Saturday Service Plays

Marc Lawrence

Play On: Utah Utes

This non-con clash at the Bren Events Center in Irvine pits two teams headed down opposite paths this college hoops season. The host Anteaters have tried without success melding 7 new players onto this year’s roster. A 1-8 record confirms their troubles as UCI is just not getting it (a 101-44 loss to Idaho confirms our contention). Meanwhile, the Utes return 5 starters from last year’s 18-win squad an appear to be ready to make their move. Utah’s 23-3 ATS mark in SU road wins fits like a glove against Irvine's 9-49-1 ATS record (0-12 ATS last twelve) home log is SU defeats. The better team wins this game tonight.

JIM FIEST

MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES / SAN ANTONIO SPURS
TAKE: MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES

Memphis won't make the playoffs, but they have some budding young talent. They are also playing some defense, allowing 99 ppg (18th in the league). The Grizzlies are on a 6-3-1 ATS run with a pair of 20-point scorers in Rudy Gay and rookie O.J. Mayo, plus Hakim Warrick and 7-foot-1 center Marc Gasol up front. They are also on a 7-3 run under the total. San Antonio was just a double digit favorite over Minnesota and won by 6, and they are 1-2-1 ATS the last four games as a double digit favorite. Play Memphis.

Dave Cokin

West Virginia @ Ohio State
Play: West Virginia +3

I'm impressed with Ohio State, but I don't see the Buckeyes having an easy time here as they host a tough and physical West Virginia entry. The Mountaineers will definitely try and impose their will in this contest, and I sure don't mind taking points with a very capable Big East squad against almost anyone. This game has the look of one that is waged to the final buzzer and I'm on the road dog to win it.

Nelly

Washington State + over LSU

Washington State has taken a major step back this season but there is nothing impressive in the LSU resume. The only remotely decent team faced by the Tigers resulted in a double-digit loss as the early season record is greatly inflated. The Cougars lost several key players from last year’s team but WSU has played a high caliber schedule and the losses have been competitive efforts. Washington State’s tough defensive style should break down a talented but unproven LSU squad. Washington State has allowed just 41 points per game on the road so far this season.

James Patrick Sports

West Virginia vs. Ohio State

Bob Huggins returns to some familiar surroundings on the OSU campus as he brings his Mountaineers to Columbus to take on an undefeated Buckeye Basketball team. Ohio State is 9-0 entering this game and they just lost the services of their captain David Lighty to injury. We look for the Big East team from Morgantown to get after it defensively and knock off the Buckeyes in a nationally televised game on CBS. Our Saturday selection in NCAA College Basketball is West Virginia Mountaineers.

Jimmy The Moose

Montreal Canadiens at Pittsburgh Penguins
Prediction: Montreal Canadiens

Montreal is well-rested and will be ready for a tired Penguins team that played on Friday night. The Canadiens have been struggling of late but look for them to have the better legs tonight. Montreal is 8-3 in their last 11 games played after 3 or more days of rest. Pittsburgh is 1-4 in their last 5 vs. Norteast Division team's. They are 2-5 in their last 7 vs. a team with a winning record. Montreal is 20-9-2 in the last 31 meetings with Pittsburgh. Play on the Montreal Canadiens +.

Charlie Scott

West Virginia vs. North Carolina
Play: North Carolina +2.5

Will play the motivated North Carolina squad who is playing in their first Bowl game Under Head Coach Butch Davis and making their first Bowl appearance since 2004, meaning it's the majority of NC players first ever Bowl game. Meanwhile West Virginia players have been to a Bowl game every year. In last years Bowl victory over OK, WV players were motivated to win to get now Head Coach Bill Stewart the job, and were also motivated by being abandoned by former Coach Rich Rodriguez. A couple of other reasons besides motivation to play North Carolina, the first is that I don't believe West Virginia is very good and is overrated by the public. Second is North Carolina's defense has had almost a month to prepare for a West Virginia offense that can't pass. Earlier in the season NC used a bye week before the Georgia Tech game and shut down their triple option winning 28-7. This game means more to North Carolina and is being played in Charlotte !

SPORTS ADVISORS

MEINEKE CAR CARE BOWL

West Virginia (8-4, 4-7 ATS) vs. North Carolina (8-4, 6-5 ATS) (at Charlotte, N.C.)

Two teams that stumbled down the stretch and cost themselves a chance at a BCS bowl game square off today in Charlotte, N.C., when West Virginia travels to meet the Tar Heels in their back yard.

West Virginia is in its school-best seventh straight bowl game but was near the top of the Big East all season before splitting their final four games (1-3 ATS), losing two to Cincinnati (26-23 in overtime) and Pitt (19-15) by a combined seven points. The two losses dropped the Mountaineers, who won the 2007 Big East title and whipped Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl, into a tie with Pittsburgh and Rutgers for second place in the conference.

North Carolina rebounded from a 4-8 mark in 2007 to finish in a tie with Miami for third in the ACC’s Coastal Division. The Tar Heels opened with a 7-2 mark (5-3 ATS in lined games), including wins over Top-25 opponents Connecticut, Boston College and Georgia Tech. However, their conference championship hopes went out the window with consecutive upset losses to Maryland (17-15 as a three-point road favorite) and instate rival N.C. State (41-10 as an 11-point home chalk). The Heels did rebound to defeat Duke 28-20 as a 7 ½-point road favorite in their regular-season finale Nov. 29.

Despite last year’s stunning 48-28 upset of Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl as an eight-point underdog, West Virginia is just 2-4 ATS in its last six bowl games. The Tar Heels haven’t won a bowl game since beating Auburn 16-10 as 2½-point favorites in the 2001 Peach Bowl. These two schools haven’t met since the Gator Bowl on New Year’s Day 1997, when North Carolina scored a 20-13 win, barely cashing as a 6½-point chalk.

The game marks the end of the college career for Mountaineers’ QB Pat White, who is the NCAA’s all-time leader in career rushing yards for QBs with 4,425, including four 200-yard games. This year, White finished with 919 yards and eight TDs on the ground and threw for 1,510 yards, 18 TDs and just six INTs.

North Carolina’s offense is guided by junior QB T.J. Yates, who completed 60 percent of his throws in six games and was 15-for-19 for 190 yards and a season-high three TDs in the season-finale against Duke. Yates played in the three of the team’s final four games after missing five contests with an injury.

The Mountaineers put up 24 points a game and average 353.1 yards per contest, including 217.4 rushing ypg, while the Tar Heels average 27.5 points and 317.3 yards per outing. On defense, West Virginia allows just 15.9 points and 325.5 yards per contest, while North Carolina gives up per-game averages of 20.3 points and 358.8 yards.

West Virginia is on ATS slides of 3-10 against ACC squads, 1-4 in December games and 2-6 following a straight-up win. Meanwhile, North Carolina is just 2-5 ATS in its last seven against the Big East, but the Tar Heels are 5-2 ATS in their last seven non-conference games and 11-3 ATS in their last 14 as a ‘dog.

For the Mountaineers, the over is 4-0 in their last four bowl games and 5-1 in their last six against ACC competition, but the under is 6-2 in their last eight non-conference games and 11-5 in their last 16 after a straight-up win. The Tar Heels are on “over” runs of 5-2 in non-conference action, 7-2 against teams from the Big East and 4-0 as a ‘dog.

ATS ADVANTAGE: NONE

CHAMPS SPORTS BOWL

Wisconsin (7-5, 5-6 ATS) vs. Florida State (8-4, 5-4-1 ATS) (at Orlando, Fla.)

Wisconsin won three straight to end the season and earn a date with Bobby Bowden and Florida State, which is playing in its 27th straight bowl game, the longest such streak in college football.

The Badgers started out 3-0 and reached No. 9 in the polls before losing four straight (0-4 ATS) and five of their next six (2-4 ATS). Wisconsin finished with a blowout win at Indiana and two narrow home victories over Minnesota and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo to gain some momentum coming into this one. Junior running back P.J. Hill (1,024 yards, 13 TDs) is the workhorse for this team, leading to Badgers to the 14th best rushing attack in the nation at 212 yards per game.

Florida State alternated SU wins and losses in its final six games (3-2-1 ATS), but got drubbed by Florida 45-14 in the regular-season finale, coming up well short as a 16-point ‘dog. The ‘Noles rushing game deserted them in the second half of the season, averaging just 149.7 ypg in the final six after putting up 216 ypg on the ground in their first six outings.

Both teams can put up points, with Wisconsin averaging 28.7 per contest while Florida State nets 32.7. Defensively, the Seminoles hold the advantage, allowing 20.8 ppg and just 291.2 total ypg, while the Badgers yield averages of 25.2 points and 322.5 yards.

This is Wisconsin’s fifth consecutive bowl game in the state of Florida, having lost last year’s Outback Bowl to Tennessee 21-17 as a 2½-point underdog. The Badgers are 1-1 SU and ATS in bowl games under third-year coach Brett Bielema, and they’re 4-0 SU (2-2 ATS) against the ACC going back to 1995. Additionally, Wisconsin is 13-4 ATS in its last 17 non-conference affairs, but is otherwise in ATS slumps of 3-8 away from home dating to last season and 3-6 as an underdog.

Bowden has guided Florida State to a 20-10-1 SU and 18-10-1 ATS record in the postseason, going 3-0-1 ATS the last four years. That includes a 35-28 loss to Kentucky as a seven-point pup in the Music City Bowl in Nashville last New Year’s Eve. The Seminoles are 8-2-1 SU (3-1-1 in bowl games) versus current Big Ten teams, and they’re also on positive ATS runs of 6-0-1 in neutral-site games, 5-0-1 after a non-cover and 5-0-1 after a straight-up loss.

Wisconsin is on “under” streaks of 10-4 in non-conference action, 4-1 in bowl games and 4-1 as a ‘dog. Meanwhile, Florida State is on “over” stretches of 4-0 in bowl action, 6-1 in neutral-site games and 14-5 following a straight-up loss.

This is the first-ever meeting between these schools.

ATS ADVANTAGE: FLORIDA STATE

EMERALD BOWL

Miami (Fla.) (7-5, 4-7 ATS) vs. California (8-4, 9-3 ATS) (at San Francisco)

The Golden Bears make the short drive across the bay for a school-record sixth straight bowl game, taking on Miami, Fla., which is making its 10th consecutive postseason appearance.

Cal ended the season with blowout wins over rival Stanford (37-16 as a nine-point home favorite Nov. 22) and winless Washington (48-7 as a 35-point home chalk Dec. 6). Sophomore RB Jahvid Best racked up 201 yards and three TDs against the Cardinal and then topped that with a school-record 311 rushing yards and four TDs against the hapless Huskies. Best’s eight yards per carry leads the nation and his 1,394 yards put him eighth in the country.

Miami carried a five-game winning streak (3-2 ATS) into a critical road contest at Georgia Tech on Nov. 20, but it got crushed 41-23 as a three-point road underdog to end its hopes of an ACC Coastal Division title. The following week, the Hurricanes went to N.C. State and fell 38-28 as a two-point road chalk. After holding the opposition to 17 points or less in four of five games, the ‘Canes defense allowed 79 to Georgia Tech and N.C. State, along with a combined 691 rushing yards, including a whopping 472 to the Yellow Jackets.

These schools have met just three times previously, most recently in 1990, when Miami crushed Cal 52-24 and cashed as a 21-point favorite in Berkeley.

The Golden Bears have the edge on offense, averaging 33.3 points and 379.2 yards per contest while the Hurricanes put up 27.9 points and 327.2 yards per outing. The matchup is more even defensively, where Miami surrenders 24.2 points and 312.9 yards, while California allows 20.2 points and 315.3 yards. However, the Bears held seven of their last nine opponents to 20 points or less.

The Hurricanes are 8-2 SU in their last 10 bowl games, including last year’s tough 21-20 victory over Nevada in the MPC Computer Bowl in Boise, failing to cover as a 3½-point chalk. Meanwhile, Cal is 4-1 SU and 3-2 ATS in the postseason the last five years under coach Jeff Tedford, and last season the Bears rallied from a third-quarter deficit to defeat Air Force 42-36 in the Armed Forces Bowl, hanging on to cash as a 4½-point favorite.

Miami is on ATS slides of 11-26-1 overall, 1-5 in December games and 1-4 after a non-cover. Conversely, the Golden Bears are on positive pointspread streaks of 5-1 overall, 4-0 as a favorite and 4-1 after a straight-up win.

Miami has stayed under the total in six of its last eight bowl games and 21 of 27 non-conference outings. Meanwhile, Cal is on a plethora of “over” streaks, including 5-2 overall, 4-1 as a favorite, 8-2-1 in non-conference games and 5-0 in bowl action.

ATS ADVANTAGE: CALIFORNIA

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

Washington State (8-3, 4-5 ATS) at LSU (9-1, 2-1 ATS)

After an early-season schedule that has featured a slew of weak opponents, LSU takes a rare step up in class when it hosts Washington State inside the Maravich Assembly Center in Baton Rouge, La.

Seven of the Tigers’ nine wins have come against non-Division I competition, including Monday’s narrow 62-59 home victory over McNeese State. Two days prior, LSU faced its toughest challenge of the season when it played Texas A&M on a neutral court in Houston, losing 72-61 as a one-point favorite.

Washington State is coming off consecutive blowout wins over Montana State (70-51 as a 15-point favorite at a neutral site) and Idaho (55-41 as an 11-point road chalk). Those victories come on the heels of a 1-3 slump that included SU and ATS losses to ranked opponents Pitt (57-43), Baylor (58-52) and Gonzaga (74-52).

Aside from the defeat to the Aggies, LSU has given up 65 points or less in every other game this year, holding six foes under 60 points. Meanwhile, the Cougars, who have long been a strong defensive club, have limited 10 of their 11 opponents to 58 points or less. For the season, Washington State leads the nation in scoring defense (48 ppg allowed) and ranks second in field-goal defense (33.5 percent).

Washington State is in pointspread slides of 1-4 on the road, 2-5 after a spread-cover and 2-5 on Saturdays. Likewise, LSU is in ATS funks of 2-6 in non-conference lined games, 8-24-1 on Saturdays and 0-6 versus Pac-10 opponents. However, the Tigers are 7-2 ATS in their last nine lined games overall and 5-1 ATS in their last six at home.

For the Cougars, the under is on runs of 8-3 overall, 36-15-1 in non-conference action, 6-1 on the road, 6-2 on Saturdays and 4-0 following a victory. Also, the under is 25-9 in LSU’s last 34 non-league games, 25-7 in its last 32 on Saturdays and 5-2 in its last seven against the Pac-10.

ATS ADVANTAGE: UNDER

UAB (8-3, 5-6 ATS) at (19) Louisville (7-2, 4-5 ATS)

Louisville returns to the court for the first time since last Saturday’s upset loss to Minnesota, with the Cardinals hosting UAB at Freedom Hall.

After a stunning 68-54 upset loss to Western Kentucky on Nov. 30, Louisville began December with five consecutive wins, including four by double digits. But the Cardinals’ streak was halted in last Saturday’s 70-64 loss to unbeaten Minnesota in Glendale, Ariz. Louisville, which went off as a nine-point favorite, shot just 37.7 percent from the field in the defeat, including missing 13 of 17 tries from 3-point range.

UAB has followed up a 1-3 SU and 0-4 ATS slump with a three-game winning streak (2-1 ATS), beating up on Jacksonville State (75-48), Troy (73-68) and Florida Atlantic (76-43), all at home. The Blazers have faced just one other ranked opponent this year, losing 77-67 to then-No. 11 Oklahoma as a 5½-point underdog in the Preseason NIT in New York.

Both of these teams can score the basketball, with Louisville averaging 77.9 ppg on 44 percent shooting and UAB putting up 75.1 ppg on 45.3 percent shooting. However, in their two losses, Louisville has averaged just 64 ppg while scoring 77 or more in its seven wins.

These former Conference USA rivals last met in the 2005 Conference USA tournament championship game, with Louisville winning 74-67, but the Blazers covering as a 12-point favorite. The Cardinals have won the last five meetings going back to 2002, but UAB has cashed in six of the last eight clashes. Also, the underdog is 7-1 ATS during this eight-game stretch.

The Cardinals are in an 0-4 ATS rut and they’ve failed to cover in four of their last five games against Conference USA opponents, but Rick Pitino’s troops are 5-1 ATS in their last six games after an outright loss. Meanwhile, UAB is 7-3 ATS in its last 10 Saturday contests, but otherwise is in pointspread droughts of 2-5 overall, 1-4 against teams with a winning record and 1-5 after a non-cover.

The under is 6-1 in Louisville’s last seven overall, 35-17-1 in its last 53 non-conference games, 16-5-1 in its last 22 at Freedom Hall and 6-2 in UAB’s last eight games after a SU win. Lastly, the under is on a 3-0 roll in this rivalry.

ATS ADVANTAGE: UNDER

West Virginia (9-2, 3-5 ATS) at (15) Ohio State (9-0, 4-2 ATS)

College basketball’s marquee game of the day comes from Value City Arena in Columbus, where unbeaten Ohio State hosts Bob Huggins and his surging Mountaineers.

The Buckeyes own the nation’s longest winning streak going back to the end of last season, winning their last 14 in a row (9-2 ATS in lined action), including the 2007 postseason NIT championship. This season, Ohio State has recorded five double-digit wins en route to a 9-0 start, including three consecutive home routs of Iona (71-53 as a 16-point chalk) and Division II foes Jacksonville (81-68) and North Carolina-Asheville (83-59).

Since suffering a tough 68-65 loss to then-No. 23 Davidson at Madison Square Garden, West Virginia has reeled off three straight victories over Duquesne (68-63 on the road), Miami of Ohio (82-46 at home) and Radford (89-54 at home). The Mountaineers easily covered as an 8½-point favorite against Miami of Ohio, snapping an 0-5 ATS slump.

No team has scored more than 68 points against Ohio State this season, and the Buckeyes rank third in the nation in scoring defense (53.6 ppg allowed) and 13th in field-goal defense (36.4 percent). Meanwhile, West Virginia has allowed more than 68 points just once – in an 80-73 road victory at Ole Miss – and is yielding just 56.1 ppg, which ranks 14th in the country.

In addition to its 1-5 ATS slump overall, West Virginia is 1-4 ATS in its last five road games. Meanwhile, the Buckeyes are on spread-covering tears of 9-2 overall, 8-2 at home, 12-2 in non-conference action and 4-0 versus the Big East.

The over is 8-3 in the Mountaineers’ last 11 road trips, but the under is 37-17-1 in Ohio State’s last 55 games on Saturday and 10-1 in its last 11 versus the Big East.

ATS ADVANTAGE: OHIO STATE

Sports Insights

Wisconsin vs Florida State

Wisconsin comes into the Champs Sports Bowl in Orlando making its fifth-consecutive trip to Florida for bowl season. The Badgers had higher hopes coming into 2008, and they looked to be reaching those expectations when they moved up to ninth in the polls. They then lost four-straight and five of six games in the middle of their season to fall completely out of the rankings. The Badgers finished the season with a three-game win streak to qualify for bowl contention. Wisconsin utilizes a veteran offensive line and a pair of stud tailbacks in P.J. Hill and John Clay to power their offense (the Badgers rank 14th nationally in rushing offense with 212.0 ypg). Junior quarterback Dustin Sherer improved down the stretch after taking over as starter for the last six games of the season, as he threw for 450 yards during the Badgers’ final two games. Wisconsin’s defense has been up-and-down this season, but they still boast a solid unit against the run. They rank 43rd nationally allowing 133.3 yards per game.

Florida State is making its 27th-consecutive bowl appearance, which is now the nation’s longest streak with Michigan failing to qualify. The Seminoles come in having lost three of their last five games behind an offense that struggled. FSU averaged 216 rush yards per game during the first six games, but that average fell to below 150 yards for the final six. Quarterback Chistian Ponder also struggled down the stretch finishing with more interceptions (13) than touchdowns (12), and he was benched in the regular season finale against Florida. The Seminoles defense relies on speed and athleticism along the front seven to get in the backfield and disrupt opposing offenses. Florida State is holding opponents to 126.8 rushing yards per game, but they allowed Florida to rush for 317 yards in their regular season finale.

Florida State opened as a 5.5-point favorite at 5Dimes. Since then, the line has fluctuated between FSU -4.5 and -6. The public is solidly behind the Seminoles, with them receiving 78% of spread bets and 78% of parlay bets. The combination of movement and percentages triggered Smart Money plays at multiple books, all with records of at least .500. Among the books triggering plays for Wisconsin were Bodog (17-7, +8.40 units), BetOnline (35-22, +9.4), and 5Dimes (83-66, +8.86). We'll follow the sharps and take the power running game of Wisconsin

Wisconsin +6

Jeff Benton

First off, we’ve got a massive coaching advantage in this game. North Carolina’s Butch Davis, who has done an amazing job resurrecting the Tar Heels’ program, is 5-0 SU and ATS in bowl games throughout his career. Meanwhile, first-year Mountaineers coach Bill Stewart rode his players’ emotions (and Oklahoma’s disinterest) to last year’s upset win over the Sooners in the BCS Fiesta Bowl, but he proved throughout this season that he is way out of his league as a head coach and never should’ve been given this time. Time and again, I watched Stewart bungle decisions on the sidelines, and he’s reason #1 why West Virginia, which scored 17 points or less five times, way underachieved this season.

Think about it: West Virginia had a senior QB in Pat White, who started all four years in Morgantown, and a bunch of other returning starters, and the Mountaineers had been on a string of five straight New Year’s Day bowl appearances and three straight 11-win seasons … and Stewart couldn’t even guide the Mountaineers to the Big East title? Not only that, but prior to a 13-7 home win over South Florida in the season finale, West Virginia went 0-3 SU and ATS in its other close games, losing at Colorado 17-14, at Pitt 19-15 and at home to eventual Big East champ Cincinnati 26-23 in overtime. Sorry, but in college football, winning and losing close games comes down to coaching.

Also, don’t expect the same kind of rally-the-troops effort that the Mountaineers gave Stewart when he was the interim coach last year for that win against Oklahoma. Do you really think West Virginia’s players, especially guys like White, are excited to be playing in their first non-New Year’s Day bowl game, one year after scoring that huge upset of the Sooners? No way! On the other hand, this is North Carolina’s first bowl game since 2004, so you KNOW the Tar Heels are geeked to be in this contest, particularly since it’s being played in their back yard.

Davis has assembled a roster of fast, physical athletes who should match up well against the Mountaineers. And with healthy QB T.J. Yates (8.7 yards per pass attempt, 9 TDs, 3 INTs in limited action) back under center, North Carolina should put points on the board against a West Virginia defense that really didn’t face a strong offense all year. The Mountaineers went 4-7 ATS this year, with all four of its outright defeats coming as a favorite. Look for #5 to come today.

4♦ NORTH CAROLINA

Matt Rivers

For Saturday take the Hawks at home.

I will say exactly what I said yesterday, I really do love Derrick Rose and think Vinny Del Negro's team will be a lot better this season than the last few with the young point guard leading the way. Throw in some other quality pieces like Andres Nocioni and Ben Gordon and a few others and you have a talented team. But for whatever reason these guys have been horrible on the road and once again fell apart yesterday in Miami against Dwyane Wade and the Heat.

Luol Deng was also injured on Friday and playing for a second straight day is just going to be too tough for the visitors as they are up against a very well rested Hawks team that is absolutely rolling right now. Mike Woodson's squad is certainly on the way up and at 18-10 and with only two losses at Philips Arena are going to be as confident as can be today.

Joe Johnson, Al Horford, Josh Smith, Mike Bibby and the Hawks are really looking like a team that is ready to compete all season long as the doormat days clearly appear to be a thing fo the past.

Da Bulls are a tired and wounded team that is hobbling into this game. Meanwhile the home Hawks have not played in half a week and are rested and primed to fire away on all cylinders and improve to 6-1 on this eight game homestand with an easy double digit victory.

Tony Weston

Tonight in bowl action we'll take Miami over Cal in the Emerald Bowl.

While many people have been quick to jump back on that Cal bandwagon, consider that the team has not lived up to its preseason hype. The Bears finished 8-4 SU this season and were fourth in the Pac-10 in a very down year for the conference.

Consider that Cal's six conference victories came against Washington, Stanford, Oregon, UCLA, Arizona State and Washington State, all who were a combined 25-48 and five of whom, excluding Oregon, were in the bottom five of the Pac-10.

On the flip side, consider that Miami comes into this game installed as about a 10-point underdog. Now, understand that while the Hurricanes were only 5-6 ATS this season, only once were they installed as a double-digit underdog, and that came in a 26-3 SU loss to Florida, which went down as a push in many places.

But of their SU losses this year, excluding the Florida game, which was only the second game of the season, only one came when the ’Canes were installed as an underdog. In fact, going back to last season Miami is 4-2 ATS when installed as a puppy and 6-3 ATS overall in its last nine when getting points.

The Hurricanes will keep it close and cover against the Golden Bears. Take Miami in this one.

3♦ MIAMI

Bobby Maxwell

San Jose State at ST. MARY'S -15

Very impressive early-season scheduling for St. Mary's as the Gaels have beaten the likes of Providence, San Diego State, Oregon and Southern Illinois. Those aren't exactly cupcakes they have been beating up on. We'll certainly lay the chalk with St. Marys tonight against San Jose State.

St. Mary's went on the road and beat Oregon 78-73 as a 2 1/2-point favorite and then went to Indiana's Conseco Fieldhouse and beat Southern Illinois 65-52 in an easy win and cover as six-point favorites. Then they went to Stockton and beat Pacific 74-65 as a seven-point road chalk. This team is 5-0-1 ATS in their last six lined contests and they'll improve on that tonight.

The Gaels are putting up 75.6 points a game and last time they played San Jose State was in 2006 when they scored a 78-60 home win as a 15 1/2-point favorite. They are 3-0 ATS in the last three meetings with the Spartans going back to 2001.

San Jose State is just 3-9 ATS in its last 12 games overall and 3-12 ATS in its last 15 Saturday contests. No way we go against St. Mary's tonight. They have the talent and the difficult early schedule has given them the confidence they can go out and dominate an inferior opponent. Go with the Gaels.

2♦ ST. MARY'S

Karl Garrett

Wisconsin vs. FLORIDA STATE -6 - at Orlando

The G-Man is willing to roll the dice with legendary Bobby Bowden, and his Florida State Seminoles in this Champs Sports Bowl.

Florida State showed some nice progress this season, and the G-Man believes that progress will be rewarded with a solid showing in this bowl game.

Of course the Orlando venue is a big preparation advantage for the Sems who pretty much got to keep their normal routine unbroken, and it doesn't hurt the the Seminoles staunch defense should take advantage of a pretty one-dimensional Wisconsin attack this Saturday afternoon.

State owns a 3-0-1 spread mark over the last 4 years in their bowl games, and while the Badgers are on a nice 3-1 spreak mark their last 4 years in bowl games, the G-Man tends to believe Wisconsin's suspect close the to regular season is the true writing on the wall, and the Badgers are due for a big fall this afternoon.

Wisconsin's last regular season game ended in a 1-point overtime win against Cal Poly!

Last time the G-Man checked, Cal Poly, and Florida State were not in the same zip code.

Lay it with the Seminoles!

2♦ FLORIDA STATE