Howie Feiner
International Bowl Under
Oklahoma St
E. Carolina
PRIMETIME SPORTS ADVISORS
South Florida -6.5 (-120)
Arkansas -7
Mississippi -3
UConn +4
Baylor +2.5
Loyola Chicago PK
USC -1.5 *POD
Savannah Sports
4* Connecticut +4
3* East Carolina +7.5
2* Oklahoma State +3.5
Kyle Bales
Marquette +1
Larry Ness
#1 Bowl Total USF/NIU Over
Jim Leavitt is the only coach the USF program has had in its 13-year history. Saturday's International Bowl appearance marks the fifth straight bowl appearance for this young program and the Bulls will be looking for their third win in their last four bowl trips. The Bulls have had a nasty habit of getting off to fast starts the last three seasons, only to stumble down the stretch. USF opened 6-0 in 2007 but finished 9-4, 5-0 in 2008 while finishing 8-5 and '09 has been much of the same. The Bulls were 5-0 in mid-October but enter this game 7-5 with five losses in their last seven games. Getting back on the winning track would normally be the only storyline for USF in this bowl game but that's been overshadowed by a report that coach Jim Leavitt grabbed sophomore Joel Miller by the throat and hit him in the face during halftime of the team's November 21 game with Louisville. "I'm appalled at it. It's absolutely not true," Leavitt told the St. Petersburg Times. "It's so far out there. I'm very disappointed something like this would be written." Sound like Mike Leach? The school has retained an expert in workplace issues to assist with an investigation of the accusation. Northern Illinois was in the thick of things in the MAC in 2009 before losing its final two games to Ohio U and Central Michigan, the MAC title game representatives. The 7-5 Huskies are making their second straight bowl appearance and fourth in six seasons. However, as almost everyone should be aware, MAC teams are on a current 13-game bowl losing streak, going 1-11-1 ATS. Northern Illinois led the MAC in rushing at 202.4 yards YPG (4.9 YPC) behind the running of Spann (945 YR / 5.9 YPC / 19 TDs) and Brown (645 YR). Sophomore QB Harnish missed three games but returned for the team's last three, passing for five TDs (had just 11 all year) while throwing for 513 yards in his last two (vs Ohio and CMU). NIU was second in the MAC averaging 30.8 PPG and has shown an ability to step up in class this year, losing just 28-20 at Wisconsin and winning 28-21 at Purdue. However, neither of those schools own much overall team speed. In each of the last two International Bowls, Big East schools have 'toyed' with their MAC counterparts, as Rutgers beat Ball St 52-30 in 2007 and U Conn beat Buffalo 38-20 last year. Northern Illinois head coach Jerry Kill was quoted as saying, "It'll be the most speed we'll face all year," when talking about his team's matchup with USF. I agree and although USF freshman BJ Daniels has been erratic at QB, I expect he'll be just fine in this game. USF has gone 'over' in six of its last eight games and NIU has gone over in three of its last four, averaging 34.5 PPG. The Huskies have also gone 'over' each of the last three times they faced a team with a winning record. Additionally, we find the 'over' at 9-2 the last 11 times that the Bulls were listed as favorites in the 3.5 to 10 range. Every single International Bowl has finished with greater than 50 points (51 in 2007, 82 in 2008 and 58 in 2009) and this one should too. *10
Daytime Dominator ECU
East Carolina returns to the Liberty Bowl for the second consecutive season (lost 25-19 to Kentucky last year). The Pirates are the first team to win consecutive C-USA titles since the conference switched to a two-division format in 2005 (beat then-No. 18 Houston 38-32 in the C-USA championship game on Dec 5). That win marked the school's fourth straight win (3-1 ATS), after the Pirates lost 16-3 to Va Tech at home on Nov 5 (Thursday night game). The Pirates averaged 36.0 PPG in their four-game winning streak with senior QB Patrick Pinkney stepping up "big time," after a mediocre season (up to that point). Pinkney has completed 66.7 percent of his passes with six TDs and zero INTs (in 129 attempts) while averaging 264.0 YPG through the air. Bobby Petrino (the classy guy who quit on his team in Atlanta after less than one season in 2007) went 5-7 in his first year at Arkansas but led the Razorbacks to a 7-5 season in 2009. Arkansas ran for just 136.0 YPG (4.4 YPC) and not a single RB ran for as much as 400 yards on the season. In comparison, ECU averaged just slightly more on the ground (149.6 YPC) but does own a quality RB in Lindsay (1,029 YR / 5.0 YPC). The Arkansas offense was led by QB Ryan Mallet (Michigan transfer who passed for 3,425 yards with 29 Tds and just seven TDs. This game could turn into a shootout, as neither team did a good job defending the pass in 2009. Arkansas D enters 104th in passing yards allowed (251.8 YPG), as opponents completed 59.8 percent with 21 TDs and 11 INTs. The ECU pass D ranks 110th in yards allowed (262.3 YPG), 62.3 percent completions and a 23-12 ratio. However, one can't ignore ECU's excellent record as an underdog under head coach Skip Holtz, going 21-11-1 ATS since Holtz took over in 2005. We're getting more a touchdown with a motivated team that's 9-2 its last 11 against teams with a winning record. Take the points. *8 Daytime Dominator
Bowl Blowout GOM Texas Tech
Mike Leach did great things here at Texas Tech. Not only did he turn the Red Raider offense into a perennial power but he also took Texas Tech to 10 straight bowl games. He also was the Big 12 Coach of the year last season and has the most wins in Texas Tech history. Unless you've been taking a vacation from ESPN, you know that Leach is no longer with the team. After allegedly mistreating a player, he was suspended. When he subsequently attempted to sue the university, he was released entirely. Will the Red Raiders be able to recover? I believe the answer is a resounding yes. Most of the players are supporting the decision and they'll be out to prove that it was them, not Leach, which made the program great. In terms of talent, there is little question that the Red Raiders are the stronger team, particularly with the Spartans playing without several key starters. In case you missed it, Michigan State will play this game without 11 players after they were suspended by coach Mark Dantonio for their roles in a dormitory brawl. Running back Glenn Winston and defensive back Roderick Jenrette were dismissed from the team while starters Chris L. Rucker - the team's top cover corner - and receivers B.J. Cunningham and Mark Dell are among those suspended. Those losses are far bigger than the loss of Leach. Cunningham and Dell are bit losses to the offense and losing Rucker really hurts a secondary that ranks 103rd in the country and allowed 29 touchdown passes while recording only five interceptions - tied for the fewest in the nation. The Red Raiders are off back to back wins, including a 41-13 win over Oklahoma. On the other hand, the Spartans lost their last game, 42-14 vs. Penn State, falling to just 6-6 on the season. With the Spartans at only 25-47 ATS the last 72 times they were coming off a conference loss, look for the Red Raiders to exploit their suspect secondary en route to a blowout victory. *10
Gold Sheet
1.5* E Car
1* N Ill
1* S Car
1* Mich St
RAS
N.Tex -.5
Calf -13
Cal St Ful -1
N.Arz +4
Weber St -4
Hof -1.5
James Mad +11
Virg Com -9.5
Northcoast
South Florida vs Northern Illinois
Marquee Over 48
3* S car
Marquee: Double Under EC
Single Over Tx T Over Miss Under SC Over N ILL
Wayne Root
4* Villanova -1
Lenny Stevens
20* Okl St
20* East Carolina
10* S Fla
10* T Tech
10* UConn
Executive
300 UCONN
Sean Higgs
4* Uconn
Taking the hoop Huskies here. UCONN too big inside for ND. Harangody will find it a bit difficult in the paint. UCONN off a tough loss to Cincy already in Big East play. Can't afford to go down here at home. Defense and rebounding wins game and UCONN rates the edge here. Toss in the best player on the floor with Jerome Dyson and it should a double digit win going away. UCONN HUSKIES (CBB)
5* Ole Miss -3
It is Deja Vu all over again. We just went down this road last night when I told you to unload on the Gators. Well in this spot last year we told you to unload on the Rebels and will do it again. SEC power-football vs the finesse Big 12. No contest. We saw what Ole Miss did last year to a better Texas Tech team. Now, I was high on Mississippi to begin the year, as were many pundits. Jevan Snead flat out crapped the bed in what should have been a break-out for the junior. He will rise to the occasion under big game coach Houston Nutt. Nutt isn't afraid to cut loose in the bowl games. This is where he made a name for himself. Now the Cowboys of Oklahoma State come in with arguable their best player Dez Bryant still out. QB Zac Robinson was a bit banged up but has since recovered. Both teams limped in with terrible losses to end the year. I just can't see the Cowboys, who got blitzed 68-14, by Texas and Oklahoma stepping up here. I am not saying that Ole Miss is in that catagory. But they do average 30 points a game and play some defense. I will back Ole Miss again in the Cotton Bowl. 5* MISSISSIPPI REBELS
5* TULSA -8.5
Tulsa off 2 straight losses including getting blitzed by Nevada by 21 in Vegas. Tulsa will be plenty motivated here at home. Buffs have a talent, led by Cory Higgins, but the Tulsa defense and depth will wear him down. Tulsa forces a lot of turnovers and should do so here as well. TULSA
5* William & MARY +2.5/-107
5* W&M - We really like this W&M team, they are good. They are riding a 9 game winning streak and have better stats than Hofstra except for rebounding. We think this senior class of W&M wants this game, they have only beaten Hofstra once, and have 2 more cracks at them. Take the points.
Play Title 4* East Carolina +7.5
Skip Holtz has done a great job with ECU. As you saw in their upset win over Houston in the C-USA Championship, this team can score. And with both teams having poorous defenses, take the points here. The Pirates led C-USA in INTs so they can force some TOs here. ECU WR Dwayne Harris was the MVP of CUSA and could prove unstoppable vs the Hogs and thier poor pass defense. HC Holtz is 22-7 ATS as an underdog. The Pirates won't have any problems getting up for this SEC foe. Though this game is closer to Arkansas, it is Memphis which is firmly C-USA territory. Look for a savage home crowd to back the dog, and the Pirates to deliver. 4* EAST CAROLINA PIRATES
4* CAL BEARS -13
Going to lay some wood with Cal at home. Stanford is rebuilding and have not won on the road this year. And it is not happening here. All 4 of Cals losses have been to top 25 teams. Stanford doesn't have the horses to keep pace here. Cal has every edge in this match-up. Stanford is basically a 2 man show with Landry Fields averaging 23 and Jeremy Green at 16 ppg. Bears counter with superior defense, rebounding and a balanced attack. They have their own big gun in Jerome Randle averaging 19 ppg, plus 3 others scoring more than 12. CAL BEARS
4* UNDER ASU/USC117
Two solid defenses getting together. These two teams have gone under in 8 of their last 11 meetings and 6-1-1 under in Southern Cal. USC has gone under in 5 of their last 7 and ASU has gone under in 7 of their last 9. Both teams giving up just 55 a game and holding opponents to 39 and 36 (USC) FG%. We will look for anther low-scoring, defensive affair from this PAC 10 match-up. 4* UNDER ASU/USC
Lenny Del Genio
Arkansas -7.5
In just his second season in Fayetteville, Bobby Petrino has turned Arkansas into a winner. Last year's team went just 5-7 straight up, but considering the Razorbacks faced the fifth toughest schedule in the nation and used 16 true freshman, it could have been much worse. In four seperate games a Hogs QB posted a top 10 passing day in the history of the program as Petrino began to integrate his high-scoring offensive ways. That manifested itself this year as the team went 4-1 SU/ATS down the stretch, averaging 44.8 PPG, with the only loss coming against LSU. They also scored 41+ in four of their first five games with the outlier coming in their only bad loss of the season, which came at #1 Alabama. In the two games in between, they lost to Florida and Ole Miss, which is no shame, especially when you consider they were leading in the 4th quarter vs. the Gators, something that was also the case vs. LSU. There is plenty of enthusiasm surrounding the program right now, with the full allottment of 21,000 tickets being sold for this game, which is being played relatively close to home. This was a great spread team, covering seven of its final nine. East Carolina is making its second consecutive Liberty Bowl appearance, having lost outright to Kentucky last year. That opponent is nowhere near the class of what the Pirates will face this year. ECU seemed to "go backwards" all season long, losing all three road games vs. bowl opponents by double-digits and not covering a single one of them. Yes, they won another Conference USA title beating what was perceived to be a pretty good Houston team. But that win doesn't look nearly as good as it did two weeks ago with the Cougars getting drubbed by Air Force on New Year's Eve + it was a home game. ECU was pretty fortunate to even get to that spot as they were 5-0 SU in games decided by six points or less. We'll see their true colors here. Arkansas is our CFB "VEGAS ICON."
Sirduke Sports
9* Ole Miss -3
9* Connecticut +4
5* Michigan St +8
Winning Points
Arkansas
Mississippi
Michigan State
U Conn
South Florida