Tag: bowls

USA TODAY bowl projections call for two ACC playoff teams

Notre Dame and Clemson both make the College Football Playoff? USA TODAY’s latest bowl projections say yes. That and every other ACC pick.

The USA TODAY has released their updated bowl projections after college football’s Week 11 and the good news for ACC fans is that two members of their conference are projected to make the College Football Playoff.

The bad news is that neither of those two ACC teams are projected to win a game as they have neither in the national championship game.

USA TODAY projects the following in regards to the College Football Playoff as of November 17:

Rose Bowl:  2. Ohio State vs. 3. Clemson
Sugar Bowl:  1. Alabama vs. 4. Notre Dame

The projections call for both Alabama and Ohio State to win those games which would certainly set up an intriguing national championship game.

As for the rest of the ACC, here’s what the USA TODAY has shaking out:

Jan. 2 – Orange Bowl: Miami (FL) vs. Florida
Jan. 2 – Gator Bowl:  North Carolina St. vs. Kentucky
Dec. 31 – Sun Bowl: Boston College vs. Washington
Dec. 30 – Duke’s Mayo Bowl: Wake Forest vs. Michigan
Dec. 29 – Cheez-It Bowl: North Carolina vs. Texas
Dec. 29 – Pinstripe Bowl: Virginia vs. Purdue
Dec. 28 – Military Bowl: Virginia Tech vs. Navy
Dec. 26 – Gasparilla Bowl: Louisville vs. Central Florida

Some compelling games here and quick takeaways:

  • Seemingly nobody is giving Notre Dame a chance in the ACC Championship Game against Clemson. I know there was no Trevor Lawrence but even with him that game was going down to the final few possessions.  The Irish are understandably underdogs in that potential rematch but its getting treated like there is simply no chance they can do it a second time against a Clemson team that is great, but certainly has flaws.
  • Miami and Florida brings me flashbacks of the Sugar Bowl a couple decades back when the teams brawled on Bourbon Street their first night in town for the game.
  • The Cheez-It Bowl would lose it’s collective Cheez-It filled mind if it were to get Mack Brown and North Carolina to take on a Texas team that has only disappointed since his exit.
  • If Michigan qualifies for a bowl this year you can bet your bottom dollar I hope it’s the Duke’s Mayo Bowl.  And you can parlay that bottom into me hoping they lose it.

In this strange season Army has actually already accepted an invitation to play in the Dec. 26 Independence Bowl and the projection has them taking on Colorado.

Bowl games are set to get underway the same day most conferences will be playing their championship games.  What an odd twist on an incredibly odd year.

Claypool’s Monster Half Leads Notre Dame to 20-6 Intermission Lead

Notre Dame scored two plays later and takes a 20-6 lead to the locker room at halftime in large part to their star wide receiver who also had a first quarter fumble recovery on special teams.

Through thirty minutes of the Camping World Bowl it’s obvious the best player on the field today has been none other than Chase Claypool who has pulled in four receptions for 112 yards and a touchdown.  It’s worth noting I have no idea how replay officials took away what should have been his second touchdown reception of the half as well, but I digress.

Leading 3-0 in the first quarter and facing a third-and-12, Ian Book found Claypool in the right side of the end zone to score the game’s first touchdown.

Claypool has been fantastic all year and made huge plays in key spots to extend game-deciding drives time and time again.

After Notre Dame stopped Iowa State on a fourth and one late in the first half, Book immediately went to his favorite weapon, Mr. Claypool himself and connected for what anyone watching thought was his second touchdown of the game, but officials overturned the touchdown call and marked him down inside the one yard line.

Notre Dame scored two plays later and takes a 20-6 lead to the locker room at halftime in large part to their star wide receiver who also had a first quarter fumble recovery on special teams.

You’ve got one more half of Chase Claypool ever in a Notre Dame uniform.  Enjoy it and FINISH!

Music City Bowl: Louisville vs. Mississippi State odds, picks and best bets

Previewing the Music City Bowl between Louisville and Mississippi State with NCAA football betting odds, picks and best bets

The Louisville Cardinals (7-5) and Mississippi State Bulldogs (6-6) will square off in the Music City Bowl at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., on Dec. 30 at 4 p.m. ET.

We analyze the Louisville-Mississippi State odds and betting lines, while providing college football betting tips and advice on this matchup.

Louisville at Mississippi State: Three things you need to know

1. Mississippi State ranks 18th in the nation in rushing this season, averaging 227 yards per game. That doesn’t bode well for Louisville, which allowed 517 rushing yards to Kentucky in its most recent game. The Cardinals’ rush defense is 115th in the country (210.8).

2. Louisville’s five losses are all by at least 11 points with an average margin of defeat of 24.2 points. Five of the Bulldogs’ six losses came by at least 10 points, including four by at least 19.

3. Louisville’s first-year head coach Scott Satterfield is 3-0 in his career in bowl games, previously coaching Appalachian State. Mississippi State coach Joe Moorhead lost in his bowl debut as head coach last season, 27-22 to Iowa in the Outback Bowl.

Get some action on this game or others by placing a bet at BetMGM!

Louisville at Mississippi State: Odds, betting lines and picks

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Friday at 3 p.m. ET.

Prediction

Mississippi State 31, Louisville 21

Moneyline (ML)

The Bulldogs won each of their last two games to close out the regular season after losing 38-7 to Alabama. They are 6-1 in their last seven December games, proving to be a tough out late in the year.

Bet the MISSISSIPPI STATE (-167) moneyline, which is a good number to get in at.

New to sports betting? A $10 wager on Mississippi State returns a profit of $5.99.

Against the Spread (ATS)

Mississippi State is 10-4 ATS in its last 14 nonconference games. Louisville, on the other hand, is only 1-6 ATS in its last seven games against the SEC.

Bet MISSISSIPPI STATE (-110) to cover the 3.5-point spread in this one.

Over/Under (O/U)

The over/under is 62.5, which is pretty a high number for these teams. The under has hit in five of the Bulldogs’ last seven games and in each of the last three, though the over is 4-1 in Louisville’s last five.

Still, you should bet the UNDER (-110), given how bad both passing attacks are.

Get some action on this game or others, place a bet with BetMGM today. And for more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @camdasilva and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Notre Dame Bowl Projections: New Years Six Chances Improving?

So what does the blowout victory win and ultimately more importantly, what does this week’s No. 16 ranking matter for where Notre Dame will be headed this post-season?  

No. 16 Notre Dame had one of their best wins of the season last Saturday as they put a beating on previously 23rd ranked Navy and moved to 8-2 in the process.

Notre Dame didn’t move up in the College Football Playoff rankings despite Auburn having their third loss of the season, this one coming on their home field.  As much as it stings Fighting Irish fans, as we discussed earlier this week, the Irish have nobody to blame for that but themselves.

So what does the blowout victory win and ultimately more importantly, what does this week’s No. 16 ranking matter for where Notre Dame will be headed this post-season?

Knowing that last week only one of the eight experts we track had Notre Dame headed to a New Years Six Bowl Game, you may be pleasantly surprised what this weeks projections have for the Irish.

Notre Dame Bowl Projections:

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UT News: November 18, 2019

UT News: November 18, 2019

Welcome back from a football bye weekend for the Tennessee Volunteers. It was not all quiet the past few days, as the men’s basketball team triumphed over Washington on Saturday night, keeping their record perfect at 3-0. As for other news, the women’s volleyball team has announced some signings and the Lady Vols track and field team scored their best regional finish in a decade.

Lady Vols volleyball signs three

Women’s volleyball coach Eve Rackham announced the signing of three recruits for the 2020 class on Friday.

The trio of prospects — Jasmine Brooks, Allie Holland and Kya Moore — are all top-150 players, according to PrepVolleyball.com. Coach Rackham had the following to say about the newest members of the Vols family.

“We are excited about our newest additions to the Lady Vol Volleyball family. Each of these young women are talented in their position and will add great depth to our 2020 roster. Not only are they outstanding athletes, but they are also high-level students, active in their communities and will represent our program with class. I am particularly excited about the work ethic and positivity they will bring to our culture.”

The three prospects promise to bolster the volleyball program and will very likely debut in 2020.

NEXT: Lady Vols track and field record best finish in a decade

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