Lefty tackles the Bowls

[BringInTheLefty]

It's been a while since I've posted any plays, since my baseball fiasco. I'm prepared to tackle the College Football Bowls. Here we go:


New Mexico (8-4) vs USTA (6-6)

Current Line: New Mexico -7 Total 62.5

New Mexico led the nation in rushing yds per game 360.9 they look once again to pound the ball the entire game. UTSA is led by Junior QB Dalton Strum he produces 192.9 yds per game of total offense.

New Mexico led by fifth-year coach Bob Davie, 8-4 New Mexico is in the midst of its best season in a decade and is seeking the fifth nine-win campaign in the program’s 85-year history. The Lobos, however, are 3-8-1 in bowl games, including 1-2 in the New Mexico Bowl, and its 2007 New Mexico Bowl win over Nevada stands as its only bowl victory since 1961. The Lobos went 5-1 in Albuquerque this season, and won six of its last seven games overall to earn a share of the Mountain West Mountain Division title at 6-2.
On the legs of running backs Teriyon Gibson (120.9 yards per game, 12 TDs) and Tyrone Owens (98.5 yards, seven TDs), the Lobos and their option attack lead the FBS in all the major rushing categories, including total yards (4,331), yards per game (360.9) and yards per carry (6.81). Quarterbacks Lamar Jordan and Austin Apodaca have shared time, but the former is the more potent rushing threat with 658 yards and three TDs on the ground for New Mexico, which averaged a Mountain West-best 37.8 points per outing and is fewer than 100 yards away from setting a school single-season record for total offense. Defensive linemen Nik D’Avanzo (60 total tackles) and Garrett Hughes (team-most 6.5 sacks) were All-Mountain West second-team selections and lead a unit which allows 32.4 points and 397.3 yards per game.


I will be playing New Mexico -7 $550/$500 & UNDER 62.5 $1,100/$1,000

 

[C-MAN]

Good luck Lefty. Hope you kill it this bowl season.

 

[BringInTheLefty]

San Diego State ML + $165 $400/$660
San Diego State over 51.5 -$110 $660/$600

Arkansas State ML + $200 $400/$800
Arkansas State over 50 -$110 $1,100/$1,000

Appalachian State ML -$110 $660/$600
Appalachian State under 60 -$110 $2,200/$2,000

 

[Fondybadger]

Good luck

 

[Metallica]

BOL today Lefty.

 

[BringInTheLefty]

Recap:
Lost New Mexico -7 -$550
WON under 62.5 +$1,000

+$450

It's been a while since I've posted any plays, since my baseball fiasco. I'm prepared to tackle the College Football Bowls. Here we go:


New Mexico (8-4) vs USTA (6-6)

Current Line: New Mexico -7 Total 62.5

New Mexico led the nation in rushing yds per game 360.9 they look once again to pound the ball the entire game. UTSA is led by Junior QB Dalton Strum he produces 192.9 yds per game of total offense.

New Mexico led by fifth-year coach Bob Davie, 8-4 New Mexico is in the midst of its best season in a decade and is seeking the fifth nine-win campaign in the program’s 85-year history. The Lobos, however, are 3-8-1 in bowl games, including 1-2 in the New Mexico Bowl, and its 2007 New Mexico Bowl win over Nevada stands as its only bowl victory since 1961. The Lobos went 5-1 in Albuquerque this season, and won six of its last seven games overall to earn a share of the Mountain West Mountain Division title at 6-2.
On the legs of running backs Teriyon Gibson (120.9 yards per game, 12 TDs) and Tyrone Owens (98.5 yards, seven TDs), the Lobos and their option attack lead the FBS in all the major rushing categories, including total yards (4,331), yards per game (360.9) and yards per carry (6.81). Quarterbacks Lamar Jordan and Austin Apodaca have shared time, but the former is the more potent rushing threat with 658 yards and three TDs on the ground for New Mexico, which averaged a Mountain West-best 37.8 points per outing and is fewer than 100 yards away from setting a school single-season record for total offense. Defensive linemen Nik D’Avanzo (60 total tackles) and Garrett Hughes (team-most 6.5 sacks) were All-Mountain West second-team selections and lead a unit which allows 32.4 points and 397.3 yards per game.


I will be playing New Mexico -7 $550/$500 & UNDER 62.5 $1,100/$1,000

 

[BringInTheLefty]

Recap: 5-3 +$2,610

I went 3-1 on game winners, but went 2-2 on O/U. Overall I'm very happy starting the grind in the positives

WIN San Diego State ML +$660
LOST San Diego State over 51.5 -$660
WIN Arkansas State ML + $660
LOST Arkansas State over 50 -$1,100
WIN Appalachian State ML +$600
WIN Appalachian State under 60 +$2,000

4-2
+$3,920 -$1,760 = +$2,160

+$2,160 + $450 = +$2,610

San Diego State ML + $165 $400/$660
San Diego State over 51.5 -$110 $660/$600

Arkansas State ML + $200 $400/$800
Arkansas State over 50 -$110 $1,100/$1,000

Appalachian State ML -$110 $660/$600
Appalachian State under 60 -$110 $2,200/$2,000

 

[inZane]

good job Lefty

:cheers3:

 

[BringInTheLefty]

5-3 +$2,610

I'm going against the grain with these

Tulsa 1st half under 34.5 -$115 $690/$600
Tulsa game under 64.5 -$115 $690/$600

 

[BringInTheLefty]

Recap

WIN Tulsa under 1st half 34.5 +$600
LOST Tulsa game under 64.5 -$690 Score was 55-10 lose by .5

1-1
-$90

6-4
+$2,520

5-3 +$2,610

I'm going against the grain with these

Tulsa 1st half under 34.5 -$115 $690/$600
Tulsa game under 64.5 -$115 $690/$600

 

[BringInTheLefty]

6-4
+$2,520

Everything points to an over game & WKU. I feel Memphis played a much tougher schedule. Thus I'll just be making three 1st half plays.

1st half under 41.5 -$110 $770/$700
1st half Memphis ML +$180 $600/$1,080
1st half Memphis + 3.5 -$105 $630/$600


Hilltoppers (10-3) rank second in the nation with an average of 45.1 points per game.
The Tigers (8-4) are 17th with an average of 39.5 points per game.


Junior Mike White, a transfer from South Florida, completed 67.4 percent of his pass attempts for nearly 310 yards per game in earning Conference USA Newcomer of the Year honors in his first season for the Hilltoppers. Wide receiver Taywon Taylor had 89 receptions for 1,586 yards and 16 touchdowns, Nicholas Norris had 73 for 1,253 yards and 13 scores. Running back Anthony Wales finished with 1376 yards rushing.
Riley Ferguson, a transfer from Coffeyville (Kansas) Community College, stepped in for the departed Paxton Lynch for Memphis and completed 63.8 percent of his attempts for 28 scores and just over 277 yards a game. His favorite target was wide receiver Anthony Miller, who had 84 receptions for 1,283 yards and 11 touchdowns.

In addition to the 23 touchdowns Norvell's Tigers have scored rushing and 30 passing, Memphis has returned three interceptions and three kickoffs for scores. The Hilltoppers have run back three punts and an interception and kickoff for touchdowns.

 

[Metallica]

BOL tonight Lefty.

 

[BringInTheLefty]

Finally hit that that pothole in the highway, 0-3 tonight 21-28 at halftime
LOST 1st half under 41.5 -$770
LOST 1st half Memphis ML -$600
LOST 1st half Memphis +3.5 -$630
0-3
-$2,000 +$2,520 = +$520

6-4
+$2,520

Everything points to an over game & WKU. I feel Memphis played a much tougher schedule. Thus I'll just be making three 1st half plays.

1st half under 41.5 -$110 $770/$700
1st half Memphis ML +$180 $600/$1,080
1st half Memphis + 3.5 -$105 $630/$600


Hilltoppers (10-3) rank second in the nation with an average of 45.1 points per game.
The Tigers (8-4) are 17th with an average of 39.5 points per game.


Junior Mike White, a transfer from South Florida, completed 67.4 percent of his pass attempts for nearly 310 yards per game in earning Conference USA Newcomer of the Year honors in his first season for the Hilltoppers. Wide receiver Taywon Taylor had 89 receptions for 1,586 yards and 16 touchdowns, Nicholas Norris had 73 for 1,253 yards and 13 scores. Running back Anthony Wales finished with 1376 yards rushing.
Riley Ferguson, a transfer from Coffeyville (Kansas) Community College, stepped in for the departed Paxton Lynch for Memphis and completed 63.8 percent of his attempts for 28 scores and just over 277 yards a game. His favorite target was wide receiver Anthony Miller, who had 84 receptions for 1,283 yards and 11 touchdowns.

In addition to the 23 touchdowns Norvell's Tigers have scored rushing and 30 passing, Memphis has returned three interceptions and three kickoffs for scores. The Hilltoppers have run back three punts and an interception and kickoff for touchdowns.

 

[BringInTheLefty]

6-7
+$520

Rain in the forecast for tonight, looking for a few turnovers keeping this a low scoring game. Here are my plays


1st half under 28 -$110 $880/$800
Game under 56 -$110 $660/$600
Wyoming team total over 23 -$120 $600/$500




BYU (8-4) vs Wyoming (8-5)

BYU -10 Over/Under 56


The Cougars are feeling good about themselves in general as they enter the contest with four straight victories and seven of their past eight games.
They will see a familiar sight in Wyoming, a program that was always in the same conference as the Cougars from 1922-2010 before BYU departed the Mountain West to become an independent.
It will be the 78th all-time meeting -- BYU leads 44-30-3 -- and the Cowboys are learning that their fan base would relish a victory over their former conference rivals.
"Obviously, we know it is a very good opponent," senior center Chase Roullier said. "You can see that in film and through the record as well. You hear about the history between these two teams, whether it be teammates from Wyoming that seen it in the past or just things that you read.
"... We understand the importance of who this opponent is. But when it comes down to it, it is just another opponent for us that is in our way and we need to take them down."
Wyoming is playing in a bowl game for the first time since 2011 and is a revitalized program under third-year coach Craig Bohl.
Sophomore quarterback Josh Allen passed for 2,996 yards and 26 touchdowns -- he was intercepted 13 times -- but the player who makes the offense go is junior running back Brian Hill.
Hill ranks fourth in the nation with 1,767 rushing yards and 21 rushing touchdowns and could be playing in his final game for the school. He is considering applying for the NFL draft but won't make a decision until after the bowl game.
"Anything that has to do with it, it gets pushed back to someone else," Hill told reporters. "Agents contacting me, I sent them to my mom. I just don't feel like it's fair to focus on the future while I have business to take care of here right now."
BYU has a solid running back of its own in senior Jamaal Williams, who rushed for 1,165 yards and 11 touchdowns. Williams rushed for 131 yards in the regular-season finale against Utah State after missing three of the previous four games with an ankle injury.
The Cougars' defense is led by senior safety Kai Nacua, who has five interceptions this season and 13 in his career. Senior outside linebacker Sae Tautu posted a team-best six sacks.
Sophomore free safety Andrew Wingard heads the Cowboys' defense and recorded a team-high 128 tackles.

 

[BringInTheLefty]

A little profit was eeked out last night, I went 2-1

WIN 1st half under 28 +$800
WIN game under 56 +$600
LOST Wyoming team total over 23 -$600

2-1
+ $800

+$800 + $520 = +$1,320

6-7
+$520

Rain in the forecast for tonight, looking for a few turnovers keeping this a low scoring game. Here are my plays


1st half under 28 -$110 $880/$800
Game under 56 -$110 $660/$600
Wyoming team total over 23 -$120 $600/$500




BYU (8-4) vs Wyoming (8-5)

BYU -10 Over/Under 56


The Cougars are feeling good about themselves in general as they enter the contest with four straight victories and seven of their past eight games.
They will see a familiar sight in Wyoming, a program that was always in the same conference as the Cougars from 1922-2010 before BYU departed the Mountain West to become an independent.
It will be the 78th all-time meeting -- BYU leads 44-30-3 -- and the Cowboys are learning that their fan base would relish a victory over their former conference rivals.
"Obviously, we know it is a very good opponent," senior center Chase Roullier said. "You can see that in film and through the record as well. You hear about the history between these two teams, whether it be teammates from Wyoming that seen it in the past or just things that you read.
"... We understand the importance of who this opponent is. But when it comes down to it, it is just another opponent for us that is in our way and we need to take them down."
Wyoming is playing in a bowl game for the first time since 2011 and is a revitalized program under third-year coach Craig Bohl.
Sophomore quarterback Josh Allen passed for 2,996 yards and 26 touchdowns -- he was intercepted 13 times -- but the player who makes the offense go is junior running back Brian Hill.
Hill ranks fourth in the nation with 1,767 rushing yards and 21 rushing touchdowns and could be playing in his final game for the school. He is considering applying for the NFL draft but won't make a decision until after the bowl game.
"Anything that has to do with it, it gets pushed back to someone else," Hill told reporters. "Agents contacting me, I sent them to my mom. I just don't feel like it's fair to focus on the future while I have business to take care of here right now."
BYU has a solid running back of its own in senior Jamaal Williams, who rushed for 1,165 yards and 11 touchdowns. Williams rushed for 131 yards in the regular-season finale against Utah State after missing three of the previous four games with an ankle injury.
The Cougars' defense is led by senior safety Kai Nacua, who has five interceptions this season and 13 in his career. Senior outside linebacker Sae Tautu posted a team-best six sacks.
Sophomore free safety Andrew Wingard heads the Cowboys' defense and recorded a team-high 128 tackles.

 

[BringInTheLefty]

8-8
+$1,320


Idaho has a lot of pride & will play hard, I think they will keep the game close in the first half. But then Colorado State will wear them down.

1st half Idaho + 8.5 -$115 $690/$600
1st half under 33.5 -$110 $330/$300
Game Colorado State -15.5 -$110 $660/$600




Colorado St (7-5) vs. Idaho (8-4)

Colorado State -15 Over/Under 65



Idaho (8-4) concludes its next-to-last season as part of college football's top level by playing in a bowl game for only the third time when it meets streaking Colorado State (7-5) in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl on Thursday (7 p.m. ET, ESPN) in Boise, Idaho.
The Vandals made the decision to drop down a level after being dismissed from the Sun Belt Conference. The university figured it might enjoy more success and lose less money as an FCS school.


The date with Colorado State will definitely be challenging for the Vandals. The Rams won four of their past five games, and put 63 points on the scoreboard in a late-season road trouncing of Mountain West champion San Diego State.
Colorado State averaged a scorching 47.4 points and 520.6 yards over its final five games and the four victories during the stretch were by an average of 26.5 points. The Rams are playing in a bowl for the fourth consecutive season, the second-longest streak in school history (five under Sonny Lubick from 1999-2003).
Junior quarterback Nick Stevens tossed 14 touchdown passes against one interception over the final six games and standout junior receiver Michael Gallup (70 catches for 1,164 yards) had 11 touchdown receptions, second most in school history.
Senior weak-side linebacker Kevin Davis posted a team-high 101 tackles as the leader of the defense.
"Our football team has consistently improved throughout this season by the way they have worked and learned to compete, and I believe we are playing our best football late in the season," Rams coach Mike Bobo said. "We are appreciative of this invitation to play in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, and I'm excited for this football team to have one more chance to play together, to keep improving and finish the season on a high note."
The Idaho defense limited three of its last four opponents to 14 or fewer points. Sophomore middle linebacker Tony Lashley recorded a team-best 99 tackles.
Vandals junior quarterback Matt Linehan passed for 2,803 yards and 15 touchdowns against 10 interceptions. He is the son of Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator Scott Linehan.

 

[BringInTheLefty]

Recap:

WIN 1st half Idaho +8.5 +$600
WIN 1st half under 33.5 +$300
LOST Colorado St game -15.5 -$660

2-1
+$240

+$240 +$1,320 = +$1,560

8-8
+$1,320


Idaho has a lot of pride & will play hard, I think they will keep the game close in the first half. But then Colorado State will wear them down.

1st half Idaho + 8.5 -$115 $690/$600
1st half under 33.5 -$110 $330/$300
Game Colorado State -15.5 -$110 $660/$600




Colorado St (7-5) vs. Idaho (8-4)

Colorado State -15 Over/Under 65



Idaho (8-4) concludes its next-to-last season as part of college football's top level by playing in a bowl game for only the third time when it meets streaking Colorado State (7-5) in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl on Thursday (7 p.m. ET, ESPN) in Boise, Idaho.
The Vandals made the decision to drop down a level after being dismissed from the Sun Belt Conference. The university figured it might enjoy more success and lose less money as an FCS school.


The date with Colorado State will definitely be challenging for the Vandals. The Rams won four of their past five games, and put 63 points on the scoreboard in a late-season road trouncing of Mountain West champion San Diego State.
Colorado State averaged a scorching 47.4 points and 520.6 yards over its final five games and the four victories during the stretch were by an average of 26.5 points. The Rams are playing in a bowl for the fourth consecutive season, the second-longest streak in school history (five under Sonny Lubick from 1999-2003).
Junior quarterback Nick Stevens tossed 14 touchdown passes against one interception over the final six games and standout junior receiver Michael Gallup (70 catches for 1,164 yards) had 11 touchdown receptions, second most in school history.
Senior weak-side linebacker Kevin Davis posted a team-high 101 tackles as the leader of the defense.
"Our football team has consistently improved throughout this season by the way they have worked and learned to compete, and I believe we are playing our best football late in the season," Rams coach Mike Bobo said. "We are appreciative of this invitation to play in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, and I'm excited for this football team to have one more chance to play together, to keep improving and finish the season on a high note."
The Idaho defense limited three of its last four opponents to 14 or fewer points. Sophomore middle linebacker Tony Lashley recorded a team-best 99 tackles.
Vandals junior quarterback Matt Linehan passed for 2,803 yards and 15 touchdowns against 10 interceptions. He is the son of Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator Scott Linehan.

 

[BringInTheLefty]

10-9
+$1,560

Three games today, two I really like one not so much.

I feel strongly that Navy has had to time to get used to their QB, I do see lots of points here as well. I like Ohio over Troy as well. Ohio has a very strong Defense. Third game I'll be making a small play on the under.


1st half Navy ML +$185 $400/$740
Game Navy ML +$225 $600/$1,350
Over 68 -$110 Navy $880/$800

1st half Ohio ML +$145 $600/$870
Game Ohio ML +$165 $600/$990


Eastern Michigan under 64 -$110 $440/$400










Navy (9-4) vs Louisiana Tech (8-5)

La Tech - 7 Over/Under 67.5

The Midshipmen (9-3) have lost two starting quarterbacks and both co-captains this season, which directly led to the late slump.
The Bulldogs (8-5) are ranked fifth in the nation in total offense and reached the Conference USA title game.
Both teams dropped their past two games and are looking to finish the season strong.
Navy also had one of the nation's most powerful attacks in the nation before starting quarterback Will Worth and slotback Toneo Gulley were injured on the same play in a 34-10 loss to Temple in the American Athletic Conference championship game. Navy then had its 14-game winning streak against Army snapped the following week with sophomore quarterback Zach Abey forced into action in a 21-17 loss.
It was the first time the Midshipmen dropped back-to-back games since 2014, when they lost three in a row to Rutgers, Western Kentucky and Air Force. Nonetheless, a win in the Armed Forces Bowl would give the Navy back-to-back 10-win seasons for the first time in school history.
"This is a big game for us," Navy offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Ivin Jasper said. "We have to win this football game. We've had a great year. We've had some losses here and there, but at the same time, we've won nine games with a chance to win 10. We're not going to hold our heads down. We're going to find a way to win this football game."
Despite the injuries, Navy enters the game averaging 310.9 rushing yards per game. The Midshipmen will lean heavily on fullbacks Shawn White and Chris High to keep Louisiana Tech's offense off the field.
The Bulldogs average 44 points per game and are led by quarterback Ryan Higgins, who has thrown for 4,208 yards -- third best in the nation. Higgins also has 37 touchdown passes with just eight interceptions. He is ranked sixth in the country in passing efficiency (166.6) and eighth in completions per game (25).
"What Higgins has been able to do as a fifth-year senior is very impressive," Holtz said. "His development has been one of the big reasons for our success. Higgins has done a great job of protecting the football and making good decisions. He understands the offense and has a very accurate arm."
Higgins' two favorite targets are receivers Trent Taylor and Carlos Henderson. Taylor has 124 receptions for 1,570 yards with 10 touchdowns, while Henderson enters the game with 72 catches for 1,406 yards and 17 touchdowns -- second in the nation. Henderson is also averaging 30.4 yards per kickoff return with another two touchdowns.
Jarred Craft leads Louisiana Tech's ground attack with 1,011 yards and nine touchdowns on 174 carries.
The Bulldogs started the season 1-3 before going on a seven-game winning streak. Louisiana Tech then lost Southern Mississippi 39-24 in the regular-season finale and fell to Western Kentucky 58-44 in the Conference USA title game.
The Midshipmen are allowing 429 yards and 29.7 points per game. Navy was dealt a key loss on defense when linebacker and co-captain Daniel Gonzales sustained a season-ending foot injury against Air Force on Oct. 1.
The rest of the Midshipmen are trying to carry the load. They know a big challenge awaits against Louisiana Tech.
"They have a great offense, great receivers and great line," said Navy linebacker Micah Thomas, who leads the team with 98 tackles. "We just have to play hard. They're going to catch the ball. They're going to get some yards on the ground. It's going to happen. We just have to play with our fundamentals and tackle well. Then, I think we should be OK to slow them down a little bit."









Ohio (8-5) vs Troy (9-3)

Troy -4 Over/Under 49

Both the Bobcats (8-5) and the Trojans (9-3) nearly missed a couple of major upsets this season. Ohio was driving for the potential game-winning touchdown before getting intercepted and losing to undefeated Western Michigan 29-23 in the MAC title game at Ford Field.
Troy, meanwhile, nearly upset Clemson back on Sept. 10 in Death Valley, losing 30-24.


The Trojans became the first Sun Belt Conference team to be ranked in the Associated Press Top 25 after an 8-1 start that featured the Clemson loss as its only blemish. Troy dropped out of the poll after a stunning 35-3 home loss to Arkansas State that featured five Trojan turnovers. They lost two of its final three games, but are headed to their first bowl game since 2010, quite a turnaround for a team that finished just 4-8 a year earlier.
Led by junior running back Jordan Chunn (1,232 yards rushing and a conference-best 13 touchdowns), Troy led the Sun Belt in scoring, passing and total offense with 49 touchdowns and 5,263 total yards.
The Trojans will be going up against an Ohio defense led by defensive end Tarell Basham, the MAC Defensive Player of the Year, that registered 43 sacks and ranks sixth nationally in rush defense allowing an average of 105.8 yards per game and 26th in scoring defense (22.2).
Basham led the MAC with 11.5 sacks and has 29.5 in his career.
"They've got a great recipe for success," Brown said. "They know how to run the football; they stop the run as good as anybody in the country this year. They can put pressure on the quarterback. We know we're going to have our hands full, and we're excited about that challenge."
This is the eighth straight year that Ohio has been bowl eligible under head coach Frank Solich. The Bobcats are still searching for their first MAC championship since 1968 but made things real interesting two weeks ago against Cotton Bowl-bound Western Michigan, which needed an interception by linebacker Robert Spillane on its own 30 with 51 seconds left to seal the win against the East Division champion Bobcats in the MAC title game in Detroit.



Eastern Michigan (7-5) vs Old Dominion (9-3)

Old Dominion -6 Over/Under 64

The Popeyes Bahamas Bowl has been a wide-open affair with lots of scoring and little defense. In two years of play, teams are averaging 43.3 points each.
Expect more of the same this in this year's game as the ingredients are in place for another shootout when Eastern Michigan of the Mid-American Conference and Conference-USA's Old Dominion tangle at 1 p.m. on Dec. 23 at Thomas Robinson Stadium in Nassau.


The Eagles (7-5 overall, 4-4 in MAC play) will be making their first bowl appearance since the 1987 now-defunct California Bowl when Eastern Michigan beat San Jose State, 30-27.

Eastern Michigan comes into the Popeyes Bahamas Bowl with victories in two of its last three games and has victories over conference championship participants Ohio (MAC) and Wyoming (Mountain West).
Chris Creighton, in his third year at the Ypsilanti school, spread the credit and beamed like a proud new father when the Eagles were selected to play.
"For everybody who has been a part of this school, who has been a part of this program for years, decades, I hope everyone takes great joy and pride," he said.
"We said at the very beginning that our vision when coming here was to make Eastern Michigan football a source of pride -- in our department, in the university, in Ypsilanti and in the region. That is what kept me up at night. That is what I have been charged up about," he added.
There's a lot of pride and joy on the other side, too.
The Monarchs (9-3 overall, 7-1 in Conference USA) will be making their first bowl appearance of any kind having only recently made the transition from FCS to FBS. Old Dominion is led by Bobby Wilder, the only head coach the school has had since restarting the program in 2009.
"We are all thrilled to play in the Popeyes Bahamas Bowl," Wilder said shortly after the Monarchs accepted an invitation. "The coaches I spoke with about the bowl said it is a great experience for the kids, which is what this is all about. This is an historic moment for Old Dominion University and our football program."
Getting a bowl invite is pretty special for many of the seniors.
"It's been everything you could ever dream about," right guard Troy Butler told the Daily Press. "It's just been an awesome experience, and I'm glad to be a part of it. We're thankful to all the players who came before and set us up to be in this position."
While Old Dominion will be making history in Nassau, much of this past season already has been a milestone for the Monarchs.
ODU comes into the game with a five-game winning streak. The Monarchs boast the top rushing offense in Conference-USA and have a dangerous and balanced attack.
Running back Ray Lawry leads the Monarch rushing attack having compiled six 100-yard games on his way to 1,112 yards and 11 touchdowns this season.
Sophomore running back Jeremy Cox added another 685 yards and 13 touchdowns.
A dangerous tandem indeed.
Senior quarterback David Washington earns high praise for guiding an offense that turned the ball over a total of nine times.
Washington threw for 2,648 yards and 28 touchdowns with only four interceptions. He is one of four quarterbacks in the country with more than 25 TD passes and four or fewer interceptions. (The other three are Western Michigan's Zach Terrell, North Carolina's Mitch Trubisky and Oklahoma State's Mason Rudolph.)
"He's the epitome of a selfless player," Butler said. "He'll do whatever it takes to get the team a win."
His favorite target, wide receiver Zach Pascal, caught 63 passes for 893 yards and eight TDs. Pascal has caught a pass in 48 consecutive games, which is tied for the longest current streak in FBS.
Eastern Michigan quarterback Brogan Roback has compiled some pretty impressive statistics himself.
The three-time MAC Offensive Player of the Week guided an offense that set school records for total offense (5,447), passing offense (3,549) and total points (396).
Much of that success should be credited to the offensive line, which allowed the 12th-fewest sacks in the nation, as well as the second-fewest tackles for loss.
The one-two punch of sophomore running back Ian Eriksen and wide receiver Sergio Bailey II should lead to plenty of offense for the Eagles if Eriksen is healthy. He has been listed as questionable with a knee issue.
Eriksen rushed for 741 yards and nine touchdowns; Bailey caught 55 passes for 799 yards and six TDs.
The Eagles were among the top 20 teams in creating turnovers, but as mentioned earlier, the Monarchs are one of the top teams at taking care of the ball.
When it comes to Conference USA, the Monarchs' defense was one of the best having a plus-13 turnover margin and recording 34 sacks.
The Eagles and Monarchs have played twice since ODU's resurgence in 2011, as the teams had a home-and-home in 2014-15. Old Dominion won both times, winning the 2014 game in Norfolk, 17-3, and the return trip in Ypsilanti, 38-34, in the 2015 season opener.

 

[RetroVK]

fun reads. Nice thread and continued good luck in bowl season, lefty

 

[BringInTheLefty]

Recap:

Tough day at the office yesterday. Navy rallies only to lose on last second FG. Ohio throws 4 INTs and one fumble.. Oh well it's Christmas Eve much to be thankful for.

LOST Navy ML 1st half -$400
LOST Navy ML game -$600
WIN Navy over +$800

LOST Ohio 1st half ML -$600
LOST Ohio ML game -$600

WIN Eastern Michigan under 64 +$400

2-4
-$2,200 + $1,200 = -$1,000

-$1,000 + $1,560 = +$560

10-9
+$1,560

Three games today, two I really like one not so much.

I feel strongly that Navy has had to time to get used to their QB, I do see lots of points here as well. I like Ohio over Troy as well. Ohio has a very strong Defense. Third game I'll be making a small play on the under.


1st half Navy ML +$185 $400/$740
Game Navy ML +$225 $600/$1,350
Over 68 -$110 Navy $880/$800

1st half Ohio ML +$145 $600/$870
Game Ohio ML +$165 $600/$990


Eastern Michigan under 64 -$110 $440/$400










Navy (9-4) vs Louisiana Tech (8-5)

La Tech - 7 Over/Under 67.5

The Midshipmen (9-3) have lost two starting quarterbacks and both co-captains this season, which directly led to the late slump.
The Bulldogs (8-5) are ranked fifth in the nation in total offense and reached the Conference USA title game.
Both teams dropped their past two games and are looking to finish the season strong.
Navy also had one of the nation's most powerful attacks in the nation before starting quarterback Will Worth and slotback Toneo Gulley were injured on the same play in a 34-10 loss to Temple in the American Athletic Conference championship game. Navy then had its 14-game winning streak against Army snapped the following week with sophomore quarterback Zach Abey forced into action in a 21-17 loss.
It was the first time the Midshipmen dropped back-to-back games since 2014, when they lost three in a row to Rutgers, Western Kentucky and Air Force. Nonetheless, a win in the Armed Forces Bowl would give the Navy back-to-back 10-win seasons for the first time in school history.
"This is a big game for us," Navy offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Ivin Jasper said. "We have to win this football game. We've had a great year. We've had some losses here and there, but at the same time, we've won nine games with a chance to win 10. We're not going to hold our heads down. We're going to find a way to win this football game."
Despite the injuries, Navy enters the game averaging 310.9 rushing yards per game. The Midshipmen will lean heavily on fullbacks Shawn White and Chris High to keep Louisiana Tech's offense off the field.
The Bulldogs average 44 points per game and are led by quarterback Ryan Higgins, who has thrown for 4,208 yards -- third best in the nation. Higgins also has 37 touchdown passes with just eight interceptions. He is ranked sixth in the country in passing efficiency (166.6) and eighth in completions per game (25).
"What Higgins has been able to do as a fifth-year senior is very impressive," Holtz said. "His development has been one of the big reasons for our success. Higgins has done a great job of protecting the football and making good decisions. He understands the offense and has a very accurate arm."
Higgins' two favorite targets are receivers Trent Taylor and Carlos Henderson. Taylor has 124 receptions for 1,570 yards with 10 touchdowns, while Henderson enters the game with 72 catches for 1,406 yards and 17 touchdowns -- second in the nation. Henderson is also averaging 30.4 yards per kickoff return with another two touchdowns.
Jarred Craft leads Louisiana Tech's ground attack with 1,011 yards and nine touchdowns on 174 carries.
The Bulldogs started the season 1-3 before going on a seven-game winning streak. Louisiana Tech then lost Southern Mississippi 39-24 in the regular-season finale and fell to Western Kentucky 58-44 in the Conference USA title game.
The Midshipmen are allowing 429 yards and 29.7 points per game. Navy was dealt a key loss on defense when linebacker and co-captain Daniel Gonzales sustained a season-ending foot injury against Air Force on Oct. 1.
The rest of the Midshipmen are trying to carry the load. They know a big challenge awaits against Louisiana Tech.
"They have a great offense, great receivers and great line," said Navy linebacker Micah Thomas, who leads the team with 98 tackles. "We just have to play hard. They're going to catch the ball. They're going to get some yards on the ground. It's going to happen. We just have to play with our fundamentals and tackle well. Then, I think we should be OK to slow them down a little bit."









Ohio (8-5) vs Troy (9-3)

Troy -4 Over/Under 49

Both the Bobcats (8-5) and the Trojans (9-3) nearly missed a couple of major upsets this season. Ohio was driving for the potential game-winning touchdown before getting intercepted and losing to undefeated Western Michigan 29-23 in the MAC title game at Ford Field.
Troy, meanwhile, nearly upset Clemson back on Sept. 10 in Death Valley, losing 30-24.


The Trojans became the first Sun Belt Conference team to be ranked in the Associated Press Top 25 after an 8-1 start that featured the Clemson loss as its only blemish. Troy dropped out of the poll after a stunning 35-3 home loss to Arkansas State that featured five Trojan turnovers. They lost two of its final three games, but are headed to their first bowl game since 2010, quite a turnaround for a team that finished just 4-8 a year earlier.
Led by junior running back Jordan Chunn (1,232 yards rushing and a conference-best 13 touchdowns), Troy led the Sun Belt in scoring, passing and total offense with 49 touchdowns and 5,263 total yards.
The Trojans will be going up against an Ohio defense led by defensive end Tarell Basham, the MAC Defensive Player of the Year, that registered 43 sacks and ranks sixth nationally in rush defense allowing an average of 105.8 yards per game and 26th in scoring defense (22.2).
Basham led the MAC with 11.5 sacks and has 29.5 in his career.
"They've got a great recipe for success," Brown said. "They know how to run the football; they stop the run as good as anybody in the country this year. They can put pressure on the quarterback. We know we're going to have our hands full, and we're excited about that challenge."
This is the eighth straight year that Ohio has been bowl eligible under head coach Frank Solich. The Bobcats are still searching for their first MAC championship since 1968 but made things real interesting two weeks ago against Cotton Bowl-bound Western Michigan, which needed an interception by linebacker Robert Spillane on its own 30 with 51 seconds left to seal the win against the East Division champion Bobcats in the MAC title game in Detroit.



Eastern Michigan (7-5) vs Old Dominion (9-3)

Old Dominion -6 Over/Under 64

The Popeyes Bahamas Bowl has been a wide-open affair with lots of scoring and little defense. In two years of play, teams are averaging 43.3 points each.
Expect more of the same this in this year's game as the ingredients are in place for another shootout when Eastern Michigan of the Mid-American Conference and Conference-USA's Old Dominion tangle at 1 p.m. on Dec. 23 at Thomas Robinson Stadium in Nassau.


The Eagles (7-5 overall, 4-4 in MAC play) will be making their first bowl appearance since the 1987 now-defunct California Bowl when Eastern Michigan beat San Jose State, 30-27.

Eastern Michigan comes into the Popeyes Bahamas Bowl with victories in two of its last three games and has victories over conference championship participants Ohio (MAC) and Wyoming (Mountain West).
Chris Creighton, in his third year at the Ypsilanti school, spread the credit and beamed like a proud new father when the Eagles were selected to play.
"For everybody who has been a part of this school, who has been a part of this program for years, decades, I hope everyone takes great joy and pride," he said.
"We said at the very beginning that our vision when coming here was to make Eastern Michigan football a source of pride -- in our department, in the university, in Ypsilanti and in the region. That is what kept me up at night. That is what I have been charged up about," he added.
There's a lot of pride and joy on the other side, too.
The Monarchs (9-3 overall, 7-1 in Conference USA) will be making their first bowl appearance of any kind having only recently made the transition from FCS to FBS. Old Dominion is led by Bobby Wilder, the only head coach the school has had since restarting the program in 2009.
"We are all thrilled to play in the Popeyes Bahamas Bowl," Wilder said shortly after the Monarchs accepted an invitation. "The coaches I spoke with about the bowl said it is a great experience for the kids, which is what this is all about. This is an historic moment for Old Dominion University and our football program."
Getting a bowl invite is pretty special for many of the seniors.
"It's been everything you could ever dream about," right guard Troy Butler told the Daily Press. "It's just been an awesome experience, and I'm glad to be a part of it. We're thankful to all the players who came before and set us up to be in this position."
While Old Dominion will be making history in Nassau, much of this past season already has been a milestone for the Monarchs.
ODU comes into the game with a five-game winning streak. The Monarchs boast the top rushing offense in Conference-USA and have a dangerous and balanced attack.
Running back Ray Lawry leads the Monarch rushing attack having compiled six 100-yard games on his way to 1,112 yards and 11 touchdowns this season.
Sophomore running back Jeremy Cox added another 685 yards and 13 touchdowns.
A dangerous tandem indeed.
Senior quarterback David Washington earns high praise for guiding an offense that turned the ball over a total of nine times.
Washington threw for 2,648 yards and 28 touchdowns with only four interceptions. He is one of four quarterbacks in the country with more than 25 TD passes and four or fewer interceptions. (The other three are Western Michigan's Zach Terrell, North Carolina's Mitch Trubisky and Oklahoma State's Mason Rudolph.)
"He's the epitome of a selfless player," Butler said. "He'll do whatever it takes to get the team a win."
His favorite target, wide receiver Zach Pascal, caught 63 passes for 893 yards and eight TDs. Pascal has caught a pass in 48 consecutive games, which is tied for the longest current streak in FBS.
Eastern Michigan quarterback Brogan Roback has compiled some pretty impressive statistics himself.
The three-time MAC Offensive Player of the Week guided an offense that set school records for total offense (5,447), passing offense (3,549) and total points (396).
Much of that success should be credited to the offensive line, which allowed the 12th-fewest sacks in the nation, as well as the second-fewest tackles for loss.
The one-two punch of sophomore running back Ian Eriksen and wide receiver Sergio Bailey II should lead to plenty of offense for the Eagles if Eriksen is healthy. He has been listed as questionable with a knee issue.
Eriksen rushed for 741 yards and nine touchdowns; Bailey caught 55 passes for 799 yards and six TDs.
The Eagles were among the top 20 teams in creating turnovers, but as mentioned earlier, the Monarchs are one of the top teams at taking care of the ball.
When it comes to Conference USA, the Monarchs' defense was one of the best having a plus-13 turnover margin and recording 34 sacks.
The Eagles and Monarchs have played twice since ODU's resurgence in 2011, as the teams had a home-and-home in 2014-15. Old Dominion won both times, winning the 2014 game in Norfolk, 17-3, and the return trip in Ypsilanti, 38-34, in the 2015 season opener.

 

[BringInTheLefty]

12-13
+$560

1st half Middle Tennesee -4 -$115 $1,150/$1,000
Game Middle Tennesee -7 -$115 $2,300/$2,000
Over 72.5 -$110 $770/$700

I see this game very lopsided, in fact I'm saying this game will be done at halftime. Hawaii has no business being in this game, Mid Tenn gets starting QB back turn off the lights.... Put a few dollars on the over as well...

Stockstill, who missed the final three games of the regular season with a broken collarbone suffered in a Nov. 5 loss to Texas-San Antonio, threw for 2,801 yards and 27 touchdowns in nine games. He completed nearly 64 percent of his passes and tossed only five interceptions in 363 attempts.
The return of Stockstill should only provide more juice to an offense that averaged just over 40 points per game in an 8-4 season, topping it off with a 77-point explosion in the regular-season finale, a win over Florida Atlantic.
Ole Miss transfer I'Tavius Mathers is one of the top dual-threat running backs in college football. Mathers rushed for 1,504 yards and 16 touchdowns this year while catching 62 passes for 589 yards and three more scores.
Wide receiver Richie James latched on to 97 passes for 1,463 yards and 11 touchdowns, and Ty Lee added 53 catches for 599 yards and seven scores. With all those skilled players to choose from, it's no wonder Middle Tennessee averaged 515.7 yards per game and scored 62 touchdowns.
On paper, its matchup with the Hawaii defense looks good, as the Warriors are permitting 37.5 points and 455.4 yards per game. But Blue Raiders offensive lineman Chandler Brewer says the Hawaii defense poses problems.
"They get to the ball pretty fast," he said. "We just have to keep our eyes in the right places and we should be able to take care of it."
The Rainbows wouldn't have made a bowl game had enough teams finished with winning records. But their 6-7 record was good enough because they had the advantage of a 13th regular-season game, which they used to edge Massachusetts 46-40 on Nov. 26.
Quarterback Dru Brown completed 62 percent of his passes for 2,214 yards and 15 touchdowns. The top receiver is Marcus Kemp, who caught 70 balls for 1,036 yards and seven scores.
It will be Hawaii's seventh appearance in the Hawaii Bowl but its first since 2010.
"I can't tell you how proud I am of this team and especially these seniors who'll be able to say they played in a bowl game," first-year Warriors coach Nick Rolovich said.

 

[BringInTheLefty]

Middle Tennesee put up 14 quick points, then proceeded to poop the bed.



Recap:

LOST 1st half Middle Tennesee - 4 -$1,150
LOST game Middle Tennesee - 7 -$2,300
WON over 72.5 +$700

1-2
-$3,450 +$700 = -$2,750

-$2,750 +$560 = -$2,190

12-13
+$560

1st half Middle Tennesee -4 -$115 $1,150/$1,000
Game Middle Tennesee -7 -$115 $2,300/$2,000
Over 72.5 -$110 $770/$700

I see this game very lopsided, in fact I'm saying this game will be done at halftime. Hawaii has no business being in this game, Mid Tenn gets starting QB back turn off the lights.... Put a few dollars on the over as well...

Stockstill, who missed the final three games of the regular season with a broken collarbone suffered in a Nov. 5 loss to Texas-San Antonio, threw for 2,801 yards and 27 touchdowns in nine games. He completed nearly 64 percent of his passes and tossed only five interceptions in 363 attempts.
The return of Stockstill should only provide more juice to an offense that averaged just over 40 points per game in an 8-4 season, topping it off with a 77-point explosion in the regular-season finale, a win over Florida Atlantic.
Ole Miss transfer I'Tavius Mathers is one of the top dual-threat running backs in college football. Mathers rushed for 1,504 yards and 16 touchdowns this year while catching 62 passes for 589 yards and three more scores.
Wide receiver Richie James latched on to 97 passes for 1,463 yards and 11 touchdowns, and Ty Lee added 53 catches for 599 yards and seven scores. With all those skilled players to choose from, it's no wonder Middle Tennessee averaged 515.7 yards per game and scored 62 touchdowns.
On paper, its matchup with the Hawaii defense looks good, as the Warriors are permitting 37.5 points and 455.4 yards per game. But Blue Raiders offensive lineman Chandler Brewer says the Hawaii defense poses problems.
"They get to the ball pretty fast," he said. "We just have to keep our eyes in the right places and we should be able to take care of it."
The Rainbows wouldn't have made a bowl game had enough teams finished with winning records. But their 6-7 record was good enough because they had the advantage of a 13th regular-season game, which they used to edge Massachusetts 46-40 on Nov. 26.
Quarterback Dru Brown completed 62 percent of his passes for 2,214 yards and 15 touchdowns. The top receiver is Marcus Kemp, who caught 70 balls for 1,036 yards and seven scores.
It will be Hawaii's seventh appearance in the Hawaii Bowl but its first since 2010.
"I can't tell you how proud I am of this team and especially these seniors who'll be able to say they played in a bowl game," first-year Warriors coach Nick Rolovich said.

 

[ksimpsc]

BOL today lefty. Stockstill did not look right last night. The turnovers were killer and right out of half time first drive they fumbled but recovered and were forced to 3 and out. I ate it pretty hard with that flop as well. We will get it back!

 

[BringInTheLefty]

13-15
-$2,190

1st half Miss State -8 -$105 $840/$800
Game Miss State -14.5 -$105 $1,050/$1,000
Game Miss State over 58 -$110 $660/$600
1st half BC ML +$105 $600/$630
1st half BC over 21.5 -$110 $880/$800
Game BC ML +$110 $600/$660
Game BC over 43.5 -$110 $880/$800
1st half Vandy +3 -$105 $800/$840
Game Vandy ML +$180 $600/$1,080


I do hope you all had a wonderful Christmas, now it's back to work. Today is the mediocre bowls. From watching all the games it seems like only a few teams really have cared they are still playing.
Thus my plays today are based on coaches motivating these kids and prior history of team in bowls.





Miami (OH) (6-6) vs Mississippi State (5-7)

Mississippi State -14.5 Over/Under 58.5

The Redhawks (6-6) earned their first bowl bid since 2010 by winning their last six games after losing their first six. The Bulldogs (5-7) got in by virtue of their APR (Academic Progress Rate) when not enough 6-6 teams were available to fill the 80 bowl slots.
That makes Mississippi State one of three teams (along with Hawaii and North Texas) to make it into the postseason with losing records, but the Bulldogs have the respect of Redhawks coach Chuck Martin.

That quarterback is sophomore Nick Fitzgerald, who stepped in for Dak Prescott (now starting for the Dallas Cowboys as a rookie) and led the team in rushing with 1,243 yards while passing for another 2,287. He ranks 20th in the country in total offense (294.2 yards per game) and accounted for 35 touchdowns (21 passing, 14 rushing).
In the season finale against Ole Miss, he rushed for 258 yards and two scores and passed for 109 and three more touchdowns to lead the 55-20 win that eventually got the Bulldogs to a bowl for a seventh consecutive season.
His favorite target is senior wide receiver Fred Ross, who had 68 receptions for 873 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Miami is playing with confidence after its midseason turnaround. Injuries that cost the Redhawks several potential starters before the season were a major factor in the stumbling start.
"It's not like they were getting crushed early in the season and then all of a sudden the light came on," Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen said. "They were battling. They had some tough losses early in the season and just kind of started making the plays and having some confidence to win the games later in the year."
The key factor in that turnaround was the emergence of sophomore quarterback Dan Ragland. Injured in the spring and unavailable at the start, Ragland took over at midseason and guided the Redhawks to six consecutive wins. All were in conference play, resulting in a 6-2 league mark that gave them a share of first place with Ohio in the East Division of the Mid-America Conference.
Martin said his Redhawks are excited to be playing a Southeastern Conference opponent, but knows they face a tough task in the program's first meeting with the Bulldogs.
"We know we have to play the best football game of our lives -- and our smartest football game of our lives -- to really give us a chance," he said.







Maryland (6-6) vs Boston College (6-6)

Maryland -2 Over/Under 43.5


Eagles (6-6) won their final two games to earn a bowl bid after going 3-9 in 2015. Durkin was able to weather numerous injuries in his first year at Maryland (6-6) and earn a win over Rutgers in the regular season finale to earn a trip to the postseason.
Maryland, which moved to the Big Ten in 2014, is just 3-8 all-time against Boston College, including nine games when they were both members of the ACC.
The key for Maryland is protecting quarterback Perry Hills, who has dealt with injuries throughout the season. Hills has thrown for 1,235 yards with 10 touchdowns and three interceptions in 10 games. He has also run for 326 yards with four scores.
"We think he's been a really good player for us this year when he's been healthy," Durkin said about Hills. "We've had some ups and downs based on his health. He was back for us the last game of the year. He's back healthy now."
Maryland sophomore running back Ty Johnson, the team's leading rusher with 845 yards, has also been a force this season. Johnson is averaging 8.9 yards per carry, which is on pace to be the best average in 63 years and second-most in Maryland history.
Overall, Maryland's rushing offense averaged 205.5 yards, ranking third in the Big Ten.
The Eagles will counter with a tough defense led by defensive end Harold Landry, who tied for first in the ACC with 15 sacks. Boston College allowed 311 yards per game -- eighth best in the nation.
Playing stout defense will be key because the Eagles' offense has scored just 19 points per game.
"Our program is built on playing defense, running the football, scoring in the red zone, you know, don't turn the ball over, time of possession," Addazio said. "I mean, these guys, they're a high-flying, fast-tempo, you know, I'm just hoping they don't score 9,000 points. That wouldn't be good for the old BC Eagles."





Vanderbilt (6-6) vs NC State (6-6)

N C State -5.5 Over/Under 45


There are similarities for these teams beyond their overall records. They both beat rivals to end the regular season, yet settled for 3-5 records in their respective conferences.
Vanderbilt defeated Mississippi and Tennessee in the final two weeks to gain bowl eligibility. Until those 38-17 and 45-34 outcomes, the Commodores had failed to reach the 20-point mark in any of their Southeastern Conference games.
"I think there are definitely building blocks for this offense," Vanderbilt quarterback Kyle Shurmur said.
N.C. State had to win at North Carolina in the regular-season finale to reach six victories following a rough midseason stretch.
"North Carolina State is pretty much a mirror image of us," Mason said.
Junior running back Ralph Webb's career school-record rushing total of 3,231 yards is often the reason Vanderbilt moves the ball. With 1,272 yards on the ground this year, he's 22 yards away from the single-season school record.
Yet N.C. State's strength comes with its defensive front, so that's an area that might be most telling. That group is led by junior defensive end Bradley Chubb, whose 21 tackles of loss lead the Football Bowl Subdivision.
"(Vanderbilt is) a solid team. They beat some solid teams," N.C. State redshirt junior safety Josh Jones said. "They kind of remind me of us. They fought their way to the end of the season. They didn't give up.
"I'm looking forward to playing an SEC team, get down there and compete. ACC is pretty powerful, too. We have to go out there and show people what we're all about. We're just thankful we got an opportunity to be in the postseason."
The Commodores are aiming for a third consecutive bowl victory.
"Seven wins vs. six is huge," Shurmur said. "We're going there to win, not to just be happy to be there."
Two years ago, a Dec. 26 outing in the St. Petersburg Bowl resulted in an N.C. State victory against Central Florida.
"We're 1-0 the day after Christmas," Jones said. "We want to make that 2-0."
That 2014 outcome is the only bowl victory for the Wolfpack since 2011.
Doeren was on hand when these teams met in the 2012 Music City Bowl. He had been named coach after the firing of Tom O'Brien, but he was observing as an interim staff conducted the operations. Vanderbilt won that game.
The Commodores also won the only previous meeting in 1946.

 

[Metallica]

BOL today Lefty.

 

[BringInTheLefty]

Recap:

LOST 1st half Miss State -$840
LOST game Miss State -$1,050
LOST Miss State over 58 -$660
WIN 1st half BC ML +$630
WIN 1st half BC over 21.5 +$800
WIN BC game ML +$660
WIN BC game over 43.5 +$800
LOST 1st half Vandy -$800
LOST game Vandy ML -$600

4-5
+$2,890 -$3,950 = -$1,060

-$1,060 -$2,190 = -$3,250

13-15
-$2,190

1st half Miss State -8 -$105 $840/$800
Game Miss State -14.5 -$105 $1,050/$1,000
Game Miss State over 58 -$110 $660/$600
1st half BC ML +$105 $600/$630
1st half BC over 21.5 -$110 $880/$800
Game BC ML +$110 $600/$660
Game BC over 43.5 -$110 $880/$800
1st half Vandy +3 -$105 $800/$840
Game Vandy ML +$180 $600/$1,080


I do hope you all had a wonderful Christmas, now it's back to work. Today is the mediocre bowls. From watching all the games it seems like only a few teams really have cared they are still playing.
Thus my plays today are based on coaches motivating these kids and prior history of team in bowls.





Miami (OH) (6-6) vs Mississippi State (5-7)

Mississippi State -14.5 Over/Under 58.5

The Redhawks (6-6) earned their first bowl bid since 2010 by winning their last six games after losing their first six. The Bulldogs (5-7) got in by virtue of their APR (Academic Progress Rate) when not enough 6-6 teams were available to fill the 80 bowl slots.
That makes Mississippi State one of three teams (along with Hawaii and North Texas) to make it into the postseason with losing records, but the Bulldogs have the respect of Redhawks coach Chuck Martin.

That quarterback is sophomore Nick Fitzgerald, who stepped in for Dak Prescott (now starting for the Dallas Cowboys as a rookie) and led the team in rushing with 1,243 yards while passing for another 2,287. He ranks 20th in the country in total offense (294.2 yards per game) and accounted for 35 touchdowns (21 passing, 14 rushing).
In the season finale against Ole Miss, he rushed for 258 yards and two scores and passed for 109 and three more touchdowns to lead the 55-20 win that eventually got the Bulldogs to a bowl for a seventh consecutive season.
His favorite target is senior wide receiver Fred Ross, who had 68 receptions for 873 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Miami is playing with confidence after its midseason turnaround. Injuries that cost the Redhawks several potential starters before the season were a major factor in the stumbling start.
"It's not like they were getting crushed early in the season and then all of a sudden the light came on," Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen said. "They were battling. They had some tough losses early in the season and just kind of started making the plays and having some confidence to win the games later in the year."
The key factor in that turnaround was the emergence of sophomore quarterback Dan Ragland. Injured in the spring and unavailable at the start, Ragland took over at midseason and guided the Redhawks to six consecutive wins. All were in conference play, resulting in a 6-2 league mark that gave them a share of first place with Ohio in the East Division of the Mid-America Conference.
Martin said his Redhawks are excited to be playing a Southeastern Conference opponent, but knows they face a tough task in the program's first meeting with the Bulldogs.
"We know we have to play the best football game of our lives -- and our smartest football game of our lives -- to really give us a chance," he said.







Maryland (6-6) vs Boston College (6-6)

Maryland -2 Over/Under 43.5


Eagles (6-6) won their final two games to earn a bowl bid after going 3-9 in 2015. Durkin was able to weather numerous injuries in his first year at Maryland (6-6) and earn a win over Rutgers in the regular season finale to earn a trip to the postseason.
Maryland, which moved to the Big Ten in 2014, is just 3-8 all-time against Boston College, including nine games when they were both members of the ACC.
The key for Maryland is protecting quarterback Perry Hills, who has dealt with injuries throughout the season. Hills has thrown for 1,235 yards with 10 touchdowns and three interceptions in 10 games. He has also run for 326 yards with four scores.
"We think he's been a really good player for us this year when he's been healthy," Durkin said about Hills. "We've had some ups and downs based on his health. He was back for us the last game of the year. He's back healthy now."
Maryland sophomore running back Ty Johnson, the team's leading rusher with 845 yards, has also been a force this season. Johnson is averaging 8.9 yards per carry, which is on pace to be the best average in 63 years and second-most in Maryland history.
Overall, Maryland's rushing offense averaged 205.5 yards, ranking third in the Big Ten.
The Eagles will counter with a tough defense led by defensive end Harold Landry, who tied for first in the ACC with 15 sacks. Boston College allowed 311 yards per game -- eighth best in the nation.
Playing stout defense will be key because the Eagles' offense has scored just 19 points per game.
"Our program is built on playing defense, running the football, scoring in the red zone, you know, don't turn the ball over, time of possession," Addazio said. "I mean, these guys, they're a high-flying, fast-tempo, you know, I'm just hoping they don't score 9,000 points. That wouldn't be good for the old BC Eagles."





Vanderbilt (6-6) vs NC State (6-6)

N C State -5.5 Over/Under 45


There are similarities for these teams beyond their overall records. They both beat rivals to end the regular season, yet settled for 3-5 records in their respective conferences.
Vanderbilt defeated Mississippi and Tennessee in the final two weeks to gain bowl eligibility. Until those 38-17 and 45-34 outcomes, the Commodores had failed to reach the 20-point mark in any of their Southeastern Conference games.
"I think there are definitely building blocks for this offense," Vanderbilt quarterback Kyle Shurmur said.
N.C. State had to win at North Carolina in the regular-season finale to reach six victories following a rough midseason stretch.
"North Carolina State is pretty much a mirror image of us," Mason said.
Junior running back Ralph Webb's career school-record rushing total of 3,231 yards is often the reason Vanderbilt moves the ball. With 1,272 yards on the ground this year, he's 22 yards away from the single-season school record.
Yet N.C. State's strength comes with its defensive front, so that's an area that might be most telling. That group is led by junior defensive end Bradley Chubb, whose 21 tackles of loss lead the Football Bowl Subdivision.
"(Vanderbilt is) a solid team. They beat some solid teams," N.C. State redshirt junior safety Josh Jones said. "They kind of remind me of us. They fought their way to the end of the season. They didn't give up.
"I'm looking forward to playing an SEC team, get down there and compete. ACC is pretty powerful, too. We have to go out there and show people what we're all about. We're just thankful we got an opportunity to be in the postseason."
The Commodores are aiming for a third consecutive bowl victory.
"Seven wins vs. six is huge," Shurmur said. "We're going there to win, not to just be happy to be there."
Two years ago, a Dec. 26 outing in the St. Petersburg Bowl resulted in an N.C. State victory against Central Florida.
"We're 1-0 the day after Christmas," Jones said. "We want to make that 2-0."
That 2014 outcome is the only bowl victory for the Wolfpack since 2011.
Doeren was on hand when these teams met in the 2012 Music City Bowl. He had been named coach after the firing of Tom O'Brien, but he was observing as an interim staff conducted the operations. Vanderbilt won that game.
The Commodores also won the only previous meeting in 1946.

 

[BringInTheLefty]

17-19
-$3,250


Army (7-5) vs North Texas (5-7)

Army -11 Over/Under 48.5

The Mean Green thumped Army 35-18 on Oct. 22 at West Point in a game in which the Black Knights committed seven turnovers, a dubious mark that tied for the most by any FBS team in one game this season.
North Texas, under first-year coach Sean Littrell, went 5-7 in the regular season but earned a berth in the bowl game on the strength of its Academic Progress Rate when there were not enough 6-6 or better teams eligible for the postseason. Of the 128 Football Bowl Subdivision schools, North Texas ranked 10th in APR and was second among non-eligible teams with 5-7 records.
The Mean Green will be making their first bowl appearance in three years and just their second since 2005. The last bowl game for North Texas was on Jan. 1, 2014 (after the 2013 season) when the Mean Green beat UNLV 36-14 in this bowl game (another familiarity thing).

North Texas's campus is just 48 miles from the State Fairgrounds, assuring the bowl of a hearty green-and-white-clad contingent in the stands.
The five wins for the Mean Green are their most since 2013 and mark only the third time in the last 13 seasons that North Texas has won five or more games (2004, 2013 and 2016). The Mean Green were 1-11 in 2015.
North Texas' chance to play in the Heart of Dallas Bowl is a credit to both the team's improvement on the field and the players' work in the classroom.
"We set a goal of winning a bowl game early on in our work last spring and we are fortunate to have this opportunity," Littrell said. "We didn't feel like we could get in this way, but we did -- and we will take it. It gives us another great opportunity to really accomplish the mission."
North Texas improved both its offensive scoring average and defensive scoring average this season. The season before Littrell and his staff arrived, the Mean Green scored an average of 15.2 points per game and allowed an average of 41.2 points per game, a difference of 26.0 points per game. This season North Texas averaged 24.2 points on offense and allowed 32.2 points on defense, a difference of just 8.0 points per game.
The Mean Green's offense scored 109 more points than last year's team while the defense surrendered 109 fewer points than the 2015 squad.
Army (7-5) also enjoyed a resurgence in 2016, posting its best record in six years. Its regular season was capped by a win against Navy that snapped a 14-game losing streak to the Midshipmen. The Heart of Dallas Bowl will be the Black Knights' first postseason appearance since 2010.
Army won just six games in 2014 and 2015 combined, but the Black Knights won its first three games this season, including a season-opening triumph over eventual American Athletic Conference champion Temple. Army's seven victories are its most in six seasons, and a win against North Texas would mean at least eight wins for the first time in 20 years.
"For anybody who plays football at this level playing in a bowl game is kind of a measure of success and our kids are just thrilled with the sense of accomplishment," said Army's third-year coach Jeff Monken. "Each of the teams I have been a part of here has had a bowl game as a goal, and I am so glad for our guys that they were able to earn this opportunity."
Things will have to change from the first time North Texas and Army played for the Black Knight to have a chance in the bowl game. But Army is riding a crest of momentum, and Monken was sure to say the loss to the Mean Green earlier this season was a low point for his team.
"We turned the ball over far too many times to win a football game," he said. "If we're going to have a chance to win, we're going to have do a better job of executing and correct some of those mistakes."p



Wake Forest (6-6) vs Temple (8-3)

Temple -12 Over/Under 41

The biggest thing that scares me for the Owls here is operating under an interim head coach after Matt Rhule was hired to take over at Baylor. Teams playing under an interim head coach are always a bit of an enigma. When you look at the stats, they favor the Owls pretty heavily. The Owls are one of the nation’s best defenses ranking 8th in points allowed (17.2), 26th in rush defense (130.8 YPG), 2nd in pass defense (145.2 YPG), and 19th in sacks averaging 2.85 per game. Wake Forest’s offense has been anemic ranking 121st in scoring (19.3 PPG), 100th in rushing (147.5 YPG on 3.61 YPC), and 115th in passing (159.3 YPG). All that said, Temple’s offense has been inconsistent this season and Wake Forest’s defense has been no slouch.
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Washington State (8-4) vs Minnesota (8-4)

Washington State -10 Over/Under 66
Interesting match-up here. A pair of teams that didn’t get a ton of shine this season until later in the year when people started looking at the records and going “oh wow, maybe they’re actually good?” They attack in completely different styles. Wazzu runs a spread “Air Raid” style of attack headed by QB Luke Falk who’s completed 71-percent of his passes for over 4,000 yards and 37 TDs. He’ll face a Minnesota defense that allows its opponents to complete just 55-percent of their passes on the season. However, the Gophers just suspended 10 players, five of them defensive backs indefinitely.
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The Gophers average 4.3 yards per carry and over 186 yards per game on the ground, but the Cougars defense has been stout against the run ranking 28th in the country allowing just 132.9 yards per game. Leidner may actually have better success in the passing game here as the Cougars rank 121st against the pass giving up 283.6 yards per game and 32 passing touchdowns. One other area that the Cougars struggled with that Minnesota can exploit: defending a big, mobile quarterback. Sefo Liufau shredded the Cougars in the weeks prior to the Pac-12 title game, and Leidner has the same sort of punishing running style. The Minnesota program has a lot of turmoil surrounding it now though with players deciding to boycott all football activities in the wake of the suspensions to the 10 players. That turmoil scares me away from the Gophers despite the high line. </amp-ad>These two teams have sported high-scoring offenses this season combining for 70.6 points per game, but the defenses are built to stop what their opponent does well. However, the Gophers’ numerous suspended players weakens their defense and that’s where I think this game could turn into a shootout.


Baylor (6-6) vs. Boise State (10-2)

Boise State -7.5 Over/Under 67

Boise State has a rare combination in college football: a 3,000-yard passer, a 1,600-yard rusher and two 1,000-yard receivers. Quarterback Brett Rypien led the Mountain West with 3,025 passing yards, as well as 3,325 yards of total offense. Rypien finished second in the conference with 23 touchdown passes.
Rypien’s top target, Thomas Sperbeck was the Mountain West leader with 72 receptions and 1,193 receiving yards. He also caught nine touchdown passes. Sperbeck now has a school-record 3,522 receiving yards in his career. Fellow receiver Cedrick Wilson caught 50 passes for 1,041 yards (an impressive 20.8 ypr) and 10 TDs. Sperbeck and Wilson became the first Boise State teammates to record 1,000 receiving yards in the same season.
Rounding out the Broncos’ playmakers, running back Jeremy McNichols ranked fifth nationally with 1,663 rushing yards and 2,185 all-purpose yards during the regular season. McNichols ran for 23 touchdowns, making him the first Bronco to score 20-plus rushing TDs in two different seasons, and also caught 32 passes for 450 yards and four more scores.

Unlike Boise State, no Baylor player has 3,000 passing yards, 1,000 rushing yards, or 1,000 receiving yards this season. Under former head coach Art Briles, those figures were almost a guarantee. Baylor featured a 3,000-yard passer from 2010-14. From 2010-15, seven players recorded 1,000 or more rushing, including two – Shock Linwood and Johnny Jefferson – last season. The Bears have fielded at least one 1,000-yard receiver every season since 2011.
This year, Seth Russell leads the Bears with 2,126 passing yards and 20 touchdowns, but missed the final three games of the regular season due to injury. Freshman Zach Smith is set to make his fourth start, and he has thrown for 1,151 yards, 10 TDs and six interceptions.

Terence Williams has a good shot to extend the Bears’ streak of 1,000-yard rushers. He enters the bowl game leading the way with 945 yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground. Linwood ranks second with 751 yards and has run for two scores. However, Linwood will not play against Boise State after choosing to sit out in anticipation of the 2017 NFL Draft. Like Williams, KD Cannon can hit 1,000 yards against Boise State. Cannon leads the Bears with 73 receptions for 989 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Overall, Baylor is averaging 34.9 points and 523.3 yards of total offense per game. As impressive as those numbers may seem, both are the lowest for the program since 2010.

On paper, Boise State holds a distinct defensive advantage over Baylor. The Broncos have held opponents to 379.3 yards of total offense this season, and have surrendered 5.1 yards per play. Meanwhile, Baylor surrendered 434.4 total yards per contest, as well as 5.5 yards per play. Boise State has allowed 179.8 rushing yards per game this season, while opponents have gained 210.5 yards on the ground against Baylor.
However, it’s worth noting that Baylor has played six teams that rank among the top 25 nationally in total offense while the Broncos have faced only one. Also, the Bears held four opponents to 13 points or fewer, while all but two teams scored at least 16 points against Boise State.
Therefore, the defensive statistics of the two squads aren’t entirely reliable, with the possible exception of turnovers. Both Boise State and Baylor rank No. 107 in the country with a minus-7 turnover margin.
The Boise State defense has forced just eight turnovers all season, which is tied with East Carolina for the fewest in the nation. Fortunately, the Boise State offense has done a good job holding onto the football, and ranks No. 23 nationally with 15 turnovers.
Baylor has done a better job taking the ball away, and ranks 61st nationally with 19 takeaways. However, the Bears have turned the ball over 26 times, which ranks them the bottom (No. 120) of the FBS.

[h=4][/h]

Boise State has a tremendous offense, and despite a drop in points and yards, Baylor also is very capable of lighting up the scoreboard. The Broncos and Bears each have bright spots defensively, though both units are also quite vulnerable.
In the end, the outcome will likely be decided by which team is more disciplined. Since Boise State has been the more stable program over the course of the season, both on and off the field, and has done a better job taking care of the football, expect the Broncos to come out on top.

 

[BringInTheLefty]

17-19
-$3,250

Two day losing streak, I'll stop it today for sure. First game of the day, I'm taking the over in the first half and game. Game 2 I'll be taking Wake Forest and the over. Game 3 with all the distractions here, I feel that Minnesota will come out and make a statement, this I'll be taking the Gophers and the points. Game 4 I'll be unloading on Boise State and the over.

1st half Army over 24.5 -$105 $840/$800
Game Army over 48.5 -$110 $880/$800
1st half Wake Forest + 7 -$110 $550/$500
1st half Wake Forest over 20.5 -$120 $720/$600
Game Wake Forest + 11.5 -$110 $660/$600
Game Wake Forest over 41 -$110 $880/$800
1st half Minnesota +6 -$110 $660/$600
Game Minnesota +10 -$110 $880/$800
1st half Boise State -4.5 -$110 $880/$800
1st half Boise State over 34 -$110 $880/$800
Game Boise State -7.5 -$110 $1,100/$1,000
Game Boise State over 67.5 -$110 $2,200/$2,000

 

[Metallica]

On WF and Boise St. also, BOL today Lefty.

 

[bones]

Thx for posting lefty

 

[BringInTheLefty]

Recap:

What a frustrating day, I started off winning my first 8 bets in a row. Only to totally strike out on the game I liked the best.

WIN over 24.5 1st half Army +$800
WIN over 48.5 game Army +$800
WIN 1st half Wake Forest +7 +$500
WIN 1st half Wake Forest over 20.5 +$600
WIN game Wake Forest +11.5 +$600
WIN game Wake Forest over 41 +$800
WIN 1st half Minnesota +6 +$600
WIN game Minnesota +10 +$800
LOST 1st half Boise State -4.5 -$880
LOST 1st half Boise State over 34 -$880
LOST game Boise State -7.5 -$1,100
LOST game Boise State over 67.5 -$2,200

8-4
-$5,060 +$5,500 = +$440

+$440 -$3,250 = -$2,810

17-19
-$3,250

Two day losing streak, I'll stop it today for sure. First game of the day, I'm taking the over in the first half and game. Game 2 I'll be taking Wake Forest and the over. Game 3 with all the distractions here, I feel that Minnesota will come out and make a statement, this I'll be taking the Gophers and the points. Game 4 I'll be unloading on Boise State and the over.

1st half Army over 24.5 -$105 $840/$800
Game Army over 48.5 -$110 $880/$800
1st half Wake Forest + 7 -$110 $550/$500
1st half Wake Forest over 20.5 -$120 $720/$600
Game Wake Forest + 11.5 -$110 $660/$600
Game Wake Forest over 41 -$110 $880/$800
1st half Minnesota +6 -$110 $660/$600
Game Minnesota +10 -$110 $880/$800
1st half Boise State -4.5 -$110 $880/$800
1st half Boise State over 34 -$110 $880/$800
Game Boise State -7.5 -$110 $1,100/$1,000
Game Boise State over 67.5 -$110 $2,200/$2,000

 

[BringInTheLefty]

25-23
-$2,810

Pittsburgh 8-4; Northwestern 6-6

Pittsburgh-4.5 Over/Under 65


Last meeting: The Panthers won 21-14 on Sept. 29, 1973, in Evanston behind a breakout game from freshman Tony Dorsett, who rushed for a school-record 265 yards on a rainy afternoon. Dorsett broke the record two years later with 303 yards against Notre Dame.
Pitt is averaging 42.3 points and its total of 508 is the highest in school history. NU insiders say in terms of Big Ten foes, Pitt's offense most closely resembles Wisconsin's with its emphasis on pre-snap shifts (playing "mind games" with the defense) and jet sweeps. The Panthers lead the nation by scoring touchdowns on 82.7 percent of their trips to the red zone.
doomed to repeat history? Coincidence or not, the Wildcats have known little other than doom and gloom in bowl games. They are 2-10 all time, 1-10 since their victory in the 1949 Rose Bowl. They took down Mississippi State in the 2013 Gator Bowl but got trounced a year ago by Tennessee in the Outback Bowl.
Pitt has gamebreakers in tailback James Conner, receiver Jester Weah and 5-foot-8 Quadree Henderson, who does most of his damage on the ground. But NU's Justin Jackson and Austin Carr could be just as productive. Pitt's defense resembles what coach Pat Narduzzi did as defensive coordinator at Michigan State, with an emphasis on zone coverage and two-linebacker blitzes. Quarterback Clayton Thorson needs time to operate.
With wins over No. 2 Clemson and No. 5 Penn State, Pitt might be the nation's best 8-4 team.


West Virginia (10-2) vs Miami (FL) (8-4)

Miami -3 Over/Under 57.5

An old Big East rivalry will be renewed on Dec. 28 in the Russell Athletic Bowl, as West Virginia meets Miami for the first time since 2003. It’s always tough to put too much stock in bowl games, but motivation shouldn’t be an issue for either team. The Mountaineers won 10 games for the second time under coach Dana Holgorsen and a victory over the Hurricanes would give this program 11 wins for the first time since 2007. On the other sideline, Miami ended the regular season with a four-game winning streak and a victory over the Mountaineers would add to the momentum this program has established under new coach Mark Richt.
West Virginia entered the season with a little uncertainty surrounding the program but ended 2016 with momentum on its side. Holgorsen’s contract and long-term future was uncertain after an extension wasn’t finalized in the offseason. However, the Mountaineers (and Holgorsen) answered any doubts about this program with a 6-0 start and finished 10-2. West Virginia’s only losses came against Oklahoma (56-28) and at Oklahoma State (37-20). A balanced attack led the way on offense, while a rebuilt defense thrived under coordinator Tony Gibson, limiting Big 12 opponents to just 24.1 points a game.
no secret Miami is still looking for its first Coastal Division title and an appearance in the ACC Championship Game, but this program took a big step forward with the addition of Richt. The former Hurricane quarterback arrived in Coral Gables after a lengthy stint at Georgia and guided Miami to an 8-4 mark this fall. The Hurricanes started the year 4-0 and ended the season on a four-game winning streak. A four-game losing skid in the middle of the year prevented a run at the Coastal Division title, but Richt’s team lost three of those games by a touchdown or less. With a majority of the depth chart likely to return in 2017, Miami could start the year as the favorite to win the Coastal. Of course, that depends on a return to Coral Gables by junior quarterback Brad Kaaya.
These two teams met every year from 1991-03 as members of the Big East Conference. During that span, Miami won 11 of 13 matchups against West Virginia. The Mountaineers defeated the Hurricanes in 1993 and again in 1997 as conference foes. In the all-time series, Miami holds a 16-3 edge over West Virginia. The Mountaineers are 15-19 in 34 bowl appearances. The Hurricanes are 18-18 in 36 bowl trips.


Utah (8-4) vs Indiana (6-6)

Utah -6 Over/Under 54.5

Offensively, the Utes center on quarterback Troy Williams who sometimes does good things (2579 passing yards, 372 rushing yards, 20 total touchdowns, 5.4% sack rate) and other times does bad things (11 turnovers, 53.4% completion rate, 3.3 HY/O). Utah's passing offense is ranked 77th, with good numbers for explosiveness (44th) but struggling to stay on schedule with their success rate (99th). They're like a poor man's Penn State, and you'll recall how the Nittany Lions low-efficiency, high-octane passing attack shredded Indiana's secondary.Four pass-catchers are garnering double-digit target rates, lead by 6-5 senior Tim Patrick and his 43 catches, 684 yards and five touchdowns. Fellow seniors Cory Butler-Byrd and Evan Moneai have 20+ catches and over 300 yards, but less than half of their catches generate enough yardage to keep the Utes on schedule. Sophomore Raelon Singleton has 454 yards and four touchdowns, and his 6-3 frame is more than enough to give Indiana's secondary fits.Their rushing attack is the more potent outfit of the two, ranking 45th with great efficiency numbers (33rd) and average explosiveness (63rd). Joe Williams leads the backfield in carries (184), yards (1185), touchdowns (9), YPC (6.4), and HY/O (7.0) and is one of the best all-around backs in football. Three other guys have received at least 78 touches out of the backfield (including the quarterback). Armand Shyne and Zack Moss have identical YPC (4.7), chipping in over 700 yards and six scores combined.Utah enjoys top-40 defenses against both the run and the pass, with solid marks in both efficiency and explosiveness for both. They're fueled by their Havoc Rate, clocking in at 6th overall. (DL: 4th, LB: 112th, DB: 9th). Hunter Dimick leads the team with an incredible 35.5 sacks/TFL along with six pass breakups as a defensive end. Utah's entire defensive line is loaded with guys that have been living in opponent's backfields all season and Indiana's offensive line will need to play its best game to date in order to give Richard Lagow time to find receivers and their runners lanes to run through.


Indiana finished the regular season with the nation's 30th best defense, finishing one of the finest and most unexpected one-year turnarounds for a unit that arguably lost more talent than it gained after last season's dismal 105th ranking. The man responsible was given the reigns to the whole shebang. Had Indiana not taken the leap of faith with their possible budding coaching star, it's safe to assume another program would have.
The defense will have to be ready to stop the run first and foremost, as the Utes are top-50 when it comes to running the ball on standard and passing downs while their pace (29th) can and will prevent substitutions and keep guys on the field for long stretches if Indiana can't get stops. Fortunately, the Hoosiers are perfectly capable of getting opponents off track. They're 16th in Havoc Rate (DL: 46th, LB: 19th, DB: 19th) and 40.3% of opponent incomplete passes result from passes defensed, good for 8th in the country.
Zander Diamont made headlines after beating Purdue (again) saying that he'd be retiring from football after the season citing concerns for head injuries and his future. He will play in the bowl game and will likely be leaned on to spark a rushing offense that collapsed to 110th thanks to a complete inability to stay on schedule (114th in success rate) but still a decent threat to break out a home run (49th in explosiveness). Diamont's 8.4 HY/O is the best on the team and it's not particularly close, and offers a nice complement to Devine Redding's steadiness.
Hopefully Richard Lagow doesn't throw a billion picks in this game, either. But to expect anything other than the full gamut of what a quarterback can be, from the amazing to the braindead, is to expect disappointment.
THREE THINGS

• Can the defense turn the expected into the actual? Utah is among the best in the nation in turnover luck, which S&P+ puts at +5.35 points per game. Their actual turnover margin is +7 but their expected is -5.84, meaning that the Utes pounced on an inordinate amount of loose footballs and benefited from their fair share of dropped picks. If Indiana is to win this game, they'll need to turn the Utes over a few times (likely just to offset their own giveaways).
• Who can finish off their drives? Neither team is adept at finishing their drives with points, with Indiana being one of the worst in the country and Utah being Pretty Bad. One of these teams is going to have to find the end zone or else we're in store for a very, very boring game. Both defenses are merely average at preventing points inside the 40-yard line, so mistakes in this area are far more likely to be self-inflicted for both sides.
• Please win the bowl game. You can't dream of a a better way for the Tom Allen Era to begin than delivering Indiana's first postseason victory in a quarter-century. Heading out west and dispatching of a ranked Pac-12 team will definitely send the message to Hoosier Nation that the program is in good hands. Like it or not, Tom Allen might never have more eyes on him than he will on Wednesday night, and that means reactionary TAEKS will be at an all-time high.

Kansas State (8-4) vs Texas A & M (8-4)

Kansas State -2.5 Over/Under 56.5

A couple of former Big 12 rivals renew acquaintances in a Texas Bowl showdown at Houston’s NRG Stadium. Texas A&M, which left the Big 12 to join the SEC in 2012, will be looking to finish this up-and-down year on a high note. The Aggies were one of the country’s biggest first-half surprises, starting 6-0 and elevating to No. 6 in the polls. But the team never recovered from an Oct. 22 loss at Alabama, which set the stage for four consecutive league defeats to close the regular season. A&M, and especially Kevin Sumlin, hope to use this game to reboot and redirect the narrative heading into 2017.
Kansas State exceeded expectations by winning eight this year. What else is new with the venerable Bill Snyder in Manhattan? The Cats can move to 5-0 in 2016 versus teams from Texas, having already defeated Texas Tech, Texas, Baylor and TCU.
[h=3]What To Know About Texas A&M[/h]The Aggies are littered with elite talent, like the Christian Kirk-led receiving corps and ends Myles Garrett and Daeshon Hall collapsing pockets. But when the decline started, Sumlin was powerless to stop it. It’s going to help to have QB Trevor Knight back at full strength after he missed a pair of November games. He won’t unnerve the Kansas State secondary with his arm talent, but his leadership and running ability are what helped spark A&M to its fast start. The defense, which boasts a lot of quality parts, will need to do some soul-searching this month after getting shoved around on the ground by Mississippi State and LSU in the final month.
[h=3]What to Know About Kansas State[/h]The Wildcats were paced all year by a seasoned, salty defense that led the Big 12 in several categories. DE Jordan Willis, who has 11.5 sacks, wants to outshine Garrett, and LB Elijah Lee and SS Dante Barnett could have futures on Sunday. While it’s tough running on the K-State front seven, the corners have been beatable.
Without many attaboys, the offense played a bigger than advertised role in the team’s 5-1 finish, scoring at least 30 in each of the last five games. Everything revolves around QB Jesse Ertz who, like Knight, is more of a threat with his feet than his arm. Ertz has only thrown eight touchdown passes, but he’s rushed for a team-high 945 yards and 10 scores.
[h=3]Advantages[/h]Offense: Texas A&M. The quarterbacks are similar, but the Aggies have better weapons, like Kirk and big-play rookie RB Trayveon Williams.
Defense: Kansas State. The Aggies have the bigger names. The Wildcats have produced more consistently in a league littered with wide-open attacks and gunslinging quarterbacks.
Special Teams: Push. And for positive reasons. Both teams feature dangerous return men, like Kirk and Wildcats Byron Pringle and Dominique Heath, and strong-legged kicking specialists.
Coaching: Kansas State. Even at the age of 77, Snyder is still one of the top coaches in the game, as evidenced by the results from a program that does not attract and sign blue-chip recruits.
Intangibles: Kansas State. Bowl games are still a big deal for the Wildcats, but it remains to be seen if the Aggies are still motivated after suffering through a second-half fall from upper echelon of the rankings.
[h=3]Matchup To Watch[/h]Kirk and the Texas A&M receivers vs. Kansas State corners Duke Shelley and D.J. Reed
Sumlin might want to air it out a little more than normal in the Texas Bowl. He’s indoors, his quarterback is healthy again and his receivers will hold a significant edge over the undersized Wildcat corners. Kirk is a dynamic playmaker, but Speedy Noil, Josh Reynolds and Ricky Seals-Jones can be handfuls, too, when properly utilized in the passing game.

 

[BringInTheLefty]

25-23
-$2,810

First game I've got mixed signals here, Pitt on paper should crush them. Yet the line says otherwise. I do see this a low scoring game thus a under first half and game play only. Game two I like West Virginia and the over. Game three I like Utah and the over, even though the write up favors the under. Game four I strongly like A&M, I'll be playing the ML first half and game.


1st half under Pitt 32 -$110 $660/$600
Game under Pitt 64 -$110 $880/$800
1st half West Virginia ML +$110 $600/$660
1st half West Virginia over 28.5 -$105 $840/$800
Game West Virginia ML +$115 $600/$690
Game West Virginia over 57.5 -$110 $880/$800
1st half Utah -3 -$115 $690/$600
1st half Utah over 27.5 -$110 $880/$800
Game Utah -5.5 -$110 $880/$800
Game over Utah 54.5 -$110 $880/$800
1st half A&M ML -$140 $1,400/$1,000
Game A&M ML -$150 $3,000/$2,000

 

[Metallica]

Like Pitt and Utah today, BOL on the action Lefty.

 

[BringInTheLefty]

Recap:


WIN 1st half under Pitt 32 +$600
WIN game under 64 Pitt +$800
LOST 1st half West Virginia ML -$600
LOST 1st half West Virginiaover 28.5 -$840
LOST game West Virginia ML -$600
LOST 9game West Virginia over 57.5 -$880
LOST 1st half Utah -3 -$690
WIN 1st half over 27.5 +$800
LOST game Utah -5.5 -$880
LOST game Utah over 54.5 -$880
LOST 1st half A & M ML -$1,400
LOST game A & M ML -$3,000

3-9
+$2,200 -$9,770 = -$7,570

-$7,570 -$2,810 = -$10,380
28-32

25-23
-$2,810

First game I've got mixed signals here, Pitt on paper should crush them. Yet the line says otherwise. I do see this a low scoring game thus a under first half and game play only. Game two I like West Virginia and the over. Game three I like Utah and the over, even though the write up favors the under. Game four I strongly like A&M, I'll be playing the ML first half and game.


1st half under Pitt 32 -$110 $660/$600
Game under Pitt 64 -$110 $880/$800
1st half West Virginia ML +$110 $600/$660
1st half West Virginia over 28.5 -$105 $840/$800
Game West Virginia ML +$115 $600/$690
Game West Virginia over 57.5 -$110 $880/$800
1st half Utah -3 -$115 $690/$600
1st half Utah over 27.5 -$110 $880/$800
Game Utah -5.5 -$110 $880/$800
Game over Utah 54.5 -$110 $880/$800
1st half A&M ML -$140 $1,400/$1,000
Game A&M ML -$150 $3,000/$2,000

 

[BringInTheLefty]

28-32
-$10,380

I had an unexpected family issue come up, thus the not posting for a while. Yes my picks were going south but sometimes life gets in the way of our fun.

About the game tonight here is some insight:

Former Washington and Southern Cal head coach Steve Sarkisian had already been named the next offensive coordinator, and he’ll be thrown straight into the fire calling plays Monday night. ‘Sark’ was dubiously dismissed by USC after several alcohol-related incidents, the last of which was showing up to work drunk on Sunday morning after a home loss to Washington.
By all indications, ‘Sark’ has been 100-percent sober for a long time now. He looks healthier than he’s appeared in many years.
Junior quarterback Deshaun Watson led the way by completing 23-of-36 passes for 259 yards and one TD, although he was intercepted twice. Watson rushed 15 times for 57 yards and a pair of TDs. Wayne Gallman ran for a team-best 85 yards and one TD on 18 carries.
Mike Williams, the dynamic wide receiver who didn’t play against Alabama last year after sustaining a season-ending neck injury in the 2015 season opener, had six catches for 96 yards against the Buckeyes. Hunter Renfrow had five receptions for 50 yards, while C.J. Fuller had three grabs for 45 yards and one TD.
Clemson’s defense held Ohio State to a season-low 215 yards of total offense. The Tigers forced three turnovers, including interceptions by Van Smith and Cordrea Tankersley. Smith returned his pick 86 yards.
For the season, Watson has completed 352-of-523 passes (67.3%) for 4,173 yards with a 38/17 touchdown-to-interception ratio. He has 581 rushing yards and eight TDs. Gallman has rushed for a team-high 1,087 yards and 16 TDs while averaging 5.1 yards per carry. Gallman also has 17 catches for 113 yards.
Williams has bounced back from the neck injury in fantastic fashion. The junior wideout has 90 receptions for 1,267 yards and 10 TDs. Senior tight end Jordan Leggett has 39 catches for 641 yards, while Deon Cain has 33 grabs for 630 yards. Watson has an abundance of weapons at his disposal, including Artavis Scott (73, 608 and 5 TDs), Ray-Ray McCloud (49, 472 and 2) and Renfrow (34, 403 and 4 TDs).
Clemson might have the nation’s best defensive coordinator in Brent Venables. The best move of Dabo Swinney’s entire nine-year tenure at Clemson was plucking Venables away from Oklahoma after Geno Smith and West Virginia hung a 70-spot on the Tigers at the Orange Bowl five years ago.
Venables returned only four starters from last year’s unit, but this year’s defense has been even better. The Tigers are eighth in the nation in total defense, seventh in scoring (17.1 points per game), 16th against the pass and 19th versus the run.
The defense is led by senior LB Ben Boulware and senior DT Carlos Watkins. Boulware has recorded 110 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, four sacks, three forced fumbles, one pass broken up and one interception. Watkins has tallied 44 tackles, 12.5 TFL’s, 10.5 sacks, four QB hurries, four PBU and one blocked kick.
Alabama is ranked No. 1 in the country in total defense, scoring (11.4 PPG) and rush defense. They’re ranked 12th versus the pass. The Tide has held 12 of its 14 foes to 16 points or fewer.
The 24 points scored against Washington was the second-lowest scoring output of the year. Only in a 10-0 win at LSU has Alabama been held to fewer points. Scarbrough rushed for 180 yards and two TDs against the Huskies, but he provided the only offensive production.
True freshman QB Jalen Hurts connected on just 7-of-14 throws for merely 57 yards. Hurts was held to 50 rushing yards on 19 attempts. For the season, Hurts has completed 64.6 percent of his passes for 2,620 yards with a 21/9 TD-INT ratio. He is the team’s second-leading rusher with 891 yards, 12 TDs and a 4.9 YPC average.
Damien Harris has rushed for a team-high 1,013 yards and two TDs while averaging 7.2 YPC. Scarbrough has run for 719 yards and nine TDs with a 6.6 YPC average. Alabama is deep in the backfield, getting production from another true freshman in Joshua Jacobs, who has 551 rushing yards, four TDs and a 6.6 YPC average. Jacobs also has 14 catches for 156 yards and returned a blocked punt 27 yards for a TD in the 54-16 win over Florida at the SEC Championship Game.
Alabama has a pair of elite WRs and one of the nation’s best tight ends. ArDarius Stewart has brought down 52 catches for 816 yards and seven TDs, while Calvin Ridley has 66 receptions for 740 yards and seven TDs. Senior TE O.J. Howard has 41 catches for 489 yards and two TDs.
As of early Sunday night, most betting shops had Alabama listed as a 6.5-point favorite with a total of 51. Clemson was available on the money line for a +185 return (risk $100 to win $185). For first-half wagers, the Tide was favored by 3.5 with a total of 25.5 points. For first-quarter bets, Alabama is -170 on the money line, while Clemson is available for a +150 payout. The total is 10 (‘over’ -125, ‘under’ +105).
This is just Alabama’s second single-digit ‘chalk’ spot of the season. In the previous instance, the Tide captured a 10-0 win at LSU as a seven-point road favorite. You would probably think that Alabama has thrived in the role of a single-digit favorite recently, but that’s not the case. Saban’s teams have limped to a 7-10 spread record in 17 such situations going back to the 9-6 overtime loss to LSU as a 4.5-point home favorite in 2011.
Clemson has only been an underdog twice year, winning outright in both instances (as a one-point ‘dog each time) vs. Louisville and Ohio St. The Tigers have been ‘dogs in six straight bowl games, going 6-0 ATS with five outright wins. They own a 13-4 spread record with 10 outright victories in 17 games as ‘dogs dating back to 2011.

Clemson had a 550-473 advantage in total offense in last year’s meeting. Watson completed 30-of-47 passes for 405 yards and four TDs with one interception. He ran 20 times for 73 yards. His 24-yard TD pass to Leggett with 12 seconds remaining gave the Tigers a backdoor cover as 6.5-point underdogs. The 85 combined points soared ‘over’ the 50.5-point total.

There were three ties (7-7, 14-14 and 24-24) and four lead changes in Alabama’s 45-40 win that provided Saban with his fifth national championship and his fourth at Alabama since 2009.

When Clemson pulled to within 31-27 on a field goal with 7:47 remaining in the fourth quarter, Kenyan Drake answered with a 95-yard kickoff return for a TD. But Watson would march the Tigers right back down the field, finding Scott for a 15-yard scoring strike with 4:40 left.

Derrick Henry’s one-yard TD run with 1:07 left put the game on ice and appeared to have Alabama’s betting supporters poised to cash tickets. However, Watson’s aforementioned TD pass to Leggett changed that.

Henry rushed for 158 yards and three TDs on 36 carries. Jake Coker completed 16-of-25 passes for 335 yards and two TDs without an interception. O.J. Howard had five receptions for 208 yards, including a pair of TD catches that covered 51 and 53 yards. Stewart had a pair of catches for 63 yards, but Ridley was limited to 14 receiving yards on six receptions.

Totals have been an overall wash (7-7) for Clemson, but it has seen the ‘over’ hit at a 7-3 clip in its last 10 contests. The Tigers have seen their games average combined scores of 56.6 PPG.

The ‘under’ is 8-6 overall for Alabama, cashing in five of its last seven games. The Tide has played three games on neutral field with the ‘over’ going 2-1 in those contests. Their 14 games have averaged combined scores of 50.8 PPG.

Nick Saban is 44-5 SU in games with the Tide in which they are ranked No. 1 in the polls. In addition, Saban is 88-15 SU and 59-39 ATS in games in which his teams are undefeated, including 33-14 ATS against opponents his team defeated in a most recent meeting.

Dabo Swinney is 10-6 SUATS against undefeated opposition, including 6-1 ATS when the Tigers are taking points. In addition, Swinney is 3-0 ATS with rest when tackling SEC foes.

 

[BringInTheLefty]

28-32
-$10,380

Here are my plays for the game:

1st half Clemson ML +$170 $500/850
1st half over 25.5 -$105 $840/$800
Clemson team total over 21.5 -$130 $1,300/$1,000
Clemson -3.5 +$230 $1,000/$2,300
Clemson score first +$100 $800/$800
Clemson to win by 7-10 points +$750 $500/3,750
Clemson to win by 14-17 points +$1,300 $400/$5,200