[Bullet Kays]

New Era Pinstripe Bowl
Iowa State (+1) vs Rutgers (-1)
Yankee Stadium, NYC

This is the second year of the Pinstripe Bowl where they pair the 4th placed team in the Big East against the 7th placed team in the Big 12. The Big East is 1-0 in this bowl after Syracuse knocked off Kansas State in a close one last year. Don't expect that again this year. That was a K-state team who squeaked by North Texas and Colorado at the end of the season. The Big 12 has had a solid showing so far aside from the Baylor defense in bowls so far this year: 2-0 against the Pac 12 and 1-0 against the ACC. The Big East is 0-1 against the ACC. The strength of schedule comparison in this bowl game is the most lopsided one I've seen yet this bowl season. My only other two bowl write-ups (Marshall +5, Air Force +3.5) were similar but not with this big of a difference. The only reason Rutgers is favored in this game is because it's basically a home game but that didn't help out FIU in their bowl against Marshall. Rutgers comes in 8-4 with wins over some mediocre teams at best(Pittsburgh, Cincy, USF). The wins they had against Syracuse and USF were ridiculous miracle overtime wins where Rutgers' opponents beat themselves. They are ranked 12th in the country in points allowed but the one time they played a ranked team (#25 West Virginia) they allowed 41 points and repeated that later against Uconn giving up 40. Iowa State, on the other hand, has played a very tough schedule coming in at 6-6 but undefeated outside the Big 12. Over half of their games were against ranked teams and two of those games they won blowing out Texas Tech in Texas and and knocking Oklahoma State out of the National Title Game. Beating Oklahoma State is what earned ISU this trip to Yankee Stadium and I have a strong feeling they take advantage of it. Take Iowa State +1

[Pin Fish]

[Mr Handicapable]

Very nice write up....might be worth adding that Cincy just lost their QB Collaros the week before they played Rutgers so that was kind of a cheap win too. I would think with all the east coast bias that Iowa St. might be +2.5 around kickoff so probably a better ML payoff. I haven't seen Rutgers at all but I've watched Iowa State 4 or 5x this year....problem is that Iowa State is scrappy but they don't do anything particularly well. I guess strength of schedule is worth something....they've faced some really explosive offenses.

[Bullet Kays]

Thanks, yea Cincy looked like a pop Warner team in that game without Collaros. I've watched Rutgers pull off some miracles against sub-par teams this year with ot fumbles and int's and even won a couple plays on them but Iowa State has been going up against giants most of the year. They should be salivating getting to play a team like Rutgers now.

[Bullet Kays]

Also, I've been seeing it as a pick in some places so I doubt it gets to ISU +2.5

[Demonata]

I am not a fan of playing anything other than a +3 when I'm picking the underdog because odds are they win or lose by at least 3. Might as well take moneyline.

[Bullet Kays]

Agree, unfortunately I have to use Bovada and there was no ml option for that game there..it's now a pick, definitely think ISU will be favored by game time.

[Demonata]

Agree, unfortunately I have to use Bovada and there was no ml option for that game there..it's now a pick, definitely think ISU will be favored by game time.

Man don't use bovada. Use betonline. Love betonline ebcause they even give you a free nfl bet that if the team you bet loses you can do what's called a mulligan bet and you will get your money back once. Good luck though man.

[Bullet Kays]

That sounds like a good deal. I use Bovada for poker reasons, does betonline have decent poker/quick payouts?

[Demonata]

That sounds like a good deal. I use Bovada for poker reasons, does betonline have decent poker/quick payouts?

I hate casinos man, I only sport bet no offense. There payouts are fairly quick too. I just really liked the bonuses etc.

[Bullet Kays]

Will definitely look into that one, thanks

[Demonata]

Will definitely look into that one, thanks

No problem.

[keith22]

Line is pickem now. Like the writeup but if memory serves me right, Rutgers is usually well prepared for bowl games and has done well.

[rockhardfister]

Love Iowa state today. Love their coach and the fact that they never quit. Play of the day for me.

[Bullet Kays]

Ya I'm feeling pretty strong on ISU. Guess a guy who's good at picking losers posted the same play around the same time I did but I haven't exactly been fade material with my picks/write ups so it will definitely be interesting.

[BigDofBA]

Your write up fails to address how the two teams matchup. It's just based on stats.

Iowa state was near the bottom of the Big 12 despite pulling the upset at home against OSU.

After seeing the refs gave
Syracuse the game last year,
I wouldn't go against the Rutgers.

[Bullet Kays]

Your write up fails to address how the two teams matchup. It's just based on stats.

Iowa state was near the bottom of the Big 12 despite pulling the upset at home against OSU.

After seeing the refs gave
Syracuse the game last year,
I wouldn't go against the Rutgers.

Granted, and I'll never claim any play is a lock but who has Rutgers proved they can beat? I think you have to at least take stats into consideration when the schedules are that lopsided. ISU buried a ranked team on the road and knocked off the #2 team in the nation, Rutgers took on the lowest ranked team possible and got pummeled. The K state team that Syracuse beat last year barely got by North Texas and I doubt ISU will be in a position like that near the end of the game but I've been wrong before. I think the Big 12's bowl record so far this year should give you an idea of how the teams match up...Big 12> Big East

[BigDofBA]

Don't get me wrong, I want Iowa State to win, I just think they are getting too much love for how mediocre they are.

Besides OSU, who have they beaten?

You said Iowa St. Burried a ranked team on the road. Are you talking about Texas Tech? Thy finished the year with a losing record.

Anything can happen in one game. Tech sucked but they still beat my Sooners just like Iowa St. was one of the worst teams in the Big 12 yet they beat OSU.

This game is a coinflip but I actually give a slight edge to Rutgers. the crowd and refs will be on their side as well.

[Bullet Kays]

They beat a Uconn team who squashed Rutgers a month ago and the Big East has a hard time matching up with the Big 12 at all this year. They attempt to make it even by putting the 4th placed team in the Big East against the 7th placed team in the Big 12 and making it a home game for the Big East but they would be better off making it the 1st placed team in the Big East against the last placed team in the Big 12 in my opinion.

[Givemhell Horns]

ISU is a very scrappy team and will come to play, like them to cover.

[Bullet Kays]

I figured ISU would be favored around game time, seeing them -1 now. I'm guessing it will close at around -1 or 1.5

[BigDofBA]

They beat a Uconn team who squashed Rutgers a month ago and the Big East has a hard time matching up with the Big 12 at all this year. They attempt to make it even by putting the 4th placed team in the Big East against the 7th placed team in the Big 12 and making it a home game for the Big East but they would be better off making it the 1st placed team in the Big East against the last placed team in the Big 12 in my opinion.

Again, it's about match ups.

Iowa State killed Texas Tech. OU lost to Texas Tech.

Why didn't Iowa State beat OU?

You brought up that K-State barely beat North Texas last year. By the same token, Iowa St. only barely Northern Iowa by 1 point this year.

I want the Big 12 to win everygame bur this is a tough one. Iowa St. is our worst bowl team.

[Nivas the guru]

A better analysis is that iowa st went to connecticut and won. The same uconn team that beat rutgers 40-22.

[BigDofBA]

A better analysis is that iowa st went to connecticut and won. The same uconn team that beat rutgers 40-22.

That's a horrible analysis.

So did you load up on K-State when they played Oklahoma?

Oklahoma lost at home to Texas Tech and K-State went on the road and beat Teas Tech.

Somehow Oklahoma went on the road and obliterated K-State.

You can't use the transitive property. If Iowa State was a lot better, they would be favored by more.

Using your logic, Iowa State should have beaten K-State, Texas, Mizzou, Baylor, and OU because OSU beat all of those teams and Iowa State beat OSU.

[ringemup]

This game for me depends on whether Nova or Dodd is the QB for Rutgers. If it is Nova, I would lean Rutgers. IF it is Dodd, proabably not.

[BigDofBA]

17-6 Rutgers.

It's pretty funny how Rutgers losing to UCONN doesn't affect this game at all. I tried to warn you guys.

I might take Iowa State at halftime to try and middle this thing.

[aortega521]

2nd half bets???

[aortega521]

+3 Rugers????

[BigDofBA]

2nd half bets???

I want to take Iowa State but just as I suspected, Rutgers is a tough matchup for them.

Rutgers defense is playing well and their offensive line is starting to assert itself. I don't see Iowa State scoring much in this game. Rutgers may actually be the 2nd half play.

[BigDofBA]

Rutgers +3 getting pounded at my book...

[aortega521]

Yeah but will Rutgers be playing to hold on to the lead and go conservative or will they try to score?

[aortega521]

So tempted to go rutgers

[BigDofBA]

So tempted to go rutgers

Rutgers +1 was the play when everyone was talking about how great Iowa State was and how they beat Uconn. Now it's a total crap shoot.

I kind of think Iowa State closes the gap because Rutgers will go conservative but who knows.

[Bullet Kays]

This game is far from over. Expect an ending similar to fsu/nd yesterday. If you play the 2h play ISU

[BigDofBA]

This game is far from over. Expect an ending similar to fsu/nd yesterday. If you play the 2h play ISU

I agree it's far from over but I don't see how anyone that has Iowa State could feel good right now.

I took Iowa State +2 for the second half just because I had them losing by 3-4 points before the game even started. Now I have a chance to middle this.