Saturday, December 30, 2006
For the spread winners in these games, it’s OffshoreInsiders.com
Virginia Tech-Georgia
Journal Constitution
Georgia offensive lineman Ian Smith won’t play in the Chick-fil-A Bowl against Virginia Tech on Dec. 30, Bulldogs coach Mark Richt said Sunday night. Without Smith in the bowl game, Georgia will be back to seven scholarship offensive linemen against the Hokies.Every other Georgia player who did not suffer a season-ending injury is expected to play against the Hokies.
Planet Blacksburgh
Georgia, ranked as high as No. 9 this season, spent seven weeks ranked in the top-25 and brings the SEC’s second-ranked defense into the game to face the number one defense in the NCAA.
Iowa-Texas
Dallas Morning News
Iowa (6-6), which lost five of its last six games, opened as an 11 ½ -point underdog – one of the biggest underdogs of the bowl season. “We’ve seen Michigan, Ohio State and Wisconsin firsthand, and outside of Ohio State we can play with those teams, and the same goes for Texas,” Iowa junior running back Albert Young said. “When we bring our A game, we can compete with anybody.” The Alamodome is adding up to 800 seats in anticipation of the largest crowd for a sporting event in the stadium’s history. More than 66,000 fans are expected. Texas coach Mack Brown said the Longhorns (9-3) owe a good performance to their fans. Iowa is not giving up big plays, having allowed only one run of 30 yards or longer (34 yards) all season.
Express News
Texas QB Colt McCoy left UT’s loss at Kansas State with a stinger injury on Nov. 11, then aggravated it against Texas A&M. Doctors cleared him Thursday to play in the Alamo Bowl. The Hawkeyes are 1-10 against the spread this season, making them one of the worst teams in Division I-A football against the spread.
Boston College-Navy
Washington Post
Boston College has won six straight bowl games dating from 1999, the longest streak in the nation entering the bowl season. (Utah tied the streak with a 25-13 victory over Tulsa in the Armed Forces Bowl on Saturday.)Yet Navy Coach Paul Johnson has a similarly strong record in bowl games: Dating from his days as Hawaii’s offensive coordinator, Johnson has been part of teams that have won four of their past five bowl games.
NFL
NY Giants-Washington
Yahoo.com
Various scenarios can get the Giants into the playoffs despite having lost six of seven since their 6-2 start, but winning on the road Saturday night against the Washington Redskins to end the regular season would provide the easiest route. They lost their fourth straight home game last Sunday, 30-7 to New Orleans, and heard plenty of jeers from the fans as the team finished with a 3-5 record at the Meadowlands. Barber, though, has struggled in recent weeks behind an injury-plagued offense, with only one 100-yard game over the past six weeks. To change things up on offense, Coughlin announced this week that quarterbacks coach Kevin Gilbride would assume play-calling duties from offensive coordinator John Hufnagel for Saturday’s game. “I’m hoping it sparks us to win a game—a football game,” Coughlin told the team’s official Web site. Washington ranks 30th in the NFL in total defense, allowing 355.5 yards per game. The Redskins gave up a season-high 579 yards in a 37-31 overtime loss to St. Louis last Sunday. The New York defense, which has battled injuries and inconsistency all year, will be without star defensive Michael Strahan for the rest of the season. The seven-time Pro Bowler, limited to nine games and three sacks this season, was placed on injured reserve after aggravating a sprained right foot last Sunday. Since allowing an average of 10.4 points during a five-game winning streak from Oct. 8-Nov. 5, the Giants have given up an average of 27.1 points.
Journal News
Guard David Diehl will move to left tackle to replace Bob Whitfield, who had two personal-foul penalties against the Saints, and if Rich Seubert can’t play, Grey Ruegamer would start at left guard. Seubert is doubtful with a shin injury and will likely miss his second straight game. Ruegamer has made 18 starts in his eight-year career, mostly at center, though he played left guard in two games for the Packers last season.
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