Number 1 rated Kentucky against the NCAA tournament hopefuls Georgia? Sounds like a recipe for a crushing defeat, particularly as Kentucky just regained that coveted No. 1 berth on the rankings for the first time in the earlier two months. While the Wildcats are at the top of the rankings and relishing an 11 game win streak, the Bulldogs can best be called sporadic so far in the year.
These two squads have been doing comparatively well this season. This should not be a surprise to anybody as both of these colleges are well noted for their share of triumphs in basketball for plenty of years. When Western Virginia visits Connecticut these two squads will be at it out on the court on January 9.
Whilst this specific game may not have the same intensity that its football version does, the Jan 9 – Oklahoma at Oklahoma State game still has its own type of anticipation. With the conference basketball season just under way, both the Oklahoma Sooners and Cowboys will try to set the tone for the rest of their season with this game. In Oklahoma’s case, they’ll be trying to continue what has been a solid start as they finished the non-conference slate with a 10-2 record.
On January 8th, postseason college football comes to Mobile, AL when the Red Wolves battle against the Huskies at the GoDaddy.com Bowl. Both squads come up with rookie head coaches with the Northern Illinois Huskies helmed by first-year head coach Dave Doeren. Temporary head coach David Gunn who has been the running backs coach all season heads the Red Wolves. Arkansas State has opted for Gus Malzahn who will take the reins after the season ends. The take from the sports book is Arkansas State (-1 ½) with an over-under established at 63 points.
It’s not simply the Division I-A colleges gaining face time on ESPN, on January seventh the NCAA Division I-AA Championship game is competed at Pizza Hut Park in Fricso, TX. In a struggle of the 2 best small colleges in the country, the Bison battle against the Sam Houston Bearkats. Both the Bearkats and the Bison have steamrolled their rivals all year long and both are furthermore coming into play with comparable styles on offense. Anticipate plenty of running and plenty of first downs by each squad as the defenses are going to get a workout. The sports book is having a difficult time with this one as the line now is currently at North Dakota State (-1) with the over-under established at 46.
Birmingham, AL plays host to the Compass Bowl on January 7th with the Pittsburgh Panthers competing with the Mustangs. The Panthers come in after the one-year Todd Graham experiment at head coach. After taking the head coaching job at Arizona State, Graham resigned his post on December 14th. Defensive Coordinator Keith Patterson will put on the headset for the Panthers in this clash of titans. SMU comes into play with the specter of the “Death Penalty” passed down in the 1980′s still being discussed today. Former Nfl and Hawaii coach June Jones is already in his fourth year on the side lines of Southern Methodist University. The gambling line has this established at Pittsburgh (-3) with the over-under of 47 points.
It all comes down to this as the #1 rated Louisiana State University Tigers battle against the #2 rated Crimson Tide in the BCS National Championship Game at the Superdome in New Orleans, LA on January 9th. Alabama head coach Nick Saban is no stranger to this game, winning the national tournament in 2009 and additionally winning it with LSU as a head coach in 2003. LSU head coach Les Miles is additionally no stranger at this moment as he’s won the national tournament in 2007. 2 fantastic teams and head coaches coming together on a collision course in what will certainly be a great game. The odds makers now have this at Alabama (-1) with the over-under scheduled at 40 points.
December 20th marks the Beef O’Brady’s Bowl in St Petersburg, Florida with the Golden Panthers taking on the Thundering Herd. Florida International comes into play with an 8-4 record plus a 5-3 record in the Sun Belt Conference. Florida International averages 19.4 ppg on defense and 26.3 ppg on offense. With their return team a constant risk to take it all the way up, Florida International additionally leads the nation in punt return yardage. Florida International is led by fifth-year head coach Mario Cristobal. Marshall comes into play with a 6-6 record that is second in Conference USA. The Marshall Thundering Herd average a somewhat confusing 30.2 ppg on defense and 22 ppg on offense. Marshall Is led by second-year head coach Doc Holliday.
The Louisiana Superdome comes to life on December 17th when the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl starts off. The Aztecs battle against the Louisiana-Lafayette Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns in a battle to the end. The San Diego State Aztecs will show up with an 8-4 record as well as a 4-3 record in the Mountain West Conference. The San Diego State Aztecs average 24.4 ppg on defense and 29.8 ppg on offense. 1st year head coach Rocky Long will be heading the San Diego State Aztecs. The Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns come into New Orleans with an identical 8-4 record and a 6-2 record in the Sun Belt Conference. The Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns average 29.8 ppg on defense and 32.3 ppg on offense. Louisiana-Lafayette is headed by first year head coach Mark Hudspeth.
Dec 17 is circled on the calendar for the Gildan New Mexico Bowl in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The Owls face the Cowboys in this clash of two fantastic squads. The Owls come into play with an 8-4 record and a 5-3 record, which is good for second in the MAC. The Wyoming Cowboys furthermore have an 8-4 record with a 5-2 record, which is 3rd in the Mountain West Conference. With near-identical records, this match ought to prove to go right down to the last whistle. Temple enters into the game averaging 30.1 ppg on offense with an amazing 13.8 ppg on defense which rates 3rd in the nation. s the Wyoming Cowboys average 27 ppg on both sides of the ball.
