Brett Ludwiczak
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The best of the college football bowl season bets, odds. College Football Playoff, Fiesta Bowl, and more
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
The New Year's Six is here. Not only do we send 2015 out in style, but we do the same to ring in 2016.
Still three games of bowl games left. If you missed the rest of the non-New Year's Six bowl picks you can find them here.
Bowl season ATS: 9-9 (8-7 National, 1-2 B1G)
Season ATS: 103-99-3 (48-46-2 National, 55-53-1 B1G)
Peach Bowl: #18 Houston v. #9 Florida State (-7) - Thursday 12:00 p.m. - ESPN
Tom Herman probably couldn't have imagined a better start at Houston. The only blemish on Houston's record came in November when they lost 20-17 at UConn. Herman has found himself a star in quarterback Greg Ward Jr. The junior threw for 16 touchdowns and also ran for 1,041 yards and 19 touchdowns. A win here would give the Cougars 13 wins for the second time in school history.
Imagine how many losses Florida State might have had if they didn't have the defense they had. The Seminoles held all their opponents this season to 24 points or less, which is the first time a team has done that since Alabama did so in 2011. Another reason Florida State is ranked ninth in the country is because of Dalvin Cook. The electric running back ran for 1,658 yards and 18 touchdowns this year. Houston has a stingy rushing defense, but they'll definitely be tested by Cook. A touchdown here seems like a lot, give me the points.
Florida State 27 Houston 23
Rose Bowl: #6 Stanford (-6) v. #5 Iowa - Friday 5:00 p.m. - ESPN
I don't know why, but I always like when Stanford makes it to the Rose Bowl. Use they give whoever they are playing from the Big Ten a tough contest. Lately the Cardinal have taken on Wisconsin and Michigan State, and now they can Iowa to that list. Add in seeing Christian McCaffrey try to find room against this tough Iowa defense has me ready to watch "The Granddaddy of Them All." McCaffrey has only broke Barry Sanders' NCAA record for all-purpose yards in a season, accounting for 3,496 yards, with 1,847 of those being rushing yards.
Iowa isn't going to do anything too fancy, they are just going to play balanced football and grind you to death. Jordan Canzeri sprained his ankle in the Big Ten Championship Game, but it sounds like he's good to go. The Hawkeyes are looking for their first Rose Bowl since 1959, when they defeated California. I really want to pick Stanford in this one, but for some reason I'm thinking Iowa keeps it within a field goal.
Stanford 23 Iowa 20
Sugar Bowl: #16 Oklahoma State v. #13 Ole Miss (-7) - Friday 8:30 p.m. - ESPN
I think by this time on Friday night I'll be in a football coma after all the football action Thursday and before this on Friday. Mike Gundy's Oklahoma State team had quite a year, especially after I said for most of the year I didn't think they were that good. I'm not sure what to expect out of the Cowboys here since there are questions about how much Mason Rudolph will be available, a month after injuring his foot against Oklahoma. At least the Cowboys still have defensive lineman Emmanuel Ogbah, who has 13 sacks on the season.
Not a good start to the bowl season for Ole Miss, as star defensive lineman Robert Nkemdiche was suspended following an incident at an Atlanta hotel. Chad Kelly had a very impressive season in his first year with the Rebels, throwing for 3,740 yards and 27 touchdowns. This seems like it'll be the last time we'll see Laquon Treadwell in an Ole Miss uniform, since it seems like he'll go high in the NFL Draft. I'm not crazy about laying so many points here, but Ole Miss wins their first Sugar Bowl since 1970 by double-digits.
Ole Miss 38 Oklahoma State 24
Orange Bowl Semifinal: #4 Oklahoma (-4) v. #1 Clemson - Thursday 4:00 p.m. - ESPN
What a difference a year makes for these teams. Last year they were playing in the Russell Athletic Bowl, where Clemson crushed Oklahoma 40-6. Things are a little different, since Deshaun Watson didn't play because of injury and Baker Mayfield was sitting out due to his transfer from Texas Tech. This Oklahoma offense is the most dynamic Clemson has seen this year, with Mayfield, running backs Samaje Perine and Joe Mixon, along with wide receiver Sterling Shepard.
Watson has done it all for the Tigers this year, throwing for 3,512 yards and 30 touchdowns, and rushing for 887 yards and 11 touchdowns. Quietly Wayne Gallman has rushed for 1,332 yards, which is 14 shy of the Clemson single-season record. How blessed are we to get "Big Game Bob" and Dabo in a playoff game? What can possibly go wrong? I like how explosive this Oklahoma team is, but I keep seeing Clemson winning a close game.
Clemson 33 Oklahoma 30
Cotton Bowl Semifinal: #3 Michigan State v. #2 Alabama (-10) - Thursday 8:00 p.m. - ESPN
Hoo boy, this game is going to have some hitting in it. What a better way to cap off 2015 than by watching this slugfest for a chance to advance to the College Football Playoff Final? Michigan State looked to be out of it when they lost 39-38 at Nebraska, but the Spartans rebounded to beat Ohio State, and squeaked by Iowa in the Big Ten Championship Game. Freshman LJ Scott has made a name for himself with his tough running, but he's going up against an insanely tough Alabama defense. It'll be interesting to see if Connor Cook will be able to find his favorite target, wide receiver Aaron Burbridge.
Everybody knows what the Alabama offense is going to throw at them, and they still can't stop it. Derrick Henry, Derrick Henry, and more Derrick Henry. In the last two games the Heisman Trophy winner has 90 carries in wins over Auburn and Florida. Henry has rushed for over 100 yards in nine games, and topped 200 yards in four games. Michigan State better hope they don't have any "SPARTY, NO!" moments, because Alabama has a number of defensive touchdowns on the year. I think this might be just a few too many points for Alabama to be laying here. Michigan State hangs around but in the end loses by a touchdown.
Alabama 27 Michigan State 20
Fiesta Bowl: #8 Notre Dame v. #7 Ohio State (-6.5) - Friday 1:00 p.m. - ESPN
This is just the sixth time Notre Dame and Ohio State have met, with the last three meeting coming when both teams were ranked in the Top 10. The last time they squared off was in the 2006 Fiesta Bowl, where Ohio State won 34-20. DeShone Kizer is show Ohio State what they're missing, since the Buckeyes didn't show the quarterback from Toledo much attention in the recruiting process. The Fighting Irish's secondary has been depleted by injuries and a suspension, which could slow their usually stout defense.
Ohio State took little time to rebound for their loss to Michigan State, having little trouble beating Michigan in "The Game" just a week later. Many Buckeyes will likely be donning the scarlet and gray for the last time, as Ezekiel Elliott has already declared for the NFL Draft, and players like Joey Bosa, Michael Thomas, and Darron Lee could follow. I could see Thomas having a big game with the issues the Notre Dame secondary has going on. The Buckeyes have their own issues with seniors Adolphus Washington and Tommy Schutt both out for this game.
With all the future pro talent we'll see in the Fiesta Bowl, I'm expecting a back-and-forth contest. I think in the end Ohio State has just a little too much talent, and pulls away from the Fighting Irish. Urban Meyer got his offense back to doing what they do best against Michigan. Meyer's record is unbelievable when he has more than a week to prepare for a game, so he'll have Ohio State ready to go. The Buckeyes ring in the new year with a 10-point win over Notre Dame.
Ohio State 34 Notre Dame 24
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Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
The New Year's Six is here. Not only do we send 2015 out in style, but we do the same to ring in 2016.
Still three games of bowl games left. If you missed the rest of the non-New Year's Six bowl picks you can find them here.
Bowl season ATS: 9-9 (8-7 National, 1-2 B1G)
Season ATS: 103-99-3 (48-46-2 National, 55-53-1 B1G)
Peach Bowl: #18 Houston v. #9 Florida State (-7) - Thursday 12:00 p.m. - ESPN
Tom Herman probably couldn't have imagined a better start at Houston. The only blemish on Houston's record came in November when they lost 20-17 at UConn. Herman has found himself a star in quarterback Greg Ward Jr. The junior threw for 16 touchdowns and also ran for 1,041 yards and 19 touchdowns. A win here would give the Cougars 13 wins for the second time in school history.
Imagine how many losses Florida State might have had if they didn't have the defense they had. The Seminoles held all their opponents this season to 24 points or less, which is the first time a team has done that since Alabama did so in 2011. Another reason Florida State is ranked ninth in the country is because of Dalvin Cook. The electric running back ran for 1,658 yards and 18 touchdowns this year. Houston has a stingy rushing defense, but they'll definitely be tested by Cook. A touchdown here seems like a lot, give me the points.
Florida State 27 Houston 23
Rose Bowl: #6 Stanford (-6) v. #5 Iowa - Friday 5:00 p.m. - ESPN
I don't know why, but I always like when Stanford makes it to the Rose Bowl. Use they give whoever they are playing from the Big Ten a tough contest. Lately the Cardinal have taken on Wisconsin and Michigan State, and now they can Iowa to that list. Add in seeing Christian McCaffrey try to find room against this tough Iowa defense has me ready to watch "The Granddaddy of Them All." McCaffrey has only broke Barry Sanders' NCAA record for all-purpose yards in a season, accounting for 3,496 yards, with 1,847 of those being rushing yards.
Iowa isn't going to do anything too fancy, they are just going to play balanced football and grind you to death. Jordan Canzeri sprained his ankle in the Big Ten Championship Game, but it sounds like he's good to go. The Hawkeyes are looking for their first Rose Bowl since 1959, when they defeated California. I really want to pick Stanford in this one, but for some reason I'm thinking Iowa keeps it within a field goal.
Stanford 23 Iowa 20
Sugar Bowl: #16 Oklahoma State v. #13 Ole Miss (-7) - Friday 8:30 p.m. - ESPN
I think by this time on Friday night I'll be in a football coma after all the football action Thursday and before this on Friday. Mike Gundy's Oklahoma State team had quite a year, especially after I said for most of the year I didn't think they were that good. I'm not sure what to expect out of the Cowboys here since there are questions about how much Mason Rudolph will be available, a month after injuring his foot against Oklahoma. At least the Cowboys still have defensive lineman Emmanuel Ogbah, who has 13 sacks on the season.
Not a good start to the bowl season for Ole Miss, as star defensive lineman Robert Nkemdiche was suspended following an incident at an Atlanta hotel. Chad Kelly had a very impressive season in his first year with the Rebels, throwing for 3,740 yards and 27 touchdowns. This seems like it'll be the last time we'll see Laquon Treadwell in an Ole Miss uniform, since it seems like he'll go high in the NFL Draft. I'm not crazy about laying so many points here, but Ole Miss wins their first Sugar Bowl since 1970 by double-digits.
Ole Miss 38 Oklahoma State 24
Orange Bowl Semifinal: #4 Oklahoma (-4) v. #1 Clemson - Thursday 4:00 p.m. - ESPN
What a difference a year makes for these teams. Last year they were playing in the Russell Athletic Bowl, where Clemson crushed Oklahoma 40-6. Things are a little different, since Deshaun Watson didn't play because of injury and Baker Mayfield was sitting out due to his transfer from Texas Tech. This Oklahoma offense is the most dynamic Clemson has seen this year, with Mayfield, running backs Samaje Perine and Joe Mixon, along with wide receiver Sterling Shepard.
Watson has done it all for the Tigers this year, throwing for 3,512 yards and 30 touchdowns, and rushing for 887 yards and 11 touchdowns. Quietly Wayne Gallman has rushed for 1,332 yards, which is 14 shy of the Clemson single-season record. How blessed are we to get "Big Game Bob" and Dabo in a playoff game? What can possibly go wrong? I like how explosive this Oklahoma team is, but I keep seeing Clemson winning a close game.
Clemson 33 Oklahoma 30
Cotton Bowl Semifinal: #3 Michigan State v. #2 Alabama (-10) - Thursday 8:00 p.m. - ESPN
Hoo boy, this game is going to have some hitting in it. What a better way to cap off 2015 than by watching this slugfest for a chance to advance to the College Football Playoff Final? Michigan State looked to be out of it when they lost 39-38 at Nebraska, but the Spartans rebounded to beat Ohio State, and squeaked by Iowa in the Big Ten Championship Game. Freshman LJ Scott has made a name for himself with his tough running, but he's going up against an insanely tough Alabama defense. It'll be interesting to see if Connor Cook will be able to find his favorite target, wide receiver Aaron Burbridge.
Everybody knows what the Alabama offense is going to throw at them, and they still can't stop it. Derrick Henry, Derrick Henry, and more Derrick Henry. In the last two games the Heisman Trophy winner has 90 carries in wins over Auburn and Florida. Henry has rushed for over 100 yards in nine games, and topped 200 yards in four games. Michigan State better hope they don't have any "SPARTY, NO!" moments, because Alabama has a number of defensive touchdowns on the year. I think this might be just a few too many points for Alabama to be laying here. Michigan State hangs around but in the end loses by a touchdown.
Alabama 27 Michigan State 20
Fiesta Bowl: #8 Notre Dame v. #7 Ohio State (-6.5) - Friday 1:00 p.m. - ESPN
This is just the sixth time Notre Dame and Ohio State have met, with the last three meeting coming when both teams were ranked in the Top 10. The last time they squared off was in the 2006 Fiesta Bowl, where Ohio State won 34-20. DeShone Kizer is show Ohio State what they're missing, since the Buckeyes didn't show the quarterback from Toledo much attention in the recruiting process. The Fighting Irish's secondary has been depleted by injuries and a suspension, which could slow their usually stout defense.
Ohio State took little time to rebound for their loss to Michigan State, having little trouble beating Michigan in "The Game" just a week later. Many Buckeyes will likely be donning the scarlet and gray for the last time, as Ezekiel Elliott has already declared for the NFL Draft, and players like Joey Bosa, Michael Thomas, and Darron Lee could follow. I could see Thomas having a big game with the issues the Notre Dame secondary has going on. The Buckeyes have their own issues with seniors Adolphus Washington and Tommy Schutt both out for this game.
With all the future pro talent we'll see in the Fiesta Bowl, I'm expecting a back-and-forth contest. I think in the end Ohio State has just a little too much talent, and pulls away from the Fighting Irish. Urban Meyer got his offense back to doing what they do best against Michigan. Meyer's record is unbelievable when he has more than a week to prepare for a game, so he'll have Ohio State ready to go. The Buckeyes ring in the new year with a 10-point win over Notre Dame.
Ohio State 34 Notre Dame 24
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