BIG AL
E. Carolina +7.5
Analysis: At 2:30 pm, our selection is on the East Carolina Pirates + the points over Maryland, as East Carolina falls into 50-17 and 60-29 ATS systems of mine which involve playing on certain bowl teams based on their passing statistics (our 60-29 ATS system cashed yesterday with NC State). East Carolina's aerial attack is among the best in the nation, as it averages 319.3 ypg, and the Pirates had 37 touchdown passes for the season. They're led by junior QB Dominique Davis, who ranks 6th in the nation in total offense. Davis had a brilliant season, and established team records with 36 TD passes, 3,699 yards and 358 completions. He was extremely efficient, as he completed 64.9 percent of his throws and only had 14 interceptions. And in his last five games, he was on fire, throwing 18 TDs (with only four interceptions) while posting a 145.2 rating over those games. The main storyline in this game is that Maryland's coach Ralph Friedgen will be on the sidelines for his last game, but from my perspective that kind of stuff is a bunch of noise, and won't have an impact on the game. A secondary storyline is that East Carolina has a crap defense. That's very true. Indeed, East Carolina has the worst defense -- by far -- of any team to make a Bowl game over the past 31 seasons! How bad is ECU's 43.4 mark? The next worst team over the past 31 years was 5.2 points better than that (38.2). However, Bowl teams with defenses that gave up 33.2 ppg have covered 10 straight since 1999! Take ECU + the points.
Arizona +5
At 9:15 pm, our selection is on the Arizona Wildcats + the points over Oklahoma St, as Arizona falls into 13-4, 46-26, 23-0, 18-6, and 33-19 ATS systems of mine. And, if the line ticks up to +6 points, then we'd have a 42-12 ATS system to boot. Let's take a look at our 18-6 ATS angle. What we want to do is play on any team off 3 losses to end its regular season, if it's not favored by more than 6 points. And our 23-0 ATS angle plays on rested Pac-10 Conference teams in non-conference games, if they're off a SU/ATS loss, and priced from +1.5 to +25.5 points. With Arizona in off four straight losses, including an upset loss to rival Arizona St at season's end, look for the Wildcats to rebound with a Bowl win tonight. Take the points.
CBB
NC Greensboro
Southern Illinois
Utah St.
Texas El Paso
Vanderbilt
ATS Lock Club
4 Units Maryland -7.5
4 Units Baylor -1
4 Units N Iowa -2.5
4 Units N Dame +2
3 Units USC +4
Vernon Croy
3* LA Lakers -3
Derek Mancini
20 Dime - Illinois
Larry Ness
8* Baylor -1
8* Oklahoma St. -4.5
8* Oklahoma St. Over
Karl Garrett
100 Dime - Oklahoma State
G-Man coming with my 4th ever college football 100 Dime release, and it is a play on the Oklahoma State Cowboys minus the points as they take on the Arizona Wildcats in the Alamo Bowl in San Antonio on Wednesday night.
Considlr this the "swan song" for highly-touted offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen who has been tabbed as the coach-in-waiting at West Virginia after the end of next season, but is on board for the play-calling duties tonight.
G-Man has a feeling the Cowboys will be shooting the moon in this game, and their offense is so much better balanced than their counterparts I don't see how in the world State doesn't take this one easily.
Remember that Okie State has lost their last 2 bowl games the last 2 seasons, both losses by double-digits in the small dog role. Now they come in as the favored team and with good reason. State went 9-3 against the spread this season, including covered 8 of 10 when favored.
Arizona on the other hand comes in to San Antonio with losses in 4 in a row, and spread losses in 7 of their final 9 games!
Granted, the Cowboys defense ain't exactly the "Doomsday Defense", but Arizona's offense - only 25 ppg their last 5 games - is not likely to continually exploit their shortcomings, and the Pokes do average 45 points per game.
You do the math...eventually the dam breaks on the Wildcats, and the Cowboys put the required distance between themselves and the Tuscon entrant.
Also, expect Oklahoma State to have more of their faithful in the stands to cheer them into the winner's circle.
Erin Rynning
East Carolina +7.5
Lenny Del Genio
20* Bowl GOM - Baylor -1
Wunderdog
T Wolves -1.5
Clippers +2.5
KELSO
25 Units Maryland
5 Units Okla St
5 Units Illinois
25 Units N. Iowa
David Malinsky
CBB
6* Illinois
6* USC
4* Miami Heat
Bob Balfe
Maryland -7.5
Illinois +1
Oklahoma St -5.5
Joyce Sterling
10* Oklahoma St -4.5
Northcoast
3* Arizona Over
2* E Carolina Over
2* Baylor Over
Nick "BookieKiller" Parsons
6* Penquins / Islanders Under 5.5
For a number of different reasons I believe the value in this contest is on the "under":
The Pens have seen the total go "under" the number in 21 of 35 this year, with two "pushes", including in 10 of 17 away from friendly confines; last night they beat Atlanta 6-3 on home ice; suffice to say I expect an offensive letdown in the back to back scenario.
Incredibly important to note that Pittsburgh has in fact seen the total go "under" the number in 9 of 10 vs. division opponents this season and in 10 of 16 when playing against a team with a losing record.
On the other side of the rink: The Isles have seen the total go "under" the number in 16 of 32 this year with two "pushes"; on the 27th they were embarrassed 7-2 on the road by the Rangers; suffice to say I expect this team to play with some pride tonight as it faces one of the leagues "best".
Extremely significant to recognize that the Islanders have in fact seen the total go "under" the number in 13 of 21 when revenging a loss vs. an opponent this year and in 10 of 15 after allowing 4-goals or more.
Bottom line: When taking all of the above information into account, it does indeed all add up to a 6* play on the UNDER!