On The Hop's 2015 NCAA Football

[OnTheHop]

Ohio State Buckeyes +1 (-110), 2 units

Purdue Boilermakers +7.5 (-110), 1 unit

Mississippi State Bulldogs +1 (-110), 1 unit

LSU Tigers -5.5 (-110), 1 unit

Notre Dame Fighting Irish +3.5 (-115), 1 unit

Oklahoma State Cowboys +7.5 (-115), 1 unit

Michigan State Spartans/California Golden Bears (+100), 1 unit

 

[OnTheHop]

12/5/2015 (71-72-2 -6.45u)

Air Force Falcons +7 (-110), 1 unit

USC Trojans +4 (-110), 2 units

Houston Cougars/Michigan State Spartans (+128), 2 units

 

[OnTheHop]

​Florida Gators +17 (-120), 1 unit

 

[OnTheHop]

12/19/2015 (74-73-2 -4.65u)

Gildan New Mexico Bowl-New Mexico Lobos +8 (-110), 2 units: Great spot for the Lobos. First of all, they had a strong finish to the season. Second, they have the opportunity to play at home. Third, the Wildcats cannot be excited about going to New Mexico for an early bowl game. Fourth, Solomon just doesn't seem like himself since his injury. Arizona is the more talented team but everything lines up for New Mexico.

Gildan New Mexico Bowl-New Mexico Lobos (+270), 1/2 unit

Royal Purple Las Vegas Bowl-BYU Cougars -3 (-130), 1 unit: Cougars get a great opportunity to give their departing coach a win over their hated rival. Expect maximum effort and maximum focus from the Cougars. On the other hand the Utes have not looked the same since the injury to Booker. Utah cannot be excited about getting off to a great start, being ranked third in the nation at one point and ending up in a low tier bowl game.

 

[OnTheHop]

12/20/2015 (74-75-2 -6.45u)


Miami Beach Bowl-South Florida Bulls +3 (-110), 1 unit: Both offenses can move the ball. The Bulls have the better defense, have faced a tougher schedule and have been a vastly different team since Taggert took over play calling. In a game where the last team with the last possession will likely decide the game, I'll grab the points and the "home" team.

 

[OnTheHop]

12/21/2015 (74-76-2 -7.55u)

FAMOUS IDAHO POTATO BOWL-Akron Zips +7 (-115), 2 units: Two teams that are mirror images. Both have tough defenses and mediocre offenses. I look to two things here. First, motivation. The Aggies play in Idaho all the time in both the regular season and in several of their last bowl games. Second, in an evenly matched, low scoring game I'll grab the points.

 

[indiana]

Hop........BOL with your action............you and your family have a great Holiday............indy

 

[OnTheHop]

Thanks indy...to you and yours as well!!

MARMOT BOCA RATON BOWL-Toledo Rockets +3 (-125), 1 unit: Again, two evenly matched teams with strong defenses. To me this one comes down to two things. First, I expect the Rockets to give full effort for their new coach who seems to be well liked while the Owls are a game removed from a loss in the AAC Championship game. Second, the Toledo offense is slightly more balanced than Temple's which gives them a few more options. Finally, in a game this evenly matched I'm happy to grab a FG.

 

[OnTheHop]

12/23/2015 (76-76-2 -4.55u)

SAN DIEGO COUNTY CREDIT UNION POINSETTIA BOWL-Boise State Broncos -7 (-105), 1 unit: Easy to question the Broncos motivation here and it is a concern. It is somewhat of a relief that they bounced back at year end to win a road game at SJSU. In looking at the matchups, Boise State is just so much better on both sides of the ball. If Hare were playing these teams would be fairly equal but I see so many more weapons on offense and defense that I'll give the points and hope the Broncos are motivated.

GODADDY BOWL-Bowling Green -5.5 (-110), 1 unit: I hate everything about this play. It seems too obvious and 5 and 5.5 are always crappy numbers. That being said, everything I look at tells me the Falcons roll. They've played much better competition, they're multi dimensional and really good on offense and have had a month to prepare for the Eagles option attack. Additionally, the Eagles only holding 6 practices during their month off is concerning as it limits the amount of surprises and preparation they have for a Bowling Green team that is going to pull out all the stops with nothing to lose.

 

[OnTheHop]

12/24/2015 (77-77-2 -4.65u)

POPEYES BAHAMAS BOWL-Western Michigan Broncos -4 (-110), 2 units: As I write this I'm having flashbacks to last year's Bahamas Bowl disaster. Worst beat of all time. Anyway, it's a new year and again a bowl matchup with two very similar teams. I'll take the Broncos for two reasons. First, I love the way they bounced back to win at Toledo after a tough two game stretch. Second, their D is slightly better against a tougher schedule.

 

[OnTheHop]

HAWAI'I BOWL-Cincinnati Bearcats +1.5 (-110), 2 units: Definitely misread the market and got the worst number possible. That being said, Bearcats are still the correct play. They've faced much tougher competition and their offense is far more versatile than an Aztecs team that will run, run and then run some more. SDSU D is tough but I question the level of the competition. There is a lot more talent on the Cincy side of the ball and as long as the players are not on vacation and want to win this one, they should get it done.

 

[OnTheHop]

12/26/2015 (78-78-2 -4.85u)

ST. PETERSBURG BOWL- Connecticut Huskies +5 (-110), 1 unit: This one looks like a defensive battle to me. I'll grab the team that's played a tougher schedule, has the better defense and is getting points, especially in an early kickoff.

HYUNDAI SUN BOWL- Washington State Cougars -2.5 (-110), 1 unit: Getting some value here due to the Cougars debacle at Washington. They didn't have Falk in that game and he's the engine that makes Wazzou go. Their defense is greatly improved this year and I expect them to stack the box and make the Hurricanes throw. On the other side of the ball is a Miami squad with an interim coach that has already sent two players home. I can't imagine the Hurricanes have the desire or the skills to match the up tempo attack of the Cougars who would desperately love to win a bowl game.

THE THREE BOWL TEASER- Washington Huskies -1.5/Duke Blue Devils +10/Virginia Tech Hokies -6.5 (+150), 3 units

 

[OnTheHop]

FOSTER FARMS BOWL-Nebraska Cornhuskers +6 (-120), 2 units: The Cornhuskers haven't been great all year but they've certainly been unlucky. They've been in every game except for an inexplicable loss at Purdue. On the other side of the ball are the Bruins who had a chance to play for the Pac 12 Championship but got blown out by crosstown rival USC in their final game. Now they're playing a 5-7 team, only a few hours from home. I see Nebraska running the ball well against UCLA and grinding them down to the point where UCLA just doesn't care very much by the end of the game.

 

[OnTheHop]

Still can't believe Va Tech gave up 15 points at the end of the game. Killed what was otherwise a good day.

12/28/2015 (80-80-2 5.95u)

MILITARY BOWL PRESENTED BY NORTHRUP GRUMMAN-Navy Midshipmen -3 (-110), 2 units: You really want me to play against a service academy in the Military Bowl? Seriously, the Midshipmen have had a great year with their only losses at Notre Dame and at Houston. Their win at Memphis was one of the most impressive all year. Reynolds is in his last game, Niumatalolo has decided to stay and I believe his team will rally around both. The Panthers started out on fire but now have lost three of their last five and now have to play a road game against a non Power 5 opponent. I can't see them being excited for this game.

QUICK LANE BOWL-Central Michigan Chippewas +5 (-110), 1 unit: The Gophers have not impressed me all year. They moved quickly to hire Claeys as a full time coach without even looking for a better candidate. This tells me something is really wrong with this program. The Chippewas finished strong winning 5 of 6 with the only loss to a very good Toledo team. Central Michigan has too many weapons for Minnesota who will try and grind them down but will not have the firepower to keep up in this virtual road game.

 

[OnTheHop]

12/29/2015 (81-81-2 -5.05u)

LOCKHEED MARTIN ARMED FORCES BOWL-Air Force Falcons +6 (-110), 2 units: I was ready to pull the trigger on the Bears until I read that they only traveled with 4 linebackers. Can't imagine how tough it is going to be for four linebackers to deal with the Falcons triple option attack. Neither team can stop the other's strength but I think throwing it in the cold weather is going to be a little tougher than running it. I'll gladly grab the points in a game that should be a back and forth shootout.

RUSSELL ATHLETIC BOWL-Baylor Bears +3 (-135), 2 units: Easy to back away from the Bears with all their injury concerns. However, taking a closer look, they are still very deep at WR and RB. The concern is the QB position. I firmly believe Briles with three weeks of preparation will work to maximize Johnson's strengths. Baylor is better on the defensive side of the ball and is far more tested. Finally, I do not trust Fedora as a coach at all.

NOVA HOME LOANS ARIZONA BOWL-Colorado State Rams -3 (-135), 2 units: The Rams want to be there, the Wolfpack do not. Colorado State finished the season strong, Nevada did not. The Rams have too many weapons on offense and a better coach. Look for the Wolfpack to fold their tent as soon at the first sign of things going bad.

 

[mudman]

GL on your picks

 

[OnTheHop]

Thanks mudman. Appreciate the support.

ADVOCARE V100 TEXAS BOWL-Texas Tech Red Raiders +7 (-115), 1 unit: Leonard Fournette may run for 300 yards....by halftime. However, the Red Raiders are going to move the ball up and down the field against the Tigers as well. For all the talent that LSU has on the defensive side of the ball they really haven't been able to stop anyone. Expect Kingsbury to throw every play in the world at the Tigers and keep his squad in the game the whole time. It may be a late backdoor score but I feel like a TD is too many to give, especially for an LSU squad that has not traditionally had a lot of success in bowl games.

 

[OnTheHop]

BIRMINGHAM BOWL- Memphis Tigers +3.5 (-110), 1 unit: It's not hard to figure out that one set of Tigers is excited to be playing in Birmingham and the other one is not. Memphis lost their head coach but everything I'm reading says their new coach is a nice fit and with a few weeks to prepare I expect him to fully utilize the talents of Lynch and give his team a chance to knock off another SEC team. Auburn is playing in a bowl game near home against a non P5 opponent. Their defense is a mess and their starting QB situation is no better. Combine all of that with an early start and I don't see a lot of effort coming from Auburn.

BELK BOWL- Mississippi State Bulldogs -6.5 (-110), 3 units: Take a look at the Wolfpack's schedule. Not a quality win in the bunch. In fact, Doeren is 0-16 against P5 teams with a winning record. On the other side of the ball the Bulldogs are led by Mister All Everything, Dak Prescott. They are going to do everything they possibly can to send him off with a win. Look for the receivers to get separation and when they don't look for Prescott to tuck it and run. Mississippi State has played a much tougher schedule and are far more experienced. I expect all of these things to pay off with a win.

 

[OnTheHop]

Houston Cougars +7 (-110), 1u

 

[indiana]

Hop..........BOL with todays action...........enjoy the New Year...........indy