Merry Christmas everyone! Hopefully it's a great ending to a crappy year. I'll be enjoying the Holidays with a 21 year old Red Breast Irish Whiskey, a gift from the Swag Man. He is making sure he stays around until I open it.
Some good games are on tap starting with:
Some good games are on tap starting with:
Kevin Marks averages another 100 YPG Marshall +5.5 vs Buffalo, Camellia Bowl, Montgomery AL – When they announced the bowl matchups, this was going to be one of my favorites. Two well coached teams that play great football - two of the best in the Group of 5. And two teams looking for revenge after falling flat in their respective conference championship games.
Buffalo started out 7-0 before losing to Ball State in the MAC championship game. The Bulls have the nations best running back in Jaret Patterson who leads the NCAA with 178 YPG, 12 more YPG than the next best player. His back up Kevin Marks is not too shabby either, averaging 100 YPG ranking 27th overall. The Bulls OL leads the nation in fewest sacks and fewest tackles for loss.
But no one was able to get to 100 yards on the ground against Marshall until Rice did it, and they only came up with 127 yards. Even after the last two games, the Herd still lead the nation in scoring defense (12.5 PPG) and are third in total D allowing just 277.7 YPG.
The Herd offense is more balanced and is led by freshman quarterback Grant Wells. Wells led the CUSA in passing yards (219.7 per game) and touchdown passes (18). He had an 18-to-9 touchdown-to-interception ratio, with five of those interceptions coming in the 20-0 upset loss to Rice to close the regular season.
Buffalo started out 7-0 before losing to Ball State in the MAC championship game. The Bulls have the nations best running back in Jaret Patterson who leads the NCAA with 178 YPG, 12 more YPG than the next best player. His back up Kevin Marks is not too shabby either, averaging 100 YPG ranking 27th overall. The Bulls OL leads the nation in fewest sacks and fewest tackles for loss.
But no one was able to get to 100 yards on the ground against Marshall until Rice did it, and they only came up with 127 yards. Even after the last two games, the Herd still lead the nation in scoring defense (12.5 PPG) and are third in total D allowing just 277.7 YPG.
The Herd offense is more balanced and is led by freshman quarterback Grant Wells. Wells led the CUSA in passing yards (219.7 per game) and touchdown passes (18). He had an 18-to-9 touchdown-to-interception ratio, with five of those interceptions coming in the 20-0 upset loss to Rice to close the regular season.
Marshall is #1 in scoring defense However, three key players for Marshall opted out, including running back Brenden Knox and left tackle Josh Ball to prepare for the draft.
Buffalo will have Patterson back but could be dinged up. He was injured in the MAC championship game in the 3rd quarter. He was able to leave the field under his own power and returned with a brace on his right knee. He had one more carry, but it went for just one yard.
The Camellia Bowl has a history of producing close games. Of the previous six matchups all were one score games. Marshall holds an 8-0 series edge over Buffalo. These two teams haven't met since 2004 when both were members of the MAC.
I’ll take the Marshall and the points in this one for a quatloo and another quatloo in the under.
Buffalo will have Patterson back but could be dinged up. He was injured in the MAC championship game in the 3rd quarter. He was able to leave the field under his own power and returned with a brace on his right knee. He had one more carry, but it went for just one yard.
The Camellia Bowl has a history of producing close games. Of the previous six matchups all were one score games. Marshall holds an 8-0 series edge over Buffalo. These two teams haven't met since 2004 when both were members of the MAC.
I’ll take the Marshall and the points in this one for a quatloo and another quatloo in the under.
Liberty has already beaten two ACC teams and nearly a third Liberty +7.5 vs Coastal Carolina, Cure Bowl, Orlando FL – A fantastic a game that Buffalo vs Marshall looks to be this one should be even better.
Liberty beat two ACC teams and would’ve made it a third if not for a late blocked kick against NC State. The team is the real deal.
So is Coastal Carolina. They are undefeated including a win over the #13 BYU. CCU deserved to finish higher than 12th in the final College Football Playoff poll.
These two were supposed to meet back on December 5th, but Liberty had to cancel due to COVID-19 issues. Now they finally get a chance to see who is the prettier Cinderella.
The Flames have a strong defense that ranked 7th in total yards allowed and 10th against the pass, but those stats are inflated by playing some of the dregs of college football, UMass, UL Monroe and Southern Miss. There’s a couple FCS teams in there too.
Liberty beat two ACC teams and would’ve made it a third if not for a late blocked kick against NC State. The team is the real deal.
So is Coastal Carolina. They are undefeated including a win over the #13 BYU. CCU deserved to finish higher than 12th in the final College Football Playoff poll.
These two were supposed to meet back on December 5th, but Liberty had to cancel due to COVID-19 issues. Now they finally get a chance to see who is the prettier Cinderella.
The Flames have a strong defense that ranked 7th in total yards allowed and 10th against the pass, but those stats are inflated by playing some of the dregs of college football, UMass, UL Monroe and Southern Miss. There’s a couple FCS teams in there too.
Coastal beat BYU in the best game of the year so far But it’s the offense that Liberty is known for. It’s a Hugh Freeze team so the Flames are going to rack up points. Former Auburn quarterback, Malik Wills has thrown for 2040 yards with 20 TDs and just four INTs while also leading the team in rushing with 807 yards and 10 TDs.
For CCU, it starts with the lines. If you can hold up against the BYU offensive and defensive fronts, you can handle just about anyone. QB Grayson McCall has thrown 23 touchdown passes, two picks, and he has rushed for 473 yards and six touchdowns. He keeps the chains moving.
His favorite weapon is CJ Marable, who leads the team in rushing with 840 yards and 12 TDs. He’s also hauled in 30 passes for 223 yards and seven TDs.
It’ll be a close, fun game that should be the best and most even matchup of the bowl season. The teams are about equal on paper so I’m going to take the points.
No quatloos though. I’ve been a Chanticleers fan throughout the season and I’m not about to start rooting against them now.
For CCU, it starts with the lines. If you can hold up against the BYU offensive and defensive fronts, you can handle just about anyone. QB Grayson McCall has thrown 23 touchdown passes, two picks, and he has rushed for 473 yards and six touchdowns. He keeps the chains moving.
His favorite weapon is CJ Marable, who leads the team in rushing with 840 yards and 12 TDs. He’s also hauled in 30 passes for 223 yards and seven TDs.
It’ll be a close, fun game that should be the best and most even matchup of the bowl season. The teams are about equal on paper so I’m going to take the points.
No quatloos though. I’ve been a Chanticleers fan throughout the season and I’m not about to start rooting against them now.
Despite missing a game, Sincere McCormick was 2nd in rushing UL Lafayette -13.0 vs UT San Antonio, First Responder Bowl, Dallas TX – The Roadrunners came on strong late in the year with the offense leading the way, scoring 124 points in the final three games. For the year, they averaged 28.6 PPG, led by Joe’s eighth cousin, RB Sincere McCormick. Despite missing a game, he was second in the country with 1,345 yards and 11 TDs, averaging 6.0 YPC.
QB Frank Harris joined in the fun by throwing for 1,422 yards and rushing for another 437. He tossed 10 touchdown passes and scored eight more with his feet.
First year UTSA head coach Jeff Traylor has built up something positive in a hurry getting UTSA to only their second bowl game. Unfortunately, he’s not going to get his chance to be out there after testing positive for COVID.
UTSA might be relatively new to the bowl world, but this is the third bowl in a row under Napier. He’s going to be a hot commodity during the coaching carousel. He reportedly turned down Auburn already.
QB Frank Harris joined in the fun by throwing for 1,422 yards and rushing for another 437. He tossed 10 touchdown passes and scored eight more with his feet.
First year UTSA head coach Jeff Traylor has built up something positive in a hurry getting UTSA to only their second bowl game. Unfortunately, he’s not going to get his chance to be out there after testing positive for COVID.
UTSA might be relatively new to the bowl world, but this is the third bowl in a row under Napier. He’s going to be a hot commodity during the coaching carousel. He reportedly turned down Auburn already.
Levi Lewis has only been sacked 9 times For all of the gushing over Coastal Carolina, ULL lost to them by only three in a great fight. They started the season with a win over Iowa State by 17, went on the road and beat eventual Conference USA champion UAB, and in all, beat five bowl teams.
The offense averaged 33.9 PPG led by Levi Lewis, who completed 60.0% of his passes for 2,128 yards and 17 touchdowns. Lewis added five more touchdowns on the ground and only threw seven interceptions. Most impressive was that he was sacked just nine times this season, despite averaging better than 28 pass attempts per game.
The Ragin’ Cajuns have a two-headed monster in the ground game. Elijah Mitchell carried the ball 122 times for 751 yards and five scores. Trey Ragas had 117 carries for 600 yards and nine TDs. As a team, Louisiana averaged 5.4 yards per carry.
I’m going to lay the points in this one. ULL is by far the better team. Put me down for a quatloo.
The offense averaged 33.9 PPG led by Levi Lewis, who completed 60.0% of his passes for 2,128 yards and 17 touchdowns. Lewis added five more touchdowns on the ground and only threw seven interceptions. Most impressive was that he was sacked just nine times this season, despite averaging better than 28 pass attempts per game.
The Ragin’ Cajuns have a two-headed monster in the ground game. Elijah Mitchell carried the ball 122 times for 751 yards and five scores. Trey Ragas had 117 carries for 600 yards and nine TDs. As a team, Louisiana averaged 5.4 yards per carry.
I’m going to lay the points in this one. ULL is by far the better team. Put me down for a quatloo.
Keep an eye on Pat's 7th cousin DeAngelo Georgia State -5.5 vs Western Kentucky, Lending Tree Bowl, Mobile, AL – WKU went from having no offense to rolling late in the year, winning its last three games to earn the bowl nod. But those outbursts were against bottom feeders, FIU and UNC Charlotte. When it was all said and done, the Hilltoppers scored just 18.8 points per game (115th overall) and generated 290.9 YPG (120th).
Leading the Hilltoppers offensively is quarterback Tyrrell Pigrome who was careful with the ball with nine passing TDs and zero picks. He also had 328 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns so he is a threat in the ground game as well.
Western Kentucky's defense is the strength of the team. They allowed only 24.1 PPG (37th). They were excellent against the pass 170.1 YPG (7th). They should be able to force Georgia State into becoming one-dimensional offensively. Keep an eye on Pat’s seventh cousin DL DeAngelo Malone, the best pro prospect on the field.
Leading the Hilltoppers offensively is quarterback Tyrrell Pigrome who was careful with the ball with nine passing TDs and zero picks. He also had 328 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns so he is a threat in the ground game as well.
Western Kentucky's defense is the strength of the team. They allowed only 24.1 PPG (37th). They were excellent against the pass 170.1 YPG (7th). They should be able to force Georgia State into becoming one-dimensional offensively. Keep an eye on Pat’s seventh cousin DL DeAngelo Malone, the best pro prospect on the field.
And Pete's sixth cousin Cornelious IV Georgia State enters this game having won three of its last four games but they haven’t played since November s they may be a bit rusty.
Georgia State's offense has been pretty good this season generating 32.7 PPG (37th They were solid on the ground with 190.3 YPG (47th). Leading the Panthers offensively is Fr QB Cornelious Brown IV (Pete's sixth cousin) who has looked pretty good this season with 2,046 passing yards and 14 passing touchdowns. However, he will make mistakes as he has nine picks this year. He is well protected though, as the OL has allowed only 11 sacks this season, an average of 1.22 per game (16th)
The D is the best in the Sun Belt at generating sacks and tackles for loss, starting with Jordan Strachan and a linebacking corps that’s always working and always pushing into the backfield.
I’m going to go with Georgia State overcoming some early rust and pounding WKU with the ground game. WKU doesn’t move the sticks and won’t keep up. Put me down for a quatloo on the Panthers and another on the under 52.5
Georgia State's offense has been pretty good this season generating 32.7 PPG (37th They were solid on the ground with 190.3 YPG (47th). Leading the Panthers offensively is Fr QB Cornelious Brown IV (Pete's sixth cousin) who has looked pretty good this season with 2,046 passing yards and 14 passing touchdowns. However, he will make mistakes as he has nine picks this year. He is well protected though, as the OL has allowed only 11 sacks this season, an average of 1.22 per game (16th)
The D is the best in the Sun Belt at generating sacks and tackles for loss, starting with Jordan Strachan and a linebacking corps that’s always working and always pushing into the backfield.
I’m going to go with Georgia State overcoming some early rust and pounding WKU with the ground game. WKU doesn’t move the sticks and won’t keep up. Put me down for a quatloo on the Panthers and another on the under 52.5
