Closed out pretty good-- winning 6 of my last 8 weeks.
The Bowl season is just a continuation of the regular season--- you can find a lot of advantages.
Anyway, no further delays--- today's plays and my reasons for.......
1. Auto Nation Cure Bowl. Tulane (-3) v. Louisiana
Two relatively bad offenses-- but Tulane has the much better defense. Tulane has held teams to fewer than 135 yards rushing in 7 of their last 9 games, Louisiana not so much at stopping the run......they simply struggle at stopping the run, and here comes Willie Fritz' option game. 2 stable coaching staffs-- Tulane runs it better, can throw it better, and is better at stopping the run.
The line is 3. I like Tulane by as much as 10. I don't need the hook, I'll lay the 3.5 at -108.
Tulane 3.24/3
2. New Mexico Bowl. North Texas (+8) v. Utah State.
This opened up at 10, and has been played down to 7 right now. I got it at 8.
I just don't like teams that lose coaches to other programs. This one is weird-- Matt Wells from Utah State is now the head coach at Texas Tech, and Seth Littrell is being whispered on a few openings as well. Still, Littrell is still coaching North Texas.
Both of these teams can move the ball, NT is averaging 36 points per game-- and I love Mason Fine the Mean Green's QB--He has thrown for 27 TDs, just 5 picks-- and his QB rating puts him 8th in the NCAA.
Some guys I respect love Utah State-- but honestly, Utah State has beaten just 2 teams with a winning record, and North Texas can and will move the ball. This is a shoot out--- Utah State by 4, I like North Texas.
North Texas 3.3/3
3. Mitsubishi Motors Las Vegas Bowl. Fresno State (-4) v. Arizona State.
Two stable coaching staffs--- Jeff Tedford has turned Fresno around, and they can play defense. They split with Boise this year, winning the Mountain West, and the total of their 2 losses this year is 14 points. Not a big fan of common opps, but ASU did lose to San Diego State, while Fresno beat them 23-14.
Why Fresno? Defense, defense, defense. Fresno brings in the 13th ranked defense, only 1 team managed to score north of 20 on Fresno--- Toledo. Fresno won 49-27.
Arizona State gives up points--- giving up 99 points in just their last 3 games.
Player to watch for you if you have not seen Fresno play-- QB Marcus McMaryion. Oregon State transfer-- he can sling it--- throwing for more than 3400 yards and 25 scores-- oh, yeah, he can run a little too.
Fresno State -4 is the play.
3.3/3
4. Raycom Media Camellia Bowl. Eastern Michigan (+3) v. Georgia Southern.
Georgia Southern is going to run the ball-- and I doubt they will throw it. At all. GS's option attack tore teams up early---then hit the skids in losses to UL-Monroe and Troy.
Why I like EMU?
Some tough losses for EMU--- 3 points to NIU, 3 points to San Diego State, 3 points to Western Michigan, and they beat Purdue.
Tyler Wiegers an Iowa transfer had a decent year---- he threw for about 1900 yards, makes very few mistakes, and keeps moving the chains.
EMU has faced a better option team in Army--- and while they lost, I think it helps them.
EMU +3, 3.3/3
5. R + L Carriers New Orleans Bowl. Appalachian State (-6) v. Middle Tennessee.
Middle Tennessee is a schizophrenic team, they will struggle to stop Appalachian State. Zac Thomas isn't asked to do much-- but he simply runs the offense well. I don't see Middle Tennessee being able to stop Appalachian State-----
I love me some Appalachian State at -6.
4.4/4