Joseph D'Amico
Dave Price
Dave Price's Priceless Picks have proven to be worth their price from the first day he broke into the handicapping industry.
Ben Burns
Ben Burns burst onto the sports betting scene in the 1990s, first making his selections available to the public in 1998.
Info Plays
Larry Cook began betting sports in the early 80's and took his fair share of bumps and bruises before he learned what it takes to win consistently as a sports bettor.
Matt Fargo
Matt Fargo is becoming recognized as one of the best and most consistent handicappers in the world.
Not Bowled Over by Jim Feist
As 2010 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 Oregon/Auburn showdown for the national championship.
Wednesday, Dec. 29
Eagle Bank Bowl: Outdoors in Washington, D.C. Ralph Friedgen was fired as Maryland football coach, effective after this Bowl. The Terrapins (8-4 SU/7-4 ATS) played well for Friedgen, who in 10 years at his alma mater went 74-50. The offense has freshman QB Danny O’Brien (21 TDs, 6 INTs) but is not an explosive offense despite a solid 30.7 point average. The defense played well, allowing 22.3 ppg (ranked 38th).
East Carolina (6-6 SU/ATS) is on a 1-4 SU/ATS run because of a terrible defense that offset a great offense. First-year head coach Ruffin McNeill brought in the no-huddle spread offense behind junior QB Dominique Davis (36 TDs, 14 INTs, 3,699 yards), averaging 38.2 points and 319 yards passing per game. The defense allows 43.4 ppg, including 76 to Navy and 62 to Rice.
Thursday, Dec. 30
Pinstripe Bowl: Outdoors at Yankee Stadium. Let’s play b-b-b-ball! Kansas State (7-5 SU/6-5 ATS) ended the regular season with a 3-game road trip, which explains a less than impressive 1-2 SU/ATS finish. Mainly a running team, the offense averages 33.6 ppg. Senior QB Carson Coffman (12 TDs, 7 INTs) and senior RB Daniel Thomas (1,495 yards, 5.4 ypc) lead the way. K-State on an 8-1 run over the total.
Syracuse (7-5 SU/4-5 ATS) has taken everyone by surprise for Coach Doug Marrone. Sophomore Ryan Nassib (16 TDs, 7 INTs) and senior RB Delone Carter (1,035 yards) lead this ball control offense (21 ppg). The Orange have made a quantum leap with a blitzing defense (18 ppg) that creates havoc for QB’s and ranks 16th nationally in yards allowed. SU is on a 1-3 SU/ATS run and a 6-2 streak under the total.
Friday, Dec. 31
Sun Bowl: Notre Dame (7-5 SU/6-5-1 ATS) overcame a lot of adversity to make a bowl under Brian Kelly. The first-year coach added an up-tempo attack (25.8 ppg, 257 yds passing) to South Bend, like the ones he ran at Cincinnati. ND lost junior QB Dayne Crist (15 TDs, 7 INTs) to a knee injury, but has gone 3-0 SU/ATS with freshman Tommy Rees (10 TDs, 8 INTs). The Irish are 9-3 under the total.
Miami (7-5 SU, 4-7 ATS) had all its adversity come at the end, with the firing of Coach Randy Shannon. Offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland is coaching the bowl game before newly hired Al Golden (Temple) takes over next season. The Hurricanes have run a pro-style offense averaging 27.1 points and the defense is very good, allowing 19.7 ppg (21st in the nation). Miami is on a 7-2-1 run under the total.
Saturday, Jan. 1
Citrus Bowl: Michigan State meets the reigning national champ and Nick Saban, who coached the Spartans in the late 1990s. The Big Ten is 7-6 against the SEC in bowls the past five years. State (11-1 SU/6-5 ATS) has a potent offense (31.3 ppg), behind junior QB Kirk Cousins (20 TDs, 9 INTs). The only blemish was a disastrous 37-6 loss at Iowa. Sparty is 27-17-1 over the total the last three-plus seasons.
Alabama (9-3 SU/6-5 ATS) won’t be repeating because of three losses. It was an odd season for a very talented team. The offense averages 175 yds rushing, 260 passing per game behind senior QB Greg McElroy (19 TDs, 5 picks, 2,767 yards), RB Mark Ingram (816 yards, 5.6 ypc), and WR Julio Jones (1,084 yards). McElroy is preparing to start his 27th and final game at quarterback for the Crimson Tide.
Monday, Jan. 3
Orange Bowl: Virginia Tech (11-2 SU, 10-2 ATS) has won 11 in a row after losing to Boise State and that shocking 21-16 defeat to James Madison. Mobile senior QB Tyrod Taylor (23 TDs, 4 picks, 2,521 yards) is a terrific runner (637 yards rushing) and passer, and there is balance with junior RB Darren Evans (817 yds). V-Tech is on a 5-1 run under the total. Coach Frank Beamer is 2-0 SU/ATS the last two bowls.
Stanford (11-1 SU, 7-3-1 ATS) has risen to new heights with Coach Jim Harbaugh. The Cardinal is No. 8 in scoring (40.3 ppg) with an offense averaging 211 yards rushing and 256 passing! Sophomore QB Andrew Luck (28 TDs, 7 INTS, 3,051 yards) has three dynamite receivers, one of the nation’s best offensive lines and a solid defense (17.8 ppg allowed). Stanford is 2-6 SU in its last eight bowl appearances.
