Saturday, December 28, 2019 Iowa State vs. Notre Dame (NCAAF) - 12:00 PM EST Premium Pick Pick: Point Spread: 3.5/-105 Iowa State Rating: 10* Mike's Rare 10 Star College Bowl Strongest Play Of Day Earlybird (LOSS) These 2 have NEVER met which should really get ISU juiced up for this one! On the other hand, ND makes their 9th bowl appearance in the last 10 years. The mushes will be quick to point out that the Fighting Irish closed the regular season with 5 straight wins & averaged 43.8 PPG in that run. HC Matt Campbell (in his 4th season) has been a pretty profitable coach going 30-16 ATS & his 7-5 SU team (8 returning on both offense & defense) is deceiving since they lost to Iowa 18-17, to Baylor 23-21 & to College Playoff entrant Oklahoma 42-41. Even though Notre Dame's QB Ian Book became the 1st school QB to throw for 2,500 yards, have 500 rushing yards AND throw 30+ TD passes in a season, his completion percentage is an alarming 59.3% PLUS must deal with a brand-spanking new OC as Tommy Rees takes over the reigns after former OC Chip Long & HC Brian Kelly parted ways. My bottom line says Cyclones' QB Brock Purdy KNOWS how to spread the ball around (43 TD's already in his short 2-year stint) AND has proved he can step it up in a bowl as he threw for 315 yards in a 28-26 nail-biting loss to Washington State in the Alamo Bowl in his freshman year. Iowa State will be effective as Purdy (coming off of an off game versus Kansas State) as he'll mix his running ability witha bevy of receivers 2 his disposal like WR Deshaunte Jones (72 catches for 832 yards), WR Tarique Milton (33 snags for 689 yards, WR La'Michael Pettway (51 receptions for 622 yards) & TE Charlie Kolar (pulled down 48 balls for 675 yards). I feel this game is destined to be decided by a FG so we'll go to Camping World Stadium for the Camping World Bowl in Orlando, FL to play the IOWA STATE CYCLONES (buying to + 4 1/2) as my Rare 10 Star College Bowl Strongest Play Of The Day Earlybird! Memphis vs. Penn State (NCAAF) - 12:00 PM EST Premium Pick Pick: Point Spread: 7/-105 Memphis Rating: 9* Mike's CFB Earlybird Dependable #2 (LOSS) This isn't as strong as the ISU pick but worthy of pulling the lever as Memphis HAS to be the more excited team here. I'm ALSO interested in seeing how Penn State QB Sean Clifford fairs after his OC Ricky Rahne just bolted to take over as HC @ Old Dominion. Yes, HC Mike Norvell ALSO left Memphis for Florida State (Ryan Silverfield takes over) along with DC Adam Fuller. However, the Tigers still come in being the slighted team of which the pointspread has been adjusted accordingly. I feel PSU still feels deflated after being in College Bowl position (4th) with 4 games remaining but couldn't get it done in the last month. Where was the decline? Down the stretch, Clifford threw for 2 TD's & was intercepted 3 times. My bottom line says we'll be glad to up the ante AND side with Memphis QB Brady White who threw for 3,560 yards with a nifty 33/9 TD/INT ratio while ranking his team in the top 10 in total offense. The dagger for us HAS to be Nittany Lions' HC James Franklin who NOTORIOUS in this price range as he's lost 5 STRAIGHT when his team comes in as favorites of 6 points or more! O'h yes! Let's jet down to AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX for the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic to grab the MEMPHIS TIGERS (buying to + 10 1/2) as my 9* CFB Earlybird Dependable! Clemson vs. Ohio State (NCAAF) - 8:00 PM EST Premium Pick Pick: Point Spread: 2.5/100 Ohio State Rating: 9* Mike's Sole CFB Semi-Final Playoff Step-It-Upper (LOSS) There's no DOUBT that Clemson had the easier path to get here & I feel they were more than lucky just to survive North Carolina 21-20. The Buckeyes had the beefier schedule that included impressive wins over Penn State 28-17 (and that was with 3 TO's but out-gained PSU badly 418 to 227) AND a very difficult Wisconsin club twice as they beat them 38-7 in regular season AND 34-21 in the Big Ten Championship. What stands out for me is how Ohio state came back from adversity. After trailing 21-7 @ halftime, you have to love the way new HC Ryan Day (now 16-0 SU) made adjustments @ the break as his Buckeyes came out of the locker room fired up & out-scored the Badgers 27-0 in the second half to win going away. QB Justin Fields (a transfer from Georgia who has a lights-out 40/1 TD/INT ratio) is good to go & should make an impact after healing from a hand injury. My bottom line says you have to grab the points with a team that's beaten 17 out of the last 18 bowl teams the past 2 seasons. Remember, key numbers DON'T LIE! The "Boys from Ohio" still have Urban Meyer's recruiting class & have been close to PURE MONEY as an underdog as they've gone a take-me-to-the-window 15-2 ATS in that role AND have won 7 of those OUTRIGHT! In addition, having J.K. Dobbins in Day's arsenal isn't too shabby as he posted up 1,829 yards & 20 TD's. The dagger for us HAS to be that 31-0 drubbing OSU took by Clemson back in 16'. The #1 offensive scoring team (48.7 PPG) won't be denied. I'm ready to go head-to-head with National Champ Dabo Swinney as State Farm Stadium in Glendale, AZ for the Playstation Fiesta Bowl to play the OHIO STATE BUCKEYES (buying to + 4 1/2) as my Sole CFB Semi-Final Playoff Step-It-Upper! Friday, December 27, 2019 USC vs. Iowa (NCAAF) - 8:00 PM EST Premium Pick Pick: Point Spread: 2/-105 USC Rating: 9* Mike's Friiday Night College Bowl Double-Banger (1) (LOSS) I believe Iowa holds the better defense. However, their lack of a consistent offense makes it hard for me to separate them beyond a FG against the better offense of U.S.C.. We'll take the team that's traveled way less as we'll take the U.S.C. Trojans (buying to + 4 1/2) in the Holiday Bowl @ SDCC Stadium in San Diego as my 9* Friday Night College Bowl Double-Banger - Play 1! Washington State vs. Air Force (NCAAF) - 10:15 PM EST Premium Pick Pick: Money Line: -135 Air Force Rating: 9* Mike's Friday Night College Bowl Double-Banger (2) (WIN) This play is not very complicated. Air Force has a stingy defense (20 PPG) & can play ball control with the 3rd-best rushing offense in the nation. I look for HC Troy Calhoun to throw in some wrinkles as he keeps the Cougars' offense off the field for the majority. Let's go to Chase Field in Phoenix for the Cheez-It Bowl to play the AIR FORCE FALCONS as my Friday Night College Bowl Double-Banger - Play 2! Thursday, December 26, 2019 Miami Florida vs. Louisiana Tech (NCAAF) - 4:00 PM EST Premium Pick Pick: Point Spread: -6/-110 Miami Florida Rating: 8* Mike's College Bowl Trap Game Of The Week (LOSS) Guys, the MUSHES will be all over the so-called home team (Louisiana Tech) considering they're about 60 miles from Shreveport, LA & come in winners of 5 straight bowl games SU. However, they were favored in 3 of them & were 5 & 1-point dogs to weaker conferences when they beat S.M.U. & Hawaii the past 2 seasons. I feel they go up against a team with a very good defense that's risen to the occasion when facing teams with winning records (4-1 ATS this season). The Hurricanes beat Virginia 17-9 (lost to Clemson in the ACC Championship) as well as a tough Pittsburgh squad 16-12 on the road. They also beat their hated rival Florida State as a roadie 27-10 in November. Now HC Manny Diaz (who invented the famed "Turnover Chain") gets his 6-6 SU troops ready for the finale up against ANOTHER winning team with the Bulldogs chiming in @ 9-3 SU. But that record is a bit deceiving since the bulk of that slate was compiled against Conference USA teams. In fact, HC Skip Holtz & Co. actually faced a strength of schedule that rated 130th out of 130! So ALL the trends, ALL the stats & their record doesn't hold much water against their opponent. My bottom line stresses NOT getting caught up in the talk of the Hurricanes not be focused & players will be resting for their pro debuts. The Bulldogs' QB Aaron Allen is nursing a hand injury & was listed as questionable. That's not a big deal IF they have to go J'mar Smith since he's played a lot this season (against weaker competition). Remember, LT went 0-2 SU & could only mustered 12 PPG on the road versus Marshall & UAB late in the season before their home 41-27 blowout win versus UTSA. Before we seal the deal, let me mention 1 KEY coaching angle here. Miami DC Blake Baker spent the last 4 years as DC with Louisiana Tech. I can't see ANY reason why he won't be able to exploit their weaknesses here! I'm more than ready. Let's go to Independence Stadium in Shreveport for the Independence Bowl to play the MIAMI HURRICANES (buying to - 2 1/2) as my College Bowl Trap Game Of The Week! Mike Handzelek's 2019-20 College Bowl Overall Record: 3-6 for an ice-cold 3-6 for 33% Mike Handzelek's 2019-20 CFB Overall Seasonal Record: 41-37 for a sub-par 53%
 

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