Bowl Week card (Dec 14th -Jan 4th)
- Thread starter Irish
- Start date
Wow the weekend was unkind, the dogs ran wild. I have been in a bit of a cold spell! BUT
VT(+5.5) over Auburn
This was a very tough game to call. Both teams are very similar. 2 great defenses, 2 solid running games, 2 QB's that were off everyones top 10 list until this year and two good coaches. VT looks to be playing its best football right now, Auburn has been playing great football all year long. The only edge I see is AUBURN in the PASSING game. Campbell is a better throwing QB than Randal.
How much will Auburn focus on the NC game? Auburn is going to want to come in and show the world they deserve to be NC but that is exactly the mindset that could come back to bite them. VT sole focus is coming in and stomping the Tigers. Bama and Georgia are two solid defenses that Auburn moved the ball on. The tigers offense is extremely balanced and should be trouble for VT's defense. However the VT offense can move the ball. Randal is always a threat to pull the ball down and run.
looking at the LSU and Bama games (vs. Auburn) if the offense's had any productivity the could have upset the Tigers. The hokies have big play making ability. IMO VT should be able to get pressure on Campbell with their defensive linemen. Forcing him to make throws when routes haven't developed which might cause turnovers. The LB's and secondary are fast and hard hitting. Special teams might favor VT after the punter for auburn had one of his worst games in the SEC championship game.
My take on the game. Auburn will come out looking to make the big play every down. Tech will come out trying to limit the Tigers running game. Campbell will make some plays to WR's. Auburn will use the LB's and d-linemen to contain the running game and Randal, BUT this will open up the TE in the middle. It will come down to QB play and turnovers. The longer this one stays close, the more it favors the Hokies. HOWEVER if the tigers come out and jump on top of the hokies I may have a big half time play.
Cheers
Irish
VT(+5.5) over Auburn
This was a very tough game to call. Both teams are very similar. 2 great defenses, 2 solid running games, 2 QB's that were off everyones top 10 list until this year and two good coaches. VT looks to be playing its best football right now, Auburn has been playing great football all year long. The only edge I see is AUBURN in the PASSING game. Campbell is a better throwing QB than Randal.
How much will Auburn focus on the NC game? Auburn is going to want to come in and show the world they deserve to be NC but that is exactly the mindset that could come back to bite them. VT sole focus is coming in and stomping the Tigers. Bama and Georgia are two solid defenses that Auburn moved the ball on. The tigers offense is extremely balanced and should be trouble for VT's defense. However the VT offense can move the ball. Randal is always a threat to pull the ball down and run.
looking at the LSU and Bama games (vs. Auburn) if the offense's had any productivity the could have upset the Tigers. The hokies have big play making ability. IMO VT should be able to get pressure on Campbell with their defensive linemen. Forcing him to make throws when routes haven't developed which might cause turnovers. The LB's and secondary are fast and hard hitting. Special teams might favor VT after the punter for auburn had one of his worst games in the SEC championship game.
My take on the game. Auburn will come out looking to make the big play every down. Tech will come out trying to limit the Tigers running game. Campbell will make some plays to WR's. Auburn will use the LB's and d-linemen to contain the running game and Randal, BUT this will open up the TE in the middle. It will come down to QB play and turnovers. The longer this one stays close, the more it favors the Hokies. HOWEVER if the tigers come out and jump on top of the hokies I may have a big half time play.
Cheers
Irish
...on Va tech myself, buddy. I took them last week at +7 (bought 1/2) and on the ML +225. Best of luck tonight and thanks for all of the info you've provided this year.... 
Thanks for providing us with a wealth of knowledge throughout the football season. Look forward to your insight every week and have made or saved myself some bucks by following your wisdom. Thanks again and GL on tonight's Sugar Bowl.
USC (0) over Oklahoma
Oklahoma has a great runningback, strong o-line, solid WR's and a good QB as do the Trojans. Defensively both allowed fewer than 14 points per game and gave up less than 285 yards per contest to rank among the top 10 nationally. Oklahoma allowed a total of 253 passing yards in the last 3 games (against Nebraska, Baylor and Colorado). Oklahoma's defense has 38 sacks. The Trojans have allowed 24 sacks. Both teams have talent, and both teams have the ability to move the ball. Defensively both teams have the ability to stop good offenses. But looking at coaching IMO the Trojans have the better staff to make adjustments. Also I would like to see USC open up the speed game a little more and see if the Sooners can run with them. Close games against Okie St and A&m doesn't look good after what happened to them during bowl week. Oklahoma beat Texas Tech and they showed me something against Cal. USC beat Org St, Ariz St and VT, but their close call with UCLA makes me wonder considering UCLA bowl beating.
My thoughts on the game are, USC has a edge in speed, while Oklahoma has a little more power. I do not think White is a very good QB when pressured. Leinart has shown some mobility but all in all these are pocket passing QB's. I think USC can take advantage of Oklahoma with the passing game. The Sooners have not been strong against the pass and can be exposed deep. USC can open up the under routes with deep route from their WR's. This gives Bush the ability to make catches out of the back field and in space where he is deadly. The D-line for the Trojans have got to get pressure and contain Peterson. The front 7 have to stay in their lanes and keep Peterson from shedding tackles and getting top the second level. Look for some trick plays from either team, and don't forget the comments made by Oklahoma D-lineman bashing Leinart. that isn't just a shot at the QB but these players should rally behind him. Should be a good game, but IMO USC should come out ahead.
Cheers
Irish
Oklahoma has a great runningback, strong o-line, solid WR's and a good QB as do the Trojans. Defensively both allowed fewer than 14 points per game and gave up less than 285 yards per contest to rank among the top 10 nationally. Oklahoma allowed a total of 253 passing yards in the last 3 games (against Nebraska, Baylor and Colorado). Oklahoma's defense has 38 sacks. The Trojans have allowed 24 sacks. Both teams have talent, and both teams have the ability to move the ball. Defensively both teams have the ability to stop good offenses. But looking at coaching IMO the Trojans have the better staff to make adjustments. Also I would like to see USC open up the speed game a little more and see if the Sooners can run with them. Close games against Okie St and A&m doesn't look good after what happened to them during bowl week. Oklahoma beat Texas Tech and they showed me something against Cal. USC beat Org St, Ariz St and VT, but their close call with UCLA makes me wonder considering UCLA bowl beating.
My thoughts on the game are, USC has a edge in speed, while Oklahoma has a little more power. I do not think White is a very good QB when pressured. Leinart has shown some mobility but all in all these are pocket passing QB's. I think USC can take advantage of Oklahoma with the passing game. The Sooners have not been strong against the pass and can be exposed deep. USC can open up the under routes with deep route from their WR's. This gives Bush the ability to make catches out of the back field and in space where he is deadly. The D-line for the Trojans have got to get pressure and contain Peterson. The front 7 have to stay in their lanes and keep Peterson from shedding tackles and getting top the second level. Look for some trick plays from either team, and don't forget the comments made by Oklahoma D-lineman bashing Leinart. that isn't just a shot at the QB but these players should rally behind him. Should be a good game, but IMO USC should come out ahead.
Cheers
Irish
GL tonight Irish. Let's close out the season with another winner! Great bowl picks. Thanks again for all you do and thank you for the birthday wish
