Do we really need 34 bowl games, not really. But do we need a bunch of worthless apps on our cell phones or what about all the waste on Direct TV, how many of those channels go unused? The bowl season is blast because you can watch whatever you want, whenever you want. And for the sports bettor its Christmas every day, with games packed into watchable segments. These 20 days of college football reminds me of the Travel Channel’s Man vs. Food and if you stomach all 34 games, man wins!
New Mexico Bowl
Wyoming vs. Fresno State
University Stadium – Albuquerque, NM
4:30E ESPN
The best aspect of playing the very first game of the college football bowl season is you don’t have a long layoff from the end of your last game and you can be home for the holidays. The first contest also ends up being the center of attention for the crazy people that watch every bowl game (guilty as charged) and those that feel compelled to not be very selective and wager on all 34 games because of how they are spread out.
By extremely subjective means, this bowl rates the 27th best to watch. It starts with
Fresno State (8-4, 7-4-1 ATS) who has strong characteristics to take in this bowl game. They have a star player in junior running back Ryan Mathews, who led the nation in rushing at 151.3.
The Bulldogs ranked 19th in total offense at 435.9 yards per game and 15th in scoring at 34.3 points per game. Though some might question Fresno State’s resolve with repeat appearance in Albuquerque, coach Pat Hill will have none of that talk. “This game and this experience will be good for the development of our team and program as we build toward the future,” Hill told the Fresno Bee.
Since Hill has been at FSU, he’s always been an “us against them” coach and losing last year to another Mountain West team (40-35 to Colorado State) just adds incentive. The Bulldogs are notorious bad bets and after nipping Illinois at the wire 53-52 in Champaign, they are 2-11 ATS after allowing 50 points or more in last game. On the season they are 1-4 SU against fellow bowlers with three covers.
Wyoming (6-6, 8-3 ATS) isn’t a very good team, however they dressed up rather nicely for bettors with superior spread record. First year coach Dave Christensen made a lot of changes, but the most important was the turnover margin. Last season’s 4-8 team was -22, this year a complete alternation to +7. On the year Wyoming is 5-0 and 4-0 ATS when they scored 29 or more points and were 0-5 and 2-3 ATS when they totaled 10 or few points. (Shutout three times)
The Cowboys are 2-10 ATS when playing against a team with a winning record over the last three seasons and will have to match points to stay in the game with Fresno State who allows 27.2 PPG. Wyoming is 1-5 and 4-2 ATS against bowl teams this season.
These teams used to meet annually when they played in the WAC together until 1997. Fresno State is 10-8 SU and 6-6 ATS in bowls and is 0-5 ATS as a favorite. Wyoming is 5-6 and 3-3 ATS in bowl assignments and has not been favored in last six. The underdog has won and covered two of three New Mexico Bowls.
Bookmaker.com has Fresno State 10.5-point favorite with total of 55.
3DW Line – Fresno State by 12
St. Petersburg Bowl
Central Florida vs. Rutgers
Tropicana Field – St. Petersburg, FL
8:00E ESPN
Later on the first night of bowling, this bowl matchup comes in at 28th which might sound a little low; given both teams have pretty solid records. What this matchup lacks is sex appeal, kind of like looking for Elin Nordegren and winding up with Mindy Lawton. (Cheap Tiger shot, but fitting) Both Central Florida and Rutgers were 8-4 on the season and each is known for above average defenses and inconsistent offenses.
UCF (9-2 ATS) has to make the relatively short journey down I-4 from Orlando and coach George O’Leary relishes the opportunity. “We are thrilled to have this opportunity to play so close to our fans in St. Petersburg,” O’Leary said. “It will be great to have a large fan base behind us as we go for our ninth victory against a quality team from the Big East Conference. It is a great opportunity and one that I know our players wanted.”
The Knights strength is defense. Central Florida is fifth nationally in sacks, averaging 3.1 per game and registered 7.6 tackles for loss (11th overall). Of the 120 teams in the FBS, they were fourth in stopping the run at 82.5 yards per game against teams that averaged 146 YPG. UCF is 6-0 ATS after one or more consecutive SU wins and since last year.
Rutgers (5-7 ATS) probably ended up where they belonged, yet the season had a tinge of disappointment. The offense and defense dismantled weaker competition save Syracuse, but the Scarlet Knights were 0-3 SU and ATS against the best three teams from the Big East, being outscored 95-53. The offensive line was supposed to be the strong suit of Rutgers, however they have been irresolute, which comprised quarterback Tom Savage’s freshman campaign. With Central Florida’s ability to make plays up the field, the O-Line will have to step. The Scarlet Knights lost their last game to West Virginia and is 26-12 ATS off a loss against a conference rival.
The Knights from Florida are 2-4 and 4-2 ATS against bowl squads in 2009. The Knights from New Jersey are 2-3 SU and ATS vs. teams playing in the postseason. This is Central Florida’s third bowl contest and they have yet to post a victory (1-1 ATS). This is Rutgers fifth consecutive bowl and they are 3-2 SU and ATS all-time.
Bookmaker.com has Rutgers favored by 2.5 with total of 44.
3DW Line – Rutgers by 6
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