Johnny Guild
Missouri Tigers vs. Northwestern Wildcats
Missouri has won two of the last three meetings against Northwestern, but they haven't met since 1987. The Tigers are making their fourth straight bowl appearance, 2-2 in bowl games, while Northwestern is 1-5 in its last six.Northwestern Wildcats' so-so defense will have a big task against Missouri Tigers’ high-power offense led by quarterback Chase Daniel. The Tigers are averaging 43.2 points per game and 497.5 total yards per game, Missouri has scored 38 points in each of its last three bowl games. Take the Tigers! The Wildcats don't have the firepower to stay with Missouri.
North Carolina State Wolfpack +7
Missouri Tigers -12.5
Orlando Magic at Detroit Pistons
The Pistons have won seven of the last 10 clashes against the Magic and four of the last five in Detroit, but their supremacy over Orlando won’t be an easy undertaking tonight in the Motor City. The sizzling Magic have blown away every opponent and will try for their eight straight victory when they face the Pistons at the Palace. Detroit is 1-6 ATS in their last 7 home games, while Orlando is 10-3-1 ATS in its last 14 games on the road.
Orlando Magic -2
NCAAB
Villanova Wildcats -9
Portland St. Vikings +13.5
Missouri Tigers vs. Northwestern Wildcats
Missouri has won two of the last three meetings against Northwestern, but they haven't met since 1987. The Tigers are making their fourth straight bowl appearance, 2-2 in bowl games, while Northwestern is 1-5 in its last six.Northwestern Wildcats' so-so defense will have a big task against Missouri Tigers’ high-power offense led by quarterback Chase Daniel. The Tigers are averaging 43.2 points per game and 497.5 total yards per game, Missouri has scored 38 points in each of its last three bowl games. Take the Tigers! The Wildcats don't have the firepower to stay with Missouri.
North Carolina State Wolfpack +7
Missouri Tigers -12.5
Orlando Magic at Detroit Pistons
The Pistons have won seven of the last 10 clashes against the Magic and four of the last five in Detroit, but their supremacy over Orlando won’t be an easy undertaking tonight in the Motor City. The sizzling Magic have blown away every opponent and will try for their eight straight victory when they face the Pistons at the Palace. Detroit is 1-6 ATS in their last 7 home games, while Orlando is 10-3-1 ATS in its last 14 games on the road.
Orlando Magic -2
NCAAB
Villanova Wildcats -9
Portland St. Vikings +13.5
Mr A
PAPAJOHNS.COM BOWL
North Carolina State vs. Rutgers
Both teams played well down the stretch to end the regular season, but the Wolfpack had to beat tougher opponents. Take NC State in a close hard fought battle. North Carolina State is 13-3 ATS as an underdog and has covered the spread in their last seven games.
North Carolina State Wolfpack +7
VALERO ALAMO BOWL
Missouri vs. Northwestern
Missouri Tigers potent offense should have no difficulties against the Northwestern Wildcats meager defense. Look for QB Chase Daniel to focus on his main targets, Wide Receiver Jeremy Maclin and Tight End Chase Coffman to get the job done. Missouri is 2-2 straight-up and 3-1 ATS in their last four bowl games, while Northwestern is 0-5 straight-up and 1-4 ATS in its last five.
Missouri Tigers -12½
NBA
Atlanta Hawks -5
Utah Jazz -6½
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PAPAJOHNS.COM BOWL
North Carolina State vs. Rutgers
Both teams played well down the stretch to end the regular season, but the Wolfpack had to beat tougher opponents. Take NC State in a close hard fought battle. North Carolina State is 13-3 ATS as an underdog and has covered the spread in their last seven games.
North Carolina State Wolfpack +7
VALERO ALAMO BOWL
Missouri vs. Northwestern
Missouri Tigers potent offense should have no difficulties against the Northwestern Wildcats meager defense. Look for QB Chase Daniel to focus on his main targets, Wide Receiver Jeremy Maclin and Tight End Chase Coffman to get the job done. Missouri is 2-2 straight-up and 3-1 ATS in their last four bowl games, while Northwestern is 0-5 straight-up and 1-4 ATS in its last five.
Missouri Tigers -12½
NBA
Atlanta Hawks -5
Utah Jazz -6½
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JOHN RYAN
Ai Simulator 10* graded play UNDER Missouri/Northwestern in the Alamo Bowl. For once this season the Missouri defense will be facing a team they matchup well against and based on the AiS projections I fully expect them to play extremely well. Missouri has faced the strongest and most prolific offenses in the nation and this experience will have them well prepared to face an average offense in Northwestern. AiS also shows an 88% probability that Northwestern will not gain more than 150 rushing yards. Note that Missouri is 6-0 OVER (+6.0 Units) when they allow 100 to 150 rushing yards over the last 2 seasons. Supporting this graded play is a strong system that has produced a record of 37-8 UNDER for 82% since 1997 and is a perfect 7-0 UNDER this season. Play under with any team against the total in non-conference games and are off 2 straight losses to conference rivals allowing 31 points or more. Here is a second system that has gone 30-8 UNDER for 79% since 2002. Play under with all teams where the total is greater than or equal to 63 after covering the spread in 3 out of their last 4 games and is a good team winning 60-80% or more of their games on the season. Reflecting the "seasoning" that Missouri has endured this season Northwestern is 9-1 UNDER (+7.9 Units) versus passing defenses allowing a completion percentage of 62% or worse since 1992. Again, Northwestern is NOT Texas tech, Texas, or Oklahoma by any stretch of analysis. Even against Michigan and Illinois, Northwestern, did not rush the ball well. Note that they are 9-1 UNDER (+7.9 Units) after gaining 125 or less rushing yards in 2 straight games since 1992. Take the UNDER.
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Ai Simulator 10* graded play UNDER Missouri/Northwestern in the Alamo Bowl. For once this season the Missouri defense will be facing a team they matchup well against and based on the AiS projections I fully expect them to play extremely well. Missouri has faced the strongest and most prolific offenses in the nation and this experience will have them well prepared to face an average offense in Northwestern. AiS also shows an 88% probability that Northwestern will not gain more than 150 rushing yards. Note that Missouri is 6-0 OVER (+6.0 Units) when they allow 100 to 150 rushing yards over the last 2 seasons. Supporting this graded play is a strong system that has produced a record of 37-8 UNDER for 82% since 1997 and is a perfect 7-0 UNDER this season. Play under with any team against the total in non-conference games and are off 2 straight losses to conference rivals allowing 31 points or more. Here is a second system that has gone 30-8 UNDER for 79% since 2002. Play under with all teams where the total is greater than or equal to 63 after covering the spread in 3 out of their last 4 games and is a good team winning 60-80% or more of their games on the season. Reflecting the "seasoning" that Missouri has endured this season Northwestern is 9-1 UNDER (+7.9 Units) versus passing defenses allowing a completion percentage of 62% or worse since 1992. Again, Northwestern is NOT Texas tech, Texas, or Oklahoma by any stretch of analysis. Even against Michigan and Illinois, Northwestern, did not rush the ball well. Note that they are 9-1 UNDER (+7.9 Units) after gaining 125 or less rushing yards in 2 straight games since 1992. Take the UNDER.
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ANDY ISKOE
NORTHWESTERN vs. MISSOURI
PLAY: MISSOURI -12
Over the years Northwestern has been a good barometer for the strength of the Big 10 conference. Because of their high academic standards, when Northwestern’s football team earns a Bowl bid it’s generally a sign that the Big 10 is having a down season. The Bowl results reflect this, both in terms of Northwestern’s individual results and those of the Big 10 a s a whole. Over the past 20+ seasons Northwestern has been to just 5 Bowls. Those appearances came between 1995 and 2005. Northwestern is 0-5 straight up and 1-4 ATS in their Bowls, losing by an average score of 47-28. In those same 5 seasons the Big 10's Bowl record is 14-20 straight up and 11-23 ATS. Missouri is in their fourth straight Bowl, having won in 2 of the past 3 Bowls. In each of the 3 Bowls Missouri scored exactly 38 points and this bowl should feature plenty of scoring by both teams as each team’s offense is a strength whereas the defenses have been weaknesses. To be fair, Mizzou faced much tougher competition in the Big 12 than Northwestern did in the Big 10. Both teams faced Illinois this season. Missouri opened the season with a neutral site 52-42 win over the Illini in a game featuring nearly 1,100 yards of total offense, nearly evenly divided. Northwestern ended their season with a 27-10 home win over Illinois in a game in which the total yards were again almost evenly divided. Missouri played the overall tougher schedule – their 13 foes were a combined 83-63 S/U and 78-59 ATS. Northwestern’s foes were just 69-75 S/U and a poor 55-64-4 ATS. Missouri has outstanding talent at the skill positions including QB Daniel and TE Macklin who should give the NW defense problems. There was only one true offensive powerhouse in the Big 10 this season, Penn State, and Northwestern did not have to face them this season. Given the potency of the Missouri offense and the fact that Mizzou has faced far tougher competition, combined with the poor Bowl record of Missouri, suggests Missouri should be able put plenty of points on the board and ultimately get clear of the impost. To be sure, Missouri will also surrender its share of points but in the end Missouri will distance itself from the Wildcats in a high scoring game. The call is for Missouri to win by from 17 to 21 points.
NORTHWESTERN vs. MISSOURI
PLAY: MISSOURI -12
Over the years Northwestern has been a good barometer for the strength of the Big 10 conference. Because of their high academic standards, when Northwestern’s football team earns a Bowl bid it’s generally a sign that the Big 10 is having a down season. The Bowl results reflect this, both in terms of Northwestern’s individual results and those of the Big 10 a s a whole. Over the past 20+ seasons Northwestern has been to just 5 Bowls. Those appearances came between 1995 and 2005. Northwestern is 0-5 straight up and 1-4 ATS in their Bowls, losing by an average score of 47-28. In those same 5 seasons the Big 10's Bowl record is 14-20 straight up and 11-23 ATS. Missouri is in their fourth straight Bowl, having won in 2 of the past 3 Bowls. In each of the 3 Bowls Missouri scored exactly 38 points and this bowl should feature plenty of scoring by both teams as each team’s offense is a strength whereas the defenses have been weaknesses. To be fair, Mizzou faced much tougher competition in the Big 12 than Northwestern did in the Big 10. Both teams faced Illinois this season. Missouri opened the season with a neutral site 52-42 win over the Illini in a game featuring nearly 1,100 yards of total offense, nearly evenly divided. Northwestern ended their season with a 27-10 home win over Illinois in a game in which the total yards were again almost evenly divided. Missouri played the overall tougher schedule – their 13 foes were a combined 83-63 S/U and 78-59 ATS. Northwestern’s foes were just 69-75 S/U and a poor 55-64-4 ATS. Missouri has outstanding talent at the skill positions including QB Daniel and TE Macklin who should give the NW defense problems. There was only one true offensive powerhouse in the Big 10 this season, Penn State, and Northwestern did not have to face them this season. Given the potency of the Missouri offense and the fact that Mizzou has faced far tougher competition, combined with the poor Bowl record of Missouri, suggests Missouri should be able put plenty of points on the board and ultimately get clear of the impost. To be sure, Missouri will also surrender its share of points but in the end Missouri will distance itself from the Wildcats in a high scoring game. The call is for Missouri to win by from 17 to 21 points.
