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December 29th, 2010 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

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Once again, the Lone Star State will be the sight of a bowl game on Thursday afternoon, as the SMU Mustangs take on the Army Black Knights in NCAA football betting action. The Armed Forces Bowl should be one of the great ones this year, as these two teams should be putting on a tremendous show.

Armed Forces Bowl Matchup: Army Black Knights vs. SMU Mustangs
Date: Thursday, December 30th, 12:00 ET
Location: Gerald Ford Stadium, Fort Worth, TX
Armed Forces Bowl Line: SMU -7.5
Over/Under 51.5

Black Knights Notes: The Black Knights really didn't play much of a schedule this year, but they are going to be proud to be in a bowl game for the first time since the 1996 Independence Bowl. There wasn't a single win against a bowl eligible team this year, and this was an offense that really wasn't all that good. Averaging 340.1 yards per game is nothing to write home about, though the triple option attack really isn't that prone to putting up tremendous numbers. A scoring average of 27.5 points per game was one of the best marks that the Cadets have seen in years, and QB Trent Steelman is to thank. Steelman might have only led a passing attack that ranked dead last in the country, but he was the man running the machine in the triple option. Steelman rushed for 694 yards and a team high 11 TDs this year. RB Jared Hassin might be able to become the second Army running back to reach the 1,000 yard mark in two decades. He is at 931 yards and nine scores so far on the season. Defensively, Army did rank No. 22 in the land at 322.8 yards per game, and though a scoring average of 25.2 points per game was respectable, that average soared up to 34.6 points per game against bowl teams.

Mustangs Notes: Head Coach June Jones knows that he is probably still a year away from SMU really becoming a legitimate challenger for the Top 25. This offense is very, very close, though. Scoring just seven points against the UCF Knights in the Conference USA Championship Game wasn't great, but QB Kyle Padron is right about at the point of explosion, and this might be the game in which he really busts out. He threw for 3,526 yards and 29 TDs this year, and made 1,000 yard receivers out of both WR Aldrick Robinson and WR Cole Beasley. These two men combined for 144 receptions and 19 TDs. However, don't forget about RB Zach Line either. He rumbled for 1,391 yards and ten TDs. Finishing drives is a problem, though. Teams don't normally rank No. 34 in the land in total offense at 416.2 yards per game and only average 26.6 points per game in college football betting action. The defense was a lot more proportionate. The team ranked No. 60 in the country both in total 'D' (363.9 YPG) and scoring (26.4 PPG).

The Final Word: This might be a de facto home game for the Mustangs, but the Cadets are thrilled to be here. Army is going to have a decent shot at winning this game, especially if SMU is disappointed to be here instead of being in the Liberty Bowl. Steelman and the Black Knights should be able to at least keep this one within a TD, and it should be one of these down to the wire games. The Mustangs will pull off the victory, but they won't beat the Armed Forces Bowl odds.

Armed Forces Bowl Free Pick: Army +7.5
Armed Forces Bowl Prediction: SMU 27 – Army 24

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December 29th, 2010 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

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We hope you're a fan of football from the Lone Star State! If so, this is the day for you! After making your NCAA football picks on the Texas Bowl, kick back and soak in the game just a few miles up the road in San Antonio, where the Oklahoma State Cowboys and Arizona Wildcats will have at it in Alamo Bowl betting action.

Alamo Bowl Matchup: Arizona Wildcats vs. Oklahoma State Cowboys
Date: Wednesday, December 29th, 9:15 ET
Location: Alamodome, San Antonio, TX
Alamo Bowl Line: Oklahoma State -4.5
Over/Under 66.5

Wildcats Notes: The most alarming stat about Arizona this year is that QB Nick Foles hasn't won a game in which he was the starting quarterback and didn't leave injured since Week 4 of the season against the California Golden Bears. That's right. You have to go all the way back to September to find the last time that he was credit for the win in a game. Don't blame Foles, as he has averaged over 340 passing yards per game in that stretch and has thrown for exactly three TDs in that run four times in five games, but his defense and the rest of his team just haven't found ways to get the job done. For the season, Foles did end up with 2,911 yards and 19 TDs against just seven picks, but we have to remember that he missed two full games and essentially all of a third game with a knee injury in the middle of the season. Though not the most fluid offense in the world at times, the U of A knows how to put the stats together. Averaging 447.4 yards and 29.8 points per game was above average in the Pac-10, though that's not saying much since it is one of the four teams that were bowl eligible this year in this conference. WR Juron Criner is going to be in for a big day in all likelihood. He led the team this year in receiver with 74 grabs for 1,197 yards and ten scores. However, Head Coach Mike Stoops knows that the running game is going to be key. RB Keola Antolin and RB Nick Grigsby combined to rush for just 1,141 yards this year, but they did visit the end zone 15 times between them. A defense which allowed just 14.4 points per game in the first eight games of the season ended the year with four games in which it allowed 36.0 points per game, and matters could be made worse, not better, by the time the Alamo Bowl is over with tonight.

Cowboys Notes: If you love high flying teams that just damn playing defense on a regular basis and want to snap the ball 80 times per night, Okie State is the team for you. Head Coach Mike Gundy is going full speed ahead 100% of the time, even if his team is leading late in games. Sure, this quick fire offense has ultimately put the defense in some compromising positions this year, as it allowed 413.5 yards and 27.8 points per game this year, but when your offense in this good, you get a few passes. We also have to remember that the Cowboys did play one of the most difficult schedules in the nation. They didn't end up playing Iowa State and Colorado in the Big XII North, and they had both the Troy Trojans and Tulsa Golden Hurricane, both of which had great years and are bowling this season, out of conference. That gives even more credibility to this offense, which was really supposed to struggle at times this year with the departures of WR Dez Bryant and QB Zac Robinson. Unfortunately for the Big XII, no such luck. QB Brandon Weeden was the man that made the machine go. He threw for 4,037 yards and 32 TDs this year, and Gundy is already eyeing him for a 5,000 yard year next season. His top receiver was sophomore WR Justin Blackmon, who came out of nowhere to catch 102 passes for 1,665 yards and 18 TDs in 2010. On the ground, RB Kendall Hunter was great, rushing 261 times for 1,516 yards and 16 scores. To make matters worse for the rest of the country, all of these guys are still young and have at least one, and if some cases, multiple years in Stillwater. This unit was already averaging over 540 yards per game this year, second behind just the Oregon Ducks nationally, and we can only imagine what another year of training is going to do for these guys.

The Final Word: Even though this has lately become a bowl season of upsets and unexpected results, we think that we should finally expect the expected instead of the unexpected on Wednesday night. The Cowboys overachieved all season long, while Arizona, once a Top 10 team in the country in its own right, really has just fallen off the face of the earth. There should be a ton of points in this one, but when push really comes to shove, the game will belong to Okie State, as there will be celebrating in the streets of Stillwater on Wednesday.

Alamo Bowl Free Pick: Oklahoma State -4.5
Alamo Bowl Prediction: Oklahoma State 51 – Arizona 38

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December 28th, 2010 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor
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Down in the Lone Star State, the field at Reliant Stadium should be alight with tons of green, gold, blue, and orange. The Illinois Fighting Illini and their prolific running attack will take on the Baylor Bears and their "Air Bear" assault on Wednesday afternoon, and NCAA football betting fans certainly aren't going to want to miss this one! Take a look at our Texas Bowl picks for Wednesday night.

Texas Bowl Matchup: Illinois Fighting Illini vs. Baylor Bears
Date: Wednesday, December 29th, 6:00 ET
Location: Reliant Stadium, Houston, TX
Texas Bowl Line: Baylor -1
Over/Under 62.5

Fighting Illini Notes: Head Coach Ron Zook knew that he was going to be up against it this year if he didn't bring Illinois to a bowl game this year. However, even with that in mind, he trusted a true freshman as his quarterback for the entire season, as QB Nathan Scheelhaase led the way for the Illini. Scheelhaase didn't make for a terrific passer this year, as he only completed 56.8 percent of his passes for 1,583 yards and 17 TDs against eight picks. There were some real moments of brilliance, and we have to remember that this was just a first year man that has a lot of growth still over the course of the next three years in Champaign. Scheelhaase ran all over the field though when his number was called, rumbling for 806 yards and four TDs. RB Mikel LeShoure was really the dominator, though, and without him, Illinois would never have been anywhere near bowl eligibility. He had the best game of the year on the ground in the country, accounting for 330 yards and three TDs against the Northwestern Wildcats, and when it was said and done, he finished with 1,522 yards and 14 TDs. In total, Illinois rushed for 243.5 yards per game this year, one of the best marks in the Big Ten and No. 13 in the nation. The real concern for Baylor in Texas Bowl betting action is that this Illinois defense really has played substantially better ball this year than in years past. Allowing 340.4 yards per game ranked No. 38 in the country, and the end result was giving up just 24.2 points per game.

Bears Notes: In the third year of his collegiate career, QB Robert Griffin did his job and took this team on his back to the Texas Bowl. He threw for 3,159 yards and 21 TDs against eight picks, and he rushed for 591 yards and eight tuddies. There were five different players that had at least 36 receptions this year for the Bears, and though only WR Josh Gordon averaged more than 12.5 yards per reception on this team, there was definitely no shortage of yardage. All five receivers had at least 379 yards. WR Kendall Wright led the way with 66 receptions, 825 yards, and six TDs. The running game has been key this year as well. RB Jay Finley had some tremendous games this year, and he ended the campaign with 1,155 yards and 11 trips to the end zone. The Bears ended up averaging 480.4 yards per game this year, ranking No. 13 in the country, and this was one of the handful of teams in the country that averaged over 200 yards per game both through the air and on the ground. The defense was terrible down the stretch, though, giving up at least 42 points in each of its last three games. In total, 420.2 yards per game was just too high, even by Big XII standards, and the end result was a lofty 29.8 points per game average. When push came to shove though, just getting to a bowl game was good enough for this team, which competed for the Big XII South title until the very end of the campaign.

The Final Word: Baylor just isn't as good as Illinois is this year, and if recent form was any indication, the Illini are the team that we have to go with. Griffin is inevitably going to end up playing his heart out, especially right in his own backyard in Houston, but there's going to be too much LeShoure for the Bears to stop. Scheelhaase has a breakout day and leads Illinois to victory.

Texas Bowl Free Pick: Illinois -1
Texas Bowl Prediction: Illinois 38 – Baylor 34

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December 28th, 2010 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

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The Military Bowl will be playing its third edition at FedEx Field in our nation's capitol, and the hometown team, the Maryland Terrapins will be taking on a team from just up the road, the East Carolina Pirates. This clash should be a very, very interesting one, as these two teams have significantly different styles, and it should make for a great duel for NCAA football betting fans to take in. Check out our Military Bowl picks for Wednesday afternoon.

Military Bowl Matchup: East Carolina Pirates vs. Maryland Terrapins
Date: Wednesday, December 29th, 2:30 ET
Location: FedEx Field, Landover, MD
Military Bowl Line: Maryland -7.5
Over/Under 67.5

Pirates Notes: The Pirates are the far more interesting team in this game, as there is no doubt that this team is going to be scoring a ton of points, but will be conceding just as many. We'll start on defenses, where things were just awful this year. Six different teams put at least 49 on the board against ECU, including a season worst 76 points allowed to the Navy Midshipmen, the second most points conceded by an FBS team this season and the most for a team that is playing in a bowl game this year. Allowing 480.4 yards per game ranked dead last in the FBS, and it really goes without saying that this can't be the case again on Wednesday if the Pirates really have any chance of winning the Military Bowl. Regardless of how bad the defense plays on a regular basis, ECU is never out of games because of how strong QB Dominique Davis is. Davis is familiar with the Terps having transferred from Boston College. He had the second most TDs in college football this year with a total of 45, trailing just Auburn's QB Cam Newton. Davis threw for 36 TDs and 3,687 yards, and he was certainly good for a few miracles along the way, such as the Hail Mary against the Tulsa Golden Hurricane at the start of the season. Davis has two fantastic receivers to get the ball to. WR Dwayne Harris caught 93 passes for 1,055 yards and ten TDs this year, while WR Lance Lewis had 78 grabs for 979 yards and 13 trips to the end zone. On the ground, RB Jonathan Williams had 846 yards and ten TDs.

Terrapins Notes: Poor Head Coach Ralph Friedgen knows that this is probably the last game of his coaching career, as he has been bought out by the team and will be replaced by Mike Leach once this one is over with. This came as a bit of a shock for a man that figured to be able to stay in College Park for as long as he wanted, especially after getting back on track this year after a terrible year in 2009. The Terrapins didn't end up winning the ACC this year, but to think that this was a team that was really in it the entire way in the Atlantic Division was impressive. Maryland was shoddy at times offensively, though the ACC never really gave it a week off. Averaging 345.0 yards per game is one of the worst marks amongst teams in bowl game this year, but 30.7 points per game was enough to win eight games on the campaign. Over the course of the last five games of the season, the Terps averaged 35.6 points per game in spite of the fact that they only went 3-2 SU and 4-1 ATS. The hero of this offense this year was WR Torrey Smith, who caught 65 balls for 1,045 yards and 12 TDs, but he really sparked the team in the finale against the NC State Wolfpack, catching 14 passes, four of which went for TDs. QB Danny O'Brien threw for 2,257 yards and 21 TDs this year against just six picks, and his key is going to be taking care of the football. Maryland knows that its defense is going to be tested in this one, especially by Davis. Allowing anywhere near the team's averages of 352.7 yards and 22.3 points per game would be quite the accomplishment and would probably be enough to beat the Military Bowl odds going away.

The Final Word: This one is just too important for the Terps to lose. East Carolina is probably one of the worst bowl teams this year in the nation, and there was a reason that this squad just wasn't expected to challenge in Conference USA. The Pirates overachieved all season long, but this battle is just too difficult for them to overcome. The Terrapins should get some fantastic offense going, and Smith should really shine with a tremendous afternoon. If that's the case, just a few stops on the Pirates should be enough to seal the deal by a double digit margin.

Military Bowl Free Pick: Maryland -7.5
Military Bowl Prediction: Maryland 44 – East Carolina 28

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December 27th, 2010 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

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Making college football bowl picks on the Insight Bowl could be intimidating, as this matchup between the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Missouri Tigers is one with a ton of ins and outs that could trip you up. However, we have all of the news and notes, along with the stats and analysis in this one to point you in the right direction for your Insight Bowl picks!

Insight Bowl Matchup: Missouri Tigers vs. Iowa Hawkeyes
Date: Tuesday, December 28th, 10:00 ET
Location: Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, AZ
Insight Bowl Line: Missouri -2.5
Over/Under 46.5

Tigers Notes: The Tigers have had a fantastic year, but they might be up against it in the Insight Bowl against a hungry Iowa team with a lot to prove. This was a team that was really built on its defense, something that you don't normally see in the Big XII, especially this year with any sort of success. No one in Columbia probably thought that Mizzou was going to hold teams to 15.2 points per game this year, but this was the difference for a team that probably underachieved on the other side of the ball when push came to shove. Sure, the Tigers averaged 30.3 points per game, but we're talking about a squad that didn't have a 500 yard rusher, a 3,000 yard passer, or a 1,000 yard receiver all season long. RB De'Vion Moore was the leading rusher at 485 yards with eight scores, but the man that carried the ball the most this year was QB Blaine Gabbert. Gabbert had 99 rushes for 239 yards and four scores. He only threw for 2,752 yards and 15 TDs this season, but he was only picked off seven times as well. Gabbert was through to be a shoe in for a 3,000 yard season, but he just never really got going and was never able to get the ball up the field all that much. The top two receivers on the team, WR TJ Moe and WR Michael Egnew only averaged 11.6 and 8.4 yards per reception. Yes, they had a combined 160 catches, but these aren't the types of numbers that the 'Zou figured to put up this year.

Hawkeyes Notes: The big problem for the Hawkeyes in this one is that they have lost the services of RB Adam Robinson and WR Derrell Johnson-Koulianos in this one. Between these two players, Iowa is losing 2,016 yards between rushing and receiving and 21 TDs. The good news is that RB Marcus Coker has had some good games this year and has averaged 5.0 yards per carry. WR Marvin McNutt also had a great year on the outside, catching 51 balls for 798 yards and eight TDs. QB Ricky Stanzi is going to be finishing up a fantastic career at Iowa, and many think that he is going to go down as the best signal caller in the history of this program. In 2.5 years as a starter, Stanzi didn't lose his first game until the third week of this season. He threw for 2,804 yards this year and had 28 TDs against just four picks, and he had one of the best TD/INT ratios in the entire country. Efficiency is the key of this Iowa offense, as keeping the ball is really the road to success. The Hawkeyes had some major ups and downs this year, but when they were on defensively, they were virtually impossible to score on. They held four of their first five foes to seven points or fewer, and they had two more games over the course of the year in which they kept teams to 13 points or fewer. There were some real duds, though, and if this unit puts up one of those blanks in this one, it is going to be a long, uphill climb to be able to take down the Tigers. Still, for a unit that allowed just 312.5 yards per game this year, one of the best 'D's that the Big Ten had to offer isn't one to overlook.

The Final Word: The Insight Bowl betting lines have moved just a bit in Missouri's favor after the notice of the suspensions. Perhaps against a team that didn't quite play as well on the defensive side of the ball, the Hawkeyes would be the pick in this one. However, they just don't have enough options available here on offense to be able to score enough points to win this game. If Gabbert and company can get to 24 in this one, that should be more than enough to beat the Insight Bowl odds.

Insight Bowl Free Pick: Missouri -2.5
Insight Bowl Prediction: Missouri 24 – Iowa 13

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December 27th, 2010 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor
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The ACC and Big East will send representatives to the Champs Sports Bowl on Tuesday night in the Sunshine State, as the NC State Wolfpack will duke it out with the West Virginia Mountaineers. Which way will this one go? Check out our Champs Sports Bowl picks for December 28th!

Champs Sports Bowl Matchup: West Virginia Mountaineers vs. NC State Wolfpack
Date: Tuesday, December 28th, 6:30 ET
Location: Florida Citrus Bowl, Orlando, FL
Champs Sports Bowl Line: West Virginia -2.5
Over/Under 48.5

Mountaineers Notes: The Mountaineers were up and down all season long, and though they were probably the best team in the Big East this year in terms of talent, they lost some key games that cost them a chance to play in the BCS once again. West Virginia had one of the best defenses in the country, ranking No. 2 in total defense, rush defense, and scoring defense. This was the only team in the land that held every single opponent to 21 points or fewer on the campaign. On the other side of the ball, the offense has really struggled. NCAA football betting fans have really gotten accustomed to the play of those streaking offenses led by QB Pat White and his immediate successors, where points were scored in bunches. Instead, this year, West Virginia has really slowed things down, largely due to the fact that QB Geno Smith is more of a pocket passer than those in the past. Smith was really expected to struggle as a passer, but that really hasn't been the case this year. He threw for 2,567 yards and 23 TDs, and he only threw six picks in the entire 12 game run. He really got a great contribution this year from WR Tavon Austin. The frosh caught 53 passes for 757 yards and eight scores. The two men that really let this offense down this year were RB Noel Devine and WR Jock Sanders. Sanders has only caught 64 passes for 670 yards and four TDs, and he only had 75 yards and a score on the ground. He has really grown accustomed to taking the ball on the ground and in the air a ton of times per game, but he just hasn't had those explosive games like over the course of the last few seasons. Devine was supposed to contend for a Heisman Trophy this year and was seemingly a lock to rush for at least 1,500 yards and average over six yards per carry. However, running for 886 yards and six TDs seems like a waste for a man that really could be one of the most explosive in college football.

Wolfpack Notes: NC State really had a chance to go to the ACC Championship Game for the first time in team history, but it squandered the chance with two bad losses at the end of the campaign. This was a significantly different team from that of West Virginia, as this was an offense that really had to pick up the slack for a defense that was questionable at times. When push came to shove, this unit did only allow 334.4 yards per game, ranking No. 30 in major college football, and conceding 22.5 points per game was one of the better marks in the ACC. However, giving up a total of 63 points over the course of the last two games of the season really proved to be fatal for a team that didn't play well outside of Raleigh. QB Russell Wilson set a record as a freshman for the most consecutive passes without a pick, but he was terrible at times this year, throwing 14 INTs. Now a junior, Wilson threw for 3,288 yards and 26 scores on the campaign, and he also added nine scores on the ground. He was the real MVP of the team, handling the football over 600 times on the season, and there is no doubt that he will have at least 40 touches in the Champs Sports Bowl. His top target was WR Owen Spencer this year, who caught 57 passes for 868 yards and four scores. However, there was no receiver that had more TD receptions this year. RB Mustafa Greene needs to get something done on the ground to keep this offense well balanced. He rumbled for just 584 yards in his freshman campaign and scored just four times on the ground.

The Final Word: The Wolfpack just don't have enough horses on offense to keep up with a team that was really well balanced for most of the year, especially on defense. Don't be shocked if the Mountaineers frustrate the heck out of Wilson and force him into some turnovers, and if that's the case, NC State won't find a way to beat the NCAA football lines in this one.

Champs Sports Bowl Free Pick: West Virginia -2.5
Champs Sports Bowl Prediction: West Virginia 23 – NC State 19

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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 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 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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