PREMIUM
Rogers' 10* Bowl Total MASSACRE >> 6-1 Bowl Run
(NCAAF) Boise State vs. Baylor,
Total: 67.00 | -108.00 Over
Result: Win
Total: 67.00 | -108.00 Over
Result: Win
The set-up: Miami-Ohio played in Monday's St. Petersburg Bowl, becoming the first team in NCAA history to start the season 0-6 before winning six straight to earn a bowl bid (result unknown at this time). In this year's Cactus Bowl, the Baylor Bears will take on Boise State, becoming the first team that has ever entered a bowl game on a six-game losing streak (Baylor opened 6-0 and was ranked as high as No. 8 in the AP poll). For the 10-2 Boise State Broncos, this marks the school's 17th bowl appearance and its 15th in a row (11-5 in first 16 bowls).
Baylor: No college football program in America needs a fresh start more than Baylor. Sexual assault allegations against football players led to the firing of coach Art Briles prior to the season with Jim Grobe agreeing to coach this season, while Baylor searched for a new coach. Things were going better than expected early on (see above) but then came the team's total collapse. The Bears will have a new coach next season in former Temple head man Matt Rhule but interim coach Jim Grobe will run the team one last time. Through it all, the Bears have the fifth-ranked offense nationally, averaging 523.3 YPG, including 250.3 YPG rushing (13th). However, most of that was accomplished with Seth Russell (2,126 yards, 20 TD passes and eight INTs) at QB but he hasn't played since breaking his left ankle in a 45-24 loss at Oklahoma back on Nov. 12. Freshman Zach Smith started the final three games at QB and threw eight TD passes but alos six interceptions over that span. Expect the Bears to lean heavily on a running game led by sophomore Terence Williams (945 yards, 5.9 YPC & 11 TDs) and senior Shock Linwood (751 yards, 5.4 YPC and two TDs). Baylor's defense allows 30.4 PPG to rank 81st.
Boise State: The Broncos feature junior RB Jeremy McNichols, who is weighing whether or not to bypass his senior season and enter the NFL draft. McNichols was fifth nationally with 1,663 rushing yards during the regular season and ranks seventh in school history with 3,159 career yards. He scored 27 TDs (23 rushing, four receiving) this season and his 44 career rushing scores are fourth most in Boise State history. Sophomore QB Brett Rypien (3,341 yards, 23 TDs passing) has two solid WRs in Thomas Sperbeck (72 catches, 1,193 yards & nine TDs) and Cedrick Wilson (50, 1,041 yards & 10 TDs), leading an an offense that averaged 35.6 PPG (27th) on 479.8 YPG (20th). The defense has allowed a modest 22.7 PPG (28th).
The pick: After losing to Air Force for the third consecutive year and failing to make it into the conference championship for the second straight season, the Broncos are looking at a potential bowl win over a Big 12 team. "We're trying to finish this season the right way and take everything we've learned and apply it," coach Bryan Harsin told reporters. "And go out there and be a much better football team than we were in the last game." However, one wonders if a win over a Baylor team in a total collapse will mean much? Also, one has to wonder if a vote were to be taken now, just how many Baylor players and coaches would say yes to continuing this VERY awkward campaign? The Under is a 10* play.
Baylor: No college football program in America needs a fresh start more than Baylor. Sexual assault allegations against football players led to the firing of coach Art Briles prior to the season with Jim Grobe agreeing to coach this season, while Baylor searched for a new coach. Things were going better than expected early on (see above) but then came the team's total collapse. The Bears will have a new coach next season in former Temple head man Matt Rhule but interim coach Jim Grobe will run the team one last time. Through it all, the Bears have the fifth-ranked offense nationally, averaging 523.3 YPG, including 250.3 YPG rushing (13th). However, most of that was accomplished with Seth Russell (2,126 yards, 20 TD passes and eight INTs) at QB but he hasn't played since breaking his left ankle in a 45-24 loss at Oklahoma back on Nov. 12. Freshman Zach Smith started the final three games at QB and threw eight TD passes but alos six interceptions over that span. Expect the Bears to lean heavily on a running game led by sophomore Terence Williams (945 yards, 5.9 YPC & 11 TDs) and senior Shock Linwood (751 yards, 5.4 YPC and two TDs). Baylor's defense allows 30.4 PPG to rank 81st.
Boise State: The Broncos feature junior RB Jeremy McNichols, who is weighing whether or not to bypass his senior season and enter the NFL draft. McNichols was fifth nationally with 1,663 rushing yards during the regular season and ranks seventh in school history with 3,159 career yards. He scored 27 TDs (23 rushing, four receiving) this season and his 44 career rushing scores are fourth most in Boise State history. Sophomore QB Brett Rypien (3,341 yards, 23 TDs passing) has two solid WRs in Thomas Sperbeck (72 catches, 1,193 yards & nine TDs) and Cedrick Wilson (50, 1,041 yards & 10 TDs), leading an an offense that averaged 35.6 PPG (27th) on 479.8 YPG (20th). The defense has allowed a modest 22.7 PPG (28th).
The pick: After losing to Air Force for the third consecutive year and failing to make it into the conference championship for the second straight season, the Broncos are looking at a potential bowl win over a Big 12 team. "We're trying to finish this season the right way and take everything we've learned and apply it," coach Bryan Harsin told reporters. "And go out there and be a much better football team than we were in the last game." However, one wonders if a win over a Baylor team in a total collapse will mean much? Also, one has to wonder if a vote were to be taken now, just how many Baylor players and coaches would say yes to continuing this VERY awkward campaign? The Under is a 10* play.
