On The Hop's 2014-2015 Bowl Picks

[OnTheHop]

Brutal regular season. Results can be seen here: http://www.therxforum.com/showthread.php?t=996528&page=3

Regular Season: 61-71-4, -12.32

Bowl Season: 0-0


12/20/2014

Nevada Wolfpack -2 (-105), 1 unit: Two versatile QB's going at it here. Two good coaches as well. However, the Wolfpack have played a much tougher schedule and have shown an ability to win on the road. The Ragin' Cajuns are playing at home in a bowl game for the fourth year in a row. I question how excited and how focused they will be against a Nevada team that has not won a bowl game in 4 years.

Utah Utes -2.5 (-110), 1 unit: Trying to game plan against this physical, smart, tough Utes defense is just too much for an interim staff trying to figure out where they're going to be coaching next season. Utah has the better defense and the better run game. If they can avoid turnovers, between their special teams and their defense the Utes should control this one.

 

[indiana]

Hop..........BOL with all your action this bowl season...........indy

 

[OnTheHop]

Thanks indy...choppy start which is better than any week I've had in a long time!

Regular Season 61-71-4, -12.32

Bowl Season 1-1, -.05

12/22/2014

Memphis Tigers -2 (-105), 1 unit: This one comes down to motivation. This is a BYU team that is used to playing in bowl games every year and now they're playing on a Monday afternoon in Florida. On the other hand you have one of the best turn around stories in the country with one of the best defenses. The Tigers are a few turnovers from being undefeated in conference which would leave them with losses only at UCLA and at Ole Miss. This Tigers defense is tough, physical and motivated to show the country that they are for real.

 

[indiana]

Hop............good luck today..........you and your family have a great Holiday.........indy

 

[EzMoney012]

Good luck today

 

[OnTheHop]

Thanks indy and EZ. Appreciate the kind words.

Regular Season: 61-71-4, -12.32

Bowl Season: 2-1 +.95

Northern Illinois Huskies +10 (-130), 1 unit: Not impressed with the Thundering Herd after looking closer at their schedule. They can't be excited to be in this game after thinking they had a shot at one of the big bowls just a few weeks ago. The Huskies can match them on offense and should be able to contain them enough to stay inside the number.

San Diego State Aztecs -3 (-118), 1/2 unit: ​Aztecs have been very good against service academies and excellent at home. Only playing 1/2 unit because I hate playing against service academies in bowl games.

 

[OnTheHop]

Regular Season 61-71-4, -12.32

Bowl Season 2-3, -.94

Western Kentucky Hilltoppers -3 (-130), 1 unit

 

[OnTheHop]

Brutal beat made me take a few days off. Let's get it going in a positive direction.

Regular Season 61-71-4 -12.32

Bowl Season 2-4 -2.24

Penn State Nittany Lions +3 (-120), 1 unit: Nittany Lions weren't great at a lot of things but stopping the run was one of them. Eagles are too one dimensional and Hackenberg should be able to get Penn State in the end zone enough to take this one.
Miami Hurricanes -3 (-120), 1/2 unit: This one will be about who cares more. I have a feeling once Duke Johnson starts running downhill, ripping off big chunks of yardage we'll see the Gamecocks shut it down and see the Hurricanes win this one in the fourth quarter.
Cincinnati Bearcats -2.5 (-110), 1 unit: Hokies living off their win over Ohio State. Other than that they've been unimpressive. Bearcats with a strong D that gets overshadowed by their O. With a month to prepare I think we see both Cincy QB's which causes nightmares for the Va Tech D.
Duke Blue Devils +7 (+100), 1 unit: There is more talent on the Sun Devils side of the ball. However, they are barely removed from having a legitimate argument that they should be in the playoff, then they didn't even win their own division. Now they are playing in a third tier bowl. The Blue Devils seem to show up in bowl games and getting a TD makes me think they can stay inside the number.
USC Trojans -7 (+100), 1 unit: Cornhuskers are in disarray with their coaching staff, their defense has been bad all year and their offense is Abdullah and nothing else. There is way too much talent on both sides of the ball for the Trojans who perform well in bowl games regardless of where they are or who they face (at least recently).

 

[OnTheHop]

Correction: Duke is 1/2 unit not 1 unit.

 

[OnTheHop]

I thought it had turned for me with that Penn State miracle. Then USC decided to crap away a huge lead. Just can't get anything going. Apologies to anyone who has been following me.

Regular Season 61-71-4 -12.32

Bowl Season 4-7 -3.44

Auto Zone Liberty Bowl: Texas A&M Aggies +1.5 (-108), 1 unit: Wish I had played this before the injury news on Trickett. I think the Aggies get a huge bump with their freshman QB getting a few weeks of work and I'll take Sumlin over Holgorson all day, every day. If A&M plays any defense in this one they should win.

Russell Athletic Bowl:​ Oklahoma Sooners -4 (-117), 1 unit: As long as the Sooners are motivated they should win. While the Tigers have an outstanding defense, their offense is a disaster with Stoudt at QB and now they don't have their offensive coordinator either. Perine is healthy and that gives Oklahoma another weapon. As long at they don't turn the ball over and give Clemson a short field very often they should get it done.

 

[OnTheHop]

Advocare V100 Bowl: Arkansas Razorbacks -7 (-115), 1 unit: The Razorbacks competed in every game. Their ability to run the ball should help them control this game. On the flip side I don't see a good win from the Longhorns this year. Their best win is West Virginia who they caught at exactly the right time. Texas will be back, and soon under Strong but they don't have the talent right now to match up.

 

[OnTheHop]

Posting these now. Will update record at some point on Wednesday.

Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl: Notre Dame Fighting Irish +7.5 (-103), 1 unit: The Tigers have a fantastic defense. However they are not explosive enough on offense to be favored by more than a TD. I like the move by the Fighting Irish to put Zaire in the game. If he can protect the ball, they will be in the game the whole time. Taking a closer look at LSU they played four road games and were unimpressive in three of them. In fact:

Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl: Notre Dame Fighting Irish (+255), 1/2 unit

Belk Bowl: Louisville Cardinals +7 (+100), 1 unit: The blueprint for the Cardinals in this one is the same one that Florida followed against Georgia. A tough defense, a mobile QB and a lot more "want to." The Bulldogs had dreams of a National Championship, then an SEC title, then a division title and now they are playing a late afternoon game in Charlotte two days before Jan 1. Their star player has already announced his intention to leave for the draft. Do you see him selling out to get the extra yards, especially with his injury history? Mason is a nice game manager but I'm not sure he can manage them to a win against this defense. In fact:

Belk Bowl: Louisville Cardinals (+230), 1/2 unit

Foster Farms Bowl: Maryland Terrapins +14 (-108), 1 unit: Similar to the LSU game, the Cardinal are the better team. However, they simply are not explosive enough on offense, especially without their best WR. Diggs is a difference maker for the Terrapins and even against the tough Stanford D I expect them to find the end zone a few times. I also question how excited Stanford is to be playing a few miles from home when they consistently play in much bigger bowl games.

 

[OnTheHop]

Thought it was turning with the ND ML win and then...still shitsville.

Regular Season 61-71-4 -12.32

Bowl Season 8-11 -2.92

Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl: Ole Miss Rebels +4 (-107), 1 unit: After watching the bowl games I cannot back a Big 12 team. The Horned Frogs are certainly explosive but a lot of that is a product of their opponents. The Rebels have a chance to be a 10 win team in the toughest conference in college football and come in motivated after beating their in state rival. My hope is that they were able to develop some receivers with this layoff and that we see good Wallace today in the SEC's home away from home, the Georgia Dome.

Vizio Fiesta Bowl: Arizona Wildcats -3 (-110), 1 unit: Getting some value here due to the Wildcats dismal performance against Oregon. However, Solomon appears to be healthy for this one and they have playmakers all over the field on offense and on defense. The Broncos are a nice story but they are a product of their schedule. I'm looking for an impressive win and I just don't see it. Rodriguez will have his team up for this game after the embarrassment against Oregon and as a springboard into 2015.

 

[OnTheHop]

Capital One Orange Bowl: Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets +5 (-102), 1 unit

Capital One Orange Bowl: Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets +190, 1/2 unit

 

[OnTheHop]

Just added another unit to Georgia Tech at +6 (-108)

 

[OnTheHop]

Regular Season 61-71-4 -12.32

Bowl Season 10-13 -2.14

Outback Bowl: Wisconsin Badgers (+200), 1/2 unit

Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic: Michigan State Spartans +3 (-120), 1 unit

Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl: Minnesota Golden Gophers +4.5 (-108), 1 unit

Rose Bowl Game Presented by Northwestern Mutual: Oregon Ducks -7 (-120), 1 unit

Allstate Sugar Bowl: Ohio State Buckeyes +8 (-105), 1 unit

 

[OnTheHop]

Regular Season 61-71-4 -12.32

Bowl Season 14-14 +.78

Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl AND Ticketcity Cactus Bowl: Pittsburgh Panthers and Washington Huskies (-103), 1 unit

Taxslayer Bowl: Iowa Hawkeyes +3 (+105), 1 unit

Valero Alamo Bowl: Kansas State Wildcats +1.5 (-105), 1 unit

 

[OnTheHop]

Regular Season 61-71-4 -12.32

Bowl Season 14-17 -2.3

Birmingham Bowl:​ East Carolina Pirates +7 (-120), 1 unit

 

[OnTheHop]

Ohio State +6 (-108), 1u

Ohio State +188, 1/2u

 

[OnTheHop]

Good finish to a brutal season.

Regular Season 61-71-4 -12.32

Bowl Season 16-18 -1.36

Overall 77-89-4 -13.68



​See everyone next season.