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

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2013-14 Bowl Betting Results

December 25, 2013



Bowl Conference Standings

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

ACC - -

American (AAC) - -

Big 10 - -

Big 12 - -

CUSA 0-1 0-1

Independent 1-0 1-0

Mid-American 0-2 0-2

Mountain West 2-2 2-2

Pac-12 2-1 2-1

SEC - -

Sun Belt 1-0 1-0

WAC - -


Overall Game Results

Wager SU Win SU Loss ATS Win ATS Loss

Favorite 3 3 3 3

Underdog 3 3 3 3

Over Under
2 4

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 - - -

Thursday, Dec. 26 Poinsettia Bowl Utah State vs. Northern Illinois - - -

Friday, Dec. 27 Military Bowl Marshall vs. Maryland - - -

Friday, Dec. 27 Texas Bowl Syracuse vs. Minnesota - - -

Friday, Dec. 27 Fight Hunger Bowl Brigham Young vs. Washington - - -

Saturday, Dec. 28 Pinstripe Bowl Rutgers vs. Notre Dame - - -

Saturday, Dec. 28 Belk Bowl Cincinnati vs. North Carolina - - -

Saturday, Dec. 28 Russell Athletic Bowl Miami, Fl. vs. Louisville - - -

Saturday, Dec. 28 Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl Michigan vs. Kansas State - - -
Monday, Dec. 30 Armed Forces Bowl Middle Tennessee vs. Navy - - -

Monday, Dec. 30 Music City Bowl Mississippi vs. Georgia Tech - - -

Monday, Dec. 30 Alamo Bowl Oregon vs. Texas - - -

Monday, Dec. 30 Holiday Bowl Arizona State vs. Texas Tech - - -

Tuesday, Dec. 31 Independence Bowl Arizona vs. Boston College - - -

Tuesday, Dec. 31 Sun Bowl Virginia Tech vs. UCLA - - -

Tuesday, Dec. 31 Liberty Bowl Rice vs. Mississippi State - - -

Tuesday, Dec. 31 Chick-fil-A Bowl Duke vs. Texas A&M - - -

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]

NCAAF
Armadillo's Write-Up

Bowl Season

Little Caeser's Bowl, Detroit 12/26
Bowling Green already lost coach Clawson to Wake Forest after special 10-3 season; they won last five games by average score of 45-9, ending No Illinois' shot at unbeaten season. Pitt is in 6th straight bowl, losing last two, 28-6/38-17; Panthers played in last three Compass Bowls, so they'll be excited about being anywhere other than Birmingham. Edge to Pitt for having its coach/staff in place, while BG has interim coach after their coach bolted for $$$$ less than 72 hours after their MAC title win. Pitt scored jusr 13.8 ppg in last five bowls (2-3). Falcons lost last three bowls, losing 29-20 to San Jose State LY; their last bowl win was in '04- they allowed 34.3 ppg in last four bowls. Underdogs covered five of last six in this bowl game, with all six decided by 5 or less points. Game is in MAC country, but MAC teams are 2-7 in this bowl last nine years.

Poinsettia Bowl, San Diego 12/26
Northern Illinois was headed to BCS bowl before getting upset in MAC title game; we saw with Fresno State in Vegas Bowl how disappointed teams do in bowls. Huskies allowed 27+ points in five of 13 games TY; teams from MAC are 2-6 in last eight bowls. NIU was over its head in Orange Bowl LY, but won 38-20/40-17 in previous two bowls- favorites covered four of their last five bowls. Utah State lost star QB Keeton but still went 8-5, winning five of last six games, but they're 1-3 as underdog this year. Favorites are 7-1 SU in this bowl, but 2-4 vs spread in last six; Mountain West teams are 6-2 here, on San Diego State's home field, 2-2 in bowls this month, despite being underdog in all four. Huskies want to run ball, but Utah State held USC to 118 rushing yards and didn't allow more than 162 rushing yards to any team all season.

[StarDust Bum]

Thursday, December 26

Game Score Status Pick Amount

Pittsburgh - 6:00 PM ET Pittsburgh +4.5 500 *****
Bowling Green - Under 49.5 500

Utah State - 9:30 PM ET Northern Illinois -1.5 500
Northern Illinois - Under 58 500 *****

[StarDust Bum]

Big Ten Bowl Report - Part I

December 21, 2013


Texas Bowl
Minnesota Golden Gophers (8-4 SU, 9-3 ATS) vs. Syracuse Orange (6-6 SU, 7-4-1 ATS)

Date: Friday, Dec. 27
Time/TV: 6:00 p.m. ET, ESPN
Line: Golden Gophers (-4.5, 45.5)
Venue: Reliant Stadium
Location: Houston, Texas

No matter what happens in the Bowl game, Minnesota players and coaches can walk away from the 2013 season successful. They finished with the most wins since 2003 and reached the top 25 poll for the first time since 2008. They’ve now improved their win total each season under Jerry Kill. Still, after dropping the final two games to Wisconsin and Michigan State, the Gophers would like to close out the season on a high note with a Bowl win over Syracuse.

Nothing special stands out about this team, but a bend-but-don’t-break defense and a power-run offense (200.9 YPG) allowed this team to eke out wins. The Gophers ranked 107th in total yards and QB Nelson showed little improvement in his 2nd season with the team. Nelson finished with just 9 TD and 6 INT and a 51.4% completion percentage. RB David Cobb is the star of this offense with 1,111 rush yards (5.1 YPC) and 7 TD. But too few weapons for receivers made this offense one-dimensional (leading receiver had 25 receptions).

Defensively DT Ra'Shede Hageman was a unanimous selection on the All-Big Ten team and he’s one of the most disruptive big men in College Football. He led this defense that ranked 41st in yards allowed, 40th against the pass, 51st against the run, and 28th in points allowed. Over the final three games, the Gophers allowed just 14.6 PPG to Penn State, Wisconsin, and Michigan State – three above-average offenses. This defense could have a big day against a Syracuse offense that struggled throughout the year.

Syracuse had a transitional year with a new head coach, new quarterback, a new offensive schemes, and a new conference to call home. Many would’ve doubted Syracuse’s bowl chances to begin the season, but here they are going to consecutive bowl games for the first time since 98-99. The Orange rank 87th in yards per game, 104th in passing, and 100th in scoring. They were held to 20 points or fewer in 7 of 12 games this season.

Much like the Gophers, they are led by the rushing attack with a struggling passing attack. RB’s Smith led the team with 840 yards and 11 touchdowns while QB Hunt contributed 426 yards and 5 scores. Hunt didn’t excel in the passing game. He completed 60.7% of his passes with 10 TD and 8 INT this season and didn’t throw a TD pass in league play until the 2nd to last game of the season.

It was ugly at times for Syracuse with losses to Florida State, Clemson, and Georgia Tech by a combined score of 17-164; but overall this defense ranked statistically strong. They rank 39th in yards allowed, 27th against the run, and 60th in points allowed. The Orange were able to overcome a slew of injuries to win four games in the ACC and secure a bowl berth.

Syracuse is 0-4 SU against Big Ten teams the last two years, including a 17-10 loss to Minnesota in 2012. Minnesota hasn’t won a bowl game since 2004 while Syracuse has won two straight – including a 38-14 win over West Virginia in the Pinstripe Bowl last year.

Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl
Michigan Wolverines (7-5 SU, 7-5 ATS) vs. Kansas State Wildcats (7-5 SU, 7-5 ATS)

Date: Saturday, Dec. 28
Time/TV: 10:15 p.m. ET, ESPN
Line: Wildcats (-3.5, 56.5)
Venue: Sun Devil Stadium
Location: Tempe, Arizona

Michigan lost four of its last five games, with the only win over that span an overtime victory over 5-7 Northwestern. Still, they ended the season by taking then-undefeated Ohio State to the brink of an upset in the biggest rivalry in college football. The Wolverines tallied 603 total yards, 31 first downs, and 41 points against the Buckeyes – but a failed two-point conversion with 32 seconds remaining cost them the game. Prior to that outburst, Michigan’s offense was really struggling. They averaged just 16.7 PPG, 209 YPG, and 32 rushing YPG over the four games leading up to Ohio State. Still, for a team that had high hopes after a 5-0 start, a 7-5 finish and a trip to the Buffalo Wild Wings bowl isn’t what the Wolves had in mind – so motivation will be a factor here.

QB Devin Gardner showed flashes of brilliance this year, like the 4 TD performance against Ohio State, but he was too often under duress behind this subpar offensive line. And because of that, Gardner turned the ball over 17 times this year (11 INT & 6 fumbles).

Defensively the statistics aren’t bad for Michigan, but the Wolverines struggled against the top offenses they faced this season. Notre Dame, Penn State, Indiana, Michigan State, and Ohio State averaged 38.2 PPG against this Michigan defense this season.

Kansas State will present another stern test for this Wolverine defense. After a 2-4 start which included a loss to FCS North Dakota State, K State was left for dead in the Big 12. Star QB Collin Klein was gone and this offense didn’t have an identity. They found one in Big 12 play as the two-quarterback system with Daniel Sams and Jake Waters worked seamlessly during the final half of the season, leading KSU to 36.7 PPG over the final six games (31+ points in each game). KSU’s 6.54 yards per play during that span led the Big 12, even better than the headline-making crew from Baylor. They reeled off wins in five of their last six Big 12 games to finish 7-5 and earn a berth in the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl. Waters finished the season with 15 TD passes and 2,198 yards while Sams, the better runner, finished with 4 TD passes and 11 rush TD.

The defense performed well despite playing against some of the top offenses in the country. KSU ranked 38th in yards allowed and 36th in points allowed. Defensive end Ryan Mueller is the leader of this defense and he finished with 11.5 sacks and 18.5 tackles for loss. This unit led the Big 12 with just 4.73 yards per play allowed in the final six-game stretch.

While Michigan’s arrow was pointing down to end the regular season, KSU’s is clearly pointing up. Michigan is 1-4 SU & 0-4-1 ATS in its last five bowl games. The Wolves lost to South Carolina in the Outback Bowl last year. Kansas State is 0-5 SU & ATS in its last five bowl appearances (dating back to 2003). They dropped the Fiesta Bowl to Oregon last season after winning the Big 12.

[StarDust Bum]

Friday's Bowl Tips

December 26, 2013


Military Bowl

Matchup: Marshall vs. Maryland
Venue: Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium
Location: Annapolis, MD
Time/TV: 2:30 p.m. ET, ESPN

-- These schools will meet in the Military Bowl in Annapolis, Maryland. Therefore, the location advantage goes to Randy Edsall’s squad, but Marshall’s fans travel and will be well represented.

-- As of Thursday night, most books had Marshall (9-4 straight up, 8-5 against the spread) installed as a 2.5-point favorite with a total of 62.5 or 63. Gamblers can back the Terrapins on the money line for a +120 return (risk $100 to win $120). For first-half wagers, the Thundering Herd is favored by one-half point with a total of 31.

-- Marshall enjoyed its best season in more than a decade and the best since Doc Holliday took over four years ago. The Thundering Herd won its last five regular-season games, but it lost 41-24 at Rice in the Conference USA Championship Game. Rakeem Cato threw for 265 yards and two touchdowns in the losing effort.

-- Maryland (7-5 SU, 7-5 ATS) raced out to a 4-0 start both SU and ATS to enter the Top 25 rankings. The Terrapins also got an open date ahead of a trip to Tallahassee to face Florida St. The season went South at that point, however, as the Seminoles clubbed the Terps by a 63-0 count and injured QB C.J. Brown, who had been off to a remarkable start in the first four games.

-- Following the loss to FSU, Maryland lost three of its next four games. Even worse, the Terrapins lost their two best playmakers – WRs Deon Long and Stefon Diggs – to season-ending knee injuries. But they salvaged the season with two wins in their last three games, starting with a 27-24 overtime win at Va. Tech as 14-point underdogs.

-- Maryland owns a 2-1 spread record in three games as an underdog this year. Meanwhile, Marshall was favored in 12 of its 13 games, going 8-4 ATS from the favorite role. In three games as a single-digit ‘chalk,’ the Thundering Herd went 1-2 versus the number.

-- Cato threw for 3,579 yards with a stellar 36/9 touchdown-to-interception ratio. He also rushed for 279 yards and six scores. Cato’s favorite target is Tommy Shuler, who has 97 catches for 1,097 yards and nine TDs. Gator Hoskins had a team-high 13 TD receptions. RB Essray Taliaferro produced a team-high 1,059 rushing yards and nine TDs.

-- Brown had a 7/1 TD-INT ratio in Maryland’s first five games. He struggled with injuries in much of October and his numbers reflected his poor health. But Brown is healthy now and threw three TD passes without an interception in the last two games. He also has 538 rushing yards and 12 scores.

--The ‘over’ has cashed in seven consecutive games for Marshall, improving to 8-5 overall for the season.

--The ‘over’ is 8-4 overall for the Terps, 6-2 in their last eight games.

--Kickoff is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Eastern on ESPN. The forecast is good with mostly sunny skies expected and temperatures in the 40s.

Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl

Matchup: Washington vs. Brigham Young
Venue: AT&T Park
Location: San Francisco, California
Time/TV: 9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN

-- Washington will represent the Pac-12 against Independent BYU in the Fight Hunger Bowl at AT&T Park in San Francisco on Friday. ESPN will have the telecast at 9:30 p.m. Eastern.

-- As of Thursday night, most books had Washington (8-4 SU, 6-6 ATS) installed as a three-point favorite with a total of 61. Some offshore shops were forcing UW backers to pay a price ranging from -115 to -125. Bettors can take the Cougars to win outright for a +140 payout (risk $100 to win $140). For first-half plays, the Huskies are favored by 1.5 with a total of 30.5.

-- Washington will be playing without head coach Steve Sarkisian, who left after five seasons to take the USC job. The interim head coach is Marques Tuiasosopo, who was the QBs coach under Sarkisian. The new head coach is Chris Petersen. If I’m a UW fan, I’m more than happy with the trade of Sarkisian for Petersen. I like Sarkisian but I don’t consider him one of the top-10 coaches in the country, maybe not even in the top 15. For several years now, Petersen has been one of the country’s top-five coaches in my mind.

-- Washington is gunning for its first nine-win season since 2000. The Huskies won four of their last five games to finish third in the Pac-12 North behind Stanford and Oregon.

--BYU (8-4 SU, 5-6-1 ATS) has won a school-record four straight bowl games. The Cougars were underdogs three times this year, going 2-1 both SU and ATS in those spots. They beat Texas and Utah St. as ‘dogs.

-- BYU is led by sophomore QB Taysom Hill, who rushed for a team-high 1,211 yards and nine TDs. Hill’s passing accuracy steadily improved throughout the season, as he threw for 2,645 yards with a 19/13 TD-INT ratio. However, we should point out that Hill’s TD-INT ratio was 18/9 in the last eight games.

-- Hill gets plenty of help on the ground from RB Jamaal Williams, who ran for 1,202 yards and seven TDs despite missing 1.5 games with a concussion. He ran for a season-high 219 yards in a 28-23 win at Nevada in the regular-season finale.

-- Cody Hoffman is BYU’s best WR. He wasn’t able to duplicate his 2012 numbers due to injuries and a suspension. Nevertheless, Hoffman is a big-time player who made a team-high 45 catches for 727 yards and five TDs.

-- Washington QB Keith Price had a helluva senior campaign despite missing 1.5 games with a shoulder injury and playing through the pain of a thumb injury on his throwing hand for several games. Price completed 65.5 percent of his throws for 2,843 passing yards with a 20/5 TD-INT ratio.

-- Washington RB Bishop Sankey finished third in the nation in rushing yards with 1,775. The junior ran for 18 TDs while averaging 5.8 YPC.

-- Washington went 2-0 ATS in a pair of single-digit favorite roles.

-- The ‘under’ is 8-4 overall for BYU, 4-1 in its last five games.

-- Totals were an overall wash for Washington, but the ‘over’ hit in three of its last four games.

[StarDust Bum]

NCAAF
Armadillo's Write-Up

Bowl Season

Military Bowl, Annapolis 12/27
Maryland is only 27 miles from home in this game, shortest trip of any bowl team, other than Tulane, who played on home field. Terps won in this bowl 51-20 (-7.5) over East Carolina three years ago, but that was their last bowl game- they went 2-10/4-8 last two years. Maryland was 3-5 in last eight games after starting 4-0; four of their five losses were by 13+ points. Terps allowed 236+ rushing yards in four of their last seven games; Edsall was 3-2 in bowls when he was coaching UConn. Marshall could easily have been 11-0 in regular season but lost three tough games, then got waxed by Rice in C-USA title game. Herd is 2-5 vs spread away from home this year; winning side scored 41+ points in their last seven games- they won four of last five bowl games, winning last two SU as underdogs- their last bowl loss was in '04. Favorites are 5-0 SU in this bowl game, 4-1 against the spread.

Texas Bowl, Houston 12/27
Minnesota (+1.5) beat Syracuse 17-10 at home LY, mainly because of a +4 turnover ratio; Gophers then went 2-7 rest of season, lost 34-31 in this game to Texas Tech (+13). Syracuse won Pinstripe Bowl two of last three years, but hard to get too excited about bowl team that lost games by 21-35-and two by 56 points. SU held four opponents to 10 or less points, allowed 48+ in four others; they should be happy to be in warm weather at least. Minnesota lost last five bowl games, four by 3 or less points, since beating Alabama in Nashville nine years ago. Gophers beat Nebraska/Penn State for best two wins of year; they were held to 13 or less points in each of four losses. Minnesota overcame illness of coach Kill; he watched games from press box later in year; they're 1-4 this year when gaining less than 300 yards. Syracuse held three of their last five opponents under 300 yards.

Fight Hunger Bowl, San Francisco 12/27
Washington lost coach Sarkisian (BYU grad) to USC, but Petersen comes in from Boise after this game, so program is on uptick, playing in bowl for 4th year in row (lost to Baylor/Boise last two years). Washington only had one game all year (31-28 loss at Stanford) that was decided by less than 10 points. BYU is an independent, so they don't play any big games during season; they lost 20-13 to Utah, 23-13 at Notre Dame in their biggest games of season. Cougars scored 17 or less in all four games they lost. BYU won its last four bowls, with three wins by 17+ points, splitting pair vs Pac-12 opponents. Huskies held six teams under 17 and three of those six are in bowls. Favorites won this bowl SU last six years (4-2 vs spread); Pac-12 teams won four of last five in this bowl. Last year was first time in six years more than 41 points scored in this game.




NCAAF

Bowl Season

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Military Bowl betting: What bettors need to know
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Marshall Thundering Herd vs. Maryland Terrapins (+2.5, 62.5)

MILITARY BOWL PRESENTED BY NORTHROP GRUMMAN STORYLINES:

1. Marshall narrowly missed out on a Conference USA crown with a loss in its last game but can still count the season a success with a bowl win. The Thundering Herd will attempt to post a 10-win campaign when they face Maryland in the Military Bowl presented by Northrop Grumman in Annapolis, Maryland on Dec. 27. The Terrapins struggled to 3-5 in the ACC and dropped four of their last six games but ended the regular season on a high note with a win at North Carolina State.

2. Marshall plays wide open on offense and was one of the top scoring teams in the nation at 43 points per game. The Thundering Herd averaged 53.8 points during a five-game win streak that put them in line for the C-USA title before losing 41-24 at Rice in the conference championship game.

3. Maryland is playing close to home but proximity to its own fans did not help much this season, as the team lost its last three home games. The Terrapins utilize dual-threat quarterback C.J. Brown in a balanced offensive attack.

TV: 2:30 p.m. ET, ESPN.

LINE: Maryland have held steady as 2.5-point dogs. The total has jumped from 61 to 62.5.

WEATHER: It will be clear with temperatures in the mid 30s.

ABOUT MARSHALL (9-4, 8-5 ATS): The Thundering Herd are returning to bowl play after missing out last season and are thriving offensively behind quarterback Rakeem Cato, who has passed for 36 touchdowns and nine interceptions this season. Cato was at his best during Marshall’s five-game win streak, tossing 19 touchdowns and two picks. Cato’s only multiple-interception game came at ACC foe Virginia Tech on Sept. 21, when he threw for two scores and two picks in a 29-21 triple-overtime loss.

ABOUT MARYLAND (7-5, 7-5 ATS): The Terrapins played their own tight game at Virginia Tech, getting 122 rushing yards, 135 passing yards and three total TDs from Brown in a 27-24 overtime win Nov. 16. Brown went over 100 yards rushing in two of the last three contests and had one of his best passing days with 259 yards and a pair of scores in the regular-season finale at NC State. Maryland was left out of bowl season in each of coach Randy Edsall’s first two seasons at the helm, last appearing in the 2010 Military Bowl and earning a 51-20 win over East Carolina.

TRENDS:

* Marshall is 5-1 ATS in its last six non-conference games.
* Maryland is 5-0 ATS in its last five non-conference games.
* Over is 7-0 in Marshall's last seven games overall.
* Over is 4-1 in Maryland's last five games overall.


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NCAAF

Bowl Season

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Texas Bowl betting: What bettors need to know
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Syracuse Orange vs. Minnesota Golden Gophers (-4, 47.5)

Game will be played at Reliant Stadium, Houston, Texas

TEXAS BOWL STORYLINES:

1. Minnesota heads to the Texas Bowl for the second straight season, even though the team won two more games than it did in 2012 and some pundits expected the Golden Gophers to play in a more prominent bowl game. "You can’t control any of that. Our control is getting nine wins and winning a bowl game," said coach Jerry Kill, whose team will play Syracuse on Dec. 27 at Reliant Stadium in Houston. Minnesota suffered a devastating loss to Texas Tech in last year's Texas Bowl: it led 31-24 before the Red Raiders scored the tying touchdown with 1:10 left, then picked off Philip Nelson to set up the game-winning field goal at the buzzer.

2. Syracuse will be playing a Big Ten opponent for the third time this year, after losing to Penn State and Northwestern by a combined 27 points. The Orange also faced a pair of Big Ten teams last year, including a 17-10 road loss to the Golden Gophers in which Syracuse did not score a touchdown until 46 seconds remained in the game.

3. Kill personally has endured a tough season that included his latest seizure, which caused him to miss the Michigan game Oct. 5 and the Gophers' ensuing four-game win streak as he continued his ongoing battle with epilepsy. He returned to coach from the booth for Minnesota's final two games, losses to nationally-ranked Wisconsin and Michigan State.

TV: 6 p.m. ET, ESPN.

LINE: Minnesota opened as 4.5-point faves and now sit at -4. The total has moved up slightly from 47 to 47.5

WEATHER: N/A.

ABOUT SYRACUSE (6-6, 7-5 ATS): Following a two-game skid, the Orange secured bowl eligibility in dramatic fashion as Terrel Hunt found Josh Parris for the game-winning touchdown with six seconds left in a 34-31 win over Boston College. Hunt has thrown three touchdowns over the last two games after not throwing for any scores - while throwing seven interceptions - over the previous six contests. Hunt is known more for his legs, joining Jerome Smith (840 yards, 11 touchdowns) and Prince-Tyson Gulley (440 yards, four TDs) to give Syracuse a solid three-headed rushing attack.

ABOUT MINNESOTA (8-4, 9-3 ATS): Minnesota uses two quarterbacks, Nelson and Mitch Leidner, and the duo has combined for more rushing touchdowns (13) than passing scores (10). David Cobb is the workhorse back for the Gophers, rushing for 1,111 yards and seven TDs, although he rushed for only two scores in Minnesota's last eight games. The Gophers' defense showed significant improvement late in the season, allowing 44 points over the last three games.

TRENDS:

* Home team is 4-0 ATS in their last four meetings.
* Syracuse is 7-1 ATS in its last eight non-conference games.
* Minnesota is 6-0 ATS in its last six games overall.
* Over is 8-2-1 in Syracuse's last 11 non-conference games.


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NCAAF

Bowl Season

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Fight Hunger Bowl betting: What bettors need to know
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Brigham Young Cougars vs. Washington Huskies (-3, 60)

Game will be played at AT&T Park, San Francisco, California

FIGHT HUNGER BOWL STORYLINES:

1. Washington made a big splash by hiring Chris Petersen away from Boise State earlier this month, but its new coach will be a casual observer when the Huskies face BYU in the Fight Hunger Bowl in San Francisco on Dec. 27. With Steve Sarkisian headed to USC, quarterbacks coach Marques Tuiasosopo will lead the Huskies against BYU, which has won a school-record four consecutive bowl games. Washington is looking to win nine games for the first time since 2000, when Tuiasosopo was the Huskies’ starting quarterback.

2. BYU boasts a top-25-scoring defense, but the Cougars figure to be tested by an explosive Huskies' offense led by Bishop Sankey, who has rushed for 1,775 yards and 18 touchdowns. The Cougars also have to worry about Washington’s Austin Seferian-Jenkins, who caught seven touchdown passes and received the John Mackey Award as the nation’s top tight end.

3. The teams have split eight meetings in a series that began in 1985. BYU has won its past three games against the Huskies, including a 23-17 victory in 2010. The Fight Hunger Bowl marks the teams’ first meeting in a bowl game.

TV: 9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN.

LINE: The line has moved from Washington -3. The total has jumped up from 58.5 to 60.

WEATHER: It will be partly cloudy with temperatures in the high 50s.

ABOUT BYU (8-4, 5-6-1 ATS): The Cougars recorded six wins against teams going to bowl games, including an impressive 40-21 victory over Texas on Sept. 7. BYU averages 274.6 yards rushing with dual-threat quarterback Taysom Hill (28 total touchdowns) and running back Jamaal Williams leading the way. Linebacker Kyle Van Noy looks to follow-up last season’s star turn in the Poinsettia Bowl with another strong effort, but the Cougars’ defense could struggle if linebacker Spencer Hadley (knee), nose tackle Eathyn Manumaleuna (shoulder) and cornerback Robertson Daniel (neck) aren’t able to return from late-season injuries.

ABOUT WASHINGTON (8-4, 6-6 ATS): The Huskies won four of their last five games and finished third in the Pac-12 North Division, behind Stanford and Oregon. Senior quarterback Keith Price missed a game after suffering a shoulder injury against UCLA on Nov. 15, but he accounted for two touchdowns in a 27-17 win over Washington State in the regular-season finale. Defensive end Hau’oli Kikaha had 10 sacks and 12.5 tackles for loss to lead the Huskies, who converted 16 of 22 takeaways into scores.

TRENDS:

* BYU is 4-0 ATS in its last four bowl games.
* Washington is 1-4 ATS versus a team with a winning record.
* Home team is 3-0-1 ATS in their last four meetings.
* Under is 4-1 in BYU's last five games overall.

[StarDust Bum]

Friday, December 27

Game Score Status Pick Amount

Marshall - 2:30 PM ET Marshall -2.5 500 Double Play
Maryland - Under 62.5 500

Syracuse - 6:00 PM ET Syracuse +4 500 Double Play
Minnesota - Over 47.5 500

Brigham Young - 9:30 PM ET Washington -3 500 Double Play
Washington - Under 60 500

[StarDust Bum]

Saturday's Bowl Action

December 27, 2013


Russell Athletic Sports Bowl

Matchup: Miami vs. Louisville
Venue: Florida Citrus Bowl
Location: Orlando, FL
Time/TV: 6:45 p.m. ET, ESPN

-- The ACC and AAC will lock horns when these schools meet at the Russell Athletic Bowl in Orlando. However, bettors shouldn’t think of this as any sort of home game for Miami because it will be played in its home state. Louisville travels extremely well and its roster is stacked with players from the Sunshine State. In fact, I’m guessing there will be more U of L fans in the stands compared to UM fans.

-- As of Friday afternoon, most betting shops had Louisville (11-1 straight up, 5-7 against the spread) listed as a 3.5-point favorite with a total of 57. Gamblers can take the Hurricanes on the money line for a +155 return (risk $100 to win $155).

-- Miami (9-3 SU, 5-7 ATS) had failed to cover the spread in six straight games until winning its regular-season finale at Pittsburgh by a 41-31 count. UM hooked up its backers as a 1.5-point road favorite against the Panthers. Stephen Morris threw for 296 yards and three touchdowns without committing a turnover.

-- Charlie Strong’s team was a double-digit favorite in 11 of its 12 games. In its only single-digit ‘chalk’ spot in the regular-season finale, Louisville won 31-24 at Cincinnati in overtime. The Cardinals took the money as three-point road favorites. Teddy Bridgewater threw for 255 yards and three TDs against the Bearcats.

-- Bridgewater didn’t get invited to New York City as a Heisman finalist, but he had another outstanding season. Bridgewater completed 70.2 percent of his passes for 3,523 yards with a 28/4 touchdown-to-interception ratio.

-- Bridgewater’s favorite target is DaVante Parker, who has 46 catches for 743 yards and 11 TDs. Damian Copeland also made 52 receptions for 690 yards and five TDs.

-- With RB Michael Dyer ‘out’ with a hip injury, Louisville splits the bulk of the rushing load between Dominique Brown and Senorise Perry. Brown rushed for a team-high 783 yards and eight TDs, while Perry has 631 rushing yards and six scores.

--UM’s Morris has a 21/12 TD-INT ratio. He completed 58.7 percent of his passes for 2,868 yards.

-- Al Golden’s team lost its best offensive weapon when RB Duke Johnson broke his ankle in early November. Johnson rushed for a team-high 920 yards and six TDs. Gus Edwards rushed for 64 yards and one TD at Pitt and will likely share most of the touches vs. the Cardinals with Dallas Crawford, who had a pair of 100-yard rushing games in the regular season.

-- Miami was an underdog twice during the regular season, going 1-1 both SU and ATS. The ‘Canes beat Florida 21-16 as three-point home ‘dogs, but they got smashed at Florida St. as double-digit puppies.

-- U of L will be without linebacker George Durant, who is suspended. Durant started seven games this year.

-- Miami will be without its third-leading receiver Herb Waters, who has an undisclosed injury. Waters had five TD grabs during the regular season.

-- The ‘under’ is 9-3 overall for U of L.

-- After cashing in each of its last four games, the ‘over’ is 7-5 overall for Miami.

-- Kickoff is scheduled for 6:45 p.m. Eastern on ESPN.

Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl

Matchup: Michigan vs. Kansas State
Venue:Sun Devil Stadium
Location: Tempe, AZ
Time/TV: 10:15 p.m. ET, ESPN

-- The Big Ten takes on the Big 12 at the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl in Tempe, AZ. As of Friday afternoon, most books had Kansas St. (7-5 SU, 7-5 ATS) installed as a 5.5-point favorite with a total of 54.5. The Wolverines are +175 on the money line.

-- Michigan (7-5 SU, 7-5 ATS) has been an underdog four times this year, compiling a 3-1 spread record. The Wolverines will face K-St. without starting QB Devin Gardner, who is out with turf toe. Gardner had a 21/11 TD-INT ratio this year and also rushed for 11 TDs.

-- Brady Hoke will give the starting nod to true freshman Shane Morris, who has completed 5-of-9 throws for 65 yards in limited playing time this season. Morris, who was intercepted once this year, was considered one of the top-five QBs in the country by every recruiting service at this time last year.

-- Morris will need to get the ball to star WR Jeremy Gallon, who has 80 receptions for 1,284 yards and nine TDs.

-- Kansas St. was a single-digit favorite only once this year, failing to cover in a 41-31 loss to Oklahoma as a 5.5-point home ‘chalk.’

-- Bill Snyder’s squad utilizes a two-QB system with Jake Waters and Daniel Sams. Waters gets most of the snaps and he has a 15/9 TD-INT ratio. Waters also has six rushing TDs, while Sams has run for 785 yards and 11 TDs.

-- K-St. senior RB John Hubert rushed for a team-high 968 yards and nine TDs. Tyler Lockett is one of the Big 12’s top WRs. Lockett has 71 catches for 1,146 yards and eight TDs.

-- Totals were an overall wash for Michigan this season (6-6), but the ‘under’ went 4-1 in its last five games.

-- The ‘under’ is 7-5 overall for K-St., but the ‘over’ hit in three of its last four outings.

-- ESPN will provide television coverage at 10:15 p.m. Eastern.

**B.E.’s Bonus Nuggets**

-- Saturday’s action starts at noon Eastern in the Bronx, where Notre Dame and Rutgers will collide at Yankee Stadium for the Pinstripe Bowl. Most spots have the Fighting Irish favored by 14 or 14.5. Brian Kelly’s team went 1-3 ATS as a double-digit favorite during the regular season. On the flip side, the Scarlet Knights went 2-1 ATS as double-digit ‘dogs.

-- North Carolina won five of its last six games to get bowl eligible. The Tar Heels, who are 6-1 ATS in their last seven games, face Cincinnati at the Belk Bowl in Charlotte on Saturday. Most books have UNC listed as a 2.5-point favorite. Larry Fedora’s team enjoyed a late-season surge thanks to the play of dual-threat QB Marquise Williams, who has a team-high 490 rushing yards. Williams has six rushing scores and a 14/6 TD-INT ratio.

-- Cincy will be without both of its starting offensive guards against UNC. Sam Longo broke his ankle in the loss to Louisville, while Austen Bujnoch is out with a lingering foot injury.

-- Michigan State star LB Max Bullough has been suspended for the Rose Bowl. This is a huge loss for the Spartans in their showdown against Stanford.

-- According to a Thursday report at NFL.com, Penn St. coach Bill O’Brien has agreed to meet with the Houston Texans about their vacant head-coaching position.

-- If O’Brien does bolt PSU, there was a report earlier this week that the agents for Titans coach Mike Munchak and Bucs coach Greg Schiano have reached out to the school to express interest in the job. Schiano was an assistant at PSU before building Rutgers into a solid program.

[StarDust Bum]

'Canes, Cards clash

December 27, 2013


Russell Athletic Sports Bowl
MIAMI HURRICANES (9-3) vs. LOUISVILLE CARDINALS (11-1)

Sportsbook.ag Line: Louisville -3.5 & 57
Opening Line & Total: Cardinals -2.5 & 56

Two schools that were once ranked in the top-10 in the country this year collide in Saturday's Russell Athletic Bowl in Orlando when an unranked Miami team will take on No. 18 Louisville in what will likely be star QB Teddy Bridgewater’s final collegiate game.

After a 7-0 start to the season, the Hurricanes lost three straight to Florida State, Virginia Tech and Duke before closing the season out with back-to-back wins against Virginia and Pittsburgh. They really missed star RB Duke Johnson (ankle), one of the country’s premier rushing threats who went down midway through the year. They finished the season 5-7 ATS. Playing a weak schedule, the Cardinals lost just one game this year, going down 38-35 to UCF in the middle of the season. They rebounded well to win their final five games of the year, including an overtime thriller in the finale against Cincinnati. Like the Tar Heels, they also went 5-7 ATS. Their schedule will likely get tougher in future seasons as they join Miami in the ACC next year. These two teams have met twice since 1992, splitting the two games while the Cardinals covered in both.

Without Johnson, more of the Miami offense has fallen on QB Stephen Morris (2,868 pass yards, 21 TD, 12 INT) who has a strong enough arm to complete any pass, though he can be extremely inconsistent. Overall, he’s completing 58.7% of his passes. Allen Huns (60 catches, 1,138 yards, six TD) has been there as his No. 1 option all season while Stacy Coley leads the team with seven touchdowns, adding 559 yards on his 30 catches. Both of those receivers have TD receptions of longer than 80 yards. On the ground, Dallas Crawford (523 rush yards, 4.2 YPC, 12 TD) has taken over since Johnson’s season ended. Though he’s had his moments, he averaged just 2.6 YPC in the team’s final two games of the season. Miami’s defense allowed a poor 4.5 YPC and a mediocre 7.1 yards per pass attempt.

Louisville had one of the nation’s best scoring defenses, giving up only 12.4 PPG, third fewest in Division-I. And its passing offense also ranked among the best, throwing for 303 YPG, 18th-most in FBS. Bridgewater (3,523 pass yards, 28 TD, 4 INT) will likely be a top pick in the NFL Draft after putting up incredible numbers again this year, tallying 9.2 yards per pass attempt. He distributes the ball pretty evenly, though DeVante Parker (46 catches, 743 yards) leads the team with 11 TD. Damian Copeland (52 catches, 690 yards) and Eli Rogers (41 catches, 498 yards) are also threats in the passing game. On the ground, Dominique Brown (783 yards, 5.3 YPC, 8 TD) and Senorise Perry (631 yards, 4.7 YPC, 6 TD) share the ball-carrying duties, with Brown scoring four touchdowns in the team’s last three games. The Cardinals defense has been stout all season, allowing a mere 12.4 PPG (3rd in nation). They give up a miniscule 86 rushing YPG on 2.7 YPC, while allowing only 172 passing YPG on 6.0 YPA and 51% completions.

Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl
KANSAS STATE WILDCATS (7-5) vs. MICHIGAN WOLVERINES (7-5)

Sportsbook.ag Line & Total: Kansas State -6 & 55.5
Opening Line & Total: Wildcats -3 & 56.5

Two teams going in opposite directions will be in Tempe on Saturday night, as Michigan (1-4 in its past five games) will face Kansas State (5-1 in past six games) in the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl.

The defending Big 12 champion Wildcats got off to a tough start this season, losing their opener to FCS school North Dakota State. The team then lost its first three Big 12 games and appeared to be on its way to missing a bowl. However, head coach Bill Snyder, as he has done throughout his career, got Kansas State (7-5 ATS) rolling and helped guide his team back to Tempe. He is also 23-10 ATS (70%) versus good passing teams (58%+ completion pct.) as KSU's head coach. Last season, the Wildcats fell to Oregon 35-17 in the Fiesta Bowl, marking their fifth straight bowl loss (SU and ATS). They will be going up against a team that is looking to salvage its season as well. Things started off great for Michigan, as the team was 5-0 and appeared to be legitimate Big Ten contenders. However, a quadruple overtime loss to Penn State and a 1-4 record in November, with three losses coming by four points or less, gave the Wolverines a 7-5 record (SU and ATS) for the season. They had a chance to upset rival Ohio State in the final game of the season, but lost 42-41 after an incompletion on a two-point attempt in the game's final minute. QB Devin Gardner had a huge performance against the Buckeyes when he threw for 451 yards and 4 TD, but he is dealing with a turf toe injury and his status for Saturday is still uncertain. If he can't go, freshman Shane Morris would start under center. Wolverines head coach Brady Hoke has taken a lot of heat throughout the year for the disappointment of this season, but he is 34-19 ATS (64%) after an SU loss as a college head coach. Both of these teams are looking to end the season on a positive note, and have the abilities of making big plays on the offensive end.

Kansas State struggled early in figuring out how to run its offense, but the two-quarterback system started to show its potential for the Wildcats late. Junior QB Jake Waters (2,198 passing yards, 15 TD, 9 INT) has continued to improve as a passer with a hefty 9.4 YPA. When he is not on the field, the Wolverines will have to slow down sophomore QB Daniel Sams (452 pass yards on 73% completions, 4 TD, 4 INT), who the running threat of the two quarterbacks with 784 rushing yards (4.5 YPC) and 11 touchdowns on the ground. Sams does a terrific job of using his speed to run away from defenders, but is also extremely powerful at 6-foot-2 and 207 pounds. Senior RB John Hubert (968 rush yards, 5.3 YPC, 9 TD) is coming off a 220-yard effort in the season finale at Kansas, and is on pace for his first 1,000-yard season of his career, as he rushed for 947 yards last season and 970 yards in 2011. However, the star of the KSU offense is junior WR Tyler Lockett (71 catches, 1,146 yards, 8 TD) has emerged as one of the very best receivers in all of the country. What he lacks in size (5-foot-11, 175 pounds), he more than makes up for with his determination and his elite speed. Lockett has six 100-yard receiving games this year, including two 200-yard performances (237 at Texas, 278 vs. Oklahoma). The Wildcats should be able to put up points in this game, but although their defense (23.7 PPG allowed, 35th in FBS) played much better at the end of the season, it did struggle at times, allowing 240+ passing yards in five of its final eight games. However, DE Ryan Mueller (61 tackles, 11.5 sacks) emerged as one of the best defensive players in the country. While he is not the fastest defensive player on the field, he has an endless motor and is relentless in his pursuit of the quarterback, recording at least one sack eight different times this year. KSU's run defense allows 145 YPG on 3.9 YPC, but this unit has done an excellent job forcing turnovers with 18 takeaways in the past six games.

Michigan QB Devin Gardner (2,960 pass yards, 8.6 YPA, 21 TD and 11 INT) had a rocky season at times throughout the year, but showed at times he can be a dynamic offensive player. Against Indiana (503 passing yards, 5 total TD) and against Ohio State (451 passing yards and 5 total TD), Gardner absolutely dominated the game. He is also a threat to run the ball, as he rushed for 483 yards and 11 scores on the ground. If he is unable to start, little-used QB Shane Morris (5-for-9, 65 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT) will get the call, but whoever is taking the snaps will certainly be looking mostly for top WR Jeremy Gallon (80 catches, 1,284 yards, 9 TD). Gallon is a complete receiver that is able to make plays over the top, as well as the middle of the field. In that Nov. 19 game against the Hoosiers, Gallon set a Big Ten record with 369 receiving yards, while also grabbing two touchdowns. The Michigan offense is not just a passing attack, as senior RB Fitzgerald Toussaint (646 rush yards, 12 TD) forces defenses to give him respect. For the Wolverines to get the victory, he must average more than the 3.5 YPC he did throughout the season, with the team gaining a paltry 131 rushing YPG (101st in FBS) on 3.2 YPC. Like the Wildcats, the Wolverines at times had their problems on the defensive end, where they rank 66th in the country, allowing 26.5 points per game. Star CB Thomas Gordon has three interceptions in his senior season, and will be asked to cover Tyler Lockett a lot of the time during the game. Michigan allows 366 total YPG, broken down between 139 rushing YPG (3.8 YPC) and 227 YPG (6.7 YPA) through the air. The Wolverines have helped themselves out greatly with 25 takeaways this season, including 2+ forced turnovers in nine different contests.

[StarDust Bum]

2013-14 Bowl Betting Results

December 28, 2013

Bowl Conference Standings

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

ACC 2-1 2-1

American (AAC) - -

Big 10 0-1 0-1

Big 12 - -

CUSA 1-1 1-1

Independent 1-1 1-1

Mid-American 0-4 0-4

Mountain West 3-2 3-2

Pac-12 3-1 3-1

SEC - -

Sun Belt 1-0 1-0

WAC - -


Overall Game Results

Wager SU Win SU Loss ATS Win ATS Loss

Favorite 6 5 6 5

Underdog 5 6 5 6

Over Under
3 8


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 - - -

Saturday, Dec. 28 Belk Bowl Cincinnati vs. North Carolina - - -

Saturday, Dec. 28 Russell Athletic Bowl Miami, Fl. vs. Louisville - - -

Saturday, Dec. 28 Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl Michigan vs. Kansas State - - -

Monday, Dec. 30 Armed Forces Bowl Middle Tennessee vs. Navy - - -

Monday, Dec. 30 Music City Bowl Mississippi vs. Georgia Tech - - -

Monday, Dec. 30 Alamo Bowl Oregon vs. Texas - - -

Monday, Dec. 30 Holiday Bowl Arizona State vs. Texas Tech - - -

Tuesday, Dec. 31 Independence Bowl Arizona vs. Boston College - - -

Tuesday, Dec. 31 Sun Bowl Virginia Tech vs. UCLA - - -

Tuesday, Dec. 31 Liberty Bowl Rice vs. Mississippi State - - -

Tuesday, Dec. 31 Chick-fil-A Bowl Duke vs. Texas A&M - - -

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 - - -

**Winner listed in Red

[Udog]

2013-14 Bowl Betting Results

Great chart, Bum! Thanks!!!!

[StarDust Bum]

Your welcome dog.......good luck today bradda

[StarDust Bum]

BOWL RECORD:

*****.......................3 - 3

DOUBLE PLAY...............4 - 2

TRIPLE PLAY................0 - 2


Saturday, December 28

Game Score Status Pick Amount


Rutgers - 12:00 PM ET Notre Dame -14.5 500 TRIPLE PLAY
Notre Dame - Over 53.5 500


Cincinnati - 3:20 PM ET North Carolina -2.5 500 *****
North Carolina - Under 58 500 *****


Miami - 6:45 PM ET Louisville -5 500 *****
Louisville - Under 58.5 500


Michigan - 10:15 PM ET Kansas State -6 500 TRIPLE PLAY
Kansas State - Under 54 500 *****

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Navy, MTSU meet in Armed Forces Bowl

December 29, 2013



FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) - Navy and Middle Tennessee State have drastically different offensive philosophies and very similar results.

The teams playing in the Armed Forces Bowl on Monday both have 8-4 records and average about 415 total yards a game, though the Midshipmen gain most of their yards on the ground with their triple option while the Blue Raiders are basically 50-50. Both have extended winning streaks after midseason slumps.

Middle Tennessee was 3-4 in mid-October after losing its third straight game before an open date and a players-only meeting. The Blue Raiders hasn't lost since then, starting with a wild 51-49 victory over Marshall when Logan Kilgore threw a touchdown pass on the game's final play.

''I do think the Marshall game kind of jolted the team a bit,'' Kilgore said. ''To be able to ride a win streak like that going against some quality teams, it gives the team all the needed momentum to carry into a long bowl process.''

Especially after last season, when Middle Tennessee was also 8-4 but was snubbed for a bowl spot in it final year in the Sun Belt Conference before moving to Conference USA.

Navy was 3-3 after a double-overtime loss at Toledo. The Midshipmen then beat Pittsburgh and lost 38-34 loss at Notre Dame before four consecutive wins, including in triple overtime at San Jose State before beating Army in blizzard-like conditions just more than two weeks ago.

''Our two goals every year are to win the Commander-In-Chief's Trophy and go to a bowl game. So this is our main goal `' Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo said. ''We're grateful for our opportunity to play and play against another team that's won the right to be at a bowl game. ... You come into the culmination of the season, and there is no letdown.''

Here are five things to know when Navy and Middle Tennessee State meet for the first time:

ONE THROWS, ONE RUNS: Middle Tennessee averages 208 yards rushing and 207 yards passing per game with Kilgore's 53 career TD passes a school record. The Midshipmen are second nationally with 322 yards rushing per game, led by sophomore quarterback Keenan Reynolds with 29 rushing TDs, a Navy record and the most ever in a season by an NCAA quarterback. ''We have one great quarterback. I wish I could run like him,'' said Hall of Fame quarterback Roger Staubach, the two-time Super Bowl champion who 50 years ago won the Heisman Trophy as Navy's quarterback. ''Keenan is really special.''

CHILLY, NO ICE: The kickoff forecast is for below-average temperatures in the mid-30s. Navy won't complain since it will be sunny with no chance of any precipitation. ''Watching Navy's last game, I know whatever it is, it's going to be a heck of a lot better than what they had to play in,'' Middle Tennessee coach Rick Stockstill said. Navy beat Army 34-7 in snow and freezing temperatures, when some players had hypothermia symptoms. ''It's a lot warmer than what we just played in,'' Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo said. ''So our kids will be excited.''

ALL THREE ACADEMIES: With Navy in its first Armed Forces Bowl, the bowl is fittingly the first to host all three service academy teams. Air Force was the first in 2007, and has played there three more times since. Army, which played in 2010 game, will have a spot next year if bowl eligible. Navy is set to return in 2016 if bowl eligible that season.

DEFENSIVE POINTS: Middle Tennessee's defense has scored five touchdowns, on four interceptions and a fumble recovery. That is the most for the Blue Raiders in the FBS era (since 1999). They have forced 31 turnovers that have led to 85 points. Middle Tennessee also had its first shutout since 2006 in a 48-0 win over FIU last month.

BOWL STRUGGLES: Navy has won only one of its last six bowl games, and is 1-3 under sixth-year coach Ken Niumatalolo. But the coach did nothing different for this bowl trip. ''Maybe eat a little bit more, but other than that, no,'' he said. ''If you look at our bowl records, I have a horrible bowl record, so I'm still trying to figure it out.'' He said the goal was make sure ''our preparation is pure as it can be'' and also for his guys to have some fun.

[StarDust Bum]

Ga. Tech looks for SEC win over Ole Miss

December 29, 2013



NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Georgia Tech knows only too well what's on the line in the Music City Bowl against Mississippi. The Yellow Jackets live deep in the heart of Southeastern Conference country after all.

''We hear about the SEC a lot,'' Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson said.

Knowing about the SEC is one thing. Beating an SEC team is another. The Yellow Jackets blew a 20-7 halftime lead before losing their last game 41-34 to Georgia in double overtime, and they go into the Music City Bowl on Monday having lost six straight bowls to current SEC teams in a skid that goes back to 1960. The last time Georgia Tech played Ole Miss, the Rebels won the 1971 Peach Bowl.

So Johnson said the key for Georgia Tech is focusing on how good the Rebels are no matter what league they play in.

''If they were from a conference from Mars, you look at the tape they're pretty good ...,'' Johnson said. ''You'd like to think they're going to play hard because they watched the tape, looked at it and realize the other team is pretty good and know if we're not going to play hard and play well we'll get pounded.''

The Yellow Jackets (7-5) have lost two of their last three games. Ole Miss (7-5) lost its last two, including a 17-10 overtime loss to Mississippi State in the Egg Bowl to drop the Rebels out of the Top 25. Rebels coach Hugh Freeze can cap his second season with a second straight bowl victory. Freeze also is very impressed by Georgia Tech playing in its 17th straight bowl, the second-longest such streak in the nation.

''You want to be in those games,'' Freeze said.

This is the first time Georgia Tech has played in the bowl sponsored by Franklin American Mortgage Company. Ole Miss has sold more than 13,000 tickets and counting in a town where the Rebels won the SEC men's basketball tournament back in March.

Here are five things to know about the Music City Bowl:

RUN TECH RUN: Georgia Tech with Johnson's spread-option offense is sixth in the nation averaging 311.7 yards per game. The Yellow Jackets have run for more yards than any FBS team since 2008, and senior Robert Godhigh is averaging 10.1 yards per carry. David Sims has a team-high 11 touchdowns rushing, and sophomore quarterback Vad Lee has run for eight TDs. Freeze said there's no way the Rebels can simulate the speed Georgia Tech runs Johnson's offense, and it only takes one player looking in the wrong spot to give up a big play.

''If we can't run the ball, we're going to struggle,'' Johnson said. ''That's what we do, so if we can't run it's going to be a long day for us.''

BO WALLACE: The Ole Miss quarterback is playing a short drive from his home in Giles County, and he also gets a chance for redemption after four turnovers in the Egg Bowl that included a fumble in overtime. Freeze said players take a pounding in social media when they don't do well. ''I'm not a huge fan of how college kids are treated and certainly in the last few games he got his share of criticism,'' Freeze said.

SACK RECORD: Senior defensive end Jeremiah Attaochu needs only a half sack Monday to become Georgia Tech's career sacks leader. He currently is tied with Greg Gathers with 31, the most among active players and fifth on the Atlantic Coast Conference's all-time list. Attaochu had a career-high four sacks in the loss to Georgia.

LOCAL TIES: I'Tavius Mathers, Ole Miss' top rusher, is from nearby Murfreesboro, Tenn. Georgia Tech has two starters from Tennessee in right guard Shaquille Mason and left tackle Will Jackson. Mason's home in Columbia is such a short drive he had to rustle up 115 tickets for family and friends.

BOWLING: This is Georgia Tech's 42nd bowl overall, though the Yellow Jackets needed a 21-7 win over Southern California in last year's Sun Bowl to snap a seven-game bowl skid. The Yellow Jackets' 23 wins rank ninth-best among programs with at least 25 bowl berths, while Ole Miss has the nation's second-best winning percentage at 22-12. The Rebels have won nine of their last 10 bowls with the lone loss at the 2000 Music City Bowl with Eli Manning coming off the bench in a 49-38 setback to West Virginia.