Betting news, trends, odds and predictions from various handicappers and websites for Monday 12/31/18
Military Bowl, Annapolis
Virginia Tech (+2.5) beat Cincinnati 33-17 in this bowl four years ago, but both teams have new coaches since then; underdogs are 3-2 vs spread in last five Military Bowls that didn’t involve host school Navy. Average total in this bowl last five years is 59.8. Cincinnati won four of last five games, are 2-3 vs spread in games with single digit spread. Virginia Tech won its last two games, scoring 34-41 points, after losing their previous four games. Hokies won three of last four bowls; Cincy is in its first bowl since ’15- they lost last three bowls, by 22-16-35 yards.
Sun Bowl, El Paso
Favorites covered four of last five Sun Bowls, with average total of 57.2 in those games. Stanford won this game two years ago, beating North Carolina 25-23. Cardinal won last three games after a 5-4 start; they’re 5-3-1 vs spread in games with single digit spread. Seven of last nine Stanford games went over total; four of last five Pitt games stayed under. Panthers lost last two games, 24-3/42-10; they’re 5-4 as an underdog. Cardinal won three of last four bowls, with last two both decided by two points. Pittsburgh lost their last three bowls, giving up 36.7 ppg.
Red Box Bowl, Santa Clara
Favorites covered this bowl five of last seven years; average total last five years is 60.4. Michigan State lost two of last three games, scoring only 6-6-14 points; Spartans’ last seven games stayed under total- they completed less than half their passes in last three games. Oregon is 8-1 when it scores 30+ points, 0-3 when it doesn’t; five of their last seven games stayed under total. Ducks are 2-5 this season in games with a single digit spread. MSU won four of last five bowls, beating two Pac-12 teams; Ducks lost last three bowls, giving up 42.3 ppg.
Liberty Bowl, Memphis
Underdogs are 3-2 vs spread in this bowl last five years, with average total, 59.2. SEC teams won this game four of last five years. Missouri won its last four games, scoring 39.8 ppg; Tigers have senior QB- they’re 0-3 when scoring less than 30 points. Oklahoma State lost five of last seven games after a 4-1 start; they allowed 31+ points in last seven games. Four of last five Mizzou games stayed under. Missouri won three of last four bowls, none of which were decided by fewer than 10 points; OSU won three of last four bowls; they were underdog in three of those games.
Holiday Bowl, San Diego
Utah coach Whittingham is 11-1 in bowl games; Utah scored 33.2 ppg in winning last five bowls. Northwestern is 4-10 all-time in bowls but 3-1 in last four, winning 31-24/24-23 last two years; Underdogs covered this game five of last six games; Big 14 teams won this game last three years. Northwestern won seven of last nine games after a 1-3 start; Wildcats are 6-2 vs spread as an underdog- five of their last seven games stayed under total. Utah won seven of last nine games after a 2-2 start; Utes are 8-0 this season when they score more than 24 points.
Gator Bowl, Jacksonville
Favorites covered three of last four Gator Bowls, with SEC teams winning three of those games. Average total in last five Gator Bowls is 53.2. NC State won last three games, scoring 52-34-58 points; Wolfpack is 3-3 in games with single digit spread. Texas A&M won its last three games, winning last game in seven OT’s; Aggies are 2-3 in games with single digit spread. State won three of last four bowls, winning last two years, 41-17/52-31. A&M lost last three bowls, by 6-5-3 points; average totals in Aggies’ last five bowls is 79.6. State (+11) upset Jimbo Fisher’s Florida St squad 27-21 in Tallahassee LY.
By Joe Nelson
The College Football Championship is set for next Monday, but the New Year’s Eve Monday schedule features six big games as the bowl season nears its end. Here is a look at the three early day games on Monday’s schedule on the final day of 2018 with the Miltary, Sun, and Red Box Bowl games.
MILITARY BOWL
Matchup: Virginia Tech Hokies at Cincinnati Bearcats
Venue: Navy-Marine Corps Stadium in Annapolis, Maryland
Time/TV: Monday, December 31, 12:00 PM ET, ESPN
Line: Cincinnati -6, Over/Under 53½
Last Meeting: 2014 (Military Bowl) Virginia Tech (+1½) 33, Cincinnati 17
This is a rematch of the 2014 Military Bowl won by Virginia Tech. The Hokies started the season with great promise winning 24-3 against Florida State to seemingly take a commanding lead in the ACC Coastal, a lead they still held with a 3-0 ACC start even despite suffering non-conference losses to Old Dominion and Notre Dame. Quarterback Josh Jackson was injured in the stunning loss to the Monarchs and the Hokies would wind up losing four consecutive ACC games by double-digits to slip to 4-6. A wild overtime win over rival Virginia kept the season alive and then on championship weekend, the Hokies added a game with Marshall to keep alive a streak of now 26 straight postseason appearances.
Taking over for a legend in Frank Beamer, Justin Fuente had a great first season in Blacksburg, but this marks a second straight season of decline for the Hokies. His team lost a few key players to off-season incidents and dealing with a quarterback change was certainly a challenge as junior Ryan Willis had mixed results. In an ACC Coastal race that was wide open, finishing in fifth place was a poor showing for the program that always has set a high bar for expectations. The opportunity to close the season with a bowl win could build some momentum for next season when the Coastal race figures to again be wide open.
Cincinnati had a breakthrough season going 10-2 in Luke Fickell’s second season guiding the program. The Bearcats passed over long-time quarterback Hayden Moore for freshman Desmond Ridder and after an opening upset over UCLA, the Bearcats didn’t look back. Both losses came on the road vs. arguably the top two American Athletic teams and statistically there is massive gap between these squads with Cincinnati out-scoring foes 419-193 on the season while Virginia Tech was out-scored 357-368.
Cincinnati has out-rushed each of its last eight opponents by more than 100 yards while a Hokies program known for its defensive reputation featured one of the nation’s worst rush defenses, surrendering 207 yards per game on 5.3 yards per carry, a worse per carry average allowed than 120 of the other 129 FBS teams. Cincinnati’s schedule certainly can be called into question however as the only wins over bowl teams this season came vs. Ohio, Tulane, and South Florida and all of those games were at home. The AAC has also had a poor bowl season so far with only Tulane getting a narrow win over Louisiana-Lafayette while Temple, South Florida, Houston, and Memphis have all lost bowl games with the first three teams on that list blown out.
SUN BOWL
Matchup: Pittsburgh Panthers vs. Stanford Cardinal
Venue: Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas
Time/TV: Monday, December 31, 2:00 PM ET, CBS
Line: Stanford -5, Over/Under 52
Last Meeting: 1932 Pittsburgh (NL) 7, at Stanford 0
Pittsburgh had an unusual season as they were outscored by 31 points in going 7-6, but they wound up 6-2 in ACC play and won the Coastal title. The Panthers lost badly to Clemson in the ACC Championship but after missing the postseason last year for the first time since 2007, the Panthers are back in a bowl game for the third time in four years under Pat Narduzzi.
The Panthers were one of the top rushing teams in the nation, set to eclipse 3,000 rushing yards for the season in this game while posting 5.6 yards per carry with both Qadree Ollison and Darrin Hall breaking the 1,000-yard barrier. The passing game was limited behind sophomore Kenny Pickett, but Pittsburgh had a daunting schedule as four of the team’s six losses came against Penn State, and three teams that are a combined 37-0 facing UCF, Notre Dame, and Clemson. Pittsburgh also lost to North Carolina and Miami and the formula for beating the Panthers is clear, stop the running game.
David Shaw has led a successful run at Stanford but once again the Cardinal failed to rise to the top national stage and for the second straight season the defensive numbers were marginal for a program that has a reputation for quality defense. Stanford was reasonably effective against the run allowing 3.9 yards per carry and 141 yards per game. Stanford’s offense surprisingly did not produce good rushing numbers even with Bryce Love entering the season as a Heisman candidate. Love wound up missing a few games this season and has seen his rushing total drop from 2,118 yards last season to only 739 yards this season and his per carry average nearly halved and he will not be playing in this bowl game.
With three straight wins to end the season, Stanford wound up 8-4 but hopes were certainly much higher with a 4-0 start that included wins over USC and Oregon. Both of those Pac-12 powers also wound up with down seasons, but the Cardinal had five wins vs. bowl teams and stayed in the Pac-12 race most of the way, losing in close games with Washington and Washington State. Coming off a disastrous 1-8 bowl campaign last season, the Cardinal are a team the Pac-12 is counting on for win as nearly a touchdown favorite in El Paso. The early returns for the conference haven’t been great with Arizona State and California losing while Washington State had a very narrow win while being severely out-gained, though that win does ensure that the conference will improve its bowl record this season with only seven teams in play.
RED BOX BOWL
Matchup: Michigan State Spartans vs. Oregon Ducks
Venue: Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California
Time/TV: Monday, December 31, 3:00 PM ET, FOX
Line: Oregon -2½, Over/Under 48
Last Meeting: 2015 at Michigan State (-4½) 31, Oregon 28
Formerly the San Francisco Bowl, the Red Box Bowl has an alluring matchup this season that is likely the best of the New Year’s Eve slate, while being played on the field where next week’s championship game will be played. Oregon wound up just 8-4, but the Ducks scored 37 points per game and were one of the teams to beat eventual Pac-12 champion Washington. That game along with Oregon’s painful home loss to Stanford, were two of the more memorable games of the season. Oregon is led by junior quarterback Justin Herbert, who is a top NFL quarterback prospect and the program received a big boost with his recent announcement to not only play in this game but to return for his senior season.
Herbert wound up with underwhelming numbers completing fewer than 60 percent of his passes but he also didn’t have the typical Oregon rushing attack supporting him as the Ducks had modest results on the ground with 191 yards per game on 4.6 yards per carry. Oregon also played a very weak non-conference schedule while drawing a favorable Pac-12 slate as this was a team that seemed like it should have done more than the 8-4 result with a 5-4 Pac-12 finish. It has been a challenging transition for the program however with Mario Cristobal in his first season, a year after Willie Taggert coached just one season before leaving for Florida State.
Michigan State wound up just 7-5 this season, but the Spartans have superb defensive numbers in what will be billed a clash of contrasting styles of teams. The Spartans lost three Big Ten home games this season, but the defense allowed only 18 points per game while playing a tough non-conference schedule that included two bowl teams plus a difficult Big Ten slate that included two of the eventual top three teams from the West. Michigan State wound up only beating three bowl teams on the season however though one of those wins was an impressive result at Penn State.
Herbert will be tasked with making plays in this game as Michigan State ranks second nationally behind Clemson in allowing just 2.7 yards per rush with the 81 yards per game average in run defense the best in the nation. The offensive numbers for the Spartans are ugly however, posting just 122 rushing yards per game on 3.5 yards per carry and quarterback play was an issue all season. Junior Brian Lewerke completed just 54 percent of his passes with more interceptions than touchdowns while freshman Rocky Lombardi wound up with even worse numbers despite the Spartans winning two of his three starts. Lewerke is getting the nod to start this game for Mark Dantonio who has won five of his last six bowl games after losing his first four with the program
By Joe Williams
**Missouri vs. Oklahoma State**
Liberty Bowl History
-- The Missouri Tigers (8-4 straight up, 7-5 against the spread) from the Southeastern Conference will battle the Oklahoma State Cowboys (6-6 straight up, 6-6 against the spread) from the Big 12 Conference in the Autozone Liberty Bowl in Memphis, Tenn.
-- Mizzou has a pretty extensive bowl history, and they have had a resurgence under head coach Barry Odom over the past couple of seasons. Gary Pinkel built the program into a perennial contender, but they had a couple of lean years from 2015-16. Odom has led them back, although their loss in the Texas Bowl last season snapped a three-game bowl winning streak. This will be their first bowl game against Oklahoma State since the Cotton Bowl Classic in 2013, a 41-31 win. These two teams used to be conference mates in the Big 12 for many years, too.
-- Oklahoma State enters on a two-game bowl winning streak, including the 30-21 win against Virginia tech in the Camping World Bowl in Orlando last season. The Cowboys have appeared in a bowl in 13 consecutive seasons, and they're 6-2 SU over the past eight. This will be their first-ever appearance in the Liberty Bowl.
-- The Tigers fired out of the box with three straight wins, scoring 40 or more points in each of the outings. However, they fell short by a 43-29 count against Georgia on Sept. 22 before a 37-35 loss at South Carolina. They also were clubbed by Alabama 39-10 on Oct. 13, slipping to 3-3. They lost an absolute heartbreaker to Kentucky on the last play of the game Oct. 27 in Columbia, but that was the last time they suffered defeat. That loss galvanized the team and they ripped off four straight wins while going 3-1 ATS, including a 38-17 win at Florida on Nov. 3.
-- The Cowboys also opened 3-0 SU/2-1 ATS in their first three before getting tripped up 41-17 at home against Texas Texh. Their best win of the season might have been a 38-35 victory against Texas as short 'dogs at home on Oct. 27, ruining the playoff chances of the Longhorns in the process. They nearly turned the trick against Oklahoma, too, but came up just short in a 48-47 classic in Norman. The Cowboys were able to drop West Virginia out of the picture on Nov. 17.
-- Oklahoma State finished 10th in total yards (499.2 YPG) with 306.7 passing yards per contests to finish 12th in that area. They're also 14th in the country with 38.4 points per game (PPG), with their only weakness in the rushing game. Defensively they had major issues, too, like most Big 12 clubs, ranking 99th in total yards allowed (437.1 YPG), 108th against the pass (258.2 YPG) and 97th in points allowed (32.4 PPG).
-- Missouri can hang in the pass game, ranking 27th with 271.6 YPG, while checking in 16th in total yards (468.8 YPG). They were also 19th in the land with 36.9 PPG. Defensively their hot spot was against the run, checking in 21st with just 122.9 YPG. They were dinged for 256.1 YPG to finish 104th overall, while yielding just 24.4 PPG to finish 45th.
-- Cowboys QB Taylor Cornelius took the baton from Mason Rudolph and rolled up 3,637 passing yards, 28 touchdowns and 11 interceptions with 385 rushing yards and 10 scores. WR Tylan Wallace is the next star in the pass game, racking up 1,398 receiving yards with 11 scores.
-- Tigers QB Drew Lock is the start and a future first-round pick in the NFL perhaps. He threw for 3,125 yards, 25 touchdowns and eight interceptions with six rushing scores. RB Larry Rountree III rumbled for 1,012 yards and 10 touchdowns, while RB Damarea Crockett chipped in with seven scores on the ground.
-- Missouri is 5-2 ATS in the past seven outside of the conference, but they're just 1-4 ATS in the past five against Big 12 foes and 1-8 ATS across the past nine played in the month of December.
-- Oklahoma State is 8-1 ATS in the past nine non-conference tilts, and they're 5-1 ATS in the past six against teams with a winning record. The Cowboys are also 4-1 ATS in the past five neutral-site contests.
-- The over is 4-1 in Missouri's past five bowl games and 3-0-1 in their past four non-conference battles while going 5-2 in their past seven neutral-site affairs.
-- The under has hit in four in a row during bowl season, while going 7-1-1 in the past nine games in the month of December. The under is also 5-1 in their past six against the SEC.
-- Kickoff is slated for 3:45 p.m. Eastern on ESPN.
**Northwestern vs. Utah**
Holiday Bowl History
-- The San Diego County Credit Union Holiday Bowl is a matchup between the Northwestern Wildcats (8-5 straight up, 6-7 against the spread) from the Big 10 Conference against the Utah Utes (9-4 straight up, 7-6 against the spread) from the Pac-12 Conference at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, Calif. in a battle of Top 25 teams.
-- The Wildcats appeared in just one bowl game before Gary Barnett took them to the Rose Bowl in 1995. One. The late Randy Walker took over and led them to three bowl games in 2000, 2003 and 2005. However, it's been Pat Fitzgerald who has transformed the program into a perennial contender, and they're winning bowl games now, too. In their first 10 bowl games they won just once, in 1948. They topped Mississippi State in 2012 in the Gator Bowl, they topped Pittsburgh in the Pinstripe Bowl in 2016, and they dumped Kentucky last season in the Music City Bowl. This will be their first-ever apperance in the Hoiliday Bowl.
-- Utah puts a five-game bowl winning streak on the line against Northwestern. They spanked West Virginia 30-14 in the Heart of Dallas Bowl last season, and they have won 14 of their past 15 appearances during bowl season. While they have never appeared in the Holiday Bowl, they won a pair of Poinsettia Bowl appearances in this stadium in 2007 against Navy and 2009 against California.
-- The Wildcats didn't get off to a great start, going 1-3 SU/2-2 ATS through the first four games, including losses at home to Duke and Akron. However, they ended up winning seven of their final eight contests to win the Big 10 West and make their first-ever appearance in the league's title game. They were overmatched 45-24 against Ohio State to land in this bowl.
-- The Utes opened with two wins, but they lost to both Washington schools from the Pac-12 to start out 2-2 SU/1-3 ATS. They rebounded with a 40-21 win at Stanford to perhaps save their season, or at least give them confidence again. They topped USC 41-28 on Oct. 20, and they won seven of eight from Oct. 6 to Nov. 24 to easily qualify for the postseason. A 10-3 loss in the Pac-12 title game showed they have plenty of defense, but their offense was a huge disappointment in that one.
-- Utah ranked 71st in total yards per game (396.6 YPG) and 91st in passing yards (207.2 YPG). They were decent on the ground, ranking 48th with 189.5 YPG with a rather average 28.7 PPG, good for 70th in the land. On defense, they locked down the run game with just 102.9 YPG allowed, finishing sixth in the nation. They were 15th in total yards, too, allowing just 316.2 YPG.
-- Northwestern managed to finish just 106th in total yards per game (356.8 YPG) and just 119th in rushing offense (117.5 YPG). They also struggled to put points on the board, averaging just 23.7 PPG to finish 106th overall in the nation. Defensively they were also 106th against the pass (258.1 YPG). They're strongest against the run with 132.6 YPG allowed.
-- For the Wildcats, WR Flynn Nagel (leg) is listed as questionable due to a leg injury.
-- For the Utes, QB Tyler Huntley (collarbone) is considered probable, but he'll have to do without RB Zack Moss (knee) and WR Britain Covey (knee), two key components in the offense this season.
-- Northwestern enters the game 4-1-1 ATS over the past six games against teams with a winning overall record, but they're 0-3-1 ATS in the past four non-conference tilts.
-- Utah is 4-1 ATS in the past five bowl games and they're 6-1 ATS in the past seven against Big Ten foes. They're also 10-4-1 ATS in the past 15 against winning teams, 20-8 ATS in the past 28 non-conference battles and 10-4 ATS in the past 14 neutral-site contests.
-- The under is 4-1 in Northwestern's past five bowl games, while going 5-2 in their past seven overall and 23-8-1 in the past 32 non-conference contests.
-- The under is 4-1 in Utah's past five neutral-site games, and 4-1 in their past five against the Big Ten. However, the over is 5-1 in Utah's past six against teams with a winning record.
-- This is the first-ever meeting between Northwestern and Utah.
-- Kickoff is slated for 7:00 p.m. Eastern on FOX Sports 1.
**N.C. State vs. Texas A&M**
Taxslayer Gator Bowl History
-- The Taxslayer Gator Bowl is a showdown between the North Carolina State Wolfpack (9-3 straight up, 6-6 against the spread) from the Atlantic Coast Conference and the Texas A&M Aggies (8-4 straight up, 8-4 against the spread) from the SEC at Everbank Field in Jacksonville, Fla.
-- The Wolfpack have won two straight bowl games, and eight of their past 11 in the postseason. This will be their first appearance in this bowl since the Jan. 1, 2003, a 28-6 win against Notre Dame. Overall in three previous Gator Bowl appearances the Wolfpack are 1-2 SU.
-- The Aggies head into this one on a three-game losing streak during the bowl season, including a 55-52 shootout loss against Wake Forest last season in the Belk Bowl. The las time the Aggies appearance in the Gator Bowl was way back in 1957 when Bear Bryant was the head coach, and they lost 3-0 against Tennessee.
-- N.C. State fired out of the chute with a 5-0 SU/3-2 ATS mark and a Top 25 ranking heading into the Oct. 20 battle at Clemson. They proved they were quite ready for the big time, getting slapped back 41-7 in Death Valley, and they followed that up with a 51-41 loss at Syracuse to take themselves out of the ACC championship chase. However, they beat Florida State 47-28 for a good one at home, and won three straight to finish up, including a 58-3 whipping of East Carolina on Dec. 1.
-- A&M also lost to Clemson, falling 28-26 at home on Sept. 8 in a very good showing. They opened with four straight covers, and they were 5-2 SU/6-1 ATS through the first seven contests. They had some difficulty with losses at Mississippi State and Auburn, but they finished up with three straight wins against Mississippi, UAB and LSU to end the season on a high note. That Tigers game was a ridiculous 74-72 which went seven overtimes.
-- N.C. State had a successful season on offense, ranking 15th in total yards per game (471.5 YPG) with 327.7 yards per game to finish sixth through the air. They had trouble running, ranking 98th overall, but still managed to score 35.6 PPG to finish 20th in the nation. Defensively they were strong against the run, allowing just 109.1 YPG, but they were dinged for 271.2 YPG to finish 121th in the country.
-- A&M finished 20th in total yards (465.8 YPG), 34th in passing yards (262.0 YPG) and 30th in rushing yards (203.8 YPG) while posting 34.7 PPG to finish 26th. They had some of the best balance in the country on offense. Defensively they weren't as balanced, allowing just 92.0 YPG to finish second in the country, while allowing 262.7 YPG to end up 111th.
-- For A&M, QB Kellen Mond was sufficient in the pass game, throwing for 2,967 yards, 23 touchdowns and eight interceptions while running for 387 yards and six scores. RB Trayveon Williams piled up 1,524 yards and 15 scores. TE Jace Sternberger is a force with a team-high 804 yards and 10 scores.
-- QB Ryan Finley is a beast for N.C. State, posting 3,789 passing yards, 24 scores and nine INTs. On the ground, RB Reggie Gallaspy II posted 1,014 yards and 18 touchdowns, including the game-winner in OT against rival UNC, perhaps his most memorable.
-- N.C. State is 7-2-1 ATS across the past 10 bowl games while going 4-1 ATS in the past five out of conference. However, they're just 1-6 ATS in their past seven tries against SEC foes.
-- A&M has covered seven straight out of conference battles while going 8-3 ATS across the past 11 against winning teams. They have covered nine of the past 13 overall, too.
-- The over is 6-0 in N.C. State's past six bowl games and 8-0 in their past eight neutral-site tilts. They over is also 11-4-1 in the past 16 non-conference contests.
-- For A&M, the over is 6-1 in their past seven non-SEC games, 4-1 in the past five bowls and 8-2 ATS in the past nine following a non-cover.
-- This is the first-ever meeting between N.C. State and Texas A&M on the gridiron.
-- Kickoff is slated for 7:30 p.m. Eastern on ESPN.
NCAAF
Long Sheet
Monday, December 31
VIRGINIA TECH (6 - 6) vs. CINCINNATI (10 - 2) - 12/31/2018, 12:00 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.
Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.
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PITTSBURGH (7 - 6) vs. STANFORD (8 - 4) - 12/31/2018, 2:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
PITTSBURGH is 2-10 ATS (-9.0 Units) in non-conference games over the last 3 seasons.
STANFORD is 61-39 ATS (+18.1 Units) after 2 or more consecutive straight up wins since 1992.
Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.
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MICHIGAN ST (7 - 5) vs. OREGON (8 - 4) - 12/31/2018, 3:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
OREGON is 46-24 ATS (+19.6 Units) when the line is +3 to -3 since 1992.
OREGON is 28-14 ATS (+12.6 Units) when playing with 2 weeks or more of rest since 1992.
OREGON is 57-36 ATS (+17.4 Units) in games played on a grass field since 1992.
OREGON is 3-11 ATS (-9.1 Units) in road games after playing a conference game over the last 3 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.
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MISSOURI (8 - 4) vs. OKLAHOMA ST (6 - 6) - 12/31/2018, 3:45 PM
Top Trends for this game.
MISSOURI is 3-12 ATS (-10.2 Units) in December games since 1992.
Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.
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NORTHWESTERN (8 - 5) vs. UTAH (9 - 4) - 12/31/2018, 7:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
UTAH is 32-15 ATS (+15.5 Units) when playing with 2 weeks or more of rest since 1992.
UTAH is 35-18 ATS (+15.2 Units) after a bye week since 1992.
UTAH is 122-89 ATS (+24.1 Units) in games played on a grass field since 1992.
UTAH is 63-37 ATS (+22.3 Units) in non-conference games since 1992.
UTAH is 46-22 ATS (+21.8 Units) in road games when playing against a team with a winning record since 1992.
NORTHWESTERN is 49-30 ATS (+16.0 Units) as an underdog of 3.5 to 10 points since 1992.
NORTHWESTERN is 36-20 ATS (+14.0 Units) in road games off a loss against a conference rival since 1992.
Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.
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NC STATE (9 - 3) vs. TEXAS A&M (8 - 4) - 12/31/2018, 7:30 PM
Top Trends for this game.
NC STATE is 26-13 ATS (+11.7 Units) in road games when playing with 2 weeks or more of rest since 1992.
NC STATE is 33-18 ATS (+13.2 Units) after a bye week since 1992.
TEXAS A&M is 21-38 ATS (-20.8 Units) after a bye week since 1992.
TEXAS A&M is 69-96 ATS (-36.6 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record since 1992.
Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.
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NCAAF
Bowl Season
Trend Report
Monday, December 31
Virginia Tech Hokies
Virginia Tech is 2-6 ATS in its last 8 games
Virginia Tech is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Virginia Tech's last 6 games
Cincinnati Bearcats
Cincinnati is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games
Cincinnati is 11-2 SU in its last 13 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Cincinnati's last 6 games
Pittsburgh Panthers
Pittsburgh is 6-2 ATS in its last 8 games
Pittsburgh is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Pittsburgh's last 5 games
Stanford Cardinal
Stanford is 4-1-1 ATS in its last 6 games
Stanford is 16-7 SU in its last 23 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Stanford's last 5 game
Michigan State Spartans
Michigan State is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games
Michigan State is 15-7 SU in its last 22 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Michigan State's last 5 games
Oregon Ducks
Oregon is 4-9 ATS in its last 13 games
Oregon is 8-4 SU in its last 12 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Oregon's last 7 game
Missouri Tigers
Missouri is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games
Missouri is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Missouri's last 5 games
Missouri is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Oklahoma State
Missouri is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing Oklahoma State
Oklahoma State Cowboys
Oklahoma State is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Oklahoma State's last 5 games
Oklahoma State is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Missouri
Oklahoma State is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing Missouri
Northwestern Wildcats
Northwestern is 7-2 SU in its last 9 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Northwestern's last 7 games
Utah Utes
Utah is 6-3 ATS in its last 9 games
Utah is 7-2 SU in its last 9 games
NC State Wolfpack
North Carolina State is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
Texas A&M Aggies
Texas A&M is 9-4 ATS in its last 13 games
Texas A&M is 6-2 SU in its last 8 game
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Military Bowl preview: Cincinnati vs. Virginia Tech
MILITARY BOWL STORYLINES
1. Cincinnati and Virginia Tech will meet in a rematch of the 2014 version of Military Bowl presented by Northrop Grumman, benefiting the USO, on Monday, Dec. 31 at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Md. Virginia Tech won that contest 33-17 but almost didn't qualify for a bowl this season, needing to win its final two games - the last against Marshall in a contest that was added late in the season as a replacement for one postponed by Hurricane Florence. The Hokies beat Marshall 41-20 to earn a spot in the postseason bowl picture for the 26th consecutive season - the nation's longest active streak and the third-longest streak in NCAA history.
2. Cincinnati has been one of the great stories of college football in 2018, improving its win total by six games after a 4-8 campaign in 2017. The Bearcats are going for just their third 11-win season in the program's 131-year history and have an 8-9 all-time postseason record. Cincinnati returns to postseason play for the first time since the 2015 Hawaii Bowl and will play in its 18th bowl game all time - 10th in the past 13 seasons.
3. The two teams have met 11 times with Virginia Tech holding a 6-5 edge. Three previous meetings have come in postseason play - the 2014 Military Bowl, 2008 Orange Bowl and 1946 Sun Bowl. The Hokies hold a 2-1 edge in postseason matchups against the Bearcats.
TV: Noon, ET, ESPN. LINE: Cincinnati -6
ABOUT CINCINNATI (10-2, 6-2 American Athletic Conference): Quarterback Desmond Ridder, a redshirt freshman, was named the American Rookie of the Year, completing 62.5 percent of his passes for 2,359 yards and 19 TDs while adding another 574 yards rushing along with five more scores. Michael Warren II, the Bearcats' first 1,000-yard rusher since 2012, gained 1,163 yards, had a school-record 18 total TDs and a school-record tying 17 rushing scores while finishing with six 100-yard games - including four straight in the middle of the season. The defense is led by All-AAC first team defensive end Cortez Broughton, who ranked tied for fifth in the American in sacks (0.54 per game) and third in tackles for loss (1.46 per game), while punter James Smith pinned back offenses by ranking fourth in FBS by averaging 47 yards per punt.
ABOUT VIRGINIA TECH (6-6, 4-4 ACC): Quarterback Ryan Willis has completed 58 percent of his passes for 2,497 yards with 22 TDs against eight interceptions while finishing third on the team in rushing with 321 yards and three scores. Wideout Damon Hazelton serves as Willis’ preferred target (45 receptions, 745 yards, eight TDs) with Steven Peoples carrying most of the running load (760 yards, 5.1 per carry, five TDs). Linebacker Rayshard Ashby was an honorable-mention All-ACC choice after finishing the season with a team-high 100 tackles, including 9.5 for a loss.
PREDICTION: Cincinnati 31, Virginia Tech 27
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Sun Bowl preview: Stanford vs. Pittsburgh
HYUNDAI SUN BOWL STORYLINES
1. Stanford will be minus several starters, including star tailback Bryce Love, wide receiver Trent Irwin, left tackle Walker Little and right guard Nate Herbig, when the Cardinal face Pittsburgh in the Hyundai Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas, on Dec. 31. Stanford closed the regular season with three straight wins but will be short-handed with several reserves playing key roles against the Panthers. With Love turning his focus toward the NFL draft, coach David Shaw figures to rely on an impressive passing game led by junior quarterback K.J. Costello.
2. Pitt won the ACC Coastal Division for the first time but lost to Miami and Clemson by 21 and 32 points in its final two games. The Panthers have two runners who combined for 2,000 yards in Qadree Ollison and Darrin Hall, but they’ll need more production from sophomore quarterback Kenny Pickett in order to keep pace with the Stanford offense. Pickett threw 12 touchdown passes but came up short in the ACC title game against Clemson, completing only four of his 16 passes for eight yards and one interception.
3. Stanford is in the postseason for a 10th consecutive year and has gone 4-3 under Shaw in bowl games. The Cardinal played in the Sun Bowl two years ago and held off North Carolina, 25-23. Pitt last played in the Sun Bowl on Dec. 31, 2008, losing 3-0 to Oregon State.
TV: 2 p.m. ET, CBS. LINE: Stanford -6
ABOUT STANFORD (8-4, 6-3 Pac-12): Costello has thrown for 3,435 yards, 29 touchdowns and 11 interceptions for the Cardinal, who are averaging 29.6 points per game and opened the season with four straight wins before losing four of its next five contests. The Cardinal had 13 players receive All-Pac-12 football honors including wide receiver JJ Arcega-Whiteside, who matched a single-season school record with 14 touchdown receptions. Defensive back Paulson Adebo led the country with 23 passes defended and had two interceptions in the team’s 23-13 win over California on Dec. 1.
ABOUT PITT (7-6, 6-2 ACC): The Panthers allowed 4.9 yards per carry and 22 touchdowns on the ground and will need an improved effort to slow down Love, who has had four weeks to heal from his various injuries. Pitt will look to control the clock with a stellar offensive line paving the way for the tandem of Ollison (1,134 yards and 10 touchdowns) and Hall (935 yards and nine touchdowns). Safety Damar Hamlin had 86 tackles and two interceptions to lead the defense, which allowed 22 or fewer points in seven of the team’s 13 games – including a 19-14 loss to Notre Dame on Oct. 13.
PREDICTION: Pitt 24, Stanford 17
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Redbox Bowl preview: Michigan State vs. Oregon
REDBOX BOWL STORYLINES
1. Michigan State of the Big Ten travels west to Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., to take on Oregon of the Pac-12 in the Redbox Bowl on Dec. 31 in a matchup of two teams trying to put a positive end to disappointing seasons. The Spartans were hopeful of contending for the Big Ten title - if not the national title - but injuries slowed them down for much of the season, especially on offense. The Ducks started 5-1 with the only loss an overtime affair to Stanford, but ended with a 3-3 finish to the season, with victories in their final two games to stay above .500 and get to this bowl, where they hope to prove to be better than their record shows.
2. The Spartans' offense grinded to a halt at the end of the regular season with coach Mark Dantonio's squad managing 26 points total in its last three contests. A month-plus of rest will put junior quarterback Brian Lewerke (1,868 yards, eight touchdowns) back in his starting role after he was hampered by a shoulder injury for the second half of the season. Michigan State had some struggles near the end of the regular season in 2017 as well, then routed Pac-12 opponent Washington State 42-17 in the Holiday Bowl, giving some around the Spartans hope for a bounceback against the Ducks.
3. Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert has been brilliant this season, throwing for 2,985 yards and 28 touchdowns to power the Ducks' offense. But he faces a Michigan State defense that has carried the team for much of the season, holding opponents to 18 points and 311.5 yards per contest, including a national-best 81.3 rushing yards a game. Herbert will have to be able to stay upright against a ferocious Spartans' pass rush, though Michigan State has shown a penchant for giving up big plays in the passing game, something that could be big for Herbert and the Ducks.
TV: 3 p.m. ET, FOX. LINE: Oregon -3
ABOUT MICHIGAN STATE (7-5, 5-4 Big Ten): With many players across the country deciding not to play in their team's bowl game to prepare for the NFL, it's a little strange to think Spartan fans aren't thrilled that senior LJ Scott is planning to play in the Redbox Bowl. That's because Scott had planned on redshirting this season since he's only played in four contests because of injury, but the team's leading rusher from a season ago has decided to go pro, so he's returning for the bowl game. Showcasing Scott won't be Dantonio's No. 1 objective though, especially with sophomore Connor Heyward emerging as a feature back, but until Lewerke shows he's ready to throw the ball consistently, both players could see a number of carries.
ABOUT OREGON (8-4, 5-4 Pac-12): When Herbert went out of the Ducks' regular-season finale in the first quarter with a shoulder injury, coach Mario Cristobal turned to his young running game, and it didn't let him down, with freshmen CJ Verdell and Travis Dye combining for 386 rushing yards and six touchdowns. Cristobal may be tempted to hand the ball to his freshmen again against Michigan State, especially if Herbert is getting a lot of pressure, but may run into the Spartans' stout run defense. The Ducks will likely go to the air more often than not in an attempt to get Herbert going and receiver Dillon Mitchell (69 catches, 1,114 yards, nine touchdowns) open deep to stretch the Michigan State defense and perhaps create some running lanes for the young backs late in the contest.
PREDICTION: Oregon 31, Michigan State 24
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Liberty Bowl Preview: Missouri vs. Oklahoma State
AUTOZONE LIBERTY BOWL STORYLINES
1. A long-time conference rivalry will be renewed when Missouri faces Oklahoma State in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl on Dec. 31 in Memphis, Tenn. The teams were rivals in the Big Eight and Big 12 conferences before Missouri’s move to the SEC in 2012. The Tigers lead the all-time series 29-23 - including a 41-31 win in the Cotton Bowl following the 2013 season, which ended a string of three consecutive victories by Oklahoma State.
2. Missouri will try to pick up where it left off in the regular season after going 4-0 in November and winning five of its last six games. The Tigers’ lone loss during that stretch was a 15-14 setback against Kentucky on an untimed down following a questionable pass-interference call in the end zone. Missouri was unable to translate a perfect November into bowl success last season, losing 33-16 to Texas in the Texas Bowl.
3. Two of the nation’s top passing attacks go head-to-head in what figures to be a shootout. The Cowboys rank 12th in the nation with 306.7 passing yards per game, with former walk-on Taylor Cornelius putting up huge numbers. The Tigers also can sling it with NFL prospect Drew Lock, who ranks third in SEC history with 96 career touchdown passes and second in passing yards (11,820).
TV: 3:45 p.m. ET, ESPN. LINE: Missouri -8
ABOUT MISSOURI (8-4): The Tigers’ offense is focused around Lock, but the ground game - led by Larry Rountree III (1,012 rushing yards, 10 touchdowns) - quietly has had a strong season. The offense could be without a few weapons, however, as running back Damarea Crockett (ankle), wide receiver Jalen Knox (concussion) and tight end Albert Okwuegbunam (shoulder) all were banged up at the end of the regular season, so their status is up in the air for the bowl game. Missouri’s secondary was torched early in the season but rounded into form later, and the run defense was stout all year behind defensive tackle Terry Beckner Jr.
ABOUT OKLAHOMA STATE (6-6): The Cowboys have a pretty good idea what they will get from their offense, which ranks 10th nationally in total yards and 14th in scoring. Tylan Wallace (79 receptions, 1,408 yards, 11 TDs) is a lethal target for Cornelius (3,642 passing yards, 28 TDs, 11 interceptions), who also is a threat to run as he has recorded 10 rushing touchdowns, and Justice Hill (930 yards, nine TDs) leads a solid ground game. The questions for the Cowboys are on defense - they gave up over 300 passing yards five times and also allowed more than 200 rushing on five occasions - and special teams, which have been a focus of the extended practice time.
PREDICTION: Missouri 37, Oklahoma State 30
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Holiday Bowl Preview: Northwestern vs. Utah
SAN DIEGO COUNTY CREDIT UNION HOLIDAY BOWL STORYLINES
1. A season of firsts continues for 22nd-ranked Northwestern and No. 19 Utah as they prepare to clash in the San Diego County Credit Union Holiday Bowl on Dec. 31. Both programs will be making their first appearance in the well-established bowl, which is in its 41st year. And both the Wildcats and Utes enter the game fresh off their first appearances in their respective conference championship games, with Northwestern falling to Ohio State (45-24) in the Big Ten title matchup and Utah coming up short against Washington (10-3) in the Pac-12 championship contest.
2. Utah could see the return of starting quarterback Tyler Huntley, who has been sidelined since undergoing surgery to repair the shoulder he injured in the loss to Arizona State on Nov. 3. The dual-threat junior averaged 245.2 yards of total offense and accounted for 15 touchdowns in leading the Utes to a 6-2 start and recently resumed practicing. Coach Kyle Whittingham has said Huntley will step back into his starting role, replacing freshman Jason Shelley, if he’s medically cleared to play.
3. Northwestern is looking to add another win to its recent bowl resurgence. The Wildcats infamously appeared in only one bowl game (the 1948 Rose Bowl) in the first 101 seasons of their existence, and then – beginning with the 1995 Rose Bowl – made it to nine over the ensuing 17 years - but lost all nine. However, Northwestern and 13th-year coach Pat Fitzgerald have reversed their postseason fortunes of late, winning three of the team's last four bowl appearances - including victories in the Pinstripe and Music City Bowls over the last two seasons.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1. LINE: Utah -7
ABOUT NORTHWESTERN (8-5): The postseason seemed to be a distant dream when the Wildcats started 1-3, but they reeled off seven wins in their final eight regular-season contests - including road victories over nationally ranked Michigan State (29-19) and Iowa (14-10) - to help propel them to the Big Ten’s West Division title. Led by senior quarterback Clayton Thorson (226.3 passing yards per game, 15 touchdown passes, 14 interceptions) and freshman running back Isaiah Bowser (88.4 rushing yards per contest), Northwestern finished 12th in the 14-team Big Ten in both scoring (23.7 points) and total offense (356.8 yards). Defensively, linebacker Blake Gallagher (112 tackles) and defensive lineman Joe Gaziano (six sacks) head a unit which ranks fifth in the conference in scoring defense (23.5 points) and fourth against the run (132.6 yards).
ABOUT UTAH (9-4): Like the Wildcats, the Utes started slow at 2-2 but then won seven of their final eight regular-season games to capture the program’s first Pac-12 South Division crown. Only days after Huntley went down, Utah lost leading rusher Zack Moss (1,096 yards, 11 TDs) to a freak knee injury suffered while climbing into bed, but Armand Shyne has averaged 78.3 yards on the ground in four starts while 5-8 wide receiver Britain Covey leads the team in receiving (60 catches for 637 yards), has gained 172 yards on 21 carries and even has thrown a pair of option TD passes. Defensively, Chase Hansen moved from safety to linebacker for his senior season and ranks seventh nationally with 22 tackles for loss to lead a unit which is second in the Pac-12 in both scoring defense (18.5 points) and total defense (315.1 yards).
PREDICTION: Utah 27, Northwestern 21
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Gator Bowl Preview: Texas A&M vs. North Carolina State
TAXSLAYER GATOR BOWL STORYLINES
1. Jimbo Fisher will get a chance to win his first bowl game with Texas A&M in a state where he had plenty of previous success when the Aggies face North Carolina State on Dec. 31 in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl in Jacksonville, Fla. Fisher, who guided Florida State to the National Championship in 2013, got Texas A&M to No. 19 in the final College Football Playoff poll in his first season at the school and briefly had the Aggies in playoff discussions before back-to-back road losses to Mississippi State and Auburn bridged October and November. Wolfpack coach Dave Dorean is leading his team to its fifth straight bowl game behind an offense that averaged 35.6 points during the regular season.
2. Dorean's offense lost its leader when offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Eli Drinkwitz signed a five-year deal to become the head coach at Appalachian State earlier in December. Dorean responded by promoting two other assistants - Des Kitchings and George McDonald - to serve as co-offensive coordinators moving forward. "I'm excited that Des and George will have the opportunity to oversee and develop our offense," Doeren told reporters. "They have a great working relationship and respect for each other and their familiarity with our offense will provide us with great continuity for our players and recruits."
3. The Texas A&M offense is capable of lighting up the scoreboard as well and averaged 51 points in winning each of its final three games, capped by a 74-72, seven-overtime triumph over LSU in the regular-season finale. Fisher expects that offense and the rest of his team to have plenty of fan support in Jacksonville despite the long travel. "We are very excited to be facing a very good North Carolina State team in a New Year's Eve bowl game," Fisher told reporters. "The Gator Bowl is a first-class event run by a first-class organization and the city is a great destination. I'm certain the 12th Man will enjoy its time in Florida."
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN. LINE: Texas A&M -6.5
ABOUT NORTH CAROLINA STATE (9-3, 5-3 ACC): NC State quarterback Ryan Finley led the ACC in passing with 3,789 yards - over 1,000 more than the next-closest - while matching Clemson's Trevor Lawrence for the top spot with 24 passing TDs. Finley's plethora of targets include wide receivers Kelvin Harmon (1,186 yards) and Jakobi Meyers (1,028), who became the first pair of teammates in school history to each go over 1,000 yards in the same campaign. "For us to have two 1,000-yard receivers, which has never been done here, it's a tribute to our whole entire offensive staff," Finley told reporters. "Our whole entire offense makes that happen. I'm really happy."
ABOUT TEXAS A&M (8-4, 5-3 SEC): Fisher remade the Aggies into a more physical team in his first year on the job, evidenced on offense by the success of running back Trayveon Williams and tight end Jace Sternberger. Williams led the SEC in rushing with 1,524 yards and 15 touchdowns while Sternberger ranked as the most productive pass-catching tight end in the conference with 804 yards and 10 TDs. On the other side of the ball, Texas A&M finished second in FBS in rushing defense, allowing an average of 92 yards on the ground.
PREDICTION: Texas A&M 31, NC State 24
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