Saturday 12/27/14 service plays chatter/comps/requests & other stuff...

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Post your request, Comments or concerns here.
Good luck on all your plays.

When not viewing the service plays.
Make sure to enjoy the rest of what the RX has to offer.

First time here at the RX.
Make sure to visit the Newbies Room
Click here to go there now

 

[superbeets]

Scottish Championship TODAY 12:15

Hibernian

v

Rangers

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
SS1		23/10	5/2	11/10	More markets

​

RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT HIBERNIAN	RECENT FORM
HDAWAWALHWAW​ Most recent​	0 - 2 0 - 2 0 - 3 0 - 1	ALHWALHWALHW​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Hibs have lost just one of their last ten home matches

EXPERT VERDICT: It seems as if there is fresh turmoil at Rangers every week and it will be interesting to see how the Gers settle after Ally McCoist's departure. They have lost their last three away games and conceded eight goals, so Hibs should be hopeful. However, four of their last five league matches at Easter Road have been draws and this could be another one.

RECOMMENDATION: Draw
1


REFEREE: STADIUM: Easter Road

 

[superbeets]

Scottish Championship TODAY 17:30

Falkirk

v

Raith

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
ALBA		4/6	3	15/4	More markets

​

RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT FALKIRK	RECENT FORM
HLAWHWHWAWAW​ Most recent​	2 - 1 3 - 1 1 - 1 0 - 2	HWALAWHLALHL​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Raith have won one of their last 11 league matches

EXPERT VERDICT: Falkirk have won their last five Championship matches to push themselves into the playoff frame and they should be able to boost their credentials with another victory. Rovers have had a dismal run and it is difficult to see them getting much from this trip, even though they have collected three away wins this season.

RECOMMENDATION: Falkirk
3

 

[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 27 22 UNDER
12/20 12 63.5 71 OVER
12/21 6 31.5 32 OVER
12/22 6 31.5 36 OVER
12/23 11 60.5 65 OVER
12/24 No games scheduled
12/25 No games scheduled
12/26 No games scheduled
12/27 13 - - -
12/28 2 - - -
12/29 12 - - -
12/30 4 - - -
12/31 11 - - -

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

NHL

Hot teams
-- Winnipeg won three of its last four games.
-- Islanders won four of their last five games.
-- Columbus won eight of last ten games. Bruins won three of their last four.
-- Rangers won their last seven games, allowing ten goals.
-- Washington won seven of its last ten games. Penguins won their last five home games.
-- Flyers. Predators both won five of their last seven games.
-- Dallas Stars won four of their last five games.
-- Anaheim won nine of its last eleven games.
-- Blackhawks won 11 of their last 14 games. Colorado won last three games, allowing two goals.
-- San Jose won five of its last six games.

Cold teams
-- Minnesota lost five of its last six games.
-- Ottawa lost ten of its last thirteen games; Red Wings lost six of their last seven.
-- Hurricanes lost eight of their last ten games. Lightning lost six of last nine games.
-- Buffalo lost last four games, outscored 20-8.
-- Devils lost seven of last eight games, fired their coach Friday.
-- Blues lost last three games, outscored 14-6.
-- Coyotes lost ten of their last thirteen games.
-- Los Angeles lost six of its last nine games.
-- Calgary lost eight of its last nine games. Edmonton lost last eight games, outscored 30-15.

Series records
-- Jets lost five of last six games with Minnesota.
-- Red Wings won three of last four games with Ottawa.
-- Lightning won eight of last nine games with Carolina.
-- Islanders won five of last seven visits to Buffalo.
-- Bruins won their last seven games with Columbus.
-- Rangers won their last three games with New Jersey.
-- Penguins won their last eight games with Washington.
-- Flyers won four of last six games with Nashville.
-- Dallas Stars won three of last four games with St Louis.
-- Ducks won six of last seven games with Arizona.
-- Avalanche won three of last four games with Chicago.
-- Kings won four of last five games with San Jose.
-- Flames won four of last five games with Edmonton.

Totals
-- Last four Minnesota home games went over total.
-- Under is 7-1-1 in last nine Detroit games.
-- Four of last five Carolina road games stayed under.
-- Last four Buffalo home games went over total.
-- Under is 8-4 in last dozen Columbus games.
-- Over is 6-2-1 in last nine Ranger home games.
-- Six of last seven Pittsburgh home games stayed under.
-- Four of last five Nashville home games stayed under.
-- Over is 6-2-1 in last nine St Louis home games.
-- Eight of last nine Arizona road games went over.
-- Under is 7-0-2 in last nine Chicago road games.
-- Under is 6-0-1 in San Jose's last seven road games.
-- Over is 9-2 in last eleven Calgary home games.

Back-to-back
-- None

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

NBA roundup: Rockets officially sign Smith
By THE SPORTS XCHANGE

The Houston Rockets officially signed unrestricted free agent forward Josh Smith on Friday.

Smith was waived by the Detroit Pistons on Monday, even though he still had two years and at least $26 million remaining on his contract after this season. He was less than halfway into his four-year, $54 million contract. Smith cleared waivers Wednesday.

Smith participated in the Rockets' shootaround and he was expected to play against the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday night.

On Wednesday, the 6-foot-9, 225-pound Smith cited the chance to play with Rockets center Dwight Howard, his former AAU teammate in Atlanta, as a key reason for his decision to join Houston.

Smith averaged 13.1 points, 7.2 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game for Detroit this season before being released.


--The NBA suspended New York Knicks forward Quincy Acy for one game and fined Washington Wizards guard John Wall $15,000 for their roles in a Christmas Day altercation.

Acy was suspended without pay for committing a flagrant foul-2, which the league said initiated the scuffle with Wall. The league said it fined Wall because his actions escalated the incident.

The incident resulted in an ejection for Acy, who shoved Wall when the Wizards guard had the ball. Wall retaliated with a shove.


--San Antonio Spurs point guard Tony Parker will miss Friday night's game in New Orleans against the Pelicans because of a mild strain of his left hamstring.

Parker played in Thursday's game but has missed nine of the last 12 games.

Also, forward Kawhi Leonard will also miss Friday's game as he remains sidelined with a bruised right hand.


--Cleveland Cavaliers center Anderson Varejao underwent successful surgery at the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland to repair his ruptured left Achilles tendon, the team announced.

Varejao will miss the remainder of the 2014-15 season, although the team did not establish a timetable for his possible return.


--The Orlando Magic sent guard Devyn Marble to Erie of the NBA Development League. The 6-foot-6 Marble has played in five games this season for the Magic and averages 0.8 points.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

NCAAB

'WCC Showdown'

Top two in the WCC square off on Marriott Center hardwood in Provo when BYU Cougars (10-3, 4-7 ATS) host Gonzaga Bulldogs (11-1, 5-3-1 ATS). The Cougars come into this game among the nation's best in terms of scoring at a hefty 88.0 points/game with the team shooting 47.1% from the floor, 39.3% from behind the arc. Tyler Haws (22.3) one of the nation's most electrifying scorers leads four BYU players dropping double digits. On the defensive side, BYU allow opponents to shoot 42.9% from the field surrendering 74.2 per/contest. Zags also pride themselves on a strong offense dropping 83.7 through the iron sinking a whopping 53.7% of their shots from the field, 39.8% from long range. Wiltjer leads Bulldogs in scoring averaging 16.8 PPG, followed by Wesley (11.8), Sabonis (10.9), Pango (10.8). Zags are also very solid on the defensive end allowing 60.0 points/game on a stingy 38.6% shooting. These two split a pair of matchups last season with each team winning and covering on home court. However, Bulldogs have had the upper hand in the series winning 6-of-7 meetings (5-1-1 ATS) with all seven encounters playing 'Under' posted totals. BYU's home court history (23-2 SU) gives them an edge but you do bet Cougars at some risk. Cougars are 3-8 ATS L11 at home, Bulldogs hit the hardwood 12-7-1 ATS vs the conference.

 

[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]

College Football Bowl Betting Bible: Book IV - Tackling Travels
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 IV: BE MINDFUL OF MILES BURNED DURING BOWL SEASON

Earning a spot on the college football bowl calendar is not only rewarding for the money poured into the program or the chance to play in a nationally showcased game.

For many players, a bowl games means a chance to get outside of the norm – to get off campus and travel to far-off exotic places. For some teams, though, bowl season can often mean a two-hour bus trip down the highway, which has its positives and negatives.

“Some teams, or at least their fan bases, have the benefit of staying close to home, leading to a home-field advantage,” says Sean Murphy. “With that being said, not getting to travel can hurt the motivation of the players taking the field. It really is a double-edged sword.”

There are a number of programs staying close to home this bowl season, none more than San Diego State. The Aztecs went 7-5 SU and 6-5-1 ATS in the regular season and were rewarded with a home game against Navy at Qualcomm Stadium on Dec. 23. While having the home-field edge is big – and oddsmakers have set SDSU as a 2.5-point chalk for the Poinsettia Bowl – there could be some letdown from the Aztecs, who are home for the holidays for the third time in five years.

Another bowl competitor making a short trip this postseason is Stanford, which could pretty much hold a half marathon and be at its bowl game in Santa Clara – a mere 13 miles (22-minute drive) from Palo Alto. In fact, that seems like a brilliant conditioning/bounding exercise for the Cardinal (Oh, how’d you guys get here? We ran…).

Books have Stanford pegged as a two-touchdown Foster Farms Bowl favorite versus Maryland, which actually makes the longest trip this bowl season. The Terrapins, at 7-5 SU and 6-6 ATS, cross the country on a 2,425-mile hike. It’s safe to say the Terrapins, who have a 31-day layoff between games, will be in enemy territory on Dec. 30.

Other teams putting some miles on the frequent-flyer card in the next month are Navy (2,302-mile trip to San Diego for Poinsettia Bowl), BYU (2,066-mile trip to Miami for the Miami Beach Bowl), and Nevada (1,805-mile trip to New Orleans for New Orleans Bowl).

Florida State has to jump the country for its showdown with Oregon (-9.5) in the Rose Bowl – a 1,986-mile leap – but the Seminoles are used to these types of challenges and have a rapid fan base that travels extremely well, especially for a New Year’s Day bowl game.

Measuring how much of a home-field edge teams will have for the true neutral-site games is tough. Looking back at road records is a good indicator of how a program performs out of its element but if you want to gauge how the percentage of school colors in the stands you should keep a close eye on ticket sales.

Every bowl team is allotted a certain number of tickets to sell to its faithful. Often times, location (is it a vacation destination like Florida or California?), opponent (is it even worth going to see?), and time of the month (close to Christmas or New Year’s?) have a huge impact on whether fans will travel to the game or not.

Heading into the first weekend of bowl action, Air Force is having a tough time selling its share of tickets for the Idaho Potato Bowl. The Falcons play Western Michigan (-1) – not a marquee team by any means – and are asking fans to leave Colorado Springs to come to Boise on short notice. Not even the “Smurf Turf” of Albertsons Stadium can get Air Force butts in the seats.

Even the lure of the Sunshine State isn’t enough to get football fans on the move this bowl season. Iowa is reporting “sluggish” tickets sales for the Hawkeyes’ showdown with Tennessee (-3.5) in the TaxSlayer Bowl in Jacksonville, Florida on Jan. 2. According to the school, Iowa hasn’t even sold half of its 8,000-ticket allotment while the Volunteers, who have a proximity edge, sold out their 8,000 tickets a few days after the bowl matchup was announced.

Some friendly faces can go a long way when these programs hit the highway for their bowl games. That home-field feel may just before the difference when spreads get tight this postseason.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

63 need-to-know betting notes for 63 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!

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]

Big Ten Bowl Report - Part 1
By ASA

Big Ten Bowl Games scheduled between Dec. 27 and Dec. 30

Penn State (+2.5, 40) vs. Boston College
New Era Pinstripe Bowl
Saturday, Dec. 27 - 4:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY

If you like hard-hitting defenses, buckle your chin straps for this one. Two top-15 defenses meet in Yankee Stadium in a game where motivation is high for both sides. PSU is playing its first bowl game in three years after the NCAA lifted its postseason ban earlier this year. BC is searching for its first bowl win since 2007, aiming to end a four-game bowl losing skid. Penn State jumped out to a 4-0 start to 2014 that included quality wins over Central Florida and Rutgers. Things quickly went downhill as the Nittany Lions managed just two wins over the final eight games. QB Christian Hackenberg had just four touchdown passes and 10 INT’s over those eight games while completing less than 50% over that span. All of the blame can’t be on Hackenberg, however, as the PSU offensive line was one of the worst in the nation. PSU allowed a B1G-high 42 sacks while only averaging 103.6 rush YPG (120th nationally). Despite being so inept on offense, the defense was able to keep them in a number of games (four of their six losses were by seven points or fewer). The Nittany Lions rank 2nd in yards per game allowed, 10th against the pass, 1st against the rush, and 8th in scoring defense.

That defense will be put to the test against a Boston College offense that runs the ball very well. The Golden Eagles rank 15th in rush YPG, led by QB Tyler Murphy. Murphy set an ACC record for rushing yards by a quarterback with 1,079 and scored 10 rushing touchdowns. He wasn’t terribly effective through the air, finishing with 11 pass TD, 10 INT, and 56.9% completions. He also has solid contributors around him as RB’s Jon Hillman and Myles Willis combined for 1,152 rush yards and 14 TD.

These two used to meet every year, but since Penn State became a member of the B1G, they’ve met only twice (2003 & 2004). Boston College won both of those meetings. The Golden Eagles are 0-4 SU & 1-3 ATS in the last four bowl games, including a 19-42 loss to Arizona in the AdvoCare V100 Bowl last year. Penn State is 0-2 SU & ATS in their last two Bowl games (last win came in 2009 - 19-17 vs. LSU in the Capital One Bowl) and this will be their first bowl appearance since 2011.

Nebraska (+6.5, 62) vs. USC
National University Holiday Bowl
Saturday, Dec. 27 - 8:00 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, CA

The Huskers, like Iowa, had a chance to win the B1G West with a couple of wins late in the season. Instead, they dropped back-to-back games to Wisconsin and Minnesota to fall out of the running. Nine wins wasn’t enough to save coach Bo Pelini, who was canned after the season. Interim coach Barney Cotton will serve as the head coach in the Holiday Bowl when Nebraska takes on USC. Nebraska will lean on its rushing attack behind stud RB Ameer Abdullah. Abdullah finished 2014 with 1,523 yards and 18 TD (also had 208 receiving yards and 3 receiving TD). Abdullah had a knee sprain that limited down the stretch (68.5 rush YPG over the final four weeks), but he expects to be fully healthy for this matchup on December 27th. If Abdullah can’t get going, then Nebraska will be in trouble because QB Armstrong hasn’t shown the ability to lead this offense through the air. Armstrong completed just 51.7% of his passes with 19 TD and 11 INT this year and disappeared in Nebraska’s biggest games – 38-of-80 passing for 186 pass YPG with 2 TD and 3 INT against ranked opponents this year.

USC hasn’t faced an offense as focused on running the football as Nebraska will be, mostly going against pass-first offenses in the Pac-12. However, of the five opponents that had the most rushing yards against USC this season, three of them came away with victories (UCLA, Utah, and Boston College). USC finished in fourth place in a crowded Pac-12 South where five teams finished 8-4 or better, and the Trojans were just a few plays away from a possible 11-1 finish (three losses by six points or fewer). USC has a terrific trio of offensive playmakers led by QB Cody Kessler, who finished with 36 TD passes and just 4 INT on 70.7% completions. Kessler’s favorite target, Nelson Agholor, caught 97 passes for 1,223 yards and 11 scores while RB Javorius Allen had a breakout campaign of 1,337 rush yards (5.3 YPC) and 9 rush TD. The Trojans scored 30+ points in eight of 12 games and ranked 27th nationally in points per game.

USC appears to have the coaching advantage here as Steve Sarkisian will appear in his first bowl game as head coach of the Trojans. His last bowl win came here in the Holiday Bowl in 2010, when he coached Washington to a victory over Nebraska, 19-7. The Huskers are 1-3 SU & ATS in their last four bowl games, the lone victory coming last year in the Gator Bowl against Georgia. USC will be playing its third consecutive bowl game and first against a B1G opponent since the 2008 Rose Bowl (Penn State). They won last year’s Las Vegas Bowl against Fresno State, 45-20, making them 4-1 SU & ATS in the last four bowl appearances.

Maryland (+14, 48) vs. Stanford
Foster Farms Bowl
Tuesday, Dec. 30 - 10:00 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, CA

Here we have another B1G team that didn’t exactly end the season with a bang. After starting 4-1 this year, the Terps limped to a 3-4 finish that included losses of 28 points (Ohio State), 45 points (Maryland), 22 points (Michigan State), and 3 points to “rival” Rutgers to end the season. Offensively this team lacked explosiveness all season long. QB CJ Brown finished with just 13 TD and 9 INT while completing 53.2% while also leading the team in rushing with a measly 569 yards (3.8 YPC) and 7 rush TD. Leading WR Stefon Diggs missed the final three games of the season with a lacerated kidney, but reports indicate that he will be ready for this game against Stanford.

Maryland will need all the help it can get on offense against this Cardinal defense that ranked 5th in yards allowed, 7th against the pass, 11th against the rush, and 2nd in scoring defense despite playing some of the most explosive Pac-12 offenses week-to-week. Only two opponents exceeded 20 points against Stanford this season (Oregon & Arizona State) as Stanford held the likes of USC, Notre Dame, Washington State, Cal, and UCLA to just 14.8 PPG. With that defensive prowess, it’s a bit of a surprise that Stanford finished 7-5. The main problem, obviously, was an inept offense. Much like Maryland, the Cardinal struggled to find explosive plays. QB Hogan finished with just 17 TD and 8 INT on the season while the leading rusher, RB Remound Wright, finished with just 552 yards (4.3 YPC) and 8 TD. They were able to find their stride a bit, notching 418 yards and 38 points against Cal and 436 yards and 31 points against UCLA over the final two weeks.

Looks like the oddsmakers expect Stanford’s offense to continue to roll here against a Terrapin defense that ranks 97th in YPG allowed and 83rd in PPG allowed; favoring the Cardinals by 14 points – making Maryland the largest underdog of the bowl season. Maryland has not fared well against other top defenses this season, scoring just 7 points against Wisconsin (4th in total defense) and 15 points against MSU (6th in total defense). Maryland is 4-2 ATS in their last six as a double-digit underdog.

This is just the third bowl appearance since 2008 for the Terps. They lost to Marshall as a 2-point underdog in the Military Bowl last year, 20-31. Stanford is 16-8 ATS in their last 24 as a double-digit underdog, including a 4-1 ATS mark this year. Motivation for the Cardinals is a discussion, considering Stanford has been to four straight BCS Bowls. They lost to Michigan State by four points in the Rose Bowl last year.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Six teams that have the sportsbooks sweating this bowl season
By JASON LOGAN

You don’t always get everything you want for Christmas (still waiting on that Ninja Turtle blimp, Santa…) and if you check the bookmakers’ wish list, you’ll find losses for these six college football programs this bowl season.

Be it sharp money, public action or both, books are looking at a big stocking full of coal (if they’re lucky) if these high-liability teams come through. Here are the teams sportsbooks are cheering against the loudest this bowl season:

Miami Hurricanes

Independence Bowl: -3.5 vs. South Carolina

This bowl opened as low as a pick’em and sharps took the Hurricanes up to as high as -4 before buy back came on the Gamecocks for this Dec. 27 ACC-versus-SEC matchup.

“The wiseguys are looking for a motivated Miami team against a South Carolina squad that hasn't shown much focus all season,” says John Lester, “We've been forced to move the spread as much as four points, even though we are seeing some public money on the Gamecocks. Hopefully the Ol' Ball Coach can work some magic for us.”

Auburn Tigers

Outback Bowl: -6.5 vs. Wisconsin

The betting market soured on the Badgers after they took an ass waxing at the hands of Ohio State in the Big Ten title game, and this line has grown in favor of Auburn since opening as low as 5.5. Books are trying everything they can not to cross over the key number of a touchdown despite an overwhelming amount of action on Auburn.

“Auburn is shaping up like it's going to be a very one-sided game,” Peter Childs. “For every 10 bets we're taking on Auburn, we're getting only one bet on Wisconsin. Basically everyone remembers the last games these two teams played… plus, Auburn has been a public team the past two years.”

Oklahoma Sooners

Russell Athletic Bowl: -3.5 vs. Clemson

Books added an extra half point to the opening field goal spread with money piling on the Sooners in this Dec. 29 bowl game, from public and professional bettors.

“Oklahoma has been getting hammered by both betting parties,” says Lester. "More than 80 percent of our wagers for that game are on the Sooners so we'd like Clemson to come up with an upset."

USC Trojans

Holiday Bowl: -7 vs. Nebraska

The Trojans take on a Huskers program in turmoil after cutting ties with head coach Bo Pelini. Southern Cal is a touchdown favorite after opening as low as -5.5 with zero interest in Nebraska. The Trojans should also have a strong home field edge with the game being played in Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego.

“Big site advantage for USC as this game is being played 90 minutes from their campus,” says Childs. “Expect a heavy partisan USC crowd there on Saturday night. This is a standalone primetime game and we will book a ton of action come game day, and with all that action being on USC I can only see us getting to 7.5 at some point.”

Arkansas Razorbacks

Texas Bowl: -6 vs. Texas

You know there’s some heavy action when the team not named “Texas” is a 6-point favorite in the Texas Bowl. Money on the Hogs has hit hot and heavy since opening this game at Arkansas -5.

“We'd love to see Texas get one for the Gipper,” says Childs. “Casual bettors are still caught up in the Longhorns' frustrating year and some sharps aren't ready to jump off Arkansas, which ended the season strong. For this renewed rivalry, a large portion of our handle is on the Hogs.”

Florida State Seminoles

Rose Bowl: -9 vs. Oregon

The defending national champs are getting no love. Books opening Jameis & Co. as low as 7.5-point underdogs to Oregon and that has been bet up as high as Ducks -10 – for just a second at select spots – before buyback showed on the Noles.

But while that drastic move sets the books up for a crap-ton of bad situations – middles and teasers – the biggest liability on the Rose Bowl is FSU’s moneyline. Big bets are taking a flyer on the Seminoles to win outright and it could be a bad start to 2015 for books if FSU can come through, as big as +290 moneyline dogs right now.

“The moneyline is a major concern and we're still a good week away from that game going,” says Lester. “If we're exposed now, by game time you can figure that the exposure will double or triple by then. No question, it's our biggest bowl game liability.”

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Bowl Breakdown - Part 3
By Mike Rose

Below is a quick look at the eight bowl games of the postseason scheduled from Saturday Dec. 27 through Monday Dec. 29.

Military Bowl - Cincinnati vs. Virginia Tech
Saturday, Dec. 27, 1:00 p.m. ET
Military Bowl Betting Line: Cincinnati -3

It was a frustrating year for Frank Beamer and the Hokies. They barely snuck into a bowl game after losing a ton of games which they probably shouldn't have lost, but they have a chance to end the year on a high note. Cincinnati has a history of playing in higher scoring bowl games, but it was blown out in the Belk Bowl last year by North Carolina.

Sun Bowl - Arizona State vs. Duke
Saturday, Dec. 27, 2:00 p.m. ET
Sun Bowl Betting Line: Arizona State -7.5

Last season in the Chick-Fil-A Bowl, Duke was always a big dog against Texas A&M, but it put up a heck of a fight in that game. Now, the Blue Devils are in a similar game at the Sun Bowl, one which could be one of the better bowl games of the early season. Arizona State is ranked 16th in the land and is stuck playing on Dec. 27th. That tells you how good the Pac-12 was this year.

Independence Bowl - Miami vs. South Carolina
Saturday, Dec. 27, 3:30 p.m. ET
Independence Bowl Betting Line: Miami -3

Brad Kaaya and the Hurricanes took some major steps forward this year, and though this isn't the biggest bowl game of the year, it is huge for Miami to continue to return to greatness. South Carolina had a frustrating season which saw it fall all the way out of the Top 10 to be just a 6-6 team.

Pinstripe Bowl - Boston College vs. Penn State
Saturday, Dec. 27, 4:30 p.m. ET
Pinstripe Bowl Betting Line: Boston College -2.5

Penn State's fans should be thrilled to be coming here to Yankee Stadium for the Pinstripe Bowl. Their bowl ban has been lifted, and they are playing in a bowl for the first time since the Jerry Sandusky news broke a few years ago. Boston College has to be happy to be here as well. The Eagles were up and down this year, but the bottom line is that they challenged Florida State and beat USC, and that's a pretty darn good year for the boys in Chestnut Hill.

Holiday Bowl - Nebraska vs. USC
Saturday, Dec. 27, 8:00 p.m. ET
Liberty Bowl Betting Line: USC -6.5

The Men of Troy have a good history of playing in bowl games, and they are coming off of their best game of the season, a romp of Notre Dame in the finale. Nebraska has fired Bo Pelini, and it will be interesting to see how the players react to the coaching change to Mike Riley, who will take over once this game is over with.

Liberty Bowl - Texas A&M vs. West Virginia
Monday, Dec. 29, 2:00 p.m. ET
Liberty Bowl Betting Line: West Virginia -3.5

There's a question as to how good either of these teams really are. Clint Trickett and the Mountaineers had a great start to the year, but in the end, they really only finished 7-5. Was the Big XII that good? If not, why is it not represented in the playoff? Texas A&M ended up ranked in the Top 10 early this year, but let's be realistic. This team was only ranked that high because of Johnny Manziel, who hasn't been here all season.

Russell Athletic Bowl - Oklahoma vs. Clemson
Monday, Dec. 29, 5:30 p.m. ET
Russell Athletic Bowl Betting Line: Oklahoma -6

Now that we know that Trevor Knight is going to be able to play in this game for the Sooners, Oklahoma has to feel better about its chances of winning this game. Clemson's quarterback problems followed it all year long, and it was unlucky not to be placed into a better bowl game this year. Deshaun Watson could end up being a hero by the time his career is done with. This is the first bowl game between two ranked teams.

Texas Bowl – Arkansas vs. Texas
Monday, Dec. 29, 9:00 p.m. ET
Russell Athletic Bowl Betting Line: Arkansas -6

Shame on Texas and Texas A&M for not figuring out their differences and playing against each other in this game. As it is, we get an awesome old Big 8 game between two teams which were better than 6-6 suggested this year. Still, this is an old rivalry which has been renewed, and a winning record is on the line for both teams. Texas can send a real message to the SEC if it can win this game.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Bowl Breakdown - Part 4
By Mike Rose

Below is a quick look at the six bowl games of the postseason scheduled from Tuesday Dec. 30 through Wednesday Dec. 31.

Music City Bowl - Notre Dame vs. LSU
Tuesday, Dec. 30, 3:00 p.m. ET
Music City Bowl Betting Line: LSU -7

It was only two months ago that Notre Dame was ranked fifth in America and was on the verge of being ranked first in the land if not for an offensive pass interference call that cost it a game against Florida State. LSU of course, also had the No. 1 team in the land on the ropes earlier this year, as it could have beaten Alabama in the Bayou. That said, both of these teams finished the year with unacceptable records by their own standards, and the Music City Bowl is no consolation for either one.

Belk Bowl - Georgia vs. Louisville
Tuesday, Dec. 30, 6:30 p.m. ET
Belk Bowl Betting Line: Georgia -6.5

The nation is going to find out just how good Louisville really is in this game, even with Reggie Bonnafon playing under center instead of the injured Will Gardner. Georgia has already split games with ACC teams this year, beating Clemson in the opening week and losing to Georgia Tech in the final game.

Foster Farms Bowl - Maryland vs. Stanford
Tuesday, Dec. 30, 10:00 p.m. ET
Foster Farms Bowl Betting Line: Stanford -14

The Cardinal are the biggest favorites of the bowl season for a good reason. They're essentially playing a home game, and most believe that their 7-5 record was really a farce, knowing what a great schedule they played. Maryland's first year in the Big Ten was a success to get to a bowl game, but just competing here at the Foster Farms Bowl would be a triumph.

Peach Bowl - Ole Miss vs. TCU
Wednesday, Dec. 31, 12:30 p.m. ET
Peach Bowl Betting Line: TCU -3

The first of the New Year's Six bowl games takes place in Atlanta, where Ole Miss couldn't quite get to for the SEC Championship Game. Bo Wallace and Trevone Boykin were both Heisman candidates once upon a time this year, and if both are on their game, this could be a heck of a battle. TCU's psyche must be analyzed here though, after it was left out of the playoff.

Fiesta Bowl - Boise State vs. Arizona
Wednesday, Dec. 31, 4:00 p.m. ET
Fiesta Bowl Betting Line: Arizona -3

Boise State cracked into the New Year's Six lineup to go to the Fiesta Bowl for the third time in its history. The Wildcats were good enough to stun Oregon once this year, but when push came to shove for the second matchup, they couldn't hang in there. For our money, this is the best of the New Year's Six bowls outside of the two playoff games.

Orange Bowl - Mississippi State vs. Georgia Tech
Wednesday, Dec. 31, 8:00 p.m. ET
Orange Bowl Betting Line: Mississippi State -7

The ACC dominated the SEC at the end of the season this year, and this is another chance for the boys from the ACC to prove their worth. Georgia Tech's triple option attack tends to get slowed down in these bowl games, and MSU has a defense which is legit enough to do the job. QB Dak Prescott probably lost the Heisman Trophy when he played against Alabama in a game which feels like forever ago, but he has a chance to rekindle some of that fire in the last game of the season in Miami.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Bowl Breakdown - Part 5
By Mike Rose

Below is a quick look at the five bowl games of the postseason scheduled on Jan. 1, which include the two semifinal matchups of the College Football Playoff.

Outback Bowl - Auburn vs. Wisconsin
Thursday, Jan. 1, 12:00 p.m. ET
Outback Bowl Betting Line: Auburn -6.5

Wisconsin couldn't figure out how to even remotely hang in there against Ohio State, and now that Gary Andersen has fled for Oregon State, this could be a tricky game against an Auburn team which is trending in the right direction.

Cotton Bowl - Michigan State vs. Baylor
Thursday, Jan. 1, 12:30 p.m. ET
Cotton Bowl Betting Line: Baylor -3

Baylor really believed that it was going to be in the playoff this year, and Art Briles will forever state that this year's Baylor team was the legitimate Big XII champ this year, not just a co-champ. It might not matter against a Michigan State team which, as most tend to forget, probably only didn't get into the playoff this year because it had the fortitude to schedule Oregon at Autzen Stadium in Week 2 of the season.

Citrus Bowl - Missouri vs. Minnesota
Thursday, Jan. 1, 1:00 p.m. ET
Citrus Bowl Betting Line: Missouri -6

Good for Jerry Kill for getting the Gophers into a New Year's Day game! Sure, the Big Ten was down this year, but Minnesota hung in there and ended up playing a brutal schedule, one which included TCU, Ohio State, Michigan State, and Wisconsin. The Tigers weren't quite good enough to win the SEC this year, but the two-time SEC East winners are no slouches.

Rose Bowl - Florida State vs. Oregon
Thursday, Jan. 1, 5:00 p.m. ET
Rose Bowl Betting Line: Oregon -9.5

The first of the two national semifinals will take place in Pasadena, and the undefeated and Unconquered Seminoles will look to rattle some more cages in a game no one expects them to win against Oregon. This is a rare matchup of Heisman Trophy winners going against each other, as Jameis Winston, who clearly had a down year after last season, faces Marcus Mariota, who was virtually perfect this year.

Sugar Bowl - Ohio State vs. Alabama
Thursday, Jan. 1, 8:30 p.m. ET
Sugar Bowl Betting Line: Alabama -9.5

Cardale Jones is going to be making just his second career start, and he is going to have to do it against one of the best teams in the nation. Ohio State though, had no problems in his first go around against Wisconsin, winning 59-0 in a game which was emphatic enough of a statement to get into the playoff. The Tide might have the No. 1 team in the land, but they have looked human in games played outside of Tuscaloosa this year. Blake Sims is just far too inconsistent to absolutely pencil in Alabama to the National Championship Game at this point.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Bowl Breakdown - Part 6
By Mike Rose

Below is a quick look at the six bowl games of the postseason scheduled from Friday Jan. 2 through Sunday Jan. 4.

Armed Forces Bowl - Houston vs. Pittsburgh
Friday, Jan. 2, 12:00 p.m. ET
Armed Forces Bowl Betting Line: Pittsburgh -3

Houston's head coaching gig is still up in the air as preparation continues for the Armed Forces Bowl, but the job at Pittsburgh is now open as well with Paul Chryst going back to Wisconsin where he came from. These two teams are definitely in flux, and it should make for a tricky bowl game to handicap.

Taxslayer Bowl - Iowa vs. Tennessee
Friday, Jan. 2, 3:20 p.m. ET
Taxslayer Bowl Betting Line: Tennessee -3.5

Iowa was really the quiet team all year long. The Hawkeyes were supposed to quietly be challengers to the Big Ten throne this year, but they quietly became just another 7-5 team instead. Tennessee was good enough to get to a bowl game this year, and that has to be a bit of a relief for Butch Jones, who knows that he has to make some marked improvements very soon with this team to keep his job on Rocky Top.

Alamo Bowl - Kansas State vs. UCLA
Friday, Jan. 2, 6:45 p.m. ET
Alamo Bowl Betting Line: Pick 'Em

Perhaps the best non-New Year's Six bowl game. Kansas State and UCLA were both Top 10 teams at points this season, and even though both ended with three losses, the Selection Committee seemed to love them both. This could be the swan song for Brett Hundley, who could be headed to the NFL after this one is said and done with.

Cactus Bowl - Washington vs. Oklahoma State
Friday, Jan. 2, 10:15 p.m. ET
Cactus Bowl Betting Line: Washington -5.5

The Huskies were good this year, but they weren't fantastic. Essentially, they did what they had to do to beat the bad teams in the Pac-12 Nor, but when it came to the big time games, they just weren't able to get there in the first year under Chris Petersen. Oklahoma State stunned the world by winning Bedlam to get to a bowl game, but that doesn't erase the misery of what was a frustrating season, including the loss of JW Walsh to injury early on in the campaign.

Birmingham Bowl - East Carolina vs. Florida
Saturday, Jan. 3, 12:00 p.m. ET
Birmingham Bowl Betting Line: Florida -7

Florida's season was as tumultuous as it gets, and new coach Jim McElwain will be watching intently as his new team gets ready for its bowl game. East Carolina was a Top 25 team this year for several weeks, and there was a point that it legitimately threatened the New Year's Six bowls. Shane Carden could give the Gators troubles. Remember that ECU did beat South Carolina, the same South Carolina team which went to the Swamp and beat Florida in November.

GoDaddy Bowl - Toledo vs. Arkansas State
Sunday, Jan. 4, 9:00 p.m. ET
Birmingham Bowl Betting Line: Toledo -3

Arkansas State has made a living out of coming to the GoDaddy Bowl, and it is back once again this year with a chance to score a season-ending victory. Toledo was overmatched every time it went up against a Power Five team this year, but aside from that, its only loss was a three-point defeat at Northern Illinois in November.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Saturday's Early Bowl Tips
By Joe Williams

**Cincinnati vs. Virginia Tech**

-- The American Athletic Conference (AAC) and Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) collide at Navy Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Md. for the Milltary Bowl Game presented by Northrup Grumman. The AAC is 1-0 SU/ATS early in the 2014 bowl season, and the Bearcats look to maintain that unblemished mark. These teams are meeting in a bowl game for the first time since the 2008 Orange Bowl when the Hokies thumped the Bearcats 20-7. It was the Bearcats winning the most recent meeting back on Sept. 29, 2012 by a 27-24 score.

-- Cincinnati (9-3 SU, 7-4-1 ATS) started the season slow, going 2-3 SU/1-4 ATS through their first five games. However, the Bearcats have been on a roll, entering the Military Bowl with seven consecutive wins, and they are 6-0-1 ATS during the impressive span. Against bowl teams this season, the Bearcats went 3-3 SU/2-3-1 ATS in six games.

-- The Bearcats are favored by three points, as of Friday night, and as a single-digit favorite this season Cincinnati is 5-1 SU/4-1-1 ATS in six such situations.

-- Virginia Tech (6-6 SU, 5-7 ATS) started the season strong, winning against playoff team Ohio State on the road in Columbus by a 35-21 margin. Since that game Sept. 6 it has been mostly downhill, as the Hokies are 4-6 SU and 3-7 ATS. During the 10-game malaise, there have been a couple of shocking performances, including a 17-16 win at Duke Nov. 15, and a 24-20 win against Virginia in the regular season finale. Against bowl teams this season, the Gobblers are 4-5 SU/3-6 ATS in nine games.

-- The Bearcats enter this game going 6-0-1 ATS in their past seven games, 4-0-1 ATS in their past five games on field turf and 4-1 ATS in their past five neutral-site contests. However, Cincinnati is just 2-5 ATS in their past seven bowl games and 1-5 ATS in their past six non-conference tilts.

-- The Hokies head to Annapolis just 4-13-2 ATS in their past 19 non-conference battles, and 1-4 ATS in their past five against teams with an overall winning mark. The Hokies are also 1-5-1 ATS in their past seven neutral-site battles. These teams have met semi-frequently over the past few years, and the underdog has cashed in each of the past four meetings.

-- Cincinnati QB Gunner Kiel is the straw that stirs the drink for the Bearcats offense. He missed parts of two games due to injury, but still topped 3,000 yards passing for the season. He managed to throw three or more touchdowns in six of his 10 complete games this season, and he went over 300 yards on four separate occasions. While Kiel is heaving it up in the air, it is generally WRs Mekale McKay and Shaq Washington camping under those passes. McKay led the team with 690 receiving yards and eight scores, while Washington had a team-best 61 receptions with 661 yards and four touchdowns. WR Chris Moore returned for the regular season finale after a two-game absence, finishing with 570 yards and six touchdowns. WRs Max Morrison and Johnny Holton show Cincinnati's tremendous depth at the wideout spot, as those two combined for 72 catches and nine touchdowns. There aren't many teams with No. 4 or 5 receivers with that type production.

-- The passing game isn't the only worry for Virginia Tech, though. Cincinnati freshman RB Mike Boone posted a team-high 601 rushing yards with nine scores, and he enters play with at least one touchdown in seven straight games, including a three-TD performance against Houston Dec. 6.

-- The Virginia Tech offense wasn't nearly as prolific as Cincinnati this season. QB Michael Brewer was adequate at times, and he completed 59.5 percent of his passes for 2,598 yards, 17 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. When he does look downfield it is the two-headed monster of WRs Isaiah Ford and Bucky Hodges. Ford led the team with 665 yards, and he has three or more catches in four straight games and nine of his past 10. Hodges posted 517 yards with seven scores, including at least one TD in three of the final four games. In the running game, it was J.C. Coleman emerging late in the season as the best threat, going for 95 or more yards in each of his final three games.

-- One key injury for Virginia Tech is CB Brandon Facyson (leg), who suffered a tibia and fibula fracture of the left leg during a bowl practice Dec. 7. And, of course, the big news is that head coach Frank Beamer had throat surgery Dec. 6, and he will coach from the press box rather than the field. Beamer did not travel with the team earlier this week, but joined the team in Annapolis Friday. Lastly, WR Deon Newsome was suspended for the Military Bowl due to a violation of team rules.

-- Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. Eastern on ESPN.

**Arizona State vs. Duke**

-- A pair of 9-3 teams meet at Sun Bowl Stadium in El Paso for the 2014 Hyundai Sun Bowl. The game pits the ACC against the Pac-12 Conference.

-- Arizona State (9-3 SU, 6-6 ATS) heads to El Paso looking to post a 10-game campaign in back-to-back seasons for the first time since accomplishing the feat from 1970-73. It is the fourth straight season for AZ State in a bowl game, and their fifth-ever appearance at the Sun Bowl. Against bowl teams this season, the Sun Devils were 5-2 SU and 4-3 ATS in seven games.

-- Duke (9-3 SU, 7-4-1 ATS) stumbled down the stretch after heading into mid-November in the driver's seat in the Coastal Division of the ACC. They might have missed out on a second straight appearance in the ACC Championship Game, but they still had a very successful season. For some to be disappointed of their performance in November speaks volumes of how far head coach David Cutcliffe has elevated this once moribund program. In fact, this is the first time in Duke's history they are appearing in a bowl game for a third straight season. The Blue Devils were 2-3 SU/ATS in five games against bowl teams this season.

-- The Arizona State offense averaged 37.0 points per game, and it didn't matter whether QB Taylor Kelly was under center, or QB Mike Berkovici, when Kelly was injured. And not only can the Sun Devils roll it up on offense, but they finished sixth in the country with six defensive scores.

-- Duke is no slouch on offense, either, going for 32.5 point per game while clamping down on defense and allowed just 20.6 points per outing. In fact, Duke gave up 21 or fewer points in nine of their 12 games.

-- When the Sun Devils have the ball, Kelly is one to watch. He threw for 1,874 yards with 20 touchdowns and just five interceptions. Overall, AZ State QBs tossed for 3,316 yards with 32 TDs and nine INTs and a passer rating of 143.9. Kelly's favorite target, WR Jaelen Strong, announced he is leaving school early for the NFL. He gathered in 75 receptions for 1,062 yards and 10 scores. Surprisingly, RB D.J. Foster was second on the team in both receptions and receiving yards, hauling in 59 passes for 646 yards and three scores. He led the team with 1,002 rushing yards and nine rushing touchdowns.

-- QB Anthony Boone had a strong season for the Blue Devils, passing for 2,507 yards, 17 touchdowns and seven interceptions, while also running for 346 yards and five scores. He often gave way to QB Thomas Sirk, who completed 10 of 14 passes for 67 yards and three touchdowns, while also running 45 times for 232 yards and eight scores. The biggest offensive star is WR Jamison Crowder grabbed 78 receptions for 942 yards and six touchdowns, while fellow WR Issac Blakeney also had six touchdown grabs while tying Crowder with 12.1 yards per snare. PK Ross Martin is a tremendously dependable kicker whoe made all 46 of his extra points while misfiring on just two of his 20 field goal attempts, and none from inside 40 yards.

-- Arizona State is just 1-5 ATS in their past six bowl games, and 1-5 ATS in their past six games at a neutral site. In addition, they're just 2-8 ATS in their past 10 games on turf.

-- For Duke, the Blue Devils are an impressive 4-0 ATS in their past four games against a team with a winning overall record, and 4-1-1 ATS in their past six games out of conference. Overall, they are 18-7-1 ATS in their past 26 games.

-- If you are looking at the total in this game, the trends are mixed for both teams. The over is 5-1 in Arizona State's past six neutral-site games, and 6-2 in their past eight non-conference tilts. The over is also 20-9 in Arizona State's past 29 against a team with a winning overall mark. The under is 6-2 in Duke's past eight games, and 5-1 in their past six against a team with a winning record. The line has been hovering around 64.5 heading into Saturday morning.

-- This game opened with Arizona State favored by nine, but the line has tumbled to between 7-7.5 points depending on the shop.

-- Kickoff is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. Eastern on CBS.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Saturday's Late Bowl Tips
By Kevin Rogers

Independence Bowl – Shreveport, Louisiana
Miami (-3 ½, 61) vs. South Carolina – 3:30 PM EST – ABC

Two 6-6 squads with high expectations coming into this season look to finish off a disappointing campaign with a win. Miami enters Saturday’s action looking to snap a three-game losing streak, which was capped off by a 35-23 defeat to Pittsburgh as 10 ½-point home favorites in the regular season finale. The Hurricanes put together a nice three-game hot streak to close out October with victories over bowl squads Cincinnati, North Carolina, and Virginia Tech, but UM squandered a 16-0 lead in a 30-26 setback to undefeated Florida State to begin this cold stretch.

South Carolina’s season began with a thud, falling as 9 ½-point home favorites to Texas A&M, 52-28. The Gamecocks rebounded with victories over East Carolina and Georgia, but Steve Spurrier’s club has won just three games since the end of September. Two of those wins in this span were against South Alabama and Furman, while rallying late to stun Florida at the Swamp.

The Gamecocks covered three of four times in the underdog role this season, while four games have been decided by three points or less (2-2). The Hurricanes won just once in five tries away from South Florida, but that victory came in the favorite role against Virginia Tech. The ‘under’ hit in four of five road games for UM, while posting a 5-2 ATS record in the past seven as a favorite.

The Hurricanes have lost four straight bowl games with their last bowl victory coming in 2006 against Nevada in MPC Computers Bowl. South Carolina is riding a three-game bowl winning streak, while playing in its first bowl prior to New Year’s Day since a 2010 loss to Florida State in the Chick-Fil-A Bowl.

Pinstripe Bowl – Bronx, New York
Penn State vs. Boston College (-2 ½, 40) – 4:30 PM EST – ESPN

A pair of solid defenses get together at Yankee Stadium as both teams have lost two of their final three games. Boston College snapped a two-game skid by blowing out Syracuse in the season finale, 28-7 as 10 ½-point favorites, while Penn State’s offense struggled throughout Big Ten play, capped off by a 34-10 home setback to Michigan State.

Boston College yielded just 95 rushing yards a game, while giving up 17 points or less in six contests this season. The Eagles (7-5) were listed as a single-digit favorite just once this season, losing outright at home to Colorado State in September, 24-21 as six-point chalk. All five of BC’s losses came to bowl squads, falling to Colorado State, Pittsburgh, Louisville, Clemson, and Florida State.

Penn State (6-6) stormed out of the gate to a 4-0 record, but the Nittany Lions stumbled to a 2-6 mark down the stretch. James Franklin’s team was limited to 14 points or less in six conference games, while PSU owned the worst rushing offense in the Big Ten at 103.6 yards a game. However, the Nittany Lions limited opponents to 84.7 yards a game on the ground, which was top-ranked inside the conference.

The Eagles have struggled in bowl season recently, dropping four straight, including a 42-19 loss to Arizona in the AdvoCare V100 Bowl. Penn State is participating in its first bowl since a 30-14 setback in 2012 TicketCity Bowl against Houston, while facing an ACC team in a bowl for the first time since the 2006 Orange Bowl thriller against Florida State.

Holiday Bowl – San Diego, California
Nebraska vs. USC (-7, 62) – 8:00 PM EST – ESPN

It’s a tall task for Nebraska (9-3), who parted ways with head coach Bo Pelini following a comeback overtime victory at Iowa to close out the regular season. The Huskers are in a transition phase before Mike Riley takes over officially heading into the 2015 season. Nebraska travels to Qualcomm Stadium for a meeting with USC, who finished the season with a 49-14 blowout of rival Notre Dame to pick up its eighth victory.

The Trojans failed to cover consecutive games as a favorite this season, going 0-3 ATS in that situation with non-covers against California, Boston College, and Arizona State. USC hit the ‘under’ in four straight contests prior to an ‘over’ against Notre Dame, while splitting six games played away from the Los Angeles Coliseum.

Nebraska began the season with an impressive 8-1 mark, but stumbled with consecutive losses to Wisconsin and Minnesota prior to the win at Iowa. In both defeats to the Badgers and Golden Gophers, the Huskers squandered a 14-point lead in each setback, while putting a together a 2-1 ATS record as an underdog this season.

USC has won five of its past six bowl contests, as each of those victories came by double-digits, including a 45-20 blowout of Fresno State in last season’s Las Vegas Bowl. The Huskers have dropped three of their previous four bowl games, capped off by a 24-19 triumph over Georgia in last January’s Gator Bowl.