NC State won with defense Dukes Mayo Bowl – NC State -2.0 vs Maryland – I’ll start with, I can never get NC State right so I refuse to bet on or against NC State. It’s my own, internal Big Al (Big Doofus?) rule. But if you don’t have your own internal restrictions, here is how I would look at the game.
Starting with opt outs and transfers, NC State will be without QB Devin Leary and WR Devin Carter. Freshman QB MJ Morris will start in place of Leary.
Maryland will be without their top three WRs, Rakim Jarrett, Dontay Demus and Jacob Copeland. They will without their top CB Deonte Banks as well.
NC State won with their defense so the loss of Leary will be less of an affect on the Pack than the Terps loss of WRs. The Pack is terrific against the run, so for the Terp offense to move they will need to go airborne. Expect Maryland to struggle on offense.
I’ll recommend taking NC State and lay the points (take my NC State predictions for what it’s worth) and if you have the stomach for it, the under 45.5
Starting with opt outs and transfers, NC State will be without QB Devin Leary and WR Devin Carter. Freshman QB MJ Morris will start in place of Leary.
Maryland will be without their top three WRs, Rakim Jarrett, Dontay Demus and Jacob Copeland. They will without their top CB Deonte Banks as well.
NC State won with their defense so the loss of Leary will be less of an affect on the Pack than the Terps loss of WRs. The Pack is terrific against the run, so for the Terp offense to move they will need to go airborne. Expect Maryland to struggle on offense.
I’ll recommend taking NC State and lay the points (take my NC State predictions for what it’s worth) and if you have the stomach for it, the under 45.5
Pitt's losing Israel Abanikanda will be huge Sun Bowl – UCLA -8.5 vs Pitt – Pitt’s team is what you would expect from Narduzzi, run first and play great defense. Transfers and opt outs are going to have a huge impact on his strategy. The Panthers will be without starting QB Kedon Slovis. I thought he sucked so no big loss there.
More devastating was that star RB Israel Abanikanda, who led the ACC in rushing but has opted out for to prepare for the NFL.
Pitt has a deep RB room and will be able to replace some of Abanikanda’s production but they also lost both starting OT Gabe Houy and Carter Warren too.
Pitt’s defense lost even more talent to defections than its offense. DT Calijah Kancey, an All-American opted out. Also opting out are DE Deslin Alexandre, All ACC ILB SirVocea Dennis and S Brandon Hill. DE John Morgan III entered the transfer.
More devastating was that star RB Israel Abanikanda, who led the ACC in rushing but has opted out for to prepare for the NFL.
Pitt has a deep RB room and will be able to replace some of Abanikanda’s production but they also lost both starting OT Gabe Houy and Carter Warren too.
Pitt’s defense lost even more talent to defections than its offense. DT Calijah Kancey, an All-American opted out. Also opting out are DE Deslin Alexandre, All ACC ILB SirVocea Dennis and S Brandon Hill. DE John Morgan III entered the transfer.
UCLA has few opt outs though Zach Charbonnet is a game time decision. This is a ton of vacated talent and production lost. Not only is Pitt out a small handful of starters on both sides of the ball, it will also be playing without all four of its captains (Slovis, Warren, Alexandre, Dennis).
UCLA has very few opt outs though star RB Zach Charbonnet is a game time decision.
Pitt has been more dramatically impacted by opt-outs than UCLA. Plus, it has a significantly more inefficient offense. While UCLA’s defense is porous, Pitt’s offense is unlikely to take advantage with an inexperienced QB under center who doesn’t have Abanikanda to take the pressure off.
The Bruins offense appears better positioned to take advantage of Pitt’s opt-outs and score enough to make it impossible for the Panthers to keep it close.
The spread is too large though, so I’ll take UCLA on a money line parlay with Notre Dame and Clemson.
UCLA has very few opt outs though star RB Zach Charbonnet is a game time decision.
Pitt has been more dramatically impacted by opt-outs than UCLA. Plus, it has a significantly more inefficient offense. While UCLA’s defense is porous, Pitt’s offense is unlikely to take advantage with an inexperienced QB under center who doesn’t have Abanikanda to take the pressure off.
The Bruins offense appears better positioned to take advantage of Pitt’s opt-outs and score enough to make it impossible for the Panthers to keep it close.
The spread is too large though, so I’ll take UCLA on a money line parlay with Notre Dame and Clemson.
Spencer Rattler will play but who will he throw to? Gator Bowl – Notre Dame -4.0 vs South Carolina - The Irish are a boat load of important players. The biggest is TE Michael Mayer. Mayer was a matchup nightmare who will go on Day 1 in the NFL draft. Despite consistently drawing double- or even triple-teams this fall, he had 809 yards and 9 TDs and was the only receiving weapon that scared opponents.
QB Drew Pyne is headed to Arizona State, but his transfer has less of an impact as Week 1 starter QB Tyler Buchner is will start this game.
The Irish will also be without the team’s best pass-rusher Isiah Foskey, Foskey had 12 sacks, his second straight season with 11 or more.
South Carolina received good news when QB Spencer Rattler decided to play in the game, but who will he throw to? Star WR Josh Vann is questionable, and their two top TEs, Jahein Bell (Florida State) and Austin Stogner (Oklahoma) hit the transfer portal as did their best RB Marshawn Lloyd.
QB Drew Pyne is headed to Arizona State, but his transfer has less of an impact as Week 1 starter QB Tyler Buchner is will start this game.
The Irish will also be without the team’s best pass-rusher Isiah Foskey, Foskey had 12 sacks, his second straight season with 11 or more.
South Carolina received good news when QB Spencer Rattler decided to play in the game, but who will he throw to? Star WR Josh Vann is questionable, and their two top TEs, Jahein Bell (Florida State) and Austin Stogner (Oklahoma) hit the transfer portal as did their best RB Marshawn Lloyd.
Notre Dame's OL will dominate South Carolina Lloyd is an NFL talent who is looking for a new home. Starting RT Dylan Wonnum is off to the NFL and won’t play. Wonnum started 40 of 42 career games with the Gamecocks.
You can add in losses in the secondary for the Cocks too as CB Cam Smith, CB Darius Rush and S Devonni Reed won’t be playing. Smith was one of the nation’s top cover corners, and a Day 1 draft candidate.
Both teams will be throwing way too many unknown starters out there. That said, South Carolina will be down far more talent than the Domers.
Notre Dame should be able to have its way on the ground in this game behind one of the best offensive line groups in the country, going up against a South Carolina front that won’t be at full strength.
I’ll add Notre Dame to my money line parlay.
You can add in losses in the secondary for the Cocks too as CB Cam Smith, CB Darius Rush and S Devonni Reed won’t be playing. Smith was one of the nation’s top cover corners, and a Day 1 draft candidate.
Both teams will be throwing way too many unknown starters out there. That said, South Carolina will be down far more talent than the Domers.
Notre Dame should be able to have its way on the ground in this game behind one of the best offensive line groups in the country, going up against a South Carolina front that won’t be at full strength.
I’ll add Notre Dame to my money line parlay.
Wyoming' s QB, Andrew Peasley, may need to go to the air to beat Ohio Arizona Bowl – Ohio -2.5 vs Wyoming – If the Heisman went to the most valuable player to its team, Kurtis Rourke would win the award running away. Rourke was easily the best QB in the MAC, was PFF’s highest-graded quarterback this season (92.0) and the MAC Offensive Player of the Year. He went down with a torn against Ball State on Nov 15th and will miss this Bowl. Backup CJ Harris is terrible.
The run-first Cowboys are in a pickle at the running back position. Their best RB, Titus Swen was dismissed from the team right after the finale against Fresno State. Not only is the bellcow runner out for this game, but so are his top-three backups. RB Joey Braasch transferred, while RB Dawiian McNeely and RB D.Q. James are both expected to miss the game with injuries.
Also hitting the portal are WR Joshua Cobbs, the team’s leading receiver, DE Oluwasey Omotosho was No. 3 in sacks, and CB Cam Stone led the team in interceptions.
With Ohio missing its best player and Wyoming’s backfield gutted I’ll go with Wyoming going to the air against the nations second worst pass defense for an upset win. I took the Cowboys and the money line on a parlay with the under in the Tennessee vs Clemson Orange Bowl.
The run-first Cowboys are in a pickle at the running back position. Their best RB, Titus Swen was dismissed from the team right after the finale against Fresno State. Not only is the bellcow runner out for this game, but so are his top-three backups. RB Joey Braasch transferred, while RB Dawiian McNeely and RB D.Q. James are both expected to miss the game with injuries.
Also hitting the portal are WR Joshua Cobbs, the team’s leading receiver, DE Oluwasey Omotosho was No. 3 in sacks, and CB Cam Stone led the team in interceptions.
With Ohio missing its best player and Wyoming’s backfield gutted I’ll go with Wyoming going to the air against the nations second worst pass defense for an upset win. I took the Cowboys and the money line on a parlay with the under in the Tennessee vs Clemson Orange Bowl.
Joe Milton sucked at scUM - he still sucks Orange Bowl – Clemson -4.5 vs Tennessee – The Orange Bowl featuring tow teams whose primary color is orange? Nice.
Tennessee was the darlings of college football behind QB Hendon Hooker. The Vols upset of Bama electrified college football. Then Hooker went down with a torn ACL and the Vol offense went into a ditch.
scUM transfer stepped in for Hooker. He sucked in Ann Arbor and still sucks. Clemson’s defense is too much for what remains of the Vol offense. The Volunteers’ offensive line struggled to keep Hooker clean most of the season, ranking 94th in pass blocking. Clemson is expected to have its primary defensive linemen available in this game, including KJ Henry and Bryan Bresee.
Tennessee was the darlings of college football behind QB Hendon Hooker. The Vols upset of Bama electrified college football. Then Hooker went down with a torn ACL and the Vol offense went into a ditch.
scUM transfer stepped in for Hooker. He sucked in Ann Arbor and still sucks. Clemson’s defense is too much for what remains of the Vol offense. The Volunteers’ offensive line struggled to keep Hooker clean most of the season, ranking 94th in pass blocking. Clemson is expected to have its primary defensive linemen available in this game, including KJ Henry and Bryan Bresee.
Cade Klubnick may be an upgrade but the Tiger offensive woes go beyond QB Tennessee played defense as if they were a side show to the offense. It just wanted to make enough stops for the offense to win It was terrible. Tennessee’s defense struggled to generate a pass rush (also 94th overall), especially over the second half of the season.
Clemson replaced starting QB DJ Uiagalelei (off to Oregon State) and gave the reins to Cade Klubnik. He’s an upgrade and with a clean pocket should feast on the Tennessee secondary.
I’ll take Clemson as part of a money line parlay and the under as part of the other parlay. The Tennessee offense is missing too many pieces.
Klubnik may be an upgrade, he struggled in limited action against Syracuse and Notre Dame this season. Uiagalelei was far from the only problem on this offense.
Clemson replaced starting QB DJ Uiagalelei (off to Oregon State) and gave the reins to Cade Klubnik. He’s an upgrade and with a clean pocket should feast on the Tennessee secondary.
I’ll take Clemson as part of a money line parlay and the under as part of the other parlay. The Tennessee offense is missing too many pieces.
Klubnik may be an upgrade, he struggled in limited action against Syracuse and Notre Dame this season. Uiagalelei was far from the only problem on this offense.
