Oldmans Bowl Picks For Friday 12/26

[oldmanTED]

Coming off a 1-0 day yesterday winning with Houston in the Hawaii Bowl. Today we move on to the Motor City Bowl with Bowling Green vs Northwestern. The Insight.com Bowl will be played later on this evening and I'll be back later in the day with my analysis and selection for that game, so be sure to check back.

Bowling Green plays out of the MAC finishing behind Miami Ohio due to the loss in the MAC Championship game. Northwestern plays out of the Big 10 with tough weekly opposition and finished in the middle of the pack beating the weaker opponents but getting trounced by the heavy weights. The one glaring difference that is noticeable between these two teams is their performances against common opponens. Bowling Green played away beating a very good Purdue team 27-26 and hung tough with Ohio State losing 17-24 then losing twice to Miami Ohio, 10-33 and then at home in the MAC Championship 27-49. Meanwhile, Northwestern lost away games to Ohio State 0-20 and Purdue 14-34 while losing to Miami Ohio at home 14-44. The difference here is Bowling Greens ability to put up points against quality opponents where Northwestern seemed unable to do so. As for player personnel, the feeling here is that Bowling Green possesses the key quality athlete in QB Josh Harris. He has multiple skill ability in both passing and running effectively and my belief is playing on the carpet will only enhance his capabilities to separate from his opposition. Both teams will have very good fan support in this game. The line opened at 8 and has moved down and looks just about right for this game. Hence,

1* Bowling Green -6.5

Overall Unit Record YTD (All Sports): (37-18.8) 66.31% 3*(5-1)(+11.7) 1*(22-14-1)(+6.5)
Overall W/L Record YTD (All Sports): (27-15-1) 64.29%
NCAAF Record YTD: (8-0)(+14.0) (Bowl Game Record 6-0 Included)
NFL Record YTD: (4-4-1)(-2.7)
NCAAB Record YTD: (11-8)(+4.2)
NBA Record YTD: (4-3)(+2.7)

Plays are rated 1*-5*

Good Luck To All and remember to check back later for the Insight.com Bowl analysis and selection.

 

[bettinonline]

Hi OldmanTED,
I'm new to this board and beginning to learn capping...slowly Thank you for yours in-depth analysis of each game.

Bettin

 

[SSI]

ted, tend to agree with you on the BG selection today, however my play for the game is: BG/NW over 55, the overs have all come in, except for the 1st bowl game, will continue with the streak. be back later.

 

[alwatts]

old man Ted, Good Luck!!!!!

al watts

 

[crazycat]

With you Ted, love this pick.

Cat

 

[sphincter]

g.l. o.m.t...........still feeling a little grimy after my unfortunate post yesterday.....

best of luck...

 

[pops69]

good luck ted the bowl king, pulled ahead of harrington last night. great picking. long live the king

 

[oldmanTED]

Bettinonline, SSI, Al Watts, Crazy Cat, Sphincter, Pops69:

Nice to have you on board for today's game. I'm currently working on the Insight.com Bowl and will have my analysis and selection up shortly so be sure to check back.

Sphincter: Don't give yesterday another thought. It takes courage to apologize in a public forum. That speaks volumes to me about your true character. I hold no ill feelings. Please relax and enjoy. This is a great time of year. Don't want you to feel bad. Let's hope for another good day today.

 

[SSI]

ted, im on the over 55,, no wager on the side. just tend to agree on BG..

 

[oldmanTED]

SSI:

Good luck on your totals play today. My totals lean would be to the over as well. It's just not strong enough for me to make it a play.

 

[eltonio]

Ted

Certainly appreciate your writeups to these bowl games. Unfortunately, we are on opposite sides in this one. I believe the weekly caliber of opposition played by these two teams gives a slight advantage to Northwestern with the 6 1/2 points.

 

[SSI]

well ted, you know why im taking the over here, all the games have went over but the first one, and it almost did.. remember the north texas back running to the 3 yard line and having it called back.. gotta go with the streaks..

 

[pops69]

ssi - hope you are right on the overs, i did a 500 8 team over parly, only need cal, pitt and TT to win 75k. worried about the tt game the most, might have to heg if the other two come in.

 

[oldmanTED]

As promised, back with today's analysis and selection for the Insight.com Bowl with California vs Virginia Tech.

Virginia Tech plays in the Big East and had BCS aspirations following their 31-7 win over Miami, Fla. only to collapse down the stretch losing 3 of 4 and barely getting by Temple. California plays in the Pac 10 and played a very strong schedule of opponents holding their own against Kansas State and beating USC outright, but most importantly finished strongly staying fully focused in their drive to get to a bowl game following their disappointment of not being able to go to a bowl last year due to being on probation. California players and supporters are very excited to be in this bowl and facing a well respected national program.

Respect Virginia Tech program, particularly coach Beamer, and RB Kevin Jones. There has been somewhat of a QB controversy with Randall and Vick and the position has not fully developed as a result. The defense has been extremely vulnerable to the pass, particularly down the stretch. Special teams as always are a trademark for Beamer and their ability to block punts and field goal attempts continues to impress. The question is which team will show up today. The team that began the season 6-0 or the team that finished 2-4 down the stretch.

California comes into the game getting better as the year has gone on. Highly respect second year coach Tedford who came from a successful stint in Oregon. Loss of star WR Geoff McArthur cannot be understated but Bears have been fighting through injuries all year and found players stepping up in key roles. Expect that to continue today as well, particularly in light of the Hokies weakness against the pass. Cal also has tremendous balance with QB Aaron Rodgers and RB Ace Echemandu who have taken to coach Tedford's system beautifully. The defense plays an aggressive style mixing up straight and blitz packages keeping their opponent's off balance. Special teams are not anything special but Tedford has been having his team practicing blocking schemes daily to be prepared for the Hokies kick blocking schemes. Feeling here is that Cal is sky high for this matchup and has the weapons, even without McArthur, to exploit the Hokies weaknesses. HC Tedford will have the Bears well prepared. Not sure what to expect from Virginia Tech. Hence,

1* California +3.5

One last comment that I promise you did not affect my analysis of this game. I am a Cal alum from many years ago. So many that it's almost too far back to remember for this oldman.


Good Luck All! Thanks for your support and enjoy the games today.

 

[volhound]

old man

you are the best addition to this forum in a long time. i do not post much and rarely have anything to offer to the forum except a comment or two and occasionally some local knowledge. i am a square lurker who plays with a local- small amounts.

i have only been here through 2 seasons and only seek out a few peoples threads -- yours is on the top of my list. i make my own plays, but i certainly take into consideration what some here say

thank you - i hope others like yourself come out of the woodwork b/c this is what this forum should be about.
i assure you that there are many others that do not post,like myself, following and appreciating you

i hope you win a shitload of money

vol

 

[Co-Captain]

Aloha Ted, sorry for responding all the time with Ted. I just have a hard time calling you oldman. You, I respect and I would never call someone I respect oldman. That is just me, I have a thing about respecting those that respect me, even if they say it is ok. I guess something else I need to learn. Anyway , if you dont mind, I will still refer to you as Ted or Uncle Ted. I would like better to call you Uncle Ted, as we here in Hawaii call all older men "Uncle" and older women "Anty". Its just a thing we do here to show our respect for this person. But we are not here so I will, by your permission refer to you as Ted. I will wait for it.

Anyway, I think I was one of the first here who spotted you and your abilities when you just started. Just a feeling I had and sensed after I viewed your post. I was thought several things, which I still need to remember exist at times, in which spells a success. Humbleness, maturity ,intelligence, foresight, understanding, compassion, and encouragement. This among many my friend you definately have. Thanks in your replies for helping me to remember that they are in me to. I really appreciate it. I like the fact that there are those who can still offer our support and well wishes to others who are on opposite sides on a game. To me that is AWESOME! Being on the other side is not a personal thing. Though I may lose my bet, I am just happy for those who I call a friend, winning. Like me and the rest of the other cappers here from Hawaii say, we are on different sides , but at least one of us will win so good luck to you. So with that being said, I wish you good luck and success on each and every one of your plays. It is through your success, that I hope to learn and grow in order to reach the heights of which you have already achieved. Much Aloha and good luck Uncle Ted. Co-Captain.

 

[oldmanTED]

Captain:

Great to hear from you! You can call me anything you wish. I am very familiar with the respectful jesture of calling someone Uncle because many of my wife's family call me Uncle Ted out of the same respect to which you are referring. Without telling you specifically, I think you may be able to figure out why that might be given that you live in the islands.

Yes, you were one of the first posters to notice and commented as well, which was very much needed and appreciated and I will never forget your words of support for me. That is why I'm here for you my friend when you need me.

I can tell in your words today that you are returning to the Co-Captain everyone knows and appreciates on these forums. Great to have you back. Life is very short and tomorrow is promised to no one. Let's get back to doing what we enjoy. Much Aloha and good luck to you as well Captain.

 

[SSI]

hello ted, sorry we both dropped the first one, i did take BG at the half -4.5 but i didnt post it.. ive got Va tech -3 and the over 56 in 2nd game,,, both for my usual 1 unit.. 3 plays in nba tonight as well,, good luck ted..

 

[oldmanTED]

SSI:

I liked that 2H line as well, actually had -4.0 available, but decided to pass. Good luck on your plays tonight. I'm looking at one late game in the NBA but haven't decided yet whether or not I'll make the play. Keep your eye out for a late post should I decide to make a play.

 

[pops69]

omd, looks like i gave you the old sports ill jink by crowning you the bowl king. hope that cal can score some point, need the over