Archive for December, 2016

Five things to know that make the New Orleans Bowl more interesting

Posted: December 17, 2016 in College football
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I know, I know.  “There’s too many bowls.” I hear this all the time. I, for one like the bowl games and will share some reasons to maybe change your mind enough to tune into the New Orleans Bowl (Southern Miss Golden Eagles vs Louisiana Ragin Cajuns).

  1. These schools were former rivals, having met 50 previous times with the 1st game played in 1923 and the last in 2008.
  2. Southern Miss quarterback Nick Mullens completed 63% of his passes with a 22-10 ratio and Louisiana counters with Phil Steele’s #106 ranked pass efficiency defense.
  3. Louisiana running back Elijah McGuire was the Sun Belt’s Player of the Year in 2014. He’s been banged up this year, but is as healthy as he’s been all season and the Golden Eagles allow 149 (4.7) rush yards per game. Can I also mention that McGuire walked on to the Ragin Cajuns basketball team last season?
  4. Despite being an underdog in 3 of the 4 New Orleans Bowl games they’ve been in, Louisiana has won all 4. They are a 6.5 point underdog this year.
  5. Southern Miss is 6-6 this year, but actually outgained 11 of their 12 opponents.
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Five things to know that make the Camellia Bowl more interesting

Posted: December 17, 2016 in College football
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I know, I know.  “There’s too many bowls.” I hear this all the time. I, for one like the bowl games and will share some reasons to maybe change your mind enough to tune into the Camellia Bowl (Appalachian State Mountaineers vs Toledo Rockets).

  1. Toledo quarterback Logan Woodside led the FBS with 43 touchdown passes! How will he fare when he looks across the field at Phil Steele’s #10 ranked pass efficiency defense that only allowed 10 td’s while intercepting 19 passes?
  2. Toledo set a school record averaging 530 yards per game. While Appalachian State allowed non conference opponents to gain 420 yards per game, they did hold Tennessee to just 4.4 yards per play.
  3. Appalachian State runs the option offense that averages 247 (5.6) rush yards per game and Toledo allows 166 (4.7) rush yards per game.
  4. Toledo tight end Michael Roberts was named 1st Team Mid American Conference and the best tight end the Mountaineers faced this year was 3rd Team Sun Belt Buck Cowan from Idaho and he finished with 10 receptions for 118 yards and a touchdown.
  5. This is likely going to end up as a high scoring affair so if points is your thing, you will be entertained.

Five things to know that make the Cure Bowl more interesting

Posted: December 17, 2016 in College football
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I know, I know.  “There’s too many bowls.” I hear this all the time. I, for one like the bowl games and will share some reasons to maybe change your mind enough to tune into the Cure Bowl (Arkansas State Red Wolves vs UCF Knights).

  1. This game is being played in UCF’s former home venue
  2. UCF is the lone team to go from winless to a bowl the next year since 2002 (and this is the 2nd time they’ve done so in that span)!
  3. Arkansas State has the Sun Belt Player of the Year in defensive end Ja’Von Rolland-Jones (conferences career leader in sacks).
  4. A big special teams play is bound to happen as UCF has Phil Steele’s #23 ranked unit, while Arkansas State rates just #70.
  5. If you prefer defense, points in this game will likely be scarce.

Five things to know that make the Las Vegas Bowl more interesting

Posted: December 17, 2016 in College football
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I know, I know.  “There’s too many bowls.” I hear this all the time. I, for one like the bowl games and will share some reasons to maybe change your mind enough to tune into the Las Vegas Bowl (Houston Cougars vs San Diego State Aztecs).

  1. The all time FBS rushing record is in jeopardy! San Diego State’s Donnel “DJ” Pumphrey is just 108 yards away from breaking the current record of 6,397 held by Wisconsin’s Ron Dayne.
  2. Houston head coach Tom Herman has moved on to Texas and this will be Major Applewhite’s 1st game as a head coach.
  3. Houston is +84 yards per game against bowl teams, while San Diego State is -16 yards per game against bowl teams.
  4. Houston quarterback Greg Ward was a Heisman Trophy candidate entering the season and while he’s been banged up, he still completed 68% of his passes with a 22-9 ratio. San Diego State counters with a pass defense that led the nation with 20 interceptions.
  5. San Diego State features the Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year (Pumphrey, also won last year), Defensive Player of the Year (cornerback Damontae Kazee, also won last year), and Special Teams Player of the Year (Rashaad Penny).

Five things to know that make the New Mexico Bowl more interesting

Posted: December 17, 2016 in College football
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I know, I know.  “There’s too many bowls.” I hear this all the time. I, for one like the bowl games and will share some reasons to maybe change your mind enough to tune into the New Mexico Bowl (UTSA Roadrunners vs New Mexico Lobos).

  1. Witness history! This is UTSA’s 1st ever bowl game. New Mexico is actually playing in its home venue.
  2. New Mexico has the #1 rushing offense in the FBS averaging 361 (6.8) yards per game. UTSA counters with a rush defense that has improved as the season progressed. In their last 7 games, the Roadrunners held their opponents to an average of 48 rush yards per game and 1.1 yards per carry less than their foes season average.
  3. UTSA quarterbacks have a 24-7 touchdown to interception ratio and New Mexico counters with Phil Steele’s #117 ranked pass efficiency defense (allowed 22-7 ratio).
  4. New Mexico has covered 5 of its last 7 games against the Vegas line, while UTSA is 4-2-1 against the spread as an underdog. (New Mexico is favored by 9.5 points).
  5. If you like high scoring affairs, tune in as there figures to a lot of points scored in this one.