Kyle Bales
13-7 (65%) this week.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish at #8 Pittsburgh Panthers
Write-up:
This proud Pittsburgh team comes in boasting its highest ranking in 20
years and their chances of representing the Big East in a major bowl
game are growing stronger by the week. Pitt has had the Big East in a
choke hold this season winning its five conference games by an average
of 17.8 points, and piled up 481 yards last Saturday in a 37-10 rout
of Syracuse. The Panthers have the 4th hardest active schedule,
according to the NCAA, left to play and this team is definitely not
looking past the Irish. “Everybody is excited about Notre Dame,”
tailback Dion Lewis said. “We’ve got to have a good week of practice,
bring our ‘A’ game. … We’ve got to keep coming.” Having Lewis be up
for this game is all the confidence I need in the Panthers. Last week
in a 23-21 home loss to Navy, The Midshipmen gained 6.1 yards per
carry and racked up 348 yards on the ground. If the Irish defense
continues to not be able to stop the run then this game will be over
by halftime. Lewis is on the verge of breaking many of Tony Dorsett’s
and LeSean McCoy’s Pitt freshman rushing records and a big game
tonight will leave his mark. With Lewis running down their neck this
will allow QB Bill Stull’s to pass efficiently, especially the deep
stuff as Notre Dame’s defense ranks 88th against the pass (237.4).
Notre Dame's QB Jimmy Clausen will have his hands full against a Pitt
defense that’s first in the nation with 39 sacks, led by junior end
Greg Romeus’ 7 1/2. Pittsburgh’s pass defense has also been sound
allowing only 880 yards and three touchdowns through the air in the
past five games. Pittsburgh easily covers the spread tonight and sends
Notre Dame to 1-8 ATS their last 9.
Prediction:
Notre Dame - 13
Pittsburgh - 24
Play On:
25* Pittsburgh Panthers -6.5
NOTE: Buy the half point if at 7.
Indiana Hoosiers at #19 Penn State
Write-up:
Normally I would love a team in this situation such as Penn State's,
but late in the season and Penn State's Rose Bowl hopes gone I don't
see the Nittany Lions being up for this game. Indiana comes in trying
to become bowl eligible and needs to upset Penn State and knock off
Purdue next week. Now, I'm not saying the Hoosiers will beat Penn
State but this is just too many points to lay. Indiana has played well
this season when it has believed in itself. Whether that is hanging
for Michigan until the final drive of the game or battling Iowa for
three quarters or taking Wisconsin to the wire last week, when IU
comes into a game believing it can win, the Hoosiers usually make a
game of it. When they don’t believe they can win, well, you get
results like Indiana put up against Ohio State. Three of the Hoosiers
five conference losses have been by three points or less. I expect the
Hoosier O-line to protect QB Ben Chappell well as Indiana has allowed
fewer sacks than any other Big Ten team and has given up just 11 sacks
all season. Penn State doesn’t feature an explosive offense to cover a
spread this big and their defense has been less then stellar giving up
362.0 yards per game the past two weeks.
Prediction:
Indiana - 17
Penn State - 28
Play On:
15* Indiana Hoosiers +25
New Orleans Hornets at Atlanta Hawks
We played against this Hornets team last night winning our 15* on the
Portland Trailblazers -1.5 (Our top plays are 4-1 (80%) this week) and
coasted to an easy victory. I knew it would be a hard night for the
Hornets playing their first game without longtime coach Byron Scott
(Which I feel was a very bad move and guarantee to see Chris Paul get
out of town when his contract is up.) And tonight they are without
Chris Paul with an ankle injury. Even before Paul was hurt Friday, the
Hornets struggled offensively. They shot 36.7 percent from the field
overall while recording their lowest point total of the season. While
watching the Hawks beat Boston 97-86 on the road last night was one of
the best looking basketball teams I've seen all season. They Pulled
away in the second half and held this All-Star Celtic squad to 16
points in the fourth quarter. The Hornets have also lost six of the
last seven road games.
Prediction:
New orleans - 81
Atlanta - 117
Play On:
15* Atlanta Hawks -9.5
Note: Get this quick as the line will skyrocket.
Idaho Vandals at #6 Boise St. Broncos
Write-up:
Boise State needs a convincing win to earn a spot in the Bowl
Championship Series. With an opportunity to show a national television
audience why it should once again be a BCS buster, Boise State didn’t
look overly impressive in pulling out a 45-35 victory over Louisiana
Tech last Friday night (We won a 10* on LA Tech 21.5 on this game).
Against a team which came in with a 3-5 record, Boise State was
clinging to a 30-28 lead early in the fourth quarter before the
defense buckled down and the offense came up with touchdowns on
consecutive drives. Today the annual Gem State rivalry is renewed in
front of a national television audience for the first time in history
(ESPNU). This year’s game is the first time that both schools enter
the game with a winning record since 1999 and it will mark the first
time that both schools will play in a bowl game in the same season.
This will be a big step up today for Boise St. as Idaho has as many
wins as the Broncos’ last three opponents combined. Idaho won’t
announce which quarterback will play against Boise State until game
time. Starter Nathan Enderle has an injured shoulder and he sat out
last week’s ball game against Fresno State. Backup Brian Reader took
every snap against Fresno State and the offense changes very little
with Reader in the game. If I knew for sure Enderle was playing then I
would rate this game much higher. The vandals will be hyped for this
one and you just can't spot a team that scores 30.8 ppg 31.5 points.
Prediction:
Idaho - 21
Boise St. - 35
Play On:
Idaho Vandals +31.5
Bonus Play
Utah Utes at TCU
The Horned Frogs have looked impressive in climbing the BCS standings to No. 4, the highest ever for a team from a non-BCS conference. Only one team stands in their way of a Mountain West Conference title, the Utes. "We are the defending champion," Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said in a rare moment of bravado to the Salt Lake Tribune. "The championship trophy is in this building, and somebody has to take that away from us. That is the first thing we tell our guys. TCU is a good football team, we respect them and they are hitting all phases, but the bottom line is we have played some good football this year as well and we'll show up on Saturday night, line up and see what happens." The Utes have to protect QB Jordan Wynn and prepare him for TCU's speed and ability to break on the football. The defense can't let the Horned Frogs control the line of scrimmage, especially in the red zone. If the Utes can duplicate their plan from a year ago forcing TCU to kick field goals and keep the game close. Their experience in close games could become a huge factor. This Utah program has defeated the Frogs in each of the past three seasons. Too many points today in this close football game.
Prediction
Utah - 13
TCU - 14
1* opinion Utah Utes +20
Paid and Confirmed