The ACC should have a fascinating season in 2013. There are a number of true contenders as you can see below and they have some great matches with their geographical big brother the SEC, which could really shake up the way things look at the top of the polls this season.
There is no conference that has had as much movement of teams as the American Athletic Conference, formerly the Big East. This year the league still has its hooks in last year’s winner, Louisville, while welcoming a host of newcomers from Conference USA.
Crimson Tide vs. Fighting Irish College Football Spread/Handicapping
Well it is finally here. Two big brand names but still debate over whether these are the two most deserving schools (at least for me). Probably a defensive battle but with so much time to prepare who knows
#2 Alabama Crimson Tide (12-1) vs. #1 Notre Dame (12-0)
Monday January 7
Sun Life Stadium – Miami, FL
8:30
Moneyline: Alabama -345, Notre Dame +315 at SportsBettingOnline.ag
Spread: Alabama -9.5
O/U: 40.5
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Alabama is probably the most talented team in the nation. They always do well in recruiting rankings and now that mock drafts are the rage they are looking good there too.
The amazing thing is that they almost didn’t make it here. Johnny Heisman knocked them down earlier in the season and the Bulldogs nearly had their number in the SEC Championship.
Both of those teams have a nice mix of offensive talent to challenge their defense…The defense gets a lot of praise but the offense is very good too – they averaged 38ppg.
Its not flashy but the best offensive line in football paved the way for two 1000 yard rushers, Eddie Lacy and freshman T.J. Yeldon both averaged 6.5 yards per carry.
That line also gave QB A.J. McCarron time to complete nearly 70% of his passes. He makes few mistakes too (just 3 interceptions on the season)…Despite the one loss the Crimson Tide are heavy favourites at -9.5.
Alabama has been a poor bet this season at just 6-7 ATS including 1-4 ATS down the stretch.
This could be a tight defensive struggle but it could also be another examples of Bama’s recent dominance.
The last and only undefeated team in the nation is Notre Dame. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
Technically you can’t argue with their selection to the Championship game but for me they don’t pass the sight test for me. Their regular season had some nice wins but also some head scratchers, I think only one of their conquests, Stanford, lived up to expectations this season…
Statistically the defense has been a monster with linebacker Manti Te’o gaining lots of attention and finishing second in the Heisman race.
Its the offense led by QB Everett Golson that has everyone questioning this team.
They run the ball alright and have QB Tommy Rees as closer but it is hardly a good offensive team that is likely to struggle against Alabama…In addition to having strong defenses another trait the Irish have in common is a poor ATS record, just 7-6. That has been primarily because of their poor offensive showings.
It affected them as favourites with big numbers but I think it will do the same in this one too.
They might not be able to keep this one close.
Spread Pick: Alabama -9.5
O/U Pick: Over
Score Prediction:
I don’t know how things got weird and a game of this calibre got pushed to this late in the bowl calendar. I do know that there is nothing to like about it. SEC vs BIg East is not a good matchup in this one.
Pittsburgh Panthers (6-6) vs Ole Miss Rebels (6-6)
Saturday January 5
Legion Field – Birmingham, AL
1:00PM
Moneyline: Ole Miss -160, Pittsburgh +140 at SportsBettingOnline.ag
Spread: Ole Miss -3.5
O/U: 52
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The Panthers needed to win their final two games to become bowl eligible and they did. In fact they have gone the whole season on two game streaks, losing then winning, creating their current symetrical 6-6 record.
Mostly they are getting it done on the defensive side of the ball as the Panthers are inconsistent on offense at best…
At running back they have a difference maker in Ray Graham. The pint sized senior finally broke through with a 1000 yard season – but with his worst average per carry. He is tougher than he looks and plays well when the team wins.
QB Tino Sunseri has taken a lot of heat over the years but he put up some nice numbers as a senior too including a TD/INT ratio of 19/2…Pitts was 7-4 ATS this season including 5-1 the last two months of the season.
I think the only way you can like this team is as the underdog because you just can’t rely on them too much. That extra half point provides some value though.
Ole Miss also got their bowl qualifying win in the last week of the season, beating in-state rival Mississippi State in the Egg Bowl. They play in the toughest division in college football and held their own this year, losses to Vanderbilt, LSU and Texas A&M were all by 6 points or less. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
This isn’t a great team but with any other schedule they are probably 8-4…
Nothing in particular stands out about Ole Miss talent wise. QB Bo Wallace is alright but throws it too many times to the wrong guys. Former starting QB Randall Mackey gets used running the ball, at receiver and sometimes even throwing the ball too.
It is that kind of versatility that might come in handy with a lot of extra time to prepare…
Though just 6-6 Ole Miss has been a very profitable 9-3 ATS. This is a battle tested team that even though it is not super talented seems to play above its head.
Coach Hugh Freeze is doing a better job than you realize in his first year and it should end with a bowl victory.
Spread Pick: Ole Miss -3.5
O/U Pick: Under
Score Prediction: Ole Miss 24 – Pittsburgh 17
Many are expecting the Gators to stomp (and chomp) on Louisville but lets remember that as good as they are on defense they are offensively challenged. Louisville is solid all around and I think this game can be a pleasant surprise.
Big 12 vs Conference USA in this one…I think, who knows these days. Tulsa is always an entertaining program to watch but Iowa State can be full of surprises.
Georgia nearly beat Alabama but because of the current rules they get a lame matchup against Nebraska on New Year’s Day. From what we have seen lately there is a huge difference in class in this matchup.
A curious matchup as both of these teams went from sleepers to disappointments pretty quickly. Both are looking to finish the year on a positive note to set the tone for next season.
Owls vs Falcons College Football Spread/Handicapping
Typical of early bowl matchups there is not much to get excited for in this one. I am always a big fan of the service academies as I love seeing those triple option attacks pound against opponents, there might not be much else to entertain though.
Hardly riveting action in this one. Texas Tech has already seen their coach move on to “greener” pastures and Minnesota barely qualified to play in a bowl game. Maybe the Gophers have an advantage because they are not going through a transition…maybe.
When it is Duke and not hardwood it is hard to get excited. This year’s team isn’t a total pushover but I am not sure they are ready to win a bowl game just yet.
Conference USA vs the Sun Belt in some exciting bowl action. Nothing new to be playing this time of year for East Carolina who I think will be in the “Big East” this time next season. Watch out for the Cajuns who are playing in their own backyard.
Another early bowl matchup that will probably be better than a lot of the action as the New Year approaches. The teams have just 5 losses between them and either can put a scare in almost any team in the country.
Some of the early bowl games wind up being the best and I think this is a good candidate. Both teams can put points on the board and are not that far from home so there should be a good atmosphere for this Bowl Season kickoff.
BYU might is no longer a part of the Mountain West Conference but they still played a few games against some familiar foes this season. This will be a chance to show the MWC that they are still a program to be reckoned with.
There are rumours that Boise State is trying to undo their move to the Big East scheduled for next season. Right now they are 6-1 in the Mountain West, looking to finish with a win and then see what happens.
