First off, there is no such thing as a GOY.
I dont believe in them. They are a marketing tool used by touts to sell picks. There are no sure things, no locks, no free rides. That being said, Ive looked over the four games tomorrow and the four games on New Years Eve.
I may or may not play some of them , but it would be for less than I will play tonights game. Since I have not posted a Bowl GOY, then this would be it.
Then again, its just one game, folks. Dont get carried away. Lots of gamblers do, they come and go for a reason. Money management.
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Tonights Alamo bowl game has my interest.
This will be the first meeting between Oklahoma State and Arizona on the gridiron since 1942. The all-time series is even at 3-3 with Arizona having won three of the last four games. The matchup will also serve as a preview to a home-and-home series between the two schools starting in Stillwater next season. This is the first year the Alamo Bowl will feature both the Pac-10 and Big 12 Conferences. For the past 15 years, the game has pitted the Big 12 against Big Ten competition.
The Cowboys had the nation's No. 1 ranked offense this season, averaging an eye-popping 537.6 yards per game, and boast the country's top-ranked passing offense as well. OSU's offense set single-season school records for points (539), total offensive yards (6,451), passing yards (4,256) and touchdown passes (34) in 2010.
Oklahoma State scored at least 33 points in 10 games, went for more than 40 eight times, topped 50 on three occasions and hit 65 twice.
?They have a phenomenal offense, but I have a lot of trust in our defense,? said Arizona offensive tackle Adam Grant. ?I hope Brooksy and Ricky have a great night, that?s all I can hope for.?
Senior ends Brooks Reed and Ricky Elmore are a formidable pass-rushing pair, but Oklahoma State has allowed only nine sacks all season.
If the Cats are to win, they might have to score in the 40s. They?ve won a few shootouts in recent seasons, but Arizona is only 3-14 under Stoops when the opponent scores at least 30 points.
The Arizona defense couldn?t slow down either of the two elite offenses it played against this season ? Stanford and Oregon. Oklahoma State is another one of those, with balance and top-notch skill all over the offense, led by receiver Justin Blackmon and quarterback Brandon Weeden.
The category where the Cowboys lack when compared to Arizona is defense. The squad finished ranked 91st in the nation and eighth in their own conference. OSU's moniker is usually to outscore the opponent, not stop them, as was evidenced by its giving up an average of 412.8 yards and 27.8 points per game. A startling number is the 110 fourth-quarter points allowed this season.
How will Arizona?s Alex Zendejas react after having those two extra point attempts blocked in the regular-season finale against ASU? He says those low kicks are a focus issue, but something technical must be afoot, because I can?t believe he would have focus problems on either of those blocks against the Devils.
Meanwhile, Oklahoma State has two players out because of academic ineligibility, including All-American punter Quinn Sharp, who averaged 46.2 yards in the regular season. Now, the Arizona defense just has to get some stops and force the Cowboys to punt. The Cowboys also will be without long-snapper Marc Yerry.
But I?d be most worried about the Wildcats slowing down the Cowboys? running game, featuring senior Kendall Hunter, who has rushed for 1,516 yards and 16 touchdowns.
That's bad news for the Wildcats, whose worsening defense helped unravel a 7-1 start. Arizona allowed at least 200 yards rushing in three of its final four losses. Stopping the run has been the defense?s main problem during the four-game losing streak. The Cats allowed four rushing touchdowns through eight games ? and 11 in the past four.
The game breaks down into 3 stages: offense, defense, and special teams.
Arizona has the edge in two of the three here. I also believe that the Wildcats have an advantage on the sideline as Stoops is a better coach than Gundy. While its true that Gundy did win B12 Coach of the Year, much of that has to do with his high profile OC Dana Holgorsen, who is coaching in a lame duck position tonight. Thats right. Hes already agreed to become the HC in waiting over at West Virginia. Anyone remember that WV/NCSt. game? The one where all the talent and better players for Stewart got outcoached by inferior recruits under a superior coach in O'Brien. Yeah. Coaching matters.
This is the key to the game, stopping Hunter, and its easier said than done. Forcing Weeden to pass on passing downs and double teaming the goblin Blackmon will go a long way to slowing down this Cowboys offense. You cant completely stop this guy, but you can keep him on the sidelines for peroids of time and try to limit his breakaways.
Then again, he could bust out and have 200 yards rushing, opening up all kinds of time for Weeden and play action. That would be bad, that would mean that Ok St. wins by 3 Tds. Its a possibility.
But, Im taking better defense, better special teams, better coaching and perhaps, just perhaps, a bit more motivation from a team happy to be here coming off 4 losses versus a team that wanted to be in the B12 Championship game and just fell short. What am I not taking? Points. Just dont think that I need them, if Arizona can compete and be in the game, they will win it outright. Live dog here. Arizona Wildcats ML +170**
I dont believe in them. They are a marketing tool used by touts to sell picks. There are no sure things, no locks, no free rides. That being said, Ive looked over the four games tomorrow and the four games on New Years Eve.
I may or may not play some of them , but it would be for less than I will play tonights game. Since I have not posted a Bowl GOY, then this would be it.
Then again, its just one game, folks. Dont get carried away. Lots of gamblers do, they come and go for a reason. Money management.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Tonights Alamo bowl game has my interest.
This will be the first meeting between Oklahoma State and Arizona on the gridiron since 1942. The all-time series is even at 3-3 with Arizona having won three of the last four games. The matchup will also serve as a preview to a home-and-home series between the two schools starting in Stillwater next season. This is the first year the Alamo Bowl will feature both the Pac-10 and Big 12 Conferences. For the past 15 years, the game has pitted the Big 12 against Big Ten competition.
The Cowboys had the nation's No. 1 ranked offense this season, averaging an eye-popping 537.6 yards per game, and boast the country's top-ranked passing offense as well. OSU's offense set single-season school records for points (539), total offensive yards (6,451), passing yards (4,256) and touchdown passes (34) in 2010.
Oklahoma State scored at least 33 points in 10 games, went for more than 40 eight times, topped 50 on three occasions and hit 65 twice.
?They have a phenomenal offense, but I have a lot of trust in our defense,? said Arizona offensive tackle Adam Grant. ?I hope Brooksy and Ricky have a great night, that?s all I can hope for.?
Senior ends Brooks Reed and Ricky Elmore are a formidable pass-rushing pair, but Oklahoma State has allowed only nine sacks all season.
If the Cats are to win, they might have to score in the 40s. They?ve won a few shootouts in recent seasons, but Arizona is only 3-14 under Stoops when the opponent scores at least 30 points.
The Arizona defense couldn?t slow down either of the two elite offenses it played against this season ? Stanford and Oregon. Oklahoma State is another one of those, with balance and top-notch skill all over the offense, led by receiver Justin Blackmon and quarterback Brandon Weeden.
The category where the Cowboys lack when compared to Arizona is defense. The squad finished ranked 91st in the nation and eighth in their own conference. OSU's moniker is usually to outscore the opponent, not stop them, as was evidenced by its giving up an average of 412.8 yards and 27.8 points per game. A startling number is the 110 fourth-quarter points allowed this season.
How will Arizona?s Alex Zendejas react after having those two extra point attempts blocked in the regular-season finale against ASU? He says those low kicks are a focus issue, but something technical must be afoot, because I can?t believe he would have focus problems on either of those blocks against the Devils.
Meanwhile, Oklahoma State has two players out because of academic ineligibility, including All-American punter Quinn Sharp, who averaged 46.2 yards in the regular season. Now, the Arizona defense just has to get some stops and force the Cowboys to punt. The Cowboys also will be without long-snapper Marc Yerry.
But I?d be most worried about the Wildcats slowing down the Cowboys? running game, featuring senior Kendall Hunter, who has rushed for 1,516 yards and 16 touchdowns.
That's bad news for the Wildcats, whose worsening defense helped unravel a 7-1 start. Arizona allowed at least 200 yards rushing in three of its final four losses. Stopping the run has been the defense?s main problem during the four-game losing streak. The Cats allowed four rushing touchdowns through eight games ? and 11 in the past four.
The game breaks down into 3 stages: offense, defense, and special teams.
Arizona has the edge in two of the three here. I also believe that the Wildcats have an advantage on the sideline as Stoops is a better coach than Gundy. While its true that Gundy did win B12 Coach of the Year, much of that has to do with his high profile OC Dana Holgorsen, who is coaching in a lame duck position tonight. Thats right. Hes already agreed to become the HC in waiting over at West Virginia. Anyone remember that WV/NCSt. game? The one where all the talent and better players for Stewart got outcoached by inferior recruits under a superior coach in O'Brien. Yeah. Coaching matters.
This is the key to the game, stopping Hunter, and its easier said than done. Forcing Weeden to pass on passing downs and double teaming the goblin Blackmon will go a long way to slowing down this Cowboys offense. You cant completely stop this guy, but you can keep him on the sidelines for peroids of time and try to limit his breakaways.
Then again, he could bust out and have 200 yards rushing, opening up all kinds of time for Weeden and play action. That would be bad, that would mean that Ok St. wins by 3 Tds. Its a possibility.
But, Im taking better defense, better special teams, better coaching and perhaps, just perhaps, a bit more motivation from a team happy to be here coming off 4 losses versus a team that wanted to be in the B12 Championship game and just fell short. What am I not taking? Points. Just dont think that I need them, if Arizona can compete and be in the game, they will win it outright. Live dog here. Arizona Wildcats ML +170**
