College Bowl Preview Dec 31st-Jan 1st

    Air Force as usual has one of the top rated rushing attacks in the country finishing second in the nation to Navy at nearly 300 yards/game. The big difference in this team is that they throw the ball more than they have in the past and Shaun Carney threw it pretty well. He completed just over 62% of his passes and threw only 5 Int's  in nearly 200 attempts. The key in this game is whether or not Air Force can stop the Cal offense. The first 5 games of the year Cal was one of the most dynamic offenses in the country with Forsett running and Longshore throwing to Jackson and Hawkins. I don't believe that a well rested and healthy Cal team can be stopped by the Falcon defense so expect big games out of Forsett and Longshore. I don't like Cal's chances of stifling the Air Force offense either so if I was to play this game I would play it over the total rather than on either side.

                  Sun Bowl--Oregon vs. South Florida

     Oregon will have big problems moving the ball in this game as South Florida has an excellent defense with alot of speed. I don't think that South Florida will move the ball either so I see this game being fairly low scoring, but 52 is a fairly low number so it is questionable that turnovers(which will plentiful in this game) could get this game over. Check back with me on Monday because I will have a play on this game!

         MPC Computers Bowl--Fresno St. vs. Georgia Tech

     Teams that have made coaching changes prior to their bowl game are now 0-5 this season but they are 3-2 ATS. This is a rematch of a bowl game played a few years ago in Fresno in which the Bulldogs won. Fresno was a better team back then and Georgia Tech basically had no QB. Their QB situation isn't much better but Bennett does make an occasional play for them. Fresno's QB Brandstater had a very good year but he'll be facing one of the better defenses he has seen all year with many blitz packages. I like Georgia Tech to confuse him and create some mistakes that lead to easy Tech scores. I'll lean with G. Tech to win this game 27-20!

         Music City Bowl--Florida St. vs. Kentucky

     The big story here is that the Seminoles are the must undermanned college football team you'll ever see. 36 guys will not be making the trip to this game so the Noles would be better off if this game was 7 on 7. Andre Woodson should have his way with most of the starting defense out of the lineup. The Wildcats have just enough defense to keep the Noles in check and FSU usually helps out with penalties and turnovers. The line has jumped up all the way to 9.5 points, but the smart money still has to go on the Wildcats who have played a much tougher schedule and played better than FSU all year!

        Insight Bowl--Indiana vs. Oklahoma St

     This game has a chance to be the highest scoring bowl game of the season. Problem is the total is set at 69 which is tough in a bowl game where nerves can come into play and slow starts by the offenses. The Lewis to Hardy connection for the Hoosiers should have a big day, but the Indiana defense will have problems slowing a very good rushing attack for the Cowboys. This should be a very competitive game and I would lean toward taking Indiana plus the points right now, because this could be a game where whoever has the ball last wins!

       Chick-Fil-A Bowl--Auburn vs. Clemson

     This is one of my favorite games of the bowl season. You have 2 very similar teams that want to establish the run and use play action to create their big passing plays. They also have solid defenses, but I will have a play on this game and it will be a BIG TIME play for anybody who wants a winner!!

       Outback Bowl--Wisconsin vs. Tennessee

     This game starts off what is going to be one great day of college football. Both of these programs in the past relied on defense, but this year both teams have questionable defenses and they have had to win some high scoring or lose high scoring shootouts. The Outback Bowl in general is a game that seems to go over as 5 of the last 6 have gone over the total and it was last year's Tennessee-Penn St. that stayed under. I like this game to go over as I see a lot of big plays coming from both teams and some likely big special teams plays. I would lean with Wisconsin in the game, but my only wager here would be over the number.

       Cotton Bowl--Arkansas vs. Missouri

     This is another game that I will have available on the site by end of day on the 31st. It is a matchup that features 2 of the heisman finalists with Chase Daniel at QB for Missouri and Darren McFadden at every position for Arkansas. The key in this game will be if Arkansas can throw the ball on Missouri or not. I have a pretty good idea of how that will go and that is why it is one of my strongest plays of the bowl season.

       Capital One Bowl--Michigan vs. Florida

     One thing I know is that Michigan has no chance of slowing down Tim Tebow and he could end up with 6 Td's in this game, but the big question is now that Henne and Hart should be completely healthy, Can the Gator defense slow down the Wolverine offense? This is a huge mismatch at the coaching position because I feel Urban Meyer is one of the 3 or 4 best coaches in the country and I have always felt that the only coach who was worse than Lloyd Carr during his tenure was John Cooper when he was at Ohio St. Lloyd Carr and Mack Brown should be related because neither one has any idea what a good decision is during a game. The emotion for Carr's players may keep this game close but I still like Tebow and Meyer to pull away in the second half and win 38-27!

       Gator Bowl--Texas Tech vs. Virginia

     Perhaps the most stunning development of the bowl season is that Virginia is playing on New Year's Day. I would have bet that Illinois would be in the Rose Bowl before I thought Virginia would be at the Gator Bowl. This is another game that I will have available on the site for New Year's Day. The Key matchup in this game is whether or not Texas Tech can block Chuck Long and his linemates for the Cavaliers who have been able to pressure nearly everyone. Keep your eye on Michael Crabtree for the Red Raiders who is only a Freshman and may be the most polished receiver in the country already. He rebounded from an awful drop that cost Texas Tech a win at Oklahoma St and had a season for the ages. Check back with me first thing Tuesday morning for what will be a $25 play!

       Rose Bowl--Illinois vs. USC

     The question here is can the Illini run the ball on a USC defense that is one of if not the best defense in the country. This is alot of points for the Trojans to lay against a team that also has a solid defense and USC has had their problems moving the ball with regularity. Everyone I talk to seems to like the Trojans so that makes me feel like my Illinois idea might be on the right track. I won't be betting this game because just like in the NFL with Bellichick you don't bet against Carroll in college football, unless of course you want to lose more than you win. I think the Illinois defense will keep this game close and I do like this game under the number, but I would have to lean with the Illini plus the points otherwise!

       Sugar Bowl--Hawaii vs. Georgia

     I have nothing to say about this bowl game other than I am 7-0 in my last 7 College Football Games of the Year over the past 6 seasons. This game actually rates out higher than my GOY this year on Ohio St. over Purdue and it will be available on the site as early as 7:00 est. Dec. 31st for $50!!!

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