The Bum's College Football December Trends/News/ Stats/ All You Need To Know !

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NCAAF

Saturday, December 6

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Game of the Day: Big Ten Championship Game
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Wisconsin Badgers vs. Ohio State Buckeyes (+4.5, 52.5)

Game will be played on a neutral site at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana

After an emotional week that included the death of one player, a season-ending injury to the starting quarterback and a win over its rival, Ohio State must focus on the task at hand. The sixth-ranked Buckeyes try to do just that when they meet No. 11 Wisconsin in the Big Ten title game Saturday in Indianapolis. Cardale Jones starts under center after J.T. Barrett broke an ankle in Ohio State's 42-28 defeat of Michigan, hoping to help his team impress a playoff committee that ranks the Buckeyes fifth.

Wisconsin, which won the Big Ten title game in 2011 and 2012, has been riding Melvin Gordon's incredible run through the course of a seven-game winning streak and is primed to give its star running back plenty of work, despite an ankle issue that popped up in last week's 34-24 triumph over Minnesota. "It's got me on high alert and the only thing I can do is listen to Melvin Gordon, because I know Melvin is going to tell me what his mindset is — and he will be 100 percent ready to roll on Saturday," head coach Gary Andersen told reporters this week. Gordon, who was limited to 74 yards in last season's encounter with Ohio State, first turned heads in the 2012 conference title game, producing 216 yards in a rout of Nebraska.

TV: 8:17 p.m. ET, FOX.

LINE HISTORY: Since opening at Ohio State +4, the line briefly jumped to +4.5 Monday before coming back to the opening point. The total has yet to shift from the opening 52.5.

INJURY REPORT: Wisconsin - OL Ray Ball (Ques-Leg), OL Dan Voltz (Ques-Ankle), OL Trent Denlinger (Ques-Undisclosed) Ohio State - QB J.T. Barrett (Out-Ankle)

ABOUT WISCONSIN (10-2 SU, 5-7 ATS, 6-5-1 O/U): Gordon and the Big Ten's top defense gain the bulk of the headlines, but quarterback Joel Stave has quietly picked up his game after sitting out four games to start the season due to throwing issues. Stave, who threw for 2,494 yards and 22 touchdowns in 2013, completed just 48 percent of his passes and had three TDs versus three interceptions through his first four games but has a 66.7 percent completion rate with four TDs and one pick over the last four. "He is seeing the field very, very well," Andersen said after Stave threw for 215 yards and a pair of scores - including the clincher with 4:41 left - against the Golden Gophers.

ABOUT OHIO STATE (11-1 SU, 7-5 ATS, 10-2 O/U): Head coach Urban Meyer's lone loss in 25 games as a Big Ten coach came in last season's title game against Michigan State, and his resolve during a tough week has his team pointed in the right direction. "We believe in a very, extremely close team that leans on each other in tough times and someone usually steps up and makes a tremendous play or says something," said Meyer, whose team learned on Sunday that defensive lineman Kosta Karageorge had been found dead of a gunshot wound to the head. Meanwhile, Jones - a sophomore who stands 6-foot-5 and weighs 250 pounds - gives the Buckeyes plenty of athleticism at quarterback, having averaged 7.8 yards per carry on 43 rushes in his career.

TRENDS:

*Badgers are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 neutral site games.
*Over is 12-1 in Buckeyes last 13 vs. a team with a winning record.
*Under is 4-1-1 in the last 6 meetings.
*Underdog is 3-0-1 ATS in their last 4 meetings.

CONSENSUS: 56.91 percent of users are backing Wisconsin -4 with 58.1 percent on the over.

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NCAAF

Saturday, December 6


Petty practices, but still not cleared to play

Bryce Petty continues to practice for the Baylor Bears this week, but has yet to be medically cleared to play Saturday. The senior signal-caller suffered a concussion in Baylor's victory last week.

Petty has thrown for 2893 yards with 25 touchdowns and five interceptions this season.

Baylor is currently listed as -7.5 for their clash against Kansas State.


FSU defense keeping ACC title games under

Florida State has gone to the past two ACC championship games and in both instances the game went under. The under trend is thanks to the Seminoles defense which has held opponents to a combined 22 points in those two games.

FSU and Georgia Tech is currently set at 61.


Big Ten championships going over historically

The Big Ten championship has gone over in all three contests at Lucas Oil Stadium. Those three games have totaled an average of 80 points per game, with the lowest scoring team putting up 24 points.

The Buckeyes this season have gone 10-2 over/under this season while averaging 44 ppg. The other sideline will be Wisconsin who went 6-5-1 O/U this season, while holding opponents to a mere 16.8 ppg.

The current total for the Big Ten title game is 52.5.


Stoops says QB Knight could be cleared for bowl game

Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops said Wednesday that sophomore quarterback Trevor Knight is running and throwing passes in practice, although he's still not in pads. "We're hopeful -- I don't want anyone's hopes up, but -- it's looking positive that he may be cleared to play for the bowl game," Stoops said.


After hot start, Marshall has cooled off ATS

Marshall started off the season on a tear for their spread backers, but that's come to an abrupt halt.

The Thundering Herd covered in seven out of their first eight contests but have dropped two straight ATS ahead of their Conference USA Championship game against Louisiana Tech Saturday.

The Bulldogs are currently 9.5-point road dogs. The total is sitting at 68.5.


Covers coming easily for Bearcats backers

Covering the spread has not been an issue for the Cincinnati Bearcats.

The 'Cats are a perfect 6-0 against the spread in their last six matchups. Houston welcomes Cincy to town in the AAC Championship Game Saturday.

The Cougars are presently 7-point road dogs with a total of 56.5.

[StarDust Bum]

College football Top 25 betting cheat sheet: Week 15

Iowa State Cyclones at (4) TCU Horned Frogs (-33.5)

*Sam Richardson has been carrying the Cyclones offense this season. Aside from ranking in the Top 10 in Cyclones history for most single-season passing stats, the junior QB is also only the fourth signal caller in team history to have more than 100 yards rushing in a season.

*TCU’s 21 points per game improvement this season is on pace to break the Big 12 record of 19.1 set by Oklahoma in 1999 (35.8; 16.7, 1998) and would be the largest improvement by any team since Northwestern went up 24.0 points between 1999-00.

Trends:

*Cyclones are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games overall.
*Horned Frogs are 7-0 ATS in their last 7 home games.
*Over is 8-2 in Horned Frogs last 10 conference games.


Oklahoma State Cowboys at (16) Oklahoma Sooners (-20)

*Non-offensive touchdowns have been a regular part of the Oklahoma State attack in recent years, as the Cowboys have 29 non-offensive scores since the start of the 2010 season - a mark that ranks second in the nation during that span.

*Since QB Trevor Knight's injury, the Sooners' rushing attack has become the centerpiece of the team. In the past two games without Knight, Oklahoma has rushed for 898 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Trends:

*Cowboys are 2-7 ATS in their last 9 meetings.
*Over is 11-3-1 in Sooners last 15 games overall.
*Cowboys are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 meetings in Oklahoma.


(1) Alabama Crimson Tide vs. (13) Missouri Tigers (+14.5)

*Since the start of the 2009 season, no defense has allowed fewer touchdowns than the Crimson Tide. Alabama’s defense has surrendered just 113 touchdowns over the last 78 games. That is 36 fewer than the second most in the nation (LSU with 149).

*A key to Missouri's success in 2014 has been its continued success away from home, as the Tigers went a perfect 5-0 on the road this year. Mizzou has now won 11 straight road games, including last season's bowl game, and is also a perfect 11-0 ATS in those contests.

Trends:

*Tigers are 13-3 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.
*Over is 10-1-1 in Crimson Tide last 12 neutral site games.
*Under is 6-0 in Tigers last 6 games on fieldturf.


(9) Kansas State Wildcats at (5) Baylor Bears

*There's little doubt that if Kansas State is in the lead come halftime, it will be difficult for Baylor to beat them. The Wildcats have won 47 straight games when leading at halftime, which is the second longest streak in the FBS.

*Baylor's fast starts have caused a lot of problems for their opposition this season. The Bears have outscored their opponents 323-117 in the first half of games this season, which gives them an average lead of 18.8 points going into halftime.

Trends:

*Home team is 5-1 ATS in their last 6 meetings.
*Over is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings.
*Underdog is 4-0 ATS in their last 4 meetings.


(2) FSU Seminoles vs. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (+4.5)

*Much has been made of the Seminoles' tight games this season, which have been epitomized lately. In its last six games, FSU has won by an average of six points per game while winning by four or less three times. The Noles were favorites in each of those games, giving an average of just under 10 points, and went just 2-4 ATS.

*Georgia Tech’s 123 points off turnovers are the fourth-most in FBS this season. The Yellow Jackets' seven red-zone takeaways are also good for second in the FBS.

Trends:

*Seminoles are 0-3-2 ATS in their last 5 meetings.
*Yellow Jackets are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
*Under is 11-1 in Seminoles last 12 games on grass.


(11) Wisconsin Badgers vs. (6) Ohio State Buckeyes (+4)

*Though the numbers don't necessarily lend themselves to RB Melvin Gordon being overworked, it still worries coach Andersen. " It is definitely in my mind and concerning. This last stretch was unbelievable physical." Gordon has carried the ball 283 times - fifth most in the country - for a FBS-best 2,260 yards.

*It may be an uphill battle for the Buckeyes without stud QB J.T. Barrett, who was lost for the season last week. Sophomore Cardale Jones will be getting his first career start in a hostile environment Saturday. Jones' has a career stat line of 121 yards passing with two touchdowns through the air.

Trends:

*Under is 4-1-1 in the last 6 meetings.
*Badgers are 1-5-1 ATS in their last 7 meetings.
*Over is 12-1 in Buckeyes last 13 vs. a team with a winning record.


Fresno State Bulldogs at (22) Boise State Broncos (-21)

*Defense has played a large part for the three game winning streak of Fresno State. The Bulldogs are allowing 15 less points and 117 less yards in their past three compared to their first nine.

*Boise State posted a perfect November for the first time since 2009, thanks largely to its disciplined play. The Broncos were averaging 7.8 penalties per game through their first eight games, but cut that number to 4.8 last month.

Trends:

*Favorite is 11-2 ATS in their last 13 meetings.
*Bulldogs are 2-12 ATS in their last 14 meetings.
*Over is 7-0 in Broncos last 7 games overall.

[StarDust Bum]

NCAAF

Saturday, December 6


Inclement weather to hit C-USA Championship Game

When Louisiana Tech and Marshall square off in the Conference USA Championship Game in West Virginia Saturday afternoon, Mother Nature is going to be factor.

It's going to be a soggy day at Joan C. Edwards Stadium, as forecasts are calling for a 100 percent chance of rain at kickoff. Slight northwest winds of 5 mph will be hitting the area at gametime.

The Thundering Herd are presently 9.5-point home faves. The total is sitting at 68.5.


Rain on tap for AAC Championship Game

Rain is expected to have an affect on Houston's matchup against the Cincinnati Bearcats at Paul Brown Stadium Saturday.

The forecast is calling for an 89 percent chance of rain with 11 mph north winds in the Cincinnati area at gametime.

Books have the 'Cats listed as 7.5-point home faves with an O/U of 56.5.


Lots of points the norm in SMU contests

The Over is 7-3 in Southern Methodist's last 10 matchups. The winless Mustangs will travel to Conneticut for a date with the Huskies Saturday.

Oddsmakers have SMU as 12-point road dogs with a total of 44.


Spreads no match for TCU

Texas Christian's hot play ranks them as one of the best spread plays in college football.

TCU is 11-2 against the spread ahead of their matchup with Iowa State Saturday.

The Horned Frogs are currently 34.5-point home faves with a total of 69.

[StarDust Bum]

Future & Win Total Results

December 7, 2014

The regular season and championship weeks are in the books and it's fair to say that the oddsmakers at the Westgate SuperBook were very accurate with their Championship Futures.

Conference Championship Futures (Westgate SuperBook)

ACC Champion -- Florida State (5/4)
Big Ten Champion -- Ohio State (4/5)
Pac 12 Champion -- Oregon (10/11)
SEC Champion -- Alabama (10/11)
CUSA Champion -- Marshall (3/1)
MAC Champion -- Northern Illinois (3/2)
MWC Champion -- Boise State (6/5)

Conference Championship Prop Results (5Dimes.eu)

ACC Champion -- Florida State wins ACC Champ -300
Big Ten Champion -- Ohio State wins Big Ten Champ -105
Big 12 Champion -- Field wins Big 12 Champ -110
Pac 12 Champion -- Oregon wins Pac 12 Champ +150
SEC Champion -- Alabama wins SEC Champ +150

Also finalizing this past weekend were "Win Total" wagers, which are based on the regular season only.

Win Total Odds provided by both the Westgate SuperBook and 5Dimes.eu.

Some schools did not have win totals posted (NA) for the regular season at either of these sportsbooks.

Win Totals Results

2014 ATLANTIC COAST CONFERENCE WIN TOTALS

Team Win Total Record Result

Boston College Eagles 5.5 7-5
Clemson Tigers 9.5 9-3
Duke Blue Devils 8.5 9-3
Florida State Seminoles 10.5 12-0
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 6.5 10-2
Louisville Cardinals 7.5 9-3
Miami Hurricanes 7.5 6-6
North Carolina Tar Heels 7.5 6-6
North Carolina State Wolfpack 5.5 7-5
Pittsburgh Panthers 7.5 6-6
Syracuse Orange 5.5 3-9
Virginia Cavaliers 3.5 5-7
Virginia Tech Hokies 7.5 6-6

Projected Result Key: OVER UNDER

2014 BIG TEN CONFERENCE WIN TOTALS

Team Win Total Record Result

Illinois Fighting Illini 4.5 6-6
Indiana Hoosiers 5.5 4-8
Iowa Hawkeyes 8.5 7-5
Maryland Terrapins 7.5 7-5
Michigan Wolverines 7.5 5-7
Michigan State Spartans 9.5 10-2
Minnesota Golden Gophers 6.5 8-4
Nebraska Cornhuskers 7.5 9-3
Northwestern Wildcats 6.5 5-7
Ohio State Buckeyes 10.5 11-1
Penn State Nittany Lions 8.5 6-6
Purdue Boilermakers 3.5 3-9
Rutgers Scarlet Knights 4.5 7-5
Wisconsin Badgers 9.5 10-2

Projected Result Key: OVER UNDER

2014 BIG 12 CONFERNECE WIN TOTALS

Team Win Total Record Result

Baylor Bears 9.5 11-1
Iowa State Cyclones NA 2-10
Kansas Jayhawks NA 3-9
Kansas State Wildcats 8.5 9-3
Oklahoma Sooners 10.5 8-4
Oklahoma State Cowboys NA 6-6
Texas Christian Horned Frogs 6.5 11-1
Texas Longhorns 8.5 6-6
Texas Tech Red Raiders NA 4-8
West Virginia Mountaineers NA 7-5

Projected Result Key: OVER UNDER

2014 PAC-12 CONFERENCE WIN TOTALS

Team Win Total Record Result
Arizona Wildcats 6.5 10-2
Arizona State Sun Devils 8.5 9-3
California Bears 2.5 5-7
Colorado Buffaloes 4.5 2-10
Oregon Ducks 10.5 11-1
Oregon State Beavers 6.5 5-7
Southern California Trojans 8.5 8-4
Stanford Cardinal 9.5 7-5
UCLA Bruins 9.5 9-3
Utah Utes 5.5 8-4
Washington Huskies 9 8-5
Washington State Cougars NA 3-9

Projected Result Key: OVER UNDER

2014 SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE WIN TOTALS

Team Win Total Record Result

Alabama Crimson Tide 10.5 11-1
Arkansas Razorbacks 4.5 6-6
Auburn Tigers 9.5 8-4
Florida Gators (No Bet - 11 Games) 7.5 6-5
Georgia Bulldogs 9.5 9-3
Kentucky Wildcats 3.5 5-7
Louisiana State Tigers 8.5 8-4
Mississippi Rebels 7.5 9-3
Mississippi State Bulldogs 7.5 10-2
Missouri Tigers 9.5 10-2
South Carolina Gamecocks 9.5 6-6
Tennessee Volunteers 5.5 6-6
Texas A&M Aggies 7.5 7-5
Vanderbilt Commodores 5.5 3-9

Projected Result Key: OVER UNDER


2014 OTHER NOTABLE WIN TOTALS
Team Win Total Record Result
Boise State Broncos 10.5 10-2
Brigham Young Cougars 8.5 8-4
Colorado State Rams 6.5 10-2
Fresno State Bulldogs 7.5 6-6
Nevada Wolf Pack 5.5 7-5
Notre Dame Fighting Irish 9.5 7-5
UNLV 4 2-11
Projected Result Key: OVER UNDER

[StarDust Bum]

Top 25 Betting Recap - Week 15

December 7, 2014

Week 15 of the 2014 NCAA football betting season is in the books, and today, we're going to be taking a look at each of the Top 25 teams in the rankings and see how they did from an ATS perspective in this go around this past week.

(Results in parentheses represent SU Result-ATS Result)

1) Alabama (W-W vs. Missouri 42-13)
There was a point when the SEC Championship Game got a little tight at 21-13, but the Tide rolled off three straight touchdowns to ensure they would be the No. 1 team in the country going into the college football playoff.

2) Oregon (W-W vs. Arizona 51-13)
The Ducks were the first team to stamp their place into the college football playoff when they crushed Arizona, avenging their only loss of the season.

3) TCU (W-W vs. Iowa State 55-3)
The Horned Frogs knew they were going to have to make a big statement on the final Saturday of the season to get into the playoff, but unfortunately for them, Ohio State made a bigger, bolder statement.

4) Florida State (W-L vs. Georgia Tech 36-34)
Florida State fans all had at least 10 years taken off of their lives watching this team this year, so why should it be anything but shocking that the Seminoles finished off their perfect regular season with a two-point win over the Ramblin' Wreck?

5) Ohio State (W-W vs. Wisconsin 59-0)
The Buckeyes covered the Badgers by nine touchdowns in the Big Ten Championship Game with a third-string quarterback. That's why Urban’s kids are headed to the college football playoff.

6) Baylor (W-W vs. Kansas State 38-27)
We love the passion that Art Briles showed at the end of the win against Kansas State, but all the PR firms in the world and all of the passionate pleas he wanted to make wouldn't be enough to get the Bears into the playoff. Unfortunately for the Big XII, the fact that they had "no true champion" probably cost either TCU or Baylor a shot at the playoff.

7) Arizona (L-L vs. Oregon 51-13)
It wasn't the way that Rich Rod wanted his season to come to a close, but the Cats were still good enough in the eyes of the Selection Committee to get into the Fiesta Bowl.

8) Michigan State (Bye)

9) Kansas State (L-L vs. Baylor 38-27)
The Wildcats' losses this year came against TCU, Baylor, and Auburn, yet they weren't able to lock down a bid into a New Year's Six bowl game, quite possibly due to the fact that the Big XII didn't get any teams into the playoff.

10) Mississippi State (Bye)

11) Georgia Tech (L-W vs. Florida State 36-34)
The Yellow Jackets tried their hardest to take down Florida State, but in the second half, they just couldn't keep up offensively with the defending Heisman Trophy winner. G-Tech earned its spot in the Capital One Orange Bowl, though.

12) Ole Miss (Bye)

13) Wisconsin (L-L vs. Ohio State 59-0)
Enjoy your trip to Florida for the bowl season, Wisconsin.

14) Georgia (Bye)

15) UCLA (Bye)

16) Missouri (L-L vs. Alabama 42-13)
The Tigers fought their butts off against the No. 1 team in America, but for our money, they never had a shot against the Tide.

17) Arizona State (Bye)

18) Clemson (Bye)

19) Auburn (Bye)

20) Oklahoma (L-L vs. Oklahoma State 38-35)
Losing to Okie State in Bedlam was relatively inexcusable for the Sooners as we see it. This was an OU team at the start of the year that thought it had a relatively clear path to the first playoff. Instead, it ended with four losses – Doh!

21) Louisville (Bye)

22) Boise State (W-L vs. Fresno State 28-14)
The Broncos didn't have their best season ever, but they are going to get the big payday thanks to the new playoff system of going to a New Year's Six bowl game.

23) Utah (Bye)

24) LSU (Bye)

25) USC (Bye)

[StarDust Bum]

4th Quarter Covers - Week 15

December 8, 2014

Glancing at the scoreboard won’t tell you the whole story in most games. Here are the games that went down to the wire relative to the spread in the final college football weekend of the season. Each week there are several teams that cover despite not necessarily deserving it, as well as other teams that played much better than the final score shows, get the details in this weekly column.

Central Florida (+6½) 32, East Carolina 30: Those on the underdog Knights were not sweating too much on Thursday night with a 26-9 lead heading into the fourth before things got very interesting. The Pirates scored two quick touchdowns early in the fourth quarter and a drive that looked like it would add points for UCF resulted in a fumble. East Caroling got the ball back down three with just over five minutes to go and it did not take long for the Pirates to complete the comeback, leading 30-26 with just over two minutes to go in the game. UCF had to go for it on 4th down from its own 15 and East Carolina took over on downs.

Getting the ball back with 1:47 to go East Carolina’s coaching staff made a huge miscalculation, taking a knee twice as UCF still had a timeout remaining. On 4th down the Pirates opted to run around and take a sack to try to burn more clock rather than kicking a field goal to go up by seven. UCF got the ball back on the 35-yard line with 10 seconds left. They completed a 14-yard pass play for a 1st down and nailed the Hail Mary with a 51-yard completion for the stunning win. While East Carolina never got past the spread, they would have with a field goal that would made the UCF miracle just to force overtime and more time would have ran off on the kickoff making UCF getting two plays off unlikely.

TCU (-35) 55, Iowa State 3: This game was a bit closer than the final score suggested as the Frogs led just 17-3 at the half with the Cyclones missing a few scoring chances. The game turned sharply late in the third quarter with three touchdowns in a six-minute span including a defensive touchdown to put TCU past the huge favorite spread.

Temple (-2½) 10, Tulane 3: This was a 3-3 defensive grind well into the fourth quarter and special teams proved to be the deciding factor. Temple was able to pin Tulane back at its own 1-yard line, eventually forcing a punt from the end zone. It was not a great effort going just 35 yards and after a nice return Temple had the ball at the Tulane 25-yard line. Surviving a holding call the Owls connected a few plays later to take a 10-3 lead with just over eight minutes to go. Tulane threatened to the tie the game late with a 48-yard run from Lazedrick Thompson to put the Wave in the red zone in the final two minutes. The Wave eventually converted a big 4th down play but then took a sack and on 4th and goal Temple got to Tanner Lee again for what was the game ending sack.

Cincinnati (-7) 38, Houston 31: For moments this line was available at -6½ or +7½ but most of the week it was steady at -7, right where the final score wound up. Those on the Bearcats felt encouraged with a 35-17 lead entering the fourth quarter but Houston connected on an 89-yard pass play to get back in the game. Cincinnati only answered with a field goal after a 14-play drive and a Houston touchdown with just over five minutes to go brought the margin to seven points. Cincinnati had to punt the ball back to the upset-minded Cougars and in the final seconds Houston had three cracks at the end zone from the 11-yard line only to have each throw fall incomplete.

Marshall (-8½) 26, Louisiana Tech 23: With a late announcement of five ineligible starters for Louisiana Tech this line dropped from an opener of -13 down to just -8½. The underdog cover certainly looked safe most of the way but Marshall can score points quickly and a seven-point lead for the Bulldogs well into the fourth quarter evaporated quickly. Marshall took a three-point lead with less than two minutes to go and Louisiana Tech’s attempt to answer resulted in an interception. Marshall was hit with an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty to hurt the chances for a miracle favorite cover and with the Bulldogs only having one timeout Marshall was able to run out the clock rather than needing to try to pick up a first down.

Alabama (-14) 42, Missouri 13: The SEC championship game was controlled by Alabama but Missouri made a run in the second half settling for a short field goal to get within eight late in the third quarter. Alabama would put the lead back to 15 early in the fourth quarter, to reach even with the common spread late in the week. Missouri stalled twice near midfield in the fourth quarter as Alabama was able to add two more late touchdowns to pull away.

Florida State (-3½) 37, Georgia Tech 35: This was a tie game in the third quarter but Florida State had a 37-28 lead after settling for three straight field goals with the third kick coming with just over four minutes to go. An interception on Georgia Tech’s next possession seemed to wrap up the win for the Seminoles who eventually pinned the Yellow Jackets at their own 3-yard line with just over three minutes to go. In a season where Florida State routinely won but fell short of the spread Georgia Tech predictably went the distance in quick order to get within two points before Florida State was able to run out the clock.

Boise State (-23) 28, Fresno State 14: Boise State briefly climbed past the heavy home favorite spread with a 28-0 lead into the third quarter but Fresno State would score twice before the game ran out getting the cover in a game where they actually soundly out-gained Boise State but had an interception returned for a touchdown to dig an early hole.

[StarDust Bum]

TOP POWER LINES

Users of our matchup reports are familiar with our Power Line ratings, calculated using both teams' ratings and home field advantage. The Top Power Lines tool offers a way to view and compare current Power Lines in one simple report, as well as the Power Line Edge, where the Power Line differs significantly from the current line.


CFB > (203) UTEP @ (204) UTAH ST | 12/20/2014 - 02:20 PM
Line: UTAH ST -10 ******* PowerLine: UTAH ST -20
Edge On: UTAH ST (10)

CFB > (209) S ALABAMA @ (210) BOWLING GREEN | 12/20/2014 - 09:15 PM
Line: BOWLING GREEN 2.5 ******* PowerLine: BOWLING GREEN -5
Edge On: BOWLING GREEN (7.5)

CFB > (217) C MICHIGAN @ (218) W KENTUCKY | 12/24/2014 - 12:00 PM
Line: W KENTUCKY -3 ******* PowerLine: W KENTUCKY -13
Edge On: W KENTUCKY (10)

CFB > (225) NC STATE @ (226) UCF | 12/26/2014 - 08:00 PM
Line: UCF -1.5 ******* PowerLine: UCF -9
Edge On: UCF (7.5)

CFB > (231) MIAMI @ (232) S CAROLINA | 12/27/2014 - 03:30 PM
Line: S CAROLINA 1.5 ******* PowerLine: S CAROLINA -7
Edge On: S CAROLINA (8.5)

CFB > (233) PENN ST @ (234) BOSTON COLLEGE | 12/27/2014 - 04:30 PM
Line: BOSTON COLLEGE -2.5 ******* PowerLine: BOSTON COLLEGE -10
Edge On: BOSTON COLLEGE (7.5)

CFB > (241) TEXAS @ (242) ARKANSAS | 12/29/2014 - 09:00 PM
Line: ARKANSAS -5.5 ******* PowerLine: ARKANSAS -13
Edge On: ARKANSAS (7.5)

CFB > (247) MARYLAND @ (248) STANFORD | 12/30/2014 - 10:00 PM
Line: STANFORD -14.5 ******* PowerLine: STANFORD -22
Edge On: STANFORD (7.5)

CFB > (249) OLE MISS @ (250) TCU | 12/31/2014 - 12:30 PM
Line: TCU -3 ******* PowerLine: TCU -12
Edge On: TCU (9)

[StarDust Bum]

Which college football teams were the best/worst bets this season?

The college football regular season closed with a bang this Saturday. Conference crowns were handed out, the Big 12 still didn’t have a title game, and the inaugural College Football Playoff pictured was inked, along with all the other postseason matchups.

Before we prepare for a month of wall-to-wall bowl wagering, let’s look back at the best and worst bets from this past college football season.

Best bet

TCU Horned Frogs: 11-1 SU, 10-2 ATS

Apparently no one on the College Football Playoff committee is a football bettor - or would admit it. If there was one red-blooded bettor among the suits, Texas Christian would have cracked the Final Four instead of playing Ole Miss in the disappointment bowl as a 3.5-point favorite.

The Horned Frogs had only two blemishes on their ATS record this past season. They failed to cover as 3.5-point favorites in a 31-30 road win at West Virginia and nearly crapped the bed against Kansas of all teams, squeaking out a 34-30 road win as 28-point chalk in Lawrence.

There was another 10-2 ATS team in college football this year – the Western Michigan Broncos. However, we gave TCU the nod since they were up against the points in all but two games this season – vs. Oklahoma and at Baylor – and WMU fell apart at the end of the year with a SU and ATS loss to Northern Illinois.


Worst bet

UConn Huskies: 2-10 SU, 2-10 ATS

Some will want to hang this albatross on Florida State, which went 3-10 ATS despite an undefeated record. But for the sake of profits, Connecticut was behind FSU in the ATS rankings.

The Huskies finished at the bottom of the very shallow AAC – just ahead of 1-11 SMU, which went 4-8 ATS on the season. That lone win by the Mustangs – you got it – came in the season finale against the Huskies, winning 27-20 as 13.5-point favorites. The sheer fact UConn was favored by almost two touchdowns is baffling.

Connecticut was a favorite only three times – vs. FCS Stoney Brook, at Army, vs. SMU – and lost by an average of just over two touchdowns per game. The two games the Huskies did manage to cover in came in back-to-back outings: a 31-21 loss at East Carolina as 27.5-point pups and a 37-29 win vs. Central Florida as 8.5-point home dogs.


Best Over

Ohio State Buckeyes: 12-1 SU, 11-2 O/U

Want to know just how good an Over bet the Buckeyes where this year? They didn’t even need Wisconsin to score a single point in the Big Ten Championship, topping the total all by themselves in the jaw-dropping 59-0 win this past weekend.

That was just the cherry on top of the Over sundae for Ohio State. It averaged 45.2 points per game on the season and scored 50 or more points in six of its 13 games. Not even losing two starting quarterbacks to stop the Buckeyes offense, with third stringer Cardale Jones passing for 257 yards and three touchdowns against the Badgers. Braxton who?

Ohio State’s defense wasn’t up to the usual standards of Big Ten football, giving up more than three touchdowns per game. The Buckeyes’ yards against weren’t terrible – ranked 15th in the country – but opponents that did crack the OSU 20-yard line scored a touchdown on 70.27 percent of those red-zone trips. Oddsmakers have set the total at 58 points for Ohio State’s date with Alabama in the Sugar Bowl.


Best Under

San Diego State Aztecs: 7-5 SU, 1-11 O/U

The Aztecs were nearly perfect for Under players if not for a 38-29 loss at Boise State, which finished the season 9-4 O/U. The Broncos scored 21 fourth-quarter points against SDSU, which allowed just 6.9 points per fourth quarter on the season, and trumped the 56.5 points total.

San Diego State’s 12 games had an average total of 53.6 points, while its games produced ab average of 45.9 points – a difference of 7.7 points. In the razor-thin world of total betting, that near eight points separation might as well be the Grand Canyon.

The Aztecs' rushing game marched for 218.6 yards an outing and helped SDSU chew up 31:28 in time of possession – 30th in the country. San Diego State has an interesting bowl game with Navy, which does nothing but run, in the Poinsettia Bowl on Dec. 23. The Middies’ triple option helped post a 4-6 O/U mark heading into their annual showdown with Army next week.

[StarDust Bum]

College Notebook

December 9, 2014


PLAYOFF PREVIEW

"Wow, I wish college basketball would determine its national champion the way they do it in college football!"

We haven't heard anyone say the above, except in jest, in decades. Nor do we expect to hear it seriously in the future, even as we enter the era of the College Football Playoff, which announced its four-team field (Alabama, Oregon Florida State, Ohio State) this past Sunday.

By its nature, there are always going to be controversies regarding not only the quartet of teams selected, but teams five, six and so forth that were bypassed. Just as teams 69, 70, and 71 feel jilted on Selection Sunday for "March Madness" when the NCAA Hoops Tourney announces its field. But after a quarter-century worth of railing on these pages for some kind of college football postseason tournament (as they do in all other college divisions), we're thankful that we at least have something better than the old Bowl Alliance, BCS, or long-ago bowl system to determine a national champ. And, after a period of time wondering about the qualifications of some of the members of the CF Playoff Committee, which seemed to be crafted using the same "representative" casting philosophy of TV shows like the Amazing Race (was there really a football-related reason to put former Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice on the panel?), we stopped worrying about its composition, too. Including Ms. Rice, whose football acumen is probably better than many of the so-called experts we run into during the course of conducting our own business each autumn.

(The weekly CFP rankings, however, are a wasteful exercise and pure folly, nothing more than a hype vehicle for ESPN and Tuesday night ratings during the autumn. As was proven this season, when drastic shifts occurred for the final rankings, the only ones that mattered, and just released on Sunday.)

What still bothers us about the Playoff, however, is the same thing that bothers Dan Wetzel, who penned the excellent Death to the BCS book in 2010. There were no greater playoff proponents than Wetzel, but he was never caught doing any victory laps when the plans for the four-team playoff were eventually introduced not too long after the publishing of his book. That's because much of the same bowl system that Death to the BCS suggested was self-serving and corrupt has been kept in place...even with the advent of the new playoff.

Wetzel has continued to address the issue in his frequent articles for Yahoo Sports, which often include the same sorts of things we have been saying for years about the bowl system. Among other ignominies, Wetzel contends that the upper level of the bowl industry fought hard to keep the playoff at four teams as a means of maintaining their status as, according to Wetzel, "outrageously compensated middle-men."

Wetzel has also reminded readers, and we concur, that the new 30-and-40-somethings of athletic administration are more bottom-line driven than their predecessors and will increasingly view the "good 'ol boy" bowl network as archaic and out-of-date. Especially when there is more money to be made from a bigger playoff. Thus, expect the four-team field to grow to eight, and perhaps bigger, in the near future. We are relatively sure that the massive fan base will fuel the demand for eventual expansion of the tournament.

Like us, Wetzel believes the four-team playoff is an improvement, however slight, over the BCS model. For the moment, we'll worry down the road about getting more teams in the playoff.

THE SPINS OF THE COACHING CAROUSEL

The college coaching carousel has been spinning quickly the past couple of weeks, and more moves are likely to be made soon. As we went to press, there were still five openings, which we discuss at length below, with the possibility of further dominoes falling if head coaches move from elsewhere to one of the current openings. As always, the situation is fluid, and expect the carousel to continue spinning into the fast-approaching bowl season.

Following are the schools that have already made their coaching moves.

Florida...The biggest job on the market after the departure of Will Muschamp was filled last week when the Gators hired Colorado State HC Jim McElwain. Regional sources had noted a while ago that McElwain, represented by super agent Jimmy Sexton, was likely to move back to the SEC in the near future after resurrecting the Rams program, following four years on Nick Saban's Alabama staff as offensive coordinator. Muschamp, by the way, has become the most in-demand defensive coordinator target on the market, with speculation already centering upon new SEC d.c. openings at Texas A&M and Auburn, and perhaps at South Carolina, where Lorenzo Ward is reportedly on thin ice with Steve Spurrier after a bumpy 2014, with a possible Muschamp hiring already causing the Gamecock "Twitter-verse" to go into overload).

Nebraska..The stunner (thus far) of the offseason was the hire of Oregon State's Mike Riley last week to replace Bo Pelini, who was surprisingly dismissed shortly after the Cornhuskers beat Iowa in OT of their regular-season finale. The good-natured Riley is truly the "anti-Pelini" and will be warmly welcomed in Lincoln after his abrasive predecessor, though Bo's dismissal was met with dismay by much of the current team and others who believed Pelini's 9-3 record this season (and 67-27 mark as Husker HC) steered him clear of trouble. (Much like Will Muschamp, Pelini could also be an in-demand defensive coordinator candidate.)

Kansas...After a groundswell of support to give interim HC Clint Bowen the full-time assignment following Charlie Weis' late-September dismissal, the Jayhawks instead opted for Texas A&M WR coach and recruiting coordinator David Beaty, whose ties to the Lone Star state are deep and could open a KU recruiting pipeline into Texas. At least they're hoping as much in Lawrence.

SMU...The Mustangs avoided a winless 2014 when beating UConn 27-20 for interim HC Tom Mason last Saturday, but might have scored a bigger victory when tabbing well-regarded Clemson o.c. Chad Morris as their new coach earlier in the week. Morris, regarded one of the hot assistants in the country, has roots in Texas as a former HS coaching star in the state, and his offenses were avant-garde with the Tigers. This hire seems quite a coup for the Ponies.

Troy...Vet HC Larry Blakeney's retirement opened the door for Kentucky o.c. Neal Brown, who before his stint in Lexington held the o.c. job at Texas Tech. Earlier, Brown had been o.c. at Troy and remolded the Trojan offense into the 21st century with a high-tech passing game, and that connection had much to do with his hiring.

Buffalo...The midseason dismissal of Jeff Quinn led to the eventual hiring of Wisconsin-Whitewater HC Lance Leipold, who went an incredible 106-6 at the Division III level, with five national titles in eight seasons. Midwest sources say Leipold's pro-style offense could catch the spread-happy MAC off guard. Although Leipold is jumping from non-scholarship D-III into one of the tougher jobs in the country.

Following are updates on the jobs still open as we went to press...although some of these positions might be filled by the time you read this portion of the article!

Michigan...For the time being, the highest-profile opening in the country after Brady Hoke's worst-kept-secret-in-college-football dismissal early last week. The Wolverines have dual openings right now both at head coach and AD, although at the moment have an interim appointment, Jim Hackett, for the latter after Dave Brandon's (forced?) resignation last month. And sources within the region say Hackett is going to be the man conducting the coaching search and making the decision on Hoke's successor.

Speculation has long centered upon a couple of Wolverine alums, current San Francisco 49ers HC Jim Harbaugh and current LSU HC Les Miles, as top candidates, but each has pulled out of consideration for the job in the past. Harbaugh, however, is looking as if he might be in play this year as his situation with the 49ers has deteriorated (his working relationship with GM Trent Baalke has never been smooth, and recent tweets by CEO Jed York after the Thanksgiving loss to the Seahawks suggest all might not be well with ownership, either). Though most Bay Area sources believe if Harbaugh is indeed going to be on the move, it will be to another job in the NFL, where he could have a number of possible suitors (perhaps the nearby Raiders, and Jets, among others).

As for Miles, he has also rejected past overtures from his alma mater, both after the Lloyd Carr and Rich Rodriguez regimes ran aground. But, as Scott Rabalais of the Baton Rouge Advocate wrote last week, now might be the time for the 61-year-old Big Blue alum to return to his football roots in Ann Arbor, where he played for Bo Schembechler between 1973-75, and coached for Bo and Gary Moeller between 1987-94. Where, also, he once had a teammate named Jim Hackett, the interim AD conducting the Wolverine coaching search. Rabalais noted that a large segment of the LSU fan base has never accepted Miles (beginning with the last-minute loss to Tennessee early in his first season of 2005, when the Gulf region was still reeling in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina). Michigan, however, was paying Hoke about $1.5 million per year less than what Miles is making (reportedly $4.3 mill per year) at LSU. Miles, one of a handful of SEC coaches not represented by Jimmy Sexton, will likely have his Dallas-based agent George Bass gauging interest in the coming weeks, but most in the region believe Miles isn't going anywhere.

There is no shortage of other candidates in Ann Arbor, however. The has been some buzz surrounding Missouri HC Gary Pinkel, who pulled out of an interview with the Wolverines before the Hoke hiring four years ago and re-upped at Mizzou instead. And last year, Pinkel said he has no intention of leaving Columbia. Nonetheless, some sources say to keep an eye on the situation. Recent speculation has also centered upon Boston College HC Steve Addazio and Utah HC Kyle Whittingham, the latter reportedly targeted by the Wolverines in the past. Former NFL Tampa Bay Bucs and Rutgers HC Greg Schiano reportedly wants back on the sidelines and is apparently interested.

Big Ten sources also say watch both Oklahoma State HC Mike Gundy and Oklahoma HC Bob Stoops, as the former is more likely to be "in play" if reports that he and top Stillwater booster Boone Pickens are ready to "divorce" are indeed true (though after last Saturday's upset win over OU, a happy Gundy said he is "100% committed" to OSU). As for Stoops, his name has popped up for various openings in the past, and his phone number has reportedly been on Jerry Jones' speed dial in Dallas for several years; sources believe if Stoops, completing his 16th season with Oklahoma, is ever to move from Norman, it is likely to be to the NFL. Coaches such as Gundy and Stoops who are partial to spread offenses, however, might have another reason to balk at Michigan because the returning personnel does not fit that offensive philosophy, and any transition could be more time-consuming than desired.

Longshots at Michigan? Memphis' Justin Fuente might be the most "upwardly mobile" head coach in the non-Big Five conferences, though regional insiders believe he could also become an immediate target at a place such as Ok State should Gundy leave. Arizona State's Todd Graham has a history of jumping ship and could become involved in further speculation. Some also expect Mississippi State HC Dan Mullen to be contacted; though most SEC insiders believe Mullen stays in Starkville, he will probably be looking for a contract bump to approximate the raise that counterpart Hugh Freeze just received at Ole Miss (reportedly in the $4 mill per year range). A few sources even say that Notre Dame's Brian Kelly, whose star is beginning to fade at South Bend, might be the ultimate surprise candidate. Whatever, it looks like Michigan is shooting high for its new coach.

Oregon State...The surprise departure of HC Mike Riley to Nebraska (surprising because Riley seemed to be on the hot seat in Corvallis after a disappointing 5-7 campaign) has created the only likely opening in the Pac-12 in this spin of the coaching carousel. A name to recently surface is former Cal HC Jeff Tedford, who took a medical leave earlier this season from his job on the NFL Tampa Bay staff due to a heart procedure and then recently parted ways with the Bucs. Fully recovered, Tedford, who coached under Mike Bellotti at Oregon and posted an 82-57 record in eleven seasons with the Golden Bears between 2002-12, is reportedly interested. But there is no shortage of candidates in Corvallis, which also reportedly include former Beaver alum and current BYU HC Bronco Mendenhall, who (like many associated with BYU football these days) could be tiring of the recent independent status of Cougar football. Wildly successful Eastern Washington HC Beau Baldwin, plus Utah State HC Matt Wells, Wyoming HC Craig Bohl, Fresno State HC Tim DeRuyter, former Hawaii and SMU HC June Jones, Southern Cal d.c. Justin Wilcox (though an Oregon alum), Washington o.c. and former Beaver QB Jonathan Smith, UCLA o.c. Noel Mazzone, and Hoke have all been mentioned as candidates. There are also some Pac-12 sources who believe OSU AD Bob DeCarolis might consider going "back to the future" as the Beavers did when hiring Riley for a second tour of duty and consider the well-traveled Dennis Erickson, currently on the Utah staff but having led OSU to great heights as Beaver HC between 1999-2002, and San Diego State HC Rocky Long, who worked as the d.c. in Corvallis under Jerry Pettibone in the '90s. Age, however, could work against both Erickson (now 67) and Long (now 65).

Colorado State...Jim McElwain's departure has created an opening at CSU, where the Ram program is on the move, having not long ago completed an upgraded football facility and within the last week announcing a long-awaited go-ahead with construction of a new, on-campus stadium (current Hughes Stadium, in use since 1968, is located in the foothills several miles from campus). The target date for completion of the new football arena is the 2017 season. There has even been speculation in the region that CSU is dreaming about a future move into the Big 12, so they're at least thinking bigger these days in Fort Collins. Whatever, this job now has some added appeal, and the candidate list intrigues, with none other than Brady Hoke surfacing as one of the early candidates. There is also sentiment to hire from within and promote o.c. Dave Baldwin, who will coach the Rams in their bowl game. Baldwin, a former HC at CS Northridge and San Jose State, where he turned around the Spartan program before leaving in a salary dispute following a successful 2000 season, would possibly head to Florida with McElwain if not offered the CSU job. Current co-defensive coordinator Marty English has also been mentioned, as has "fly sweep" guru and current Colorado School of Mines HC Bob Stitt, and several with past Ram connections, including alums Tony Alford (current Notre Dame RB coach), Billy Gonzalez (Mississippi State co-o.c.), and Matt Lubick (son of former CSU HC Sonny lubick and now Oregon's WR coach). Another member of the current Oregon staff, o.c. Scott Frost, has been mentioned as another possibility.

UNLV...Nice guy Bobby Hauck's resignation was not unexpected after the former Montana HC compiled a 15-49 mark with the Rebs, winning exactly two games in four of his five seasons in charge of one of the most daunting program-rebuild tasks in the college ranks. The buzz in Vegas is that the Rebs might be going the old Gerry Faust at Notre Dame (or, more recently, Todd Dodge at North Texas) route and will hire straight from the high school ranks, with wildly successful local Bishop Gorman HS coach Tony Sanchez rumored to be ready to make the jump. There are rumors of some fascinating strings attached to an appointment of Sanchez, who is apparently the favored candidate of the Fertitta family, owners of the Stations chain of hotel/casinos and the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship). Speculation is that the hiring of Sanchez could be a condition to a major Fertitta cash infusion to the football program and athletic department, perhaps as much as $30 million for badly-needed gridiron facility and support staff upgrades. According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal's Mark Anderson, there is also speculation that the Maloof family, local residents and former owners of the NBA Houston Rockets and Sacramento Kings, and the Palms resort in Las Vegas, are championing ex-Hawaii and SMU HC June Jones. Local sources say that former Ole Miss and interim Southern Cal HC Ed Orgeron, former Boise State, Arkansas and Ole Miss HC Houston Nutt, and former Utah, NFL NY Giants, and UFL champion Las Vegas Locomotives HC Jim Fassel, also a local resident, have also been in contact with AD Tina Kunzer-Murphy about the opening.

As for Hauck, his former job at Montana (where Bobby fashioned an 80-17 mark) has opened due to Mick Delaney's retirement. Hauck and another Griz alum, Washington Huskies o.c. (and former Boise State and Florida o.c.) Brent Pease, are considered frontrunners for the Grizzlies' job.

Tulsa...The dismissal of Bill Blankenship, who had endured two very rough campaigns in a row with the Golden Hurricane, was not unexpected. The aforementioned Houston Nut, who was interested in the SMU opening, is reportedly pursuing this job, as might be Ed Orgeron, who was recently bypassed at Kansas. (Orgeron, according to sources, wants "back in" after cooling his heels in Louisiana this season, and might also resurface as a high-profile assistant, perhaps on Mike Riley's new staff at Nebraska). Tulsa, however, has already interviewed 29-year-old Texas A&M o.c. Jake Spavital, with up-and-coming 34-year-old Auburn o.c. Rhett Lashlee and Utah State HC Matt Wells also likely on the Golden Hurricane radar. There are some very deep pockets among the big Tulsa boosters, who would be willing to give a current HC like Wells a nice salary bump should he make a move. A longshot, should Tulsa look to go the older-school route, is former Miami Hurricanes, Cleveland Browns, and North Carolina HC Butch Davis. One coach, according to the Tulsa World, who apparently is not interest in the job is TCU's co-offensive coordinator Doug Meachem, who reportedly declined a request for an interview.

Houston...On Monday, UH, bound for the Armed Forces Bowl, confirmed the dismissal of HC Tony Levine. Early successor speculation has centered upon Georgia Southern HC Willie Fritz, who previously had great success at FCS Sam Houston State; Ohio State o.c. Tom Herman; SF 49ers assistant Jim Leavitt, also the former South Florida HC; Doug Meachem, TCU's aforementioned o.c. who will be given the chance to turn down an interview for the Cougar job, as he did with Tulsa; and UH alum and longtime NFL HC and assistant Wade Phillips.

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College Playoff Outlook

December 8, 2014

Whether it's football or basketball, every Selection Sunday leaves a few teams disappointed in their fate. In the first College Football Playoff, the snubs include Baylor and TCU from out of the Big 12 Conference.

The Horned Frogs blasted Iowa St. 55-3 as 35-point home favorite in their regular-season finale this past weekend. Nevertheless, they fell from third to sixth in the committee's rankings.

Gary Patterson's team finished the regular season with an 11-1 straight-up record. TCU's only loss came by three at Baylor in a game it led by 21 early in the fourth quarter. Since then, the Frogs have won seven in a row and their quality resume wins include scalps of Minnesota (30-7), Oklahoma (37-33), West Va. (31-30) and Kansas St. (41-20), not to mention a 48-10 win at Texas.

Baylor, ranked sixth last week, climbed one spot to fifth after beating Kansas St. 37-28 in Waco. The Bears also finish 11-1 with their lone defeat coming at West Va. They had quality wins vs. TCU (61-58), at Oklahoma (48-10) and vs. K-St. Yes, Art Briles's team played an extremely weak non-conference slate, but its loss at West Virginia isn't nearly as bad as Ohio State's home loss to Virginia Tech (at home, by double digits).

But it's hard to argue against Ohio State getting 'in' with the fourth seed after finishing so strong. I mean, with their third-string quarterback making his first career start, the Buckeyes smashed a quality Wisconsin team 59-0 at the Big Ten Championship Game. Since the loss to the Hokies, Urban Meyer's squad has won 11 in a row, including a 49-37 win at Michigan St.

Ohio State will take on top-seeded Alabama on New Year's Day at the Superdome in New Orleans. Most books opened the Crimson Tide as a 10-point 'chalk.' As of Monday afternoon, the number for the side was 9.5 and the total was 58.

Nick Saban's team took care of business in Atlanta, coasting to a 42-13 win over Missouri as a 14.5-point favorite in the SEC Championship Game. The Tide has been No. 1 since beating previously-unbeaten Mississippi St. three weeks ago.

Saban hasn't faced Meyer since 'Bama trounced Florida 31-6 in 2010 at Bryant-Denny Stadium. In the previous meeting, the Tide thumped the Gators 32-13 at the Ga. Dome in Atlanta. Hours later, Meyer was rushed to the hospital after a fainting spell.

Although Meyer won't acknowledge anything of the sort, you can make a strong case that Saban ran him out of the SEC. So there's that storyline on top of all that's already at stake in the first CFP.

The 2/3 game will take place at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. This contest will pit second-seeded Oregon against third-seeded and unbeaten Florida State Most spots have the Ducks favored by nine with a total of 71.

The Seminoles will be underdogs for the first time since early in the 2011 campaign when they lost 35-30 at Clemson as 2.5-point 'dogs. Jimbo Fisher's team hasn't tasted defeat since a 2012 home loss to arch-rival Florida.

Since then, FSU has won 29 consecutive games, including last week's 37-35 non-covering win over Georgia Tech at the ACC Championship Game. The 'Noles failed to cover the number as four-point 'chalk' due to a late TD that gave the Yellow Jackets a backdoor cover. They went 3-10 ATS this year and are mired in a 3-11 ATS slump dating back to a non-cover vs. Auburn to win it all last season.

The next set of significant bowl games include Mississippi State vs. Georgia Tech (Orange Bowl), Ole Miss vs. TCU (Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl), Baylor vs. Michigan State (Cotton Bowl) and Boise State vs. Arizona (Fiesta).

The Bulldogs are favored by seven over the Yellow Jackets, while the Rebels are three-point underdogs to the Horned Frogs. Baylor is a three-point favorite vs. the Spartans, while the Wildcats are four-point 'chalk' to the Broncos, who have a pair of Fiesta Bowl wins over TCU and Oklahoma over the last decade.

5Dimes has posted lines for the potential matchups in the CFP finals in Arlington at Jerry World. FSU is a three-point favorite over Ohio State, but the 'Noles are 10-point underdogs vs. Alabama.

Oregon is favored by 9.5 (with a -125 price) vs. Ohio State (+9.5, -105), while the Ducks are 3.5-point underdogs to 'Bama.

You can wager on these games at those lines right now. If the matchups don't materialize, then the wagers are refunded. The three games excluding Oregon-Ohio State have prices of -115 either way.

[StarDust Bum]

Up for Heisman: Mariota, Cooper, Gordon

December 8, 2014

NEW YORK (AP) - The Heisman Trophy finalists would make one heck of an offense.

Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota, Alabama receiver Amari Cooper and record-breaking Wisconsin running back Melvin Gordon are set to make the trip to New York for the Heisman presentation after the finalists were announced on Monday.

Mariota is considered the clear the front-runner to win the 80th Heisman on Saturday night in New York. He would become the first Oregon player to earn college football's most famous player of the year trophy.

''It is humbling to be considered for an award that I have admired for a very long time,'' Mariota said in a statement. ''I would like to thank my teammates and coaches as I could not have been recognized as a finalist without their help.''

Mariota and the second-seeded Ducks will face Florida State and last year's Heisman winner Jameis Winston at the Rose Bowl in the College Football Playoff semifinals on Jan. 1.

Cooper helped Alabama earn the top seed in the playoff. The Crimson Tide plays Ohio State at the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans.

Winston becomes the seventh player since 2003 to take a shot at a Heisman repeat and come up short. Ohio State's Archie Griffin is the only player to win two Heismans.

Finalists are determined by percentage of votes received from 929 media members and former winners.

Mariota didn't even break the top 10 in the Heisman voting last season, but entered 2014 as one of the preseason favorites.

He delivered a spectacular season in his third year as the Ducks' starter. He is the nation's top-rated passer (186.3) and has thrown for 3,783 yards and 38 touchdowns with just two interceptions. He also has run for 669 yards and 14 touchdowns for the Pac-12 champions.

He is Oregon's third finalist, joining quarterback Joey Harrington (2001) and running back LaMichael James (2010).

Gordon leads the nation with 2,336 yards rushing and 179.7 yards per game. Gordon broke the single-game FBS rushing record with 408 yards against Nebraska, a record that only stood for a week. He needs another huge game in the Outback Bowl against Auburn to break Barry Sanders' single-season record of 2,628, set in his Heisman winning season of 1988 with Oklahoma State.

He is the fourth Wisconsin running back to be a finalist. The Badgers have had two Heisman winners: Alan Ameche (1954) and Ron Dayne (1999).

Cooper set a Southeastern Conference record with 115 catches for 1,656 yards and 14 touchdowns for the top-ranked Crimson Tide.

Cooper is the fourth Alabama finalist since Mark Ingram became the Tide's first winner in 2009.

''This will be my first trip to New York City, and I can't put into words how much it means to me and my family,'' Cooper said in a statement. ''I am privileged to have the opportunity to represent our team at the Heisman ceremony. None of this would be possible without my coaches and teammates.''

Heisman voters submit a ballot with their top three selections. Mariota, Gordon and Cooper emerged as such strong candidates late in the season that the rest of the field drifted away.

The last time voters picked only three Heisman finalists was 2012, when Johnny Manziel won in a landslide vote against Kansas State's Collin Klein and Notre Dame's Manti Te'o.

Mississippi State quarterback Dak Prescott made a strong push in October, but tailed off in November as the Bulldogs lost twice.

Ohio State quarterback J.T. Barrett was making a late-season surge before he was injured in the regular-season finale against Michigan and had to miss the Big Ten championship game.

TCU's Trevone Boykin, another dual-threat quarterback, had numbers that rivaled Mariota's in some areas: 3,714 yards and 30 touchdowns in 12 games.

Indiana's Tevin Coleman also surpassed 2,000 yards rushing and his average per carry was just a tick below Gordon's (7.54 to 7.56).

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Army meets Navy

December 12, 2014


ARMY BLACK KNIGHTS (4-7) vs. NAVY MIDSHIPMEN (6-5)

M&T Bank Stadium - Baltimore, MD
Kickoff: Saturday, 3:00 p.m. ET
Sportsbook.ag Line: Navy -15, Total: 56.5

In one of the longest running rivalries in sports, Army and Navy will meet for the 115th time on Saturday afternoon.

The Midshipmen had a rough start to the year with a record of 2-4 (both SU and ATS) over their first six games, but have turned it around since that time with a 4-1 SU record (3-2 ATS) leading up to this contest. Over those five games, they have defeated their opponents by an average of 20.5 PPG and suffered their one loss against Notre Dame by a score of 49-39 as 14-point underdogs. Their most recent contest came against South Alabama on the road as 7.5-point favorites on Nov. 28 and they narrowly avoided an upset after outscoring the Jaguars 42-40. Navy tallied 430 yards of offense in the victory while getting 388 yards (7.2 YPC) from its triple-option offense, but also turned the ball over three times.

The Black Knights have had a forgettable 2014 campaign while going 4-7 (both SU and ATS) while winning two of their past three games. They were able to beat both 5-point favorite Connecticut by a score of 35-21, and 3.5-point favorite Fordham on Nov. 22 with a 42-31 victory. Army was actually outgained 471-430 against the Rams, as the team totaled 382 yards on the ground and had no turnovers for the second straight game. The Knights have been great at protecting the football with a mere six turnovers in the past eight games played. This rivalry has been dominated by Navy, which is 15-7 (both SU and ATS) since 1992, while winning in each of the past 12 meetings by an average of 22.3 PPG.

Last year, the Midshipmen rolled to a big 34-7 win as 13.5-point favorites as they had 343 rushing yards (6.0 YPC) and held Army to a mere 207 total offensive yards. Some interesting trends to keep an eye on in this one include that the Black Knights are 1-12 ATS (8%) after outrushing an opponent by 150 or more yards in the past three seasons, but they are 3-1 ATS as a neutral-field underdog in the same timeframe. There are no significant injuries to watch going into this game.

Just like its counterpart in this one, Army has a strong rushing offense and has averaged 305.5 YPG on the ground (6th in FBS) while being the worst team in the nation in passing (64.5 YPG), but have scored a respectable 26.3 PPG. QB Angel Santiago (488 pass yards, 1 TD, 1 INT) has had double-digit passing attempts in just three games this year and has eclipsed 100 passing yards only once. He is expected to control the offense with his legs and has 793 rushing yards (4.4 YPC) with 10 TDs this year while reaching 100 yards twice. HB Larry Dixon (1,012 rush yards, 9 TD) has been the top option in this offense and has gained more than 110 rushing yards four times this season. He has improved his performance over the past two games while averaging 136.5 YPG with a total of four touchdowns.

There is really no big threat in the receiving game, as WR Edgar Poe (199 yards, 1 TD) leads the team with 10 catches. The Black Knights defense has been one of the worst in college football while allowing opponents to put up 34.4 PPG against them, and could be in trouble against the Navy triple-option as they give up 191.9 rushing YPG. LB Jeremy Timpf (102 tackles, 3 INT, 14 TFL) has done his best to help this unit improve but will need some serious help to contend in this one.

The Midshipmen have always been known for their devotion to the triple-option and that has helped them to the second-best rushing offense in the nation (357.8 YPG) while they put up just 87.6 YPG through the air (2nd-worst in FBS), all leading to 34.5 PPG (33rd in nation). QB Keenan Reynolds (749 pass yards, 5 TD, 3 INT) is expected to do little in the passing game, as he has just 10.7 attempts per game while surpassing 100 yards only three times in his nine games. While he is not much of a passer, he leads the team in rushing with 1,082 yards (5.3 YPC) and 20 TD while gaining more than 250 yards on the ground in two of the past four contests. Besides Reynolds, both HBs Noah Copeland (859 rush yards, 5 TDs) and Chris Swain (574 rush yards, 4 TDs) have led the way running the ball. Copeland has gone into triple-digit rushing yards five times this year, and is coming off a solid performance in last week’s win over South Alabama with 112 rushing yards and 2 TD.

WR Jamir Tillman (338 rec yards, 2 TD) is the only player on the team with double-digit receptions (18) while having just one game with more than 70 receiving yards. The defense for this program has been poor while allowing 29.9 PPG to their opponents, and ranks 86th in the nation while giving up 426.2 YPG of total offense. LBs Jordan Drake (85 tackles) and Daniel Gonzales (73 tackles, 2 INT) lead the team on this side of the ball, and will be leaned greatly on to keep the Army rushing attack in check.

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Navy puts win streak on line vs Army

December 12, 2014

BALTIMORE (AP) - Navy's unprecedented 12-game winning streak against Army has increased the pressure on both teams Saturday.

The Cadets are desperate to snap a slide that began when the current crop of players were in grade school. The Midshipmen are determined to maintain the upper hand in a series that began in 1890.

''The streak is out there. Everybody on the team, everybody at the school realizes that,'' Navy senior captain Parrish Gaines said. ''It does kind of seem like something we've got to do. Everybody I've played with on this team has beat these guys every year.''

No Navy team since 2001 has lost to Army. During that time, the Midshipmen have outscored the Cadets 400-132, including 34-7 last year.

Before this 12-game run, the longest winning streak either team enjoyed was five.

''This is a game we want to win, particularly with all the talk about Navy having won so many in a row,'' said first-year Army coach Jeff Monken, who helped the Midshipmen get the streak started while serving as an assistant coach at the Naval Academy from 2002-07.

Army (4-7) is a decided underdog against Navy (6-5). But there have been far bigger upsets in a rivalry the Midshipmen lead 58-49-7.

''Coach Monken said one thing to us: Right now, we haven't played that team,'' Army senior defensive back Geoffery Bacon said. ''The 2014 Army team hasn't played the 2014 Navy team. So right now, we're 0-0.''

Beating Navy is always the top priority at Army.

''Not just to end the 12-game winning streak, but for us as a program,'' running back Raymond Maples said. ''To beat Navy to end the season - our archrival - is our mantra. It's what we live by.''

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Some things to know about the 115th Army-Navy game:

REYNOLDS WRAP: Army can't win if it can't stop quarterback Keenan Reynolds, the key to Navy's triple-option attack. A year ago, Reynolds ran through the Cadets for 136 yards and three touchdowns. His 61 rushing touchdowns are an NCAA record for a quarterback, and he's only a junior. ''We've had a lot of good ones over the years, but Keenan is definitely the best since I've been here,'' Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo said. ''His decision-making is on a different level. People always try to change it up and throw different wrinkles at us, but against that guy you're wasting your time.''

HOME-FIELD ADVANTAGE: It would appear Navy has an advantage playing at the home stadium of the Baltimore Ravens, which is 29 miles from the Naval Academy. ''These games aren't in anybody's backyard. It's an NFL stadium,'' Monken said. ''In my first year at Navy, in 2002, we played in the Meadowlands. That's Army's backyard and it didn't make any difference. It doesn't matter where you play. The difference is how you play.''

AMERICA'S (ONLY) GAME: This is essentially the only Division I game of note on Saturday, so the players and coaches will be getting the full attention of anyone who cares about college footall. ''We like it. It gives us a sense of pride, knowing we're the only game on TV that day,'' Gaines said. Monken said, ''It's a lot of fun to be part of games like this and to be in the spotlight of college football for a day. Even for people who don't follow Army or Navy all year long, people who are college football fans, when they see there's a game on, they're going to turn it on and watch it.''

SNAZZY UNIFORMS: Navy will be wearing alternate uniforms for the game. The theme is ''Don't Tread On Me,'' complete with a coiled rattlesnake within a red N on the navy blue helmet. Red stripes around the shoulders and navy blue numbers are also featured.

TAKE A HIKE: Former Army football captain Mike Viti expects to be at the game after hiking from Washington state, a 4,414-mile trek that began in April. His goal was to stress awareness for America's fallen soldiers in war since 9/11. The hike is expected to end Saturday at the same stadium where his Army team lost to Navy 38-3 in 2007.

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Alvarez: No offer of Badgers job yet

December 12, 2014

MADISON, Wis. (AP) - Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez says he hasn't offered the Badgers' football coaching job to anyone, including current Pittsburgh coach and apparent front-runner Paul Chryst.

Alvarez said Friday that Wisconsin state law prevents the university from making an offer to anyone before Wednesday, the date given in a job posting that went up after Gary Andersen's departure this week for Oregon State.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that Alvarez met with Chryst in Florida, where Alvarez was attending an Outback Bowl promotion. The newspaper cited an anonymous source. Pittsburgh officials said Chryst was in Florida recruiting earlier in the week.

Alvarez will coach the Badgers in the bowl against Auburn on Jan. 1.

Chryst is a former Badgers assistant, including stints as co_offensive coordinator, tight ends coach and quarterbacks coach. He's also a former Badgers quarterback. He is 19-19 at Pitt, including 6-6 this season with a game against Houston coming up Jan. 2 in the Armed Forces Bowl.

The Panthers began bowl preparations Friday with a light workout at the end of finals week. Chryst spoke to the team before practice but declined to address reporters. He is in the third season of a five-year deal he signed when Pitt hired him to replace Todd Graham in December 2011. While Chryst has spoken to Pitt officials about an extension, no agreement has been reached.