Cnotes 2019-2020 College Football Trends-News-Notes-Best Bets & Opinions !

[Udog]

Thursday, January 3 - Friday, January 4


275OHIO U -276 NEVADA
NEVADA is 43-26 ATS (14.4 Units) after allowing 6.75 or more yards/play in their previous game since 1992.

277TULANE -278 SOUTHERN MISS
TULANE is 35-65 ATS (-36.5 Units) vs. good passing teams with a completion pct. of 58% or better. since 1992.




Friday, January 3

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OHIO U (6 - 6) vs. NEVADA (7 - 5) - 1/3/2020, 3:30:00 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.

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Saturday, January 4

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TULANE (6 - 6) vs. SOUTHERN MISS (7 - 5) - 1/4/2020, 11:30:00 A
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.

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Friday, January 3

Ohio @ Nevada
Ohio
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Ohio's last 7 games
Ohio is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games
Nevada
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Nevada's last 6 games
Nevada is 12-6 SU in its last 18 games

Saturday, January 4

Southern Miss @ Tulane
Southern Miss
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Southern Miss's last 5 games
Southern Miss is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing Tulane
Tulane
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Tulane's last 7 games when playing Southern Miss
Tulane is 7-3 ATS in its last 10 games




Jan 3- Idaho Potato Bowl, Boise
Ohio scored 66-52 points in winning its last two games to get to 6-6; they?re 1-4 when they score less than 34 points. Bobcats ran ball for average of 265.8 ypg the last six games- they?re 2-6 ATS this year as a favorite. Bobcats? last three games went over. Ohio won its last two bowls by combined 68-6; favorites covered four of their last five bowls. Nevada won three of last four games; they were held to 10 or fewer points in 4 of their 5 losses. Wolf Pack four of last five bowls, winning last two by total of 8 points. MAC lost three of last four visits to this bowl; average total in last five Potato Bowls: 61.

Jan 4- Armed Forces Bowl, Fort Worth
First time in five years there isn?t an academy team in this game; these teams haven?t met since 2010. Southern Miss was held to 10-17 points in losing last two games, after a 7-3 start. Eagles are 9-4 ATS in last 13 games as an underdog, 2-2 TY. Their last five games stayed under. USM is 2-3 in last five bowls (favorites 4-1 ATS). Tulane lost five of last six games after a 5-1 start; Green Wave covered six of seven games as a favorite TY- their last three games went under. Tulane won three of its last four bowls, beating ULL 41-24 LY in their first bowl in five years. Average total in this bowl last five years: 84.8.




Friday, January 3

Ohio @ Nevada

Game 275-276
January 3, 2020 @ 3:30 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Ohio
84.467
Nevada
73.128
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Ohio
by 11 1/2
66
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Ohio
by 7 1/2
58
Dunkel Pick:
Ohio
(-7 1/2); Over

Saturday, January 4

Southern Miss @ Tulane

Game 277-278
January 4, 2020 @ 11:30 am

Dunkel Rating:
Southern Miss
77.860
Tulane
81.636
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Tulane
by 4
47
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Tulane
by 7 1/2
56 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Southern Miss
(+7 1/2); Under

 

[Cnotes53]

Wednesday, January 1
Game
Time(ET)
Pick
Units

MICH at ALA
01:00 PM
ALA -7.5
O 61.0

MINN at AUB
01:00 PM
AUB -7.0
O 52.5

WIS at ORE
05:00 PM
WIS -3.0
U 52.0

BAY at UGA
08:45 PM
BAY +4.0
O 41.0

 

[Udog]

Thursday's Bowl Tips
Joe Williams

Birmingham Bowl (ESPN, 3:00 p.m. ET)

Boston College vs. Cincinnati

-- The Boston College Eagles (6-6 straight up, 7-5 against the spread) from the Atlantic Coast Conference will take on the Cincinnati Bearcats (10-3 straight up, 8-5 against the spread) from the American Athletic Conference in the TicketSmarter Birmingham Bowl at Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala.

-- The Eagles head into this one a mess. Steve Addazio was fired, so interim coach Richie Gunnell will steer the ship for the Eagles in Birmingham. In addition, offensive coordinator Mike Bajakian took the job at Northwestern, so he isn't with the team either. If that wasn't bad enough, ACC rushing leader RB A.J. Dillon has elected to sit out the bowl game to prepare for the NFL Draft and avoid risking an injury. So, needless to say, the .500 Eagles are a bit shorthanded going in.

-- Boston College's bowl history was amazing from the 2000 Aloha Bowl through the 2007 Champs Sports Bowl, as they rattled off eight consecutive postseason wins. That luck dried up in a hurry, however, starting with the 2008 Music City Bowl. They enter play on Thursday with losses in six of their past seven bowl games, with only a 36-30 win in the 2016 Quick Lane Bowl as the exception.

-- The Bearcats registered 10 victories this season, and they are looking for their second straight 11-win season under head coach Luke Fickell. There was some talk about UC being a potential Group of Five representatitve, but Memphis quickly squelched that talk with a 34-24 win in the regular-season finale at the Liberty Bowl, and then a 29-24 loss the following week in the same location against the Tigers in the AAC Championship Game. It's a little surprising that the Bearcats tumbled all the way to Birmingham against a .500 team, but at least they get a chance against a Power Five opponent.

-- Cincinnati did cover those two games against Memphis, at least, although they were 1-4 ATS in the previous five outings. They haven't covered three or more consecutive games since four straight covers from Sept. 14-Oct. 12.

-- Boston College started out 3-1 SU, but they won just once in a four-game stretch from Sept. 28-Oct. 26 to slip to 4-4. They did pick up a huge win at Syracuse, 58-27, to move to the precipice of bowl eligibility on Nov. 2. However, a disappointing loss against Florida State, and a beatdown at Notre Dame put their bowl hopes in jeopardy. They played hard, though, and won outright as nine-point underdogs in Pittsburgh in the regular-season finale.

-- The Bearcats rank just 85th in total offense with 385.0 total yards per game, and 105th in passing yards per contest at 187.4. On the ground, that's their strength, piling up 197.6 yards per game to rank 33rd. RB Michael Warren II rolled up 1,160 yards and 14 touchdowns, so he is the star for UC. Defensively they're just so-so, ranking 52nd in total yards (376.6), 80th in passing yards (233.2), 48th in rushing yards (143.4) and 30th in points (21.7) allowed per game.

-- While BC ranks 26th in total yards per game (450.8), that can be ignored a bit due to the absence of the dynamic Dillon. They ranked sixth in the country on the ground with 267.4 yards per game, but again... They will have to rely on the pass game a little more, and that's where they struggled since QB Anthony Brown (knee) went down with a season-ending injury in mid-October. Defensively, the Eagles were a disaster, ranking 125th in total yards allowed (480.3), 126th in passing yards (299.6) and 96th in points allowed (31.7).

-- Boston College heads in 15-5-1 ATS in the past 21 as an underdog, and 3-1-1 ATS in the past five neutral-site games. However, they're 1-5 ATS in the previous six non-conference battles and 2-7 ATS in their past nine bowl outings.

-- Cincinnati has failed to cover in four consecutive bowl games, and four straight neutral-site contests.

-- The over has hit in five of the past seven games overall for BC, and seven of their previous 10 non-conference tilts. The over is also 4-0 in the past four bowl games.

-- The over has connected in five of the past seven bowl games for UC, while going 5-2 in their past seven vs. ACC foes. However, the under is 4-1 in the past five as a favorite, and 39-19-1 in the previous 59 overall.


Gator Bowl (ESPN, 7:00 p.m.)

Indiana vs. Tennessee

-- The TaxSlayer Gator Bowl has the Indiana Hoosiers (8-4 straight up, 7-5 against the spread) from the Big Ten Conference meeting the Tennessee Volunteers (7-5 straight-up, 7-5 against the spread) from the Southeastern Conference at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville, Fla.

-- Indiana won eight games, and it seems like they did so rather quietly. Not many people talked about them, but here they are in a prominent bowl game in primetime against a Power 5 team. The Hoosiers were dusted 51-10 by Ohio State at 'The Rock' on Sept. 14, and they fell at Michigan State 40-31 on Sept. 28. Perhaps the reason no one is talking about the Hoosiers is because they won the games they were supposed to, and fell against teams they were supposed to lose against. In fact, they were 8-0 SU/5-3 ATS in eight games against non-bowl teams, and 0-4 SU/2-2 ATS in their four outings against bowl teams.

-- Tennessee stumbled out of the chute with a 38-30 loss at home against Georgia State in their season opener, falling straight-up as a 24.5-point favorite. That had the natives calling for Jeremy Pruitt's head, and it didn't simmer down after a miraculous comeback by BYU in Knoxville on Sept. 7, and an eventual 29-26 loss in overtime for the Vols. They were 0-2 SU/ATS. They beat the brakes off of FCS Chattanooga, 45-0, on Sept. 14, but no one was satisfied. They followed that win with a 31-point loss at Florida and a 29-point loss at Georgia, slipping to 1-4 SU/ATS, and the hot seat was turned up to lava intensity for Pruitt. But a strange thing happened on Oct. 12 against Mississippi State. The Vols won 20-10, perhaps saving their season as five-point 'dogs. They fell, rather expectedly, at Alabama by a 35-13 score, but they put up a pretty solid effort and covered. They used that momentum to springboard into wins over South Carolina and UAB. In fact, since that Bama loss on the 19th of October, the Power T hasn't lost since. They topped rival Kentucky on the road, won at Missouri and ended up with a resounding 28-10 win over rival Vanderbilt. Is Tennessee now 'back'? Well, they're 3-5 SU in eight games against bowl teams, but they do come in on a five-game heater.

-- Tennessee's bowl history goes all the way back to the Orange Bowl in 1939 - and 1931, if you include the New York Charity Game against New York University, which is considered a bowl game by some. They have won three straight bowl games, including a trip to Jacksonville and a win over Iowa, 45-28, back on Jan. 2, 2015. They have appeared in this game five total times, but four of the trips came from 1957-1973. They're 3-2 SU all-time in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl.

-- Indiana's bowl history isn't as extensive, and their success is even shorter. They haven't won a postseason game since the 1991 Copper Bowl when they blanked Baylor 24-0. This will be their first-ever appearance in the Gator. In fact, this is their first-ever appearance in a bowl game in the state of Florida, which is rather surprising given the conference's long-time tie-ins with the Outback (Hall of Fame), Citrus (CapitalOne), Gator (TaxSlayer) Bowls, etc.

-- The Vols ranked 100th in total yards (365.0), 77th in passing yards (220.0) and 88th in rushing yards (145.0) per game while posting 24.3 PPG to check in 97th. Defensively, the Vols were pretty nasty despite a difficult schedule, ranking 28th in total yards allowed (337.1), 17th in passing yards (191.3) and 29th in points (21.7) allowed per game.

-- The Hoosiers ranked 31st in total yards on offense (444.0), 13th in passing yards (308.7) and 41st in points scored (32.6). They struggled on the ground, however, ranking 100th in the nation with 135.3 yards per game. They lost QB Michael Penix Jr. (collarbone) to a collarbone early in early November, and that forced QB Peyton Ramsey into action. He had 2,227 passing yards to end up leading the Hoosiers.

-- Indiana leading rusher Stevie Scott III posted 845 yards and 10 touchdowns, but he is a question mark for this game with a leg ailment. Backup RB Sampson James is also on the injury report, questionable due to an ankle injury. The Hoosiers were led in the receiving game by WR Whop Philyor, who cracked 1,000 yards.

-- The Hoosiers are 6-2 ATS in the past eight against teams with a winning record, but they're just 1-5 ATS in the past six neutral-site battles.

-- The Volunteers are 6-1 ATS in the past seven games overall, but 4-10 ATS in the past 14 as a favorite. They're also 6-2 ATS in the previous eight neutral-site game battles.

-- The over is 5-1 in the past six for Indiana, and 5-0 in their past five as an underdog. The under is 5-0 in their past five non-conference tilts, though.

-- The under hit in the final four for the Vols, but the over is 5-0 in their past five bowl games and 9-1 in the past 10 neutral-site affairs.

 

[Cnotes53]

Thursday, January 2
Game
Time(ET)
Pick
Units

BC at CIN
03:00 PM
BC +7.5
U 53.5

IND at TENN
07:00 PM
IND +3.5
O 54.5

 

[Udog]

Potato Bowl Preview
Joe Williams

Famous Idaho Potato Bowl (ESPN, 3:30 p.m. ET)

Ohio vs. Nevada

-- The Ohio Bobcats (6-6 straight up, 4-8 against the spread) from the Mid-American Conference will battle the Nevada Wolf Pack (7-5 straight up, 5- against the spread) from the American Athletic Conference in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl at Albertsons Stadium in Boise, Idaho.

-- The Bobcats have won their past two bowl game appearances, including last season's 27-0 win over San Diego State, a Mountain West team, at the Frisco Bowl. They also won their only previous appearance in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, a narrow 24-23 win over Utah State on Dec. 17, 2011.

-- Nevada won their bowl appearance last season, too, topping Arkansas State 16-13 in the Arizona Bowl, and like Ohio, they have also won each of their past two postseason appearances. They haven't played in Boise for a bowl game since Dec. 30, 2008, a 42-35 loss to Maryland when the game was called the Humanitarian Bowl. They also lost by one point, 21-20, to Miami (Fla.) on Dec. 31, 2006 when the game was sponsored by MPC Computers.

-- Ohio heads into this game ranked 33rd in total yards (443.3), 72nd in passing yards (226.8) and 22nd in rushing yards (216.5) while checking in 20th with 34.7 points per game. Defensively, the Bobcats allowed 401.7 total yards per game to end up 76th in the nation, they were 62nd against the pass (223.8) and 82nd against the run (177.9) while yielding 27.0 PPG.

-- Nevada ranked just 103rd in the land in total yards per game (360.0), while ending up 62nd in pass (236.5) and 117th in rushing yards (123.5) per outing. They alos posted just 21.3 PPG to finish 111th. Defensively they were so-so, but the stats were skewed due to a pair of blowout losses, a 77-6 setback at Oregon and a 54-3 beating from Hawaii.

-- The Wolf Pack have more issues, too, as S Austin Arnold, CB Daniel Brown (team-high four interceptions) and NT Hausia Sekona were each suspended for this game due to a post-game brawl against UNLV. All three were starters.

-- Ohio is 4-0 ATS in the past four bowl games, and 5-1 ATS in their past six neutral-site affairs. They're also 18-8 ATS in the past 26 non-conference battles. However, the Bobcats are 2-7 ATS in the previous nine as a favorite.

-- Nevada is 3-1-1 ATS in the previous five bowl games, and they're 3-0-1 ATS in the past four neutral-site games as an underdog.

-- The over is 5-2 in the past seven overall for Ohio, while going 11-4 in their past 15 non-conference games. The over is also 5-2 in the past seven against winning teams, while going 5-1 in the past six as a favorite.

-- The over is 5-2 in Nevada's past seven non-conference tilts, but the under is 6-1 in their past seven bowl games and 7-3 in the past 10 as an underdog.

 

[Cnotes53]

FRIDAY, JANUARY 3
GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS

OHIO at NEV 03:30 PM

NEV +9.5

O 60.5

 

[Udog]

Armed Forces Bowl Preview
Joe Williams

Armed Forces Bowl (ESPN, 11:30 a.m. ET)

Southern Miss vs. Tulane

-- The Southern Miss Golden Eagles (7-5 straight up, 6-6 against the spread) from Conference USA will battle the Tulane Green Wave (6-6 straight up, 8-4 against the spread) from the American Athletic Conference in the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl at Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth, Tex.

-- The Golden Eagles had five losses this season, but two of them came against SEC teams back in September, including a 49-7 shredding by Alabama on Sept. 21. They managed to post wins in five of their first six conference games before suffering losses to C-USA bowl teams Western Kentucky and Florida Atlantic in the final two games, both by 17 or more points.

-- Tulane had a tale of two seasons. They opened the season 5-1 SU/ATS, with only a loss to Auburn by a 24-6 margin, to show for their first six games. However, things went off the rails Oct. 19 in Memphis, losing 47-17, and that touched off a 1-5 SU/3-3 ATS run to finish off the regular season. However, three of those losses were one-possession games, including a pair of three-point losses to Navy and UCF, two bowl teams.

-- Southern Miss has been to 26 total bowls, and the history has been mixed lately. They were crushed 42-13 by Florida State at the Independence Bowl on Dec. 27, 2017 in their most recent showing. These teams are relative neighbors, but they have never been together in a bowl game before. It is the first appearance in the Armed Forces Bowl for the Golden Eagles, although they've played four previous bowl games in the state of Texas. Those didn't go well, as they were 0-4 SU in those games.

-- Tulane has appeared in 13 previous bowl games, and they were 2-7 SU in the first nine. However, they're 3-1 SU in their past four. They have appeared in a bowl game just once, falling in the Bluebonnet Bowl Dec. 29, 1973 by a 47-7 score against Houston in the Astrodome.

-- The Green Wave offense ranked 24th in the nation with 456.8 total yards per game, and they were 11th in rushing with 251.4 yards per contest. They also scored 33.3 PPG to check in 35th in the country. Defensively they were so-so, allowing 378.9 total yards per game (55th), 214.0 passing yards per game (50th) and 164.9 rushing yards per game (75th). They also allowed 27.4 PPG to rank 65th.

-- The Golden Eagles were 59th in total yards (411.3), while ranking 23rd in passing offense with 288.6 yards. They weren't very good on the ground, posting 122.8 rushing yards per game to rank 118th, and posting just 27.8 PPG to rank 74th. Defensively, they allowed 350.3 total yards per game to rank 36th, and they were 18th against the run (111.8). They yielded just 25.9 PPG to rank 54th in the nation, too.

-- Southern Miss QB Jack Abraham passed for 3,329 yards, while WR Quez Watkins posted 1,024 yards. That's the combination.

-- Tulane RB Corey Dauphine (wrist) is listed as questionable, as is RB Darius Bradwell (foot). Leading rusher Justin McMillan (704 rushing yards, 12 total touchdowns) is good to go, however.

-- Southern Miss is 1-4-1 ATS in their past six bowl games.

-- Tulane is 7-1 ATS in the past eight games as a favorite, while going 8-3 ATS in the past 11 against Conference USA. They're 4-1 ATS in the past five against non-conference teams, and 7-3 ATS in the past 10 overall.

-- USM hit the under in each of their past five overall, while going 9-4-1 in the past 14 non-conference tilts. The over is 5-2 in their past seven bowl games, however.

-- For Tulane, the under is 5-0-1 in their past six against Conference USA foes.

-- In this series, the favorite has cashed in four of the past five meetings, and USM is 4-1 ATS in the previous five clashes. The under is also 6-1 in the past seven in this series.

 

[Udog]

Monday, January 6


279MIAMI OHIO -280 LA LAFAYETTE
MIAMI OHIO is 11-1 ATS (9.9 Units) after 2 conference games over the last 2 seasons.




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MIAMI OHIO (8 - 5) vs. LA LAFAYETTE (10 - 3) - 1/6/2020, 7:30:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
MIAMI OHIO is 2-10 ATS (-9.0 Units) in non-conference games over the last 3 seasons.
MIAMI OHIO is 13-2 ATS (+10.8 Units) after playing a conference game over the last 2 seasons.
MIAMI OHIO is 9-2 ATS (+6.8 Units) off a win against a conference rival over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.

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Louisiana-Lafayette @ Miami-OH
Louisiana-Lafayette
Louisiana-Lafayette is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Louisiana-Lafayette's last 8 games
Miami-OH
Miami-OH is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Miami-OH's last 6 games




LA-Lafayette @ Miami of Ohio

Game 279-280
January 6, 2020 @ 7:30 pm

Dunkel Rating:
LA-Lafayette
89.839
Miami of Ohio
78.603
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
LA-Lafayette
by 11
50
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
LA-Lafayette
by 14
56
Dunkel Pick:
Miami of Ohio
(+14); Under

 

[Udog]

LendingTree Bowl Preview
Joe Williams

LendingTree Bowl (ESPN, 7:30 p.m. ET)

Louisiana vs. Miami (Ohio)

-- The Miami-Ohio Redhawks (8-5 straight up, 7-6 against the spread) from the Mid-American Conference (MAC) will square off with the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns (10-3 straight up, 9-4 against the spread) from the Sun Belt Conference in the LendingTree Bowl at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Ala.

-- Miami heads into this one after their stunning victory over Central Michigan in the MAC Championship Game. They were underdogs by just 5.5 points, but they entered the game with some injury issues, and CMU was red-hot on offense before that battle in Detroit. Miami has won six of the past seven games overall, and they're 5-2 ATS in the past seven outings. However, against bowl teams this season, Miami is just 3-4 SU/4-3 ATS.

-- The Redhawks do not have an extensive bowl history, but they will still be making their third-ever appearance in Mobile. They're 7-4 SU in their previous 11 bowl appearances, including a 35-21 win over Middle Tennessee on Jan. 6, 2011 in this bowl game, then named the GoDaddy.com Bowl. They also topped Louisville 49-28 on Dec. 18, 2003, when this game was named the GMAC Bowl. This will be Miami's first-ever bowl game appearance against a Sun Belt Conference team.

-- Louisiana (previously known as Louisiana-Lafayette) has made six bowl appearances, with five of those appearances coming in the New Orleans Bowl, with one showing in the Cure Bowl last season. They fell to Tulane by a 41-24 score in that bowl game on Dec. 15, 2018, but they're 4-2 SU in their previous six bowl contests. This will be the first bowl game against a MAC opponent for the Ragin' Cajuns, too.

-- Miami's offense has really struggled this season, although they might have found their quarterback of the future with QB Brett Gabbert, brother of NFL signal Blaine Gabbert. He ended up with 2,163 passing yards to lead the team, while RB Jaylon Bester racked up 689 yards with 12 total touchdowns. Still, they were just 122nd in total yards on offense at 307.4, with 172.8 passing yards (114th), and they posted 134.5 rushing yards per game to rank 102nd. Overall, they posted 24.7 points per game to rank 95th in the nation. Defensively, they were 58th in total yards (380.6), 37th in passing yards (206.4) and 81st in rushing yards (174.2) allowed, while allowing 28.2 PPG to rank 70th.

-- The heavily favored Cajuns had a powerful offense during the season, posting 501.3 total yards per game to rank eighth in the country, and they were seventh in rushing yards with 265.3 yards per game on the ground. The passing was just so-so with 236.0 yards per game to rank 64th. They scored 38.8 points per game to rank 11th in the country. On defense, they were 50th with 373.4 total yards per game, and they were 85th against the run with 179.5 yards per game. They were hard on opposing pass games, allowing just 193.8 yards per game to rank 18th. They also allowed only 19.9 PPG to check in 20th overall.

-- The star for Louisiana is RB Elijah Mitchell, who posted 1,092 yards with 15 touchdowns, while QB Levi Lewis managed 2,804 yards through the air.

-- ULL has posted a 17-7 ATS mark in the past 24 games overall, and they're 10-4 ATS in the past 14 games as a favorite. The Cajuns are also 4-0 ATS in the past four non-conference games, while going 5-2 ATS in the past seven neutral-site battles.

-- The Redhawks have cashed in five of the past seven games overall, while going 4-0 ATS in the past four neutral-site games. They're also 4-1 ATS in the past five as an underdog, but they're 2-10 ATS in the past 12 non-conference games.

-- For ULL, the over has connected in 35 of their past 51 non-conference games, while hitting in five of the past six field turf surfaces. The under is 6-2 in their past eight games overall, however, while going 6-1 in the past seven as a favorite. The under is also 4-1 in the past five against teams with a winning record.

-- The under is 5-1 in Miami's past six games overall, and 6-1 in their past seven neutral-site games. The under is 6-1 in the past seven neutral-site games as a 'dog, too, but the over is 4-1 in their past five non-conference battles.

 

[Udog]

NCAAF
Armadillo's Write-Up

Bowl Season

Jan 6- LendingTree Bowl, Mobile, AL
Louisiana won 10 of its last 12 games after an opening loss to Miss State; ULL ran ball for 225+ yards in six of last seven games- they lost Sun Belt title game at App State. Ragin? Cajuns are 4-2 ATS this year laying double digits; they won 45-25 at Ohio U of MAC TY. ULL lost their last two bowls, after winning first four. Under is 6-2 in their last eight games. Miami (OH) won six of its last seven games after a 2-4 start; they?re 0-4 ATS this year as a double digit underdog. Five of their last six games went under. Miami is bowling for first time in three years, 2nd time in nine years; they lost three of last five bowls. Underdogs won this bowl three of last four years; average total the last five years: 70.2.

 

[Udog]

National Championship - Monday, January 13


283CLEMSON -284 LSU
CLEMSON is 7-0 ATS (7 Units) vs. winning teams in the current season.

283CLEMSON -284 LSU
LSU is 7-0 ATS (7 Units) after outgaining opp by 175 or more total yards in their previous game in the current season.

283CLEMSON -284 LSU
CLEMSON is 7-0 ATS (7 Units) after going under the total in the current season.




NCAAF
Dunkel

Championship

Clemson @ LSU

Game 283-284
January 13, 2020 @ 8:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Clemson
126.659
LSU
123.231
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Clemson
by 3 1/2
72
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
LSU
by 6
69
Dunkel Pick:
Clemson
(+6); Over




NCAAF
Long Sheet

Monday, January 13

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CLEMSON (14 - 0) vs. LSU (14 - 0) - 1/13/2020, 8:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
CLEMSON is 33-15 ATS (+16.5 Units) as an underdog of 3.5 to 10 points since 1992.
CLEMSON is 11-3 ATS (+7.7 Units) in all games this season.
CLEMSON is 11-3 ATS (+7.7 Units) in all lined games this season.
CLEMSON is 61-36 ATS (+21.4 Units) as an underdog since 1992.
CLEMSON is 10-2 ATS (+7.8 Units) after 2 or more consecutive straight up wins this season.
CLEMSON is 7-0 ATS (+7.0 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.

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[Udog]

Hot & Not - Title Game Angles
Matt Blunt

The wait between the semifinals and national title game this year is gigantic, but that's probably exactly how Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney wants it. Can you imagine the type of rhetoric he'd spew if he were in the Big 10, and had just a week to prepare for a ranked Big 10 team like say Michigan, and then followed that up a week later with a game against a ranked Big 10 team like Wisconsin, as Ohio State had to do this year. There is little chance Clemson would even sniff a winning streak like the one they've currently got going, and the absurdities coming out of Swinney's mouth would be hysterical.

Instead, the guy who continually complains his program gets no respect, gets to cruise through a eight-game conference schedule (opposed to nine games for nearly every other conference) in the weakest Power 5 conference there is, and then parlays that into multiple weeks to prepare for Ohio State, and then multiple weeks to prepare LSU in this title game. One, that Clemson may not even be in had they not been given a gift of an overruled fumble return TD that would have likely put the hole they were in against the Buckeyes too deep to come out of...

You've got to give it to Swinney though, as his rhetoric is highly persuasive for those that seemingly can't see through it, and who knows, maybe one day soon we will see either a nine-game ACC schedule for the conference, or multiple ACC teams crack a Top 25 ranking when they face the Tigers in regular season play. That way, Clemson won't spend 75% of their football season feasting on cupcake opponents and can't parlay that into routine playoff appearances and absurd rhetoric from Swinney.

But in the interest of fairness, Clemson did beat who was put in front of them (again, something Swinney has a hand in), and find themselves with a chance to win 30 straight games and be the first college football program to defend their College Football Playoff national title. The breaks they have gotten might be outrageous, but you've still got to be a good football team to get to this point, and Clemson has been here two years in a row.

And while a month ago I did lay out this piece and this piece, outlining past stats and trends to keep in consideration for the CFB Playoffs, it doesn't hurt to do one more now that the two teams playing for the title are set. And in the interest of fairness, I'll outline situations/stats that work both for and against each team involved.

Who's Hot

In favor of LSU ? Teams in the National Title game that finished the regular season with a worse turnover margin per game are 5-0 ATS in the championship game during the playoff era

In terms of outright winners, Alabama's the only program to win a national title with a better turnover margin per game then their opponent, as they did so when they beat Georgia and Clemson in this game. But the latter two teams there did cover the spread as underdogs in those games, to go along with Clemson being on the lower end of this stat line in their two national championship wins, as was Ohio State in the inaugural playoff.

This year's game sees Clemson ? who finished +1 in turnover margin per game in the regular season ? going up against LSU ? who finished +0.8 in turnover margin per game in the regular season -puts this historical edge on the side of the Bayou Bengals.

Who knows, maybe it has been a case of the turnovers drying up against elite competition for these strong turnover margin teams, but while the angle of ?the Heisman winner never wins the national title? likely getting spewed to death this week, this is an angle that does favor LSU and quarterback Joe Burrow's squad.
In favor of Clemson ? National title teams that finished the regular season with more rushing yards per game are 4-1 SU in playoff era
Not only a stat that suggests taking the points with Dabo Swinney's crew, but one that points to them defending their title as well.

College football is something where talent definitely matters, as the better teams have the better players, and because of that, they can often play ?bully ball? against lesser foes and just simply beat them by running the ball down their throat. That mantra doesn't necessarily apply to a national title game, but what it does help in this case, is letting the team that's ultimately more confident and more reliant in their running game to establish some rhythm, dictate the tempo, and possibly wear down the will of their foe.

I'm not sure the latter will happen here given that LSU's defense did face stiffer tests on a weekly basis with their SEC schedule, but if Clemson can use their rushing attack (239.1 yards per game in regular season) to sustain long drives and potentially let a layer of rust form on Burrow and that LSU offense, a repeat champion is what we could end up seeing.

Who's Not

In favor of Clemson ? Backing the team with a worse opponent yards per play number has you 1-4 SU in national title games during the playoff era

Clemson finished the year tied with Ohio State atop the country in opponent yards per play at 3.7. LSU managed to post a 4.9 opponent yards per play number this year which was 25th in the country. Historically, that's a good spot for Clemson to be in, but I'm not entirely sold on this trend this season as I would have been in year's past. And it speaks to the quality of competition these two teams faced this year as well as how their games played out.

Not only was Clemson able to rack up great defensive numbers against the offensively challenged ACC, but LSU's numbers are likely skewed a bit worse then they should be given how many times they packed it in in the 2nd halves of games they firmly had in control. That's on top of LSU facing much better competition overall. Clemson had plenty of time for their second stringers in games they had firmly in control as well, but even those second stringers were much better then the starters they were up against most of the time in ACC play, so it is what it is for Clemson here.

But the saying ?defense wins championships? always has some level of truth to it, and Clemson did hold an Ohio State team that averaged 6.8 yards per play this year to just 5.8 yards per play in that semi-final game. Again, that overturned fumble return completely flipped the momentum of that semi-final game, so who knows how things would have been different if that had stood, but this was info found and something that is a solid piece of supporting evidence for those already looking at the Clemson side. I'm just not sure I'd put that much weight into it this year.

In favor of LSU ? National Championship teams that lost the time of possession battle in their semi-final game are 0-2 SU in the title game during the playoff era
Again, another stat that doesn't hold extraordinary weight here, especially since it's only occurred twice ? Oregon in 2014 and Georgia in 2017 ? and the ATS record for both of those sides is split at 1-1 ATS. It's also something that can be highly relative to the opponent faced in the semis, and without question, Clemson had the harder test in getting by Ohio State, compared to LSU's contest vs Oklahoma.

Clemson did lose the time of possession battle 33:27 to 26:33 in that semi-final game, while LSU won the ball control game against Oklahoma with a 32:58 to 27:02 edge. Every single national champion in the playoff era won the time of possession battle in their respective semi-final game, so for those that may be looking at potential ML plays, this is a check that goes LSU's way.

Final point

Going back to this piece from a month ago, I discussed how every past national champion in the playoff era did finish the regular season with at least 5 ATS defeats. That works in LSU's favor for this game, and let's not forget the second point I made in that ATS record section of that piece:
The team with the best regular season ATS record has been the runner-up in each of the last three years and four of the five playoff seasons overall.
We will have to wait and see if that holds true once again this year, as it would with an LSU outright win. Clemson and their 10-3 ATS record during the season could end up following in the footsteps of those past programs to come up short in this game.

The point-spread is always the great equalizer though, and with this year's number holding relatively steady at LSU -5.5 since it opened, could we see the same scenario that we have in the odd numbered years (as to when season started, not date of title game) of these playoff games in the past ? the favorite wins the game outright but the underdog covers....

 

[Udog]

NCAAF

Championship

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Trend Report
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LSU Tigers
Louisiana State is 11-3-2 ATS in its last 16 games
Louisiana State is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 12 of Louisiana State's last 17 games
Clemson Tigers
Clemson is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games
Clemson is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games


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[Udog]

If you're betting LSU, here are five prop picks you need to take in the CFP Championship
Jason Logan

Clyde Edwards-Helaire picked up 325 receiving yards between Week 9 and the SEC title game, helping the Tigers average 45 points per game in that span.

The LSU Tigers have plenty of supporters heading into Monday?s CFP Championship Game against the Clemson Tigers. In fact, the belief in the Bayou Bengals has taken the spread for the national title game and run it up from LSU -3.5 to as high as -6.

If you?re among the masses shouting ?Geaux Tigers? - and not ?Go Tigers? - with a ticket on LSU in hand, you?ll want to look at these prop and derivative picks for Monday?s matchup.

They?re all tied to aspects of the game vital to Louisiana State?s championship hopes. Good luck!

LSU -0.5 FIRST QUARTER

Louisiana State is at its best when it kicks in the door and does damage right out of the gate.

The Tigers traded touchdowns with Oklahoma before closing out the first quarter with a 21-7 lead in the Peach Bowl. Against Georgia in the SEC Championship, LSU only needed six minutes to find the end zone and held a 14-0 lead after one frame. And, versus Alabama, the Tigers jumped out to a 10-0 lead and were ahead 10-7 after 15 minutes of action.

Clemson?s defense has been especially stingy in first quarters, allowing an average of just 2.1 points in the frame on the year. However, the Tigers (Clemson, that is) have softened a bit in recent opening quarters, giving up a touchdown to Virginia in the ACC title game and watched Ohio State run out to a 10-0 lead in the first quarter of the Fiesta Bowl.

Clemson knows it can?t afford LSU to find a rhythm and get ahead on the scoreboard early, which would force the reigning national champs to pass more and turn away from a run-heavy playbook ? which is likely their best ?defense? against the LSU offense.

If the Bayou Bengals can buckle Clemson?s knees early on, LSU will have its opponent right where it wants it.


TREVOR LAWRENCE UNDER 52.5 RUSHING YARDS

When Clemson does drop back to pass against a dangerous LSU secondary, Louisiana State can?t let the Tigers off the hook by allowing QB Trevor Lawrence to create something out of nothing when plays break down.

Lawrence sparked Clemson?s comeback against the Buckeyes with 107 yards on the ground, including a 67-yard touchdown run. He?s only gone over this 52.5-yard total just three times all season, but they?ve all gone in the past five games, so Lawrence absolutely has his legs under him.

Louisiana State did a good job containing Oklahoma QB Jalen Hurt to 43 yards rushing on 14 carries (thanks in large part to forcing the Sooners to play from behind) but did get rolled by Ole Miss dual-threat QB John Rhys Plumlee for 212 yards on the ground in Week 12.

Keep Lawrence contained and don?t let him make magic on broken plays.


CLYDE EDWARDS-HELAIRE OVER 50.5 YARDS RECEIVING

Edwards-Helaire gave Tigers backers a scare in the Peach Bowl, injuring his hamstring in practice a week before the game. And while he was healthy enough to play against Oklahoma, he was limited in action, carrying the ball just twice for 14 yards.

Edwards-Helaire has looked healthy in practice leading up to the CFP Championship, which is good news for LSU bettors. Not only was CEH one of the best running backs in the country down the stretch ? posting 686 yards rushing in the final five regular season games ? but he became a top target in the passing game as well.

He has 399 yards receiving on 50 grabs and LSU?s offense has been extra explosive when he gets thrown in the mix. He picked up 325 of those receiving yards between Week 9 and the SEC title game, helping the Tigers average 45 points per game in that span, which includes games versus Auburn, Alabama, Texas A&M and Georgia.

If CEH can get loose versus Clemson and break off some big gains after the catch, LSU offense will be extremely tough to figure out.


JUSTIN JEFFERSON OVER 8.5 RECEPTIONS

Joe Burrow was the star of the Peach Bowl, but the effort put in by Justin Jefferson should not be discounted. The Tigers junior WR caught 14 balls for 227 yards through the air, with four of those grabs going for touchdowns.

If Ja'Marr Chase is LSU?s No. 1 receiver, then Jefferson has emerged as a verified No. 1-A after catching fire ? and everything else ? down the stretch of the regular season. He?s scored a touchdown in five straight games (nine total in that span) and has led the Tigers to receiving in both postseason matchups, with 115 yards on seven receptions against UGA.

Clemson is the top-ranked passing defense in all the land but has given up some bigger gains in its past two outings: allowing Ohio State to throw for 320 yards through the air in the Fiesta Bowl and giving up 283 yards passing to Virginia in the ACC Championship.

Clemson will have to pick its poison when it comes to LSU?s receiving options ? Chase, Jefferson, TE (and son of Randy) Thaddeus Moss ? and Jefferson enters with the hot hands.


JOE BURROW OVER 27.5 COMPLETIONS

Louisiana State winning the CFP title doesn?t hinge on Burrow having a huge day, but it sure as hell would be easier if he did.

The Heisman winner is absolutely burning up opposing defenses and saved his best two performances for the postseason: completing 28 passes for 349 yards and four TDs versus Georgia and connecting on 29 passes for 493 yards and seven TDs against Oklahoma.

As mentioned, Clemson has given very little to opposing passers all season, holding 11 foes to 17 completions or less including six opponents to single-digit completions. They did allow 24 completions for 236 yards in a Week 2 win over Texas A&M and watched both Virginia and Ohio State complete 30 throws in the previous two games.

Burrow has topped this 27.5-completion total six times this season, including five times in LSU?s last seven outings. Books have his Over/Under passing yards at 365.5 for the title game and given his average of about 14 yards per completion, you?re looking at 26 estimated completions versus Clemson.

If Joey Heisman can do two better against this Tigers secondary, then it should be a good day for ?Burreaux? and LSU.

 

[Udog]

College Playoff Betting Preview
Brian Edwards

Clemson vs. LSU (-6, Total 69)

Louisiana State?s dream season will fittingly end in New Orleans, where it?ll take on Clemson in Monday?s finals of the College Football Playoff. Clemson brings a 29-game winning streak to The Big Easy, attempting to become the first program to repeat as national champions since Alabama did in 2011 and 2012.

Dabo Swinney?s team hasn?t tasted defeat since its last trip to the Mercedes Benz Superdome, losing 24-6 to Alabama in the 2017 CFP semifinals. LSU is seeking its first national title since 2007, when it trounced Ohio State at the Superdome in the Crescent City. In 2003 when Nick Saban was its head coach, LSU won its second national title ? its first came back in 1958 -- by beating Oklahoma at this same venue in New Orleans.

As of Sunday night, most betting shops had LSU (14-0 straight up, 9-5 against the spread) installed as a 5.5-point favorite with the total anywhere from 67.5 (Circa Sports) to 69 (Stations). Clemson was +185 on the money line.

For first-half wagers, most spots had LSU listed as a 3.5-point ?chalk? with a total of 34. Clemson has +160 odds to take a lead into halftime and it?s +145 on the money line in the first quarter. LSU is favored by one-half point at a -130 price for first-quarter bets, while the total is 14.5 points.

LSU?s team total for the game is 37.5 points (-115 odds either way), while Clemson?s is 31.5 points (?under? -125, ?over? -105). LSU?s team total for the first half is 19.5 points (?over? -145, ?under? +115), and Clemson?s is 14.5 (?over? -135, ?under? +105).

Ed Orgeron?s squad absolutely blasted fourth-seeded Oklahoma in the semifinals, darting out to a 49-14 halftime lead before coasting to a 63-28 victory as a 12.5-point favorite. The 91 combined points jumped ?over? the 75-point total.

Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow was sensational, completing 29-of-39 passes for 493 yards and seven touchdowns without an interception. All seven TD passes came in the first half alone, as Burrow broke every CFP passing record in the game?s first 30 minutes. He added a three-yard TD run early in the third quarter.

Junior wide receiver Justin Jefferson had 14 receptions for 227 yards and four TDs. Junior TE Thaddeus Moss, the son of NFL Hall of Famer Randy Moss, hauled in four catches for 99 yards and one TD, while sophomore WR Terrace Marshall Jr. had six grabs for 80 yards and two TDs.

Redshirt freshman running back Chris Curry ran for a team-best 89 yards on 16 attempts. Clyde Edwards-Helaire, the junior RB who was a first-team All-SEC selection, was able to play despite suffering a hamstring injury less than two weeks before the game. He had only two carries for 14 rushing yards, but he?ll be a much bigger factor Monday night vs. Clemson. Edwards-Helaire has had more time to recover and would?ve got more touches against the Sooners if the game hadn?t become a blowout so quickly.

Dave Aranda?s defense had a helluva performance, too, holding the Sooners to 322 yards of total offense. OU came into the game ranking second in the nation in total offense, averaging 554.4 yards per game.

Burrow, WR Ja?Marr Chase and center Lloyd Cushenberry joined Edwards-Helaire as first-team All-SEC choices by the coaches. LSU?s offensive guards Damien Lewis and Adrian Magee garnered second-team All-SEC honors from the coaches, along with Edwards-Helaire as a return specialist. However, Lewis is listed as ?questionable? after vs. Clemson after leaving the win over OU with a knee injury.

LSU?s offense is ranked No. 1 in the country in total offense (564.1 YPG) and scoring with its 48.9 points-per-game average. The Bayou Bengals are No. 2 in passing yards (397.2 YPG), trailing only Washington State.

Burrow has produced video-game stats all year. The grad transfer from Ohio State, who arrived in Baton Rouge just one month before the 2018 season, has completed 77.6 percent of his passes through 14 games. He has thrown for 5,208 yards with a 55/6 touchdown-to-interception ratio. Burrow has 311 rushing yards and four TDs.

Chase and Jefferson are the nation?s co-leaders in TD catches with 18 apiece. Jefferson is third in the country in both receptions (102) and receiving yards (1,434), while Chase has 75 catches for 1,559 yards. Chase trails only Arkansas State WR Omar Bayless in receiving yards (1,653).

Edwards-Helaire has run for 1,304 yards and 16 TDs, averaging 6.6 yards per carry. He?s a factor catching the ball out of the backfield, too, with 50 receptions for 399 yards and one TD.

Tyrion Davis-Pride and John Emery are true freshman RBs that?ll see playing time. Davis-Price has 295 rushing yards and six TDs with a 4.6 YPC average. Emery, a five-star recruit, has 188 rushing yards and four TDs on 39 carries (4.8 YPC), while Curry has 185 rushing yards on 37 attempts.

LSU is ranked No. 28 in the country in scoring defense, allowing opponents to score an average of 21.6 PPG. The Bayou Bengals are ranked No. 29 in total defense, No. 56 in pass defense and No. 20 at defending the run.

This unit placed junior safety Grant Delpit and sophomore LB K?Lavon Chaisson on the coaches All-SEC first team. Freshman CB Derek Stingley Jr., senior DE Rashard Lawrence and junior safety JaCoby Stevens were second-team All-SEC selections.

LSU?s defense will get back senior LB Michael Divinity, who was reportedly suspended for six games after testing positive for marijuana for a fourth time. He hasn?t played since a 23-20 win over Auburn on Oct. 26. Divinity missed two other games due to suspensions in September. In five games this year, Divinity produced 23 tackles, three sacks, three QB hurries, one forced fumble and one tackle for loss. He has nine career sacks.

LSU junior LB Jacob Phillips has a team-best 105 tackles to go with six TFL?s, three QB hurries, one sack, one PBU and one forced fumble. Stevens has 85 tackles, six PBU, five sacks, 3.5 TFL?s, three interceptions and a pair of QB hurries, while Delpit has 59 tackles, seven passes broken up, 2.5 TFL?s, two interceptions, one sack and one QB hurry.

LSU collected 10 of its 14 wins over bowl-bound foes, including victories at Texas (45-38), vs. Utah State (42-6), vs. Florida (42-28), at Alabama (46-41), vs. Texas A&M (50-7) and vs. Georgia (37-10) at the SEC Championship Game. Eleven of LSU?s 14 wins have come by 14 points or more.

Clemson (14-0 SU, 11-3 ATS) is appearing in the finals of the CFP for the fourth time in five seasons. Dabo Swinney?s team has been an underdog 10 times since 2014, compiling an 8-2 spread record with six outright victories.

Clemson saw its streak of outgaining opponents in 28 consecutive games snapped during its comeback win over Ohio State in the CFP semifinals at the Fiesta Bowl. Trailing 16-0 late in the second quarter, Swinney?s squad was about to punt after a failed third-down attempt, only to get bailed out by a personal-foul call against the Buckeyes.

It proved to the game?s turning point and a crucial error for Ohio State as Clemson went on to score its first TD of the drive on an eight-yard run by Travis Etienne, who found paydirt with 2:45 left in the second quarter. After forcing a quick three and out, sophomore signal caller Trevor Lawrence took off on a scramble, found some running room and turned on the jets to beat the safety to the corner for an electrifying 67-yard TD run.

Then with 7:54 remaining in the third, Etienne caught a 53-yard TD pass from Lawrence to put give Clemson its first lead at 21-16. However, the Buckeyes went back in front 23-21 on a 23-yard TD pass from Justin Fields to Chris Olave. But with 1:49 left, Etienne caught a short pass from Lawrence and split a pair of defenders for a 34-yard TD reception. Tee Higgins caught a two-point conversion pass from Lawrence to give Clemson a 29-23 advantage.

Brent Venables? defense took care of its business to seal the deal on a 29-23 win as a 2.5-point favorite. The 52 combined points dropped ?under? the 62-point total.

Lawrence completed 18-of-33 passes for 259 yards and two TDs without an interception against the Buckeyes. He had a team-best 107 rushing yards and one TD on 16 attempts. Etienne was limited to 36 rushing yards and one TD on 10 carries, but he had three receptions for 98 yards and two TDs. Justyn Ross had six catches for 47 yards.

Clemson sophomore LB Baylon Spector had five tackles two sacks vs. Ohio State, while Isaiah Simmons had four tackles and one interception.

Clemson has already faced a pair of SEC opponents, beating Texas A&M 24-10 at home on Sept. 7 and trouncing South Carolina 38-3 as a 27-point road ?chalk? on Nov. 30. Swinney?s bunch owns wins over bowl-bound foes at North Carolina (21-20), vs. FSU (45-14), at Louisville (45-10), vs. Boston College (59-7), vs. Wake Forest (52-3) and vs. Virginia (62-17 at the ACC Championship Game).

After the close call in Chapel Hill, Clemson ripped off eight wins a row by 31 points or more prior to rallying past the Buckeyes. Since the win at UNC. Clemson is on a 9-1 ATS roll.

For the season, Lawrence has connected on 67.6 percent of his passes for 3,431 yards with a 36/8 TD-INT ratio. He has 22 TD passes without an interception in Clemson?s last seven games, and he has a 31/3 TD-INT ratio in his club?s last 11 contests. Lawrence has 514 rushing yards and eight TDs, averaging 5.5 YPC.

Higgins has 56 receptions for 1,115 yards and 13 TDs, while Ross has 61 catches for 789 yards and eight TDs. Amari Rodger has 28 grabs for 418 yards and four TDs.

Etienne has 1,536 rushing yards and 18 TDs with an 8.0 YPC average. He also has 32 receptions for 396 yards and four TDs. Backup sophomore RB Lyn-J Dixon has 636 rushing yards, six TDs and a 6.2 YPC average.

Clemson is ranked No. 1 in the nation in total defense (244.7 YPG), pass defense (138.5 YPG) and scoring ?D? (10.6 PPG). Venables? unit is ranked ninth against the run (106.2 YPG).

The ?under? is 8-6 overall for Clemson, but it has seen the ?over? go 4-2 in its last six games. This is Clemson?s highest total of the season, but it has had eight totals in the 60s, with the ?under? going 6-2 in those contests. The highest previous total was 63 at Syracuse in a 41-6 win that easily went ?under.?

The ?over? is 9-5 overall for LSU. This is its fourth-highest total of the year, with the ?over? going 2-1 in the three games that had higher totals.

Kickoff is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. ET. on ESPN.

B.E.?s Bonus Nuggets

-- In CFP history, the No. 1 seed (LSU this year) is 0-3 in the finals.

-- I like LSU?s team total to go ?over? 19.5 in the first half and ?over? 37.5 for the game. Orgeron?s team has scored 42 points or more in 11 of its 14 victories.

-- There are dozens of proposition bets out there at various books. At DraftKings, Burrow?s ?over/under? for passing yards is 365.5 (-110 either way) and his total for rushing yards is 26.5 (?under? -121, ?over? +100). That number for Burrow?s rushing yards is down five yards from 31.5, where it was on Jan. 9. Edwards-Helaire?s total for rushing yards is 99.5 (-110 either way). Edwards-Helaire ran for 103 yards or more in six games this year. Burrow has thrown for 373 yards or more six times.

-- Lawrence?s ?over/under? for passing yards is 294.5 (-110 either way) and his total for rushing yards is 51.5 (-110 either way). Lawrence has thrown for 295 yards or more only three times this season. He?s run for 59 yards or more just three times. His highest rushing total other than those three was 47 yards at Louisville. Etienne?s total for rushing yards is 94.5 (-110 either way). The junior RB has eight games with 109 rushing yards or more, turning in seven of those performances in Clemson?s last nine games.

-- Georgia QB Jake Fromm declared early for the 2020 NFL Draft, but Kirby Smart was able to land Wake Forest grad transfer QB Jamie Newman, who is already enrolled at UGA. Newman played in 12 games for the Demon Deacons in 2019, completing 60.9 percent of his passes for 2,868 yards with a 26/11 TD-INT ratio. He?s effective running the ball and pack plenty of muscle on his 6-foot-4 inch, 230-pound frame. Newman ran for 574 yards and six TDs in 2019.

-- Mississippi State AD John Cohen hit a home run with his hire of Mike Leach away from Washington State. Cohen reportedly interviewed former Auburn HC Gene Chizik, former Washington and USC HC Steve Sarkisian, former MSU and current Florida DC Todd Grantham, UL-Lafayette HC Billy Napier and New York Giants new HC Joe Judge. Cohen inked Leach to a four-year contract worth $20 million. Since the program?s beginning in 1895, Mississippi State has never won 11 games. Leach has won 11 twice at two different schools, going 11-2 at Texas Tech in 2008 and at Washington State in 2018. Props to Cohen on this fire of a hire.

-- Names that have been linked to the Washington State vacancy include former UCLA HC Jim Mora Jr., Hawaii HC Nick Rolovich, Boise St. HC Bryan Harsin, former Florida HC and current Central Michigan HC Jim McElwain. Former Cougars DC and current Oklahoma DC Alex Grinch reportedly turned down an offer to interview for the job.

-- Rocky Long retired as head coach at San Diego St. this past week. The Aztecs replaced him with Brady Hoke, who Long replaced after Hoke left to take the HC gig at Michigan.