College Football Betting News And Notes Saturday, December 26

NCAAF: Streaks, Tips, Notes
Sportspic.com

Tulsa vs Virginia Tech

The Tulsa Golden Hurricane and Virginia Tech Hokies hook up in the Independence Bowl the day after Christmas. Both Tulsa (6-6, 6-5-1 ATS) and Viginia Tech (6-6 SU/ATS) had to rally on the final day of the regular season to become bowl eligible. The Golden Hurricane's are appearing in their first bowl since 2012 when they defeated Iowa State 31-17 as -2.5 point favorite making it 5-2 SU/ATS the past seven bowl games. The Hokies defeating Cincinnati 33-17 in last season's Military Bowl enter 8-9 (7-9-1 ATS) last seventeen bowl games.

Hokies, who would love nothing beter than to hand coach Frank Beamer a victory in his 23rd consecutive bowl appearances with Viginia Tech. The added incentive has oddsmakers giving Virginia Tech the nod (-14.5). Hokies should give Beamer his well deserved win against Tulsa's weak and porous defense allowing 38.6 points/game on 292.9 passing, 238.6 rushing yards/game. However, covering the massive number will be a challenge, Hokies were double digit chalk twice this season going 1-1 ATS and are just 4-15-1 last twenty laying ten or more points.

Foster Farms Preview
By Jim Feist
Playbook.com

UCLA will be playing Nebraska for the third time in four years. UCLA won 36-30 in the Rose Bowl three seasons ago, then won 41-21 at Nebraska in 2013. UCLA is led by freshman QB Josh Rosen (20 TDs, 9 INTs) and RB Paul Perkins (1,275 yards, 5.7 ypc). UCLA does a good job against the pass, ranking first in the Pac-12 in yards allowed per game (205.7). UCLA is off a loss to USC and is 35-15-1 under the total after a defeat. Nebraska (5-7) made a bowl despite a losing record and a defense that gave up 33, 36, 55 and 38 in four contests. QB Tommy Armstong (21 TDs, 16 INTs) leads a strong offense but the Husker pass defense ranks 121st in the nation. Last year Armstrong tore up USC in the Holiday Bowl with 381 yards passing, although Nebraska is 1-4 ATS against the Pac 12.

Saturday's Bowl Action
By Sportsbook.ag

CONNECTICUT HUSKIES (6-6) vs. MARSHALL THUNDERING HERD (9-3)

Sportsbook.ag Line: Marshall -5, Total: 44.5

Two teams trying to recover from blowout losses will match up in St. Petersburg on Saturday when Connecticut and Marshall collide.

The Huskies (5-7 ATS) were riding high with a three-game win streak before they were pounded 27-3 at Temple, while the Thundering Herd (6-5-1 ATS) were drilled 49-28 in their regular-season finale at Western Kentucky. UConn has played a tougher schedule, but Marshall has the better offense (32.6 PPG to 17.7 PPG) and has allowed fewer points (18.4 PPG to 19.7 PPG). Also, the Huskies are playing their first bowl in five seasons, while the Herd are 9-1 in their past 10 bowls dating back to 1998. Both schools have negative betting trends to deal with for this matchup, as Connecticut is 0-9 ATS in the past two years when the total is between 42.5 and 49 points, and is also 4-14 ATS when playing on a Saturday in this same timeframe. But since 1992, Marshall is 16-32 ATS after having lost two of its previous three games and is 35-54 ATS away from home when playing on a Saturday during this time period. Both teams have some injuries to contend with, but UConn should have the services of both probable offensive players QB Bryant Shirreffs (head) and WR Brian Lemelle (lower body), but LB Matthew Walsh (knee) is questionable. For the Herd, three players are facing a possible suspension in WR Emanuel Beal and LBs Stefan Houston and Raheim Huskey.

Connecticut's offense has been bad all season with 17.7 PPG and 318 total YPG, but it has been even worse recently with 10.0 PPG and 227 total YPG (3.9 yards per play) over the past three games. The Huskies choose the run the football 58% of the time, and are able to eat up 31:17 of clock per game. But they have averaged only 125 rushing YPG on 3.4 YPC this season, including 100 YPG on 3.0 YPC away from home. The passing game has posted a respectable 194 YPG on 7.2 YPA, but those numbers drop to 154 YPG on 5.8 YPA in non-home games. Sophomore QB Bryant Shirreffs (1,992 pass yds, 7.6 YPA, 9 TD, 7 INT) threw only one pass in the last two games because of a concussion, but he is expected to start on Saturday. That one pass attempt was a 4-yard TD strike to WR Noel Thomas (719 rec yds, 3 TD), who was the hero of UConn's huge upset over undefeated Houston two games ago when he scored on a 45-yard reception in the fourth quarter and finished with seven catches for 108 yards. The dual-threat Shirreffs ranks second on the team in rushing yards with 428, but has done so on a feeble 3.2 YPC. The team's top rusher is RB Arkeel Newsome (760 rush yds, 4.4 YPC, 6 TD), who is also the Huskies No. 2 receiver with 40 catches for 432 yards and 2 TD. The 5-foot-7 Newsome totaled a hefty 428 yards (143 YPG) during UConn's three-game win streak that made the team bowl eligible, but he found no room to run against Temple with 13 carries for one yard and two receptions for six yards. The Huskies are playing in a bowl because of their top-notch defense that limits opponents to 19.7 PPG and 352 total YPG. In the past three games, these numbers have improved to 15.7 PPG and 260 total YPG (4.0 yards per play). The pass defense is especially strong in holding teams to 187 YPG and 6.1 YPA, but the run defense has been too generous this season in giving up 165 YPG on 4.5 YPC. UConn is a team that thrives off turnovers, tallying 16 takeaways during its six wins and only eight takeaways in its six defeats. With the Herd committing multiple turnovers on seven different occasions this year, ball protection will be of utmost importance on Saturday.

Marshall produces big offensive numbers (32.6 PPG on 400 total YPG) with a nearly perfect balance of 38 rushes per game and 36 passes per contest. This leads to 168 YPG on 4.5 YPC on the ground and 231 YPG on 6.4 YPA through the air. The Herd are also balanced on their roster, as no player has reached 700 yards from scrimmage this season, but eight players have gained more than 300 yards. Freshman QB Chase Litton (2,387 pass yds, 6.8 YPA, 22 TD, 7 INT) has led the team to an 8-2 record in the 10 games he has played with one of those losses coming in triple overtime at Middle Tennessee and the other loss coming at Western Kentucky in the season finale. Litton has thrown for at least two touchdowns in eight games, including four in a row where he has averaged 307 passing YPG with 10 TD and 3 INT. Senior WR Davonte Allen leads the team in receptions (56) and yards (696) while 6-foot-3 sophomore TE Ryan Yurachek is the best red-zone target with 8 TD catches, including one score in each of the past four games. The top rusher is 244-pound senior RB Devon Johnson (555 rush yds, 6.6 YPC, 5 TD), who was lost for the season in late October with a back injury. That has allowed speedy RB/WR Hyleck Foster to pick up 409 rushing yards (4.8 YPC) in just six games (68 YPG), while 207-pound senior RB Remi Watson has 340 rushing yards (57 YPG) on 5.2 YPC in the past six contests. Marshall has a very sound defense that allows only 18.4 PPG and 371 total YPG. The secondary has given up 200 passing YPG, but on a mere 49.7% completion rate and 5.5 YPA. Although the run-stop unit allows 172 rushing YPG on 4.0 YPC, those numbers have fallen to 144 YPG on 3.6 YPC in the past two games. The Herd have also produced at least one turnover in all 12 games, including multiple takeaways on seven different occasions. However, UConn has two turnovers or less in all 12 of its contests.

MIAMI HURRICANES (8-4) vs. WASHINGTON STATE COUGARS (8-4)

Sportsbook.ag Line: Washington State -3, Total: 62

A pair of 8-4 teams try to close out their seasons on a high note when Miami and Washington State meet Saturday in El Paso for the Sun Bowl.

The Hurricanes struggled in October -- losing 58-0 to Clemson, which prompted the firing of head coach Al Golden. But since then, they are 4-1 SU (3-2 ATS) with a solid 29.0 PPG.

The Cougars were pummeled 45-10 by Washington to end the regular season, but didn’t have star QB Luke Falk (concussion), who is expected to return for this game.

Both schools have significant betting trends in their favor, as Miami is 21-8 ATS in non-home games versus good teams (60% to 75% win pct.) since 1992, and all teams (like WSU) where the line is +3 to -3, after an ATS loss facing an opponent coming off 2+ straight ATS wins (UM) are just 50-98 ATS (66%) in the past five seasons.

However, Washington State is 7-0 ATS after having won two of its previous three games this season, and is facing an opponent that is 0-7 ATS in the past three seasons when facing a good passing team (250+ YPG) away from home.

Miami's offense is decent with 28.9 PPG and 401 total YPG this season, and has a healthy run/pass split of 33 rushing attempts per game and 35 passing attempts per contest. But while the ground game generates a mere 119 rushing YPG on 31.6 YPC, the air attack is much more potent with 282 passing YPG on 8.1 YPA.

Sophomore QB Brad Kaaya is having a tremendous season with 3,019 passing yards (62% completions, 8.4 YPA, 15 TD, 4 INT), and has completed at least 59% of his throws in all seven of his wins. Kaaya does a nice job of getting all his receivers involved, as the 'Canes have three players with at least 600 receiving yards, but none have reached 650 with junior WR Stacy Coley (645 rec yds, 3 TD) and senior WRs Rashawn Scott (620 rec yds, 5 TD) and Herb Waters (607 rec yds, 1 TD).

Sophomore RB Joseph Yearby is a capable back with 939 rushing yards (4.9 YPC) and 6 TD, but he hasn't produced a 100-yard rushing output since Oct. 1, going eight straight games without reaching the century mark. However, Yearby fell only one yard shy in the season finale when he ran for 99 yards on 22 carries (4.5 YPC) in the win at Pittsburgh, and he is also a quality receiver with 23 catches for 273 yards and 2 TD this year.

The Miami defense has not been very stingy this season in allowing 28.8 PPG on 407 total YPG, and those numbers jump to 32.2 PPG and 439 total YPG away from home. Neither the run-stop unit, which surrenders 211 YPG on 5.3 YPC, or the secondary, which allows opponents to complete 61% of their passes for 196 YPG (6.5 YPA), has really done its job this season. But after four straight games of not forcing multiple turnovers, the 'Canes have six takeaways in the past two contests. They will need to be aggressive on Saturday, as the Cougars have turned the football over 15 times in their four losses in 2015.

Washington State's pass-happy offense generates 32.4 PPG on 477 total YPG this season, with 72% of the plays taking to the air. The unbalance results in 397 passing YPG (7.0 YPA) and only 80 rushing YPG (3.6 YPC). The offense was a mess in the regular-season finale loss to Washington with 10 points and seven turnovers, but the good news is that QB Luke Falk (71% completions, 4,266 pass yds, 7.2 YPA, 36 TD, 8 INT) and top WR Gabe Marks (99 rec, 1,125 yds, 14 TD) are both probable to play. Marks has been slowed by an injured ankle, and can't wait to have Falk back under center, as evidenced by his 23 catches for 202 yards and 3 TD over the past two games the duo has worked together.

Falk has thrown for at least 300 yards in nine of 11 contests this year, and has tossed at least 5 TD on four separate occasions. Six-foot-2 senior WR Dom Williams (73 rec, 997 yds, 11 TD) is also glad that his starting QB is returning, as Williams amassed 294 receiving yards with 4 TD catches in the past three games with Falk on the field.

When the team chooses to run the football, sophomore RB Gerard Wicks (599 rush yds, 5.9 YPC, 3 TD) is the main ball carrier, and he has put together two strong games in a row where he's totaled 165 yards on just 20 carries (8.3 YPC).

The Cougars defense has given up 28.8 PPG on 423 total YPG this season, and those subpar numbers are downright brutal away from home (36.7 PPG, 481 total YPG). While the passing defense surrenders 223 YPG on 6.8 YPA, the run-stop unit has been gashed for 199 YPG on 5.0 YPC. The one saving grace has been turnovers, with WSU generating at least two takeaways in nine of the past 11 games.

INDIANA HOOSIERS (6-6) vs. DUKE BLUE DEVILS (7-5)

Sportsbook.ag Line: Indiana -2.5, Total: 71

Indiana and Duke, a pair of high-powered offenses (and suspect defenses), will go head-to-head in Yankee Stadium on Saturday in the Pinstripe Bowl.

The Hoosiers are averaging 36.2 PPG this season, including 47.3 PPG in the past three games, but they also allow 37.1 PPG. The Blue Devils have scored 30.5 PPG and given up 24.1 PPG in 2015, but both of those numbers climb for non-home games (36.3 PPG, 30.3 PPG) where they are 4-2 (SU and ATS) this year.

These two basketball powerhouses have met just three times in football, with all three coming in the 1980's. After Indiana won in both 1980 and 1983, Duke secured a 31-24 victory in the most recent matchup in 1984.

Most of the betting trends side with the Blue Devils for this matchup, such as their perfect 7-0 ATS mark when playing with 2+ weeks of rest in the past three seasons, or their 21-10 ATS record in non-conference games under head coach David Cutcliffe.

The Hoosiers are a miserable 5-29 ATS after outgaining their opponent by 125+ total yards in their previous game since 1992, but are also 5-1 ATS this season after two straight games going Over the total. Indiana's offense has racked up 47.3 PPG and 580 total YPG in the past three contests, which boosts its season averages to 36.2 PPG and 491 total YPG. While the team chooses to run the football 57% of the time, resulting in 205 rushing YPG on 4.5 YPC, it also amasses 286 passing YPG on 8.4 YPA.

Senior QB Nate Sudfeld (61% completions, 3,184 pass yds, 8.8 YPA, 24 TD, 5 INT) stands tall at 6-foot-6 and 240 pounds and has been outstanding during two straight wins (at Maryland and at Purdue) where he threw for 735 yards, 8 TD and 0 INT. His top target is sophomore WR Simmie Cobbs Jr. (914 rec yds, 4 TD) who has three 100-yard efforts in the past six games, including 192 yards against the Terrapins.

If top RB Jordan Howard (1,213 rush yds, 6.2 YPC, 9 TD) is unable to play, the Hoosiers will call on No. 2 RB Devine Redding (785 rush yds, 4.1 YPC, 8 TD) to carry the mail. The 202-pound sophomore has rumbled for 274 yards on 46 carries (6.0 YPC) during his team's two-game win streak, proving he's capable of handling a large workload.

The Indiana defense has been burned all season, as it has surrendered 37.1 PPG on 508 total YPG. While the run-stop unit has been gouged for 181 rushing YPG on 4.9 YPC, the passing game has given up a robust 326 YPG on 7.7 YPA and 61% completions. This is a unit that desperately needs to create turnovers, but before its fluky four takeaways at Purdue, Indiana had recorded just four forced turnovers in its previous six games combined. The Blue Devils do have a tendency to give up the football though, with three turnovers in three of their past four contests.

Despite the turnover woes, Duke's offense has still averaged a strong 30.5 PPG on 431 total YPG this season. This has been achieved through a nearly even balance of 40 rushing attempts per game and 39 passing attempts per contest. The air attack is the team's most efficient method of moving the football (253 passing YPG on 6.5 YPA), but the ground game also produces a solid 178 rushing YPG on 4.5 YPC.

Junior QB Thomas Sirk is the leader in both categories, as he passes for 2,462 yards (60% completions, 6.3 YPA), 15 TD and 6 INT, and also runs for 648 yards on 4.5 YPC with six touchdowns. Sirk has accounted for multiple touchdowns in each of his past five games and is coming off a huge performance in the regular-season finale at Wake Forest when he completed 26-of-39 throws (67%) for 275 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT and also ran for 57 yards and another score. Senior WR Max McCaffrey had 93 of those receiving yards and both touchdowns against Wake Forest, and he currently leads the team in receptions (48), receiving yards (601) and TD catches (five).

The Blue Devils are not terrible defensively, evidenced by 24.1 PPG and 372 total YPG allowed, but those numbers have skyrocketed to 31.3 PPG and 467 total YPG over the past three contests. While the front seven limits opponents to 143 rushing YPG on 3.4 YPC this year, the secondary is much more generous in allowing 229 YPG on 7.8 YPA. The unit has recorded only 17 takeaways all season, but five of those have occurred in the past two games.

TULSA GOLDEN HURRICANE (6-6) vs. VIRGINIA TECH HOKIES (6-6)

Sportsbook.ag Line: Virginia Tech -14, Total: 61.5

Frank Beamer’s final game as Virginia Tech’s head coach will occur the day after Christmas versus a high-octane Tulsa squad in the Independence Bowl.

The Hokies have won three straight games outside of Blacksburg, but are facing a Golden Hurricane team that has scored 38+ points in each of their past three away games.

Virginia Tech has the superior defense in this matchup (23.2 PPG allowed to 38.6 PPG allowed) but Tulsa has produced 35.9 PPG on 503 total YPG this season thanks in large part to its dynamic duo of QB Dane Evans (3,958 pass yds, 22 TD) and WR Keyarris Garrett (1,451 rec yds, 7 TD).

These schools are meeting for the fifth time overall and the first time since 1978 when Tulsa prevailed 35-33 in what was the teams' fourth straight matchup decided by seven points or less.

Nearly all of the betting trends expect the Hokies to roll to an easy win in Frank Beamer's final game of his 29-year career at the school, as they are 19-7 ATS since 1992 after a win by six points or less and is 27-15 ATS after gaining 100 or less rushing yards in this same span. The Hurricane are a pathetic 13-37 ATS after two straight games where 60+ total points were scored since 1992, but they are also 3-0 ATS under Philip Montgomery after scoring 42+ points in the previous game.

Tulsa doesn't waste much time on offense, using only 27:51 per game to rack up 35.9 PPG and 503 total YPG. Although it chooses to rush the football 55% of the time, the club gains only 173 rushing YPG on 3.8 YPC, but is much more effective throwing the football with 330 passing YPG on 8.8 YPA.

Junior QB Dane Evans (63% completions, 3,958 pass yds, 9.0 YPA, 22 TD, 8 INT) has improved greatly from last year (6.7 YPA, 17 INT) but the negative is that he has absorbed 35 sacks under center. In the past three games, Evans has thrown for 1,020 yards, 5 TD and only one interception, with 455 of those yards going to star WR Keyarris Garrett (88 rec, 1,451 yds, 7 TD). The senior Garrett's 216 yards in the regular-season finale at Tulane gives him five games of 160+ receiving yards this year.

On the ground, Tulsa runs through defensive fronts with elusive 5-foot-9, 185-pound RB D'Angelo Brewer (732 rush yds, 4.9 YPC, 4 TD) and burly 220-pound RB Zack Langer (714 rush yds, 3.7 YPC), who has rushed for 17 touchdowns in just 10 games this year.

Defensively, Tulsa is a mess in surrendering 38.6 PPG on 532 total YPG, and those numbers have been even more dreadful in the past three contests (42.3 PPG on 569 total YPG). It's not easy to determine which aspect of this unit is more horrendous, the front seven that allows 239 rushing YPG on 5.2 YPC, or the secondary that surrenders 293 passing YPG on 8.2 YPA and 62% completions. The unit's only positive aspect is its 22 forced turnovers in the past 11 games.

Virginia Tech is averaging a solid 29.0 PPG on 367 total YPG this year, but has experienced a slight drop-off in the past three games (24.3 PPG, 350 total YPG). The Hokies run the football on 58% of their plays, resulting in 151 YPG on 3.6 YPC, while the air attack gains 216 YPG on 7.3 YPA.

Senior QB Michael Brewer (58% completions, 1,359 yds, 7.6 YPA, 12 TD, 6 INT) has improved nicely from last season (6.1 YPA, 15 INT), but has completed only 54% of his throws in the past three games with 5 TD and 4 INT. Brewer continues to rely heavily on top WR Isaiah Ford (63 rec, 937 yds, 10 TD) who has caught 14 passes for 276 yards and 2 TD in his past two games.

On the ground, freshman RB Travon McMillian (960 rush yds, 5.2 YPC, 5 TD) has really come on strong, as he has rushed for at least 80 yards in seven straight games.

Defensively, Virginia Tech allows only 24.2 PPG on 354 total YPG, but not much of that comes through the air (174 YPG on 6.8 YPA and 48% completions). The run-stop unit isn't as fierce though, as it gives up 180 rushing YPG on 4.5 YPC.

Saturday's Early Tip Sheet
By Joe Williams
VegasInsider.com

Connecticut vs. Marshall

The UConn Huskies (6-6 SU, 5-7 ATS) head to the St. Petersburg Bowl to meet the Marshall Thundering Herd (9-3 SU, 7-5 ATS).

UConn was 3-5 SU after their loss Oct. 24, and it appeared their postseason hopes were fading fast. However, the Huskies rattled off three wins in their final four games to become bowl eligible, including a surprising 20-17 win over Houston as 7 1/2-point underdogs. The Huskies went 2-4 SU away from home this season, and they failed to cover their past three games away from the state of Connecticut.

Huskies QB Bryant Shirreffs (head) missed the season finale due to a head injury, but he is expected to be under center Saturday. He completed 60.3 percent of his pass attempts this season, posting 1,992 yards with nine touchdowns and seven interceptions. His real value to the offense is with his feet, as he ran for 428 yards with three scores. RB Arkeel Newsome can also do it all, running for 756 yards with six rushing touchdowns while averaging 4.4 yards per run. He also racked up 432 receiving yards with two scores. WR Noel Thomas is the go-to player in the receiving game with 719 yards and 13.3 yards per game while finding the end zone three times.

Marshall faltered down the stretch a bit, starting out 8-1 before losing two of their final three games, both on the road. Marshall was also 5-2 ATS through their first seven games before limping home with a 2-3 ATS mark over their final five outings.

After years of effectiveness from former QB Rakeem Cato, he moved on and it became the Chase Litton show in Huntington this season. He threw for 2,390 yards with a 59.4 completion percentage while tossing 22 touchdowns with just seven interceptions. He isn't much of a threat to run, but the three-pronged attack of running backs certainly is. Leading rusher RB Devon Johnson (back) is nursing a back ailment, and he is questionable to play. He averaged 6.6 yards per game while scoring five times on the ground and once through the air. If he cannot go, Hyleck Foster (85-406-3), Remi Watson (80-398-5), Tony Pittman (64-327-3) and Keion Davis (63-258-2) each showed Marshall's depth. WR Davonte Allen led the way with 696 receiving yards, while WR DeAndre Reaves also chipped in with 13.1 yards per reception while scoring five times. TE Ryan Yurachek is also a receiving threat, particularly in the red zone. He had 39 grabs for 361 yards and a team-high eight scores.

We've grown accustomed to seeing Marshall in bowl games. They won the inaugural Boca Raton Bowl last season, topping Northern Illinois 52-23, and they have won four straight bowl games and nine of their past 10 bowl games dating back to 1998. They topped Florida International in this game (then the Beef O'Brady's Bowl) back in 2011 by a 20-10 score, and they have won each of their past two bowl games in the state of Florida.

Connecticut will be making its sixth all-time bowl appearance, and first since a 48-20 setback in the 2011 Fiesta Bowl against Oklahoma.

Marshall is currently favored by five points at most shops as of Friday morning. As a single-digit favorite this season the Thundering Herd was 5-1 SU/ATS, while UConn went 3-1 SU/ATS as a single-digit underdog during the regular season.

The 'under' hit in each of the past five for the Huskies, and finished 10-2 this season. For the Herd, the under was 4-1 in their final five games, and it hit in six of the past eight and eight of the past 11.

Marshall has covered four straight bowl games, and they're 12-4 ATS in their past 16 non-conference games. UConn is 5-15-1 ATS in their past 21 non-conference tilts, and just 2-12 ATS in their past 14 games on fieldturf.

ESPN will have the telecast at 11:00 a.m. Eastern.

Miami-Florida vs. Washington State

A pair of 8-4 teams hook up in El Paso for the Hyundai Sun Bowl, and this one could be an entertaining affair.

The Miami Hurricanes (8-4 SU, 7-5 ATS) look for the season-high third straight cover. They enter 4-1 SU over their past five games since turning their season around with an improbable series of laterals in the final seconds at Duke back on Halloween. Miami has struggled defensively, and that could be an issue against a high-octane Washington State Cougars (8-4 SU, 9-3 ATS) offense. Miami allowed at least 20 points in each of their past 11 games.

Miami's talented QB Brad Kaaya completed 61.7 percent of his passes for 3,019 yards, 15 touchdowns and four interceptions. He isn't a threat to run, but he did find the end zone twice with his legs. RB Joseph Yearby was the workhorse for the Canes, posting 939 rushing yards (4.9 yards per carry) with six scores, while RB Mark Walton chipped in with eight rushing scores. WR Stacy Coley led the receivers with 645 yards while finding the end zone three times, and WR Rashawn Scott managed 620 yards and five touchdowns. WR Herb Waters averaged 16.0 yards per grab, while WR David Njoku had 18.1 yards per game, emerging as a deep threat down the stretch.

The Cougars stumbled out of the chute this season with a stunning 24-17 opening game loss to FCS Portland State. However, the Cougs quickly recovered with a road win at Rutgers and a home win against Wyoming before losing at California Oct. 3. That setback against the Golden Bears was actually the first of an 8-0 ATS cover streak which only ended Nov. 27 in the Apple Cup against Washington, a 45-10 loss. The Cougs were not the same with QB Luke Falk (concussion) out for that game, but he is probable for the Sun Bowl.

Falk threw for 4,266 yards while completing 70.7 percent of his passes this season, tossing 36 touchdowns while being picked off just eight times. WR Gabe Marks (ankle), the team's leading receiver with 99 catches for 1,125 yards and 14 scores, is probable to play due to his ankle injury. WR Dom Williams also needs just three yards for 1,000-yard season, and he reached double digits with 11 scores. The rushing game isn't much to worry about, but RB Gerard Wicks can be a threat with 599 yards and three scores on the ground.

Washington State's bowl history has been up and down lately, going 2-3 SU in their past five postseason appearances. Their last bowl game was memorable, as they lost 48-45 against Colorado State in a wild New Mexico Bowl in 2013. Overall the Cougs are 6-5 in bowl games, and this will be their first postseason meeting against an ACC foe.

Miami has a rather impressive 36 bowl games in their program's history, but lately it hasn't been very good. They have dropped five straight bowl games, last winning in the MPC Computers Bowl in 2006 against Nevada. They lost their most recent bowl appearance against a Pac-12 team, falling to Cal in the 2008 Emerald Bowl, and they're 0-3 all-time against Pac-12 schools in bowl games, although Colorado shouldn't really count since that setback occured in the 1967 Bluebonnet Bowl. The Hurricanes will be making their second-ever appearance in the Sun Bowl, and they hope to do better than the 33-17 loss they suffered against Notre Dame Dec. 31, 2010.

The Hurricanes are 0-4 ATS in their past four bowl games, and 0-5 ATS in their past five neutral-site battles. The Cougars are 8-1 ATS in their past nine games overall, and 6-0 ATS in their past six against teams with a winning record. The 'under' is 6-1 in Miami's past seven neutral-site games, and 5-1 in their past six bowl games. For Washington State, the under is 4-1 in their past five outings.

Kickoff is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. Eastern on CBS.

Washington vs. Southern Mississippi

Washington and Southern Mississippi, two teams with bright futures, hook up in the Zaxby's Heart of Dallas Bowl. While the Huskies (6-6 SU, 7-5 ATS) barely became bowl eligible until the last game of the regular season, they're installed as an 8 1/2-point favorite over the Golden Eagles (9-4 SU, 10-3 ATS).

The Huskies smashed rival Washington State in the Apple Cup, 45-10, as UW took advantage of the fact the Cougars were without their starting signal caller. The 45-10 romp helped Washington win and cover their final two games, averaging 48.5 points per game during their most impressive stretch of the entire season.

The Golden Eagles flipped the script from last season, as they were just 3-9 SU with five covers. In 2015 they were a bettors' best friend, covering their first five games out of the chute, and 10 of 12 regular season games before being smacked down at Western Kentucky in the Conference USA Championship Game.

Southern Miss will be making its 23rd bowl appearance in school history, and they look to return to their dominant ways during the mid-2000's. The Golden Eagles have dropped two of their past five bowl appearances since 2006. They faced Utah in the 2003 Liberty Bowl, losing 17-0, but they were not in the Pac-12 at the time.

Washington has had their issues in the postseason lately, too, winning just once in their past four bowl games, and managing a 4-10 bowl record in 14 games dating back to the 1992 Rose Bowl.

The Huskies received great production from freshman RB Myles Gaskin, rolling for 1,121 yards and 10 touchdowns, both school freshman records. He averaged 5.6 yards per carry with a total of 912 rushing yards in his final eight games. Gaskins might be leaned up even more heavily than usual, too, as backup RB Dwayne Washington (leg) is questionable to play due to a leg injury. QB Jake Browning struggled with his effectiveness, completing 62.9 percent of his passes for 2,671 yards, 16 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

QB Nick Mullens had a great season for the Golden Eagles, passing for 4,145 yards with 36 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He isn't a threat to run the ball, but he was able to punch it in for three rushing scores. USM featured two 1,000-yard rushers, as all-everything RB Jalen Richard led the team with 1,098 yards on 14 rushing scores while adding 284 receiving yards and two touchdowns. RB Ito Smith rambled for 1,088 yards and eight touchdowns, averaging a robust 7.0 yards per carry. He was also good for 493 receiving yards with three scores. The Golden Eagles also featured an impressive trio of receivers, with WRs Michael Thomas (62-1,201-12), Casey Martin (74-855-7) and D.J. Thompson (52-743-6) all serving as threats.

The 'under' is 20-8 in Washington's past 28 games overall, and 5-2 in their past seven neutral-site games. The under is also 6-2 in their past eight games against teams with a winning record, and 5-1 in their past six non-conference tilts. The 'under' is 7-3 in USM's past 10 games overall.

Kickoff is scheduled for 2:20 p.m. Eastern on ESPN.

Indiana vs. Duke

This would be an amazing basketball matchup, but Saturday's game features two football teams with a long history of playing, but a rather short history of postseason appearances when Indiana and Duke meet at Yankee Stadium in the Pinstripe Bowl.

Indiana (6-6 SU, 7-5 ATS) started the season with four straight wins, including a road win Sept. 26 at Wake Forest, an ACC opponent. However, the Hoosiers hit the skids in conference, losing their first six Big Ten games before posting wins at Maryland Nov. 21 and at Purdue Nov. 28 to become bowl eligible. The Hoosiers finished the season with covers in each of their final three games, and they posted 41 or more points in each game during the stretch. With the Hoosiers, win or lose, you can expect plenty of offense.

For the Hoosiers, QB Nate Sudfeld is a star. He completed 60.7 percent of his passes for 3,184 yards, 24 touchdowns and just five interceptions. He isn't a dual-threat QB, but he did run for five touchdowns, while backup QB Zander Diamont also found the end zone twice with his feet. The real rushing star is RB Jordan Howard, who more than adequately replaced RB Tevin Coleman, now with the Atlanta Falcons. Howard rolled for 1,213 rushing yards and nine scores, while RB Devine Redding posted 785 yards and eight touchdowns. On the receiving end, sophomore WR Simmie Cobbs Jr. led the team with 54 grabs, 914 yards and four touchdowns, while WRs Ricky Jones and Mitchell Paige tied for the team lead with five receiving scores.

Duke (7-5 SU, 6-6 ATS) was humming along into late October with thoughts of the ACC Championship Game dancing in their head. However, the Blue Devils were stunned on a controversial last-second, lateral-filled kickoff return for score on Halloween night against Miami, and Duke was never the same. The Blue Devils followed that Miami loss with three more setbacks, including a 66-31 shellacking from rival North Carolina Nov. 7. They were able to cobble together enough offense in a 27-21 win and cover at Wake Forest in the season finale, something both of these squads have in common - a road win at Wake.

The Blue Devils offense was led by QB Thomas Sirk, who completed 60.0 percent of his passes for 2,461 yards, 15 touchdowns and just six interceptions, and he also led the team with 143 rushing attempts, 654 yards, 4.6 yards per carry and six rushing scores. Backup QB Parker Boehme threw for a pair of scores while running for 181 yards and five rushing touchdowns. RB Shaq Powell also chipped in with 530 yards and three touchdowns, while RB Jela Duncan found the end zone four times. WR Max McCaffrey served as the team's most valuable receiver, taking over for the departed WR Jamison Crowder, now of the Washington Redskins. McCaffrey posted 601 yards and five scores while freshman WR T.J. Rahming debuted with 522 receiving yards and 13.1 yards per grab.

Duke heads to a bowl game for a fourth consecutive season, extending a school record. Previous to the 2012 season the Blue Devils had appeared in just eight bowl games with none in consecutive campaigns. Duke is just 3-8 SU all-time in the postseason, and their bowl victory came in the 1960 Cotton Bowl. While Duke has been involved in three memorable games from the 2012 Belk Bowl, 2013 Chick-Fil-A Bowl against Johnny Manziel and Texas A&M and the 2014 Sun Bowl against Arizona State, they just haven't been able to get over the hump.

Like the Blue Devils, Indiana has a spotty and infrequent bowl resume. They haven't appeared in a bowl game since the 2007 season, a 49-33 loss to Oklahoma State in the Insight.com Bowl, and they haven't won a postseason game since the 1991 Copper Bowl, a 24-0 shutout of Baylor. The Hoosiers are 0-2 SU against current ACC schools in bowl games.

Indiana is 5-1 ATS in their past six non-conference games, and 6-1 ATS in their past seven outings following a straight-up win. However they're just 2-7 ATS in their past nine games on grass. Duke enters play 15-5-1 ATS in their past 21 non-conference tilts, but just 1-4 ATS in their past five overall and 0-4 ATS in their past four on grass.

For IU, the 'over' is 4-0-1 in their past five non-conference tilts, and 3-1-1 in their past five against ACC foes. The over is also 35-15-2 in their past 52 against teams with a winning overall record. While the under is 4-0 in Duke's past four non-conference tilts, the over is 5-1 in their past six outings and 4-1 in their past five on grass.

Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Eastern on ABC.

Saturday's Bowl Betting Preview
By Covers.com

St. Petersburg Bowl - Connecticutt Huskies vs. Marshall Thundering Herd (-5, 44.5)

Sitting at 5-5 with games against Houston and Temple remaining, it appeared Connecticut was destined to miss the postseason for the fifth straight year. The Huskies, however, handed the Cougars their only loss of the season to become bowl eligible and face Marshall in the St. Petersburg (Fla.) Bowl on Dec. 26. It is UConn's first postseason appearance since meeting Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl in 2010 while the Thundering Herd are looking for their third bowl victory in as many seasons.

The Huskies, who are 21-39 overall since their showcase in the Fiesta Bowl, shocked the No. 16 Cougars 20-17 in their penultimate regular-season contest. UConn will have Bryant Shirreffs back under center after he suffered a severe concussion in that game. Shirreffs admitted that he lost consciousness after receiving a blow to the helmet. “It was a pretty big hit, it is probably the hardest hit I’ve taken,” the sophomore told reporters

Marshall won the Boca Raton Bowl last season and has beaten just one team, Southern Mississippi, which earned a bowl berth this year. The game, which will be played at Tropicana Field - the baseball home of the Tampa Bay Rays, shapes up to be a low-scoring affair as the Thundering Herd finished the season ranked 14th in scoring defense at 18.4 points per game while the Huskies were 17th at 19.8. Marshall is 9-3 in bowl appearances all-time and has won nine of its last 10 appearances but is unlikely to have star running back Devon Johnson, who missed the final five games of the season with a back injury.

LINE HISTORY: Marshall opened as 4-point favorites and have been bet up a point to sit a -5. The total has been bet up just slightly from 44 to 44.5.

INJURY REPORT:

Connecticutt - WR B. Lemelle (probable Saturday, lower body), QB B. Shirreffs (probabel Saturday, head), LB M. Walsh (questionable Saturday, knee).

Marshall - RB D. Johnson (questionable Saturday, back), LB R. Huskey (questionable Saturday, suspension), S. Houston (questionable Saturday, suspension).

ABOUT CONNECTICUT (6-6, 5-7 ATS, 2-10 O/U): UConn's offense is paced by Arkeel Newsome, who ranks 18th in the nation in all-purpose yards (1,621) while Shirreffs threw for 1,992 yards while completing 60.3 percent of his passes, the school's best numbers since Dan Orlovsky in 2004. The Huskies lost five of six games during a dreadful stretch in the middle of their schedule and are 3-2 all time in bowl games. UConn placed five players on the all-conference team led by Jamar Summers, who was tied for third in the nation with seven interceptions and was its only first-team choice.

ABOUT MARSHALL (9-3, 7-5 ATS, 4-8 O/U): Marshall won seven straight games but dropped two of its final three contests to fall into a tie for second place in the C-USA East Division. Freshman Chase Litton took over the starting job at quarterback in the third week of the season, won his first seven starts and finished the season with 2,387 yards passing with 22 touchdowns and seven interceptions. The Herd has a strong special teams unit paced by punter Tyler Williams averaging 44.3 yards and DeAndre Reaves, who had 47 receptions and is a major threat in the return game.

TRENDS:

* Connecticut is 4-0-1 ATS in its last five versus Conference USA opponents.
* Marshall is 4-0 ATS in its last four bowl games.
* Under is 5-0 in Connecticut's last five games overall.
* Under is 4-1 in Marshall's last five games overall.

Hyundai Sun Bowl - Miami Hurricanes vs. Washington State Cougars (-3, 62)

Miami (Fla.) goes after its first postseason victory since 2006 when it takes on Washington State in the Hyundai Sun Bowl on Dec. 26 at El Paso, Texas. The Hurricanes won four of five games after coach Al Golden was fired and Larry Scott, who took over in an interim basis, will try to end the school’s five-game losing streak in bowl games since beating Nevada 21-20 in the 2006 MPC Computers Bowl at Boise, ID. The Cougars built their best record (8-4) since 2003, when they went 10-3 with a Holiday Bowl victory, and have played only one postseason game since (2013 New Mexico Bowl).

Two efficient, productive 6-4 sophomore quarterbacks face off when Miami’s Brad Kaaya meets Luke Falk of the Cougars. Kaaya, who missed 1 1/2 games with a concussion in midseason, has thrown for at least 3,000 yards in two straight years while connecting for 41 touchdowns with 16 interceptions (12 as a freshman). Falk returned to practice after missing the regular-season finale against Washington with a concussion and has completed 70.7 percent of his passes with 36 TDs and 4,266 yards this season but isn’t expected to have top receiver Gabe Marks (ankle).

The teams are tied for 83rd in the nation in scoring defense (28.8), and a big play on that side of the ball could turn the tide in a game that features two high-powered offenses. Washington State leads the nation in red-zone conversions for TDs at 94.3 percent but is near the bottom in sacks allowed (39). The Hurricanes have 15 interceptions, led by six from Artie Burns, and 24 sacks while ranking seventh in the country in turnover margin (plus-13).

LINE HISTORY: Washington State has held steady at the opening number of -3. The total also hasn't moved off its opening number of 62.

INJURY REPORT:

Miami - OL D. Isidora (questionable Saturday, undisclosed), OL S. Odogwu (questionable Saturday, knee), S J. Carter (out Saturday, suspension), DL C. Jenkins (out Saturday, academics).

Washington State - QB L. Falk (probable Saturday, concussion), OL J. Dahl (probable Saturday, foot), WR G. Marks (probable Saturday, ankle).

WEATHER REPORT: It could be a messy day in El Paso, with a 65 percent chance of rain and a strong 10-12 mile per hour wind gusting towards the northern end zone. Temperatures will be in the high 40's.

ABOUT MIAMI (8-4, 7-5 ATS, 6-6 O/U): Kaaya was hampered by an inconsistent rushing attack that ranks 116th in the nation but still threw for 3,019 yards with 15 touchdowns and gives 2016 coach Mark Richt a dependable quarterback around whom to build. Wide receivers Stacy Coley, Rashawn Scott and Herb Waters each have at least 38 receptions and 600 yards as Kaaya has completed 61.7 percent of his throws. Joseph Yearby needs 61 rushing yards to reach 1,000 and the Hurricanes boast one of the top kickers in the nation in Michael Badgley, who has made 24-of-27 attempts inside 50 yards.

ABOUT WASHINGTON STATE (8-4, 9-3 ATS, 5-7 O/U): Falk, who was named to the All-Pac 12 first team, leads an offense that has nine players with at least 200 receiving yards. Marks, who was injured in the 45-10 loss to Washington on Nov. 27th, is fourth in the nation in receptions (99), tied for fourth in receiving TDs (14) and 19th in receiving yards (1,125), while Dom Williams has made 73 catches and is three yards shy of 1,000. Defensive lineman Hercules Mata’afa (six sacks) was named a freshman All-American by USA Today and sophomore linebacker Peyton Pelluer leads the team with 98 tackles.

TRENDS:

* Miami is 0-4 ATS in their last four bowl games.
* Washington State is 6-0 ATS in their last six games versus a team with a winning record.
* Under is 6-1 in Miami's last seven neutral site games.
* Under is 4-1 in Washington State's last five games overall.

Zaxby's Heart of Dallas Bowl - Washington Huskies vs. Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles (+8.5, 55)

Zaxby’s Heart of Dallas Bowl is the location for the first postseason game between Pac-12 and Conference USA teams when Washington meets Southern Miss on Dec. 26 at the historic Cotton Bowl. The Huskies needed wins over Oregon State and Washington State in the season’s final two weeks to become bowl eligible and play in the postseason for a sixth straight season. Led by third-year head coach Todd Monken and quarterback Nick Mullens, the Golden Eagles were the most improved program in FBS this season (six more wins than last season) and qualified for their first bowl since 2011.

The Southern Miss offense has gone from scoring 19 points per game in 2014 to 40.6 points this season, scoring 50 or more a school-record five times. The Golden Eagles have broken single-season school records for completions (312), passing yards (4,263), total offensive yards (6,758), touchdowns (67), and points (528). Mullens, the Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year, has completed 63.4 percent of his 483 passes for 4,145 yards and 36 TDs against 12 interceptions.

The Golden Eagles’ talented offense will be going up against the best defense in the Pac-12. Washington led the conference and was among the top 30 in FBS in points allowed per game (17.8), yards against (349.9) and red zone defense (77.8 percent). Cornerback Sidney Jones and safety Budda Baker earned spots on the All-Pac-12 first team, Azeem Victor led the team with 88 tackles while fellow linebackers Cory Littleton and Travis Feeney combined for 13 sacks.

LINE HISTORY: Washington opened as 8.5-point favorites and have to move off that nunmber. The total has been bet down slightly, going from 55.5 to 55.

INJURY REPORT:

Washington - RB D. Washington (questionable Saturday, leg).

Southern Mississippi - LB A. Swain (questionable Saturday, undisclosed).

WEATHER REPORT: There is plenty of inclement weather in the forecast for this matchup. Thunderstorms are expected in the area with a 73 percent chance of rain. There will also be a strong 15-17 mile per hour wind gusting across the field from south to north.

ABOUT WASHINGTON (6-6, 7-5 ATS, 4-8 O/U): Running back Myles Gaskin, who set school freshman records with 1,121 yards and 10 touchdowns, will be the focal point of the offense. He ran for 265 yards as the Huskies outscored the Beavers and Cougars by a combined 80 points to close out the season. In his final eight games, Gaskins ran for 912 yards (5.6 per carry), but quarterback Jake Browning (62.9 percent completion, 2,671 yards, 16 TDs, 10 Interceptions) had an inconsistent season, throwing four scoring passes each in wins over Arizona and Oregon State but multiple interceptions in losses to California and Arizona State.

ABOUT SOUTHERN MISS (9-4, 10-3 ATS, 5-8 O/U): Mullens posted an historic season but he was shut down in the Conference USA championship game, throwing for only 181 yards with three interceptions in the 45-28 loss to Western Kentucky. Casey Martin is his favorite target with 74 catches for 855 yards and seven TDs, but Michael Thomas is the deep threat, grabbing 62 balls for 1,201 yards and 12 scores. The Golden Eagles’ run game is also potent, as senior Jalen Richard (1,098 yards rushing, 14 TDs, 5.9 yards per carry) and sophomore Ito Smith (1,088 yards rushing, eight TDs, seven yards per carry) combined for more than 2,900 yards from scrimmage and 27 scores.

TRENDS:

* Washington is 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games in December.
* Southern Mississippi is 6-0 ATS in their last 6 non-conference games.
* Under is 5-1 in Washington's last 6 non-conference games.
* Under is 7-3 in Southern Mississippi's last 10 games overall.

New Era Pinstripe Bowl - Indiana Hoosiers vs. Duke Blue Devils (+3, 71.5)

Indiana and Duke, two schools known more for their prowess on the basketball court, meet on the gridiron for the first time since 1984 - this time in a baseball stadium - as they invade Yankee Stadium for the Pinstripe Bowl on Dec. 26. Indiana is in a bowl game for the first time since 2007 and plays in just its second since 1993. The Blue Devils are making their fourth bowl appearance in a row but are in search of their first postseason win since the Cotton Bowl on Jan. 2, 1961.

Both teams boast quality quarterbacks, with Hoosiers senior Nate Sudfeld leading the Big Ten in passing yards (3,184), touchdowns (24) and pass efficiency (153.9). His play in back-to-back road wins to end the regular season lifted Indiana into the bowl picture, as he threw for 735 yards and eight touchdowns with no interceptions against Maryland and Purdue. Duke signal caller Thomas Sirk is not quite on that level as a passer, but he did rank third in the ACC in pass completions and can hurt opponents with his legs, compiling a team-high 648 yards and six touchdowns on the ground.

The Hoosiers and Blue Devils both had strong starts before gut-punch losses altered their seasons and may have prevented them from attaining a more notable bowl berth. Indiana was 4-2 and up 25 points at home against a bad Rutgers team, but it collapsed in a 55-52 loss that was the lowlight during a six-game losing streak. Duke was 6-1 and on top of the ACC Coastal division before visiting Miami utilized eight laterals in a wild kickoff return for a touchdown that sent the Blue Devils to a damaging 30-27 defeat that started a four-game losing streak.

LINE HISTORY: Indiana opened as 2-point favorites and have been bet up to -3. It's the total that has seen plenty of action. Since opening at 67, that number has climbed all the way to 71.5.

INJURY REPORT:

Indiana - WR I. James (questionable Saturday, shoulder), QB Z. Diamont (questionable Saturday, undisclosed), RB J. Howard (questionable Saturday, knee), S C. Dutra (out Saturday, ankle), S J. Cook Jr. (out Saturday, foot).

Duke - S J. Cash (out Saturday, wrist).

WEATHER REPORT: There will be a 55 percent chance of rain in New York, with a 6-8 mile per hour wind gusting from east to west. Temperatures will be in the high 40's during the game.

ABOUT INDIANA (6-6, 7-5 ATS, 9-2-1 O/U): The long layoff before the bowl game allows running back Jordan Howard's knee to heal up, and head coach Kevin Wilson said there is a chance the junior plays, which could transform Indiana's attack. Howard produced 1,213 yards in only nine games but missed the finale against Purdue and later had his knee scoped. He averaged 168.8 yards a game during the Hoosiers' 4-0 start and 206 in narrow losses to Iowa and Michigan down the stretch.

ABOUT DUKE (7-5, 6-6 ATS, 5-7 O/U): Behind Sirk and a balanced attack that features five receivers with at least 30 catches and four rushers with more than 300 yards, the Blue Devils should move the ball against an Indiana squad that ranked last in the Big Ten in total defense. Duke will want to shore up its defensive unit, though, after it was lit up for an average of 42.3 points during the four-game losing streak. Senior safety Jeremy Cash, who had 101 tackles - 18 for a loss - and 2.5 sacks, shined through it all to claim ACC Defensive Player of the Year honors.

TRENDS:

* Indiana is 5-1 ATS in their last 6 non-conference games.
* Duke is 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
* Over is 4-0-1 in Indiana's last 5 non-conference games.
* Over is 5-1 in Duke's last 6 games overall.

Camping World Independence Bowl - Tulsa Golden Hurricane vs. Virginia Tech Hokies (-14, 61.5)

The storied career of coach Frank Beamer will come to an end when he leads Virginia Tech to its 22nd straight bowl appearance. Beamer, who made his first bowl appearance with the Hokies in the 1993 Independence Bowl, will guide them one last time when they face Tulsa in this year’s edition in Shreveport, LA. on Dec. 26. The legendary coach announced his impending retirement earlier in the season and will move on to a different position in the athletic department at the end of the campaign.

“I want to finish this thing in a good way, but we’ve got to go play well,” Beamer told reporters. “Tulsa can throw the football. Any time you can throw the football the way they do, you’re always dangerous. We’ve got to get ready for that.” The Golden Hurricane became bowl eligible by showing off that passing offense in a 45-34 win at Tulane in the regular-season finale. Dane Evans threw for 367 yards and three touchdowns in that triumph as Tulsa overcame a 10-point, fourth-quarter deficit to become bowl eligible for the first time since 2012.

The Golden Hurricane were set to deal with upheaval on the coaching staff as well, but offensive coordinator Sterlin Gilbert reportedly turned down a three-year contract to take the same position at Texas. Gilbert oversaw a unit that averaged 27.9 points and ranked 11th in FBS with an average of 329.8 passing yards. The Hokies ranked ninth nationally in passing defense, limiting opponents to an average of 173.8 yards.

LINE HISTORY: Virginia Tech opened as 13.5-point favorites and are now favored by two converted touchdowns. The total has stayed put at the opening number of 61.5.

INJURY REPORT:

Tulsa - N/A.

Virginia Tech - N/A.

WEATHER REPORT: There is a 50 percent chance of rain, with a chance of thunderstorms in the area. There will also be a 9-12 mile per hour wind gusting towards the northern end zone. Temperatures will be in the mid 70's for the game.

ABOUT TULSA (6-6, 6-5-1 ATS, 7-5 O/U): The Independence Bowl will mark the career finales for senior running back Zach Langer and wide receiver Keyarris Garrett, who combined for 24 touchdowns in the regular season. Garrett is second in FBS with 1,451 receiving yards and torched Tulane for 216 on 10 catches in the regular-season finale. The two seniors make things easier for junior quarterback Evans, who needs 42 passing yards to reach 4,000 on the season.

ABOUT VIRGINIA TECH (6-6, 6-6 ATS, 5-7 O/U): Beamer made his reputation by being dominant on special teams, and kicker Joey Slye is ready to send his coach out on a winning note. “It’s another bowl game, and coach Beamer is taking it like another bowl game,” Slye told reporters. “That’s kind of trickling down to the rest of the players. We’ve got business to do, we’ve got business to handle, so let’s go out and handle business.” Beamer is set to be replaced by former Memphis coach Justin Fuente, whose team ripped Tulsa 66-42 in the regular season.

TRENDS:

* Tulsa is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 bowl games.
* Virginia Tech is 2-5-1 ATS in its last eight neutral site games.
* Under is 6-0 in Tulsa's last 6 neutral site games.
* Over is 6-0 in Hokies last 6 non-conference games.

Fosters Farms Bowl - UCLA Bruins vs. Nebraska Cornhuskers (+6.5, 61)

UCLA’s bid to go to the Rose Bowl fell apart late while Nebraska thought it had played its way out of bowl berth entirely, at least until the NCAA stepped in. The Bruins settled for a spot in the Foster Farms Bowl at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Dec. 26 after coming up one game short of playing in the Pac-12 title game. The Cornhuskers are one of three five-win programs that benefited from the NCAA’s decision to use Academic Progress Rate as the main tiebreaking mechanism to help it reach the 80 teams needed to fill out 40 bowl games.

Nebraska is assured of finishing with a losing record for the third time since 1962, but its seven losses have come by a total of 31 points under first-year coach Mike Riley. The Cornhuskers became only the second FBS program since 2006 to lose four times on the final play of regulation or in overtime. The results started to get better as some key players began to get healthy near the end of the season, highlighted by Nebraska’s 39-38 comeback win over Big Ten champion Michigan State on Nov. 7.

UCLA, which has won 11 consecutive non-conference contests - which includes a home win over Nebraska in 2013 to complete a two-game series sweep – controlled its own destiny in the Pac-12 South entering the final weekend of the regular season before falling to eventual champion USC. The Bruins are 0-2 at this event, losing to Florida State in the 2006 Emerald Bowl and Illinois in the 2011 Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl – both of which were played in San Francisco. Coach Jim Mora can notch his 38th career victory with UCLA in this contest, however, and break his tie with Terry Donahue for the most wins over his first four seasons at the school.

LINE HISTORY: UCLA opened favored by a converted touchdown, but were quickly moved to -6.5, where they currently sit. The total hasn't moved off the opening number of 61.

INJURY REPORT:

UCLA - OL K. Lacy (probable Saturday, ankle), OL C. McDermott (questionable Saturday, knee), RB S. Manfro (questionable Saturday, shoulder).

Nebraska - LB M. Newby (probable Saturday, shoulder), WR A. Moore (questionable Saturday, shoulder), DL M. Stoltenberg (out Saturday, knee).

WEATHER REPORT: It should be a perfect night for football in Santa Clara, with clear skies, just a slight breeze and temperatures in the low 40's for the game.

ABOUT UCLA (8-4, 5-6-1 ATS, 3-8-1 O/U): The Bruins witnessed a number of record-setting performances this season as kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn became the conference’s all-time leading scorer and receiver Jordan Payton become the school’s all-time receptions leader. Quarterback Josh Rosen threw two interceptions against the Trojans to stop his streak of not throwing one at 245 attempts, one of several school records he broke en route to earning Pac-12 Offensive Freshman of the Year honors. Paul Perkins ranks third in the conference in rushing (1,275 yards) while first-team All-Pac 12 junior defensive tackle Kenny Clark is the leader of a defense that is tied for first in the conference in fewest yards allowed per play (4.9).

ABOUT NEBRASKA (5-7, 6-6 ATS, 7-5 O/U): Tommy Armstrong Jr. operates the Big Ten’s second-ranked total offense and is the only Cornhusker to record two seasons with at least 3,000 total yards, but threw nine of his 16 interceptions over the final three contests. Jordan Westerkamp tied Nate Swift for the most single-season receptions in school history (63) in Nebraska’s 28-20 loss to Iowa in the regular-season finale while tight end Cethan Carter began to emerge as a valuable big-play threat for Armstrong as the regular season drew to a close. Although defensive tackles Vincent Valentine and Maliek Collins combined to miss seven games in 2015, Nebraska still ranks eighth in the country in run defense (113.4 yards per game).

TRENDS:

* UCLA is 6-1 ATS in its last seven games following a ATS loss.
* Nebraska is 8-3 ATS in its last 11 non-conference games.
* Under is 3-0-1 in UCLA's last four games overall.
* Over is 6-1 in Nebraska's last seven non-conference games.

Steve's Screenshot
By Steve Merril

Miami Florida vs. Washington State (-2, 62.5)

My power ratings actually make Miami -1, but the Hurricanes would only hold value at +3 or more.

Despite the perceived line value, there isn’t much to take Miami on in this game. The Hurricanes fired head coach Al Golden after a 58-0 home loss to Clemson. In five games under interim head coach Larry Scott, Miami did go 4-1 SU, but two of those wins came against non-bowl teams and another was a fluky win at Duke on a miraculous kickoff return that should have been reversed.

Washington State held their own by going 8-4 SU overall and 6-3 in the tough Pac 12. The Cougars should have beaten Stanford, and two of their other losses came by just 7 and 6 points. Washington State has cohesion while Miami is playing for an interim coach who doesn’t know if he will be retained by new head coach Mark Richt.

That’s a tricky situation, especially for the players who will be returning to Miami next season. They may tune Scott out, and the distraction is enough to make Miami a fragile team. Washington State has no such issues, so despite the line value, the Hurricanes cannot be trusted in this game.

Indiana (-3, 72.5) vs. Duke

My power ratings make this game a Pick'em, so there is a little bit of line value on Duke at +3 or more.

However, this is not a good matchup for the Blue Devils. Indiana should be able to run the ball all over Duke in this game. The Hoosiers averaged 205 yards per game on 4.5 yards per rush on the ground. Overall, Indiana averaged 36.2 points per game on 6.2 yards per play. Duke’s defenses gave up 30.3 points per game away from home this season.

Duke could run the ball with success, but the Blue Devils are more of a passing team. Overall, the Blue Devils averaged 30.5 points per game, but they averaged just 5.5 yards per play versus defenses that gave up 5.6 yards per play. Indiana’s defense is atrocious, especially away from home where they allowed 33.8 points per game.

The pointspread definitely favors Duke, but the matchup greatly favors Indiana. This should be a high-scoring game, but since the total has moved more than 6 points higher from the opener, all the value on the Over is gone.

Nebraska vs. UCLA (-6, 62)

My power ratings make UCLA -6, so this line is spot on.

Nebraska was a maddening team this season. The Cornhuskers went just 5-7 SU, but they could have easily been 9-3 instead as they lost 4 games on the last play. All seven of their losses came by 10 points or less with four of the losses coming by 5 points or less. Nebraska is a much better team than their record indicates, but they are a hard team to trust considering how they’ve lost games this season.

UCLA looked like world beaters when they opened the season at 4-0 SU. But after back-to-back blowout losses, the Bruins became an afterthought as they finished out their season. UCLA comes in off a 40-21 blowout loss to rival USC, so they should be ready to bounce back strong, especially with this game in their home state of California.

Both teams played above average football on both sides of the ball this season, so this game could go either way. The pointspread is spot on, so there is no value on either team.