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December 26th, 2010 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

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The playoff picture in the NFC has gotten very, very interesting for Monday Night Football this week, and it all wraps up with a clash between the New Orleans Saints and the Atlanta Falcons. These two teams certainly do not like each other, and they played a fantastic duel the first time around in Week 4. K Garrett Hartley missed a chip shot field goal attempt in overtime that would have won the game and put the NFC South at a deadlock. Now, with a two game edge, the Falcons have a chance to put a stranglehold on the conference. Check out our Monday Night Football picks for one of the biggest games of the year!

Matchup: New Orleans Saints @ Atlanta Falcons
Date: Monday, December 27th, 8:30 ET
Location: Georgia Dome, Atlanta, GA
Game Line: Atlanta -2.5
Over/Under 49.5

Saints Notes: With the Tampa Bay Buccaneers winning this week, the pressure is really on the Saints, who know that they need to win this game to avoid what could be a do or die duel against the visiting Bucs next week at the Superdome. Winning this one still leaves a chance there to win the NFC South and the No. 1 overall seed in the conference. Two very notable injuries really could be harmful to the offense's efforts. WR Robert Meachem is the lesser known injury, as he suddenly popped up on the injury report with a toe injury. RB Chris Ivory really needs to get into the fold again, as he has become a critical part of the running game with both RB Reggie Bush and RB Pierre Thomas missing a good chunk of the season. Now, Ivory is the one that is down with a hamstring injury that cost him last week's loss against the Baltimore Ravens. Meanwhile, QB Drew Brees is once again going to have all the pressure in the world on his back. He has already thrown the ball 571 times this year, and he has 4,122 yards and 31 TDs this year. The problem he has is that he has also thrown 19 picks, one of the highest totals in the NFL. WR Marques Colston is the top target for Brees on the year. He has caught 82 passes for 1,002 yards and seven TDs. WR Lance Moore has been the unsung hero as the slot receiver. He has 56 grabs for 662 yards, and he leads the team with eight trips to the end zone on offense. Defensively, allowing at least 27 points three times over the course of the last four weeks really leaves some room for pessimism against one of the best teams that the league has to offer.

Falcons Notes: The equation for the Falcons is simple. They need to win this game or win next week against the Carolina Panthers to snare the top seed in the NFC South. This task really shouldn't be all that difficult considering the fact that QB Matt Ryan has only been beaten once in his career at home. The numbers here just aren't that impressive, as it isn't often that you see a team that is 12-2 that averages 349.4 yards per game and is allowing 332.9 yards per game. Both numbers are very middling in relation to the rest of the league, but the job is still getting done when push comes to shove. Ryan has a lot of great help at his disposal this year, but we can't discount the job that he has done. The former Boston College Eagle has thrown for 3,321 yards and 25 touchdowns this season. RB Michael Turner ran wild on the Saints the first time around in one of his five 100+ yard games on the ground this year. He has 1,256 yards and 11 TDs this year, and he is certainly one of the most used running backs in the NFL. WR Roddy White is arguably the best receiver in the league this year. He has 106 receptions, 1,284 yards, and eight TDs. Don't forget about TE Tony Gonzalez, though. The future Hall of Famer has caught 62 passes for 591 yards and five TDs. Defensively, the secondary has had its moments of failure for the second straight season, but the pass rush this year really has been great. DE John Abraham has picked up 12 sacks this year, and he is well on his way to being one of the top sack leaders in the game.

The Final Word: Atlanta really needs to just put this one away and just move on to the playoffs. The Saints are a solid team, but they really are up against it in this one. As they found out last week at the Ravens, winning on the road in this league is very, very difficult. The task of stopping the Falcons at the Georgia Dome is darn near impossible, though. Atlanta really did outplay New Orleans at the Superdome three months ago, and we wouldn't be surprised if we have the exact same result again on Monday.

Free Pro Football Picks: Atlanta -2.5
Prediction: Atlanta 27- New Orleans 17

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December 26th, 2010 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

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If you're a fan of good old fashion triple option football, the Independence Bowl is for you! The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets will take on the Air Force Falcons. These two teams basically mirror each other, and they will both have to find out how they can beat a team at their own game, something that neither team really does on a regular basis. We have all the ins and outs and news and notes for NCAA football betting fans to sink their teeth into for the Independence Bowl!

Independence Bowl Matchup: Air Force Falcons vs. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Date: Monday, December 27th, 5:00 ET
Location: Independence Stadium, Shreveport, LA
Independence Bowl Line: Air Force -2.5
Over/Under 56.5

Falcons Notes: The Falcons are going to potentially be at full strength for the first time in a couple months. The triple option assault really was never quite the same without RB Jared Tew, who broke his leg ten weeks ago, has worked hard and is back on a track to play on Monday night in Shreveport in what will be the last game in his career. The senior has only rushed for 540 yards and three TDs this year, but he would have easily been a 1,000+ yard rusher if not for his injury. Instead, RB Asher Clark got the job done, making it to 1,001 yards and five scores. The glue to the offense has been QB Tim Jefferson, Jr. The junior has really been the key man in this offense for about two and a half seasons and was really cut loose this year with a chance to shine. He threw for 1,342 yards and ten TDs, and he rushed for 769 yards and 15 scores. All of those numbers were a career high. This offense averaged 320.8 yards per game this year on the ground, good enough for No. 2 in the land. It also put together 32.2 points per game and dropped at least 35 points on the board in its last three. The defense has had some rough points this year. Down the stretch, the Falcons averaged 26.4 points per game, which was a far cry from the 16.4 points per game average from the first month and a half of the year. What we have to remember about the Falcons is that they played a very difficult schedule this year that included road games against the Oklahoma Sooners, San Diego State Aztecs, and TCU Horned Frogs, while the BYU Cougars, Navy Midshipmen, and Utah Utes all paid a visit to Colorado Springs.

Yellow Jackets Notes: A year after going to the Orange Bowl, the Ramblin' Wreck really just didn't live up to their potential. GT only went 6-6 this year and is lucky to be playing in a bowl game this year, especially after losing four of its last five games on the campaign. The big downfall came when QB Josh Nesbitt was knocked out for the season. Nesbitt wasn't having the type of stats this year that he was hoping for. He was thought to be a Heisman Trophy contender in this, his final campaign in the Peach State. Without the services of WR Demaryius Thomas, who was a first round choice in the NFL Draft of the Denver Broncos, Nesbitt never really had a chance to throw the ball all that much. He went just 39-of-105 for 674 yards with seven scores against four picks. Now, QB Tevin Washington has been called into duty just a tad prematurely. Washington is the man that was recruited by Head Coach Paul Johnson to be his second triple option quarterback, but if he doesn't pick it up from his first real attempts this year at trying to lead an offense, he is going to be in a lot of trouble. Washington rushed for 383 yards and threw for 376, accounting for six TDs. It also didn't help G-Tech that RB Jonathan Dwyer elected to go to the NFL this year, a real shock for a man that was once collecting accolades in the ACC year in and year out. Instead, RB Anthony Allen ran for 1,225 yards and six TDs on the year. Just as Air Force ranks No. 2 in the country on the ground, Georgia Tech is No. 1 at 327.2 yards per game. However, whereas the Falcons have already proven that they can stuff up the rushing attacks of fellow triple options, the Yellow Jackets ranked just No. 72 on the ground at 157.0 yards per game.

The Final Word: Georgia Tech really just didn't look good this year, especially with Washington under center. The team only beat two bowl teams this year, and the Middle Tennessee State Red Raiders and North Carolina Tar Heels don't provide the same type of challenge that the Falcons do. With Tew back in the lineup, Air Force really is that good of a team this year, and this might be a legitimate Top 25 team. The Falcons simply are the better team, and there is a reason why Georgia Tech was a two TD underdog against the Georgia Bulldogs.

Independence Bowl Free Pick: Air Force -2.5
Independence Bowl Prediction: Air Force 37 – Georgia Tech 27

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December 26th, 2010 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

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The Motor City hosts its first bowl game of the year this season on Sunday night in a standalone duel in primetime. Making college football picks on the clash between the Florida International Golden Panthers and the Toledo Rockets should be relatively easy, and here at Cappers Info, we have the ins and outs for the game that you need to know in order to be successful and cash in big!

Little Caesars Bowl Matchup: Florida International Golden Panthers vs. Toledo Rockets
Date: Sunday, December 64th, 8:30 ET
Location: Ford Field, Detroit, MI
Little Caesars Bowl Line: Toledo -1.5
Over/Under 56

Golden Panthers Notes: The Golden Panthers are playing in their first bowl game in team history on Sunday, and if they have the same sort of success in their first bowl game is their brethren, the Florida Atlantic Owls, they're going to be in great shape. We have to give Head Coach Mario Cristobal all the credit in the world for getting this team to .500 and winning the Sun Belt this year in a season in which many thought that this would be a last place team. Truth be told, a very difficult schedule really didn't play into the hands of the Golden Panthers, though they nearly claimed a scalp from a big time conference against the Maryland Terrapins, Texas A&M Aggies, and Rutgers Scarlet Knights. QB Wesley Carroll is the only many on this roster to have played in a bowl game before. He took the Mississippi State Bulldogs to the Liberty Bowl in 2007 and won the game 10-3 in one of the ugliest displays that we college football bettors have seen in a bowl game. Still, he can rally this team around and can show them that they have the ability to win this duel in spite of the fact that the Little Caesars Bowl odds are stacked against them. The Golden Panthers have a fantastic running game that once had three men rush for 100+ yards in a game against the Troy Trojans earlier this year. RB Darriet Perry rumbled for 707 yards and 14 scores this year, while his backup, RB Darrian Mallary had 669 yards on the ground with two scores. Meanwhile, Carroll did have the best season that an FIU QB has ever had, throwing for 2,483 yards and 15 TDs.

Rockets Notes: We'd probably feel a lot better about the Rockets if we didn't know that they were the last team to get into a bowl game this year. Their fellow MAC squad, the Temple Owls, were left home in spite of the fact that they had the exact same record at 8-4. Where Toledo gets the nod is the fact that it really stood in the face of adversity this season when it lost starting QB Austin Dantin. Since that point, the ball has been in the hands of QB Terrance Owens, who has played spectacular ball in his freshman campaign. Owens has thrown for 1,112 yards and 12 TDs, which is five scores more than Dantin had for the rest of the season. Keep a very close eye on WR Eric Page in this one, as he had 94 grabs for 1,081 yards and eight TDs in his second season with the Rockets. Page might only be 5'10", but he is a speedy receiver that has some fantastic hands. Page is averaging right at nine catches per game over the last nine games. RB Adonis Thomas averaged over six yards per carry this year, and it is a shame that he really doesn't get the ball in his hands enough to make a tremendous impact on some games. Still, Toledo's top back had 905 yards and visits to pay dirt this year. Defensively, the Rockets might have allowed 28.1 points per game this year, but if you take out the 41 the Arizona Wildcats scored and the 65 the Northern Illinois Huskies put on the board, you realize that this was a very respectable 'D' all season long.

The Final Word: The Golden Panthers might be the better team in this game in spite of the fact that they came from the worse conference and had a worse record. This was a significantly harder schedule that they had to play to get to this point, and it is going to show on Sunday night with a big time triumph over the Rockets.

Little Caesars Bowl Free Pick: Florida International +1.5
Little Caesars Bowl Prediction: Florida International 31 – Toledo 19

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December 24th, 2010 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

Enjoy a glass of holiday cheer from all of us at Cappers Info by enjoying some of the most hilarious moments in the history of mascots!

 

 

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December 23rd, 2010 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor
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For the second time this bowl season, a team will host its own game, as the Hawaii Warriors will take on the Tulsa Golden Hurricane over at Aloha Stadium on the Big Island. If you're a fan of offense, this is the game for you, as there is no doubt that these two teams are going to try to get up the field in a hurry. But which way will the Hawaii Bowl odds bounce on Christmas Eve? Check out our analysis of this duel the day before Christmas to give yourself an early gift under the tree.

Hawaii Bowl Matchup: Tulsa Golden Hurricane vs. Hawaii Warriors
Date: Friday, December 24th, 8:00 ET
Location: Aloha Stadium, Honolulu, HI
Hawaii Bowl Line: Hawaii -10
Over/Under 73

Golden Hurricane Notes: There aren't many team in the country that are as well rounded offensively as the Golden Hurricane. Tulsa is averaging 506.0 yards per game, good enough for No. 5 in the land, and it is one of the few teams in the nation that is averaging over 200 yards per game both through the air and on the ground. The ironic thing about Head Coach Todd Graham's club though, is that There isn't a player on the team that has more than 557 rushing yards or more than 771 receiving yards. QB GJ Kinne is the man that makes this quick fire offense go. He threw for 3,307 yards and 28 TDs this year, and he was also the leading rusher on the team with 557 yards and seven scores as well. There wasn't a single player on the team that had more than 84 rushes this year, but from WR Damaris Johnson all the way through RB Willie Carter, there were another 313 carries for 1,969 yards and 22 scores. Through the air, Johnson was the man that really took charge. He had 53 receptions for 771 yards and three TDs. WR Charles Clay was the team's leading touchdown man in the aerial assault with seven. We know that this offense can put points on the board in bunches, as it scored at least 41 points six times this year. The problem came on the other side of the ball, where the squad conceded at least 50 three times and averaged allowing 29.9 points per game. Tulsa's biggest problem in this one is the passing defense, which ranked second to last in the country at 305.7 yards per game.

Warriors Notes: When you think of Hawaii football, you think of a quarterback dropping back and throwing the ball 60 times each and every game. Though this the concept offensively, it isn't always how it is applied thanks to the running abilities of RB Alex Green. Green was actually one of the top rushers in the WAC this year in spite of the fact that he only had 133 carries on the year. He rushed for 1,168 yards and 17 TDs, averaging 8.8 yards per carry, one of the top marks in the land amongst running backs. However, don't let this fool you. QB Bryant Moniz did throw the ball 508 times this year, and he turned it into 4,629 yards, easily the most in the country. Odds have it, Moniz is going to be the only 5,000 yard quarterback in the land this year, and he has 36 TDs against 11 picks to show for his work. Of course, with the trio of WR Greg Salas, WR Kealoha Pilares, and WR Royce Pollard, Moniz would be nowhere. Salas posted some of the best marks for receivers in the country with 106 grabs, 1,675 yards, and 12 TDs. Pilares actually had more TDs than Salas did with 15, and he had the best numbers in the land for a No. 2 receiver with 88 grabs and 1,306 yards. Pollard was the top third receiver in the country with 56 receptions, 772 yards, and six scores. The defense for Hawaii averaged allowing 341.8 yards per game this year, and giving up 22.7 points per game is a very respectable number, especially when you consider the fact that the offense was putting up a shade under 40 points per game this year.

The Final Word: This is Hawaii's game to lose on Christmas Eve, and we fully expect to see it take the fullest advantage of it. The Warriors just have too much offense and know that they aren't going to be stopped unless the Golden Hurricane end up bringing something out of their hat that we haven't seen yet this year. Tulsa's offense just needs to get stopped once or twice, and it really could be all over but the crying for the de facto visitors.

Hawaii Bowl Free Pick: Hawaii -10
Hawaii Bowl Prediction: Hawaii 51 – Tulsa 34

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December 23rd, 2010 By GridironGreat

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There is no greater time to try to get into this competition than right now, as every week you beat me gives you another opportunity at that big cash prize at the end of the year. Let's get started right now with my Week 16 picks…

Detroit Lions @ Miami Dolphins (-3.5) – I know that every single person and their brother is going to think that the Lions are going to find a way to win yet another road game, while the floundering Fins just continue to be mired in their own sorrow, but I have to remember that this is just a case of the Lions being the Lions. Would you really want to back this team with QB Matt Stafford in this spot? What about with QB Shaun Hill? No? Then why are you doing it with QB Drew Stanton? Miami -3.5

Washington Redskins (+7) @ Jacksonville Jaguars – You might as well just flip a dang coin in this game. Who knows which Washington offense is going to show up in this one… The one where a quarterback didn't throw for two TDs in the same game for over two month of the season, or the bizarre one that saw QB Rex Grossman score four TDs. Sexy Rexy is coming back to the Sunshine State, and he really might be ready to shine when push comes to shove. So what the hell… Gimme Washington +7.

San Francisco 49ers @ St. Louis Rams (-1.5) – For the love of god, please let St. Louis win this game so we at least have a chance of the NFC West winner finishing at .500… St. Louis -1.5

Tennessee Titans @ Kansas City Chiefs (-5) – This line makes absolutely no sense to me whatsoever. The Titans are only still technically in the playoff race because they have ran into teams that are more dysfunctional than they are right now. Have we forgotten that, contrary to popular belief, the Chiefs are a fully functional team? KC moves within one win of shocking the world and winning the AFC West. Kansas City -5

Baltimore Ravens @ Cleveland Browns (+3.5) – When I see 81% of the people on one side of a game and the line really hasn't moved all that much, you better believe that I'm playing the other side. Cleveland has been playing the last month of this season for the right to spoil the seasons of the Ravens and Steelers. The Browns will nip of these two teams in the butt and cost one of the them the division title. Baltimore is the team in my opinion. Cleveland +3.5

New York Jets @ Chicago Bears (-1) – Toughest game of the day, by far. New York is in a spot where it really isn't going to need this game if the chips fall properly around it, and though it is going to be trying to improve on the best road record in the league at 6-1, it isn't going to figure it out. I think the Bears are too tough… but then again, I just can't stand backing the Bears on a regular basis. This one could go either way, but I'll take Chicago -1 and curse myself later if QB Jay Cutler throws four picks in typical Jay Cutler fashion.

New England Patriots @ Buffalo Bills (+9) – Yuck. If there is a team out there that I hate to back more than the Bears, it's the Bills. In fairness, these guys have been absolute gold to NFL bettors over the course of the last couple months, and that's because of the play of QB Ryan Fitzpatrick. This is the biggest game of the year in Buffalo, and the Bills would love nothing more than to pull the upset. New England knows that it is going to clinch the No. 1 seed in the AFC at some point one way or the other. We know that the Pats are mortal, and it is encouraging to me that the Bills already hung around in this series once this year, before they got on a roll. Grab Buffalo +9.

San Diego Chargers (-9) @ Cincinnati Bengals – Who dey gonna stop dem Bengals? Everybody, apparently. The Bolts have kicked it into gear and look like an absolutely unbeatable team right now, but they know that they need to make a stand to have any chance of getting into the playoffs. A loss would be hilarious and would be well worth my money. However, I'll put my money where San Diego's mouth should be and back the Bolts -9.

Indianapolis Colts @ Oakland Raiders (+2) – The Raiders aren't in the greatest playoff positioning in the world right now, but they are in a position where they can really spoil the season for the Colts. Indy looks beatable and might be ready to fall from its throne atop the AFC South. Don't be shocked if Oakland +2 comes in for an outright upset.

Houston Texans (-2.5) @ Denver Broncos – Here's the biggest dog game of the day. The Texans look like a team just going through the motions right now, but just as they figured out how to beat the crap out of Rusty Smith and the Titans, they'll figure out how to beat QB Tim Tebow and his gimmick offense and the Broncos. Houston -2.5

New York Giants @ Green Bay Packers (-3) – QB Aaron Rodgers is back, but who really knows whether he is going to be able to play at the highest level this week after coming back from his second concussion of the season. The Pack still have revenge on their side in this one, as they know that they can really do some damage to the playoff lives of the G-Men with a victory here. New York might clinch a playoff berth with a win, but I'm still going with Green Bay -3.

Seattle Seahawks (+6) @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Do I need to say anything else about the Seahawks aside from the fact that I clearly have a man crush on this team. Seattle +6

Minnesota Vikings @ Philadelphia Eagles (-14.5) – Remember to make your tiebreaker picks in this game!!! There really doesn't seem to be a tremendous desire for anyone to back the Vikes in this game, and there's good reason for it. QB Michael Vick is an MVP candidate. QB Joe Webb is surely to be an MVP candidate in the CFL sometime soon. There is just a discrepancy in this game so great that there really isn't a way that the Vikes hang in this one. There isn't a line high enough to keep me from taking Philadelphia -14.5.

Official Week 16 NFL Lines Courtesy of Oddsmaker Sportsbook
Detroit Lions @ Miami Dolphins (-3.5)
Washington Redskins @ Jacksonville Jaguars (-7)
San Francisco 49ers @ St. Louis Rams (-1.5)
Tennessee Titans @ Kansas City Chiefs (-5)
Baltimore Ravens (-3.5) @ Cleveland Browns
New York Jets @ Chicago Bears (-1)
New England Patriots (-9) @ Buffalo Bills
San Diego Chargers (-9) @ Cincinnati Bengals
Indianapolis Colts (-2) @ Oakland Raiders
Houston Texans (-2.5) @ Denver Broncos
New York Giants @ Green Bay Packers (-3)
Seattle Seahawks @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-6)
Minnesota Vikings @ Philadelphia Eagles (-14.5)

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December 22nd, 2010 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

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The Carolina Panthers are just going to be thrilled to be playing on national television in what really should be the second to last game in the marriage between them and Head Coach John Fox. However, if they can play the spoiler role against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field on Thursday Night Football, they could throw a tremendous monkey wrench into the works for the race for the postseason in the AFC.

Matchup: Carolina Panthers @ Pittsburgh Steelers
Date: Thursday, December 23rd, 8:20 ET
Location: Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, PA
Game Line: Pittsburgh -15
Over/Under 37

Panthers Notes: There's no secret about the fact that the Panthers are going to struggle offensively in this game just as they have for the majority of the season. This is a team that ranks dead last in the NFL in total offense at 266.1 yards per game, and there really isn't a team that is anywhere near a number like that. Carolina also ranks dead last in passing yards at 149.3 yards per game and scoring at 13.1 points per game. This is a team that has only scored more than 19 points twice all season long, which is really bad news for a club that has also given up at least 20 in all but two games. Without a doubt, this is the worst team in the NFL and is a squad that has the worst game plan possible for trying to beat the Steelers. Don't blame Fox, though. He really just doesn't have a quarterback to work with, and it's virtually impossible to try to win games in this league against anyone, let alone a team that has one of the most ferocious 'D's in the game when you don't have a signal caller. QB Jimmy Clausen doubled his touchdown output for the season last week by throwing a TD pass in the 19-12 win over the Arizona Cardinals. He has thrown for just 1,304 yards and two scores against seven picks on the season. Carolina only has 15 offensive touchdowns to show for 14 games worth of work, and obviously, just one TD per game isn't going to get the job done in this one. If there is a bright spot, it is that the ground game really does a nice job on a regular basis, but of course, this unit isn't likely to really get anything going against a team that averages allowing less than 70 yards per game on the ground. RB Jonathan Stewart has rushed for 668 yards and a pair of scores this year, while his new backup, RB Mike Goodson has 435 yards and three trips to the end zone. RB DeAngelo William has been placed on IR, but it is still hard to think that he and Stewart combined won't even rush for what each of them did last year when they were both 1,100+ yard backs.

Steelers Notes: Whereas Carolina knows a loss will lock up the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft this coming year, the Steelers know that they are two wins away from punching their ticket to the postseason with a bye in the first round of the playoffs. A spot in the tournament for the Lombardi Trophy was ensured last week in a loss to the New York Jets, but Head Coach Mike Tomlin knows that the task to win in the playoffs on the road isn't going to be easy even though the team has won a Super Bowl in recent years from the No. 6 seed. Winning the AFC North is of paramount importance, so this game cannot be overlooked. The big question is going to be whether S Troy Polamalu suits up or not. The 'D' really didn't play that poorly in the loss to the Jets, but memories of last season's loss in games just like this one without Polamalu in the lineup have to be dancing in the heads of all of the fans in the Steel City. With the former USC Trojan in the lineup for most of the season, this defense has been absolutely frightening, allowing 291.8 yards per game, just 63.4 of which come on the ground. The offense is finally starting to get in some sort of rhythm now that QB Ben Roethlisberger has been in the lineup for over half of a year after sitting on the sidelines suspended for the first four games of the year. RB Rashard Mendenhall became the first man to rush for at least 100 yards against the New York Jets in 26 tries last week, and as a result, he moved up the ladder in the chase for the rushing title in the NFL. Roethlisberger has thrown for 2,600 yards this year, and WR Mike Wallace is glad to see him back in the fold. Wallace has one of the highest yards per catch averages in the NFL at 19.8, and he became a 1,000 yard receiver last week and now has 1,048 yards and eight TDs on the campaign.

The Final Word: If Polamalu isn't in the lineup, there really is a chance for Carolina to make this game competitive. This is a bit of a sandwich game for the Steelers off of the loss to the Jets with the Cleveland Browns and the playoffs on deck. Getting over two TDs in the NFL is a joke most of the time, and though Pittsburgh is clearly going to win this game, we're not so sure that it is going to come by more than those two scores. Carolina will get its ten points, and that should be enough in what could be a very ugly duel.

Free Pro Football Picks: Carolina +15
Prediction: Pittsburgh 20 – Carolina 10

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December 22nd, 2010 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

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The city of San Diego welcomes the host San Diego State Aztecs and the Navy Midshipmen to Qualcomm Stadium for the Poinsettia Bowl on December 23rd. These two teams have distinctly different styles, but both teams find ways to score points in bunches. Who will prevail on Thursday night? Check out our Poinsettia Bowl free picks for the big duel!

Poinsettia Bowl Matchup: Navy Midshipmen vs. San Diego State Aztecs
Date: Thursday, December 23rd, 8:00 ET
Location: Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, CA
Poinsettia Bowl Line: San Diego State -3
Over/Under 60.5

Midshipmen Notes: Navy scored at least 31 points in each of its last six games and averaged 41.0 points per game in that stretch, but its offense is going to be up against in versus a San Diego State team that plays significantly better defense than one would expect. QB Ricky Dobbs is closing out his career with the Middies and is clearly one of the best signal callers to run the triple option in Annapolis. Dobbs didn't quite have the year that he did last season when he rushed for 27 TDs, as he only totaled 25 scores between his rushes and passes this year. The ball stayed in his hands 369 times this year, more than half of the touches for the offense, but that is to be expected out of a triple option attack. RB Alexander Teich had a fantastic year as well, rumbling for 825 yards and five scores. As always in the triple option, a ton of different players are expected to touch the rock. Nine different players had at least 100 yards on the ground for a team that averaged over 280 yards per game on the turf. Don't discount the passing game either for the Midshipmen, as they really do resemble the Georgia Tech offense from a year ago with WR Demaryius Thomas catching all those passes. WR Greg Jones does the damage for the Naval Academy, and though he doesn't have numbers like Thomas, he does have fantastic figures for a Navy wide out, catching 30 passes for 577 yards and four scores on the year. Defensively, this team was the definition of mediocre, ranking No. 63 and No. 65 respectively against the rush and the pass.

Aztecs Notes: When you talk about an offense that is as well rounded as could be, you have to talk about the San Diego State 'O'. This team is only getting better, as the majority of the key cogs are still underclassmen and are growing under second year Head Coach Brady Hoke. Hoke has done a tremendous job with this team, as the Aztecs average 450.3 yards per game, No. 22 in the land. They put up 35.0 points per game and were really the only team this year that hung around with the TCU Horned Frogs. The losses this year all came by four points or fewer, and it is clear that SDSU really could have been a BCS team with just a few bounces in the right direction this year. QB Ryan Lindley, a third year starter, clearly had the best year in his career, throwing for 3,554 yards and 26 TDs against 14 picks on the year. He was helped out by a pair of seniors, WR DeMarco Sampson and WR Vincent Brown a ton. Both men are amongst the best receivers in the land statistically, as Sampson had 65 grabs for 1,175 yards and eight scores, while Brown had 58 grabs for 1,127 yards and nine TDs. Both are incredible deep threats and are fantastic in the open field, creating a ton of yards after the catch. On the ground though, this is going to be a chance for RB Ronnie Hillman to be on showcase. The freshman might have been the best first year man on the ground in the nation, and that's saying something considering the fact that South Carolina Gamecocks RB Marcus Lattimore was a freshman as well. The numbers between the two are basically indiscernible. Hillman ran for 1,304 yards and 14 TDs this year and had five games on the campaign with at least 150 yards on the ground. Defensively, Hoke has made some great strides with this team. The Aztecs ranked in the Top 50 in every single major defensive category on the year, and though there were some lapses, only three teams scored more than 27 points against this unit all season long.

The Final Word: If this game were later in the bowl season, we'd be more confidence in San Diego State's ability to win. Though it's not really a home game, there is a sense of familiarity for the Aztecs, knowing that this is their home field. The Middies always seem to be able to draw a great crowd, especially for bowl games. However, the problem that they have is that they have given the Aztecs basically a month to be able to prepare for the triple option attack. Hoke is a fantastic coach and has done one of the best transformation jobs in the country this year. The Aztecs won't lose this game.

Poinsettia Bowl Free Pick: San Diego State -3
Poinsettia Bowl Prediction: San Diego State 37 – Navy 28

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December 22nd, 2010 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

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For the college football betting fans of the mid major programs, this is the big time bowl bash for you! The Las Vegas Bowl features two of the best teams from across the country, both of which happen to play in smaller conferences. Though both will be upgrading in recent years into better leagues, they're both still crying for more respect. However, both the Boise State Broncos and Utah Utes can't be winners on Wednesday night in Sin City. This is a hefty set of bowl odds facing the men from the Smurf Turf in this one, and we have all of the Las Vegas bowl news and notes that you need to know before making your Las Vegas Bowl picks on the game for Wednesday night!

Las Vegas Bowl Matchup: Utah Utes vs. Boise State Broncos
Date: Wednesday, December 22nd, 8:00 ET
Location: Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas, NV
Las Vegas Bowl Line: Boise State -17
Over/Under 58

Utes Notes: Utah was having a fantastic season and was ranked in the Top 10 in the country this year before falling victim to the TCU Horned Frogs at home in a loss that really seemed to take all of the wind out of their sails. They lost the very next game to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and were removed from having any chance of going to the BCS. This is perhaps the luckiest draw for any of the 70 bowl teams this year, as Utah still gets a chance to play a premier team in a big time, standalone bowl spot. The problem that the Utes have on Wednesday is that QB Jordan Wynn is going to be sitting out with a should injury that he suffered in the Holy War against the BYU Cougars in the regular season finale. Backup QB Terrance Cain, who was a starting quarterback for this team as a youngster, came in and went just 2-for-7 for eight yards with two picks, but he was responsible for claiming the 'W' in the game. Cain knows what he is doing both as a starter and a backup though, and he played well when Wynn was injured earlier in the season, throwing for six scores and no INTs in big time wins against lesser opponents from the Mountain West. The running game is going to be key to keep the Boise State offense off of the field. RBs Matt Asiata and Eddie Wide both put up subpar numbers this year, but when combined, they did roll for over 1,300 yards. This defense is also going to have to force some stops against one of the most feared offenses in the country. The Utes ranked No. 22 in the land in total 'D' at 319.7 yards per game and averaged 19.8 points per game allowed to boot. However, these numbers are down tremendously in the second half of the season. From October 30th through the end of the year, Utah allowed a stunning 29.6 points per game, something that Head Coach Kyle Whittingham really needs to make sure improves for the Las Vegas Bowl.

Broncos Notes: It was supposed to be a banner season for Boise State this year, but after losing ground for most of the regular season thanks to a lousy schedule and a devastating overtime loss to the Nevada Wolf Pack, its BCS dreams were shattered to bits and pieces. The argument absolutely could be made that the Broncos were hosed by the BCS, as their one loss came against a one loss Top 20 team on the road, as opposed to the Arkansas Razorbacks, who lost twice, including once at home to a three loss team. There is a big question whether Head Coach Chris Petersen really has his boys ready to go in this one, though there were clearly no ill effects the week after the Nevada loss. The Broncos came back and rolled over the Utah State Aggies in the home finale 50-14 the very next week. Though these numbers are really courtesy of this weak schedule, the Broncos ranked No. 4 in the land both in total offense (521.4 yards per game) and total defense (264.1 yards per game). Outscoring any combination of 12 foes by 33.1 points per game is impressive as well. QB Kellen Moore is going to fall short of 4,000 yards this year, as he has 3,506 yards and 33 TDs against five picks this year, but this is going to be a crucial game in his Heisman Trophy campaign for next season. Moore is going to be one of the big time favorites to capture the Heisman in 2011, and he can make a big time statement in this game, his last with a number of the heroes for the Broncos over the years. RB Doug Martin, RB Jeremy Avery, WR Titus Young, and WR Austin Pettis all had at least nine trips to the end zone this year, and these four men combined for 240 points between them, more than a ton of teams in the country scored over the course of the year.

The Final Word: Don't be all that surprised if the Utes hang in this game for a long, long time. There is no doubt in our minds that the Broncos are the superior team in this game. If they want to, they can win this one by 30. However, we really aren't so sure that they have any care to be here in Sin City. The Utes are going to embrace this underdog roll, and the longer they can stick around in this one, the more the crowd is going to get on their side as well. Boise State will probably pull out the win, but Utah is doing to beat the Las Vegas Bowl spread in this one.

Las Vegas Bowl Free Pick: Utah +17
Las Vegas Bowl Prediction: Boise State 34 – Utah 28

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December 20th, 2010 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

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The Louisville Cardinals and Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles took some major steps in the right direction this year, as both programs were fantastic by their standards. For the Cards, a trip to the Beef O'Brady's Bowl shows growth for a school that featured years of dismay under the direction of departed Head Coach Steve Kragthorpe. The Golden Eagles really wanted to win Conference USA this year, and though they didn't pull it off, they did beat the C-USA champs and ended up with arguably one of the best teams in the history of the school. But which team will beat the Beef O'Brady's Bowl odds in this one? Here are our college football bowl picks for Tuesday night's duel in the Sunshine State.

Beef O'Brady's Bowl Matchup: Louisville Cardinals vs. Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles
Date: Tuesday, December 21st, 8:00 ET
Location: Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, FL
Beef O'Brady's Bowl Line: Louisville -2.5
Over/Under 57

Cardinals Notes: It was a great first year calling the shots for Head Coach Charlie Strong, who guided the Redbirds to a bowl game in his first year as a head coach in the rough and tumble Big East. Strong could have a major problem on his hands on Tuesday night if QB Adam Froman's leg injury continues to act up. Froman was supposed to be the catalyst for a spread attack this year, and though he had a respectable 11/4 TD/INT ratio, a 60.6 completion percentage and just 1,633 yards through the air wasn't really what the doctor ordered. What we found out about the 'Ville this year was that the wide receivers just weren't good enough to compete at this type of level in a BCS conference. None caught even 40 passes, and none got to the 500 yard mark either. However, the ground game was a significantly difference story. RB Bilal Powell only had about 800 yards in the running department for his career coming into this year, but all of a sudden, he shined very, very brightly. Powell was the second best runner in a Big East full of top backs, as he rumbled 211 times for 1,330 yards and ten scores. The Cardinals really made a name for themselves defensively in the Big East this year, though. They shut out two foes this year and only allowed two teams to score more than 24 points against them all season long. This should be a great test for a defense which allowed just 298.4 yards and 18.7 points per game. The aerial game for the opponents was just shut down on a regular basis, as teams only averaged 162.5 passing yards per game, No. 9 in the country.

Golden Eagles Notes: Was this the best version of the Golden Eagles ever? Even though SMS has had seasons with more than eight wins before, it's not often that you can go on the road and beat the conference champs and put up a legitimate Top 20 offense in the nation in the same year, especially without winning the league title. Head Coach Larry Fedora has a lot to be proud of for this squad this year, especially offensively. QB Austin Davis will be a 3,000 yard passer by the time this one is over, and he already has ten TDs on the ground and 18 more through the air, against just six INTs. Just like Louisville, there aren't a ton of great receiving options on this team, though WR Kevin Bolden and WR Johdrick Morris both had at right around 660 yards on the season. On the ground, five different men, including Davis, rushed for at least 228 yards, led by RB Kendrick Hardy, who had 855 yards and seven scores on the campaign. The Golden Eagles ranked No. 15 in the country in total offense at 461.1 yards per game and No. 15 in scoring at 37.6 points per game. However, their defense was a totally different story. SMS allowed 56 and 41 points respectively in its final two games of the season, and the unit gave up at least 41 points five times on the year. Giving up 29.4 points per game certainly wasn't what was expected this year, but it was the reason for which the Golden Eagles didn't win the East Division of Conference USA.

The Final Word: The Cardinals are going to make for a tough team to top in this one, but we're not so sure that the Golden Eagles aren't the right side. Conference USA was significantly better than people give it credit for this year, and it made start to be proven this week at the Beef O'Brady's Bowl. Louisville will get a great final game out of Powell, but its strengths will be countered by the strengths of the C-USA reps. The Golden Eagles fly out of St. Pete with a win in the Beef O'Brady's Bowl.

Beef O'Brady's Bowl Free Pick: Southern Mississippi +3
Beef O'Brady's Bowl Prediction: Southern Miss 31 – Louisville 27

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