On Jan 8th, postseason college football comes to Mobile, AL when the Arkansas State Red Wolves take on the Huskies at the GoDaddy.com Bowl. Both teams come up with rookie head coaches with the Huskies headed by first-year head coach Dave Doeren. Interim head coach David Gunn who has been the running backs coach all season helms the Arkansas State Red Wolves. Gus Malzahn, who will take over after the season ends, has been appointed by Arkansas State. The take from the sportsbook is currently Arkansas State (-1 ½) with an over-under established at 63 points.
It’s not only the Division I-A universities receiving face time on ESPN, on January seventh the NCAA Division I-AA Championship game is played at Pizza Hut Park in Fricso, TX. The Bison take on the Sam Houston Bearkats in a fight of the 2 greatest small colleges in the nation. Both the Sam Houston Bearkats and the Bison have steamrolled their opponents all season long and both are additionally coming into play with similar styles on offense. Anticipate a lot of running and a lot of 1st downs by each squad as the defenses are going to get a workout. The sports book is having a tough time with this one as the line currently is currently at North Dakota State (-1) with the over-under established at 46.
Birmingham, AL plays sponsor to the Compass Bowl on January seventh with the Pitt Panthers taking on the Mustangs. The Panthers come in after the 1-year Todd Graham experiment at head coach. Graham quit his post on December 14th to take the head coaching job at Arizona State. Defensive Coordinator Keith Patterson will wear the headset for the Panthers in this clash of titans. SMU enters into competition with the threat of the “Death Penalty” passed on in the 1980’s still being referred to today. Former Nfl and Hawaii coach June Jones is already in his 4th year on the sidelines of Southern Methodist University. The wagering line has this set at Pittsburgh (-3) with an over-under of 47 points.
The Pittsburgh steelers are matched up versus the Broncos in the nfl Playoffs. The Pittsburgh steelers ended as a wild card with an outstanding record of 12-4 in the AFC North division, whereas the Broncos concluded up with an 8-8 record narrowly claiming champs of the AFC West. The Steelers will be going to Denver to compete versus them at Sports Authority Field at Mile High.
It all boils down to this as the #1 rated LSU Tigers face the #2 rated Crimson Tide in the BCS National Championship Game at the Superdome in New Orleans, LA on January ninth. Alabama head coach Nick Saban is no stranger to this match, winning the national championship in 2009 and also winning it with LSU as a head coach in 2003. LSU head coach Les Miles is also no stranger at this time as he’s won the national championship in 2007. Two excellent teams and head coaches meeting on a collision course in what is certain to be an awesome game. The oddsmakers currently have this at Alabama (-1) with the over-under established at 40 points.
The Falcons hope that slipping into the playoffs undetected in 2012 will allow them better results, following finishing with the top record in the league last year, and getting dismissed in the 1st round by the Packers. Atlanta concluded 10-6 this year, earning them a 1st round wild-card match with the NFC East winning New york giants (9-7).
Perhaps the Lions just are unlucky with regards to scheduling. 1st, they finish their regular season vs their division rival Green Bay Packers, who additionally possess the league’s top record. Then they follow that up by pulling the New orleans saints in the first round of the playoffs.
The Cincinnati Bengals will be competing versus the Texans in the nfl playoffs. The Cincinnati Bengals will travel to Reliant Stadium in Houston for the game. Cincinnati concluded their season with a record of 9-7 and achieved the playoffs this season as a wild card in the AFC North division. After coming out ahead as the top squad in the AFC South this season, Houston concluded with a record of 10-6.
