Larry Ness Saturday
9* Bowl Total
Both the Mountaineers and Tar Heels stayed near the top of their respective conferences (Big East and ACC) for a good part of the season and both flirted with opportunities of playing in the Orange Bowl. West Va reeled off five straight wins from Sept 27-Nov 1 but then split its final four games, with the losses coming by a combined seven points. The Mountaineers would up in a three-way tie for second place in the Big East, with Pitt and Rutgers. As for North Carolina, despite key injuries to its starting QB (TJ Yates) and its outstanding WR/KR Brandon Tate very early on, the Tar Heels won SEVEN of their first nine games. That opening run included impressive wins over top-25 opponents U Conn, Boston College and Georgia Tech, winning those games by an average of 22.6 points per contest. However, like West Va, the Tar Heels stumbled late, with the ACC Coastal title in sight. Back-to-back losses at Maryland and home to North Carolina State 'killed' NC's title hopes, although Butch Davis' team did close out the regular season with a 28-20 victory over Duke. North Carolina (8-4) finished in a tie with Miami for third in the Coastal Division of the ACC. Davis has done an excellent job in just his second season at Chapel Hill and this marks North Carolina's first bowl appearance since losing 37-24 to Boston College in the Continental Tire Bowl (predecessor to this bowl, played at the same venue). West Va head coach Bill Stewart famously led the Mountaineers to a 48-28 win over Oklahoma in last year's Fiesta Bowl as the school's interim coach, when Rich Rodriquez bolted for Michigan. That impressive win got Stewart his permanent gig at West Va and all things considered, its's been an OK first year, although most experts felt the Mountaineers could have won the Big East this season. QB Pat White and RB Noel Devine form an awesome one-two punch for West Va. White is the NCAA's all-time leader in career rushing among QBs with 4,425 yards (6.7 YPC), including four 200-yard games. He's scored 47 rushing TDs, with 40 coming over the final three years of his career. He had 919 YR with eight TDs this year and added 1,510 passing yards with 18 TDs with only six INTs. His completed 65.3 percent in his career with a ratio of 45-17. Devine took over for NFL draftee Steve Slaton and ran for 1,228 rushing yards (6.4 ypc). North Carolina's TJ Yates (60.0 percent with nine TDs and three INTs) missed five games with a broken ankle but Sexton filled in nicely, completing 56.0 percent with nine TDs and six INTs. Yates returned in the season's final two games and was near-perfect in the season finale against Duke, completing 15 of 19 passes for 190 yards and a season high-tying three TDs. RB Shaun Draughn was the Tar Heels' top rusher with 801 yards (4.4 YPC) and Nicks stepped in at WR for the injured Tate with 60 catches for 1,005 yards (16.8 YPC / 9 TDs). While North Carolina is going to its first bowl since 2004, this will be West Va's SEVENTH straight bowl appearance and its eighth this decade (since 2000). I'm not sure any player can match Vince Young's back-to-back Rose Bowl performances following the 2004 and 2005 seasons but White's three previous bowl efforts have been quite special. He's led West Va to a 3-0 bowl mark, winning LY's Fiesta Bowl over Oklahoma 48-28, the 2006 Gator Bowl over Ga Tech 38-35 and the 2005 Sugar Bowl 38-35 over Georgia. He's completed 62.5 percent of his throws for an average of 142.3 YPG with five TDs and zero INTs. He's run for 372 yards, an average of 124.0 per game (5.6 YPC) and one TD. West Va's averaged 41.3 PPG in the three wins and the games have averaged 74.0 PPG. Throw in West Va's other four bowl games this decade where those contests finished with totals of 48, 48, 70 and 87 points, and West Va bowl games have averaged 67.6 PPG this decade! While West Va's defense is top-notch (15.9 PPG allowed / ranked 9th), I see White excelling once again and North Carolina "playing along right."
9* West Va/NC Over
7* Daytime Dominator-TV: 10-3-1 run
Thad Matta knows a little bit about coaching college hoops. His career mark entering this year (his ninth), was 207-66 (.758), including 105-35 (.750) in his first four years at Ohio State. He led the Buckeyes (with a little help from freshman Oden and Conley) to the national champiopsnship game two years ago and then LY (with Oden and Conley off to the NBA), led the Buckeyes to an NIT title, as seniors Butler and Hunter teamed with 7-0 freshman Koufos to lead the way. Butler and Hunter graduated and Koufos headed off to the NBA but lo and behold, the Buckeyes have opened 9-0 and including the team's six-game winning streak to end last year, own the nation's longest active streak at 15 in a row. Now of course the guy on the other sideline today is no slouch either, as Bob Huggins is in his 27th year, taking a 616-222 (.735) mark into this season. He led his alma mater into the Sweet 16 last year, in his first year in Morgantown. The Mountaineers are 9-2 to open this year, losing only to Kentucky in a tourney in Las Vegas, when the team shot a putrid 30.6 percent from the floor (including 3-of-18 on threes) and in the Jimmy V Classic in MSG to Davidson. In that game, the team's best player, 6-6 senior guard Ruoff (17.0-3.6-2.8) did not play, as Wildcats' star Stephen Curry scored 13 of Davidson's 15 points in a 68-65 win. West Va is not a big team, as its strength lies in Ruoff, the 6-7 Butler (15.5-6.2) and some solid depth. Freshman guard Bryant (11.3) starts with Ruoff in the backcourt, with 6-7 Smith (6.5-4.1) and 6-9 freshman Ebanks (7.5-6.7) joing Butler in the frontcourt. Two forwards, Flowers (6.5-4.5) and yet another freshman, Jones (4.9-4.5), add depth. Mazzulla (5.6-3.7 APG), a solid guard, is expected to miss with a shoulder injury. Ohio State will miss 6-5 Lighty (9.7-5.7), who will be out six to 12 weeks with a broken foot. However, three sophomores have built on their freshman years, to provide Matta with a strong nucleus. The 6-7 Turner (19.-6.8) has been the team's best player, with guard Diebler (10.4) and the 6-8 Lauderdale (8.0-4.9) also doing their share. The team's "star in waiting," is 7-0 freshman BJ Mullens. Mullens has been brought around slowly so far, averaging 7.8 PPG and 4.1 RPG but expect much more from him the rest of the way. Mullens had not played more than 20 minutes nor scored more than 11 points in any game this year, before dominating UNC-Ashville on Monday, as the Buckeyes won 83-59. He was 8-of-11 from the floor (six were dunks) in scoring 19 points, while adding eight rebounds and three blocked shots. I expect Mullens to have another big game against undersized West Virginia today and for the Buckeyes to roll, even without Lighty.
Daytime Dominator (TV) on Ohio State -3 (7*).
Larry Ness' Weekend Wipeout Winner-CFB
Wisconsin will be making a school-record seventh straight bowl appearance in Saturday's Champs Sports Bowl, played in the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Florida. That's 'chump change' for FSU and its legendary coach, Bobby Bowden. Bowden led Florida State to Orlando for just its eighth bowl game in school history back in 1977, in what was his first bowl game as the Seminoles' head coach (he went 5-6 in his first year at Tallahassee in '76). FSU beat Texas Tech 40-17 in that game (Tangerine Bowl) and 29 bowl appearances later, Bowden and the Seminoles return to Orlando. This will be Florida State's 30th bowl appearance under Bowden and 27th in a row, the longest active streak in CFB, with Michigan going 3-9 this year. Both teams are likely somewhat disappointed to be here, as Wisconsin saw its 3-0 start quickly ruined when it blew a 19-0 halftime lead at Michigan (lost 27-25 after getting outscored in the 4th quarter 20-6). The Badgers followed that loss with three more and even though they won four of five down the stretch to get to 7-5, Wisconsin needs a win here to avoid failing to win at least eight games for the first time since going 7-6 in 2003. The Seminoles were reportedly not happy to be passed over by the Gator Bowl, which is played on January 1 in Jacksonville. The Seminoles have played regular season games the last two seasons in Jacksonville, yet the Gator Bowl chose a 7-5 Clemson team over 8-4 FSU, even though the Seminoles beat the Tigers this year, 41-27. And so it goes. Both teams have questionable passing games and solid running games. Wisconsin averages 212.0 YPG (4.8 YPC / 31 TDs) on the ground, led by senior PJ Hill (1,021 yards / 4.8 YPC / 13 TDs), who has topped 1,000 yards for the third straight year plus freshman Clay (845 YR / 5.9 YPC / 9 TDs). The Seminoles average 187.8 YPG (4.9 YPC / 25 TDs) on the ground, led by Smith (753 YR / 4.7 YPC) and freshman Thomas (478 YR / 7.2 YPC). KSU transfer Evridge (53.8 percent / 5-5 ratio) began the year as Wisconsin's QB but the Badgers changed QBs following their 48-7 drubbing by Penn State on Oct 11. However, Sherer hasn't done much better, completing only 54.3 percent and also posting a 5-5 ratio. FSU's Christian Ponder threw for more INTs (13) than TDs (12) this year, completing only 55.4 percent. Bret Bielema is in his third year at Wisconsin (succeeded Barry Alvarez) and he hasn't come close to matching his magical first year, when the Badgers went 12-1, losing only at Michigan. The Badgers opened the '07 season 5-0 (giving Bielema 17 wins in his first 18 games) but the Badgers finished LY just 9-4, splitting their final eight games. Throw in TY's 7-5 mark and only a 36-35 overtime win against Cal Poly on Nov 22 (Cal Poly missed three extra-points!), keeps Wisconsin above .500 (11-9) over its last 20 games. None of the team's seven wins this year, came over a BCS school with more than seven wins. Meanwhile, the Seminoles own road wins over bowl teams like Miami-Fla, NC State and Maryland and home wins over Va Tech and Clemson. FSU has really been out of just one game all year and that was its season-ender against Florida (45-15) and in case you hadn't noticed, not many teams stayed with the Gators after their one-point loss to Ole Miss. FSU has the way better athletes and by game's end, the difference should be two TDs or more.
Weekend Wipeout Winner on Florida State
Las Vegas Insider- NBA
The Pistons beat the Bucks earlier this year (107-97 on Nov 28), for the seventh time in the last eight meetings between the teams. However, the Pistons just don't seem to be getting into any real 'groove' or 'flow' since acquiring Allen Iverson. Iverson is averaging just 18.2 PPG (5.8 APG) and Hamilton (17.2) seems to miss Billups. Second-year guard Stuckey (11.9-5.0 APG) is often used in a three-guard rotation, joining Prince (13.8-7.20 and Wallace (12.3-7.4). The re-signing of McDyess was a good thing but Curry (Detroit's first-year head coach), has seemingly lost confidence in Maxiell, Amir Johnson and Kwame Brown (join the club!). The Pistons used to be known for their depth, but no longer. As for the Bucks, while they enter 14-16 overall, they are an impressive 8-4 SU and 9-3 ATS at home this season. They'll take a three-game overall winning streak into this game, having won five of their last six. Redd (19.4) missed 14 games earlier TY but has topped 20 points in eight of the 12 games since returning and is averaging 20.7 PPG during Milwaukee's modest three-game winning streak. Jefferson (17.9-5.0) is an All-Star caliber small forward (and a HUGE step-up from Yi), while Bogut (11.3-10.7) has played well in the middle and Villanueva (12.9-6.7) has done a solid job at the power forward position. Ridnour (10.5-5.4 APG) and Sessions (12.2-4.9 APG) have also done a decent job replacing Mo Williams at the point. The Pistons have won five of their last seven games but all five of the wins have come over sub-.500 clubs. Detroit has hardly been dominant in those wins, as they've come by an average margin of only six PPG, after the Pistons 'escaped' with a 90-88 win at home over the Thunder (who own an NBA-worst 3-27 mark), last night. The Bucks may be only 14-16 but they are not playing like a losing team lately and while the Pistons are playing back-to-back games, the Bucks haven't played since a 94-86 home win over the Jazz on Tuesday.
Las Vegas Insider on the Mil Bucks
Oddsmaker Error - NCAAB
(Hawaii is favored by five points). CSU and Hawaii both have second-year coaches, Tim Miles for the Rams and Bob Nash for the Rainbows. Both suffered through terrible first seasons, as CSU went 7-25 last year (including 0-16 in the MWC) with Hawaii going 11-19. Both head coaches knew that their respective second seasons would have a lot to do with a couple of transfers. For CSU, the 7-0 Vandervieran (7.1-4.6) came from Purdue and the 6-8 Ogide (12.5-8.5) from Ole Miss and both have been very solid. As for Hawaii, the Rainbows' "new guys" were JUCO transfers and they have been just terrific. The 6-7 Flemings (20.7-11.7) and the 6-8 Belocka (13.7-11.2) have joined the team's lone returning starter, the 6-9 Amis (10.3-7.9), to give the team a formidable frontcourt. Throw in guard Parhalava (7.2), who played with Belocka at Pensacola (Fla) College last year and Nash "has a smile on his face" this year. Nitoto (5.9-3.7 APG) is often the lone pure guard in the starting lineup, as 6-8 junior Mayben (5.7-2.2) gives Hawaii four starters this year bigger than 6-7. Other than Parhalava, 6-7 junior Adams (4.8-2.6) is the only other real contributor. The "big lineup" is working so far, as after an 0-2 start, the Rainbows have won SIX of their last seven, losing only at 11-1 Illinois, 68-58. AS for CSU, the Rams have started 3-8 and will take a six-game losing streak into this contest. Senior guards Walker (15.8) and Gardner (6.6) are back this year plus two freshman who played more than 20 MPG last season, are again getting significant time. Now sophomores, guard Simmons (5.6-3.7 APG) and the 6-6 McFarland (10.6-5.1) join freshman guard Carr (7.5) and 6-7 sophomore Franklin (6.3-3.4) as the other main contributors. I'm not claiming Hawaii to be any powerhouse but Flemings and Belocka were expected to make a major impact on this team and they have sure lived up to (and surpassed!), all expectations. Playing on the road in Hawaii is never easy, as it offers any number of added distractions. That particularly spells bad news for the Rams, who are 0-4 SU on the road this year, extending their losing streak to 24 straight on the road. The linemakers haven't come close to getting this one right.
Oddsmaker's Error on Hawaii
thanks for postin cpaw
