Gashing the Pitt defense
Mississippi vs Pitt under 55.0 - Behind a record BBVA Compass Bowl crowd Ole Miss routed Pitt. Pitt, playing in their last game in the Big East had 2 turnovers after having given it away only eight times all year. The first set the tone for what would be an awful outing. On their opening drive, Pitt QB Tito Sunseri threw a pick that was returned to their 22. Five plays later, Ole Miss was in the end zone. Not a good start for Pitt or the under.
Rebel QB Bo Wallace as solid in leading an up tempo spread attack. He took the next Mississippi drive into the end zone too for a 14-0 first quarter lead. But he stumbled in the second quarter throwing to straight picks – the second setting up Pitt at the Rebel 23. The Panthers punched it in to cut the lead to 21-14.
Wallace got his revenge. After a nice KO return to the Pitt 48, Wallace threw for his third TD and a 21-7 lead. The teams traded FGs (including a walk FG by le Miss) and at the half it was 24-10. Now the under was in deep trouble.
You can get the under if one team can shut down the under which Mississippi was able to do to Pitt - keeping the Panthers from scoring in the third quarter. The Panther defense finally stepped up too. Ole Miss was able to get a TD with 21 seconds left in the third leaving the score 31-10. To get the under I could have one more TD and FG.
Rebel QB Bo Wallace as solid in leading an up tempo spread attack. He took the next Mississippi drive into the end zone too for a 14-0 first quarter lead. But he stumbled in the second quarter throwing to straight picks – the second setting up Pitt at the Rebel 23. The Panthers punched it in to cut the lead to 21-14.
Wallace got his revenge. After a nice KO return to the Pitt 48, Wallace threw for his third TD and a 21-7 lead. The teams traded FGs (including a walk FG by le Miss) and at the half it was 24-10. Now the under was in deep trouble.
You can get the under if one team can shut down the under which Mississippi was able to do to Pitt - keeping the Panthers from scoring in the third quarter. The Panther defense finally stepped up too. Ole Miss was able to get a TD with 21 seconds left in the third leaving the score 31-10. To get the under I could have one more TD and FG.
Pitts defense finally started to hold
With 9 minutes left in the game, Ole Miss gashed the Pitt defense with a 62 yard dash up the middle. Crap. Now another TD gets a push.
Sure enough, Pitt scores a meaningless TD with 2 minutes left to put the final score at 38-17 TIE
Week 18 Part 9 Mega Bets:
Indianapolis +7.0 @ Baltimore – Emotions will be at a fever pitch in this game. Indianapolis HC Chuck Pagano’s battle with leukemia has been one of the biggest stories of the NFL season. Now he returns to Baltimore where he guided the Raven’s defense.
Baltimore will be amped with the return of LB Ray Lewis who returns after ten weeks recovering from a torn triceps. Prior to the injury Lewis was showing his age as the Raven defense has been overrated and a step slow. Lewis does however provide leadership and will have the crowd exploding.
But Pagano’s return will be a bigger factor. He knows the Ravens schemes and personnel backwards and forwards.
Baltimore comes in having lost four of their last five. Losing streaks coming into the playoffs are not a killer – look at Houston yesterday. But resting you starters on week 17 has been. Teams resting their starters are an anemic 5-15 against the spread in week 1 of the playoffs.
Baltimore will be looking to run Ray Rice at the Colts 29th ranked run defense. Former OC Cam Cameron was fired for not giving the ball to Rice enough. New OC Jim Caldwell (previously with the Colts) won’t make that mistake.
But this game will ultimately come down to how well Ravens QB Joe Flacco plays. When he is on the Ravens are as dangerous as any team in the league. But when he is off (which is often) even the Lions have a chance.
Andrew Luck has a way of pulling games out of the fire (once again check out the Lions game back on Dec 2nd). Seven points is too much to give Luck in crunch time.
I’ll go with a Mini Mega on
Sure enough, Pitt scores a meaningless TD with 2 minutes left to put the final score at 38-17 TIE
Week 18 Part 9 Mega Bets:
Indianapolis +7.0 @ Baltimore – Emotions will be at a fever pitch in this game. Indianapolis HC Chuck Pagano’s battle with leukemia has been one of the biggest stories of the NFL season. Now he returns to Baltimore where he guided the Raven’s defense.
Baltimore will be amped with the return of LB Ray Lewis who returns after ten weeks recovering from a torn triceps. Prior to the injury Lewis was showing his age as the Raven defense has been overrated and a step slow. Lewis does however provide leadership and will have the crowd exploding.
But Pagano’s return will be a bigger factor. He knows the Ravens schemes and personnel backwards and forwards.
Baltimore comes in having lost four of their last five. Losing streaks coming into the playoffs are not a killer – look at Houston yesterday. But resting you starters on week 17 has been. Teams resting their starters are an anemic 5-15 against the spread in week 1 of the playoffs.
Baltimore will be looking to run Ray Rice at the Colts 29th ranked run defense. Former OC Cam Cameron was fired for not giving the ball to Rice enough. New OC Jim Caldwell (previously with the Colts) won’t make that mistake.
But this game will ultimately come down to how well Ravens QB Joe Flacco plays. When he is on the Ravens are as dangerous as any team in the league. But when he is off (which is often) even the Lions have a chance.
Andrew Luck has a way of pulling games out of the fire (once again check out the Lions game back on Dec 2nd). Seven points is too much to give Luck in crunch time.
I’ll go with a Mini Mega on
But the Reb defense was even better
Washington +3.0 vs Seattle – This should be a fun game. Both teams feature dynamic multi threat rookie quarterbacks. RGIII was expected to be a force this year but Seattle QB Russell Wilson has been a complete surprise.
These teams are fairly evenly matched. In addition to their QBsm the both put additional pressure on defenses with a good running back. Washington RB Alfred Morris finished second in the league with 1,613 yards rushing. Seattle’s Marshawn Lynch finished third with ,590 yards.
Countering these running games are defenses that finished 5th (Washington) and 10th (Seattle) against the run. Seattle’s overall defense is better but the Seahawks are great at home and average on the road. They are on the road today.
With RGII fully healthy after an injured PCL - I’ll take the home team getting the points.
These teams are fairly evenly matched. In addition to their QBsm the both put additional pressure on defenses with a good running back. Washington RB Alfred Morris finished second in the league with 1,613 yards rushing. Seattle’s Marshawn Lynch finished third with ,590 yards.
Countering these running games are defenses that finished 5th (Washington) and 10th (Seattle) against the run. Seattle’s overall defense is better but the Seahawks are great at home and average on the road. They are on the road today.
With RGII fully healthy after an injured PCL - I’ll take the home team getting the points.
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