Bowl Week Card ( Dec 18th- Jan 8th)

[Irish]

Well kids this is the last go around before a long off season.

BYU (-5.5) over Oregon
Hit this early and more than likey will hit again. The ducks are in a bit of a tailspin. They have a QB controversy, they are turnover prone and they have no defense. The Cougars have to protect against rust of a four-week layoff between their final regular-season game and the bowl game. Otherwise, they should have little to worry about against an Oregon defense that is good in yardage given up (303.2) but does allow 25.6 points per game. The Ducks boast a pass defense that has allowed only 156.7 yards per game. But the Cougars have outscored their opponents 138-15 in the first quarter this season. Oregon is a solid Pac-10 team that can match up favorably in talent, but the Ducks have lost three in a row and will be hard-pressed to halt BYU's momentum. BYU's QB Beck is having a very good season and I expect him to continue against the Ducks. The guy has 30 TD's and 11 picks on the season and he and the offense is very productive keeping drives alive and leading to points. He is a big part of the BYU offense but no bigger than RB Brown, this guy takes advantage of the space the passing game offers. Brown will have a BIG day considering the ducks defense will be overloaded with defensive backs trying to stop the passing attack. Then when the running back starts to hammer home the passing game can be very effective off playaction. The Cougars are making their 25th bowl appearance and have a tradition of high-scoring shootouts.So a PLAY on the OVER as well as the game gets closer. Jonathan Stewart leads a balanced Oregon offense that averages 31.2 points and 436.8 yards per game. The defense, led by linebacker Blair Phillips (98 tackles) and end Darius Sanders (nine sacks) allows only 303.2 yards per game. Still the ducks offense is looking for guidence and neither Leaf or Dixon has gotten it done. Both are good QB's but both fold in big games and both have a tendancy for big turnovers. Not too mention the offense that has problems with drops and they just lack the overall killer spirit which has cause problems in big games. Like the BYU offense and the 6 across in the BYU secondary. They should have no problem scoring and the ducks attempt to stay with BYU should more than likely lead to turnovers.


This will more than likely be my last season posting all my plays, I will add a new member to the Irish Clan in mid january. Will drop in time to time but will not be able to dedicate as much time to getting all my plays posted. Thanks for all the kudo's and such over the years and to all here a happy and safe holidays.
Cheers
Irish

 

[stwoody]

I agree here as BYU is a very good football team, and I will question Oregon's motivation in Vegas! Give me those Mormons who will most likely be in bed by 9:00 p.m. each night and this could be a very lopsided victory. I'm also playing the over (59) as there should be alot of offense in this one. Bellotti is a "fun" coach......and I can just see him telling the fellas to "go out and have a good time......you have earned it" It will catch up to them on gameday! Shouldn't be alot of hangovers on the Cougs side!

Congrats on the new family addition. I would hate to see you not posting your plays as you are a quality capper and I look forward to your write-ups.......but, family is always first!

Have a good Holiday!

 

[Irish]

BC (-7) over Navy
The Navy army game gave me some indication of how Navy has slipped offensively without their best player. Yes they run a very difficult offense but the BC defense can limit the wishbone. The Eagles have now intercepted two or more passes in seven consecutive games, and their penchant for turning turnovers into touchdowns is why this season has been such a success. The Eagles are disappointed with their bowl destination for a second year. They used this anger to their advantage last year against Boise State on its home field. Navy RB Eric Kattani vs. Boston College LB Jolonn Dunbar -- After Navy lost its leading rusher, Adam Ballard to an injury in the Army game, the Midshipmen will turn to Kattani to provide a running attack. Dunbar is the Eagles' top defender. The news of O,Brien going to NC st hurts this play but Navy is just IMO to injuried to play with BC. Ryan will have no problem throwing the ball on the Navy secondary and the RB by committee will have a big game as well. The offense was a bit stalled in the regular-season finale against Army, but Navy still leads the nation in rushing with 327.4 yards per game. BUT that was before the KEY injuries to the best players on the offense. Navy ranks 40th nationally with 19.7 points allowed per game. LBs Rob Caldwell (106 tackles) and David Mahoney (76 stops) are the leading tacklers, with DE John Chan contributing seven sacks. BUT again this is against very bad teams and they have not played well against the good teams... Tulsa, ND and Rutgers. Yes the midshipman played Tulsa tough but they do not have the firepower at this point. I am hardpressed to see where Navy will get their offense. BC is the better team and I think they have no problem unless they take the coach leaving poorly. I am hoping they want to send the coach off with a win and use that and the poor bowl to thump a hurt navy team.

Small play
New Mex (-5) over San Jose St
2 reasons New Mex is playing at home, SJS is in their first bowl and they will be taking the whole thing in.

Cheers
Irish

 

[ajoytoy]

congrats on the baby bud....gl on the plays this post-season

 

[Hokie Fan]

Irish
Good Luck with the new clan member..
You will be sorely missed....
You are always a must read for me..

 

[grandemush]

Sorry to see you go, Irish, and nice write-ups. Congrats to you and yours & GL to us all during bowl season!!!

 

[Irish]

S.Fla (-3.5) over East Carolina
Like this game a lot, love the team speed of S. Florida and the QB's ability to run and throw. Matt Grothe just wanted the chance, and once he got it, he passed for 2,495 yards, ran for 607 yards and was responsible for 23 touchdowns for the Bulls this season. Defensively the bulls are fast enough to shut the pirates completely down and the D-line should be all over the QB. The Bulls and their talented group of linebackers have the 24th-ranked overall defense in the country; No. 26 against the pass and 41 against the run. USF was a perfect 3-0 against East Carolina from 2002-04 and now heads to what was previously called the Birmingham Bowl. USF is looking to finish 9-4 after upsetting West Virginia in the regular-season finale. Brandon Fractious has been productive in the past two games and the return of Dominique Lindsay gives the Pirates a more physical presence in short yardage. The real key to the offense will be the health of T Eric Graham, who missed the two final regular-season games because of a sprained knee. This year's ECU defense is allowing 20.5 points, 332 total yards and 144.2 rushing yards with 26 takeaways. I like the Bulls defensive speed and the abilty they have to stop what ECU wants to do. Then the offense has the ability to score be it passing or Grothe taking it in himself. He is the leader of the team and they are a different ball club since he has come on. The bulls lost their last bowl game and ECU is better but not good enough to play with the speed of SF. Looking for some defensive turnovers for S. Fla to make this game be too hard for ECU to stay close and because the WVU win came so long ago the bulls have no hangover but are hungry and know they can beat any team, any time and they will come in with the swagger.

Thanks for the kind words guys. I'll be back time to time when I like a play and I appreciate those that take the time to read what I post.

Cheers
Irish

 

[Irish]

1-AA play

1-AA play

Youngstown State (+7) over App State
The Penguins are 3-2 all-time when playing a team ranked No. 1, the last win was over Villanova in 1997 (37-34). YSU claimed its first-ever outright Gateway Football Conference championship in 2006 with a 6-1 league mark. Tailback Marcus Mason set the school single-season rushing record with 1,726 yards. He ranks second with 22 TDs. Mason has rushed for 2,598 yards in his YSU career. He has 30 rushing scores in 20 career games. He has nine 100-yard rushing contests in 2006 and 13 in his career. He is averaging 129.9 yards per game in his career. Wide receiver T.J. Peterson has caught a pass in 24 straight games. In the two postseason games he has 15 receptions for 217 yards and two touchdowns. Peterson, Rory Berry and Louis Irizarry have caught passes in every game. The Penguins are 10-0 when scoring at least 27 points this year. YSU has scored 30 points in eight games this year. Zetts entered the year with minus-11 career rushing yards. This year he has run for 306 yards. Mason ranks second in all of Division I football averaging 156.9 yards rushing per game. As a team, YSU ranks ninth. The Guins have won four straight road games. The defense has been the key allowing just 54 points in those contests. YSU had 10 players named first-team All-Gateway while a total of 15 earned all-conference honors. Appalachian State, the defending national champions, has won 12 straight games following a season-opening loss at North Carolina State. The champions of the Southern Conference, ASU averages 34.7 points per game while surrendering just 14 per contest. Only twice this year have the Mountaineers allowed more than 21 points while scoring at least 31 on nine occasions. Running back Kevin Richardson has rushed for 1,352 yards and 24 touchdowns while quarterback Armanti Williams has 962 yards and 12 scores. While both perennial powers, it is the Mountaineers that have enjoyed more recent success, as they are making their second-straight appearance in the national semis after claiming its first national title in 2005. The Penguins, on the other hand, are among the final four teams for the first time since 1999, but are 6-0 all-time in the semifinals. YSU won four national championships in the 90s under the tutelage of Jim Tressel, now the head coach at Ohio State. Both teams have upended a pair of nationally ranked squads at home to reach the semifinals. ASU scored convincing wins over No. 13 Coastal Carolina (45-28) and No. 18 Montana State (38-17), while YSU has knocked off No. 6 James Madison (35-31) and No. 11 Illinois State (28-21) en route to the semis. This should be a good game and I like both offenses to get it done but I like the Yougstown defense to keep it within the number.

Cheers
Irish

 

[Irish]

D-III Championship

D-III Championship

small play
Mount Union (-1.5) over Wisky-WW
no time for the write up but just going with a team that has been there and is playing well.

Cheers
Irish

 

[Irish]

N. Ill (+14) over TCU
TCU gave up an average of 67.6 rushing yards this season to rank 4th in the country, but did so while facing only one running back - New Mexico's Rodney Ferguson - who ran for at least 1,000 yards. The Horned Frogs had the nation's 9th-ranked defense, allowing 249.5 total yards per game. So that means the TCU defense is solid but really hasn't been tested by a good running back and that test will come tonight. G. Wolfe 1,900 yards and 18 TD's on 289 carries this season. The Huskies win when Wolfe runs well and after a 4 game skid they are back on track in the last 2 games. Ballard directs a TCU offense that ranks 17th in the nation with 404.5 yards per game, including 600-plus yards in back-to-back games before having 377 in a 38-14 win over Air Force in the regular-season finale. The interesting fact here is both offenses put up the same numbers. No.Ill 208 yards passing per game while TCU 210 yards passing. 194 yards rushing for TCU and 180 for No. Ill. Nicholson is the man at QB and IMO this is a good thing, he is a runner and a thrower and if he is on early the Huskies have a shot at winning this game. They have talent and speed at WR but not as much as TCU. The O-lines for both teams are solid but the TCU defense relies on speed and the pulling lineman for No. Ill can road grade a bit on sweeps and could be trouble for the 3 down lineman of the frogs. The Horned Frogs are good for at least one fumble having put on the ground 13 times over the final nine games of the season. The Huskies don't have the manpower or the overall talent to run and play with TCU is all things are even, so they must be nearly perfect, they have to control the tempo and the time of possession, and the pass defense has to play out of its skull after getting systematically torched all season long. This is not a good match up for No. Ill on defense the frogs have far too much talent for the huskies so the best play is to keep them off the field and grind the clock on offense. Also IMO I would think the LB's will stick to stopping the run leaving the CB's to keep everything in front of them. This will be a good game if you like scoring and TCU id the better team but they have been known to get into a funk on offense and Ballard is capable of playing poorly, he won't light up the skies but he is a good QB. Wolfe and the O-line keeping the game clock and the full field against the frogs and the No. Ill defense taking every oppertunity to strip the ball might keep this game close. Both have good coaches so I'll take the points and expect in his last college game Wolfe makes a draft statement.

Cheers
Irish

 

[shawn555]

gl Irish

Where did you get a 14 at?
thanks

 

[Irish]

Got locked in early as a lean so when I re-hit I bought the 2 to keep things square on this play. Normally I'll just re-hit:shrug:
Good Luck
Cheers
Irish

 

[flapjack]

I agree here as BYU is a very good football team, and I will question Oregon's motivation in Vegas! Give me those Mormons who will most likely be in bed by 9:00 p.m. each night and this could be a very lopsided victory. I'm also playing the over (59) as there should be alot of offense in this one. Bellotti is a "fun" coach......and I can just see him telling the fellas to "go out and have a good time......you have earned it" It will catch up to them on gameday! Shouldn't be alot of hangovers on the Cougs side!
!

Belloti has a history of not giving a sh*t in bad bowl games. I remember loading up on them in the Seattle Bowl vs Wake Forrest in a really similar situation - they were 6-0 at one point that year, fell apart down the stretch to end up 7-5. Figured the Ducks would show up since the game was in their back yard. I tune in and find that they decided to break in a brand new QB in the game and got hammered 31-17. They've also lost the last 3 bowl games they've played in straight up and tend to fall apart in the late season/bowl season.

The only worry is the revenge factor for Gary Crowton going against the team that fired him.

 

[Irish]

No.Ill/TCU OVER (10) 1st quarter

Cheers
Irish

 

[AR182]

irish..

i'm with you tonight & probably against you on thursday.

good luck & happy holidays to you & your family.

 

[Irish]

No.Ill/TCU UNDER (14.5) 2nd quarter

Cheers
Irish

 

[Irish]

No.Ill/TCU OVER (9) 3rd Quarter

Cheers
Irish

 

[Irish]

No.Ill/TCU UNDER (10) 4th Quarter

Cheers
Irish

 

[clark]

I THINK YOU TALKED YOURSELF OUT OF TCU . WITH YOU ON BYU AND LOVE FROSH GROTHJE AT S.FLA! ( LIKE QB ADVANTAGE IN BOTH GAMES)

 

[Blackman]

Best of luck all bowl season Irish -- and good luck with your new addition. Make sure to stop by when you can, your insight will be missed.