Pitt QB Eli Holstein may play but his running ability will be compromised I'm 5-1 so far during Bowl Season but it took a little luck to get their in the last game. Needing OT to get the over, I got lucky when South Florida doinked a FG as time ran out to tie it. Then I needed both teams to score TDs in OT which happened when SJSU converted on two 4th downs to tie it in the 1st OT. Better to be lucky than good.
Let's see if the luck and the winning streak continues with:
Toledo +6.5 vs Pitt – Took about ugly finishing drives. Pitt comes in on a five game losing streak while Toledo has lost two straight including to Akron. Who loses to Akron?
Pitt will be playing in the game without its 1st string QB Eli Holstein, 2nd string QB Nate Yarnell and starting RB Desmond Reid, due to injuries. Leading wide receiver Konata Mumpfield, will also be gone after he entered the portal.
There are indications that Holstein may pay but will not be 100%. Considering Holstein’s ability to run is part of what makes him great, it’s not exactly encouraging that his ankle isn’t in great shape.
Toledo will be at full strength and playing in the MAC friendly confines of Detroit. The Rockets ground game struggled (3.5 yards a carry) behind a rebuilt line and faces a Pitt defense that finished fifth in the ACC against the run. However, Toledo also happens to have a pretty explosive passing game. Tucker Gleason has thrown for 2,457 yards with 22 touchdowns and only seven picks this year, and he should be able to make some big plays over the top in this one.
I’ll take the Rockets to cover. I took the Rockets to win outright in my Confidence Pool picks with the expectation that Holstein would be out.
Let's see if the luck and the winning streak continues with:
Toledo +6.5 vs Pitt – Took about ugly finishing drives. Pitt comes in on a five game losing streak while Toledo has lost two straight including to Akron. Who loses to Akron?
Pitt will be playing in the game without its 1st string QB Eli Holstein, 2nd string QB Nate Yarnell and starting RB Desmond Reid, due to injuries. Leading wide receiver Konata Mumpfield, will also be gone after he entered the portal.
There are indications that Holstein may pay but will not be 100%. Considering Holstein’s ability to run is part of what makes him great, it’s not exactly encouraging that his ankle isn’t in great shape.
Toledo will be at full strength and playing in the MAC friendly confines of Detroit. The Rockets ground game struggled (3.5 yards a carry) behind a rebuilt line and faces a Pitt defense that finished fifth in the ACC against the run. However, Toledo also happens to have a pretty explosive passing game. Tucker Gleason has thrown for 2,457 yards with 22 touchdowns and only seven picks this year, and he should be able to make some big plays over the top in this one.
I’ll take the Rockets to cover. I took the Rockets to win outright in my Confidence Pool picks with the expectation that Holstein would be out.
Kansas State will dominate in the trenches Kansas State -7.0 vs Rutgers – The (2nd?) Rate Bowl in Phoenix will feature one of the Big 12’s most talented teams against one of the Big Ten’s most middling.
Rutgers relied on star RB Kyle Monangai, who led a relentless ground attack that averaged 4.1 yards per carry and wore down opposing defenses. However, according to head coach Greg Schiano, Monangai won't play in Thursday's Rate Bowl. That is a huge loss for the Scarlet Knights chances in this game.
Kansas State’s defense is the unit that made them a conference title contender, and specializes in shutting down the run game. Kansas State ranked 29th in yards per rush allowed and will have tremendous edges in the trenches here.
If Rutger’s ground game is nonexistent, it will be up to quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis's arm. He’s not that good.
Kansas State’s will also be missing their top RB as DJ Giddens declared for the NFL Draft. But given the Wildcats' edge in the trenches and solid depth, we may not see them miss a beat.
Given the disparity in talent and Rutgers missing their go to player, I’ll take the Wildcats to cover.
Rutgers relied on star RB Kyle Monangai, who led a relentless ground attack that averaged 4.1 yards per carry and wore down opposing defenses. However, according to head coach Greg Schiano, Monangai won't play in Thursday's Rate Bowl. That is a huge loss for the Scarlet Knights chances in this game.
Kansas State’s defense is the unit that made them a conference title contender, and specializes in shutting down the run game. Kansas State ranked 29th in yards per rush allowed and will have tremendous edges in the trenches here.
If Rutger’s ground game is nonexistent, it will be up to quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis's arm. He’s not that good.
Kansas State’s will also be missing their top RB as DJ Giddens declared for the NFL Draft. But given the Wildcats' edge in the trenches and solid depth, we may not see them miss a beat.
Given the disparity in talent and Rutgers missing their go to player, I’ll take the Wildcats to cover.
Arkansas State's defense is terrible Bowling Green Team total 34.5 points +120 vs Arkansas State – 68 Ventures Bowl? WTF is that Laugh at the branding if you will but I at least know what Pop Tarts are. Doesn’t matter, I’ll still be investing in this game.
I’m 5-1 so far in Bowl Season but it took a little luck to get the last one. I needed a FG at the buzzer to force OT which I got with a doink and then 2 TDs which also happened. Better lucky than good.
Not sure I will need much luck in this line. For Arkansas State to have a poor defense would be a step up. They are terrible. They are near the bottom in just about every defensive metric out there.
The transfer portal took a bite out of what was left when their best CB, Dontay Joyner, decided to move on. He was fifth on the team in tackles and led the defense in passes defended.
The main reason to watch the game besides your investments is to see if Bowling Green TE Harold Fannin Jr. can break two all-time NCAA records. He enters the bowl game with 100 receptions for 1,342 yards and nine touchdowns. Fannin needs just 11 yards to the single-season receiving yardage record for tight ends set in 2013. The stud pass-catcher is also 12 catches from setting the single-season receptions mark for the position. Against ASU? Sounds like a winner.
Falcons leading rusher Terion Stewart entered the portal but is expected to play in this game. Stewarts 890 yards rushing gives balance to the Falcons attack keeping ASU from focusing in Fannin.
Rather than focus on the game total, I’ll just rely on BGSU to rack up the points and up the ante to +120 and expect the Falcons to score 5 TDs
I’m 5-1 so far in Bowl Season but it took a little luck to get the last one. I needed a FG at the buzzer to force OT which I got with a doink and then 2 TDs which also happened. Better lucky than good.
Not sure I will need much luck in this line. For Arkansas State to have a poor defense would be a step up. They are terrible. They are near the bottom in just about every defensive metric out there.
The transfer portal took a bite out of what was left when their best CB, Dontay Joyner, decided to move on. He was fifth on the team in tackles and led the defense in passes defended.
The main reason to watch the game besides your investments is to see if Bowling Green TE Harold Fannin Jr. can break two all-time NCAA records. He enters the bowl game with 100 receptions for 1,342 yards and nine touchdowns. Fannin needs just 11 yards to the single-season receiving yardage record for tight ends set in 2013. The stud pass-catcher is also 12 catches from setting the single-season receptions mark for the position. Against ASU? Sounds like a winner.
Falcons leading rusher Terion Stewart entered the portal but is expected to play in this game. Stewarts 890 yards rushing gives balance to the Falcons attack keeping ASU from focusing in Fannin.
Rather than focus on the game total, I’ll just rely on BGSU to rack up the points and up the ante to +120 and expect the Falcons to score 5 TDs
