Video, NFL Write-Ups, and College Write-Ups.
Busy morning for me.
EVERY BOWL GAME 08 - 09
Season: 0 - 0 - 0 (.000)
EagleBank Bowl
Navy (+3.0) vs. Wake Forest (-3.0)
Navy is a tough team to cap, as it really just comes down to how well they execute. If they run the ball as effectively as they are capable of and play well on defense, they are a tough team for anyone to beat. Two straight shutout victories to close out the season can vouch for that. But I think the strong finish made their number a little too low here; Wake has a great defense and a strong enough passing game to score on Navy. When these two teams faced during the regular season, Navy won by 7. In that game, Riley Skinner threw 4 interceptions. It took a particularly miserable game by Wake for Navy to win; I expect Skinner to be a lot smarter and a lot more precise this time around, and exact revenge for the regular season loss.
THE PICK: Wake Forest (-3.0)
New Mexico Bowl
Fresno State (-3.0) vs. Colorado State (+3.0)
Many times in bowl season, it just comes down to who wants it more, and I believe that team is going to be Colorado State. Fresno State came into this year off of a 9 win season (including a bowl win over Georgia Tech) and had aspirations of being a BCS buster type of team and competing for the WAC title. Instead, they floundered all season, especially on defense. This has been a disappointing year and this is a disappointing bowl berth. Colorado State meanwhile hasn't been bowling since 3 years ago, and will be thrilled at this opportunity to play some post season football. Fresno State was largely overrated all year, and I think they are in this spot, too.
THE PICK: Colorado State (+3.0)
magicJack St. Petersburg Bowl
Memphis (+11.5) vs. South Florida (-11.5)
If you followed my college football season, you know that South Florida is my Achilles Heel. I just can't figure this team out to save my life. As a general rule though, teams playing at home for bowl games tend to play very well, which works in South Florida's favor. They are also a significantly better team on paper than Memphis, and Memphis will be starting their 3rd string QB. IF South Florida can put together 4 solid quarters there really isn't any reason they can't cover here, but you just never know the effort you are going to get out of them.
THE PICK: South Florida (-11.5)
Pioneer Las Vegas Bowl
BYU (+3.0) vs. Arizona (-3.0)
Arizona is one of the most overrated teams in college football. Yes, they are a decent football team and are certainly capable of putting up points, but really, take a look over their schedule. Their wins came against Idaho (2 - 10), Toledo (3 - 9), UCLA (4 - 8), Washington (0 - 12), Cal (8- 4), Washington State (2 - 11), and Arizona State (5 - 7). Other then the Cal win, do any of these wins impress you at all? In a halfway decent conference, there is no way Arizona is even bowl eligible. BYU meanwhile lost only to two defensive powerhouses in TCU and Utah, and looked great otherwise. BYU has played will in these Las Vegas Bowls over the last few years, and quite frankly I think they are the better team here.
THE PICK: BYU (+3.0)
R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl
Troy (-4.5) vs. Southern Miss (+4.5)
This game is Troy's for the taking. Troy get up big for big games, as they always seem to play better when they are televised or playing against a top notch opponent. What better opportunity to play big than in a bowl game? Last season I argued adamantly that they were snubbed badly by not getting invited to go to a bowl even though they were bowl eligible at 8 - 4 with 3 of their losses to SEC teams! This year they do get the chance to go bowling, and I expect them to make the most of it with a big win.
THE PICK: Troy (-4.5)
San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl
TCU (-2.5) vs. Boise State (+2.5)
This should be a fantastic game, easily the best of the first week of bowl season. You have a well rounded undefeated Boise State team facing a tough defensive team in TCU. TCU had only two losses on the season, a close one against undefeated Utah and a loss against Oklahoma both on the road. They did hold that vaunted Sooners offense to 35, which was very impressive. I believe TCU is the pick here; I think they are a little grittier and a little tougher, and they can wear a team like Boise State down as the game goes on. I was surprised to see TCU as the favorite, was hoping the undefeated season made bettors take Boise State here; but even minus a couple points, TCU is the side I want to be on.
THE PICK: TCU (-2.5)
Sheraton Hawaii Bowl
Notre Dame (-1.5) vs Hawaii (+1.5)
This game has a lot of philosophy aspects to it. First of all, it is a home game for Hawaii, which bodes well generally in bowl games as I mentioned in the South Florida write up. Secondly, even though Notre Dame this year might be happy to go to any bowl, a prestigious program like Notre Dame often does have trouble getting up for a game like this; a meaningless first week bowl game. Lastly, Hawaii got destroyed in their last bowl game, ending the season on a bad note and sending thousand's of fans that spent good money on tickets and travel home miserable. At home for this bowl game, they have a chance to make it up to all those fans they disappointed last year, and I think they will do just that.
THE PICK: Hawaii (+1.5)
Motor City Bowl
Florida Atlantic (+6.0) vs. Central Michigan (-6.0)
Central Michigan had put a nice season together until they lost their last two games, including a very ugly loss to Eastern Michigan. Florida Atlantic was a disappointment this season too, as they were the odds-on favorites to win the Sun Belt Conference and they just couldn't put it all together. People are taking FAU and the points here due to Central Michigan's lousy finish and the fact that FAU seemingly "put it together" in the second half of the season, but did they really? After winning only one of their first 5 games, they won 4 straight; Barely scratching by Western Kentucky (2 - 10) and Louisiana-Monroe (4 - 8), on the road, and then beating North Texas (1 - 11) and UL Lafayette (6 - 6) at home. Sorry I'm not super impressed. They barely beat Florida International (5 - 7) at home to finish out the year. Did they "turn it around", or just face a bunch of beatable teams? Florida Atlantic didn't beat a team with a record over .500 this year, and I don't think they'll start now, especially in a virtual home game for Central Michigan at Ford Field.
THE PICK: Central Michigan (-6.0)
Busy morning for me.
EVERY BOWL GAME 08 - 09
Season: 0 - 0 - 0 (.000)
EagleBank Bowl
Navy (+3.0) vs. Wake Forest (-3.0)
Navy is a tough team to cap, as it really just comes down to how well they execute. If they run the ball as effectively as they are capable of and play well on defense, they are a tough team for anyone to beat. Two straight shutout victories to close out the season can vouch for that. But I think the strong finish made their number a little too low here; Wake has a great defense and a strong enough passing game to score on Navy. When these two teams faced during the regular season, Navy won by 7. In that game, Riley Skinner threw 4 interceptions. It took a particularly miserable game by Wake for Navy to win; I expect Skinner to be a lot smarter and a lot more precise this time around, and exact revenge for the regular season loss.
THE PICK: Wake Forest (-3.0)
New Mexico Bowl
Fresno State (-3.0) vs. Colorado State (+3.0)
Many times in bowl season, it just comes down to who wants it more, and I believe that team is going to be Colorado State. Fresno State came into this year off of a 9 win season (including a bowl win over Georgia Tech) and had aspirations of being a BCS buster type of team and competing for the WAC title. Instead, they floundered all season, especially on defense. This has been a disappointing year and this is a disappointing bowl berth. Colorado State meanwhile hasn't been bowling since 3 years ago, and will be thrilled at this opportunity to play some post season football. Fresno State was largely overrated all year, and I think they are in this spot, too.
THE PICK: Colorado State (+3.0)
magicJack St. Petersburg Bowl
Memphis (+11.5) vs. South Florida (-11.5)
If you followed my college football season, you know that South Florida is my Achilles Heel. I just can't figure this team out to save my life. As a general rule though, teams playing at home for bowl games tend to play very well, which works in South Florida's favor. They are also a significantly better team on paper than Memphis, and Memphis will be starting their 3rd string QB. IF South Florida can put together 4 solid quarters there really isn't any reason they can't cover here, but you just never know the effort you are going to get out of them.
THE PICK: South Florida (-11.5)
Pioneer Las Vegas Bowl
BYU (+3.0) vs. Arizona (-3.0)
Arizona is one of the most overrated teams in college football. Yes, they are a decent football team and are certainly capable of putting up points, but really, take a look over their schedule. Their wins came against Idaho (2 - 10), Toledo (3 - 9), UCLA (4 - 8), Washington (0 - 12), Cal (8- 4), Washington State (2 - 11), and Arizona State (5 - 7). Other then the Cal win, do any of these wins impress you at all? In a halfway decent conference, there is no way Arizona is even bowl eligible. BYU meanwhile lost only to two defensive powerhouses in TCU and Utah, and looked great otherwise. BYU has played will in these Las Vegas Bowls over the last few years, and quite frankly I think they are the better team here.
THE PICK: BYU (+3.0)
R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl
Troy (-4.5) vs. Southern Miss (+4.5)
This game is Troy's for the taking. Troy get up big for big games, as they always seem to play better when they are televised or playing against a top notch opponent. What better opportunity to play big than in a bowl game? Last season I argued adamantly that they were snubbed badly by not getting invited to go to a bowl even though they were bowl eligible at 8 - 4 with 3 of their losses to SEC teams! This year they do get the chance to go bowling, and I expect them to make the most of it with a big win.
THE PICK: Troy (-4.5)
San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl
TCU (-2.5) vs. Boise State (+2.5)
This should be a fantastic game, easily the best of the first week of bowl season. You have a well rounded undefeated Boise State team facing a tough defensive team in TCU. TCU had only two losses on the season, a close one against undefeated Utah and a loss against Oklahoma both on the road. They did hold that vaunted Sooners offense to 35, which was very impressive. I believe TCU is the pick here; I think they are a little grittier and a little tougher, and they can wear a team like Boise State down as the game goes on. I was surprised to see TCU as the favorite, was hoping the undefeated season made bettors take Boise State here; but even minus a couple points, TCU is the side I want to be on.
THE PICK: TCU (-2.5)
Sheraton Hawaii Bowl
Notre Dame (-1.5) vs Hawaii (+1.5)
This game has a lot of philosophy aspects to it. First of all, it is a home game for Hawaii, which bodes well generally in bowl games as I mentioned in the South Florida write up. Secondly, even though Notre Dame this year might be happy to go to any bowl, a prestigious program like Notre Dame often does have trouble getting up for a game like this; a meaningless first week bowl game. Lastly, Hawaii got destroyed in their last bowl game, ending the season on a bad note and sending thousand's of fans that spent good money on tickets and travel home miserable. At home for this bowl game, they have a chance to make it up to all those fans they disappointed last year, and I think they will do just that.
THE PICK: Hawaii (+1.5)
Motor City Bowl
Florida Atlantic (+6.0) vs. Central Michigan (-6.0)
Central Michigan had put a nice season together until they lost their last two games, including a very ugly loss to Eastern Michigan. Florida Atlantic was a disappointment this season too, as they were the odds-on favorites to win the Sun Belt Conference and they just couldn't put it all together. People are taking FAU and the points here due to Central Michigan's lousy finish and the fact that FAU seemingly "put it together" in the second half of the season, but did they really? After winning only one of their first 5 games, they won 4 straight; Barely scratching by Western Kentucky (2 - 10) and Louisiana-Monroe (4 - 8), on the road, and then beating North Texas (1 - 11) and UL Lafayette (6 - 6) at home. Sorry I'm not super impressed. They barely beat Florida International (5 - 7) at home to finish out the year. Did they "turn it around", or just face a bunch of beatable teams? Florida Atlantic didn't beat a team with a record over .500 this year, and I don't think they'll start now, especially in a virtual home game for Central Michigan at Ford Field.
THE PICK: Central Michigan (-6.0)
navy is controlling this game though.
Or bet every single game on the board.
