Play: South Carolina +2 -105
Time: 1 p.m. ET
Reasoning: The Gamecocks finished 2013 with a better record against a tougher schedule, including wins over top-10 opponents Missouri and Clemson, which they destroyed 31-17 in their last game. South Carolina QB Connor Shaw had a heck of a season (21 TDs, 1 INT) and the Gamecocks are much more balanced on offense than Wisconsin. The Badgers stepped back bowl-wise this year after three straight Rose Bowls. But that might be a good thing because they lost all three of those contests. Wisconsin also failed to cover in its last two games.
Play: Michigan State/Stanford over 42.5 -105
Time: 5 p.m. ET
Reasoning: These defenses are great, but this is an easy number to cover for a couple of explosive offenses. Combined, these teams averaged 63 points per game. Cardinal RB Tyler Gaffney finished the season with 20 TDs and he'll face a Spartans defense missing the best linebacker in the Big 10, Max Bullough, after he was suspended for this one. Another guy who can put points on the board for Stanford is WR/KR Ty Montgomery, who scored 10 times and averaged 31.2 yards per kickoff return. Both offenses are extrmely balanced and difficult to prepare for. Michigan State boasts RB Jeremy Langford (17 TDs) and QB Connor Cook (20 TDs, 5 INT).
Record: 2-0
Tuesday, December 31, 2013
Tuesday, December 24, 2013
Christmas Day NBA
Play: Houston/San Antonio under 209.5 -110
Time: 8 p.m. ET
Reasoning: This is the highest point total the Spurs have seen this season. They give up just 95.5 points per game and their games average 198.8 total points. Here they will get a Rockets team that may be without James Harden (ankle), who averages 23.9 ppg. Either way, Harden should be limited, and Houston will definitely be without point guard Patrick Beverley (hand surgery). He'll be out 4-6 weeks. San Antonio has no such injuries, and if the Spurs get out to a good-sized lead I expect them to slow things down. Both teams are above average in defensive rebounding and the Rockets are horrible from the free-throw line: 69.6 percent.
Record: 1-0
Time: 8 p.m. ET
Reasoning: This is the highest point total the Spurs have seen this season. They give up just 95.5 points per game and their games average 198.8 total points. Here they will get a Rockets team that may be without James Harden (ankle), who averages 23.9 ppg. Either way, Harden should be limited, and Houston will definitely be without point guard Patrick Beverley (hand surgery). He'll be out 4-6 weeks. San Antonio has no such injuries, and if the Spurs get out to a good-sized lead I expect them to slow things down. Both teams are above average in defensive rebounding and the Rockets are horrible from the free-throw line: 69.6 percent.
Record: 1-0
Friday, December 20, 2013
Saturday's NCAAF play
Play: Louisiana-Lafayette +2 -104
Time: 9 p.m. ET
Reasoning: The Ragin' Cajuns killed the Green Wave 41-13 last season. And, while this is on Tulane's home field, there shouldn't be too much home cooking, since La.-Lafayette won the last two New Orleans Bowls. The Green Wave has dropped three of four. Even if dual-threat QB Terrance Broadway can't go, Lafayette has a capable backup in Brooks Haack. Tulane just doesn't have the horses to stay with the Cajuns offensively. The Green Wave scored 17 or fewer points in four of its last five games and didn't register 200 yards in two of those contests. And it likely will be playing with a limited Nick Montana, and, even if he's ready to go, he still completed just 53.1 percent of his passes this season.
Record: 0-0
Time: 9 p.m. ET
Reasoning: The Ragin' Cajuns killed the Green Wave 41-13 last season. And, while this is on Tulane's home field, there shouldn't be too much home cooking, since La.-Lafayette won the last two New Orleans Bowls. The Green Wave has dropped three of four. Even if dual-threat QB Terrance Broadway can't go, Lafayette has a capable backup in Brooks Haack. Tulane just doesn't have the horses to stay with the Cajuns offensively. The Green Wave scored 17 or fewer points in four of its last five games and didn't register 200 yards in two of those contests. And it likely will be playing with a limited Nick Montana, and, even if he's ready to go, he still completed just 53.1 percent of his passes this season.
Record: 0-0
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