Georgia and Virginia Tech both have very stingy defenses in this heavyweight title. Virginia Tech leads the country in scoring defense allowing 9.3 points per game and the Bulldogs have the ninth best total defense in teh country. I don’t think this is a good matchup for Georgia since they have struggled offensively this year and has a freshman quarterba ck in Matthew Stafford. starting in the Peach Bowl. That’s generally not a good recipe for facing the best total defense in the country. Virginia Tech should win this game by at least a touchdown.

The big question mark is Colt McCoy’s status due to a pinched nerve in his neck. I really feel if he is even 80% the Longhorns will walk all over the Iowa Hawkeyes. Kirk Ferentz is a good coach, but his Hawkeyes limp into this game losing five of their last six games and under performing all year. That being said if walk-on Matt McCoy (not kidding he has the same last name) must start for Texas then you should see a more competitive game.

This bowl game located in Charlotte, NC offers up two teams with coaching limbo. Tom O’Brien the former head coach of Boston College recently accepted the head coaching job with NC State and will not lead the Eagles today. Navy’s coach Paul Johnson seems to be mentioned each time a job opening comes about because of all the success he has had with Georgia Southern and now Navy. Even with all these distractions I expect this to be a really fun bowl game to watch. Matt Ryan the quarterback for Boston College is extremely talented and Navy’s rushing attack is extremely explosive. I think the scoreboard will get a work out and Navy will give BC all they want and more.

I certainly haven’t been good on my bowl summaries today so for the final three games of the day I am only going to say who his playing. 🙂 No run down on stats or players and I’m definitely not going to pick the spread. I will be back at it tomorrow so keep checking back with the Underground.

Liberty Bowl – Houston vs South Carolina

Insight Bowl – Texas Tech vs Minnesota

Champs Sports Bowl – Purdue vs Maryland

The Oregon State Beavers won seven of its last eight games and knocked off USC and Oregon during the streak. Missouri lost three of its last four games and struggled to score in those losses. These two pieces of information should be all you really need to know about this game in my opinion. I don’t think this game will be close and could be a snoozer by halftime.

Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl has one of the best names of all college bowl games. It also has the potential to be one of the higher scoring bowl games of the holiday season. The Clemson Tigers have the 15th best offense in the country while Kentucky is ranked 31st. They key to this game will be if Clemson takes advantage of one of the most talented backfields in the nation. If they establish a solid ground game I do not think Kentucky stands a chance. James Davis and freshman C.J. Spiller are the two explosive backs for Clemson and are a joy to watch.

We are getting closer everyday to the big games, but the slate today holds some legitimate contenders. I am going to make things short and sweet because it’s still the holidays and there simply isn’t enough time. Good luck if you are a gambler and if not then enjoy what should be some of the better college bowl games so far this year.

Oklahoma State covers -2.5 against Alabama in the Independence Bowl simply because of the the chaos in Birmingham these days.

Rutgers -9 against Kansas State in the new Texas Bowl is really interesting. Will Rutgers face a let down for not making a BCS or will they step up? I think that is the big question in a game where the Scarlet Knights are favored by nine points. I have to think Schiano will have them prepared, but Kansas State covers.

In the Holiday Bowl California covers -3 against Texas A&M.

Well, I dropped the ball again yesterday being that I didn’t provide a run down for the Motor City Bowl. I can’t even blame egg nog overdose for this latest mishap. 🙁 I will do my best to not let it happen again, but you will forgive me if I do it again, right?

Ok, let’s get to the real heart of the matter. UCLA has covered their last four games to improve to 8-3-1 ATS this season. In games played on grass, UCLA is 8-2 ATS this season. The Bruins’ defense has been especially hot, holding their last three opponents to 9.3 PPG. FSU has only covered twice in their last six games. FSU’s running game has been almost non-existent as of late. Over the last three games they have averaged just 48.3 RYPG. This isn’t good news for FSU bettors, as the UCLA “D” gives up less than 90 RYPG. Unless Florida State can become a diamond in the rough the Bruins should win this bowl easily.

Hawaii covers -7 against Arizona State in Hawaii Bowl. If you are feeling a nice buzz from the egg nog this evening then also take the over 71.5. 😉

OVERALL RECORD:

College Basketball 13-4-1

College Football: 7-8

NFL 8-3-1

NBA 1-1

Aloha Arizona State and Hawaii today in the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl. Arizona State limps into the Hawaii Bowl at 7-5 and playing their final game with coach Dirk Koetter. Quarterback Colt Brennan leads the high impact Hawaii offense and will one day be a quarterback in the NFL. Hawaii has the #1 offense in college football averaging 560 yards a game. I totally expect complete domination tonight by Hawaii since this is like a home game for Hawaii and Arizona State is down this year.