Sportsman of the Week Ending 12/16/2018

It's the most wonderful time of the year!  Also known as Bowl Season.  The Las Vegas Bowl is typically one of the more elite bowls in the first weekend of the 40 game Bowl matching up a Pac 12 school and Mountain West Champion.  For the third year in a row, the Mountain West Champions took the bowl.  This year, led by a strong running performance, the Fresno State Bulldogs defeated the Arizona State Sun Devils 31-21.  Bulldog RB Ronnie Rivers torched the Sun Devils for 212 yards on 24 carries, both career highs.  Add two touchdowns and 4 catches and he was clearly the man of the match.  His two touchdowns were the last two of the game and the only points for the Bulldogs to put away the Sun Devils.  As the bowls get bigger, there may not be a bigger running performance than Rivers, and he is the Longhorndave Sportsman of the Week!

J.R. Ewing College Football Picks: 2016-17 Bowl Pick Special

It's time for the Big Boys to play, let's get it on!

The second in the two part J.R. Ewing Bowl picks, the first being straight up underdog picks.  This set is the five best bets ATS; noting that the first week or so of games featured Group of 5 conference that I had not seen much of this season, so it didn't make sense to pick.  Beginning December 26, the Power 5 conferences will take center stage.

Many of these will be favorites, given that I already selected several underdogs to win, therefore go ahead and take those ATS if you're feeling less confident.  Note both playoff games are included!

Just to continue to trumpet a successful college football regular season:

Summary:
Final Week: 3-2 (+80)
Season: 37-31-2 (+$290, 3.8% profit)

Note that the profit takes into account house take at $10 for every $100 wagered.

Here are the five best College Bowl Bets ATS:

December 27, 2016 (10:15 p.m. EST) - Motel 6 Cactus Bowl, Phoenix, AZ
Boise State (-7.5) vs. Baylor

Baylor was the most overrated 6-0 team in history.  They have lost six straight, only two were within a TD, and two losses were to non-bowl teams.  Meanwhile Boise State has just two losses overall, and always step up their game against Power 5 opponents.  Both teams are an odds defying 3-9 ATS, but it's Baylor who is mailing it in.  The coach and staff are out, some players are skipping the game, and they haven't won since October 15.  Boise takes this big.

December 28, 2016 (9:00 p.m. EST) - Advocare V100 Texas Bowl, Houston, TX
Texas A+M (-2.5) vs. Kansas State

The Aggies will be anxious to match up with their former Big 12 opponent.  The game is in Houston so expect a lot of maroon filling the 65,000 seat NRG Stadium.  Kansas State is a scrappy team in the regular season, but is only 1-7 in their last 8 bowl games, usually drawing a more talented team with time to prepare for their unorthodox, grinding style of offense.  As is the case this year.  A+M will want to finish the season on a positive note after nosediving from the College Football Playoff poll.  They win by 10 or more.

December 30, 2016 (Noon EST) - Autozone Liberty Bowl, Memphis, TN
Georgia (PK) vs. TCU

TCU has just two wins in their last six games finishing a disappointing 6-6 on the season in a very mediocre Big 12.  A young Georgia squad with a new coach and QB battled tough but loss some heartbreaking losses to rivals like Tennessee and Georgia Tech.  Given a chance to catch their breath, they can focus on building momentum for 2017 with a win here.  TCU is historically good in bowls, but this team isn't like the recent ones that have gone 4-1 / 8-2 in their last five/ten Bowl Games.  Georgia wins a see saw affair.

December 31, 2016 (3:00 p.m. EST) - Chick-fil-a Peach Bowl, Atlanta, GA
Washington (+14.5) vs. Alabama

Alabama is being tabbed as the odds on favorite to win their second straight playoff and why shouldn't they?  They are the only undefeated team remaining and talent laden.  Two factors have me thinking this is closer than experts think.  One is that the top of the SEC was much softer than some of the others Alabama navigated.  It enabled Alabama to have a lot of eye pleasing blowouts, but Washington is a sound team.  Washington is young, so they must step up to the big atmosphere.  I think this is either really close or a Crimson Tide blowout.  I'll lean toward close and a cover.

December 31, 2016 (7:00 p.m. EST) - Playstation Fiesta Bowl, Glendale, AZ
Clemson (+3) vs. Ohio State

I think media and fans fell a bit too much in love with the Big 10 this year.  Because of the quantity of teams, the cream of the crop really only faced a worthy opponent 3 or 4 times during the conference season.  Ohio State went 2-1 in such games, with both wins in overtime.  Not exactly dominating.  Clemson was here last year and tasted the atmosphere.  With a veteran squad (vs. a young Buckeye squad), I see this is a near pick'em.  So I'm leaning to the Tigers to get it done and punch their ticket to Tampa.

Enjoy your holiday week and the Bowl Action and we'll see you in 2017!

All-around NCAA Men's Athletic Programs Honors 2014-15

As the 2014-15 Academic year draws to a close, we recognize those Division 1 schools that have the best all-around athletic program.  Specifically, schools that made the football postseason (102 spots, 78 bowl teams and 24 FCS playoff teams), a berth to the NCAA Basketball tournament (68 spots), and a College World Series regional (64 spots).  Only 250 or schools would be eligible to qualify (limited by Division 1 football, ~130 FBS, ~120 FCS).  Of that, fourteen schools made the honor role.

It's surprising to see perennial all-around powers like Stanford, North Carolina, Florida, Florida State, Arizona State, Southern California, Oklahoma, Georgia, Ohio State, Michigan, and Tennessee all missing one postseason or another.

Here we rank those teams by postseason performance.

** Yes, there are many other schools that have more points than these, but to play in this game, you have to make ALL THREE postseasons **

Here are the points available

1 - Qualify for postseason
2 - Win a regular bowl game, first round basketball, make CWS Regional final
4 - Qualify for a (non-playoff) Big Six Bowl game, Sweet 16, CWS Regional Champion
8 - Win a non-playoff Big Six Bowl game, Elite 8, make College World Series
16 - Qualify for Football playoffs, Final 4, CWS semifinals
24 - Win a CFP playoff game, make NCAA Finals, make CWS Finals
32 - Win National Championship

We also look at the best athlete turning pro for each school.

1. Oregon Ducks (27 points)
Football: Lost CFP National Championship (Ohio State 20-42)
Basketball: Lost round of 32 (Wisconsin, 65-72)
Baseball: Lost on Regional (1-2 record)
Best Team: Football
Best Athlete: Marcus Mariota (football, QB, 2nd overall NFL draft pick)
Highlight of year: Defeating Florida State in Rose Bowl (59-20)

2. Louisville Cardinals (13 points)
Football: Lost Belk Bowl (Georgia 14-37)
Basketball: Lost Elite Eight (Michigan State, 70-76)
Baseball: Lost in Super Regional (Cal State Fullerton, 1-2 record)
Best Team: Basketball
Best Athlete: DeVante Parker (football, WR, 1st round NFL draft pick)
Highlight of year: Defeating Notre Dame in football in South Bend (31-28)

3. Arkansas Razorbacks (12 points)
Football: Won Texas Bowl (Texas 31-7)
Basketball: Lost round of 32 (North Carolina, 78-87)
Baseball: Lost in College World Series (0-2 record)
Best Team: Baseball
Best Athlete: Andrew Benintendi (baseball, OF, 7th overall MLB draft pick)
Highlight of year: Defeating Texas in Texas Bowl (31-7)

4. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (11 points)
Football: Won Music City Bowl (LSU 31-28)
Basketball: Lost Elite Eight (Kentucky, 66-68)
Baseball: Lost in Regional (1-2 record)
Best Team: Basketball
Best Athlete: Jerian Grant (basketball, PG, projected 1st round NBA draft pick)
Highlight of year: Defeating LSU in Music City Bowl (31-28)

5T. Louisiana State Tigers (10 points)
Football: Lost Music City Bowl (Notre Dame 28-31)
Basketball: Lost round of 64 (North Carolina State, 65-66)
Baseball: Lost in College World Series (1-2 record)
Best Team: Baseball
Best Athlete: Alex Bregman (baseball, SS, 2nd overall MLB draft pick)
Highlight of year: Defeating Wisconsin opening football weekend with a comeback (28-24)

5T. Coastal Carolina Chanticleers (10 points)
Football: Lost FCS playoff quarterfinals (North Dakota State 32-39)
Basketball:Lost round of 64 (Wisconsin, 72-86)
Baseball: Lost in Regionals (1-2 record)
Best Team: Football
Best Athlete: Casey Schroeder (baseball, C, 8th round MLB draft pick)
Highlight of year: Defeating Richmond (36-15) in football playoff

7T. North Carolina State Wolfpack (8 points)
Football: Won St. Petersburg Bowl (Central Florida, 34-27)
Basketball: Lost Sweet Sixteen (Louisville, 65-75)
Baseball: Lost in Regional Finals (2-2 record)
Best Team: Basketball
Best Athlete: Logan Ratledge (baseball, SS, 13th round MLB draft pick)
Highlight of year: Defeating Duke in ACC play (87-75) and Villanova in 2nd round of NCAA basketball tournament (71-68)

7T. UCLA Bruins (8 points)
Football: Won Alamo Bowl (Kansas State 40-35)
Basketball: Lost Sweet Sixteen (Gonzaga, 62-74)
Baseball: Lost in Regional Finals (3-2 record)
Best Team: Basketball
Best Athlete: James Kaprielian (baseball, P, 16th overall MLB draft pick)
Highlight of year: Defeating SMU in the first round of the NCAA basketball tournament (60-59)

9. Maryland Terrapins (7 points)
Football: Lost Foster Farm Bowl (Stanford 21-45)
Basketball: Lost round of 32 (West Virginia, 59-69)
Baseball: Lost in Super Regional (Virginia, 0-2 rec)
Best Team: Baseball
Best Athlete: Brandon Lowe (baseball, 2B, 3rd round MLB draft pick)
Highlight of year: Defeating Michigan/Penn State on road in inaugural Big 10 football season.

10. Ole Miss Rebels (6 points)
Football: Lost Peach Bowl (TCU 3-42)
Basketball: Lost round of 64 (Xavier 57-76)
Baseball:Lost in Regional (0-2 record)
Best Team: Football
Best Athlete: Senquez Golson (football, CB, 2nd round NFL draft pick)
Highlight of year: Defeating Alabama in football (23-17) 

11. Iowa Hawkeyes (5 points)
Football: Lost Taxslayer Bowl (Tennessee 28-45)
Basketball: Lost round of 32 (Gonzaga 68-87)
Baseball: Lost in Regional Finals (2-2 record)
Best Team: Basketball
Best Athlete: Brandon Scherff (football, G, 5th overall NFL draft pick)
Highlight of year: Defeating North Carolina in basketball on the road (60-55) 

12T. Oklahoma State Cowboys (4 points)
Football: Won Cactus Bowl (Washington 30-22)
Basketball: Lost round of 64 (Oregon, 73-79)
Baseball: Lost in Regionals (1-2 record)
Best Team: Football
Best Athlete: Michael Freeman (baseball, P, 8th round MLB draft pick)
Highlight of year: Defeating Oklahoma in football in Norman (38-35)

12T. San Diego State Aztecs (4 points)
Football: Lost Poinsettia Bowl (Navy 16-17)
Basketball: Lost round of 32 (Duke, 49-68)
Baseball: Lost in Regional (1-2 record)
Best Team: Basketball
Best Athlete: Terry Poole (football, G, 4th round NFL draft pick)
Highlight of year: Defeating St. Johns in first round of NCAA basketball tournament (76-64)

14. Texas Longhorns (3 points)
Football: Lost Texas Bowl (Arkansas 7-31)
Basketball: Lost first round of NCAA tournament (Butler, 78-70)
Baseball: Lost in Regional (0-2 record)
Best Team: Football
Best Athlete: Myles Turner (basketball, PF/C, projected 1st round NBA draft pick)
Highlight of year: Winning Big 12 baseball tournament


Five of these fourteen have made it two years or more on this list (sorted by straight years making the list)
4 - Louisville
3 - Oregon, Oklahoma State, San Diego State
2 - Texas

By conference
3 - SEC (Arkansas, LSU, Ole Miss)
2 - ACC (Louisville, North Carolina State)
2 - Big 10 (Maryland, Iowa)
2 - Big 12 (Oklahoma State, Texas)
2 - Pacific 12 (Oregon, UCLA)
1 - Big South (Coastal Carolina)
1 - Independent (Notre Dame)
1 - Mountain West (San Diego State)

Images courtesy of NCAA/Sportslogos.net

Sportsman of the Week Ending 9/22/2013

Another week, another quarterback, but we check down to college this week.  And along with that, non-BCS automatic berth schools.  Fresno State's Derek Carr set Friday night on fire, with a 460 yard, 4-TD performance in leading his Fresno State Bulldogs to a narrow 1 point victory over rival Boise State Broncos.  He completed 39 passes, none to the other team, and led the Bulldogs to their first victory in their last eight tries against the Broncos.  This win now positions them for a run at the BCS with their toughest games behind them, particularly with the relaxed qualifying rules for non-auto conferences. Nevertheless, we'll see his name among NFL draft talents, but this week, he is the Longhorndave Sportsman of the Week!

Sportsman of the Week Ending 9/2/2012

We turn a new leaf over to college football this week, this performer put his Top 15 team on his broad shoulders and carried them to a victory in a Top 25 battle against Boise State.  Michigan State's Le'Veon Bell touched the ball 50 times for 265 total yards and 2 TD's (his team's only 2 TD's).  Trailing by 3 in the 4th quarter, he touched the ball 5 times for 19 hard earned yards including the 5 yard dart for the go ahead score.  Then, on the time killing drive after that, touched it 9 out of 11 Michigan State plays before all the team had to do but kneel.  A gutsy effort for the Longhorndave Sportsman of the Week!