Hoping to keep this good streak going, here are Saturday's plays.
Little Caesar's Bowl - Perennial mid-major power Marshall turned in its most mediocre season in recent years, compiling a barely bowl eligible 6/6 mark. Worse, they were blown out not only at Va Tech (no disgrace) but also at UTEP, a team no one confuses with quality. In all, their road record was 2/4, not promising. The teams have one common opponent, Bowling Green, the Herd winning by 7 at home and the Bobcats by the same number away. Off that you'd have to give a slight edge to Ohio. In Marshall's favour is a narrow home win over SMU. Ohio had a much better season, posting an 9/4 record, and played at Central Michigan in the MAC championship game, losing by 10. Their most impressive efforts were in losing games vs. UConn at home by 7 and at Tenn by 11. In fact their road record was an impressive 5/2. Like the 3 like a teaser better
Meineke Car Care Bowl - This is actually a home game for Pitt, so their fans won't have to travel far to jam Heinz Field. Their opponent is an also ran in its conference. Both the Big East and the ACC are lacklustre groups. In fact, underachieving Pitt managed to blow their last two conference tilts and lose the Big East title. Choking in the fourth quarter seems to have become a hallmark of Wannstedt teams. They have two common opponents, both falling at N C State, Pitt by 7 and N Car by 1. The second is UConn, the Panthers winning at home by 3 and N Car at the Huskies by 2. Home field will be an edge for Pitt, but it says here that the Tar Heels are the better team, It's absurd to believe Pitt's lofty # 17 ranking is deserved. Take N Car +2. Teaser likely the play too
Emerald Bowl - Again, this is a battle between teams from two mediocre conferences, the ACC and Pac 10. The Trojans and their fans will have a short hop up the coast, which makes this virtually a home game. S C beat their one common opponent, at Notre Dame (who hasn't?), by 7, whilst B C lost narrowly. SC has a better road record and played an arguably tougher schedule. At their best the Eagles would give the men of Troy a tussle, but one never knows which version of B C will show up. Two of their 8 wins were against Kent State and Northeastern, hardly household names, and they were life and death to barely beat the dregs of the ACC, UVa and Maryland. Laying 7 is never a comfortable situation, but S C should cover.
Cheers and good luck
Little Caesar's Bowl - Perennial mid-major power Marshall turned in its most mediocre season in recent years, compiling a barely bowl eligible 6/6 mark. Worse, they were blown out not only at Va Tech (no disgrace) but also at UTEP, a team no one confuses with quality. In all, their road record was 2/4, not promising. The teams have one common opponent, Bowling Green, the Herd winning by 7 at home and the Bobcats by the same number away. Off that you'd have to give a slight edge to Ohio. In Marshall's favour is a narrow home win over SMU. Ohio had a much better season, posting an 9/4 record, and played at Central Michigan in the MAC championship game, losing by 10. Their most impressive efforts were in losing games vs. UConn at home by 7 and at Tenn by 11. In fact their road record was an impressive 5/2. Like the 3 like a teaser better
Meineke Car Care Bowl - This is actually a home game for Pitt, so their fans won't have to travel far to jam Heinz Field. Their opponent is an also ran in its conference. Both the Big East and the ACC are lacklustre groups. In fact, underachieving Pitt managed to blow their last two conference tilts and lose the Big East title. Choking in the fourth quarter seems to have become a hallmark of Wannstedt teams. They have two common opponents, both falling at N C State, Pitt by 7 and N Car by 1. The second is UConn, the Panthers winning at home by 3 and N Car at the Huskies by 2. Home field will be an edge for Pitt, but it says here that the Tar Heels are the better team, It's absurd to believe Pitt's lofty # 17 ranking is deserved. Take N Car +2. Teaser likely the play too
Emerald Bowl - Again, this is a battle between teams from two mediocre conferences, the ACC and Pac 10. The Trojans and their fans will have a short hop up the coast, which makes this virtually a home game. S C beat their one common opponent, at Notre Dame (who hasn't?), by 7, whilst B C lost narrowly. SC has a better road record and played an arguably tougher schedule. At their best the Eagles would give the men of Troy a tussle, but one never knows which version of B C will show up. Two of their 8 wins were against Kent State and Northeastern, hardly household names, and they were life and death to barely beat the dregs of the ACC, UVa and Maryland. Laying 7 is never a comfortable situation, but S C should cover.
Cheers and good luck