12-21-13

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NCAA Football Game Picks

Fresno State vs. USC

The Trojans bring a 4-1 ATS record in their last 5 bowl games against a Fresno State team that is 0-4 ATS in its last 4 bowl appearances. USC is the pick (-6) according to Dunkel, which has the Trojans favored by 21. Dunkel Pick: USC (-6). Here are all of this year's bowl games:

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 21 Time Posted: 8:00 p.m. EST (12/16)

Game 201-202: Washington State vs. Colorado State (2:00 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: Washington State 91.173; Colorado State 91.519 Dunkel Line: Even; 70 Vegas Line: Washington State by 5; 65 Dunkel Pick: Colorado State (+5); Over

Game 203-204: Fresno State vs. USC (3:30 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: Fresno State 88.778; USC 109.543 Dunkel Line: USC by 21; 58 Vegas Line: USC by 6; 63 Dunkel Pick: USC (-6); Under

Game 205-206: Buffalo vs. San Diego State (5:30 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: Buffalo 87.395; San Diego State 77.125 Dunkel Line: Buffalo by 10 1/2; 59 Vegas Line: San Diego State by 1; 53 Dunkel Pick: Buffalo (+1); Over

Game 207-208: Tulane vs. UL-Lafayette (9:00 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: Tulane 80.592; UL-Lafayette 71.130 Dunkel Line: Tulane by 9 1/2; 51 Vegas Line: Tulane by 1 1/2; 49 1/2 Dunkel Pick: Tulane (-1 1/2); Over

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Steve Fezzik

Triple Dime CFB Bowl Game of the Year

Fresno State +7

added:
Under 53.5 SDS Buff

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H&H Sports

CFB Bowl Plays Double Dimes

Colorado State
Fresno State

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Dave Essler

CFB Side - Saturday, Dec 21 2013 2:00PM
double-dime bet
201 Colorado St.

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Las Vegas Bowl: What bettors need to know

Fresno State Bulldogs vs. Southern California Trojans (-6, 63)

ROYAL PURPLE LAS VEGAS BOWL STORYLINES:

1. Fresno State had its BCS hopes dashed with a loss in its final regular-season game, but motivation shouldn’t be an issue when the Bulldogs face USC in the Royal Purple Las Vegas Bowl on Dec. 21. "Any time Fresno State gets a chance to play against BCS teams like USC we get up for it and our fan base gets up for it," coach Tim DeRuyter said. The Bulldogs are led by quarterback Derek Carr, who has passed for a nation-leading 4,866 yards with 48 touchdowns and seven interceptions.

2. USC looks to finish on a high note while playing for its third coach this season. Offensive coordinator Clay Helton will lead the Trojans in Las Vegas before new coach Steve Sarkisian takes over next season.

3. Fresno State defeated the Trojans 24-7 in the 1992 Freedom Bowl in Anaheim, Calif., and USC escaped with a thrilling 50-42 victory on Nov. 19, 2005 in Los Angeles. The teams are scheduled to open the 2014 season against each other in Los Angeles on Aug. 30.

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC.

LINE: USC has been bouncing back-and-fourth between -6 and -6.5. They currently sit at -6. The total opened at 62 an has been bet up to 63.

WEATHER: It will be a partly cloudy day with temperatures in the mid 50s.

ABOUT FRESNO STATE (11-1, 5-7 ATS): The Bulldogs boast the top-ranked passing and fifth-ranked scoring offense in the country, but allowed 736 total yards in a 62-52 loss at San Jose State and have struggled mightily against the pass. USC receivers Marqise Lee and Nelson Agholor should thrive against the Bulldogs’ much-maligned secondary, which could receive a boost if cornerback L.J. Jones returns after missing the last five games with a knee injury. Carr’s favorite target is star wideout Davante Adams, who has 122 catches for 1,645 yards and 23 touchdowns.

ABOUT USC (9-4, 6-7 ATS): The Trojans went 6-2 with impressive wins against Arizona and Stanford under interim coach Ed Orgeron, who was replaced after a 35-14 loss to rival UCLA in the regular-season finale. The Pac-12’s second-ranked scoring defense figures to be tested by the explosive Bulldogs, and cornerback Josh Shaw’s matchup against the dynamic Adams should be worth the price of admission. The Trojans can’t match the Bulldogs’ offensive firepower, but quarterback Cody Kessler has improved after a shaky start.

TRENDS:

* Fresno State is 0-4 ATS in its last four bowl games.
* USC is 4-1 ATS in its last five bowl games.
* Over is 8-2 in Fresno's States last 10 games versus the Pac-12.
* Under is 7-0 in USC's last seven games in December.

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New Mexico Bowl: What bettors need to know

Washington State Cougars vs. Colorado State Rams (+4.5, 65.5)

GILDAN NEW MEXICO BOWL STORYLINES:

1. Washington State plays its first bowl game since 2003 when it meets Colorado State in the Gildan New Mexico Bowl in Albuquerque on Dec. 21 - the first of 35 postseason contests culminating with the national championship game Jan. 6. While the Cougars will go bowling for the first time in 10 years, it has been five since the Rams defeated Fresno State 40-35 in the 2008 New Mexico Bowl. Washington State and Colorado State will meet for the first time in what could be a high-scoring contest.

2. Colorado State sophomore Kapri Bibbs rushed for 1,572 yards and 28 touchdowns this season, including back-to-back games of 312 and 291 yards. Bibbs gained only 54 and 79 yards, respectively, in the last two contests, but scored three touchdowns in a 58-13 victory over Air Force on Nov. 30 which made the Rams bowl eligible. The first-year player could add another big-yardage game to his resume, though, as Washington State yields 184 rushing yards per game - 84th in the nation.

3. The Cougars' one-dimensional offense, led by junior quarterback Connor Halliday, is fourth in the nation in passing at 364.5 yards per game, but last in rushing at 58.7. The Rams yield an average of 265.4 passing yards - 109th among the 123 FBS schools in the nation - but apply decent pressure with 27 sacks this season.

TV: 2 p.m. ET, ESPN.

LINE: Colorado State as 3.5-point dogs and currently sit at +4.5. The total opened at 65 and has moved up slightly to 65.5.

WEATHER: There is a 22 percent chance of rain with a 12 mph wind blowing across the field.

ABOUT WASHINGTON STATE (6-6, 9-3 ATS): The Cougars were 4-5 with three games left on their schedule, but consecutive victories over Arizona and Utah made them bowl eligible before they finished the regular season with a 27-17 loss to Washington. Halliday (62.8 completion rate, 28 touchdowns, 21 interceptions) attempts 54 passes per game with sophomore Gabe Marks (team highs of 69 catches and 770 yards) his favorite target. “Every bowl I’ve been to is a great experience,” said second-year Cougars coach Mike Leach, whose team finished fifth in the six-team North Division of the Pac-12. “I couldn’t be more excited to go.”

ABOUT COLORADO STATE (7-6, 9-4 ATS): "This is an exciting day not only for our team and our program, but for fans of Colorado State who have waited five years for the chance to go back to a bowl game," said coach Jim McElwain, who also turned a program around in his second year. Junior quarterback Garrett Grayson (62.2 completion rate, 21 touchdowns, 10 interceptions) has managed the offense well with freshman Rashard Higgins (64 catches, 795 yards, six touchdowns) the leading receiver. The Rams, who lost four of their first six games, finished third in the six-team Mountain Division of the MWC.

TRENDS:

* Washington State is 4-1 ATS in its last five games overall.
* Colorado State is 4-0 ATS in its last four non-conference games.
* Over is 4-0 in Washington State's last four games versus the MWC.
* Under is 5-1-1 in Colorado State's last seven games versus the Pac-12.

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TEXAS Sports Wire 5 * New Orleans Bowl TULANE

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Phil Steele Inside the PressBox Bowl Picks:

WASHINGTON ST 37 COLORADO ST 31

USC 36 FRESNO ST 30

SAN DIEGO ST 27 BUFFALO 24

BEST BET TULANE 27 LOUISIANA 20

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Football Jesus Bowl Pick Text: Buffalo+ pts

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CKO
11 BUFFALO over San Diego State Late Score Forecast:BUFFALO 34 - San Diego State 21(Famous Idaho Potato Bowl)(Saturday, December 21)


10 WASHINGTON ST. over Colorado St.
Late Score Forecast:WASHINGTON ST. 45 - Colorado St. 31(New Mexico Bowl)(Saturday, December 21))


10 FRESNO STATE over Southern Cal Late Score Forecast:FRESNO STATE 31 - Southern Cal 28(Las Vegas Bowl)(Saturday, December 21)

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Playbook
Upset Game of the week
NEW MEXICO BOWL University Stadium • Albuquerque, NM
Colorado St over Washington St by 6


LAS VEGAS BOWL Sam Boyd Stadium • Las Vegas, NV
Usc over Fresno St by 10


NEW ORLEANS BOWL Mercedes-Benz Superdome • New Orleans, LA
TULANE over La-Lafayette by 4


IDAHO POTATO BOWL Bronco Stadium • Boise, ID
San Diego St over Buffalo by 3

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Winning Points
Saturday, December 21
NEW MEXICO BOWL(Albuquerque, NM)
Washington State over Colorado State by 7


LAS VEGAS BOWL
(Las Vegas, NV)
USC over Fresno State by 8


FAMOUS IDAHO POTATO BOWL (Boise, ID)
Buffalo over San Diego State by 3


NEW ORLEANS BOWL (New Orleans, LA)
Tulane* over UL-Lafayette by 2

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Sports Reporter
NEW MEXICO BOWL University Stadium – Alburquerque, NM (FieldTurf)
BEST BET
WASHINGTON STATE over COLORADO STATE by 16


LAS VEGAS BOWL Sam Boyd Stadium – Las Vegas, NV (DuraPlay -- artificial)
SOUTHERN CAL over FRESNO STATE by 8


FAMOUS IDAHO POTATO BOWL Bronco Stadium – Boise, ID (Blue FieldTurf)
SAN DIEGO STATE over BUFFALO by 3


NEW ORLEANS BOWL Superdome – New Orleans, LA (Ubu Turf -- artificial)
TULANE over LOUISIANA-LAFAYETTE by 3

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Power Sweep
FORECAST: Wash St over Colorado St
POWER SWEEP RATING: 1

FORECAST: OVER USC/Fresno St
POWER SWEEP RATING: 1

FORECAST: San Diego St over Buffalo
POWER SWEEP RATING: 2

FORECAST: TULANE over Louisiana
POWER SWEEP RATING: 3
FORECAST: OVER USC/Fresno St
POWER SWEEP
RATING: 1