Military, Texas, Alamo Bowl News and Notes

Military Bowl Preview
By: Matt Zemek

The Military Bowl – otherwise known as the new name for the EagleBank Bowl – doesn’t have an overtly militaristic feel. What it does offer is a strange-but-true reunion of a talented offensive playmaker with an opponent he knows quite well. The Military Bowl features two quarterbacks from the Atlantic Coast Conference, but it’s East Carolina’s signal caller who will not be unfamiliar with the Maryland Terrapins at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C.

The Pirates from the humble town of Greenville, North Carolina, are appearing in their fifth straight bowl game, a very laudable achievement for a team from Conference USA. Rookie head coach Ruffin McNeill was able to guide his ballclub to the upper half of C-USA’s East Division. The Pirates didn’t win the division, but they came mighty close. ECU’s offense was led by quarterback Dominique Davis, who played the same position at Boston College, an ACC Atlantic Division rival of Maryland. The Pirates, behind Davis, finished the regular season seventh in the nation in passing yards per game and 12th in points scored. The defense hemorrhaged, however, in November, preventing ECU’s record from being better than 6-6. A 45-38 loss to SMU in the Nov. 26 regular-season finale denied the team a 7-5 mark that would have gone down a lot more smoothly. A 76-35 loss to Navy detracted from this team’s overall profile to an even greater extent, but not enough to keep it from the postseason. At any rate, Davis – whom Boston College really could have used in 2010 – will lick his chops and smile inwardly now that he has a chance to terrorize an ACC defense once again. This game won’t have a more motivated competitor than Davis, a young man who felt he had to take one step downward on the rung of college football conferences. If he comes good and delivers a masterpiece against Maryland, he’ll surely walk off the gridiron in the nation’s capital knowing that his career will always have a crowning moment.

The Terps, for their part, had a very successful 8-4 campaign that plainly saved coach Ralph Friedgen’s job. Maryland started the year with a massive 17-14 triumph over Navy that was made possible by four defensive stands inside the Terps’ own 5-yard line. That win set the tone for the season and enabled this team to gain a healthy dose of self-belief. Maryland still got outclassed by the better teams in the ACC, but it made sure to dispose of the bad ones. Quarterback Danny O’Brien, only a freshman, also grew into the position as the season continued. His best game was his most recent one, a spectacular outing against North Carolina State. O’Brien hit 33-of-47 throws for 417 yards and four touchdowns without a pick. He’s almost certainly going to be a terrific quarterback at Maryland the next three years.

Both teams have great passing offenses and should score a lot of points. Maryland, though, is clearly stronger in the trenches and has a defense that should be able to make a few defensive stops. ECU will have a very good offensive day, led by a passionate and purposeful Dominique Davis. However, the money question in this clash is if Maryland’s offense will be stopped at all. East Carolina has to bring some defense to D.C. if it wants to leave the field in victory formation… Military Bowl victory formation, that is.

STAT PACK

East Carolina

Passing Yards Per Game: 319.3 (National ranking out of 120 FBS teams: 7)

Rushing Yards Per Game: 126.2 (Ranking: 91)

Points Per Game: 38.2 (Ranking: 12)

Points Allowed Per Game: 43.4 (Ranking: 118)

Maryland

Passing: 217.5 ypg (Ranking: 63)

Rushing: 124.9 ypg (Ranking: 94)

Scoring: 30.7 ppg (Ranking: 42)

Scoring Defense: 22.3 ppg (Ranking: 38)

Texas Bowl Preview
By: Matt Zemek

When one of college football’s many tacked-on bowl games – you know, the kind of bowl game that didn’t exist 20 years ago and feels like just one more exhibition affair – matches a 6-6 team and a 7-5 team, it’s easy to think that neither team will care, thereby robbing the spectacle of its electricity and juice.

However, in the case of a Lone Star State soiree, it’s virtually certain that one team will give a darn about being in a postseason game despite a less-than-overwhelming resume. The drama that will be found inside Reliant Stadium can be linked to the amount of enthusiasm possessed by the other dog in this fight. Yes, it’s up to a Big Ten bunch to supply some punch when college football’s post-Christmas parade of pigskin action marches on.

The Illinois Fighting Illini and the Baylor Bears both wobbled down the stretch run of their respective regular seasons. They’ll try to rebound when they meet in Houston for the Texas Bowl, and for the boys from Illinois, the notion of “rebounding” acquires a particularly mental dimension that doesn’t quite exist for Baylor.

The Illini owned a 5-3 mark at one stage of their season and were staring at a very winnable schedule down the home stretch of 2010. Yet, their non-waterproofed defense let them down. A 67-65 overtime loss to Michigan in a comically defense-free game began a calamitous endstage descent to their downhill-directed regular season. Coach Ron Zook’s team dropped three of four games, including a terrible home loss to Minnesota, to finish at 6-6. Illinois expected to do a lot more between the painted white lines this year, and that’s why this game against Baylor should mean a lot to Zook in particular. He needs to win this contest in order to quiet the mumblings about his body of work in Champaign. Illinois’ best win this season came against Northwestern, and that was with NU’s starting quarterback, Dan Persa, being out of commission.

However, with that having been said, it’s one thing for the coach to need a win. The real question is if his players – fresh off a Dec. 3 loss at Fresno State – will get amped up to play a 7-5 team after yet another cross-country plane flight. Will this team give up on Zook or fight to the maximum extent of its will and its energies? That’s really what will decide this duel, because the opponent on the other sideline will certainly be jumping out of the building.

The Bears from Waco, Texas, started 7-2 and then weakened in November, dropping their last three games to end up 7-5. Baylor had no solutions on defense for any of the three clubs that knocked the Bears around in November. Oklahoma State, Texas A&M, and Oklahoma all romped freely against BU’s defense. However, for all that Baylor failed to do in November, it did a lot of really good work in September and October. Coach Art Briles lifted the Bears to their first bowl berth since 1994 by taking down the Big 12’s mediocre clubs. Baylor and quarterback Robert Griffin were able to exploit Texas’s historic downfall and win in Austin, something that was unimaginable before the start of the regular season.

Baylor is only 7-5, but the Bears will be very excited to partake in this contest. Moreover, Baylor’s campus is appreciably close to Houston, the site of this event. Furthermore, Illinois’ defense just might not be able to corral Mr. Griffin. The more you dissect this game, the more you realize that it’s Illinois who must answer its critics and perform at an elevated level far beyond what most experts expect.

STAT PACK

Illinois

Passing Yards Per Game: 143.4 (National ranking out of 120 FBS teams: 115)

Rushing Yards Per Game: 242.3 (Ranking: 13)

Points Per Game: 32.1 (Ranking: 34)

Points Allowed Per Game: 24.3 (Ranking: 53)

Baylor

Passing: 278.0 ypg (Ranking: 20)

Rushing: 200.5 ypg (Ranking: 23)

Scoring: 32.6 ppg (Ranking: 29)

Scoring Defense: 29.8 ppg (Ranking: 83)

Alamo Bowl Preview
By: Matt Zemek

The bowl season brings up a substantial supply of counterintuitive situations and would-you-take-this propositions. Let’s play along with the two teams that are meeting in this year’s Alamo Bowl, one of the nicer and more climate-controlled bowl games played in a professional-looking stadium located within one of America’s more festive cities.

If you had told the Arizona Wildcats that the Alamo Bowl would be their destination at the end of a highly disappointing 7-5 season, they’d have taken the bid without hesitation. The Las Vegas Bowl has historically been the destination for a Pac-10 team without a particularly distinguished season, but this year, barely-better-than-break-even bunch was given a ticket to the River Walk and the other scenic delights in the Alamo City. Arizona certainly wishes it could play in the Rose Bowl one day, but under the less-than-ideal circumstances, this was the best bowl invite the team could have hoped for.

More on Arizona’s disappointment for a moment: It’s true that the Wildcats entered the 2010 with much promise and potential. The Wildcats have to be miserable after finishing their regular season the way they did. Arizona actually pushed the Pac-10 champion Oregon Ducks quite strenuously on Nov. 26 before wilting in the fourth quarter, but the Wildcats’ other three late-season losses were very disheartening. A 7-1 season turned into a 7-5 pile of dissatisfaction that has left nobody happy near the Old Pueblo in Tucson. Coach Mike Stoops’ troops got blasted by Stanford, and it then they dropped two home games to USC and hated rival Arizona State. A 9-3 season was a fair but firm expectation for this program; 7-5, on the other hand, is a disaster. Arizona still remains the one Pac-10 school that has never made the Rose Bowl. Four-game losing streaks will do nothing to change that perception or lift the internal culture of the locker room. At least, though, San Antonio and a solid opponent like Oklahoma State could rev up this team’s engine again.

Let’s now continue the would-you-have-taken-this-at-the-beginning-of-the-season game with the team Arizona happens to be facing in San Antone. Naturally, the Cowboys are disappointed about their trip to Texas in an immediate context; they failed to win their first-ever Big 12 South Division championship because they dropped their most recent regular-season game to division champion Oklahoma. However, in a broader context, OSU should be very pleased about what it did in 2010, with this bowl game being a just reward for a season that soared beyond nationally-held expectations. A team that was picked to finish in the bottom half of the South instead tied for the lead with Oklahoma and Texas A&M. The program opted to bring in Dana Holgorsen as its new offensive coordinator, and coach Mike Gundy – who used to call the plays – sacrificed his ego and was willing to become more of an overseer as head coach. The move paid off in a big way, as the Cowboys finished third in the nation in scoring offense, tallying 44.9 points per game. A 10-2 season is beyond this school’s wildest hopes and dreams… at least this year.

Oklahoma State will have far more fans inside San Antonio’s Alamodome. The Cowboys have an offense that should tear Arizona’s defense to shreds. Arizona is a good run-stuffing defense, but the Cats don’t do well against the pass, and that’s what Oklahoma State does best. It’s up to Arizona to play up to its preseason status as a Pac-10 contender and, in some eyes, a co-favorite alongside Stanford. We’ll see if Arizona enjoys Texas hospitality enough to play an inspired game under the dome against an overachieving posse of Pokes.

STAT PACK

Arizona

Passing Yards Per Game: 310.0 (National ranking out of 120 FBS teams: 9)

Rushing Yards Per Game: 135.2 (Ranking: 85)

Points Per Game: 29.8 (Ranking: 47)

Points Allowed Per Game: 21.6 (Ranking: 33)

Oklahoma State

Passing: 354.7 ypg (Ranking: 2)

Rushing: 182.9 ypg (Ranking: 29)

Scoring: 44.9 ppg (Ranking: 3)

Scoring Defense: 27.8 ppg (Ranking: 68)

Wednesday's Bowl Tips
By Judd Hall

Christmas is nothing more than a distant memory as parties are starting to get formed for New Year’s Eve. And that also means we’re going to see more bowl games on the schedule from here on out. Wednesday’s schedule has three games on it that go from our nation’s capital to the heart of Texas. Let’s look at the trio of college gridiron action.

Military Bowl

Wednesday’s battles get underway with a game that could see the scoreboard break. That’s what could happen at the Military Bowl at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C.

The sportsbooks have listed Maryland (8-4 straight up, 7-4 against the spread) as a 7½-point favorite with a total of 68. Gamblers that want to play the Pirates to win outright can expect a plus-250 (risk $100 to win $250) return. That total is the highest we’re going to see before the BCS Title Game between Auburn and Oregon.

This total comes down to how East Carolina (6-6 SU, ATS) can fare in this contest.

The Pirates have proven themselves to be one of the more prolific passing teams in the country, averaging 38.2 points per game to rank 12th overall. ECU is picking up 445.5 yards per game on offense, with 319.3 yard through the air. Quarterback Dominique Davis is the star of the show with 45 of the Pirates’ 58 touchdowns coming on the ground (9) and on pass plays (36). And Davis should have plenty of chances to make big throws against Maryland’s defense as they’re getting hit for 220.9 YPG via the skies.

Davis and Company will not only be fighting the Terps’ defense, but he’ll have to fight his team’s own defense. East Carolina has the worst defense in the Football Bowl Subdivision, yielding 478.8 YPG. Even worse for the Pirates is that they are giving up 258.0 YPG through the air. Plus, ECU is allowing teams to move the chains on third down 51.7 percent of the time.

Numbers like those will no doubt help true freshman QB Danny O’Brien as he guides the last offense Ralph Friedgen will coach for the Terps. O’Brien completed 33-of-47 passes for 417 yards and four touchdowns in his last start, a 38-31 win over North Carolina State. That completed a year that saw him throw 21 scores to just six interceptions.

Maryland has not been a good wager over the last five years as a 7 ½-point favorite, evidenced by a 5-6 SU and 3-8 ATS. Although they’ve won and covered on both occasions it happened in 2010.

East Carolina is 4-6 SU and 6-4 ATS when listed as an underdog against the ACC over the last five seasons. While that sounds all well and good, keep in mind that the Pirates are 1-4 ATS in their past five games in this spot.

This is just the third edition of what was formerly known as the EagleBank Bowl. Yet we’ve seen the favorites go 2-0 SU and ATS.

Texas Bowl

The Big 10 and Big 12 get set for another round of postseason warfare when Illinois (6-6 SU, 7-4 ATS) and the Bears square off in the Texas Bowl from Reliant Stadium in Houston. Most betting shops have listed Baylor (7-5 SU, 5-6 ATS) as a 1½-point “chalk” with a total 62½. You can grab the Fighting Illini at plus-105 (risk $100 to win $105) on the money line.

Not much was expected out of the Illini before the season started. But they jumped out to a 5-3 SU and 5-2 ATS mark to start the 2010 campaign. While that was a nice start, Ron Zook’s club took a dive to close out the year. Illinois went 1-3 SU and 2-2 ATS in its final four games. To be fair, its losses to the Wolverines, Golden Gophers and Bulldogs were decided by a grand total of eight points.

The Bears are in relatively foreign territory as they make their first bowl since the 1994 Alamo Bowl. Baylor can appreciate what the Fighting Illini have gone through this season. Art Briles’ team jumped out to the Big XII South lead at the end of October with a 7-2 SU record. However, all they remember in Waco right now is how their team finished up with three straight losses in which their defense allowed 150 points.

Despite the issues on defense, Baylor has one of the more exciting players in college football with Robert Griffin. The Bears are picking up 478.5 YPG on offense and Griffin is responsible for 315.5 of that total. Griffin has, however, been stifled by the defenses he has faced in that span with just two touchdowns, three picks and seven sacks. Luckily for him is that the Illini have lost both games they’ve played this year against dual-threat QBs (Ohio State, Michigan).

Illinois isn’t totally against a wall for this game as they have true freshman Nathan Scheelhaase lining up under center. Scheelhaase has picked up 1,583 yards through the air and another 660 yards on the ground to go along with 21 touchdowns. He’ll be taking on a defense that among the most porous in the country, allowing 427.3 YPG to rank 98th in the nation.

Baylor has been getting some more love at the betting shops than the Illini, which would make sense with this practically being a home game. The Bears have gone 6-0 SU and 4-2 ATS this year as favorites. Illinois has not been a slouch as a pup, evidenced by a 3-2 SU and 4-1 ATS record in 2010.

The Fighting Illini are 0-3 SU and 1-2 ATS in their last three games against Big XII foes as underdogs. The Bears are 0-2 SU and ATS in their last two games versus Big Ten foes.

Texas Bowl history sides with the “chalk” as they’re 3-1 SU and ATS in all four editions of the contest. Gamblers may want to take a hard look at the ‘under’ coming through since it is 3-1 in those bouts.

Alamo Bowl

The evening closes out in San Antonio as Arizona (7-5 SU, 4-7 ATS) takes on the Cowboys in the Alamo Bowl. Oklahoma State (10-2 SU, 9-3 ATS) is getting the love at the betting shops as a 5 ½-point favorite with a total of 66. You can take the Wildcats for the outright victory at plus-170 (risk $100 to win $170).

The Wildcats were well on their way to a strong season after opening up with a 7-1 record in their first eight games, including a 34-27 win at home against Iowa. But they struggled down the stretch with a four-game losing streak that ended with a heartbreaking 30-29 loss at home to the Sun Devils. As bad as things closed for Mike Stoops’ crew, they still made a great bowl game because the rest of the Pac-10 stunk outside of Stanford and Oregon.

Arizona isn’t known for its running game, having averaged 135.2 YPG on the ground to rank 85th in the country. But Nic Grigsby is the main rusher for the ‘Cats, but has been hampered by an ankle injury late in the year.

What the Wildcats are known for is the ability to throw the ball with great accuracy. Nick Foles has connected on 67.6 percent of his passes for 237.1 YPG through the air for 19 touchdowns. Juron Criner has been Foles’ top target, catching 73 passes for 1,186 yards and 10 scores.

Defensively, Arizona is more geared towards taking on passing attacks (206.6 passing YPG, 42nd). However, they are able to hold down running offenses just as well (136.7 rushing YPG, 39th). What the Wildcats are best at is taking down quarterbacks, having done it 33 times this season to rank 14th in the country.

Oklahoma State comes into this game looking to forget about what could have been. The Cowboys had a spot in the Big XII title game locked up if they could beat the hated Sooners. Yet Oklahoma threw the ball all around on the Cowpokes in a 47-41 to take the South Division. Now OSU finds itself in a middle-tier bowl game once again under Mike Gundy’s guidance.

The Cowpokes are going to miss offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen after he heads to West Virginia after this game, but he’s done some great work. Oklahoma State is the No. 1 offense in the nation with 537.6 YPG. Brandon Weeden has been a great addition at QB, with 336.4 YPG through the air and 36 touchdown tosses. Of course, you can’t have that you have the best wide out in the nation with Justin Blackmon (102 receptions, 1,665 yards, 18 TD).

Oklahoma State isn’t all about the pass this year. Kendall Hunter has given OSU a huge effort on the ground with 1,516 rushing yards and 16 scores. However, Hunter has not found the end zone in his last two starts for the Cowpokes.

You’d have to say that OSU has to know how to move the ball on offense because they can’t stop anyone on defense. They are allowing 27.8 PPG in 2010, which is a little misleading since they’ve had at least 28 points scored on them seven times. Plus, the ‘Pokes are 115th against the pass, giving up 275.5 YPG via the skies.

Oklahoma State has done well against Pac-10 teams recently, going 3-1 SU and ATS in its last four matches. The Cowboys have been just as good this year as favorites with 9-1 SU and 7-2-1 ATS mark. The ‘over’ is 7-3 in that stretch as well.

Arizona has lost both games they had this season as an underdog, but they covered the last one in a 48-29 loss to the Ducks as a 20-point road pup. Against Big XII teams, the ‘Cats are 1-1 SU and 0-1-1 ATS since 1998.

Favorites have been the dominant team to take recently as they’ve won the last four Alamo Bowls outright. However, they’re just 2-2 ATS in that stretch. Another thing to look at is the ‘under’ since it is 3-1 in those past four editions.

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Military Bowl: What bettors need to know

Military Bowl: East Carolina Pirates vs. Maryland Terrapins (-7, 68)

Most signs point to a pretty easy time for Maryland. The Terrapins (8-4, 8-4 ATS) are in an upbeat mood after bouncing back from a 2-10 record in 2009. They're going against an East Carolina (6-6, 6-6 ATS) team that lost its footing late in the season, falling in four of its last five to barely achieve bowl eligibility.

Maryland also should benefit from something of a home-field advantage at RFK Stadium in Washington. And veteran Ralph Friedgen, the ACC coach of the year in his 10th season at Maryland, is going against rookie head coach Ruffin McNeil. Friedgen is 4-2 bowl games at Maryland, whereas East Carolina has lost four of its past five bowls.

Odds

The spread opened at 7.5 at most books and have been bet down to an even touchdown. The total opened at 69 points and has dropped as low as 67.5 before settling at 68 points.

Fear the turtle

A key to the Terrapins' surprising turnaround was the emergence of freshman quarterback Danny O'Brien, who won the job in the fourth week of the season and went 6-3 as a starter. He threw for 2,257 yards, 21 touchdowns and only six interceptions. His passing accuracy helped the Terrapins tie for seventh in the nation in turnover margin with plus-13, and O'Brien was chosen ACC rookie of the year.

Maryland has a couple of big-play threats in wide receiver Torrey Smith and punt returner Tony Logan. In the season-ending win over N.C. State, Smith caught 14 passes for 224 yards and four touchdowns. For the season, he has 1,065 yards and 12 touchdowns. Logan led the ACC with 18.8 yards per punt return and took two back for touchdowns.

Terrapins' running backs Dave Meggett and Da'Rel Scott share the ball-carrying duties, each with more than 100 rushes and 500 yards. Meggett is averaging 5.5 yards a carry. Senior Travis Baltz has made 13 of 16 field goal attempts and averaged 42 yards per punt.

Maryland's offense has been so effective that coordinator James Franklin has been tapped for the Vanderbilt head-coaching job.

Maryland's defense has given up some yardage, but forced numerous key turnovers and held opponents to 22.3 points per game. The leader is Alex Wujciak, a three-time all-ACC linebacker who averaged 9.3 tackles per game in the regular season.

Pirate gold

What the Pirates have going for them is one of the most prolific passing attacks in the nation. They rank seventh in passing offense (319.3 yards per game) and 12th in scoring (38.2 points per game). Junior Dominique Davis has thrown for 3,699 yards, fourth-best in the nation. He has a .649 completion percentage, 36 touchdowns, just 14 interceptions and nine rushing touchdowns. His favorite receivers are Dwayne Harris (1,055 yards, 10 TDs) and Lance Lewis (979 yards, 13 TDs). Also the primary kick returner, Harris is averaging 171.0 all-purpose yards. Jon Williams has rushed for 882 yards, 10 touchdowns and a 5.5-yard average.

The Pirates managed a .500 record despite a porous defense that ranks 118th in the nation, allowing 43.4 points a game, including 76 by Navy. ECU went 1-3 outside Conference USA, knocking off the ACC's N.C. State 33-27 in overtime.

Weather

The forecast in Washington is calling for sunny skies with a slight 8-mph breeze blowing west-northwest from corner to corner. Game-time temperatures will be in the low 40s.

Trends

- This is the fifth consecutive bowl game for East Carolina and its first game against Maryland.
- Pirates are 4-0 ATS in their last four neutral site games as underdogs.
- Terrapins are 4-1 ATS in their last five Bowl games.
- Pirates are 1-6 ATS in their last seven games vs. ACC.
- Over is 5-0 in Pirates' last five games overall.
- Over is 4-1-1 in Terrapins' last six games overall.

Texas Bowl: What bettors need to know

Texas Bowl: Illinois Fighting Illini vs. Baylor Bears (-1, 63)

The Skinny:

In four previous games, the Texas Bowl has mustered strong support from the football community in Houston, but the games have not exactly been dramatic, with only one game decided by less than 22 points. That may change this year with Illinois and Baylor in the mix. Both certainly have a flair for the dramatic.

Baylor (7-5, 4-4 Big 12, 5-7 ATS) became bowl eligible after beating Kansas State, then followed that with its first road victory over Texas since 1991, but lost its last three games. Illinois (6-6, 4-4 Big Ten, 8-4 ATS) lost a thrilling triple-overtime game against Michigan, but came back to beat Northwestern 48-27 at Wrigley Field, a victory that made the Illini bowl eligible.

Point Spread:

Baylor -1 Over/under – 63

The spread opened at -1.5 in favor of the Bears but has since dropped to -1. The total opened at 61.5 points but has been bet up to 63.

Baylor's edge:

The Bears can put points on the board, scoring 32.58 points per game — only once did they score fewer than 24 points. Baylor is a balanced team which averages 200.5 yards rushing and 278 yards passing, leaving it ranked No. 12 in the nation. Running back Jay Finley has rushed for 1,155 yards and 11 touchdowns. Baylor may have an edge in special teams with punter Derek Epperson (44.20 yard average) and kicker Aaron Jones, who has made 19 of 26 field goals and 44 of 45 PATs for 101 points.

Illinois' edge:

Coach Ron Zook’s team prefers to keep the ball on the ground. Led by Mikel Leshoure (1,513 yards, 14 TDs), the nation’s No. 8 rusher, the Illini average 242.33 yards rushing per game, which ranks 13th in the NCAA. The Illini hope their dependable defense can rise to the occasion again. Illinois permitted opponents to gain 344.17 yards per game (38th in the nation) and its 24.25 points-allowed average was skewed by the 67-65 three OT loss to Michigan State.

The Quarterbacks:

Both teams feature two-way threats at quarterback. Baylor's Robert Griffin III prefers to throw the ball. He completed 274 of 413 passes for 3,195 yards and 21 touchdowns, with only eight interceptions. Griffin ran for 591 yards and eight scores. Nathan Scheelhaase of Illinois threw for 1,583 yards and 17 touchdowns and rushed for 815 yards and four touchdowns.

NFL Prospects:

Baylor — DT Phil Taylor, OT Danny Watkins, P Derek Epperson. Illinois — DE Clay Nurse, P Anthony Santella, OLB Nate Bussey.

Bowl history:

Illinois is returning to bowl action for the first time since it played Southern Cal in the 2008 Rose Bowl, a game it lost 49-17. The Illini are 6-8 in bowl games and have lost five of their last seven bowls. Baylor is 8-8 in bowl games, but will be making its first bowl appearance since 1994, when the Bears played Washington State in the Alamo Bowl and posted a 10-3 victory.

Etc.:

Baylor linebacker Chris Francis received the Ok to play Tuesday despite a lacerated liver. ... Illinois dismissed linebacker Evan Frierson from the team after he was arrested for aggravated battery.

Weather:

With thunder showers in the forecast for Houston, the roof will likely be close at Reliant Stadium Tuesday.

Trends:

- Fighting Illini are 3-13 ATS in their last 16 non-conference games.
- Bears are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games as favorites.
- Over is 5-1 in Fighting Illini's last six games overall.
- Over is 7-1 in Bears' last eight games overall.

Alamo Bowl: What bettors Need to Know

Alamo Bowl: Arizona Wildcats vs. Oklahoma State Cowboys (-4.5, 66.5)

The Skinny:

Oklahoma State (10-2, 9-3 ATS) has a chance to reach 11 wins for the first time in school history but enters the Alamo Bowl disappointed after squandering an opportunity to play in the Big 12 Championship game by falling to rival Oklahoma in its final regular-season game.

Offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen, who came over from Houston before the season and turned the Cowboys into the No. 1 team in the nation in total offense and the No. 3 team in scoring offense, did so well he got hired away. West Virginia named him offensive coordinator for next season, with a guarantee he'll be head coach in 2012. Holgorsen will coach the Cowboys in the bowl, though.

Arizona (7-5, 6-6 ATS) will have more than a month to think about its last regular season game, a double-overtime loss to rival Arizona State that included two blocked extra point attempts. That was the latest in a series of disappointments for a promising team, which lost three games by a total of six points.

Point Spread:

Oklahoma State -4.5. Over/Under 66.5

The spread opened at -6 in favor of the Cowboys but has dropped to -4.5 as of Tuesday. The total has also moved from its opening post of 64.5 points to 66.5.

Oklahoma State’s Edge:

Offense, specifically running back Kendall Hunter. Quarterback Brandon Weeden and wide receiver Justin Blackmon are one of the most dangerous combinations in college football but Hunter, who rushed for 1,516 yards and 16 touchdowns this season, will be going up against an Arizona defense that allowed 205 rushing yards to USC and 398 to Oregon.

The Cowboys are averaging nearly 45 points per game and balance it out with equally impressive rushing and passing numbers.

Arizona’s Edge:

Defensive end Ricky Elmore led the Wildcats with 11 sacks and 13 tackles for a loss this season and will be one of the keys to stopping Oklahoma State’s attack. His ability to get to Weeden in the passing game and help his fellow linemen bottle up Hunter on the ground could make the difference.

No slouch on offense itself, Arizona led the Pac-10 in passing yardage this season and will be going up against a secondary that most recently yielded 47 points to Oklahoma.

The Quarterbacks:

The Cowboys put 27-year-old Weeden, a former minor league baseball player, under center this season and took off. His 4,037 yards and 32 touchdowns this season not only made their way up school record books but ranked third and fifth in the nation, respectively.

Arizona signal-caller Nick Foles completed 67.6 percent of his passes - eighth-best in the country - for 2,911 yards while tossing 19 touchdowns. He had 10 touchdowns against two interceptions in the last four games.

NFL Prospects:

Oklahoma State - WR Justin Blackmon, RB Kendall Hunter, PK Dan Bailey. Arizona - DE Brooks Reed, WR Juron Criner.

Bowl history:

Oklahoma State is 12-8 all-time in bowls but has lost its last two, including a 21-7 setback against Mississippi in the 2009 Cotton Bowl. The Cowboys last played the Alamo Bowl in 2004, when they were crushed, 33-7, by Ohio State.

Arizona is 6-8-1 all-time and will be playing in a bowl for the third straight season after a 10-year drought. The Wildcats are coming off a 33-0 loss to Nebraska in last year’s Holiday Bowl.

Etc.:

Oklahoma State cleaned up in the postseason awards arena, with Blackmon taking the Fred Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s top receiver and Bailey winning the Lou Groza Award for place-kicking.

Arizona will have to rebuild both lines after the season but won’t have to wait long to see the Cowboys again as they are expected to be the Wildcats’ toughest non-conference opponent in the 2011 campaign.

Trends:

- Cowboys are 40-16-2 ATS in their last 58 games as favorites.
- Wildcats are 1-4 ATS in their last five games following a SU loss.
- Over is 5-1 in Wildcats' last six games overall.
- Over is 4-0 in Cowboys' last four non-conference games.

Tips and Trends

Illinois Fighting Illini vs Baylor Bears

ILLINI: Illinois enters the postseason on a real slide, having lost 3 of their final 4 games SU against teams not even ranked in the top 50. The Illini finished the regular season with a 6-6 SU and 8-4 ATS record. Illinois is 2-4 SU and 4-2 ATS away from home this season. The Illini are 4-1 ATS as the listed underdog this year. Illinois averages 32.1 PPG this year, 33rd best in the nation, thanks mostly to their rushing attack. The Illini have the 13th ranked rushing attack in the nation, averaging 242 YPG this year. RB Mikel Leshoure leads the Illini with more than 1,500 rushing YDS this season, along with 14 TD's. QB Nathan Scheelhaase is a duel threat QB that has accumulated nearly 2,400 total YDS this year with 21 TD's. Defesnively, the Illini have allowed opponents to average 24.3 PPG, just 52nd in the country. The Fighting Illini are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games following an ATS loss. Illinois is 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a SU loss. The Fighting Illini are 4-1 ATS against a team with a winning record. Illinois is 7-16 ATS in their last 23 games played on grass. The Fighting Illini are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 neutral site games. Illinois is 3-13 ATS in their last 16 non-conference games. The Fighting Illini are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games against the Big 12.

Illini are 8-1 ATS last 9 games as an underdog.
Over is 7-0 last 7 games following a SU loss.

Key Injuries - LB Ian Thomas (leg) is doubtful.

Projected Score: 27

BEARS: (-1.5, O/U 62.5) Baylor had an outstanding start to the season before losing their final 3 games, each by double digits. The Bears are 7-5 SU and 5-7 ATS overall this season. Baylor is 3-3 both SU and ATS away from home this year. Baylor is 3-1 ATS as a single digit favorite this season. QB Robert Giffin III is one of the most dynamic players in the country, as he's a home run threat both with his arms and legs. Griffin has thrown for nearly 3,200 YDS this year and ran for nearly 600 YDS while accumulating 29 TD's. RB Jay Finley has rushed for a team high 1,155 YDS and 11 TD's this season. Baylor ranks in the top 25 in both passing and rushing offense, and average 32.6 PPG for the year. The Bears weakest link is their defense, where they have allowed each of their psat 3 opponents score at least 42 PTS. The Bears are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games as a favorite up to a field goal. Baylor is 11-4 ATS in their last 15 games following an ATS loss. The Bears are 11-5 ATS in their last 16 games following a SU loss. Baylor is 7-19 ATS in their last 26 games following a double-digit loss at home. The Bears are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games after allowing more than 450 total yards in their previous game. Baylor is 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games overall.

Bears are 7-3 ATS last 10 games played on grass.
Under is 4-0 last 4 non-conference games.

Key Injuries - TE Willie Jefferson (personal) is out.

Projected Score: 34 (SIDE of the Day)

Arizona Wildcats vs Oklahoma St. Cowboys

WILDCATS: 4 consecutive losses to end the regular season have really make Arizona spiral out of control. For a team once ranked in the Top 10 in the nation, finishing 7-5 SU seemed impossible. Besides finishing 7-5 SU, the Wildcats also went 6-6 ATS this year. Arizona is 3-2 both SU and ATS away from home this season. Arizona is 0-2 SU and 1-1 ATS as the listed underdog this year. A big reason for the Wildcats slide was due to the health of QB Nick Foles. Matt Scott was brilliant filling in for Foles, but the uncertainty with who was making starts couldn't have helped matters. The Wildcats have an elite passing offense that has averaged 310 YPG, 9th best in the nation. Foles has thrown for more than 2,900 YDS this season, including 19 TD's. WR Juron Criner caught any ball thrown his way, as he had 1,186 receiving YDS and 10 TD's this year. This Wildcats defense is better than they show statistically, considering just how many elite offenses they faced this year. Arizona allows an average of 21.6 PPG this year, 33rd in the country. The Wildcats are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games played on grass.

Wildcats are 1-4 ATS last 5 games following a SU loss.
Over is 5-1 last 6 games overall.

Key Injuries - QB Nick Foles (knee) is probable.

Projected Score: 24

COWBOYS: (-5.5, O/U 65.5) Oklahoma St. is one of the best teams not playing in a BCS game this bowl season. The Cowboys are 10-2 SU and 9-3 ATS overall this season. The biggest question for the Cowboys is their motivation, since they were so close to playing in a BCS game. The Cowboys are a perfect 5-0 both SU and ATS away from home this year. Oklahoma St. is also a perfect 5-0 ATS as a single digit favorite this season. QB Brandon Weeden directs the 3rd most prolific scoring offense in the nation, averaging 44.9 PPG this year. Weeden has thrown for more than 4,000 YDS this season, including 32 TD's. WR Justin Blackmon just might be the best receiver in the country, as he caught 102 passes for 1,665 YDS and 18 TD's this year. Even RB Kendall Hunter got into the mix, leading the team with 1,500 rushing YDS and 16 rushing TD's this season. The Cowboys are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games after scoring more than 40 points in their previous game. Oklahoma St. is 24-6-2 ATS in their last 32 games as a favorite between 3.5 and 10 PTS. The Cowboys are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games after allowing more than 280 yards passing in their previous game.

Cowboys are 8-2 ATS last 10 games overall.
Under is 6-0 last 6 games following a SU loss.

Key Injuries - WR Justin Blackmon (ankle) is probable.

Projected Score: 34 (UNDER-Total of the Day)