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2011 Liberty Bowl Game Preview

Jack Jones — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 16:23:14 +0000

Though Cincinnati, Ohio, and Nashville, Tenn., are not that far apart, it has been nearly 20 years since Cincinnati and Vanderbilt met on the football field, and it takes a neutral-field bowl game to renew acquaintances. In Memphis in Vandy’s home state the AutoZone Liberty Bowl will pit the Bearcats, co-champion of the Big East, against the Commodores of the SEC.

These two haven’t played since 1994, a 34-24 Vanderbilt win. The Bearcats last won back in 1976, a 33-7 win on their home field.

The latest Liberty Bowl odds list Vandy as 3-point favorites and show a total posted at 48 points.

Cincinnati

Cincinnati finished as co-Big East champs with two other teams, finishing 5-2 in conference play. The Bearcats had a six-game winning streak at one point in the season and were 4-2 on the road this year.

The Bearcats rank a solid 20th nationally in scoring defense (20 points per game) and surrenders 370 yards of offense per game (270 passing, 100 rushing) while compiling 38 sacks and forcing 27 turnovers four of which have been returned for touchdowns (J.K. Schaffer and Maalik Bomar, fumbles; Camerron Cheatham and Dominique Battle, interceptions).

Schaffer leads the unit with 94 tackles (31 more than anyone else), adding 3.5 sacks, three interceptions, two forced fumbles and two recoveries, while Derek Wolfe has seven sacks, 54 tackles, two forced fumbles and two recoveries. Walter Steward has three forced fumbles and Deven Drane has three interceptions.

Cincinnati enters the game ranked 28th in the country in scoring offense (33 ppg) while racking up 393 yards per game (218 passing, 175 rushing). Zach Collaros completes 63 percent of his passes for 1.860 yards and 14 touchdowns with eight interceptions. The offensive line has allowed 16 sacks.

Kenbrell Thompkins and Anthony McClung pace the receiving corps with 84 combined catches for 1,069 yards and five TDs, while Isaiah Pead anchors the running game with 1,042 yards and 11 touchdowns on 5.6 yards per carry.

Vanderbilt

The Commodores opened the season 3-0 but then went through a 1-5 stretch before winning of their final three games to become bowl-eligible despite finishing fourth in the SEC East (2-6). Four of their losses came against teams currently in the top-25, and four were decided by four points or fewer or in overtime. The team closed with a 41-7 win at Wake Forest to post a 1-4 record away from home but the team was 5-3 in the state of Tennessee.

Vandy ranks 27th nationally in scoring defense (21 ppg) and allows 325 yards per game (202 passing, 123 rushing) while recording 24 sacks and forcing 27 turnovers four of which were returned for TDs (Trey Wilson, Casey Hayward and Archibald Barnes, four interceptions).

Chris Marve leads the way with 84 tackles (26 more than anyone else) with a sack, a forced fumble and an interception, while Tim Fugger leads the team with 6.5 sacks and three forced fumbles to go with 29 tackles. Hayward has five interceptions and Barnes has three forced fumbles.

On offense, Vandy ranks 61st nationally in points scored (27 ppg) while recording 343 yards per game (175 passing, 168 rushing). Zac Stacy anchors the running game with 1,136 yards and 13 TDs on 6.2 yards per carry.

Jordan Rodgers completes 51 percent of his passes for 1,498 yards and nine TDs with nine INTs. The offensive line has allowed 26 sacks. Jordan Matthews is the top receiver with 37 receptions for 722 yards and five TDs, while Chris Boyd has 29 catches for 4-4 yards and seven scores.

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2006 Liberty Bowl Odds

Jack Jones — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 18:42:33 +0000

South Carolina over Houston by six in the 2006 Liberty Bowl odds is what the lines makers are posting. The Cougars had a very successful season for the school after going 0-11 only a few years ago. This year though the team is 10-3 and captured it’s first Conference USA title in 10 years. Houston also has plenty of motivation to play well since they haven’t won a bowl game since back in 1980, were beaten 42-13 last year in the Fort Worth Bowl. Offense is the name of the game for the Cougars as they are putting up nearly 33 ppg, gaining 4.9 yards per rush and 8.6 yards per pass attempt.

Spurrier has been known as an offensive genius, but the Gamecocks have been playing SEC-like defense. Away from home South Carolina is giving up only 15 ppg against some pretty good opponents. Spurrier does have the passing game under control with 62% pass completions and 8.2 yards per pass attempt, so don’t expect them to slouch on that side of the ball. South Carolina has lost it’s five game to ranked teams, but is coming off a big win over in-state rival Clemson. Spurrier is hoping for a better bowl performance out of his squad this season though, last year they blew a 21 point lead to Missouri before losing in the Independence Bowl.

The public is going to be all over South Carolina in this game since not a lot is known about Houston. Is that what our experts, who have studied all the bowl schools all season long think? Find out with a college bowl picks package today.

2006 Liberty Bowl Odds:

South Carolina -5.5 -105 at Pinnacle
Houston +6 -110 at Bodog

UNDER 56 +101 at Pinnacle
OVER 55.5 -110 at VIP

Martin’s 2009 Liberty Bowl Picks

Jack Jones — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 16:11:11 +0000

When it comes to big plays, nobody beats John Martin. That is why when his total of the year came out, those subscribers to his bowl picks were ready to pounce. Take a look at why he liked the OVER so much in the 2009 Liberty Bowl.

5 Unit 2009 Bowl TOTAL OF THE YEAR on E. Carolina/Kentucky O 41.5

I love the OVER in the Liberty Bowl between East Carolina and Kentucky. East Carolina scores a respectable 23.8 points per game and Kentucky scores a respectable 22.4 points per game in the tough SEC. East Carolina is playing their best offensive football of the season to end the year, scoring 53 points against UTEP and 27 points against Tulsa for an average of 40 points/game over their final 2 games. Kentucky put up 38 points against Georgia, 24 points against Vandy and then only 10 points against a Tennessee team that was playing very inspired defense in trying to get head coach Phil Fulmer a win to end his career as a Volunteer. But this Wildcat defense is hemorrhaging points, giving up 33.7 points/game over their last 3. The OVER is 4-1 in East Carolina’s last 5 non-conference games, and the OVER is 4-0 in Wildcats last 4 vs. a team with a winning record. With both offenses playing their best football right now, and both defenses giving up a ton of points, I’ll side with the OVER as we only have to see 6 total TD’s in this game to get the win. I see at least 8 total TD’s in a shootout in the Liberty Bowl. Cash in with the OVER 41 points.

East’s 2009 Liberty Bowl Picks

Jack Jones — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 16:07:41 +0000

Mr. East is looking to finish off his season a winner yet again with his bowl picks, this time putting out Kentucky over East Carolina in the 2009 Liberty Bowl for January 2nd. Don’t miss out on this chance or any other the rest of the season to beat the bowl game odds. If you want to beat the books on the national championship game and the remaining BCS bowls, then make sure you sign up for one of his subscription packages and get the rest of his plays today!

Was hoping to see this one get to 3. I think the Kentucky defense wins a tight low scoring game in this one. You have to give the ratings of what the Wildcats defense has done vs an SEC schedule, vs that of East Carolina. I also like the special teams potential of Kentucky in this one as well. Tim Masthay averaged 45 yards a punt, and East Carolina has not had a big return all season. Don’t be surprised if this one swings on a big special teams play by the Wildcats. Kentucky gets the call in this one.

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