Friday, November 20, 2015

Week 12 - Evanston Purple Cats Head North to Face Bucky Badger, Irish Wear Green and Hope to be Monsters at Fenway, Horned Frogs On Fumes in Norman, and Hoosiers' Backs Against the Wall vs. Turtles


Last Week SU: 6-0
Last Week ATS: 3-3
YTD SU: 58-11
YTD ATS: 34-37

 
Northwestern at Wisconsin (-10.5)

Both of these teams lead with their defenses, both have won their share of close games this season, both enter this game playing about as well as they’ve played all season, and both had B10 West title aspirations this summer . . . until they both lost to Iowa. 

This series tends to lean towards the home team and My Numbers like Bucky.

Wisconsin 28 Northwestern 13
Wisconsin win probability: 82%
Wisconsin cover probability: 61%

 
Indiana at Maryland (-2.5)

The calculus is unfortunately simple for the Hoosiers at this point.  Lose one more and stay home for the holidays and out of the bowl picture for the 8th straight year.  The Terrapins are a turnover machine and they struggle mightily in the passing game.  IU, on the other hand, can score on anybody but can’t come up with defensive stops when the 4th quarter money is on the table. 

IU, who may own the dubious title of best 6-loss team in the country, has gone toe-to-toe with all B10 big boys all season, taking Ohio State, Iowa, and Michigan down to the wire.  The Hoosiers are better than their record, but they haven’t been a good road team under Wilson and will figure out a way to make this one a dramatic, white-knuckler despite

I’ll take the points.

Indiana 38 Maryland 35
Indiana win probability: 39%
Indiana cover probability: 45%

 
Michigan State at Ohio State (-13)

The Spartans need a healthy Connor Cook firing on all cylinders in this one and I’m sure they’re going to have that.  Model leaning hard towards the Buckeyes here and I’m afraid I agree.  I think OSU is better on both sides of the ball and I suspect the Green & White is walking into an ambush in this one.

Ohio State 34 Michigan State 17
Ohio State win probability: 83%
Ohio State cover probability: 57%

 
TCU at Oklahoma (-11.5)

The inflated line suggests Vegas knows more about Travon Boykin’s health than you or I and, besides Boykin, the Frogs limp into this one with an injury list stretching into a second paragraph. 

I think Texas Christian is out of gas and out of bullets.  Sooners roll, again, and pound even harder on the CFB Playoff back door.

Oklahoma 45 TCU 27
Oklahoma win probability: 88%
Oklahoma cover probability: 68%

 
Notre Dame (-16.5) at Boston College

 
Fenway Park visit for the green clad Irish.  BC is statistically one of the best defensive teams in the country (albeit vs. a pretty light schedule) and I suspect the Eagles will have memorized the Notre Dame-Temple film and will, similar to the Owls, sell out completely in an attempt slow or stop the Irish running game.  A key here will be giving DKizer and the Irish receivers enough time to make Boston College stop the run AND the pass.

Always a potential hiccup.  Always respected.  Always a worry.  But not this time, BC.

Notre Dame 27 Boston College 17
Notre Dame win probability 89%
Notre Dame cover probability: 56%

 
Charlotte at Kentucky (-24.5)

SEC-weary Blue Cats have been waiting for one of these.

Kentucky 48 Charlotte 17
Kentucky win probability 94%
Kentucky cover probability: 54%
 
Illinois at Minnesota (-5) 

The Illini are bowl eligible with a win whereas the Gophers need to win this one and win next week at home vs. Wisconsin to get to six wins.  Very similar efficiency profiles for both teams here…expect a lower scoring, defensive affair.

Model likes Illinois plus the 5 but not straight up.  A field goal will probably decide it. 

Minnesota 24 Illinois 23
Minnesota win probability: 54%
Minnesota cover probability: 43%

 
Michigan (-4) at Penn State

And I leave you with an upset.  The Michigan Harbaughs had been holding teams to 80 yards rushing per game until Indiana got 140 last week…in the first half.  The Wolves are not invincible by any stretch.  PSU’s defense is similarly stingy. 

Don’t say you weren’t warned.

Penn State 29 Michigan 26 2 OT
Penn State win probability: 49%
Penn State cover probability: 60%

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