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December 17th, 2010 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

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In the final game on the bowl schedule on Saturday night, the Troy Trojans and Ohio Bobcats duke it out in what could be a very, very interesting clash between two teams that are fortunate just to be in bowls. The Trojans, the Sun Belt favorites at the outset of the season, especially after beating the Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders, choked away a chance at winning the conference, while Ohio lost its composure in the final game of the regular season and cost itself a chance of playing in the MAC Championship Game. The oddsmakers expect to see a close game, but is that really justified? Check out our New Orleans Bowl picks for this duel in the Crescent City.

R&L Carriers New Orleans Bowl Matchup: Ohio Bobcats vs. Troy Trojans
Date: Saturday, December 18th, 9:00 ET
Location: Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, LA
R&L Carriers New Orleans Bowl Line: OTB
Over/Under OTB

Bobcats Notes: The reason that the New Orleans Bowl odds are off the board right now is due to the fact that QB Boo Jackson may or may not be playing for the Bobcats. The starting quarterback for the team is fighting some academic issues right now, and though the team left on Wednesday to head to the Bayou, Jackson wasn't one of those making the trip. This could still be sorted out before Saturday, and if that's the case, Jackson would be the man under center, presumably. However, if he is suspended for the game, it will be up to QB Philip Bates to take over. Bates started the season as the man for Head Coach Frank Solich, but he has really been reduced to just an option/Wildcat type of quarterback. Bates is the team's second leading rusher with 508 yards this year, but his passing stats are atrocious. He went just 9-of-20 for 178 yards with a TD and two INTs on the year. Either way, this probably means more work for RB Vince Davidson. Davidson was a large disappointment this season in Athens, as he only ran for 509 yards and an average of 3.9 yards per carry. He did find pay dirt six times on the campaign, as well as once as a receiver. Speaking of receivers, there certainly aren't a heck of a lot of them for Ohio to be proud of. This was a dismal passing game all season long with an average of just 158.4 yards per game, and as a result, there were no receivers which caught more than 481 yards worth of passes this year. Defensively, Ohio was consistent for the majority of the year, allowing just 98.9 yards per game on the ground and 21.8 points per game in total. However, if you take out the 43 points that the Ohio State Buckeyes put on the Bobcats, they didn't allow another foe to score more than 31 all season long.

Trojans Notes: As the Trojans continue to prove, they are not just your average Sun Belt team. Yes, Troy did blow the Sun Belt title by getting inexplicably blown out of the water by the Florida International Golden Panthers at home earlier in the year, but the squad rebounded and locked up its bid here in the New Orleans Bowl once again. This is a quick firing offense that you really don't want to mess with. Troy put up 444.8 yards per game this year, losing just a bit of production from the days of QB Levi Brown. However, assuming that he stays healthy and is the starting signal caller for all four of his years in Alabama, QB Corey Robinson is going to shatter every school, and potentially some national records as well. Robinson is absolutely the best quarterback in the Sun Belt, and he legitimately might be one of the top 25 signal callers in the land as well. The true freshman threw for 3,339 yards and 24 TDs this year, and though he also threw 15 picks, mistakes are to expected from youngsters. There were a number of different backs that carried the football this year, and four of them made it over the 300 yard mark. One of those, WR Jerrel Jernigan really isn't a running back, but he is used as the Wildcat quarterback. He is also the team's top receiver, catching 77 passes for 774 yards with five scores, and he is one of the more effective kick returners in the nation. Needless to say, this senior has done everything possible in his career at Troy, and he hopes that one more stellar game in the R&L Carriers New Orleans Bowl can get him on the draft board this coming year in the NFL Draft. He might need to be very, very explosive in this one though, as the Trojans really struggled at times defensively. Outside of the Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders the other bowl teams that they faced this year all scored at least 41 points on them. Troy ranked No. 94 in defense overall in the country.

The Final Word: Regardless of whether Jackson plays in the R&L Carriers Bowl or not, we have no doubts in our mind that the Trojans are the right play. Ohio already nearly lost to a significantly lesser Sun Belt team, the Louisiana Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns, and Troy is a much, much better team than this. There should be at least a slight home field advantage for the Trojans, who are very familiar with playing in this building, and the end result should be a comfortable two score win to score a 'W' for the Sun Belt.

R&L Carriers New Orleans Bowl Free Pick: Troy
R&L Carriers New Orleans Bowl Prediction: Troy 44 – Ohio 31

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December 17th, 2010 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor
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In the second bowl game of the year, the Humanitarian Bowl will kick it off on the Smurf Turf in Boise. The Fresno State Bulldogs are very familiar with this field, playing here every other season against the Boise State Broncos, but this will be a new location for the Northern Illinois Huskies, who have a lot of new things to try to break into before the end of the weekend. These two teams are knotted right down the middle in the eyes of the oddsmakers, but we have our college football picks for the game that can sort of which team should be favored.

Humanitarian Bowl Matchup: Northern Illinois Huskies vs. Fresno State Bulldogs
Date: Saturday, December 18th, 5:30 ET
Location: Bronco Stadium, Boise, ID
Humanitarian Bowl Line: Northern Illinois -1
Over/Under 58.5

Huskies Notes: The poor Huskies are going to have their work cut out for them just to get up the energy to play in this bowl game. This is clearly the less desirable location for the bowl, especially after losing the MAC Championship Game in stunning fashion to the Miami Redhawks. On top of that, right after the game, Head Coach Jerry Kill up and left the program, heading for the Minnesota Golden Gophers instead. That leaves linebackers coach Tom Matukewicz in charge until this one is over. The good news for NIU is that it really could still be classified as "on a roll," knowing that it had gone 8-0 SU and 7-0-1 ATS in conference play before the dud at Ford Field. This is clearly a team that is either a product of a weak MAC or is just that darn good. We tend to believe that the Huskies belong ranked in the Top 25 in the country, even with three losses. The defensive numbers definitely suggest that, as this team ranks No. 28 in the land overall at 328.2 yards per game and is No. 29 and No. 35 against the rush and pass respectively. No 'D' in this conference allowed fewer points per game than did NIU at 19.1, and the only team to score in the 30s against it all season long were the Toledo Rockets… who promptly gave up 65 points on that same night. Offensively, this is one of those teams in the land that is averaging over 200 rushing yards and 200 passing yards per game, and the end result is a tremendously balanced attack in which you never really know what's coming. QB Chandler Harnish should be putting on a real display in the Humanitarian Bowl. He threw for 2,230 yards and just five INTs this season, and he rushed for another 764 yards. The junior accounted for 25 TDs on the year. However, he would be nowhere without his top rusher, RB Chad Spann. Spann is clearly where this offense starts and finishes most of the time. He has toted the rock a whopping 243 times for 1,293 yards with 20 scores, making him one of the best scorers in the country.

Bulldogs Notes: The Bulldogs might not have the same type of offensive or defensive numbers that the Huskies do, but NIU also didn't play teams like the Boise State Broncos, Nevada Wolf Pack, and Hawaii Warriors either. The WAC was downright tough this year, and save those three games, there was no doubt that this was the best team amongst the rest in this conference. Fresno absolutely was a decided bowl bound team from the start, and unlike NIU, there is no doubt that it is going to love to be here in Boise with a chance to redeem itself from the beat down suffered on the Smurf Turf at the hands of the Broncos. The best news that Head Coach Pat Hill has to work with in this one is that his top runner, RB Robbie Rouse should be back in the fold after his injured ribs kept him out of the final two games of the regular season. There were just no runners that could do what Rouse did on a regular basis for the Bulldogs this year, as he rushed for 1,097 yards and ten scores, and he had a pair of 200+ yards performances in a row before getting hurt to boot. The play of QB Ryan Colburn has been okay, but not fantastic this year. Colburn threw for 2,529 yards and 21 TDs, numbers which are solid, but not amazing. His nine picks were acceptable, but at times, he really did look like a deer in headlights, especially against Boise State. The problem that the Dogs had this year was that they really didn't play very well against teams going to bowl games. There is only one win, a 25-23 'W' over the Illinois Fighting Illini, and the 'D' allowed at least 35 points in each of the other three games in the WAC. Still, that unit held teams to just 342.7 yards per game this year, and that number was right around 300 yards per game if you take out the biggies in the WAC.

The Final Word: We just love what Fresno State is bringing to the table here. The last time the Bulldogs played a team with a crazy offense like this on the ground, they nearly upset the Nevada Wolf Pack. This is just not a very good matchup for NIU, and its lack of heart and energy after getting everything sucked out of it over the course of the last two weeks or so is going to prove to be too much to overcome. Hill's team gets the job done and wraps up another solid season.

Humanitarian Bowl Free Pick: Fresno State +1
Humanitarian Bowl Prediction: Fresno State 31 – Northern Illinois 21

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December 17th, 2010 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

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Finally, the college football bowl schedule gets underway on Saturday afternoon, starting with the duel in the desert in the New Mexico Bowl, as the BYU Cougars take on the UTEP Miners! These two teams really didn't play anything like each other all season long, as the two really essentially played polar opposite seasons. The Miners only won once in their final month of the season, while BYU was only defeated once, by a stout Utah Utes club during that stretch. The oddsmakers have placed a hefty set of New Mexico Bowl odds in this one, but will the Cougs have the goods to cover?

New Mexico Bowl Matchup: BYU Cougars vs. UTEP Miners
Date: Saturday, December 18th, 2:00 ET
Location: University Stadium, Albuquerque, NM
New Mexico Bowl Line: BYU -11.5
Over/Under 50.5

Cougars Notes: BYU is in great shape in this one, especially if QB Jake Heaps plays as well as he did down the stretch this year. He had four straight 200+ yard passing games, something that was never a guarantee at the outset of the year, and he wasn't picked off. Heaps also threw nine of his 11 TDs for the entire season in this stretch at the end of the year when the Cougars were playing at their best. The offensive numbers for this team were still nothing to rant and rave about and were nothing like what they were during the QB Max Hall era that just ended last year. The team averaged just 355.0 yards per game this year, approximately what Hall averaged just in the passing game in recent years. Scoring 24.0 points per game used to be what was expected in the first half. However, the defense has really stepped up its game this year and has been the difference to getting this squad to a bowl. Especially in the offense happy Mountain West, holding teams to just 341.0 yards and 21.4 points per game was very, very impressive for BYU, and is even more notable when you consider the fact that the out of conference schedule wasn't easy at all. The man to keep an eye on in the backfield is RB JJ Di Luigi. Di Luigi was one of the better backs in the MWC this year, and he really picked up the slack for a dismissed RB Harvey Unga, who was expected to once again carry the load, especially for an offense that had lost its departed quarterback and was banking on a true freshman. Di Luigi was the team's leading rusher at 819 yards and seven TDs, and he was also the leading receiver with 42 receptions for 422 yards and a TD. There was only one play in the passing game this entire season that went for more than 50 yards, and that went to WR Luke Ashworth, who led the team with six receiving TDs. However, he was one of three wide outs that had at least 300 yards on the year, but none of the three had even 400 yards.

Miners Notes: When the problems got going for the Miners around the middle of October, the first issue was the offense. This unit was held to just six points by the UAB Blazers in a disgraceful outing, and the team didn't put up more than 28 points again for the rest of the season. UTEP scored at least 28 in four of its first six games. Now, the defense has to be scratching its head as well, as this unit allowed 89 points in its final two games of the year, both of which came on the road. One thing is for certain though, and that's that QB Trevor Vittatoe really needs to play at his best in his final collegiate game. Vittatoe only completed 54.5 percent of his passes for 2,511 yards and 19 TDs against ten picks this year, and for a man that was figured to throw for at least 3,000 yards and be amongst the best signal callers in the conference this year, this has been a brutal disappointment. The ground game has been spread out amongst a number of different backs this year, but none of them have really been able to bust out and make themselves one of the best in Conference USA. RB Joseph Banyard took over and rumbled for 612 yards and eight TDs, but he has had too many inconsistent performances this year, especially down the stretch. Keep a close eye on WR Kris Adams, who has 917 yards and 11 TDs on just 44 receptions. His 20.8 yards per reception was amongst the best in the entire country. UTEP is allowing a shade under 400 yards per game this year, but this unit can't expect to give up those types of yards and still win this game.

The Final Word: The Cougars are just the superior team in this game. UTEP is a team that is headed nowhere quickly, and if not for the fact that Conference USA had so many bowl tie-ins, it would be sitting at home and watching this and the other 34 bowl games play themselves out. BYU is a legitimate team that would have probably won nine games this year with the Miners' schedule. The difference in class will certainly show, as the bowl season gets kicked off with a big time blowout.

New Mexico Bowl Free Pick: BYU -11.5
New Mexico Bowl Prediction: BYU 38 – UTEP 17

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December 15th, 2010 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

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The season could very well be on the line for both the San Diego Chargers and the San Francisco 49ers when the two square off at LP Field on Thursday Night Football this week. Check out our NFL free picks for the duel between these two AFC South rivals, as they both try to close a bit of ground on the Jacksonville Jaguars for the division lead.

Matchup: San Francisco 49ers @ San Diego Chargers
Date: Thursday, December 16th, 8:20 ET
Location: Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, CA
Game Line: San Diego -9.5
Over/Under 44.5

49ers Notes: The 49ers kept their season alive last week by knocking off the Seattle Seahawks in a big time way, but Head Coach Mike Singletary knows that there is still plenty of work to be done in order to get into the playoffs as the NFC West champs. Not only is San Fran going to need to win out, but it is probably going to need both the St. Louis Rams and Seattle Seahawks to lose twice in these last three to get the job done as well. A loss here isn't a total eliminator, as the playoffs would still potentially be in sight as long as both the Rams and Seahawks don't win on Sunday, but it would certainly be a devastating thought to be one game back of two teams with just two to play. Singletary pushed the right button last week in letting QB Alex Smith get the nod under center, as he threw for 255 yards and three TDs in arguably his best game of the season. He is going to have to get both TE Vernon Davis and WR Michael Crabtree into the game more often than they are used to right now. These two are both Pro Bowl caliber players, but their numbers don't quite warrant it yet. Davis has 49 catches for 744 yards and six scores, while Crabtree is at 42 grabs for 555 yards and five TDs. The key to holding down the San Diego offense though, is going to be the running game, which has really lacked since RB Frank Gore broke his hip. RB Brian Westbrook did have a nice game last week, but the majority of his damage came as a receiver, not as a runner. Defensively, we know that LB Patrick Willis is one of the best in the game, as he has 83 tackles and five sacks this season. Forcing turnovers can be difficult for this team at times, as 19 in 13 games just isn't good enough at this point. Starting G Mike Iupati is questionable with a shoulder injury, and a very thin, yet very solid offensive line cannot afford for him to be out of the fold.

Chargers Notes: Just like San Fran, San Diego did what it had to do last week in beating the Kansas City Chiefs to get back within one game in the AFC West. However, just like with the Niners, the Chargers are going to need to win out and get some help, at least in the form of one more, and potentially two more losses by the men in red and gold. A loss could end any hope of getting into the second season, as it would take an absolutely perfect storm to get San Diego in at that point. For a team that is managing 135 yards and eight points per game more than their foes, the Chargers sure are struggling just to find victories this year. Without a dominating running back to turn to, the ball is going to rest on the right arm of QB Philip Rivers in this one as it has all season long. Rivers is going to become a 4,000 yard passer on the season this week, as he has 3,868 yards and 26 TDs against 11 INTs. His top target has been TE Antonio Gates, who has 50 catches for 782 yards and ten TDs. However, he really hasn't had any consistent threats to throw to all year long, as none of his other targets, save backup TE Randy McMichael, have played in more than ten games this year. Even now, Gates is listed as doubtful on the injury report with a foot injury, and if he can't go in this one, there won't be a target with more than 500 receiving yards in the starting lineup. WR Vincent Jackson is back, but he only has two catches for 29 yards in his two starts. Defensively, this might be the most talented unit in the game, even with the departure of LB Shawne Merriman. LB Kevin Burnett and LB Shaun Phillips probably headline the best linebacking corps in the league. Phillips has ten sacks and 40 tackles for the year, while Burnett is the leader in tackles with 64, has five sacks, two picks, and a defensive TD to show for his work on the year.

The Final Word: This seems like a great spot for the Chargers, as San Fran has underachieved all season long. However, this is the final home game in a very disappointing season for the Bolts, and the pressure is really on HC Norv Turner to win this game. The Niners know that they still have a lifeline left, but they are going to do everything that they can to make sure that they keep this one interesting for the full 60 minutes.

Free Pro Football Picks: San Francisco +9.5
Prediction: San Diego 24 – San Francisco 19

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December 11th, 2010 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

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Playoff dreams could be realized and could be smashed on Monday Night Football this week, and here at Cappers Info, we have all of the best news and notes to be able to make your NFL picks in the duel between the Baltimore Ravens and Houston Texans this week.

Matchup: Baltimore Ravens @ Houston Texans
Date: Monday, December 13th, 8:30 ET
Location: Reliant Stadium, Houston, TX
Game Line: Houston +3
Over/Under 46

Ravens Notes: This just seems like it is destined to be another one of those years where the Ravens have to come through a very tough path on the road if they want to make it to the Super Bowl, and as a result, it will probably be yet another year in which they fall just short of the biggest game of the season. Baltimore really should have had the AFC North on lockdown last week, but it let the Pittsburgh Steelers back into the game and eventually let them win it at the death. Now, instead of having a one game lead with the tiebreaker with four to play, the Ravens are one back and are probably in a position to lose the tiebreaker with four to play. The good news is that a win in this one leaves them two games up on safety for the last Wild Card spot in the AFC, thus they'll be in great shape to make the second season. However, a loss could open up Pandora's Box for all sorts of teams to feel like they have a chance at swiping that last bid to the playoffs, including these Texans. QB Joe Flacco is just a few passes away from being a 3,000 yard passer this year, and he should be in for a field day against a very suspect Houston secondary. WR Anquan Boldin already has 770 yards and seven TDs as a receiver this year, and he will be the prime focus for the offensive assault on Monday night. RB Ray Rice is a real dual threat, as he is the top rusher for the team with 847 yards and three TDs, and he is second on the team in receptions with 49 and fourth in yards at 410. Watch for WR Derrick Mason, who has 47 receptions and 598 yards this year, as this could be the biggest game of his season. No analysis of the Ravens would be complete without talking about LB Ray Lewis, SS Ed Reed, and this defense, though. This unit has played awesome ball for the majority of the year, as the unit is allowing just 305.8 yards and 16.8 points per game.

Texans Notes: Last season, the Texans were in this very familiar spot at this juncture of the season, and they probably needed a lot more help than this to get into the playoffs for the first time in franchise history. Houston did its job last year, running the table to finish 9-7, but it still was the first team left out of the playoffs, as the New York Jets stole that last spot on the last day of the season. Things seem to be gloomy, especially knowing that this is a very, very tough schedule down the stretch, but it's not all that bad for the Texans. They need to win out and get one more loss out of the winner of the Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Indianapolis Colts battle next week, and that will most likely get the job done and win the division for the first time ever. However, on the darker side of things, a loss will make it virtually impossible to win the AFC South, as catching the Colts and Jags from two back, and perhaps three back, with just three to play is going to be a task too tough to tame. If Head Coach Gary Kubiak does end up getting fired at the end of this season, he can look back at his secondary and wonder why this unit was just so downright horrible this year. There really hasn't been enough consistent pressure on opposing quarterbacks, as only really DE Mario Williams has any substantial numbers this year, and that has let QBs just sit in the pocket and pick the Texans apart. This unit ranks dead last in the league at 287.4 yards per game, and this is why this team has allowed at least 24 points to all but one foe this year. Offensively, we know that QB Matt Schaub, WR Andre Johnson, and RB Arian Foster are all potential Pro Bowlers this year, as all three are amongst the best at their trade in the game. Foster is arguably the most valuable player on this team, as he has 1,230 yards on the ground and 479 more as a receiver, and he has 15 total TDs on the season.

The Final Word: Houston is in a bad spot in this one, as the Ravens really can do anything that these please against this unit. The spirit of the fans at Reliant Stadium will be broken early, and when that happens and the crowd turns against Kubiak and company, things could get really, really ugly. Don't be shocked if this one turns into a romp and if Kubiak gets a pink slip shortly after the game for it.

Free Pro Football Picks: Baltimore -3
Prediction: Baltimore 31 – Houston 10

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December 10th, 2010 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

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It's the annual tradition in the second week of December that college football betting fans everywhere always look forward to the most. The Army Black Knights and the Navy Midshipmen meet up in a game full of honor, integrity, and everything else that is right about this great country. There is little pressure on the line for both teams, as they already know that they have bowl destinations wrapped up, which should make for even more enjoyment for this crucial tilt.

Matchup: Navy Midshipmen vs. Army Black Knights
Date: Saturday, December 11th, 2:30 ET
Location: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, PA
Game Line: Navy -8
Over/Under 53.5

Midshipmen Notes: The Middies have come on strong this year, and they are right at the verge of finishing the season in the Top 25 in the rankings. They have once again put together a great year, though many wonder whether this could have been significantly more special without a homecoming loss to the Duke Blue Devils or an inexplicable loss to the Maryland Terrapins to start the season. If that were the case, a Top 25 bid would already be sealed, while a trip to a better bowl game than the Poinsettia Bowl against the San Diego State Aztecs might have been on the line. Offensively, we've come to know and love the standard triple option assault, something that has been used at the Naval Academy for eons. QB Ricky Dobbs has generated a ton of offense in his career with Navy, and he is wrapping up his illustrious career with one last attempt at taking down Army. Dobbs threw for 1,110 yards and rushed for 806 more, totaling 23 TDs against just four INTs on the campaign. His top man on the option is RB Alexander Teich, who has 778 yards and five TDs on the year. RB Gee Gee Greene and RB Vince Murray will inevitably get their touches, and the two have combined for just over 800 yards and seven trips to the end zone. Remember that WR Greg Jones is a legitimate passing threat, though. The top receiver for the Middies has 28 receptions for 554 yards and four TDs on the year, numbers that are absolutely phenomenal by the standards of the triple option.

Black Knights Notes: The Cadets haven't won a game in this series since 2001, but they are hoping that a stellar defense can be the key to getting the job done here in 2010. This 'D' ranks No. 25 in the country at 322.6 yards per game allowed and has been stellar against the run at 131.7 yards per game. Teams are only scoring 24.6 points per game, but over the L/3, the Black Knights have allowed an average of 32.3 PPG and have gone 1-2 SU and ATS in that stretch. Army has been off since November 20th, and the hope is that there isn't too much rust shown in this one, particularly on offense. The Black Knights only have a total of 857 passing yards on the season, and there are over 50 individual receivers on teams that have more than that across the country. QB Trent Steelman isn't exactly your standard passer, and throwing the ball clearly isn't his strength. He has run the ball 168 times and done a masterful job electing whom to hand the ball to on a regular basis. Steelman has 620 yards and a team high 11 scores on the ground. RB Jared Hassin is his favorite option to hand the ball to ,as Hassin is averaging 5.6 yards per carry, has 881 yards, and nine scores. The sophomore is trying to follow in the footsteps of RB Collin Mooney, who was the academy's most recent 1,000 yard rusher and was the first in over a decade to pull off the stunt. He is just 109 yards shy of that number coming into this one, and between this and the bowl game against the SMU Mustangs, he should have no problems. RBs Patrick Mealy, Malcolm Brown, and Brian Cobbs are also standards in the triple option, and all three should get at least a handful of carries on the day. The three have combined for almost 1,000 yards on the ground and have a total on ten TDs.

The Final Word: Is this Army's year? It is certainly the best chance that the Cadets have had in a number of years of pulling off the upset against the Naval Academy, that's for sure. Though we tend to believe that Navy's winning streak is extending to nine in this one, we have a hard time believing that a defense that has been relatively inconsistent for most of the season is holding down Steelman, Hassin, and the Black Knights for the entire game. Go Army! Beat Navy! (Or at least lose by a touchdown or less!)

Army/Navy Picks: Army +8
Prediction: Navy 27 – Army 23

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December 8th, 2010 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

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The season could very well be on the line for both the Tennessee Titans and the Indianapolis Colts when the two square off at LP Field on Thursday Night Football this week. Check out our NFL free picks for the duel between these two AFC South rivals, as they both try to close a bit of ground on the Jacksonville Jaguars for the division lead.

Matchup: Indianapolis Colts @ Tennessee Titans
Date: Thursday, December 9th, 8:20 ET
Location: LP Field, Nashville, TN
Game Line: Tennessee +3
Over/Under 45

Colts Notes: If anyone has seen the real QB Peyton Manning floating around, please let us know. This imposter that has thrown 11 picks over the course of the last three games clearly isn't the man that is getting into No. 18's jersey in blue and white on a weekly basis right now. The mass majority of the time, Manning is putting up numbers and making plays like a real MVP. However, there are just those moments when he uncharacteristically tries putting the ball into traffic, and more often than not, those balls are getting intercepted. Two of those were returned for touchdowns last week by the Dallas Cowboys, and the final one of the four set up the game winning score in overtime. Manning needs 291 yards to crack the 4,000 yard barrier on the season. There are more injury woes now for Manning and his offense to worry about as well. RB Mike Hart came back to the lineup for one week, but an ankle injury is almost certainly going to sideline him. Parlay that with the ineffectiveness of both RB Javarris James and RB Donald Brown, and the necessity was there to go sign an old friend. Manning welcomes back RB Dominic Rhodes this week after his time with the Orlando Tuskers in the UFL was complete. WR Pierre Garcon and WR Austin Collie are probably both out as well this week, which will call WR Blair White into more action. If there's good news for Indy, it is that it will probably ultimately control its own destiny to win the AFC South and to get into the playoffs, though another divisional defeat will clearly shift the balance of power over to the Jags once and for all. The Colts are one back of Jacksonville right now, and they can avenge an earlier season loss when the two meet up one last time this month.

Titans Notes: There aren't many teams that can say that they are still in the playoff race in spite of the fact that they are 5-7, but if the Titans don't get things worked out right now, they are certainly finished, as they will be at least two games back, if not three by the time the week is over, with just three games to play. HC Jeff Fisher is clearly in some trouble and might have some questions that he needs to answer very, very soon in the Music City, as another loss would once again keep his squad out of the postseason, which could result in his firing. And for good reason! Last week, the Titans scored just six points at home in a divisional game against said Jaguars, marking the second straight game in which they did not score a touchdown. In fact, the last time this team found the end zone was on a punt return for a score by Marc Mariani. The last time the offense scored was over 13 quarters ago, easily the longest stretch for any team in the NFL this season. Things aren't necessarily getting better either, as QB Kerry Collins was the man that was responsible for that six game losing streak to start the season off last year. RB Chris Johnson, at least on paper, should have a great game against the Colts and their porous rush defense, but we just aren't so sure. Johnson is over the 1,000 yard mark this year with 1,026 yards, but he has only rushed for 58 yards on 20 carries with no scores over the last two weeks. Tennessee has lost five games in a row both SU and ATS, easily one of the worst stretches that this team has had in the illustrious coaching tenure of Fisher.

The Final Word: Conventional wisdom suggests that the Colts are finally going to rebound and get off the mat in the first meeting of these division foes this year. However, we just aren't so sure that's the case. We think that this is the game that Johnson really shines, and if he can get going on the ground and keep Manning off the field and make him pay for any potential mistakes, the Titans have a real shot in this one. Don't be surprised if Fisher outfoxes the Colts in this one and pulls out a tremendous victory from his hat that would absolutely cripple the season for the visitors.

Free Pro Football Picks: Tennessee +3
Prediction: Tennessee 24 – Indianapolis 23

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December 5th, 2010 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

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Coming into Week 13, the New York Jets and New England Patriots were tied for the best record in the NFL at 9-2, and they are the only two in the AFC with these marks. They'll meet on Monday Night Football in one of the most highly anticipated clashes of the entire regular season. The winner will have the inside track to the No. 1 seed in the playoffs in the AFC, while the loser knows that there is a lot of work and help that needs to be done and had to avoid having to play three road games to get to the Super Bowl this winter.

Matchup: New York Jets @ New England Patriots
Date: Monday, December 6th, 8:30 ET
Location: Gillette Stadium, Foxboro, MA
Game Line: New England -3.5
Over/Under 45


Jets Notes: New York could argue that it has the upper hand in this game due to the fact that it has already proven that it is good enough to beat up the Pats at home this year. The 28-14 win was a thing of beauty, especially for QB Mark Sanchez, who threw for 220 yards and three TDs, but more importantly, no picks. Those INTs have really come back to bite him in the rear in recent weeks, as all eight of his mistakes have come in that stretch, but the Jets have been able to survive that with just one defeat. "The Sanchise" has guided the men in green to five wins without a defeat on the road this year, and his numbers are significantly better in Year No. 2 than they were when he was a rookie last campaign. Sanchez has completed 55.2 percent of his pass attempts for 2,459 yards and 16 scores against eight INTs. He also has significantly more weapons to work with this year. WR Braylon Edwards had a full year of camp to work with Sanchez this year, and he has 35 receptions for 618 yards and a team high six scores to show for it, while second year TE Dustin Keller is really emerging as a sophomore in the ranks of the NFL as well with 39 catches for 528 yards and five TDs. WR Santonio Holmes has at least five catches in five straight games, while WR Jerricho Cotchery should be back in the fold this week after sitting out the last two with an injured groin. Add into the mix the fact that RB LaDainian Tomlinson has 45 catches for 316 yards, and it is clear that Sanchez has a ton to work with. Tomlinson is also the team's leader on the ground with 733 yards and five scores, but he hasn't averaged even four yards per carry on the ground for a game since Week 5 in the season. RB Shonn Greene has been a big disappointment this year at just 575 yards and one TD.

Patriots Notes: Just as the Jets have been perfect on the road this year, so too, have the Pats been perfect at home. New England is 5-0 at Gillette Stadium this season, including tough home wins against the Indianapolis Colts and the Baltimore Ravens. Statistically, Head Coach Bill Belichick knows that he has been fortunate this year, as his team continues to find ways to win games in spite of the fact that his defense ranks No. 31 overall at 399.1 yards per game and dead last against the pass at 288.5 yards per game. The offense is uncharacteristically getting outdone by 50 yards per game, and there isn't a category on this side of the ball in which this team has been dominating… except where it really counts. On the scoreboard, New England has put up 30.4 points per game, easily tops in the league. QB Tom Brady is putting up numbers making him worthy of MVP consideration this season. He has completed 66.3 percent of his passes for 2,703 yards with 23 scores against just four INTs. Half of those four picks came in Week 2 though, against these very same Jets. Brady has done a great job spreading the football around, as he has six different receivers on his team that have at least 230 yards and 18 receptions this year. As always, his leading target is WR Wes Welker, who has 65 catches for 592 yards and six scores. TE Rob Gronkowski is starting to get involved a lot more of late, as he has really replaced TE Aaron Hernandez as the top rookie tight end man for Brady to find, especially near the end zone. On the ground, RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis leads the team with 627 yards and a team best nine scores, but don't be shocked if RB Danny Woodhead gets called upon a lot in this one. Woodhead was a Jet through Week 2 this year, and he was picked up due to all of the running back injuries that the team incurred over the course of the first few weeks. He has rushed for 344 yards and caught 24 passes for 230 yards, and especially since he was let go by New York, you know that Belichick would love to let Woodhead get some sweet revenge on Monday Night Football.

The Final Word: The Patriots might be the perfect team at home in this one, but that doesn't mean that the Jets aren't going to have the last say when it is said and done. Sanchez and the Jets just keep finding ways to win games, and when it all really boils down, we expect to see that the New York defense is going to outperform the New England defense. If the Jets can force a few turnovers and get into the face of Brady, this one could be the slugfest that they really, truly want. If that's the case, Head Coach Rex Ryan will find a way to get his team to come out of this one with a season changing victory.

Free Pro Football Picks: New York +3.5
Prediction: New York 23 – New England 20

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December 3rd, 2010 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

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Two and a half months ago, the South Carolina Gamecocks could have ended the perfect season and most likely the BCS Championship dreams of the Auburn Tigers if they were able to finish off their game at Jordan Hare Stadium. Instead, Auburn found a way to come all the way back and win. Now, playing in the team's first SEC Championship Game, the Gamecocks are the only team standing between Auburn and a date with destiny in the BCS Championship Game.

Matchup: Auburn Tigers vs. South Carolina Gamecocks
Date: Saturday, December 4th, 4:00 ET
Location: Georgia Dome, Atlanta, GA
Game Line: Auburn -5.5
Over/Under 61.5

Tigers Notes: Is it just us, or do the Tigers seem to have the look of a team that is just touched and is destined to find its way to the National Championship this year? These Tigers have certainly had nine lives, as they have found ways to put away games in which they looked to be dead in the water. Up until last week against the Alabama Crimson Tide though, it appeared as though all of those games were happening at home. Now, the biggest test in Tuscaloosa against the defending National Champions has been passed, and my, how was it passed! The Tide had a 24-0 lead in the second quarter and watched it evaporate, as Auburn stormed back and won the game 28-27 for arguably the biggest win in the school's history and certainly the biggest ever for HC Gene Chizik. QB Cameron Newton also seems to be an untouchable force this year. The NCAA has tried its best, but it can't find anything to suspend him for at this point that would make him ineligible for this game or for the rest of the season, and as long as that remains the case, he is clearly the odds on choice for the Heisman Trophy, if he isn't a lock for the honor already. Newton has rushed for 1,336 yards and thrown for 2,254 more, and between his passing TDs and rushing TDs (and his one receiving TD!), he has visiting the end zone 43 times, by far the most in college football. This isn't just a one man team, though. On the ground, both RB Michael Dyer and RB Onterio McCalebb are capable of taking games over in a heartbeat. Dyer has rushed for 886 yards, while McCalebb is at 733 for the campaign, and the two have 14 scores combined. There's a reason that Auburn is averaging 292.5 yards per game on the ground and is scoring 41.6 points per game, one of the top marks in the entire country. The key this week though, is going to be the defense. This unit has some great numbers on the year, but it just doesn't pass the eye test. There are too many mental lapses, like allowing over 300 yards in the first half through the air to QB Greg McElroy or the 43 points conceded, mostly to a backup quarterback for the Arkansas Razorbacks. If this unit falters, title dreams could be smashed to smithereens.

Gamecocks Notes: The Ol' Ball Coach, HC Steve Spurrier, has been waiting for this moment at South Carolina for a long, long time. It has clearly been a special season for the Gamecocks, as they have embarked upon a number of firsts. It was the first time that they have been in the SEC Championship Game, the first time in which they beat the Florida Gators in the Swamp, and is probably the first time that the offense has been this good in school history. RB Marcus Lattimore has arguably been the best freshman in the entire country this year, and the argument could certainly be made that if he isn't the best, he is the most valuable. Lattimore has come up huge with three straight games in triple digits in rushing yards, and he now has 1,114 yards and 19 TDs on the season. He was held in check against Auburn the first time around, but we must remember that that was really his first true road game in his career. Now, he has significantly more experience and is ready to rock and roll on the SEC's biggest stage to try to pull off this upset. QB Stephen Garcia feels like he has been the butt of every joke in Columbia for years, but he is the last one laughing now. Garcia has thrown for 2,646 yards and 18 TDs on the season, and he has only been picked off nine times, something that Spurrier has been begging him for years about. However, it really helps when you have a 6'5" 240+ pounder that has springs for legs like WR Alshon Jeffrey to throw the ball to. There is no doubt that this young man will be playing on Sundays soon enough, as he is arguably the top receiver in the SEC, which is saying something considering that he shares a division with WR AJ Green of the Georgia Bulldogs. Jeffrey has 75 receptions for 1,351 yards and eight scores this year. Just like Auburn though, we're more worried about the South Carolina defense. This unit did not play well at Jordan Hare Stadium, allowing over 330 rushing yards on the day to the Tigers. Still, this is a team that has held a number of great offenses in check this year, and it has held foes to just 91.6 yards per game on the ground. If you take out that huge performance for Auburn, others have only averaged right around 70 yards per game, and if that's where SC can keep the Tigers, it has a chance for the upset.

The Final Word: Say goodbye to your National Championship dreams, Auburn. If there is justice in this world, the Tigers are going to get beat, as it seems like it is only a matter of time before the NCAA drops the hammer on the program and wipes this season clean regardless. South Carolina looks like the team full of good ol' boys right now, led by a good ol' coach who knows how to get the job done in games like this. There is absolutely no pressure whatsoever on the Gamecocks on Saturday afternoon, and we love them for it. Their rush defense is the difference on Saturday. Jeffrey and Lattimore both have huge games, while Newton, Dyer, and company just don't get anything going. Not only is South Carolina winning this game. It's winning it in a huge way.

SEC Championship Game Picks: South Carolina +5.5
Prediction: South Carolina 41 – Auburn 17

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December 3rd, 2010 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

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The Oregon Ducks and Oregon State Beavers truly hate each other, and they will engage in the Civil War on Saturday afternoon with all to play for on both sidelines. Should the Ducks prove to be victorious, they will have their ticket stamped to the BCS Championship Game in Glendale in January. Oregon State needs this 'W' to qualify for a bowl game in December after playing the nation's most brutal schedule. Which one will get the job done? We have our Civil War picks right here at Cappers Info!

Matchup: Oregon Ducks vs. Oregon State Beavers
Date: Saturday, December 4th, 3:30 ET
Location: Reser Stadium, Corvallis, OR
Game Line: Oregon -16.5
Over/Under 64.5

Ducks Notes: Is there a team out there in the country that can stop the Quack Attack? The Ducks are on a roll right now, having won all 11 games this season by posting 42+ points in all but one of the 11. The bad news for those backing them on the college football odds is that they are only 0-2-1 ATS in their last three games, but that isn't going to bother HC Chip Kelly one bit. Kelly made a huge stand at the outset of the season by suspending his top rusher RB LaMichael James for one game for some off the field issues, but he made even bigger waves by kicking his quarterback, Heisman Trophy contending QB Jeremiah Masoli off of the team. With QB Nathan Costa being injured for most of the year, the pressure has fallen onto the shoulders of QB Darren Thomas. Talk about answering the bell! Thomas has rushed for 496 yards and five scores and has thrown for 2,355 yards and 26 TDs against just seven INTs on the campaign. As for James, he didn't turn out all that bad either. The sophomore has rushed for 1,568 yards, received for 169 yards, and has 20 total TDs on the campaign. Not too shabby for a man that was suspended for a game in which his team racked up 720 yards, eh? James is probably a Heisman Trophy finalist, as he is averaging well over 150 yards per game on the ground this year and is virtually impossible to keep out of the end zone. As always, keep an eye on WR Jeffrey Maehl as well. Maehl has 61 catches for 857 yards and 12 scores on the year, and he leads the team in all three categories. The only question is whether or not this defense is going to be able to slow down the Beavers. There is no doubt that the averages for the U of O are great, as allowing 328.5 yards and 18.3 points per game is nothing to sweat about, especially if you have an offense like this that is averaging over 50 points and nearly 550 yards per game, but this is a unit that has allowed at least 29 points three times this year and can be had.

Beavers Notes: The poor Beavers are probably the fourth best team or so in the Pac-10, and they are certainly deserving of going to a bowl game, but the fact that this is the fourth team this year that they are going to play that will be ranked in the final Top 10 in the country in nauseating. The averages for this team are terrible this year, as 330.2 yards and 24.8 points per game are not nearly what a HC Mike Riley team should be putting on the board on a regular basis. Nor should the defense be allowing 401.0 yards per game. Part of the problem has been that WR James Rodgers has been out for the majority of the season, which has really left QB Ryan Katz out to dry. Katz has thrown for 2,159 yards and 16 scores this year, but his eight picks have hurt, especially for a man that turns around and hands the ball off more often than he drops back to throw. And why wouldn't you want to turn around and give the pigskin to RB Jacquizz Rodgers? Many thought that Rodgers could be a dark horse for the Heisman Trophy this year, and though that hasn't panned out, he is clearly the man that the Ducks are most afraid of on Saturday. Rodgers has rushed for 1,100 yards and 14 scores and has caught 38 passes for 274 yards and two TDs. No one else has really been able to step into the shoes of the elder Rodgers brother though, as Markus Wheaton is the team's leading receiver with just 44 receptions, 523 yards, and three scores.

The Final Word: Though we know that taking points in rivalry games is usually a great idea, especially when you're talking about a ton of points for a team that is playing at home, we just can't do it on Saturday. The Beavers just appear to be snake bitten right now, and the fact that they were just shut out by the Stanford Cardinal last week isn't exactly appealing to us. There's just too much James, too much Maehl, and too much Thomas for OSU to stop. It will be a long, long night in Corvallis for the hosts, as they are going to end up waiting another year to return to a bowl game. The Ducks are heading to the BCS Championship Game with ease.

MAC Championship Game Picks: Oregon -16.5
Prediction: Oregon 52 – Oregon State 23

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