BOWL SYSTEM PLAYS

It's in the Books...thank you MIKE BELOTTI and your DUCKS for G.O.Y. WIN!!  Made u$ $weat for a while, but cla$$ $howed!!
 
Moving on to FRI..note BOWL stats going in (those who read, 3Musketeers excluded!):
SU Bowl winners now 12-5 ATS; "Stat" Winners now 13-4 (MARY down TUES); and FAVES 7, DOGS 10 ATS (with 5 wins outright)
 
New Year's Eve picks below; I am foregoing my 'write-ups' for all but our UNDERDOG PLAY OF YEAR simply because it's a kick-in-the-ass to spend the time doing it...only to hear crybabies and bashers bitch; they get a winning "Game of the Year" and bitch....amazing!  GOOD LUCK and HAPPY NEW YEAR to most!!
 
ARMED FORCES BOWL:   AIR FORCE +4.5  **2**
SUN BOWL:                      PITTSBURGH +1.5  **4**
MUSIC CITY:                     BOST COLL  --3.5   **1** LEAN
CHICK-FIL-A:                     LSU            +4.5 **3**
 
INSIGHT BOWL:  Any time you pick a "Dog" you'll get the arguments from the norm. i.e. public chalk players.  We certainly expect the doubters here to REALLY "doubt" this one.  With Dogs now biting at a 10-7 (5 OR wins) we really favor the fact that SYSTEM shows this line (like OREGON last night) in our favor by well over a TD.  Aside from that in itself, our side hits 4 Bowl Angles (one already 3-0, a 2nd that's 2-0, a 3rd 1-1).  And lastly, think the INTANGIBLE factor really on in this game!  Expect this game to closely follow the pattern of the Mizzou/NW game...where one Team is just darn happy to be here while the other is, quite frankly, coming off a somewhat disappointing season where Bowl-goals were considerably higher than the INSIGHT.  A big drop-off from last year's ORANGE BOWL, a win over VT!  30 days is a long time to think about a bad year...and not playing up-to your perceptions.  QB Reesing had Heisman hype.  High pre-season rankings.  30 days is also a long time to read that you're a big favorite against an outmanned team...ask Mizzou.  The underdog has cashed this Bowl in 5 of the last 7 times and as mentioned in my Mizzou/NW write-up, Big 10 dogs now stand 10-4 ATS after NW cover.  Those trends not really of importance or bearing in this selection, but certainly to consider for some.

 
Both teams had TO problems all-year, both had sub-standard lines.  Reesing had a bundle of sacks, not quite as mobile as Minny's Webber.  Look for a shoot-out here.  Kansas pass Defense was porous all year, look for Weber-Decker all night!  Also note that KU is 1-14 ATS after surrendering 30 pts.!  Expect Minny to come in with a helter-skelter Game Plan.  Gadgets, blitz's, an all-around "fun" Plan...nothing to lose here!  30 days is also a long time to heal some injuries.  Injured players that watched Minny's 55-0 last-game pasting by Iowa and 4 loss season-ending slump will be back.  And playing their heart out...keep in mind, don't need a win here...just to hang within a big number!  If Gophers hang the 1st half, expect some fireworks here..

Kansas' Over-all Bowl record only 5-6.  Minny stayed home last year.  Have had a long time to read about how bad they are.  And had a month to read specifically how this bunch will get embarrassed here.  Same stuff Northwestern read..

Minny played VA tough in '05, TEX-TECH in '06...losing each by 3 as big dogs!  And 3 SU wins before those...ARK, OREGON, ALABAMA!  They'll play tough tonight!  
 
MINNESOTA  GOLDEN GOPHERS +8  **UNDERDOG BOWL PLAY of YEAR**
 
 
BEST OF LUCK & HAPPY NEW YEAR