NCAA Bowl Ponderings and Plays Thread

You too Mac! Merry Christmas to you and yours, and BOL this weekend!

4* Miami FL +4 over TEXAS A&M - Got a verrrrry favorable line from my local book. As with Alabama, the Hurricanes will be out to prove they belong here after being the last team selected for the CFP. Both teams are stout defensively, but I think the 'Canes might be a little better in the trenches, and they've won their last four games by a combined score of 151-41. Obviously the Aggies will provide a sterner test, but they're just 2-4 ATS at home this season, and their season ending loss at Texas cost them a shot at the SEC title and a first round bye in the CFP. I like the 'Canes for two reasons; first, Carson Beck has been on the big stage before with Georgia, and that big game experience MAY give him an edge over Marcel Reed. Secondly, if DE Reuben Bain can recapture his dominant form he showed early in the season, he might be the best player on the field. Word has it that when asked about Bain an A&M player said something to the effect, "He's not a problem. We ain't worried about him." Talk about poking the bear! I have a feeling Bain is gonna be a "problem" in this game. Miami wins outright, 24-16.

Alabama sucks big time. They're making Oklahoma look a lot better than they are. Neither one of these teams can beat the Hoosiers.

What a turn of events! Still not impressed with either team. I'm not stepping in front of Cignetti no matter who wins this game.

3* Alabama +1'   

On to Pasadena! Initial lean is on Indiana -6. But will the Heisman Trophy jinx come into play? Last season all four bye teams lost. Are we in for more chaos this year? Hmmm....

@Boisestateand8

 Indiana -6 (if that is my line) will be my biggest play maybe ever. 

Mah man @Boisestateand8

-6 is what they said on ABC. Can't imagine it staying there. I was thinking it would be more like -10 or -11.

I'm seeing Indy -6'. 

OLE MISS -17' Tulane - As much as I'd like for the little guys to win today, that 45-10 beatdown back in September still resonates. I was on the Rebels that day at -12 and they won the stats by 266 yards. The gap has widened between the Power Four and the Group of Five thanks to the transfer portal and NIL money, and the line in this game reflects that. I'll be rooting for the Green Wave here, but I'm not stepping in front of Trinidad Chambliss and Ole Miss. I'm also not laying 17 and a hook. Pass.

OREGON -20' James Madison - Wet weather COULD be in the forecast for this game, which would be par for the course this time of year in Eugene. Personally I hate the Ducks and I'll be rooting hard for the Dukes to pull off a huge upset,  but I'm not betting on it. Oregon has played a much tougher schedule in the Big Ten than JMU has faced in the Sun Belt. If the Ducks get rolling early I doubt the Dukes can keep up. But I'm not about to lay three TDs. 

Only one play today and that's on the 'Canes. The current line in that game is down to +3. I feel very fortunate to have gotten +4. BOL to one and all!

4* Miami +4  

Early quarterfinal playoff lines:

Cotton Bowl: Ohio St. -9' Miami

Rose Bowl: Indiana -6' Alabama 

Sugar Bowl: Georgia -6' Ole Miss

Orange Bowl: Oregon -1' Texas Tech

Hmmmm

@Boisestateand8

 Red Raiders are my pick to win the Natty.

I took them in a playoff pool I'm in. Got them beating Georgia.  I hit all four first round games so I'm off to a good start!

Red Raiders.....

GL 

3* HAWAII -1' over California - I don't wanna read too much into the common opponents angle, but the Rainbow Warriors beat two teams (Stanford and San Diego St.) that CRUSHED the Golden Bears. Bottom line, Hawaii is 6-1 SU and 6-0 ATS and ITS on the Island. 38-28, HAWAII!

MERRY CHRISTMAS to one and all and BOL this week! Cheers!