The Pirate will be missed. Happy New Years everyone!
We are down to the last non CFP bowl games. The big news is that New Jersey has halted bets on the LSU Purdue game due “ finding that an individual associated with the Purdue football team is not in compliance” with a state gambling statute” That person is to Drew Brees. Brees had been a brand ambassador for PointsBet, a gambling house doing business in the Garden State. He was also signed to be interim assistant coach for the Boilers after Jeff Brohm moved onto Louisville. He has subsequently ended his relationship with PointsBet. The line on the game has risen from LSU -6.5 to LSU -13.5.
College football always defers to the NFL, so with January 1st on a Sunday, the January 1st games are being played on the 2nd. Takes some of the fun out of it for me but others may appreciated not having to watch the games with massive hangovers.
Here’s how I’m investing in the games –
ReliaQuest Bowl - Mississippi State -3.5 vs Illinois – This used to be the Outback Bowl with Bloomin’ Onions in the line. Not sure what the wager is for ReliaQuest. Not even sure what the heck ReliaQuest is?
What I do know is that this game will be about the untimely death of Mike Leach. He was one of a kind with his life attitude and great quips. He will be missed.
We are down to the last non CFP bowl games. The big news is that New Jersey has halted bets on the LSU Purdue game due “ finding that an individual associated with the Purdue football team is not in compliance” with a state gambling statute” That person is to Drew Brees. Brees had been a brand ambassador for PointsBet, a gambling house doing business in the Garden State. He was also signed to be interim assistant coach for the Boilers after Jeff Brohm moved onto Louisville. He has subsequently ended his relationship with PointsBet. The line on the game has risen from LSU -6.5 to LSU -13.5.
College football always defers to the NFL, so with January 1st on a Sunday, the January 1st games are being played on the 2nd. Takes some of the fun out of it for me but others may appreciated not having to watch the games with massive hangovers.
Here’s how I’m investing in the games –
ReliaQuest Bowl - Mississippi State -3.5 vs Illinois – This used to be the Outback Bowl with Bloomin’ Onions in the line. Not sure what the wager is for ReliaQuest. Not even sure what the heck ReliaQuest is?
What I do know is that this game will be about the untimely death of Mike Leach. He was one of a kind with his life attitude and great quips. He will be missed.
Illinois' pass defense will sorely miss Witherspoon and Brown The coaching style won’t be changed though. The other MSU will throw the ball all over the yard and play good defense. The Bulldogs were the most pass happy offense in college football but use it like long hand offs for a run game. More that 70% of QB Will Rogers passes are 10 yards or less. On the rare occasions when Mississippi State does run they are not very effective, getting 3.2 yards per attempt.
Illinois has one of the best defenses out there, but comes in short handed. Their DC Ryan Walters is off to Purdue to become HC at Purdue. They are also missing CB Devon Witherspoon and S Sydney Brown opted-out for the draft. Both were named to First-Team All-Big 10. Witherspoon led the country in completion percentage against (33.8) and forced incompletions (16), was a consensus all-American and is a projected first-round pick.
Brown started all five seasons he was on campus and during the 2022 regular season, tied for the FBS lead with six interceptions. Minnesota HC P.J. Fleck compared the hard-hitting Brown to Hall of Famer Troy Polamalu. Those are big shoes to fill.
Illinois has one of the best defenses out there, but comes in short handed. Their DC Ryan Walters is off to Purdue to become HC at Purdue. They are also missing CB Devon Witherspoon and S Sydney Brown opted-out for the draft. Both were named to First-Team All-Big 10. Witherspoon led the country in completion percentage against (33.8) and forced incompletions (16), was a consensus all-American and is a projected first-round pick.
Brown started all five seasons he was on campus and during the 2022 regular season, tied for the FBS lead with six interceptions. Minnesota HC P.J. Fleck compared the hard-hitting Brown to Hall of Famer Troy Polamalu. Those are big shoes to fill.
Leading to a good day for Will Rogers Brown’s twin brother RB Chase Brown also opted out. He was the offense’s workhorse, leading the Power Five teams with 1,643 rushing yards scoring 10 TD. There is a drop off to his back up Reggie Love III but the Fat Man will have him ready.
Illinois QB Tommy DeVito actually had a solid season throwing the ball. He averaged 7.1 yards per attempt with a 78% completion percentage.
Like most QBs he plays best from a clean pocket but his drop off is more steep than usual. When he’s not under pressure, his PFF passing grade sits at 86.0, and he’s averaging 7.5 yards per attempt. When he is under pressure, his PFF passing grade drops to 57.0, and his yards per attempt drops to 5.2. Mississippi State doesn’t have a great pass rush so DeVito should have a good afternoon.
I’ll take Mississippi State playing with emotions in the stratosphere to cover. What could be a better venue for the Bulldogs than a stadium with Pirates!
I’ll also take the over 46.5 as Will Rogers tortures an Illini defense missing its best players in the secondary. Put me dwn for a quatloo on each
Illinois QB Tommy DeVito actually had a solid season throwing the ball. He averaged 7.1 yards per attempt with a 78% completion percentage.
Like most QBs he plays best from a clean pocket but his drop off is more steep than usual. When he’s not under pressure, his PFF passing grade sits at 86.0, and he’s averaging 7.5 yards per attempt. When he is under pressure, his PFF passing grade drops to 57.0, and his yards per attempt drops to 5.2. Mississippi State doesn’t have a great pass rush so DeVito should have a good afternoon.
I’ll take Mississippi State playing with emotions in the stratosphere to cover. What could be a better venue for the Bulldogs than a stadium with Pirates!
I’ll also take the over 46.5 as Will Rogers tortures an Illini defense missing its best players in the secondary. Put me dwn for a quatloo on each
