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Mark Franco helped start Vegas Insider in 1997 and worked under some of the most well respected handicappers in the Nation.
Jimmy Boyd
Jimmy Boyd of Locksmith Sports is the most consistent handicapper across all major sports that the industry has to offer.
Tony George
Tony George, President and CEO of Midwest Sports Consultants and Sports Audio Shows, is one of the most consistent and most respected handicappers in the sports gaming world.
Dave Price
Dave Price's Priceless Picks have proven to be worth their price from the first day he broke into the handicapping industry.
2012 Bowl Bonanza! by Jim Feist
Happy Holidays! As 2012 draws to a close, we find ourselves smack in the middle of the bowls. You shouldn’t be bowled-out, either, as they build to the crescendo that is the Notre Dame/Alabama showdown for the national title.
Little Caesar’s Bowl (Wed., Dec. 26): Western Kentucky (7-5) got here with a strong offenses (28.8 ppg) behind senior QB Kawaun Jakes (21 TDs, 11 INTs) and power back Antonio Andrews (1,609 yards). They started 6-2 despite playing a pair of SEC teams on the road, losing to Alabama (35-0) but beating Kentucky, 32-31 in OT. Western Kentucky decided to go for the two-point conversion in OT and the win, so expect the unexpected. The Hilltoppers are on a 21-7 ATS run.
By contrast, Central Michigan (6-6) is on an 8-24 ATS run and the Chippewas are 8-20 ATS in their last 28 games on fieldturf. Central Michigan got here with a strong passing attack behind senior QB Ryan Radcliff (20 TDs, 9 INTs), averaging 243 yards per and 29.3 points. They have a power back of their own in Zurlon Tipton (1,391 yds), who averages over 6 yards per carry. The defense, though, allows 33.3 ppg. The over is 20-7-2 against a team with a winning record.
Holiday Bowl (Thurs., Dec. 27): A pair of dynamite offense meet as Baylor (7-5) takes on UCLA (9-4). Baylor replaced Robert Griffin the III with QB Nick Florence (31 TDs, 13 INTs, 531 yards rushing) and averaged 44 points, 353 yards passing and 225.5 yards rushing! That passing attack is third in the nation, anchored by senior WR Terrace Williams (1,764 yds). The defense, though, allows 38.2 ppg (117th in the nation). They needed to win their last three games, including a 52-24 rout of No. 1 K-State. Baylor is on a 21-5-1 run over the total.
UCLA is on a 6-0 run over the total with an explosive offense for first-year Coach Jim Mora, averaging 35 points, 271 yards passing, 203 rushing behind freshman QB Brett Hundley (26 TDs, 11 INTs) and senior RB Johnathan Franklin (1,700 yds, 6.3 ypc). Their defense will be tested against the Bears, who are No. 1 in total offense nationally, averaging 578.8 yards per game.
Car Care Bowl (Fri., Dec. 28): There aren’t many teams that lose 6 of their final 8 games and still make a bowl but Minnesota (6-6) did. The offense ranks 114th in the nation because starter MarQueis Gray was injured in the third game, QB Max Shortell didn’t work out, so freshmen QB Philip Nelson (6 TDs, 7 INTs) is running the offense. Nelson’s top target junior A.J. Barker (577 yards) quit the team in November after a beef with Coach Jerry Kill. The Golden Gophers are on a 2-6 ATS run, as well as a 9-4-1 run under the total.
Speaking of changes, Texas Tech (7-5) loses Head Coach Tommy Tuberville, who just jumped to Cincinnati, so offensive line coach Chris Thomsen will lead the Red Raiders in the bowl game. The Red Raiders offense is second in the nation in passing yards at 361.9 yards per game, 12th in total yards at 501.4 per game, averaging 37.8 points behind senior QB Seth Doege (38 TDs, 14 INTs). The defense allows 31.8 points and 171 yards a game on the ground. The Red Raiders are 46-22-1 ATS following a loss.
Pinstripe Bowl (Sat., Dec. 29): An outdoor b-b-b-b-bowl game from frigid Yankee Stadium finds a pair of teams that love to throw the football. West Virginia (7-5) lost 5 in a row after a 5-0 start. They are 6th in the nation in passing behind senior QB Gino Smith (40 TDs, 6 INTs), averaging 340.9 yards passing and 41.6 ppg. But as good as the offense is, the defense is awful allowing 38.1 ppg. The over is 6-2 in the Mountaineers last 8 Bowl games and 11-5 over against a team with a winning record.
Syracuse (7-5) can also throw the pigskin behind QB Ryan Nassib (24 TDs, 9 INTs), 21st in the nation in passing (301.6) and 29.3 points per game, on a 5-0-1 run over the total. Iit will be their second appearance in the bowl, having defeated the Kansas State Wildcats, 36-34, in the inaugural Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium in 2010. The underdog is 5-2 ATS in their last seven meetings between these teams.
Sun Bowl (Monday, Dec. 31): USC was a preseason No. 1 but has lost 4 of 5 to end up here. They can pass the football, but hope senior QB Matt Barkley (36 TDs, 15 INTs) will be medically cleared to play, otherwise freshman QB Max Wittek (2 TDs, 2 INTs) will step in again. The Trojans are 17-8 ATS following a loss. A suspect USC defense will have to deal with Georgia Tech’s running attack, 4th in the nation with 312.5 yards and 34.5 points per game. The Yellow Jackets are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 Bowl games.
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