{"id":1097,"date":"2006-12-27T23:02:49","date_gmt":"2006-12-28T04:02:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.joeduffy.net\/blog\/2006\/12\/advanced-bowl-notes\/"},"modified":"2006-12-27T23:02:49","modified_gmt":"2006-12-28T04:02:49","slug":"advanced-bowl-notes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.joeduffy.net\/blog\/2006\/12\/advanced-bowl-notes\/","title":{"rendered":"Advanced Bowl Notes"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple style='tab-interval:.5in'><\/p>\n<div class=Section1>\n<p class=MsoBodyText><span class=bodytext1><span style='font-size:10.5pt'>Approved<br \/>\nsportsbooks are at <\/span><\/span><span class=bodytext1><span style='font-size:\n10.5pt;color:blue'><a href=\"http:\/\/www.linetrackers.com\/\"><span\nstyle='text-decoration:none;text-underline:none'>www.linetrackers.com<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/span><span\nclass=bodytext1><span style='font-size:10.5pt'> <\/span><\/span>Please be aware<br \/>\nof all laws pertaining to online gambling in the country in which you live. <o:p><\/o:p><\/p>\n<p class=MsoBodyText>The bowls are here.&nbsp; I have used a lot of sportsbooks<br \/>\nand so do most of my clients. In this day and age, a solvent and reliable<br \/>\nsportsbook is more important than ever.&nbsp; There is none better than <a\nhref=\"http:\/\/www.betus.com\/ats\/10499\/sportsbook\/default.aspx\">BetUs<\/a>. They<br \/>\npay on time, have more proposition plays, great customer service and more. <o:p><\/o:p><\/p>\n<p class=MsoBodyText><a\nhref=\"http:\/\/www.betus.com\/ats\/10499\/sportsbook\/default.aspx\"><span\nclass=SpellE><span class=spelle>BetUS<\/span><\/span><\/a> has a reputation for<br \/>\nbeing one of the most solid sportsbooks on the internet. It has been in<br \/>\nbusiness for over 10 years and is fully legal, licensed and bonded. Bettors<br \/>\nalso receive up to 60% in bonuses. BetUS.com offers top quality sports betting,<br \/>\ncasino games, and poker.<o:p><\/o:p><\/p>\n<p class=MsoDate>To get the endorsement of <a\nhref=\"http:\/\/p6.hostingprod.com\/@joeduffy.net\/\">JoeDuffy.net<\/a> or <b><span\nstyle='color:blue'><a href=\"http:\/\/www.offshoreinsiders.com\/\">OffshoreInsiders.com<\/a><br \/>\n<\/span><\/b>&nbsp;a sportsbook must have passed with flying colors ALL of the<br \/>\nfollowing criterion: our own positive first-hand experience, affirmative<br \/>\nfeedback from our valued clients, high marks from the respected watchdog<br \/>\ngroups. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.betus.com\/ats\/10499\/sportsbook\/default.aspx\">BetUs<br \/>\nis hitting 100 percent<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=MsoDate><o:p>&nbsp;<\/o:p><\/p>\n<p class=MsoDate><st1:date Month=\"12\" Day=\"29\" Year=\"2006\">Friday, December 29,<br \/>\n2006<\/st1:date><\/p>\n<h1><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Kentucky-Clemson<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/h1>\n<h2><st1:City><st1:place><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Lexington<\/span><\/st1:place><\/st1:City><span\nstyle='font-size:12.0pt'> Herald-Leader<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/h2>\n<p class=MsoBodyText>It\u2019s the first post-season appearance under Coach Rich<br \/>\nBrooks, and <st1:country-region><st1:place>UK<\/st1:place><\/st1:country-region>\u2019s<br \/>\nfirst bowl trip since the Hal <span class=SpellE>Mumme<\/span>-coached Cats lost<br \/>\nto <st1:City><st1:place>Syracuse<\/st1:place><\/st1:City> 20-13 in the 1999 Music<br \/>\nCity Bowl. But it\u2019s not just making a bowl that makes the Cats a winner. In<br \/>\nthis case it\u2019s <i>the <\/i>bowl, its opponent, its location and the way it could<br \/>\nalter the Cats\u2019 football history. Clemson is from the ACC, a <span\nclass=SpellE>BCS<\/span> league. And the Tigers competed mightily for an ACC<br \/>\ndivision crown, derailed by a one-point loss to <st1:State><st1:place>Maryland<\/st1:place><\/st1:State>.<br \/>\nThey ended up 8-4, thanks to a three-point loss to arch-rival <st1:State><st1:place>South<br \/>\nCarolina<\/st1:place><\/st1:State> in the season finale. <span class=GramE>The<br \/>\nTigers (8-4) rank 15<sup>th<\/sup> in the nation in scoring defense.<\/span><br \/>\nSenior defensive end Gaines Adams (15.5 tackles for loss, 10.5 sacks) was named<br \/>\nACC Defensive Player of the Year and is a finalist for the Ted Hendricks Award<br \/>\ngiven to the nation\u2019s top end. Clemson also features one of the nation\u2019s best<br \/>\nrunning attacks led by sophomore James Davis (1,134 yards, 17 <span\nclass=SpellE>TD\u2019s<\/span>) and freshman sensation <span class=SpellE>C.J<\/span>.<br \/>\nSpiller (914 yards, 10 <span class=SpellE>TD\u2019s<\/span>, 7.1 yards per carry).<br \/>\nThe Tigers are fifth in the NCAA in rushing yards per game (225.2) and ninth in<br \/>\nscoring average (33.8).<o:p><\/o:p><\/p>\n<h2><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Tennessean<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/h2>\n<p class=MsoBodyText>A bit of shuffling will take place in the Clemson<br \/>\nsecondary as the Tigers try to replace starting cornerback Duane Coleman, who<br \/>\nlast week was suspended for the Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl presented by<br \/>\nBridgestone. Coleman, a senior who had started 15 consecutive games, was<br \/>\ncharged with simple possession of marijuana last Wednesday during a traffic<br \/>\nstop for failing to use a turn signal. Clemson defensive coordinator Vic <span\nclass=SpellE>Koenning<\/span> said Tuesday that Chris Chancellor, a redshirt<br \/>\nfreshman who started three games at the cornerback position opposite of<br \/>\nColeman, would start at the \u201cfield cornerback position.\u201d At the other<br \/>\ncornerback <span class=SpellE>Koenning<\/span> said several players would be<br \/>\nused, including junior <span class=SpellE>C.J<\/span>. Gaddis, who played in<br \/>\nevery game in the regular season but hasn\u2019t been in the starting lineup since<br \/>\nthe 2005 season.<o:p><\/o:p><\/p>\n<h1><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Minnesota-Texas Tech<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/h1>\n<h2><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Press Notes <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/h2>\n<p class=MsoBodyText>Matt <span class=SpellE>Spaeth<\/span>, a two-time first<br \/>\nteam All-Big Ten selection who has become a promising pro prospect, recently<br \/>\nhad surgery to repair a severely separated shoulder and will not recover in<br \/>\ntime to play for <st1:State><st1:place>Minnesota<\/st1:place><\/st1:State> in the<br \/>\nInsight Bowl against Texas Tech. After getting hurt in the Oct. 21 game against<br \/>\nNorth Dakota State, <span class=SpellE>Spaeth<\/span> could have chosen surgery<br \/>\nimmediately to hasten the rehabilitation and avoid the risk of further injury<br \/>\nwith the potential of a big payday looming. But that wasn\u2019t the way he wanted<br \/>\nto finish. <span class=SpellE>Spaeth<\/span>, one of three finalists for the<br \/>\nJohn Mackey Award that\u2019s given to the nation\u2019s top tight end, came back in two<br \/>\nweeks and contributed in the last three games. All Gophers wins. All needed to<br \/>\nqualify for postseason play. <span class=SpellE>Spaeth<\/span> will certainly be<br \/>\nmissed, but it\u2019s on defense where <st1:State><st1:place>Minnesota<\/st1:place><\/st1:State><br \/>\n(6-6) could use the most help against air-it-out Texas Tech. The Red Raiders<br \/>\n(7-5) are led by quarterback Graham Harrell, who completed 66.9 percent of his<br \/>\npasses for 4,110 yards, 36 touchdowns and only 10 interceptions.<o:p><\/o:p><\/p>\n<h1><st1:place><st1:PlaceName><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Missouri-Oregon<\/span><\/st1:PlaceName><span\nstyle='font-size:12.0pt'> <\/span><st1:PlaceType><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>State<\/span><\/st1:PlaceType><\/st1:place><span\nstyle='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/h1>\n<h2><st1:City><st1:place><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Seattle<\/span><\/st1:place><\/st1:City><span\nstyle='font-size:12.0pt'> Times<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/h2>\n<p class=MsoBodyText>More than 20 <st1:State><st1:place>Missouri<\/st1:place><\/st1:State><br \/>\nplayers bothered by colds or flu were held out of practice, three days before<br \/>\nthe Tigers\u2019 Sun Bowl game against <st1:place><st1:PlaceName>Oregon<\/st1:PlaceName><br \/>\n<st1:PlaceType>State<\/st1:PlaceType><\/st1:place>. No starters appeared to be<br \/>\naffected. \u201cIt was unhealthy,\u201d <span class=GramE>coach<\/span> Gary <span\nclass=SpellE>Pinkel<\/span> said. \u201cWe had coaches out, we had players out. I\u2019ve<br \/>\nnever been through anything like this before.\u201d<span style='color:black'><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=MsoDate><st1:date Month=\"12\" Day=\"30\" Year=\"2006\">Saturday, December<br \/>\n30, 2006<\/st1:date><o:p><\/o:p><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'><o:p>&nbsp;<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<h1><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Virginia Tech-Georgia<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/h1>\n<h2><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Journal Constitution<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/h2>\n<p class=MsoBodyText><st1:country-region><st1:place>Georgia<\/st1:place><\/st1:country-region><br \/>\noffensive lineman Ian Smith won\u2019t play in the Chick-<span class=SpellE>fil<\/span>-A<br \/>\nBowl against Virginia Tech on Dec. 30, Bulldogs coach Mark <span class=SpellE>Richt<\/span><br \/>\nsaid Sunday night. Without Smith in the bowl game, <st1:country-region><st1:place>Georgia<\/st1:place><\/st1:country-region><br \/>\nwill be back to seven scholarship offensive linemen against the <span\nclass=SpellE>Hokies.Every<\/span> other <st1:country-region><st1:place>Georgia<\/st1:place><\/st1:country-region><br \/>\nplayer who did not suffer a season-ending injury is expected to play against<br \/>\nthe Hokies.<o:p><\/o:p><\/p>\n<h2><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Planet <span class=SpellE>Blacksburgh<\/span><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/h2>\n<p class=MsoBodyText><st1:country-region><st1:place><span class=GramE>Georgia<\/span><\/st1:place><\/st1:country-region><span\nclass=GramE>,<\/span> ranked as high as No. 9 this season, spent seven weeks<br \/>\nranked in the top-25 and brings the SEC\u2019s second-ranked defense into the game<br \/>\nto face the number one defense in the NCAA.<o:p><\/o:p><\/p>\n<h1><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Iowa-Texas<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/h1>\n<h2><st1:City><st1:place><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Dallas<\/span><\/st1:place><\/st1:City><span\nstyle='font-size:12.0pt'> Morning News <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/h2>\n<p class=MsoBodyText><st1:State><st1:place>Iowa<\/st1:place><\/st1:State> (6-6),<br \/>\nwhich lost five of its last six games, opened as an 11 \u00bd -point underdog \u2013 one<br \/>\nof the biggest underdogs of the bowl season. \u201cWe\u2019ve seen <st1:State><st1:place>Michigan<\/st1:place><\/st1:State>,<br \/>\n<st1:place><st1:PlaceName>Ohio<\/st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType>State<\/st1:PlaceType><\/st1:place><br \/>\nand <st1:State><st1:place>Wisconsin<\/st1:place><\/st1:State> firsthand, and<br \/>\noutside of <st1:place><st1:PlaceName>Ohio<\/st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType>State<\/st1:PlaceType><\/st1:place><br \/>\nwe can play with those teams, and the same goes for <st1:State><st1:place>Texas<\/st1:place><\/st1:State>,\u201d<br \/>\n<st1:State><st1:place>Iowa<\/st1:place><\/st1:State> junior running back Albert<br \/>\nYoung said. \u201cWhen we bring our A game, we can compete with anybody.\u201d The <span\nclass=SpellE>Alamodome<\/span> is adding up to 800 seats in anticipation of the<br \/>\nlargest crowd for a sporting event in the stadium\u2019s history. More than 66,000<br \/>\nfans are expected. <st1:State><st1:place>Texas<\/st1:place><\/st1:State> coach<br \/>\nMack Brown said the Longhorns (9-3) owe a good performance to their fans. <st1:State><st1:place>Iowa<\/st1:place><\/st1:State><br \/>\nis not giving up big plays, having allowed only one run of 30 yards or longer<br \/>\n(34 yards) all season.<o:p><\/o:p><\/p>\n<h2><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Express News<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/h2>\n<p class=MsoBodyText>Texas QB Colt McCoy left UT\u2019s loss at <st1:place><st1:PlaceName>Kansas<\/st1:PlaceName><br \/>\n<st1:PlaceType>State<\/st1:PlaceType><\/st1:place> with a stinger injury on Nov.<br \/>\n11, then aggravated it against Texas <span class=GramE>A&amp;M<\/span>. Doctors<br \/>\ncleared him Thursday to play in the Alamo Bowl. The Hawkeyes are 1-10 against<br \/>\nthe spread this season, making them one of the worst teams in Division I-A<br \/>\nfootball against the spread.<o:p><\/o:p><\/p>\n<h1><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Boston College-Navy<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/h1>\n<h2><st1:State><st1:place><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Washington<\/span><\/st1:place><\/st1:State><span\nstyle='font-size:12.0pt'> Post<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/h2>\n<p class=MsoBodyText><st1:place><st1:PlaceName>Boston<\/st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType>College<\/st1:PlaceType><\/st1:place><br \/>\nhas won six straight bowl games dating from 1999, the longest streak in the<br \/>\nnation entering the bowl season. (<st1:State><st1:place>Utah<\/st1:place><\/st1:State><br \/>\ntied the streak with a 25-13 victory over <st1:City><st1:place>Tulsa<\/st1:place><\/st1:City><br \/>\nin the Armed Forces Bowl on Saturday.)Yet Navy Coach Paul Johnson has a<br \/>\nsimilarly strong record in bowl games: Dating from his days as <st1:State><st1:place>Hawaii<\/st1:place><\/st1:State>\u2019s<br \/>\noffensive coordinator, Johnson has been part of teams that have won four of<br \/>\ntheir past five bowl games.<o:p><\/o:p><\/p>\n<p class=MsoDate><st1:date Month=\"12\" Day=\"31\" Year=\"2006\">Sunday, December 31,<br \/>\n2006<\/st1:date><o:p><\/o:p><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal><o:p>&nbsp;<\/o:p><\/p>\n<h1><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Nevada-Miami<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/h1>\n<h2><st1:City><st1:place><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Seattle<\/span><\/st1:place><\/st1:City><span\nstyle='font-size:12.0pt'> Times<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/h2>\n<p class=MsoBodyText>Miami coach <strong><span style='color:black;font-weight:\nnormal;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold'>Larry<\/span><\/strong><b style='mso-bidi-font-weight:\nnormal'> <\/b><strong><span style='color:black;font-weight:normal;mso-bidi-font-weight:\nbold'>Coker<\/span><span style='color:black'>,<\/span><\/strong> whose team plays<br \/>\nNevada in the <span class=SpellE>MPC<\/span> Computers Bowl in chilly Boise on<br \/>\nSunday, said more than half his Hurricanes have never seen snow. Coker said he<br \/>\nwarned his players that if they plan to make weather an issue, \u201cDon\u2019t bother<br \/>\ngoing.\u201d<o:p><\/o:p><\/p>\n<p class=MsoDate><st1:date Month=\"1\" Day=\"1\" Year=\"2007\">Monday, January 1,<br \/>\n2007<\/st1:date><o:p><\/o:p><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'><o:p>&nbsp;<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<h1><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Michigan-USC<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/h1>\n<h2><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Associated Press <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/h2>\n<p class=MsoBodyText>There was no celebrating a traditional matchup in the Rose<br \/>\nBowl &#8211; at least by the participants. Southern California of the Pac-10 and<br \/>\nMichigan of the Big Ten will meet New Year\u2019s Day in the granddaddy of \u2018<span\nclass=SpellE>em<\/span> all, with each playing in the game for the third time in<br \/>\nfour years. Both had hoped to be in <st1:place><st1:City>Glendale<\/st1:City>, <st1:State>Ariz.<\/st1:State><\/st1:place>,<br \/>\na week later, playing for the national title. That honor goes to <st1:place><st1:PlaceName>Ohio<\/st1:PlaceName><br \/>\n<st1:PlaceType>State<\/st1:PlaceType><\/st1:place> and <st1:State><st1:place>Florida<\/st1:place><\/st1:State><br \/>\n&#8211; ranked 1-2 in the final Bowl Championship Series standings released Sunday.<br \/>\nUSC and <st1:State><st1:place>Michigan<\/st1:place><\/st1:State> had their<br \/>\nchances. The Trojans (10-2) entered the weekend with the inside track toward<br \/>\nfacing the unbeaten Buckeyes, but a 13-9 loss to <span class=SpellE>crosstown<\/span><br \/>\nrival UCLA on Saturday knocked them out.<o:p><\/o:p><\/p>\n<p class=MsoBodyText>No. 3 Michigan (11-1) was overtaken by <st1:State><st1:place>Florida<\/st1:place><\/st1:State><br \/>\n(12-1) on the strength of the Gators\u2019 38-28 triumph over <st1:State><st1:place>Arkansas<\/st1:place><\/st1:State><br \/>\nin the Southeastern Conference championship game later Saturday. The Wolverines<br \/>\ndidn\u2019t get their hoped-for rematch with the Buckeyes, who beat <span\nclass=GramE>them<\/span> 42-39 on Nov. 18 in the final regular-season game for<br \/>\nboth teams. USC has played in 30 previous Rose Bowl games, going 21-9, while <st1:State><st1:place>Michigan<\/st1:place><\/st1:State><br \/>\nhas played in 23, going 11-12.<o:p><\/o:p><\/p>\n<h1><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Boise-Oklahoma <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/h1>\n<h2><span class=SpellE><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Kitspan<\/span><\/span><span\nstyle='font-size:12.0pt'> Sun<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/h2>\n<p class=MsoBodyText>The Jan. 1 contest between his ninth-ranked Broncos (12-0)<br \/>\nand No. 7 Oklahoma (11-2) arguably is the biggest game in <st1:place><st1:PlaceName>Boise<\/st1:PlaceName><br \/>\n<st1:PlaceType>State<\/st1:PlaceType><\/st1:place> history and certainly the<br \/>\nbiggest in Petersen\u2019s six seasons at the school \u2014 five as offensive coordinator<br \/>\nand one as head coach. <o:p><\/o:p><\/p>\n<h1><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Georgia<\/span><\/st1:place><\/st1:country-region><span\nstyle='font-size:12.0pt'> Tech-West <\/span><st1:State><st1:place><span\nstyle='font-size:12.0pt'>Virginia<\/span><\/st1:place><\/st1:State><span\nstyle='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/h1>\n<h2><st1:State><st1:place><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Florida<\/span><\/st1:place><\/st1:State><span\nstyle='font-size:12.0pt'> Times-Union<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/h2>\n<p class=MsoBodyText><st1:State><st1:place>West Virginia<\/st1:place><\/st1:State>\u2019s<br \/>\ntwo offensive leaders are both slowed by injuries but are expected to play in<br \/>\nMonday\u2019s Gator Bowl. Quarterback Pat White, who missed <span class=SpellE>WVU\u2019s<\/span><br \/>\nregular-season finale against <st1:place>Rutgers<\/st1:place> with a sprained<br \/>\nankle, practiced Tuesday, as did running back Steve Slaton, who is battling a<br \/>\nthigh bruise suffered in a bowl practice n <st1:place><st1:City>Morgantown<\/st1:City>,<br \/>\n<st1:State>W.Va.<\/st1:State><\/st1:place>, before Christmas. The obvious<br \/>\nmatchup in the Gator Bowl will be <st1:State><st1:place>West Virginia<\/st1:place><\/st1:State>\u2019s<br \/>\nspread offense against Georgia Tech\u2019s blitzing, stunting defense. Tech coach<br \/>\nChan <span class=SpellE>Gailey<\/span> said the Mountaineers\u2019 ball-handling and<br \/>\nmisdirection might keep the Yellow Jackets\u2019 defense back on its heels a bit and<br \/>\ncurtail the all-out pressure the unit favored most of the season. But <span\nclass=SpellE>Gailey<\/span> said he believes the Jackets still have enough team<br \/>\nspeed to make big plays, once they figure out who has the ball and where they\u2019re<br \/>\ngoing.<o:p><\/o:p><\/p>\n<p class=MsoDate><st1:date Month=\"1\" Day=\"2\" Year=\"2007\">Tuesday, January 2,<br \/>\n2007<\/st1:date><o:p><\/o:p><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal><o:p>&nbsp;<\/o:p><\/p>\n<h1><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Wake Forest-Louisville<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/h1>\n<h2><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Associated Press <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/h2>\n<p class=MsoBodyText>Picked to finish last in the Atlantic Coast Conference, <st1:place><st1:PlaceName>Wake<\/st1:PlaceName><br \/>\n<st1:PlaceType>Forest<\/st1:PlaceType><\/st1:place> pulled off a championship<br \/>\nseason that stunned <span class=GramE>many <span class=SpellE>onlookers.The<\/span><br \/>\nDemon Deacons\u2019 reward<\/span> for their record-setting year? <span class=GramE>A<br \/>\nseason-ending matchup with one of the nation\u2019s highest-powered offenses.<\/span><br \/>\nThis is the ninth straight bowl trip for <st1:City><st1:place>Louisville<\/st1:place><\/st1:City><br \/>\n&#8211; while <st1:place><st1:PlaceName>Wake<\/st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType>Forest<\/st1:PlaceType><\/st1:place><br \/>\nhas been to only six other postseason games, most recently beating <st1:State><st1:place>Oregon<\/st1:place><\/st1:State><br \/>\n38-17 in the 2002 Seattle Bowl. The Cardinals are <st1:date Month=\"5\" Day=\"7\"\nYear=\"2001\">5-7-1<\/st1:date> all-time in bowl games; the Demon Deacons 4-2,<br \/>\nincluding three straight wins. It appears to be a matchup of a strong offense<br \/>\nagainst a strong defense. The Cardinals are averaging nearly 39 points and 477<br \/>\nyards per game &#8211; stats that both rank among the top three out of 119 Division<br \/>\nI-A teams. <st1:City><st1:place>Louisville<\/st1:place><\/st1:City>\u2019s only loss<br \/>\nof the season was to <st1:place>Rutgers<\/st1:place>, a game where the Cardinals<br \/>\nblew an 18-point lead and, with it, perhaps a chance to play No. 1 Ohio State<br \/>\nfor the national championship. Meanwhile, <st1:place><st1:PlaceName>Wake<\/st1:PlaceName><br \/>\n<st1:PlaceType>Forest<\/st1:PlaceType><\/st1:place> held nine opponents to 17<br \/>\npoints or less, winning each of those games, and kept Georgia Tech to a<br \/>\nseason-low six points in winning the ACC championship. Already, this is the <span\nclass=SpellE>winningest<\/span> season in <st1:place><st1:PlaceName>Wake<\/st1:PlaceName><br \/>\n<st1:PlaceType>Forest<\/st1:PlaceType><\/st1:place> history, which looks even<br \/>\nmore impressive when considering that the Demon Deacons lost starting<br \/>\nquarterback Ben <span class=SpellE>Mauk<\/span> and running back Micah Andrews<br \/>\nto injuries early in the year.<o:p><\/o:p><\/p>\n<p class=MsoBodyText>The teams have one common opponent this season. Both beat <st1:City><st1:place>Syracuse<\/st1:place><\/st1:City>,<br \/>\nwith <st1:City><st1:place>Louisville<\/st1:place><\/st1:City> winning 28-13 at<br \/>\nthe Carrier Dome and <st1:place><st1:PlaceName>Wake<\/st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType>Forest<\/st1:PlaceType><\/st1:place><br \/>\nopening its year with a 20-10 home win over the <st1:City><st1:place>Orange<\/st1:place><\/st1:City>.<o:p><\/o:p><\/p>\n<p class=MsoDate><st1:date Month=\"1\" Day=\"3\" Year=\"2007\">Wednesday, January 3,<br \/>\n2007<\/st1:date><o:p><\/o:p><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'><o:p>&nbsp;<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<h1><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Notre Dame-<span class=SpellE>LSU<\/span><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/h1>\n<h2><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Associated Press <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/h2>\n<p class=MsoBodyText>The 11<sup>th<\/sup>-ranked Irish have had some long days<br \/>\nand nights against elite competition over the past year, starting with a 34-20<br \/>\nloss to <st1:place><st1:PlaceName>Ohio<\/st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType>State<\/st1:PlaceType><\/st1:place><br \/>\nin January\u2019s Fiesta Bowl. The speedy Buckeyes burned the Irish for four<br \/>\ntouchdowns of 56 yards or more. The speed of <st1:State><st1:place>Michigan<\/st1:place><\/st1:State>\u2019s<br \/>\ndefense caused problems for Notre Dame\u2019s offensive line and quarterback Brady<br \/>\nQuinn, who threw a season-high three interceptions and fumbled once. Wolverine<br \/>\nreceiver Mario <span class=SpellE>Manningham<\/span> caught three touchdown<br \/>\npasses, including a 69-yarder that broke the game open. <span class=SpellE>USC\u2019s<\/span><br \/>\nDwayne Jarrett also had three touchdown catches against the Irish. <span\nclass=GramE>Now the Irish will try to snap an eight-game losing streak in bowl<br \/>\ngames on Jan. 3 against No. 4 <span class=SpellE>LSU<\/span> (10-2), which is<br \/>\nknown for its speed, especially on defense.<\/span> Despite playing a tough<br \/>\nSoutheastern Conference schedule, <span class=SpellE>LSU<\/span> has the nation\u2019s<br \/>\nsecond-best defense, giving up just 238 yards a game. The Tigers also are third<br \/>\nin the nation in pass defense, giving up 145.5 yards a game. The Tigers are<br \/>\nalmost as potent <span class=GramE>offensively,<\/span> ranking 18<sup>th<\/sup><br \/>\nin the nation at 404 yards a game. <span class=SpellE>JaMarcus<\/span> Russell<br \/>\nwas third in pass efficiency, completing 68.5 percent and averaging 168 yards a<br \/>\ngame. Weis is among those harping on it. He conceded before the USC game that<br \/>\nafter weeks of playing teams like Navy, Air Force and Army, he was worried the<br \/>\nIrish might be slow to adjust to <span class=SpellE>USC\u2019s<\/span> speed. To<br \/>\nguard against that in getting ready for the Sugar Bowl, he plans to have the<br \/>\nstarting offense go against the starting defense, at least during early bowl<br \/>\npreparations.<o:p><\/o:p><\/p>\n<p class=MsoBodyText>No. 4 <span class=SpellE>LSU<\/span>, which had yearned for<br \/>\na chance to head west for its first Rose Bowl, will instead stay in its own<br \/>\nstate, making the short trip to <st1:City><st1:place>New Orleans<\/st1:place><\/st1:City>.<br \/>\nThe Tigers (10-2) shot into Bowl Championship Series consideration by closing<br \/>\nthe regular season with a six-game winning streak, capped by a 31-26 triumph at<br \/>\n<st1:State><st1:place>Arkansas<\/st1:place><\/st1:State>. The Razorbacks had<br \/>\nalready clinched a spot in the Southeastern Conference title game, but <span\nclass=SpellE>LSU<\/span> felt it might have been the best team in what views<br \/>\nitself as the country\u2019s toughest league by the end of the year. Notre Dame<br \/>\n(10-2) will be playing in its first Sugar Bowl since 1992, when a Lou<br \/>\nHoltz-coached team knocked off <st1:State><st1:place>Florida<\/st1:place><\/st1:State><br \/>\n39-29.LSU lobbied hard for a trip to the Rose Bowl, soliciting orders for more<br \/>\nthan 42,000 tickets. It appeared the oldest and most glamorous of the<br \/>\npostseason games would pick the Tigers to face <st1:State><st1:place>Michigan<\/st1:place><\/st1:State><br \/>\n&#8211; until <st1:place>Southern <span class=SpellE>Cal<\/span><\/st1:place><span\nclass=SpellE>\u2019s<\/span> loss to UCLA messed up those plans. Coach Les Miles<br \/>\ninsisted it wasn\u2019t a letdown to learn that the Tigers\u2019 next game would be right<br \/>\ndown the road instead of on the West Coast, saying it provides another chance<br \/>\nto help New Orleans recover from the devastating storm.<o:p><\/o:p><\/p>\n<p class=MsoDate><st1:date Month=\"1\" Day=\"6\" Year=\"2006\">Saturday, January 6,<br \/>\n2006<\/st1:date> <o:p><\/o:p><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal><o:p>&nbsp;<\/o:p><\/p>\n<h1><st1:place><st1:PlaceName><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Cincinnati-Middle<\/span><\/st1:PlaceName><span\nstyle='font-size:12.0pt'> <\/span><st1:PlaceName><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Tennessee<\/span><\/st1:PlaceName><span\nstyle='font-size:12.0pt'> <\/span><st1:PlaceType><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>State<\/span><\/st1:PlaceType><\/st1:place><span\nstyle='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/h1>\n<h2><st1:City><st1:place><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Detroit<\/span><\/st1:place><\/st1:City><span\nstyle='font-size:12.0pt'> News<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/h2>\n<p class=MsoBodyText>Brian Kelly will be coaching his new team, <st1:City><st1:place>Cincinnati<\/st1:place><\/st1:City>,<br \/>\nin the International Bowl on Jan. 6 against <st1:place>Western Michigan<\/st1:place><br \/>\nin <st1:City><st1:place>Toronto<\/st1:place><\/st1:City>. There was some question<br \/>\nabout who would coach the Bearcats in the game after Mark <span class=SpellE>Dantonio<\/span><br \/>\nleft <st1:City><st1:place>Cincinnati<\/st1:place><\/st1:City> to become the coach<br \/>\n<st1:place><st1:PlaceName>Michigan<\/st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType>State<\/st1:PlaceType><\/st1:place>.<br \/>\nPat <span class=SpellE>Narduzzi<\/span>, <st1:City><st1:place>Cincinnati<\/st1:place><\/st1:City>\u2019s<br \/>\ndefensive coordinator, was named interim coach before Kelly was hired Sunday. <st1:City><st1:place>Cincinnati<\/st1:place><\/st1:City><br \/>\nathletic director Mike Thomas confirmed Tuesday that Kelly will have a coaching<br \/>\nstaff in place to work the bowl. The number of CMU assistants who will join him<br \/>\nremains to be seen. <o:p><\/o:p><\/p>\n<p class=MsoBodyText>Computer Trends (All records ATS)<o:p><\/o:p><\/p>\n<p class=MsoListBullet2 style='margin-left:.75in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1;\ntab-stops:list .75in'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-family:Symbol;\nmso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol'><span\nstyle='mso-list:Ignore'>\u00b7<span style='font:7.0pt \"Times New Roman\"'>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br \/>\n<\/span><\/span><\/span><![endif]>Texas A &amp; M is 6-0-1 last seven<o:p><\/o:p><\/p>\n<p class=MsoListBullet2 style='margin-left:.75in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1;\ntab-stops:list .75in'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-family:Symbol;\nmso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol'><span\nstyle='mso-list:Ignore'>\u00b7<span style='font:7.0pt \"Times New Roman\"'>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br \/>\n<\/span><\/span><\/span><![endif]><st1:State><st1:place>South Carolina<\/st1:place><\/st1:State><br \/>\n7-2 their last nine<o:p><\/o:p><\/p>\n<p class=MsoListBullet2 style='margin-left:.75in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1;\ntab-stops:list .75in'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-family:Symbol;\nmso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol'><span\nstyle='mso-list:Ignore'>\u00b7<span style='font:7.0pt \"Times New Roman\"'>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br \/>\n<\/span><\/span><\/span><![endif]><st1:State><st1:place>Nevada<\/st1:place><\/st1:State><br \/>\nis 9-1 their last 10 <o:p><\/o:p><\/p>\n<p class=MsoListBullet2 style='margin-left:.75in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1;\ntab-stops:list .75in'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-family:Symbol;\nmso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol'><span\nstyle='mso-list:Ignore'>\u00b7<span style='font:7.0pt \"Times New Roman\"'>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br \/>\n<\/span><\/span><\/span><![endif]>Notre Dame 4-11 run<o:p><\/o:p><\/p>\n<p class=MsoListBullet2 style='margin-left:.75in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1;\ntab-stops:list .75in'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-family:Symbol;\nmso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol'><span\nstyle='mso-list:Ignore'>\u00b7<span style='font:7.0pt \"Times New Roman\"'>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br \/>\n<\/span><\/span><\/span><![endif]><st1:City><st1:place>Cincinnati<\/st1:place><\/st1:City><br \/>\n8-1 last nine<o:p><\/o:p><\/p>\n<p class=MsoListBullet2 style='margin-left:.75in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1;\ntab-stops:list .75in'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-family:Symbol;\nmso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol'><span\nstyle='mso-list:Ignore'>\u00b7<span style='font:7.0pt \"Times New Roman\"'>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br \/>\n<\/span><\/span><\/span><![endif]><st1:place><st1:PlaceName>Ohio<\/st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType>State<\/st1:PlaceType><\/st1:place><br \/>\n16-3 last 19<o:p><\/o:p><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal><o:p>&nbsp;<\/o:p><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal><o:p>&nbsp;<\/o:p><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/body><br \/>\n<\/html><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Approved sportsbooks are at www.linetrackers.com Please be aware of all laws pertaining to online gambling in the country in which you live. The bowls are here.&nbsp; I have used a lot of sportsbooks and so do most of my clients. In this day and age, a solvent and reliable sportsbook is more important than ever.&nbsp; &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.joeduffy.net\/blog\/2006\/12\/advanced-bowl-notes\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advanced Bowl Notes<\/span> <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1097","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.joeduffy.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1097","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.joeduffy.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.joeduffy.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.joeduffy.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.joeduffy.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1097"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.joeduffy.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1097\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.joeduffy.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1097"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.joeduffy.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1097"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.joeduffy.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1097"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}