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 they build to the crescendo that is the LSU/Alabama showdown for the national title.

Belk Bowl (Tues., Dec. 27): A pair of teams that started slow and finished strong. Louisville rebounded from a 2-4 start to finish 7-5 under second-year coach Charlie Strong. The Louisville (7-5 SU, 7-3-1 ATS) offense (21.8 ppg) puts up few points, and averages just 206 yards passing and 122 rushing, but the defense has been great. Strong ran the defenses at Florida and has improved the Cardinals, allowing 19.4 ppg last season and 19.2 ppg this year. The offense started with junior QB Wayne Stein (5 TDs, 1 INTs), but after a shoulder injury turned to freshman QB Teddy Bridgewater (12 TDs, 9 INTs). The Cardinals are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 games.

NC State needed to win both of its final games to become bowl eligible and did so, topping Clemson (37-13) and Maryland (56-41). NC State (7-5 SU, 5-4-1 ATS) has a good offense behind junior QB Mike Glennon (28 TDs, 11 INTs, 2,790 yards) that is averaging 28 points and 238 yards passing. So you like passing offenses or tough defenses this time of the year?

Military Bowl (Wed., Dec. 28): A fun bowl featuring a great running team against a great passing and running team. Air Force (7-5 SU, 6-4 ATS) is fast on offense averaging 34.4 points and 320 yards rushing (2nd in the nation) behind senior QB Tim Jefferson (12 TDs, 6 INTs), senior QB Conner Dietz and tailback Asher Clark (1,096 yds, 7.3 ypc). This defense (27.3 ppg allowed) has struggled, especially in the secondary. Passing teams have picked apart the secondary, like when Notre Dame bombed them, 59-33, as did SDSU (41-27 loss). The Falcons are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games as an underdog. They are on a 9-3 run over the total.

Toledo has a transition taking place as football coach Tim Beckman announced that he had accepted the head coaching position at Illinois. OC Matt Campbell will run the show. Toledo (8-4 SU, 8-3 ATS) has a great offense because of two returning QBs, junior Austin Dantin (15 TDs, 3 INTs), sophomore QB Terrance Owens (15 TDs, 3 INTs) plus senior WR Eric Page (1,123 yards). They are averaging 42.3 points, 272 yards passing, 221 yards rushing. Northern Illinois had a wild 63-60 victory over Toledo in regulation! They had 589 yards (264 rushing), but allowed 532 (267 rushing). Then came a carbon copy, with Toledo beating Western Michigan 66-63 with 804 yards (419 rushing) while allowing 635 yards (548 passing). So, yes, they are ALL OFFENSE and no defense, allowing 30.9 ppg.

Champs Sports Bowl (Thurs., Dec. 29): Florida State (8-4 SU, 6-5 ATS) and 2nd-year Coach Jimbo Fisher have a solid all around team despite 4 losses by a total of 18 points. They have a mostly passing offense, averaging 31.7 points, 118 yards rushing and 257.7 yards passing behind senior QB E.J. Manuel (16 TDs, 8 INTs) with young receivers 6-6 junior Rodney Smith (527 yds) and freshman WR Rashad Greene (497 yds). The defense (15.2 ppg allowed, 4th in the nation) is talented under defensive coordinator Mark Stoop, led by DB Xavier Rhodes and defensive end Brandon Jenkins (13.5 sacks in 2010). The Over is 5-2 in the Seminoles last 7 bowl games.

Notre Dame (8-4 SU/6-6 ATS) loves to throw under coach Brian Kelly, adding an uptempo attack (30.5 ppg, 258 yds passing, 156 rushing) to South Bend. They lost their first two games but are 8-2 since. Sophomore QB Tommy Rees (19 TDs, 11 INTs) is 12-3 as a starter. The ground game has junior RB Cierre Wood (1,043 yards, 5.2 ypc). Senior Jonas Gray (791 yds) hurt his knee and is done for the year. Gray's injury was a huge loss for the Irish, who went 4-0 after he was inserted into the starting lineup. The Under is 18-8-1 in Fighting Irish last 26 road games.

Pinstripe Bowl (Fri., Dec. 30): An outdoor b-b-b-b-bowl game from frigid Yankee Stadium finds a pair of overachieving teams that weren’t expected to make a bowl. And it’s a clash of styles, as Rutgers has the dynamite passing game, Iowa State has the power ground attack. Iowa State (6-5 SU/7-4 ATS) plays hard for Coach Paul Rhoads and has two signature wins, a stunning 37-31 double overtime victory at home over No. 2 Oklahoma State changing the national title picture and a 41-7 rout of then No. 20 Texas Tech. The Cyclones are 5-0 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.

Rutgers (8-4 SU, 7-3-1 ATS) has a great group of wide receivers in juniors Mark Harrison (274 yards) and Mohamed Sanu (1,144 yards), plus 6-6 sophomore WR Brandon Coleman (466 yards) who averages 29 yards per reception! New offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti (from Pitt) runs a pro-style attack better fits sophomore QB Chas Dodd (9 TDs, 7 INTs, 1,398 yards) and freshman QB Gary Nova (11 TDs, 9 INTs, 1,533 yards) averaging 26.3 points, 245 yards passing, 91.5 yards rushing. The Scarlet Knights are 4-0-1 ATS in their last 5 bowl games.

Rose Bowl (Mon., Jan. 2): Two of the most potent offenses in the nation. Mighty Wisconsin (11-2 SU, 7-4-1 ATS) has a stacked offense with sophomore RB James White (683 yards, 5.1 ypc), junior Montee Ball (1,759 yards, 6.4 ypc) and speedy 6-3 senior WR Nick Toon (822 yds) and sophomore WR Jared Abbrederis (814 yards), great weapons for new QB Russell Wilson (31 TDs, 3 INTs, 2,879 yards, 72.5%). The Badgers are 15-4-1 ATS in their last 20 games overall and on an 8-2 run over the total.

Pac 12 champ Oregon (11-2 SU/7-5 ATS) is tearing it up offensively under Chip Kelly, spreading the field, running the no-huddle and burning up defenses. They average 46.2 points with 219.5 yards passing and 295.7 yards rushing per contest behind junior QB Darron Thomas (30 TDs, 6 INTs, 2,493 yards) and junior RB LaMichael James (1,646 yards, 7.4 ypc). Oregon is on a 22-9 run over the total overall, 30-12-2 over the total in their last 44 games as a favorite.
 

Jim Feist
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