Just missed a chance yesterday to go 5-0 ATS on my wirteups as Tulsa dropped their bowl game in ugly fashion due to a miscue by their punt returner right before the end of the first half. That wont matter today. I take a look at Cincinnati and Vanderbilt in the Liberty Bowl this afternoon at 3:30 ET. It is a matchup of Big East and SEC as the bearcats come in here 9-3 overall and vanderbilt at 6-6. Vanderbilt has played a much stronger schedule obviously playing in the SEC while the bearcats played in the Big East. With Collaros returning its a big boost to Cincys confidence offensively as he brings the dual threat back to their offense and their passing game gets a shot in the arm. It will not be easy to run the ball on Vandy as they have a stout front 7 but with Collaros and Pead it is not as predictable so the job gets a bit more difficult for Vandy. Cincy has 2 WRS in McClung and Woods who have the speed to stretch Vandys D vertically and that will be key. On the other side Vandy relies heavily on RB Stacy and they go as he goes. But to me this is where I see Cincy being at their best is their disruptive front 7 as theyve held 6 teams to under 100 yds. They also lead the nation in sacks at about 3.6 per game and have the explosive rushers off the edge and on the interior to get to QB Rodgers for Vandy. Rodgers tends to make erratic decisions and although hes kept Vandy in some games his mistakes have been costly at times. I see an edge to Cincy here in QB play, and love the fact they can get after the QB because those are 2 key areas of the game that if you do well you have a very good shot at winning in any bowl game. I usually do not like to go against the SEC but Vandy is not in the upper echelon class ofthe SEC. Ride the Bearcats today as they grind out a tough win today in Nashville. Edge to Cincy ML +110 forget the spread theyll win. 2-3K play for me. GL.
Zack C. has been hurt all year and now he comes back? If anyone is going to be rusty its him. Cinci's Defense is not all that. If UCONN can move the ball on them, so can Vandy. Vandy is my play of the day, so im forced to defend my pick!! LOL