College Football Early Bowl Tips For Wednesday, December 27, 2017

Wednesday's Early Bowl Tips
December 26, 2017
By Joe Williams
VegasInsider.com

**Southern Mississippi vs. Florida State**

Independence Bowl History

-- The Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles (8-4 straight up, 8-4 against the spread) of Conference USA meets the Florida State Seminoles (6-6 straight up, 3-7-2 against the spread) from the Atlantic Coast Conference in Shreveport, La. for the Walk On's Independence Bowl. For most of the season it looked like the Seminoles would not be eligible for a bowl game, and it took a make-up game in December to get them over the finish line. But they're in Shreveport, and happy to get those extra few weeks of practice, as interim head coach Odell Haggins works one final game before the Willie Taggart Era begins in Tallahassee.

-- The Seminoles lost QB Deondre Francois in the opener against Alabama back on Sept. 2, and in stepped true freshman James Blackman. After struggles for a good chunk of the season, including a narrow loss to North Carolina State in his first start, a last-second loss to rival Miami and another disappointment against Louisville in Tallahassee, the team turned it around on Nov. 4. They topped Syracuse 27-24, and ended up 4-1 SU with three straight covers to close out their season. The offense picked up in the final three outings, too, averaging 52.3 PPG while the defense yielded just 12.7 PPG. That's what FSU fans have grown accustomed to seeing, although two of the wins were against Louisiana-Monroe and FCS Delaware State, not exactly a murderer's row.

-- The offense ranked 107th in the nation with just 343.6 yards per game, while checking in 92nd in the country with 192.8 passing yards per outing. They were also 84th in the country with 150.8 rushing yards per contest, while posting a rather middling 26.7 points per game to rank 79th in scoring. Defense held the Seminoles together this season, ranking 23rd in total yards (337.0), 36th in passing yards (201.0), 33rd in rushing yards (136.0) and 33rd in points allowed (21.9).

-- Blackman completed 155 of his 271 pass attempts (57.2 percent) with 1,997 yards, 15 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He improved as the season went on and looks to have a bright future, regardless if Francois is able to return or not. The passing game features two wide receivers who will be vital pieces in Taggart's 'Gulf Coast Offense' when he officially takes over. WR Nyqwan Murray reeled in a team-best 40 receptions while posting 604 yards and four touchdowns, averaging 15.1 yards per snare. WR Auden Tate was able to find the end zone seven times, posting 464 yards on 13.3 yards per grab. RB Cam Akers came out of the backfield with 15 grabs for 102 yards, and he led the team with 931 rushing yards and seven touchdowns while gobbling up 5.1 yards per tote. Jacques Patrick posted 687 yards with six touchdowns, including 155 yards and two scores in the finale vs. ULM.

-- USM was a lot more balanced this season, ranking 34th in total yards at 438.3 yards per game, while ranking 48th in passing yards (249.3) and 39th in rushing yards (189.0). They were also a decent 50th overall with 30.5 points per outing. On the defensive side they rivaled FSU with 321.9 yards per game allowed, 17th in the country, while ranking 26th in passing yards allowed (189.8), 27th in rushing yards allowed (132.2) and 39th in scoring defense (23.0 PPG).

-- Like Florida State, the Golden Eagles won their final three games of the season, averaging 45.7 PPG while covering the final two against Charlotte and Marshall. The Golden Eagles are more than two-touchdown underdogs in this one, and they have excelled in the role this season. USM is 2-2 SU/3/1 ATS as an underdog this season, including a straight-up win as a 10 1/2-point underdog at Texas-San Antonio back on Oct. 7, and a victory as a two-point 'dog in the final at Marshall on Nov. 25.

-- Kwadra Griggs had some injury issues this season, limiting him to 1,793 passing yards, but he had a 15-to-2 touchdown-to-interception ratio when he was in there. His hand is all healed up and he did not show any ill effects down the stretch. If needed, however, Keon Howard proved to be a valuable contributor. RB Ito Smith is a dangerous tailback that Florida State will have to corral if they hope to win. He posted 5.7 yards per rush every time he touched the ball, running for 1,321 yards and 13 touchdowns, including 150 or more yards in each of the final three games this season. In the final three wins the senior rushed for 453 yards and six touchdowns. WR Korey Robertson was the stud among receivers, racking up 72 receptions for 1,070 yards and 11 touchdowns while posting 14.9 yards per reception. WR Allenzae Staggers is a nice complement to Robertson, posting 43-469-5, while Ito Smith showed soft hands out of the backfield with 370 yards and two scores on 36 grabs. Freshman WR Quez Watkins is also a star in the making with 337 yards and two scores, posting 14.7 yards per snare.

-- The Golden Eagles have posted a 10-4 ATS mark over their past 14 overall while going 4-1 ATS in their past five games outside of the conference. USM is also 6-2 ATS in their past eight outings following a cover, and 4-1 ATS in their past five games after a straight-up win. However, they're a dismal 1-3-1 ATS in their past five neutral-site games, and 1-3-1 ATS in their past five bowl appearances. The 'under' is also 5-0-1 in the past six non-conference tilts for USM.

-- The Seminoles have posted an impressive 7-1 ATS mark in their past eight games outside of the conference, and they're 9-2-1 ATS in the past 12 bowl games. While they were an awful 3-7-2 ATS in 12 games overall, they have covered the past three in a row. They're also 7-3 ATS in their past 10 games following a straight-up win, while going 5-0 ATS in their past five after a cover. FSU is just 2-6 ATS in their past eight neutral-site games, however, including 0-1 ATS this season, while posting a dismal 0-4-2 ATS mark in the past six against teams with a winning overall mark.

-- The 'under' is 4-1-1 in the past six for FSU against teams with a winning overall record, while going 8-3-1 in their past 12 games overall. The under is also 5-2 in their past seven bowl appearances, though the 'over' is 6-1 in their past seven neutral-site games. That 'under' came earlier this season against Alabama in the opener.

-- USM is making its third straight bowl appearance, winning last season against Louisiana-Lafayette in the New Orleans Bowl by a 28-21 count. However, they're just 11-13 overall in bowl games. The Golden Eagles have scored at least 21 points in each of their past 10 bowl appearances.

-- Florida State snapped a two-game bowl losing streak last Dec. 30 with a 33-32 win against Michigan. However, they're 7-2 SU over their past nine bowl trips. This is their first-ever bowl game against a Conference USA foe, and first trip to the Independence Bowl.

-- These teams last met Nov. 16, 1996, and it was the Seminoles annihilating the Golden Eagles by a 54-14 score/

-- Kickoff is slated for 1:30 p.m. Eastern on ESPN.

**Iowa vs. Boston College**

Pinstripe Bowl History

-- In the New Era Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, N.Y. it will be Iowa (7-5 straight up, 5-6-1 against the spread) of the Big Ten squaring off against Atlantic Coast Conference representative Boston College (7-5 straight up, 8-3-1 against the spread).

-- The Eagles of BC showed vast improvement as the season wore on. They kicked off their season with a 23-20 win on the road against bowl team North Illinois, but lost three straight against bowl teams Wake Forest, Notre Dame and at Clemson. It's rather amazing, but 10 of the 12 teams the Eagles faced this season were bowl teams, and BC posted a 5-5 SU record and 6-3-1 ATS mark against such teams. That includes a 35-3 shellacking of Florida State back on Oct. 27 in the annual 'Red Bandana Game', as well as an impressive 45-42 win at Louisville back on Oct. 14.

-- The overall numbers are rather deceptive, as the Eagles check in 87th in the country in total yards per game (387.0), while posting just 162.8 yards per game (115th in the nation). They made their money running the ball this season, piling up 224.2 yards per outing to rank 24th in the country. On the defensive side of the ball, the Eagles had issues stopping the run, ranking 101st in the nation with 198.6 yards per game allowed. However, they were strong against the pass, checking in 32nd with 199.3 yards per game. Their scoring defense allowed just 22.5 points per game, finishing a respectable 35th in the land.

-- QB Anthony Brown (knee) was lost for the season due to a knee injury suffered in the North Carolina State game on Nov. 11, so it's Darius Wade taking over. He didn't skip a beat, posting a 2-0 record with the offense averaged 40.5 PPG in two wins on the road against Connecticut (at Fenway Park) and at Syracuse. He threw for 248 yards and a touchdown in the game against the Orange. RB A.J. Dillon is the stud on offense, posting 1,432 yards with 13 touchdowns and 5.3 yards per rush. Jon Hilliman is the short-yardage hammer, finishing with 622 yards with five touchdowns, while Thaddius Smith was good for 287 yards and two scores. WR Kobay White led the team with 396 yards and two scores, while TE Tommy Sweeney managed 29 grabs for 375 yards and three touchdowns, a team high.

-- Iowa had a rather up-and-down season, but there were some impressive points. They won their first three games, all against bowl teams (Wyoming, Iowa State, North Texas), before a narrow 21-19 loss at home against Penn State on Sept. 23. Most will remember their 2017 season for a 55-24 thrashing of Ohio State back on Nov. 4 which really shook up the national title and playoff picture, however.

-- The Hawkeyes had their issues on offense, finishing 109th in total yards with 339.8, while ranking 89th in passing yards (197.4) and 93rd in rushing yards (142.4). They were middle of the road with 28.3 points per game to rank 66th in the nation. They were much more impressive on defense, ranking 34th with 356.2 yards per game allowed, 49th in pass defense (213.2 yards per game), 40th in rushing defense (143.0 yards) and 18th in points allowed (19.9 PPG).

-- QB Nathan Stanley handled the quarterback duties for almost the entire season, completing 56.0 percent of his passes for 2,333 yards, 25 touchdowns and six interceptions. RB Akrum Wadley led the way with 1,021 yards and nine rushing touchdowns on 4.4 yards per carry, and he added 329 receiving yards with three more scores. TE Noah Fant led the team with 10 receiving scores, while WR Nick Easley (undisclosed) led the way with 50 catches and 498 yards while adding four scores. He is questionable for the game. WR Matt VandeBerg would need to step up if Easley is out or limited. He posted 27 grabs for 375 yards and two touchdowns this season.

-- Iowa has posted an 0-3-1 ATS mark over their past four neutral-site games, they're 1-4 ATS in the past five bowl games and 1-4 ATS in their past five outside of the conference. The 'under' is also 5-1 in Iowa's past six non-conference battles, while going 9-3 in their past 12 neutral-site appearances.

-- BC has been on fire against the number lately, going 8-0-1 ATS in their past nine overall, including 4-0-1 ATS in the past five against teams with a winning overall mark. They're also 3-0-1 ATS in the past four neutral-site games. However, the Eagles are 2-6 ATS in their past eight bowl games, 1-4 ATS in their past five against the Big Ten while going 1-8 ATS in the past nine games in December.

-- The 'under' is 24-10-1 in Boston College's past 35 games overall, 35-16-2 in their past 53 against teams with an overall winning record and 31-12 in their past 43 outside of the ACC.

-- The Hawkeyes are looking to snap a five-game bowl losing streak, including a 30-3 spanking in the 2016 Outback Bowl against Florida. Their last bowl victory came in the 2010 Insight Bowl against Missouri.

-- The Eagles are making a bowl appearance for the second straight season, and they're looking for a second straight win after topping Maryland at Ford Field on Dec. 26, 2016 in the Quick Lane Bowl. This will be their second appearance in the Pinstripe Bowl, and they hope it's better than 2014 when they dropped a 31-30 overtime decision against Penn State. It's a third straight bowl appearance against a Big Ten team, too.

-- This will be the first-ever meeting between these two institutions.

-- Kickoff is slated for 5:15 p.m. Eastern on ESPN.