The Bum's 2014-15 Bowl Betting Results - Trends -Stats- Best Bets Bowl Season Thread

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NCAAF
Armadillo's Write-Up

Bowl Season

Holiday Bowl, San Diego 12/27
Over last three years, Big 14 teams are 7-15 in bowls, 5-10-1 vs spread when getting points. Nebraska upgraded by firing Pelini and hiring Riley from Oregon State; Riley isn't coaching this game, but his Beavers lost 35-10 to USC in late September- he probably helped some in game prep. Cornhuskers are 1-3 in last four bowls; since beginning of '12 season, they're -25 in turnovers, -2 this year. USC will have crowd edge being 120 miles away; this is first visit to this bowl for Trojans, who are 4-1 n last ive bowls. Sarkisian was 1-2 as bowl coach at Washington. Dogs won/covered last three Holiday Bowls; last five stayed under total.

Pinstripe Bowl, Bronx 12/27
At one point, BC had won eight straight bowls, but they're 0-4 in bowls since then, scoring 14.8 ppg. Eagles are 4-1 on road this year, losing by a FG at Florida State; they're 4-4 in games with a single digit spread. Penn State lost six of their last eight games after 4-0 start; they're down to 41 scholarship players due to probation/injuries. PSU is 1-5 in games with single digit spread; they're in first bowl since '11, and lost three of last four bowls before that. Franklin was 2-1 in bowls at Vandy. Underdogs covered this bowl last three years, with all three staying under the total. Game is sold out with large alumni bases close by.

Independence Bowl, Shreveport, 12/27
Miami lost its last four bowls, scoring 14.3 ppg; their last bowl win was eight years ago in Boise. South Carolina won last three bowls, scoring an average of 32.3 ppg; Spurrier is 10-10 overall in bowls. Miami lost last three games, allowing 31.7 ppg; they're 0-4 as underdogs this year, 2-5 in games with single digit spread. Gamecocks are 1-7 as a favorite this year, 2-4 in games with single digit spread. Over last three years, SEC teams are 18-8 in bowls, 13-9-1 vs spread as favorites; ACC teams are 10-13 in bowls, 6-9-1 as underdogs. Favorites won/covered this bowl four of last five years; over is 2-0-1 in this game last three years.

Sun Bowl, El Paso 12/27
Duke lost its last four bowls, allowing 45.8 ppg; their last bowl win was in 1960. Blue Devils are 19-7 SU last two years, covering seven of last nine as an underdog. Arizona State lost four of last five bowls, allowing 42.8 ppg; Graham is 4-2 in bowls. This is third year in row ASU is 8+ point bowl favorite; they lost LY to Texas Tech in Holiday Bowl. Sun Devils are 3-4 in games with single digit spreads, Duke is 4-3. ASU gave up 31+ points in last four games. Dogs won this game three of last four years, covered four of last five, with four of five going over total. ACC teams are 1-3 in this game last four years.

Military Bowl, Annapolis, 12/27
Virginia Tech coach Beamer had throat surgery after regular season, will coach this game from press box; Hokies lost three of last four bowls, two of last three going to OT- they lost 27-24 to Cincinnati in regular season game two years ago. Bearscats are 2-3 in last five bowls, but Tuberville is 7-4 as bowl coach. Cincy won last seven games, all by 7+ points; they allowed 41+ points in all three losses this year. Tech needs win to avoid first losing season since '92; they're 3-5 vs spread in games with single digit spread; Cincy is 4-1-1. Hokies figure to have crowd edge with game in their region. Favorite won this game last five years, covering four, with four of five going over total.

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NCAAF

Saturday, December 27

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Holiday Bowl Betting Preview: Nebraska vs. USC
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Nebraska Cornhuskers vs. USC Trojans (-7, 62)

Game to be played at Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, California

1. USC is playing in the Holiday Bowl for the first time while No. 22 Nebraska will have an interim coach when the teams face off on Dec. 27 in San Diego. Trojans coach Steve Sarkisian is looking to avoid a five-loss campaign in his first season as coach. The Cornhuskers fired Bo Pelini and have hired Mike Riley away from Oregon State but Barney Cotton will serve as the interim coach for the bowl game.

2. Cotton has been on the Nebraska coaching staff for eight years and also was an offensive lineman at the school. He has made it his quest to get the players ready to give a supreme effort despite all the uncertainty surrounding the program. “We know that we’ve got one last chance together,” Cotton told reporters. “That’s our future here, and then I hope and pray that everybody gets an opportunity to do what they want to do next year.”

3. Both schools are known for being high-profile football factories and powers in the sport. But this contest will mark only the fifth meeting with USC holding a 3-0-1 edge. The most-recent matchup was in 2007, when the top-ranked Trojans posted a 49-31 victory at Nebraska.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, ESPN.

LINE HISTORY: The line opened at USC -5.5 before quickly jumping to -6.5. It sat there for several days before settling at -7. The opening total (61) has seen a modest 1-point jump (62).

INJURY REPORT: Nebraska - DE Randy Gregory (Ques-Undisclosed), WR Alonzo Moore (Ques-Undisclosed) USC - LB Lamar Dawson (Ques-Knee),

WEATHER FORECAST: Clear skies and minimal winds are expected, with temperatures in the mid-50°F.

ABOUT NEBRASKA (9-3 SU, 7-4-1 ATS, 7-5 O/U): The Cornhuskers average 37.4 points per game with running back Ameer Abdullah (1,523 yards, 18 touchdowns), who topped 200 rushing yards four times this season, the star attraction. Quarterback Tommy Armstrong Jr. passed for 2,314 yards and 19 scores and rushed for 664 yards and five touchdowns, while receiver Kenny Bell had 717 yards and five touchdowns on 40 receptions. Defensively, Nebraska allows an average of 24.8 points and receives strong contributions from weak-side linebacker Zaire Anderson (team-best 95 tackles), defensive end Randy Gregory (team-leading seven sacks) and safety Nate Gerry (five interceptions).

ABOUT USC (8-4 SU, 7-5 ATS, 5-7 O/U): The Trojans average 35.1 points as standout quarterback Cody Kessler is in the midst of an outstanding season, passing for 3,505 yards and 36 touchdowns against four interceptions. Running back Javorius “Buck” Allen has 1,337 yards – topping 100 yards eight times – and big-play receiver Nelson Agholor has 97 receptions for 1,223 yards and 11 touchdowns. USC gives up 23.8 points per game and the star defenders include defensive end Leonard Williams (six sacks), inside linebacker Hayes Pullard (team-leading 87 tackles) and outside linebacker Su’a Cravens (team-best 16 tackles for losses).

TRENDS:

*Cornhuskers are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 games on grass.
*Trojans are 9-2 ATS in their last 11 vs. Big Ten.
*Under is 6-1 in Cornhuskers last 7 Bowl games.
*Under is 7-0-1 in Trojans last 8 games in December.

CONSENSUS: 67.66 percent of users are backing USC -7, with 64 percent on the over.

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NCAAF

Saturday, December 27


Chance of thunderstorms in Independence Bowl

Forecasts are calling for an 82 percent chance of thunderstorms in Shreveport, Louisiana as the Miami Hurricanes face the South Carolina Gamecocks in the Duck Commander Independence Bowl Saturday.

Temperatures will be in the low-60s by gametime and wind will be blowing to the south endzone at around eight mph.

Most shops are dealing South Carolina +3.5 with kickoff just hours away. The total is currently 61.


Blue Devils move to +7 early Saturday morning

The Duke Blue Devils and Arizona State Sun Devils are set to square off in the Hyundai Sun Bowl and odds are beginning to move to Duke +7.5 with the 2 PM ET kickoff approaching.

The Blue Devils opened as 8-point underdogs at most shops but a few books have adjusted to Duke +7 early Saturday morning. Both the Westgate LV Superbook and Station Casinos in Las Vegas had +7.5 on their boards overnight and moved the number to match what a few offshore books have as well.

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Saturday's Early Bowl Tips

December 26, 2014


**Cincinnati vs. Virginia Tech**

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

**Arizona State vs. Duke**

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Saturday's Late Bowl Tips

December 26, 2014


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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NCAAF
Armadillo's Write-Up

Bowl Season

Texas Bowl, Houston 12/29
Arkansas coach Bielema lost last 12 games that were decided by 7 points or less. Texas-Arkansas used to be rivals in old SWC; teams last met in '08. Longhorns won three of last four games to get to be bowl eligible at 6-6. Strong was 3-2 in his bowls at Louisville, Bielema 2-4 at Wisconsin; Texas is 3-2 in last five bowls, Arkansas 2-3 in its last five (last bowl in '11). Texas is 4-2 in games with single digit spreads; Hogs are 5-2. SEC teams are 19-8 SU in last 27 bowls. Underdogs covered four of last five Texas bowls, with four of five staying under total. Under is 15-7 in last 22 bowls involving a Big X team.

Russell Athletic Bowl, Orlando 12/29
Clemson DC Venables spent eight years on Oklahoma staff; Tigers won their last two bowls by total of six points. Underdogs are 6-0 vs spread this year in bowls incolving an ACC team. Oklahoma won four of its last five bowls, but none of those were east of New Orleans; Sooners split their last eight games after 4-0 start; they allowed 30+ points in six of last nine games. Tigers are 1-4 in games with single digit spread; Sooners are 1-3 in such games. Favorites won/covered this bowl last three years; last five Russell Bowls stayed under total. Clemson QB Watson is out; Sooner QB Knight is banged up- they've been riding frosh RB Perine. .

Liberty Bowl, Memphis 12/29
West Virginia senior QB Trickett (concussions) has given up football, so Mountaineers turn to JC QB Howard (36-65 passing, five TDs, 0 INT), who started one game. WVa lost three of last four bowls, winning 70-33 two years ago in Orange Bowl, in Geno Smith's last college game. Texas A&M won last three bowls, scoring 42 ppg; Aggies are 0-5 this season in games with single digit spread; they lost five of last seven games after a 5-0 start. WVa lost three of last four games; they're 3-5 in games with single digit spread. Both sides have very young QBs, but have history os scoring lot of points in bowls. Under is 3-1-1 in last five Liberty Bowls.

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NCAAF

Monday, December 29

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Russell Athletic Bowl betting preview: Oklahoma vs. Clemson
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Oklahoma Sooners vs. Clemson Tigers (+3.5, 52)

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

The irony of the 2014 Russell Athletic Bowl in Orlando, Fla., is that while neither No. 18 Clemson nor Oklahoma are playing for the national championship, they are only one year removed from defeating two teams that are competing against each other for this year’s crown. The Tigers claimed the Orange Bowl on Jan. 3 by rallying past Ohio State while the Sooners staged one of last year’s biggest postseason surprises by upsetting Alabama in the Sugar Bowl a day earlier. The Buckeyes and Crimson Tide meet each other in this year’s Sugar Bowl in one of the two semifinal games in the inaugural College Football Playoff.

Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year Samaje Perine finished his first season with a flurry, amassing 791 rushing yards over the last three games – the most by any player over a similar stretch in Oklahoma history. Included in that incredible total was his FBS-record 427-yard, five-touchdown performance against Iowa State. Perine’s 1,579 yards rushing for the season places him in 10th place on the single-season rushing list in FBS history for a freshman and ranks seventh in school history.

Standing in Perine’s way will be the top-ranked total defense in the country in Clemson, which allows 259.6 yards. The Tigers won eight of their last nine games after their defense began to shut down opponents, surrendering 92.5 yards on the ground and 134.6 through the air over that span. Clemson also leads the nation in tackles for loss (122) and yards allowed per play (4.03) while ranking third in pass defense (161.9) and seventh in rushing defense (97.7).

TV: 5:30 p.m. ET, ESPN.

LINE HISTORY: Oklahoma opened as 3-point favorites and have been bet a half-point to sit at -3.5. The total has dropped from 54 to 52.

INJURY REPORT: Oklahoma - QB Trevor Knight (probable Monday, head), RB Samjae Perine (probable Monday, ankle), WR Sterling Shepard (probable Monday, groin), OL Adam Shead (questionable Monday, knee), DT Matthew Romar (questionable Monday, undisclosed), DE Geneo Grisson (questionable Monday, knee), DB Quentin Hayes (questionable Monday, ankle). Clemson - TE D.J. Greenlee (questionable Monday, knee), TE Jay McCullough (questionable Monday, suspension), DB Martin Jenkins (questionable Monday, foot), S T.J. Green (questionable Monday, hamstring), QB Deshaun Watson (out Monday, knee), TE Stanton Seckinger (out Monday, knee).

WEATHER REPORT: It will be partly cloudy with temperatures in the mid 70's. There will also be a 13 percent chance of rain and a slight five mile per hour wind blowing towards the north end zone.

ABOUT OKLAHOMA (8-4, 5-7 ATS, 9-3 O/U): Quarterback Trevor Knight, who was named the MVP of the Sooners’ Sugar Bowl win over Alabama after throwing for career highs of 348 yards and four touchdowns, has been cleared to play after sustaining a neck injury in a Nov. 8 loss to Baylor. His three-game absence coincided with Perine’s late-season explosion as the Sooners averaged 97.3 passing yards with redshirt freshman Cody Thomas starting, as opposed to 250.1 yards with Knight. Oklahoma also anticipates a healthy return from leading receiver Sterling Shepard, who missed most of the last five games with a lingering groin injury.

ABOUT CLEMSON (9-3, 5-7 ATS, 4-8 O/U): The ringleader of the Tigers’ defense is two-time All-American Vic Beasley, who leads the ACC in sacks this year with 11 and has a school-record 32 in his career – tied for fifth in conference history. The ACC Defensive Player of the Year was one of four Clemson defensive players to be named to the all-conference first team, joining defensive tackle Grady Jarrett, cornerback Garry Peters and linebacker Stephone Anthony. Senior quarterback Cole Stoudt, who started seven games, will slide back into the starting role after the school announced that freshman Deshaun Watson would not continue to play through the same torn ACL he did in a Nov. 29 win over South Carolina.

TRENDS:

* Oklahoma is 6-1 ATS in its last seven non-conference games.
* Clemson is 1-6 ATS in its last seven games overall.
* Over is 7-0 in Oklahoma's last seven games following a SU loss.
* Under is 7-1 in Clemson's last eight games overall.

CONSENSUS: The majority of bettors are backing Oklahoma with 63 percent of wagers on the Sooners at -3.5.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Liberty Bowl: Strong links for WVU, A&M

December 28, 2014

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) - Texas A&M and West Virginia enter Monday's Liberty Bowl knowing plenty about each other, even though they've never met.

West Virginia coach Dana Holgorsen worked as an offensive coordinator on Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin's staff at Houston from 2008-09, and they remain good friends. Texas A&M offensive coordinator Jake Spavital was a quarterbacks coach for Holgorsen at West Virginia from 2011-12.

''Watching them on film, everything is pretty similar,'' West Virginia linebacker West Tonkery said.

The coaching connections aren't the only common threads between the Aggies (7-5) and Mountaineers (7-5).

''What you see is that both of us are extremely similar, not just in our approach to the game, but really in how the season has gone,'' Sumlin said. ''We have identical records. We've won some big games, both of us. We've lost some games that we probably could have won but just didn't, and we've got some explosive players on both teams.''

Both teams also are dealing with late-season quarterback changes.

Texas A&M's Kenny Hill started the season on such a roll that he was mentioned as a Heisman Trophy contender, then lost his starting spot by the end of the season. West Virginia's Clint Trickett missed the Mountaineers' final regular-season game and announced Friday he was giving up football after five concussions in 14 months.

Freshman Kyle Allen is making his fifth career start for the Aggies, while sophomore Skyler Howard makes his second career start for West Virginia.

Howard's mobility adds a new wrinkle to the Mountaineers' offense. Holgorsen said Howard has come a long way since being pressed into duty Nov. 20 after Trickett was knocked out of a 26-20 loss to Kansas State.

''I mean before we put him in against Kansas State I was concerned,'' Holgorsen said. ''We didn't know how he would react, and he handled it well. I think that gave him a bunch of confidence to where he got better in the Iowa State game, and I've seen considerable improvement here in the last four weeks.

In any case, the winning quarterback can carry plenty of momentum into 2015. This game also marks the chance for Texas A&M's seniors to become the first class to win a bowl game in each of its four seasons. Texas A&M won the Chick-fil-A Bowl last season, the Cotton Bowl two years ago and the Texas Bowl in 2011.

''It's definitely something that we talk about,'' Texas A&M senior cornerback Deshazor Everett said.

Here are some things to watch in Monday's Liberty Bowl.

STANDOUT RECEIVERS: West Virginia's Kevin White is a Biletnikoff Award semifinalist who has caught 102 passes for 1,318 yards and nine touchdowns, though his production dipped slightly late in the regular season as he dealt with constant double-teams. Texas A&M's Josh Reynolds has 47 catches for 762 yards, and his 12 touchdown catches tied a school single-season record.

STAFFS IN TRANSITION: Texas A&M's coaching staff bears only a passing resemblance to the group that worked the regular season. Defensive coordinator Mark Snyder was fired, offensive line coach B.J. Anderson also has departed and wide receivers coach David Beaty was hired as Kansas' head coach. Mark Hagen, the linebackers coach during the regular season, is the Aggies' interim defensive coordinator. West Virginia offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson is working his last game for the Mountaineers before taking the same position at Kentucky.

POTENT PASS RUSHERS: Texas A&M's Myles Garrett has 11 sacks this season to break the Southeastern Conference freshman record held by ex-South Carolina star Jadeveon Clowney. West Virginia's Shaquille Riddick, a Gardner-Webb transfer, has seven sacks this season and at least one tackle for loss in five of his last six games.

QUALITY KICKING: West Virginia's Josh Lambert, a Lou Groza Award finalist, has made 27 field goals this season to lead all FBS players. Lambert has gone 27 of 36, including 4 of 5 from at least 50 yards out with a long of 55. Texas A&M's Josh Lambo is 12 of 14 and has made 103 consecutive extra points.

FAST FINISHERS: If this game is still in doubt heading into the final period, both teams have reason to feel confident. Texas A&M has outscored teams 109-47 in the fourth quarter and 7-0 in overtime this season. West Virginia has outscored opponents 110-56 in the fourth quarter. The Mountaineers haven't allowed a second-half touchdown pass all season.

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Liberty Bowl pits Aggies against Mountaineers
Memphis, TN

A couple of programs that ended up with disappointing regular-season records clash for the first time ever, as the West Virginia Mountaineers take on the Texas A&M Aggies in the 56th annual Liberty Bowl.

The Mountaineers, now members of the Big 12 Conference, were enigmatic at best this season, able to blow away nationally-ranked Baylor at home in the middle of October (41-27), but also capable of breaking hearts after a 31-30 loss to TCU two weeks later, which began a losing streak of three straight for head coach Dana Holgorsen and his crew. The team managed to pull out a 37-24 win over Iowa State on the road in the regular-season finale in order to bolster their prospects for a postseason bid.

As for the Aggies, former members of the Big 12 who have since found a home in the SEC, they opened up the 2014 campaign with five straight wins, including what had been at the time, an upset of South Carolina in the opener, 52-28. But like WVU, A&M also struggled along the way, at one point losing three in a row against top-notch competition in Mississippi State, Ole Miss and Alabama, the latter coming by an ugly 59-0 final.

The team did manage to bounce back with a 41-38 victory over Auburn on the road in early November, but that was before going down versus Missouri and LSU in the final two outings. Granted, the Aggies had a tougher schedule than the Mountaineers for the most part, not to mention having to deal with injuries and disciplinary issues, yet head coach Kevin Sumlin is still ready to lead his squad into battle.

"For us as I say every year we look at bowl games the same way," Sumlin says. It's a culmination of our year, and for our seniors it's a way for them to leave a legacy of who they are. You like for them to go out on a winning note. We've always treated the bowl game as the beginning of next season."

West Virginia, which saw a run of 11 straight bowl appearances snapped in 2013, has a record of 14-18 in such postseason outings dating back to the 1922 East-West Game. The Mountaineers appeared in this particular contest back in 1964, losing to Utah by a score of 32-6 in Atlantic City's Convention Hall.

WVU has lost three of its last four bowl decisions, including a 38-14 setback versus former Big East Conference foe Syracuse during the 2012 Pinstripe Bowl played in New York City.

As for the Aggies, who are hoping to set a new school mark with a victory in a bowl game for the fourth straight year, they took part in this same game back in 1975 but lost to USC, 20-0. Overall, Texas A&M is also under .500 when it comes to bowl competition, sporting a mark of 16-19. The Aggies began their postseason history with a 22-15 win over Centre in the 1922 Dixie Classic, and most recently defeated Duke in a wildly exciting 52-48 decision during last season's Chick-Fil-a Bowl.

One very interesting tie-in between the two programs is when Holgorsen was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Houston in 2008 and 2009, working under the direction of the head coach at the time, who just happened to be Sumlin.

The Aggies should have been set for another magical season, but there were some things that needed to be resolved both on and off the field before the team could settle into a rhythm. The squad started off by scoring at least 35 points in each of the first five games, finishing 29th in the nation with an average of 34.4 ppg, but there were also times when the offense didn't show up.

Part of the problem for coach Sumlin and his crew was understanding the transition from Johnny Manziel to what should have been his successor, Kenny Hill. Not only did Hill lose the starting job to Kyle Allen in late October, he was also suspended for two games for a violation of team rules, leaving his understudy to take over the offense.

Allen has completed 61.1 percent of his passes for 12 touchdowns and six interceptions in eight appearances on the campaign. The overall numbers of the quarterback position look a lot stronger when Hill's stats are entered into the equation, the team finishing 12th in the country with 306.4 ypg through the air.

No matter who was handling the ball under center, the top threat down the field was still Josh Reynolds who turned his 47 catches into 762 yards and 12 touchdowns. There were four others with at least 30 receptions (Ricky Seals- Jones, Malcome Kennedy, Speedy Noil and Edward Pope), who combined to account for another 17 TDs through the air as well.

On the ground, the team relied on Trey Williams and Tra Carson, although each missed a game, as they produced a combined 922 yards and 11 TDs.

Over on the defensive side of the ball, the Aggies were shaky at best as they placed 102nd nationally with 449.0 ypg allowed. Stopping the run proved especially troublesome for the group as they gave up 223.5 ypg, a number that ranked them 112th. Holding teams scoreless in the red zone was not a strong suit of the unit whatsoever, as it permitted foes to put points on the board 87.2 percent of the time, something that will certainly hamper the squad if the WVU offense finds its rhythm in this meeting.

Myles Garrett caused a good bit of disruption during his time on the field this season, posting 12.5 of his 50 overall tackles in the backfield, including a team-best 11 sacks. Garrett also registered one of the team's three blocked kicks.

While the Aggies appear to have figured out their quarterback situation, the same cannot be said for West Virginia currently, but that might be good news actually.

Clint Trickett, a transfer from Florida State who raised more than a few eyebrows during the first half of the campaign by throwing for at least 300 yards in seven straight games, eight overall if you go back to last season, slowed a bit against tougher competition and then suffered a concussion against Kansas State and missed the finale versus Iowa State. Skyler Howard assumed control of the offense and led the team to a victory over the Cyclones. Trickett was not cleared physically and has since decided to retire from football, leaving the job to Howard in this game.

"Unfortunately we're going to be without the services of Clint (Trickett), said Holgorsen. "He did not get cleared so we're going to be without him. Skyler (Howard) will be our starter."

Kevin White was by far the favorite target downfield with a staggering 102 catches for 1,318 yards and nine touchdowns, yet it was Mario Alford (62 rec. for 888 yard) who led the team with 10 aerial scores. Expect Howard to rely on his dynamic duo in this game.

West Virginia was ninth in the country in passing offense with 314.6 ypg and also put together a solid rushing attack (187.5 ypg) thanks to the efforts of Rushel Shell and Wendell Smallwood, who combined for more than 1,400 yards and nine TDs.

On paper the Mountaineers were decent on defense, giving up 388.6 ypg, although it often felt as though the team was being abused far more than that by accomplished offenses. The squad managed to limit foes to just 30.9 percent success on third down and 28.6 percent on fourth down, ranking it in the top-10 in both categories. However, if there was one area that should still be of great concern to WVU it would be turnovers, as the team ranks 120th in the FBS with a minus-1.25 miscues per contest.

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Sooners tangle with Tigers in Russell Athletic Bowl
Orlando, FL

The Oklahoma Sooners and Clemson Tigers both fell short of lofty expectations this season and will settle for meeting one another in the 2014 Russell Athletic Bowl on Monday at the Florida Citrus Bowl.

Bob Stoops' Sooners were ranked in the top-five to start the season and considered a favorite in the Big 12. After winning its first four games of the campaign, Oklahoma failed to find consistency the rest of the way, winning back-to-back games just once over the course of the final eight outings, culminating in a rather modest 8-4 record.

Oklahoma extended it bowl streak to 16 seasons under Stoops. The program is 28-20 all-time in the postseason and its 28 bowl victories represent the third most all-time.

Dabo Swinney's Tigers were supposed to give defending national champion Florida State a run for its money in the ACC this year, and although the team almost pulled off the upset in Tallahassee back on Sept. 20 (23-17 OT), the team played second fiddle to the Seminoles in the ACC's Atlantic Division. Still, Clemson finished a respectable 9-3 on the year, thanks to wins in eight of the last nine games. The Tigers are seeking their fourth straight 10-win season.

Clemson is 18-18 in postseason play all-time. The Tigers have won two straight bowls, including a thrilling 40-35 win over Ohio State in last year's Orange Bowl.

OU holds a 2-1 edge in the series with Clemson. These two teams haven't met since the 1989 Citrus Bowl, a 13-6 Clemson victory.

The Sooners have had to adjust on offense due to injuries, especially to quarterback Trevor Knight. The team had to rely more on the run with redshirt freshman Cody Thomas filling in, but that has been a strength anyway, with Oklahoma ranking eighth nationally in rushing at an impressive 268.6 yards per game.

Freshman Samaje Perine certainly made an immediate impact, as he set the NCAA record for most rushing yards in a game (427 yards against Kansas). The 5-11, 243-pound youngster finished the season with an astounding 1,579 yards and 21 touchdowns en route to All-America honors. Redshirt sophomore Alex Ross (6-1, 221) was a distant second in ground production, but still managed to amass 564 yards and three scores on 6.6 yards per carry.

The good news is that Knight will be back on the field in Orlando. He threw for 2,197 yards and 14 TDs before going down to injury.

Receivers Sterling Shepard (50 receptions, 957 yards, five TDs) and Durron Neal (40 receptions, 508 yards, three TDs) will certainly be happy to have their starting quarterback return.

"Just to have him (Knight) back out there with his leadership and his energy and all the experience that comes with his game is good for us receivers to get back on the same page with the quarterback we started with," Neal said. "We kind of got back in a rhythm right away. He hadn't thrown a ball in a while, so we knocked a little rust off. The ball is coming just as they were prior to him getting hurt, and every day I can see him improving."

The Oklahoma defense had problems with consistency this season. The Sooners were solid against the run, allowing just 109.6 yards per game, but struggled big time against the pass, yielding a generous 272.7 yards per game through the air.

Sophomore linebacker Dominique Alexander led all Sooners with 98 total tackles. Junior linebacker Eric Striker was a difference maker upfield. Of his 56 total tackles, 14 came behind the line of scrimmage, including 7.5 sacks. Redshirt sophomore cornerback Zack Sanchez (39 tackles), is the secondary's top ball-hawk with six of the team's 12 total interceptions.

Clemson has played through some offensive adversity this year as well and will need to continue to do so in this game. The team will be without the services of freshman phenom Deshaun Watson, who suffered a torn ACL late in the season. The dual-threat youngster makes the Clemson offense much more dangerous, as he passed for 1,466 yards and 14 TDs this season, while rushing for an additional five scores. The good news is the team has a veteran it can lean on in Cole Stoudt. The senior signal-caller has started and come off the bench this season, having thrown for 1,573 yards and six TDs.

Freshman wideout Artavis Scott (68 receptions, 851 yards, seven TDs) and sophomore Mike Williams (48 receptions, 918 yards, five TDs) headline a talented receiving corps for the Tigers.

The rushing attack is not the preferred mode of travel for the Clemson offense at a modest 153.0 yards per game. Wayne Gallman tops all players with 714 yards and four TDs on the ground for Clemson.

The Tigers will also be breaking in new co-offensive coordinators (Tony Elliott and Jeff Scott), as Chad Morris has taken the head coaching job at SMU.

"I am very happy for Chad and his family," said Swinney. "This is a great opportunity and he is the right fit for SMU. I am very appreciative of the job he has done here the last four years. We have 41 wins, the most in any four- year period in Clemson history, and the offense he has directed had a lot to do with that. Our offense has performed at a record rate for this four-year period."

The Clemson defense is the primary reason the team is on the verge of another double-digit win season. The Tigers lead the nation in total defense at a meager 259.6 yards per game and have shown equal disdain for the run (97.7 ypg) and the pass (161.9 ypg). Thanks to perhaps the nation's best front seven, Clemson was really able to bring pressure on opposing QBs, racking up 44 sacks on the season.

There are no shortage of playmakers on the Clemson defense, but the anchor of the unit is two-time All-American Vic Beasley. Regarded as one of the nation's premier pass rushers and a probable first-round NFL draft pick, Beasley has once again dominated up front, collecting 18.5 TFL and 11 sacks this season. Linebacker Stephone Anthony is a defensive leader as well, pacing the team with 87 total tackles (9.5 TFL, 2.5 sacks).

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Hogs and 'Horns collide in Texas Bowl
Houston, TX

Old Southwest Conference foes square off in the 2014 Texas Bowl, as the Arkansas Razorbacks do battle with the Texas Longhorns.

The two teams had shared conference affiliation from 1915 to 1991, when Arkansas left to join the Southeastern Conference. The Southwest Conference disbanded entirely five years later, with Texas helping form the Big 12 Conference.

The Texas Bowl, also known formerly as the Meineke Car Care Bowl, has been in existence since 2006, and this is the first time either Arkansas or Texas has appeared in the game. In last year's installment, Syracuse outlasted Minnesota in a 21-17 final.

Arkansas, which went an even 6-6 this season and won only two of its eight conference games to finish last in the SEC West, is making its 40th bowl appearance and hoping to improve upon the 13-23-3 record it has logged over the years. The Razorbacks did not make a bowl game last season, ending a run of three consecutive years in which they played after New Year's. Their most recent postseason endeavor resulted in a 29-16 win over Kansas State in the 2012 Cotton Bowl.

"We are very excited to play in the AdvoCare V100 Texas Bowl against a former Southwest Conference rival," Arkansas coach Brett Bielema said in accepting the bid. "We are looking forward to honoring the tradition of Razorbacks before us and putting on a great show in an outstanding venue against a prominent opponent."

Texas has a long, storied history in the postseason, logging a 27-23-2 record in bowl games, and it is coming off back-to-back appearances in the Alamo Bowl -- the first resulting in a 31-27 win over Oregon State, and last year falling in a 30-7 decision to Oregon. The Longhorns recently completed their first regular season under head coach Charlie Strong, and they went a disappointing 6-6 overall, 5-4 in conference to finish in a three-way tie for fourth place with Oklahoma and West Virginia.

"We're excited to be playing in the Advocare Texas Bowl and against an old SWC rival in Arkansas," Coach Strong said. "It will be a tremendous opportunity for our team to play in front of so many of our fans and especially for our seniors who will be doing it for the last time as Longhorns."

Texas owns a 56-21 lead in the all-time series with Arkansas, but it was the Hogs who claimed victory in the only previous bowl matchup, taking a 27-6 decision in the 2000 Cotton Bowl.

Arkansas, which has won five straight games against teams from the Big 12, is led on offense by the two-pronged rushing attack of Jonathan Williams and Alex Collins, both of whom topped the 1,000-yard plateau and combined for 23 TDs, becoming the only pair of teammates in the FBS to rush for 1,000 yards in the regular season. When the Razorbacks decided to air it out, Brandon Allen did his best in throwing for 2,125 yards, 18 TDs and only five INTs. He was also sacked only 11 times. Spreading the ball around was the key, as seven different players logged double-digit receptions, led by Keon Hatcher (39 rec., 517 yards, five TDs) and Henry Hunter (36 rec., 495 yards, two TDs).

As a result, the Hogs lit up the scoreboard for 32 ppg while amassing 410.6 ypg. They were 46 percent efficient on third-down conversion attempts, and came away with points on 80 percent of their trips to the red zone.

On the defensive side of the ball, Arkansas can boast having the SEC's top tackler in LB Martrell Spaight (123 stops), and he also added 8.5 TFL, a sack, an INT and a forced fumble. Brooks Ellis (68) is No. 2 on the team's tackles list, but he is well of the pace set by Spaight. Ellis is one of three players with two picks, while Trey Flowers is the team's most disruptive force at the point of attack, as he was credited with 13.5 TFL, which included five sacks.

The Razorbacks are yielding only 20.2 ppg behind typical allowances of only 124 ypg rushing and 221.4 ypg passing. They have recorded just 21 sacks, but have come up with 22 turnovers.

Texas had its share of difficulty on offense this season, the team ranking ninth in the Big 12 in scoring (22.6 ppg), passing offense (211.8 ypg) and total offense (360.5 ypg).

Most of the issues lie in the fact that the team got inconsistent quarterback play, as Tyrone Swoopes completed 58.8 percent of his passes for 2,352 yards, 13 TDs and 10 INTs. John Harris paced the receiving corps with 64 grabs for 1,015 yards and seven scores, while Jaxon Shipley tallied 58 catches for 571 yards and one TD. As for the UT rushing attack, if featured backs Malcolm Brown and Johnathan Gray, each of whom rumbled his way to more than 625 yards while combining for 13 TDs. Swoopes added 294 yards and three scores on the ground.

The Texas defense was the team's saving grace this season, as it permitted just 23.2 ppg to rank third in the conference. The effort against the pass was its hallmark as the 'Horns finished first in the Big 12 with an aerial allowance of only 186.2 ypg. They also surrendered the fewest passing scores of any team in the league (11).

Jordan Hicks and Steve Edmonds were all over the field for coach Strong's club, logging 138 and 122 total tackles, respectively. They combined for 25 of the Longhorns' 95 TFL, with Hicks also coming up with a pair of INTs -- the team credited with 15 picks in all. Dylan Haines had four INTs and Quandre Diggs three more for a UT defense that recovered only seven fumbles. Hassa Ridgeway logged six of the team's league-leading 39 sacks. The 'Horns were also quite effective in the red zone, ranking second with a yield of only 76.9 percent.

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College Football Weather Forecast

Monday, December 29th

Texas A&M at West Virginia, 2:00 p.m.
Mostly Cloudy Mostly cloudy. Winds northeast at 5-10 m.p.h (Memphis, TN) Game-time temperature: Around 45.

Oklahoma at Clemson, 5:30 p.m.
Partly Cloudy Partly cloudy. Winds southwest at 5-10 m.p.h (Orlando, FL) Game-time temperature: Around 75.

Arkansas at Texas, 9:00 p.m.
Partly Cloudy Partly cloudy. Winds east at 1-5 m.p.h (Houston, TX) Game-time temperature: Around 50.

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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30

Matchup Skinny Tech Trend

NOTRE DAME vs. LSU (Music City Bowl)...
Rematch of 2007 Sugar Bowl and 1998 Independence Bowl, both won and covered handily by LSU. Brian Kelly 1-3 vs. line in bowls with Irish, 1-6 vs. spread in bowls at all previous stops (did coach Cincy in 2006 International Bowl after just hired). Irish 0-4 SU last 4 and 0-5 vs. line last five this season. Les Miles only 1-4 vs. line last five bowls, however.
LSU, based on ND negatives.

LOUISVILLE vs. GEORGIA (Belk Bowl)...
Petrino covered 4 of 5 away from home this season. He's 4-2 as a dog the past two seasons with WKU & 'Ville. Cards 4-1 SU and vs. line last four bowls with Petrino & Charlie Strong. Mark Richt 1-3 SU and vs. spread last four bowls, 4-8 vs. points last eight away from Athens.
'Ville, based on team trends.

MARYLAND vs. STANFORD (Foster Farms Bowl)...
Stanford 3-2 SU, 2-2-1 vs. line in bowls the past five seasons. Shaw covered last two on road this season but had dropped previous five vs. number away from Palo Alto. Tree just 13-14-1 last 28 overall on board. Terps 6-3 last 9 vs. spread away from College Park.
Slight to Maryland, based on team trends

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Music City Bowl

December 29, 2014


NOTRE DAME FIGHTING IRISH (7-5) vs. LSU TIGERS (8-4)

Music City Bowl
LP Field - Nashville, TN
Kickoff: Tuesday, 3:00 p.m. ET
Sportsbook.ag Line: LSU -7, Total: 52.5

Struggling Notre Dame attempts to break a four-game losing skid when it faces LSU in the Music City Bowl on Tuesday afternoon.

Earlier in the season the Fighting Irish looked to be poised to make a run at the national playoffs after starting 6-0 SU (4-2 ATS) to kick off the 2014 campaign. It was all downhill from there though, as Notre Dame dropped five of its next six contests SU (1-5 ATS) while losing twice as a favorite. The Irish turned the ball over 15 times in that second part of the season and lost their games by an average of 13.8 PPG. They are no strangers to the postseason, as this will be their 15th bowl game appearance since the 1994 season, but they have been horrible in that time while going 3-11 SU, including failing to cover the spread in each of the past three tries.

The Tigers have also had their troubles late in the season with losses in two of their past three games, while the total in their contests went Under in each of the past five games. They had no trouble with ball security throughout the season, as they committed one or fewer turnovers in 10-of-12 games, but forced their opposition into only four turnovers in the five games leading up to this one. LSU has made it to a bowl game every year since 2000, and went 9-5 SU in that time while coming off a 21-14 win as a 7.5-point favorite against Iowa last season in the Outback Bowl. It was the third straight bowl game that the school failed to cover the spread, losing to both Clemson and Alabama in the previous two opportunities.

These two programs last met in the 2007 Sugar Bowl when the Tigers were 9-point favorites and proved to be the better team with a 41-14 victory, as they totaled 577 yards of total offense. Some trends to keep an eye on in this one include that LSU is a meager 1-8 ATS (11%) in the past three seasons in road games after an SU win, but the Irish have gone a poor 3-12 ATS (20%) since 1992 after trailing in their previous game by 17 or more points at halftime. Other than Notre Dame S Austin Collinsworth (shoulder, doubtful), neither team is dealing with any injuries that should affect the outcome of Tuesday’s contest.

Notre Dame’s offense starts with a solid passing attack that has amassed 293.8 passing YPG (16th in nation) while it gets only 150.8 YPG (84th in FBS) from its runners and scores 33.0 PPG (39th in FBS). QB Everett Golson (3,355 pass yards, 29 TD, 14 INT) started every game for the Irish this season but was pulled after the first half in the final game after going 7-of-18 (39%) for 75 yards and a pick. He struggled with interceptions at the end of the year, as he threw seven picks over the final four games, but is always a threat with his legs, as evidenced by his 277 rushing yards (2.5 YPC) and eight touchdowns during the regular season.

If head coach Brian Kelly decides he wants to go in a different direction, QB Malik Zaire (170 pass yards, 0 TD, 0 INT) would get the call under center. HB Tarean Folston (816 rush yards, 5 TD) averaged 5.3 YPC and was great down the stretch, as he gained over 100 rushing yards in four of the final six contests. WR William Fuller (1,037 rec yards, 14 TD) was the star in the air attack, as he averaged 109.5 YPG in his final four performances while scoring five touchdowns in that time. Notre Dame’s defense was tremendous at the start of the season while allowing a mere 12.0 PPG over the first five games before giving up 41.6 PPG in the next seven outings. Overall the school has allowed teams put up 29.3 PPG against them (86th in nation) and will need LB Jaylon Smith (102 tackles, 3 sacks) to be playing at the top of his game to earn a win in this one.

The Tigers have done little with their passing game, with only 163.9 YPG through the air (116th in nation), but they dominate on the ground (219.5 YPG, 29th in FBS) while scoring 27.6 PPG (74th in FBS). QB Anthony Jennings (1,460 pass yards, 10 TD, 7 INT) has eclipsed the 200-yard mark in passing just once this season, as he hit on a putrid 49% of his passes for 6.9 YPA. He can run when needed though, and did so in the season finale against Texas A&M where he rushed for 119 yards on 14 carries (8.5 YPC) in the win. Freshman HB Leonard Fournette (891 rush yards, 8 TDs) had four triple-digit rushing performances while averaging 5.1 YPC, and had his best game of his young career his last time out with 146 rushing yards and a touchdown.

HB Terrence Magee (545 rush yards, 3 TD) also performed well with 5.2 YPC and had more than 70 yards on the ground in three of the final five games as the backup. WR Travin Dural (758 rec yards, 7 TD) is the only receiver on this team that could give opposing defenses fits, as he averaged a tremendous 20.5 yards per catch, but averaged only 33.0 YPG in the final eight games after a hot start. What really got LSU to this point is its potent defense that gave up the third-fewest points in FBS (16.4 PPG), as it did exceptionally well against the pass (162.3 YPG, 4th in FBS). This group is loaded with talent, and it all starts with the leadership of LBs Kwon Alexander (79 tackles, 1.5 sacks) and Kendell Beckwith (68 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 INT, 1 TD).