Stan Lisowski
Denver
The Pioneers have always been a tough club at home in conference play as they have covered over 70% their last 40 games as a Sunbelt host. The series has seen the home team win 9 of the past 10 meetings. UL Lafayette is winless this year after a loss.
John Ryan
Utah Jazz vs. Portland Trail Blazers
Play: Portland Trail Blazers +1
5* graded play on Portland Trailblazers as they take on the Utah Jazz set to start at 10:00 and will be televised by TNT. Our proprietary sports handicapping model and simulator shows a high probability that Portland will win this game. Utah has been solid in the second of back-to-back-games sporting a 7-2 record, but this is a very tough matchup for them to overcome. I like how Portland defended Utah in their Monday win and they need to do an excellent job on Al Jefferson. Utah is a solid 11-2 when Jefferson scores 19 or more points, but Portland has a defense that rotates extremely well to the ball. This style of defensive play makes it difficult for Jefferson to get high percentage looks at the rim. Portland ranks ninth in scoring defense allowing 95 points per game. Portland is a better rebounding team as well and they will limit second chance scoring opportunities for the Jazz. Injuries are a wash for both teams as Trail Blazers guard Brandon Roy is doubtful for Thursday with a sore left knee and center Marcus Camby is listed as questionable still nursing a very tender ankle. Roy has missed six straight games and Camby has been out three of the past five contests. However, having Brandon Roy play tonight would add significant depth for the Trailblazers and would certainly add to my confidence that the Trailblazers will win this game. My simulator also shows a high probability that the Trailblazers defense will keep Utah to under 47% shooting. Portland is a solid 27-13 ATS when their opponents make 43% to 47% of their shots in a game over the last two seasons. Take the Trailblazers.
O.C. Dooley
Washington +13.5
Even though Nebraska won with ease in this particular Bowl game one year ago, it can be argued that they are NOT thrilled to be in this particular contest and will lack the needed motivation. When we last saw the Cornhuskers they were coughing up a 17-point advantage against Oklahoma in the Big 12 Championship game, which cost them a spot in one of the coveted BCS-sanctioned Bowls. Since Nebraska is switching conferences, they desperately wanted to defeat Oklahoma in one final shot, along with Texas in the infamous “red river rivalry”. The Cornhuskers came up short in both contests, with the loss to the Longhorns even more humiliating since Texas did not even qualify for a 2010 postseason Bowl berth. Through the years Nebraska has been built up by their defense, but they have been forced to SUSPEND a pair of starters due to a DUI arrest. Nebraska tonight will be without tackle Blake Steinkuhler (3’ sacks) and senior safety Ricky Thenarse. The Cornhuskers have had to deal with another defensive distraction as Linebacker coach Mike Ekeler has been named co-defensive coordinator at Indiana. Ekeler will be with the Huskers this evening even though his mind is now on bigger and better things. Normally Bowl games do not feature regular-season “rematches” but due to a wide array of circumstances, that is what the Holiday Bowl has been forced into as Washington now has a chance to REVENGE a horrible 56-21 home loss to Nebraska back in the month of September. In that contest Taylor Martinez alone accounted for 287 yards and 4 touchdowns, but he and Nebraska have not been the same since a midseason injury slowed the key figure of a big-play offense. For the Washington Huskies to even be participating in this game is remarkable since they had just completed a string of 7 consecutive losing seasons (three times in that span winning “2 or less” contests). New head coach Steve Sarkisian came in from the USC staff and ultimately changed Huskie fortunes as the school has won a combined 11 games with him at the helm the past couple of campaigns. With the help of Sarkisian star quarterback Jake Locker has become a more accurate passer and in a pair of road wins to close the regular season, the legitimate NFL prospect (463 yards, 3 touchdowns) was outstanding being hampered by a broken rib. To make a long story short tonight is the final chance for Locker to prove to NFL scout that he can run a pro-style offense. Washington players collectively voiced excitement when hearing of the “rematch” with a team that humiliated them at home back in September. It should be noted that the last couple of times Washington has played in a postseason contest, both were in the Holiday Bowl and they successfully COVERED the spread both times