alphacapper has a 10* selection up for the TCU/Wisconsin game. Says it's his only one of the season in college football if anyone has it!
Here is his free pick he had up.
Northwestern, 7-5, vs. Texas Tech, 7-5 (Texas Tech -8, 61)
PREVIEW > The first Ticket City Bowl kicks off college football in 2011. What’s particular to this game is that it replaces – interestingly enough – the Cotton Bowl as the first game of New Year’s Day. Texas Tech (7-5, 3-5 Big 12) has an athletic team that is capable of producing a buttload of points. Northwestern (7-5, 3-5 Big Ten) enters having lost three of its final four games, but will have the opportunity to get several players back from regular-season injuries. The Wildcats once again reached a bowl game under Fitzgerald, a leader who has done well in succeeding the late, great Randy Walker. The Red Raiders got to this game in Dallas because they triumphed in a shootout over Baylor and then dug out a defensive struggle against Missouri, in what was surely the team’s biggest victory of the season. Get all the news and notes on this game plus the ATS winner. Don’t miss out for your chance on some easy money!
THE PICK > Texas Tech -8
THE ANALYSIS > Quarterback Dan Persa led Northwestern to riveting victories over Iowa, Minnesota and (non-conference) against Vanderbilt with one of the nation’s most precise throwing arms. However, Northwestern also flubbed big chances for wins against Purdue and Illinois, committing far too many penalties at times for its own benefit. The Wildcats were very undisciplined this year and made many stupid mistakes. The Red Raiders, for their part, were a wildly inconsistent bunch that could rarely produce the same kind of game in consecutive outings. Tuberville needed this season to get used to life in the Big 12 with players who were accustomed to a high-octane passing attack. What got lost in the shuffle was Tech’s need to beef up its defense, which got smashed by Iowa State (52 points), Texas A&M (45), and Oklahoma (45 more points).
This game comes down to one simple fact, and that is NW’s QB, Dan Persa, a dynamic quarterback who can also scramble and make plays when the pocket collapses. Here’s the problem; he will not be able to perform for Northwestern due to an injury he suffered in the win over Iowa. It’s going to be up to backup quarterback Evan Watkins, a man with a rifle arm, who will need to read defenses a lot better than he did in the train-wreck against Illinois. Northwestern allowed more than 230 yards per game through the air in 2010, which ranked 85th nationally. The Wildcats surrendered 118 points over their last two regular-season games. Wisconsin hung 70 of those points in the finale and while the Badgers operate a run-first offense, Scott Tolzien threw for 230 yards and four touchdowns on just 19 attempts.
Northwestern hasn’t won a bowl game since its very first, the 1949 Rose Bowl. The Wildcats have lost seven straight, all since 1996. Northwestern freshman quarterback Evan Watkins was thrust into starting the final two games and threw four interceptions, but he’s gotten more comfortable over the 15 practices leading up to this game. Since Persa went down, the Wildcats closed the year with double-digit losses to Illinois (27-48) and Wisconsin (23-70). In those embarrassing setbacks, backup quarterback Evan Watkins completed 54 percent of his passes for 258 yards to go with four interceptions and one touchdown. To make matters worse for Watkins and the ‘Cats, they'll be using a make-shift ground game against Texas Tech as well. Leading rusher Mike Trumpy (wrist) is listed as ‘questionable’ and Persa was a solid dual-threat as a runner. Even though Northwestern is banged up, they won’t be facing a brick wall in Texas Tech’s defense (30.3 PPG, 463 YPG). Northwestern has produced a 4-2 SU record on the road, but the team was just 1-5 ATS. And if you look at the victories, they came against Vanderbilt, Rice, Minnesota and Indiana. Those squads had a combined record of 14-34 and to make matters worse, three of the wins came by three points or less.
Northwestern has been close, coming up short the past two years with overtime losses. The school fell to Missouri (23-30) in the 2008 Alamo Bowl and last year to Auburn (35-38) in the Outback Bowl. The Wildcats covered both contests as 12 and nine-point underdogs. Northwestern has been disappointing since winning its first five games, then losing five of the next seven, including giveaway wins against Michigan State and Penn State. The Wildcats have an outstanding corps of receivers, led by All-Big Ten choice Jeremy Ebert (919 yards, eight TDs). The defense is average at best; four of the last six opponents hung 35 or more on the Wildcats and Wisconsin scored 70 in the season-finale.
Texas Tech had a down year in terms of passing without the mad scientist concocting the aerial assault, but that phase of the offense still produced more than 310 yards per game. Taylor Potts directed a passing attack that ranked eighth among FBS leaders. He finished third in the country in completions per game (27.2) while connecting on 65.9 percent of his passes for 3,357 yards and 31 touchdowns. Eight Tech receivers ended the year with at least 25 receptions. Potts is apparently comfortable playing in the Cotton Bowl, as he threw for a season-high 462 yards and four scores there against Baylor on October 9. He ended the season strong as well, with 645 yards and seven touchdowns in six quarters of action over the final two games.
Texas Tech can wrap up a three-game winning streak to end coach Tommy Tuberville’s first season. Texas Tech QB Taylor Potts threw for 462 yards the last time he played in the Cotton Bowl, the site of this game, and that was just a few months ago. It was the most ever at the stadium that opened in 1936. The Red Raiders were suspect through the air (306 YPG), giving up 27 passing touchdowns. The Wildcats better hope they can put up some points because the Red Raiders know how to light up the scoreboard. Quarterback Taylor Potts led an attack that averaged 32.1 PPG, and the offense finished the season strong. Texas Tech closed with solid victories over Weber State (64-21) and Houston (35-20), both occurring in Lubbock. Except for a win against Missouri (24-17) in early November, Texas Tech doesn’t own any signature triumphs this season under first-year coach Tommy Tuberville. The veteran coach is hoping to close with a win and he’s been successful in bowl games, going 6-3 in his career. Five of those victories came during his tenure at Auburn. Make a note that, only one of those wins with the Tigers was by double digits, the others by four points or less.
The Red Raiders run an efficient passing offense that ranks No. 8 in the nation, with 314.8 passing yards per game. The running game is adequate: Baron Batch (805 yards, five TDs) and Eric Stephens (542 yards, five TDs) are a solid one-two punch. Favorite targets include Detron Lewis (79 catches, six TDs) and Lyle Leong (64 catches, 17 TDs). Lewis has caught a pass in 39 straight games, Leong in 35 straight. Texas Tech’s Taylor Potts has a good arm and has the ability to make quick decisions. He’s thrown for 3,357 yards and 31 touchdowns, including a 462-yard, four-touchdown effort against Baylor. Texas Tech defensive backs Will Ford (hamstring) and LaRon Moore (concussion) are expected to be available, but receiver Alex Torres is out with a knee injury suffered in the ninth game.
Northwestern does not have the offensive firepower to keep up with Texas Tech today. Persa was their entire offense, throwing for 2,581 yards and 15 touchdowns to just 4 interceptions while completing 73.5 percent of his passes. He had also rushed for 519 yards and 9 touchdowns before suffering an Achilles injury in their huge 21-17 win over Iowa. The Red Raiders are scoring 32.1 PPG this season and averaging 453 TYPG with 138 on the ground and 315 through the air. This is a soft Wildcats defense, one that gives up 33.1 PPG and 456 TYPG away from home this year. Northwestern is 1-7 ATS vs. good passing teams with a completion pct. of 58% or better this season. The Wildcats are 1-8 ATS in their last 9 games overall. Expect Texas Tech to win by 14 or more!
Here is his free pick he had up.
Northwestern, 7-5, vs. Texas Tech, 7-5 (Texas Tech -8, 61)
PREVIEW > The first Ticket City Bowl kicks off college football in 2011. What’s particular to this game is that it replaces – interestingly enough – the Cotton Bowl as the first game of New Year’s Day. Texas Tech (7-5, 3-5 Big 12) has an athletic team that is capable of producing a buttload of points. Northwestern (7-5, 3-5 Big Ten) enters having lost three of its final four games, but will have the opportunity to get several players back from regular-season injuries. The Wildcats once again reached a bowl game under Fitzgerald, a leader who has done well in succeeding the late, great Randy Walker. The Red Raiders got to this game in Dallas because they triumphed in a shootout over Baylor and then dug out a defensive struggle against Missouri, in what was surely the team’s biggest victory of the season. Get all the news and notes on this game plus the ATS winner. Don’t miss out for your chance on some easy money!
THE PICK > Texas Tech -8
THE ANALYSIS > Quarterback Dan Persa led Northwestern to riveting victories over Iowa, Minnesota and (non-conference) against Vanderbilt with one of the nation’s most precise throwing arms. However, Northwestern also flubbed big chances for wins against Purdue and Illinois, committing far too many penalties at times for its own benefit. The Wildcats were very undisciplined this year and made many stupid mistakes. The Red Raiders, for their part, were a wildly inconsistent bunch that could rarely produce the same kind of game in consecutive outings. Tuberville needed this season to get used to life in the Big 12 with players who were accustomed to a high-octane passing attack. What got lost in the shuffle was Tech’s need to beef up its defense, which got smashed by Iowa State (52 points), Texas A&M (45), and Oklahoma (45 more points).
This game comes down to one simple fact, and that is NW’s QB, Dan Persa, a dynamic quarterback who can also scramble and make plays when the pocket collapses. Here’s the problem; he will not be able to perform for Northwestern due to an injury he suffered in the win over Iowa. It’s going to be up to backup quarterback Evan Watkins, a man with a rifle arm, who will need to read defenses a lot better than he did in the train-wreck against Illinois. Northwestern allowed more than 230 yards per game through the air in 2010, which ranked 85th nationally. The Wildcats surrendered 118 points over their last two regular-season games. Wisconsin hung 70 of those points in the finale and while the Badgers operate a run-first offense, Scott Tolzien threw for 230 yards and four touchdowns on just 19 attempts.
Northwestern hasn’t won a bowl game since its very first, the 1949 Rose Bowl. The Wildcats have lost seven straight, all since 1996. Northwestern freshman quarterback Evan Watkins was thrust into starting the final two games and threw four interceptions, but he’s gotten more comfortable over the 15 practices leading up to this game. Since Persa went down, the Wildcats closed the year with double-digit losses to Illinois (27-48) and Wisconsin (23-70). In those embarrassing setbacks, backup quarterback Evan Watkins completed 54 percent of his passes for 258 yards to go with four interceptions and one touchdown. To make matters worse for Watkins and the ‘Cats, they'll be using a make-shift ground game against Texas Tech as well. Leading rusher Mike Trumpy (wrist) is listed as ‘questionable’ and Persa was a solid dual-threat as a runner. Even though Northwestern is banged up, they won’t be facing a brick wall in Texas Tech’s defense (30.3 PPG, 463 YPG). Northwestern has produced a 4-2 SU record on the road, but the team was just 1-5 ATS. And if you look at the victories, they came against Vanderbilt, Rice, Minnesota and Indiana. Those squads had a combined record of 14-34 and to make matters worse, three of the wins came by three points or less.
Northwestern has been close, coming up short the past two years with overtime losses. The school fell to Missouri (23-30) in the 2008 Alamo Bowl and last year to Auburn (35-38) in the Outback Bowl. The Wildcats covered both contests as 12 and nine-point underdogs. Northwestern has been disappointing since winning its first five games, then losing five of the next seven, including giveaway wins against Michigan State and Penn State. The Wildcats have an outstanding corps of receivers, led by All-Big Ten choice Jeremy Ebert (919 yards, eight TDs). The defense is average at best; four of the last six opponents hung 35 or more on the Wildcats and Wisconsin scored 70 in the season-finale.
Texas Tech had a down year in terms of passing without the mad scientist concocting the aerial assault, but that phase of the offense still produced more than 310 yards per game. Taylor Potts directed a passing attack that ranked eighth among FBS leaders. He finished third in the country in completions per game (27.2) while connecting on 65.9 percent of his passes for 3,357 yards and 31 touchdowns. Eight Tech receivers ended the year with at least 25 receptions. Potts is apparently comfortable playing in the Cotton Bowl, as he threw for a season-high 462 yards and four scores there against Baylor on October 9. He ended the season strong as well, with 645 yards and seven touchdowns in six quarters of action over the final two games.
Texas Tech can wrap up a three-game winning streak to end coach Tommy Tuberville’s first season. Texas Tech QB Taylor Potts threw for 462 yards the last time he played in the Cotton Bowl, the site of this game, and that was just a few months ago. It was the most ever at the stadium that opened in 1936. The Red Raiders were suspect through the air (306 YPG), giving up 27 passing touchdowns. The Wildcats better hope they can put up some points because the Red Raiders know how to light up the scoreboard. Quarterback Taylor Potts led an attack that averaged 32.1 PPG, and the offense finished the season strong. Texas Tech closed with solid victories over Weber State (64-21) and Houston (35-20), both occurring in Lubbock. Except for a win against Missouri (24-17) in early November, Texas Tech doesn’t own any signature triumphs this season under first-year coach Tommy Tuberville. The veteran coach is hoping to close with a win and he’s been successful in bowl games, going 6-3 in his career. Five of those victories came during his tenure at Auburn. Make a note that, only one of those wins with the Tigers was by double digits, the others by four points or less.
The Red Raiders run an efficient passing offense that ranks No. 8 in the nation, with 314.8 passing yards per game. The running game is adequate: Baron Batch (805 yards, five TDs) and Eric Stephens (542 yards, five TDs) are a solid one-two punch. Favorite targets include Detron Lewis (79 catches, six TDs) and Lyle Leong (64 catches, 17 TDs). Lewis has caught a pass in 39 straight games, Leong in 35 straight. Texas Tech’s Taylor Potts has a good arm and has the ability to make quick decisions. He’s thrown for 3,357 yards and 31 touchdowns, including a 462-yard, four-touchdown effort against Baylor. Texas Tech defensive backs Will Ford (hamstring) and LaRon Moore (concussion) are expected to be available, but receiver Alex Torres is out with a knee injury suffered in the ninth game.
Northwestern does not have the offensive firepower to keep up with Texas Tech today. Persa was their entire offense, throwing for 2,581 yards and 15 touchdowns to just 4 interceptions while completing 73.5 percent of his passes. He had also rushed for 519 yards and 9 touchdowns before suffering an Achilles injury in their huge 21-17 win over Iowa. The Red Raiders are scoring 32.1 PPG this season and averaging 453 TYPG with 138 on the ground and 315 through the air. This is a soft Wildcats defense, one that gives up 33.1 PPG and 456 TYPG away from home this year. Northwestern is 1-7 ATS vs. good passing teams with a completion pct. of 58% or better this season. The Wildcats are 1-8 ATS in their last 9 games overall. Expect Texas Tech to win by 14 or more!
