Liberty Bowl: Aggies vs Mountaineers
College Football Bowl Season sees betting action between the Texas A&M Aggies and the West Virginia Mountaineers. Cappers picks provides free college football handicapping tips all season long.
This bowl game features two high-octane offenses both ranking in the top 12 in passing yards per game so it will most likely turn into a shoot out.
College Football Odds
2014 Liberty Bowl
Texas A&M Aggies (7-5) vs. West Virginia Mountaineers (7-5)
Monday, Dec. 29
2:00 PM ET
Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium/Memphis, TN
ESPN
College Football Betting Odds: WVU -3.5
College Football O/U Odds: 67
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Texas A&M
Freshman quarterback Kyle Allen will be under center for the Aggies and will be making his bowl game debut. In his four games at starter Allen has passed for 764 yards and nine touchdowns. His best performance came earlier this season when they upset Auburn 41-38, he threw for 277 yards, four touchdowns and one interception.
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His main target has been sophomore wide out Josh Reynolds who has 15 receptions for 244 yards and four touchdowns over Allen’s four games at starter.
The Aggies have dropped five of their last seven games and have the worst defense in the SEC allowing nearly 450 total yards per game. In the past three games the Aggies are allowing 553.3 total yards with 360.7 yards on the ground.
The balanced rushing attack is divided between Trey Williams and Tra Carson. Williams has rushed for 474 yards and six touchdowns while Carson has rushed for 448 yards and five touchdowns.
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In order for the Aggies to win this game they must take care of the football. During the year they have not been good at holding onto the football and West Virginia will look to capitalize on their turnovers. With a freshman quarterback it will be interesting to see if Allen can take care of the football.
West Virginia
Skyler Howard will be making only his second start on the year in the Liberty Bowl. Former starting quarterback Clint Trickett suffered a head injury and was forced to retire from football after suffering five concussions in just a little over a year. However, Howard has played well since being promoted to starter throwing for 483 yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions.
The Mountaineers have many weapons on their offense to aid the inexperienced Howard. Wide receiver Kevin White has over 100 receptions for 1,318 yards and nine touchdowns. Other wide out Melvin Alford has put up impressive numbers as well. Alford has racked up 888 receiving yards to go along with 10 touchdowns.
Howard brings something to the table that Trickett did not. A rushing threat. In just three games he has rushed for 107 yards on 12 carries.
The West Virgina defense will be faced with a tough challenge in slowing down the Texas A&M offense.
Kevin White racked up seven consecutive 100-yard receiving games, but has slowed down with the loss of Trickett.
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Howard took over for Trickett in an impressive 285 yard passing effort completing 21 of his 40 passes for three touchdowns and adding 69 yards on the ground.
NCAA Handicapping Trends:
- Texas A&M is 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games following a ATS loss.
- Texas A&M is 1-7 ATS in their last 8 games overall.
- West Virginia is 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games after accumulating more than 200 yards rushing in their previous game.
- Texas A&M is 2-11 ATS in their last 13 neutral site games.
Liberty Bowl
With the Aggies starting an inexperienced quarterback expect a lot of turnovers. Look for both teams to put up a ton of points, but at the end of this game its going to come down to offensive efficiency. At times this year, both offenses have looked very impressive and at other times they have looked awful. Kevin White will have a big performance for the Mountaineers along with other star wide out Melvin Alford.
Free 4* NCAA Football Betting Pick: WVU -3.5
A lot of points on the scoreboard and this game will most likely come down to a final drive.
WVU 38, A&M 31
If West Virginia can contain Kyle Allen they will have a good shot at pulling this one out.
Check out our Updated College Football Bowl Game Odds.
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