The Bum's College Football + Bowl Games POD'S- Trends- Stats !

[StarDust Bum]

Rose Bowl: What bettors need to know


Stanford Cardinal vs. Michigan State Spartans (+6.5, 42.5)

Game played at Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California.

ROSE BOWL GAME PRESENTED BY VIZIO STORYLINES

1. The 100th edition of the Rose Bowl Game presented by Vizio features Michigan State’s first appearance in the game in 26 years. The Spartans have already set a school record for victories but the achievement will feel even better if the fourth Rose Bowl win in program history is the topper. Stanford, playing in a BCS bowl for the fourth straight season and making its 14th Rose Bowl appearance, dispatched of Wisconsin in last year’s contest in Pasadena.

2. The defenses are expected to set the tone as Michigan State leads the nation in total defense (247.8) and Stanford ranks 14th (339). The Spartans also lead the nation in rushing defense (80.8) and the Cardinal excel at pounding standout running back Tyler Gaffney (1.618 yards, 20 touchdowns) between the tackles. Stanford ranks third at stopping the run (91.2) and is tied for the national lead with 40 sacks.

3. In a contest featuring hard-nosed play in the trenches, some top-notch athletes like Stanford receiver/returner Ty Montgomery and Michigan State cornerback Darqueze Dennard could shine. Montgomery caught 58 passes for 937 yards and 10 touchdowns and averaged 31.2 yards and scored two touchdowns on kickoff returns. Dennard (four interceptions) is the consensus top defensive back in the nation after winning the Thorpe Award.

TV: 5 p.m. ET, ESPN.

LINE: Stanford opened -3.5 and has jumped to -6.5. The total has held at 42.5.

WEATHER: Temperatures will be in the low-70s with partly cloudy skies.

TRENDS:

* Cardinal are 4-0 ATS in their last four bowl games.
* Spartans are 5-1 ATS in their last six games overall.
* Under is 7-0 in Cardinal last seven vs. a team with a winning record.
* Over is 4-1 in Spartans last five neutral site games.

ABOUT MICHIGAN STATE (12-1, 9-0 Big Ten): The Spartans allow 12.7 points per game – fourth-best nationally – and Dennard has plenty of company when it comes to standout defenders. Safety Kurtis Drummond also had four interceptions, linebacker Denicos Allen (15.5) and end Shilique Calhoun (14) combined for 29.5 tackles for loss but defensive leader Max Bullough (9.5 stops for loss as the Big Ten’s top middle linebacker) will miss the contest after being suspended. Michigan State scores 29.8 points per game with running back Jeremy Langford (1,338 yards, 17 touchdowns) leading the way and quarterback Connor Cook (2,423 yards) throwing 20 touchdowns against just five interceptions.

ABOUT STANFORD (11-2, 8-2 Pac-12): The Cardinal typically control games with their defensive front seven, led by outside linebacker Trent Murphy (nation-leading 14 sacks) and inside linebacker Shayne Skov (100 tackles, 10 for losses). Stanford also boasts strong performers in the secondary in safeties Ed Reynolds (77 tackles) and Jordan Richards (three interceptions). While Gaffney’s work as a bell-cow – he’s carried 306 times – fuels the offense, quarterback Kevin Hogan (2,487 yards) has thrown for 20 touchdowns against nine interceptions for an attack producing 33.2 points per game.

[StarDust Bum]

Tostitos Fiesta Bowl: What bettors need to know


Central Florida Knights vs. Baylor Bears (-16.5, 69.5)

Game to played at University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona

TOSTITOS FIESTA BOWL STORYLINES

1. Fifth-ranked Baylor brings the nation’s top attack (53.3 points per game) into the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, Ariz., on New Year’s Day, but No. 15 Central Florida is no offensive slouch. The Knights average 33.2 points behind quarterback Blake Bortles, who ranks ninth nationally in passing efficiency with 22 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Bears quarterback Bryce Petty, who has thrown 30 touchdowns against two interceptions while rushing for 11 scores, ranks second in pass efficiency.

2. Both teams are making their first appearance in a BCS bowl. Baylor had national championship aspirations until getting blitzed at Oklahoma State 49-17 on Nov. 23, while Central Florida finished the season on an eight-game win streak to earn the American Athletic Conference’s automatic BCS bid.

3. While Central Florida boasts an outstanding running back duo in Storm Johnson (1,015 yards, 14 total touchdowns, 5.3 yards per carry, 29 catches) and William Stanback (six rushing scores), Baylor features a dangerous trio in Lache Seastrunk (1,060 yards, 11 rushing TDs), Shock Linwood (862, eight) and Glasco Martin (490, six). Seastrunk missed nearly three games with a groin injury but returned Nov. 30, running for 172 yards in season-ending victories over Texas Christian and Texas.

TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN.

LINE: Baylor opened -16.5. The total is up to 69.5 from the opening 68.

WEATHER: N/A

TRENDS:

* Knights are 1-4 ATS in their last five games overall.
* Bears are 5-0 ATS in their last five neutral site games.
* Under is 4-1 in Knights last five games overall.
* Over is 8-1 in Bears last nine non-conference games.

ABOUT CENTRAL FLORIDA (11-1, 8-0 American Athletic Conference): The Knights rank 13th nationally in points allowed (19.6) and are led defensively by linebacker Terrance Plummer, who has 96 tackles, eight tackles for loss, two sacks, two interceptions and six pass breakups. Central Florida posted another 11-win season as recently as 2010 and has won its last two bowl games after losing its first three. But the Knights looked far from dominant down the stretch, squeaking by South Florida and Southern Methodist by a combined seven points.

ABOUT BAYLOR (11-1, 8-1 Big 12): The Bears won’t have lightning-fast wide receiver Tevin Reese, who averaged 25 yards per catch and hauled in eight touchdowns before dislocating his wrist, but Antwan Goodley (1,319 receiving yards, 13 TDs) and Levi Norwood (670, seven) also are thriving in coach Art Briles’ exciting scheme. Baylor averaged 51 more yards than any other team and scored at least 59 points seven times. The Bears, 10-9 in bowl games, rank 19th nationally in points allowed (21.2).

[StarDust Bum]

Inside the stats: Let's go bowling


Let’s take a look at what’s trending this New Year’s Day bowl card.

Bowling For Dollars

Here is a look at the most recent trends that have occurred inside each of the five major bowl games on tap New Year’s Day…

Heart Of Dallas Bowl: The favorite is 2-1 ATS and the OVER is 2-1 in this bowl game since its inception.

Capital One Bowl: The favorite is 4-1 ATS the last five years and 6-7 ATS the last twelve. All seven dog wins have been straight up.

Gator Bowl: The favorite has cashed each of the last three years, snapping a previous four year run by the dogs.

Orange Bowl: The favorite is 2-4 ATS the last six years, with the dog winning straight up four times.

Outback Bowl: Of the eight ATS dog wins six have been in straight up fashion.

Rose Bowl: PAC 10/12 teams are 7-1 SU and ATS the last eight games versus Big 10 opponents.

Conference Call: The Good, The Bad And The Ugly

Good numbers: ACC bowl teams as dogs off a SU loss (Clemson) are 18-5-1 ATS, with Boston College and Duke results from 12/31 pending… Big 10 bowl teams off a double-digit SU win (Iowa and Michigan State) are 10-3 ATS… Big 12 bowl favorites of 8 or more points (Baylor) are 5-1 ATS… PAC 12 bowl teams off back-to-back SU wins (Stanford) are 7-1 ATS.

Bad Numbers: SEC bowl favorites of 8 or more points who allowed 35 or more points in their last game (Georgia) are 1-5 ATS.

Ugly numbers: Big 10 bowl teams who allowed 35 or more points in their last games (Nebraska) are 2-11 ATS.

Coach Me Up

Iowa’s Kirk Ferentz is 6-2 ATS as a bowl dog, and 3-1 SUATS vs. SEC opponents.

LSU’s Les Miles is 4-1 SUATS In bowl games vs. .818 or less opponents.

Michigan State’s Mark Dantonio is 12-3 ATS away vs. an opponent off a SUATS win.

South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier is 6-0 ATS vs. non-conference opponents off a SU favorite loss.

Wisconsin’s Gary Andersen is 18-3-1 ATS vs. non-conference opponents.

My Favorite Martian

Favorites on New Years Day bowl games have been out of this world in games dating back to 1990.

That’s confirmed by a 75-53 ATS overall mark.

The best role for New Year's Day chalk is when they take on opponents with soft defenses, those allowing 20 or more PPG on the season, where they zoom to 32-14 ATS.

Georgia and North Texas look to turn extraterrestrial this New Year’s Day.

New Resolution

In keeping with the tradition of making, then breaking, new promises for the New Year, let’s see whether UNLV maintains status quo today.

The Rebels are 10-15 SU and 16-6 ATS at home under head coach Bobby Hauck. They are 3-22 SU and 7-17 ATS away from Vegas.

Stat Of The Day

Central Florida is 0-4 SU but 4-0 ATS versus Big 12 opponents in its school history.

[StarDust Bum]

Essential betting tidbits for New Year's Day's bowl games


We dug up these vital betting tidbits for Wednesday's six NCAA bowl games that will help you make the right call before kickoff.

- The Nebraska Cornhuskers, who face No. 22 Georgia in the Gator Bowl, have played Under the total in eight of their last 10 neutral-site games.

- The Bulldogs are 1-7-1 ATS in their last nine games after surrendering more than 450 yards in their previous outing. Georgia was torched for 495 yards in a 41-34 double-overtime win over Georgia Tech on Nov. 30.

- UNLV, which tangles with North Texas in the Heart of Dallas Bowl, is 5-1 ATS in its last six games after scoring more than 40 points in its previous game. The Rebels are coming off a 45-19 thumping of San Diego State on Nov. 30.

- The Mean Green have played Under the total in nine of their last 11 games following a 40-point effort in their previous encounter. North Texas trounced Tulsa 42-10 on Nov. 30.

- No. 19 Wisconsin, which will take on No. 9 South Carolina in the Capital One Bowl, is 9-2-1 ATS in its last 12 games but came up short in each of its final two games of the season.

- The Gamecocks are just 1-4 ATS in their last five bowl appearances, and 1-6 ATS in their previous seven neutral-site games.

- Iowa, which battles No. 16 LSU in the Outback Bowl, is just 6-15 ATS in its last 21 games following a SU win. The Hawkeyes come in off a season-ending 38-17 triumph over Nebraska on Nov. 29.

- The Tigers have played Over the total in their last 12 games on grass, and in each of their previous four non-conference games.

- No. 5 Stanford, which will take on No. 4 Michigan State in the Rose Bowl, is 26-9-1 ATS in its last 36 games following a SU win of 20 or more points. The Cardinal come in following a 38-14 drubbing of Arizona State on Dec. 7.

- The Spartans have played Under the total in 14 of their last 17 games on grass.

- No. 15 Central Florida, which has a Fiesta Bowl date with No. 6 Baylor, is a perfect 5-0 ATS in its last five non-conference games.

- The Bears, coming in off a 30-10 triumph over Texas, are 17-4 ATS in their last 21 games following an SU win.

[StarDust Bum]

2013-14 Bowl Betting Results

January 1, 2014

Bowl Conference Standings

Conference Straight Up (SU) Against the Spread (ATS)

ACC 4-5 5-3

American (AAC) 1-2 2-1

Big 10 0-2 0-2

Big 12 2-1 2-1

CUSA 1-3 1-3

Independent 3-1 2-2

Mid-American 0-4 0-4

Mountain West 3-2 3-2

Pac-12 6-2 6-2

SEC 2-1 1-2

Sun Belt 1-0 1-0

WAC - -


Overall Game Results

Wager SU Win SU Loss ATS Win ATS Loss

Favorite 16 7 14 9

Underdog 7 16 9 14

Over Under
7 16


2013-14 Bowl Schedule - Results

Date Bowl Matchup Line, Total Score ATS

Saturday, Dec. 21 New Mexico Bowl Washington State vs. Colorado State +4, 64 ½ 48-45 Underdog-Over

Saturday, Dec. 21 Las Vegas Bowl Fresno State vs. USC -4 ½, 66 45-20 Favorite-Under

Saturday, Dec. 21 Idaho Potato Bowl Buffalo vs. San Diego State +1, 49 ½ 49-24 Underdog-Over

Saturday, Dec. 21 New Orleans Bowl Tulane vs. Louisiana-Lafayette +1, 50 24-21 Underdog-Under

Monday, Dec. 23 Beef 'O' Brady's Bowl East Carolina vs. Ohio -14, 63 37-20 Favorite-Under

Tuesday, Dec. 24 Hawaii Bowl Boise State vs. Oregon State -4 ½, 67 ½ 38-23 Favorite-Under

Thursday, Dec. 26 Little Caesars Bowl Pittsburgh vs. Bowling Green +7, 49 ½ 30-27 Underdog-Over

Thursday, Dec. 26 Poinsettia Bowl Utah State vs. Northern Illinois -2, 56 21-14 Favorite-Under

Friday, Dec. 27 Military Bowl Marshall vs. Maryland -2 ½, 65 31-20 Favorite-Under

Friday, Dec. 27 Texas Bowl Syracuse vs. Minnesota +3 ½, 48 21-17 Underdog-Under

Friday, Dec. 27 Fight Hunger Bowl Brigham Young vs. Washington -5 ½, 65 ½ 31-16 Favorite-Under

Saturday, Dec. 28 Pinstripe Bowl Rutgers vs. Notre Dame -15, 53 ½ 29-16 Underdog-Under

Saturday, Dec. 28 Belk Bowl Cincinnati vs. North Carolina -3, 60 39-17 Favorite-Under

Saturday, Dec. 28 Russell Athletic Bowl Miami, Fl. vs. Louisville -5 ½, 53 ½ 36-9 Favorite-Under

Saturday, Dec. 28 Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl Michigan vs. Kansas State -7, 52 ½ 31-14 Favorite-Under

Monday, Dec. 30 Armed Forces Bowl Middle Tennessee vs. Navy -7, 57 ½ 24-6 Favorite-Under

Monday, Dec. 30 Music City Bowl Mississippi vs. Georgia Tech +2 ½, 56 25-17 Underdog-Under

Monday, Dec. 30 Alamo Bowl Oregon vs. Texas -15, 68 30-7 Favorite-Under

Monday, Dec. 30 Holiday Bowl Arizona State vs. Texas Tech +17, 72 37-23 Underdog-Under

Tuesday, Dec. 31 Independence Bowl Arizona vs. Boston College -7, 57 42-19 Favorite-Over

Tuesday, Dec. 31 Sun Bowl Virginia Tech vs. UCLA 7, 45 ½ 42-12 Favorite-Over

Tuesday, Dec. 31 Liberty Bowl Rice vs. Mississippi State 7, 50 ½ 44-7 Favorite-Over

Tuesday, Dec. 31 Chick-fil-A Bowl Duke vs. Texas A&M 14. 76 52-48 Underdog-Over

Wednesday, Jan. 1 Gator Bowl Nebraska vs. Georgia - - -

Wednesday, Jan. 1 Heart of Dallas Bowl UNLV vs. North Texas - - -

Wednesday, Jan. 1 Capital One Bowl Wisconsin vs. South Carolina - - -

Wednesday, Jan. 1 Outback Bowl Iowa vs. LSU - - -

Wednesday, Jan. 1 Rose Bowl Stanford vs. Michigan State - - -

Wednesday, Jan. 1 Fiesta Bowl Central Florida vs. Baylor - - -

Thursday, Jan. 2 Sugar Bowl Oklahoma vs. Alabama - - -

Friday, Jan. 3 Cotton Bowl Oklahoma State vs. Missouri - - -

Friday, Jan. 3 Orange Bowl Clemson vs. Ohio State - - -

Saturday, Jan. 4 BBVA Compass Bowl Vanderbilt vs. Houston - - -

Sunday, Jan. 5 GoDaddy.Com Bowl Arkansas State vs. Ball State - - -

Monday, Jan. 6 BCS Championship Florida State vs. Auburn - - -

[StarDust Bum]

Heart of Dallas Bowl: What bettors need to know


UNLV Rebels vs. North Texas Mean Green (-6.5, 54.5)

Game played at Cotton Bowl Stadium, Dallas, Texas

HEART OF DALLAS BOWL

When its comes to the two most unlikeliest teams to be playing in a New Year's Day bowl game, you'd be hard-pressed to beat the Heart of Dallas Bowl matchup between UNLV and North Texas. Both teams combined to win a total of just six games a year ago and the Rebels entered the season following back-to-back-to-back two-win campaign. But both teams overcame slow starts -- UNLV began 0-2 while North Texas started 2-3 -- to end long bowl droughts and wind up playing at the Cotton Bowl on one of college football's most sacred days.

The Mean Green play a short drive north up I-35 in Denton, Texas and is making its first bowl appearance since 2004 when it lost the last of four consecutive New Orleans Bowls to Southern Mississippi, 31-10. UNLV is playing in its first bowl game since 2000 when it upset Arkansas in the Las Vegas Bowl, 31-14. The Rebels lead the all-time series with the Mean Green, 4-0, and won the last meeting in 2000 in Las Vegas, 38-0.

TV: Noon ET, ESPNU.

LINE: The Mean Green opened as 6.5-point faves. The total has held at 54.5.

WEATHER: Temperatures in Dallas will be in the low-50s with wind blowing across the field at 12 mph.

ABOUT UNLV (7-5): Senior quarterback Caleb Herring, moved to wide receiver for his junior season after a disappointing sophomore campaign, has been the MVP of this team. He took over for sophomore Nick Sherry midway through the UNLV's third game with Central Michigan and rallied the Rebels from a 21-0 deficit to a 31-21 victory, the start of the team's first four-game regular-season win streak since 1984 when Randall Cunningham was the quarterback. Herring has passed for 2,522 yards and 22 touchdowns and been intercepted just four times.

ABOUT NORTH TEXAS (8-4): The Mean Green rank ninth nationally in scoring defense (18.1) and have been particularly tough in the red zone, allowing teams to score touchdowns just 45.5 percent of the time which, ranks sixth nationally. Senior running back Brandin Byrd leads the offense with 1,023 yards rushing, including 251 yards and three touchdowns in a season-ending 42-10 win at Tulsa. Derek Thompson, who passed for 2,640 yards this season, ranks second in school history in career passing yards with 7,191.

TRENDS:

* Rebels are 5-1 ATS in their last six games overall.
* Mean Green are 6-1 ATS in their last seven games overall.
* Under is 4-1 in Rebels last five vs. a team with a winning record.
* Under is 5-1 in Mean Green last six games following a ATS win.

EXTRA POINTS:

1. RB Tim Cornett (1,251 yards, 15 TDs) and WR Devante Davis (77 catches, 1,194 yards, 14 TDs) became UNLV's first duo to top 1,000 yards rushing and receiving in the same season.

2. North Texas has blocked eight kicks this season.

3. North Texas senior Brelan Chancellor led Conference USA in both kickoff (28.14) and punt returns (16.82).


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Taxslayer.com Gator Bowl: What bettors need to know


Nebraska Cornhuskers vs. Georgia Bulldogs (-9, 59.5)

Game played at EverBank Field, Jacksonville, Florida

TAXSLAYER.COM GATOR BOWL STORYLINES

1. Georgia and Nebraska have been mirror images of each other, making it appropriate the two schools meet for the second time in a year Jan.1 at the TaxSlayer.com Gator Bowl in Jacksonville, Fla. The Bulldogs downed the Cornhuskers in the Capital One Bowl last season, but both teams will be without the record-setting quarterbacks who appeared in that game. Georgia’s Aaron Murray tore his ACL in late November while Nebraska’s Taylor Martinez missed most of the season with a foot injury.

2. With the replacement quarterbacks’ roles likely to be somewhat minimized (Hutson Mason for Georgia and either Ron Kellogg III or Tommy Armstrong Jr. for Nebraska), the Bulldogs’ Todd Gurley and the Cornhuskers’ Ameer Abdullah figure to show their wares as two of the nation's top running backs. Gurley closed the season by gouging Georgia Tech for 122 yards on the ground and four total touchdowns while Abdullah ranks seventh in the country in rushing.

3. Nebraska and Georgia are among the most frequent visitors to the postseason in college football history. The Cornhuskers will celebrate their 50th bowl-game appearance (only Alabama and Texas have more) against the Bulldogs, who will appear in their 49th bowl game.

TV: Noon ET, ESPN2.

LINE: Georgia opened -9. The total is down one point from the opening 60.5.

WEATHER: Temperatures will be in the low-60s with wind blowing toward the SW endzone at 6 mph. There is an 81 percent chance of rain.

TRENDS:

* Cornhuskers are 0-4 ATS in their last four neutral site games.
* Bulldogs are 5-2 ATS in their last seven Bowl games.
* Over is 4-1 in Bulldogs last five non-conference games.
* Under is 8-2 in Cornhuskers last 10 neutral site games.

ABOUT NEBRASKA (8-4, 5-3 Big Ten): Most of the offensive line that got wrecked by injuries during the season is expected to be back in place by the bowl game – including tackle Jeremiah Sirles, guard Jake Cotton and guard/center Cole Pensick. The Cornhuskers finished last in the Big Ten and in a tie for 118th in the country in turnover margin (minus-12). Buoyed by the emergence of defensive end Randy Gregory (Big Ten-high 8.5 sacks), Nebraska yielded an average of 306 yards after it gave up 410.4 over its first seven contests.

ABOUT GEORGIA (8-4, 5-3 SEC): Injuries also derailed the Bulldogs from the outset, ending the season for key players such as defensive end Malcolm Mitchell, wide receiver Justin Scott-Wesley and running back Keith Marshall. Gurley also missed three games due to an ankle injury, but the offense averaged 41.2 points once Gurley returned. Georgia gave up at least 30 points to eight opponents and finished last in the SEC in passing yards allowed per attempt (7.6).


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Capital One Bowl: What bettors need to know

Wisconsin Badgers vs. South Carolina Gamecocks (+1.5, 51)

Game to be played at Florida Citrus Bowl, Orlando, Florida

CAPITAL ONE BOWL STORYLINES

1. The last time South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney played in a bowl game, he became a national sensation based on one brutal hit. The Gamecocks star will try to provide another highlight in possibly his last college game when the Gamecocks face Wisconsin in the Capital One Bowl in Orlando, Fla., on Jan. 1. The Badgers had a six-game winning streak snapped in the regular-season finale and are stepping back after three straight trips to the Rose Bowl.

2. Clowney is a likely top-five draft pick should he choose to leave school after his junior season and is hoping to help South Carolina to a third straight bowl win over a Big Ten School. The Gamecocks ended the regular season with five straight victories, including wins over top-10 opponents Missouri and Clemson.

3. Wisconsin finished second in the Big Ten Leaders Division, robbing it of a chance to make a fourth straight trip to the Rose Bowl as the champion of the Big Ten. The Badgers rely on a strong running game and tight defense, something they have in common with South Carolina.

TV: 1 p.m. ET, ABC.

LINE: South Carolina opened as a 2.5-point dog and is now +1.5. The total opeend at 51.

WEATHER: Temperatures in Orlando will be in the high-60s with a 54 percent chance of rain. Wind will blow across the field at 5 mph.

TRENDS:

* Badgers are 4-0 ATS in their last four non-conference games.
* Gamecocks are 1-6 ATS in their last seven neutral site games.
* Under is 6-2 in Badgers last eight Bowl games.
* Under is 4-1 in Gamecocks last five Bowl games.

ABOUT WISCONSIN (9-3, 6-2 Big Ten): The Badgers gave up a little balance on offense in favor of a heavy running attack led by a pair of backs - Melvin Gordon (1,466) and James White (1,337) - that each eclipsed 1,300 yards and combined for 25 touchdowns on the ground. Wisconsin also excels at stopping the run, ranking second in the Big Ten behind conference champion Michigan State in rushing defense with an average of 101.3 yards allowed. The most dynamic player on the team may be senior receiver Jared Abbrederis, who is playing his final college game after posting career highs with 73 catches and 1,051 yards in the regular season.

ABOUT SOUTH CAROLINA (10-2, 6-2 SEC): Clowney was ticketed for driving 110 mph in a 70-mph zone early in December but will be available for the Capital One Bowl and will key a defense that finished second in the SEC against the run. “We’ll have to get our run defense pants on, that’s for sure,” Gamecocks coach Steve Spurrier said. “When you play a team like Wisconsin that can run it and run it and run it, they can stay on the field for a long time if you don’t watch it.” Connor Shaw passed for 21 touchdowns and just one interception during the regular season and adds to the ground game as well, including a season-high 94 yards and a touchdown against Clemson in the finale.


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Outback Bowl: What bettors need to know


Iowa Hawkeyes vs. LSU Tigers (-7, 49)

Game played at Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida

OUTBACK BOWL STORYLINES

1. The spotlight will be on freshman quarterback Anthony Jennings when LSU meets Iowa in the Outback Bowl in Tampa, Fla., on New Year's Day. Jennings will make his first career start in replacing Zach Mettenberger, who suffered a torn ACL in the Tigers' 31-27 victory over Arkansas on Nov. 29 in their regular-season finale. “He’s a very accurate thrower,” Tigers coach Les Miles told The Advocate about Jennings. “I think he fits the offense that Zach was running. ... We will run our offense just the way it is.”

2. Iowa is riding a three-game winning streak including victories over Michigan and Nebraska and wound up second in the Big Ten's Legends Division behind Rose Bowl-bound Michigan State. LSU won its last two games over Mississippi State and Texas A&M to finish third in the SEC West Division behind Auburn and Alabama.

3. The only previous meeting occurred Jan. 1, 2005 when Drew Tate threw a 56-yard touchdown pass to Warren Holloway as time expired to lift the Hawkeyes to a 30-25 victory in the Capital One Bowl. It was the final game in the LSU coaching career of Nick Saban as news broke hours later that Miles would take over.

TV: 1 p.m. ET, ESPN.

LINE: LSU opened-7 and the total has held at 49.

WEATHER: Temperatures at Raymond James Stadium will be in the mid-60s with a 52 percent chance of rain. Wind will blow across the field at 6 mph.

TRENDS:

* Hawkeyes are 4-1 ATS in their last five bowl games.
* Tigers are 1-4 ATS in their last five games overall.
* Over is 5-0 in Hawkeyes last five non-conference games.
* Under is 4-1 in Tigers last five Bowl games.

ABOUT IOWA (8-4, 5-3 Big Ten): The Hawkeyes boast the No. 7 defense in the country at 303.2 yards per game - 11th against the pass (182.4) and 17th versus the run (120.8). Iowa's effective but unspectacular offense is led by sophomore Jake Rudock (60.2 percent completion rate, 18 touchdowns, 12 interceptions). The Hawkeyes are 14-11-1 in bowl games - 6-4 in coach Kirk Ferentz's previous 14 seasons (2-1 in the Outback Bowl) - and play in one for the fifth time in six years.

ABOUT LSU (9-3, 5-3 SEC): The Tigers averaged a potent 37 points with Mettenberger at the controls and their 200.8 rushing yards per game could be a big help to Jennings. Jeremy Hill ran for 1,185 yards and 14 touchdowns, but the sophomore is expected to be the focal point of Iowa's defense with Jennings at the helm. The Tigers, who are trying for a school-record fourth consecutive 10-win season, are 22-21-1 in bowl games and have appeared in one for 14 straight seasons.

[Udog]

I hope 2014 is a great one for you and yours, Bum! Thanks for all your hard work and all the winners!

[StarDust Bum]

Thanks Dog.....right back at ya............and thanks for all your hard work you do for all here.........

[StarDust Bum]

Bowl Record:

*****..............................10 - 4

DOUBLE PLAYS..............6 - 8

TRIPLE PLAYS................4 - 5



My bowl game of the year and total goes today........


Wednesday, January 1

Game Score Status Pick Amount

UNLV - 12:00 PM ET North Texas -6.5 500 *****

North Texas - Over 54.5 500 DOUBLE PLAY

Nebraska - 12:00 PM ET Nebraska +9 500

Georgia - Over 59.5 500

Iowa - 1:00 PM ET Louisiana State -7.5 500 DOUBLE PLAY

Louisiana State - Under 49 500 *****

Wisconsin - 1:00 PM ET South Carolina +1.5 500 DOUBLE PLAY

South Carolina - Over 51 500 *****

Stanford - 5:00 PM ET Stanford -6.5 500 BOWL GAME OF THE YEAR

Michigan State - Over 42.5 500 BOWL TOTAL OF THE YEAR

Central Florida - 8:30 PM ET Central Florida +16.5 500 TRIPLE PLAY

Baylor - Under 70.5 500 TRIPLE PLAY


GOOD LUCK ALL AND HAPPY NEW YEARS !!

[StarDust Bum]

Armadillo: Wednesday's six-pack

-- Why teams lose; Purdue offered UCF QB Blake Bortles a scholarship out of high school…..as a linebacker. Now Bortles could be a top 5 pick in the NFL Draft in May.

-- Packers-49ers are meeting in playoff game for 7th time since 1995.

-- Only once in last 19 years have both #1 seeds made it to the Super Bowl, Saints-Colts four years ago.

-- Detroit Lions had the NFL’s highest payroll this year. Oy.

-- Wisconsin has been an underdog in its last eleven bowls; they’re favored over South Carolina this year.

-- Aaron Rodgers went to Butte Community College for a year because no one offered him a college scholarship; Illinois would’ve let him walk on, Florida State flat out rejected him. Go figure.


*****

Armadillo: Wednesday's List of 13: Things to look for in 2014.......

13) College football playoff is going to be a huge deal; picking those four teams might very well make Twitter explode. You’re going to have a diverse committee of people picking those teams; going to be an interesting debate.

12) Instant replay in baseball is going to be dicier than you think; those neighborhood plays at second base on double plays are going to be challenged now, and some middle infielder is going to get hurt because he has to stay in there and make sure his foot is on the bag when he takes the throw.

11) NFL Draft is May 8-10; hoping the Rams reap another bonanza thanks to the RGIII trade, maybe even parlaying the Redskins’ top pick this year into even more draft picks down the road. It’s the formula Jimmy Johnson used to make the Cowboys a power.

10) Don’t take this the wrong way, but if the Super Bowl in Swamp Stadium goes really smoothly, they’ll be tempted to have more cold weather Super Bowls. Championship games should be played in as close to ideal conditions as possible. Some hideous weather on Ground Hog Day could discourage future cold weather Super Bowls.

9) I really hope DirecTV picks up Pac-12 Network; also curious to see what the SEC Network is going to look like when it kicks off next summer.

8) I can finally stop complaining about the FOX Saturday baseball Game of the Week blacking out all the other games played at the same time; if you have the MLB package, all Saturday afternoon games will be shown. About freakin’ time.

7) There is a movie coming out where Kevin Costner is GM of the Cleveland Browns and Denis Leary is Browns’ coach; this has the potential to be really good, especially Leary as the coach, if they let his character rant now and then.

6) I’m making an attempt at giving up soda (again) this year; did it from 2010 until early last year, but in an attempt to lose some weight, am trying again. Wish me well.

5) Mariners/Rangers both spent a fortune on free agent position players this winter; can the A’s win their third straight AL West title?

4) Pat Riley has a copyright on the term “three-peat”; will he capitalize on it this year, if his Miami Heat win their third NBA title in a row?

3) Which college basketball team will emerge from nowhere and become this March’s Florida Gulf Coast, the upstart Cinderella that takes down a big name team? The gap between the bigger schools and smaller schools is widening in college hoop and it will continue to do so until high school kids can go straight to the NBA, but upsets still happen now and then.

2) I’m hoping that 2014 is a year where this country figures out that free speech is an essential part of American life; if something offends you, block it out, but everyone has to have a right to express themselves. Its why God invented the mute button.

1) Hope you keep reading this website as we head towards the end of our 13th year on the Internet; I wish you health and happiness this year, and also a lot of winners.

[WThotrod]

BOL, Bum! Following you on your GOY.

[StarDust Bum]

Rod that was the worst coached game i've seen Dave Shaw call...................i just don't understand how he thought he could get any yardage up the middle on a 4th down call several times he tried.......i can't believe he was out coached......

[StarDust Bum]

NCAAF
Armadillo's Write-Up

Bowl Season

Sugar Bowl, New Orleans, 1/2
Alabama won three of last four national titles, some are questioning how much they'll want to be here after not even making SEC title game, but Saban won his last four bowls, whacking Michigan State 49-7 in Capital One Bowl in '10, after winning title year before- that was also last year Alabama lost the Iron Bowl. Last time Alabama was in Sugar Bowl was Saban's only bowl loss with Tide, 31-17 (-9.5) to Utah in '08. Oklahoma lost by 10-28 points last two times they were bowl underdog- their last three bowl wins came as double digit favorites. Sooners had trouble with QBs this year; neither Bell/Knight was especially good. Oklahoma has edge in experience on OL; they covered two of three as an underdog this year, beating Oklahoma State 33-24 (+10) in its rivalry game. Alabama is 7-5 vs spread this year, 2-2 if spread was less than 20. Big X teams split their first four bowls; SEC teams are 3-2 in their first five bowls. Bowl favorites are 15-12 after going 1-5 Wednesday; under is 18-9-1.




NCAAF

Bowl Season

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Allstate Sugar Bowl: What bettors need to know
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Oklahoma Sooners vs. Alabama Crimson Tide (-15.5, 51.5)

ALLSTATE SUGAR BOWL STORYLINES:

1. Alabama saw its chances to play for a third consecutive national championship dashed on the final play of the regular season, so an obvious question is whether the third-ranked Crimson Tide will suffer a major letdown when they face No. 11 Oklahoma in the Allstate Sugar Bowl on Jan. 2 in New Orleans. A miraculous 109-yard kickoff return by bitter rival Auburn as time expired in the regular-season finale derailed Alabama's three-peat hopes and now the team must regroup for the matchup with the twice-beaten Sooners. It will be the five-year anniversary of The Crimson Tide's last visit to the Sugar Bowl, when they were waxed by Utah after their perfect season ended against Florida in the SEC Championship game.

2. Oklahoma is a decided underdog after losing to Texas and getting mauled by Baylor, but it finished the regular season on a high note, registering a last-minute victory at archrival Oklahoma State. One of the few programs in the country that can rival Alabama's storied history, the Sooners will be making their 15th consecutive bowl appearance under coach Bob Stoops. Oklahoma had a three-game bowl winning streak snapped last season with a lopsided defeat against Johnny Manziel and Texas A&M - a former Big 12 rival that now plays with Alabama in the SEC, which has produced the past seven BCS national champions.

3. Despite the string of success under Stoops that includes a dozen 10-win seasons since 2000, Alabama's Nick Saban is widely regarded as the best coach in college football with four national championships under his belt. One of them came at the expense of Stoops and Oklahoma, when Saban guided Louisiana State to a 21-14 victory over the Sooners in the Sugar Bowl following the 2003 season. "We respect them, but we're not scared to play them," Oklahoma All-American center Gabe Ikard said of the Crimson Tide. "They're extremely talented and we realize that. You have got to be confident going into a football game or else you're going to get blown out."

TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN.

LINE: Alabama opened as 15-point faves and now sit at -15.5. The total has stayed put at 51.5.

WEATHER: N/A.

ABOUT OKLAHOMA (10-2, 7-5 ATS): Stoops still must decide on a starting quarterback versus Alabama - the options being senior Blake Bell and redshirt freshman Trevor Knight. The Tebow-esque Bell, nicknamed the Belldozer for his 6-6, 260-pound frame, started eight games and was superb in rallying the Sooners past Oklahoma State when Knight went down with a shoulder injury. Knight, however, is a dual threat and it's worth noting that Alabama's defense surrendered its two highest point totals against similar-style QBs for Texas A&M and Auburn. Brennan Clay rushed for 913 yards, including 200 against Kansas State in the next-to-last game, to power a ground game that ranked among the top 20 nationally while Jalen Saunders and Sterling Shepard are the top receiving targets.

ABOUT ALABAMA (11-1, 6-5-1 ATS): The Crimson Tide have no such question marks under center with senior A.J. McCarron, the Maxwell Award winner and runner-up in the Heisman Trophy balloting. McCarron threw for 26 touchdowns against only five interceptions this season and posted even better numbers as a junior with 30 TD passes and three picks, capped by a brilliant performance in the national championship game that was somewhat overshadowed by ABC's Brent Musberger gushing over McCarron's girlfriend, Katherine Webb. T.J. Yeldon rushed for 1,163 yards and 13 scores while Amari Cooper leads a deep and balanced receiving corps. Per usual, Alabama features a stellar defense that ranked No. 2 nationally, allowing 11.7 points per game and holding nine of 12 opponents to 10 points or fewer.

TRENDS:

* Oklahoma is 2-5 ATS in its last seven bowl games.
* Alabama is 4-0 ATS in its last four bowl games.
* Under is 4-0 in Oklahoma's last four versus the SEC.
* Over is 6-1 in Alabama's last seven bowl games.

[StarDust Bum]

Bowl betting: Unders on red-hot streak for bettors

Through 25 bowl games Unders have been red-hot for college football bettors.

Game scorelines staying under closing totals has been the story of bowl season betting . After 25 games, the Under is 18-6-1 for a very impressive 72 percent success rate.

The New Year's Day slate of bowl games posted a 3-3 O/U mark. Before those games the Under was hitting a staggering 78.9 percent of the time, which included a streak where the scoreline went Under the total 12 games in a row

[StarDust Bum]

Armadillo: Thursday's six-pack

-- Nebraska 24, Georgia 19-- Cornhuskers had a 99-yard TD pass.

-- North Texas 36, UNLV 14-- Lousy end to terrific year for the Rebels.

-- LSU 21, Iowa 14-- Teams combined to complete 20 of 50 passes.

-- South Carolina 34, Wisconsin 24-- Connor Shaw was 22-25/312 passing; his receivers made some great catches.

-- Michigan State 24, Stanford 20-- Big Dozen is now 2-9 in its last eleven Rose Bowl games.

-- UCF 52, Baylor 42-- Big win for AAC and George O'Leary's Knights.