12-15-12

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Rich Saber @ Gaming Today

College Football Saturday

At Albuquerque, NM

Nevada +10 vs. Arizona (75): I like the Wolf Pack in this 10 a.m. early game as they have already beaten a Pac 12 team with a win over California 31-24 as a +12 point dog. NEVADA.

Mark Mayer @ Gaming Today

BOWLS

Toledo vs. Utah St. (58½): Both teams put up points in bunches. They could reach this total by halftime. OVER 58½

Nevada +9½ vs. Arizona: UNR is 5-1 on the road and gave Boise a scare. Does Arizona have an interest in Reno? I think not. NEVADA.

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Mighty Quinn
Bowl picks

Arizona -10
Utah St -10 1/2

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POINTWISE PHONES:

2* Toledo

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Pointwise
GONZAGA over Kansas State (Sat) RATING 1SAN FRANCISCO over Nevada (Sat) RATING 3

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Teddy Covers

10* CFB Idaho Potato Bowl O/U
Tol / Utah St Over

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Handicapping Kings

JIMMY

FAMOUS IDAHO POTATO BOWL (BOWL GAME #2)

4:30PM Toledo vs Utah State
[204] Utah State -10 -115

GOODFELLAS

NEW MEXICO BOWL (BOWL GAME #1)

1:00PM Nevada vs Arizona U
[201] Nevada +10 -125

MARC

FAMOUS IDAHO POTATO BOWL (BOWL GAME #2)

4:30PM Toledo vs Utah State
(LIGHTS OUT PLAY- 2 UNIT PLAY) [203] OVER 58.5 -110

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Indian Cowboy
4-Unit Selection. #202 Gildan New Mexico Bowl. Take Arizona -9 over Nevada (Saturday @ 1pm est).

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Brian Edwards

LSU

South Carolina

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NEWSLETTERS:

Pointwise

Bowl Releases
4* #202 ARIZ 45 - Nev 31
6* Utah St 38 - #203 TOLEDO 33

Power Sweep

Key Selections
1* #201 Nevada
2* #203 Toledo

Sports Reporter

Best Bets
#201 Nevada

Recommended
#203 Toledo

Winning Points

#201 Nevada
#204 Utah St.

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WUNDERDOG

Game: Toledo vs. Utah State (Saturday 12/15 4:30 PM Eastern)
Pick: Toledo +10.5 (-110)

The Toledo Rockets bring a high-powered running game into the Idaho Potato Bowl vs. the Utah State Aggies. The Rockets' running attack is led by David Flullen who ran for 1,456 yards on the season with 13 TDs. He is complimented by QB Terrence Owens who threw for 8.1 yards per attempt, but has also carried for 381 yards and five TDs as well. This offense puts up 32.9 points per game which leaves a tall order for Utah State laying double digits. The Rockets defense hasn't been the greatest, allowing 27.3 points per game. But, they are very opportunistic, finishing the season with 17 INTs. Utah State ran the table in the WAC and comes into the game on a six-game winning streak. They are a more balanced team with an offense that generates over 30 ppg and a defense ranked No. 15 in the country, but will get a stiff test in this one. Both of these squads bring Bowl experience as Toledo tasted the fruits of a Bowl win a year ago over Air Force, while Utah State lost to another MAC team in
Ohio. There is definitely a different "pedigree" here when it comes to Bowls, as Toledo has been a very good Bowl team at 8-4, while Utah State is just 1-6. I think that Toledo's experience of winning a close one last year will propel them to the win here. Take Toledo.

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Red Dog Sports

college BB

2pm Saturday
SMU at Rhode Island
pick: SMU

The opening line at betonline.com is pick'em/even. URI has just two wins and one was in overtime at Auburn. They lost at home to Norfolk State by 12 points and to George Mason (outrebounded 50-31). Only five players scored for URI in the NSU game and their top four scorers shoot 39% or less from the field. Munford scores 18 ppg and Malesevic 12.6 ppg but others are under 10ppg. Rhode Island is just 8-20-2 ATS in their last 30 games on Saturday.

Larry Brown's SMU team is 3-0 on the road and beat Hofstra easily in their last road game. They are 5-2-1 ATS in their last 8 games. They are 8-1 SU while URI is 2-7. The Mustangs get balanced scoring from 5 players at 9 ppg or more:

Jones 16
Russell 15
Manuel 13
Cunningham 9.5
Williams 9

Take SMU pick'em/even

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Nevada Wolfpack vs. Arizona Wildcats
Point Spread - Pick

Nevada Wolf Pack (7-5 SU, 3-9 ATS) vs. Arizona Wildcats (7-5 SU, 6-6 ATS)
Gildan New Mexico Bowl Game
Date/Time: December 15, 2012. 1:00 p.m. EST.
Where: University Stadium, Albuquerque, NM.
TV: ESPN
by Wilson, Football Handicapper.

Point Spread: Nev +9.5/AZ -9.5
Over/Under Total: 76

The 2012 New Mexico Bowl features two of the nation's best running backs in Arizona's Ka'Deem Carey and Nevada's Stefphon Jefferson. These two backs have covered a ton of ground this season and look to out work one another in search of the NCAA rushing title. Arizona's Carey currently leads the nation in rushing yards per game at 146.4 per contest while Jefferson averages 141. Whoever rushes for more yards in this matchup will likely determine the outcome as well as a push for rushing title. Both RBs have over 20 TDs but it is Carey who may be considered the larger threat as he is also third in receiving on the Wildcats roster.

The Arizona Wildcats have won 3 of their last 5 games. The Nevada Wolfpack have dropped 4 of their last 5 and is really fortunate they started the season with 5 straight wins making them eligible for a bowl game. Obviously defense is a questionable factor in this contest in which 76 is the current total. Arizona's D is young, mixed with walk-on athletes, and a bit bruised up! The Wildcats have collectively lost five defensive players to injuries. Thus, the rushing attack of the Wolf Pack will definitely be a test on this beaten down crew of Cats.

Nevada, however has struggled with the running game in nearly all of their past seven consecutive bowl games-it's become an awkward pattern the Wolf Pack hopes to change this time around. Over the span of previous seasons the Wolf Pack averaged over 285 yards rushing per game but in bowl games they have averaged just 154 yards on the ground. This is likely due to a number of factors which include longer prep time for opposing defenses and too much time off which causes a breakdown in the flow of any offensive line and scheme. Both of these teams allow approximately 200 yards or more rushing per contest, so even with an off-par running game both should be able to move the ball effectively; especially with the high caliber RBs in either backfield.

Wildcat's QB Matt Scott may be the other major factor in this bowl game. Scott needs to limit his turnovers and take care of the ball-he turned the pigskin over four times in the Cat's loss to Arizona State. If he can clean his game up and make sound decisions the Wildcats should have the advantage over the Pack. Scott is a fifth year senior who wants to go out on a good note.

Nevada's QB Cody Fajardo can also put up the numbers. Fajardo has tossed 17 TDs this season and the longer he can keep his defense on the bench the better chance the Pack has of sneaking away with a win.

Bowl games are as unpredictable as March madness at times, but I don't see the Wolf Pack hanging on down the stretch. Arizona is the better team and their powerful offense will outlast and out score Nevada. Ka'Deem Carey gets his yards and a win.

Wilson's Pick to Cover the Point Spread: I like the Cats to cover the 9.5 in this high scoring bout. My New Mexico Bowl prediction is Cats 52, Wolf Pack 35.

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Wayne Root
Millionaire - Utah State

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NCAAF
Write-Up

Bowl Season

Saturday, December 15

New Mexico Bowl
Arizona won four of last six games after 54-48 OT loss at Stanford Oct. 6; Wildcats played six games this year (3-3) where losing team scored 31+ points; so did Nevada (2-4). Wolf Pack lost four of last five games, with only win over New Mexico team (on this field) that didn't complete a pass (0-2); they are 2-1 as underdogs this year, upsetting Pac-12's Cal 31-24 (+10). Nevada lost four of last five bowls, including 23-0 loss in this game to host Lobos five years ago; dogs covered their last four bowls. Arizona went 10 years with no bowls, but is bowling now for 4th time in last five years; they lost last two bowls, in ’09-‘10, 33-0/36-10. Seven of last eight Arizona games, four of last six Nevada games went over the total. Pac-12 non-conference favorites are 4-11 against spread. MWC underdogs are 16-5.

Idaho Potato Bowl
Utah State is 10-2, losing 16-14 (+14) at Wisconsin, 6-3 (+6.5) at BYU; Aggies are 10-1 vs spread this year; only non-cover was 45-9 win as a 38-point favorite- they won 49-27 at San Jose, 48-41ot at La Tech, two bowl teams. Toledo is 5-0 vs spread as an underdog this year- they lost opener in OT at Arizona, then won eight games in row, then gave up 34-31 points in losses to Ball State/Northern Illinois. Rockets played couple of exciting bowls last two years, losing 34-32 in ’10, winning 42-41 LY; average total in their last five bowls is 66.6. Utah State lost Potato Bowl 24-23 LY, in their first bowl since 1997. WAC favorites are 5-5 against spread out of conference; MAC underdogs are 17-15.