Salute to Veterans Bowl (formerly the Camellia Bowl)

[Smitty]

well, let's get this year's bowl party started. just a couple quick things now, and then i'll finish up tonight or tomorrow.

most importantly... anyone have any info on whether west & gideon are playing for WMU? they are both first team all-MAC on the o-line, and gideon is a finalist for the rimington award (nation's top center) while west was an outland trophy semifinalist.

other side of the ball, i assume qb lopez is playing for USA. he left their last game with an injury. but with this line at 9, he's probably playing.

this is once again going to be the recurring theme throughout the bowl season... who the fuck is actually playing?

it sounds very likely that USA will be without fluff bothwell. obviously we're all familiar with fluff bothwell, but in case you're not... he split carries with kentrel bullock (bullock had 24 more carries on the year). bothwell averaged 7.5 yards/carry. bullock averaged 5.2. anyway, bothwell has entered the portal, and has said that he's visiting cincinnati, arizona, and louisville this week. sooo... probably not practicing for the StV Bowl. big loss for the USA ground game.

ok, one last point for now. i mention this every year, but the last i knew, head coaches in their first year with the team had a very poor bowl record. i haven't seen an update the last few years, and i really should start tracking it myself. so the USA coach is... major applewhite. (seriously, THAT major applewhite? yup, THAT major applewhite.) he's in his first year there. the WMU coach is in his 2nd year.

 

[LonghornMM]

Western Michigan Transfer Portal

• Stud TE Blake Bosma (most receptions on team; 37-403-6)
• DE Corey Walker (best edge rusher)
• DL Anterio Thompson (410 snaps)
• WR Devaughn Mortimer (81 snaps)

South Alabama Transfer Portal

• RB Fluff Bothwell (leading rusher; 111-832-13)
• Starting CB Jordan Scruggs

 

[Smitty]

Western Michigan Transfer Portal

• Stud TE Blake Bosma (most receptions on team; 37-403-6)
• DE Corey Walker (best edge rusher)
• DL Anterio Thompson (410 snaps)
• WR Devaughn Mortimer (81 snaps)

South Alabama Transfer Portal

• RB Fluff Bothwell (leading rusher; 111-832-13)
• Starting CB Jordan Scruggs

thank you. i also use the info from the action network. but i find all this info unreliable. i try to verify as much as i can. lots of guys in the portal will still end up playing. also not on the list, but in the portal, is USA kicker Laith Marjan.

ok, i'm going with the assumption that gideon and west are playing, since i can't find anything to the contrary. i'm going to wait until tomorrow to actually put my bets in, just in case any more info comes to light. (right after i typed that, i took a look at the line and see it's down to 8.5. sooo... yeah, i may re-think that.)

WMU is 28th in the country in rushing (5.02 yards/att). USA allows 4.1 (66th).

USA picks up 5.64 yards/rush (9th in the country). however, that is due in large to to... you guessed it... fluff bothwell.
WMU allows 4.84 (102nd).

USA 34th in passing(7.89/att). WMU allows 8.2 (118th).
WMU gains 7.55 yards/att (54th) while USA allows 7.54 (92nd).

slight motivational edge to WMU, as it's their first bowl game since 2021, while USA is playing in their 3rd straight. plus USA only got to travel across alabama.

WMU relies on the ground game (why the availability of gideon and west is so big). they have 3 RBs with over 100 carries, and all 3 average at least 5.5/carry. and wolff has been solid through the air, and a porous USA pass defense should give him opportunities as well. WMU should be able to move the ball.

the loss of fluff bothwell (yes, i'm using that name as much as possible, because it's AWESOME) is huge going up against a suspect WMU run defense. bullock is fine, and may have a solid game, but he's no fluff bothwell. and the health of lopez is a big question mark, as USA tries to take advantage of a weak WMU pass defense.

some rain is expected a few hours before kickoff. the cramton bowl features artificial turf though, so shouldn't be a factor. however... they are also expecting some wind. not consistent, but 17 mph gusts. that's worth keeping an eye on, but may favor the team that can run the ball and has the more reliable kicker (if marjan isn't playing).

FWIW (probably nothing, but mildly interesting), both teams played one of the better teams in the opponent's conference. USA lost at Ohio 27-20 and WMU lost at Marshall, also 27-20.

any time i can get a dog that should be able to run the ball (and just move the ball in general), i'll take it.

WMU (+8.5) 5X
WMU (+270) 2X
WMU TT over 23.5 2.3 to win 2

 

[rocky mountain]

thank you. i also use the info from the action network. but i find all this info unreliable. i try to verify as much as i can. lots of guys in the portal will still end up playing. also not on the list, but in the portal, is USA kicker Laith Marjan.

ok, i'm going with the assumption that gideon and west are playing, since i can't find anything to the contrary. i'm going to wait until tomorrow to actually put my bets in, just in case any more info comes to light. (right after i typed that, i took a look at the line and see it's down to 8.5. sooo... yeah, i may re-think that.)

WMU is 28th in the country in rushing (5.02 yards/att). USA allows 4.1 (66th).

USA picks up 5.64 yards/rush (9th in the country). however, that is due in large to to... you guessed it... fluff bothwell.
WMU allows 4.84 (102nd).

USA 34th in passing(7.89/att). WMU allows 8.2 (118th).
WMU gains 7.55 yards/att (54th) while USA allows 7.54 (92nd).

slight motivational edge to WMU, as it's their first bowl game since 2021, while USA is playing in their 3rd straight. plus USA only got to travel across alabama.

WMU relies on the ground game (why the availability of gideon and west is so big). they have 3 RBs with over 100 carries, and all 3 average at least 5.5/carry. and wolff has been solid through the air, and a porous USA pass defense should give him opportunities as well. WMU should be able to move the ball.

the loss of fluff bothwell (yes, i'm using that name as much as possible, because it's AWESOME) is huge going up against a suspect WMU run defense. bullock is fine, and may have a solid game, but he's no fluff bothwell. and the health of lopez is a big question mark, as USA tries to take advantage of a weak WMU pass defense.

some rain is expected a few hours before kickoff. the cramton bowl features artificial turf though, so shouldn't be a factor. however... they are also expecting some wind. not consistent, but 17 mph gusts. that's worth keeping an eye on, but may favor the team that can run the ball and has the more reliable kicker (if marjan isn't playing).

FWIW (probably nothing, but mildly interesting), both teams played one of the better teams in the opponent's conference. USA lost at Ohio 27-20 and WMU lost at Marshall, also 27-20.

any time i can get a dog that should be able to run the ball (and just move the ball in general), i'll take it.

WMU (+8.5) 5X
WMU (+270) 2X
WMU TT over 23.5 2.3 to win 2

Im just gonna get this over in first one, but incredible breakdowns and handicapping regardless of outcome. Fluff Bothwell!!!!

 

[Slumdog]

Nice read!! Very impressive smitty

Maybe barstool has a position for you. A Madjacks/barstool Partnership.

I like that !!!

 

[Smitty]

Im just gonna get this over in first one, but incredible breakdowns and handicapping regardless of outcome. Fluff Bothwell!!!!

i'm pretty sure fluff bothwell was my porn name.

not gonna lie, i'd never heard of fluff bothwell before yesterday. and now i'm obsessed with a guy who isn't even playing (as far as i can tell).

and thank you. i love having the time to dig into these games. and it's paid off over the years. but all the opt-outs are making it more and more difficult. more specifically, not KNOWING who is actually playing. you gotta have somebody at the practices. i see the line is now up to 9.5, so i wish i'd listened to my first instinct and waited to place my bets until today. if WMU takes the field tonight and 77 isn't snapping the ball with 75 next to him, i'll pretty much know right away that i pissed that money away. it would also be nice to know if USA will have their kicker. i'm guessing the 2nd string kicker at USA is not particularly strong.

weather update: looks like the threat of rain has diminished, but it's still going to be windy. i'm starting to think about the under.

 

[Smitty]

a bit of good news for broncos' backers... i finally found an article from a few days ago that indicates Gideon will play. "Gideon now aims to end his Bronco career with his second bowl game victory, as WMU squares off with South Alabama in the IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl in Montgomery, Ala." and i haven't seen anything that says west ISN'T playing.

nothing new on fluff bothwell.

also nothing new on the USA kicker. marjan was 16-of-16 inside 50 this year. his backups are a true freshman and a redshirt freshman who combined to go 5-for-5 on extra points, with no FGs attempted.

ok, screw it. adding these...

Under (56.5) 1X
1Q under (12.5) 1X

 

[ejthree]

thank you. i also use the info from the action network. but i find all this info unreliable. i try to verify as much as i can. lots of guys in the portal will still end up playing. also not on the list, but in the portal, is USA kicker Laith Marjan.

ok, i'm going with the assumption that gideon and west are playing, since i can't find anything to the contrary. i'm going to wait until tomorrow to actually put my bets in, just in case any more info comes to light. (right after i typed that, i took a look at the line and see it's down to 8.5. sooo... yeah, i may re-think that.)

WMU is 28th in the country in rushing (5.02 yards/att). USA allows 4.1 (66th).

USA picks up 5.64 yards/rush (9th in the country). however, that is due in large to to... you guessed it... fluff bothwell.
WMU allows 4.84 (102nd).

USA 34th in passing(7.89/att). WMU allows 8.2 (118th).
WMU gains 7.55 yards/att (54th) while USA allows 7.54 (92nd).

slight motivational edge to WMU, as it's their first bowl game since 2021, while USA is playing in their 3rd straight. plus USA only got to travel across alabama.

WMU relies on the ground game (why the availability of gideon and west is so big). they have 3 RBs with over 100 carries, and all 3 average at least 5.5/carry. and wolff has been solid through the air, and a porous USA pass defense should give him opportunities as well. WMU should be able to move the ball.

the loss of fluff bothwell (yes, i'm using that name as much as possible, because it's AWESOME) is huge going up against a suspect WMU run defense. bullock is fine, and may have a solid game, but he's no fluff bothwell. and the health of lopez is a big question mark, as USA tries to take advantage of a weak WMU pass defense.

some rain is expected a few hours before kickoff. the cramton bowl features artificial turf though, so shouldn't be a factor. however... they are also expecting some wind. not consistent, but 17 mph gusts. that's worth keeping an eye on, but may favor the team that can run the ball and has the more reliable kicker (if marjan isn't playing).

FWIW (probably nothing, but mildly interesting), both teams played one of the better teams in the opponent's conference. USA lost at Ohio 27-20 and WMU lost at Marshall, also 27-20.

any time i can get a dog that should be able to run the ball (and just move the ball in general), i'll take it.

WMU (+8.5) 5X
WMU (+270) 2X
WMU TT over 23.5 2.3 to win 2

Let's get this Party started Smitty...

 

[Smitty]

Let's get this Party started Smitty...

backup qbs fuck me Every. Single. Time.