Brandon Lang
NOTE: This extention will stay on-line until the Holiday Bowl at 8pm eastern.
50 DIME - BOWLING GREEN-IDAHO OVER - I can't see this game not going over the posted total.
Of all the bowl games we have this year, this game has the 2nd highest posted total on the board at it's current number of 68.
Let's start with SMU-Nevada which closed at 71, and was never even close with a 45-10 final while just the other night A&M/Georgia was posted at 66 and they sniffed it at 44-20.
However, this game between these two is a whole different ball game entirely.
The strength of both offenses plays right into the weakness of both defenses and normally when you get something like that it is flat out a shootout.
Bowling Green will air it out with Tyler Sheehan to Freddie Barnes against the 113th pass defense in the entire country that hasn't had an INT since October.
Idaho will run the ball against the 103rd rush defense in the entire country, and they will get their big plays on the ground.
In a near pick'em game, Vegas is telling you this game will go right down to the wire and it wouldn't suprise me if we had OT.
Their last game of the year Idaho played Utah State and they combined 101 points in a 52-49 Idaho win over a Utah State who threw for close to 400 yards with the 35th best passing attack.
Bowling Green has the 8th best with the best receiver in the country playing the last game of his collegiate career 5 catches short of the NCAA record for catches in a season.
The Falcons scored over 30 points in 8 of their 12 games this year while Idaho surpassed that mark in 7 of their 12.
I will come strong with the Over (68 points as I type this), and call for the most entertaining bowl game so far with big plays, a ton of points and who has the ball last wins, maybe in OT.
50 DIME - ARIZONA WILDCATS - I will let Nebraska get all the hype they want coming off the near miss of beating Texas but the fact still remains, they have no offense.
And the bottom line for me in this game is the fact if you are going to cover a number like this you have got to be able to put some points on the board and Nebraska has trouble doing that.
This line has moved to the Cornhuskers being the favorite and getting value with what I feel is the better team and believe it or not is the better overall defense, I will gladly take the points.
Nebraska was 1 second away from a BCS bowl berth, and that has got to still weigh heavily on their mind here regardless of what they portray to the press.
This game will come down who is able to make more plays offensively when they are their to make and Arizona has that edge, especially with Nebraska starting true freshman Green.
Green will be asked to manage the game, take no chances, do not turn the ball over and let's keep the game close and win it with my defense or special teams in the 4th quarter.
That may sound great and look good on paper but asking a true freshman to do that against a well scouted defense who will be perfectly game planed will play right into the hands of Arizona.
Wouldn't suprise me if before games end Pelini benches the true freshman and looks for Lee to rally them.
I will ride the Arizona Wildcats in this game who's defense will match up really well with anything Nebraska tries to do offensively and call for this small dog to win the game outright.
50 DIME - NEBRASKA-ARIZONA UNDER - This total is posted at 40 1/2 for a reason.
It's because of the Nebraska defense. Plain and simple.
They are ranked 8th nationally in overall defense, and after their performance against Texas in the Big 12 Championship Game they deserve all the hype they get.
However, don't lose sight of Arizona and their defense which matched up against the poor excuse of a Nebraska offense, will look very good as well.
This game will be much like an NFL game in it's approach by the two head coaches which will consist of playing the field position game and look for my defense to make a play.
Games stay Under the total because teams settle for field goals instead of touchdowns when they get in the red zone, and I see that being the case here as well.
My dollar is going to be on the Under here as defense will be the name of the game here and I will force these offenses to find a way to get over this number.
Personally, I just don't see it.
FREE SELECTION - BOWLING GREEN FALCONS
FADE
:mj07: