Monday 12/22/14 service plays chatter/comps/requests & other stuff...

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Basketball Betting: Streaks, Tips, Notes

Toronto Raptors at Chicago Bulls December 22, 08:00 EST

Eastern Conference leading Toronto Raptors head to the United Center to gain a measure of revenge. The Raptors were upended 100-93 as 2.5 point home favorite when the teams met north of the border in November. History shows that Toronto is more than capable of making that happen. Raptors 8-3 ATS on the road this season hit the hardwood 12-2 ATS last 14 meetings in Chicago. It's also noteworthy that Raptors are 5-1 ATS this season playing on 0 days rest and that Bulls are a money-burning 3-6 as home favorite this season, 8-14 last 22 as home chalk. One final betting nugget. Bulls tend to suffer Monday blues as they're 7-12 ATS opening a week.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Northfield: Monday 12/22 Analysis + Pick Four ticket
By Jeremey Day

DRF HARNESS

Race 8 - $10,000 Guaranteed Pick Four Pool

Jeremey’s $1 Pick Four Play:

1,2,3,4 / 8 / 5,6 / 4 = $8


Best Bet: COUNT ME IN (9th)

Spot Play: MARYS DARVIN (6th)


Race 1

(1) YANKEE DOODLE JIM gets sent out for new connections first start and should be better from the rail. (2) ORSE POWER was a game winner last week and keeps a top driver. (3) POWER ROCK raced well from a tough spot last out; threat.

Race 2

(5) EDIT picks up a huge driver change down in class. (1) VICTORY CANDY MAN was the top driver's choice and has the gate speed to secure a nice trip up close. (9) SENOR GLIDE drops down in class and should be primed for a better effort after a year layoff.

Race 3

(3) FOREVER GOOD has been facing tougher and just needs a trouble-free trip. (1) THISWAYORTHEHIGHWWY gelding has been knocking on the door and looks to be ready for a big effort from the rail. (5) TOLEDO BEND GATOR can crank it up late and just needs a fast pace to close into for a chance late.

Race 4

(3) HEZA RUBE four-year-old gelding is really fast when he stays trotting. (2) TEAM ZORDIN has been giving good efforts hitting the board at a high percentage. (4) ANNIE'S ROCKETMAN morning line favorite makes his first start off a six week layoff but did put in an excellent qualifier and adds first time lasix.

Race 5

(6) JAGGER BLUE CHIP has been on a big roll and will look to get to the top early. (1) TEST OF WILL gets sent out for a hot barn and should get a crack at the top choice late. (2) CRAIG MICHAEL should offer a big price and can hit the ticket underneath with some racing luck.

Race 6

(2) MARY'S DARVIN picks back up the regular pilot and is better than this group with an honest pace to close into. (9) MAGICAL VICTORY has been improved over the last few months and should get a good spot out of the gate; threat. (1) NORMAS ROSE mare isn't what she used to be, but is capable of trotting a good mile.

Race 7

(1) CHARLIE B has shown the ability to pace big miles and gets the top driver with the best post. (3) LITE ME UP eleven-year-old stallion makes his second start off a layoff and was competitive against much better earlier in the year. (2) BALLISTIC TIP owns a big burst of speed and drops in class.

Race 8

(1) ROSSRIDGE HANDSOME picks back up the better driver and will be used very aggressively from the best post. (2) BOLERO ANDREW has been on fire for the current connections; threat. (3) ART'S ON FIRE has raced well in the series and just needs a smooth trip for another in the money finish.

Race 9

(8) COUNT ME IN gets sent out for the top trainer in the country for the first time. The connections are lethal in this scenario. (6) THE NORTHERN DUDE nice-looking trotter won't have to work as hard to get an early lead. (7) VICTORY IS COMING was much improved with the top pilot but will need much more to compete with the top choice.

Race 10

(6) ARTIST NIGHT four-year-old pacer gets a post edge on most of his main rivals. (5) P L DRAGON was the driver's choice coming off a big effort. (8) FANCY CREEK ELUSIV will look to make it three straight but will need more from a tough post; use underneath

Race 11

(4) RUSTY'S NO FOOL will be tough to beat with an easy early lead; big chance. (5) IN A CRAZE comes into the race off a nice victory out east and is one of few threats to the top choice. (7) LITTLE PRINCE has been knocking on the door for a hot trainer but has a lot of work to do.

Race 12

(6) WHIT six-year-old stallion has been improving in a new barn and should offer fair value. (9) SOUTH JERSEY HONEY trotting mare takes a good drop in class and was a game winner at this level a few starts ago. (3) WILD RIDE gets a negative barn change and will likely offer low value; command a price.

Race 13

(2) TRUE TO MACH drops out of the Open where he was competitive the start prior. (1) GREAT AMERICAN sophomore pacer has been on a roll but will need to step his game up against better. (4) LOST JEWELS gelding has the ability and just needs a good setup for a chance at a piece late.

Race 14

(9) ACTION METRO MAX finally gets some post relief and should be a big player at this level. (4) FANTASY PAN gelding makes his third start in a hot barn and just missed last out. (3) CAMART HANOVER gelding keeps the top driver in a wide open race.

Race 15

(9) IRA'S BIG GUY has been unstoppable at this level in his last two; short price. (2) MASTER STROKE gelding looks terrible on paper but has had some tough racing luck in his last two. (1) WINYARD HANOVER makes his second start back off a layoff and adds first time lasix.

Race 16

(3) BOILER BREES gets a monster driver change and also gets sent out first start for a hot trainer. (1) DANGER HI JOLTAGE steps up in class after a dominating wire to wire win; fires early. (2) MAJIK MASTER is one of few who's been competitive at this level and should offer a big price.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

College Football Bowl Betting Bible: Book I - Capping Thy Coaches
By JASON LOGAN

The names are different but the situations stay the same.

Each college football bowl season, select teams pack their bags and head off for their postseason matchup, giving sports bettors a fresh set of intriguing non-conference competitions. While there is an aura of the unknown when it comes to bowl teams – these programs don’t know much about each other – football bettors can find familiarity – and value – looking for teams in these certain situations.

We break down some of the important factors to figure into your bowl betting this December with our Bowl Betting Bible.

BOOK I: CAPPING THY COACHES

One of the biggest differences between wagering on college and professional sports is the impact of the coaching. In the college ranks, these coaches are the molders of young men and build a program from the bottom up, having a bigger influence on how the game is played. Oddsmakers factor coaching into the lines in college sports more than any other option.

That’s why it’s such a big deal when coaches are swapped out just before bowl season. Whether it be a coach taking a new job and leaving his former team in the hands of his assistants or a team firing its coach just before the postseason and pretty much hoping for the best in the bowl game. Bettors can find added value when handicapping the turnover on the sidelines.

“Teams and players often rally behind a new coach or departing coach, while other times players and teams are disappointed and provide a weak effort,” says Steve Merril.

Wisconsin is one team undergoing a transformation in the coaching department. The Badgers were stunned when Gary Andersen decided to leave Madison for Oregon State, putting the team and its Outback Bowl battle with Auburn (Wisconsin is a 6.5-point underdog) in the hands of Barry Alvarez.

This is familiar territory for Alvarez, who stepped in for the departed Bret Bielema in 2012 and coached Wisconsin to a loss versus Stanford in the Rose Bowl. The Badgers are coming off a terrible loss to Ohio State in the Big Ten title game and are dealing with another punch to the stomach following Anderson’s departure. These letdowns could be a lot for Wisconsin to overcome as a program.

Another school swapping out head coaches is Florida, which canned Will Muschamp after another disappointing season. The Gators fired Muschamp following a Week 12 loss to South Carolina and left the team in the hands of defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin.

The team rallied around Durkin, going 1-1 SU and 2-0 ATS including a near upset of Florida State in the finale. Programs are courting Durkin and a solid performance versus East Carolina in the Birmingham Bowl on Jan. 3 could help him land a new gig. The Gators are touchdown favorites over the Pirates.

The situation is a little different for another Florida program bowling after a down year. The Miami Hurricanes, coming off a 6-6 campaign, are 3-point favorites over South Carolina in the Independence Bowl on Dec, 27.

Head coach Al Golden has been the target of animosity from the Coral Gables faithful heading into bowl season, but the athletics department has given Golden the vote of confidence. Players have also come to Golden’s aid, and could hold his job in their hands this postseason. The ax may not fall right away but if push comes to shove, one of the first things an AD will do is size up a coach’s bowl record. Golden lost to Louisville in the 2013 Russell Athletic Bowl, 36-9, as a 5.5-point underdog. He’s only been to two bowls in four years at Miami despite being eligible each season.

Here are teams undergoing changes at head coach this bowl season: Colorado State, Florida, Houston, Nebraska, Wisconsin.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

College Football Bowl Betting Bible: Book II - Motivation
By JASON LOGAN

BOOK 2: DO NOT PLACE MONEY WITHOUT KNOWING MOTIVATION

Bowl season is many things to many teams.

To some, it’s the culmination of a hard-fought season. To others, it’s a relief from years of losing. And to a few programs, it’s a reminder of missed opportunities and wasted potential. Understanding the mindset of a bowl team is paramount before placing any bets.

“Which teams are just happy to be playing in a bowl and which ones are serious about winning?,” says Sean Murphy. “It is important not to write off teams that are disappointed by the bowl game they've drawn, as sometimes that perceived snub can result in a team playing with a big chip on their shoulder and can serve as a motivating factor.”

No bigger snub was dished out this bowl season than that of the Big 12 when it came to the Final Four teams for the first ever College Football Playoff. Baylor and TCU (which was ranked third in the CFB rankings heading into the final game of the season) were left out of the playoffs and handed big-name bowl matchups instead.

Baylor, which has only one loss to West Virginia and a win over TCU, settled for a showdown with Michigan State in the Cotton Bowl (BU -3). The Horned Frogs aren’t even playing on New Year’s Day, facing 9-3 Ole Miss in the Peach Bowl on Dec. 31 (TCU -3).

Bettors must determine whether or not these Big 12 programs try to prove the playoff committee wrong by rolling their bowl opponents or if they'll come out flat, disappointed with a season gone sour based on the opinion of a bunch of NCAA suits.

Alabama suffered from a major letdown in bowl season last year. The Crimson Tide were booked into the national title game until the stunning upset to Auburn in the Iron Bowl. Alabama never overcame that loss or the disappointment, and was rolled by Oklahoma 45-31 as a 17-point favorite in the Sugar Bowl.

Motivation just isn’t reserved for the big boys, though. Programs that barely qualified for bowl eligibility and still earned a berth in a postseason game can often times feel a sense of accomplishment. Art Aronson calls these “Just glad to be there” teams, and has his eye on one program in particular this bowl season.

“This might take some digging, but there are teams which are just happy to be aboard the gravy train,” says Aronson. “Coaches get a little more job security and players get to brag when they go home for semester break. With dozens of games, it’s a win-win for everyone.”

He points to the UL Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns and their bowl matchup with Nevada in the New Orleans Bowl, with oddmakers setting them as 1-point favorites. The Ragin’ Cajuns went 8-4 SU on the season but don’t have any notable wins on their resume and recently lost to FCS Appalachian State, 35-16 at home as 8-point favorites.

Bettors must also measure the motivation of teams that are ending an extended bowl drought, and determine whether they're feeling a false sense of accomplishment – bound for a letdown – or using that big stage to push the program even further up the food chain.

The Memphis Tigers earned a postseason showcase for the first time since 2008 after going 9-3 this season, and are 1-point favorites against BYU in the Miami Beach Bowl. The Cougars, however, have been bowling for 10 straight years, going 6-3 SU in the previous nine postseason games, and are used to the bright lights of bowl season.

South Alabama is another program that is in unfamiliar territory. The Jaguars have cracked a bowl game for first time since jumping from the FCS to FBS six years ago, and are tagged as 2.5-point favorites versus Bowling Green in the inaugural Camellia Bowl. While they could be ripe for a letdown, South Alabama is making the two-hour drive to Montgomery and should have a strong home-field edge at the Cramton Bowl.

One of the most underlying motivational capping tools is finding a team playing in the same bowl as it did last season. The 2013-14 bowl schedule finds Arkansas State back in the GoDaddy Bowl, set as a 3-point underdog to Toledo. The Red Wolves will have played in four straight GoDaddy Bowls in Mobile, Alabama, including last season’s on Jan. 5, edging Ball State 23-20 as 6.5-point underdogs. They’re 2-1 SU and ATS in their three GoDaddy Bowl appearances.

“Teams returning to the same minor bowl game they played in last year tend to become dis-interested,” notes Marc Lawrence.

Another program that may not be all that excited for its bowl matchup is San Diego State, which is set to appear in the Poinsettia Bowl for the third time in five years. The Aztecs, who are 3-point favorites versus Navy, are pretty much playing a home game in Qualcomm Stadium. These teams played in the 2010 Poinsettia Bowl, with SDSU winning 35-14 as a field-goal favorite.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

College Football Bowl Betting Bible: Book III - The Waiting Game
By JASON LOGAN

BOOK III: TIME BETWEEN BOWLS GIVETH AND TAKETH AWAY

The Ravages of time. Idle hands do the Devil’s work. Time, time time… is my on my side - yes it is!

All three phrases have everything to do with the time between a college football team’s final game of the regular season and it postseason bowl appearance.

Some programs are thrust right into the bowl schedule with a small break between the finale, finals and the bowl game. Other teams are collecting dust for almost a month while they prepare for their year-end showcase.

“The long layoff - several weeks - before the game is played can often lead to bizarre over or under-performance by teams involved,” says Steve Merril.

A team that gained momentum late in the year may not have that same mojo working for them in bowl season, thanks to the extended hiatus. Depending on the break between games, programs could be completely different come game day and that opens up a lot of value to go against with oddsmakers setting these lines based on their past accomplishments.

The gap between the end of the regular season to the bowl game can be more than a month, so what difference does it make if a team won its last six in a row?” asks Art Aronson.

He points to the Central Florida Knights as an example. They closed the regular season with four straight victories, going 4-0 ATS in that span, but have now been sitting idle for more than three weeks (last game on Dec. 4) before facing North Carolina State as 2-point favorites in the St. Petersburg Bowl on Dec. 26.

“Central Florida, which somehow managed to lose to Connecticut, gives two points to N.C. State, which played a much tougher schedule and still won three of its last four,” notes Aronson.

The gap between season finale and bowl game, however, can also work in a team’s favor. A late-season swoon or a rash of injuries toward the end of the year can be remedied by a few weeks off.

One program that is relishing the bowl break is Penn State. The Nittany Lions dropped their final two games of the schedule – losing to Illinois and Michigan State – and finished with 2-6 SU and 2-5-1 ATS in the last eight games.

Penn State is slated to face Boston College in the Pinstripe Bowl on Dec. 27, giving head coach James Franklin plenty of time to study his opponent and get his players in the right frame of mind for what will be the program’s first bowl appearance since the Sandusky scandal. Not only is PSU anxious to turn the page on that ugly chapter but the time off will allow LB Brandon Bell to return from a shoulder injury. He missed the final two games of the season and is an important cog to the Nittany Lions’ running defense.

Some other programs returning key players thanks to the time off are Oklahoma and QB Trevor Knight, as well as Marshall and RB Devon Johnson.

Knight suffered a neck injury versus Baylor on Nov. 8 but with the Sooners not taking the field against Clemson in the Russell Athletic Bowl until Dec. 29 – and Knight cleared to play – OU’s offense could be back in top form by then. He passed for 2,197 yards and 14 touchdowns before getting hurt.

The Thundering Herd should have their biggest weapon back at full strength after running back Devon Johnson was limited down the home stretch. Johnson, who rushed for 1,636 yards and 18 touchdowns, was nursing a bum shoulder and saw his workload trimmed significantly in the final two games of the year. Marshall is a 10-point favorite against Northern Illinois in the Boca Raton Bowl on Dec. 23.

But while the bowl break has allowed those teams – and many others – to heal up, other programs are wishing the postseason game would just get here already. Every bowl season is plagued with news of player suspensions, from either academics or off-field issues, as well as player injuries suffered in the limited practices allowed during bowl prep.

Arkansas threw the book at two important members of its secondary last week, suspending corner Carroll Washington and safety Rohan Gaines for violating team policy. Both were regular rotation players for the Razorbacks defense. Arkansas is a 6-point favorite facing Texas in the Texas Bowl on Dec. 29.

These will likely not be the only suspensions handed out between now and the end of bowl season. With finals over and classes done, as well as practices limited by NCAA rules, players don’t have the same structured schedule to keep them busy and out of trouble. And trips home over the holidays have been the catalyst for many suspensions with players getting into fights and violating team rules while visiting with friends and family.

Last season, Oregon’s top tight end Pharaoh Brown was suspended for the Alamo Bowl for his role in a snowball fight on campus. An online video captured the hijinks, which included pelting cars with snow as well as hitting a professor with snowballs and dumping snow through the car window.

On the injury front, Tennessee lost one of its top targets in wide receiver Jason Croom, who injured his knee in practice last Sunday. Croom caught 21 balls for 305 yards and was tied for the team lead with four receiving touchdowns. This injury is especially tough for the Volunteers, who have already lost four members of the receiving corps to injury this season. Tennessee is a 3.5-point favorite over Iowa in the TaxSlayer Bowl on Jan. 2.

Local media are usually the first sources to report on these issues, so keeping a close ear to the ground and anticipating either injury or disciplinary news is the best way to stay ahead of the bookmakers during the bowl break.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

71 need-to-know betting notes for 71 college football bowl teams
By KEVIN CAUSEY

With the holidays heating up, you might not have time to handicap all the college football bowl action you'd like this month. Enjoy!


Miami Beach Bowl - Monday Dec. 22

BYU Cougars vs. Memphis Tigers (-1.5, 57.5)

* Since QB Taysom Hill's injury, the Cougars have not beaten a team with a winning record SU or ATS.

* Memphis won a share of the AAC title, which was its first title since 1971, and makes its first bowl game since 2008. The Tigers were the best team in the nation with 50 scores on 53 red-zone attempts.

Boca Raton Bowl - Tuesday Dec. 23

Northern Illinois Huskies vs. Marshall Thundering Herd (-10, 65)

* Northern Illinois has only been a double-digit underdog once this year and it lost that game 52-14. In fact, the last four times NIU has been a double digit underdog it has failed to cover.

* The Thundering Herd have beaten only one team that won more than 60 percent of its games this season (Louisiana Tech) and they failed to cover in that game.

San Diego CCU Poinsettia Bowl - Tuesday Dec. 23

Navy Midshipmen vs. San Diego State Aztecs (-3, 54)

* San Diego State had the best defense in the MWC this year in terms of yards allowed and points allowed, going 1-11 O/U.

* Navy started the season 0-6 O/U but finished 4-0 O/U. It wasn’t able to stop teams on third down at the end of the season. During the first six games, the Middies were allowing teams to convert on 40 percent of their third downs and in their final four they allowed a 57 percent conversion rate.

Popeyes Bahama Bowl - Wednesday Dec. 24

Central Michigan Chippewas vs. Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (-4, 66)

* Central Michigan was just 2-3 ATS as an underdog but that includes one of their most impressive victories in recent memory as they beat MAC Champ NIU 34-17.

* Western Kentucky quarterback Brandon Doughty has been granted a sixth year of eligibility. The C-USA Player of the Year finished No. 1 in the FBS with 44 touchdowns and 4,344 passing yards.

Hawaii Bowl - Wednesday Dec. 24

Rice Owls vs. Fresno State Bulldogs (+2, 58.5)

* Rice is favored by one point. That's important because the Owls have covered in six straight games in which they've been single digit favorites.

* Fresno State is the only team with a losing record going bowling. The last team with a losing record to make a bowl game was Georgia Tech in 2012 and they won the infamous Sun Bowl over USC 21-7 SU and ATS.

Zaxby's Heart of Dallas Bowl - Friday Dec. 26

Louisiana Tech Bulldogs vs. Illinois Fighting Illini (+6, 59)

* The Bulldogs were one of the best teams in the nation ATS going 10-3. They improved offensively as their ppg increased year-over-year by 18.3 ppg. The addition of Iowa transfer Cody Sokol was the biggest reason for their improvement and he was named C-USA Newcomer of the Year.

* The Fighting Illini have the worst defense in the Big Ten giving up 33.9 ppg. They've only held two FBS teams under 30 points this season.

Quick Lane Bowl - Friday Dec 26, 4:30 PM

North Carolina Tar Heels vs. Rutgers Scarlet Knights (+3, 66.5)

* Rutgers has beaten only two teams with winning records this season but did cover the spread in both wins.

* North Carolina has parted ways with defensive coordinator Vic Koenning. They gave up 44 ppg and 540 ypg against non-conference foes.

Bitcoin St. Petersburg Bowl - Friday Dec. 26

North Carolina State Wolfpack vs. Central Florida Knights (-2, 49.5)

* The Wolfpack are 4-1 ATS in their last five games as their running game has really started to blossom. Over the last five games, they’ve averaged 230 ypg on the ground vs. 188 in their first seven games.

* The Knights are 4-0 ATS in their last four games. In the three games they were favorites, the defense allowed an average of 4.6 ppg.

Military Bowl - Saturday Dec. 27

Cincinnati Bearcats vs. Virginia Tech Hokies (+3, 51)

* The Bearcats allowed just 117 points in the last seven weeks. Cincy has given up 30 points or more just twice in that span after having that happen four times in the opening five contests.

* Virginia Tech has just one play of 50 or more yards this season. The only team worse was Wake Forest, which beat the Hokies 6-3 in double overtime.

Hyundai Sun Bowl - Saturday Dec. 27

Duke Blue Devils vs. Arizona State Sun Devils (-7.5, 66.5)

* The Blue Devils rank 18th nationally in third-down defense, 20th in scoring defense and 20th in pass efficiency defense. Duke allowed 21 points or less in nine of its 12 games this season.

* Arizona State allowed 19 sacks in November (126th in the nation) and have given up a total of 37 sacks on the year – more than three sacks allowed per game.

Duck Commander Independence Bowl - Saturday Dec. 27

Miami Hurricanes vs. South Carolina Gamecocks (+3, 61)

* Every FBS team that Miami played (except Virginia) is going to a bowl, yet its strength of schedule didn't rank in the Top 25.

* Despite having just six wins, the Gamecocks beat four bowl teams and covered the spread in three of those four contests.

New Era Pinstripe Bowl - Saturday Dec. 27

Boston College Eagles vs. Penn State Nittany Lions (+2.5, 40)

* Penn State linebacker Brandon Bell expects to play. Bell missed the last two regular season games with a shoulder injury. The sophomore averaged 4.3 tackles per game with two sacks and one interception in 10 contests.

* Boston College runs the ball on over 72 percent of its offensive plays and is eighth in the nation in rushing attempts per game. The Eagles are 11th in time of possession, holding on the ball an average of 33:09.92 per game and is 4-7-1 O/U.

National University Holiday Bowl - Saturday Dec. 27

Nebraska Cornhuskers vs. USC Trojans (-6.5, 61.5)

* The Huskers have won their last nine games in which RB Ameer Abdullah has rushed for over 100 yards.

* Southern Cal QB Cody Kessler's TD-to-INT ratio (36:4) this season is better than Matt Barkley, Mark Sanchez, John David Booty, Matt Leinhart or Carson Palmer's best seasons.

AutoZone Liberty Bowl - Monday Dec. 29

West Virginia Mountaineers vs. Texas A&M Aggies (-3.5, 67)

* West Virginia is 0-8 O/U in its last eight games. During this stretch, the defense has allowed 24.8 ppg. Last season, it allowed 40.3 ppg over the last eight games.

* The Aggies were 4-0 SU/3-1 ATS to start the season, outscoring opponents 221-47. Since then, Texas A&M is averaging 24 points with a 3-5 SU record and only covering once in that span.

Russell Athletic Bowl - Monday Dec. 29

Oklahoma Sooners vs. Clemson Tigers (+3, 54)

* With offensive coordinator Chad Morris off to SMU, Clemson co-coordinators Tony Elliot and Jeff Scott will share play calling duties. Before the announcement, Elliot served as the running backs coach while Scott handled the receiving coaching duties.

* Oklahoma's Samaje Perine set the FBS record with 427 yards rushing against Kansas. The Clemson defense gave up 300-plus yards on the ground to Georgia in Week 1.

AdvoCare V100 Texas Bowl - Monday Dec. 29

Texas Longhorns vs. Arkansas Razorbacks (-6, 45.5)

* When Texas wins the turnover battle it is 6-1 with the only loss coming by three points to UCLA. When the Horns lose the turnover battle they are 0-5 SU.

* Arkansas had two 1,000-yard rushers (Jonathan Williams and Alex Collins) for the first time since 2007 when the Hogs ran wild with Darren McFadden and Felix Jones.

Franklin American Music City Bowl - Tuesday Dec. 30

LSU Tigers vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (+7, 52.5)

* LSU is 0-5 O/U in its last five games and has averaged just 17.4 ppg in those games. In those five games, the Tigers’ QBs have completed just 47 percent of their passes and have thrown four TDs vs five INTs.

* After giving up just 50 yards rushing in a loss to Florida State, the Irish have given up an average of 244 rushing ypg in their last five games. They've gone 1-4 SU/0-5 ATS in those games.

Belk Bowl - Tuesday Dec. 30

Louisville Cardinals vs. Georgia Bulldogs (-6.5, 56.5)

* Georgia has been favored to win every game it’s played in this season and in two of its losses, UGA was a double-digit favorite.

* Louisville has allowed opponents to convert on just 28.25 percent of third downs. When Louisville DC Todd Grantham was at Georgia last year, his defense allowed a 39.49 third-down percentage.

Foster Farms Bowl- Tuesday Dec. 30

Stanford Cardinal vs. Maryland Terrapins (+14, 48)

* As a double-digit favorite this year, Stanford is 4-1 with the lone loss coming at the hands of Utah.

* The Terrapins have beaten just one team with a winning record this season (7-5 Iowa). Against teams with winning records they are just 1-5 ATS (with that one win coming against the Hawkeyes).

Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl - Wednesday Dec. 31

Mississippi Rebels vs. TCU Horned Frogs (-3, 56.5)

* Ole Miss OL Aaron Morris will not play in the Chick-Fil-A Bowl after tearing the ACL in his left knee. The Rebels are 20-2 SU under Huge Freeze when they rush for 150 yards or more.

* Gary Patterson is 7-5 SU/4-8 ATS in bowl games. Texas Christian has failed to cover in its past five bowl matchups.

VIZIO Fiesta Bowl - Wednesday Dec. 31

Boise State Broncos vs. Arizona Wildcats (-3.5, 69.5)

* The Broncos have been held to under 20 points just twice this season (vs. Ole Miss and Air Force) and lost (and failed to cover) both games.

* The Wildcats O/U record was 1-5 away from home this season. They scored 9.6 less ppg on the road.

Capital One Orange Bowl - Wednesday Dec. 31

Mississippi State Bulldogs vs. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (+6.5, 61)

* Georgia Tech is 5-1 ATS as an underdog this season and has won four of those games SU.

* Mississippi State completed seven third-down conversions per game, with Dak Prescott posting a QB rating of 179.7 and throwing for 10 touchdowns on those third-down snaps. He rushed for 27 first downs on third down – tops in the SEC.

Outback Bowl - Thurs Jan. 1

Wisconsin Badgers vs. Auburn Tigers (-6.5, 62)

* Wisconsin has only been an underdog once this year and lost that game to LSU in the opener. They were favored by 4 points versus Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship and got walloped 59-0.

* The Auburn Tigers fired DC Ellis Johnson after giving up 30 points in each of their last six games against FBS opponents.

Cotton Bowl Classic - Thurs Jan. 1

Baylor Bears vs. Michigan State Spartans (+3, 71)

* Baylor head coach Art Briles is the owner of an 89-61 career collegiate record, but is just 2-5 SU and ATS lifetime in bowl games.

* The Spartans set school single-season records for points (517), total offense (5,958 yards), offensive touchdowns (64), rushing touchdowns (40) and made point-after attempts (66).

Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl - Thurs Jan. 1

Missouri Tigers vs. Minnesota Golden Gophers (+5, 48)

* Despite winning the SEC East and playing in the SEC Championship, Missouri was only favored in six of its games this season. As a favorite the Tigers went 5-1 SU and 3-3 ATS.

* The Gophers went 7-2 ATS in their last nine games. They were the best red-zone team in the Big Ten scoring TDs on 73.33 percent of their trips inside the 20-yard line.

Rose Bowl (Playoff semifinal) - Thurs Jan. 1

Oregon Ducks vs. Florida State Seminoles (+9.5, 71)

* This is the first time since their 2011 matchup with Clemson that Florida State comes into a game as an underdog. The Seminoles are 8-1-1 ATS in their last 10 bowl games.

* Marcus Mariota threw five interceptions in his first seven games. Since then he's thrown just seven in his last 33 games. Heisman winners are 5-0 SU and 4-1 ATS during bowl season since 2009.

Allstate Sugar Bowl (Playoff semifinal) - Thurs Jan. 1

Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Ohio State Buckeyes (+9.5, 58.5)

* Ohio State has been an underdog just twice this season (Michigan State and Wisconsin) and have won both SU.

* Alabama has been a single-digit favorite four time this year and in those four games the Tide have a 1-3 O/U record. Alabama is 0-7-1 ATS in its last eight non-conference clashes.

Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl - Friday Jan. 2

Houston Cougars vs. Pittsburgh Panthers (-3, 53.5)

* After signing a five-year contract earlier this year, the Cougars fired head coach Tony Levine and defensive coordinator David Gibbs will be the interim coach for the bowl game.

* If Paul Chryst takes the Wisconsin job, as rumored, you have to wonder how the team will respond. Pitt has had four head coaches since 2012. If Chryst leaves it will make five.

TaxSlayer Bowl - Friday Jan. 2

Tennessee Volunteers vs. Iowa Hawkeyes (+3.5, 51.5)

* The Vols lead the SEC in sacks allowed (42) and tackles for loss allowed (97). The inability to get their offense going due to negative plays is a big reason for their 6-6 SU and ATS records.

* Teams are completing 14.1 passes per game and boast a 52.7 completion percentage against Iowa. The defense has not been as strong against run, allowing 158.8 rushing yards a game on 4.3 yards per carry.

Valero Alamo Bowl - Friday Jan. 2

Kansas State Wildcats vs. UCLA Bruins (Pick, 59)

* The Wildcats have only turned the ball over 11 times this year and have only lost the turnover battle in three games. They lost two of those games (vs. Auburn and TCU).

* UCLA is just 4-8 ATS this year. One of the reasons is that the Bruins have played in seven games that have been decided by 10 or less points.

TicketCity Cactus Bowl - Friday Jan. 2

Oklahoma State Cowboys vs. Washington Huskies (-5.5, 56)

* Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy is making his ninth straight bowl appearance, going 5-3 SU and 4-4 ATS in those previous postseason games.

* In Chris Petersen's debut season at Washington, the Huskies didn't beat a single FBS team that finished with a winning record.

Birmingham Bowl - Saturday Jan. 3

Florida Gators vs. East Carolina Pirates (+7, 57)

* Since inserting QB Treon Harris into the starting lineup the Gators are 4-1 ATS. The offense averaged 32.6 ppg with Harris under center and 28.6 ppg without him - and that includes a 65-point explosion against EMU in their opener.

* Through their first four games, the Pirates had outscored opponents by an average of 18.5 points per game, but since then the team only has a plus-6.5 scoring margin.

GoDaddy Bowl - Sunday, Jan. 4

Arkansas State Red Wolves vs. Toledo Rockets (-3, 67)

* Arkansas State is a tough team to finish off with nine of its last 14 wins coming when tied or trailing in the third quarter.

* Toledo QB Logan Woodside came back from injury for the last two games of the season, including a five-touchdown performance against Eastern Michigan. At one point this season, the Rockets were down to their fourth-string QB.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

College Football Bowl Betting Bible: Book IV - Tackling Travels
By JASON LOGAN

The names are different but the situations stay the same.

Each college football bowl season, select teams pack their bags and head off for their postseason matchup, giving sports bettors a fresh set of intriguing non-conference competitions. While there is an aura of the unknown when it comes to bowl teams – these programs don’t know much about each other – football bettors can find familiarity – and value – looking for teams in these certain situations.

We break down some of the important factors to figure into your bowl betting this December with our Bowl Betting Bible.

BOOK IV: BE MINDFUL OF MILES BURNED DURING BOWL SEASON

Earning a spot on the college football bowl calendar is not only rewarding for the money poured into the program or the chance to play in a nationally showcased game.

For many players, a bowl games means a chance to get outside of the norm – to get off campus and travel to far-off exotic places. For some teams, though, bowl season can often mean a two-hour bus trip down the highway, which has its positives and negatives.

“Some teams, or at least their fan bases, have the benefit of staying close to home, leading to a home-field advantage,” says Sean Murphy. “With that being said, not getting to travel can hurt the motivation of the players taking the field. It really is a double-edged sword.”

There are a number of programs staying close to home this bowl season, none more than San Diego State. The Aztecs went 7-5 SU and 6-5-1 ATS in the regular season and were rewarded with a home game against Navy at Qualcomm Stadium on Dec. 23. While having the home-field edge is big – and oddsmakers have set SDSU as a 2.5-point chalk for the Poinsettia Bowl – there could be some letdown from the Aztecs, who are home for the holidays for the third time in five years.

Another bowl competitor making a short trip this postseason is Stanford, which could pretty much hold a half marathon and be at its bowl game in Santa Clara – a mere 13 miles (22-minute drive) from Palo Alto. In fact, that seems like a brilliant conditioning/bounding exercise for the Cardinal (Oh, how’d you guys get here? We ran…).

Books have Stanford pegged as a two-touchdown Foster Farms Bowl favorite versus Maryland, which actually makes the longest trip this bowl season. The Terrapins, at 7-5 SU and 6-6 ATS, cross the country on a 2,425-mile hike. It’s safe to say the Terrapins, who have a 31-day layoff between games, will be in enemy territory on Dec. 30.

Other teams putting some miles on the frequent-flyer card in the next month are Navy (2,302-mile trip to San Diego for Poinsettia Bowl), BYU (2,066-mile trip to Miami for the Miami Beach Bowl), and Nevada (1,805-mile trip to New Orleans for New Orleans Bowl).

Florida State has to jump the country for its showdown with Oregon (-9.5) in the Rose Bowl – a 1,986-mile leap – but the Seminoles are used to these types of challenges and have a rapid fan base that travels extremely well, especially for a New Year’s Day bowl game.

Measuring how much of a home-field edge teams will have for the true neutral-site games is tough. Looking back at road records is a good indicator of how a program performs out of its element but if you want to gauge how the percentage of school colors in the stands you should keep a close eye on ticket sales.

Every bowl team is allotted a certain number of tickets to sell to its faithful. Often times, location (is it a vacation destination like Florida or California?), opponent (is it even worth going to see?), and time of the month (close to Christmas or New Year’s?) have a huge impact on whether fans will travel to the game or not.

Heading into the first weekend of bowl action, Air Force is having a tough time selling its share of tickets for the Idaho Potato Bowl. The Falcons play Western Michigan (-1) – not a marquee team by any means – and are asking fans to leave Colorado Springs to come to Boise on short notice. Not even the “Smurf Turf” of Albertsons Stadium can get Air Force butts in the seats.

Even the lure of the Sunshine State isn’t enough to get football fans on the move this bowl season. Iowa is reporting “sluggish” tickets sales for the Hawkeyes’ showdown with Tennessee (-3.5) in the TaxSlayer Bowl in Jacksonville, Florida on Jan. 2. According to the school, Iowa hasn’t even sold half of its 8,000-ticket allotment while the Volunteers, who have a proximity edge, sold out their 8,000 tickets a few days after the bowl matchup was announced.

Some friendly faces can go a long way when these programs hit the highway for their bowl games. That home-field feel may just before the difference when spreads get tight this postseason.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Bowl Breakdown - Part 2
By Mike Rose

Below is a quick look at the seven bowl games of the postseason scheduled from Wednesday Dec. 23 through Friday Dec. 26.

Boca Raton Bowl - Marshall vs. Northern Illinois
Tuesday, Dec. 23, 6:00 p.m. ET
Boca Raton Bowl Betting Line: Marshall -10

The Thundering Herd were one win shy of playing in a New Year's Six bowl, and it will be interesting to see how motivated they are going to be to play in this game. This isn't nearly as good of a Northern Illinois team as we are used to seeing, but it is a team which won a much underrated MAC this year.

Poinsettia Bowl - Navy vs. San Diego State
Tuesday, Dec. 23, 9:30 p.m. ET
Poinsettia Bowl Betting Line: San Diego State -2

Donnel Pumphrey is the star of the show for the Aztecs, and it will be interesting to see whether he or Keenan Reynolds does more for his team on the ground. The Aztecs clearly have the better of the two defenses in this game, and they have home field advantage on their side as well.

Bahamas Bowl - Central Michigan vs. Western Kentucky
Wednesday, Dec. 24, 12:00 p.m. ET
Bahamas Bowl Betting Line: Western Kentucky -3

The Hilltoppers were awesome to watch this year, as they flew up and down the field and really had the ability to stop no one on the other side of the ball. Brandon Doughty is one of the better statistical quarterbacks in th nation, and he could shine in this one. Central Michigan's 7-5 record is a complete farce outside of its win on the road against Northern Illinois.

Hawaii Bowl - Fresno State vs. Rice
Wednesday, Dec. 24, 8:00 p.m. ET
Hawaii Bowl Betting Line: Rice -1.5

Fresno State has no defense whatsoever, and this could be a huge problem in this game against a Rice offense which really has the ability to light it up. The last time we saw the Owls, they had 76 points dropped on them by Louisiana Tech. Driphus Jackson will have to have the game of his life for Rice in this one.

Heart of Dallas Bowl - Illinois vs. Louisiana Tech
Friday, Dec. 26, 1:00 p.m. ET
Heart of Dallas Bowl Betting Line: Louisiana Tech -6

Illinois feels like a weird team in a bowl game this year. The Illini went 6-6, but they only just squeaked into a bowl game because of the weaknesses of the rest of the Big Ten. La Tech was just short of the MAC title, but this might be an even better game for it to try to prove itself against one of the power conference teams in the nation.

Quick Lane Bowl - Rutgers vs. North Carolina
Friday, Dec. 26, 4:30 p.m. ET
Quick Lane Bowl Betting Line: North Carolina -3

Expect to see a lot of offense in this one, as these two defenses both struggled quite a bit this year. Marquise Williams and Gary Nova don't look anything like one another, but they both hold the keys to their teams' success in this game at Ford Field.

St. Petersburg Bowl - NC State vs. UCF
Friday, Dec. 26, 8:00 p.m. ET
St. Petersburg Bowl Betting Line: UCF -2

The Knights are taking a big step backwards from last year's game against Baylor in the Fiesta Bowl, but this is still a big game for them after getting a share of the AAC crown this year. NC State ended up being a rather average team in the ACC, and it doesn't really have any signature wins which suggest to us that it can win this game.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Miami Beach Bowl Preview
By Brian Edwards

Matchup: Brigham Young Cougars vs. Memphis Tigers
Venue: Marlins Park, Miami, Florida
Date: Monday, Dec. 22, 2014
Time/TV: 2:00 p.m. ET, ESPN
Line: Memphis -1.5, Total 56

Memphis (9-3 straight up, 7-4-1 against the spread) has enjoyed its best season in more than a decade and returns to the postseason for the first time since 2008 when it takes on Brigham Young on Monday afternoon at Marlins Park in the Miami Beach Bowl.

As of early Sunday night, most books had the Tigers favored by two with a total of 56 for 'over/under' wagers. Memphis is -130 on the money line, while bettors can take the Cougars to win outright for a +110 return (risk $100 to win $110).

BYU (8-4 SU, 5-7 ATS) is going bowling for a 10th consecutive year in the 10th season of Bronco Mendenhall's tenure. In the nine previous bowl games, Mendenhall has led BYU to a 6-3 record both SU and ATS.

The Cougars closed the regular season on a four-game winning streak, including a 42-35 win at California as a three-point road underdog in the finale. Senior quarterback Christian Stewart torched the Bears for 433 passing yards and five touchdowns. Jordan Leslie had five receptions for 155 yards and two TDs, while Mitchell Juergens hauled in seven catches for 107 yards and a pair of scores.

Stewart took over as Mendenhall's starting QB after star QB Taysom Hill went down with a season-ending injury in Week 6. Stewart struggled initially, throwing three interceptions in relief of Hill in a 35-20 loss to Utah St. Then the Cougars lost in Stewart's first three starts.

Since then, however, Stewart has been nothing short of sensational, posting a 14/1 touchdown-to-interception ratio during the four-game winning streak. For the season, Stewart has a 22/6 TD-INT ratio and four rushing scores.

Hill isn't the only star BYU lost to a season-ending injury. RB Jamaal Williams, who ran for 1,233 yards and seven TDs in 2013, went down for the year in a Nov. 1 win over Middle Tennessee by a 27-7 count. Williams never really got going this year, missing the season opener due to a suspension and most of two games with an ankle injury. In six games, he rushed for 515 yards and four TDs.

Other BYU injuries include senior starting safety Craig Bills, who won't play vs. Memphis due to a neck injury. WR Colby Pearson is also 'out' with a collarbone injury sustained in mid-November. Pearson had 16 catches for 270 yards and three TDs this season.

Memphis rolls into South Florida sporting a six-game winning streak. The Tigers won by double-digit margins in five of those six victories.

In his third season at the helm, it was clear early that Justin Fuente has his team poised for a breakout campaign. Memphis gave UCLA all it wanted and then some in Week 2, falling just short of an upset in a 42-35 loss as a 22-point underdog. Three weeks later, the Tigers gave Ole Miss fits before dropping a 24-3 decision that was much closer than the final score indicated.

Memphis caught the eye of the rest of the AAC when it went into Cincinnati on Oct. 4 and smashed the Bearcats by a 41-14 count as a three-point underdog. Sam Craft ran for 170 yards and one TD on 38 carries, while QB Paxton Lynch threw for 311 yards and two TDs without an interception. Lynch also rushed for 45 yards and a pair of scores.

For the year, Lynch completed 64.0 percent of his passes for 2,725 yards with an 18/6 TD-INT ratio. He also had 10 rushing TDs. During the six-game winning streak, Lynch has nine TD passes without an interception.

Brandon Hayes paced the team with 902 rushing yards and five TDs, averaging 5.2 yards per carry. Keiwone Malone had 39 receptions for a team-high 480 yards and two TDs.

Memphis is fifth in the nation in scoring defense, allowing only 17.1 points per game. The Tigers have given up just 13.3 PPG in their last six outings.

BYU has been an underdog four times this year, going 2-2 both SU and ATS with outright wins at Cal and at Texas (41-7). Meanwhile, Memphis has been a single-digit favorite three times, posting a 1-2 spread record.

The 'over' is on a 7-2 run for BYU to improve to 8-4 overall on the season.

The 'over' has gone 7-5 overall for Memphis, cashing in five of its last seven contests.

Kickoff is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. Eastern on ESPN.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Sharps look awful square to open bowl season
By COLIN KELLY

The first day of bowl season provided quite the intriguing betting trend. In all five games, the team that the line moved in favor of failed to cover the pointspread. Which means, generally speaking, the sharps had a rough day.

At MGM-Mirage books, Nevada opened at a pick ‘em, moved to -1, then had a completely lackluster effort in a 16-3 loss to Louisiana-Lafayette in the New Orleans Bowl. In the New Mexico Bowl, Texas-El Paso opened at +10.5, moved to +10, then lost 21-6 to Utah State. Colorado State opened as a 4.5-point underdog to Utah in the Las Vegas Bowl, the line closed at Rams +3, and the Utes rolled 45-10.

In the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, Western Michigan opened at +1, closed at -2 and lost outright, 38-24. And in the Camellia Bowl, the line stayed at -2.5 on South Alabama throughout, but Jay Rood – vice president of race and sports for MGM Resorts – said the bulk of the wagers were on South Alabama, which lost to Bowling Green 33-28.

“I would have to say it was not a great day for the sharps,” Rood said. “And the money was going on South Alabama, but we just didn’t get off the number.”
However, Rood noted that the Colorado State-Utah game was an exception, as it was played in Vegas and Utah fans had overrun the town, with the Utes facing UNLV in basketball just a few hours after the bowl game.

“Usually on a day like that, it is sharp money moving those lines, except for that one game,” Rood said of the Las Vegas Bowl. “There were way more Utah fans than Colorado State fans walking around.”

Utah won and covered in basketball, too, beating the host Rebels 59-46 as a 9-point fave.

“We lost both (Utah) games, and they probably hit both – the Utah-Utah parlay. Those fans are probably running around buying last-minute Christmas gifts now,” Rood joked. “We did have a good day, but the Utah-Colorado State game was kind of ugly for us. We went 4-1 basically, with the one loss being the one the public went to.”

Said an oddsmaker : “Sharp bettors have been far from sharp in bowl games thus far,” noting that at his shop, South Alabama went from a pick ‘em to -4. He added that in Monday’s lone bowl game – the Miami Beach Bowl between Brigham Young and Memphis – the sharp action is on Memphis, which opened at +1.5 and is now at -2.

At the Westgate LV SuperBook, it wasn’t quite as bad for the sharps, according to Jay Kornegay, executive vice president of race and sports.

“I guess you could say some of the smart money had a rough day. Overall, the market moves didn’t fare well, but the public did OK,” Kornegay said. “The general public concentrated on two games. Out of the five bowl games, the public cashed out on both Air Force and Utah. The other three games received little attention.”

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Game of the Day: BYU vs. Memphis

BYU Cougars vs. Memphis Tigers (-1.5, 56.5)

Game to be played at Marlins Park, Miami, FL

1. BYU’s explosive offense will get a stiff test from Memphis' defense, which ranks fifth nationally with an average of 17.1 points allowed. The Tigers did not surrender more than 20 points in any of their victories and ripped through the final six contests yielding 13.3 – all wins. The Cougars put up at least 42 points in each of their final three games.

2. Memphis and BYU had a trio of common opponents as the Cougars secured wins over Middle Tennessee, Connecticut and Houston. The Tigers were edged 28-24 by Houston on Oct. 11 but closed the regular season by ripping UConn 41-10 and eased past Middle Tennessee back in September. Memphis turned over the ball five times in the loss to Houston but suffered its only other two setbacks on the road against nationally ranked teams UCLA and Ole Miss.

3. Tigers quarterback Paxton Lynch set a school record with 28 touchdowns (18 passing, 10 rushing) and did not throw an interception during the six-game winning streak that closed the regular season. The Cougars endured a four-game slide and waved goodbye to their hopes of a New Year’s Six bowl when Christian Stewart took over under center for injured starter Taysom Hill and lost his first four starts. Stewart picked up his play in four wins closing the season, recording 14 TD passes and one interception in that span.

TV: 2 p.m. ET, ESPN.

LINE HISTORY: The majority of books opened this game as a Pick, but that has moved to Memphis -1.5. The total opened at 57.5 with that dropping to 56.5.

INJURY REPORT: Cougars - WR Colby Pearson (Out, collarbone), RB Jamaal Williams (Out, knee).

ABOUT BYU (8-4 SU, 5-7 ATS, 8-4 O/U): The Cougars are participating in their 10th straight bowl game and are coming in hot after Stewart’s 433-yard, five-TD performance in a win at California. BYU started the season with a dominant rushing attack led by Hill, whose dual-threat abilities resulted in 975 passing yards and 460 on the ground in his first four games, but had to rebuild around a more traditional pocket passer in Stewart. The Cougars also picked things up on the other side of the ball, limiting their last four opponents to an average of 16.3 points after surrendering 40.8 during the mid-season skid.

ABOUT MEMPHIS (9-3 SU, 7-4-1 ATS, 7-5 O/U): The Tigers’ hot finish left them on top of the AAC and sent the team to its first bowl since 2008. “It’s a big deal,” senior cornerback Bobby McCain told reporters. “It’s big for the city, it’s big for the team and the family of brothers that we have here. To have a 10-win season is something that’s never been done before. Now we just have to go 1-0 one more time and end it with a bang.” McCain is part of a secondary that recorded 14 interceptions during the regular season and held opposing passers to an average of 218 yards.

TRENDS:

* Cougars are 5-1 ATS in their last six neutral site games.
* Tigers are 3-13 ATS in their last 16 games on grass.
* Under is 6-2 in Cougars last eight bowl games.
* Under is 6-2 in Tigers last eight non-conference games.

CONSENSUS: 51 percent of bettors are on BYU.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Total on the move in Miami Beach Bowl
Andrew Avery

The BYU Cougars and Memphis Tigers go head-to-head in the Miami Beach Bowl Monday, and the total has been adjusted earlier Sunday.

Most online shops had a total of 55.5 on the board heading into Sunday, but that has moved up and now most books are offering 56, while a couple have 56.5.

The total opened at 57.5 and was bet down earlier in the week, hitting 54.5 or 55 depending on the book.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Dogs, Under have the early edge in bowl betting
Andrew Avery

The first five bowl games are in the books and underdogs have posted a 3-2 record against the spread, while scores finished 2-3 Over/Under in those opening games.

The easiest cover was Utah which closed as a 3-point fave and blew out Colorado State by a score of 45-10 to cover the spread by a whopping 32 points, making it an easy day for Utes backers.

There is one game on the board Monday Brigham Young plays Memphis in the Miami Beach Bowl at Marlins Park in Miami, FL. The Tigers are presently 1.5-point favorites and the total is 56.5.

Here's a betting break down of the bowl season results:

Faves: 2-3 ATS
Over/Under: 2-3 O/U
Mountain West: 2-2 ATS, 1-3 O/U
Sun Belt: 1-1 ATS, 1-1 O/U
Conference USA: 0-1 ATS, 0-1 O/U
Pac-12: 1-0 ATS, 0-1 O/U
MAC: 1-1 ATS, 2-0 O/U

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

'Miami Beach Bowl'

BYU Cougars and Memphis Tigers clash in the inaugural Miami Beach Bowl at Marlins Park. Cougars ended regular season winning it's last four including a 42-35 victory in the finale against California as 3.5-point road underdogs to finish 8-4 SU on the year, 5-7 against the betting line. Cougars are enjoying a 10th consecutive Bowl appearance and with last years 31-16 loss vs Washington enter 6-3 SU/ATS in the past nine Bowl games. The Tigers head into the contest ridding a six-game win streak (3-3 ATS) after crushing UConn 41-10 as 24-point faves giving the squad a 9-3 straight up record on the campaign, 7-4-1 mark against the spread. Memphis was last seen Bowling in 2008 a game Tigers lost 41-14 to South Florida. Offshores have Tigers listed as -1.5 point favorite and we're laying the small number knowing betting trends favor Memphis as Tigers are on a 12-3-1 ATS stretch in non-conference games, Cougars enter on a 6-12-1 ATS skid. Besides, Tigers made great strides on offense this season going from 19.5 PPG last year to 34.7 PPG this campaign behind dual-threat QB Paxton Lynch recording 2725 passing yards 18 TD, 283 rushing yards 10 majors. Lynch figures to feast on Cougars lacklustre pass defense (266.7 PYG) while Tigers' rock-solid defense ranked fifth in the nation allowed 17.1 PPG will keep Cougars in check.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

NCAAF

BYU (8 - 4) vs. MEMPHIS (9 - 3) - 12/22/2014, 2:00 PM

Top Trends for this game.
MEMPHIS is 74-101 ATS (-37.1 Units) in games played on a grass field since 1992.
MEMPHIS is 21-38 ATS (-20.8 Units) off a win against a conference rival since 1992.
MEMPHIS is 11-26 ATS (-17.6 Units) after 2 or more consecutive straight up wins since 1992.

Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

N ILLINOIS (11 - 2) vs. MARSHALL (12 - 1) - 12/23/2014, 6:00 PM

There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

NCAAF

Trends

DECEMBER 22, 2:00 PM
BYU vs. MEMPHIS
BYU is 5-11-1 ATS in its last 17 games
BYU is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
Memphis is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Memphis's last 7 games

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

NCAAF

Miami Beach Bowl
BYU vs Memphis
BYU 5-11-1 ATS past 17 games
BYU 4-1 SU and ATS past five bowl games
First bowl game since 2008 for Memphis