Crescendo bowls us over! NCAA showdown Alabama vs. LSU by Jim Feist

As 2011 draws to a close, we find ourselves smack in the middle of
the bowls. You shouldn’t be bowled-out, either, as the bowls slowly build to the
crescendo that is the Alabama/LSU showdown.

POINSETTIA BOWL

Wednesday. Dec. 21

Louisiana Tech (8-4 SU, 7-3 ATS) is on a tear, a seven-game win
streak and surprise WAC title. They have a great passing offense for coach Sonny
Dykes, averaging 30.6 points, 247 yards passing and 150 rushing. Top stars:
freshman QB Nick Isham (8 TDs, 7 INTs) and junior QB Colby Cameron (11 TDs, 2
INTs, 1,403 yards). Lost just 35-34 to powerhouse Houston and 19-17 to Southern
Miss. Bulldogs 7-0 ATS in last seven games.

TCU, even with two losses, came close to earning a berth to its
third-straight BCS bowl. TCU (10-2 SU/6-5 ATS) has sophomore QB Casey Paschall
(24 TDs, 6 INTs) and a strong ground game behind junior RB Matthew Tucker (684
yds) and sophomore Waymon James (824 yards, 7.7 ypc), averaging 41.7 points, 210
yards rushing and 233.8 passing. The OVER is 8-3 and Frogs 0-6 ATS in last six
non-conference games.

MAACO LAS VEGAS BOWL

Thursday, Dec. 22

Arizona State (6-6 SU, 4-7 ATS) has a lot of talent on a strong
offense that averages 33.9 points and 310 yards passing behind 6-8 junior QB
Brock Osweiler (24 TDs, 12 INTs) and 6-foot-4 senior WR Gerell Robinson (1,156
yds). Huge disappointment, losing final 4 games that cost Coach Dennis Erickson
his job. Defense a problem, allowing 26.3 ppg, and they terrible in close games.
Lost 29-28 to UCLA, 17-14 to Illinois and 31-27 to rival Arizona. Sun Devils on
18-6 OVER run.

Boise State (10-1 SU/4-7 ATS) has a super-talented team led by
senior QB Kellen Moore (41 TDs, 7 INTs). The Broncos average 43 points, 183
yards rushing and 297 passing. Moore has a strong OL behind senior OT Nate
Potte. Broncos lost 36-35 at home to TCU, allowing a TD pass with a minute left.
The usually great defense got smoked for 506 yards (473 passing). It was Boise
State’s first home loss in nearly six years. Broncos 41-17-1 ATS vs. teams with
a winning record.

HAWAII BOWL

Saturday, Dec.24

Nevada (7-5) is tough to defend with that pistol/option attack for
Coach Chris Ault, averaging 32.9 points, 271 yards passing and 251 yards rushing
(8th in the nation) behind redshirt freshman QBs Tyler Lantrip (10 TDs, 6 INTs)
and Cody Fajardo (6 TDs, 5 INTs), both excellent runners. Junior RB Mike Ball
(704 yds, 5.2 ypc) and senior RB Mark Lampford (728 yds, 5.6 ypc) have carried
the load in the backfield. The defense allows 25.3 ppg. Lost to Oregon (69-20),
Texas Tech (35-34) and Boise (30-10). Wolf Pack 0-4 ATS in last four bowls.

Southern Miss (11-2 SU, 8-4 ATS) off a terrific 49-28 upset of
Houston in the C-USA title game. Coach Larry Fedora runs a wide-open spread
offense he helped run at Oklahoma State. The Golden Eagles average 37.8 points,
263 yards passing and 207.8 rushing behind senior QB Austin Davis (28 TDs, 11
INTs, 3,331 yards) plus speedy senior WR Ryan Balentime (742 yds) and freshman
RB Jamaal Woodyard (683 yards, 6.4 ypc). Defense allowing 21.1 ppg, but hasn’t
faced many strong offenses. Held on for a 30-24 victory against Virginia.

INDEPENDENCE BOWL

Monday, Dec. 26

Missouri (7-5 SU, 5-5 ATS) playing well on offense behind
sophomore QB James Franklin (20 TDs, 10 INTs), averaging 32 points, 225 yards
rushing and 233 yard passing, though recently losing dynamic soph RB Henry
Joseph (knee). He ran for 1,168 yards, a sizzling 8.1 yards per carry! QB
Franklin second leading rusher with 839 yards.

The defense was No. 6 in the country last season allowing 16.1
ppg, but worse this year, especially in the secondary, allowing 23.5 ppg. Baylor
had a 42-39 victory over Missouri with 697 yards (291 rushing). UNDER 9-3 in
Tigers last 12 non-conference games.

North Carolina (7-5 SU, 5-6 ATS) returned 10 starters on offense,
five on defense for Everett Withers, the new head coach (former defensive
coordinator). Started fast (5-1) but finished losing four of last six.

Sophomore QB Bryn Renner (23 TDs, 12 INTs, 2,769 yards) runs the
offense that has good balance – 28.3 points, 147.4 yards rushing and 249.2
passing. Talented sidekicks in freshman RB Giovani Bernard (1,222 yds, 5.4 ypc,
13 TDs) and senior WR Dwight Jones (1,119 yds). Tar Heels 19-9 ATS in last 28 as
a dog. UNDER 9-4 in last 13 vs. teams with winning record.

 At www.aasiwins.com, you can get all of Jim Feist’s free NCAAF winners and articles.