College Football
You are currently browsing the articles from Matt Levens matching the category College Football.
Where college football is concerned, there are fans and then there are fans who are devoted. Louisiana State University has some of the most dedicated fans in the entire sport. If you are an LSU fan and you want to show off your LSU Fighting Tigers pride, then you should unquestionably consider using bank checks with the LSU logo. Not only are the checks an economical way of showing your team pride, but it also makes your otherwise simple checks more attractive.
Louisiana State University football has been going strong since 1893. Up till now, LSU has won three national championships and was the first team ever to win two Bowl Championship Series titles in 2008.
The third largest football stadium in the SEC tournament, Tiger Stadium is sometimes referred to as “Death Valley” due to the noises that the 92,400 fans produce. ESPN even recorded a decibel level of 119 at some parts of the game in 2003. If Tiger Stadium were a city, it would be the sixth largest city in the state of Louisiana. Mike the Tiger is the team’s official mascot. Mike, named after a former LSU athletics trainer, is a real Bengal tiger.
When it comes to choosing your LSU checks, there are a couple of choices available. One choice is a check series that includes yellow checks, with the tiger mascot on the left and the purple LSU logo embossed in the middle. Matching accessories such as a coordinating debit card holder, coordinating address labels, and the matching checkbook cover are also obtainable. The accessorizing leather checkbook cover is purple and contains the LSU tiger’s image.
Another check series available is the LSU #1 fan checks. In addition to a picture of an avid fan cheering the team on, the tiger logo is also featured on these checks. Coordinating accessories are recommended with these designs, as well.
Both of these checks are available in duplicate and wallet form. If you’re a busy fan and find that you’re having trouble keeping up with the checks that you write, you might want to think about the duplicate checks. Duplicate checks leave a copy behind of each check that you write. The wallet sized checks are just the typical top-tear formatted checks.
Apart from the corresponding address labels, contact cards, and stickers, you might also want to think about other checking accessories like fraud prevention pens, check registers, calculators, and deposit slips.
Although it used to be pricey to obtain personal bank checks, it no longer has to be. When you get your checks online at a safe site, you can save up to 50% off of your bank’s fee. You will also have access to a multitude of designs, like the LSU Tiger checks, and you will get your checks in your mailbox in approximately 5 days.
Let everyone know that you are a proud fan of LSU by ordering your checks now. All you need to know is your routing number and checking account number.
Before you order LSU checks, go to LSUChecks.net to find coupons and to save up to 50% off your next order of LSU personal checks.
Written by Alan Plastin on January 3rd, 2012 with comments disabled.
Read more articles on College Football.
Would you like to carry bank checks that aren’t boring and dull? Have you found that ordering checks in the past from your local bank was expensive and time-consuming? Are you a fan of the University of Kentucky? If you are, and you’re ready for new checks, then buying them online will not only let you save money, but will also let you support your favorite school and athletics team.
The University of Kentucky is located in Lexington, Kentucky. It is the largest university in the state and was founded in 1865. The wildcat is the official mascot for the athletic teams and royal blue and white have been the official colors since 1882.
A founding member of the Southeastern Conference, they have won 7 NCAA championships. Adolph Rupp was hired as the basketball coach for the university in 1939 and continued with the team until 1972. The Wildcats won four NCAA crowns during those years. After that, they won again in 1978 under Joe B. Hall, in 1996 under Rick Pitino, and in 1998 under Tubby Smith.
In addition to their 7 NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball titles, they also have 43 SEC regular season titles and 1988 all-time wins. Kentucky also leads other schools in its all-time winning percentage.
The team’s home stadium is Rupp Arena. The mass of fans that attend the home games fill the streets of Lexington on game days.
The University of Kentucky cheerleaders have had plenty of wins, too. They have acquired 17 UCA Division I-A Cheerleading Championships-more than any other school. The WE even aired a reality television show about them.
If you bleed blue and you find yourself driving all night to get to away games, tailgating, and staying up late for the Midnight Madness game, then the University of Kentucky personal bank checks are right up your alley.
You basically have two designs to choose from. The first are the Kentucky Logo Checks. These checks have a light blue background with the “U.K” insignia in the background. They also contain an image of the wildcat. Coordinating accessories can be purchased with these checks as well and include return labels, debit wallet, and a Kentucky printed leather checkbook cover.
If you are that devoted fan that is constantly disagreeing with the referees, taking off early on game days, and have blue and white furniture in your house, then the Kentucky #1 Fan Checks might be the ones for you. You can also buy matching accessories with these checks, too.
While in the past it might have been pricey to order checks from your local bank, now you can order them online and save as much as 50% off of what your bank might have charged you. Plus, you can have a wider selection to choose from. It should only take the checks around 3-5 days to get to you, which could even be sooner than you would have gotten them from your bank. You just need your routing number and checking account number when you order them.
Before you order University Of Kentucky checks, go to UniversityOfKentuckyChecks.com to find coupons and to save up to 50% off your next order of University Of Kentucky personal checks.
Written by Alan Plastin on January 3rd, 2012 with comments disabled.
Read more articles on College Football.
The Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl in San Francisco will feature a couple of teams that are hungering for wins to end their seasons on a positive note.
Both schools will have new head coaches next season. That hunger to get the victory in this game should make this entertaining when Illinois of the Big Ten Conference takes on UCLA of the Pac-12.
These two teams have played 11 times, with UCLA holding a 6-5 edge and a four-game win streak in the series. These two last played in Champaign in 2004, with the Bruins notching a 35-17 victory. The last Illinois victory came at home in 1964, 26-7.
Our current Hunger Bowl odds show a line of Illinois -2.5 and a over/under of 47 points.
Illinois
The Fighting Illini have been struggling for wins lately. After starting the season 6-0, Illinois promptly went the opposite way, dropping each of the last six games, culminating in a 27-7 loss at Minnesota, which cost Ron Zook his job and led to the hiring of Tim Beckman from Toledo. Illinois is 1-3 away from home, dropping their last three road games.
The Illini rate a respectable 21st in the nation in scoring defense (20 points per game), giving up 292 yards per contest (159 through the air, 133 on the ground) while recording 36 sacks and generating 20 turnovers – two of which were taken back for scores (Tavon Wilson, fumble; Trulon Henry, pick).
Jonathan Brown leads the defense with 102 tackles (24 more than anyone else), adding six sacks, an interception, forced fumble and two recoveries, while Whitney Mercilus has 14.5 sacks and nine forced fumbles to go with 52 tackles and a fumble recovery. Henry and Terry Hawthorne each have two interceptions and Wilson and Ian Thomas have two fumble recoveries.
On offense, Illinois ranks just 91st nationally in points scored (23 ppg) while compiling 358 yards per game (187 passing, 171 rushing). Jason Ford and Nathan Scheelhaase lead the offense with a combined 1,114 rushing yards and 13 TDs on 3.4 yards per carry.
Scheelhaase completes 64 percent of his passes for 1,971 yards and 12 TDs with seven interceptions. The offensive line has allowed 35 sacks. A.J. Jenkins is the top receiving threat with 84 receptions (59 more than anyone else) for 1,196 yards and seven TDs.
UCLA
UCLA won the Pac-12 South and played in the inaugural conference championship game, but Rick Neuheisel was canned and the program just announced the hiring of former NFL head coach Jim Mora. The Bruins have lost three of its last four contests and were outscored in their last two games, 99-31, by USC (50-0) and Oregon (49-31). The Bruins were 1-6 as a visitor, but 5-3 in their home state.
UCLA ranks 85th nationally in scoring offense (24 ppg) while compiling 389 yards per game (198 passing, 191 rushing). Johnathan Franklin and Derrick Coleman anchor the offense from the backfield, combining for 1,673 rushing yards and 16 TDs on 5.6 yards per carry.
Kevin Prince connects on 57 % of his throws for 1,627 yards and 10 touchdowns with seven picks. The offensive line has allowed 24 sacks. Nelson Rosario paces the receivers with 61 grabs (27 more than any other player) for 1,106 yards and four touchdowns.
The Bruins defense rates just 96th in the nation in scoring defense (32 ppg) and allowing 424 yards per game (233 through the air, 191 on the ground) while recording 13 sacks and generating 20 turnovers – one of which was taken back for a touchdown (Pat Larimore, pick).
Larimore anchors the unit with 81 stops, adding a sack, an pick, a forced fumble and fumble recovery, while Datone Jones has three sacks. Andrew Abbott has four interceptions and Sheldon Price has two forced fumbles.
Take a look at the bowl game picks offered by our experts and give yourself a better chance to beat the college bowl spreads thise season.
Written by Anthony Moretti on December 31st, 2011 with comments disabled.
Read more articles on College Football.
Nashville, Tennessee is recognized as Music City, and the center of country music. In Nashville, Dec. 30 will showcase two up-and-coming college football programs in the Music City Bowl as Mississippi State of the SEC takes on the Wake Forest Demon Deacons of the ACC.
This will be the first-ever meeting between the schools on the football field.
A quick look at the latest Music City Bowl odds shows Mississippi State favored by 7 points, while the total (over/under) has been listed at 48 points.
Mississippi State
The Bulldogs had one of the more brutal schedules in the country, but managed to win six games to become bowl eligible. The team faced five teams ranked in the most recent top-25 polls, including No. 1 LSU and No. 2 Alabama, losing all five games. Most recently, MSU won the Egg Bowl vs. Ole Miss, 31-3. Overall, the Bulldogs were 3-3 away from home this year.
Defensively, the Bulldogs rank 19th nationally in points allowed (20 ppg), surrendering 356 yards per game (195 passing, 161 rushing) while recording 21 sacks and forcing 20 turnovers – two of which returned for touchdowns (Johnathan Banks and Darius Slay, picks).
Cameron Lawrence paces the defense with 114 stops (22 more than any other player), chipping in two sacks, two interceptions, two forced fumbles and a recovery, while Fletcher Cox has four sacks, 49 stops, a forced fumble, a blocked kick and a fumble recovery. Banks has five interceptions, three forced fumbles and 64 stops.
On offense, the Bulldogs rank 73rd nationally in points scored (25 ppg) while compiling 355 yards per game (186 passing, 169 rushing). Chris Relf and Tyler Russell have combined to complete 57 percent of their passes for 2,117 yards and 17 TDs with 11 picks.
Chris Smith and Arceto Clark pace the receivers with 58 combined receptions for 687 yards and five scores, while Vick Ballard leads the ground attack with 1,009 yards and eight touchdowns on 5.6 yards per tote.
Wake Forest
The Demon Deacons started the season 4-1, but staggered to a 1-4 finish to the season, capped by a 41-7 home loss to Vanderbilt in the regular-season finale. Wake tied for second in the ACC Atlantic Division (5-3). Overall, Wake was 2-3 away from home this year.
The Deacons rate 62nd in the nation in points (27 ppg) while gaining 375 yards per contest (256 through the air, 119 on the ground). Tanner Price has connected on 61 % of his throws for 2,803 yards and 20 touchdowns with six interceptions. The offensive line has given up 29 sacks.
Chris Givens paces the receivers with 74 catches for 1,276 yards and nine touchdowns, with Michael Campanaro adds 63 receptions for 705 yards and two touchdowns. Brandon Pendergrass paces the running attack with 750 yards and eight touchdowns on 4.6 yards per tote.
Defensively, Wake Forest ranks 70th nationally in points allowed (28 ppg), allowing 399 yards per game (236 passing, 163 rushing) while recording 10 sacks and forcing 17 turnovers.
Cyhl Quarles leads the defense with 96 tackles (31 more than anyone else), adding two fumble recoveries, while Josh Bush has six picks with 56 tackles. Kyle Wilber has 3.5 sacks and three forced fumbles, adding 65 tackles, a blocked kick and a fumble recovery.
To find out who is going to win this game check out the free college bowl picks at BetFirms. We have some of the top college football handicappers in the nation who offer their advice.
Written by Anthony Moretti on December 30th, 2011 with comments disabled.
Read more articles on College Football.
This game will be a homecoming of sorts for Bob Stoops.
The former Iowa Hawkeye football player will face off against his alma mater when he brings his Oklahoma Sooners to the Insight Bowl to face the Hawkeyes. Although Stoops has coached Oklahoma for 13 years, he has never played his former school.
In fact, the only time these two storied programs hooked up came in the 1979 season opener, when Barry Switzer’s Sooners beat Hayden Fry’s Hawkeyes 21-6 in Norman.
Our latest Insight Bowl odds list Oklahoma as 14-point favorites, while the total has been posted at 58 points.
Iowa
Iowa started 3-1, then 5-2, but has alternated wins and losses in each of the last six games, finishing the regular season with a 20-7 loss at Nebraska. The Hawkeyes have been 1-4 away from home, with two of the losses by a total of four points.
The Hawkeyes rate 42nd in the nation in defense (23 points per contest), giving up 388 yards per contest (228 through the air, 160 via the run) while recording 20 sacks and generating 18 turnovers – with two being taken back for scores (Tanner Miller and Shaun Prater, interceptions).
James Morris anchors the defensive unit with 105 stops (adding an interception), while Christian Kirksey has 103 stops (two forced fumbles, sack, interception, fumble recovery). Mike Daniels has seven sacks with 62 stops, while Miller has three picks, 71 stops and a forced fumble and Prater has four forced fumbles to go with 46 stops.
Iowa ranks 53rd nationally in points scored (29 ppg) while compiling 379 yards per game (236 passing, 143 rushing). James Vandenberg has completed 59 percent of his passes for 2,806 yards with 23 TDs and six picks. The offensive line has allowed 26 sacks.
Marvin McNutt is the best receiver with 78 catches (33 more than any other player) for 1,269 yards and 12 touchdowns, while Marcus Coker leads the ground attack with 1,384 yards and 15 touchdowns on 4.9 yards per attempt.
Oklahoma
After a 6-0 start, Oklahoma is just 3-3 in their final six games and are coming off a 44-10 loss to their in-state rivals Oklahoma State. OU is 4-2 as a visitor, but has lost the past two games to ranked teams (Baylor, OSU).
Oklahoma rates 10th nationally in points (40 ppg) while totaling 532 yards per contest (365 through the air, 167 via the run). Landry Jones has connected on 63 % of his throws for 4,302 yards and 28 touchdowns with 14 interceptions. The offensive line has given up nine sacks.
Ryan Broyles (out for the season: knee injury) was the top receiver with 83 catches (25 more than any other player) for 1,157 yards and 10 touchdowns, while Roy Finch and Dominique Whaley (out for the season: ankle injury) led the ground attack with a combined 1,228 yards and 12 touchdowns on 5.6 yards per attempt.
On defense, Oklahoma ranks 37th in the country in points allowed (23 ppg), allowing 384 yards per contest (244 via the pass, 140 on the ground) while recording 37 sacks and enticing 25 turnovers – four of which have gone back for scores (Jamell Fleming, Tom Wort and David King, fumbles; Demontre Hurst, pick).
Aaron Colvin and Travis Lewis pace the defense with 80 and 79 tackles, respectively, adding two forced fumbles, two recoveries and a pick combined. Frank Alexander has 8.5 sacks and three forced fumbles, adding 51 tackles, a pick and a fumble recovery, while Tony Jefferson has four interceptions, 67 tackles, 4.5 sacks and a forced fumble.
Learn more about handicapping bowl games and get free college football picks on tons of games each day at BetFirms.
Written by Anthony Moretti on December 29th, 2011 with comments disabled.
Read more articles on College Football.
The Sugar Bowl is likely to be a great matchup. A pair of the more decorated schools in history, and a pair of the toughest defensive units in the nation this year, will face off in New Orleans when Michigan of the Big Ten takes on ACC runner-up Virginia Tech.
This bowl will be the first-ever played between the teams.
Our Sugar Bowl odds have Michigan as a 2.5-point spread favorite, while the over/under has been set at 50.5 points.
Michigan
Michigan ended their regular season with three consecutive victories, the last a 40-34 rivalry win against Ohio State to win 10 games under first-year coach Brady Hoke, ending up second in the Big Ten Legends Division (6-2). The Wolverines were 2-2 as a visitor, getting beat by Michigan State and Iowa.
The Wolverines rate seventh in the country in points against (17 points per contest) and surrender 318 yards per contest (189 via the pass, 129 via the run) while recording 28 sacks and enticing 27 turnovers – three of which were taken back for scores (Brandon Herron and Courtney Avery, fumbles; Herron, pick).
Kenny Demens anchors the defense with 86 stops (22 more than any other player), while Ryan Van Bergen has five sacks and three fumble recoveries. Thomas Gordon has four fumble recoveries, and Avery and J.T. Floyd each have two picks.
Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech reached the conference title game once again (7-1, won Coastal Division), but had their seven-game victory streak broken with a 38-10 defeat to Clemson. Virginia Tech is 6-1 as a visitor, winning the first six such games. Both of Tech’s defeats this season came versus Clemson.
The Hokies rate eighth in the nation in points against (17 ppg) and allows 314 yards per contest (206 through the air, 108 on the ground) while recording 38 sacks and generating 22 turnovers.
Antone Exum anchors the defense with 85 stops and two forced fumbles, while James Gayle has a team-high seven sacks. Jayron Hosley has three picks and two forced fumbles.
The Hokies rate 55th in the nation in scoring (28 ppg) while generating 416 yards per game (227 through the air, 189 on the ground).
David Wilson anchors the running game with 1,627 yards and nine TDs on 6.1 yards per carry, while Logan Thomas completes 59 percent of his passes for 2,799 yards and 19 TDs with nine interceptions. The offensive line has given up 15 sacks. Jarrett Boykin leads the receivers with 57 catches for 731 yards and five TDs, while Danny Coals has 52 grabs for 787 yards and three scores.
View the free bowl picks at BetFirms and see if our experts can’t help you beat the college bowl lines this year.
Written by Anthony Moretti on December 29th, 2011 with comments disabled.
Read more articles on College Football.
This year’s Rose Bowl will showcase two very similar programs in recent history. One found itself in this bowl a season ago (Wisconsin) while the other played for a national championship. The Ducks made this bowl two seasons ago but has dominated its conference the past three seasons.
The Rose Bowl Game presented by Vizio will showcase Big Ten champion Wisconsin facing Pac-12 champ Oregon in Pasadena. This will mark the fifth all-time game between the two programs, with the Badgers owning a 3-1 series lead. However, the Ducks won the last game in Eugene, 31-28, back in 2001.
Our current Rose Bowl odds show Oregon -6 and the over/under at 72 points.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin earned their second consecutive Rose Bowl invite by winning the inaugural Big Ten Championship Game with a 42-39 final over Michigan State. The Badgers come into this game riding a five-game win streak, which came on the heels of two consecutive defeats, which came after a 6-0 start. The Badgers were 4-2 as a visitor this season, winning the past three on the road.
Wisconsin is one of the few teams to be ranked in the top-10 nationally in both scoring offense and defense.
The Badgers rank fourth nationally in scoring offense (45 points per game) while compiling 467 yards per game (237 rushing, 230 passing). Montee Ball leads the offense by anchoring the running game with 1,759 yards and 32 scores on 6.4 yards per attempt, while James White adds 683 yards and six scores on 5.1 yards per attempt.
Russell Wilson has connected on 72 % of his attempts for 2,879 yards and 31 touchdowns with three picks. The offensive line has allowed 23 sacks. The main receiving targets are Nick Toon and Jared Abbrederis, who have combined for 106 catches for 1,636 yards and 16 touchdowns.
The Badger defense rates a stellar sixth in the country in defense (17 ppg) and surrenders 293 yards per game (155 via the pass, 138 via the rush) while recording 23 sacks and enticing 24 turnovers – one taken back for a touchdown (Derek Landisch, fumble).
Mike Taylor paces the unit with 137 stops, while Chris Borland has a team-high four forced fumbles with 131 total stops. Louis Nzegwu has 4.5 sacks, while Shelton Johnson and Antonio Fenelus each have four picks.
Oregon
The Ducks endured a season-opening defeat to LSU, then won nine in a row before a home defeat to USC, then ended the year with 98 points scored in victories against Oregon State and UCLA to take a third consecutive conference championship. The Ducks were 4-1as a visitor this season, winning the last four such contests.
The Ducks rate third in the nation in points (46 ppg) while gaining 515 yards per contest (296 on the ground, 219 through the air). LaMichael James leads this ground attack with 1,646 yards and 17 touchdowns on 7.4 yards per attempt, while Kenjon Barner has 909 yards and 11 touchdowns on 6.3 yards per tote.
Darron Thomas connects on 61 % of his throws for 2,493 yards and 30 touchdowns with six interceptions. The offensive line has surrendered 12 sacks. De’Anthony Thomas is the main receiving target with 42 catches for 571 yards and nine touchdowns, while Lavasier Tuinei has 40 grabs for 441 yards and eight touchdowns.
Defensively, the Ducks rank 48th in the nation in scoring defense (24 ppg) and give up 381 yards per game (244 passing, 137 rushing) while compiling 43 sacks and forcing 27 turnovers – three of which were returned for TDs (Boseko Lokombo and Michael Clay, three interceptions).
John Boyett leads the defensive unit with 91 tackles and two blocked kicks, while Clay has 89 stops and a team-best two forced fumbles. Dion Jordan has 7.5 sacks, Eddie Pleasant has three interceptions and Brandon Hanna has three fumble recoveries.
The handicappers at BetFirms are experts at breaking down the college bowl odds. If you have any questions or want help making winning college bowl picks visit them today.
Written by Anthony Moretti on December 29th, 2011 with comments disabled.
Read more articles on College Football.
The final game in this bowl postseason before the main event – the Allstate BCS Championship Game on Jan. 9th – two of the best squads in the non-BCS leagues will square off in the GoDaddy.com Bowl in Mobile, Ala., when Sun Belt Conference champion Arkansas State plays MAC champ Northern Illinois. Both teams enter this bowl with a combined 17-game winning streak.
These two teams have met seven times before between 1990 and 1996, with Northern Illinois winning six of the seven meetings. The last meeting in 1995 was a 31-30 NIU win – the only win in a 1-10 campaign. The lone ASU win was a 28-21 decision in 1995. Three of the meetings came when the two schools were part of the Big West Conference.
The current GoDaddy Bowl odds show Arkansas State -1.5 and the total placed at 62.5 points.
Arkansas State
Other than LSU, Arkansas State just might be the hottest team in America coming into the bowl season, as they have won nine games in a row and a Sun Belt Conference championship (8-0) coming into this bowl. Most recently, Arkansas State won its final two games by a combined 90-33 over Middle Tennessee and Troy. The Red Wolves are 4-2 as a visitor, winning the last four – the only defeats were at Illinois and Virginia Tech.
On defense, Arkansas State rates a stellar 15th in the nation in points against (19 points per game) and allows 325 yards per contest (219 through the air, 107 on the ground) while recording 32 sacks and generating 28 turnovers – two of which were taken back for scores (Darryl Feemster, fumble; Sterling Young, pick).
Demario Davis anchors the defense with 65 tackles, while Kelcie McCray has 62 tackles and a team-best four picks. Darron Edwards has three forced fumbles and three picks.
Offensively, the Red Wolves rate 28th in the nation in offense (33 ppg) while generating 454 yards per game (289 throwing, 165 via the run).
Ryan Aplin has hit on 66 % of his attempts for 3,235 yards and 18 scores with 13 picks, while the offensive line has given up 24 sacks. Dwayne Frampton paces the receivers with 90 grabs (38 more than any other player) for 1,125 yards and six scores, while Aplin and Derek Lawson pace the rushing attack with a total of 1,064 yards with 12 touchdowns on 4.0 yards per attempt.
Northern Illinois
Northern Illinois, like Arkansas State, finished their regular season on a winning run. After a 48-41 defeat to Central Michigan left the Huskies at 2-3, it won the next eight meetings, including a 23-20 win over Ohio in the MAC Title Game to get to this bowl versus the Sun Belt champ. The Huskies were 4-3 as a visitor, but has won the last four road games, three of them by a total of seven points.
On offense, Northern Illinois rates 13th in the country in offense (38 ppg) while gaining 482 yards per contest (248 via the run, 234 throwing).
Chandler Harnish anchors the running game with 1,382 yards and 11 TDs on 7.5 yards per carry, while Jasmin Hopkins has 932 yards and 15 TDs on 5.2 yards per carry. Harnish completes 63 percent of his passes for 2,942 yards and 26 TDs with five interceptions, while the offensive line has allowed nine sacks. Nathan Palmer leads the receiving corps with 46 receptions for 683 yards and seven TDs.
The Huskies don’t do well on defense, ranking 90th in the country in scoring (31 ppg) and surrendering 418 yards per contest (240 throwing, 178 via the run) while recording 25 sacks and enticing 20 turnovers – with one taken back for a score (Nabal Jefferson, pick).
Pat Schiller leads this unit with 108 tackles, while Sean Progar has 5.5 sacks. Rashaan Melvin and Dechane Durante each have two picks.
The experts at BetFirms offer college bowl picks on each game. If you have struggled to beat the college bowl odds then you should check out their opinions first.
Written by Anthony Moretti on December 28th, 2011 with comments disabled.
Read more articles on College Football.
El Paso has been a venue for a bowl game for more than 75 years. Utah played in one of the very first Sun Bowls, and now the Utes come back as a member of one of the BCS conferences for the first time. On December 31st, Utah will square off against Georgia Tech of the ACC in the 78th annual Hyundai Sun Bowl.
The only previous meeting between the schools came in the 2005 Emerald Bowl in Seattle, with Utah posting a 38-10 win over a nationally ranked Georgia Tech squad. The Utes’ only other Sun Bowl appearance came in 1939 with a 26-0 win over New Mexico.
Our latest Sun Bowl odds has Georgia Tech as a 3-point favorite, while the over/under has been set for 51 points.
Georgia Tech
Georgia Tech began the year 6-0, but limped in with a 2-4 finish, ending with a 31-17 defeat to in-state rival Georgia in the last game. The Yellow Jackets did beat Duke, 38-31, in its ACC finale to end up tied for second in the ACC Coastal Division (5-3). Georgia Tech was 3-2 as a visitor this season.
On offense, Georgia Tech ranks 19th in the nation in scoring (35 points per contest) while generating 462 yards of offense per contest (319 on the ground, 143 through the air).
The spread-option ground attack is led by three players – quarterback Tevin Washington with 890 yards and 14 touchdowns (4.0 yards per tote), David Sims with 698 yards and seven touchdowns (5.2 ypc) and Orwin Smith with 616 yards and 11 touchdowns (10.3 ypc). Washington connects on 57 % of his throws for 1,515 yards and 10 touchdowns with eight picks. His best receiver is Stephen Hill with 26 receptions for 785 yards and four touchdowns.
Defensively, Georgia Tech ranks 60th in points allowed (26 ppg) and allows 361 yards per game (198 passing, 163 rushing) while compiling 20 sacks and forcing 20 turnovers – two of which were returned for TDs (Rod Sweeting and Isaiah Johnson, interceptions).
Julian Burnett leads the defensive unit with 113 tackles (44 more than anyone else), adding a sack, a forced fumble and a recovery, while Jeremiah Attaochu has six sacks, 52 tackles, a pick, forced fumble and fumble recovery.
Utah
The Utes’ first season as a Pac-12 member started unevenly, but steadied with a late four-game win streak that ended with a 17-14 loss to Colorado to close the season tied for third in the Pac-12 South Division (4-5). Utah did post a 4-2 record away from home, winning the last two and three of four.
The Utes are one of the better defensive squads in the nation, rating 18th nationally in scoring (20 ppg) and giving up 343 yards per contest (246 through the air, 97 on the ground) while totaling 30 sacks and generating 32 turnovers – four of which were taken back for touchdowns (V.J. Fehoko and Derrick Shelby, fumbles; Shelby and Conroy Black, picks).
Chaz Walker paces the defensive unit with 103 tackles (27 more than anyone else), adding two forced fumbles, while Black has four interceptions, 35 tackles and a fumble recovery. Shelby and Trevor Reilly each have five sacks and combined for 87 tackles, four forced fumbles, three recoveries and an interception.
If you want to beat the college bowl odds this season then make sure you sign up for the college bowl picks provided by our experts.
Written by Anthony Moretti on December 28th, 2011 with comments disabled.
Read more articles on College Football.
The Pac-12 and Big 12 conferences meet up in San Diego Dec. 28 in the 2nd of two San Diego bowl matchups. California ended the regular season playing well, while the Longhorns have struggled to cross the finish line, but both squads played good football to be invited to this bowl game. This will be a chance to end the season on a good note when they play each other in the Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl.
Texas has been victorious in all four games versus Cal, but the last meeting was back in 1970.
The current Holiday Bowl spread list the Longhorns as a 3-point chalk, while the total has been listed at 47.5 points.
California
Cal enters this matchup on a pretty good run, having came out on top in three of their final four games, with the only blip a 31-28 loss to top-10 Stanford. Recently, the Bears won at Arizona State, 47-38, to end up fourth in the Pac-12 North (4-5) and finish with a 2-4 record as a visitor.
The Bears rank 47th in the nation in scoring (30 points per game) while racking up 418 yards per contest (252 via the pass, 166 running). Zach Maynard has hit on 57 % of his attempts for 2,806 yards and 17 touchdowns with 11 picks. The offensive line has surrendered 22 sacks.
Keenan Allen leads the receiving crops with 89 receptions (34 more than anyone else) for 1,261 yards and six scores, while Isi Sofele anchors the running game with 1,266 yards and nine scores on 5.5 yards per game.
Defensively, the Golden Bears rank 52nd in the nation in points allowed (24 ppg), surrendering 339 yards per game (209 passing, 130 rushing) while recording 32 sacks and forcing 23 turnovers – two of which converted to TDs (Trevor Guyton, fumble; Josh Hill, interception).
Mychal Kendricks anchors the defense with 96 tackles, adding three sacks, a team-best two picks and two fumble recoveries, while D.J. Holt adds 81 tackles with two sacks. Guyton and Ernest Owusu have nine combined sacks, chipping in 69 tackles, three forced fumbles and two recoveries.
Texas
Texas began the year 4-0 but have struggled coming into this contest, losing three of their last four contests – most recently a 48-24 defeat vs Baylor. Overall, Texas was 3-3 as a visitor this season, but did win its only contest in the state of California – a 49-20 victory against UCLA.
The Longhorns rank 42nd nationally in points allowed (23 ppg), surrendering 316 yards per game (212 passing, 104 rushing) while compiling 23 sacks and forcing 21 turnovers – with one being returned for a TD (Carrington Byndom, interception).
Emmanuel Acho leads this defensive unit with 122 stops (26 more than anyone else), adding three sacks and a forced fumble, while Alex Okafor has seven sacks, 54 stops, two forced fumbles and one recovery. Quandre Diggs adds a team-best three interceptions with 48 stops and two forced fumbles.
Texas lists 53rd in the nation in scoring offense (29 ppg), compiling 404 yards per game (210 running, 194 via the pass). Malcolm Brown paces the ground attack with 707 yards and five scores on 4.4 yards per attempt.
David Ash and Case McCoy platoon at quarterback, combining to complete 59 percent of their passes for 1,971 yards and 10 TDs with 12 interceptions. The offensive line has allowed 26 sacks. Mike Davis is the top receiving target with 45 receptions for 609 yards and one score, while Jaxon Shipley has 40 grabs for 593 yards and three scores in nine games.
Have the best chance of beating the football bowl odds when you check out the free college bowl picks offered at BetFirms.
Written by Anthony Moretti on December 27th, 2011 with comments disabled.
Read more articles on College Football.
« Older articles
No newer articles