Don’t miss a single one of the bowl picks provided by the InfoPlays team this season! Nobody works harder at providing the detailed analysis as to why they think the bowl game lines are off on the games they are taking, just take a look at the writeup below:
10* 2008-09 NCAAF Bowl Season Opener on Wake Forest -3 and reasons why they cover the spread Saturday:
1.) This is a rare occasion where two teams that faced each other during the regular season meet in the postseason. Navy beat Wake Forest 24-17 back on September 27th of this year. So now these teams meet again in the Eagle Bank Bowl to kick off the 2008-09 bowl season. Why does this favor Wake Forest? Keep reading to find out.
2.) Navy will have little incentive heading into this game, while Wake Forest has all the incentive in the world to get revenge on the Midshipmen. Why would Navy be happy with beating the same team twice in one season? Obviously they’d like to win, but they won’t be nearly as motivated as Wake Forest will be to win this contest. Navy feels they are deserved of a better bowl game with an 8-4 record, while Wake Forest is happy to be here with a 7-5 record. The Demon Deacons clearly underachieved this season, and this is their chance to right all the wrongs.
3.) Teams that face Navy for the first time are at a disadvantage, but teams that face them twice, especially in the same season, are at a huge advantage. It is tough to prepare for the option offense the Midshipmen run, but after the Deacons already saw this offense stuff the ball down their throats earlier this season, Wake will be much better prepared to defend it the second time around. Wake allowed 292 yards rushing in the first meeting, but don’t expect the Midshipmen to be able to fool this defense again Saturday. Navy will be held to less than 200 yards rushing, and Wake Forest rolls playing inspired defense.
4.) Wake does have a great run defense, and that’s why they thrive against teams that cannot throw the football. Wake Forest is 20-6 ATS vs. poor passing teams averaging 150 or less passing yards/game. since 1992. This is a 76.9% ATS System that we’ll back Saturday. The Deacons allow just 116 RYPG and 3.4 YPG on the season. That just shows you how well this defense has stopped the run with the exception of their worst performance of the season against Navy. Wake stops the run, and wins this ball game running away. Bet the Demon Deacons in the Eagle Bank Bowl.