Archive for December, 2015

Camellia Bowl – Ohio Bobcats (+7.5) versus Appalachian State Mountaineers

Posted: December 17, 2015 in College football, Football
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camellia bowl

This is the first all-time meeting between these schools and just the second Camellia Bowl. This game is played at the historic Cramton Bowl, which is best known as the site of the Blue-Grey Football Classic, played every year from 1938-2001. This is Appalachian State’s first ever bowl game after joining the FBS last year. Head coach Scott Satterfield will also be coaching in his first bowl game. Ohio missed out on a bowl last year after going for five straight years. Head coach Frank Solich is 2-4 SU/ATS in bowls at Ohio and was 3-3 SU/ATS in bowl games at Nebraska.

Appalachian State entered the season off six straight wins to close out last year and had an amazing 20 returning starters. They held undefeated Clemson to their second lowest yards total of the season in their expected loss, then reeled off six straight wins before falling to eventual SBC champ Arkansas State. The Mountaineers then closed the regular season with three straight wins. On the season they held five of their opponents to either their lowest or second lowest yards total and finished No. 15 in the FBS holding their foes to 75 yards per game less then their season average. Offensively they average 471 yards per game, including 269 (5.8) rushing yards per game and were sacked just nine times all season (3.4%)!

It’s been a season of streaks for Ohio, as they’ve won three straight twice and lost three straight once. They entered the season a serious contender for the MAC East title after returning 18 starters, which matched the most here under Solich. It wouldn’t be a complete season if Ohio didn’t have injuries and that happened again as quarterback Derrius Vick has missed the last two games (questionable and they had to move last years leading rusher AJ Ouellette to the defense to start a game at linebacker. They finished the regular season on a three game winning streak and over their last four games have averaged 499 yards per game, including 299 (5.5) rushing yards per game! Defensive back Ian Wells is their lone player to make either first or second team All-Conference honors.

Ohio was playing its best ball down the stretch and will be motivated by being more then a touchdown ‘dog here. The Bobcats have a large edge on special teams, while Appalachian State should have the crowd edge (sold out their initial allotment of tickets). The Mountaineers were plus 77 yards per game versus bowl teams (Ohio was minus 46 yards per game), but the Bobcats upset Marshall, only lost to Minnesota by three, and knocked Northern Illinois out of the MAC Title game.

Las Vegas Bowl – Utah Utes (-2.5) vs BYU Cougars

Posted: December 17, 2015 in College football, Football
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The Holy War rivalry continues as these schools met every year from 1922-2013 with Utah leading the overall series 54-31-4. Utah has won five of the last six SU, including the last meeting, 20-13 (+6.5) and covered eight of the last ten. This is BYU’s sixth appearance in this bowl (3-2 SU/ATS) but first since 2009. Utah beat Colorado State, 45-10 (-2.5) in this bowl last year and is making their fifth overall appearance (3-1 SU/2-2 ATS). Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham is 7-1 SU/6-2 ATS in bowls, while BYU head coach Rocky Mendenhall accepted the head coaching gig at Virginia, but will coach the bowl gm & is 6-4 SU/ATS in those. In head-to-head meetings, Whittingham is 6-3 SU/7-2 ATS.

After three straight 8-5 seasons, a win here would give BYU double-digit wins for the first time since 2011. The Cougars had just five returning starters on defense as they lost five of their top seven tacklers, but Mendenhall showed how valuable he was as they enter with an above average unit. They went 2-2 to open the season despite playing Nebraska, Boise, UCLA, and Michigan (three on the road & ‘dogs in all four) & losing starting quarterback Taysom Hill and starting running back Jamaal Williams. The Cougars then rolled off seven wins in eight games with their lone loss coming in Kansas City versus Missouri.

Utah entered the season full of hope as they had 14 returning starters and five conference home games. This was their best team since joining the P-12 and they were 6-0 and ranked No. 3 before losing at USC. The Utes then won back-to-back games, but closed the season losing two of three. They placed a total of seven players on the first or second All-Conference team with five coming on defense/special teams. A win here would give them a double-digit win season for the first time since 2010, which would also be the first time since joining the P-12 as they finished tied with USC for first place in the South.

BYU was upset that Utah ended the series, but both teams want to win this game badly. BYU was plus 70 yards per game on the season, while Utah was plus 12 yards per game, but versus a tougher schedule. BYU has an edge on offense with Utah running back Devontae Booker out (knee), but the Utes have the edge on defense and special teams. Bookers replacement is Joseph Williams, who’s rushed for over 100 yards in two straight games, was a second team Junior college All-American last year, and has 4.38 speed.

New Mexico Bowl – New Mexico Lobos (+8.5) vs Arizona Wildcats

Posted: December 17, 2015 in College football, Football
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new mexico bowl

These schools have a long history that dates back to 1908. Arizona leads the all-time series 43-20-3. The last meeting was in 2008, a 36-28 (+10.5) New Mexico home win. They met in the Insight.com bowl in 1997, with Arizona winning 20-14 (-9.5). New Mexico has played in this bowl twice, losing to San Jose State 20-12 (-3) in 2006 and beating Nevada 23-0 (-2.5) in 2007, while Arizona won their lone appearance in the bowl 49-48 (-8.5) over Nevada. Arizona head coach Rich Rodriguez is 2-1 SU/1-2 ATS in bowl games with the Wildcats and was 2-4 SU/1-5 ATS in bowl games at Michigan and West Virginia. This is New Mexico head coach Bob Davie’s first bowl with the Lobos and he was 0-3 SU/ATS at Notre Dame. The two head coaches have one prior meeting in 2001 when Rodriguez was at West Virginia and Davie at Notre Dame with the Fighting Irish winning 34-24 (-12).

New Mexico has assured itself of its first winning season since 2007. Fourth year head coach Davie had to do a major rebuild when he took over a team that finished 1-11 in back-to-back-to-back seasons. New Mexico suffered a lot of attrition last year, but entered this season with 14 returning starters. After starting 3-2, including a win over rival New Mexico State, the Lobos dropped two of three heading into their bye week. Regrouped, they won three of their last 4, despite being the ‘dog in all four, with all three wins as double digit ‘dogs, including beating Boise on the “Blue” as 31 point ‘dogs!

Arizona won the Pac- 12 South last year, but only returned 13 starters this year, including just six senior starters. Things worsened when All-American linebacker Scooby Wright was injured (played just two games) and quarterback Anu Solomon missed two full games, including the Territorial Cup loss (concussion). They had five Pac-12 road games, losing four and played 12 straight weeks. After starting 5-2, the Wildcats then dropped four of their last five, with their lone win in that span an upset over Utah in double overtime.

Arizona has faced the much tougher schedule and has more talent. They are missing three of their top four linebackers from the start of the year, but Wright will play here. Even though New Mexico is playing this on their home field, they will be excited for their first bowl since 2007. Versus two mutual opponents, Arizona was plus 64 yards per game and New Mexico was minus 199 yards per game. Over their last four games, New Mexico was playing their best ball of the year.

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