The Bum's College Football 2016 Bowl Game Trends-Ats-Halftime-Totals + More information

[StarDust Bum]

USF edges South Carolina in Birmingham
December 29, 2016

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) South Florida's Quinton Flowers says there were a lot of big-name college football programs that thought he could be a star player. As a running back. Or maybe as a safety.

But Flowers knew he could be a great quarterback. And on Thursday in the Birmingham Bowl against a team from the Southeastern Conference, he proved it once again.

Flowers ran for three touchdowns and threw for two more - including what proved to be the winner in overtime - to help No. 25 South Florida beat South Carolina 46-39.

''A lot of big schools didn't give me a chance,'' Flowers said. ''A lot of big schools wanted me to play a different position. But South Florida was the place that loved me, cared about me and wanted me to be their quarterback.''

Flowers said South Carolina coach Will Muschamp - who was then at Florida - was among the coaches who wanted him to switch positions. Muschamp got an up-close look at Flowers' quarterback skills on Thursday.

''He's an outstanding athlete,'' Muschamp said.

South Florida (11-2) squandered a 39-21 lead in the second half, but recovered for its school-record 11th victory. Flowers threw a 25-yard touchdown pass on the first play of overtime, finding Elkanah Dillon in the end zone.

South Carolina's overtime drive ended after Jake Bentley was sacked by Mike Love on fourth down. Bentley fumbled and Khalid McGee recovered to end the game.

It was a sweet ending for a South Florida program that has had a lot of upheaval during December. Coach Willie Taggart left for Oregon after the regular season and former Texas coach Charlie Strong was hired a few days later.

But the Bulls, who played Thursday under interim coach T.J. Weist, pushed aside the distractions and finished their season with another win.

''The bottom line is we finished this game off strong. We finished it right,'' Weist said. ''We came through in the end.''

Flowers, who was selected the game's Most Valuable Player, completed 23 of 32 passes for 261 yards and ran for 105 yards on 21 carries.

The Bulls controlled the game for most of the afternoon, but the Gamecocks rallied to tie it at 39 with 1:11 remaining on A.J. Turner's 1-yard touchdown run and a 2-point conversion.

Bentley completed 32 of 43 passes for 390 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions. Deebo Samuel caught 14 passes for 190 yards and a touchdown.

Muschamp said he was pleased with the offense. It was the defense - specifically the lack of an effective pass rush against Flowers - that left him frustrated.

''When you score 39 points, you should win the game,'' Muschamp said.

South Carolina (6-7) was hurt by five turnovers, including a pick-six thrown by Bentley that Tajee Fullwood returned 47 yards.

THE TAKEAWAY

South Florida: The Bulls felt they weren't getting much respect on a national level after their 10-win regular season. A win over an SEC opponent is more evidence that South Florida might have been a little underappreciated.

South Carolina: The Gamecocks had their chances, but too many crucial mistakes doomed the program to a 7-loss season. The good news is South Carolina has a promising young quarterback in Bentley.

UP NEXT

South Florida: The Bulls have a lot of changes in store as the Strong-era begins. South Florida looks well-positioned to be a factor in the AAC for years to come.

South Carolina: The Gamecocks took a small step forward during Muschamp's first season. Now he'll try to improve the talent on the roster during recruiting to get the program back among the SEC East's elite programs.

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Hokies' huge rally beats Arkansas in Belk
December 29, 2016

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) It's never easy to replace an icon.

One way to do that is to create your own legacy, something first-year coach Justin Fuente is doing at Virginia Tech after taking over for Frank Beamer.

Jerod Evans threw for 243 yards and two touchdowns and ran for two scores and No. 18 Virginia Tech pulled off an epic comeback - the largest in the school's 124-year history - by erasing a 24-point halftime deficit to beat Arkansas 35-24 on Thursday night in the Belk Bowl.

''It's a fantastic honor,'' Fuente said. ''And I think it speaks to our guys - the character and toughness and what it means to play for Virginia Tech. They love Virginia Tech.''

Along with that memorable feat, Fuente also won 10 games this season - something no other Hokies coach, even Beamer, can say he accomplished in his first season.

It wasn't easy though.

After being limited to 180 yards in the first half, the Hokies (10-4) took advantage of three interceptions by Razorbacks quarterback Austin Allen and scored touchdowns on five of their first seven possessions of the second half to rattle off 35 unanswered points.

Fuente said the Hokies made minor adjustments to their pass rush at halftime, but it was ''nothing revolutionary.''

''Playing well was important to our kids today and we didn't do it in the first half,'' Fuente said. ''They regrouped. They came out and fought, and scratched and clawed and found a way to get the job done.''

Evans scored on a 4-yard run and threw touchdown strikes to Sam Rogers and Chris Cunningham to cut it to 24-21 In the third quarter. Travon McMillan put the Hokies ahead for good with 12:03 left in the game when he scored on a 6-yard run. Evans sealed the win with an 8-yard touchdown scamper.

''Everyone kept coming to me and telling me they're following my lead,'' Evans said. ''I definitely carried that with a chip on my shoulder, and made sure they understood that I'm with them until the wheels fall off. They fed off of me and I fed off of them.''

He completed 12 of 16 passes for 129 yards and two TDs in the second half.

Virginia Tech came in averaging 35 points, but the Razorbacks (7-6) set the tone early by turning Evans' fumble and interception into 10 points to take a 24-0 halftime lead.

TAKEAWAYS

Arkansas: The Razorbacks fought well in the first half but appeared to run out of steam coming out of the locker room as the protection broke down on offense.

Virginia Tech: The Hokies showed again they never quit. They rallied from 17 points down to beat Notre Dame 31-24 earlier in the season.

ALLEN's STRUGGLES

Allen was spectacular in the first half, completing 13 of 16 passes for 215 yards and two touchdowns for the Razorbacks. However, he was limited 63 yards passing and picked off three times in the second half.

''The second half has been our melting point,'' Arkansas coach Bret Bielema said. ''... I've never seen anything like it and the tied turn against us like that in all three phases of the game.''

ALL FOR NOTHING

With Arkansas leading 24-7, wide receiver Drew Morgan caught a 74-yard pass from Allen in the third quarter, but then fumbled at the 1 and the ball rolled out of the back of the end zone for a touchback. However, the Razorbacks were bailed out because Virginia Tech was called for illegal hands to the face, giving them a first down - although 65 yards back down the field. But the fumble still proved costly as the Razorbacks would have to punt the ball away four plays later.

Morgan was ejected later in the game for unsportsmanlike conduct when he spit in the face of an opponent.

''That is very embarrassing as a head coach,'' Bielema said. ''I don't want Drew to be remembered for that. When you act out of character, you get out of character results.''

MVP, MVP, MVP

The MVP award was given to wide receiver Cam Phillips. He had six catches for 115 yards and said the comeback was something he wasn't sure would happen.

''When we got down 24 I was like `Sheesh, this is going to be kind of tough,''' Phillips said.

STEALING FROM THE SPONSOR?

Arkansas senior tight end Jeremy Sprinkle was suspended from the game after police accused him of shoplifting from the department store that sponsors the game. Sprinkle was charged by Charlotte Mecklenburg Police with shoplifting by concealment Tuesday at the Belk department store and was released. Players were given a $450 gift card to spend.

UP NEXT

Arkansas: The Razorbacks open next season at home against Florida A&M on Sept. 2.

Virginia Tech: The Hokies will open next season against neighbor West Virginia on Sept. 2 at FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland.

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Rudolph rolls, OSU routs Colorado in Alamo
December 29, 2016

SAN ANTONIO (AP) Mason Rudolph passed for 314 yards and three touchdowns and No. 13 Oklahoma State's defense smothered No. 11 Colorado in a 38-8 Alamo Bowl victory Thursday night that gave the Cowboys their fifth 10-win season in seven years.

James Washington caught nine passes for 171 yards and a touchdown before leaving in the third quarter with an apparent hand injury. Rudolph and Washington have already announced they will return for their senior seasons, putting the Cowboys (10-3) among the favorites to win the Big 12.

Rudolph even set up Oklahoma State's first touchdown when he caught a throw-back pass for 24 yards. His 5-yard TD pass to Washington made it 17-0 in the second quarter. Rudolph had scoring throws to Blake Jarwin and Jhajuan Seales in the third to make it 31-0.

''We felt like their secondary hadn't really been challenged all year,'' Rudolph said.

Colorado's best season in more than a decade -dubbed ''The Rise'' - ended with a thud: consecutive losses in the Pac-12 title game and the program's first bowl appearance since 2007.

Senior quarterback Sefo Liufau passed for 195 yards and ran for a touchdown for the Buffaloes (10-4), but was sidelined for part of the second and third quarters after limping off following a sack.

''We did something special. We didn't finish with an exclamation point ... but I wouldn't trade this season for anything,'' Liufau said.

THE TAKEAWAY

Colorado: Thrust into the play-calling role for the bowl game, Colorado's safeties coach Joe Tumpkin had a tall order in trying to keep up with Oklahoma State's head coach and offensive guru Mike Gundy. The Buffaloes were solid in the first half but had no answer for Washington, who easily beat all-Pac-12 cornerback Chidobe Awuzie on several catches. The defense eventually gave out in the second as the Cowboys piled on the points.

Oklahoma State: The Cowboys delivered one of the best defensive performances from a Big 12 team all season. The Cowboys play in a league where the touchdowns seem to fly by the minute. Against Colorado, the Cowboys beat up the Buffaloes quarterbacks and gave up a few big plays but didn't break near the goal line.

UP NEXT

Colorado: The Buffaloes won't be a surprise story in 2017 and will have to follow their big season without Liufau and eight senior starters on defense. Colorado opens 2017 against Colorado State in Denver on Sept. 2.

Oklahoma State: The Cowboys expect to be a big factor in the Big 12 in 2017 with Rudolph and Washington leading the way. Their season opener is Sept. 2 at home against Tulsa.

[StarDust Bum]

Friday, December 30

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TCU (6 - 6) vs. GEORGIA (7 - 5) - 12/30/2016, 12:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
GEORGIA is 29-12 ATS (+15.8 Units) in road games in non-conference games since 1992.

Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.

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N CAROLINA (8 - 4) vs. STANFORD (9 - 3) - 12/30/2016, 2:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
STANFORD is 56-34 ATS (+18.6 Units) after 2 or more consecutive straight up wins since 1992.

Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.

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S ALABAMA (6 - 6) vs. AIR FORCE (9 - 3) - 12/30/2016, 5:30 PM
Top Trends for this game.
S ALABAMA is 12-25 ATS (-15.5 Units) in all games over the last 3 seasons.
S ALABAMA is 12-25 ATS (-15.5 Units) in all lined games over the last 3 seasons.
S ALABAMA is 3-11 ATS (-9.1 Units) after playing a conference game over the last 2 seasons.
S ALABAMA is 0-6 ATS (-6.6 Units) after a bye week over the last 3 seasons.
S ALABAMA is 2-9 ATS (-7.9 Units) in games played on turf this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.

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NEBRASKA (9 - 3) vs. TENNESSEE (8 - 4) - 12/30/2016, 3:30 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.

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FLORIDA ST (9 - 3) vs. MICHIGAN (10 - 2) - 12/30/2016, 8:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
MICHIGAN is 26-46 ATS (-24.6 Units) as a favorite of 3.5 to 10 points since 1992.

Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.

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Fri – Dec. 30

TCU at Georgia, 12:00 PM ET – Liberty Bowl
TCU: 7-1 UNDER after playing a conference game
Georgia: 13-4 ATS after a loss by 3 or less points

North Carolina at Stanford, 2:00 PM ET – Sun Bowl
N Carolina: 3-5 ATS after being outrushed by 100 or more yards in 3 straight games
Stanford: 10-2 ATS after playing a game at home

S Alabama at Air Force, 5:30 PM ET – Arizona Bowl
S Alabama: 3-11 ATS after playing a conference game
Air Force: 10-2 ATS off an upset win over a conference rival as a home underdog

Nebraska at Tennessee, 3:30 PM ET – Music City Bowl
Nebraska: 6-0 OVER in road games off a loss against a conference rival
Tennessee: 44-21 ATS in road games after a game where they forced 1 or less turnovers

Florida State at Michigan, 8:00 PM ET – Orange Bowl
Florida St: 8-1 ATS after having won 5 or 6 out of their last 7 games
Michigan: 48-74 ATS off 1 or more straight overs

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Dec 30

Liberty Bowl, Memphis: Georgia-TCU

SEC teams are 8-2 SU in last ten bowls with Big X teams; SEC squads won this bowl last three years, by 22-8-37 points; average total in last five Liberty Bowls: 60.8. Georgia won three of last four bowls but that was with Richt as coach; they’re 29-19 overall in bowls. TCU won four of last five bowls; Patterson is 9-5 as a bowl coach. Horned Frogs have only 8 scholarship seniors; they went 3-5 in last eight games. TCU is 2-2 as an underdog, 2-6 in games with single digit spread- they lost in OT to Arkansas of SEC. Georgia won three of last four games; they beat North Carolina of ACC 33-24. Dawgs are 3-4 as favorites, 4-4 in games with single digit spread Under is 6-1 in last seven TCU games, 4-2 in last six Georgia games. SEC teams are 15-21 vs spread out of conference; Big X teams are 9-12.

Sun Bowl, El Paso: Stanford-North Carolina

Pac-12 beat ACC in this game four of last five years (underdogs 3-2 vs spread). North Carolina is 8-4 but lost two of last three games, both as double digit favorites; Tar Heels are 2-1 as underdogs, 2-3 in games with single digit spread. Stanford is 9-3, 5-5 vs spread as a favorite. 5-3 in games with single digit spread. UNC lost three of last four bowls, allowing 40+ points in all three losses. Stanford won three of last four bowls, winning 45-21/45-16 last two years- three of those four were Rose Bowls. ACC non-conference underdogs are 7-4 vs spread; Pac-12 favorites are 7-9. Stanford had a 1-3 skid early in year where they scored 11 pts/game, losing to both Washington schools/Colorado, but they won their last five games, scoring 39.6 pts/game. Carolina QB Trubinsky is 1st-year starter, but expected to be a first-round pick in NFL Draft.

Music City Bowl, Nashville: Nebraska-Tennessee

Last five years, SEC teams are 11-4 vs Big 14 teams in bowls, 8-6-1 vs spread (SEC was favored in 14 of 15 games). Nebraska is 2-4 in its last six bowls, giving up 33.8 pts/game; they’re bowl underdog for sixth year in row- average total in their last four bowls, 68.7. Cornhuskers went 2-3 in last five games after a 7-0 start, with 62-3/40-10 losses; they’re 1-2 as an underdog this year, 4-1-1 in games with single digit spread. Tennessee is 3-4 in its last seven games after a 5-0 start; they’re 3-6 s a favorite, 1-2-1 in games with single digit spread. Average total in Vols’ last three games: 88.0. Favorites covered this bowl three of last four years; SEC teams are 3-2 here last five years. Riley has been HC in NFL/CFL; he has big edge over Vols’ coach Jones (good recruiter).

Arizona Bowl, Tucson: South Alabama-Air Force

South Alabama beat San Diego State of Mountain West the last two years, but went 3-4 this year after upsetting the Aztecs; Jaguars lost 33-28 to Bowling Green in only previous bowl, the ’14 Camellia Bowl. USA is 3-3 as an underdog, 2-5 in games with double digit spread- they won at Miss State as a 28-point dog in season opener. Last three years. Jaguars are 7-14 as an underdog. Air Force lost three of last four bowls— losses were all in Military or Armed Forces Bowls; they beat Western Michigan 45-24 In Potato Bowl two years ago. Falcons won last five games, scoring 35.6 pts/game- they’re 3-6 vs spread as a favorite. 1-5 in games with double digit spread. Since 2011, Sun Belt teams are 7-5 vs spread in games vs Mountain West teams. This bowl is in its second year; Nevada (+3.5) beat Colorado State LY.

Orange Bowl, Miami: Florida State-Michigan

ACC teams won last four Orange Bowls, were underdog last three years; Florida State won this game 31-10 in ’12, but lost last two bowls 59-20/38-24. FSU won six of last seven games after 3-game stretch early on when they allowed 45 pts/game; Seminoles were 3-2 on October 1st, but allowed 16.6 pts/game from that point on. FSU is 2-0 as an underdog this year, 5-2 in games with single digit spread. Michigan lost two of last three games (losses by total of 4 pts) after a 9-0 start; Wolverines are 5-6 as a favorite (double digit favorite in all 11 games), 1-0 in games with single digit spread. Michigan is 2-3 in last five bowls but Harbaugh won his first bowl with Wolverines LY, 41-7 over Florida- he is 2-1 overall in bowls. Florida State beat Miami here 20-19 October 8, game that turned Seminoles’ season around.

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Friday, December 30

12:00 PM
GEORGIA vs. TCU
Georgia is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games
Georgia is 12-5 SU in its last 17 games
TCU is 17-8 SU in its last 25 games
TCU is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games

12:00 PM
GEORGIA TECH vs. TCU
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Georgia Tech's last 8 games
Georgia Tech is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of TCU's last 7 games
TCU is 2-6 ATS in its last 8 games

2:00 PM
STANFORD vs. NORTH CAROLINA
Stanford is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
North Carolina is 19-6 SU in its last 25 games
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of North Carolina's last 8 games

3:30 PM
NEBRASKA vs. TENNESSEE
Nebraska is 10-3 SU in its last 13 games
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Nebraska's last 10 games
Tennessee is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games
Tennessee is 14-4 SU in its last 18 games

5:30 PM
SOUTH ALABAMA vs. AIR FORCE
South Alabama is 0-4-1 ATS in its last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of South Alabama's last 6 games
Air Force is 2-6 ATS in its last 8 games
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Air Force's last 8 games

8:00 PM
MICHIGAN vs. FLORIDA STATE
The total has gone OVER in 16 of Michigan's last 20 games
Michigan is 11-2 SU in its last 13 games
Florida State is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Florida State's last 8 games

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Friday, December 30

Florida State @ Michigan

Game 265-266
December 30, 2016 @ 8:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Florida State
106.798
Michigan
108.304
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Michigan
by 1 1/2
46
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Michigan
by 6 1/2
52 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Florida State
(+6 1/2); Under

Nebraska @ Tennessee

Game 263-264
December 30, 2016 @ 3:30 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Nebraska
94.714
Tennessee
89.032
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Nebraska
by 5 1/2
67
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Tennessee
by 3
61
Dunkel Pick:
Nebraska
(+3); Over

South Alabama @ Air Force

Game 261-262
December 30, 2016 @ 5:30 pm

Dunkel Rating:
South Alabama
71.622
Air Force
80.495
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Air Force
by 9
52
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Air Force
by 13
57 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
South Alabama
(+13); Under

North Carolina @ Stanford

Game 259-260
December 30, 2016 @ 2:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
North Carolina
96.527
Stanford
96.140
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
North Carolina
Even
63
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Stanford
by 4
54 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
North Carolina
(+4); Over

TCU @ Georgia

Game 257-258
December 30, 2016 @ 12:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
TCU
87.211
Georgia
96.842
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
TCU
by 9 1/2
57
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Georgia
by 1
49
Dunkel Pick:
Georgia
(-1); Over

[StarDust Bum]

BYU legend LaVell Edwards dies at age 86
December 29, 2016

Before LaVell Edwards was promoted to head coach, BYU ran a slogging run-first offense that yielded mediocre or worse records.

Under Edwards, dizzying passing numbers became the norm, and college football fans stayed in front of their TVs late Saturday nights from the 1970s to '90s to see just how many points the Cougars could score.

Jim McMahon, Steve Young, Ty Detmer and other quarterbacks flourished, and the Cougars grew in prominence, even being voted national champions in 1984.

Edwards, the humble and devout Mormon who won 257 games at the Utah school over 29 seasons, died Thursday at 86. The school confirmed his death but disclosed no other details. His wife, Patti, told the Provo (Utah) Daily Herald that he broke his hip on Christmas Eve, which contributed to his death.

''LaVell was one of the best friends that I had in the coaching world,'' said Tom Osborne, the retired national championship-winning Nebraska coach whose triple-option offense was the polar opposite of Edwards' dynamic passing attack. ''He had a great sense of humor and was always well-grounded and fun to be around.

''BYU had a distinct identity under LaVell. They were a passing team before it became stylish, but many did not realize that they had a very good running game as well.''

Edwards, who retired in 2000, had a record of 257-101-3, the seventh-most wins in FBS history. His teams won or shared 19 conference titles and played in 22 bowl games. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2004.

''He had an impact on so many lives, and not just as coach but as a person,'' Cougars coach Kalani Sitake said. ''So many people - players, coaches, fans, the entire BYU family, coaching colleagues and opponents - will tell you they are a better person because of him, and I'm definitely one of them. We all love LaVell and appreciate the amazing legacy he leaves with each of us.''

Edwards became BYU's head coach in 1972, taking over a program that had just 14 winning seasons in 49 years. BYU won 10 straight Western Athletic Conference titles from 1976-85 and went to 17 consecutive bowls from 1978-94.

Ohio State coach Urban Meyer tweeted that Edwards was a ''good friend,'' adding that he was a ''phenomenal coach but even better person.''

With Edwards in charge the Cougars put on an offensive show almost every week. They led the nation in passing eight times from 1976-85 and again in 1990 with Detmer, who won the Heisman Trophy. The Robbie Bosco-led 1984 team went 13-0 and was voted national champion after beating Michigan in the Holiday Bowl.

Edwards received national coach of the year awards in 1979 and `84.

BYU athletic director Tom Holmoe said Edwards ''came into my life, and the life of many others, at just the right time.''

''LaVell had a pure heart,'' he added. ''He was the dream coach of every parent. His example will forever be with me and I will strive to live a life of love as he always did.''

Edwards grew up in Orem, Utah, and was the eighth of 14 children. He was an all-conference lineman at Utah State before serving two years in the Army. He joined the BYU football staff in 1962 and was the team's defensive coordinator when he was promoted to head coach.

''Coach Edwards was a gentle giant of the gridiron - a humble yet confident leader who guided the BYU football program through decades of unprecedented success,'' said Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah. ''He was a champion both on and off the field. For thousands of athletes and millions of fans across the nation, LaVell was far more than a steady presence on the sideline. He was a visionary leader, a father figure, and a trusted friend.''

In addition to Patti Edwards, his wife of 65 years, he is survived by three children.

[StarDust Bum]

Friday's Top Bowl Action
December 28, 2016

Music City Bowl (ESPN, 3:30 p.m. ET)
Nebraska Cornhuskers vs. Tennessee Volunteers

Sportsbook.ag Odds: Tennessee (-6.5); Total set at 59.5

There arguably wasn't another team in college football this year that experienced as many highs and lows as the Tennessee Volunteers did, making them one of the toughest teams to handicap for bettors all season long.

Tennessee was projected to be a player in the CFB playoffs conversation, but after starting out 5-0 SU, things really started to go off track with three straight defeats before closing the year on a 3-1 SU run.

The 49-10 loss to Alabama was somewhat expected, but when you lose 24-21 as 14-point favorites to South Carolina, and 45-34 as 7-point favorites to Vanderbilt, bettors know this Volunteers team wasn't built for success over the long haul this year.

But now they get to play this Music City Bowl in front of what should be a large crowd on their side – the game is in Nashville, Tennessee – and would love to cap off the campaign on a high note.

Nebraska surprised many in the Big 10 by going 9-3 SU this year, but it's not hard to argue that the Cornhuskers took advantage of what was a very soft conference schedule.

Everyone knows that the Big 10 was loaded this year with the likes of Ohio State, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Penn State all finishing in the Top 10 in the rankings, but the conference was also quite top heavy and Nebraska only played two of those four schools previously mentioned. There was a tough 23-17 OT loss at Wisconsin – definitely the weakest of those four teams – and a 62-3 loss @ Ohio State the following week.

Aside from that, Nebraska got to beat up on the Northwestern's, Illniois, Purdue's and Maryland's of the conference and they took full advantage of it. Yet, the Cornhuskers were only 6-4-2 ATS in their 12 games as they often made things tougher then necessary by letting those weaker opponents hang around for too long.

They likely won't have that luxury against this Tennessee team who can score in flurries.

Early bettors picked up on that idea that Nebraska's 9-3 SU record might be a little fraudulent and steamed this line up to it's current resting place after opening up as low as -3 at most places.

Nebraska's QB Tommy Armstrong Jr likely missing the game also has something to do with that move, and Nebraska wasn't a great offensive team to begin with. If Tennessee steps up and puts up points like we know they can, this game could turn into a route early.

That's why even with the line being at it's highest point right now, laying the 6.5 points is the best betting option here. Tennessee may have had a disappointing campaign, but they've still got most of the talent they had at the beginning of the year when talks of them threatening Alabama's reign atop the SEC had plenty of momentum.

The Volunteers are 6-1 ATS when failing to cover the spread in their last outing, and on a 7-3 ATS run against another winning opponent. Tennessee is also 5-0 ATS in their last five on a neutral field, and with this bowl game being played in Tennessee and Nebraska going with a back-up QB, I expect this one to be a route from about halftime as it will all be too much for Nebraska to overcome.

[StarDust Bum]

Orange Bowl Preview
December 29, 2016

**Michigan vs. Florida**

-- The first of the much-anticipated 'big name' bowl games takes place at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla. for the Capital One Orange Bowl, televised on ESPN at 8:00 p.m. ET.

-- The Michigan Wolverines (10-2 straight up, 6-6 against the spread) of the Big Ten Conference will take on the Florida State Seminoles (9-3 straight up, 7-4 against the spread) of the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Wolverines opened as a six-point favorite, and they're favored by a touchdown as of Thursday afternoon with a total hovering around 51 1/2.

-- These two sides entered the season with high expectations, but each hit speed bumps along the way. While Florida State was out of the conversation for a playoff spot rather early, fighting back from difficulties to get into a major bowl. Michigan, on the other hand, feels like they should have been in the four-team college football playoff, but late losses at Iowa and in double-overtime at Ohio State pushed them outside of the Top 4 in the eyes on the selection committee.

-- Michigan was strong from the get-go, annihilating Hawaii 63-3 to open their season, before destroying UCF by a 51-14 count in the 'Big House'. They were able to cover each of those games as 36-point favorites or higher. Their first real test came against visiting Colorado, and they handled that test with aplomb, winning 45-28. It was their first non-cover, as they were 17 1/2-point favorites, but it was a convincing win nonetheless. The Wolverines also point to their 49-10 dismantling of Penn State back on Sept. 24 as a case for their inclusion into the playoff, and a 14-7 win against Wisconsin helped their case, too. The Wolverines also piled up 78 points in a shutout road win at Rutgers in early October, and their offense looked to be a force to be reckoned with.

-- In mid-November, Michigan's offense struggled in Iowa City, as the Wolverines posted a season-low 13 points in a loss to the Hawkeyes. The loss, even a late-season loss, did not eliminate them from the playoff race with No. 2 Ohio State still looming large on their schedule. They beat bowl team Indiana 20-10 to setup their showdown with the Buckeyes Nov. 26. The Wolverines and Buckeyes played a classic in the Horseshoe, going to double-overtime before a winner was decided. Many Michigan fans felt like a fourth-down run by Ohio State QB J.T. Barrett was stopped short of the line to gain, and the Wolverines would have won by a field goal. However, on the field it was ruled a first down, and instant replay did not show enough evidence to overturn it. The play will be discussed for years, and coach Jim Harbaugh's complaining led to a $10,000 fine.

-- Florida State took a different path to the Orange Bowl, and they're likely a lot more appreciative of their situation than Michigan. The Seminoles opened with Mississippi in a neutral-site game. The Seminoles fell behind early, but surged back to erase a 21-point deficit in Orlando. QB Deondre Francois provided the late heroics, and RB Dalvin Cook was his usual impressive self in the 45-34 win, that looked like a loss early on.

-- It didn't take long before FSU experienced their first loss of the season. It wasn't even losing to Louisville, a good Cardinals team, that was so bad - it was how they lost. FSU hung tough at Louisville initially, trailing just 14-10 early in the second quarter. But then the wheels came off in a hurry, as the Cardinals offense had a 21-point blitzkreig to go up 35-10 at the break. Louisville didn't take their foot off the gas in the second half, either, posting 14 more points in the third quarter to make it 49-10, and another 14 more to start the fourth quarter to blow out to a 63-10 lead before FSU finally stopped the 49-0 run with 10 meaningless points in the final 5:19. It was a shocking 43-point loss, one you just do not see from FSU, that opened everyone's eyes to Louisville, and sounded the death knell on FSU's playoff hopes before the season had really even started.

-- FSU managed to fight and claw past a good South Florida team in Tampa the following week to get back to 3-1, but a home loss on a last-second field goal against North Carolina had the Seminoles at 0-2 to start ACC play. Surely they wouldn't start 0-3 in conference play, right? Well, rival Miami stood in the way, and the Top 10 Hurricanes looked to add to their rivals' misery. But an unbelievable late missed extra point helped FSU escape this very same stadium where the Orange Bowl is being played, winning 20-19.

-- The last loss of the season came in a 37-34 game against Clemson, one of the most exciting marquee games of the season. After that, FSU steamrolled Boston College, Syracuse and the rival Florida Gators to get into position for a major bowl and payday. In fact, FSU also covered those three outings as heavy favorites, too.

-- Michigan QB Wilton Speight (shoulder) was banged up down the stretch, and initially it looked like he might be done for the season. But he returned to start the Ohio State game, and was effective enough. He completed 62.5 percent of his passes for 2,375 yards, 17 touchdowns and six interceptions, and backup QB John O'Korn proved to be useful when called upon. Michigan is in good hands in the passing game. WR Amara Darboh is the big play receiver on the outside, hauling in 52 receptions for 826 yards and seven touchdowns. If the Wolverines are going deep, Darboh is the likely target. TE Jake Butt is a dependable tight end with great hands who has a future playing on Sundays. He posted 43 grabs for 518 yards and four scores, averaging 12.0 yards per pop. WR Jehu Chesson (31-469-2) and FB Khalid Hill (14-105-2) are secondary options in the receiving game to make up for the loss of WR Grant Perry.

-- Perry did not travel with the team, and is suspended indefinitely due to allegations of sexual misconduct back in mid-October.

-- In the run game, RB De'Veon Smith rolled for 810 yards and 10 touchdowns while going for 4.9 yards per rush, and RB Chris Evans was a nice change of pace guy with 565 yards and three scores, rolling for 7.1 yards per attempt. LB Jabrill Peppers is another player who occasionally seems time on the offense, posting 167 yards on 27 attempts, scoring thrice while going for 6.2 yards per play. RB Karan Higdon (68-428-6) and RB Ty Isaac (74-411-5) provide plenty of depth in the backfield. And the fullback Hill is a short-yardage hammer, used to either move the chains or punch it in on goal-line situations. He tied for the team lead with 10 rushing touchdowns despite posting just 39 rushing yards on 25 attempts. If Michigan is on the opponents' 1-yard line, you can bet No. 80 will see the ball.

-- For FSU, Francois threw for 3,128 yards and 18 touchdowns with six interceptions, and he found the end zone four times with his feet. In the pass game WR Travis Rudolph is the big play threat, posting 807 yards with a team-high seven touchdowns. Cook is the good hands guy out of the backfield, posting 426 yards with a score, going for 14.2 yards per reception. That type of ability to catch with soft hands out of the backfield has NFL scouts anxious to get him to the next level. WR Auden Tate (25-409-6) is also a player Michigan needs to be very aware.

-- In the run game, it's all Cook all the time. He amassed 1,620 yards and 18 rushing scores, including 11 over his past five outings. He found the end zone four times each in Syracuse and against Clemson, so he is a big-time player who plays well in big-time situations. He also scored three times against North Carolina, and twice against a good USF front.

-- Michigan ranked No. 2 overall in the country in total yards allowed, giving up just 252.7 yards per game. They were No. 1 against the pass, and No. 12 against the run, while yielding just 12.5 points per game which was second in the nation. On offense, they were 30th in the country with 223.2 yards per game, and 46th in total yards with 439.3 yards per contest, checking in 11th in the nation with 41.0 points per game.

-- For FSU, they were a respectable 29th in the nation with 357.2 yards per game allowed, and 40th with 24.4 yards per game given up. On offense, FSU piled up 474.3 yards per game to rank 24th in the nation, while posting 35.2 points per game to rank 29th in the country in that category.

-- Michigan is 4-1 ATS in their past five non-conference games, but 0-4 ATS in their past four following a cover in their previous outing, while going 3-8 ATS in their past 11 games on a grass surface.

-- Florida State has covered four of their past five games, and they're 5-1 ATS in their past six non-conference tilts. In addition, FSU is 8-2-1 ATS in their past 11 bowl trips and 10-3 ATS in their past 13 on grass. However, they are just 1-5 ATS in their psat six neutral-site affairs.

-- The 'over' is 4-0 in Michigan's past four out of conference, and 8-2 in their past 10 neutral-site games. The over is also 11-2 in their past 13 against teams with an overall winning mark. The over has hit in 16 of their past 21 games overall, too.

-- The 'over' is 5-0 in FSU's past five neutral-site games, but the 'under' is 5-1 in their past six bowl games. The under is also 6-2 in the past eight overall for Florida State, 16-5 in their past 21 following a cover in their last game and 4-1 in their past five against teams with an overall winning record.

[StarDust Bum]

2016 Bowl Record:

DATE W-L-T % UNITS RECORD

12/29/2016 5-1-0 83.33% +1950

12/28/2016 6-2-0 75.00% +1900

12/27/2016 3-5-0 37.50% -1250

12/26/2016 2-4-0 33.33% -1200

12/24/2016 1-1-0 50.00% -50

12/23/2016 2-3-1 40.00% -650

12/22/2016 2-0-0 100.00% +1000

12/20/2016 0-2-0 0.00% -1100

12/19/2016 2-0-0 100.00% +1000

12/17/2016 6-4-0 60.00% +800

[StarDust Bum]

NCAAF

Friday, December 30

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Liberty Bowl betting preview: Georgia vs Texas Christian
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Quarterback Kenny Hill passed for 3,062 yards and 15 touchdowns in his first season after transferring from Texas A&M, but the junior threw 13 interceptions.

Georgia Bulldogs vs Texas Christian Horned Frogs (-2, 48.5)

Game to be played at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, Memphis, Tennessee

Neither Georgia nor TCU entered the season aiming for a berth in the Liberty Bowl in Memphis on Dec. 30, but that is where they will end disappointing campaigns. The Horned Frogs are tied with Oklahoma for the best record in the Big 12 the past three years (29-9), but after finishing in the top 10 in the country each of the past two years, they won just six times this season. The Bulldogs also fell short of expectations, going 7-5 in Kirby Smart’s first season as head coach after finishing 10-3 in 2014 and 2015.

TCU’s roster features just 13 seniors, and head coach Gary Patterson looks to the bowl game as a springboard into next season. “It’s really about us growing up as a football team and finding out how we need to play going into next season, because we weren’t happy with this one,” Patterson told reporters. “Going 6-6 is not something we’re happy about.” The Horned Frogs lost three games by six points or less, including two in overtime, and closed the regular season with losses in four of their final six contests.

Smart’s first season was marked by a 1-4 stretch in the middle of the season, a stirring upset victory over Auburn and then a bitter home loss to in-state rival Georgia Tech. The Bulldogs have spent practice time working on improving execution, especially at quarterback, where freshman Jacob Eason has shown flashes of brilliance mixed with first-year mistakes. “He’s got to do a better job of commanding the huddle for our team and being a leader,” Smart told reporters.

TV: Noon ET, ESPN.

LINE HISTORY: The line opened with TCU as 1.5-point dogs, that number has since jumped the fence and now stands TCU -2.5. The total opened at 49 and faded to 48, before rebounding to 48.5. Check out the complete line history here.

WEATHER REPORT: The forecast for kickoff on Friday afternoon at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium is sunny skies with temperatures in the mid-50’s.

INJURY REPORT:

Georgia - WR Jayson Stanley (probable, toe), DB Tyrique McGhee (questionable, leg), DT DaQuan Hawkins (questionable, ankle), LB Natrez Patrick (questionable, shoulder), LB Lorenzo Carter (questionable, knee), DB Kirby Choates (doubtful, personal), WR Michael Chigbu (doubtful, knee), DB Juwuan Briscoe (out, personal), DB Rico McGraw (out, personal)

Texas Christian - QB Kenny Hill (probable, foot), PK Jonathan Song (questionable, toe)

ABOUT GEORGIA (7-5 SU, 5-7 ATS, 5-7 OU): The Bulldogs received surprisingly good news Dec. 15 when running backs Nick Chubb and Sony Michel, who combined to rush for 1,741 yards and 10 touchdowns, announced they would return for their senior seasons. Eason completed 55 percent of his passes and threw for 14 touchdowns, but did not top 200 yards passing six times in 12 games (11 starts) as the Bulldogs ranked 11th in the SEC in scoring (24 points per game). Georgia’s defense forced 25 turnovers, tops in the conference, and ranked 18th nationally against the pass (186.9 yards per game).

ABOUT TCU (6-6 SU, 3-9 ATS, 5-7 OU): Quarterback Kenny Hill passed for 3,062 yards and 15 touchdowns in his first season after transferring from Texas A&M, but the junior threw 13 interceptions. A knee injury to wide receiver KaVontae Turpin disrupted an offense that still averaged 31.7 points and 475 yards of total offense per game, as Kyle Hicks rushed for 954 yards and 12 touchdowns. Defensively, the Horned Frogs gave up 30 points six times, and followed up a dominant performance at Texas by allowing 30 points to Kansas State in the regular-season finale.

TRENDS:

* Bulldogs are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight up loss.
* Horned Frogs are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games after scoring less than 20 points in their previous game.
* Under is 5-0 in Bulldogs last 5 neutral site games.
* Under is 8-1-1 in Horned Frogs last 10 Bowl games.
* Under is 4-1 in Horned Frogs last 5 vs. a team with a winning record.

For a full list of hot and cold trends click here.

CONSENSUS: The public is on the underdog in this matchup, with 58 percent of wagers on Georgia. As for the total, an 55 percent of wagers are on the Over.

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NCAAF

Friday, December 30

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Sun Bowl betting preview: Stanford vs North Carolina
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North Carolina junior QB Mitch Trubisky is an emerging NFL prospect who threw for nearly 3,500 yards and completed 69 percent of his passes with 28 touchdowns against four interceptions.

No. 18 Stanford Cardinal vs North Carolina Tar Heels (+3, 54)

Game to be played at Sun Bowl Stadium, El Paso, Texas

Stanford star running back Christian McCaffrey was a key part of the team’s five-game winning streak to close the regular season, but the junior will not play when the Cardinal face North Carolina in the Hyundai Sun Bowl on Dec. 30 in El Paso, Texas. McCaffrey, who leads the nation with 2,327 all-purpose yards and has posted 1,603 rushing yards, announced on Twitter that he will sit out the Sun Bowl to focus on his NFL draft preparation. McCaffrey’s early departure creates an opportunity for promising sophomore Bryce Love, who has three rushing touchdowns and averages 7.4 yards per carry.

The Sun Bowl may lack its original star power, but North Carolina junior quarterback Mitch Trubisky is an emerging NFL prospect who threw for nearly 3,500 yards and completed 69 percent of his passes with 28 touchdowns against four interceptions. The Tar Heels’ roller-coaster campaign included wins over Florida State, Miami and Pittsburgh as well as disappointing late-season losses to Duke and North Carolina State. “We weren’t able to overcome all the emotions we created for ourselves,” coach Larry Fedora told reporters. “There were a few games down the stretch that we didn’t play up to our capability. We didn’t make the ordinary plays that we needed to make.”

North Carolina needs a complete effort against Stanford, which fell out of the Pac-12 race with back-to-back losses to Washington and Washington State but ended the season by winning six of its final seven games. The Tar Heels allowed 235 yards per game on the ground and 28 rushing touchdowns, which doesn’t bode well against a Stanford offense that figures to give Love a heavy workload. If North Carolina’s front seven can bottle up Love, the Cardinal could struggle to keep pace with the Tar Heels’ explosive offense.

TV: 2 p.m. ET, CBS.

LINE HISTORY: The line opened with Stanford field goal favorites, that line was quickly bet up to 3.5, before fading late in the week to 2.5. The total opened at 54 and was briefly bet up to 54.5 than returned to the opening number. Check out the complete line history here.

WEATHER REPORT: It will be a cloudy day at Sun Bowl Stadium in El Paso, with temperatures in the mid-50’s.

INJURY REPORT:

Stanford - OT Casey Tucker (probable, undisclosed), TE Greg Taboada (probable, undisclosed), S Zach Hoffpauir (questionable, undisclosed), RB Christian McCaffrey (out, personal)

North Carolina - HB Elijah Hood (out, undisclosed)

ABOUT STANFORD (9-3 SU, 7-5 ATS, 5-7 OU): After watching his offense struggle early in the season, Shaw replaced senior quarterback Ryan Burns with sophomore Keller Chryst, who provided an immediate spark and led the Cardinal to five straight wins while throwing nine touchdowns and one interception. Wide receivers JJ Arcega-Whiteside and Trenton Irwin became key late-season factors for the Cardinal, who posted over 500 yards of total offense in each of their last three games. Defensive end Solomon Thomas recorded 55 tackles and seven sacks to lead a unit that allows 20.2 points per game and has been especially tough in the red zone.

ABOUT NORTH CAROLINA (8-4 SU, 7-5 ATS, 4-8 OU): Trubisky has a number of weapons at his disposal, including senior wideout Ryan Switzer, a dangerous punt returner and first-team All-ACC selection who leads the team with 91 receptions for 1,027 yards and five touchdowns. The Tar Heels also boast an effective ground game led by versatile junior Elijah Hood (eight touchdowns) and senior T.J. Logan, who added seven touchdowns on 101 carries. On defense, the Tar Heels are led by linemen Nazair Jones and Malik Carney along with linebacker Andre Smith, who recorded a team-high 110 tackles.

TRENDS:

* Cardinal are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 neutral site games.
* Tar Heels are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 neutral site games.
* Over is 4-0 in Cardinal last 4 neutral site games.
* Over is 4-0 in Tar Heels last 4 vs. Pac-12.

For a full list of hot and cold trends click here.

CONSENSUS: The bettors prefer the favorite in this matchup, with 53 percent of wagers on Stanford. As for the total, 60 percent of wagers are on the Over.

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NCAAF

Friday, December 30

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Arizona Bowl betting preview: South Alabama vs Air Force
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The Air Force Falcons excel at the option attack and totaled 35 rushing touchdowns in the regular season from eight different players.

South Alabama Jaguars vs Air Force Falcons (-13.5, 57.5)

Game to be played at Arizona Stadium, Tucson, Arizona

South Alabama came out strong with a win at Mississippi State in its season opener but did not win another road game the rest of the way and had to scramble to become bowl eligible. The Jaguars picked up a victory in their regular-season finale over New Mexico State to earn a spot in the Arizona Bowl against Air Force on Dec. 30 in Tucson, Ariz. The Falcons won five straight to close out the regular season, including a 27-20 triumph over then-No. 19 Boise State in the finale.

South Alabama is making the second bowl appearance in school history and is looking for its first win after falling to Bowling Green in the 2014 Camellia Bowl. The Jaguars showed an ability to get up for big games this season with the win over Mississippi State - the Sun Belt's lone triumph over an SEC team in 2016 - and a 42-24 thrashing of then-No. 19 San Diego State at home on Oct. 1. Each of South Alabama's final three losses and four of the six came by seven or fewer points.

Air Force hit a lull with three straight losses at the beginning of conference play but churned out the yards on the ground in the final five games. The Falcons are third among FBS teams with an average of 322.8 rushing yards and are averaging 34.3 points. Air Force is appearing in a bowl game for the ninth time in the last 10 seasons under head coach Troy Calhoun and is searching for its fourth win in that span.

TV: 5:30 p.m. ET, American Sports Network.

LINE HISTORY: The Falcons opened as 12.5-point favorites and that number wasn’t high enough for bettors, betting the line up another full point to 13.5. The total opened at 57.5 and has yet to move off that number. Check out the complete line history here.

WEATHER REPORT: The forecast for Arizona Stadium is calling for cloudy skies with a touch of rain in the evening and temperatures in the mid-50’s at kick off. Winds gusting out of the southwest at 5 mph and gusts as high as 10 mph.

INJURY REPORT:

South Alabama - S Kalen Jackson (probable, ankle), OL Curtis Williams (questionable, knee), OL Troy Thingstad (questionable, hip)

Air Force - QB Nate Romine (questionable, ankle)

ABOUT SOUTH ALABAMA (6-6 SU, 3-9 ATS, 5-6-1 OU): Head coach Joey Jones led the Jaguars' transition to the FBS in 2012 and is confident despite being an underdog against Air Force. "We're going out there to win a bowl game, first and foremost," Jones told reporters. "Yes, we're going to have some great dinners and we're going to do some sightseeing, and that's a great experience, but we have to get the guys to understand it's time for business, and when we get away from those events we have to be ready to practice and ready for meetings." Jones, whose team already beat one Mountain West opponent this season in San Diego State, will lean on junior running back Xavier Johnson, who collected career highs of 154 yards and three touchdowns in the regular season finale.

ABOUT AIR FORCE (9-3 SU, 5-7 ATS, 7-5 OU): The Falcons excel at the option attack and totaled 35 rushing touchdowns in the regular season from eight different players. Jacobi Owens led the team with 785 yards but was one of four rushers to total at least 600 on the season and tied for fifth with three TDs as Timothy McVey paced the team with 10 rushing scores. Air Force is led on defense by senior safety Weston Steelhammer, who became the first player in school history to be named first-team All-Mountain West three years in a row after leading the team with 75 tackles and boosting his career total to 17 interceptions with six more this season.

TRENDS:

* Jaguars are 3-13 ATS in their last 16 games following a straight up win.
* Over is 6-1-1 in Jaguars last 8 vs. a team with a winning record.
* Over is 4-1 in Falcons last 5 neutral site games.
* Over is 8-2 in Jaguars last 10 non-conference games.

CONSENSUS: Bettors are firmly behind the double digit favorite, with 64 percent of wagers on Air Force. As for the total, 62 percent of the wagers are taking the Over.

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NCAAF

Friday, December 30

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Music City Bowl betting preview: Nebraska vs Tennessee
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Joshua Dobbs had a hand in 15 of the Volunteers' 27 touchdowns scored while piling up 1,362 total yards (including 393 yards on the ground).

No. 16 Nebraska Cornhuskers vs No. 21 Tennessee Volunteers (-6.5, 58)

Game to be played at Nissan Stadium, Nashville, Tennessee

Nebraska and Tennessee once seemed poised to return to prominence in 2016, only to watch their seasons wrap up Dec. 30 at the Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl in Nashville, Tenn. after league play took its toll. The 21st-ranked Cornhuskers reeled off seven straight wins before a 59-point beating at Ohio State served as one of two blowout losses during their 2-3 finish. The Volunteers opened 5-0, but a three-game skid in mid-October led to a lackluster 3-4 end to their season.

Quarterbacks Tommy Armstrong Jr. and Joshua Dobbs are set to play their final games after record-breaking careers, although the former may not be able to hold up his end of the deal. Armstrong owns the Cornhuskers' all-time passing (8,871) and total-yardage (10,690) marks, but he reportedly suffered a setback in the left hamstring he injured late in a Nov. 12 win over Minnesota and appears unlikely to go. Dobbs, who holds the Volunteers' single-season rushing mark for a quarterback, leads the SEC in touchdown passes (26), passer efficiency (152.6) and points responsible for (216).

While the Cornhuskers made significant strides in 2016 on defense (31st in scoring defense and 21st in total defense this year after 75th- and 64th-place finishes, respectively, in 2015), the Volunteers boast the most impactful player on that side of the ball. All-American junior defensive end Derek Barnett is tied for sixth in the nation with an SEC-high 12 sacks, while his 18 tackles for loss lead the league and rank 16th nationally. He is also tied with Vols legend Reggie White for the most sacks in school history (32).

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN

LINE HISTORY: Oddsmakers opened with Tennessee as 3-point favorites, but that wasn’t enough for bettors and they forced the line up to 6.5 late in the week. The total opened at 60.5 and was quickly bet up a half-point to 61, before fading to 58 when this cheat sheet was created. Check out the complete line history here.

WEATHER REPORT: The forecast is calling for plenty of sunshine at Nissan Stadium in Nashville for this afternoon kick off. Temperatures will be in the high-40’s and winds heading east at 7 mph.

INJURY REPORT:

Nebraska - QB Ryker Fyfe (probable, wrist), RB Terrell Newby (probable, knee), TE Matt Snyder (questionable, elbow), WR Alonzo Moore (questionable, undisclosed), RB Tre Bryant (questionable, hamstring), QB Tommy Armstrong Jr. (doubtful, hamstring), WR Jordan Westerkamp (out, knee), S Nate Gerry (out, eligibility), CB Boaz Joseph (out, suspension)

Tennessee - DL Austin Smith (questionable, shoulder), OL Dylan Wiesman (questionable, ankle), OL Chance Hall (out, undisclosed), OL Venzell Boulware (out, academics)

ABOUT NEBRASKA (9-3 SU, 6-4-2 ATS, 3-9 OU): With Armstrong trending in the wrong direction, coach Mike Riley is working under the belief that fellow senior Ryker Fyfe will make his third career start; the former walk-on threw for 220 yards and a score in a win against Maryland in his only previous 2016 start on Nov. 19. Leading receiver Jordan Westerkamp suffered a torn meniscus in practice on Dec. 14 and has been ruled out, leaving senior Brandon Reilly (17 catches for 314 yards) to start in his place in the slot. Safety Nate Gerry needs one interception to match Dana Stephenson's school career mark of 14 - the same number of tackles he requires to tie Mike Brown's program record for career tackles by a defensive back (287).

ABOUT TENNESSEE (8-4 SU, 5-7 ATS, 8-4 OU): The Volunteers averaged 50.2 points over their final four games (3-1) and Dobbs had a hand in 15 of the 27 touchdowns scored while piling up 1,362 total yards (including 393 yards on the ground) over that same span. Junior Josh Malone is easily the team's biggest offensive threat after Dobbs, ranking second in the conference with 10 receiving touchdowns and 18.9 yards per catch. Barnett accumulated all 12 of his sacks during conference play and became the first Tennessee defensive lineman to earn first-team all-conference coaches' honors since Robert Ayers in 2008, but he is one of the few bright spots for a unit that ended the regular season ranked 109th in FBS in total defense and 73rd in scoring defense.

TRENDS:

* Cornhuskers are 10-1 ATS in their last 11 games on grass.
* Volunteers are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games after allowing more than 280 yards passing in their previous game.
* Over is 5-1 in Cornhuskers last 6 games on grass.
* Over is 4-0 in Volunteers last 4 bowl games.

CONSENSUS: 55 percent of users are backing the favorite Tennessee Volunteers. As for the total, 62 percent of the wagers are on the Over.

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NCAAF

Friday, December 30

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Orange Bowl betting preview: Michigan vs Florida State
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Jabrill Peppers won a multitude of awards this season, including the Big Ten's Defensive Player of the Year, the Lott Impact Trophy, the Horning Award and finished fifth in Heisman Trophy voting.

No. 6 Michigan Wolverines vs No. 11 Florida State Seminoles (+7, 52)

Game to be played at Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida

Sixth-ranked Michigan looks to overcome the disappointment of missing out on the College Football Playoff when it faces No. 10 Florida State in the Orange Bowl on Dec. 30 in Miami. The Wolverines seemed poised to make their first appearance in the CFP until they dropped two of their last three games down the stretch, including a controversial 30-27 double-overtime loss to No. 2 Ohio State. The Seminoles were picked fourth in the preseason USA Today Coaches' poll but failed to live up to the hype, suffering losses to Louisville (60-23), North Carolina (37-35) and second-ranked Clemson (37-34) during a six-week span, as they failed to advance to the ACC title game for the second time in as many seasons.

Sophomore hybrid linebacker Jabrill Peppers, who has played in 11 different positions, and junior running back Dalvin Cook, who has rushed for 4,319 yards and 45 touchdowns in his Florida State career, are likely playing their last collegiate games. Cook rewrote the record book with the Seminoles after running for 1,620 yards and 18 touchdowns this season to break Warrick Dunn's career mark for rushing yards (3,959) and eclipse Greg Allen's 32-year old record for most touchdowns (44). Peppers won a multitude of awards this season, including the Big Ten's Defensive Player of the Year, the Lott Impact Trophy, the Horning Award and finished fifth in the Heisman Trophy voting en route to becoming the first unanimous All-American at Michigan since Jake Long in 2007.

The key to the matchup could hinge on whose offensive line protects their quarterback the best as Florida State led the nation with 47 sacks while Michigan finished right behind the Seminoles with 44 in the regular season. DeMarcus Walker led the country with 15 sacks and anchors a talented Seminoles' defensive front that has the potential to wreak havoc on the Wolverines' offensive line, which struggled in the last three games of the season. Michigan was dominate defensively under first-year coordinator Don Brown as the Wolverines finished first nationally in tackles for loss (115), second in scoring defense (12.5) and second in total defense (252.7).

TV: 8 p.m. ET, ESPN.

LINE HISTORY: The Wolverines opened this bowl favored by 7-points, that line was briefly dropped to 6.5 before returning to the opening number. The total hit the board at 55 and has been driven down 2.5-points to 52.5. Check out the complete line history here.

WEATHER REPORT: It should be a beautiful night for football at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. The forecast is calling for clear, minimal winds and temperatures in the low 60’s.

INJURY REPORT:

Michigan - QB Wilton Speight (probable, shoulder), K Quinn Nordin (questionable, leg)

Florida State - DB Calvin Brewton (probable, head), DT Adam Torres (questionable, foot), DT Darvin Taylor II (questionable, shoulder), TE Jalen Richardson (questionable, concussion), DB Marcus Lewis (questionable, hip), LB Josh Brown (questionable, foot), OL Brock Ruble (questionable, leg), WR Da’Vante Phillips (questionable, wrist), DB A.J. Westbrook (questionable, concussion), WR Ermon Lane (out, foot), DB Derwin James (out, knee), OL Wilson Bell (questionable, possible suspension), LB Jacob Pugh (questionable, concussion)

ABOUT MICHIGAN (10-2 SU, 6-6 ATS, 8-4 OU): Junior quarterback Wilton Speight, who threw for 2,375 yards and 17 touchdowns in his first year as a starter, was hampered by a shoulder injury down the stretch but is expected to be back to 100 percent health against Florida State. "Wilton had a phenomenal year and improved game by game," Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh told reporters. "I truly think he will go into next year as one of the top quarterbacks in the country." Every defensive starter for the Wolverines received Big Ten honors, including Peppers, cornerback Jourdan Lewis and defensive end Taco Charlton, who are all projected to be selected in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft.

ABOUT FLORIDA STATE (9-3 SU, 7-4 ATS, 5-6 OU): Promising quarterback Malik Henry, who was beaten out of the starting job by Deondre Francois despite throwing for 205 yards and two touchdowns in the spring game, revealed his intention to transfer to another school on Dec. 13. Cook has rushed for at least 100 yards in eight of his last nine games and is coming off an 153-yard performance in the 31-13 win over No. 18 Florida to become the first player since Sammie Smith in 1988 to notch 3 straight 100-yard games against the Gators. "I'm looking forward to it. That's why I'm putting in the time watching Michigan film," Cook told reporters. "I'm looking forward to playing a good football team."

TRENDS:

* Wolverines are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games following a ATS win.
* Seminoles are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 non-conference games.
* Seminoles are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 neutral site games.
* Over is 11-2 in Wolverines last 13 vs. a team with a winning record.
* Over is 5-0 in Seminoles last 5 neutral site games.

CONSENSUS: Users like the favorite in this matchup, with 52 percent of the wagers on Michigan. As for the total, bettors are split 50/50.

[StarDust Bum]

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 30

GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS

UGA at TCU 12:00 PM

TCU - 3.0 ******

U 49.5 *****

STAN at UNC 02:00 PM

UNC +2.5 *****

U 54.0 *****

NEB at TENN 03:30 PM

NEB +7.0 ***** ( UNDERDOG GAME OF THE YEAR )

U 57.5 *****

USA at AFA 05:30 PM

USA + 14.0 *****

U 57.5 *****

MICH at FSU 08:00 PM

FSU +7.0 ***** ( BOWL GAME OF THE YEAR )

U 51.5 *****

[StarDust Bum]

Bowl Capsules
December 30, 2016

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) Deondre Francois threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Nyquan Murray with 36 seconds remaining, and No. 10 Florida State beat No. 6 Michigan 33-32 in a wild Orange Bowl on Friday night.

Francois threw for two scores - both to Murray - and ran for another for the Seminoles (10-3). They got 145 yards rushing from Dalvin Cook and recovered after wasting a 12-point lead midway through the fourth.

Chris Evans had a 30-yard touchdown run and Khalid Hill an 8-yard scoring catch in the final minutes for Michigan (10-3), which also got a defensive conversion when Josh Metellus ran a blocked extra point back after the second Francois-Murray TD.

But Michigan turned the ball over on its final possession, and the Seminoles held on to win a game where the teams combined for 23 points and two lead changes in the final 5:22.

Evans' scoring run put the Wolverines up 30-27, but Florida State's Keith Gavin swung momentum back to the Seminoles with a 66-yard kickoff return right up the middle - setting up the drive where his team would take the lead for good.

Michigan played without injured star linebacker Jabrill Peppers, and lost tight end Jake Butt to what appeared to be a knee injury early in the second quarter.

SUN BOWL

NO. 16 STANFORD 25, NORTH CAROLINA 23

EL PASO, Texas (AP) - Bryce Love took over for the absent Christian McCaffrey in the Stanford backfield, running for 119 yards and catching a 49-yard touchdown pass to help the Cardinal beat North Carolina.

Stanford (10-3) held on after North Carolina (8-5) pulled within two with 25 seconds left on Mitch Trubisky's 2-yard pass to Bug Howard, sacking Trubisky on the 2-point conversion try.

McCaffrey skipped the bowl game to focus on his NFL career.

Stanford took a 25-17 lead on Conrad Ukropina's 27-yard field goal with 3:23 left. North Carolina was forced to punt on its next series, but used two timeouts to get the ball back.

After taking over at their own 3, the Tar Heels drove 97 yards in 10 plays and 1:11. After competing passes of 44 and 27 yards, Trubisky capped the drive with the 2-yard scoring pass to Howard.

Stanford then sacked Trubisky on the 2-point try, a rush led by Solomon Thomas forcing the quarterback to retreat before being taken down. Thomas was selected the game's MVP.

Stanford safety Dallas Lloyd intercepted two of Trubisky's passes, returning the second 19 yards for a touchdown to give Stanford a 22-17 lead early in the fourth quarter.

MUSIC CITY BOWL

TENNESSEE 38, NO. 24 NEBRASKA 24

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Joshua Dobbs ran for three touchdowns and 118 yards and threw for 291 yards and another score in Tennessee's victory over Nebraska.

The Volunteers (9-4) beat a Big Ten team in a bowl for the third straight year and notched their first win in three tries against the Cornhuskers. It's the first time Tennessee has won three straight bowls since 1994-1996 when Peyton Manning was quarterback for the Vols.

Tennessee took a 14-0 lead in the second quarter and outgained Nebraska 521-318 in total offens.

Nebraska (9-4) ended the season with two straight losses. The Cornhuskers lost four of their final six after rising as high as No. 7 in the rankings.

Ryker Fyfe, the fifth-year former walk-on started for injured quarterback Tommy Armstrong Jr. He pulled Nebraska within a touchdown in the fourth quarter. Fyfe threw two TD passes to Brandon Reilly and ran for a 9-yard TD with 10:02 left in the fourth to pull the Cornhuskers within 31-24.

Dobbs answered with a 59-yard TD pass to Josh Malone for the final margin.

LIBERTY BOWL

GEORGIA 31, TCU 23

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) - Nick Chubb ran for 142 yards and a touchdown, sending Georgia past TCU for the Bulldogs' third bowl victory in three years.

Georgia (8-5) sent TCU (6-7) to its third losing year in Gary Patterson's 16 full seasons as coach.

Rodrigo Blankenship put Georgia ahead for good with 13:27 left on a 30-yard field goal. Blankenship's kick was set up by Chubb's 48-yard burst on the final play of the third period.

Brandon Hatfield was wide right on a 47-yard field goal attempt that would have put TCU ahead with 7:57 remaining. He earlier missed a 41-yard field goal and an extra point.

Jacob Eason threw touchdown passes to Javon Wims and Sony Michel. Isaiah McKenzie had four catches for 103 yards, including a 77-yarder that set up a touchdown. Trenton Thompson recorded three sacks for Georgia and was named the game's most valuable player.

TCU's Kenny Hill threw two touchdown passes to John Diarse and ran for a score.

ARIZONA BOWL

AIR FORCE 45, SOUTH ALABAMA 21

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) - Arion Worthman threw for 207 yards to balance out Air Force's run-heavy offense, Jacobi Owens scored two touchdowns and the Falcons overcame a sluggish start to beat South Alabama.

Air Force (10-3) struggled to get its triple-option going, falling into an 18-point first-half hole. Once the Falcons got rolling, they couldn't be stopped, scoring 42 straight points to turn it into a rout.

Worthman was the trigger, jump-starting Air Force's option while completing 7 of 10 passes, including a 75-yard touchdown to Jalen Robinette to open the second half. He also had 71 yards on 21 carries.

South Alabama (6-7) appeared to be headed toward its first bowl win after jumping on the Falcons early, starting with Dallas Davis' 75-yard touchdown pass to Josh Magee on the game's first play.

The Jaguars couldn't sustain their early offensive success or stop the Falcons to lose a bowl game for the second time in three seasons. Davis threw for 245 yards and a touchdown, but also had an interception and lost a fumble. Magee had five catches for 154 yards.

[StarDust Bum]

Saturday’s 6-pack

— Florida State 33, Michigan 32— A great, great college football game. Dalvin Cook
should’ve been in NYC for the Heisman thing; he is a warrior.

— Air Force 45, South Alabama 21— Jaguars led this game 21-3 in 2nd quarter.

— Tennessee 38, Nebraska 24— Senior QB Hobbs goes out in a big way.

— Stanford 25, North Carolina 23— Tar Heels scored late, missed 2-point try to tie.

— Georgia 31, TCU 23— Horned Frogs have only 8 scholarship seniors.

— Iowa State 63, Texas Tech 56— Cyclones trailed by 14 in second half.

Nine things that have to happen for Tampa Bay to make the NFL playoffs

— Chiefs beat Denver— DONE
— Cowboys beat Detroit- DONE
— Buccaneers beat Carolina
— Lions over Green Bay
— Giants tie Washington
— Cowboys over Philadelphia
— 49ers over Seattle
— Titans over Houston
— Colts over Jacksonville

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Saturday’s List of 13: Random stuff with weekend here

13) Dallas Cowboys apparently changed their mind; now Tony Romo and Mark Sanchez will see action at QB in Philly Sunday, after Dak Prescott makes his cameo appearance as the starter.

I’m guessing that Clint Longley, Babe Laufenberg and Glenn Carano won’t play for the Cowboys this week, but you never know.

12) I read the week where DeSean Jackson was “focused” on the Redskins’ game with the Giants this week, then I also read he is “intrigued” by the prospect of going back to Philadelphia as a free agent after the season. Um, both of those can’t be true.

Jackson is a really talented player; if the Eagles got rid of him the first time, my guess is he has to be a pain in the butt. You don’t just give away really talented players.

11) Prop bet in Las Vegas: Will Eldrick Woods win a PGA Tour event in 2017? No is -$150, yes is +$120.

10) This season is first time ever that over 30% of shots from floor in NBA games are 3-pointers.

9) This from the great Gil Brandt, who is very active on Twitter: in the Super Bowl era, 56 NFL teams have won their last six regular season games— 8 of those 56 teams won the Super Bowl.

Green Bay can win its sixth consecutive game Sunday night.

8) NFL’s Hall of Fame Game has been moved to Thursday night, before the induction ceremony starting next summer. Previously the game had been played on Sunday or Monday night, after Saturday’s ceremony.

7) Pretty cool on ESPN’s Orange Bowl broadcast; Bob Griese joined his son Brian and Steve Levy in the ESPN booth for a while. Brian Griese and his dad get along so well, it is great to hear.

6) Cavaliers’ coach Tyrone Lue hasn’t gotten a technical foul this season; he got one last year, because he wandered out of the coaches’ box— he wasn’t aware that was even a rule.

5) New Mexico Lobos signed a point guard from New Zealand this week; young man is the PG on the New Zealand national team, so a good get for coach Craig Neal.

4) Miami Marlins lost their replay guy Pat Shine this week; he signed on to become a minor league manager. Watching as much baseball as I do all summer, thought Miami was the best team at challenging plays and Shine was the guy responsible for that.

3) Weird boxscore from college hoop this week: Western Illinois upset Fort Wayne as a 14-point underdog. Leathernecks were only 3-3 on the foul line; they were 18-37 on 3-pointers. Teams that shoot 37 3’s and only three foul shots almost never win.

2) I’m totally convinced that handicapping bowl games is a waste of time; there are so many intangibles involved— which coaches are changing jobs and I’m talking assistant coaches as much as head coaches. Who wants to be there? Who is healthy? Who isn’t giving a full effort because they don’t want to get hurt? When in doubt, I would lean towards underdogs.

1) This is a really busy week, with a few bowl games every day and conference play starting in college basketball and then Week 17 of the NFL Sunday. An excellent time of the year, would be close to perfect if we could get rid of this damn cold weather here in beautiful upstate New York.

[StarDust Bum]

Dec 31

Citrus Bowl, Orlando: LSU-Louisville

Louisville’s OC was suspended for this game after Wake Forest info leak; Cardinals scored 50+ points six times this year, but they were favored by 14+ points in last seven games- big step up in competition here. Louisville is 1-1 in games with single digit spread; they have huge edge at QB with Jackson over Etling. LSU is 5-4 as a favorite this year, 3-2 in games with single digit spread. Louisville won three of last four bowls; favorites covered four of Cards’ last five bowls, covered Citrus Bowl four of last five years— SEC teams won four of last five visits to this bowl. LSU is 2-3 in last five bowls, covering once in last four as a bowl favorite. SEC non-conference favorites are 10-16 vs spread; ACC underdogs are 7-4. Under is 8-2 in LSU games this season, 4-3 in last seven Louisville games.

Tax Slayer Bowl, Jacksonville: Kentucky-Georgia Tech

Kentucky went 7-2 vs spread in its last nine games; after opening season with 44-35/44-7 losses, Wildcats finished 7-5, are in their first bowl since 2010— their last bowl win was in ’08. Kentucky is 5-2 as an underdog this year, 4-2 in games with single digit spread- they upset Louisville as a 27-point underdog in last game. Georgia Tech allowed 32.7 pts/game in 3-game midseason skid, but won five of last six games, scoring 29.7 pts/game in last three. Jackets are 3-2 as favorites, 3-3 in games with single digit spread. Tech is 2-3 in last five bowls, scoring 21 or less points three times- they were underdog in four of the five. SEC teams are 3-2 in this bowl last five years (3-2 vs spread), but all vs Big 14 teams. Over is 6-2 in Tech’s last eight games, 3-0 in last three Kentucky games.

Peach Bowl, Atlanta: Washington-Alabama

Alabama is in 4-team national title playoff for third year in row; they split semis last two years. Chris Petersen is 6-3 in bowls; his Boise State team upset Oklahoma in Fiesta Bowl 10 years ago. Washington is a dog for first time this year; they’re 4-1 vs number in games with single digit spread. Former Huskies coach Sarkisian is on Bama’s staff, will be OC next year. Atlanta site greatly favors Alabama, which doesn’t need the help. Crimson Tide is 3-2 in last five bowls, scoring 31+ points in all five games. Crimson Tide covered last seven I-A games; they’re 9-2-1 as favorites, 8-2-1 in games with double digit spread. Last four Washington games stayed under; under is 3-2 in Alabama’s last five games. Underdogs covered this game three of last four years; unusually long road trip for a bowl team.

Fiesta Bowl, Glendale AZ: Clemson-Ohio State

Buckeyes (-6.5) won this bowl 44-28 over Notre Dame LY; Meyer is 60-5 at Ohio State, 10-2 in bowl games, scoring 42-42-44 points in winning last three- they were underdog in two of them. OSU went 2-6 vs spread in its last eight games this year; they’re 6-6 as a favorite, 1-1 in games with single digit spread. Clemson scored 35+ points eight times, with only loss 43-42 at home to Pitt. Tigers are 1-0 as an underdog this year; they won four of last five bowls, losing 45-40 to Alabama in LY’s national title game. Underdogs are 3-2 vs spread in last five Fiesta Bowls. Clemson is using former QB Tajh Boyd to simulate Buckeye QB Barrett in practices. Over is 3-1 in last four Ohio State games, 3-0-1 in last four Clemson games. Tiger QB Watson is making his 34th career start. Weather not a factor; both semifinals games are in a dome.

[StarDust Bum]

Alabama vs. Washington
December 30, 2016

Ohio State vs. Clemson

College Football Playoff - Peach Bowl (ESPN, 3:00 p.m. ET)
Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Washington

Alabama is in the College Football Playoff for the third straight season and will be in familiar territory Saturday night at the Georgia Dome. Less than a month after winning its third consecutive SEC Championship in Atlanta, Nick Saban’s team returns to the same venue to take on Washington.

Alabama (13-0 straight up, 9-4 against the spread) has won 12 of its 13 games by double-digit margins. If this team dominates the next two games, it will probably go down as Saban’s best ever. The Saban Era in Tuscaloosa has been nothing short of dynastic, including four national titles in his first nine seasons.

When the line for Alabama vs. Washington opened on Dec. 4, the Crimson Tide was installed as a 14-point favorite. By lunch the next day, Alabama was up to 15.5. The number would get as high as 16 at the Westgate SuperBook, but it drifted to 16.5 and even 17 at a few offshore shops. However, since Dec. 14, the line has slowly come down, finally getting back to 14 (where it remained as of Friday night) on Dec. 26.

The total opened at 54.5 points, moved as low as 52.5, but was resting at 53 on Friday night. For first-half wagers, Alabama is favored by 7.5 points. Gamblers can take Washington on the money line for a monster +450 payout (risk $100 to win $450).

Alabama’s best wins came vs. Southern Cal (52-6 at Jerry World), at Tennessee (49-10), at LSU (10-0), vs. Texas A&M (33-14) and at Ole Miss (48-43). The Tide rallied from a 24-3 deficit to beat the Rebels in Oxford.

Saban’s team fell behind 7-0 to Florida in Atlanta earlier this month, but it would score 33 of the next 35 points and led 33-16 at intermission. UF’s defense forced a three and out to start the third quarter and then the offense marched down the field for a first-and-goal opportunity inside Alabama’s 3-yard line. But the Gators would get no closer to the end zone and once a fourth-and-goal try was stuffed, the blowout was on.

Alabama would win by a 54-16 count as a 24-point ‘chalk,’ improving to 8-4 ATS in 12 games as a double-digit favorite this year. The Crimson Tide crushed UF’s early momentum by getting a pair of first-quarter interceptions. The first set up a 31-yard field goal by Adam Griffith, while Minkah Fitzpatrick turned the second one into a 40-yard pick-six.

After forcing a three and out on UF’s next possession, the Tide blocked a punt and reserve RB Joshua Jacobs returned it 27 yards for another score. Jacobs would score again on a six-yard TD run to put ‘Bama ahead 33-7 late in the second quarter.

Bo Scarbrough rushed 11 times for a team-best 91 yards and two touchdowns, while Damien Harris finished with 86 rushing yards on eight attempts. Jalen Hurts completed 11-of-20 passes for 138 yards and one TD without an interception.

Alabama has the best defense in the country and the stats clearly point this out. The Tide is ranked No. 1 in the nation in total defense, rush defense and scoring, allowing merely 11.8 points per game.

This unit is loaded with future first-round picks, including LB Rueben Foster, DT Jonathan Allen and Fitzpatrick. Foster has recorded 94 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, four sacks, eight QB hurries and a pair of passes broken up. Fitzpatrick has 56 tackles, five TFL’s, one sack, one forced fumble, seven PBU and five interceptions, including a pair of pick-sixes. Allen produced 56 tackles, , 13 TFL’s, 8.5 sacks, 15 QB hurries, one blocked field goal, two PBU and two fumble returns for TDs.

Hurts, the true freshmen QB, has emerged as the program’s present and future at the position. His scrambling skills have added an extra dynamic to Lane Kiffin’s offense. Hurts has completed 65.2 percent of his passes for 2,563 yards with a 21/9 touchdown-to-interception ratio. He has rushed for 841 yards and 12 TDs with a 5.2 yards-per-carry average.

Harris has rushed for a team-high 983 yards and two TDs while averaging 7.4 YPC. Jacobs has 551 rushing yards, four TDs and a 6.6 YPC average, while Scarbrough has 539 rushing yards, seven TDs and a 6.0 YPC average.

Hurts has a pair of eliter WRs in sophomore Calvin Ridley and junior ArDarius Stewart. Ridley has hauled in 65 receptions for 734 yards and seven TDs, while Stewart has 52 catches for 816 yards and seven TDs.

Washington (12-1 SU, 7-6 ATS) has enjoyed a breakout campaign in the third season of Chris Petersen’s tenure. The Huskies won the Pac-12 Championship Game by drilling Colorado 41-10 as an 8.5-point favorite in Santa Clara. The 51 combined points dipped ‘under’ the 55.5-point total.

After going to intermission with a 14-7 advantage over the Buffaloes, Taylor Rapp intercepted a CU pass and turned it into a 35-yard pick-six. From there, it was all UW. The Huskies limited the Buffs to merely 163 yards of total offense and forced three turnovers. Rapp caused one with a second pick.

Myles Gaskin rushed for 159 yards on 29 carries, while Lavon Coleman added 101 rushing yards and one TD on 18 attempts. Jake Browning connected on just 9-of-24 throws for 118 yards, but he had a pair of TD passes without an interception. Junior WR John Ross had four catches for 51 yards and one TD.

Washington took its only loss at home to Southern Cal, dropping a 26-13 decision as a 10-point ‘chalk.’ Since then, the Huskies have won three in a row while covering the spread in back-to-back contests. They clinched the Pac-12 North by going into Pullman and blasting Washington State 45-17 as six-point road favorites.

UW’s best wins came vs. Stanford (44-6), at Oregon (70-21), at Utah (31-24) and the aforementioned victory over the Cougars to win the Apple Cup.

Washington hasn’t been an underdog all season. In Petersen’s first two years at the helm, the Huskies posted a 6-7 spread record as underdogs. They went 2-2 ATS with one outright victory in four games as double-digit ‘dogs.

Browning, a true sophomore, has been outstanding all year. He has completed 63.2 percent of his passes for 3,280 yards with a 42/7 TD-INT ratio. His favorite target is Ross, who has 76 receptions for 1,122 yards and 17 TDs. Dante Pettis has 59 catches for 796 yards and 14 TDs, while Chico McClatcher has 29 grabs for 580 yards and five TDs.

Gaskin earned first-team All Pac-12 honors by rushing for 1,339 yards and 10 TDs with a 5.9 YPC average. Coleman has rushed for 836 yards and seven scores while averaging 7.8 YPC.

Ross and Pettis are versatile WRs who can make things happen on trick plays and on special teams. Pettis’s fourth-quarter punt return for a TD proved to be the difference in UW’s win at Utah. He averages 12.3 yards per punt return and has also completed 2-of-4 passes for 89 yards and one TD without an interception. Ross averages 26.0 yards per kick return and has rushed for 102 yards and one TD on eight carries.

Petersen has taken a team to the Georgia Dome before. In the 2011 season opener, he took his Boise State team to Atlanta where it raced out to a 28-7 lead over Georgia and eventually captured a 35-21 win. Petersen has certainly orchestrated upsets before, going 8-4 ATS with five outright wins during his tenure at BSU.

We should note that three of the four non-covers while with the Broncos came in his final season when they were adjusting to life without the school’s all-time leading passer and four-year starter, Kellen Moore. The outright victories included wins vs. Oklahoma and TCU at the Fiesta Bowl, in addition to scalps at Oregon and vs. Va. Tech in Landover, MY.

Washington is ranked 11th in the nation in total defense, 20th versus the pass, 20th against the run and seventh in scoring (17.2 PPG). However, this unit lost three starters – senior DE Joe Mathis, junior LB Azeem Victor and junior DB Darren Gardenhire -- to season-ending injuries in November.

Victor remains the team’s leading tackler, just as he was in 2015. In 10 games, Victor had recorded 67 tackles, three TFL’s, one forced fumble, one PBU and one fumble return for a TD. Mathis had 25 tackles, 7.5 TFL’s, five sacks and one PBU in seven games. Gardenhire finished the year with 13 tackles, one interception, 1.5 TFL’s, one sack, one forced fumble, one QB hurry and two PBU.

The ‘under’ is 7-6 overall for Alabama, cashing in four of its last six games. The Tide has seen its games average combined scores of 52.3 PPG.

The ‘over’ is 8-4-1 overall for UW, but it has seen the ‘under’ go 3-0-1 in its last four games. The Huskies have seen their contests average combined scores of 61.7 PPG.

Kickoff is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. Eastern on ESPN.

[StarDust Bum]

Ohio State vs. Clemson
December 30, 2016

Alabama vs. Washington

College Football Playoff - Fiesta Bowl (ESPN, 7:00 p.m. ET)
Ohio State vs. Clemson

The PlayStation Fiesta Bowl will be a rematch of the 2013 Orange Bowl with Clemson and Ohio St. squaring off in the semifinals of the College Football Playoffs. The winner will advance to Tampa to take on the Alabama-Washington winner for the national championship.

As of Friday night, most betting shops had Ohio State (11-1 straight up, 6-6 against the spread) installed as a 2.5-point favorite with a total of 58.5. The Tigers were +115 on the money line (risk $100 to win $115).

Clemson (12-1 SU, 6-7 ATS) is seeking its second straight trip to the CFP finals after dropping a 45-42 decision to Alabama last year. The Tigers repeated as conference champs by beating Va. Tech 42-35 as 10-point favorites at the ACC Championship Game.

Deshaun Watson completed 23-of-34 passes for 288 yards and three touchdowns with one interception. Watson also torched the Hokies with his legs, rushing for a team-high 85 yards and two TDs on 17 carries. Wayne Gallman rushed for 59 yards and one TD on 17 attempts.

Jordan Leggett had four receptions for 49 yards and two TDs, while Hunter Renfrow had a pair of catches for 46 yards and one TD.

Dabo Swinney’s team took its only loss of the year to Pittsburgh on a walk-off field goal on the game’s final play. The Panthers went into Death Valley and won 43-42 as 21.5-point road underdogs. Since then, though, Clemson has won three in a row -- at Wake Forest (35-13) and vs. South Carolina (56-7) before beating the Hokies.

Clemson owns other notable wins at Auburn (19-13), vs. Troy (30-24), at Ga. Tech (26-7), vs. Louisville (42-36), vs. N.C. State (24-17 in overtime), at Boston College (56-10) and at FSU (37-34).

Clemson has only been an underdog once this season, handing Louisville its first loss as a one-point home ‘dog. The Tigers have been underdogs in five consecutive bowl games, compiling a 5-0 spread record with four outright wins.

One of those upset victories came in Miami in 2013 when Clemson won a 40-35 decision over Ohio St as a 2.5-point underdog. With 6:16 remaining, Tajh Boyd found Stanton Seckinger from six yards out for his fifth TD pass of the night, and the defense shut down the Buckeyes the rest of the way to secure the victory.

Watson now ranks third on Clemson’s list of all-time passing leaders with 9,484 career yards. The junior completed 67.6 percent of his throws this year for 3,914 yards with a 37/15 touchdown-to-interception ratio. Watson also ran for 524 yards and six TDs.

Gallman rushed for a team-high 1,002 yards and 15 TDs while averaging 5.1 yards per carry. He also had 16 catches for 103 yards.

After suffering a season-ending neck injury in Week 1 of the 2015 campaign, WR Mike Williams returned in a big way this year. Williams hauled in 84 receptions for 1,171 yards and 10 TDs. Leggett has 38 catches for 637 yards and seven TDs, while Deon Cain has made 32 grabs for 621 yards and nine TDs. Artavis Scott has 71 receptions for 592 yards and five TDs, while Ray-Ray McCloud has 45 catches for 443 yards and two TDs. Despite missing three games with an injury, Renfrow still brought down 29 balls for 353 yards and four TDs.

Obviously, Watson has weapons galore at his disposal. Clemson is ranked 12th in the nation in total offense, seventh in passing and 14th in scoring (40.2 points per game).

Clemson has one of the country’s premier defensive coordinators in Brent Venables. When Geno Smith and West Va. stroked the Tigers by a 70-33 count at the 2011 Orange Bowl, Swinney made the best move of his career in hiring Venables away from Bob Stoops at Oklahoma.

Despite returning only four starters this season, Venables’ unit is ranked ninth in the nation in total defense, 18th versus the pass, 22nd against the run and 11th in scoring (18.4 PPG).

Ohio State didn’t even get to the Big Ten Championship Game, yet it’s in the CFP for the second time in three years. The Buckeyes tasted their lone defeat at Penn State when the Nittany Lions scored on a blocked field goal in a 24-21 comeback win as 17.5-point home underdogs.

Urban Meyer’s team posted quality wins vs. Tulsa (48-3), at Oklahoma (45-24), vs. Indiana (38-17), at Wisconsin (30-23 in overtime), vs. Northwestern (24-20) and vs. Michigan (30-27 in OT).

OSU failed to cover the number as a 4.5-point ‘chalk’ against the Wolverines, who had to settle for a field goal on its offensive possession in OT because the refs failed to throw a flag on a blatant pass-interference on a 3rd-and-4 play from the OSU 19-yard line. Trailing by three, junior RB Curtis Samuel ended the heated contest by scoring on a 15-yard TD run.

Samuel rushed for 54 yards on seven carries and also had four catches for 32 yards. J.T. Barrett rushed for 125 yards and one TD on 30 carries. The junior signal caller struggled through the air against Michigan, completing just 15-of-32 throws for 124 yards with zero TDs and one interception. Malik Hooker had a 16-yard pick-six for the Buckeyes.

For the season, Barrett has connected on 61.8 percent of his passes for 2,428 yards with a 24/5 TD-INT ratio. He’s also run for 847 yards and nine TDs.

Mike Weber has rushed for a team-best 1,072 yards and nine TDs with a 6.1 YPC average. Samuel has 704 rushing yards and eight TDs with a 7.7 YPC average. Samuel also has 65 catches for 822 yards and seven TDs.

Noah Brown has brought down 30 receptions for 385 yards and seven TDs, while Dontre Wilson has 27 catches for 352 yards and five TDs.

Ohio State is ninth in the nation in rushing and scoring offense, averaging 42.7 PPG. As for the defense, it is ranked fourth in the country in total defense, fifth against the pass, 17th versus the run and third in scoring (14.2 PPG).

OSU has been a single-digit favorite just twice this season, going 2-0 SU and 1-1 ATS. During Meyer’s five-year tenure, the Buckeyes are 7-3 ATS in 10 games as single-digit ‘chalk.’

After hitting in four consecutive games, the ‘over’ improved to 7-6 overall for Clemson. The Tigers have seen their games average combined scores of 58.5 PPG.

Totals have been an overall wash (6-6) for the Buckeyes, but they’ve watched the ‘over’ hit at a 3-1 clip in their last four outings. Their games have averaged combined scores of 56.8 PPG.

ESPN will have Saturday’s night’s telecast at 7:00 p.m. Eastern.

[StarDust Bum]

Saturday's Bowl Action
December 29, 2016

We are just days away from the college football playoffs getting going as Alabama, Washington, Ohio State, and Clemson are all vying for the sport's top prize.

While much of the talk leading into these two Semi-Finals games surrounds the Ohio State/Clemson matchup as the much more intriguing game (the spread is in the -3 range), it would be a mistake for bettors to sleep on a Washington team that everyone is already counting out and expecting to be Alabama's next victim en route to a perfect campaign. Yes, the spread is in the double digits, but Alabama isn't immune to feeling the pressure of the situation, especially when they are trying to repeat as CFB national champions.

National Semi-Final #1: Alabama (-14) vs. Washington; Total set at 53

The line for this game has bounced back and forth since the matchup was announced, as 'Bama opened up at -14.5, got bet up as high as -16.5, before seeing action come back the other way. There is no question that the Crimson Tide have been college football's best team all year long, dominating opponents with a NFL-caliber defense that gives up just 11.8 points per game.

Eight of Alabama's 13 opponents were held to 10 points or less, and with those kind of numbers it often doesn't matter much that you've got a true freshman QB in Jalen Hurts under center just “managing” the game as he's asked. There really is no need for Alabama to change much as everything has worked well for them so far, but Washington is by far the best team the Tide have seen this year and Nick Saban might have to ask a little bit more from Hurts then just simply being a “game manager.”

Washington has heard all the stories about their upcoming trip to the slaughterhouse for a month now and have to be chomping at the bit to get onto the field. The Huskies are well aware of the challenge that they face in playing Alabama, but they've rose to the occasion all year long, except for a slip up against USC.

Many talking heads and pundits out there will use that USC game as evidence as to while Washington has no chance in this contest as they were defeated by the Trojans while Alabama blew USC out. But continually beating down and discrediting professional athletes (CFB players might as well be professionals) and telling them they've got no chance to beat a certain opponent only fuels their fire.

We've already seen that play out numerous times this year when everyone was writing off the Cleveland Cavaliers down 3-1 vs. Golden State, the Chicago Cubs down 3-1 to Cleveland, and more recently, and arguably more relevant, the Ottawa Redblacks in the CFL beating the heavily favored Calgary Stampeders in the Grey Cup. Ottawa grew sick and tired about hearing how they had no chance in that game and went out to prove a point. They jumped all over Calgary early and often and ended up prevailing in overtime. The Washington Huskies are more then capable of making a similar statement here and put a major wrinkle in Alabama's championship plans.

It may be tough to bet on the outright upset here, but as the recent money on Washington suggests, grabbing all those points in this high stakes game might not be a bad idea.

National Semi-Final #2: Ohio State (-3) vs. Clemson; Total set at 59

This is the game college football fans are more excited for because of the likelihood it's going to be a close contest. Clemson is looking to avenge their National Championship loss a season ago and there is no question that the experience edge lies on their sideline. But while many are pointing to that edge and anticipating a Clemson/Alabama return game in the Championship, Ohio State is more then capable of not only winning, but dominating this game.

While both teams lost once this season, there is no question that Clemson's 43-42 defeat to Pittsburgh was much worse. Ohio State's defeat came to a Penn State team that finished 5th in the polls while Pittsburgh was nowhere to be found. Clemson may have finished the year strong, but they've shown at times this year that they are capable of self-inflicted mistakes and letting teams hang around when they shouldn't be.

The latter of those statements isn't a concern here as Ohio State is more then deserving of being #2 in the land, but those self-inflicted wounds Clemson is partially known for will cost them dearly in this matchup.

Remember, aside from that loss to Pittsburgh, Clemson's biggest struggles on defense came against strong running teams that have a QB that isn't afraid to scramble (Florida State and Louisville). That's basically the definition of the 2016 Ohio State Buckeyes and they've got a much, much better defense then those two previously mentioned teams to keep Deshaun Watson and the Tigers offense in check.

While 65% of the ML bets have come in on Clemson and a little less (55%) grabbing the points with the underdog, I see a strong case for Ohio State to win and cover the number, helping prove that the Big 10 was indeed the best overall conference in college football this season.

[StarDust Bum]

Sat – Dec. 31

LSU at Lousiville, 11:00 AM ET – Citrus Bowl
LSU: 8-19 ATS in road games after gaining 6.75 or more yards/play in their previous game
Louisville: 11-1 ATS in road games off an upset loss as a home favorite

Kentucky at Georgia Tech, 11:00 AM ET – Taxslayer Bowl
Kentucky: 15-31 ATS after gaining 325 or more passing yards in last game
Georgia Tech: 7-0 ATS after having won 5 or 6 out of their last 7 games

Washington at Alabama, 3:00 PM ET – Chick Fil A Bowl
Washington: 0-7 ATS after allowing 125 or less rushing yards in 5 straight games
Alabama: 41-20 ATS in road games after 3 or more consecutive straight up wins

Ohio State at Clemson, 7:00 PM ET – Fiesta Bowl
Ohio St: 51-30 ATS after having won 5 or 6 out of their last 7
Clemson: 12-28 ATS after allowing 125 or less rushing yards in 3 straight games

---------------------------

Dec 30
Liberty Bowl, Memphis: Georgia-TCU
SEC teams are 8-2 SU in last ten bowls with Big X teams; SEC squads won this bowl last three years, by 22-8-37 points; average total in last five Liberty Bowls: 60.8. Georgia won three of last four bowls but that was with Richt as coach; they’re 29-19 overall in bowls. TCU won four of last five bowls; Patterson is 9-5 as a bowl coach. Horned Frogs have only 8 scholarship seniors; they went 3-5 in last eight games. TCU is 2-2 as an underdog, 2-6 in games with single digit spread- they lost in OT to Arkansas of SEC. Georgia won three of last four games; they beat North Carolina of ACC 33-24. Dawgs are 3-4 as favorites, 4-4 in games with single digit spread Under is 6-1 in last seven TCU games, 4-2 in last six Georgia games. SEC teams are 15-21 vs spread out of conference; Big X teams are 9-12.

Sun Bowl, El Paso: Stanford-North Carolina
Pac-12 beat ACC in this game four of last five years (underdogs 3-2 vs spread). North Carolina is 8-4 but lost two of last three games, both as double digit favorites; Tar Heels are 2-1 as underdogs, 2-3 in games with single digit spread. Stanford is 9-3, 5-5 vs spread as a favorite. 5-3 in games with single digit spread. UNC lost three of last four bowls, allowing 40+ points in all three losses. Stanford won three of last four bowls, winning 45-21/45-16 last two years- three of those four were Rose Bowls. ACC non-conference underdogs are 7-4 vs spread; Pac-12 favorites are 7-9. Stanford had a 1-3 skid early in year where they scored 11 pts/game, losing to both Washington schools/Colorado, but they won their last five games, scoring 39.6 pts/game. Carolina QB Trubinsky is 1st-year starter, but expected to be a first-round pick in NFL Draft.

Music City Bowl, Nashville: Nebraska-Tennessee
Last five years, SEC teams are 11-4 vs Big 14 teams in bowls, 8-6-1 vs spread (SEC was favored in 14 of 15 games). Nebraska is 2-4 in its last six bowls, giving up 33.8 pts/game; they’re bowl underdog for sixth year in row- average total in their last four bowls, 68.7. Cornhuskers went 2-3 in last five games after a 7-0 start, with 62-3/40-10 losses; they’re 1-2 as an underdog this year, 4-1-1 in games with single digit spread. Tennessee is 3-4 in its last seven games after a 5-0 start; they’re 3-6 s a favorite, 1-2-1 in games with single digit spread. Average total in Vols’ last three games: 88.0. Favorites covered this bowl three of last four years; SEC teams are 3-2 here last five years. Riley has been HC in NFL/CFL; he has big edge over Vols’ coach Jones (good recruiter).

Arizona Bowl, Tucson: South Alabama-Air Force
South Alabama beat San Diego State of Mountain West the last two years, but went 3-4 this year after upsetting the Aztecs; Jaguars lost 33-28 to Bowling Green in only previous bowl, the ’14 Camellia Bowl. USA is 3-3 as an underdog, 2-5 in games with double digit spread- they won at Miss State as a 28-point dog in season opener. Last three years. Jaguars are 7-14 as an underdog. Air Force lost three of last four bowls— losses were all in Military or Armed Forces Bowls; they beat Western Michigan 45-24 In Potato Bowl two years ago. Falcons won last five games, scoring 35.6 pts/game- they’re 3-6 vs spread as a favorite. 1-5 in games with double digit spread. Since 2011, Sun Belt teams are 7-5 vs spread in games vs Mountain West teams. This bowl is in its second year; Nevada (+3.5) beat Colorado State LY.

Orange Bowl, Miami: Florida State-Michigan
ACC teams won last four Orange Bowls, were underdog last three years; Florida State won this game 31-10 in ’12, but lost last two bowls 59-20/38-24. FSU won six of last seven games after 3-game stretch early on when they allowed 45 pts/game; Seminoles were 3-2 on October 1st, but allowed 16.6 pts/game from that point on. FSU is 2-0 as an underdog this year, 5-2 in games with single digit spread. Michigan lost two of last three games (losses by total of 4 pts) after a 9-0 start; Wolverines are 5-6 as a favorite (double digit favorite in all 11 games), 1-0 in games with single digit spread. Michigan is 2-3 in last five bowls but Harbaugh won his first bowl with Wolverines LY, 41-7 over Florida- he is 2-1 overall in bowls. Florida State beat Miami here 20-19 October 8, game that turned Seminoles’ season around.

----------------------------------

Saturday, December 31

11:00 AM
GEORGIA TECH vs. KENTUCKY
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Georgia Tech's last 8 games
Georgia Tech is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games
Kentucky is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Kentucky's last 6 games

11:00 AM
LSU vs. LOUISVILLE
LSU is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games
The total has gone UNDER in 11 of LSU's last 15 games
Louisville is 15-4 SU in its last 19 games
The total has gone OVER in 12 of Louisville's last 17 games

3:00 PM
WASHINGTON vs. ALABAMA
Washington is 15-1 SU in its last 16 games
The total has gone OVER in 11 of Washington's last 16 games
Alabama is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Alabama's last 6 games

7:00 PM
OHIO STATE vs. CLEMSON
Ohio State is 2-6 ATS in its last 8 games
Ohio State is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
Clemson is 12-1 SU in its last 13 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Clemson's last 6 games

---------------------------------

Saturday, December 31

Ohio State @ Clemson

Game 273-274
December 31, 2016 @ 7:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Ohio State
116.684
Clemson
108.137
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Ohio State
by 8 1/2
52
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Ohio State
by 3
62 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Ohio State
(-3); Under

Washington @ Alabama

Game 271-272
December 31, 2016 @ 3:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Washington
109.917
Alabama
127.790
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Alabama
by 18
71
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Alabama
by 15
54 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Alabama
(-15); Over

Kentucky @ Georgia Tech

Game 269-270
December 31, 2016 @ 12:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Kentucky
88.370
Georgia Tech
94.290
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Georgia Tech
by 6
52
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Georgia Tech
by 3 1/2
61 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Georgia Tech
(-3 1/2); Under

LSU @ Louisville

Game 267-268
December 31, 2016 @ 11:00 am

Dunkel Rating:
LSU
107.869
Louisville
98.646
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
LSU
by 9
67
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
LSU
by 3 1/2
60
Dunkel Pick:
LSU
(-3 1/2); Over

--------------------------------

NCAAF

Saturday, December 31

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Citrus Bowl betting preview: Louisiana State vs Louisville
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Lamar Jackson is the only player in FBS history to throw for 30-plus touchdowns and rush for 20-plus TDs in the regular season.

No. 20 Louisiana State Tigers vs No. 13 Louisville Cardinals (+3, 59.5)

Game to be played at Camping World Stadium, Orlando, Florida

Lamar Jackson toyed with defenses for most of 2016 en route to becoming Louisville's first Heisman Trophy winner, but he'll likely face his toughest test of the season on Dec. 31 at the Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Fla against LSU. The sophomore quarterback is the only player in FBS history to throw for 30-plus touchdowns and rush for 20-plus TDs in the regular season. The Tigers rank sixth in FBS in scoring defense (16.4 points) and 13th in total defense (323 yards per game).

LSU running back Leonard Fournette will not play after declaring for the NFL Draft earlier in the month. One year after rushing for 1,953 yards and 22 touchdowns - both school records - as a sophomore, the 2015 All-American was dogged by an August left ankle injury that forced him to miss four regular-season games as a junior. Despite missing nearly half the season, he'll leave as the Tigers' single-season leader in rushing yards per game (162.8), career rushing yards per game (119.7) and 200-yard games (five).

The Cardinals ended the regular season with a thud - allowing 11 sacks and committing 15 penalties in a 36-10 setback at Houston before losing 41-38 to Kentucky to snap a five-game winning streak in the series - and things have only gotten worse since. Linebackers James Hearns and Henry Famurewa were among three students shot near the school's campus hours after Jackson won the Heisman on Dec. 10. Less than a week later, the school suspended offensive coordinator Lonnie Galloway for his role in the Wake Forest play-sharing scandal.

TV: 11 a.m. ET, ABC.

LINE HISTORY: Oddsmakers opened the line with LSU as 3.5-point favorites and that has been bet down to a field goal. The total opened at 60 and has been bet down half-point to 59.5. Check out the complete line history here

WEATHER REPORT: It should be a gorgeous afternoon for football at Camping World Stadium in Orlando. The forecast is calling for sunny skies, minimal winds out of the south and temperatures in the mid-70’s.

INJURY REPORT:

Louisiana State - FB Bry’Kiethon Mouton (probable, undisclosed), WR Travin Dural (probable, undisclosed), DE Arden Key (probable, shoulder), CB Tre’Davious White (probable, ankle), DT Christian LaCouture (doubtful, knee), DE Andre Anthony (doubtful, academics), OL Donavaughn Campbell (out, shoulder), RB Leonard Fournette (out, ankle), LB Kendell Beckwith (out, knee)

Louisville - RB L.J. Scott (questionable, hamstring), WR Jamari Staples (questionable, undisclosed), LB James Hearns (doubtful, elbow), LB Henry Famurewa (doubtful, foot)

ABOUT LSU (7-4 SU, 5-6 ATS, 2-7-2 OU): Darrius Guice emerged as one of the most explosive running backs in the country, averaging a league-high 7.9 yards per carry and running for a SEC-best 14 touchdowns while finishing second in the conference in rushing (1,249), even breaking Fournette's single-game school rushing record 33 days after he set it with 285 yards against Texas A&M. Danny Etling threw for 324 yards versus the Aggies as well, giving the Tigers a 300-yard passer and 200-yard rusher in the same game for the first time in school history. The defense is led by a pair of All-Americans in junior safety Jamal Adams (70 tackles) and senior linebacker Kendell Beckwith (9.1 tackles per game, second in the SEC).

ABOUT LOUISVILLE (9-3 SU, 5-6-1 ATS, 8-4 OU): Despite committing five of the Cardinals' seven turnovers during their season-ending losing streak, Jackson totaled five touchdowns to set the ACC record for touchdowns responsible for in a single season (51) while breaking the single-season school marks for rushing yards (1,538) and 100-yard rushing performances (eight). Tight end Cole Hikutini (eight touchdowns), who is one of four Cardinals with at least 593 receiving yards, joins wideouts James Quick (six), Jaylen Smith (six) and Reggie Bonnafon (five) with at least five receiving touchdowns. Hearns, who is tied for the ACC lead with five forced fumbles and leads the team with eight sacks, is expected to make a full recovery, as is Famurewa and the cheerleader involved in the shootings.

TRENDS:

* Tigers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 bowl games.
* Cardinals are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 neutral site games.
* Cardinals are 1-4 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.
* Under is 4-0-2 in Tigers last 6 games following a straight up win.
* Over is 9-2 in Cardinals last 11 games on fieldturf.

CONSENSUS: The betting public has their eye on the Cardinals with 60 percent of the wagers on the underdog. Over is grabbing 54 percent of the selections from users.

---------------------------------

NCAAF

Saturday, December 31

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TaxSlayer Bowl betting preview: Georgia Tech vs Kentucky
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Justin Thomas (1,454 yards passing, 562 yards rushing) is a two-way threat who engineered late game-winning drives through the air against Boston College and Georgia.

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets vs Kentucky Wildcats (+3.5, 62.5)

Game to be played at EverBank Field, Jacksonville, Florida

Two of the top rushing offenses in the country collide when Georgia Tech and Kentucky meet in the TaxSlayer Bowl on Dec. 31 in Jacksonville. The Yellow Jackets, whose string of 18 consecutive bowl appearances was snapped last season, led the ACC and sit 10th nationally at 257.4 yards per game on the ground. The Wildcats, who are making their first bowl appearance since 2010, rank third in the SEC and 16th in the nation in rushing yards per game (241.3).

Georgia Tech started its season 3-3 before getting on track, winning five of its final six games while averaging 285.7 rushing yards per game during that stretch. “We got fortunate and got hot a little bit, and started playing a little bit better and really finished up the season on a positive note,” Yellow Jackets head coach Paul Johnson told reporters. While the rushing offense is critical to Georgia Tech’s chances, quarterback Justin Thomas (1,454 yards passing, 562 yards rushing) is a two-way threat who engineered late game-winning drives through the air against Boston College and Georgia.

Kentucky features a two-pronged rushing attack led by a pair of 1,000-yard rushers in Stanley Williams (1,135 yards) and SEC All-Freshman team honoree Benny Snell (1,079 yards) with Snell setting freshman school marks for rushing yards, 100-yard games and touchdowns. “I think it’s impressive to have a true freshman do that,” Wildcats head coach Mark Stoops told reporters. “He’s been steady.” The Wildcats are 230 yards and two touchdowns away from setting school single-season records in both categories.

TV: 11 a.m. ET, ESPN.

LINE HISTORY: The line opened at Georgia Tech -4 and was quickly dropped to 3.5, where it has held firm. The total opened at 60 and that wasn’t enough for bettors as it rose as high as 63, before fading to the current number of 62.5. Check out the complete line history here.

WEATHER REPORT: It should be a beautiful afternoon for football at Everbank field in Jacksonville. The forecast is calling for mostly clear skies, minimal winds and temperatures in the mid-60’s.

INJURY REPORT:

Georgia Tech - DL Jordan Woods (questionable, upper body)

Kentucky - WR Jeff Badet (questionable, hip), LB Jordan Jones (questionable, back)

ABOUT GEORGIA TECH (8-4 SU, 6-4-1 ATS, 6-4-1 OU): Johnson credits the offensive line with solidifying the team after an up-and-down opening half of the season, but the Yellow Jackets will be without leading rusher Marcus Marshall (624 yards) after the sophomore announced his transfer to James Madison. Freshman Dedrick Mills has rushed for 602 yards and 11 touchdowns in only eight games, while Thomas accounted for 459 yards of total offense in an October victory over Duke and passed for 164 yards against Georgia. The Yellow Jackets surrendered only 21.3 points per game in winning their last three contests, including an upset victory at Virginia Tech and a rally from 13 points down in the fourth quarter to knock off Georgia.

ABOUT KENTUCKY (7-5 SU, 7-5 ATS, 7-5 OU): Williams finished the regular season fifth in the SEC in rushing and Snell placed eighth, providing the power for a Wildcats’ offense that saw quarterback Stephen Johnson battle inconsistency and injury. Kentucky punctuated its breakout season with an upset of in-state rival Louisville, winning five of its last seven games. Sophomore linebacker Jordan Jones, who earned second-team All-SEC honors, recorded 100 tackles (14 for loss) in anchoring a defense that ranked in the bottom third nationally in allowing 31.2 points per game.

TRENDS:

* Yellow Jackets are 4-1 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.
* Wildcats are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games following a straight up win.
* Wildcats are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 neutral site games.
* Over is 5-1 in Yellow Jackets last 6 vs. a team with a winning record.
* Over is 4-1 in Wildcats last 5 vs. ACC.

CONSENSUS: The Wildcats are the team of choice in this one, with 57 percent of Covers users taking Kentucky. 55 percent of users are taking the Over.

-----------------------------------

NCAAF

Saturday, December 31

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Peach Bowl betting preview: Washington vs Alabama
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Defensive end Jonathan Allen won the Nagurski Trophy as the national defensive player of the year and his standout campaign includes 8.5 sacks and two fumble-return TDs.

No. 4 Washington Huskies vs No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide (-13.5, 52.5)

Game to be played at Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia

Top-ranked Alabama begins its pursuit of its fifth national championship in 10 seasons under coach Nick Saban in the Peach Bowl when it takes on No. 4 Washington on Dec. 31 in the College Football Playoff semifinal contest. The Crimson Tide defeated Clemson in last season's title game and have won their last 25 overall games. The Huskies have ascended quickly under third-year coach Chris Petersen and are enjoying their best season since the 1991 Don James-coached unbeaten squad shared the national championship with Miami.

The quarterbacks are highly productive but pack different skill sets as Washington's Jake Browning is an efficient pro-style signal caller while Alabama's Jalen Hurts is a multi-faceted player who runs nearly as well as he throws. Browning, a sophomore, passed for 3,280 yards and a school-record 42 touchdowns, while Hurts accounted for 34 scores (22 passing, 12 rushing) and is striving to join Oklahoma's Jamelle Holieway (1985) as the only true freshmen quarterbacks to lead a team to a national title. "I'm a firm believer in age being nothing but a number," the 18-year-old Hurts told reporters. "And I feel like if you step up to any situation and you're able to play your game, be confident, have the poise you need to have, you'll be alright."

Both teams excel at scoring points while not on offense, particularly a Crimson Tide squad that totaled 14 non-offensive touchdowns, matching Southern Mississippi (2011) for the most in FBS since 1996. Alabama's non-offensive touchdowns break down this way: five interception returns, five fumble returns, three punt returns and one blocked field goal. The Huskies have two superb returners in juniors Josh Ross (one kickoff return score this season, four in his career) and Dante Pettis (two punt return TDs this season, five in his career).

TV: 3 p.m. ET, ESPN

LINE HISTORY: Alabama opened as 13.5-point favorites but that spread initially wasn’t enough as the line was bet up to 16.5 the first week of December. Since, the line has faded down returning to the opening number of 13.5. The total hit the board at 55 and dropped to 52.5. Check out the complete line history here.

WEATHER REPORT: Dome

INJURY REPORT:

Washington - WR Brayden Lenius (questionable, undisclosed), LB Joe Mathis (out, foot), LB Azeem Victor (out, leg)

Alabama - DB Marlon Humphrey (probable, hamstring), WR ArDarius Stewart (probable, undisclosed), LB Keith holcombe (probable, leg), DB Tony Brown (probable, undisclosed), OL Cam Robinson (questionable, undisclosed), DL Dakota Ball (out indefinitely, finger), OL Josh Casher (out for season, foot)

ABOUT WASHINGTON (12-1 SU, 7-6 ATS, 8-4-1 OU): Browning completed 63.2 percent of his passes and Ross totaled 76 receptions for 1,122 yards and 17 touchdowns for the Huskies, who average 44.5 points per game. Sophomore running back Myles Gaskin rushed for 1,339 yards and 10 scores and junior backup Lavon Coleman owns a glitzy 7.8 average while rushing for 836 yards and seven touchdowns. The defense allows 17.2 points per game and features standout junior free safety Budda Baker (65 tackles, two interceptions) and senior outside linebacker Psalm Wooching (team-high six sacks) but remains without two of its top players in senior outside linebacker Joe Mathis (foot) and junior middle linebacker Azeem Victor (leg).

ABOUT ALABAMA (13-0 SU, 9-4 ATS, 6-7 OU): Senior defensive end Jonathan Allen won the Nagurski Trophy as the national defensive player of the year and his standout campaign includes 8 1/2 sacks and two fumble-return touchdowns for a unit that leads the nation in scoring defense (11.8) and total defense (247.8). The defense didn't miss a beat when it lost star senior safety Eddie Jackson to a season-ending broken leg and the list of standouts include senior outside linebackers Ryan Anderson (team-high 17 tackles for losses) and Tim Williams (15 1/2 tackles for losses) and sophomore safety Mikah Fitzpatrick (team-best five interceptions). Hurts passed for 2,592 yards and rushed for 841 and possesses two solid targets in sophomore wideout Calvin Ridley (66 receptions for 727 yards and seven touchdowns) and junior receiver ArDarius Stewart (52 for 852 and eight scores).

TRENDS:

* Huskies are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 non-conference games.
* Crimson Tide are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a ATS win.
* Over is 4-1 in Huskies last 5 non-conference games.
* Over is 9-2 in Crimson Tide last 11 bowl games.

CONSENSUS: The Crimson Tide are the team of choice in this one, with 52 percent of users taking the favorite. The total is getting 64 percent of wagers on the Over.

----------------------------------

NCAAF

Saturday, December 31

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fiesta Bowl betting preview: Ohio State vs Clemson
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Deshaun Watson has thrown 15 interceptions this season, though only two in the past three games.

No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes vs No. 2 Clemson Tigers (+3, 59)

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

Clemson and Ohio State will meet in the semifinals of the College Football Playoff when they square off Dec. 31 in the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, Ariz. Both teams have been selected for the four-team playoff for the second time in the three-year history. The Tigers reached the national championship game before suffering a 45-40 loss to Alabama last season, while the Buckeyes defeated the Crimson Tide and Oregon en route to the 2014 title.

Ohio State is the first team to be selected for the College Football Playoff without winning its conference championship. The Buckeyes missed out on the Big Ten title game thanks to a 24-21 midseason loss at Penn State, but they won their last five games of the regular season, including a double-overtime win over sixth-ranked Michigan. The Nittany Lions defeated Wisconsin 38-31 in the Big Ten championship game but finished at No. 5 in the playoff rankings.

For all the big-name offensive stars on both sides, the defenses could end up telling the story. Ohio State ranks in the top six nationally in passing defense, total defense and scoring defense, and the Buckeyes have piled up 19 interceptions – the fourth-most in the country – which bodes well against star Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson, who has thrown 15 interceptions, though only two in the past three games. The Tigers boast a well-balanced unit that ranks ninth in total defense, a necessity against the Buckeyes’ powerful ground game.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, ESPN.

LINE HISTORY: The lined opened with Ohio State as 3-point favorites and was briefly bet up half-point to 3.5, than returned to 3 where it has held. The total opened at 60.5 and has faded two full points to 58.5. Check out the complete line history here.

WEATHER REPORT: Dome

INJURY REPORT:

Ohio State - WR Corey Smith (probable, undisclosed), OL Kevin Feder (questionable, foot), DL Tracy Sprinkle (questionable, leg), DT Malik Barrow (questionable, illness)

Clemson - DT Scott Pagano (probable, foot), OL John Simpson (probable, leg), DE Richard Yeargin (probable, knee), CB Adrian Baker (questionable, knee), OT Jake Fruhmorgen (doubtful, shoulder), WR Trevion Thompson (out, wrist)

ABOUT OHIO STATE (11-1 SU, 6-6 ATS, 6-6 OU): The Buckeyes lean on one of the nation’s top running games, averaging 258.3 yards per game on the ground behind the trio of Mike Weber (1,072 yards, 9 TDs), Curtis Samuel (704 yards, 8 TDs) and quarterback J.T. Barrett (847 yards, 9 TDs). Barrett has done a solid imitation of his counterpart Watson, as he has passed for 2,428 yards with 24 touchdowns and just five interceptions. The Buckeyes do a good job of pressuring the quarterback – Tyquan Lewis leads the way with 7 1/2 sacks and 10 tackles for loss – and they will need to make Watson uncomfortable to have success slowing down the Tigers.

ABOUT CLEMSON (12-1 SU, 6-7 ATS, 7-6 OU): The Tigers are tough up front on both sides of the ball, which they hope will help them slow Ohio State’s ground game and force Barrett to try to beat them with his arm. Despite a strong offensive line, Clemson has been inconsistent in its ability to run the ball, though Wayne Gallman (1,002 yards, 15 TDs) has gotten on track late in the season and Watson could look to run more after staying in the pocket more often during the regular season. Watson has a number of capable targets, but the Buckeyes likely will try to lock down star Mike Williams (84 receptions, 1,171 yards, 10 TDs) and make the lesser-known receivers beat them.

TRENDS:

* Buckeyes are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 neutral site games.
* Tigers are 1-5 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.
* Over is 4-1 in Buckeyes last 5 vs. ACC.
* Over is 5-0 in Tigers last 5 vs. a team with a winning record.

CONSENSUS: The public is backing the ACC champion Tigers with 61 percent of wagers on Clemson. The over is getting 58 percent of the action.