Bowl Outlook - Week 2
December 22, 2009
By Bodog
Three bowl games have already been played (with Rutgers the only favorite to win), and the underdogs have been barking loud with two outright wins. Let's take a look at the eight bowl games on tap this week and make a note that LIVE BETTING will be featured in seven of those contests.
Las Vegas Bowl - (Tuesday, December 22, 8:00 p.m.)
Brigham Young vs. Oregon State
The Beavers (8-4 SU, 7-4 ATS) are 3-point favorites over the Cougars (10-2 SU, 6-6 ATS) with a total of 59. The weather could be rough for this matchups, which is good news for Oregon State RB Jacquizz Rodgers (5.4 yards per game), and not so good for Brigham Young QB Max Hall (30 TDs, 14 INTs) and his Cougar receivers. The only question for OSU is motivation after failing to make the Rose Bowl after losing to Oregon in the Civil War.
Poinsettia Bowl - (Wednesday, December 23, 8:00 p.m.)
Utah vs. California
Motivation could also be hard to come by for Cal (8-4 SU, 6-6 ATS) after finishing the regular season well below expectations. But they?ll be 3.5-point faves against the Utes (9-3 SU, 5-7 ATS), as the betting market once again recognizes the difference in talent between the Pac 10 and the Mountain West Conference. The Golden Bears' talent level dropped considerably, though, when it was announced that running back Jahvid Best (6.1 yards per carry) would miss this game because of a concussion.
Hawaii Bowl - (Thursday, December 24, 8:00 p.m.)
Southern Methodist vs. Nevada
Nevada (8-4 SU, 7-5 ATS) was a 13-point favorite before this football betting line was taken off the board. On Saturday, Wolf Pack RB Vai Taua was ruled academically ineligible. RB Luke Lippincott is out of action with a broken toe, so that leaves QB Colin Kaepernick as Nevada?s top rushing threat against the Mustangs (7-5 SU, 6-5 ATS). Second-year coach and former Hawaii savoir June Jones is taking SMU to its first bowl game in 25 years, ironically its was the 1984 Aloha Bowl on the Islands of Hawaii.
Little Caesars Pizza Bowl - (Saturday, December 26, 1:00 p.m.)
Ohio vs. Marshall
Marshall (6-6 SU, 6-5 ATS) goes into this matchup in a state of disarray, going 1-3 SU and ATS in November and losing coach Mark Snyder to retirement. Defensive coordinator Rick Minter will coach the Herd against Ohio (9-4 SU and ATS) while incoming hire John ?Doc? Holliday looks over his shoulder. Holliday has been known as a beast of a recruiter and should put the program back on the map The Bobcats are 4-1 SU and ATS in their last five and are trying to win the first bowl game in the history of the program. They?re favored by three points against Marshall in what is expected to be a low-scoring grind at Detroit?s Ford Field.
Meineke Car Care Bowl - (Saturday, December 26, 4:30 p.m.)
North Carolina vs. Pittsburgh
Here?s another slugfest brewing between the defensive-minded Tar Heels (8-4 SU, 6-5 ATS) and Panthers (9-3 SU, 7-4 ATS). Dave Wannstedt has guided Pittsburgh to two straight nine-win seasons, but lost last year?s Sun Bowl 3-0 to Oregon State in one of the uglier bowl games. The Panthers are favored by three this Saturday. North Carolina needs to score on defense to win this contest; on the other side of the ball, RB Ryan Houston (3.8 yards per carry) is the closest thing the Heels have to a weapon, and he?ll have a hard time dealing with the Panthers as they flood the box.
Emerald Bowl - (Saturday, December 26, 8:00 p.m.)
Boston College vs. USC
As if the season couldn?t get any worse for the Trojans (8-4 SU, 3-9 ATS), three of their players were ruled academically ineligible on Monday: TE Anthony McCoy, OT Tyron Smith and DT Averell Spicer. Worse, RB Joe McKnight (6.2 yards per carry) did not travel with USC to the Bay Area as they prepare to face the Eagles (8-4 SU, 6-5 ATS) at AT&T Park. McKnight faces the possibility of being ruled ineligible for driving a car that may qualify as an ?improper benefit? under NCAA policies. USC was a nine-point favorite before the line was taken off the board.
Music City Bowl - (Sunday, December 27, 8:30 p.m.)
Kentucky vs. Clemson
The general expectation is that Clemson (8-5 SU and ATS) will put a big hurting on Kentucky (7-5 SU, 6-6 ATS) at LP Field in Nashville. Wildcats coach Rich Brooks has named freshman QB Morgan Newton (110.33 passer rating) as his starter over Mike Hartline (114.4 passer rating), who?s been out for the last two months with a knee injury. Clemson has one of the best pass defenses in the nation with 21 interceptions, three behind Texas for tops in the FBS. The Tigers are 7-point favorites in this contest.
December 22, 2009
By Bodog
Three bowl games have already been played (with Rutgers the only favorite to win), and the underdogs have been barking loud with two outright wins. Let's take a look at the eight bowl games on tap this week and make a note that LIVE BETTING will be featured in seven of those contests.
Las Vegas Bowl - (Tuesday, December 22, 8:00 p.m.)
Brigham Young vs. Oregon State
The Beavers (8-4 SU, 7-4 ATS) are 3-point favorites over the Cougars (10-2 SU, 6-6 ATS) with a total of 59. The weather could be rough for this matchups, which is good news for Oregon State RB Jacquizz Rodgers (5.4 yards per game), and not so good for Brigham Young QB Max Hall (30 TDs, 14 INTs) and his Cougar receivers. The only question for OSU is motivation after failing to make the Rose Bowl after losing to Oregon in the Civil War.
Poinsettia Bowl - (Wednesday, December 23, 8:00 p.m.)
Utah vs. California
Motivation could also be hard to come by for Cal (8-4 SU, 6-6 ATS) after finishing the regular season well below expectations. But they?ll be 3.5-point faves against the Utes (9-3 SU, 5-7 ATS), as the betting market once again recognizes the difference in talent between the Pac 10 and the Mountain West Conference. The Golden Bears' talent level dropped considerably, though, when it was announced that running back Jahvid Best (6.1 yards per carry) would miss this game because of a concussion.
Hawaii Bowl - (Thursday, December 24, 8:00 p.m.)
Southern Methodist vs. Nevada
Nevada (8-4 SU, 7-5 ATS) was a 13-point favorite before this football betting line was taken off the board. On Saturday, Wolf Pack RB Vai Taua was ruled academically ineligible. RB Luke Lippincott is out of action with a broken toe, so that leaves QB Colin Kaepernick as Nevada?s top rushing threat against the Mustangs (7-5 SU, 6-5 ATS). Second-year coach and former Hawaii savoir June Jones is taking SMU to its first bowl game in 25 years, ironically its was the 1984 Aloha Bowl on the Islands of Hawaii.
Little Caesars Pizza Bowl - (Saturday, December 26, 1:00 p.m.)
Ohio vs. Marshall
Marshall (6-6 SU, 6-5 ATS) goes into this matchup in a state of disarray, going 1-3 SU and ATS in November and losing coach Mark Snyder to retirement. Defensive coordinator Rick Minter will coach the Herd against Ohio (9-4 SU and ATS) while incoming hire John ?Doc? Holliday looks over his shoulder. Holliday has been known as a beast of a recruiter and should put the program back on the map The Bobcats are 4-1 SU and ATS in their last five and are trying to win the first bowl game in the history of the program. They?re favored by three points against Marshall in what is expected to be a low-scoring grind at Detroit?s Ford Field.
Meineke Car Care Bowl - (Saturday, December 26, 4:30 p.m.)
North Carolina vs. Pittsburgh
Here?s another slugfest brewing between the defensive-minded Tar Heels (8-4 SU, 6-5 ATS) and Panthers (9-3 SU, 7-4 ATS). Dave Wannstedt has guided Pittsburgh to two straight nine-win seasons, but lost last year?s Sun Bowl 3-0 to Oregon State in one of the uglier bowl games. The Panthers are favored by three this Saturday. North Carolina needs to score on defense to win this contest; on the other side of the ball, RB Ryan Houston (3.8 yards per carry) is the closest thing the Heels have to a weapon, and he?ll have a hard time dealing with the Panthers as they flood the box.
Emerald Bowl - (Saturday, December 26, 8:00 p.m.)
Boston College vs. USC
As if the season couldn?t get any worse for the Trojans (8-4 SU, 3-9 ATS), three of their players were ruled academically ineligible on Monday: TE Anthony McCoy, OT Tyron Smith and DT Averell Spicer. Worse, RB Joe McKnight (6.2 yards per carry) did not travel with USC to the Bay Area as they prepare to face the Eagles (8-4 SU, 6-5 ATS) at AT&T Park. McKnight faces the possibility of being ruled ineligible for driving a car that may qualify as an ?improper benefit? under NCAA policies. USC was a nine-point favorite before the line was taken off the board.
Music City Bowl - (Sunday, December 27, 8:30 p.m.)
Kentucky vs. Clemson
The general expectation is that Clemson (8-5 SU and ATS) will put a big hurting on Kentucky (7-5 SU, 6-6 ATS) at LP Field in Nashville. Wildcats coach Rich Brooks has named freshman QB Morgan Newton (110.33 passer rating) as his starter over Mike Hartline (114.4 passer rating), who?s been out for the last two months with a knee injury. Clemson has one of the best pass defenses in the nation with 21 interceptions, three behind Texas for tops in the FBS. The Tigers are 7-point favorites in this contest.
