Mark's Bowl Thread

[Mark's Moneymakers]

I am going to post all my bowl picks in one thread this year to make it easier on me as well as others to find my picks. Lets start with a recap of my final week of the regular season as well as my regular season record.



LAST WEEK OF REGULAR SEASON

BEST BETS (2-0)(+6.00 UNITS)
STRONG PLAYS (2-0)(+4.00 UNITS)
REGULAR PLAYS (1-1)(-0.10 UNITS)

TOTAL (5-1)(+9.90 UNITS)

OPINIONS (1-2)(JUST FOR FUN, NO UNITS)







FOR THE YEAR

BEST BETS (19-8)(+30.60 UNITS)
STRONG PLAYS (15-13)(+1.40 UNITS)
REGULAR PLAYS (15-19)(-5.90 UNITS)

TOTAL (49-40)(+26.10 UNITS)

OPINIONS (30-27)(JUST FOR FUN, NO UNITS)






What a great way to end the regular season. I went 5-1 for a plus 9.90 units. I won both my best bets and finished the regular season at 19-8, that is 70% winners. I can tell you I have never done that before and probably won?t do it again.

I normally don?t do all that great during the bowl season, but who knows, maybe this year will be different. I am going to keep a separate record for the bowl games from my regular season.





BOWL SEASON

BEST BETS (0-0)(EVEN)
STRONG PLAYS (0-0)(EVEN)
REGULAR PLAYS (0-0)(EVEN)

TOTOAL (0-0)(EVEN)


OPININIONS (0-0)(JUST FOR FUN, NO UNITS)



Tuesday, December 19th


Northern Illinois +12 vs TCU (regular play)????I love the fact that most people think TCU will destroy them, and they probably should, that is why I am only making this a regular play. I like the fact that is line is up to 12 points as well. The MAC just does not get the respect it deserves, although this year they did seem down a little bit from the previous years. I say N Illinois, with the best running back in the country (at least stat wise) will try and control the clock. They will have to use short passes because of the pressure TCU will put on them. Dogs of this size also have a history of doing well. N Illinois is more than capable of hanging with TCU. TCU might be a little undervalued, they are very good, but they are not in the same class as the top notch teams in the country. People might be giving them too much credit. They are playing in the first bowl game of season, so how great can they be? Think about it. This is too many points for an early bowl game in my opinion. I JUST TALKED MYSELF INTO MAKING THIS A STRONG PLAY INSTEAD OF A REGULAR PLAY.



Thursday, December 21st

BYU -3 vs Oregon (best bet)????My first best bet of the bowl season. I have said since the start of the season that this BYU team reminds me of the old BYU teams that could not be stopped and they have been hard to stop on offense this year. Oregon really folded down the stretch this season. I just don?t think they are going to be into this game after losing their last three games. Meanwhile, Byu will be out to prove that they can beat a major conference team. I just don?t see Oregon stopping this team. Yes Oregon might get some points of their own, but it won?t be anywhere near enough. Lets make it BYU 42 Oregon 31.



Friday, December 22nd

Rice -4.5 vs Troy (regular play)???This line was once 7 and is down to 4.5 with Rice?s QB listed as questionable for the game. That is the only thing holding me back from making this a larger play. Rice at full strength can move the ball and I don?t think Troy?s defense can stop them for an entire game. Rice has the better offense, while Troy gets the nod on defense. My gut just tells me Rice wins this by 7 to 10 points.



There are three games on Saturday. At this point I have no interest in them, so I might be back to throw my OPINIONS on them, unless I hear something to change my mind from now until then.

Sunday, I will be back with Hawaii as a play. Not sure how strong yet. I like the line staying under seven (6.5) right now, hope it does not change. If it goes over 7, that really weakens my play.


I hope I have not lost my touch from the regular season.


Good Luck Everybody!!

 

[Mark's Moneymakers]

Taking a pass on Saturday's games. I don't even have opinions on them. I have looked and looked and just keep on going back and forth with both teams of all three games. Better just lay off them.



Sunday, December 24th

Hawaii -7 vs Arizona State (opinion).........Don't like this one as much as I thought I did. Really don't like it as much with the line going to seven. Odds are Hawaii will score alot of points and cover this, but I have a strange feeling. I am going to lay off it.



Nothing on Christmas Day. Have a Merry Christmas Everybody!!


I will probably be back on the 26th with the rest of my bowl games for the whole year.

 

[Mark's Moneymakers]

Had some time tonight, so I thought I would post all my plays instead of waiting until the 26th like planned.


Here are the rest of my bowl games for this year. I have everything I played right up to the championship game on January 8th. Obviously I took a pass on some games, can?t play them all.


Doing pretty well to start the bowl season winning my only best bet so far and splitting two regular plays. My best bets are 1-0 in bowls and 20-8 (71%) on the year. This just must be my year to get lucky.


BEST BETS???..These below are all best bets.


Wake Forest +10 vs Louisville?????Even though the big east had a great year, I still question just how good those teams (Louisville, WVU, Rutgers) really are. Louisville is capable of beating anybody, but they are also capable of losing to anybody. I think the long break can only hurt their offense. Wake has just had a dream season and I look for that to continue with a solid running game behind a pretty good defense to eat up some clock and get at least the cover and maybe pull the upset.

Texas Tech -6 vs Minnesota????Not impressed with Minnesota at all. If they were at home this line might be right, but they are not. Texas Tech is going to blow this team out. Minny will get some points, Tech?s defense is not the greatest. I just don?t see Minny stopping Tech?s offense in this one. I see something like 45-20. Feel pretty good about this one.

Oklahoma St -1.5 vs Alabama????The tide is in real trouble. They cannot even find a coach. Their defense will keep them in this game, but that is all. Unless Okie St turns the ball over a few times that leads directly to Bama points, State will win this game. Big Eight teams are better than most people realize. I just see a ton of value getting this at less than a fg.





STRONG PLAYS????These below are all strong plays.


Texas A&M +5 vs California???.Sticking with those Big Eight teams. Cal was supposed to be pretty good this year, but did not have the season everybody thought they would. A&M has always been known for having a great defense, but this year they have some offense to go with it. My gut just tells me this is a close game, probably separated by only 3 points.

Tennessee -4 vs Penn State???.It used to be you give paterno time to prepare for a game and he was money. Not any more. PSU just struggles to score points, it is that simple. Their d will keep them in this one for a while, but the vols should pull away sometime in the second half. States defense will tire out as this game goes along. Tennessee just has better athletes than the Nittany Lions this year and it will show in the game.

Kansas St +7 vs Rutgers???..Here we go again?another big eight team, this time against an over rated big east team. Rutgers might have a pretty solid team, but they are not one of the elite teams like some people make them out to be. I was rooting for Rutgers are year long, but I think their Cinderella season ends with a loss. Better conference + at least a team their equal + 7 points = WINNER





REGULAR PLAYS???.These below are all regular plays.



UCLA -4.5 vs Florida State?????.Florida State just an average team at best this year. If UCLA is good enough to beat USC, I know they can win this game and with the long break there is no chance of a let down after beating their cross city rivals.

Nevada +3.5 vs Miami-Fla????.I guess the trend here is going against those once feared Florida teams. Miami was another team like Bama who could not find a coach. A few years ago this line would have been 17, look at it now. Oh how the canes have fallen. Miami either puts it all together and blows Nevada out, or they lose this game outright. I don?t see Miami putting it all together in this game. How can they even be excited to play in this bowl vs Nevada?


Maryland pick vs Purdue????..Maryland has quietly put together a pretty good season after a slow start. Purdue reminds me a lot of Minnesota, whom I went against as well. At first thought you would think take Purdue out of the big ten vs Maryland out of the ACC. Maryland is kind of a boring team that nobody has paid any attention to. Something tells me Purdue might underestimate this Terp team. Just going with another gut feeling in this one.

Boston College -6 vs Navy????This one almost looks too easy to me. I know Navy?s offense could cause some problems, but they are really stepping up in class here. BC losing their coach is my only concern and it stopped me from making this a bigger play. BC just needs to get at least a 10 point lead and take Navy out of their game plan. Should happen.

USC -1 vs Michigan????.Many people on Michigan because they have ?a lot to prove? Everybody has a lot of prove. Everybody wants to win games. Usc has a lot to prove as well after losing to UCLA. I think Usc will score enough to win this game. This might be the best game out of all 32 bowl games this year.

Notre Dame +9 vs LSU?????.Notre Dame is just one of those teams that you take when they are a dog. That is the only reason I am taking them. I know LSU is the better team and could blow them out, but I will take my chances.


Wow, I played a lot of games, but not really when you consider the time frame of them all. Only three best bets and three strong plays with the rest being regular plays. Not messing around with any opinions.

I might be back to add something if I read something I like from now until then.


GOOD LUCK EVERYBODY!!!!