- Nov 28, 2007
- 8,587
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SERVICE PLAYS FOR SAT. 12/29
- Thread starter GIANTS007
- Start date
I just put my house on it. THANKS!!!:mj07: :142smilie :mj07: :142smilie :mj07:
JK, GL Roqqin Supastud Playa!:0corn :00hour :scared
I appreciate the confidence...and a good laugh is what I needed. I'm sure since I busted your chops we'll both cash and I can move with the hillbillies to Beverly.
Seriously, GL Riq...and don't ever stop, brotha.:00hour
Seriously, GL Riq...and don't ever stop, brotha.:00hour
- Nov 28, 2007
- 8,587
- 18
- 0
- Nov 28, 2007
- 8,587
- 18
- 0
HIT WAKE AND UNDER ALREADY ...HAVE MISS ST AND UNDER PENDING....TONIGHT WE SHALL FINALLY SEE SOME SCORING:00hour :00hour :00hour :142smilie
Jeff Benton
Saturday's winners ...
30 Dime: PENN STATE (minus the points vs. Texas A&M) - Alamo Bowl
15 Dime: PATRIOTS (minus the points vs. Giants) - NFL
5 Dime: MISSISSIPPI STATE (plus the points vs. Central Florida) - Liberty Bowl
5 Dime: ARIZONA (plus the points Memphis) - College Hoops
Penn State
Flat-out, this is going to be one of THE biggest beat-downs of the entire bowl season. Why this pointspread is as low as it is beyond me. Actually, no, it?s not beyond me; I understand it, because Penn State struggled to cover numbers this year, going 5-7 ATS overall, including 3-7 ATS in the last 10, while Texas A&M closed out the regular season with an upset win over highly-ranked Texas. But all that means is we?re getting incredible value in the line with a vastly superior team, especially defensively. (More on that in a second.)
Let me start by bashing Texas A&M. In the span of a little more than two months, the Aggies went from 3-0 and a Top 20 ranking to 7-5 with a slew of bad losses that led to coach Dennis Franchione?s forced resignation. And as the competition got tougher, the Aggies struggled greatly. For a prime example of this, study the rushing stats for the Aggies, who are as one-dimensional an offensive team as you can get. Through the first eight games, A&M averaged 260 rushing yards per game (5.3 per carry), but in their final four games (all against ranked foes), they were limited to 127 rushing ypg (3.4 per carry).
Well, lookie here, the Aggies face another ranked foe that features a top-flight defense. Penn State, which went 8-4 on the season, gave up just 17.6 points and 306 total yards per game, including 88 rushing ypg!
Speaking of defenses, Texas A&M?s was a mess all season long, surrendering 26 points and more than 415 yards per game. In their final three games, the Aggies yielded a total of 112 points. And while they did get past Texas 38-30 in the regular-season finale, you have to note three things: 1) the Longhorns, in my opinion, were overrated (they nearly lost to Arkansas State and Central Florida early in the year, and got blown out by Kansas State); 2) it was rivalry game; and 3) Franchione told his players before the game that he was resigning, giving the Aggies added motivation.
Well, with Franchione gone (he?s not coaching this game), I have to ask: Where?s the motivation tonight for the Aggies? Besides, just look at the results of Texas A&M?s last two bowl games: 45-10 loss to Cal in last year?s Holiday Bowl and 38-7 loss to Tennessee in the 2004 Cotton Bowl!
Guys, Penn State?s season wasn?t what it could?ve or should?ve been, no doubt about that. But one thing we know about the Nittany Lions: They come to play when bowl time rolls around. Joe Paterno?s stellar 22-10-1 bowl record (20-9-1 ATS) is proof positive of that! Last year, Penn State steamrolled Tennessee 20-10 as an underdog in the Outback Bowl, and that Tennessee squad was in much better shape than this Texas A&M unit.
Bottom line: I expect this one to get real ugly, real fast. Penn State rolls by at least two TDs.
Patriots
There was only one way on God?s green earth that I was going against the Patriots in this game ? and even then it was a long shot: If Giants coach Tom Coughlin guaranteed he was going to play his starters all 60 minutes and if nasty weather was going to hit The Meadowlands, especially high winds to hamper the Pats? passing attack. Well, Coughlin has issued no such guarantee (and I don?t blame him), and the forecast for Giants Stadium tonight is for crystal clear and calm conditions.
That?s enough to get me to lay the chalk with Bill Belichick?s juggernaut!
Hey, I?m not saying the Giants are going to lay down like dogs ? I?m sure the players would love to win this game and spoil New England?s perfect season. But Coughlin would be a total fool if he exposed his key personnel in this completely meaningless contest. Hell, he?d be a total fool if he didn?t spend the bulk of practice time this week preparing for the Bucanneers, who will host the Giants in a wild-card playoff game next week. To do anything otherwise would be a disservice to his employer.
Now, you could apply the exact same argument to Belichick and the Pats. Like New York, they have bigger fish to fry, and it would be shame if a Tom Brady or a Randy Moss suffered a serious injury in this inconsequential game. But come on, it?s not every day that you get a chance to complete a perfect 16-0 season and capture some additional records along the way (Brady is two TD passes away from passing Peyton Manning?s single-season record; Moss is two TD receptions from shattering Jerry Rice?s single season TD reception mark). So of course New England will go all out to win this game ? and if I know Belichick like I think I do, he?ll go all out to win it in dominating fashion, just to place an exclamation point on the season and send a message to the rest of this year?s playoff teams. Yes, he?s THAT arrogant.
Besides, just look at what these two teams have done at home and on the road this year. The Giants are 3-8-1 ATS in their last 12 home games; they?ve been outscored by an average of three points per game at home this year (24-21); and they?ve lost three straight at Giants Stadium to the Cowboys, Vikings and Redskins, getting doubled on the scoreboard (94-47) in the process.
New England, meanwhile, is obviously unbeaten in its seven road games, going 5-2 ATS. The only non-covers: at Indianapolis (we all remember that game) and at Baltimore (we all remember the horrific weather conditions in that one). Going back several seasons, the Pats are on a 30-12-1 ATS run on the road, going 12-3 ATS in their last 15 as a road favorite. Also, New England has actually been more explosive on the road this year (39 ppg) than at home.
In the end, look for New England to play its starters for AT LEAST three quarters (if not the entire way) and look for them to enter the postseason by making the following emphatic statement: ?Any chumps out there who think they can derail our 19-0 Super Bowl-winning season, FAT CHANCE!?
Patriots by 24-plus.
Mississippi State
Normally, I?m the first guy to jump on these small-school teams when they face teams from BCS conferences in bowl games. I always believe the little guys are out to prove they can play with the big boys, while the big boys think it?s beneath them to be playing a bowl game against the Central Florida?s of the world.
However, I?m bucking my usual trend in this contest, because this particular big boy (Mississippi State) is every bit as thrilled to play in this game as UCF is. The Bulldogs haven?t appeared in a postseason contest since back in 2000, or back when some of the players in this game were in junior high! So you can be sure that Mississippi State doesn?t think UCF is ?beneath them.?
At the same time, though, the Bulldogs undoubtedly will take the field with a chip on their shoulder, as I?m sure they?ve spent this week saying to each other: ?Wait a second. We?re an SEC team. We beat not one, but TWO, Top 20 teams this year (Auburn and Kentucky). And we?re an UNDERDOG to a team from Conference USA ? a team that didn?t even have a Division I-A football program 13 years ago? We?ll show them!?
Listen, George O?Leary has done a phenomenal job with UCF over the last three years, and he?s got some legitimate players, especially stud RB Kevin Smith, who leads the nation in rushing. But let?s be real here: UCF is still a Conference USA team with, by and large, Conference USA talent. And such a team shouldn?t be favored against an SEC opponent, especially one that made great strides this year ? especially when you consider that UCF is 1-12 all-time against the SEC! On top of that, the Knights are 9-24-1 ATS in their last 34 games outside Conference USA.
Mississippi State, which ended the regular season on a 3-1 run, has excelled in this underdog price range in recent years (9-3-1 ATS in their last 13 when catching three points or less). And I expect the Bulldogs, who have the defense to contain Smith, to excel again. Look for an outright ?upset,? but grab the points just to be safe.
Arizona
I?m aware that Memphis is undefeated through 10 games. I?m aware of Memphis? 37-game home winning streak. And I?m aware of how impressive the second-ranked Tigers looked in last Saturday?s 14-point rout of then-No. 5 Georgetown. But prior to that victory, Memphis had struggled to cover inflated pointspreads (2-6 ATS overall, 0-4 ATS at home), and there?s little doubt that this is an inflated spread, mostly because of what the Tigers did to the Hoyas seven days ago. So right away, there?s value on 17th-ranked Arizona ? good value, too.
But more than just value, I love the Wildcats here because they will be prepared to play this game and won?t be intimidated by the environment. That?s because Arizona (9-2) is one of the few major powers that doesn?t fatten up on a bunch of cupcakes during the non-conference season. Already this year, the Wildcats have played road games at Kansas and at Illinois, plus a home game against then-ninth-ranked Texas A&M. And here?s how they fared in those three contests: They rallied to beat Illinois, they hammered Texas A&M 78-67 as a 2?-point favorite, and they lost 76-72 at Kansas in overtime as a 13-point underdog.
Well, if you ask me, I think Kansas is much more talented than Memphis. And I?m absolutely certain playing in cozy, cramped Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence is more intimidating than playing at the FedEx Forum in Memphis.
Trust me, Arizona, which has won six straight games since the Kansas loss, has the athletes to run with Memphis in this game. They proved it last year when they beat the Tigers 79-71 as a 7?-point home favorite. And they?ll prove it again here, not only staying within this ridiculously inflated number, but challenging for the outright upset.
Arizona is the play.
Saturday's winners ...
30 Dime: PENN STATE (minus the points vs. Texas A&M) - Alamo Bowl
15 Dime: PATRIOTS (minus the points vs. Giants) - NFL
5 Dime: MISSISSIPPI STATE (plus the points vs. Central Florida) - Liberty Bowl
5 Dime: ARIZONA (plus the points Memphis) - College Hoops
Penn State
Flat-out, this is going to be one of THE biggest beat-downs of the entire bowl season. Why this pointspread is as low as it is beyond me. Actually, no, it?s not beyond me; I understand it, because Penn State struggled to cover numbers this year, going 5-7 ATS overall, including 3-7 ATS in the last 10, while Texas A&M closed out the regular season with an upset win over highly-ranked Texas. But all that means is we?re getting incredible value in the line with a vastly superior team, especially defensively. (More on that in a second.)
Let me start by bashing Texas A&M. In the span of a little more than two months, the Aggies went from 3-0 and a Top 20 ranking to 7-5 with a slew of bad losses that led to coach Dennis Franchione?s forced resignation. And as the competition got tougher, the Aggies struggled greatly. For a prime example of this, study the rushing stats for the Aggies, who are as one-dimensional an offensive team as you can get. Through the first eight games, A&M averaged 260 rushing yards per game (5.3 per carry), but in their final four games (all against ranked foes), they were limited to 127 rushing ypg (3.4 per carry).
Well, lookie here, the Aggies face another ranked foe that features a top-flight defense. Penn State, which went 8-4 on the season, gave up just 17.6 points and 306 total yards per game, including 88 rushing ypg!
Speaking of defenses, Texas A&M?s was a mess all season long, surrendering 26 points and more than 415 yards per game. In their final three games, the Aggies yielded a total of 112 points. And while they did get past Texas 38-30 in the regular-season finale, you have to note three things: 1) the Longhorns, in my opinion, were overrated (they nearly lost to Arkansas State and Central Florida early in the year, and got blown out by Kansas State); 2) it was rivalry game; and 3) Franchione told his players before the game that he was resigning, giving the Aggies added motivation.
Well, with Franchione gone (he?s not coaching this game), I have to ask: Where?s the motivation tonight for the Aggies? Besides, just look at the results of Texas A&M?s last two bowl games: 45-10 loss to Cal in last year?s Holiday Bowl and 38-7 loss to Tennessee in the 2004 Cotton Bowl!
Guys, Penn State?s season wasn?t what it could?ve or should?ve been, no doubt about that. But one thing we know about the Nittany Lions: They come to play when bowl time rolls around. Joe Paterno?s stellar 22-10-1 bowl record (20-9-1 ATS) is proof positive of that! Last year, Penn State steamrolled Tennessee 20-10 as an underdog in the Outback Bowl, and that Tennessee squad was in much better shape than this Texas A&M unit.
Bottom line: I expect this one to get real ugly, real fast. Penn State rolls by at least two TDs.
Patriots
There was only one way on God?s green earth that I was going against the Patriots in this game ? and even then it was a long shot: If Giants coach Tom Coughlin guaranteed he was going to play his starters all 60 minutes and if nasty weather was going to hit The Meadowlands, especially high winds to hamper the Pats? passing attack. Well, Coughlin has issued no such guarantee (and I don?t blame him), and the forecast for Giants Stadium tonight is for crystal clear and calm conditions.
That?s enough to get me to lay the chalk with Bill Belichick?s juggernaut!
Hey, I?m not saying the Giants are going to lay down like dogs ? I?m sure the players would love to win this game and spoil New England?s perfect season. But Coughlin would be a total fool if he exposed his key personnel in this completely meaningless contest. Hell, he?d be a total fool if he didn?t spend the bulk of practice time this week preparing for the Bucanneers, who will host the Giants in a wild-card playoff game next week. To do anything otherwise would be a disservice to his employer.
Now, you could apply the exact same argument to Belichick and the Pats. Like New York, they have bigger fish to fry, and it would be shame if a Tom Brady or a Randy Moss suffered a serious injury in this inconsequential game. But come on, it?s not every day that you get a chance to complete a perfect 16-0 season and capture some additional records along the way (Brady is two TD passes away from passing Peyton Manning?s single-season record; Moss is two TD receptions from shattering Jerry Rice?s single season TD reception mark). So of course New England will go all out to win this game ? and if I know Belichick like I think I do, he?ll go all out to win it in dominating fashion, just to place an exclamation point on the season and send a message to the rest of this year?s playoff teams. Yes, he?s THAT arrogant.
Besides, just look at what these two teams have done at home and on the road this year. The Giants are 3-8-1 ATS in their last 12 home games; they?ve been outscored by an average of three points per game at home this year (24-21); and they?ve lost three straight at Giants Stadium to the Cowboys, Vikings and Redskins, getting doubled on the scoreboard (94-47) in the process.
New England, meanwhile, is obviously unbeaten in its seven road games, going 5-2 ATS. The only non-covers: at Indianapolis (we all remember that game) and at Baltimore (we all remember the horrific weather conditions in that one). Going back several seasons, the Pats are on a 30-12-1 ATS run on the road, going 12-3 ATS in their last 15 as a road favorite. Also, New England has actually been more explosive on the road this year (39 ppg) than at home.
In the end, look for New England to play its starters for AT LEAST three quarters (if not the entire way) and look for them to enter the postseason by making the following emphatic statement: ?Any chumps out there who think they can derail our 19-0 Super Bowl-winning season, FAT CHANCE!?
Patriots by 24-plus.
Mississippi State
Normally, I?m the first guy to jump on these small-school teams when they face teams from BCS conferences in bowl games. I always believe the little guys are out to prove they can play with the big boys, while the big boys think it?s beneath them to be playing a bowl game against the Central Florida?s of the world.
However, I?m bucking my usual trend in this contest, because this particular big boy (Mississippi State) is every bit as thrilled to play in this game as UCF is. The Bulldogs haven?t appeared in a postseason contest since back in 2000, or back when some of the players in this game were in junior high! So you can be sure that Mississippi State doesn?t think UCF is ?beneath them.?
At the same time, though, the Bulldogs undoubtedly will take the field with a chip on their shoulder, as I?m sure they?ve spent this week saying to each other: ?Wait a second. We?re an SEC team. We beat not one, but TWO, Top 20 teams this year (Auburn and Kentucky). And we?re an UNDERDOG to a team from Conference USA ? a team that didn?t even have a Division I-A football program 13 years ago? We?ll show them!?
Listen, George O?Leary has done a phenomenal job with UCF over the last three years, and he?s got some legitimate players, especially stud RB Kevin Smith, who leads the nation in rushing. But let?s be real here: UCF is still a Conference USA team with, by and large, Conference USA talent. And such a team shouldn?t be favored against an SEC opponent, especially one that made great strides this year ? especially when you consider that UCF is 1-12 all-time against the SEC! On top of that, the Knights are 9-24-1 ATS in their last 34 games outside Conference USA.
Mississippi State, which ended the regular season on a 3-1 run, has excelled in this underdog price range in recent years (9-3-1 ATS in their last 13 when catching three points or less). And I expect the Bulldogs, who have the defense to contain Smith, to excel again. Look for an outright ?upset,? but grab the points just to be safe.
Arizona
I?m aware that Memphis is undefeated through 10 games. I?m aware of Memphis? 37-game home winning streak. And I?m aware of how impressive the second-ranked Tigers looked in last Saturday?s 14-point rout of then-No. 5 Georgetown. But prior to that victory, Memphis had struggled to cover inflated pointspreads (2-6 ATS overall, 0-4 ATS at home), and there?s little doubt that this is an inflated spread, mostly because of what the Tigers did to the Hoyas seven days ago. So right away, there?s value on 17th-ranked Arizona ? good value, too.
But more than just value, I love the Wildcats here because they will be prepared to play this game and won?t be intimidated by the environment. That?s because Arizona (9-2) is one of the few major powers that doesn?t fatten up on a bunch of cupcakes during the non-conference season. Already this year, the Wildcats have played road games at Kansas and at Illinois, plus a home game against then-ninth-ranked Texas A&M. And here?s how they fared in those three contests: They rallied to beat Illinois, they hammered Texas A&M 78-67 as a 2?-point favorite, and they lost 76-72 at Kansas in overtime as a 13-point underdog.
Well, if you ask me, I think Kansas is much more talented than Memphis. And I?m absolutely certain playing in cozy, cramped Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence is more intimidating than playing at the FedEx Forum in Memphis.
Trust me, Arizona, which has won six straight games since the Kansas loss, has the athletes to run with Memphis in this game. They proved it last year when they beat the Tigers 79-71 as a 7?-point home favorite. And they?ll prove it again here, not only staying within this ridiculously inflated number, but challenging for the outright upset.
Arizona is the play.
Hmmmmmmmmm Look like 3 - 0... Again there are some good faders out there IC just isn't one of them.
