SMiss has had a very good season, but like UConn, they are coming out of an utter mess. They have played some poor competition, winning 8 of their 9 wins against some cream puffs. Their signature win over La. Tech was impressive, but stud RB Kenneth Dixon hardly played and had a seriously sprained ankle. I don't think they've seen a defense this good.
I think in this game we'll see the UW offense be the difference maker. Petersen gets his team ready and motivated for a large margin victory- at least that's my opinion.
3* Nebraska +7 Going to hold my nose and take Nebraska here. Part of this is a bet against an overrated and underperforming UCLA team. The perception is that UCLA has this great freshman QB, Josh Rosen, and that they have talent right up there with the best of the PAC 12. But I think what made this team somewhat pedestrian is what happened to their D. They lost perhaps their 3 best defenders to injury, and Myles Jack was an absolute playmaker on D. With that, they lost veteran leadership on their D- and it showed. Their 17-9 win at Utah (vs. a declining Utah team) was their only win against one of the better conference teams. And it was 2 TOs there that won the day. In my observations their receivers struggle to get separation, their OL is so-so but not bad(better at run blocking), and Rosen looked fairly mediocre vs. the better teams. I also can't think a trip to Santa Clara vs. a 5-7 Nebraska team is all that motivating. These SoCal boys might be enjoying the weather, the beautiful girls, and not expecting Nebraska to put up much of a fight.
Yes, Nebraska is kind of a mess. Coach Mike Riley is taking major heat for forcing the offense to play within a system not suitable to their talents(and a whole lot of other things). But even when they were 3-5 and things were at their darkest point, they beat MSU (controversial call noted), should have beaten Iowa, and beat Rutgers to end the season showing they hadn't quit. There is more talent than even their own fans gives them credit for. Beating a top PAC 12 team is not possible, but beating UCLA- very possible. Nebraska can run the ball with Imani Cross, and should let Armstrong's running be part of the game planning. UCLA won't respect the pass unless TA can't play-action and roll out with the option to run or pass. Last year in their bowl game, no one gave Nebraska a chance vs. a much better USC team, and they took them to the wire, losing by 3. Nebraska is certainly better than the majority of teams UCLA has beaten, and I see a fairly even match-up.
Yes, Nebraska is kind of a mess. Coach Mike Riley is taking major heat for forcing the offense to play within a system not suitable to their talents(and a whole lot of other things). But even when they were 3-5 and things were at their darkest point, they beat MSU (controversial call noted), should have beaten Iowa, and beat Rutgers to end the season showing they hadn't quit. There is more talent than even their own fans gives them credit for. Beating a top PAC 12 team is not possible, but beating UCLA- very possible. Nebraska can run the ball with Imani Cross, and should let Armstrong's running be part of the game planning. UCLA won't respect the pass unless TA can't play-action and roll out with the option to run or pass. Last year in their bowl game, no one gave Nebraska a chance vs. a much better USC team, and they took them to the wire, losing by 3. Nebraska is certainly better than the majority of teams UCLA has beaten, and I see a fairly even match-up.
Been contemplating these for a while. Might be my dumb-ass bets, but I think there's a good chance of winning 2 out of 3.
1* Indiana/ Duke- under 35.5 1H Being played on grass at Yankee Stadium after a wet week of rain. Will be cool Saturday. Teams have mostly starting out slow in the 1H with their passing game. Duke runs the ball enough to keep Indiana offense off the field. I can see good possibility for a long Duke drive or two, with a FG. Jordan Howard still questionable on a gimpy knee. Contrarian Play #1.
1* Miami, FL +2.5
1* Duke +2.5 Why have these lines stayed at 2.5 for two weeks when 75-80% of the bets are on WSU and Indiana? The books seem to be begging for Wazzu and Hoosier money. Going contrarian #2 and #3 here.
Duke has been really good last 2 bowls as big underdogs and with long stretches to prep. Miami seems to love playing for charismatic interim coach Larry Scott. The Hurricanes never quit after 2 beat
downs by Clemson and UNC.
1* Indiana/ Duke- under 35.5 1H Being played on grass at Yankee Stadium after a wet week of rain. Will be cool Saturday. Teams have mostly starting out slow in the 1H with their passing game. Duke runs the ball enough to keep Indiana offense off the field. I can see good possibility for a long Duke drive or two, with a FG. Jordan Howard still questionable on a gimpy knee. Contrarian Play #1.
1* Miami, FL +2.5
1* Duke +2.5 Why have these lines stayed at 2.5 for two weeks when 75-80% of the bets are on WSU and Indiana? The books seem to be begging for Wazzu and Hoosier money. Going contrarian #2 and #3 here.
Duke has been really good last 2 bowls as big underdogs and with long stretches to prep. Miami seems to love playing for charismatic interim coach Larry Scott. The Hurricanes never quit after 2 beat
downs by Clemson and UNC.
