The Lobos option attack leads the nation in rushing Now comes the tough part – trying to square the Confidence Pool picks with picks against the spread. Real tough when you are taking the underdog yet have a ton of points on the favorite. Makes for some interesting rooting when the games are on
Here are today’s games, lines and picks in the pool
New Mexico Bowl - New Mexico -9.5 vs UT San Antonio [Pick 1 UNM 28] [Pick 2 UNM 17] – The Lobos will be in familiar territory today as the play on their home field. They’ll be playing a Road Runners team that is playing in their first bowl game ever in their sixth year of Div 1A play. That ties the record for the earliest with Georgia State last year and South Alabama the year before.
New Mexico’s option attack led the nation in yards (4,331) yards per game (360.9) and yards per carry (6.81). UTSA counters with a pesky defense led by All CUSA freshman linebacker Josiah Tauaefa. Tauaefa ranks third among FBS freshmen in tackles with a program single-season-record of 104 total stops, including 7.5 tackles for loss.
This game will come down to motivation. It’s UTSA’s first bowl game ever while the second year in a row New Mexico has played at home for a bowl game. The Lobos may feel like they are being grounded (again) without supper but they can finish the crossword puzzle if they want to.
I’ll pick take UTSA to cover but no quatloos.
Here are today’s games, lines and picks in the pool
New Mexico Bowl - New Mexico -9.5 vs UT San Antonio [Pick 1 UNM 28] [Pick 2 UNM 17] – The Lobos will be in familiar territory today as the play on their home field. They’ll be playing a Road Runners team that is playing in their first bowl game ever in their sixth year of Div 1A play. That ties the record for the earliest with Georgia State last year and South Alabama the year before.
New Mexico’s option attack led the nation in yards (4,331) yards per game (360.9) and yards per carry (6.81). UTSA counters with a pesky defense led by All CUSA freshman linebacker Josiah Tauaefa. Tauaefa ranks third among FBS freshmen in tackles with a program single-season-record of 104 total stops, including 7.5 tackles for loss.
This game will come down to motivation. It’s UTSA’s first bowl game ever while the second year in a row New Mexico has played at home for a bowl game. The Lobos may feel like they are being grounded (again) without supper but they can finish the crossword puzzle if they want to.
I’ll pick take UTSA to cover but no quatloos.
Donnel Pumphrey looks to set the NCAA rushing "record" Las Vegas Bowl – Houston -5.5 vs san Diego State [Pick 1 Houston 18] [Pick 2 SDSU 5] – I doubt if there was a team that went through as many highs and lows as Houston. They were the darlings of college football in week 1 after upsetting Oklahoma, rising all the way to sixth in the polls, looking to find a way into the playoffs. Head Coach Tom Herman was already scouting out real estate in Austin. Then 2 losses in three weeks to Navy (good game) and SMU (yikes) crushed Cougar fans. Then a huge beat down of Louisville had everyone wondering where that team had been only to gaffe against Memphis to close out the season.
The Aztecs quietly put together a 10 game winning season led by RB Donnell Pumphrey. If he gets 108 yards he’ll be the all time NCAA rushing leader but it comes with an asterisk. The idiots at the NCAA do not include Ron Dayne’ s bowl games in the stats. Don’t worry Johnny E – your favorite Badger is 800 yards ahead if the NCAA got their heads untwisted from their rectums and counts 'em right.
Pumphrey will try to get the (cough cough) record against a Cougar run defense that finished third overall.
Both teams have been bettors nightmares. Houston is on a 1-6-1 ATS streak while SDSU went 3-8 ATS this year.
So where is the all important motivation. Major Applewhite was named as Houston’s head coach and he’ll be leading the team. And it’s also Greg Ward’s last game as QB before he heads off to the pros. He’ll be looking to move up the draft charts.
I’ll take the better team and more motivated Houston to cover for a Mini Mega.
The Aztecs quietly put together a 10 game winning season led by RB Donnell Pumphrey. If he gets 108 yards he’ll be the all time NCAA rushing leader but it comes with an asterisk. The idiots at the NCAA do not include Ron Dayne’ s bowl games in the stats. Don’t worry Johnny E – your favorite Badger is 800 yards ahead if the NCAA got their heads untwisted from their rectums and counts 'em right.
Pumphrey will try to get the (cough cough) record against a Cougar run defense that finished third overall.
Both teams have been bettors nightmares. Houston is on a 1-6-1 ATS streak while SDSU went 3-8 ATS this year.
So where is the all important motivation. Major Applewhite was named as Houston’s head coach and he’ll be leading the team. And it’s also Greg Ward’s last game as QB before he heads off to the pros. He’ll be looking to move up the draft charts.
I’ll take the better team and more motivated Houston to cover for a Mini Mega.
The Knights have been opportunistic on pass defense lately AutonNation Cure Bowl – Central Florida -5.0 vs Arkansas State [Pick 1 UCF 21] [Pick 2 UCF 6] – It’s been a remarkable year for the UCF. Last year they were abominable, going 0-12 and firing George O’Leary mid season. This year under new head coach Scott Frost they went 6-6 earning a bowl trip to their back yard while Frost got a strong sniff to return to Oregon to be their new head coach.
Arkansas State stumbled badly out the gate going 0-4 including a huge pantsing by Auburn 52-14. But then they won 7 of their last eight and to share the Sun Belt title.
The teams are led by their defenses. Both rank in the top 50 in yards allowed per game and are among the top 15 in sacks. Arkansas State has allowed an average of 13.7 points over its last seven contests while the Knights have given up just three touchdown passes and picked off nine passes over the last six game – and that’s including dates with Houston and Tulsa.
The trends favor UCF. They are 8-4 ATS while Arkansas State is 0-6 outside the Fun Belt.
The motivation should be with the Red Wolves. Teams playing up a weight class are usually have the advantage and UCF may be flat having to play in their old stadium
But I’ll go with UCF with the better defense and a chance to put last year behind them. I’lll put down a quatloo on the Knights
Arkansas State stumbled badly out the gate going 0-4 including a huge pantsing by Auburn 52-14. But then they won 7 of their last eight and to share the Sun Belt title.
The teams are led by their defenses. Both rank in the top 50 in yards allowed per game and are among the top 15 in sacks. Arkansas State has allowed an average of 13.7 points over its last seven contests while the Knights have given up just three touchdown passes and picked off nine passes over the last six game – and that’s including dates with Houston and Tulsa.
The trends favor UCF. They are 8-4 ATS while Arkansas State is 0-6 outside the Fun Belt.
The motivation should be with the Red Wolves. Teams playing up a weight class are usually have the advantage and UCF may be flat having to play in their old stadium
But I’ll go with UCF with the better defense and a chance to put last year behind them. I’lll put down a quatloo on the Knights
Logan Woodside was 2nd in QBR this year Camellia Bowl – Appalachian State -1.0 vs Toledo [Pick 1 App St 3] [Pick 2 Toledo 10] – This is one of my favorite matchups of the bowl season. These two teams have some of the best mid majors over the last several years.
Both teams feature 2 headed monster running back tandems. Toledo’s Kareem Hunt and Terry Swanson combined for close to 2,000 yards and 12 scores, while Appalachian State’s Jalin Moore and Marcus Cox joined forces for over 2,200 yards and 18 touchdowns.
Toledo has a pretty good aerial game too. QB Logan Woodside was #2 in QB rating averaging over 10 yards per pass with 43 TDs against only nine picks
But co Fun Belt champion App State has been terrific against the pass. Over the last seven games they have 17 picks against only 3 TD passes.
The motivation should be with App State. It’s a revenge game as Toledo blew out the Mountaineers 31-10 to start the season
Both teams are on nice win streaks ATS. App State is 5-1 ATS away from Boone Stadium. Toledo is even better away from the Glass Bowl going 12-2-1
I’ll take Toledo to make it two in a row over the other ‘Neers for a quatloo and another quatloo on the over 60.5
Both teams feature 2 headed monster running back tandems. Toledo’s Kareem Hunt and Terry Swanson combined for close to 2,000 yards and 12 scores, while Appalachian State’s Jalin Moore and Marcus Cox joined forces for over 2,200 yards and 18 touchdowns.
Toledo has a pretty good aerial game too. QB Logan Woodside was #2 in QB rating averaging over 10 yards per pass with 43 TDs against only nine picks
But co Fun Belt champion App State has been terrific against the pass. Over the last seven games they have 17 picks against only 3 TD passes.
The motivation should be with App State. It’s a revenge game as Toledo blew out the Mountaineers 31-10 to start the season
Both teams are on nice win streaks ATS. App State is 5-1 ATS away from Boone Stadium. Toledo is even better away from the Glass Bowl going 12-2-1
I’ll take Toledo to make it two in a row over the other ‘Neers for a quatloo and another quatloo on the over 60.5
No one is running on the Ragin Cajuns this year R+L Carrier New Orleans Bowl – Southern Miss -6.5 vs UL Lafayette [Pick 1 USM 11] [Pick 2 USM 22] – Both teams stumbled into this game. ULL needed to win its final two games to become bowl eligible and did just that with an upset over Arkansas State and then a rivalry win over UL Monroe.
Southern Miss, dropped three in a row beginning in November to fall out of the bowl picture before stunning Conference USA West champion Louisiana Tech in the regular-season finale to even its record.
The Ragin Cajuns have a studly run defense. Only Georgia was able to amass 200 yards on the ground. But the pass defense is leaking oil. Teams were able to complete 62% of their passes. USM thrives on the mid range passing attack.
ULL will allow the yards but will wait for USM to give it away. The Golden Eagles disappointing season is primarily due to the 30 times they gave it away during the year.
The motivation will be on the Rajun Cajun sidelines. The own this bowl having won 4 in a row from 2011-14. But USM is 3-1 here having won in ‘04, ‘05, ‘08 before losing in ’09.
The trends favor ULL too. They are on a four game win streak ATS while USM is 1-7
I’m going to have root against myself in this game. I’ll take the Ragin Cajuns to make it five in a row in the Super Dome. No quatloos though. These teams are too erratic.
Southern Miss, dropped three in a row beginning in November to fall out of the bowl picture before stunning Conference USA West champion Louisiana Tech in the regular-season finale to even its record.
The Ragin Cajuns have a studly run defense. Only Georgia was able to amass 200 yards on the ground. But the pass defense is leaking oil. Teams were able to complete 62% of their passes. USM thrives on the mid range passing attack.
ULL will allow the yards but will wait for USM to give it away. The Golden Eagles disappointing season is primarily due to the 30 times they gave it away during the year.
The motivation will be on the Rajun Cajun sidelines. The own this bowl having won 4 in a row from 2011-14. But USM is 3-1 here having won in ‘04, ‘05, ‘08 before losing in ’09.
The trends favor ULL too. They are on a four game win streak ATS while USM is 1-7
I’m going to have root against myself in this game. I’ll take the Ragin Cajuns to make it five in a row in the Super Dome. No quatloos though. These teams are too erratic.
Bring it on Bro - The Sheriff is risking fratricide with this pick The Sheriff is picking 10 Bowl games this year in hopes of reaching that ever elusive 70% winning percentage. He's going with:
San Diego State +3.5 vs Houston. Vegas Bowl. These are two of the best non-Power 5 schools and this will be the best game Saturday by far. The Sheriff will take Rocky Long and the Aztecs.
Navy +4.5 vs Louisiana Tech. Armed Forces Bowl. The Sheriff loves the Navy and the brave men who fought in the Pacific during WWII.
Wyoming +8.5 vs BYU. Poinsettia Bowl. The Sheriff loves a dog (especially one getting more than a touchdown) and has always had a soft spot for the Cowboys (love those brown/yellow unis).
Washington State -9 vs Minnesota. Holiday Bowl. This is a big number to cover but Wazzu has the offense (and the QB, Luke Falk) to get the job done
.
Pittsburgh -5.5 vs Northwestern. Pinstripe Bowl. Sorry, bro, but the Wildcats simply don’t win (and worse don’t cover) Bowl games. Pitt is just too good.
Utah -7.5 vs Indiana. Foster Farms Bowl. Indiana’s program is in turmoil with an interim coach whereas Utah’s is strong under the leadership of Kyle Whittingham.
Stanford -3.5 vs North Carolina. Sun Bowl. Stanford finished the season with 5 straight wins. This will be a great showcase for Christian McCaffrey’s last college game – he will be missed.
Iowa +2.5 vs Florida. Outback Bowl. Iowa finished the season strong beating Michigan and routing Nebraska. Disneyworld will be overrun with Hawkeyes.
LSU -3 vs Louisville. Citrus Bowl. The Sheriff has always loved Coach O, even when he coached the Condoms.
Washington +15 vs Alabama. Peach Bowl. The Huskies probably won’t win but this will be a closer game than most people expect. The Sheriff will take the points.
San Diego State +3.5 vs Houston. Vegas Bowl. These are two of the best non-Power 5 schools and this will be the best game Saturday by far. The Sheriff will take Rocky Long and the Aztecs.
Navy +4.5 vs Louisiana Tech. Armed Forces Bowl. The Sheriff loves the Navy and the brave men who fought in the Pacific during WWII.
Wyoming +8.5 vs BYU. Poinsettia Bowl. The Sheriff loves a dog (especially one getting more than a touchdown) and has always had a soft spot for the Cowboys (love those brown/yellow unis).
Washington State -9 vs Minnesota. Holiday Bowl. This is a big number to cover but Wazzu has the offense (and the QB, Luke Falk) to get the job done
.
Pittsburgh -5.5 vs Northwestern. Pinstripe Bowl. Sorry, bro, but the Wildcats simply don’t win (and worse don’t cover) Bowl games. Pitt is just too good.
Utah -7.5 vs Indiana. Foster Farms Bowl. Indiana’s program is in turmoil with an interim coach whereas Utah’s is strong under the leadership of Kyle Whittingham.
Stanford -3.5 vs North Carolina. Sun Bowl. Stanford finished the season with 5 straight wins. This will be a great showcase for Christian McCaffrey’s last college game – he will be missed.
Iowa +2.5 vs Florida. Outback Bowl. Iowa finished the season strong beating Michigan and routing Nebraska. Disneyworld will be overrun with Hawkeyes.
LSU -3 vs Louisville. Citrus Bowl. The Sheriff has always loved Coach O, even when he coached the Condoms.
Washington +15 vs Alabama. Peach Bowl. The Huskies probably won’t win but this will be a closer game than most people expect. The Sheriff will take the points.
