
Mississippi State -9.5 vs Texas Tech – All the talk before the game will be about Mike Leach going against his old team. Then the game will kick off and you will get to see an exciting game filled with two high powered passing attacks.
Texas Tech wants to keep defenses on their heels, while Mississippi State want to keep the clock ticking. The Bulldogs are one dimensional ranking third in passing but dead last in rushing. For Texas Tech It’s not as efficient as the Mississippi State passing game, it loves to take deep shots, and there’s enough of a running game to at least not as one-dimensional as Mississippi State.
It’s the defenses that will make the difference. Unlike past teams, Mike Leach has a defense this year, allowing just 25.2 points and 331.3 yards (21st-best nationally) per game. Conversely. Texas Tech has the worst pass defense in the porous Big 12.
And the Pirate will sure to be motivated in this one. He has a $2.5 million lawsuit over his firing as the Red Raiders coach back in 2009 that is still pending in the courts. Or as he said “You know they still owe me for 2009, the last time they won nine games." You can always count on Mike for some great quotes.
I’ll take the other MSU and drop the points for a quatloo.
Texas Tech wants to keep defenses on their heels, while Mississippi State want to keep the clock ticking. The Bulldogs are one dimensional ranking third in passing but dead last in rushing. For Texas Tech It’s not as efficient as the Mississippi State passing game, it loves to take deep shots, and there’s enough of a running game to at least not as one-dimensional as Mississippi State.
It’s the defenses that will make the difference. Unlike past teams, Mike Leach has a defense this year, allowing just 25.2 points and 331.3 yards (21st-best nationally) per game. Conversely. Texas Tech has the worst pass defense in the porous Big 12.
And the Pirate will sure to be motivated in this one. He has a $2.5 million lawsuit over his firing as the Red Raiders coach back in 2009 that is still pending in the courts. Or as he said “You know they still owe me for 2009, the last time they won nine games." You can always count on Mike for some great quotes.
I’ll take the other MSU and drop the points for a quatloo.

NC State -2.0 vs UCLA – Finally, a game with no opt outs, sick outs or coaching changes. Just some good old fashioned straight up handicapping.
UCLA has the best downfield passing game in the Pac-12. The running game averages 215 yards per game with a good blend of power and speed. RB Zach Charbonnet had a fantastic campaign rushing for 1,137 yards and 13 touchdowns on 202 carries Put it together and they were finished 30th in YPG.. They finished on a high note scoring. at least 42 points in all three of their wins to close the season.
The Wolfpack have a terrific passing attack, the defense was third in the ACC overall and second in points allowed – giving up fewer than 20 per game – and they have a style that should be able to control the tempo throughout.
.The game will showcase two of the most overlooked quarterbacks to play this year. NC State’s Devin Leary might not have been celebrated in the ACC like Kenny Pickett or Sam Howell or Sam Hartman, but he threw for 3,433 yards, 35 touchdown passes and just five interceptions this season. He ended on a hot streak throwing for four or more TDs in four of his last five games.
UCLA has the best downfield passing game in the Pac-12. The running game averages 215 yards per game with a good blend of power and speed. RB Zach Charbonnet had a fantastic campaign rushing for 1,137 yards and 13 touchdowns on 202 carries Put it together and they were finished 30th in YPG.. They finished on a high note scoring. at least 42 points in all three of their wins to close the season.
The Wolfpack have a terrific passing attack, the defense was third in the ACC overall and second in points allowed – giving up fewer than 20 per game – and they have a style that should be able to control the tempo throughout.
.The game will showcase two of the most overlooked quarterbacks to play this year. NC State’s Devin Leary might not have been celebrated in the ACC like Kenny Pickett or Sam Howell or Sam Hartman, but he threw for 3,433 yards, 35 touchdown passes and just five interceptions this season. He ended on a hot streak throwing for four or more TDs in four of his last five games.

UCLA’s Dorian Thompson-Robinson was a true dual threat quarterback.. He closed out the regular season with 2,409 passing yards with 21 TDs against just six interceptions while tacking on an additional 611 yards and nine rushing touchdowns.
The Bruin defense played bend but don’t break. They ranked 111th in yards allowed but gave up only 15 TDs on the year while grabbing 12 picks.
The Wolfpack’s defense was stronger giving up less than 20 PPG 16th overall.
NC State has been dead to me but with some leftover Christmas spirit I’ll give them one more chance.
I’ll lay a quatloo on the Pack to cover the short spread.
The Bruin defense played bend but don’t break. They ranked 111th in yards allowed but gave up only 15 TDs on the year while grabbing 12 picks.
The Wolfpack’s defense was stronger giving up less than 20 PPG 16th overall.
NC State has been dead to me but with some leftover Christmas spirit I’ll give them one more chance.
I’ll lay a quatloo on the Pack to cover the short spread.

Minnesota -5.0 vs West Virginia – The Gopher game plan is going to be very simple. Keep punching away on the ground. The more of a grind this gets, the better it is for the Gophers. They want to rely on their massive offensive line to take over in the fourth quarter for long, tough drives.
The running game will need to take over because to call QB Tanner Morgan average is being generous. Despite a front five that allowed only 20 sacks, the Sr QB recorded less than 200 passing yards in six consecutive games and has a total of 1,935 passing yards with a sad 10:8 TD to INT ratio.
Mountaineers’ QB Jarret Doege was able to put up much better numbers. He posted 2,908 passing yards to go with a 19:11 TD to INT ratio on the year.
But the offense was centered on RB Leddie Brown. The Sr RB eclipsed the 100-yard mark four times in conference play accumulated 1,065 rushing yards accounting for 70% of the WVU rushing offense. In yet another accelerating trend, Brown opted out.
The running game will need to take over because to call QB Tanner Morgan average is being generous. Despite a front five that allowed only 20 sacks, the Sr QB recorded less than 200 passing yards in six consecutive games and has a total of 1,935 passing yards with a sad 10:8 TD to INT ratio.
Mountaineers’ QB Jarret Doege was able to put up much better numbers. He posted 2,908 passing yards to go with a 19:11 TD to INT ratio on the year.
But the offense was centered on RB Leddie Brown. The Sr RB eclipsed the 100-yard mark four times in conference play accumulated 1,065 rushing yards accounting for 70% of the WVU rushing offense. In yet another accelerating trend, Brown opted out.

The Mountaineers' defense was the team’s strength this year. They held Oklahoma to just 13 points early in the season and limited Texas to 23. The pass defense is solid, tabbing 56th in the FBS while the rush defense is even better at 33rd overall. The Neers are aggressive yet haven’t allowed many big plays.
Minnesota’s defense was far better. The gave up more than 20 points only three times in conference play. There are no flaws. They stand 11th against the pass and 8th against the run. And concede only 18.3 points PPG, good for ninth in the entire FBS.
If it comes down to turnovers – advantage Gophers. Minnesota is plus-four in turnover margin, while West Virginia is minus-eight.
These teams have similar constructs but Minnesota is better.
West Virginia was an easy team to handicap this year. Take them at home, fade them on the road. At home, they played Oklahoma tough while defeating Texas and Iowa State. On the road they lost to Maryland, Kansas State and Texas Tech.
On a neutral site against a better team, I’ll take the Gophers. But no quatloos.
Minnesota’s defense was far better. The gave up more than 20 points only three times in conference play. There are no flaws. They stand 11th against the pass and 8th against the run. And concede only 18.3 points PPG, good for ninth in the entire FBS.
If it comes down to turnovers – advantage Gophers. Minnesota is plus-four in turnover margin, while West Virginia is minus-eight.
These teams have similar constructs but Minnesota is better.
West Virginia was an easy team to handicap this year. Take them at home, fade them on the road. At home, they played Oklahoma tough while defeating Texas and Iowa State. On the road they lost to Maryland, Kansas State and Texas Tech.
On a neutral site against a better team, I’ll take the Gophers. But no quatloos.