jdoggoakley
Pretty much a regular
First, I'd like to thank all of the regular posters who spend their valuable time sharing their information with the rest of us who like to lurk, read and make sound decisions based on the info. You should know that your hard work is greatly appreciated, eventhough sometimes not expressed. Now, on to the reason for my post -
I feel that I have some decent insight into a bowl game that really hasn't been discussed that much (except for the Desmond Howard butcher job). The Holiday Bowl between Texas A&M and Cal. I live in Berkeley and have watched or been to most of the Cal games this year. I also have good friends at A&M and was able to go to the Nebraska game this year and really able to look at that team as well.
Here's what I see in this matchup: Cal opened the year as a pre-season top 10 team. They’ve got a heisman hopeful in Marshawn Lynch at RB and NFL first rounders in DeShawn Jackson WR, Desmond Bishop LB and Daymeion Hughes CB. They got kicked in the mouth in week 1 against Tennessee and were sort of given a wake up call. They responded and played a mostly good Pac 10 schedule, beating the teams they were supposed to beat. They’re in a great spot to get a Rose Bowl shot by beating AZ on the road (13-point chalk) with USC on deck. They go into AZ and lay another egg – biggest loss of the season that shattered just about all hopes of a successful season. They lose to SC and then play really flat against their bitter rival Stanford. Jeff Tedford is a good coach and does a very good recruiting job, but I believe he has lost this team. Their OL has been getting blown off the ball of late and although Marshawn has sprinkled in a few good games, he has been banged up all year with both ankles bothering him. As Pac-10 offensive and defensive players of the Year, Lynch and Hughes are seeing dollar signs, imho.
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A&M on the other hand has played terrific football down the stretch, as they went on the road and beat the team that they hate most – UT. That was a huge win for this program and young QB Stephen McGee. He doesn’t have the greatest arm, but his legs are good and can pull the ball down and run. In the backfield, they have Ironhead II in Javorski Lane, who weighs about 290 as a tailback. They also switch it up and use Freshman Michael Goodson who is a speedster (unfortunately for A&M, he is the reason they lost the Nebraska game). Either way, they have speed and power in the backfield and McGee at QB – Cal has shown that they’re not real good at stopping the run this year and I feel this matchup completely favors A&M.
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Add to all that…..I’M GETTING 5 POINTS!!!!!
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When the matchup was made, I figured the game would be a pick or A&M a very slight favorite. I not only like A&M on the ML +173, but I think getting 5 is an absolute gift. This, along with Michigan, will be my two largest wagers of the bowl season (of which I was on TCU and BYU already).
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Prediction:
Texas A&M 30 Cal 24
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Good luck with everyone’s plays.
[FONT="]J [/FONT]
I feel that I have some decent insight into a bowl game that really hasn't been discussed that much (except for the Desmond Howard butcher job). The Holiday Bowl between Texas A&M and Cal. I live in Berkeley and have watched or been to most of the Cal games this year. I also have good friends at A&M and was able to go to the Nebraska game this year and really able to look at that team as well.
Here's what I see in this matchup: Cal opened the year as a pre-season top 10 team. They’ve got a heisman hopeful in Marshawn Lynch at RB and NFL first rounders in DeShawn Jackson WR, Desmond Bishop LB and Daymeion Hughes CB. They got kicked in the mouth in week 1 against Tennessee and were sort of given a wake up call. They responded and played a mostly good Pac 10 schedule, beating the teams they were supposed to beat. They’re in a great spot to get a Rose Bowl shot by beating AZ on the road (13-point chalk) with USC on deck. They go into AZ and lay another egg – biggest loss of the season that shattered just about all hopes of a successful season. They lose to SC and then play really flat against their bitter rival Stanford. Jeff Tedford is a good coach and does a very good recruiting job, but I believe he has lost this team. Their OL has been getting blown off the ball of late and although Marshawn has sprinkled in a few good games, he has been banged up all year with both ankles bothering him. As Pac-10 offensive and defensive players of the Year, Lynch and Hughes are seeing dollar signs, imho.
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></o>A&M on the other hand has played terrific football down the stretch, as they went on the road and beat the team that they hate most – UT. That was a huge win for this program and young QB Stephen McGee. He doesn’t have the greatest arm, but his legs are good and can pull the ball down and run. In the backfield, they have Ironhead II in Javorski Lane, who weighs about 290 as a tailback. They also switch it up and use Freshman Michael Goodson who is a speedster (unfortunately for A&M, he is the reason they lost the Nebraska game). Either way, they have speed and power in the backfield and McGee at QB – Cal has shown that they’re not real good at stopping the run this year and I feel this matchup completely favors A&M.
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></o>Add to all that…..I’M GETTING 5 POINTS!!!!!
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></o>When the matchup was made, I figured the game would be a pick or A&M a very slight favorite. I not only like A&M on the ML +173, but I think getting 5 is an absolute gift. This, along with Michigan, will be my two largest wagers of the bowl season (of which I was on TCU and BYU already).
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></o>Prediction:
Texas A&M 30 Cal 24
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></o>Good luck with everyone’s plays.
[FONT="]J [/FONT]
