Friday 12/19/14 service plays chatter/comps/requests & other stuff...

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Post your request, Comments or concerns here.
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[lawman1]

Prediction Machine Bowl Package...

Hello to all-

Didn't know where to fit my question, but does anyone here have access to PM's bowl package?

Thanks in advance,

LM1

 

[superbeets]

German Bundesliga 1 TODAY 19:30

Mainz

v

B Munich

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
ESPN		14	6	1/5	More markets

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT MAINZ	RECENT FORM
ADHDALALHDAD​ Most recent​	0 - 2 0 - 3 3 - 2 1 - 3	ALAWHWHWAWHW​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Mainz have not won any of their last eight matches

EXPERT VERDICT: Mainz were unbeaten in the first two months of the Bundesliga but have been on the slide in recent weeks and are unlikely to turn the corner against Bayern Munich. All of Bayern's three draws have been on the road but they have won their last eight domestic games and should continue their relentless progress.

RECOMMENDATION: Bayern-Bayern double result
2

 

[superbeets]

French Ligue 1 TODAY 19:30

Lens

v

Nice

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
BTX		7/5	21/10	15/8	More markets

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT LENS	RECENT FORM
HLALHWALHDAD​ Most recent​	1 - 0 2 - 0 0 - 0 0 - 0	ALHDALHLAWHD​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Lens have won just one of their last seven home fixtures

EXPERT VERDICT: Nice have eased their relegation worries by taking four points from their last two games and can cement their mid-table position with a victory at second-bottom Lens. Life in the top flight is proving difficult for promoted Lens, who have won just one of their last seven league games.

RECOMMENDATION: Nice
1

 

[superbeets]

Football Conference TODAY 19:45

Bristol R

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Gateshead

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
BT1		13/10	23/10	21/10	More markets

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT BRISTOL R	RECENT FORM
ADHWHWADADHL​ Most recent​	Unknown	ADHLAWHWHDHW​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Rovers have failed to find the net in their last three games

EXPERT VERDICT: Third-placed Rovers are the lowest scorers in the top half of the Conference by a distance which has to be a concern. Defensively they are strong and that makes them difficult to oppose but since Gateshead have earned draws at fortresses such as Macclesfield and Eastleigh, they can do likewise at the Memorial Stadium.

RECOMMENDATION: Draw
1


REFEREE: Brett Huxtable STADIUM:

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

NHL Grand Salami - December

The Grand Salami in pro hockey is decided by adding up all the goals scored in every game scheduled for that particular day. You can wager on 'over' or 'under' the Grand Salami total. The total is set by adding up all listed 'over/under' odds for each game on that particular day.

Note: The Grand Salami will have no action if any game is suspended or cancelled before the regulation time of three twenty minute periods. Also, regardless of the number of goals scored during the shoot out portion of the overtime, the final scored recorded for the game will give the winning team on more goal than its opponent based on the score at the end of regulation time.

*The majority of sportsbooks do not put out a total on the Grand Salami when there is only one game on the card. For tracking purposes, we will continue to show the 'over/under' for goals and combined goals scored on days with just one game.

NHL GRAND SALAMI

Date No. of Games Total Goals Combined Goals Scored Result
12/1 5 26.5 31 OVER
12/2 10 55.5 45 UNDER
12/3 4 21 22 OVER
12/4 11 60.5 65 OVER
12/5 3 15.5 24 OVER
12/6 12 64 65 OVER
12/7 4 21.5 21 UNDER
12/8 3 15.5 16 OVER
12/9 10 55.5 54 UNDER
12/10 2 11.5 6 UNDER
12/11 10 54.5 58 OVER
12/12 4 21 23 OVER
12/13 13 69 73 OVER
12/14 3 16.5 12 UNDER
12/15 3 16 20 OVER
12/16 11 58 57 UNDER
12/17 3 16.5 9 UNDER
12/18 7 38.5 38 UNDER
12/19 5 - - -

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

NHL Preview: Stars (12-13) at Flames (17-14)

Date: December 19, 2014 9:00 PM EDT

The Calgary Flames are in danger of losing seven straight games in regulation for the first time in 15 seasons, but management still believes Bob Hartley is the right man to end that skid and guide the team for years to come.

Two days after the veteran coach earned a multiyear contract extension, the Flames try again to end their slide Friday night against the visiting Dallas Stars.

The 54-year-old Hartley is 71-79-13 since coming to Calgary in 2012, and had the Flames (17-14-2) off to a strong start prior to their six-game skid. However, that didn't stop the organization from extending the contract of Hartley, who won a Stanley Cup with Colorado in 2001.

'I firmly believe in the bigger picture,' first-year Flames general manager Brad Treliving said. 'Anybody can swim in the lake when the water is calm. It takes leadership, it takes perseverance when the water gets choppy to see who can steer the boat here. I know we've got the right guy steering the boat.

'This should send a clear message to our dressing room that Bob is not only the coach for today, but moving forward.'

The Flames were one of the league's biggest surprises before being outscored 21-10 in the last six games. Calgary hasn't had a longer losing streak in regulation since dropping eight in a row during the 1998-99 season.

'It's so easy when you're winning to go out there and make things happen when things are bouncing your way,' said center Matt Stajan, who recorded an assist in Tuesday's 5-2 loss to the New York Rangers.

'The real test is when nothing's going your way and you're in a funk like we are. This is where we have to step up.'

Though the Flames have struggled to score, they've outshot five of their last six opponents, including 31-23 over the Rangers. Calgary has gone 3 for 22 on the power play in those six games.

"Internally, we've got to figure out what's going on here and turn it around," defenseman Kris Russell told the Flames' official website.

It would seem Calgary has a good chance to break out against a Dallas team that allows a league-worst 3.4 goals per game, but the Stars (12-13-5) used a 27-save performance from Kari Lehtonen to win their second straight and third in four games, 2-0 at Vancouver on Wednesday. Dallas had yielded at least five goals seven times over the previous 12 contests.

"We are taking it one game at a time, but we know we have three left (before) the (Christmas) break. We want to go out on a good note," defenseman Alex Goligoski told the Stars' official website.

Lehtonen has a 2.03 goals-against average while winning three of four to follow a seven-start stretch where he went 3-2-1 but had a 4.10 GAA. He has a 2.33 GAA during a three-game winning streak against the Flames.

Tyler Seguin scored five of his league-leading 23 goals in four straight games before being blanked against the Canucks. He had a career-high four goals with an assist during a 7-3 win at Calgary on Nov. 14 of last year.

Calgary's Jiri Hudler has a goal in two straight games and a point in each of the last four but was shut out in two against the Stars last season.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Islanders offensively consistent this season
Justin Hartling

The New York Islanders are 15-5 in their past 20 games, which has a lot to do with the offensive consistency. Through 20 games, the Islanders have only been held to one goal twice in those 20 games, while averaging over three goals per game.

The defense has been no slouch though, only allowing 2.5 gpg with two shutouts.

New York travels to Detroit Friday.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

The worst home record belongs to the Devils
Justin Hartling

The New Jersey Devils are 3-5-1-3 at home this season, which gives them the fewest home wins in the NHL. The Devils have lost their past five in the Prudential Center, being outscored 17-9.

New Jersey will host Tampa Bay Friday.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Offense has disappeared for the Flames
Justin Hartling

The Calgary Flames rank in the top 10 in offense in the NHL, but over the past six games the team has only netted 10 goals. It's not a surprise then, that Calgary has lost their past six contests.

The Flames are also allowing more than three goals per contest during that span.

Calgary hosts the Dallas Stars Friday.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

NBA Preview: Thunder (12-14) at Lakers (8-17)

Date: December 19, 2014 10:30 PM EDT

The Oklahoma City Thunder certainly remember what a Kevin Durant injury meant for them earlier this season.

The Thunder could be without the NBA's reigning MVP again Friday night when they try to continue their success against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Durant broke his right foot in the preseason and missed the first 17 games, leaving Oklahoma City (12-14) without its biggest offensive weapon. The Thunder won only five of those games, and averaged 90.9 points on 42.2 percent from the floor.

They averaged 106.2 points on 47.3 percent shooting in the nine games - seven wins - since his return, with Durant scoring 22.4. He scored 30 points in the first half Thursday at Golden State, but left before the break after stepping on Marreese Speights' foot and the Thunder had their seven-game win streak snapped with a 114-109 loss.

The five-time All-Star left with a sprained right ankle and X-rays were negative.

"I wanted to play. I wanted go back out there, but we wanted to be cautious," Durant said. "I was a little nervous, but I knew that when I got up and started walking that it felt good. I just wanted to make sure with the X-ray that everything was good."

If Durant can't go, that will only increase the pressure on Russell Westbrook, who had 33 points and eight assists against the Warriors. The All-Star guard is averaging 28.3 points and 7.3 assists in 10 games after sitting out 14 with a broken right hand.

Westbrook is scoring 26.3 points per game with 8.5 assists over his last four meetings with the Lakers (8-17), while Durant is scoring 33.8 points in the past nine regular-season matchups.

The duo each had 29 points in a 131-102 rout of the Lakers (8-17) on March 13.

The Thunder have won 13 of 17 matchups - playoffs included - against Los Angeles, averaging 108.6 points.

The Lakers are coming off their worst shooting performance of the season, making 33 percent from the floor while trailing by as many as 39 points in Monday's 110-91 loss at Indiana, ending a season-best three-game win streak.

"They jumped out to a quick lead on us and we just compounded it that we couldn't throw the ball in the ocean sitting on a boat," Kobe Bryant said. "Sometimes you just have to pat yourself on the back for an atrocious job. We didn't have our legs at the start of the ball game. We just could not get ourselves activated."

That includes Bryant, who had a team-high 21 points, but went 8 for 26 from the field. He's shooting 32.4 percent - including 5 of 19 from 3-point range - while averaging 23 points in the past three games.

He'll face the Thunder for the first time since he had four points and 13 assists in a 122-97 loss at Oklahoma City on Dec. 13, 2013 - one of the six games he played in last season.

Bryant missed the other three meetings with a knee injury, but the Lakers won the most recent at home 114-110 on March 9.

Backup guard Nick Young is looking build on his 18 points against the Pacers, making half of his 12 attempts from the floor. That was a major improvement after he missed 7 of 9 from the field to finish with seven points in a 100-94 win at Minnesota a day earlier.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Bulls weak spread play without a days rest
Justin Hartling

The Chicago Bulls have played seven games this season without a days rest, in those games the team is 3-4 straight up and 2-5 against the spread.

Chicago has been outscored by an average of 2.7 points in those games, but have an average spread of -1.5.

The Bulls travel to Memphis Friday.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Nets lack of offense make them strong under play
Justin Hartling

In their past 17 games, the Brooklyn Nets have an over/under record of 3-14. The Nets have averaged a mere 92.3 points per game during that span and only hit triple digits twice.

Brooklyn travels to Cleveland Friday.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

NCAAF Bowl Breakdown - Part 1
By Mike Rose

Below is a quick look at the first six bowl games of the postseason from Saturday Dec. 20 through Monday Dec. 22.

New Orleans Bowl - Nevada vs. Louisiana Lafayette
Saturday, Dec. 20, 11:00 a.m. ET
New Orleans Bowl Betting Line: Louisiana Lafayette -1

The Cajuns are 5-1 ATS in their last six bowl games, and that should definitely come into play in this one. ULL had a fantastic season in the Sun Belt, though there was a troubling loss to Appalachian State at the end of the campaign as well. A 34-9 loss at Boise State could be a concern, knowing that Nevada nearly beat the Broncos in Reno on October 4th.

New Mexico Bowl - Utah State vs. UTEP
Saturday, Dec. 20, 2:20 p.m. ET
New Mexico Bowl Betting Line: Utah State -10.5

Utah State is down nine starters from the beginning of the season, and it fought through four different quarterbacks to make it to the New Mexico Bowl. Darrel Garretson could be back for this game though, and that would be a huge boost for the Aggies. UTEP was very unimpressive down the stretch of the season, and it didn't beat a team this year with a winning record.

Las Vegas Bowl - Utah vs. Colorado State
Saturday, Dec. 20, 3:30 p.m. ET
Las Vegas Bowl Betting Line: Utah -4

The Utes have huge wins this year over UCLA, USC, and Stanford, but they fizzled out down the stretch. Colorado State at least would have been up for consideration for a spot in a New Year's Six bowl game had it not lost to Air Force in the final week of the season. Remember that this is the first game without Jim McElwain on the sidelines for the Rams.

Famous Idaho Potato Bowl - Western Michigan vs. Air Force
Saturday, Dec. 20, 5:45 p.m. ET
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl Betting Line: Western Michigan -1

If Kale Pearson can't play in this one for the Falcons, they could be in a lot of trouble. They've got a hungry foe on the other side of the field in Western Michigan, and the Broncos are looking to take advantage of their huge offensive weapons. There isn't a team in America which has a 3,000-yard passer, a 1,500-yard rusher and two 1,000-yard receivers, but Western Michigan could be there by the time this game is over with. The Broncos are searching for their first ever bowl victory.

Raycom Media Camellia Bowl - South Alabama vs. Bowling Green
Saturday, Dec. 20, 9:15 p.m. ET
Raycom Media Camellia Bowl Betting Line: South Alabama -2.5

South Alabama is playing in its first bowl game in school history, and it is going to look to take advantage of a Bowling Green team which has had major problems on the defensive side of the ball all year long. The Jaguars weren't great at 6-6 though, and this figures to be one of the worst bowl games of the year.

Miami Beach Bowl - BYU vs. Memphis
Monday, Dec. 22, 2:00 p.m. ET
Miami Beach Bowl Betting Line: BYU -1

The Cougars and the Tigers make for interesting foes in the first ever Miami Beach Bowl at Marlins Park. The Cougs watched their season go down in flames when Taysom Hill was lost for the season, but they did rally for wins in each of their last four games. Memphis was a shocking 9-3 this year on the back of a defense which allowed more than 24 points just twice all season long. The Tigers haven't been in a bowl game since 2008.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Saturday's Bowl Tips
By Brian Edwards

**Nevada vs. Louisiana-Lafayette**

-- The Mountain West and Sun Belt Conferences will be represented Saturday in the Crescent City, where Nevada and UL-Lafayette will collide for the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl at the Superdome. This game features a pair of record-setting quarterbacks who will be closing out their collegiate careers.

-- As of Thursday afternoon, the line was all over the place at various betting shops. Some books had one team favored by one, while others had the side as a pick 'em. The total for 'over/under' wagers is 60.5 or 61.

-- Nevada (7-5 SU, 7-5 ATS) won four of its last six games both SU and ATS, including a 49-27 win at UNLV in the regular-season finale at Sam Boyd Stadium. The Wolf Pack easily covered the spread as a 7.5-point road favorite, while the 76 combined points sailed 'over' the 62.5-point total. Cody Fajardo was the catalyst, accounting for four touchdowns. The senior signal caller threw three TD passes compared to one interception. Fajardo ran 13 times for 143 yards and one TD. After the Rebels cut the deficit to 21-20 midway through the third quarter, Nevada responded with 28 consecutive points. Fajardo hit Kendall Brock for a three-yard scoring strike to make it 28-20 and a few plays later, the Wolf Pack went up 35-20 on a pick-six by Lenny Jones.

-- Fajardo is one of only two QBs in FBS history (the other being fellow Nevada alum Colin Kaepernick) to throw for more than 6,000 yards and rush for more than 3,000. Fajardo ranks No. 21 in all-time total yardage and can move into 16th place with 208 yards of offense against UL-Lafayette.

-- UL Lafayette (8-4 SU, 6-5-1 ATS) has won seven of its last eight games, producing a 5-1-1 spread record in its last seven outings. The Ragin' Cajuns finished the regular season by cruising to a 42-23 win at Troy as 9.5-point road favorites. Elijah McGuire rushed for 169 yards and two touchdowns on just 14 carries, while Alonzo Harris ran 17 times for 86 yards and three TDs. Terrance Broadway connected on 14-of-19 throws for 142 yards and also ran for 78 yards on 14 totes.

-- Mark Hudspeth's squad has finished its season in this bowl game in all four years of his tenure. The Ragin' Cajuns are 3-0 both SU and ATS at the Superdome in the first postseason appearances in the school's history. They have beaten San Diego St. (32-30), East Carolina (43-34) and Tulane (24-21).

-- Broadway was the MVP of the 2012 New Orleans Bowl as a sophomore. As a senior this season, he completed 61.1 percent of his passes for 2,068 yards with a 12/9 touchdown-to-interception ratio. Broadway also rushed for 646 yards and three scores.

-- UL-Lafayette has a pair of outstanding RBs in McGuire and Harris. McGuire ran for 1,165 yards and 14 TDs this season, averaging 7.8 yards per carry. Harris rushed for 737 yards and 12 TDs, averaging 4.6 YPC.

-- Fajardo completed 59.7 percent of his throws this season for 2,370 yards and an 18/11 TD-INT ratio. He rushed for a team-best 997 yards and 13 TDs, averaging 6.1 YPC. Jerico Richardson is his favorite target, hauling in 53 receptions for 626 yards and three TDs. When Fajardo isn't toting the rock himself, Don Jackson gets the bulk of the carries. Jackson rushed for 932 yards and seven scores during the regular season.

-- Nevada has lost six of its last seven bowl games. The last victory came in 2010 when the Wolf Pack beat Boston College 20-13 at the Kraft Hunger Bowl. It missed the postseason in 2013 in its first season under head coach Brian Polian, who is the son of former Colts team President Bill Polian.

-- The 'under' is 8-4 overall for Nevada, with its games averaging 59.5 points per game.

-- Totals have been an overall wash (6-6) for the Ragin' Cajuns, who have seen their games average a combined score of 58.5 PPG.

-- Kickoff is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. Eastern on ESPN.

**UTEP vs. Utah State**

-- The second bowl game on Saturday's slate pits UTEP vs. Utah St. in the New Mexico Bowl from Albuquerque. As of Thursday, most books had Utah St. (9-4 SU, 6-7 ATS) installed as a 10.5-point favorite with a total of 46. Gamblers can back the Miners on the money line for a +330 return (risk $100 to win $330).

-- After going 2-10 in Sean Kugler's first season since taking over for the retired Mike Price, UTEP (7-5 SU, 9-3 ATS) is in the postseason for the first time since getting thumped 52-24 to BYU at the 2010 New Mexico Bowl. The Miners have won five of their last seven games, going 6-1 ATS in the process. They have gone 4-3 ATS in seven games as underdogs, posting a 3-2 spread record in five double-digit 'dog situations.

-- Utah St. had another stellar campaign despite a myriad of injuries, including nine season-enders to starters. First, the Aggies lost one of their best defensive players in Kyler Fackrell when he tore his ACL in September. Fackrell had 82 tackles and five sacks as a sophomore in 2013. Next, star senior QB Chuckie Keeton tore his ACL (again) and was lost for the year. Then Utah St. lost its second and third-string QBs to injuries. Nevertheless, Matt Wells's squad won each of true freshman Kent Myers's first four starts.

-- Utah St. was on a five-game winning streak going into its regular-season finale at Boise St. on the smurf turf. A victory would've garnered a trip to the Mountain West Conference Championship game, but that berth went to the Broncos after they dealt out a 50-19 beating to the Aggies. BSU easily covered the number as a 10-point home 'chalk.' The Utah St. defense got blitzed by Jay Ajayi for 229 rushing yards and five TDs. Myers threw for 158 yards and was intercepted once. He ran for 43 yards and one TD.

-- Myers has made five starts and seen playing time in six games. He has completed 69.2 percent of his throws for 798 yards with a 5/2 TD-INT ratio. Myers has rushed for 235 yards and four TDs while averaging 5.6 YPC.

-- Utah St. LB Zach Vigil earned Mtn. West Defensive Player of the Year honors after recording 145 tackles (19.5 for loss) and nine sacks.

-- Vigil will be keying on UTEP RB Aaron Jones, who has rushed for 2,552 yards in his first two seasons for the Miners. Jones ran for 1,236 yards and 11 TDs while averaging 5.7 YPC.

-- UTEP quarterback Jameill Showers connected on 55.7 percent of his passes for 1,732 yards with a 12/5 TD-INT ratio. Showers also rushed for 288 yards and four scores.

-- Utah St. is going bowling for a fourth straight season. The Aggies beat No. Illinois by a 21-14 count in a pick 'em affair at last year's Poinsettia Bowl. They smashed Toledo 41-15 as 10.5-point favorites at the 2012 Idaho Potato Bowl on the blue carpet.

-- Utah St. ranks 21st nationally in scoring defense, allowing only 20.8 PPG.

-- The 'over' is 7-6 overall for the Aggies, hitting in back-to-back games and four of their last six.

-- The 'under' is on a 5-1 run for the Miners to improve to 7-5 overall for the season. Their games have averaged a combined score of 57.0 PPG.

-- ESPN will have the telecast at 2:20 p.m. Eastern.

**Utah vs. Colorado State**

-- The Mtn. West and Pac-12 will be represented in Sin City for Saturday's Royal Purple Las Vegas Bowl. Utah and Colorado St. both had outstanding seasons that will culminate at Sam Boyd Stadium. However, CSU won't have its head coach Jim McElwain, who left to take the Florida job vacated when Will Muschamp was fired.

-- As of Thursday afternoon, most books had Utah listed as a three-point favorite with a total of 57.5. Gamblers can back the Rams to win outright for a +145 return (risk $100 to win $145).

-- Colorado St. (10-2 SU, 8-4 ATS) is gunning for the second 11-win season in school history. Dave Baldwin, the team's offensive coordinator, will serve as the Rams' interim head coach. He was previously a head coach at San Jose St. and is hoping a bowl victory can bolster his candidacy to remain at CSU as head coach.

-- Utah (8-4 SU, 8-4 SU) is back in the postseason after going 5-7 in consecutive years. The Utes won all three of their non-conference games, including a 26-10 win over Michigan at The Big House. Kyle Whittingham's team won a pair of Pac-12 road games over Stanford and UCLA as a double-digit underdog. Utah also had a solid home win over Southern Cal and prevailed in overtime at Oregon St. The Utes went 5-1 ATS on the road, dropping a 19-16 decision at Arizona St. in overtime.

-- Utah's only non-cover on the road came in its regular-season finale when it escaped Boulder with a 38-34 win over Colorado as a seven-point road 'chalk.' Dominique Hatfield's pick-six with 10 minutes remaining provided the winning points. QB Travis Wilson threw for 311 yards and three TDs without being intercepted, while Devontae Booker rushed 25 times for 95 yards and one score. Kaelin Clay had 10 receptions for 88 yards and a pair of TDs.

-- Utah has been a single-digit favorite three times, going 1-2 ATS. Meanwhile, CSU has compiled a 2-1 record both SU and ATS in three games as an underdog. The Rams won outright at Boston College and vs. Colorado in Denver.

-- Wilson threw for 2,012 yards with a 17/4 TD-INT ratio. After losing one of his top targets Dres Anderson to a season-ending injury in late October, Clay began to pick up his production. He finished the regular season with 39 catches for 460 yards and four TDs. Booker rushed for 1,350 yards and nine TDs while averaging 5.1 YPC. He also had 39 receptions for 282 yards and two TDs. Clay has also scored three TDs on special-teams returns.

-- CSU is led by senior QB Garrett Grayson, who set all sorts of school records during a brilliant year. Grayson completed 64.8 percent of his passes for 3,779 yards with a 32/6 TD-INT ratio. His favorite target is one of the nation's best WRs, Rashard Higgins, who had 89 receptions for 1,640 yards and 17 TDs. Dee Hart, a transfer from Alabama, rushed for a team-high 1,254 yards and 16 TDs, averaging 6.7 YPC.

-- After losing 37-24 at Boise St. in Week 2, CSU went on a nine-game winning streak that got snapped in a gut-wrenching loss at Air Force in the regular-season finale. The Falcons captured a 27-24 win as 7.5-point home underdogs thanks to a Will Conant 39-yard field goal as time expired. Grayson threw for 366 yards and three TDs, while Hart rushed for 115 yards on 23 carries. Higgins had 12 catches for 193 yards and a pair of TDs.

-- Utah's defense is led by DE Nate Orchard, who set a school record with 17.5 sacks during the regular season.

-- The 'under' is on a 7-2-1 run in Utah's last 10 games and is 7-4-1 overall.

-- Totals have been an overall wash (6-6) for the Rams, but they saw the 'over' go 4-1 in their last five games.

-- These schools are former conference rivals from the MWC. Before Utah bolted for the Pac-12 from 2005-2010, the Utes won five in a row over the Rams and cashed tickets at a 4-1 ATS clip.

-- Kickoff is slated for 5:50 p.m. Eastern on ESPN.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

College Football Bowl Betting Bible: Book I - Capping Thy Coaches
By JASON LOGAN

The names are different but the situations stay the same.

Each college football bowl season, select teams pack their bags and head off for their postseason matchup, giving sports bettors a fresh set of intriguing non-conference competitions. While there is an aura of the unknown when it comes to bowl teams – these programs don’t know much about each other – football bettors can find familiarity – and value – looking for teams in these certain situations.

We break down some of the important factors to figure into your bowl betting this December with our Bowl Betting Bible.

BOOK I: CAPPING THY COACHES

One of the biggest differences between wagering on college and professional sports is the impact of the coaching. In the college ranks, these coaches are the molders of young men and build a program from the bottom up, having a bigger influence on how the game is played. Oddsmakers factor coaching into the lines in college sports more than any other option.

That’s why it’s such a big deal when coaches are swapped out just before bowl season. Whether it be a coach taking a new job and leaving his former team in the hands of his assistants or a team firing its coach just before the postseason and pretty much hoping for the best in the bowl game. Bettors can find added value when handicapping the turnover on the sidelines.

“Teams and players often rally behind a new coach or departing coach, while other times players and teams are disappointed and provide a weak effort,” says Steve Merril.

Wisconsin is one team undergoing a transformation in the coaching department. The Badgers were stunned when Gary Andersen decided to leave Madison for Oregon State, putting the team and its Outback Bowl battle with Auburn (Wisconsin is a 6.5-point underdog) in the hands of Barry Alvarez.

This is familiar territory for Alvarez, who stepped in for the departed Bret Bielema in 2012 and coached Wisconsin to a loss versus Stanford in the Rose Bowl. The Badgers are coming off a terrible loss to Ohio State in the Big Ten title game and are dealing with another punch to the stomach following Anderson’s departure. These letdowns could be a lot for Wisconsin to overcome as a program.

Another school swapping out head coaches is Florida, which canned Will Muschamp after another disappointing season. The Gators fired Muschamp following a Week 12 loss to South Carolina and left the team in the hands of defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin.

The team rallied around Durkin, going 1-1 SU and 2-0 ATS including a near upset of Florida State in the finale. Programs are courting Durkin and a solid performance versus East Carolina in the Birmingham Bowl on Jan. 3 could help him land a new gig. The Gators are touchdown favorites over the Pirates.

The situation is a little different for another Florida program bowling after a down year. The Miami Hurricanes, coming off a 6-6 campaign, are 3-point favorites over South Carolina in the Independence Bowl on Dec, 27.

Head coach Al Golden has been the target of animosity from the Coral Gables faithful heading into bowl season, but the athletics department has given Golden the vote of confidence. Players have also come to Golden’s aid, and could hold his job in their hands this postseason. The ax may not fall right away but if push comes to shove, one of the first things an AD will do is size up a coach’s bowl record. Golden lost to Louisville in the 2013 Russell Athletic Bowl, 36-9, as a 5.5-point underdog. He’s only been to two bowls in four years at Miami despite being eligible each season.

Here are teams undergoing changes at head coach this bowl season: Colorado State, Florida, Houston, Nebraska, Wisconsin.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

College Football Bowl Betting Bible: Book II - Motivation
By JASON LOGAN

BOOK 2: DO NOT PLACE MONEY WITHOUT KNOWING MOTIVATION

Bowl season is many things to many teams.

To some, it’s the culmination of a hard-fought season. To others, it’s a relief from years of losing. And to a few programs, it’s a reminder of missed opportunities and wasted potential. Understanding the mindset of a bowl team is paramount before placing any bets.

“Which teams are just happy to be playing in a bowl and which ones are serious about winning?,” says Sean Murphy. “It is important not to write off teams that are disappointed by the bowl game they've drawn, as sometimes that perceived snub can result in a team playing with a big chip on their shoulder and can serve as a motivating factor.”

No bigger snub was dished out this bowl season than that of the Big 12 when it came to the Final Four teams for the first ever College Football Playoff. Baylor and TCU (which was ranked third in the CFB rankings heading into the final game of the season) were left out of the playoffs and handed big-name bowl matchups instead.

Baylor, which has only one loss to West Virginia and a win over TCU, settled for a showdown with Michigan State in the Cotton Bowl (BU -3). The Horned Frogs aren’t even playing on New Year’s Day, facing 9-3 Ole Miss in the Peach Bowl on Dec. 31 (TCU -3).

Bettors must determine whether or not these Big 12 programs try to prove the playoff committee wrong by rolling their bowl opponents or if they'll come out flat, disappointed with a season gone sour based on the opinion of a bunch of NCAA suits.

Alabama suffered from a major letdown in bowl season last year. The Crimson Tide were booked into the national title game until the stunning upset to Auburn in the Iron Bowl. Alabama never overcame that loss or the disappointment, and was rolled by Oklahoma 45-31 as a 17-point favorite in the Sugar Bowl.

Motivation just isn’t reserved for the big boys, though. Programs that barely qualified for bowl eligibility and still earned a berth in a postseason game can often times feel a sense of accomplishment. Art Aronson calls these “Just glad to be there” teams, and has his eye on one program in particular this bowl season.

“This might take some digging, but there are teams which are just happy to be aboard the gravy train,” says Aronson. “Coaches get a little more job security and players get to brag when they go home for semester break. With dozens of games, it’s a win-win for everyone.”

He points to the UL Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns and their bowl matchup with Nevada in the New Orleans Bowl, with oddmakers setting them as 1-point favorites. The Ragin’ Cajuns went 8-4 SU on the season but don’t have any notable wins on their resume and recently lost to FCS Appalachian State, 35-16 at home as 8-point favorites.

Bettors must also measure the motivation of teams that are ending an extended bowl drought, and determine whether they're feeling a false sense of accomplishment – bound for a letdown – or using that big stage to push the program even further up the food chain.

The Memphis Tigers earned a postseason showcase for the first time since 2008 after going 9-3 this season, and are 1-point favorites against BYU in the Miami Beach Bowl. The Cougars, however, have been bowling for 10 straight years, going 6-3 SU in the previous nine postseason games, and are used to the bright lights of bowl season.

South Alabama is another program that is in unfamiliar territory. The Jaguars have cracked a bowl game for first time since jumping from the FCS to FBS six years ago, and are tagged as 2.5-point favorites versus Bowling Green in the inaugural Camellia Bowl. While they could be ripe for a letdown, South Alabama is making the two-hour drive to Montgomery and should have a strong home-field edge at the Cramton Bowl.

One of the most underlying motivational capping tools is finding a team playing in the same bowl as it did last season. The 2013-14 bowl schedule finds Arkansas State back in the GoDaddy Bowl, set as a 3-point underdog to Toledo. The Red Wolves will have played in four straight GoDaddy Bowls in Mobile, Alabama, including last season’s on Jan. 5, edging Ball State 23-20 as 6.5-point underdogs. They’re 2-1 SU and ATS in their three GoDaddy Bowl appearances.

“Teams returning to the same minor bowl game they played in last year tend to become dis-interested,” notes Marc Lawrence.

Another program that may not be all that excited for its bowl matchup is San Diego State, which is set to appear in the Poinsettia Bowl for the third time in five years. The Aztecs, who are 3-point favorites versus Navy, are pretty much playing a home game in Qualcomm Stadium. These teams played in the 2010 Poinsettia Bowl, with SDSU winning 35-14 as a field-goal favorite.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

College Football Bowl Betting Bible: Book III - The Waiting Game
By JASON LOGAN

BOOK III: TIME BETWEEN BOWLS GIVETH AND TAKETH AWAY

The Ravages of time. Idle hands do the Devil’s work. Time, time time… is my on my side - yes it is!

All three phrases have everything to do with the time between a college football team’s final game of the regular season and it postseason bowl appearance.

Some programs are thrust right into the bowl schedule with a small break between the finale, finals and the bowl game. Other teams are collecting dust for almost a month while they prepare for their year-end showcase.

“The long layoff - several weeks - before the game is played can often lead to bizarre over or under-performance by teams involved,” says Steve Merril.

A team that gained momentum late in the year may not have that same mojo working for them in bowl season, thanks to the extended hiatus. Depending on the break between games, programs could be completely different come game day and that opens up a lot of value to go against with oddsmakers setting these lines based on their past accomplishments.

The gap between the end of the regular season to the bowl game can be more than a month, so what difference does it make if a team won its last six in a row?” asks Art Aronson.

He points to the Central Florida Knights as an example. They closed the regular season with four straight victories, going 4-0 ATS in that span, but have now been sitting idle for more than three weeks (last game on Dec. 4) before facing North Carolina State as 2-point favorites in the St. Petersburg Bowl on Dec. 26.

“Central Florida, which somehow managed to lose to Connecticut, gives two points to N.C. State, which played a much tougher schedule and still won three of its last four,” notes Aronson.

The gap between season finale and bowl game, however, can also work in a team’s favor. A late-season swoon or a rash of injuries toward the end of the year can be remedied by a few weeks off.

One program that is relishing the bowl break is Penn State. The Nittany Lions dropped their final two games of the schedule – losing to Illinois and Michigan State – and finished with 2-6 SU and 2-5-1 ATS in the last eight games.

Penn State is slated to face Boston College in the Pinstripe Bowl on Dec. 27, giving head coach James Franklin plenty of time to study his opponent and get his players in the right frame of mind for what will be the program’s first bowl appearance since the Sandusky scandal. Not only is PSU anxious to turn the page on that ugly chapter but the time off will allow LB Brandon Bell to return from a shoulder injury. He missed the final two games of the season and is an important cog to the Nittany Lions’ running defense.

Some other programs returning key players thanks to the time off are Oklahoma and QB Trevor Knight, as well as Marshall and RB Devon Johnson.

Knight suffered a neck injury versus Baylor on Nov. 8 but with the Sooners not taking the field against Clemson in the Russell Athletic Bowl until Dec. 29 – and Knight cleared to play – OU’s offense could be back in top form by then. He passed for 2,197 yards and 14 touchdowns before getting hurt.

The Thundering Herd should have their biggest weapon back at full strength after running back Devon Johnson was limited down the home stretch. Johnson, who rushed for 1,636 yards and 18 touchdowns, was nursing a bum shoulder and saw his workload trimmed significantly in the final two games of the year. Marshall is a 10-point favorite against Northern Illinois in the Boca Raton Bowl on Dec. 23.

But while the bowl break has allowed those teams – and many others – to heal up, other programs are wishing the postseason game would just get here already. Every bowl season is plagued with news of player suspensions, from either academics or off-field issues, as well as player injuries suffered in the limited practices allowed during bowl prep.

Arkansas threw the book at two important members of its secondary last week, suspending corner Carroll Washington and safety Rohan Gaines for violating team policy. Both were regular rotation players for the Razorbacks defense. Arkansas is a 6-point favorite facing Texas in the Texas Bowl on Dec. 29.

These will likely not be the only suspensions handed out between now and the end of bowl season. With finals over and classes done, as well as practices limited by NCAA rules, players don’t have the same structured schedule to keep them busy and out of trouble. And trips home over the holidays have been the catalyst for many suspensions with players getting into fights and violating team rules while visiting with friends and family.

Last season, Oregon’s top tight end Pharaoh Brown was suspended for the Alamo Bowl for his role in a snowball fight on campus. An online video captured the hijinks, which included pelting cars with snow as well as hitting a professor with snowballs and dumping snow through the car window.

On the injury front, Tennessee lost one of its top targets in wide receiver Jason Croom, who injured his knee in practice last Sunday. Croom caught 21 balls for 305 yards and was tied for the team lead with four receiving touchdowns. This injury is especially tough for the Volunteers, who have already lost four members of the receiving corps to injury this season. Tennessee is a 3.5-point favorite over Iowa in the TaxSlayer Bowl on Jan. 2.

Local media are usually the first sources to report on these issues, so keeping a close ear to the ground and anticipating either injury or disciplinary news is the best way to stay ahead of the bookmakers during the bowl break.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

76 need-to-know betting notes for 76 college football bowl teams
By KEVIN CAUSEY

With the holidays heating up, you might not have time to handicap all the college football bowl action you'd like this month. Enjoy!

R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl - Saturday Dec. 20

UL Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns vs. Nevada Wolf Pack (-1, 61)

* After not going to a bowl since 1970, The Ragin’ Cajuns have been to the New Orleans Bowl three straight years and have won and covered in every game.

* Nevada is 3-1 ATS this season against non-Mountain West Conference foes and 4-1 ATS in its last five non-conference games.

Gildan New Mexico Bowl - Saturday Dec. 20

Utah State Aggies vs. UTEP Miners (+10, 45.5)

* Despite losing three starting QBs to injury, Utah State delivered on the defensive side of the football with the second-best scoring defense in the MWC, giving up just 20.8 ppg.

* The Miners went 6-1 ATS in their last seven games but only one of those teams (7-5 WKU) finished with a winning record. The Miners went just 1-3 ATS on the year against teams that finished with winning records.

Royal Purple Las Vegas Bowl - Saturday Dec. 20

Colorado State Rams vs. Utah Utes (-3.5, 57.5)

* With Jim McElwain taking the Florida job, offensive coordinator Dave Baldwin will step in as interim coach. The Rams were the best in the Mountain West Conference at 8-4 ATS.

* The Utes started out strong this season going 7-1 ATS in the first eight but folded down the stretch finishing 1-3 ATS. Those three SU losses came at the hands of Arizona, Arizona State and Oregon who finished with a combined record of 31-7.

Famous Idaho Potato Bowl - Saturday Dec. 20

Western Michigan Broncos vs. Air Force Falcons (-1.5, 56.5)

* The Broncos had a miraculous turnaround from 1-11 in 2013 to 8-4 this season but they were also tied for the best ATS record in the nation at 10-2 ATS.

* Air Force is 4-0 SU and 3-1 ATS against non-conference opponents this season. The Falcons are used to strong non-conference foes, as the team is 24-16 SU (21-19 ATS) against non-conference foes under Terry Calhoun.

Raycom Media Camellia Bowl - Saturday Dec. 20

Bowling Green Falcons vs. South Alabama Jaguars (-3, 54)

* After losing defensive coordinator Mike Elko to Wake Forest, Bowling Green went from having the best defense in the MAC last season (allowing 15.9 ppg) to giving up 33.9 ppg this year (12th in the MAC).

* The Jaguars went just 3-8-1 O/U this season. They were ranked 112th at scoring TDs in the red zone, converting on just 48.65 percent of their trips.

Miami Beach Bowl - Monday Dec. 22

BYU Cougars vs. Memphis Tigers (-1.5, 57.5)

* Since QB Taysom Hill's injury, the Cougars have not beaten a team with a winning record SU or ATS.

* Memphis won a share of the AAC title, which was its first title since 1971, and makes its first bowl game since 2008. The Tigers were the best team in the nation with 50 scores on 53 red-zone attempts.

Boca Raton Bowl - Tuesday Dec. 23

Northern Illinois Huskies vs. Marshall Thundering Herd (-10, 65)

* Northern Illinois has only been a double-digit underdog once this year and it lost that game 52-14. In fact, the last four times NIU has been a double digit underdog it has failed to cover.

* The Thundering Herd have beaten only one team that won more than 60 percent of its games this season (Louisiana Tech) and they failed to cover in that game.

San Diego CCU Poinsettia Bowl - Tuesday Dec. 23

Navy Midshipmen vs. San Diego State Aztecs (-3, 54)

* San Diego State had the best defense in the MWC this year in terms of yards allowed and points allowed, going 1-11 O/U.

* Navy started the season 0-6 O/U but finished 4-0 O/U. It wasn’t able to stop teams on third down at the end of the season. During the first six games, the Middies were allowing teams to convert on 40 percent of their third downs and in their final four they allowed a 57 percent conversion rate.

Popeyes Bahama Bowl - Wednesday Dec. 24

Central Michigan Chippewas vs. Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (-4, 66)

* Central Michigan was just 2-3 ATS as an underdog but that includes one of their most impressive victories in recent memory as they beat MAC Champ NIU 34-17.

* Western Kentucky quarterback Brandon Doughty has been granted a sixth year of eligibility. The C-USA Player of the Year finished No. 1 in the FBS with 44 touchdowns and 4,344 passing yards.

Hawaii Bowl - Wednesday Dec. 24

Rice Owls vs. Fresno State Bulldogs (+2, 58.5)

* Rice is favored by one point. That's important because the Owls have covered in six straight games in which they've been single digit favorites.

* Fresno State is the only team with a losing record going bowling. The last team with a losing record to make a bowl game was Georgia Tech in 2012 and they won the infamous Sun Bowl over USC 21-7 SU and ATS.

Zaxby's Heart of Dallas Bowl - Friday Dec. 26

Louisiana Tech Bulldogs vs. Illinois Fighting Illini (+6, 59)

* The Bulldogs were one of the best teams in the nation ATS going 10-3. They improved offensively as their ppg increased year-over-year by 18.3 ppg. The addition of Iowa transfer Cody Sokol was the biggest reason for their improvement and he was named C-USA Newcomer of the Year.

* The Fighting Illini have the worst defense in the Big Ten giving up 33.9 ppg. They've only held two FBS teams under 30 points this season.

Quick Lane Bowl - Friday Dec 26, 4:30 PM

North Carolina Tar Heels vs. Rutgers Scarlet Knights (+3, 66.5)

* Rutgers has beaten only two teams with winning records this season but did cover the spread in both wins.

* North Carolina has parted ways with defensive coordinator Vic Koenning. They gave up 44 ppg and 540 ypg against non-conference foes.

Bitcoin St. Petersburg Bowl - Friday Dec. 26

North Carolina State Wolfpack vs. Central Florida Knights (-2, 49.5)

* The Wolfpack are 4-1 ATS in their last five games as their running game has really started to blossom. Over the last five games, they’ve averaged 230 ypg on the ground vs. 188 in their first seven games.

* The Knights are 4-0 ATS in their last four games. In the three games they were favorites, the defense allowed an average of 4.6 ppg.

Military Bowl - Saturday Dec. 27

Cincinnati Bearcats vs. Virginia Tech Hokies (+3, 51)

* The Bearcats allowed just 117 points in the last seven weeks. Cincy has given up 30 points or more just twice in that span after having that happen four times in the opening five contests.

* Virginia Tech has just one play of 50 or more yards this season. The only team worse was Wake Forest, which beat the Hokies 6-3 in double overtime.

Hyundai Sun Bowl - Saturday Dec. 27

Duke Blue Devils vs. Arizona State Sun Devils (-7.5, 66.5)

* The Blue Devils rank 18th nationally in third-down defense, 20th in scoring defense and 20th in pass efficiency defense. Duke allowed 21 points or less in nine of its 12 games this season.

* Arizona State allowed 19 sacks in November (126th in the nation) and have given up a total of 37 sacks on the year – more than three sacks allowed per game.

Duck Commander Independence Bowl - Saturday Dec. 27

Miami Hurricanes vs. South Carolina Gamecocks (+3, 61)

* Every FBS team that Miami played (except Virginia) is going to a bowl, yet its strength of schedule didn't rank in the Top 25.

* Despite having just six wins, the Gamecocks beat four bowl teams and covered the spread in three of those four contests.

New Era Pinstripe Bowl - Saturday Dec. 27

Boston College Eagles vs. Penn State Nittany Lions (+2.5, 40)

* Penn State linebacker Brandon Bell expects to play. Bell missed the last two regular season games with a shoulder injury. The sophomore averaged 4.3 tackles per game with two sacks and one interception in 10 contests.

* Boston College runs the ball on over 72 percent of its offensive plays and is eighth in the nation in rushing attempts per game. The Eagles are 11th in time of possession, holding on the ball an average of 33:09.92 per game and is 4-7-1 O/U.

National University Holiday Bowl - Saturday Dec. 27

Nebraska Cornhuskers vs. USC Trojans (-6.5, 61.5)

* The Huskers have won their last nine games in which RB Ameer Abdullah has rushed for over 100 yards.

* Southern Cal QB Cody Kessler's TD-to-INT ratio (36:4) this season is better than Matt Barkley, Mark Sanchez, John David Booty, Matt Leinhart or Carson Palmer's best seasons.

AutoZone Liberty Bowl - Monday Dec. 29

West Virginia Mountaineers vs. Texas A&M Aggies (-3.5, 67)

* West Virginia is 0-8 O/U in its last eight games. During this stretch, the defense has allowed 24.8 ppg. Last season, it allowed 40.3 ppg over the last eight games.

* The Aggies were 4-0 SU/3-1 ATS to start the season, outscoring opponents 221-47. Since then, Texas A&M is averaging 24 points with a 3-5 SU record and only covering once in that span.

Russell Athletic Bowl - Monday Dec. 29

Oklahoma Sooners vs. Clemson Tigers (+3, 54)

* With offensive coordinator Chad Morris off to SMU, Clemson co-coordinators Tony Elliot and Jeff Scott will share play calling duties. Before the announcement, Elliot served as the running backs coach while Scott handled the receiving coaching duties.

* Oklahoma's Samaje Perine set the FBS record with 427 yards rushing against Kansas. The Clemson defense gave up 300-plus yards on the ground to Georgia in Week 1.

AdvoCare V100 Texas Bowl - Monday Dec. 29

Texas Longhorns vs. Arkansas Razorbacks (-6, 45.5)

* When Texas wins the turnover battle it is 6-1 with the only loss coming by three points to UCLA. When the Horns lose the turnover battle they are 0-5 SU.

* Arkansas had two 1,000-yard rushers (Jonathan Williams and Alex Collins) for the first time since 2007 when the Hogs ran wild with Darren McFadden and Felix Jones.

Franklin American Music City Bowl - Tuesday Dec. 30

LSU Tigers vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (+7, 52.5)

* LSU is 0-5 O/U in its last five games and has averaged just 17.4 ppg in those games. In those five games, the Tigers’ QBs have completed just 47 percent of their passes and have thrown four TDs vs five INTs.

* After giving up just 50 yards rushing in a loss to Florida State, the Irish have given up an average of 244 rushing ypg in their last five games. They've gone 1-4 SU/0-5 ATS in those games.

Belk Bowl - Tuesday Dec. 30

Louisville Cardinals vs. Georgia Bulldogs (-6.5, 56.5)

* Georgia has been favored to win every game it’s played in this season and in two of its losses, UGA was a double-digit favorite.

* Louisville has allowed opponents to convert on just 28.25 percent of third downs. When Louisville DC Todd Grantham was at Georgia last year, his defense allowed a 39.49 third-down percentage.

Foster Farms Bowl- Tuesday Dec. 30

Stanford Cardinal vs. Maryland Terrapins (+14, 48)

* As a double-digit favorite this year, Stanford is 4-1 with the lone loss coming at the hands of Utah.

* The Terrapins have beaten just one team with a winning record this season (7-5 Iowa). Against teams with winning records they are just 1-5 ATS (with that one win coming against the Hawkeyes).

Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl - Wednesday Dec. 31

Mississippi Rebels vs. TCU Horned Frogs (-3, 56.5)

* Ole Miss OL Aaron Morris will not play in the Chick-Fil-A Bowl after tearing the ACL in his left knee. The Rebels are 20-2 SU under Huge Freeze when they rush for 150 yards or more.

* Gary Patterson is 7-5 SU/4-8 ATS in bowl games. Texas Christian has failed to cover in its past five bowl matchups.

VIZIO Fiesta Bowl - Wednesday Dec. 31

Boise State Broncos vs. Arizona Wildcats (-3.5, 69.5)

* The Broncos have been held to under 20 points just twice this season (vs. Ole Miss and Air Force) and lost (and failed to cover) both games.

* The Wildcats O/U record was 1-5 away from home this season. They scored 9.6 less ppg on the road.

Capital One Orange Bowl - Wednesday Dec. 31

Mississippi State Bulldogs vs. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (+6.5, 61)

* Georgia Tech is 5-1 ATS as an underdog this season and has won four of those games SU.

* Mississippi State completed seven third-down conversions per game, with Dak Prescott posting a QB rating of 179.7 and throwing for 10 touchdowns on those third-down snaps. He rushed for 27 first downs on third down – tops in the SEC.

Outback Bowl - Thurs Jan. 1

Wisconsin Badgers vs. Auburn Tigers (-6.5, 62)

* Wisconsin has only been an underdog once this year and lost that game to LSU in the opener. They were favored by 4 points versus Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship and got walloped 59-0.

* The Auburn Tigers fired DC Ellis Johnson after giving up 30 points in each of their last six games against FBS opponents.

Cotton Bowl Classic - Thurs Jan. 1

Baylor Bears vs. Michigan State Spartans (+3, 71)

* Baylor head coach Art Briles is the owner of an 89-61 career collegiate record, but is just 2-5 SU and ATS lifetime in bowl games.

* The Spartans set school single-season records for points (517), total offense (5,958 yards), offensive touchdowns (64), rushing touchdowns (40) and made point-after attempts (66).

Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl - Thurs Jan. 1

Missouri Tigers vs. Minnesota Golden Gophers (+5, 48)

* Despite winning the SEC East and playing in the SEC Championship, Missouri was only favored in six of its games this season. As a favorite the Tigers went 5-1 SU and 3-3 ATS.

* The Gophers went 7-2 ATS in their last nine games. They were the best red-zone team in the Big Ten scoring TDs on 73.33 percent of their trips inside the 20-yard line.

Rose Bowl (Playoff semifinal) - Thurs Jan. 1

Oregon Ducks vs. Florida State Seminoles (+9.5, 71)

* This is the first time since their 2011 matchup with Clemson that Florida State comes into a game as an underdog. The Seminoles are 8-1-1 ATS in their last 10 bowl games.

* Marcus Mariota threw five interceptions in his first seven games. Since then he's thrown just seven in his last 33 games. Heisman winners are 5-0 SU and 4-1 ATS during bowl season since 2009.

Allstate Sugar Bowl (Playoff semifinal) - Thurs Jan. 1

Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Ohio State Buckeyes (+9.5, 58.5)

* Ohio State has been an underdog just twice this season (Michigan State and Wisconsin) and have won both SU.

* Alabama has been a single-digit favorite four time this year and in those four games the Tide have a 1-3 O/U record. Alabama is 0-7-1 ATS in its last eight non-conference clashes.

Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl - Friday Jan. 2

Houston Cougars vs. Pittsburgh Panthers (-3, 53.5)

* After signing a five-year contract earlier this year, the Cougars fired head coach Tony Levine and defensive coordinator David Gibbs will be the interim coach for the bowl game.

* If Paul Chryst takes the Wisconsin job, as rumored, you have to wonder how the team will respond. Pitt has had four head coaches since 2012. If Chryst leaves it will make five.

TaxSlayer Bowl - Friday Jan. 2

Tennessee Volunteers vs. Iowa Hawkeyes (+3.5, 51.5)

* The Vols lead the SEC in sacks allowed (42) and tackles for loss allowed (97). The inability to get their offense going due to negative plays is a big reason for their 6-6 SU and ATS records.

* Teams are completing 14.1 passes per game and boast a 52.7 completion percentage against Iowa. The defense has not been as strong against run, allowing 158.8 rushing yards a game on 4.3 yards per carry.

Valero Alamo Bowl - Friday Jan. 2

Kansas State Wildcats vs. UCLA Bruins (Pick, 59)

* The Wildcats have only turned the ball over 11 times this year and have only lost the turnover battle in three games. They lost two of those games (vs. Auburn and TCU).

* UCLA is just 4-8 ATS this year. One of the reasons is that the Bruins have played in seven games that have been decided by 10 or less points.

TicketCity Cactus Bowl - Friday Jan. 2

Oklahoma State Cowboys vs. Washington Huskies (-5.5, 56)

* Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy is making his ninth straight bowl appearance, going 5-3 SU and 4-4 ATS in those previous postseason games.

* In Chris Petersen's debut season at Washington, the Huskies didn't beat a single FBS team that finished with a winning record.

Birmingham Bowl - Saturday Jan. 3

Florida Gators vs. East Carolina Pirates (+7, 57)

* Since inserting QB Treon Harris into the starting lineup the Gators are 4-1 ATS. The offense averaged 32.6 ppg with Harris under center and 28.6 ppg without him - and that includes a 65-point explosion against EMU in their opener.

* Through their first four games, the Pirates had outscored opponents by an average of 18.5 points per game, but since then the team only has a plus-6.5 scoring margin.

GoDaddy Bowl - Sunday, Jan. 4

Arkansas State Red Wolves vs. Toledo Rockets (-3, 67)

* Arkansas State is a tough team to finish off with nine of its last 14 wins coming when tied or trailing in the third quarter.

* Toledo QB Logan Woodside came back from injury for the last two games of the season, including a five-touchdown performance against Eastern Michigan. At one point this season, the Rockets were down to their fourth-string QB.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Rain could dampen South Alabama-Bowling Green

Rain could be falling on the Cramton Bowl Friday and Saturday. There is a 50 percent chance of showers starting Friday afternoon and continuing through until kickoff. The rain should bring winds blowing around six miles per hour as well.

South Alabama and Bowling Green are set to clash for the Camella Bowl in Montgomery, Alabama Saturday.

The Jaguars are currently 2.5-point favorites with a total of 53.