The 2008 season was definitely a roller coaster. And when I say roller coaster, I mean the kind that go up slowly, and then go straight down. As my season starting going sour, I quit posting my picks thinking that would change everything, but it didn't. Before I make my bowl selections for this weekend, here's a recap of my highs and lows of the NCAA football season...
Highs:
***Iowa St. getting a safety @ Iowa late in 4th quarter to cover the spread in a 13-2 loss.
***Fresno St. kicking Rutgers ass in Week 1 in the biggest bet I've ever made in NCAA football
***Florida scoring some garbage TDs late in the 4th Q to cover @ Arkansas in one of my biggest bets of the year
Lows:
***Ohio St. giving up 2 garbage TDs late in the 4th Q. to let Minnesota cover in my biggest bet that week.
***Tennessee playing like crap @ UCLA in week one and losing a game that they should have won by 4 TDs. Between that and Fresno St., it could hae been the best gambling day of my life
***Not betting on Kansas against my beloved Mizzou Tigers. Everything about that game screamed an easy KU cover, but I couldn't let myself bet on those homo Jayhawks. I'm an idiot.
Ok, here we go (all lines Legendz or betonline, bets placed thurs. night)---
WAKE FOREST -2.5 (-107) vs Navy 2*
There's no way a mediocre Navy team can beat Wake twice in the same season. At least I think not. Wake has the edge in passing whereas as Navy struggles in pass defense. Wake should have learned something about how to stop the Navy ground game and will be prepared this time around. WF committed 6 TOs the first meeting and still almost came back. You've got to think that they'll play smarter this time around and pull out a victory.
Wake 27-17
FRESNO ST. -2.5 (-107) vs. Colorado St. 5*
One of my biggest bets this bowl season. I was under the impression that CSU won like 3 games this year, but somehow they won 6. And considering one of their wins was vs. Sacramento St., they shouldn't even be bowl eligible. Fresno had a disappointing year, but has the edge in virtually every aspect of this game. Pat Hill got his team fired up for the bowl game last year after a disappointing season, and I see the same thing happening this year. FRESNO 41-14
MEMPHIS +11.5 (-107)vs. S. Florida 2*
USF has been an enigma the past 2 seasons. They usually play down to their opponents and some weeks just look awful. The turf at Tropicana Field should help a superior Memphis rushing attack. Memphis should be healthier than they have been throughout the year and will happy to be in a bowl game. USF has looked bad the 2nd half of the year and are too down about their disappointing season to get motivated for this one, despite the crowd advantage.
USF 24-23
Bonus Pick---Memphis +7 (1st Half) 0.5*
BYU +3 (-105) vs. Arizona 1*
This is definitely a toss up. Both teams have had disappointing losses in the 2nd half of the year, and seem fatigued. I choose BYU only because they seem to get up for games vs. the Pac-10. If Max Hall plays like he did early in the year, I don't even think a stingy 'Zona defense will contain him. BYU has played in this stadium several times of late which may give them an edge. BYU 27-24
TROY ML (-180) vs. So. Miss. 1*
Troy is definitely battled tested after going to Columbus and playing Ohio St. tough for a half, and going to Baton Rouge and beating up on LSU until a 3rd/4th quarter collapse. USM has come on strong towards the end of the season, but they didn't see a defense as good as Troy's during that stretch. Troy would love to cap a successful season with a bowl win. I don't feel comfortable laying so many points with a Sun Belt team, so I'll play it safe and take the ML.
TROY 20-16
Good luck everyone!
Highs:
***Iowa St. getting a safety @ Iowa late in 4th quarter to cover the spread in a 13-2 loss.***Fresno St. kicking Rutgers ass in Week 1 in the biggest bet I've ever made in NCAA football***Florida scoring some garbage TDs late in the 4th Q to cover @ Arkansas in one of my biggest bets of the yearLows:
***Ohio St. giving up 2 garbage TDs late in the 4th Q. to let Minnesota cover in my biggest bet that week.***Tennessee playing like crap @ UCLA in week one and losing a game that they should have won by 4 TDs. Between that and Fresno St., it could hae been the best gambling day of my life***Not betting on Kansas against my beloved Mizzou Tigers. Everything about that game screamed an easy KU cover, but I couldn't let myself bet on those homo Jayhawks. I'm an idiot.Ok, here we go (all lines Legendz or betonline, bets placed thurs. night)---
WAKE FOREST -2.5 (-107) vs Navy 2*
There's no way a mediocre Navy team can beat Wake twice in the same season. At least I think not. Wake has the edge in passing whereas as Navy struggles in pass defense. Wake should have learned something about how to stop the Navy ground game and will be prepared this time around. WF committed 6 TOs the first meeting and still almost came back. You've got to think that they'll play smarter this time around and pull out a victory.
Wake 27-17
FRESNO ST. -2.5 (-107) vs. Colorado St. 5*
One of my biggest bets this bowl season. I was under the impression that CSU won like 3 games this year, but somehow they won 6. And considering one of their wins was vs. Sacramento St., they shouldn't even be bowl eligible. Fresno had a disappointing year, but has the edge in virtually every aspect of this game. Pat Hill got his team fired up for the bowl game last year after a disappointing season, and I see the same thing happening this year. FRESNO 41-14
MEMPHIS +11.5 (-107)vs. S. Florida 2*
USF has been an enigma the past 2 seasons. They usually play down to their opponents and some weeks just look awful. The turf at Tropicana Field should help a superior Memphis rushing attack. Memphis should be healthier than they have been throughout the year and will happy to be in a bowl game. USF has looked bad the 2nd half of the year and are too down about their disappointing season to get motivated for this one, despite the crowd advantage.
USF 24-23
Bonus Pick---Memphis +7 (1st Half) 0.5*
BYU +3 (-105) vs. Arizona 1*
This is definitely a toss up. Both teams have had disappointing losses in the 2nd half of the year, and seem fatigued. I choose BYU only because they seem to get up for games vs. the Pac-10. If Max Hall plays like he did early in the year, I don't even think a stingy 'Zona defense will contain him. BYU has played in this stadium several times of late which may give them an edge. BYU 27-24
TROY ML (-180) vs. So. Miss. 1*
Troy is definitely battled tested after going to Columbus and playing Ohio St. tough for a half, and going to Baton Rouge and beating up on LSU until a 3rd/4th quarter collapse. USM has come on strong towards the end of the season, but they didn't see a defense as good as Troy's during that stretch. Troy would love to cap a successful season with a bowl win. I don't feel comfortable laying so many points with a Sun Belt team, so I'll play it safe and take the ML.
TROY 20-16
Good luck everyone!