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  • #46
    Saturday's betting tips: Nevada on ATS bowl skid

    Who’s hot

    NFL: The Raiders are 5-0 ATS in their last five games in Kansas City.

    NFL: Carolina is 16-6 ATS in its last 22 December games.

    NFL: The over is 31-12-4 in the Chargers’ last 47 road games.

    NCAAF: Southern Miss is 8-2-1 ATS in its last 11 games.

    Who’s not

    NFL: The under is 1-10 in the Patriots’ last 11 games vs. AFC East opponents.

    NFL: The 49ers are 3-10-1 ATS in their last 14 games as road favorites.

    NFL: The Ravens are 1-5 ATS in their last six games vs. losing teams.

    NCAAF: Nevada is 1-5 ATS in its last six games, and 0-4 ATS in its last four bowl games.

    Key stat

    75 – That’s the percentage of throws San Diego QB Philip Rivers completed over the past three games, all convincing wins. Rivers has thrown 8 TDs and 0 INTs over his last four games. He’s 23-2 as a starter in December. Still alive in the playoff chase, San Diego is a 1-point dog at Detroit on Saturday.

    Injury that shouldn’t be overlooked

    Cowboys RB Felix Jones has not practiced all week due to a hamstring injury, and is questionable for Saturday’s game against the Eagles. "It would surprise me if Felix does not go," owner Jerry Jones said Friday. "On the other hand, it would be madness not to recognize that he hasn't practiced all week, so you better have another plan in place." If Jones doesn’t play, 12-year vet Sammy Morris will carry the load. Dallas is a 1-point favorite over the surging Eagles.

    Game of the day

    New York Giants at New York Jets (-3, 45.5)

    Notable quotable

    “I've never worn sleeves, but I've been wearing sleeves in practice this week to try to get used to that. I won't wear a glove, maybe on my right hand, but not on my (left) hand. I don't plan to, anyway." – Tim Tebow to the Denver Post on dealing with temperatures in the 30s on Saturday in Buffalo. Tebow’s previous coldest game was 42 degrees at kickoff for last year’s season finale at home vs. San Diego. The Broncos are 1.5-point favorites over the Bills.

    Notes and tips

    QB Ben Roethlisberger will rest his badly sprained ankle Saturday, meaning 38-year-old Charlie Batch gets the start against the 2-12 Rams. Pittsburgh is laying 12 points at home. Look for the Steelers to try to pund the Rams’ 32nd-ranked rush defense with Rashad Mendenhall and Isaac Redman.

    The Bears will start Kahlil Bell, not Mario Barber, at running back Sunday night at Green Bay. Barber won’t play with a calf injury. Bell's only backup will be undrafted rookie Armando Allen, fresh off the practice squad. Bell amassed 108 total yards and a TD in last week’s home loss to Seattle. But Chicago is perilously thin at the position. Green Bay is laying 12.5.

    Lakers center Andrew Bynum and Pistons forward Charlie Villanueva had their suspensions reduced because of the shortened NBA season. Bynum, given a five-game suspension for making excessive contact with Mavs point guard J.J. Barea in the Western Conference finals, will only be out four games. Villanueva also received a five-game suspension for tangling with Cleveland’s Ryan Hollins late last season. He served one game and will sit the first three games of this season.

    Sad news out of College Station, Tex., where Texas A&M senior offensive lineman Joseph Villavisencio was killed in a car accident. The tragedy comes as the Aggies prepare for the Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas on Dec. 31. Villavisencio, 22, who saw limited action in his career with the Aggies, was heading to his home in Jacksonville, Tex., at the time of the crash. "He was one of the most respectful and high-character players I've ever coached," former A&M coach Mike Sherman, who was fired Dec. 1, told the Houston Chronicle. "It was an honor and privilege to have known him and coached him."
    Remember the 3 G's Gambling, Golf, Girls not in any particular order.....

    Comment


    • #47
      Hey, Bum! Merry Christmas, buddy! Reading your Christmas Wishes poem was a great way to start the day!

      Comment


      • #48
        Top 3 NCAAF Trends

        KANST
        ARK Under is 8-0 in ARK last 8 bowl games.

        WMICH
        PURD WMICH are 7-0 ATS in their last 7 games after accumulating more than 280 yards passing in their previous game.

        NOTRE
        FSU FSU are 6-0-1 ATS in their last 7 bowl games.
        Remember the 3 G's Gambling, Golf, Girls not in any particular order.....

        Comment


        • #49
          Hawaii Bowl: At betting window, Reno's not backing the Wolf Pack

          Reno sports fans might support the Nevada football team, but few are willing to put their money where their hearts are.

          That's the opinion of an oddsmaker who has been around the business long enough to know.

          Chris Andrews, assistant sports book manager at the Club Cal Neva, said the manner in which local residents treat their hometown team at the betting window is unlike anything he has ever seen.

          The Cal Neva has Conference USA champion Southern Mississippi posted as 6.5-point favorite over Nevada with an over-under total of 62 in Saturday's Sheraton Hawaii Bowl. Wolf Pack backers have been hard to come by, and Andrews wasn't the least bit surprised.

          "I have to be honest. I've never seen a town with less support of a team financially than Reno does with the Wolf Pack," Andrews said Monday.

          Among many examples he cited, Andrews, 55, recalled sitting in a suite at last year's Nevada-Cal game in Reno and overhearing many fans speak of their wagers on the Golden Bears. Nevada won, 52-31, as a 3.5-point underdog.

          "Almost every guy I talked to said, 'I bet on Cal.' I'm sitting there as a handicapper, and I bet on the Pack. My numbers said Nevada was the play," said Andrews, who is an East Coast native.

          "Locals are all over-betting against the Pack, often on the loser. I don't know what that is, to be honest with you. I have not seen that in other cities."

          When it comes to bowl games, it appears as though those who bet against -- or fade -- the Pack are onto something. Nevada has not covered in the postseason since losing to Miami, 21-20, as a 3.5-point underdog in 2006.

          In last year's Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl, Nevada opened as a 7.5-point favorite over Boston College, and the spread moved as high as 10 in some books before settling back to the original number. The Eagles kicked a late field goal to get inside the number for their bettors in Nevada's 20-13 win.

          In Southern Miss (11-2, 9-4 against the spread), Nevada (7-5, 5-7 ATS) faces a team that was under the radar nationally until it upset Houston 49-28 as a two-touchdown underdog in the C-USA championship game Dec. 3. A late-season upset loss to UAB likely cost the Golden Eagles an outside shot at a BCS bowl game.

          The Wolf Pack will be looking to redeem recent disappointments in Hawaii, where it suffered its only loss last year and was upset by SMU, 45-10, in the 2009 Hawaii Bowl. Nevada was a double-digit favorite in that game.

          Most Nevada sportsbooks opened Southern Miss as about a 5.5-point favorite, and some parlors have moved the number as high as 7.

          Even so, the Las Vegas Hilton on Monday lowered its spread from 6 to 5.5, suggesting it took a decent chunk of cash on the Pack.

          Andrews said he sees some value with the underdog in the Hawaii Bowl.

          "I think the number is a little high, and I am not a biased, Wolf Pack guy," he said. "They have laid an egg in Hawaii before, and they'll want to make amends for that."
          Remember the 3 G's Gambling, Golf, Girls not in any particular order.....

          Comment


          • #50
            Golden Eagles ready for Wolf Pack

            HONOLULU – After all the drama and uncertainty that has surrounded Southern Miss football for the last three weeks, the Golden Eagles finally get another chance to line it up and play.

            USM (11-2) and Nevada (7-5) play at 7 p.m. today in the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu.
            Outgoing coach Larry Fedora will officially step down from his position and take over at North Carolina after the game. He will hand the program over to the newly-hired Ellis Johnson.


            When Fedora walks off the field today, he will leave behind a team he built over four years into a Conference USA champion.


            “It’ll be difficult,” Fedora said. “There will always be a piece of my heart and soul in this football team in Hattiesburg. It’ll be different. It’s just one more step in life we all experience and the players will overcome it and move forward.”


            This Southern Miss team already features the most wins in a season in program history, and another victory today will set the bar even higher.


            “I’m sure Nevada is anxious to keep us from getting our 12th win,” Fedora said.
            Both teams feature two of the better offenses in the nation.


            Nevada is No. 5 in the nation in total offense, averaging 522.8 yards a game.


            Southern Miss is the 13th-best group in the FBS, averaging 471 yards a contest.


            The Golden Eagles aren’t banking on an offensive shootout today, but that’s likely if Nevada quarterback Cody Fajardo and receiver Rishard Matthews get the passing game going today.


            “We hope (it’s not a shootout), but we’re going to be full go,” USM running back Tracey Lampley said. “Our defense is good enough to slow them down. On offense, we’ve got to click and put points on the board. We’ve got to match their intensity and come out and play offense.”


            Southern Miss defensive coordinator Dan Disch expects his defense to face one of the toughest rushing attacks its faced this season led by a rugged offensive line.


            It’ll be up to defensive tackles Khyri Thornton and Terrance Pope to take away the run up the middle.


            “(The offensive line) is very disciplined,” Pope said. “They know what they have to do to run the ball. If we don’t stop the run, they’ll run it all night.”


            The Southern Miss offensive line will have to find a way to hold a talented Nevada defensive front in check today.


            The best player on the Wolf Pack roster is defensive tackle Brett Roy, who was named a first-team All-American by Sports Illustrated. Roy registered 10 sacks and 18.5 tackles for lost yardage this season.


            “They’re a good team,” said quarterback Austin Davis, who will play his final game as a Golden Eagle today. “They’re going to twist up front and make it tough on the offensive line. They’re going to press us up on the outside and make it as tough as you can. The receivers definitely have to play their best game. Any time you play in a bowl game it’s about who wants it most and who can handle all the distractions.”
            Remember the 3 G's Gambling, Golf, Girls not in any particular order.....

            Comment


            • #51
              Bowl Record 2011-2012

              Date WLT Pct Net Units Record
              12/22/11 2-*0-*0 100.00% +*1000 Detail
              12/21/11 1-*1-*0 50.00% -*50 Detail
              12/20/11 1-*1-*0 50.00% -*50 Detail
              12/17/11 4-*2-*0 66.67% +*900 Detail
              Totals 8-*4-*0 66.67% +1800

              Saturday, December 24

              Game Score Status Pick Amount

              Nevada - 8:00 PM ET Southern Mississippi -6.5 500

              Southern Mississippi - Over 62 500
              Remember the 3 G's Gambling, Golf, Girls not in any particular order.....

              Comment


              • #52
                Missouri, UNC meet in Independence Bowl

                December 25, 2011

                SHREVEPORT, La. (AP) - Big changes are coming for the football programs at Missouri and North Carolina. Before they happen, there's one more football game to play.

                The Tigers and Tar Heels meet on Monday in the Independence Bowl, and both teams have become quite experienced at juggling questions about their long-term future with the upcoming matchup. Players and coaches are adamant the focus will be squarely on the field.

                ``We're expecting to play our best game,'' Missouri coach Gary Pinkel said. ``And we expect North Carolina to play their best game.''

                Not that there aren't reasons to be distracted. North Carolina (7-5) is in the midst of a coaching change, while Missouri (7-5) is preparing for its move to the Southeastern Conference after an acrimonious exit from the Big 12.

                The Tar Heels endured more than their share of turmoil this season under interim head coach Everett Withers, who took over in July after Butch Davis was fired shortly before preseason camp in the shadow of an NCAA investigation.

                Withers was a candidate for the full-time job until last week, when North Carolina announced the hiring of Southern Mississippi coach Larry Fedora. Fedora takes over the program immediately after the bowl game and Withers is headed to Ohio State, where he'll be the defensive coordinator for new coach Urban Meyer.

                Withers' time is already divided. He said he spent part of his week making recruiting calls for the Buckeyes before turning his focus back to North Carolina.

                He expects his team to handle any extra adversity without issues. The Tar Heels have certainly had plenty of practice.

                ``This has been an experience for all of us,'' Withers said. ``Each player has done an unbelievable job of holding this together to have the success that we've had the past two years. It's been remarkable. I haven't looked at it as tumultuous. I've looked at it as a life lesson - a journey - that you go through.''

                Coaching stability isn't a problem at Missouri (7-5), where Pinkel is wrapping up his 11th season with a program-record seventh consecutive bowl appearance. Instead, it's the move to the SEC that's the constant topic of conversation.

                ``There's no question about it - this is historically a big moment with us playing our last game in the Big 12,'' Pinkel said. ``That's kind of on my shoulders and on our players' shoulders. This game is important for many reasons, but it will be remembered specifically for that reason.''

                While North Carolina and Missouri share a penchant for off-field issues, they also have similar on-field resumes.

                Both are talented teams that have experienced bouts of success and failure. Missouri started the season with a 4-5 record before consecutive wins over Texas, Texas Tech and Kansas earned them the right to go to the Independence Bowl.

                Missouri sophomore quarterback James Franklin has thrown for 2,733 yards and 20 touchdowns this season while also rushing for 839 yards and 13 touchdowns. The Tigers' defense has given up just 14 points per game during the recent three-game winning streak.

                ``It's been kind of an up-and-down year for us, so it'd be nice to end with four (wins) in a row and end our time in the Big 12 the way we want to,'' receiver T.J. Moe said. ``And for the guys who are going to be here next season, it can be a springboard into the SEC.''

                North Carolina started the season 5-1, but stumbled down the stretch, losing four of the last six to finish with a 3-5 ACC record.

                Still, the Tar Heels won their regular-season finale against Duke and have one of the best freshmen running backs in the country in Giovani Bernard.

                The 5-foot-10, 205-pounder from Davie, Fla., rebounded from a torn knee ligament last season to become the program's first 1,000-yard rusher since 1997.

                ``You see the great running backs, and they're with the great teams,'' Bernard said. ``That's the main thing. Dwight Jones has done a great job catching the ball all year and our offensive line has protected me and Bryn (Renner) amazingly this year. The credit goes out to those guys. I'm following the blocks. A little patience helps.''

                Renner, a sophomore, led the ACC in passing efficiency and has thrown for 2,769 yards, 23 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.

                Renner said all of the team's adversity has taken a toll, but also made the Tar Heels resilient. Though disappointed Withers won't be around next season to coach the team, he said the Tar Heels are determined to send everyone out a winner.

                ``This coaching staff - you can't say enough about the job coach Withers did for us all season,'' Renner said. ``That's really who we're playing for. This staff and this team.''
                Remember the 3 G's Gambling, Golf, Girls not in any particular order.....

                Comment


                • #53
                  Independence Bowl: What bettors need to know

                  NORTH CAROLINA TAR HEELS vs. MISSOURI TIGERS (-5.5, 52.5)

                  ADVOCARE V100 INDEPENDENCE BOWL STORYLINES

                  1. Missouri's parting gift from the Big 12 Conference -- the Tigers are headed to the Southeastern Conference along with Texas A&M next season -- was being passed over in the Big 12's bowl pecking order and relegated to a third trip to Shreveport, La., since 2003. The Tigers lost to Arkansas 27-14 in 2003 and rallied for a 38-31 win over South Carolina in 2005. North Carolina is playing in the Independence Bowl for the first time.

                  2. Both teams boast sophomore quarterbacks who put up big numbers, and they could be relied upon to carry the load, because both defenses are tough against the run. North Carolina's Bryn Renner has passed for 2,769 yards and 23 touchdowns, which ties Chris Keldorf's school record. Missouri's James Franklin has been a catalyst for the Tigers' balanced offense with 2,733 passing yards and 839 rushing yards and 33 total touchdowns.

                  3. It will be the Tar Heels' final game under interim coach Everett Withers, as former Southern Mississippi coach Larry Fedora will take over after the bowl game. North Carolina won five of its first six games under Withers but stumbled down the stretch, losing four of its last six. Withers announced that he'll be joining Urban Meyer's staff at Ohio State after the bowl game.

                  4. The teams have met only twice, with Missouri winning both meetings in 1973 and 1976. The Tigers won the first contest 27-14 in Chapel Hill and won 24-3 at home three years later. North Carolina has not played a Big 12 opponent since a 52-21 home loss to Texas in 2002, and the Tar Heels haven't beaten a current Big 12 team since a 20-0 win over Kansas in 1986.

                  TV: 5 p.m. ET, ESPN2.

                  LINE: Missouri opened as a 3.5-point favorite and has been bet up steadily to 5.5. But you can still find the Tigers at -5 if you shop around. The total is 52.5 or 53, depending on the book.

                  WEATHER: There's an 80 percent chance of rain at kickoff, with temperatures in the mid-40s and light wind. The chance of rain decreases slightly throughout the game. By 8 p.m. ET, the forecast calls for a 60 percent chance.

                  ABOUT MISSOURI (7-5, 5-4 Big 12): The Tigers closed the regular season with three straight wins to land in a bowl game for a school-record seventh consecutive season. The Tigers haven't won their last four games of the season since 1965. The late-season success helped make up for a tumultuous stretch in which leading rusher Henry Josey was lost for the season with two torn ligaments and a torn tendon in his left knee and head coach Gary Pinkel was suspended for one game after pleading guilty to a drunk driving charge. Losing Josey proved to be a speed bump for the nation's No. 12 offense (473.2 yards per game) but the defense was up to the task down the stretch, shutting down Texas in a 17-5 home win and stifling Kansas in a 24-10 win in Kansas City to end the regular season.

                  ABOUT NORTH CAROLINA (7-5, 3-5 ACC): The Tar Heels are playing in a bowl game for the fourth consecutive season, their longest streak since going to seven straight bowl games from 1992-98. Giovani Bernard has rushed for a North Carolina freshman record 1,222 yards, becoming the first Tar Heel to top 1,000 rushing yards since 1997. With 13 rushing touchdowns, he needs one more to tie the school's freshman record. The Tar Heels got some good news when leading receiver Dwight Jones was reinstated to the team. Jones was originally declared ineligible after allowing his name and image to be used to promote a party in his hometown of Burlington, N.C. Jones hauled in a school-record 79 passes for 1,119 this season with 11 going for touchdowns. Bernard and Jones are the first duo in school history to eclipse 1,000 yards rushing and receiving in the same season.

                  TRENDS:

                  - Missouri is 6-2 ATS in its last eight games on grass.
                  - Missouri is 3-8 ATS in its last 11 neutral-site games.
                  - North Carolina is 1-6 ATS in its last seven games following an ATS win.
                  - North Carolina is 19-9 ATS in its last 28 games as an underdog.
                  - Under is 9-3 in Missouri's last 12 non-conference games.
                  - Under is 9-4 in UNC's last 13 games vs. winning teams.

                  PREDICTION: Missouri 27, North Carolina 23 -- The Tigers have more weapons and will end a season with four straight wins for the first time in 46 years.
                  Remember the 3 G's Gambling, Golf, Girls not in any particular order.....

                  Comment


                  • #54
                    Sorry posted this late.....Just got home from return presents at the ****.........posted tomorrows games since i won't be home around that time.......good luck !


                    Date WLT Pct Net Units Record
                    12/24/11 1-*1-*0 50.00% -*50 Detail
                    12/22/11 2-*0-*0 100.00% +*1000 Detail
                    12/21/11 1-*1-*0 50.00% -*50 Detail
                    12/20/11 1-*1-*0 50.00% -*50 Detail
                    12/17/11 4-*2-*0 66.67% +*900 Detail
                    Totals 9-*5-*0 64.29% +1750

                    Monday, December 26

                    Game Score Status Pick Amount

                    North Carolina 7 2nd 9:16 Missouri -5 500

                    Missouri 17 Over 52.5 500

                    Tuesday, December 27

                    Game Score Status Pick Amount

                    Western Michigan - 4:30 PM ET Western Michigan +2.5 500

                    Purdue - Over 60 500


                    Louisville - 8:00 PM ET Louisville +2 500

                    North Carolina State - Over 44.5 500
                    Remember the 3 G's Gambling, Golf, Girls not in any particular order.....

                    Comment


                    • #55
                      Louisville, NC State Collide In Charlotte's Belk Bowl

                      What happened to the Meineke Car Care Bowl? Or the Continental Tire Bowl?

                      Don’t worry, the game still exists here in Charlotte, but has simply gone through the sponsorship naming parade the past few years. That doesn’t explain why Meineke took its name to the Texas Bowl in Houston this year, but we won’t waste any more time on bowl-naming dynamics.

                      As usual, there is some college football to be played in Charlotte’s Bank of America Stadium on Tuesday, December 27. The antagonists in this year’s newly named Belk Bowl are Louisville (7-5 straight up, 8-4 against the spread) and North Carolina State (7-5 SU, 5-6-1 ATS). Kickoff on Tuesday for this battle will be a 8:00 p.m. (ET), with ESPN providing the TV coverage.

                      A quick consultation with the Don Best odds screen notes that the Wolfpack, from nearby Raleigh (158 miles east),is priced as a narrow 1-1½ point favorite at Las Vegas wagering outlets entering the weekend, with the total between 44½ and 45.

                      Although we recall Louisville, coached by none other than Lee Corso, participating in the long-ago Pasadena Bowl in December of 1970 against Long Beach State at the Rose Bowl (in a rather entertaining 24-24 draw), modern Cardinals football history really began with the hiring of Howard Schnellenberger in 1985. Schnellenberger needed a few years to make U of L known for something besides Denny Crum’s hoop teams, but by 1990 had the Cards “bowling” for the first time in 20 years, walloping Alabama 34-7 in the Fiesta Bowl behind QB Browning Nagle.

                      Louisville has been through several coaches since Schnellenberger left after the 1994 season and one more bowl win (that one at the Liberty over Michigan State, 18-7) as the Cards have remained a frequent bowl participant in the past two decades.

                      Meanwhile, historical mention of NC State in bowls recalls a pair of teams in the 1960s coached by Earle Edwards, including a very good 1967 squad that beat Vince Dooley’s Georgia by a 14-7 count in the Liberty Bowl after rising as high as third in the national rankings in early November that year. The 'Pack would eventually become bowl regulars in the 1970s under none other than Lou Holtz, who parlayed four straight bowl visits into a job with the New York Jets after the 1975 season.

                      Yes, Holtz coached the Jets for one year in 1976, Joe Namath’s last season in New York, before moving to Arkansas in 1977!

                      The Cards and Wolfpack are also both making their second postseason visits in a row after each won and covered their bowl games a year ago. For Louisville, it was a 31-28 win over Southern Miss at the Beef O’Brady’s St. Pete Bowl, while NC State dismantled West Virginia in the Champs Sports Bowl at Orlando, 23-7.

                      Of course, the 'Pack gained more mention for much of this season due to developments elsewhere, namely Wisconsin, where former QB Russell Wilson was leading the Badgers to the Rose Bowl. Indeed, NC State coach Tom O’Brien came under much fire after demanding Wilson concentrate solely on football and not his baseball career. Wilson understandably balked, and since he had graduated academically, could move wherever would take him for his remaining year of eligibility.

                      What made matters more uncomfortable for O’Brien was that successor QB Mike Glennon endured some choppy efforts, especially in the first half of the season, and was hardly comparable to the exciting Wilson. Eventually, however, the big, strong-armed right-hander settled down and ended up with some very respectable stats, including 28 TD passes while effectively utilizing multiple receivers.

                      Like most O’Brien teams, this Wolfpack edition also picked up steam as the season progressed, winning and covering five of its last seven games to get bowl-eligible. Included was the school’s biggest-ever comeback when rallying from a 41-14 deficit in the third quarter of the regular-season finale vs. Maryland before emerging a miraculous 56-41 winner in a game NC State needed to qualify for a bowl thanks to two earlier wins vs. FCS-level opposition.

                      State’s late-season rally was even more impressive considering the various injuries endured by the defense, especially along the front seven. For this bowl game, the 'Pack is healthier, with seven of its top eight defensive linemen available. Moreover, NC State had a big-play bent on its stop unit with 24 picks, including a nation’s-best 11 by CB David Amerson, this year’s Jack Tatum Award winner.

                      Likewise, Louisville had to scramble down the stretch to get bowl-eligible, winning five of its last six after a 2-4 start. The Cards entered the season with an unsure QB situation, with pint-sized former backup Will Stein taking the snaps in the first few weeks before a shoulder injury thrust true frosh Teddy Bridgewater, a Miami-area product, into the lineup sooner than expected.

                      Bridgewater, a candidate for a redshirt year prior to Stein’s injury, immediately flashed his playmaking skills in a mid-September win at Kentucky and eventually smoothed out many of his rough edges. When the dust settled, Bridgewater had completed 66% of his passes and the Cardinal “O” scored 34 points or more in three of its last four games. The Cards’ infantry, however, was sporadic, and Bridgewater remains reluctant to look downfield with his throws.

                      Defense will likely be key in Charlotte, and second-year Louisville coach Charlie Strong, a longtime defensive coordinator before taking this assignment at the ‘Ville, makes no bones about his intentions. It’s pressure, pressure and more pressure from the Cards stop unit that registered 32 sacks and allowed only 20 ppg in 2011. How well Glennon deals with the aggressive Louisville “D” and how well NCS RBs James Washington and frosh Anthony Creecy provide an infantry diversion will be key to the Pack solving the Cards’ defensive riddle.

                      There are also a few interesting pointspread trends to note with these teams and coaches. Curiously, Louisville has been a pointspread phenom away from Papa John’s Stadium under Strong, covering all six road games this season and 11 of the last 12 since a year ago.

                      Meanwhile, NC State’s O’Brien has been the most successful bowl pointspread coach over the past decade, covering eight straight bowls spanning his Boston College and Wolfpack tenures. The patented late-season surges of O’Brien’s, as noted earlier, have also netted a sparkling 26-9 spread mark form the sixth game of the season onward since he arrived in Raleigh from BC for the 2007 campaign.
                      Remember the 3 G's Gambling, Golf, Girls not in any particular order.....

                      Comment


                      • #56
                        Western Michigan takes on Purdue in Pizza Bowl

                        December 26, 2011

                        DETROIT (AP) - Western Michigan coach Bill Cubit was thrilled after he found out his team would be playing in a bowl close to home.

                        The Broncos don't even have to leave the state to play in the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl on Tuesday against Purdue at Detroit's Ford Field.

                        ``It's a perfect situation for us as a university,'' Cubit said. ``Our alumni can get to the game. Our student body can get to the game. Our fans will be able to travel, a lot more families can be at the game than if we went somewhere else.''

                        If last weekend was any indication, Cubit can expect a friendly reception. A contingent from Purdue's team was shown taking in Saturday's Lions-Chargers game at Ford Field and greeted with plenty of boos. Then a group from Western Michigan was introduced to loud cheers.

                        Still, the Broncos (7-5) will need more than supportive fans to beat Purdue. Western Michigan hasn't beaten a Big Ten team since 2008, although the Broncos did play Illinois tough in a 23-20 defeat in September.

                        Purdue is returning to a bowl for the first time since 2007, when the Boilermakers beat Central Michigan 51-48 in this same bowl. Another shootout is certainly possible. Western Michigan has scored at least 38 points seven times this season, including a 66-63 loss to Toledo last month.

                        ``Looking at Western Michigan on film, they can score some points,'' Purdue coach Danny Hope said. ``They're obviously on the cutting edge of the spread offense. It's very similar to what we ran at Purdue when I coached there before, and we had Drew Brees. ... It's very similar in a lot of ways - the play calling, the styles, the protections. They're a high-scoring football team, so we'd better be ready to score some points.''

                        Hope is in his third season at the helm for the Boilermakers (6-6) and is taking them to a bowl for the first time. He was rewarded recently with a two-year contract extension through the end of 2016.

                        Purdue won two of its last three regular-season games, including a victory over Ohio State, to become bowl eligible.

                        ``I think it's a great opportunity for our football team to take another step in our development,'' Hope said earlier this month. ``I hope and anticipate we'll play the best game we've played all year.''

                        Western Michigan is led by wide receiver Jordan White, a third-team All-American who has 127 catches for 1,646 yards and 16 touchdowns on the season. Although he's played in relative obscurity in the Mid-American Conference, this will be a chance for White to shine on a bigger stage.

                        ``We played Michigan and we played Illinois, and we really should have won down there at Illinois. Unfortunately, we came up short down there,'' White said. ``Everybody's happy with where we're at. When we have that kind of confidence, we can take down big-time teams.''

                        Purdue, however, will look at this matchup as a challenge. Cornerback Ricardo Allen and the rest of the defensive backfield will try to stop White. Hope said defensive backs Taylor Richards and Landon Feichter could play more than usual because of Western Michigan's offensive style.

                        On offense, Caleb TerBush has handled most of the passing this season for the Boilermakers. Third on the depth chart at the beginning of the season, he earned Hope's confidence as the two players ahead of him recovered from injuries.

                        ``He has done a fantastic job,'' Hope said. ``He's really grown and developed through the course of the season.''
                        Remember the 3 G's Gambling, Golf, Girls not in any particular order.....

                        Comment


                        • #57
                          Glennon leads NC State vs. Louisville in Belk Bowl

                          December 26, 2011


                          CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) - When North Carolina State coach Tom O'Brien parted ways with quarterback Russell Wilson in the spring there were plenty of concerns about the Wolfpack's offense.

                          Replacement Mike Glennon has taken care of that, and then some.

                          Glennon has flourished as a junior this season. He threw for 2,790 yards and 28 touchdowns and led N.C. State to a berth in Tuesday night's Belk Bowl against Louisville, a game between 7-5 teams playing very well at the moment.

                          O'Brien, who coached Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan at Boston College, had a hunch the Wolfpack wouldn't miss a beat.

                          ``We've all made the comparison that he's Matt Ryan reincarnated,'' O'Brien said. ``The way he throws the ball, there's a lot of similarities with Matt. It's just a question of playing and gaining experience. He learned a lot as the year went on. You would expect that. He's a kid that studies the game and works at it.''

                          After a 3-4 start, the Wolfpack won four of their last five games to become bowl eligible.

                          Glennon threw eight touchdown passes in his final two games, including five in the season finale when he brought the Wolfpack back from a 33-point deficit to beat Maryland and clinch a bowl berth.

                          Louisville linebacker Dexter Heyman said the Cardinals must slow Glennon if they are to win their second straight bowl game under coach Charlie Strong.

                          ``We have to stop their pass game and make them a run-first offense and that's something people haven't been able to do, particularly late in the year,'' Heyman said.

                          Heyman said Glennon has a rocket for an arm, but his skills don't stop there.

                          ``He can really put the ball in a tight window,'' Heyman said. ``And he's smart and savvy. He doesn't throw many interceptions.''

                          Wolfpack tight end George Bryan said the transition to Glennon was easier than most outsiders think. Even though Wilson, who later transferred to Wisconsin, put up big numbers during his three years at N.C. State, Bryan said teammates knew what to expect from Glennon and immediately rallied around him.

                          ``Even in the spring we were with Mike because Russell was gone playing minor league baseball,'' Bryan said. ``It wasn't anything different. At that point we thought Mike was just there as an experiment. But it turned out he was there for the rest of the year - and that was a good thing.''

                          Glennon said replacing a team leader like Russell didn't bother him. In fact, he relished the opportunity.

                          ``I felt like I had a lot of confidence in myself and teammates had confidence in me that I could lead us to a lot of victories and get us to a bowl game,'' Glennon said. ``My personality is kind of laid back so I didn't worry about replacing Russell. I just let things play out.''

                          Louisville has a good quarterback of its own in freshman Teddy Bridgewater, although he has a completely different style than Glennon. Gifted with a knack for keeping alive plays with his feet, Bridgewater is the kind of exciting quarterback who could give the Wolfpack fits.

                          Bridgewater took over as the team's starter the third week of the season against Kentucky. After an initial rough patch he led the Cardinals to wins in five of their final six games and a share of the Big East title. However, because of a tiebreaker West Virginia represented the conference in a BCS bowl.

                          ``You have to contain him,'' O'Brien said. ``He's such a talented guy with his legs. He has a great arm and can throw the ball. Anytime you have a quarterback who can break the defense down by creating on his own there is the potential for problems.''

                          Bridgewater, one of six freshman starters on offense, finished the season with modest numbers, throwing for 1,855 yards with 12 touchdown passes with nine interceptions. But his mobility helped spark Louisville's stagnant running game.

                          His best game came against South Florida in the season finale when he threw for 241 yards and three touchdowns.

                          ``I think we play fast and try to eliminate mistakes,'' Bridgewater said.

                          If Bridgewater hopes to do the same against N.C. State, he may want to avoid throwing to cornerback David Amerson's side of the field. Amerson led the nation with 11 interceptions in 2011 - four more than the next closest player - and anchored a defense that led the country in picks.

                          ``He has a strong arm and he can move a little bit so you want to rattle him back there a little bit so we can make some plays in the secondary,'' Amerson said.

                          Amerson said Bridgewater reminds him a lot of Cincinnati quarterback Zach Collaros, which isn't necessarily good news for the Wolfpack. Collaros threw for 263 yards and two touchdowns in the Bearcats' 44-14 win over N.C. State on Sept. 22.

                          Of course, N.C. State is much healthier on defense than they were earlier in the season.

                          ``In that game we blitzed a lot and it we weren't getting there - and we paid for it,'' Amerson said. ``So it's imperative that we get to the quarterback.''
                          Remember the 3 G's Gambling, Golf, Girls not in any particular order.....

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                          • #58
                            Texas Longhorns And Cal Bears In Holiday Bowl

                            Have we seen the college coaching carousel finally stop spinning? Or might there be a few more moves and resultant dominoes to fall?

                            And could Texas coach Mack Brown still perhaps be in some trouble?

                            Remote as the possibility seems, we wouldn’t dismiss the idea. More on all of that in a moment.

                            We’re mentioning ’ol Mack because his Longhorns are going to be in action. The specifics tell us that Texas (7-5 straight up, 6-6 against the spread) will be meeting California (7-5 SU and ATS) in the Holiday Bowl at San Diego’s Qualcomm Stadium on Wednesday night, with kickoff time at 8:00 p.m. (ET). As usual, ESPN will provide the TV coverage.

                            A check of the Don Best odds screen notes that the Longhorns are 3-point favorites at the majority of Las Vegas wagering outlets, with a handful of sports books rating Texas a 3½-point choice. The total hovers between 47½-48 points, depending upon the outlet.

                            There’s also a little bit (though not much) history between these two programs, as well as a colorful history for this bowl game which had its inception in 1978.

                            As for the Golden Bears and Longhorns, they don’t run into one another too often. Indeed, they haven’t squared off in over 40 years, or since the early days of Darrell Royal’s wishbone era at Texas.

                            The September 20, 1969 meeting at Berkeley was a nationally-televised affair – a big deal in those days, since ABC’s featured game was the only one on live TV anywhere in the nation most weekends – dominated more by the Longhorn defense than the wishbone, which nonetheless pounded out 311 yards on the ground. Touchdowns in the first half by HB Jim Bertelsen and QB James Street staked the 'Horns to a 14-0 edge at intermission, and Texas would ease to a 17-0 win.

                            It was only the second national TV appearance for the wishbone, which was introduced midway through the previous 1968 campaign by Texas. The masses first got a look at the ’bone in the January 1, 1969 Cotton Bowl, when Lindsey Nelson described Texas’ 36-13 romp over Tennessee on CBS.

                            The rematch between Cal and Texas the following September 19, 1970 at Austin was even more lopsided. The 'Horns had replaced Street with Eddie Phillips at QB, but the wishbone was at its most dominating, running roughshod through the Bears while building a 21-0 first-quarter lead on three TD runs by punishing FB Steve Worster. The score ballooned to 49-0 in the second half before Cal got on the board on a TD pass to WR Isaac Curtis, who would eventually star for the Cincinnati Bengals.

                            The final score that night was 56-15, and no one could blame the Bears for not wanting anything to do with Texas in the 41 years since.

                            As for the Holiday Bowl, it dates to 1978, when, ironically, the need to feature the winner of the old WAC prompted its creation. WAC champs had been the host team in the Fiesta Bowl from 1971-77, but once Arizona State and Arizona moved to the newly-expanded Pac-10 in ‘78, the WAC sought a new venue for its bowl game. San Diego was the perfect fit, especially since the hometown SDSU Aztecs joined the WAC (replacing the Arizona schools) in ‘78.

                            The Holiday Bowl featured BYU often in its early years, with some great thrillers along the way. Indeed, BYU was featured in the first seven Holiday Bowls, although the Cougs blew leads when losing the first two to George Welsh’s Navy by a 23-16 count and Lee Corso’s Indiana by a 38-37 scoreline. BYU would finally get its win the following year vs. Eric Dickerson, Craig James and SMU, but it took three TDs in the final 2:33, including a Hail Mary from QB Jim McMahon to TE Clay Brown on the final play to tie the game before Kirk Gunther’s PAT won the battle for the Cougs, 46-45.

                            Fast-forward 31 years, and we arrive at Wednesday night for Texas-Cal, where we still believe Mack Brown could find himself in some trouble if the 'Horns lose, and look bad doing so. Remember, Brown’s Texas was only 5-7 last year, and at a school where the baseline is 8-9 wins, a second straight subpar campaign could spell big trouble. Brown’s goodwill from the 2005 BCS title is running low, and remember that predecessors such as Fred Akers and David McWilliams had been dismissed for less than Brown’s mark the past two years. Many southwest observers believe the game Brown really needed to be safe was the Texas A&M clash on Thanksgiving, won (barely) by the Longhorns on a last-second field goal, 27-25.

                            Still a loss to Cal puts Texas at 7-6, on the heels of a 5-7 mark. If nothing else, Brown will be squarely on the hot seat next fall.

                            Of these two, the Bears were certainly playing better down the stretch, covering their last four games, losing straight up only to highly-ranked Stanford in the process as Jeff Tedford’s team became bowl-eligible after it, too, missed the postseason a year ago.

                            Cal finally found some traction when Buffalo transfer QB Zach Maynard began to play with more consistency in the later stages of the season. The lefty was wildly erratic the first half of the campaign but began to eliminate mistakes by November, tossing just one pick in those last four games. Maynard’s half-brother Keenan Allen was a preferred receiving target, with a whopping 89 receptions, while Marvin Jones caught another 55.

                            Another key for the Bears down the stretch was the emergence of RB C.J. Anderson as a physical complement to undersized slasher Isi Sofele, who gained 1266 yards on the ground. Cal’s defense was also rarely overrun this season (only in the second half of an early October loss at Oregon), mostly keeping opposing rush games in check, allowing only 3.8 ypc, and generating 32 sacks. The strength of the stop unit’s 3-4 alignment is an active LB quartet featuring redshirt frosh David Wilkerson and 6-foot-6 true frosh Chris McCain.

                            As for the 'Horns, Brown was hoping to upgrade the offense by importing offensive coordinator Bryan Harsin from Boise State, though results were mixed. A re-emphasis of the ground game seemed to be paying dividends the first month of the season, but inconsistent QB work eventually proved problematic. Original starter Garrett Gilbert was so ineffective that he was pulled in September and eventually decided to transfer, leaving the offense to soph Case McCoy (Cleveland Browns’ QB Colt McCoy’s younger brother) and David Ash, one of many true freshmen who became key contributors as the season progressed.

                            The loss of explosive HB Fozzy Whittaker to a knee injury in early November was another blow to an offense that also dealt with absences of breakout freshmen such as RB Malcolm Brown and WR Jaxon Shipley (brother of Bengals WR Jordan). All of the youth, injuries and lineup juggling created a series of uneven performances as the Longhorns dropped five of their last eight.

                            Of more concern to Brown was a defense that often leaked (allowing 55 to Oklahoma and 48 to Baylor) despite the presence of several former blue-chip recruits. Which is another reason why some believe Brown isn’t out of the woods if the stop unit should collapse again vs. the Bears.

                            Note that Brown’s Texas is 7-3 straight up in its last 10 bowls, but only 3-7 vs. the number in those games (2-6 the last eight as a bowl favorite). Meanwhile, Tedford is 5-2 straight up in bowl games with the Bears since winning his first postseason try over Virginia Tech, 52-49, in the 2003 Insight Bowl.
                            Remember the 3 G's Gambling, Golf, Girls not in any particular order.....

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                            • #59
                              Short-handed Oklahoma Sooners Meet Iowa Hawkeyes

                              The 2011 Insight Bowl is going to be another interesting battle on the NCAA football bowl betting lines, as the Iowa Hawkeyes look to pull off the upset of the Oklahoma Sooners.

                              The Insight Bowl kicks off from Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe at 10:00 p.m. (ET) on December 30, and the game will be covered on ESPN and ESPN3.com.

                              On one blush, it seems easy to take the Sooners (9-3 SU, 6-6 ATS) in this game, but we aren't all that sure that should be the case. They are going to be playing without Ryan Broyles (knee injury) for certain and Jaz Reynolds (kidney) in all likelihood, and those are two of Landry Jones' top three receivers.

                              That really only leaves Kenny Stills as a top target for a passing game that ranked No. 4 in the nation at 365.1 YPG. Stills had 818 yards on 58 receptions this season, but if Reynolds doesn't play, there isn't another wide receiver on the team that caught more than 25 passes on the season.

                              At running back, things are just as bad for OU. Dominique Whatley led the team in rushing this year with 627 yards, but he broke his ankle against the Kansas State Wildcats in late October and has been out ever since. Roy Finch had 601 yards and three scores, and he and Brennan Clay are potentially going to be the only two healthy rushers available to Bob Stoops in this game.

                              Iowa (7-5 SU, 5-7 ATS) had a rough go of it in the Big Ten this year, as the Hawkeyes just weren't good enough to consistently beat the elite teams in the conference. Iowa fell on the road to Penn State and Nebraska, dropped a home contest to Michigan State plus suffered an embarrassing loss at Minnesota. The one big win came at home in early November over Sugar Bowl-bound Michigan.

                              The Hawkeyes have their own problems right now as well, and will be playing the Insight Bowl without leading rusher Marcus Coker who has been suspended due to conduct problems. Coker accounted for 1,384 yards on the ground and another 157 as a receiver, and he found the end zone 15 times on the campaign.

                              Without Coker, all of the running backs combined on this team carried the ball 51 times for 215 yards, so needless to say, it's a huge loss.

                              The pressure is now on James Vandenberg to get the job done for the offense. He completed 59.4 percent of his passes for 2,806 yards and 23 TDs against six INTs this year, and he has a great set of receivers to throw to in Marvin McNutt and Keenan Davis. The pair combined for 123 receptions, 1,906 yards and 16 TDs, and they'll have to both have great games for a shot at the upset.

                              The Hawkeyes and Sooners haven't played against each other in nearly four decades, so there is literally no history to go off of between them. Iowa has played well of late in bowl games, including winning last year's Insight Bowl over the Missouri Tigers 27-24.

                              Oklahoma has a bad history of coming up short in bowl games, losing five times in six chances from 2003 through 2008. But since that point, the Sooners have come up with a big 31-27 win in the 2009 Sun Bowl over the Stanford Cardinal and a 48-20 win in last year's Fiesta Bowl against the Connecticut Huskies.

                              The Sooners opened up as 16½-point favorites on the Insight Bowl odds, but they have since dipped to -14. The total has risen from 56 to 58.

                              It should be a great evening for football in Tempe where the weather forecast calls for clear skies and temps in the mid-60s at the start.
                              Remember the 3 G's Gambling, Golf, Girls not in any particular order.....

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                              • #60
                                RG3 Leads Baylor Bears Against Washington Huskies

                                The Baylor Bears have not won a postseason game since 1992 and hope that having the Heisman Trophy winner on their side will help them end that drought when they meet the Washington Huskies on Thursday in the Valero Alamo Bowl.

                                Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III may also be playing his last game for the school at the Alamodome in San Antonio and would love nothing more than to end his college career with a victory.

                                Griffin has led the Bears (9-3) to five straight wins during a season in which he has amassed 3,998 passing yards, 644 rushing yards and 45 total touchdowns while leading the country with a 192.3 passer rating. They will try to end the year with a victory against the Huskies (7-5), who dropped three of four overall in a weak Pac-12 to close out the regular season.

                                Game time is scheduled for 9:00 p.m. (ET) with television coverage provided by ESPN. Baylor opened as an 8½-point favorite according to the Don Best odds screen and has been bet up as high as -10 at some sportsbooks while the total has increased from a 76½-point opener to 79½.

                                There is some speculation that Griffin could declare for the NFL draft after this game with nothing left to prove following an outstanding junior campaign. He has already earned his degree, and his draft stock could not be much higher than it is right now considering everything he has accomplished this year.

                                Washington knows something about the risks behind an NFL-caliber QB returning to school since that’s exactly what Jake Locker did last season after he was projected as a first-round pick following his junior year. Locker suffered through a worse season statistically as a senior even though he still managed to lead the Huskies to a victory in the Holiday Bowl before getting selected by the Tennessee Titans with the eighth overall pick of the NFL draft.

                                Without Locker under center this season, Washington has turned to sophomore Keith Price, who threw for 2,625 yards with 29 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in his first year as the starter. Price completed 21 of 29 passes for 291 yards with three touchdowns and no picks in a 38-21 rout of Washington State in the annual Apple Cup game to close out the regular season, helping his team end a three-game losing streak.

                                The Huskies struggled defensively before that victory and will have their hands full trying to stop Griffin and the Bears. They surrendered nearly 42 points per game in their previous five prior to beating the Cougars, and Baylor has averaged more than 46 points per game during its winning streak with the ‘over’ going 4-1. In fact, the ‘under’ cashed just once for the Bears in their 11 lined games this season.
                                Remember the 3 G's Gambling, Golf, Girls not in any particular order.....

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