[Tommy]

2010-11 College Football Bowls

Saturday, December 18, 2010


New Mexico Bowl

BYU Cougars vs. UTEP Miners 2:00 ET

Odds: BYU -10½ | Total 49½

BYU played in Las Vegas Bowl last five years, can't believe they'd be a lot happier playing in Albuquerque on field of former MWC rival, place they won last three visits by 3-7-5 points. Cougars played Pac-10 team in all those Vegas Bowls, now they're opposing UTEP squad that is in a bowl for first time since 2005 (Price is 0-2 in bowls at UTEP, losing by 33-28/45-13 scores. UTEP's last bowl win was 1967.

BYU was 2-5 after losing 31-3 to TCU in mid-October, then finished on 4-1 roll behind freshman QB Heaps- they outscored last four opponents 99-0 in first half. Cougars covered six of last seven, are 4-2 as a favorite this year. UTEP has extra week since their last game; Miners are in bowl despite losing five of last six games; oddly, their only win in six games on road was 38-20 (-15) here October 2. MWC favorites are 8-4 vs spread in non-conference games. C-USA underdogs are 14-14. Underdog is 3-1 vs spread in New Mexico Bowl, with MWC teams winning last three.


Humanitarian Bowl

Northern Illinois Huskies vs. Fresno St. Bulldogs 5:30 ET

Odds: Northern Illinois -2 | Total 57½

Northern Illinois dominated the MAC this year, but got upset in MAC title game, then coach Kill bolted for Minnesota; Huskies lost at Iowa St 27-10, 28-22 at Illinois outside the MAC- they crushed MAC foes, but Fresno beat Illinois 25-23 in season finale, also beat Cincinnati from BCS league. NIU lost its last three bowls by combined score of 81-20. This is a road game for them, playing on home field of a WAC team.

Fresno State is 2-0 in bowls on the blue turf; its always easier playing on this field if you're not playing Boise State, but those are Bulldogs' only two wins in last five bowl games. Underdogs covered last seven Fresno bowls, with Bulldogs 4-0 in last four tries as bowl dog. Fresno has senior QB and three senior starters on OL. Underdog is 3-0 vs spread last three times there was a favorite in Humanitarian Bowl, with average total last three years 76.7.


New Orleans Bowl

Ohio Bobcats vs. Troy Trojans 9:00 ET

Odds: Troy -3 | Total 57

Troy State is 1-3 in bowl games, losing last two years in OT; they split pair of appearances in this bowl game. Trojans had unusually rough year, losing 34-33 at UAB (led 23-7 at half), then losing 28-14 at UL-Monroe and 52-35 at FIU, but they showed their potential in 41-38 loss at really good Oklahoma State team, but they got crushed 69-24 late in season at South Carolina. Troy got lot of production from redshirt freshman QB. .

Ohio U is 0-4 in bowl games, Solich is 2-5 (was HC at Nebraska after Osborne); Bobcats won seven games in row, were in line to go to MAC title game before getting upset 28-6 at Kent in season finale. Ohio is 1-3 outside the MAC, beating Sun Belt doormat ULL 38-31 (outgained 471-414). Average total in last five New Orleans Bowls is 62; game is in dome, so weather isn't an issue. Sun Belt teams, who are excited just get on TV, won this game three of last four years.


Info by Armadillo Sports. Odds at 5Dimes (Subject to change).

[Tommy]

New Mexico Bowl - University Stadium - Albuquerque, NM
UTEP vs. BYU, 2:00 PM ET

UTEP: 6-16 ATS playing with rest
BYU: 13-3 Under on neutral field


Humanitarian Bowl - Bronco Stadium - Boise ID
N ILLINOIS vs. FRESNO ST, 5:30 PM ET

N ILLINOIS: 7-1 ATS after the first month of the season
FRESNO ST: 3-13 ATS after having won 2 out of their last 3 games


New Orleans Bowl - Superdome - New Orleans, LA
OHIO U vs. TROY, 9:00 PM ET

OHIO U: 13-5 ATS after the first month of the season
TROY: 10-2 UNDER after a bye week

[Tommy]

TEXAS EL PASO vs. BYU

The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Texas El Paso's last 6 games.
Texas El Paso is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games.
BYU is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games.
The total has gone UNDER in 9 of BYU's last 12 games.


NORTHERN ILLINOIS vs. FRESNO STATE

Northern Illinois is 9-1-1 ATS in its last 11 games.
Northern Illinois is 9-1 SU in its last 10 games.
Fresno State is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games.


OHIO vs. TROY

Ohio is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games.
Troy is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games.
Troy is 16-7 SU in its last 23 games.

[Tommy]

Ohio vs. Troy

The Bobcats look to build on their 7-1 ATS record in their last 8 games as an underdog. Ohio is the pick (+1 1/2) according to Dunkel, which has the Bobcats favored by 1 1/2.

Dunkel Pick: Ohio (+1 1/2).

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 18

Game 201-202: UTEP vs. BYU (2:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: UTEP 74.748; BYU 88.917
Dunkel Line: BYU by 14; 46
Vegas Line: BYU by 11 1/2; 50
Dunkel Pick: BYU (-11 1/2); Under

Game 203-204: Northern Illinois vs. Fresno State (5:30 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Northern Illinois 89.642; Fresno State 90.650
Dunkel Line: Fresno State by 1; 62
Vegas Line: Northern Illinois by 1 1/2; 59
Dunkel Pick: Fresno State (+1 1/2); Over

Game 205-206: Ohio vs. Troy (9:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Ohio 79.142; Troy 77.734
Dunkel Line: Ohio by 1 1/2; 52
Vegas Line: Troy by 1 1/2; 58
Dunkel Pick: Ohio (+1 1/2); Under

[Tommy]

B-Y-U (6-6) vs. Texas-El Paso (6-6)

GAME NOTES: A couple of .500 programs kick off the 2010 bowl season this weekend, as the BYU Cougars clash with the Miners of Texas-El Paso in the fifth annual New Mexico Bowl in Albuquerque.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Texas-El Paso 41, BYU 24


Northern Illinois (10-3) vs. Fresno State (8-4)

GAME NOTES: The 14th annual Humanitarian Bowl brings back a familiar face in the Fresno State Bulldogs who will be taking on the Northern Illinois Huskies this weekend in Boise, Idaho.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Fresno State 31, Northern Illinois 23


Ohio U (8-4) vs. Troy (7-5)

GAME NOTES: Troy will make its third straight bowl appearance this Saturday, when the Trojans take on the Ohio University Bobcats in the New Orleans Bowl from the Louisiana Superdome.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Troy 31, Ohio University 20