As college football comes to a close very shortly, many of you out there will feel compelled to raise your stakes.
We are all college football enthusiasts. We have had a successful campaign and just because it is winding down, some out there will try to double down their winnings.
Now, if there is a certain game or a situation you like, by all means, play it strong. But always make sure to play it smart. Money management is more important than wins and losses.
Action is fun. But isn’t it more fun when you are making money? Just because there is a limited amount of games left, doesn’t mean we have to play them all, or play them all big. Play it smart and you’ll always be a winner.
Here are this week’s Best Bets (Lines are as of Monday and can change):
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Wednesday
Citrus Bowl — Michigan vs. Alabama -7: Jim Harbaugh is not a bad coach by any means. He is a pretty sharp guy. He is just not successful when it comes to Bowl games, going 0-3 the last three Bowl contests.
Now, he faces the experienced Nick Saban and an Alabama team that feels playing in anything but a CFP is an insult.
Behind arguably the best wide receiving corps in the nation and a bruising running attack, the Crimson Tide has too much offense for the Wolverines to both contend with on defense and keep pace with on offense.
Michigan is 1-4 ATS the last five Bowls. Alabama is 6-1 ATS the last seven vs. the Big Ten. ALABAMA
Sugar Bowl —Baylor +5 vs. Georgia: Outside of blowing up a less than stellar Georgia Tech team, the Georgia offense has not performed well over recent months. To be quite honest, Bulldogs quarterback Jake Fromm tends to fold like a cheap suit in big games.
Baylor comes in here getting the bettors paid, covering five straight and has played very well against solid opposition. The Bears are 6-1 ATS the last seven as an underdog and 5-2 ATS the last seven Bowls. BAYLOR
Thursday
Birmingham Bowl — Boston College vs. Cincinnati -7,5: Boston College comes into this matchup without several key faces. Head coach Steve Addazio was fired. Although Ohio State’s co-offensive coordinator Jeff Hafley will take the reins next season, wide receivers coach, Richie Gunnell will serve as interim head coach here.
The Eagles rank 107th in passing and are known as a running team. But workhorse running back, AJ Dillon (1,685 yards rushing, 14 TD’s) is sitting this one out to prepare for the upcoming NFL draft.
The high-flying Cincy team comes off back-to-back losses to Memphis (both covers), following a nine-game SU win streak, with a lot to prove.
Boston College is 2-7 ATS the last seven Bowls and 1-5 ATS the last six nonconference games. CINCINNATI
Friday
Potato Bowl — Ohio -7.5 vs. Nevada: Nevada will be without three defensive starters for this game: nose tackle Hausia Sekin, safety Austin Arnold and cornerback Daniel Brown, and also linebacker Gabriel Sewell for the first half (suspensions). Even if these players were playing, the Wolf Pack’s 102nd-ranked defense would have their hands full with the Bobcats and their 20th-ranked offense.
Ohio comes in here red-hot, having thumped Bowling Green and Akron by a combined, 118-27. The Bobcats are 4-0 ATS the last four Bowls, 5-1 ATS the last six on neutral sites, 18-8 ATS the last 26 nonconference games, and 19-7 ATS the last 26 vs. winners. OHIO
Monday
Lending Tree Bowl — Miami Ohio vs. Louisiana -14: Football is all about the matchups. So don’t hesitate to lay two TD’s here as the Ragin’ Cajuns are far superior on both sides of the ball. ULL puts their seventh-ranked rushing attack (265.3 yards per game) against the Miami 81st-ranked rush defense.
Look for the three-headed monster of running backs — Elijah Mitchell, Raymond Calais, and Trey Ragas (2,755 yards rushing, 32 TD’s combined) to devour the porous Redhawks defense.
Miami Ohio owns some of the nation’s poorest offensive numbers. Things will go from bad to worse here as they must line up against the 20th ranked Louisiana defense (19.9 PPG allowed).
The Ragin’ Cajuns are 4-0 ATS their last four nonconference games. They figure to get good support in Mobile and enjoy the national stage. LOUISIANA
Last week: 3-1
Season: 34-31-2