<TABLE id=jot-content-table0 style="TABLE-LAYOUT: fixed; WIDTH: 100%" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><TBODY><TR><TD id=col00 style="WIDTH: 100%">PapaJohns.com Bowl
Legion Field, Birmingham, Alabama
10 Units on NC State (+7) over Rutgers
North Carolina St. (6-6) vs. Rutgers (7-5)- This game features two teams that come in red hot. Rutgers winning their last 5 and NC State their last 4. The Wolfpack’s season turned around after some tough early season losses. Redshirt Freshman QB Russell Wilson has really stepped in and taken control of the offense and does a great job of not making costly mistakes, while still having the ability to make plays. Running Back Andre Brown should have a good day running the ball and help keep the explosive Rutgers offense off the field. Rutgers is a team that came into the season with high expectations and played horribly out of the gate. They have made an amazing recovery led by Senior QB Mike Teel and talented Wide Receiver Kenny Britt. Offensively they have shown the ability to score from anywhere on the field. Teel will look to end his career with a victory, but I don’t think it will happen. NC State has played a tough schedule and some of their tough losses have really helped them to mature as a football team, look for them to spring the upset in a tight game. NC State by 3-7.
Valero Alamo Bowl
Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas
15 Units on Northwestern (+13) over Missouri
[SIZE=+0]Missouri (9-4) vs. Northwestern (9-3)- Northwestern couldn’t be happier to be in the Alamo Bowl. They came into the season expected to be at best a .500 team, and have shocked everybody with the season they’ve had. On the other hand, Missouri couldn’t be more disappointed to be in this game. The Tigers came into the season with National Championship aspirations, but have stumbled at every major hurdle throughout the year. Northwestern’s offense will be bolstered by the return of leading rusher Tyrell Sutton, who has missed the last four games with a wrist injury. The Wildcat offense should be able to put up enough points against a struggling Missouri defense to keep the game close. On the other side of the ball, Missouri features one of the nation’s most explosive offenses, orchestrated by QB Chase Daniel. He will look to get the ball into the hands of Jeremy Maclin any way he can, to allow Maclin to use his dynamic speed and running ability to find the endzone. They will also look to find All American tight end Chase Coffman. In the end, Missouri will have too much offensive firepower for Northwestern, but the Wildcats should keep it close into the 4<SUP>th</SUP> quarter. Missouri by 7-10.[/SIZE]
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Larry Ness' Late Breaking Play
No. 13 Villanova (11-1) will travel to Marquette on Thursday in its Big East opener but first must wrap up its annual series of games vs its "Big Five" rivals. The Wildcats are looking to sweep all four games vs city rivals for the third time in four seasons. The Wildcats have already beaten Penn (69-47), St Joe's (59-56) and LaSalle (70-59) and tonight take on the Temple Owls. The Owls upset then-No. 8 Tennessee 88-72 back on Dec 13, as 6-6 senior Dionte Christmas (20.8-6.4) scored 35 points. However, the Owls have dropped both games since, falling 71-59 at Kansas on Dec 20 and losing 76-71 last Monday at Long Beach State. The Kansas loss is no big deal but the loss at Long Beach St should concern coach Fran Dunphy. Dunphy led the Owls to four straight wins to end the regular season last year (his 2nd at Temple) and then led Temple to the A-10 tourney title with three more wins, beating St Joe's in the championship game. A 72-61 first round NCAA loss to Michigan St didn't put damper on a very good season for the Owls. The team's 5-5 start is a disappointment but that could all change with a win over 'Nova. I'm not quite sure how good Villanova is? The Wildcats are 11-1 , losing only to Texas but the Wildcats sure looked outclassed vs the Longhorns (lost 67-58 at Madison Square Garden). The 6-8 Cunningham (17.3-7.8) is joined in the frontcourt by 6-8 sophomore Pena (7.5-5.9) and senior swingman Anderson (4.6-3.8). Reynolds (14.7-4.5 APG) and Stokes (12.2) are the starting backcourt, with Fisher (8.9) and Redding (6.8-4.6) getting significant minutes. The 6-7 Clark (4.8-3.) is about the only other real contributor. Christmas is the 'key' for Temple and he's joined on the perimeter by Brooks (12.5), Inge (8.50)and freshman Moore (5.8). The 7-0 Olmos (12.0-3.5) is scoring more than double what he averaged LY (5.8) and the 6-9 Allen (9..6-8.0) has shown solid improvement from his freshman season. Villanova had seven days off for exams prior to its 78-68 win over Navy on Dec 22 and was a "step slow" on defense all game, allowing 14 three-pointers. Villanova is facing another lay-off here (six days) since the Navy game and the Wildcats are hoping they won't have the same troubles here (I'm hoping they will). The Wildcats won 101-93 at Temple last December, as Christmas had 20 points but shot just 5-of-15. It marked Villanova's third straight win in the series, meaning this is the senior's last chance to get a win over the Wildcats. Villanova struggled vs 5-6 St Joe's and didn't pull away from 6-5 LaSalle until late, so despite the fact that they've won 22 straight here at The Pavilion, I expect this one to be close. Fran Dunphy's Owls were able to beat Tennessee (albeit at home) and with a big game from Christmas (it IS that time of year!), they are surely capable of taking this one to wire.
Late Breaking Play on Temple
No. 13 Villanova (11-1) will travel to Marquette on Thursday in its Big East opener but first must wrap up its annual series of games vs its "Big Five" rivals. The Wildcats are looking to sweep all four games vs city rivals for the third time in four seasons. The Wildcats have already beaten Penn (69-47), St Joe's (59-56) and LaSalle (70-59) and tonight take on the Temple Owls. The Owls upset then-No. 8 Tennessee 88-72 back on Dec 13, as 6-6 senior Dionte Christmas (20.8-6.4) scored 35 points. However, the Owls have dropped both games since, falling 71-59 at Kansas on Dec 20 and losing 76-71 last Monday at Long Beach State. The Kansas loss is no big deal but the loss at Long Beach St should concern coach Fran Dunphy. Dunphy led the Owls to four straight wins to end the regular season last year (his 2nd at Temple) and then led Temple to the A-10 tourney title with three more wins, beating St Joe's in the championship game. A 72-61 first round NCAA loss to Michigan St didn't put damper on a very good season for the Owls. The team's 5-5 start is a disappointment but that could all change with a win over 'Nova. I'm not quite sure how good Villanova is? The Wildcats are 11-1 , losing only to Texas but the Wildcats sure looked outclassed vs the Longhorns (lost 67-58 at Madison Square Garden). The 6-8 Cunningham (17.3-7.8) is joined in the frontcourt by 6-8 sophomore Pena (7.5-5.9) and senior swingman Anderson (4.6-3.8). Reynolds (14.7-4.5 APG) and Stokes (12.2) are the starting backcourt, with Fisher (8.9) and Redding (6.8-4.6) getting significant minutes. The 6-7 Clark (4.8-3.) is about the only other real contributor. Christmas is the 'key' for Temple and he's joined on the perimeter by Brooks (12.5), Inge (8.50)and freshman Moore (5.8). The 7-0 Olmos (12.0-3.5) is scoring more than double what he averaged LY (5.8) and the 6-9 Allen (9..6-8.0) has shown solid improvement from his freshman season. Villanova had seven days off for exams prior to its 78-68 win over Navy on Dec 22 and was a "step slow" on defense all game, allowing 14 three-pointers. Villanova is facing another lay-off here (six days) since the Navy game and the Wildcats are hoping they won't have the same troubles here (I'm hoping they will). The Wildcats won 101-93 at Temple last December, as Christmas had 20 points but shot just 5-of-15. It marked Villanova's third straight win in the series, meaning this is the senior's last chance to get a win over the Wildcats. Villanova struggled vs 5-6 St Joe's and didn't pull away from 6-5 LaSalle until late, so despite the fact that they've won 22 straight here at The Pavilion, I expect this one to be close. Fran Dunphy's Owls were able to beat Tennessee (albeit at home) and with a big game from Christmas (it IS that time of year!), they are surely capable of taking this one to wire.
Late Breaking Play on Temple
