(Schedule Note: Final update for the Alamo Bowl)
I promised something of substance for this game. But, I just cant do it. I kinda worn out a bit from keeping up daily with the bowl season. And, I’m on edge. ECU just gave up a pick-6 and are well on their way to costing me for the second straight season with a second half collapse at the Liberty Bowl. C’mon Skipper, get your boys rolling, will ya!
So, no time for extended pleasantries. Here’s the quick Alamo Bowl pick.
The Pick: MSU +10, 1 Unit……I know this pick will get a lot of shrugs. I mean, MSU didnt look like any great shakes at all in Big 10 plays. I mean, they lost to Minnesota and needed OT to beat UM, fer gawd’s sake. And, now like half their team was given the boot for the game for brawling in the steets of the EL. Surely, they cant keep up in this one.
I think they can. My Pick to Click? Keshaun Martin. With they guys ahead of him on the suspension list, I think this kid has a break out game. Dont be surprised to see Chartes Gnatt have a season high in production. Tech’s D is very shaky, especially against the pass. If the Spartans can negate Tech’s rush from the edge, I think MSU can move the ball all night. I think they’re protection is up for the task.
I refuse to believe that Tech is not distracted. I think they’re not going to be sharp. I think they can be taken advantage of in this. This bunch had bigtime motivational issues in their bowl game last season, but they’re also not as talented this go around. I just think they’ve been through the mother of all coaching distractions this week. I just dont think they’re showing up tonight as the smooth running machine thats needed to cover heavy chalk in a bowl game.
Tech is Tech. They will get points. And, do damage against the Spartans. I just think MSU has the chops and the passing game to keep up enough. Or at least keep up enough to make it closer than the experts think. This line has been bet with Tech all day, growing from 7.5 to 9.5. I bought the half point up to 10, because I just think Sparty has enough offense to stay within double digits.
We’re not going to have much in the way of the writeups today. For the most part, I am sticking with the underdogs.
Liberty Bowl: East Carolina +7.5 over Arkansas, 1 Unit…..Sometimes I like certain teams, guided by certain coaches, playing under certain conditions. Such is the case with the ECU Pirates under Skip Holtz when they are underdogs. Under Skipper, the Pirates are 21-8-1 ATS when catching points. You see it virtually across the board in bowl season with bigger name teams taking smaller name teams for granted. I’ll take one of the best underdog investments in recent years and my chances that the bowl bizarro motivation continues. Besides, Ryan Mallett was up all night banging sluts in Memphis. He’ll be too tired to give an A-plus effort tonight. ECU, closer than the experts think.
Internationl Bowl: USF -6 over Northern Illinois, 1 Unit….in the previous three matchups between these leagues in this bowl game, the Big East team has won all three and scored 39 points per game. Eventually USF tucks this one away. Too much speed and athletes.
Cotton Bowl: Okie State +3.5 over Ole Miss, 2 Units…….I see this game coming down to a field goal in the end. I have not idea who will win it. Rebels have been terrible chalk all season. They were in this game last year. Unless its a prime BCS Bowl, I hate teams playing in the same bowl game as the year before.
PapaJohns Bowl: UConn +5 over South Carolina, 2 Units…..I just think the Gamecocks wont come in at full attention, not really respecting the athletes the Huskies have. UConn has been a great underdog play this season and, really, during the entire Randy Edsall tenure. I’ll take a stab at them here. Gamecocks dont have a great bowl history under Spurrier. I cant shake that they are a disinterested favorite in this one.
