College Football
Iowa Hawkeyes vs. Oklahoma Sooners
December 30, 2011 | 
Author It’s a battle of college football heavyweights as the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Oklahoma Sooners tangle in Tempe in the Insight Bowl. The Sooners are -13.5 point favorites over the Hawkeyes with an over/under point total set at 58.
The Iowa Hawkeyes have lost three of their last five games heading into their date in the Insight bowl but Kirk Ferentz’s team has had some solid success this season and several wins over bowl teams. Iowa has a win over BCS participant Michigan but the baffling thing on the schedule is the one point loss at Minnesota in a game Iowa was favored by 14.5 points. James Vandenberg put up solid numbers at QB completing 59.4 percent of his passes for 2,806 yards with 23 touchdowns and six interceptions. The big story for Iowa is the void left in the running game as Marcus Coker and his 1,384 yards and 15 touchdowns and with Mika’il McCall also suspended this leaves Jordan Canzeri , De’Andre Johnson, and Damon Bullock none of whom have seen much action this year but Coker was just a fill in last season when he ran wild in the Insight Bowl for 219 yards. Marvin McNutt has 78 catches for 1,269 yards and 12 touchdowns and Keenan Davis has 45 catches and four touchdowns. Defensively Iowa has nine interceptions, nine fumble recoveries, and 20 sacks while they allow 23.2 points and 387,6 yards per game.
The Oklahoma Sooners started the season as the number one ranked team in the country and not even making a BCS game has to be a disappointment for Bob Stoops and his team. The Sooners had their share of big injuries but those are part of the game and what every team experiences and overcoming them is what separates the good teams from the great teams. Landry Jones started the season as a Heisman Trophy contender but he didn’t even get an invite to New York as he completed 63.1 percent of his passes for 4,302 yards with 28 touchdowns but 14 costly interceptions. Roy Finch took over in the backfield when Dom Whaley went down and he averaged 5.7 yards per carry but scored just three touchdowns. Ryan Broyles was lost for the season after putting up huge numbers in his nine games while Kenny Stills has 58 catches and eight touchdowns and Jaz Reynolds had 41 catches and five touchdowns. Defensively OU has 13 interceptions, 12 fumble recoveries, and 37 sacks while they allow 22.8 points and 383.2 yards per game. Aaron Colvin has 80 tackles, Travis Lewis has 79 tackles, and Fran Alexander has 8.5 sacks. As usual Oklahoma is loaded with high school All-Americans and NFL prospects.
Iowa is 5-0 against the spread in their last five neutral site games, 4-1 against the spread in their last five non-conference games, and 4-0 against the spread in their last four bowl games. Oklahoma is 4-0 against the spread in their last four non-conference games, 1-4 against the spread in their last five bowl games, and 2-5 against the spread in their last seven games overall.
The total is set at 58 and I can see this one getting over that number fairly easily.
Pick
Over 58
Posted in College Football, Sportsbook | 
Tags: College football betting, Iowa Hawkeyes, Oklahoma Sooners | 
Comments Closed
Air Force Falcons vs. Toledo Rockets
Two teams that finished the season with a flurry of wins meet in Washington D.C. as the Toledo Rockets face the Air Force Falcons in the Military Bowl. The Rockets are -3 point favorites over the Falcons with an over/under point total set at 70.
The Toledo Rockets won seven of their last eight games but they will be without Head Coach Tim Beckman who left for the same position at Illinois. Bekman has been replaced by former Offensive Coordinator Matt Campbell who has been with the program for three years. Terrance Owens and Austin Dantin each saw plenty of action at QB with each being effective and having 15 touchdowns and three interceptions apiece. Adonis Thomas averages 6.5 yards per carry and has 11 touchdowns and Morgan Williams averages 5.0 yards per carry and also has 11 touchdowns. Eric Page was almost impossible to cover as he had 112 catches for 1,123 yards and 10 touchdowns and Bernard Reedy had 36 catches and six touchdowns. Defensively Toledo has 13 interceptions, 15 fumble recoveries, and 22 sacks while they allow 401.1 yards and 30.9 points per game. Desmond Marrow has 78 tackles, Robert Bell has 70 tackles, and Ben Pike has five sacks. Toledo has losses to Ohio State and Boise State but the loss that stings them is one at Syracuse where the officials clearly blew a call on of all things a ball missing the uprights on a kick.
The Air Force Falcons won four of their last five games to finish the season strong and while none of those wins were over bowl teams they still count as wins in the standings. More importantly to Air Force they beat Army and Navy to win the Commander In Chief’s Trophy and the only military academy to go bowling this season. QB Tim Jefferson isn’t known for his passing but he completed 60.9 percent of his passes with 12 touchdowns and six interceptions but he ran for 492 yards and 10 touchdowns. Asher Clark is small in stature but big on heart as he averages 7.3 yards per carry and has six touchdowns and Mike DeWitt averages 4.9 yards per carry and has 10 touchdowns. Jonathan Warezka has 28 catches and three touchdowns and Zack Kauth has 27 catches and four touchdowns while averaging over 20 yards per reception. The Falcons have 11 interceptions, 13 fumble recoveries, and 17 sacks and they allow 27.2 points and 390.4 yards per game. Brady Amack has 125 tackles, Jon Davis has 89 tackles and four interceptions, and Alex Means has 71 tackles and 6.0 sacks. Air Force traditionally has one of the better pass defenses in the nation and this year is no different.
Toledo is 6-2-1 against the spread following a win, 8-3 against the spread in their last 11 games as a favorite, and 1-4-1 against the spread in their last six non-conference games. Air Force is 5-2 against the spread in their last seven games as an underdog, 3-9 against the spread following a win, and 3-7 against the spread following a game where they scored more than 40 points.
The total in this one is set at an aggressive 70 points and even at 10 touchdowns I like this one to go over the number.
Pick
Over 70
Posted in College Football, Sportsbook | Tags: Air Force Falcons, College football betting, Toledo Rockets | Comments Closed
California Golden Bears vs. Texas Longhorns
The California Golden Bears and the Texas Longhorns meet on Wednesday in the Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl. The Longhorns are -3 point favorites over the Longhorns with an over/under point total set at 47.5.
There wasn’t much of an expectation this year for the California Golden Bears but as has been so often the case Jeff Tedford has taken his team to yet another bowl appearance. Cal won three of their last four games and while only one of those was against a bowl team, Arizona State, they won all of those games decisively. Zach Maynard has completed 57.1 percent of his passes for 2,806 yards with 17 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Isi Sofele is one of the more under rated running backs around as he averages 5.5 yards per carry for 1,266 yards and nine touchdowns. Keenan Allen has 89 catches for 1,261 yards and six touchdowns and Marvin Jones has 55 catches and three touchdowns. The Cal defense has 12 interceptions, 11 fumble recoveries, and 32 sacks and they allow 24.4 points and 339.4 yards per game. Michael Kendricks has 96 tackles, D.J. Holt has 81 tackles, and Trevor Guyton and Ernest Owusu have 4.5 sacks each. In a nutshell the Golden Bears have done well against the teams they should beat but when they are called upon to step it up they haven’t been able to.
After missing going to a bowl a season ago Mack Brown’s Texas Longhorns return to the post season. While Texas still didn’t have the type of year we have grown accustomed to and expect from them this was a marked improvement over the product we saw on the field a year ago. David Ash and Case McCoy both saw plenty of action at QB this season and by the end of the year it was McCoy who was seeing the bulk of the time and getting the starts. For the year McCoy completed 61.4 percent of his passes with seven touchdowns and four interceptions. It was running back by committee for the Horns as well and with Fozzy Whitaker out for this game we’ll see Malcolm Brown and Joe Bergeron who has looked good but is recovering from an injury. Mike Davis has 45 catches, Jaxson Shipley has 40, and Marquise Goodwin has 30 but overall the receivers suffered when Ash was seeing the bulk of the snaps. Defensively Texas has 11 interceptions, 10 fumble recoveries, and 26 sacks while they allow 23.2 points and 315.3 yards per game. Emmanuel Acho has 122 tackles including 18 for a loss, Keenan Robinson has 96 tackles, Alex Okafor has seven sacks, and Jackson Jeffcoat has six sacks. Texas seems to make it harder for themselves than it needs to be and they will need to look more like the team that rallied this year against Texas A&M than the team that couldn’t get out of their own way against Missouri.
California is 4-0 against the spread in their last four games overall, 4-1 against the spread in their last five games against the Big 12, and 0-6 against the spread as an underdog up to three points. Texas is 4-9 against the spread in their last 13 non-conference games, 3-8 against the spread in their last 11 bowl games, and 7-18-1 against the spread in their last 26 against a team with a winning record.
This looks like a game that will belong to the defenses and even with the total set at 47.5 I still see this one going under.
Pick
Under 47.5
Posted in College Football, Sportsbook | Tags: California Golden Bears, College football betting, Texas Longhorns | Comments Closed
Louisville Cardinals vs. North Carolina State Wolfpack
The Louisville Cardinals and the North Carolina State Wolfpack battle it out in Charlotte as they meet in the Belk Bowl. The Wolfpack are -1.5 point favorites over the Cardinals with an over/under point total set at 45.5.
Charlie Strong had a tough road ahead of him when he took over as Head Coach of the Louisville Cardinals but one of the best defensive minds in college football appears to have a plan in place. It has all started with recruiting at UL and Strong’s hiring of Clint Hurtt is already paying dividends in that area and by the end of the season they had won five of their last six games. One of Hurtt’s big recruits was QB Teddy Bridgewater who completed 66 percent of his passes with 12 touchdowns and nine interceptions and as a true freshman he has a ton of potential and is only going to get better. Dominique Brown averages just 3.7 yards per carry, Vic Anderson is averaging 4.8 yards per carry, and Jeremy Wright averages 4.7 yards per carry but Louisville just doesn’t have a dominating back. Michaelee Harris has 37 catches, Eli Rogers has 34 catches, and Josh Chichester has 27 catches but once again there is no real star in this group. Defensively Louisville has nine interceptions, nine fumble recoveries, and 32 sacks and they allow 327.8 yards and 19.2 points per game. Dexter Heyman has 83 tackles, four sacks, and three interceptions and Hakeem Smith and Preston Brown each have 81 tackles. The Louisville defense will be taken to task again in this one as they play in what is really a road game.
The North Carolina State Wolfpack won three of their last four games and Tom O’Brien’s team racked up impressive wins over several bowl teams this year. NC State’s resume includes wins over Clemson, North Carolina, and Virginia and while they took some bad losses they bounced back well form what was a bad start to the year. Mike Glennon completed 62.4 percent of his passes with 28 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. James Washington averages 4.0 yards per carry for 852 yards and seven touchdowns. T.J. Graham matched Washington with 39 catches and he had five touchdowns while Jay Smith had 36 catches and Tobias Palmer had 35 catches each having four touchdowns. Defensively NC State had an impressive 24 interceptions, 12 fumble recoveries, and 33 sacks while they allowed 24.8 points and 351.9 yards per game. Earl Wolff had 99 tackles, Audie Cole had 98 tackles, and David Amerson had 11 interceptions during the regular season. Like their opponent in this one North Carolina State improved as the season went on.
Louisville is 6-0 against the spread against a team with a winning record, 12-1 against the spread in their last 13 games against ACC teams, and 7-1 against the spread in their last eight games overall. North Carolina State is 4-0-1 against the spread in their last five bowl games, 3-1-1 against the spread in their last five games against Big East teams, and 1-7 against the spread as a favorite of up to three points.
This game should belong to the defenses and even with the total dipping to 45.5 for my pick I am going to go with the under.
Pick
Under 45.5
Posted in College Football, Sportsbook | Tags: College football betting, Louisville Cardinals, North Carolina State Wolfpack | Comments Closed
Missouri Tigers vs. North Carolina Tar Heels
The North Carolina Tar Heels and the Missouri Tigers meet in Shreveport for the AvoCare V100 Independence Bowl. The Tigers are -5.5 point favorites over the Tar Heels with an over/under point total set at 53.
It’s been a turbulent two years for the North Carolina Tar Heels football program but once again they find themselves in a bowl game. It will mark Everett Withers last game as the interim Head Coach as Larry Fedora has been hired and will be taking over immediately following this one. Withers was forced into his current position after Butch Davis was released shortly before the start of the season. Bryn Renner took over at QB this year and he has completed 68.8 percent of his passes for 2,769 yards with 23 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Freshman Giovani Bernard has all of the tools and he looks like he is going to be a great one as he averaged 5.4 yards per carry for 1,222 yards and 13 touchdowns. Dwight Jones had 79 receptions and 11 touchdowns, Erik Highsmith had 43 catches, and Bernard added 39 catches. Defensively UNC had 13 interceptions, 10 fumble recoveries and 25 sacks and allowed 23.5 points and 352.9 yards per game and the Tar Heels had the 16th rushing defense in the nation. Zack Brown has 91 tackles, Kevin Reddick has 67 tackles, and Quinton Couples has 7.5 sacks. While Davis is gone he is one of the game’s best recruiters and he didn’t leave the cupboard bare as the Heels are stocked with talented players.
The Missouri Tigers once again find themselves in a bowl game and while Gary Pinkel’s team once again lost a top tier QB they still managed to win plenty. Mizzou won their final three games of the season to turn a losing season into a winning one and to make it to this game. James Franklin was impressive at QB improving as the season went on completing 63.2 percent of his passes for 2,733 yards with 20 touchdowns and 10 interceptions while rushing for 839 yards and 13 touchdowns. Missouri’s leading rusher, Henry Josey, was injured late in the season and he won’t be available for this one but Kendial Lawrence and De’Vion Moore each are plenty talented and have plenty of experience. T.J. Moe is a playmaker with 54 catches and Michael Egnew is one of the counties best tight ends and he has 47 catches. Defensively Missouri has 12 interceptions, eight fumble recoveries, and 26 sacks and they allow 382.2 yards and 23.5 points per game. Andrew Wilson has 89 tackles and Luke Lambert and Zaviar Gooden each have 74 tackles. Pinkel seems to put out winner after winner but still flies well under the radar when it comes to name recognition when mentioning the top coaches in the nation.
North Carolina is 5-2 against the spread in their last seven non-conference games, 1-6 against the spread in their last seven games following a cover, and 19-9 against the spread in their last 28 games as an underdog. Missouri is 5-1 against the spread in their last six games following a game which they didn’t cover, 2-5 against the spread in their last seven non-conference games, and 1-4 against the spread in their last five bowl games as a favorite.
The total in this one is set at 53 and with both teams being pretty solid and athletic defensively I see this one coming in comfortably under the number and my pick will be under 53.
Pick
Under 53
Posted in College Football, Sportsbook | Tags: College football betting, Missouri Tigers, North Carolina Tar Heels | Comments Closed
Louisiana Bulldogs vs. Marshall TCU Horned Frogs
The TCU Horned Frogs and the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs meet in the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl. The Horned Frogs are -11 point favorites over the Bulldogs with an over/under point total set at 55.5.
While going to a bowl game is a goal for every team in college football landing in this game is a huge letdown for the TCU Horned Frogs and Head Coach Gary Patterson. While TCU was eligible for an at large bid in a BCS Bowl they were passed over for Michigan and Virginia Tech and now end up playing before Christmas. Casey Pachall had a more than solid first year as QB completing 67.8 percent of his passes for 2,715 yards with 24 touchdowns and six interceptions. The Horned Frogs have three backs who can all get it done with Waymon James gaining 824 yards at 7.7 yards per carry, Mathew Tucker gaining 684 yards and scoring 11 touchdowns, and Ed Wesley gaining 6.2 yards per carry and scoring five touchdowns. Josh Boyce has 56 catches and nine touchdowns, Skye Dawson has 41 catches, and Antoine Hicks has 33 catches. Defensively TCU has 24 sacks, nine interceptions, and 12 fumble recoveries for a plus two turnover ratio while they allow 346.3 yards and 21.2 points per game. Kenny Cain has 67 tackles, Tank Carder has 6 tackles, and Stansly Maponga has nine sacks. It will be interesting to see if TCU can get up for this one or if they come out flat as it isn’t where they want to be.
The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs had modest expectations heading into the season but Sonny Dykes’ team won their last seven games to qualify for this game. While the WAC was extremely soft and they only beat one bowl team over that span, they completed the task that was in front of them and that was all that they could do. Colby Cameron completed 56.4 percent of his passes with 11 touchdowns and two interceptions in six games. Lennon Creer is questionable for this one but he averages 4.2 yards per carry and scored nine touchdowns while Hunter Lee averages 5.2 yards per carry and scored four times. Quinton Patton has 74 catches and 10 touchdowns and Talib Ikharo has 50 catches and four touchdowns. Defensively La. Tech has 32 sacks, 20 interceptions, and nine fumble recoveries and they have a plus 11 turnover ratio while they allow 22.5 points and 374.8 yards per game. Adrien Cole has 120 tackles, Jay Dudley has 92 tackles, Christian Lacey has 8.5 sacks and Matt Broha has 7.5 sacks. The Bulldogs also have the Ray Guy Award winner for the best punter in the nation in Ryan Allen who had 29 punts of more than 50 yards and 37 punts downed inside the 20.
TCU is 1-4 against the spread in their last five games against the WAC, 0-6 against the spread in their last six non-conference games, and 0-4 against the spread in their last four games as a neutral site favorite. Louisiana Tech is 7-0 against the spread in their last seven games overall, 13-3 against the spread against a team with a winning record, and 5-0 against the spread in their last five non-conference games.
The total in this one is set at 55.5 and with two teams who average better than 70 points combined per game I see this going over despite each of them being able to play defense as well.
Pick
Over 55.5
Posted in College Football, Sportsbook | Tags: College football betting, Louisiana Bulldogs, Marshall TCU Horned Frogs | Comments Closed
Florida International Golden Panthers vs. Marshall Thundering Herd
The Marshall Thundering Herd take on the Florida International Panthers in the Beef ‘O’ Brady’s Bowl St. Petersburg. The Panthers are -4.5 point favorites over the Thundering Herd with an over/under point total set at 50.
The Marshall Thundering Herd needed to win three of their last four games to become bowl eligible as it took Doc Holliday’s team overtime in their final game to cement their spot in the post season. Rakeem Cato completed 58.5 percent of his passes this year for 13 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Tron Martinez rushed for 591 yards and three touchdowns and Travon Van rushed for 529 yards and three touchdowns. Aaron Dobson has 42 catches and 10 touchdowns, Antavious Wilson has 29 catches, and Troy Evans has 24 catches. Defensively Marshall has 25 sacks, 14 interceptions, and 14 fumble recoveries for a plus two turnover ratio. The Thundering Herd defense allows 30.2 points and 417.8 yards per game. Omar Brown has 107 tackles, George Carpenter has 91 tackles, and Vinny Curry has 11 sacks. It doesn’t always look pretty but for the most part Marshall has gotten it done this year.
The FIU Panthers find themselves in a bowl game for the second year in a row as Mario Cristobal’s team overcame some injuries during the year to finish with eight wins. Wesley Carroll completed 59.7 percent of his passes for 14 touchdowns and four interceptions. Kedrick Rhodes averaged 5.0 yards per carry for 1,121 yards and eight touchdowns and Darriet Perry scored six touchdowns. T.Y. Hilton is the Panther’s best player with 64 catches and seven touchdowns and Wayne Times has 51 catches and two touchdowns. The FIU defense has 14 interceptions, 34 sacks, and 6 fumble recoveries and a plus five turnover ratio. Florida International allows 19.4 points and 347.6 yards per game. Winston Fraser had 107 tackles, Jonathan Cyprien had 74 tackles, and Greg Hickman had five sacks. FIU took some tough losses as well this year and could have had an even better record.
Marshall is 6-1 against the spread in their last seven bowl games and 7-1 against the spread in their last eight December games. FIU is 2-5 against the spread in their last seven games as a favorite and 4-1 against the spread in their last five games following a cover.
The total in this one is set at 50 and I don’t see enough scoring to even come close to going over so for my pick I will go with the under.
Pick
Under 50
Posted in College Football, Sportsbook | Tags: Florida International Golden Panthers, Marshall Thundering Herd | Comments Closed
Oklahoma St. Cowboys vs. Oklahoma Sooners
It’s the Bedlam Series with the Big 12 Championship and a trip to a BCS Bowl going to the winner as the Oklahoma State Cowboys host the Oklahoma Sooners. The Cowboys are -3 point favorites over the Sooners with an over/under point total set at 78.
I t’s been a monster season for Mike Gundy and his Oklahoma State Cowboys but even so it is one where they are going need to overcome disappointment and need to focus on the game at hand and not wonder about what might have been. OSU looked to be headed towards a possible spot in the BCS Championship game but it all came unraveled as they fell to Iowa State in overtime last time out. QB Brandon Weeden has looked like a Heisman Trophy contender all season and his leadership will be called on here and for the season he has completed 73 percent of his passes for 4,111 yards with 34 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. With defenses respecting the pass Joseph Randle has had plenty of room to run and he has been averaging 5.8 yards per carry for 1,402 yards and 21 touchdowns. Justin Blackmon is the best receiver in the country with 103 catches for 1,241 yards and 15 touchdowns, Josh Cooper has 60 catches and three touchdowns, and Tracy Moore has 44 catches and four touchdowns. The Oklahoma State defense has 21 interceptions, 16 fumble recoveries, and 25 sacks for a plus 16 turnover differential. Daytawion Lowe has 79 tackles, Jamie Blatnick has seven sacks, and Braderick Brown and James Thomas have four interceptions each. Oklahoma state is talented but will they be able to overcome the mental challenge of losing a game to a team they should beat in time to battle a team with the talent of Oklahoma.
It has been another season of what could have been for Bob Stoops and the Oklahoma Sooners but despite their disappointments they are just a win away from going to another BCS Bowl game and from being crowned Big 12 Champs. The Sooners started the season as the number one team in the nation but a few stumbles and injuries along the way and it’s just another very good year in Norman. QB Landry Jones has had another monster year statistic wise as he’s completed 64.1 percent of his passes for 4,052 yards with 28 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. With Dom Whaley out for the season Roy Finch has been the primary back averaging 5.6 yards per carry and scoring three touchdowns and Branden Williams has moved into Finch’s role of spelling the starter. With top receiver Ryan Broyles gone for the year the load falls on Kenny Stills who has 52 catches and eight touchdowns while Jaz Reynolds has 39 catches and five touchdowns. The Oklahoma defense has 13 interceptions, 11 fumble recoveries, and 37 sacks and they are just plus one in turnovers. Aaron Colvin has 73 tackles, Travis Lewis has 70 tackles, Fran Alexander has 8.5 sacks, and Tony Jefferson has 4.5 sacks and four interceptions. The Sooners are no strangers to big games and big games on the road and they won’t be intimidated by this one.
Oklahoma State is 5-0 against the spread in games following a game which they didn’t cover, 17-5 against the spread in their last 22 games overall, and 6-2 against the spread against a team with a winning record. Oklahoma is 9-3 against the spread following a game which they didn’t cover, 5-2 against the spread in their last seven road games, and 5-2 against the spread in their last seven road games against a team with a winning home record. The favorite has covered six in a row in this series.
Oklahoma State is just the better team this year, especially with the Sooners missing Broyles and Whaley. This has all of the makings of a wild one but look for the Cowboys to regain focus and get it done.
Pick
Oklahoma St. Cowboys -3 Oklahoma Sooners
Posted in College Football, Sportsbook | Tags: College football betting, Oklahoma Sooners, Oklahoma St. Cowboys | Comments Closed
Oklahoma St. Cowboys vs. Oklahoma Sooners
It’s the Bedlam Series with the Big 12 Championship and a trip to a BCS Bowl going to the winner as the Oklahoma State Cowboys host the Oklahoma Sooners. The Cowboys are -3 point favorites over the Sooners with an over/under point total set at 78.
I t’s been a monster season for Mike Gundy and his Oklahoma State Cowboys but even so it is one where they are going need to overcome disappointment and need to focus on the game at hand and not wonder about what might have been. OSU looked to be headed towards a possible spot in the BCS Championship game but it all came unraveled as they fell to Iowa State in overtime last time out. QB Brandon Weeden has looked like a Heisman Trophy contender all season and his leadership will be called on here and for the season he has completed 73 percent of his passes for 4,111 yards with 34 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. With defenses respecting the pass Joseph Randle has had plenty of room to run and he has been averaging 5.8 yards per carry for 1,402 yards and 21 touchdowns. Justin Blackmon is the best receiver in the country with 103 catches for 1,241 yards and 15 touchdowns, Josh Cooper has 60 catches and three touchdowns, and Tracy Moore has 44 catches and four touchdowns. The Oklahoma State defense has 21 interceptions, 16 fumble recoveries, and 25 sacks for a plus 16 turnover differential. Daytawion Lowe has 79 tackles, Jamie Blatnick has seven sacks, and Braderick Brown and James Thomas have four interceptions each. Oklahoma state is talented but will they be able to overcome the mental challenge of losing a game to a team they should beat in time to battle a team with the talent of Oklahoma.
It has been another season of what could have been for Bob Stoops and the Oklahoma Sooners but despite their disappointments they are just a win away from going to another BCS Bowl game and from being crowned Big 12 Champs. The Sooners started the season as the number one team in the nation but a few stumbles and injuries along the way and it’s just another very good year in Norman. QB Landry Jones has had another monster year statistic wise as he’s completed 64.1 percent of his passes for 4,052 yards with 28 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. With Dom Whaley out for the season Roy Finch has been the primary back averaging 5.6 yards per carry and scoring three touchdowns and Branden Williams has moved into Finch’s role of spelling the starter. With top receiver Ryan Broyles gone for the year the load falls on Kenny Stills who has 52 catches and eight touchdowns while Jaz Reynolds has 39 catches and five touchdowns. The Oklahoma defense has 13 interceptions, 11 fumble recoveries, and 37 sacks and they are just plus one in turnovers. Aaron Colvin has 73 tackles, Travis Lewis has 70 tackles, Fran Alexander has 8.5 sacks, and Tony Jefferson has 4.5 sacks and four interceptions. The Sooners are no strangers to big games and big games on the road and they won’t be intimidated by this one.
Oklahoma State is 5-0 against the spread in games following a game which they didn’t cover, 17-5 against the spread in their last 22 games overall, and 6-2 against the spread against a team with a winning record. Oklahoma is 9-3 against the spread following a game which they didn’t cover, 5-2 against the spread in their last seven road games, and 5-2 against the spread in their last seven road games against a team with a winning home record. The favorite has covered six in a row in this series.
Oklahoma State is just the better team this year, especially with the Sooners missing Broyles and Whaley. This has all of the makings of a wild one but look for the Cowboys to regain focus and get it done.
Pick
Oklahoma St. Cowboys -3 Oklahoma Sooners
Posted in College Football, Sportsbook | Tags: College football betting, Oklahoma Sooners, Oklahoma St. Cowboys | Comments Closed
LSU Tigers vs. Georgia Bulldogs
The Georgia Bulldogs and the LSU Tigers face off on Saturday in the SEC Championship game in Atlanta. The Tigers are -10 point favorites over the Bulldogs with an over/under point total set at 45.
While we often talk about the most improved teams on a year to year basis if we looked at teams who have improved the most over the course of the year the list would have to include Mark Richt’s Georgia Bulldogs. After losing their first two games Georgia has reeled off 10 consecutive wins and won the SEC East. On an improved team QB Aaron Murray has to be one of the most improved players for the Bulldogs as he looks to have grasped the offense and for the season he has completed 61 percent of his passes for 2,698 yards with 32 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. It’s been on the job training for All-World freshman Isaiah Crowell who averaged 4.8 yards per carry rushing for 832 yards and scoring five touchdowns while missing two games including last week against Georgia Tech as he has an ankle injury but Carlton Thomas is averaging 5.2 yards per carry and scoring twice. Murray spreads his passes well among the UGA receivers and Orson Charles has 40 catches and five touchdowns, Tavarres King has 37 catches and seven touchdowns, Malcolm Mitchell has 34 catches and four touchdowns, and Michael Bennett has 31 catches and five touchdowns. Defensively the Dawgs have intercepted 17 passes, recovered 12 fumbles, and have 32 sacks for a plus 10 turnover differential. Jarvis Jones has 66 tackles and 13.5 sacks, Michale Gilliard has 63 tackles, two sacks and an interception, and Baccari Rambo has seven interceptions. Georgia appears to be peaking at the right time and they will find out exactly how good they are in this game.
While we have seen some dominating college football teams over the years the LSU Tigers are just two wins away of putting themselves among the elite teams of all time. While Les Miles’ Tigers have trailed a few times this season, it hasn’t been for long and it hasn’t been by much as their results have been convincing win after convincing win. Jordan Jefferson is clearly the starter at QB at this point and while passing isn’t really his strength he has completed 64.3 percent of his passes with five touchdowns and one interception and he is averaging 4.6 yards per run with three touchdowns. LSU’s running game has been nothing short of sensational this season using a rotation of running backs with Michael Ford averaging 6.2 yards per carry and scoring seven touchdowns, Spencer Ware averaging 4.1 yards per carry and scoring eight touchdowns, and as of late Kenny Hilliard has been seeing plenty of action averaging 5.1 yards per carry and scoring six touchdowns. Rueben Randle is the star of the LSU receivers with 48 catches and eight touchdowns and Odell Beckham, Jr. with 37 catches and two touchdowns. The Tigers defense has been sensational with 16 interceptions, 11 fumble recoveries, and 33 sacks for a plus 19 turnover margin. Tyrann Mathieu is the leader of the defense with 66 tackles, Sam Montgomery and Barkevious Mingo have eight sacks each, and Morris Claiborne has five interceptions. It’s clear this is a special team for LSU but they still have work left to do to close the deal.
Georgia is 4-1 against the spread against a team with a winning record, 8-2 against the spread in their last 10 games overall, and 5-2 against the spread in their last seven SEC games. LSU is 7-1 against the spread against a team with a winning record, 6-0 against the spread in their last six SEC games, and 6-2-1 against the spread in their last nine SEC games.
While we have some solid defenses here and the SEC is historically a defensive conference the total which has been set at 45 looks to be just a bit too low in this one.
Pick
Over 45
Posted in College Football, Sportsbook | Tags: College football betting, Georgia Bulldogs, LSU Tigers | Comments Closed
