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[CNOTES]

Liberty Bowl: Strong links for WVU, A&M


December 28, 2014


MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) - Texas A&M and West Virginia enter Monday's Liberty Bowl knowing plenty about each other, even though they've never met.

West Virginia coach Dana Holgorsen worked as an offensive coordinator on Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin's staff at Houston from 2008-09, and they remain good friends. Texas A&M offensive coordinator Jake Spavital was a quarterbacks coach for Holgorsen at West Virginia from 2011-12.


''Watching them on film, everything is pretty similar,'' West Virginia linebacker West Tonkery said.


The coaching connections aren't the only common threads between the Aggies (7-5) and Mountaineers (7-5).


''What you see is that both of us are extremely similar, not just in our approach to the game, but really in how the season has gone,'' Sumlin said. ''We have identical records. We've won some big games, both of us. We've lost some games that we probably could have won but just didn't, and we've got some explosive players on both teams.''


Both teams also are dealing with late-season quarterback changes.


Texas A&M's Kenny Hill started the season on such a roll that he was mentioned as a Heisman Trophy contender, then lost his starting spot by the end of the season. West Virginia's Clint Trickett missed the Mountaineers' final regular-season game and announced Friday he was giving up football after five concussions in 14 months.


Freshman Kyle Allen is making his fifth career start for the Aggies, while sophomore Skyler Howard makes his second career start for West Virginia.


Howard's mobility adds a new wrinkle to the Mountaineers' offense. Holgorsen said Howard has come a long way since being pressed into duty Nov. 20 after Trickett was knocked out of a 26-20 loss to Kansas State.


''I mean before we put him in against Kansas State I was concerned,'' Holgorsen said. ''We didn't know how he would react, and he handled it well. I think that gave him a bunch of confidence to where he got better in the Iowa State game, and I've seen considerable improvement here in the last four weeks.


In any case, the winning quarterback can carry plenty of momentum into 2015. This game also marks the chance for Texas A&M's seniors to become the first class to win a bowl game in each of its four seasons. Texas A&M won the Chick-fil-A Bowl last season, the Cotton Bowl two years ago and the Texas Bowl in 2011.


''It's definitely something that we talk about,'' Texas A&M senior cornerback Deshazor Everett said.


Here are some things to watch in Monday's Liberty Bowl.


STANDOUT RECEIVERS: West Virginia's Kevin White is a Biletnikoff Award semifinalist who has caught 102 passes for 1,318 yards and nine touchdowns, though his production dipped slightly late in the regular season as he dealt with constant double-teams. Texas A&M's Josh Reynolds has 47 catches for 762 yards, and his 12 touchdown catches tied a school single-season record.


STAFFS IN TRANSITION: Texas A&M's coaching staff bears only a passing resemblance to the group that worked the regular season. Defensive coordinator Mark Snyder was fired, offensive line coach B.J. Anderson also has departed and wide receivers coach David Beaty was hired as Kansas' head coach. Mark Hagen, the linebackers coach during the regular season, is the Aggies' interim defensive coordinator. West Virginia offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson is working his last game for the Mountaineers before taking the same position at Kentucky.


POTENT PASS RUSHERS: Texas A&M's Myles Garrett has 11 sacks this season to break the Southeastern Conference freshman record held by ex-South Carolina star Jadeveon Clowney. West Virginia's Shaquille Riddick, a Gardner-Webb transfer, has seven sacks this season and at least one tackle for loss in five of his last six games.


QUALITY KICKING: West Virginia's Josh Lambert, a Lou Groza Award finalist, has made 27 field goals this season to lead all FBS players. Lambert has gone 27 of 36, including 4 of 5 from at least 50 yards out with a long of 55. Texas A&M's Josh Lambo is 12 of 14 and has made 103 consecutive extra points.


FAST FINISHERS: If this game is still in doubt heading into the final period, both teams have reason to feel confident. Texas A&M has outscored teams 109-47 in the fourth quarter and 7-0 in overtime this season. West Virginia has outscored opponents 110-56 in the fourth quarter. The Mountaineers haven't allowed a second-half touchdown pass all season.

 

[CNOTES]

Liberty Bowl pits Aggies against Mountaineers
Memphis, TN


A couple of programs that ended up with disappointing regular-season records clash for the first time ever, as the West Virginia Mountaineers take on the Texas A&M Aggies in the 56th annual Liberty Bowl.


The Mountaineers, now members of the Big 12 Conference, were enigmatic at best this season, able to blow away nationally-ranked Baylor at home in the middle of October (41-27), but also capable of breaking hearts after a 31-30 loss to TCU two weeks later, which began a losing streak of three straight for head coach Dana Holgorsen and his crew. The team managed to pull out a 37-24 win over Iowa State on the road in the regular-season finale in order to bolster their prospects for a postseason bid.


As for the Aggies, former members of the Big 12 who have since found a home in the SEC, they opened up the 2014 campaign with five straight wins, including what had been at the time, an upset of South Carolina in the opener, 52-28. But like WVU, A&M also struggled along the way, at one point losing three in a row against top-notch competition in Mississippi State, Ole Miss and Alabama, the latter coming by an ugly 59-0 final.


The team did manage to bounce back with a 41-38 victory over Auburn on the road in early November, but that was before going down versus Missouri and LSU in the final two outings. Granted, the Aggies had a tougher schedule than the Mountaineers for the most part, not to mention having to deal with injuries and disciplinary issues, yet head coach Kevin Sumlin is still ready to lead his squad into battle.


"For us as I say every year we look at bowl games the same way," Sumlin says. It's a culmination of our year, and for our seniors it's a way for them to leave a legacy of who they are. You like for them to go out on a winning note. We've always treated the bowl game as the beginning of next season."


West Virginia, which saw a run of 11 straight bowl appearances snapped in 2013, has a record of 14-18 in such postseason outings dating back to the 1922 East-West Game. The Mountaineers appeared in this particular contest back in 1964, losing to Utah by a score of 32-6 in Atlantic City's Convention Hall.


WVU has lost three of its last four bowl decisions, including a 38-14 setback versus former Big East Conference foe Syracuse during the 2012 Pinstripe Bowl played in New York City.


As for the Aggies, who are hoping to set a new school mark with a victory in a bowl game for the fourth straight year, they took part in this same game back in 1975 but lost to USC, 20-0. Overall, Texas A&M is also under .500 when it comes to bowl competition, sporting a mark of 16-19. The Aggies began their postseason history with a 22-15 win over Centre in the 1922 Dixie Classic, and most recently defeated Duke in a wildly exciting 52-48 decision during last season's Chick-Fil-a Bowl.


One very interesting tie-in between the two programs is when Holgorsen was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Houston in 2008 and 2009, working under the direction of the head coach at the time, who just happened to be Sumlin.


The Aggies should have been set for another magical season, but there were some things that needed to be resolved both on and off the field before the team could settle into a rhythm. The squad started off by scoring at least 35 points in each of the first five games, finishing 29th in the nation with an average of 34.4 ppg, but there were also times when the offense didn't show up.


Part of the problem for coach Sumlin and his crew was understanding the transition from Johnny Manziel to what should have been his successor, Kenny Hill. Not only did Hill lose the starting job to Kyle Allen in late October, he was also suspended for two games for a violation of team rules, leaving his understudy to take over the offense.


Allen has completed 61.1 percent of his passes for 12 touchdowns and six interceptions in eight appearances on the campaign. The overall numbers of the quarterback position look a lot stronger when Hill's stats are entered into the equation, the team finishing 12th in the country with 306.4 ypg through the air.


No matter who was handling the ball under center, the top threat down the field was still Josh Reynolds who turned his 47 catches into 762 yards and 12 touchdowns. There were four others with at least 30 receptions (Ricky Seals- Jones, Malcome Kennedy, Speedy Noil and Edward Pope), who combined to account for another 17 TDs through the air as well.


On the ground, the team relied on Trey Williams and Tra Carson, although each missed a game, as they produced a combined 922 yards and 11 TDs.


Over on the defensive side of the ball, the Aggies were shaky at best as they placed 102nd nationally with 449.0 ypg allowed. Stopping the run proved especially troublesome for the group as they gave up 223.5 ypg, a number that ranked them 112th. Holding teams scoreless in the red zone was not a strong suit of the unit whatsoever, as it permitted foes to put points on the board 87.2 percent of the time, something that will certainly hamper the squad if the WVU offense finds its rhythm in this meeting.


Myles Garrett caused a good bit of disruption during his time on the field this season, posting 12.5 of his 50 overall tackles in the backfield, including a team-best 11 sacks. Garrett also registered one of the team's three blocked kicks.


While the Aggies appear to have figured out their quarterback situation, the same cannot be said for West Virginia currently, but that might be good news actually.


Clint Trickett, a transfer from Florida State who raised more than a few eyebrows during the first half of the campaign by throwing for at least 300 yards in seven straight games, eight overall if you go back to last season, slowed a bit against tougher competition and then suffered a concussion against Kansas State and missed the finale versus Iowa State. Skyler Howard assumed control of the offense and led the team to a victory over the Cyclones. Trickett was not cleared physically and has since decided to retire from football, leaving the job to Howard in this game.


"Unfortunately we're going to be without the services of Clint (Trickett), said Holgorsen. "He did not get cleared so we're going to be without him. Skyler (Howard) will be our starter."


Kevin White was by far the favorite target downfield with a staggering 102 catches for 1,318 yards and nine touchdowns, yet it was Mario Alford (62 rec. for 888 yard) who led the team with 10 aerial scores. Expect Howard to rely on his dynamic duo in this game.


West Virginia was ninth in the country in passing offense with 314.6 ypg and also put together a solid rushing attack (187.5 ypg) thanks to the efforts of Rushel Shell and Wendell Smallwood, who combined for more than 1,400 yards and nine TDs.


On paper the Mountaineers were decent on defense, giving up 388.6 ypg, although it often felt as though the team was being abused far more than that by accomplished offenses. The squad managed to limit foes to just 30.9 percent success on third down and 28.6 percent on fourth down, ranking it in the top-10 in both categories. However, if there was one area that should still be of great concern to WVU it would be turnovers, as the team ranks 120th in the FBS with a minus-1.25 miscues per contest.

 

[CNOTES]

Sooners tangle with Tigers in Russell Athletic Bowl
Orlando, FL


The Oklahoma Sooners and Clemson Tigers both fell short of lofty expectations this season and will settle for meeting one another in the 2014 Russell Athletic Bowl on Monday at the Florida Citrus Bowl.


Bob Stoops' Sooners were ranked in the top-five to start the season and considered a favorite in the Big 12. After winning its first four games of the campaign, Oklahoma failed to find consistency the rest of the way, winning back-to-back games just once over the course of the final eight outings, culminating in a rather modest 8-4 record.


Oklahoma extended it bowl streak to 16 seasons under Stoops. The program is 28-20 all-time in the postseason and its 28 bowl victories represent the third most all-time.


Dabo Swinney's Tigers were supposed to give defending national champion Florida State a run for its money in the ACC this year, and although the team almost pulled off the upset in Tallahassee back on Sept. 20 (23-17 OT), the team played second fiddle to the Seminoles in the ACC's Atlantic Division. Still, Clemson finished a respectable 9-3 on the year, thanks to wins in eight of the last nine games. The Tigers are seeking their fourth straight 10-win season.


Clemson is 18-18 in postseason play all-time. The Tigers have won two straight bowls, including a thrilling 40-35 win over Ohio State in last year's Orange Bowl.


OU holds a 2-1 edge in the series with Clemson. These two teams haven't met since the 1989 Citrus Bowl, a 13-6 Clemson victory.


The Sooners have had to adjust on offense due to injuries, especially to quarterback Trevor Knight. The team had to rely more on the run with redshirt freshman Cody Thomas filling in, but that has been a strength anyway, with Oklahoma ranking eighth nationally in rushing at an impressive 268.6 yards per game.


Freshman Samaje Perine certainly made an immediate impact, as he set the NCAA record for most rushing yards in a game (427 yards against Kansas). The 5-11, 243-pound youngster finished the season with an astounding 1,579 yards and 21 touchdowns en route to All-America honors. Redshirt sophomore Alex Ross (6-1, 221) was a distant second in ground production, but still managed to amass 564 yards and three scores on 6.6 yards per carry.


The good news is that Knight will be back on the field in Orlando. He threw for 2,197 yards and 14 TDs before going down to injury.


Receivers Sterling Shepard (50 receptions, 957 yards, five TDs) and Durron Neal (40 receptions, 508 yards, three TDs) will certainly be happy to have their starting quarterback return.


"Just to have him (Knight) back out there with his leadership and his energy and all the experience that comes with his game is good for us receivers to get back on the same page with the quarterback we started with," Neal said. "We kind of got back in a rhythm right away. He hadn't thrown a ball in a while, so we knocked a little rust off. The ball is coming just as they were prior to him getting hurt, and every day I can see him improving."


The Oklahoma defense had problems with consistency this season. The Sooners were solid against the run, allowing just 109.6 yards per game, but struggled big time against the pass, yielding a generous 272.7 yards per game through the air.


Sophomore linebacker Dominique Alexander led all Sooners with 98 total tackles. Junior linebacker Eric Striker was a difference maker upfield. Of his 56 total tackles, 14 came behind the line of scrimmage, including 7.5 sacks. Redshirt sophomore cornerback Zack Sanchez (39 tackles), is the secondary's top ball-hawk with six of the team's 12 total interceptions.


Clemson has played through some offensive adversity this year as well and will need to continue to do so in this game. The team will be without the services of freshman phenom Deshaun Watson, who suffered a torn ACL late in the season. The dual-threat youngster makes the Clemson offense much more dangerous, as he passed for 1,466 yards and 14 TDs this season, while rushing for an additional five scores. The good news is the team has a veteran it can lean on in Cole Stoudt. The senior signal-caller has started and come off the bench this season, having thrown for 1,573 yards and six TDs.


Freshman wideout Artavis Scott (68 receptions, 851 yards, seven TDs) and sophomore Mike Williams (48 receptions, 918 yards, five TDs) headline a talented receiving corps for the Tigers.


The rushing attack is not the preferred mode of travel for the Clemson offense at a modest 153.0 yards per game. Wayne Gallman tops all players with 714 yards and four TDs on the ground for Clemson.


The Tigers will also be breaking in new co-offensive coordinators (Tony Elliott and Jeff Scott), as Chad Morris has taken the head coaching job at SMU.


"I am very happy for Chad and his family," said Swinney. "This is a great opportunity and he is the right fit for SMU. I am very appreciative of the job he has done here the last four years. We have 41 wins, the most in any four- year period in Clemson history, and the offense he has directed had a lot to do with that. Our offense has performed at a record rate for this four-year period."


The Clemson defense is the primary reason the team is on the verge of another double-digit win season. The Tigers lead the nation in total defense at a meager 259.6 yards per game and have shown equal disdain for the run (97.7 ypg) and the pass (161.9 ypg). Thanks to perhaps the nation's best front seven, Clemson was really able to bring pressure on opposing QBs, racking up 44 sacks on the season.


There are no shortage of playmakers on the Clemson defense, but the anchor of the unit is two-time All-American Vic Beasley. Regarded as one of the nation's premier pass rushers and a probable first-round NFL draft pick, Beasley has once again dominated up front, collecting 18.5 TFL and 11 sacks this season. Linebacker Stephone Anthony is a defensive leader as well, pacing the team with 87 total tackles (9.5 TFL, 2.5 sacks).

 

[CNOTES]

Hogs and 'Horns collide in Texas Bowl
Houston, TX


Old Southwest Conference foes square off in the 2014 Texas Bowl, as the Arkansas Razorbacks do battle with the Texas Longhorns.


The two teams had shared conference affiliation from 1915 to 1991, when Arkansas left to join the Southeastern Conference. The Southwest Conference disbanded entirely five years later, with Texas helping form the Big 12 Conference.


The Texas Bowl, also known formerly as the Meineke Car Care Bowl, has been in existence since 2006, and this is the first time either Arkansas or Texas has appeared in the game. In last year's installment, Syracuse outlasted Minnesota in a 21-17 final.


Arkansas, which went an even 6-6 this season and won only two of its eight conference games to finish last in the SEC West, is making its 40th bowl appearance and hoping to improve upon the 13-23-3 record it has logged over the years. The Razorbacks did not make a bowl game last season, ending a run of three consecutive years in which they played after New Year's. Their most recent postseason endeavor resulted in a 29-16 win over Kansas State in the 2012 Cotton Bowl.


"We are very excited to play in the AdvoCare V100 Texas Bowl against a former Southwest Conference rival," Arkansas coach Brett Bielema said in accepting the bid. "We are looking forward to honoring the tradition of Razorbacks before us and putting on a great show in an outstanding venue against a prominent opponent."


Texas has a long, storied history in the postseason, logging a 27-23-2 record in bowl games, and it is coming off back-to-back appearances in the Alamo Bowl -- the first resulting in a 31-27 win over Oregon State, and last year falling in a 30-7 decision to Oregon. The Longhorns recently completed their first regular season under head coach Charlie Strong, and they went a disappointing 6-6 overall, 5-4 in conference to finish in a three-way tie for fourth place with Oklahoma and West Virginia.


"We're excited to be playing in the Advocare Texas Bowl and against an old SWC rival in Arkansas," Coach Strong said. "It will be a tremendous opportunity for our team to play in front of so many of our fans and especially for our seniors who will be doing it for the last time as Longhorns."


Texas owns a 56-21 lead in the all-time series with Arkansas, but it was the Hogs who claimed victory in the only previous bowl matchup, taking a 27-6 decision in the 2000 Cotton Bowl.


Arkansas, which has won five straight games against teams from the Big 12, is led on offense by the two-pronged rushing attack of Jonathan Williams and Alex Collins, both of whom topped the 1,000-yard plateau and combined for 23 TDs, becoming the only pair of teammates in the FBS to rush for 1,000 yards in the regular season. When the Razorbacks decided to air it out, Brandon Allen did his best in throwing for 2,125 yards, 18 TDs and only five INTs. He was also sacked only 11 times. Spreading the ball around was the key, as seven different players logged double-digit receptions, led by Keon Hatcher (39 rec., 517 yards, five TDs) and Henry Hunter (36 rec., 495 yards, two TDs).


As a result, the Hogs lit up the scoreboard for 32 ppg while amassing 410.6 ypg. They were 46 percent efficient on third-down conversion attempts, and came away with points on 80 percent of their trips to the red zone.


On the defensive side of the ball, Arkansas can boast having the SEC's top tackler in LB Martrell Spaight (123 stops), and he also added 8.5 TFL, a sack, an INT and a forced fumble. Brooks Ellis (68) is No. 2 on the team's tackles list, but he is well of the pace set by Spaight. Ellis is one of three players with two picks, while Trey Flowers is the team's most disruptive force at the point of attack, as he was credited with 13.5 TFL, which included five sacks.


The Razorbacks are yielding only 20.2 ppg behind typical allowances of only 124 ypg rushing and 221.4 ypg passing. They have recorded just 21 sacks, but have come up with 22 turnovers.


Texas had its share of difficulty on offense this season, the team ranking ninth in the Big 12 in scoring (22.6 ppg), passing offense (211.8 ypg) and total offense (360.5 ypg).


Most of the issues lie in the fact that the team got inconsistent quarterback play, as Tyrone Swoopes completed 58.8 percent of his passes for 2,352 yards, 13 TDs and 10 INTs. John Harris paced the receiving corps with 64 grabs for 1,015 yards and seven scores, while Jaxon Shipley tallied 58 catches for 571 yards and one TD. As for the UT rushing attack, if featured backs Malcolm Brown and Johnathan Gray, each of whom rumbled his way to more than 625 yards while combining for 13 TDs. Swoopes added 294 yards and three scores on the ground.


The Texas defense was the team's saving grace this season, as it permitted just 23.2 ppg to rank third in the conference. The effort against the pass was its hallmark as the 'Horns finished first in the Big 12 with an aerial allowance of only 186.2 ypg. They also surrendered the fewest passing scores of any team in the league (11).


Jordan Hicks and Steve Edmonds were all over the field for coach Strong's club, logging 138 and 122 total tackles, respectively. They combined for 25 of the Longhorns' 95 TFL, with Hicks also coming up with a pair of INTs -- the team credited with 15 picks in all. Dylan Haines had four INTs and Quandre Diggs three more for a UT defense that recovered only seven fumbles. Hassa Ridgeway logged six of the team's league-leading 39 sacks. The 'Horns were also quite effective in the red zone, ranking second with a yield of only 76.9 percent.

 

[CNOTES]

College Football Weather Forecast


Monday, December 29th


Texas A&M at West Virginia, 2:00 p.m.
Mostly Cloudy Mostly cloudy. Winds northeast at 5-10 m.p.h (Memphis, TN) Game-time temperature: Around 45.


Oklahoma at Clemson, 5:30 p.m.
Partly Cloudy Partly cloudy. Winds southwest at 5-10 m.p.h (Orlando, FL) Game-time temperature: Around 75.


Arkansas at Texas, 9:00 p.m.
Partly Cloudy Partly cloudy. Winds east at 1-5 m.p.h (Houston, TX) Game-time temperature: Around 50.

 

[CNOTES]

NCAA Football Gaming Matchups
Week 17
Monday, December 29
	Texas A&M at West Virginia, 2:00 PM
	Oklahoma at Clemson, 5:30 PM
	Arkansas at Texas, 9:00 PM

 

[CNOTES]

Music City Bowl

December 29, 2014


NOTRE DAME FIGHTING IRISH (7-5) vs. LSU TIGERS (8-4)

Music City Bowl
LP Field - Nashville, TN
Kickoff: Tuesday, 3:00 p.m. ET
Sportsbook.ag Line: LSU -7, Total: 52.5

Struggling Notre Dame attempts to break a four-game losing skid when it faces LSU in the Music City Bowl on Tuesday afternoon.

Earlier in the season the Fighting Irish looked to be poised to make a run at the national playoffs after starting 6-0 SU (4-2 ATS) to kick off the 2014 campaign. It was all downhill from there though, as Notre Dame dropped five of its next six contests SU (1-5 ATS) while losing twice as a favorite. The Irish turned the ball over 15 times in that second part of the season and lost their games by an average of 13.8 PPG. They are no strangers to the postseason, as this will be their 15th bowl game appearance since the 1994 season, but they have been horrible in that time while going 3-11 SU, including failing to cover the spread in each of the past three tries.

The Tigers have also had their troubles late in the season with losses in two of their past three games, while the total in their contests went Under in each of the past five games. They had no trouble with ball security throughout the season, as they committed one or fewer turnovers in 10-of-12 games, but forced their opposition into only four turnovers in the five games leading up to this one. LSU has made it to a bowl game every year since 2000, and went 9-5 SU in that time while coming off a 21-14 win as a 7.5-point favorite against Iowa last season in the Outback Bowl. It was the third straight bowl game that the school failed to cover the spread, losing to both Clemson and Alabama in the previous two opportunities.

These two programs last met in the 2007 Sugar Bowl when the Tigers were 9-point favorites and proved to be the better team with a 41-14 victory, as they totaled 577 yards of total offense. Some trends to keep an eye on in this one include that LSU is a meager 1-8 ATS (11%) in the past three seasons in road games after an SU win, but the Irish have gone a poor 3-12 ATS (20%) since 1992 after trailing in their previous game by 17 or more points at halftime. Other than Notre Dame S Austin Collinsworth (shoulder, doubtful), neither team is dealing with any injuries that should affect the outcome of Tuesday’s contest.

Notre Dame’s offense starts with a solid passing attack that has amassed 293.8 passing YPG (16th in nation) while it gets only 150.8 YPG (84th in FBS) from its runners and scores 33.0 PPG (39th in FBS). QB Everett Golson (3,355 pass yards, 29 TD, 14 INT) started every game for the Irish this season but was pulled after the first half in the final game after going 7-of-18 (39%) for 75 yards and a pick. He struggled with interceptions at the end of the year, as he threw seven picks over the final four games, but is always a threat with his legs, as evidenced by his 277 rushing yards (2.5 YPC) and eight touchdowns during the regular season.

If head coach Brian Kelly decides he wants to go in a different direction, QB Malik Zaire (170 pass yards, 0 TD, 0 INT) would get the call under center. HB Tarean Folston (816 rush yards, 5 TD) averaged 5.3 YPC and was great down the stretch, as he gained over 100 rushing yards in four of the final six contests. WR William Fuller (1,037 rec yards, 14 TD) was the star in the air attack, as he averaged 109.5 YPG in his final four performances while scoring five touchdowns in that time. Notre Dame’s defense was tremendous at the start of the season while allowing a mere 12.0 PPG over the first five games before giving up 41.6 PPG in the next seven outings. Overall the school has allowed teams put up 29.3 PPG against them (86th in nation) and will need LB Jaylon Smith (102 tackles, 3 sacks) to be playing at the top of his game to earn a win in this one.

The Tigers have done little with their passing game, with only 163.9 YPG through the air (116th in nation), but they dominate on the ground (219.5 YPG, 29th in FBS) while scoring 27.6 PPG (74th in FBS). QB Anthony Jennings (1,460 pass yards, 10 TD, 7 INT) has eclipsed the 200-yard mark in passing just once this season, as he hit on a putrid 49% of his passes for 6.9 YPA. He can run when needed though, and did so in the season finale against Texas A&M where he rushed for 119 yards on 14 carries (8.5 YPC) in the win. Freshman HB Leonard Fournette (891 rush yards, 8 TDs) had four triple-digit rushing performances while averaging 5.1 YPC, and had his best game of his young career his last time out with 146 rushing yards and a touchdown.

HB Terrence Magee (545 rush yards, 3 TD) also performed well with 5.2 YPC and had more than 70 yards on the ground in three of the final five games as the backup. WR Travin Dural (758 rec yards, 7 TD) is the only receiver on this team that could give opposing defenses fits, as he averaged a tremendous 20.5 yards per catch, but averaged only 33.0 YPG in the final eight games after a hot start. What really got LSU to this point is its potent defense that gave up the third-fewest points in FBS (16.4 PPG), as it did exceptionally well against the pass (162.3 YPG, 4th in FBS). This group is loaded with talent, and it all starts with the leadership of LBs Kwon Alexander (79 tackles, 1.5 sacks) and Kendell Beckwith (68 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 INT, 1 TD).

 

[CNOTES]

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30

Matchup Skinny Tech Trend

NOTRE DAME vs. LSU (Music City Bowl)...
Rematch of 2007 Sugar Bowl and 1998 Independence Bowl, both won and covered handily by LSU. Brian Kelly 1-3 vs. line in bowls with Irish, 1-6 vs. spread in bowls at all previous stops (did coach Cincy in 2006 International Bowl after just hired). Irish 0-4 SU last 4 and 0-5 vs. line last five this season. Les Miles only 1-4 vs. line last five bowls, however.
LSU, based on ND negatives.

LOUISVILLE vs. GEORGIA (Belk Bowl)...
Petrino covered 4 of 5 away from home this season. He's 4-2 as a dog the past two seasons with WKU & 'Ville. Cards 4-1 SU and vs. line last four bowls with Petrino & Charlie Strong. Mark Richt 1-3 SU and vs. spread last four bowls, 4-8 vs. points last eight away from Athens.
'Ville, based on team trends.

MARYLAND vs. STANFORD (Foster Farms Bowl)...
Stanford 3-2 SU, 2-2-1 vs. line in bowls the past five seasons. Shaw covered last two on road this season but had dropped previous five vs. number away from Palo Alto. Tree just 13-14-1 last 28 overall on board. Terps 6-3 last 9 vs. spread away from College Park.
Slight to Maryland, based on team trends

 

[CNOTES]

Tuesday's Tip Sheet


December 29, 2014




**Notre Dame vs. Louisiana State**


-- I often talk about location and motivation as key factors in handicapping bowl games. In this instance, I would normally be concerned about LSU's motivation because it is accustomed to playing in more important bowl games during Les Miles's 10-year tenure. However, I don't think we have that here because even though Notre Dame's star doesn't shine as bright as it once did, it is still one of college football's most storied programs. Therefore, I think the Tigers will be plenty motivated to face the Fighting Irish.


-- These schools will collide Tuesday afternoon in Nashville at the Music City Bowl. As of Monday afternoon, most books had LSU (8-4 straight up, 8-4 against the spread) installed as a 7.5-point 'chalk' with a total of 52.5. The Irish are +240 on the money line (risk $100 to win $240). For first-half bets, LSU is favored by 4.5 with a total of 27.


-- Notre Dame (7-5 SU, 5-7 ATS) has been an underdog four times this season, going 2-2 ATS with one outright win over Stanford (17-14) at home on Oct. 4.


-- LSU has been a single-digit favorite four times, posting a 3-1 record both SU and ATS. -- LSU went 4-4 both SU and ATS against bowl-bound competition, besting Wisconsin (28-24), Florida (30-27), Ole Miss (10-7) and Texas A&M (23-17).


-- LSU is third in the nation in scoring defense, allowing only 16.4 points per game. The offense has proven to be one-dimensional, however, really struggling to pass the ball. Starting quarterback Anthony Jennings has completed just 48.8 percent of his passes for 1,460 yards with a 10/7 touchdown-to-interception ratio. When Jennings does throw, he's usually trying to find WR Travin Duval, who had 37 receptions for 758 yards and seven TDs during the regular season.


-- LSU true freshman RB Leonard Fournette has rushed for a team-high 891 yards and eight TDs while averaging 5.1 yards per carry. Terrence Magee has run for 545 yards and three scores, averaging 5.2 YPC. Senior RB Kenny Hilliard was believed to be out for the season with a shoulder injury, but Miles has declared him 100-percent healthy. Hilliard has rushed for 431 yards and six TDs while averaging 5.0 YPC.


-- Brian Kelly's team won its first six games, only to lose five of its last six. Notre Dame brings a four-game losing streak to Nashville. Two of those defeats came at home vs. Northwestern and Louisville. The Irish have failed to cover the number in five consecutive contests.


-- In its regular-season finale, Notre Dame got smashed by a 49-14 count at Southern Cal as a 4.5-point underdog. Junior quarterback Everett Golson was benched after throwing an interception, which was his 21st turnover committed in the last nine games. In relief of Golson, Malik Zaire completed 9-of-20 passes for 170 yards and had a rushed TD. Zaire will get his first career start against LSU, though Golson is expected to play as well. Golson threw for 3,355 yards during the regular season, posting a 29/14 touchdown-to-interception ratio. But his TD-INT ratio was 7/7 during the four-game losing streak.


-- Notre Dame went 4-4 straight up against eight bowl-bound opponents.


-- Notre Dame's defense has been hit hard by injuries. This unit has given up 30 points or more in seven straight games.


-- The 'over' is just 7-5 overall for Notre Dame, but it has cashed in five straight games and six of its last seven.


-- The 'under' is 8-4 overall for LSU, cashing in five consecutive games.


-- Kickoff is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. Eastern on ESPN.


**Georgia vs. Louisville**


-- Georgia and Louisville are set to collide Tuesday at the Belk Bowl in Charlotte. As of Monday night, most books had Georgia (9-3 SU, 7-5 ATS) listed as a seven-point favorite with a total of 57. The Cardinals are +230 on the money line. For first -half bets, UGA is favored by four with a total of 28.5.


-- Georgia will be without its offensive coordinator Mike Bobo, who took the head-coaching gig at Colorado State last week. Mark Richt will call the offensive plays in this game.


-- Where is UGA's psyche for this game? No one can know for sure. Until Missouri rallied to beat Arkansas on Nov. 28, the Bulldogs were hoping to be in the SEC Championship Game and they maintained hopes of making the College Football Playoff. When those factors were taken out of the equation, Georgia lost at home to Georgia Tech 24 hours later. The Yellow Jackets went into Athens and won a 30-24 decision in overtime, hooking up their backers as 10.5-point road underdogs. A pair of fumbles inside the red zone during regulation proved to be UGA's undoing. Nick Chubb rushed for 129 yards and one TD in the losing effort.


-- Chubb enjoyed a breakout freshman campaign. With Todd Gurley missing six games due to a suspension and an injury, Chubb rushed for a team-high 1,281 yards and 12 TDs while averaging 6.9 YPC.


-- Georgia senior QB Hutson Mason completed 67.9 percent of his passes for 2,019 yards with a 20/4 TD-INT ratio.


-- UGA went 3-1 both SU and ATS in four games this season as a single-digit 'chalk.'


-- Georgia has lost in three of its four previous postseason appearances, including a 24-19 setback against Nebraska in last year's Gator Bowl.


-- Louisville (9-3 SU, 7-5 ATS) has won three in a row, including a 44-40 win over Kentucky as a 13.5-point home favorite in the regular-season finale for both schools. This game featured seven lead changes, the last of which came when U of L running back Brandon Radcliff scored on a four-yard TD run with 2:47 remaining. Kyle Bolin, a redshirt freshman who began the season as the team's third-string QB, saw the first significant playing time of his career. He was outstanding, throwing for 381 yards and three TDs with one interception.


-- Although Bobby Petrino has been non-committal, it appears that Bolin will get his first career start against the Bulldogs. Will Gardner, the starting QB, was lost for the season with a knee injury in mid-November. The job was left to true freshman Reggie Bonnafon, who has 850 passing yards and a 5/3 TD-INT ratio. He's also a major threat with his legs, rushing for 173 yards and five TDs. Bonnafon left the win over UK with a knee injury, but he's been upgraded to 'probable' and will probably get the bulk of the snaps under center.


-- Radcliff has rushed for a team-best 648 yards and 11 TDs, averaging 5.2 YPC. The best playmaker on the U of L offense is WR DaVante Parker, who had 35 receptions for 735 yards and five TDs despite missing the first seven games. Parker had at least 132 receiving yards in four of the five games he played in. He had eight catches for 214 yards against Florida State and in the win over UK, the senior had six catches for 180 yards and three TDs.


-- Louisville has been an underdog three times this year, going 2-1 ATS with one outright win at Notre Dame.


-- Louisville's defense is run by first-year coordinator Todd Grantham, who spent the four previous years as Richt's DC at UGA. U of L ranks sixth nationally in total defense and third against the run. This unit gives up just 20.5 PPG. This 'D' is led by All-American Gerod Holliman, who led the country in interceptions with 14.


-- U of L senior running back Michael Dyer has been ruled academically ineligible and won't play vs. UGA. This ends a long career filled with many ups and downs. Dyer was the Most Valuable Player of the BCS Championship Game as true freshman when Auburn beat Oregon. He was booted from the AU program before playing another snap, however, and then got dismissed from the Arkansas State program before ever playing a down. He has been with the Cardinals the last two years, but injuries were a major issue in 2013. This season Dyer rushed for 481 yards and five TDs while averaging 4.4 YPC.


-- Georgia will be without LB Leonard Floyd after he underwent shoulder surgery earlier this month. Floyd led UGA in sacks with six.


-- The 'under' is 6-5-1 overall for U of L, but it has seen the 'over' cash in four consecutive games.


-- The 'over' is 9-3 overall for UGA, but the 'under' has cashed in two of its last three games.


-- ESPN will provide television coverage at 6:30 p.m. Eastern.


**Maryland vs. Stanford**


-- The Big Ten and Pac-12 will be represented in the Foster Farms Bowl at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, where Stanford and Maryland will do battle Tuesday night. As of Monday night, most betting shops had Stanford (7-5 SU, 6-6 ATS) listed as a 14-point favorite with a total of 48. Gamblers can go for a huge +450 payout by backing the Terrapins to win outright (risk $100 to win $450). For first-half wagers, the Cardinal is favored by 7.5 with a total of 24.


-- Maryland (7-5 SU, 6-6 ATS) is going bowling for a second straight season after winning seven games in its Big Ten debut. The Terrapins went 4-4 in league play, but they dropped their regular-season finale to Rutgers by a 41-38 score as 7.5-point home favorites.


-- Randy Edsall's team went 4-3 both SU and ATS in seven games as an underdog. This is Maryland's biggest underdog situation of the year. The Terps were only double-digit 'dogs once, losing to Michigan State 37-15 as 10.5-point home puppies.


-- Maryland is getting its best player back for the bowl game. Junior WR Stefon Diggs missed the last three games of the regular season due to a lacerated kidney. In nine games, Diggs had 52 catches for 654 yards and five TDs.


-- Maryland senior QB C.J. Brown has been able to stay healthy this season. Brown completed 53.2 percent of his passes for 2,083 yards with a 13/9 TD-INT ratio. Brown has rushed for a team-high 569 yards and seven TDs.


-- Stanford will be without its best offensive playmaker Ty Montgomery, who is dealing with a shoulder injury. Montgomery had a team-high 61 receptions for 604 yards and three TDs. He also rushed for 128 yards and one score. Montgomery had 1,400 all-purpose yards during the regular season.


-- Stanford QB Kevin Hogan has completed 65.5 percent of his throws for 2,603 yards with a 17/8 TD-INT ratio.


-- Stanford is second in the nation in scoring defense, giving up just 16.0 PPG. The Cardinal ranks fourth in total defense.


-- David Shaw's squad has been a double-digit favorite five times, producing a stellar 4-1 spread record.


-- The 'under' has been a monster money maker in Stanford games, cashing at a 9-2 overall clip.


-- The 'over' is 6-5-1 overall for Maryland, but the 'under' has been a winner in three of its last four games.


-- Kickoff is slated for 10:00 p.m. Eastern on ESPN.

 

[CNOTES]

NCAAF
Armadillo's Write-Up

Bowl Season

Foster Farms Bowl, San Francisco 12/30
Stanford should have big crowd edge playing in Bay Area; their best WR Montgomery (61 catches) is out here. Cardinal split pair of Rose Bowls last two years, fair to question their enthusiasm for a lesser bowl, even if it is near home. Edsall is 3-3 in bowls, losing 31-20 to Marshall LY in his first bowl with Terps. Maryland is 3-4 in last seven games, with three of losses by 22+ points; Stanford is 3-5 as favorite this year- they won last two games by 21 points each, after losing three of previous four games. Shaw lost two of his three bowl games. Favorites won/covered this game four of last five years, with four of five staying under total.

Belk Bowl, Charlotte 12/30
Louisville DC Grantham was Georgia's DC the last four years; he should have great idea on Dawgs' personnel. Louisville scored 30+ points in its last five games, winning last three by 19-3-4 after losing to Florida State 42-31- they're 5-2 vs spread in games with single digit spread. Louisville won four of last five bowls,.with the loss in this game to NC State three years ago. Petrino is 4-3 in bowl games, Richt is 8-5 but lost three of last four, despite being favored in all four games- all three losses were by 5 or less points. Georgia allowed 30+ points in all three losses; they're 4-1 in games with single digit spreads. Faves covered 4 of last 5 Belk Bowls.

Music City Bowl, Nashville 12/30
Notre Dame gives backup QB Zaire his first career start here; Irish lost last four games, allowing 44.5 ppg- they gave up 244.8 rushing yards a game in last five games, bad news vs LSU team that ran for 264+ yards in its last three wins, including 384 in regular season finale vs A&M. ND is 3-2 in last five bowls, Kelly is 4-3 as bowl coach. SEC teams are 3-0 in this bowl season, are 21-7 in last 28 bowls. 14-9-1 against spread when favored. LSU split its last four bowls; Miles is 7-5 as bowl coach, 6-3 in Baton Rouge. Favorites won/covered four of last five Music City Bowls, with SEC teams winning last three by 6-14-8 points.

 

[CNOTES]

NCAAF

Tuesday, December 30

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Belk Bowl betting preview: Georgia vs. Louisville
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Georgia Bulldogs vs. Louisville Cardinals (+6.5, 56.6)

Game to be played at Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina

The 13th annual Belk Bowl will play host to two top 20 teams for the first time in its history when No. 13 Georgia and No. 20 Louisville meet for the first time. The Bulldogs, who are the first SEC team to be invited to Charlotte, N.C., enter the 50th bowl game in their proud history after winning eight of their final 10 contests. The Cardinals also finished the regular season strong by going 7-2 down the stretch, with the only losses coming to No. 2 Florida State and No. 18 Clemson.

In a season marked with a number of highs (routs of SEC East champion Missouri and Auburn) and lows (losses to six-win teams in South Carolina and Florida), Georgia running back Nick Chubb was one of the few constants. After losing Heisman Trophy hopeful Todd Gurley to a season-ending knee injury on Oct. 11, the SEC Freshman of the Year closed the year out by running for at least 100 yards and a touchdown in each of his seven starts. With another 100-yard performance against Louisville, Chubb can tie Bulldog legend Herschel Walker for the most such efforts by a Georgia freshman.

The Cardinals’ sixth-ranked total defense could enjoy a significant advantage considering defensive coordinator Todd Grantham served in the same role for the Bulldogs under Georgia coach Mark Richt from 2010-13. Louisville also boasts the third-best rushing defense in the country (93.7 yards) and has yielded only nine scores on the ground. The Cardinals are slightly less accomplished against the pass (31st, 199.6), but finished the regular season tied for first in FBS with 25 interceptions.

TV: 6:30 p.m. ET, ESPN.

LINE HISTORY: Georgia opened as 6.5-point favorites and were bet to -7, before coming back down to the opening number. The total has held steady at 56.5

INJURY REPORT: Georgia - RB A.J. Turman (questionable Tuesday, toe), RB Keith Marshall (questionable Tuesday, ankle), WR Isaiah McKenzie (out Tuesday, suspension), LB Leonard Floyd (out, Tuesday). Louisville - QB Reggie Bonnafon (probable Tuesday, knee), RB Michael Dyer (out Tuesday, academics).

WEATHER REPORT: It will be partly cloudy with temperatures in the low 40's for the game. There will be a 10 percent chance of rain with a five mile per hour wind blowing across the field from north to south.

ABOUT GEORGIA (9-3, 7-5 ATS, 9-3 O/U): Thanks in large part to Chubb (12) and Gurley (nine), Georgia ran for a conference-leading 35 rushing touchdowns – a total that trails only the 1971 Bulldog team that finished with 39. Hutson Mason, who was one of three Georgia quarterbacks to combine for a completion percentage of 68.1, saw his six-game streak without throwing an interception snapped on his final attempt in the Nov. 29 overtime loss to Georgia Tech. The Bulldogs finished the regular season with a plus-15 turnover differential – tied for fourth in FBS – and scored 104 points off their 26 takeaways.

ABOUT LOUISVILLE (9-3, 7-5 ATS, 5-6-1 O/U): Sophomore All-American safety Gerod Holliman emerged as the country’s best ball hawk in 2014 with 14 interceptions, matching the NCAA single-season record held by Al Worley of Washington in 1968 and becoming only the 11th player in NCAA history to record 12 or more in a season. The Cardinals’ offense also finished the season on a roll, scoring 30 or more points in five straight games. That streak coincided with the return of receiver DeVante Parker, who posted team-high totals of 35 catches, 735 yards and five touchdowns despite missing seven contests with a left toe injury.

TRENDS:

* Georgia is 4-1 ATS in their last five games following an ATS loss.
* Louisville is 4-1 ATS in their last five Bowl games.
* Over is 12-3 in Georgia's last 15 games following a SU loss.
* Over is 4-0-1 in Louisville's last five games overall.

CONSENSUS: The majority of bettors are backing Georgia, with 63 percent of wagers on the Bulldogs -6.5.

 

[CNOTES]

2014-15 Bowl Betting Results


December 30, 2014




BOWL CONFERENCE STANDINGS


Conference Straight Up (SU) Against the Spread (ATS)


ACC 3-4 4-3


American (AAC) 1-2 1-2


Big 10 2-2 2-2


Big 12 0-3 0-3


CUSA 4-1 3-2


Independent 1-1 1-1


Mid-American 1-3 2-2


Mountain West 2-4 2-4


Pac-12 3-0 1-2


SEC 3-0 3-0


Sun Belt 1-1 1-1




OVERALL GAME RESULTS
Wager SU Win SU Loss ATS Win ATS Loss
Favorite 10 11 7 14
Underdog 11 10 14 7
Over Under
11 10


2014-15 BOWL SCHEDULE - RESULTS


Date Bowl Matchup Line, Total Score ATS/Total


Saturday, Dec. 20 New Orleans Bowl Nevada vs Louisiana-Lafayette 1.5, 62.5 16-3 Underdog-Under


Saturday, Dec. 20 New Mexico Bowl Utah State vs Texas-El Paso 10, 45.5 21-6 Favorite-Under


Saturday, Dec. 20 Las Vegas Bowl Utah vs Colorado State 3, 57 45-10 Favorite-Under


Saturday, Dec. 20 Idaho Potato Bowl Western Michigan vs Air Force 2.5, 59 38-24 Underdog-Over


Saturday, Dec. 20 Camellia Bowl South Alabama vs Bowling Green 3.5, 55 33-28 Underdog-Over


Monday, Dec. 22 Miami Beach Bowl Brigham Young vs Memphis 1.5, 56 55-48 Favorite-Over


Tuesday, Dec. 23 Boca Raton Bowl Marshall vs Northern Illinois 8.5, 68 52-23 Favorite-Over


Tuesday, Dec. 23 Poinsettia Bowl Navy vs San Diego State 3, 52 17-16 Underdog-Under


Wednesday, Dec. 24 Bahamas Bowl Central Michigan vs Western Kentucky 3.5, 68 49-48 Underdog-Over


Wednesday, Dec. 24 Hawai'i Bowl Fresno State vs Rice 1, 59 30-6 Favorite-Under


Friday, Dec. 26 Heart of Dallas Bowl Illinois vs Louisiana Tech 7, 54.5 35-18 Favorite-Under


Friday, Dec. 26 Quick Lane Bowl Rutgers vs North Carolina 3.5, 72 40-21 Underdog-Under


Friday, Dec. 26 St. Petersburg Bowl North Carolina State vs UCF 2, 47.5 34-27 Underdog-Over


Saturday, Dec. 27 Military Bowl Cincinnati vs Virginia Tech 2, 49.5 33-17 Underdog-Over


Saturday, Dec. 27 Sun Bowl Duke vs Arizona State 7.5, 65 36-31 Underdog-Over


Saturday, Dec. 27 Independence Bowl Miami-Fla. vs South Carolina 3, 62 24-21 Underdog-Under


Saturday, Dec. 27 Pinstripe Bowl Boston College vs Penn State 3, 41 31-30 Underdog-Over


Saturday, Dec. 27 Holiday Bowl Nebraska vs Southern California 7, 63 45-42 Underdog-Over


Monday, Dec. 29 Liberty Bowl Texas A&M vs West Virginia 3, 66.5 45-37 Underdog-Over


Monday, Dec. 29 Russell Athletic Bowl Oklahoma vs Clemson 6, 49 40-6 Underdog-Under


Monday, Dec. 29 Texas Bowl Arkansas vs Texas 7, 42.5 31-7 Favorite-Under


Tuesday, Dec. 30 Music City Bowl Notre Dame vs Louisiana State - - -


Tuesday, Dec. 30 Belk Bowl Georgia vs Louisville - - -


Tuesday, Dec. 30 Foster Farms Bowl Maryland vs Stanford - - -


Wednesday, Dec. 31 Peach Bowl Mississippi vs Texas Christian - - -


Wednesday, Dec. 31 Fiesta Bowl Boise State vs Arizona - - -


Wednesday, Dec. 31 Orange Bowl Mississippi State vs Georgia Tech - - -
Thursday, Jan. 1 Outback Bowl Auburn vs Wisconsin - - -


Thursday, Jan. 1 Cotton Bowl Michigan State vs Baylor - - -


Thursday, Jan. 1 Citrus Bowl Missouri vs Minnesota - - -


Thursday, Jan. 1 Rose Bowl - National Semifinal Oregon vs Florida State - - -


Thursday, Jan. 1 Sugar Bowl - National Semifinal Alabama vs Ohio State - - -


Friday, Jan. 2 Armed Forces Bowl Houston vs Pittsburgh - - -


Friday, Jan. 2 Taxslayer Bowl Iowa vs Tennessee - - -


Friday, Jan. 2 Alamo Bowl Kansas State vs UCLA - - -


Friday, Jan. 2 Cactus Bowl Washington vs Oklahoma State - - -


Saturday, Jan. 3 Birmingham Bowl East Carolina vs Florida - - -


Sunday, Jan. 4 Godaddy Bowl Toledo vs Arkansas State - - -


Monday, Jan. 12 National Championship Game TBD vs TBD - - -

 

[CNOTES]

A real out loud belly laugh for the day

Now available in Brazilian an supermarkets...

.

 

[CNOTES]

Wednesday's Tip Sheet


December 30, 2014


**Ole Miss vs. Texas Christian**


-- The SEC and Big 12 will be pitted against each other Wednesday afternoon when Ole Miss and TCU collide in Atlanta at the Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl. As of early Tuesday afternoon, most betting shops had the Horned Frogs installed as a 3.5-point favorites with a total of 56.


-- Ole Miss (9-3 straight up, 7-4-1 against the spread) spent most of the season in the Top 10 of the national rankings thanks to a 7-0 start that included scalps of Alabama and five other bowl-bound teams. However, a 10-7 loss at LSU, a gut-wrenching setback at home to Auburn and a blowout loss at Arkansas took the Rebels out of the SEC West race. Nevertheless, they would recover one week after the nightmare loss to the Razorbacks and beat Mississippi State 31-17 in the Egg Bowl.


-- Ole Miss handed the Bulldogs just their second loss of the season and eliminated them from contention for a berth to the College Football Playoff. The Rebels, who won outright as 2.5-point underdogs, got 296 passing yards and one rushing score out of senior quarterback Bo Wallace, in addition to a 91-yard touchdown run by Jaylen Walton.


-- Hugh Freeze's team won't have its two best WRs against TCU. Laquon Treadwell went down with a season-ending injury in a 35-31 loss to Auburn on Nov. 1. Treadwell had made 48 receptions for 632 yards and five TDs. Vince Sanders is also 'out' vs. TCU after injuring his knee in the win over Mississippi State. Sanders had 40 catches for 697 yards and six TDs during the regular season. In addition, starting offensive lineman Aaron Morris is 'out' due to a knee injury.


-- Wallace completed 61.2 percent of his passes for 3,108 yards with a 22/11 touchdown-to-interception ratio. He also ran for five TDs. Walton rushed for a team-best 583 yards and five TDs while averaging 5.9 yards per carry.


-- Ole Miss won outright in all three games as an underdog this year. The Rebels beat Alabama 23-17 at home, won 35-20 at Texas A&M and prevailed over the arch-rival Bulldogs in the Egg Bowl as previously noted.


-- TCU (11-1 SU, 10-2 ATS) appeared to be destined for a berth in the College Football Playoff before getting its spot taken by Ohio State after it trounced Wisconsin 59-0 at the Big Ten Championship Game. The Horned Frogs have won seven in a row while going 5-2 versus the number.


-- Gary Patterson's team has wins over bowl-bound foes like Minnesota (30-7), Oklahoma (37-33), Oklahoma State (42-9), West Virginia (31-30), Kansas State (41-20) and Texas (48-10). TCU's only loss came at Baylor by a 61-58 count, but we should note that the Horned Frogs held a 21-point advantage early in the fourth quarter.


-- As a single-digit 'chalk' this season, TCU compiled a 2-1 spread record.


-- TCU's offense is second in the nation in scoring, averaging 46.8 points per game. This unit is led by QB Trevone Boykin, who completed 60.5 percent of his passes for 3,714 yards with a 30/7 TD-INT ratio. Boykin also rushed for 642 yards and eight TDs.


-- Josh Doctson is Boykin's favorite target, hauling in 59 receptions for 959 yards and nine TDs. Aaron Green has run for a team-high 854 yards and eight TDs, averaging 7.7 yards per carry.


-- Ole Miss leads the country in scoring defense, allowing only 13.8 PPG.


-- The 'under' has cashed at lucrative 9-2 overall clip in Ole Miss games.


-- The 'over' is 8-4 overall for TCU.


-- Kickoff is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. Eastern on ESPN.


**Boise State vs. Arizona**


-- The Fiesta Bowl is ready to welcome Boise State back this year, with the Broncos set to collide with Arizona. As of Tuesday afternoon, most spots had Arizona (10-3 SU, 5-8 ATS) listed as a three-point favorite with a total of 68. Gamblers can back the Broncos on the money line for a +135 return (risk $100 to win $135).


-- Boise State (11-2 SU, 7-6 ATS) has won eight in a row with all of those victories coming by margins of nine points or more. The Broncos were underdogs just once this year, losing 35-13 to Ole Miss as a 9.5-point 'dog in the season opener in Atlanta at the Georgia Dome. They faced 10 bowl-bound opponents, winning eight of those contests. BSU's other loss besides Ole Miss came at Air Force (28-14) on Sept. 27.


-- Boise State is back at the Fiesta Bowl for the first time since beating TCU 17-10 in 2009 as a seven-point underdog. Of course, the Broncos played in arguably the greatest Fiesta Bowl ever. They beat Oklahoma in Adrian Peterson's final collegiate game thanks to a remarkable last-minute drive that was capped by a two-point conversion that saw Ian Johnson score on a masterfully-executed Statue-of-Liberty play.


-- BSU saw its four-game winning streak in bowl games snapped last year when it lost 38-23 to Oregon State in the Hawaii Bowl.


-- Rich Rodriguez earned Pac-12 Coach of the Year honors after leading UA to the league title game and a 10-2 regular-season record. The Wildcats' only regular-season setbacks came at home to USC (28-26) and at UCLA (17-7). In both of those defeats, the kicking game let them down or those results could've gone differently.


-- R-Rod's squad had its best wins at Oregon (31-24), at Utah (42-10) and vs. Arizona State (42-35).


-- Arizona's offense was led by QB Anu Solomon and RB Nick Wilson. Solomon enjoyed a stellar freshman campaign, completing 58.0 percent of his passes for 3,458 yards with a 27/7 TD-INT ratio. Solomon also rushed for 259 yards and one score. Wilson rushed for 1,289 yards and 15 TDs, averaging 5.9 YPC. He also had 12 receptions for 90 yards and one TD.


-- Solomon's favorite target is Cayleb Jones, who hauled in 65 receptions for 902 yards and nine TDs. Samajie Grant, who missed the Pac-12 Championship Game due to a suspension, is back for the bowl game. Grant had 41 catches for 649 yards and five TDs.


-- Arizona struggled in five games as a single-digit 'chalk,' limping to a 1-4 spread record.


-- BSU is coming off a 28-14 win over Fresno State in the Mountain West Championship Game. The Broncos had the benefit of playing the Bulldogs at home on the smurf turf, but they failed to cover the number as 22.5-point favorites. QB Grant Hedrick rushed for 81 yards and a pair of TDs.


-- Boise State is led by RB Jay Ajayi, who rushed for 1,705 yards and 25 TDs while averaging 5.2 YPC. Ajayi also caught 45 balls for 536 yards and four TDs.


-- Hedrick connected on 70.9 percent of his throws for 3,387 yards with a 22/13 TD-INT ratio. Hedrick has run for 563 yards and eight TDs. When he drops back to pass, his favorite target is Shane Williams-Rhodes, who had 698 receptions for 585 yards and seven TDs.


-- Arizona is bowling for a third straight season under Rodriguez. The Wildcats have won both previous postseason contests, including last year's 42-19 blitzing of Boston College as seven-point 'chalk' at the AdvoCare V100 Bowl.


--The 'over' has hit in seven straight games for BSU to improve to 9-4 overall.


--The 'under' is 9-4 overall for the Wildcats, 5-1 in its last six games.


-- ESPN will provide television coverage at 4:00 p.m. Eastern.


**Georgia Tech vs. Mississippi State**


--Mississippi State and Georgia Tech are poised to square off on New Year's Eve at the Orange Bowl. Both of these schools enjoyed banner seasons, but both squads come into this contest in bounce-back mode. As of Tuesday afternoon, most books had Mississippi State (10-2 SU, ATS) installed as a 6.5-point favorite with a total of 61. Gamblers can back the Yellow Jackets to win outright for a +210 return (risk $100 to win $210).


-- Dak Prescott was the catalyst for Dan Mullen's team as it won its first nine games, including three straight wins over then-Top-10 opponents when it won at LSU (34-29), vs. Texas A&Mm (48-31) and vs. Auburn (38-23). The 9-0 start was halted when the Bulldogs dropped a 25-20 decision at Alabama as 10-point road underdogs.


-- Mississippi State bounced back from the loss to 'Bama to smash Vandy by a 51-0 count as a 29.5-point home favorite. Prescott threw three TD passes without an interception and also ran for a score.


-- After beating Vandy, Mississippi State went to Oxford for the Egg Bowl and lost 31-17 as a 2.5-point road favorite. Prescott connected on 22-of-37 throws for 282 yard and one TD without an interception. He also ran for 48 yards and one TD.


-- For the season, Prescott completed 61.2 percent of his passes for 2,996 yards with a 24/10 TD-INT ratio. The Louisiana native also rushed for 939 yards and 13 scores.


-- MSU junior RB Josh Robinson had a breakout season, rushing for 1,128 yards and 11 TDs while averaging 6.4 YPC. Robinson also had 28 catches for 370 yards and one TD. De'Runnya Wilson had a team-best 38 receptions for 575 yards and seven TDs.


-- Georgia Tech (10-3 SU, 9-4 ATS) has covered the spread in six straight games, but it had its five-game winning streak (SU) snapped in a 37-35 loss to FSU at the ACC Championship Game. However, the Yellow Jackets got the backdoor cover for their backers by scoring a TD with 1:47 remaining. They covered as 3.5-point 'dogs thanks to a 25-yard scoring strike from Justin Thomas to Darren Waller.


-- Georgia Tech has struggled mightily in bowl games during Paul Johnson's seven-year tenure. The Jackets are 1-5 both SU and ATS in six postseason appearances. The lone victory came over USC by a 21-7 count at the Sun Bowl two seasons ago.


-- Georgia Tech has been an underdog five times this year, compiling a 5-1 spread record with four outright wins at Virginia Tech, at Pitt and vs. Clemson, and vs. Georgia.


-- Georgia Tech is ranked third in the nation in rushing yards, averaging 333.6 yards per conteState Thomas, the sophomore signal caller, rushed for a team-high 965 yards and five TDs while averaging 5.5 YPC. Zach Laskey ran for 788 yards and nine TDs.


-- Unlike in recent seasons, Georgia Tech has a legit aerial attack. Thomas has connected on only 50.9 percent of his throws for 1,594 yards, but he has an outstanding 17/5 TD-INT ratio. Unfortunately for the Jackets, they are without leading WR DeAndre Smelter, who suffered a season-ending injury in late November. Smelter had a team-best 35 catches for 715 yards and seven TDs.


-- The 'over' has hit at a 7-6 overall clip for Georgia Tech.


-- MSU has seen the 'under' cash in three straight games to improve to 7-5 overall.


-- ESPN will have the broadcast at 8:00 p.m. Eastern.

 

[CNOTES]

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 31


Matchup Skinny Tech Trend

OLE MISS vs. TCU (Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl)...
Hugh Freeze broke recent 4-game spread losing streak in Egg Bowl. Prior, he had been 34-12 vs. number at Ark State & Ole Miss since 2011. Freeze 2-0 as dog Ty and 10-4 in role since 2010. Rebs have also covered last two bowls. TCU, however, 10-2 vs. line this season, though only two Ls came away from home. Frogs 0-5 vs. line last five bowls.
Ole Miss, based on team trends.

BOISE STATE vs. ARIZONA (Fiesta Bowl)...
Boise no covers last two bowls, but covered last 3 vs. non-MW this season. Rich-Rod just 4-7 vs. spread last 11 as chalk and 5-6 last 11 vs. number away from Tucson.
Slight to Boise State, based on team trends.

GEORGIA TECH vs. MISSISSIPPI STATE (Orange Bowl)...
Paul Johnson 9-4 vs. line in 2014 including six straight covers to close the season. Also four straight covers as dog and 5-1 in role in 2014. But Johnson only 1-5 vs. line in bowls with GT, which is 1-6 vs. spread last seven bowls. MSU just 2-4 vs. line down stretch in 2014. Dan Mullen 3-1 SU, 2-2 vs. line in bowls with MSU.
GT, based on recent trends.

 

[CNOTES]

Wisconsin Bowl History


December 30, 2014


Jan. 1, 2014 Capital One Bowl - South Carolina 34, Wisconsin 24


Jan. 1, 2013 Rose Bowl - Stanford 20, Wisconsin 14


Jan. 2, 2012 Rose Bowl - Oregon 45, Wisconsin 38


Jan. 1, 2011 Rose Bowl - TCU 21, Wisconsin 19


Dec. 29, 2009 Champs Sports Bowl - Wisconsin 20, Miami 14


Dec. 27, 2008 Champs Sports Bowl - Florida St. 42, Wisconsin 13


Jan. 1, 2008 Outback Bowl - Tennessee 21, Wisconsin 17

 

[CNOTES]

NCAAF
Armadillo's Write-Up

Bowl Season

Orange Bowl, Miami 12/31
Georgia Tech lost four of last five bowls, scoring 17.2 ppg; extra time to prep helps against one-dimensional option attack. Tech lost this game to Iowa 24-14 (-6) five years ago. Johnson is 3-7 in bowl games. Miss State was #1 in country as late as mid-November; they lost two of last three games overall after 9-0 start. State won four of last five bowls (Mullen won three of four bowls); they're 3-1 in games with single digit spread. Tech is 7-2 in such games. Jackets covered last six games, scored 30+ in six of last seven games. Think grass field helps Miss State, slower track, less precise. Underdogs are 3-2 in last five Orange Bowls.

Fiesta Bowl, Glendale AZ 12/31
Arizona is 6-1 this season in games decided by 7 or less points, they're 4-4 in games with single digit spread. RichRod is 4-4 in bowls, but 2-0 with Arizona, winning 49-48/42-19 last two years. Boise State scored an average of 47.8 ppg in winning last eight games after loss at Air Force in October had them at 3-2; they're 4-0 in games with a single digit spread, also won four of last five bowls, losing to Oregon St. LY. Boise State beat TCU 17-10 (+7) in this game five years ago, also had their famous upset of Oklahoma here eight years ago. Dogs are 3-2 vs spread in Fiesta Bowl last five years, with three of last four going over total.

Peach Bowl, Atlanta 12/31
TCU thinks they got hosed out of 4-team playoff; they're right, but as far as this game goes, will Horned Frogs come to play? Its only question in this game that matters. SEC opponent figures to motivate them, no? Ole Miss won/covered its last five bowl games, allowing 10.3 ppg in last three; TCU is 3-2 in last five bowls (0-5 vs spread), scoring only 19 ppg, with all five decided by 7 or less points. Ole Miss lost three of last five games after a 7-0 start; this is consolation prize. Underdogs covered three of last four Peach Bowls; SEC teams lost three of last four visits here; they're 4-1 in bowls so far this month, 22-8 in last 30 overall.

 

[CNOTES]

NCAAF

Wednesday, December 31

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Chick-Fil-A Bowl Betting Preview: Ole Miss vs. TCU
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Mississippi Rebels vs. TCU Horned Frogs (-3.5, 56.5)

Game to be played at Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia

1. The biggest challenge facing TCU when it competes in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl may not be the talented Ole Miss team across the line, but overcoming the disappointment of being left out of the inaugural College Football Playoff. The Horned Frogs were third in the penultimate CFP rankings, but plummeted out of the top four when Ohio State's 59-0 victory over Wisconsin in the Big Ten title game trumped TCU's 55-3 thrashing of Iowa State in its regular-season finale. "We need to move on,” Horned Frogs coach Gary Patterson told reporters. “The players want to finish this season like they started. They’re excited about coming to Atlanta.”

2. The Rebels were part of the CFP equation and were No. 3 in the USA Today Coaches Poll after starting 7-0, but back-to-back losses to LSU (10-7) and Auburn (35-31) ended their championship dreams, so they could be in a better place than the Horned Frogs mentally. "To be one of the first teams chosen in the New Year's six bowls and to come to a place that is extremely dear to us in Atlanta and particularly the Peach Bowl … we're honored," Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze told reporters. The Rebels' season ends in the same venue it began as they opened 2014 with a 35-13 victory over Boise State at the Georgia Dome on Aug. 28.

3. The Peach Bowl features the No. 1 scoring defense in Ole Miss (13.8 points per game) against TCU's No. 2 scoring offense (46.8). The Horned Frogs are led by junior dual-threat quarterback Trevone Boykin, a second-team All-America selection, who finished fourth in the Heisman Trophy voting, while senior defensive back Senquez Golson (second in the nation with nine interceptions) stars for the Rebels. “I don’t think it can get any better than it is right now,” Boykin told reporters about TCU's attack.

TV: 12:30 p.m. ET, ESPN.

LINE HISTORY: After opening at TCU -3.5, the line has since bounced between -3 and -3.5. The total opened at 56.5 and has dropped to 56 at some books.

INJURY REPORT: Ole Miss - OL Aaron Morris (Out-Knee) TCU - WR Kolby Listenbee (Ques-Concussion), RB B.J. Catalon (Qut-Upper Body), DL Mike Tuana (Out-Shoulder)

ABOUT OLE MISS (9-3 SU, 7-4-1 ATS, 2-9 O/U): Senior quarterback Bo Wallace tossed for 3,085 yards and 22 touchdowns while leading an offense that averages 30.4 points, but threw 11 interceptions and was sacked 26 times. While Golson patrols the secondary, freshman defensive end Marquis Haynes boasts a team-best 7.5 sacks while junior defensive back Mike Hilton leads the Rebels in tackles (66) and solo tackles (44). The Rebels play in a bowl game for the third straight season and have won six straight, including 25-17 over Georgia Tech in last year's Music City Bowl and 38-17 over Pittsburgh in the BBVA Compass Bowl to end the 2012 season.

ABOUT TCU (11-1 SU, 10-2 ATS, 8-4 O/U): Boykin passed for 3,714 yards and 30 touchdowns while rushing for 642 yards and eight scores, and will likely be the preseason Heisman favorite in 2015. Juniors Aaron Green (team-best 854 yards, eight TDs) and B.J. Catalon (team-high 10 touchdowns) help power the running game while juniors Josh Doctson (16.3 yards per 59 catches and nine TDs) and Deante' Gray (16.6 yards per 34 receptions, eight TDs) are Boykin's favorite targets. The Horned Frogs return to the postseason after not playing in a bowl game last season for only the second time in 16 years.

TRENDS:

*Rebels are 6-0-1 ATS in their last 7 neutral site games.
*Horned Frogs are 8-1 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.
*Under is 12-2 in Rebels last 14 games overall.
*Over is 4-1 in Horned Frogs last 5 games on fieldturf.

CONSENSUS: 70.18 percent of users are backing TCU -3.5, with 68.3 percent on the over.

 

[CNOTES]

NCAAF

Wednesday, December 31

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Fiesta Bowl betting preview: Boise State vs. Arizona
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Boise State Broncos vs. Arizona Wildcats (-3, 67.5)

Game to be played at University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona

Rich Rodriguez has gone from an ostracized failure at Michigan to a beloved figure at Arizona as he guides the No. 11 Wildcats against No. 21 Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, Ariz., on Dec. 31. Rodriguez was fired as Wolverines coach after the 2010 season and Michigan is again looking for a coach while Rodriguez was named Pac-12 Coach of the Year after winning 10 games in his third season. The Broncos are coached by Bryan Harsin, who had an 11-2 record in his first season as coach after replacing Chris Petersen.

Boise State landed the Fiesta Bowl bid as the highest-ranked team from the five minor FBS conferences. The College Football Playoff guaranteed a spot to the best team from the non-major leagues and the Broncos captured the berth with eight consecutive victories, the final one coming against Fresno State in the Mountain West title game. Boise State is no stranger to the Fiesta Bowl, notching the famous 43-42 overtime upset of Oklahoma following the 2006 regular season and also defeated TCU 17-10 after the 2009 season.

Arizona middle linebacker Scooby Wright owns more hardware than anyone else in this contest after winning the Bednarik and Nagurski awards as the nation’s top defensive player and the Lombardi Award (top defensive lineman or linebacker) as well as being named a first-team All-American. The sophomore amassed 153 tackles and has 14 sacks among his eye-popping 28 tackles for losses. “He has a chip on his shoulder, he loves the game and is a good teammate,” Rodriguez said of Wright in a statement. “One of the reasons his numbers are so high is because of his effort.”

TV: 4 p.m. ET, ESPN.

LINE HISTORY: Arizona opened as 4-point favorites and have been bet down to -3. The total has moved down two points from its opening number of 69.5 to sit at 67.5.

INJURY REPORT: Boise State - TE Connor Peters (questionable Wednesday, leg). Arizona - LB DeAndre Miller (questionable Wednesday, shoulder), RB Adonis Smith (questionable Wednesday, concussion), DL Parker Zellers (questionable Wednesday, ankle), S Trevor Ermisch (questionable Wednesday, arm), OL Steven Gurola (questionable Wednesday, suspension).

WEATHER REPORT: Indoors.

ABOUT BOISE STATE (11-2, 7-6 ATS, 9-4 O/U): The Broncos have a big-time running back in Jay Ajayi, who has rushed for 1,689 yards and 25 touchdowns – topping 100 yards nine times – and also has four receiving TDs. Quarterback Grant Hedrick has an impressive 70.9 completion percentage to go with 3,387 yards and 22 touchdowns but also is mistake-prone with 13 interceptions. Strong safety Darian Thompson (seven) and cornerback Donte Deayon (five) have combined for 12 of Boise State’s 20 interceptions with middle linebacker Tanner Vallejo (team-best 86 tackles) and outside linebacker Kamalei Correa (team-leading 10 sacks) also enjoying strong campaigns.

ABOUT ARIZONA (10-3, 5-8 ATS, 4-9 O/U): Quarterback Anu Solomon proved to be ready for duty as a freshman and he has excelled with 3,458 yards and 27 touchdowns against only seven interceptions. Nick Wilson was the main ground force with 1,289 yards and 15 touchdowns and Cayleb Jones is the top receiving target and caught 65 passes for 902 yards and nine touchdowns. Wright gets help on defense from safety Jared Tevis (119 tackles, four sacks), free safety Jourdon Grandon (team-high three interceptions) and safety William Parks (13 tackles for losses).

TRENDS:

* Boise State is 1-4 ATS in its last five games versus the Pac-12.
* Arizona is 1-4 ATS in its last five neutral site games.
* Over is 7-1 in Boise State's last eight games overall.
* Under is 5-1 in Arizona's last six games overall.

CONSENSUS: The majority of bettors are backing the Broncos at -3, with 68 percent of the wagers placed on Boise State.

 

[CNOTES]

NCAAF

Wednesday, December 31

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Orange Bowl betting preview: Mississippi State vs. Georgia Tech
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Mississippi State Bulldogs vs. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (+7, 61.5)

Game to be played at Sun Life Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida

1. In a season full of firsts, No. 8 Mississippi State would like nothing more than to add another by defeating No. 9 Georgia Tech for the first time in five meetings at the Capital One Orange Bowl. The Bulldogs lost two of their last three games to put a bit of a damper on their most successful season in school history, which included two other firsts – a 9-0 start and No. 1 ranking in the polls. The Yellow Jackets nearly knocked off three straight ranked opponents to end the regular season, losing only to No. 2 Florida State in the ACC championship game.

2. Mississippi State quarterback Dak Prescott became only the second Bulldog to earn Heisman Trophy votes – finishing eighth – and broke 10 individual school records in 2014, including total offense (3,935 yards), touchdowns responsible for (37) and rushing yards by a quarterback (939). The Louisiana native joined 2012 Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel as the only players in FBS over the last seven years to average at least 240 passing yards and 75 rushing yards in a season. Prescott was also the only player in the nation to rank in the top 20 in passing (24) and rushing touchdowns (13).

3. Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson has typically employed at least one size-speed mismatch at receiver since his arrival in 2008 (such as Demaryius Thomas and Stephen Hill) to balance out his team’s high-powered option offense. Leading receiver DeAndre Smelter (6-3, 225 pounds) was the latest in that line of pass-catchers before he tore his ACL against Georgia on Nov. 29. With Smelter sidelined, it will be up to 6-5, 232-pound senior Darren Waller to produce like he did in the ACC championship (five catches for 73 yards and a touchdown).

TV: 8 p.m. ET, ESPN.

LINE HISTORY: The line opened as GT +7. The line briefly dropped to +6.5 before reverting back to GT +7. The total has jumped a full point from 60.5 at opening to 61.5.

INJURY REPORT: MSST - DB Cedric Jiles (Ques-Hamstring), DB Justin Cox (Ques-Suspension) GT - WR DeAndre Smelter (Out-Knee), RB Tony Zenon (Out-Knee), LB Jabari Hunt-Days (Ques-Eligibility)

ABOUT MISSISSIPPI STATE (10-2 SU, 7-5 ATS, 5-7 O/U): Prescott was far from a one-man show on offense, getting a lot of help from leading receiver De'Runnya Wilson, who averaged 88.6 yards and scored four times through the air in the Bulldogs’ five games against ranked opponents. Although Mississippi State is ranked 80th in total defense, it has stepped up when it has mattered the most, finishing the regular season first in FBS in red-zone, 10th in scoring and 13th in third-down defense. One of the key members of the unit is second-team All-American linebacker Benardrick McKinney, who tallied 61 tackles and three sacks.

ABOUT GEORGIA TECH (10-3 SU, 9-47 ATS, 7-6 O/U): The Yellow Jackets’ third-ranked rushing attack piled up 41 touchdowns, helping Georgia Tech break its school record for touchdowns in a season with 65. Sophomore quarterback Justin Thomas blossomed in his first year as a starter, tying Joe Hamilton for the fifth-most touchdown passes in a season in school history (17) and needs 35 rushing yards to become the second Georgia Tech quarterback to rush for 1,000 yards in a season. Like Thomas, running backs Zach Laskey (788) and Synjyn Days (753) have amassed more than 700 yards on the ground, headlining a group of 12 Yellow Jackets that have totaled more than 100.

TRENDS:

*Bulldogs are 12-5 ATS in their last 17 games overall.
*Yellow Jackets are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 games overall.
*Under is 4-1 in Bulldogs last 5 neutral site games.
*Over is 6-1 in Yellow Jackets last 7 games following a S.U. loss.

CONSENSUS: 51.23 percent of users are behind Mississippi State -7, with 50.2 percent on the over.