Jimmy Boyd 5* GOY Shit!
Jimmy Boyd
5* 2010 Bowl Game of the Year on Iowa +5.5
I have seen few teams enter the bowl season annually as prepared as the Iowa Hawkeyes so hats have to go off to head coach Kirk Ferentz and his staff for that. That's a big reason why Iowa is 7-3 ATS in its last 10 bowl games. It's also looking good for Iowa that underdogs are on a 5-1 ATS run in the Orange Bowl. Plus, the Yellow Jackets have lost four straight bowl games. While the Jackets rank 11th in the nation in scoring offense (35.3 ppg), Iowa ranks 10th in scoring defense (15.5 ppg), and it is safe to say that Georgia Tech has not seen a unit as physical and as disciplined defensively as Iowa. If QB Ricky Stanzi hadn't gone down with an ankle injury when the Hawks were leading 10-0 against Northwestern late in the Big Ten season, Iowa may have been Rose Bowl bound, as it nearly won at Ohio State the following week with its inexperienced backup QB. Stanzi is expected back for this game, and I expect him to make the most of this opportunity to get back out on the football field after watching his team struggle offensively in his absence. Georgia Tech is a great running football team, but consider what Iowa has done to such teams under Ferentz. Iowa is 13-1 ATS versus excellent rushing teams averaging >=5.25 rushing yards per carry under Ferentz, winning these games by an average score of 33.9 to 23.0. Iowa is also a perfect 7-0 ATS when playing away from home against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons, winning in these spots by an average score of 25.6 to 12.3. The Yellow Jackets are just 2-5 ATS in their last 7 bowl games as a favorite of 3.5-10.0 points and only 1-4 ATS in their last 5 neutral site games as a favorite period. Take the Hawkeyes and the points.
Jimmy Boyd
5* 2010 Bowl Game of the Year on Iowa +5.5
I have seen few teams enter the bowl season annually as prepared as the Iowa Hawkeyes so hats have to go off to head coach Kirk Ferentz and his staff for that. That's a big reason why Iowa is 7-3 ATS in its last 10 bowl games. It's also looking good for Iowa that underdogs are on a 5-1 ATS run in the Orange Bowl. Plus, the Yellow Jackets have lost four straight bowl games. While the Jackets rank 11th in the nation in scoring offense (35.3 ppg), Iowa ranks 10th in scoring defense (15.5 ppg), and it is safe to say that Georgia Tech has not seen a unit as physical and as disciplined defensively as Iowa. If QB Ricky Stanzi hadn't gone down with an ankle injury when the Hawks were leading 10-0 against Northwestern late in the Big Ten season, Iowa may have been Rose Bowl bound, as it nearly won at Ohio State the following week with its inexperienced backup QB. Stanzi is expected back for this game, and I expect him to make the most of this opportunity to get back out on the football field after watching his team struggle offensively in his absence. Georgia Tech is a great running football team, but consider what Iowa has done to such teams under Ferentz. Iowa is 13-1 ATS versus excellent rushing teams averaging >=5.25 rushing yards per carry under Ferentz, winning these games by an average score of 33.9 to 23.0. Iowa is also a perfect 7-0 ATS when playing away from home against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons, winning in these spots by an average score of 25.6 to 12.3. The Yellow Jackets are just 2-5 ATS in their last 7 bowl games as a favorite of 3.5-10.0 points and only 1-4 ATS in their last 5 neutral site games as a favorite period. Take the Hawkeyes and the points.
Matt Fargo
South Florida +2 (-110)
Notre Dame is being favored by a bucket on name alone, nothing new there. Back the South Florida Bulls on Tuesday night when they host the Fighting Irish.
I don’t think Notre Dame should be favored in this spot. The Irish are coming off their first true road game of the season at Connecticut and it was not a good result as they lost by 12 points to move to 1-1 in the Big East so far this year.
They are 12-3 overall but this has come by way of playing a schedule ranked 316th in the nation.
Notre Dame has a big advantage down low with Big East Preseason Player of the Year Luke Harangody who is averaging 24.2 ppg and 10.1 rpg. He could have a very big game here as the Bulls are not a big team with the loss of Augustus Gilchrist but that does not lead to a definite as he put up 31 points against the Huskies, over 44 percent of the total points, and it still resulted in a loss.
This game will be won up top and while the guard play of Notre Dame has been solid, a lot of that was due to the schedule already played.
South Florida lost its Big East opener at Louisville which was a disappointment as the Bulls trailed by just a point at the half before a big run to start the second half by the Cardinals enabled them to run away with it.
The Bulls are 10-3 on the season which is tied for the best start in school history so this is definitely a team on the rise and they are no longer the punching bag of the conference.
The guard trio of Dominique Jones, Chris Howard and Mike Mercer has had a solid start to the season as they are averaging a combined 34.8 ppg and 10.2 apg. They match up very well with the Notre Dame backcourt and forward/center Jarrid Famous will need to hold his own against Harangody.
Only Louisville dominated South Florida but again that was just for a half as the other two losses came by just by three points. This is a much stronger team at home and even when the Bulls were much weaker the past few years, they gave fits to a lot of elite teams down in South Florida.
This could be a signature win to start the season and one to provide some momentum heading into a tough stretch coming up.
South Florida +2 (-110)
Notre Dame is being favored by a bucket on name alone, nothing new there. Back the South Florida Bulls on Tuesday night when they host the Fighting Irish.
I don’t think Notre Dame should be favored in this spot. The Irish are coming off their first true road game of the season at Connecticut and it was not a good result as they lost by 12 points to move to 1-1 in the Big East so far this year.
They are 12-3 overall but this has come by way of playing a schedule ranked 316th in the nation.
Notre Dame has a big advantage down low with Big East Preseason Player of the Year Luke Harangody who is averaging 24.2 ppg and 10.1 rpg. He could have a very big game here as the Bulls are not a big team with the loss of Augustus Gilchrist but that does not lead to a definite as he put up 31 points against the Huskies, over 44 percent of the total points, and it still resulted in a loss.
This game will be won up top and while the guard play of Notre Dame has been solid, a lot of that was due to the schedule already played.
South Florida lost its Big East opener at Louisville which was a disappointment as the Bulls trailed by just a point at the half before a big run to start the second half by the Cardinals enabled them to run away with it.
The Bulls are 10-3 on the season which is tied for the best start in school history so this is definitely a team on the rise and they are no longer the punching bag of the conference.
The guard trio of Dominique Jones, Chris Howard and Mike Mercer has had a solid start to the season as they are averaging a combined 34.8 ppg and 10.2 apg. They match up very well with the Notre Dame backcourt and forward/center Jarrid Famous will need to hold his own against Harangody.
Only Louisville dominated South Florida but again that was just for a half as the other two losses came by just by three points. This is a much stronger team at home and even when the Bulls were much weaker the past few years, they gave fits to a lot of elite teams down in South Florida.
This could be a signature win to start the season and one to provide some momentum heading into a tough stretch coming up.
The Duke's Sports
Houston (+7') for 2 Units
The Lakers have struggled in this role where they're 1-5 ATS as home chalk and 0-5 ATS on Tuesdays. Houston,however,controls an 11-5 ATS mark as a dog, and has shown resiliency off losses at 35-16-2 ATS. The Lakers could show sluggishness out there tonight without Gasol (hamstring), Artest working his way back on the floor (concussion, shoulder, just plain idiot), and Odom still under the weather. The Rockets are a solid 3-1 ATS on 2 days rest and have fast fresh legs of Brooks teamed with workers - Scola, Battier and former Laker - Ariza - to slow the Lakers down. We'll look for Houston to cover its third straight in this series this season.
Houston (+7') for 2 Units
The Lakers have struggled in this role where they're 1-5 ATS as home chalk and 0-5 ATS on Tuesdays. Houston,however,controls an 11-5 ATS mark as a dog, and has shown resiliency off losses at 35-16-2 ATS. The Lakers could show sluggishness out there tonight without Gasol (hamstring), Artest working his way back on the floor (concussion, shoulder, just plain idiot), and Odom still under the weather. The Rockets are a solid 3-1 ATS on 2 days rest and have fast fresh legs of Brooks teamed with workers - Scola, Battier and former Laker - Ariza - to slow the Lakers down. We'll look for Houston to cover its third straight in this series this season.
LT Profits
NCAAB: Iowa +16 (-110)
Illinois may be 9-5 and 8-0 at home, but they have been overrated this season, going just 4-9 ATS overall and 3-4 ATS at home despite the perfect record. Take the big points here.
While many eyes will be glued on the Iowa Hawkeyes football team in their bowl game tonight, their basketball team quietly provides a nice betting opportunity at this fat line when they visit the Illinois Fighting Illini.
The Illini are 9-5 straight up, but they appear to be overrated right now as they are just 4-9 against the spread. For further evidence that they are not as good as many people think, consider that while they are a perfect 8-0 SU at home this season, they are just 3-4 ATS in those games. They lost to Gonzaga as three-point favorites on Saturday, leaving them on an 0-4 ATS streak entering this contest tonight.
Now Iowa is just 5-9 on the year, but it is not as if they are getting blown out every night, as they are only losing their games vs. Division I opponents by an average of -2.4 points. The Hawkeyes are a deceptively good shooting team, as they rank 71 out of 347 teams in two-point field goal percentage at 51.5 percent. As long as they do not hoist up too many three-point shots unnecessarily here, there is no reason why they cannot hang within single-digits.
Now the Hawkeyes have lost two games by exactly 17 points this season vs. Northern Iowa and Wichita State respectively, but those are the only games they have lost by more than this posted spread, and they already survived meetings vs. a couple of ranked Big Ten teams in Purdue and Minnesota, in fact covering the number vs. the undefeated Boilermakers.
Finally, the road teams have historically done well in this head-to-head series, going 7-3 ATS in the last 10 meeting including both encounters last season. Iowa has lost the last two visits to Champaign by eight and four points respectively, and we simply do not see Illinois basically doubling that average winning margin here tonight.
NCAAB: Iowa +16 (-110)
Illinois may be 9-5 and 8-0 at home, but they have been overrated this season, going just 4-9 ATS overall and 3-4 ATS at home despite the perfect record. Take the big points here.
While many eyes will be glued on the Iowa Hawkeyes football team in their bowl game tonight, their basketball team quietly provides a nice betting opportunity at this fat line when they visit the Illinois Fighting Illini.
The Illini are 9-5 straight up, but they appear to be overrated right now as they are just 4-9 against the spread. For further evidence that they are not as good as many people think, consider that while they are a perfect 8-0 SU at home this season, they are just 3-4 ATS in those games. They lost to Gonzaga as three-point favorites on Saturday, leaving them on an 0-4 ATS streak entering this contest tonight.
Now Iowa is just 5-9 on the year, but it is not as if they are getting blown out every night, as they are only losing their games vs. Division I opponents by an average of -2.4 points. The Hawkeyes are a deceptively good shooting team, as they rank 71 out of 347 teams in two-point field goal percentage at 51.5 percent. As long as they do not hoist up too many three-point shots unnecessarily here, there is no reason why they cannot hang within single-digits.
Now the Hawkeyes have lost two games by exactly 17 points this season vs. Northern Iowa and Wichita State respectively, but those are the only games they have lost by more than this posted spread, and they already survived meetings vs. a couple of ranked Big Ten teams in Purdue and Minnesota, in fact covering the number vs. the undefeated Boilermakers.
Finally, the road teams have historically done well in this head-to-head series, going 7-3 ATS in the last 10 meeting including both encounters last season. Iowa has lost the last two visits to Champaign by eight and four points respectively, and we simply do not see Illinois basically doubling that average winning margin here tonight.
Shea Matthews of OffshoreInsiders.com
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fficeffice" /><o
> </o>
If you’re betting tonight, think of the Orange Bowl as a poor man’s Fiesta Bowl in that it features a powerhouse offense battling a stout defense. Whereas I think the defensive team, TCU, will prevail in the Fiesta, I like the high-octane offense of Georgia Tech over <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comffice:smarttags" /><st1:State><st1lace>Iowa</st1lace></st1:State> in the <st1:City><st1lace>Orange</st1lace></st1:City>.
<o> </o>
2010 <st1lace>Orange</st1lace> Bowl<o></o>
(10) <st1lace>Iowa</st1lace> vs (9) Georgia Tech
Tuesday, January 5, <st1:time Minute="0" Hour="20">8:00 p.m. ET</st1:time>
College football odds favorite: Georgia Tech -4
<o> </o>
You have to love the triple-option offense. It puts points on the board and entertains the heck out of us. Georgia Tech works it better than any team and road it to the No. 2 rushing offense in the nation, averaging 307 yards per carry. Quarterback Josh Nesbitt ran for 991 yards and 18 touchdowns; change-of-pace back Anthony Allen ran for nine scores. The real horse is Jonathan Dwyer, a powerful runner who amassed 1,346 yards and 14 touchdowns. To top it off, the Yellow Jackets have big-play ability. They’re not a big passing team but, when they do, they go big. Demaryius Thomas caught 46 balls for 1,100-plus yards, averaging a ridiculous 25.1 yards per catch.
<o> </o>
Georgia Tech scores like crazy but sports betting sharps should know that it gets scored on plenty, too. The Jackets allowed 25 points per game and five yards per carry. I’m not convinced, however, that <st1:State><st1lace>Iowa</st1lace></st1:State>’s offense can exploit the Jackets’ weaknesses. The Hawkeyes aren’t an elite running team and quarterback Ricky Stanzi doesn’t always inspire confidence; he paired his 15 touchdown passes with 14 interceptions this season.
<o> </o>
Even though <st1:State><st1lace>Iowa</st1lace></st1:State>’s defense, featuring Pat Angerer and Adrian Clayborn, is the real deal, I don’t think the Hawkeyes can get the job done in the Orange Bowl. For one, as good as their defense is, they haven’t battled the triple option before. Secondly, <st1:State><st1lace>Iowa</st1lace></st1:State> may be rusty after not playing since November 21. Lastly, the game means more to Georgia Tech. Iowa’s season is a mild disappointment since it started 9-0 whereas just getting to a BCS bowl game qualifies as a success for Georgia Tech. Go with the Jackets.
<o> </o>
Free pick: Georgia Tech -4<o></o>
<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com
fficeffice" /><o> </o>If you’re betting tonight, think of the Orange Bowl as a poor man’s Fiesta Bowl in that it features a powerhouse offense battling a stout defense. Whereas I think the defensive team, TCU, will prevail in the Fiesta, I like the high-octane offense of Georgia Tech over <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com
ffice:smarttags" /><st1:State><st1lace>Iowa</st1lace></st1:State> in the <st1:City><st1lace>Orange</st1lace></st1:City>.<o
> </o>2010 <st1
lace>Orange</st1lace> Bowl<o></o>(10) <st1
lace>Iowa</st1lace> vs (9) Georgia TechTuesday, January 5, <st1:time Minute="0" Hour="20">8:00 p.m. ET</st1:time>
College football odds favorite: Georgia Tech -4
<o
> </o>You have to love the triple-option offense. It puts points on the board and entertains the heck out of us. Georgia Tech works it better than any team and road it to the No. 2 rushing offense in the nation, averaging 307 yards per carry. Quarterback Josh Nesbitt ran for 991 yards and 18 touchdowns; change-of-pace back Anthony Allen ran for nine scores. The real horse is Jonathan Dwyer, a powerful runner who amassed 1,346 yards and 14 touchdowns. To top it off, the Yellow Jackets have big-play ability. They’re not a big passing team but, when they do, they go big. Demaryius Thomas caught 46 balls for 1,100-plus yards, averaging a ridiculous 25.1 yards per catch.
<o
> </o>Georgia Tech scores like crazy but sports betting sharps should know that it gets scored on plenty, too. The Jackets allowed 25 points per game and five yards per carry. I’m not convinced, however, that <st1:State><st1
lace>Iowa</st1lace></st1:State>’s offense can exploit the Jackets’ weaknesses. The Hawkeyes aren’t an elite running team and quarterback Ricky Stanzi doesn’t always inspire confidence; he paired his 15 touchdown passes with 14 interceptions this season. <o
> </o>Even though <st1:State><st1
lace>Iowa</st1lace></st1:State>’s defense, featuring Pat Angerer and Adrian Clayborn, is the real deal, I don’t think the Hawkeyes can get the job done in the Orange Bowl. For one, as good as their defense is, they haven’t battled the triple option before. Secondly, <st1:State><st1lace>Iowa</st1lace></st1:State> may be rusty after not playing since November 21. Lastly, the game means more to Georgia Tech. Iowa’s season is a mild disappointment since it started 9-0 whereas just getting to a BCS bowl game qualifies as a success for Georgia Tech. Go with the Jackets.<o
> </o>Free pick: Georgia Tech -4<o
></o>
