THE REAL ANIMAL SPORTS
Bonus Plays 10-5 last 15. Bonus Play today is Auburn ‘OVER’ 64 1/2:
I can’t resist the ‘OVER’ in our opener for 2015. It is very obvious many of these SEC teams are either beat up defensively or lack serious motivation after contending for the final four like the two Mississippi schools this year. I think you can probably put Auburn in that category as well. But I don’t like the chaos involving the Wisconsin program right now to take a shot with this ‘side’ selection. I can’t imagine what Bear Bryant would have been thinking watching this year’s Iron Bowl. We saw 99 points, 768 passing yards, and 401 rushing yards. Meanwhile we had a BEST BET on the ‘OVER’ in the Big 10 championship game and although Wisconsin went blanked it still exceeded the total thanks to the 59-points scored by Ohio State. The Badgers were gashed for 478 rushing yards alone in their final two games so you know Nick Marshall and Cameron Artis-Payne have to be licking their chops considering they combined for over 2,200-yards on the ground. Marshall accounted for 29 total touchdowns and Auburn averaged 35-points a game. They own the nation’s #12 rushing attack but don’t be misled because receivers D’haquille Williams and Sammie Coates combined for over 1,400 receiving yards and nine touchdowns. Wisconsin ended the year 4-0 ‘OVER’ and you know Coach Alvarez will be hellbent on scoring points after getting blanked by the Buckeyes. Auburn’s defense allowed 176, 289, and 227 rushing yards in three of their final four games so you know Melvin Gordon can do plenty of damage. Gordon led the nation in rushing with 2,336 yards and 7.9 a carry and 26 touchdowns. The Badgers averaged 34.6 points per game and Coach Malzahn is 13-4 ‘OVER’ against good offensive teams that produced 31 or more points per game. Auburn allowed 30 or more points in their final six SEC games this year. I like our opener to be a shootout with weather no issue in Tampa at the Outback Bowl.