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The military schools have their own bowl-contest available to them. The country’s capital is the venue of the Military Bowl sponsored by Northrop Grumman, taking place in the shadow of the Pentagon.
In this year’s edition of the game, the U.S. Air Force Academy will be making its debut in this bowl game as it represents the military against MAC power Toledo.
These two schools have never met before on the football field.
The live Miliatry Bowl odds show Toledo as a 3-point chalk, while the total sits at 70 points.
Toledo
After going 1-3 to begin the year, Toledo came back with seven victories in its final eight contests to tie Northern Illinois for the MAC West Division title (7-1). Recently, Toledo recorded road victories over Central Michigan (44-17) and Ball State (45-28) en route to a 4-2 mark on the road (winning the last four).
The Toledo offense ranks a strong eighth nationally in points scored (42 points per game), recording 493 yards per game (272 passing, 221 rushing). Adonis Thomas and Morgan Williams anchor the running game with a combined 1,634 yards and 22 touchdowns on 5.8 yards per carry.
Terrance Owens and Austin Dantin have combined to connect on 68 % of their throws for 3,210 yards and 30 touchdowns with just six interceptions. The offensive line has given up nine sacks. Eric Page is one of the national receiving leaders with 112 grabs (76 more than any other player on the squad) for 1,123 yards and 10 scores.
Toledo rates just 89th in the nation in points allowed (31 ppg), giving up 401 yards per contest (278 through the air, 123 on the ground) while totaling 22 sacks and generating 28 turnovers – three of which were taken back for touchdowns (Dan Molls and Robert Bell, two fumbles; Jermaine Robinson, pick).
Desmond Marrow leads this unit with 78 tackles and three picks, while Bell has 70 stops to go with a team-best four forced fumbles, a team-high three recoveries, a pick and a sack. Ben Pike has five sacks, 11 tackles and a forced fumble, with Molls recording three fumble recoveries and 58 tackles.
Air Force
The Falcons won four of their last five games to finish fifth in the Mountain West (3-4) and to win the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy for a second straight year with a 2-0 record vs. Army and Navy. Most recently, Air Force posted wins over UNLV (45-17) and Colorado State (45-21). The Falcons are 3-2 away from home, winning the last two.
With one of the top running offenses in the country, Air Forced ranks 22nd nationally in scoring (34 ppg) while compiling 459 yards per game (320 rushing, 139 passing).
The triple-option offense is paced by the three prongs – Asher Clark (1,036 yards, six touchdowns, 7.3 yards per tote), Mike Dewitt (543 yards, 10 touchdowns, 4.9 ypc) and Tim Jefferson (492, 10, 3.5 ypc), while Jefferson connects on 61 % of his throws for 1,478 yards and 12 touchdowns with six interceptions. The offensive line has allowed nine sacks. Jonathan Warzeka and Zack Kauth pace the receiving corps with 55 catches for 935 yards and seven touchdowns.
On defense, Air Force rates 67th in the nation in points given up (27 ppg), surrendering 391 yards per contest (228 on the ground, 163 through the air) while recording 17 sacks and forcing 24 turnovers.
Brady Amack leads the defense with 125 total tackles (36 more than anyone else), adding a team-best four forced fumbles, one sack and a fumble recovery. Alex Means has six sacks, 71 tackles, three forced fumbles, two blocked kicks, two fumble recoveries and an interception, while Davis has four picks, 89 tackles, a forced fumble and recovery.
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Written by Anthony Moretti on December 26th, 2011 with comments disabled.
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When baseball season ends, Yankee Stadium doesn’t shut off its lights for the entire winter.
Dec. 30 in the Bronx, Yankee Stadium will open it’s doors for some college football, as it is the venue for the New Era Pinstripe Bowl, which will showcase Rutgers of the Big East and the Iowa State Cyclones of the Big 12.
This game will mark the first-ever meeting between the Scarlet Knights and the Cyclones on the gridiron.
Our live Pinstripe Bowl line list the Scarlet Knights as a 2-point chalk, while the total has been listed at 45 points.
Rutgers
Rutgers began the year 5-1, then had a late three-game win streak that was stopped with a 40-22 defeat to UConn to end the year and end up in fourth place in the conference (4-3). The Scarlet Knights were 2-3 as a visitor this season, and finished with a 1-2 overall record versus the three conference co-champions. Two of the four defeats came by two points each, and three defeats were by 14 points total.
Rutgers is one of the better defensive teams in the country, ranking 12th in the country in points allowed (19 points per game), surrendering 315 yards per game (168 passing, 147 rushing) while compiling 33 sacks and forcing 31 turnovers – with four converted into touchdowns (Scott Vallone and Marcus Cooper, fumbles; Duron Harmon and Logan Ryan, interceptions).
Khaseem Greene anchors this unit with 127 tackles (56 more than anyone else), adding three sacks and two forced fumbles, while Justin Francis has 6.5 sacks to go with 60 tackles, two blocked kicks, an interception and a fumble recovery. Harmon has five interceptions with 45 tackles, while Jamal Harrell has three blocked kicks, two forced fumbles, 39 tackles and a fumble recovery.
On offense, Rutgers rates 66th in the nation in scoring (26 ppg) while totaling 336 yards per contest (245 throwing, 91 running). Chas Todd and Gary Nova have combined to hit 54 % of their throws for 2,931 yards and 20 scores with 16 picks. The offensive line has given up 30 sacks.
The top receiver is Mohamed Sanu with 109 receptions (78 more than anyone else) for 1,144 yards and seven TDs, while Jawan Jamison anchors the running game with 766 yards and seven scores on 3.8 yards per carry.
Iowa State
The Cyclones were streaky in 2011 – started 3-0, then lost four straight, then won three straight, then dropped their last two games against Oklahoma (26-6) and Kansas State (30-23). ISU was 1-4 against current top-25 teams, but has an overtime win over No. 3 Oklahoma State. Iowa State was 2-4 away from home, with three of those losses against top-25 teams.
ISU ranks 82nd nationally in points allowed (30 ppg), allowing 432 yards per game (237 passing, 195 rushing) while recording 17 sacks and forcing 24 turnovers – one returned for a TD (A.J. Klein, interception).
Jake Knott leads the defense with 107 stops and three forced fumbles, adding two picks and a fumble recovery, while Klein has 101 tackles with two sacks and one pick. Patrick Neal has 3.5 sacks, 38 stops and two forced fumbles, while Ter’Ran Benton has three interceptions, 62 stops and a recovered fumble.
The Cyclones rate 86th in the nation in offense (23 ppg) while gaining 393 yards per contest (218 through the air, 181 on the ground). Steele Jantz and Jared Barnett have combined to connect on 52 % of their attempts for 2,500 yards and 16 scores with 15 interceptions.
Darius Reynolds paces the receiving corps with 41 catches for 655 yards and seven scores, while Josh Lenz adds 35 catches for 438 yards and two touchdowns. James White paces the ground game with 701 yards and eight scores on 4.7 yards per tote.
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Written by Anthony Moretti on December 26th, 2011 with comments disabled.
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The opponents in the 2011 Belk Bowl this season did not venture far from home. The contest is being played in Charlotte, N.C. and will showcase an in-state team in NC State, representing the ACC, taking on Big East co-champ Louisville, from neighboring Kentucky.
This will be the first matchup between the two teams dating back to 1994, when Louisville notched a 35-14 victory at home.
Our Belk Bowl odds show NC State as a 2.5-point chalk, while the over/under has been placed at 44.5 points.
Louisville
Louisville won their final three contests and five of their final six to end up as a three-way conference co-champion (5-2) with Cincinnati and West Virginia. Recently, Louisville accomplished two straight road victories at UConn (34-20) and South Florida (34-24) to finished with a 4-2 mark as a visitor, including a current three-matchup win streak in such contests.
Louisville ranks a stellar 14th in the country in points surrendered (19 points per matchup), giving up 328 yards per matchup (224 via the pass, 104 via the rush) while racking up 32 sacks and enticing 18 turnovers – with three taken back for touchdowns (Andrew Johnson and M Mitchell, fumbles; Mike Evans, interception).
The defense is led by three guys – Dexter Heyman with 83 tackles (four sacks, team-best three interceptions, forced fumble), Hakeem Smith with 81 tackles (team-best three forced fumbles, one interception, one fumble recovery) and Preston Brown with 81 (1.5 sacks). William Savoy and Marcus Smith each have five sacks, chipping in a combined 34 tackles, a forced fumble, fumble recovery and blocked kick.
On offense, Louisville rates just 100th in the nation in points given up (22 ppg) while generating 328 yards per contest (206 through the air, 122 on the ground). Teddy Bridgewater connects on 66 % of his throws for 1,855 yards and 12 touchdowns with nine interceptions. The offensive line has given up 36 sacks.
Michaelee Harris and Eli Rogers lead the receiving corps with 71 combined receptions for 855 yards and three scores, while Dominique Brown and Victor Anderson pace the running game with 960 combined yards and seven scores on 4.1 yards per carry.
North Carolina State
North Carolina State bounced back from a poor start, winning three of its final four contests and five of seven to end up fourth in the ACC Atlantic Division (4-4). Recently, the Wolfpack upset top-10 Clemson (37-13) and Maryland (56-41). North Carolina State was 6-1 at home and 6-2 in its home state of North Carolina, where this bowl matchup is being held.
NC State ranks 56th in points given up (25 ppg), allowing 352 yards per contest (220 through the air, 132 on the ground) while generating 33 sacks and generating 36 turnovers – four of which were taken back for touchdowns (Brian Slay and Brandon Bishop, fumbles; David Amerson and C.J. Wilson, interceptions).
Earl Wolfe and Audie Cole pace the defense with 99 and 98 tackles, respectively, chipping in a combined seven forced fumbles, 3.5 sacks, three interceptions and three fumble recoveries. Terrell Manning and Darryl Cato-Bishop have 11 combined sacks to go with 91 tackles, five forced fumbles, three recoveries and three interceptions, while Amerson has 11 interceptions and 54 tackles.
Offensively, NC State rates 58th in points given up (28 ppg) while generating 346 yards per contest (238 through the air, 108 on the ground). Mike Glennon has connected on 62 % of his throws for 2,790 yards and 28 touchdowns with 11 interceptions. The offensive line has given up 32 sacks.
Five guys have caught at least 30 throws this year, led by T.J. Graham and James Washington with 39 catches each for a combined 941 yards and five scores. Meanwhile, Washington paces the ground attack with 852 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on 4.0 yards per attempt.
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Written by Anthony Moretti on December 26th, 2011 with comments disabled.
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Michigan will have one of it’s own in its bowl game this year. The Little Caesars Pizza Bowl, being played at Ford Field in Detroit, will be almost like a home game for one of these teams, as Western Michigan of the MAC plays Purdue of the Big Ten on Dec. 27.
This will be the 3rd time these two teams have met, with the previous matchup in 2002. The Boilermakers won both contests at home – 28-13 in 1993 and 28-24 in 2002.
Checking out the current Caesars Bowl odds, the Boilermakers are favored by 2.5 points, while the over/under has been set at 60 points.
Western Michigan
Western Michigan won three of their last four contests to end up 3rd in the MAC West Division (5-3). The school is coming off a 63-19 victory against Akron. Three of the school’s five defeats have been decided by a total of 10 points. The squad is 5-2 in Michigan, running up a 5-0 home record and losing contests at Michigan and Eastern Michigan.
WMU is one of the more potent offensive teams in the nation, ranking 18th in scoring offense (36 points per game) while recording 456 yards per game (329 passing, 127 rushing). Alex Carder directs the offense by completing 67 percent of his passes for 3,434 yards and 28 touchdowns with 10 interceptions. The offensive line has given up 22 sacks.
Jordan White is the top receiving threat, ranking as one of the best in the country with 127 receptions (more than double any other player on the squad) for 1,646 yards and 16 touchdowns, while Tevin Drake leads the ground attack with 570 yards and four touchdowns with 5.6 yards per tote.
On defense, Western Michigan ranks 72nd in defense (28 ppg), allowing 434 yards per matchup (218 via the pass, 216 on the ground), compiling 26 sacks and enticing 27 turnovers – with one returned for a score (Doug Wiggins, interception).
Johnnie Simon leads the unit with 103 tackles (19 more than anyone else), adding 2.5 sacks and two interceptions, while Drew Nowak has 8.5 sacks, 83 tackles, two forced fumbles, two blocked kicks and a fumble recovery.
Purdue
The Boilermakers did not win more than one game at a time in 2011, but finished the regular season with a 33-25 win at intrastate rival Indiana to finish third in the Big Ten Leaders Division. Purdue is 1-4 away from home, dropping the first four dates outside of West Lafayette.
Purdue ranks 65th nationally in points allowed (26 ppg), surrendering 389 yards per game (203 passing, 186 rushing) while recording 21 sacks and forcing 14 turnovers – two of which converted to TDs (Brandon Taylor, fumble recovery; Ricardo Allen, interception).
Dwayne Beckford paces the unit with 91 stops, chipping in three sacks, a pick, a forced fumble and a recovery, while Joe Holland adds 85 tackles, 1.5 sacks and an interception. Kawann Short has 6.5 sacks, 53 stops, two forced fumbles and a recovery, while Allen has three interceptions along with 72 stops, a forced fumble and a blocked kick.
Offensively, Purdue rates 69th in the nation in offense (26 ppg), totaling 372 yards per contest (197 through the air, 175 via the run). Caleb TerBush has connected on 62 % of his throws for 1,804 yards and 12 touchdowns and six picks. The offensive line has allowed 27 sacks.
Justin Siller and A Edison are the top receiving targets with 88 combined receptions for 994 yards and four TDs, while Ralph Bolden leads the running game with 674 yards with six TDs on 4.6 yards per carry.
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Written by Anthony Moretti on December 23rd, 2011 with comments disabled.
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The Big 12 Conference and the ACC meet up on December 26th when Shreveport, Louisiana, serves as the venue of the AdvoCare V100 Independence Bowl, which showcases the Missouri Tigers and the North Carolina Tar Heels.
This will mark the 3rd meeting between Missouri and UNC. The Tigers won the first couple of games; notching a 27-14 road victory in 1973 and a 24-3 score in Columbia during the 1976 season.
According to the live Independence Bowl spread, the Tigers are favored by five points, while the over/under is listed at 52.5 points.
Missouri
The Tigers won their last three regular-season games to finish fifth in the Big 12 (5-4). Most recently, Missouri posted a 24-10 win over Kansas. The Tigers were 2-4 away from home in 2011, with three of those losses by seven points or fewer against bowl teams (Arizona State, Baylor, Kansas State).
The Tigers ranked 33rd nationally in offense (32 points per contest) while totaling 472 yards per contest (236 via the pass, 236 via the run). James Franklin hits on 63 % of his throws for 2,733 yards and 20 scores with 10 picks, and is second on the squad in the running game with 839 yards and 13 scores on 4.2 yards per tote.
When Franklin hands the ball off, the best rusher was Henry Josey (1,168 yards and nine scores on 8.1 ypc in 10 matchups), who was hurt at the end of the year and leaves Franklin the best healthy ball carrier. When Franklin drops back, his top pass catchers are T.J. Moe with 54 catches for 649 yards and four scores and Michael Egnew with 47 catches for 484 yards and three scores.
The Missouri defense ranks 44th nationally in points allowed (23 ppg), surrendering 382 yards per game (247 passing, 135 rushing) while recording 26 sacks and forcing 20 turnovers.
Andrew Wilson paces the defense with 89 stops, while Jacquies Smith has a team-high five sacks and four forced fumbles with 34 stops. Kenji Jackson has three picks, 71 stops and one sack, with Like Lambert adding three fumble recoveries, 74 stops and a pick.
E.J. Gaines has a punt return for a TD, and Trey Barrow averages 45 yards per punt.
North Carolina
North Carolina is another team (Arizona State, Southern Miss) that will be coached by someone who will not return next year, as Southern Miss’ Larry Fedora will take over the Tar Heels after this game. UNC finished fourth in the ACC’s Coastal Division (3-5) and enters this game 2-4 in its last six games after getting off to a 5-1 start. The Tar Heels are 1-4 away from home, with the lone win over East Carolina. However, three of its losses overall have come by seven points or fewer.
The Tar Heels rank 44th nationally in points allowed (23 points per game), surrendering 353 yards per game (237 passing, 106 rushing) while compiling 25 sacks and forcing 23 turnovers.
Zach Brown paces the defense with 91 stops (24 more than any other player) and three forced fumbles, chipping in 5.5 sacks, two picks and a fumble recovery, while Quinton Coples has 7.5 sacks, 51 stops, three forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. Tre Boston paces the squad with three interceptions and two fumble recoveries, chipping in 64 stops and a forced fumble.
Offensively, North Carolina ranks 57th in the nation in offense (28 ppg) while totaling 396 yards per contest (249 through the air, 147 running). Bryn Renner connects on 69 % of his throws for 2,769 yards and 27 touchdowns with 12 picks. The offensive line has given up 26 sacks.
Dwight Jones is the best pass catcher with 79 grabs (36 more than any other player) with 1,119 yards and 11 scores, while Giovani Bernard leads the rushing attack with 1,222 yards and 13 touchdowns on 5.4 yards per attempt.
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Written by Anthony Moretti on December 23rd, 2011 with comments disabled.
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This season’s Orange Bowl pits Clemson, ACC champions, against Big East champions West Virginia. While these conferences are quite close (geographically speaking), these two squads haven’t met on the football field in over twenty years.
When these two last met it was also in a bowl game, the 1989 Gator Bowl. Clemson won that matchup, 27-7.
The latest Orange Bowl odds show Clemson favored by 3.5 points, while the total has been posted at 60 points.
West Virginia
The Mountaineers won their final three games to earn a three-way share of the Big East title (5-2), earning the league’s automatic BCS bid into this game thanks to having the highest ranking in the BCS standings (No. 23). Their last three wins have come by a total of seven points. West Virginia managed a 4-1 record on the road this season, winning their last three as the visitor.
The Mountaineers are ranked 19th in the nation in points scored (35 points per game) while recording 460 yards per game (342 passing, 118 rushing).
Geno Smith has completed 65 percent of his passes for 3,978 yards and 25 touchdowns with seven interceptions, with the offensive line allowing 26 sacks. Tavon Austin is the top receiving threat with 89 catches for 1,063 yards and four TDs, with Stedman Bailey recording 67 grabs for 1,197 yards and 11 scores. Dustin Garrison heads up the running game with 742 yards and six TDs on 5.5 yards per carry.
Defensively, the Mountaineers rank 63rd in points allowed (26 ppg) and give up 341 yards per game (200 passing, 141 rushing) while recording 28 sacks and forcing 19 turnovers – with three returned for TDs (Terence Garvin and Pat Miller, interceptions; Julian Miller, fumble).
Najee Goode leads this unit with 84 total tackles with Darwin Cook adding 81 stops. Bruce Irvin has 7.5 sacks and two forced fumbles, Keith Tandy has three interceptions and Julian Miller has three fumble recoveries.
Clemson
The Tigers roared to an 8-0 start, then lost three of four down the stretch before rallying in the ACC Championship Game, winning the BCS bid into this game with a 38-10 win over Virginia Tech – their second lopsided victory over the Hokies in 2011. Clemson is 3-3 away from home this year, losing three of the last four such games.
Clemson enters the game ranked 27th in the nation in scoring offense (34 ppg) while recording 441 yards per game (285 passing, 156 rushing).
Tajh Boyd completes 60 percent of his passes for 3,578 yards and 35 TDs with 10 INTs, while the offensive line has given up 30 sacks. Sammy Watkins leads the receiving corps with 77 receptions for 1,153 yards and 11 TDs, while DeAndre Hopkins adds 62 grabs for 871 yards and four scores. Andre Ellington anchors the running game with 1,062 yards and 10 TDs on 5.0 yards per carry.
The Clemson defense ranks 62nd nationally in points allowed (26 ppg) and gives up 379 yards per game (203 passing, 176 rushing) while compiling 24 sacks and forcing 22 turnovers – two of which became scores (Kourtnei Brown, interception and fumble).
The defense is lead by Rashard Hall, with 81 total tackles and two fumble recoveries, while Andre Branch has 78 to go with 10.5 sacks. Jonathan Meeks has three interceptions and two recoveries and Stephone Anthony has two forced fumbles.
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Written by Anthony Moretti on December 21st, 2011 with comments disabled.
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The TicketCity Bowl is being held in Dallas, Texas, and it will welcome a Long Star State team to play. In fact, one of the potential BCS busters from the regular season will be facing one of the most storied programs in college football – one that has been recently disgraced.
Penn State, of the Big Ten Conference, will square off against regular-season Conference USA champion, Houston, in this season’s TicketCity Bowl.
These two schools have met twice all-time, with Penn State wining both meetings. They first met during the 1964 season, a 24-7 PSU win at Houston. In 1977, Penn State recorded a 31-14 home win over then-ninth-ranked Houston.
The lastest TicketCity Bowl odds show the Cougars favored by 5.5, while the total sits at 56.5 points.
Houston
The Cougars managed a perfect regular season, but were soundly defeated by Southern Miss in the conference championship, ending any hopes of reaching a BCS Bowl game. The team was 6-0 away from home this season and finished 8-1 when playing in the state of Texas.
Houston is one of the top offensive teams in the country, ranking first in scoring (51 points per game) and passing offense (444 yards per game) en route to averaging 599 yards of offense per outing (155 rushing). Case Keenum is the heart of the offense, completing 72 percent of his passes for 5,099 yards and 45 touchdowns with five interceptions.
The Houston offensive line has allowed 16 sacks this season. Tyron Carrier leads the receiving corps with 87 catches for 914 yards and five TDs, while Patrick Edwards has 79 grabs for 1,524 yards and 18 touchdowns and Justin Johnson adds 75 touches for 1,081 yards and 11 tallies. Charles Sims and Michael Hayes lead the running game with a combined 1,489 yards and 20 TDs on 62. yards per carry.
Defensively, the Cougars rank 41st in the nation in scoring defense (23 ppg) and allow 386 yards per contest (214 passing, 172 rushing) while racking up 29 sacks and forcing 28 turnovers – with three returned for scoress (Marcus McGraw, fumble; Derrick Mathews and D.J. Hayden, interceptions).
McGraw leads this defense with 131 tackles (34 more than anyone else), while Sammy Brown has 12.5 sacks. Phillip Steward has five interceptions to lead the team, and D.J. Hayden has fourced four fumbles.
Penn State
The Nittany Lions tied for the Leaders Division title in the Big Ten, but missed out on a spot in the conference title game when they were defeated 45-7 at division co-champ Wisconsin in the season finale. After a winning seven games in a row, PSU lost two of their last three in the wake of Joe Paterno’s release. Penn State is 4-1 away from home this season.
The Lions have posted some impressive defensive numbers, ranking fifth in points allowed (16 ppg) and surrendering 301 yards per game (162 passing, 139 rushing) while compiling 29 sacks and forcing 26 turnovers.
Gerald Hodges leads the defense with 97 tackles (20 more than any other player), adding 4.5 sacks, while Jack Crawford has a team-leading 6.5 sacks. Nick Sukay has three interceptions, Sean Stanley has three forced fumbles and Jordan Hill has recovered three fumbles.
On the other side of the ball, the Penn State offense ranks outside the top-100 in scoring offense (20 ppg) averaging only 345 yards per outing (180 passing, 165 rushing). Silas Redd leads the offense with 1,188 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on 5.2 yards per carry.
Quarterback Matt McGloin has connected with 54 percent of his passes for 1,571 yards and eight touchdowns with five picks. The offensive line has allowed their quarterback to be sacked a total of 12 times on the year.. Derek Moye leads the receiving corps with 40 grabs for 654 yards and three touchdowns, while Justin Brown has 34 catches for 448 yards and a TD.
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Written by Anthony Moretti on December 19th, 2011 with comments disabled.
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The 2011-12 college football bowl season begins in earnest Dec. 17, with Albuquerque, N.M., being the launch point for this festival with the Gildan New Mexico Bowl. This game features a pair of eight-win teams – Temple from the Mid-American Conference and Wyoming from the Mountain West.
These two squads have squared off just once previously on the football field; with Wyoming racking up a 38-23 victory in Laramie in the first game of the 1990 season for both squads. This is the Cowboys’s 13th bowl contest and second New Mexico contest in three seasons, while the Owls are making its fourth bowl contest ever and second in three seasons (2009 EagleBank Bowl).
Our most recent NCAA bowl game lines list the Owls as a 6.5-point chalk, while the over/under is listed at 47 points.
The Temple Owls
Temple ended up a stellar second in the MAC East Division this year, finishing just a single contest behind front-runner Ohio. The squad captured its last three contests and three of its four defeats this year were by a sum of 11 points (including 35-31 at Ohio and 14-10 versus Penn State). The Owls were 3-2 as a visitor this year, but hasn’t won a road contest since October 8 at Ball State (42-0).
The Owls rank a strong third nationally in scoring defense (14 points per game), allowing 316 yards per game (193 passing, 123 rushing), while recording 32 sacks and forcing 18 turnovers.
Stephen Johnson paces this under appreciated unit with 113 stops (42 more than anyone else on the team), adding three forced fumbles and two sacks. Adrian Robinson has a team-best six sacks to go with 47 stops and interception and a blocked kick, while Justin Gildea has three picks, 46 stops and three sacks. Tahir Whitehead has four forced fumbles, three recoveries, 59 stops and five sacks.
Offensively, Temple ranks 45th nationally in scoring (30 ppg) while compiling 380 yards per game (257 rushing, 123 passing). Bernard Pierce leads this dominant running game with 1,381 yards and 25 scores on 5.6 yards per carry, while Matt Brown adds 867 yards and five scores on 6.1 yards per tote.
Chester Stewart and Mike Gerardi have combined to complete 58 percent of their passes this season for 1,185 yards and five scores with four interceptions. The offensive line has given up 21 sacks. The top receiving threats for Temple are Evan Rodriguez and Joe Jones with a combined 60 catches for 7233 yards and five scores.
The Wyoming Cowboys
The Cowboys won three of their last four games, including a season-ending 22-19 win at Colorado State. Three of the four losses this season came against current BCS top-25 teams (Nebraska, TCU and Boise State) but they finished third in the Mountain West at 5-2. Wyoming is 4-2 away from home this season.
The Cowboy offense ranks 60th nationally in scoring (27 ppg) while compiling 399 yards per game (214 passing, 185 rushing). Brett Smith leads this offense by completing 60 percent of his passes for 2,495 yards and 18 scores with eight INTs. The offensive line has allowed just 11 sacks.
Five players have 32 or more grabs, paced by Chris McNeill with 42 catches for 504 yards and four touchdowns and Robert Herron with 40 grabs for 348 yards and three touchdowns. The running contest is led by Al Alexander with 678 yards and six touchdowns on 4.7 yards per attempt, while Smith has 645 yards and 10 touchdowns on 5.2 yards per attempt.
Defensively, Wyoming ranks just 66th nationally in points allowed (27 ppg) , surrendering 432 yards per game (230 rushing, 202 passing) while recording 22 sacks and forcing 31 turnovers – four of which were converted to TDs (Marqueston Huff and James Caraway, three fumbles; Luke Anderson, interception).
Luke Ruff paces the defense with 97 stops, adding a forced fumble and a recovery, while Brian Hendricks contributed 92 tackles with two forced fumbles, a sack and a fumble recovery. Gabe Knapton has 6.5 sacks, 74 stops, two fumble recoveries and a blocked kick, while Blair Burns has four picks, 48 stops and a fumble recovery. Josh Biezuns adds five forced fumbles, 60 stops, five sacks and two fumble recoveries.
If you desire overviews on other contests then visit our bowl game predictions page at BetFirms. We analyze every single school in order to give you the information you need to make winning college football bowl picks this season.
Written by Anthony Moretti on December 19th, 2011 with comments disabled.
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St. Petersburg will be the venue for a Florida university during football postseason this season. One of the youngest football programs in the nation (began in 2002) will be venturing upstate from its home in Miami to compete in its first-ever postseason contest.
FIU (Florida International) of the Sun Belt Conference will make its postseason debut December 20 in St. Pete when it takes on Marshall of Conference USA in the Beef ‘O’ Brady’s Bowl.
This will be the first-ever meeting between the schools.
The latest college bowl odds list FIU as a 4-point favorite, while the total sits at 48.5 points.
Florida International
The Golden Panthers have been building their program over the last decade and it has culminated with the program’s first bowl appearance. FIU is riding a three-game win streak and is coming off a 31-18 road win over Middle Tennessee to finish fourth in the Sun Belt (5-3). Three of the Panthers’ four losses have been by a total of 10 points. FIU is just 3-2 in its home state this year while recording a 4-2 mark away from its home field in Miami.
FIU ranks well defensively, listing 16th nationally in points allowed (19 points per game) and surrendering 348 yards per game (227 passing, 121 rushing) while recording 34 sacks and forcing 19 turnovers – with three of them returned for a TD (Jonathan Cyprien and Winston Fraser, interceptions; Isame Faciane, fumble).
Fraser leads the team with 107 total tackles (33 more than anyone else), adding four sacks, an interception and a forced fumble. Greg Hickman has five sacks, 33 tackles, an interception and a forced fumble while Sam Miller and Richard Leonard have two interceptions each and combined for 98 tackles, three sacks, two fumble recoveries and a forced fumble.
On offense, Florida International rates 67th in the country in points (26 ppg) while gaining 370 yards per contest (219 in the air, 151 on the ground). Wes Carroll has connected on 60 % of his attempts for 2,224 yards and 14 scores with four picks, while the offensive line has given up 13 sacks.
T.Y. Hilton is the top receiving threat with 64 receptions for 950 yards and seven TDs, while Kedrick Rhodes anchors the running game with 1,121 yards and eight TDs on 5.0 yards per carry.
Marshall
The Thundering Herd started 1-3, but won three of its last four games to become bowl-eligible and finish second in the East Division of Conference USA (5-3). They were only behind eventual league champ Southern Miss (5-2), which Marshall beat early in the season (26-20). Most recently, Marshall posted a 34-27 overtime win at home over East Carolina to finish 4-1 at home (the lone loss to Virginia Tech). MU was 2-5 away from home.
Marshall ranks 84th in the country in scoring defense (30 ppg), allows 418 yards per contest (263 in the air, 155 on the ground) while totaling 25 sacks and earning 28 turnovers – three of which converted to scores (Billy Michell and Rashad Jackson, fumbles; Omar Brown, pick).
Brown leads the unit with 107 total tackles (15 more than anyone else) and four interceptions while adding three forced fumbles. Vinny Curry has a team-best 11 sacks and six forced fumbles while compiling 72 tackles, three blocked kicks, a fumble recovery and a safety. George Carpenter has three fumble recoveries, 91 tackles, four sacks and two forced fumbles.
Marshall ranks just 98th in the nation in points (22 ppg) while totaling 335 yards per contest (212 through the air, 1234 via the run). Rakeem Cato has connected on 59 % of his throws for 1,833 yards and 13 touchdowns with 10 interceptions, while the offensive line has allowed 26 sacks.
Aaron Dobson paces the pass catchers with 42 grabs for 587 yards and 10 touchdowns, while Tron Martinez and Travon Van anchor the rushing attack with a combined 1,120 yards and six touchdowns on 4.1 yards per attempt.
If you want previews on any other game check out the college bowl predictions at BetFirms. We preview each matchup so you have plenty of information to make your college bowl picks this season.
Written by Anthony Moretti on December 17th, 2011 with comments disabled.
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Written by Everett O Echeverri on December 10th, 2011 with comments disabled.
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