First and Ten

[lostinamerica]

2012-2013 NCAA Bowl Season YTD: 1-0 (+1.00*)
2012 NCAA Regular Season YTD: 50-33 (+11.71*)
2012 NFL Regular Season YTD: 42-25 (+17.71*)
Top Plays (included above): 11-4 (+11.02*)


UCLA(-3)(-103) over Baylor (1.5*)
- - UCLA started the season on a high note, and after losing back to back tussles with Stanford, I definitely get a sense that what I definitely see as the better team is on track to close their campaign on a high note.
http://www.latimes.com/sports/college/football/la-sp-ucla-football-20121225,0,917613.story


San Jose State(-7)(-113) over Bowling Green (1*)
- - Kind of the way I?m seeing it, even with an interim coach: ?"What makes them so difficult to defend is number one they have great personnel. Every one of their offensive skill players is an all-conference player. Secondly, their offensive scheme is very well thought out. If you load the box and try to take away the run they have a lot of quick easy access throws and the second you spread out with them they've got a very physical offensive line that will cover you up and a running back that rushed for 1,000 yards. This is a complete football team." said (BG HC) Clawson.? . . . ? The Spartans are also very good on the defensive side of the ball as they limit their opponents to 351.4 yards and 21.4 points per game . . . "They get good penetration with their front four," said BGSU QB Matt Schilz. "You know they have experience. Their front four makes it easier for their secondary to cover."?
http://scores.goldsheet.com/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=goldsheet2&page=cfoot/scores/live/pv36602.htm


GL

 

[ldabdou]

GL. Let's get the sweep today...

 

[lostinamerica]

2012-2013 NCAA Bowl Season YTD: 2-1 (+0.45*)

Oregon State(-4') over Texas (1.5*)
- -

Syracuse(+7') over West Virginia (1*)
- -

- - Have I overrated the Pac-12 conference in general, and HC Mike Riley's season and bona fides in particular? . . . I'm not thrilled about the controversies swirling around Texas while they are playing in their home state, oh well.

GL

 

[lostinamerica]

Vanderbilt(-7)(-113) over North Carolina State (1.5*)
- - My ANGLES and INFORMATION from two seasons of capping Vandy say 2 + 2 = 4 today.

GL

 

[lostinamerica]

Tulsa(-1)(-117) over Iowa State (1*)
- - Turning into one of the most important days of my Bowl season. First a big play on Vanderbilt, now relying on my capping to change from my first inclinations for taking Iowa State to going with Tulsa, and tonight I'll ride with LSU and the SEC without any further study because the line has moved so far against any possible change . . . I'm very impressed with Tulsa's strengths, consistency and development as they get another crack at a well coached but stagnant ISU team with almost no Bowl pedigree.

GL

 

[lostinamerica]

2012-2013 NCAA Bowl Season YTD: 5-3 (+1.20*)
2012 NCAA Regular Season YTD: 50-33 (+11.71*)
2012 NFL Regular Season YTD: 44-28 (+16.41*)
Top Plays (included above): 12-6 (+9.33*)

Northwestern(-1)(-105) over Mississippi State (1.5*)
- - Simply put, Northwestern carries my cash today.
http://www.suntimes.com/sports/coll...nt-success-have-northwestern-on-the-rise.html

GL

 

[lostinamerica]

Georgia(-12') over Nebraska (1*)
- -

Georgia(-9) over Nebraska (0.50*)
- - Adding, not retreating . . . This game has no real semblance to Utah vs. Alabama.


South Carolina(-4') over Michigan (1*)
- - South Carolina is strong and on task and will prevail, but Michigan may give a good account of themselves in order to squeeze under the number.


GL

 

[lostinamerica]

Stanford(-6) over Wisconsin (1.5*)
- -

Tease Wisconsin vs. Stanford (+10 & Ov40')(1*)
- - A twist or two in this one since I made my wager on December 3 . . . No doubt Barry Alvarez has given Wisconsin a swagger, but I'm sticking with my November call of Stanford as the 2013 Rose Bowl Champion. But making an adjustment in my wager seems in order, and the teaser seems the route in a game always featuring enough big emotional efforts and plays so that 40 points just once is the lowest total points scored since 2000.
http://www.jsonline.com/sports/badgers/alvarez-not-just-here-to-smell-the-roses-ra87cp9-185331241.html


GL

 

[lostinamerica]

Florida State(-14) over Northern Illinois (1*)
- - For ANGLES, I think FSU has plenty of respect for their opponent, is plenty excited to be playing in the BCS Orange Bowl, Jimbo Fisher is building a nice Bowl resume, that mismatches are siubstantially more plentiful in this game than Georgia vs. Nebraska, and that Northern Illinois under new direction will play less than great on an enormous stage. On the other hand, Florida State could screw up a one car funeral procession.

GL

 

[smax]

Perfect assessment of Fla. State. That is why I pass.

I think they come out focused and win going away... But, after winning the 3 plays I made today (Ok, State- Georgia- N Western) I am content to watch with no emotion. I will root for your wager, Buck.

NICE DAY til the Rose.

 

[lostinamerica]

2012-2013 NCAA Bowl Season YTD: 9-5 (+3.35*)
2012 NCAA Regular Season YTD: 50-33 (+11.71*)
2012 NFL Regular Season YTD: 44-28 (+16.41*)
Top Plays (included above): 14-7 (+10.68*)

Louisville(+14) over Florida (1*)
- - For ANGLES, these are the differences I see from the NIU vs. Florida State matchup: (1) Louisville HC Charlie Strong can run circles around the interim head coach for NIU, and with weeks to prepare in his days as a defensive coordinator, he?s come up with winning formulas in similar spots, and with his Florida connections, he?s sure to have put his heart and soul into whatever wrinkles he has in store for this matchup; (2) At QB I?ll take Teddy Bridgewater over Jordan Lynch every day of the week, and twice on Sunday, and if Bridgewater is a struggling gimp in this one, well then I?ve missed the mark in my capping of this ANGLE; (3) Florida thrives on turnovers, and Louisville has demonstrated excellent ball security; (4) before the Orange Bowl, my capping was definitely detecting a pervasive motivation by the Florida State team and program to secure an Orange Bowl Championship, and if you watched the snoozefest, I think you heard anecdotes time and again confirming the high regard Florida State brought to their game, while the thrust I?ve detected around Florida is a business like focus rather than a consuming inspiration or opportunity to achieve something special; (5) I think Florida State is a first half team and Florida is a second half team, and that presents numerous potential angles in itself on how a Bowl game plays out; and (6) Louisville has now secured back-to-back Big East championships and has had its sights set on a BCS Bowl game from Day 1, while it sort of evolved as a shocking reality for Northern Illinois . . . I?ll stick my neck out and let the disrespected dog carry my cash tonight.

GL

 

[ejthree]

Nice write-up...

 

[lostinamerica]

Oregon(-8) over Kansas State (1*)
- -

Oregon(-5)(1stH) over Kansas State (1*)
- - When talk is swirling about the head man leaving, it is always a distraction, which sort of had me waffling on this one for a few hours. But when I get down to it, I don?t think a team that starts games in a manner that reflects their conservative coach and leads a program with a less than stellar Bowl resume matches up particularly well at all with the frenetic style of the deep, speedy and talented Ducks who should be getting this BCS Bowl preparation business honed to their satisfaction . . . If the game goes at all according to Hoyle, I think the first half wager is as solid as the game wager, which is why I added a wager despite some waffling.
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/colleges/articles/20130102kansas-state-needs-speed-slow-oregon.html
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/colleges/articles/20130102kansas-state-looks-slow-oregon-ducks.html
http://www.registerguard.com/web/sports/29256203-41/state-ducks-oregon-quarter-bowl.html.csp

GL

 

[smax]

I'm there with you, lil buddy :0074

 

[lostinamerica]

Kansas State(+3)(-105)(2ndH) over Oregon (1*)
- - After watching Kansas State run twice as many plays as Oregon in the first half, I'll lock in my guaranteed profit and take the further shot at a huge day in the 2013 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl.

GL

 

[lostinamerica]

Oklahoma(+3') over Texas A&M (1*)
- - Oklahoma vs. Connecticut in the 2011 Fiesta Bowl two years ago was my strongest play of that Bowl season because I figured Bob Stoops and his crew were sick and tired of being embarrassed in the ?big? Bowl games, and because they had mismatch advantages all over the field against their opponent if they were stoked and prepared. But other than that, I?ve been in the camp that the glory days of the Stoops regime have been fading rather than catching a second wind . . . The simply fantastic job HC Kevin Sumlin did in transitioning A&M into a totally new and always brutal SEC schedule (see Missouri, or Nebraska coming into the Big Ten in 2011, for comparisons) demonstrates what a lame job his predecessor Mike Sherman was doing . . . So that is the perspective I carried to the table when I started my capping last night after having had my first instincts leaning to A&M(-4') since early December . . . Forward a little, and we have Johnny Football dramatically emerging from a freshman cocoon at A&M in which his media availability was nonexistent, to becoming an overnight Broadway glamour boy, and with ?internet rumors? now everywhere about how the spotlight has not favorably impacted the Trophy winner?s leadership role at A&M, so surely we now have a case study with unprecedented trappings to validate or refute the significance of a Heisman jinx . . . So in capping what?s going to happen in today?s game between head coaches who are close friends and colleagues, I have to confess I?m seeing ANGLES for expecting Oklahoma to perform as a very live dog. Oklahoma has looked as solid to me in most areas as A&M all season, minus the fairy tale, but has now had ample time to put together a game plan to contain the freshman sensation, with brother Mike Stoops back in the fold as defensive coordinator to help in the job, and the doggie has plenty of weapons in every area to get after A&M in a tradition laden and spectacular college Bowl atmosphere. Johnny Heisman may deliver a dagger, but I don?t think he and his cohorts are about to deliver a spanking . . . Tulsa over ISU was my one earlier game this Bowl season where my capping changed my mind from my first instincts built from my best ever season of capping INFORMATION and ANGLES, and this Oklahoma selection now becomes the second such game.
http://newsok.com/if-you-like-college-football-you-should-love-johnny-manziel/article/3742879
http://newsok.com/sooners-ready-for-their-introduction-to-johnny-football/article/3742873

GL

 

[ThrowinPicks]

Your write up is very well written. Gl with your play.

 

[Cabo]

Thank you for your insight on tonight's game! Makes me feel better about taking the Sooners this evening:0074 take care... Cabo.

 

[lostinamerica]

Texas A&M (-1')(2ndH) over Oklahoma (1*)
- - That was a fun first half, and Oklahoma and Landry Jones are playing really well, but it looks like Johnny Heisman will be delivering a dagger.

GL

 

[lostinamerica]

2012-2013 NCAA Bowl Season YTD: 12-7 (+4.20*)
2012 NCAA Regular Season YTD: 50-33 (+11.71*)
2012 NFL Regular Season YTD: 44-28 (+16.41*)
Top Plays (included above): 14-7 (+10.68*)

Mississippi(-3)(-123) over Pittsburgh(1.5*)
- - I watched substantial portions of four games Mississippi played this season (Texas A&M, Arkansas, Vanderbilt and at LSU), and they impressed me in all of them for 60 minutes while getting their hearts crushed at the end in three of them. This team smacked down Mississippi State to get to this game, and they have a solid quota of stud playmakers to matchup with Pitt, and I see those same players, and their coaches and fans, as being very motivated to get this season closed on the right note . . . Pitt was as strong as any underdog play I made all season when they were +16' when renewing their rivalry against the altar boys from Notre Dame, but IMO this Pitt team has not been nearly as impressive on the season as Mississippi, and there is no denying Pitt has some of the same inclinations as Florida State when it comes to being able to screw up a one car funeral procession (0-3 loss in the Sun Bowl not too long ago is a whopping example) . . . IMO the folks I frequently look to for solid opinions on SEC teams are all seeing the same thing from Mississippi when they look at today's game, which definitely has me believing I'm on to a really strong play. . . . The Rebels will carry my cash today.

GL