It hasn't been a good year for Christian Hackenberg Boston College -2.5 vs Penn State – Two Northeast powers meet in the Bronx. Classic.
This game has huge recruiting implications.
Not only that, but these teams are carbon copies of each other. Solid defense with mediocre offenses.
Well, almost carbon copies. Boston College can run (252 yards per game, 14th overall) led QB Tyler Murphy with over 1,000 yards. But they can’t pass averaging 132 yards per game (123rd overall)
Penn State can’t do either. The Nits average less than 20 points per game (119th overall). The biggest issue has been the regression of QB Christian Hackenberg who went from throwing 20 TD passes as a Frosh last year to 8 this year.
That said, the Penn State defense is pretty damn good. No one defends the run better and the pass defense in 7th overall in pass efficiency.
The Eagles are a scrappy team having beaten Va Tech and USC and lost a close one to Florida State – losing by three.
The trends say - Go Eagles. PSU is on a 2-6 ATS and SU streak and is 2-9 ATS away from Happy Valley. BC is on a 7-3 ATS run.
I’ll take two Mini Megas on Boston College. One to cover the 2.5 and the other keep the game under 40 points.
This game has huge recruiting implications.
Not only that, but these teams are carbon copies of each other. Solid defense with mediocre offenses.
Well, almost carbon copies. Boston College can run (252 yards per game, 14th overall) led QB Tyler Murphy with over 1,000 yards. But they can’t pass averaging 132 yards per game (123rd overall)
Penn State can’t do either. The Nits average less than 20 points per game (119th overall). The biggest issue has been the regression of QB Christian Hackenberg who went from throwing 20 TD passes as a Frosh last year to 8 this year.
That said, the Penn State defense is pretty damn good. No one defends the run better and the pass defense in 7th overall in pass efficiency.
The Eagles are a scrappy team having beaten Va Tech and USC and lost a close one to Florida State – losing by three.
The trends say - Go Eagles. PSU is on a 2-6 ATS and SU streak and is 2-9 ATS away from Happy Valley. BC is on a 7-3 ATS run.
I’ll take two Mini Megas on Boston College. One to cover the 2.5 and the other keep the game under 40 points.
But a pretty good one for Cody Kessler Nebraska +7.0 vs USC – OK Nebraska, nine wins or so a year wasn’t enough. So you can Bo Pelini and hire Mike Riley. That has to have Huskers all pumped up right?
More than most bowl games this one will be about motivation. Will Nebraska win one for Pelini and pack it in for bowl coach Barney Cotton?
USC could use a kick in the pants too. Things didn’t go exactly to plan for new HC Steve Sarkasian. His job is secure but a loss to Boston College and a late blow out loss to arch rival UCLA are making things a little antsy in Trojan land.
Motivation being equal, USC deserves to be favored. The passing attack led by QB Cody Kessler should destroy a spotty Husker defense. Kessler has been outstanding this year hitting 71% of his passes, over 3,500 yards with 36 TDs against only four picks.
Nebraska’s great RB Ammer Abdullah was dinged up at the end of the year but he should be rested and ready to go. He’ll need to be in order to navigate a pretty good USC run defense that ended the season 27th best.
The trends favor Nebraska for this game. Nebraska is 5-2 ATS as a dog and 6-0 ATS on grass. USC is 2-4 ATS away from the Colesium.
Nebraska travels well but USC is just down the road from San Diego so the crowds should favor the Trojans. Joe will be drinking flaming Blue Horizons in the parking lot trying to figure who to root for.
I’m going to take Nebraska to be better motivated team, so I’ll take the Huskers and the TD. Another small wager on this one.
More than most bowl games this one will be about motivation. Will Nebraska win one for Pelini and pack it in for bowl coach Barney Cotton?
USC could use a kick in the pants too. Things didn’t go exactly to plan for new HC Steve Sarkasian. His job is secure but a loss to Boston College and a late blow out loss to arch rival UCLA are making things a little antsy in Trojan land.
Motivation being equal, USC deserves to be favored. The passing attack led by QB Cody Kessler should destroy a spotty Husker defense. Kessler has been outstanding this year hitting 71% of his passes, over 3,500 yards with 36 TDs against only four picks.
Nebraska’s great RB Ammer Abdullah was dinged up at the end of the year but he should be rested and ready to go. He’ll need to be in order to navigate a pretty good USC run defense that ended the season 27th best.
The trends favor Nebraska for this game. Nebraska is 5-2 ATS as a dog and 6-0 ATS on grass. USC is 2-4 ATS away from the Colesium.
Nebraska travels well but USC is just down the road from San Diego so the crowds should favor the Trojans. Joe will be drinking flaming Blue Horizons in the parking lot trying to figure who to root for.
I’m going to take Nebraska to be better motivated team, so I’ll take the Huskers and the TD. Another small wager on this one.
