The Judge's Bowl Season

[The Judge]

POINSETTIA BOWL
NAVY vs. UTAH
Both teams can put up points as the Middies have averaged right at 40 and the Utes scored nearly at 26 points per game this season. While Utah?s defense has held their opponents to just under 16 points per game, I think Navy will do much better than that and the Middies have allowed almost 36 points per game. Put a gun to my head and I would lay the 8? with Utah but instead I will just take a one unit wager on Over 64?.

 

[Irish]

JUDGE
Hope all is well with you this bowl season. Good luck on your plays.

Cheers
Irish

 

[DR STRANGELOVE]

gl this bowl season!
nice hit
:00hour

 

[el JB]

XCLENT:00hour keep em comin

 

[The Judge]

NEW ORLEANS BOWL
FLORIDA ATLANTIC vs. MEMPHIS
FAU Head Coach Howard Schellenberger continues to show why he is one of the best college coaches of our time. The Owls did not even have a football program prior to the 2001 season and now just six years later, they find themselves in their first ever bowl game. Regardless, I can not find an edge with either team but do think they will trade touchdowns all night long. Let?s hope that this game is even close to as entertaining as last night?s Poinsetta Bowl was and if so, I should cash OVER 66? for one unit.

 

[The Judge]

PAPA JOHN?S BOWL
SOUTHERN MISS vs. CINCINNATI
Cincy QB Ben Mauk is the nation?s 10th ranked passer this season and the Bearcat?s running game is more than adequate at 4.3 yards per carry. The team has set records this year for touchdowns, passing touchdowns and total points by scoring 35+ per game. Throw in the fact that they have held their opponents to just 2.8 yards per carry and are 2nd in the nation with 39 takeaways and I will lay the 11? points for two units.

 

[The Judge]

NEW MEXICO BOWL
NEVADA vs. NEW MEXICO
I see Nevada?s Pistol Offense led by freshman QB Kaepernick as having more than enough firepower to overcome the stunting and blitzing defense that Lobo HC Long has put in place in Albuquerque. Kaepernick?s passing accuracy has been demonstrated by his 19 touchdowns with only three interceptions but he has shown that he can run the ball too with 567 yards and 6 rushing touchdowns; all in just seven games. Nevada RB Lippincott has added 1,379 yards on the ground and 18 TD?s to create a very balanced attack. New Mexico has played well at times this season but overall has been inconsistent and with star RB Ferguson ineligible for this game and the Lobos? recent turnover problems, I don?t think they can hang around for PK Sullivan to win this one for them. I see that WSEX is giving the Wolf Pack 3 points in this one which I'll gladly take for 2 units.

 

[el JB]

thanks again JUDGE

thanks again JUDGE

will play Nevada and BYU IN PARLAY (a nickel TO WIN 1300 ) bol TO US:00hour

 

[The Judge]

LAS VEGAS BOWL
UCLA vs. BYU
BYU has allowed just 19 points per game this season and UCLA held the Cougars to 17 points back in September. I expect more of the same tonight. UNDER 46? for two units.

 

[Morris]

Like the under myself. GL tonite judge!!

 

[The Judge]

HAWAII BOWL
EAST CAROLINA vs. BOISE STATE
Boise turned down a chance to play a much better team on their home field in the Humanitarian Bowl leading me to believe that this is more of a vacation for the team than anything else. I actually like ECU?s chances in this game and the generous 11 points make the Pirates hard to pass up. I?ll take the points for 2 units.

 

[The Judge]

MOTOR CITY BOWL
CENTRAL MICHIGAN vs. PURDUE
There is a big difference between going 7-5 in the Big 10 and going 8-5 in the MAC. Central Michigan?s in-conference competition this season had a combined record of 32-53 and only one of those teams (Ball State at 7-5) had a winning record. Additionally, CMU lost by 30 to Division II North Dakota and by 23 points to this same Purdue squad back in September. In contrast, the combined record of Purdue?s Big 10 opponents was 53-31 and they only played three teams with a losing record. I?ll lay the 7? with Purdue for 3 units.

 

[jpblack34]

Big play tonight Judger! Best of luck to you through the bowl season and I hope you had a happy holiday!

JP

 

[DR STRANGELOVE]

good luck Sir

 

[The Judge]

Thanks, gentlemen.

Here are the scores from games this season in which CMU faced teams from BCS conferences:

Kansas 52-7
Purdue 45-22
Clemson 70-14

 

[The Judge]

HOLIDAY BOWL
TEXAS vs. ARIZONA STATE
It has been a disappointing season for the Longhorns but they have still managed to finish with a #12 ranking in total offense and #19 in scoring at 36 points per game. The Sun Devils have also been proficient in the scoring department with 32 points per game and with the 'Horns allowing an average of 35 points over their final 4 games, this has all the makings of a shoot out. I?m not really interested in betting against Texas so I?ll play OVER 62 for 3 units.

P.S. Both of these teams are able to score in bunches so Texas? best shot at coming away with a victory here is if they can take advantage of the weak offensive line of ASU. The danger lies in Carpenter?s arm and his ability to take advantage of the blitz?s that the Horns are sure to run at him.

 

[The Judge]

CHAMPS SPORTS BOWL
MICHIGAN STATE vs. BOSTON COLLEGE
I honestly believe that the wrong team is favored in this one as MSU runs an extremely balanced offense. Eagle QB Ryan has been getting all the pub but Spartan QB Hoyer ain?t too shabby either, finishing 2nd in the Big Ten with a 138.9 quarterback rating. Other MSU offensive standouts are RB Ringer with 1,346 rushing and WR Thomas with 1,226 receiving yards. Michigan State put up 83 points their last two games while BC scored just 22 in theirs and the Spartans are thrilled to be back in a bowl game while earlier in the year, the Eagles had their eyes on a national title shot and were actually passed over by both the Gator and Chick-Fil-A Bowls. Give me the 5 points and the team that actually wants to win tonight for 3 units.

TEXAS BOWL
TCU vs. HOUSTON
This season, the Cougars were 4th in the nation in yard production with 513 per game and have scored at least 34 points in nine of their games. The problem is that TCU?s defense allowed less than 19 points and 320 yards per game and Houston has seen few defenses this good in ?07. Their own defense is pitiful and has only been able to contain teams like Tulane, UAB and Texas Southern. Remove those teams from the Houston schedule and they allowed the remaining opponents to score an average of 30.3 points per game. With the exodus of HC Briles and his entire coaching staff, it is a small consolation that the Coogs will be playing this one in their hometown when the Horn Frog fans will only have to travel 260 miles themselves. I?ll lay the 6? for 2 units.

EMERALD BOWL
MARYLAND vs. OREGON STATE
The total in this game is pretty low and clearly a result of these teams scoring performances this season. However, both teams were hit pretty hard with injuries throughout their respective campaigns but have had time to heal since the end of the regular season and are back to near preseason condition. Additionally, OSU has given up an average of 32 points in the three games that have been played on grass this year compared to the 23 points per game they have allowed in all games combined. I live OVER 47 for 2 units.

 

[The Judge]

MEINEKE CAR CARE BOWL
CONNECTICUT vs. WAKE FOREST
Both teams feature solid defenses with UConn allowing less than 19 and Wake giving up just over 23 points per game. However, in nine games played on grass, the Huskies have held their opponents to an average of just 13 points. Against their only common opponent, Duke, UConn put up 151 more yards and allowed 217 less yards than the Deacons. Considering that Grobe?s Wake teams have gone 9-19 ATS as favorites and are just 2-9 ATS with 2 or more weeks off and I can not find a single reason to back the Deacs in this one. I am playing UConn +2? and UNDER 46? for 2 units each.

 

[The Judge]

LIBERTY BOWL
CENTRAL FLORIDA vs. SOUTHERN MISS
Great coaching matchup here between State?s Croom who won SEC Coach of the Year and CFU?s O?Leary who has done a fine job of resurrecting his career since his resume fiasco. Considering their SEC schedule, the Bulldogs had a very nice year which included quality wins over Auburn, Kentucky and Alabama. Unfortunately, their weak spot appears to be their run defense which allowed a respectable 160 yards rushing per game but gave up a combined 83 points against the prolific running attacks of West Virginia and Arkansas. That is not good news if you are facing Knight RB Smith who averaged 188 yards rushing and needs 181 to break Barry Sanders? NCAA single season record. UCF averages 38 points per game and SMU has scored just 22 which makes it even easier for me to lay 2? points for 4 units with the CUSA Champs.

 

[The Judge]

ALAMO BOWL
PENN STATE vs. TEXAS A&M
I?m gonna hold my nose and go with the Aggies +6 for 2 units.