12/28/16 Bowl Games (open thread)
Today's slate of games includes two Big Teams in action.
2:00 Pittsburgh vs. Northwestern
Pinstripe Bowl; ESPN
5:30 Miami (FL) vs. West Virginia
Russell Athletic Bowl; ESPN
8:30 Utah vs. Indiana
Foster Farms Bowl; FOX
9:00 Texas A&M vs. Kansas State
Texas Bowl; ESPN
Thankfully all 4 games are in the top 20ish of bowls on the S&P+ "Watchability" index, which is the sum of S&P margin ratings of the two opponents. Russell Athletic Bowl (#11), Texas Bowl (#12), Pinstripe Bowl (#17), and Foster Farms Bowl (#21).
December 28th, 2016 at 1:36 PM ^
Betting picks today...
Pittsburgh -4.5, Miami -3, Indiana +6, Texas A&M -3
December 28th, 2016 at 1:47 PM ^
I bet exactly opposite of you.
Parlay'd Northwestern +4 & WVU +3 and then bet WVU straight up on the money line -130.
And depending on how I do with the early games witll determine how heavy I go on the Indiana/Utah game and, you guessed it, I like Utah a lot in that game.
December 28th, 2016 at 2:11 PM ^
Nice. I bet strictly based on S&P+ differentials against the spread. 14/20 so far this bowl season.
But if we want to talk instincts...I don't trust WVU. Seems like they've been a fraud all year. I'll admit I am not confident with the Indiana game, so you might be right there.
December 28th, 2016 at 2:17 PM ^
I use the same logic. Hope it holds!
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December 28th, 2016 at 2:24 PM ^
Haha exactly! The question is what the hell happened to Boise and Temple yesterday?! And Colorado State a while back...
December 28th, 2016 at 2:36 PM ^
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December 28th, 2016 at 6:41 PM ^
December 28th, 2016 at 1:38 PM ^
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December 28th, 2016 at 1:40 PM ^
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December 28th, 2016 at 2:40 PM ^
December 28th, 2016 at 1:41 PM ^
Big day for the B1G.
Kinda got screwed in the lower-tier bowl matchups due to OSU being in the playoffs, and Michigan/PSU/Wisconsin all going to New Years 6 games.
This left the lower B1G teams all "moving up" into better bowls vs better opponents.
Yesterday we saw Minnesota surprise everyone by beating WSU.
Can NW and IU do the same today?
I think NW has a better chance, with Justin Jackson and Austin Carr. IU could surprise, but I think Utah is too well-rounded.
My picks:
NW 48 - Pitt 41
WVU 42 - Miama 27
Utah 27 - IU 20
Kansas State 20 - Texas A&M 13
December 28th, 2016 at 1:42 PM ^
Exact opposite of my picks above :)
December 28th, 2016 at 1:46 PM ^
This can be exhibit A as to why I'm not a betting man!
December 28th, 2016 at 1:47 PM ^
I'll watch Miami v. WVU...everything else is just "meh"
Pitt/N'Western as some background noise while I get things done around the house.
December 28th, 2016 at 1:50 PM ^
Or better put - I'm sitting at a desk away from my house.
But I do have a desk that faces outward so anyone who walks by sees the back of my computer monitors and I have dual monitors so one of them will have football instead of a powerpoint up and running.
December 28th, 2016 at 2:14 PM ^
I'm not working today...but I do the same thing. Especially during March Madness.
Throw a game up on the second monitor and just use one for the day. It sucks when you're used to two, but hey, that's a sacrifice you have to make for sports.
You can also open two WatchESPN windows and watch two games full screen - one per monitor.
I had to work when Michigan basketball was playing SMU (I believe) and Houston/Louisville football was on. I just sat in my office and watched both and toggled the sound back and forth every now and again.
#Productivity
December 28th, 2016 at 1:48 PM ^
Give me Pitt and Utah comfortably and A&M/Miami in squeakers.
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December 28th, 2016 at 2:03 PM ^
Teams that don't really want to be in their bowl game play like it (see Florida last year). Those teams frequently lose.
I would not want to be Wisconsin this bowl season. Nothing to gain.
A lot of media talking heads are actually saying that Michigan might mail it in because of the dissapointment of missing the Playoffs so closely. It helps us that the opponent is FSU and not some generic opponent that does not move the dial.
December 28th, 2016 at 2:05 PM ^
NO WAY a Harbaugh coached team mails anything in.
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December 28th, 2016 at 2:21 PM ^
December 28th, 2016 at 1:55 PM ^
Finally getting to the better games. This is not a great slate, but better than the past week or so.
December 28th, 2016 at 2:22 PM ^
December 28th, 2016 at 3:45 PM ^
My countdown app states (at the time posting this) it's ONLY 247 days, 20 hours, and 15 minutes until Harbaugh 3.0 commences.
Wait.....
SHIT!
December 28th, 2016 at 2:29 PM ^
December 28th, 2016 at 6:36 PM ^
December 28th, 2016 at 2:41 PM ^
60 yard run from your 3... Nice run
December 28th, 2016 at 2:45 PM ^
PEON lol. I guess that's better than p00n...
December 28th, 2016 at 2:50 PM ^
NW just ran it down Pitt's throat and made them like it.. 99 rushing yards from their own 1 yd line o.O
December 28th, 2016 at 2:51 PM ^
The stop on the goal line to set the drive up was pretty good too.
December 28th, 2016 at 2:53 PM ^
That was impressive. Then it took PItt all of 30 seconds to get back inside the NW 10.
December 28th, 2016 at 2:55 PM ^
NW with 2 huge red zone defensive stops!
4 down goal line stop leads to a 99 yard TD drive.
Now an INT on the goal line returned to the 13.
Go NW!!!
December 28th, 2016 at 2:56 PM ^
Northwestern is doing a damn good job! After Minnesota's big upset yesterday, I'm feeling a lot better about the Big Ten's chances to impress.
Too bad Maryland choked away their opportunities to win on Monday.
December 28th, 2016 at 3:02 PM ^
Hot take of the day: Pitt's defense is not good..
December 28th, 2016 at 3:10 PM ^
can finish things either...
December 28th, 2016 at 3:19 PM ^
Justin Jackson is ballin
December 28th, 2016 at 3:27 PM ^
One respondent said Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh is “weird but cool,” while two said he was a “crybaby.”
— Jeremy Crabtree (@jeremycrabtree) December 28, 2016
December 28th, 2016 at 3:29 PM ^
Recruits surveyed at the Under Armour All-America Game were asked what words came to mind when they think of Ohio State coach Urban Meyer. Fifteen respondents used the word "great," while six prospects said "winner" and four used "legend." Not all of the reviews were positive, as three recruits said "cocky" and another said "used-car salesman."
December 28th, 2016 at 3:30 PM ^
My gut tells me those 2 were Ohio State commits.
December 28th, 2016 at 3:32 PM ^
I think my gut is telling me the same thing.
December 28th, 2016 at 3:45 PM ^
And instead should have bought a burger from Five Guys... Ugh...
December 28th, 2016 at 3:50 PM ^
Which two OSU recruits where at the game? I'd bet anything the "crybaby" comment came from them.
December 28th, 2016 at 4:04 PM ^
Isaiah Pryor #5 Safety from IMG
Trevon Grimes #5 WR, also from Florida
Marcus Williamson #16 CB from IMG
Players representing Michigan:
Cesarr Ruiz
Kai-Leon Herbert
Drew Singleton
Jaylen Kelly-Powell
Kwity Paye
December 28th, 2016 at 3:44 PM ^
Hope they keep it up in the second.
December 28th, 2016 at 3:40 PM ^
love NU, my second fav team after michigan. just spoke with older brother who played ball at NU, wishing his team a victory.
December 28th, 2016 at 3:59 PM ^
But beside MSU and OSU, I will root for other B1G teams in bowl games. So, I'm cheering for NU!
December 28th, 2016 at 4:04 PM ^
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December 28th, 2016 at 4:09 PM ^
Sometimes he comes across as a douche, but Fitz is actually similar to Harbaugh in many ways.
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December 28th, 2016 at 4:15 PM ^
December 28th, 2016 at 4:21 PM ^
Justin motherfuckin Jackson.. wow
December 28th, 2016 at 4:24 PM ^
Justin Jackson? How can these smaller school have great backs and we could not have a great back this season. I think if we had a go to back and a good running game we would be in the playoffs.