Coming off an 0-2 day yesterday losing with Michigan State in the Alamo Bowl and New Jersey in the NBA. Today we turn to the three bowl games, including the Houston Bowl with Navy vs Texas Tech, the Holiday Bowl with Texas vs Washington State, and finally the Silicon Valley Bowl with Fresno State vs UCLA. Because over the next few days more games will be being played, we will keep our posted analysis a bit more brief for each game. We will focus on presenting key points. The overall preparation and analysis has still been the same.
Houston Bowl: Navy vs Texas Tech
Essentially this game will be all about offense, just in two different styles. Navy uses the option run attack with a limited amount of passing and Texas Tech uses a prolific aerial attack with a complimentary running attack. Neither team has a very good defense. Navy no doubt will try to run and take time off the clock and keep Tech on the sidelines. But, the Middies are effective in scoring while doing so and expect them to put up points on Tech. Expect Tech to score quickly and often thereby giving the ball back to Navy. Tech has played much better teams than Navy and scored on everyone, so don't expect that to stop today. Navy has scored on some quality teams as well, so expect them to move the ball and put up points. Here is a little stat. Navy is 9-1 ATS and Texas Tech games are 10-1 Over ATS. With little defense expected and movement of the ball to be relatively easy we are looking at the total. Hence,
1* Navy/Texas Tech Over 73
Holiday Bowl: Texas vs Washington State
This game features strength against strength. Expect Texas to try and pound the ball with Cedric Benson who is a legitimate load. But they will be facing perhaps the quickest defense they have seen too date. Washington State runs to the ball extremely fast and closes down lanes very well. Washington State has faced better aerial assaults in the Pac 10 than what Texas will throw at them. The big question mark is the health of the shoulder of Cougar QB Matt Kegel. He has been cleared to play but has been protected in practice, but Doba has stated as of yesterday that he expects him to play the entire game barring another injury. But, in practice his throws have not looked strong and back-up QB Josh Swogger has received extensive work. This was a game that we really felt strongly about when the bowl match-ups were announced. Unfortunately with the questions surrounding Kegel we will be a little conservative. Hence,
1* Washington State +10
Silicon Valley Bowl: Fresno State vs UCLA
This game brings a fired up Fresno State team against a depleted UCLA team with a lot of questions and key team injuries. But, UCLA still has talent on the field and can play pretty good defense. The Bruins have faced better competition overall but the Bulldogs did beat Oregon State and played Oklahoma, Tennessee and Boise State. For the last 5 games Fresno State has had starting QB Paul Pinegar back at the helm and the team definitely improved down the stretch. UCLA faded terribly down the stretch but continued to play some defense even though the scores appear high. It was the talent level and their inability to score which caused their opponents to put up points. The feeling here is that both teams play hard defensively. Hence,
1* Fresno State/UCLA Under 44
Overall Unit Record YTD (All Sports): (42-26.5) 61.31% 3* (5-1)(+11.7) 1*(27-21-2)(+3.8)
Overall W/L Record YTD (All Sports): (32-22-2) 59.26%
NCAAF Record YTD: (9-3)(+11.7) (Bowl Game Record 7-3 Included)
NFL Record YTD: (6-6-1)(-2.9)
NCAAB Record YTD: (12-9-1)(+4.1)
NBA Record YTD: (5-4)(+2.6)
Plays are rated 1*-5*
Good Luck All
Houston Bowl: Navy vs Texas Tech
Essentially this game will be all about offense, just in two different styles. Navy uses the option run attack with a limited amount of passing and Texas Tech uses a prolific aerial attack with a complimentary running attack. Neither team has a very good defense. Navy no doubt will try to run and take time off the clock and keep Tech on the sidelines. But, the Middies are effective in scoring while doing so and expect them to put up points on Tech. Expect Tech to score quickly and often thereby giving the ball back to Navy. Tech has played much better teams than Navy and scored on everyone, so don't expect that to stop today. Navy has scored on some quality teams as well, so expect them to move the ball and put up points. Here is a little stat. Navy is 9-1 ATS and Texas Tech games are 10-1 Over ATS. With little defense expected and movement of the ball to be relatively easy we are looking at the total. Hence,
1* Navy/Texas Tech Over 73
Holiday Bowl: Texas vs Washington State
This game features strength against strength. Expect Texas to try and pound the ball with Cedric Benson who is a legitimate load. But they will be facing perhaps the quickest defense they have seen too date. Washington State runs to the ball extremely fast and closes down lanes very well. Washington State has faced better aerial assaults in the Pac 10 than what Texas will throw at them. The big question mark is the health of the shoulder of Cougar QB Matt Kegel. He has been cleared to play but has been protected in practice, but Doba has stated as of yesterday that he expects him to play the entire game barring another injury. But, in practice his throws have not looked strong and back-up QB Josh Swogger has received extensive work. This was a game that we really felt strongly about when the bowl match-ups were announced. Unfortunately with the questions surrounding Kegel we will be a little conservative. Hence,
1* Washington State +10
Silicon Valley Bowl: Fresno State vs UCLA
This game brings a fired up Fresno State team against a depleted UCLA team with a lot of questions and key team injuries. But, UCLA still has talent on the field and can play pretty good defense. The Bruins have faced better competition overall but the Bulldogs did beat Oregon State and played Oklahoma, Tennessee and Boise State. For the last 5 games Fresno State has had starting QB Paul Pinegar back at the helm and the team definitely improved down the stretch. UCLA faded terribly down the stretch but continued to play some defense even though the scores appear high. It was the talent level and their inability to score which caused their opponents to put up points. The feeling here is that both teams play hard defensively. Hence,
1* Fresno State/UCLA Under 44
Overall Unit Record YTD (All Sports): (42-26.5) 61.31% 3* (5-1)(+11.7) 1*(27-21-2)(+3.8)
Overall W/L Record YTD (All Sports): (32-22-2) 59.26%
NCAAF Record YTD: (9-3)(+11.7) (Bowl Game Record 7-3 Included)
NFL Record YTD: (6-6-1)(-2.9)
NCAAB Record YTD: (12-9-1)(+4.1)
NBA Record YTD: (5-4)(+2.6)
Plays are rated 1*-5*
Good Luck All
