Oregon State Beavers (6-6 SU, 6-6 ATS) vs. Boise State Broncos (8-4 SU, 6-6 ATS)
Sheraton Hawaii Bowl
Date and Time: Tuesday December 24, 2013 8pm EST
Where: Aloha Stadium, Honolulu HI
TV: ESPN
by Tim, Football Handicapper, Predictem.com
Point Spread: OSU -3/BSU +3
Over/Under Total: 65
The Sheraton Hawaii Bowl featuring the Boise State Broncos and Oregon State Beavers will be a Natty Ice drinkers cornucopia of Christmas time celebration in preparation for the ALWAYS interesting NFL Pro Bowl. The Broncos will be packing potato sacks filled with SPF 900 sun block/moisturizer. The Oregon State Beavers will counter with kitty cats carrying a small portion of pride exhumed in their Eugene encounter. The Aloha folks will be passing out Comp Tickets to every vagrant, street-peddler, and Hare Krishna Conventioneer hoping to show actual spectators in the Aloha seats for this matchup. Broncos ex-coach Chris Peterson will not be attending, taking the U. of Washington job proving forever, Everyone has a price. But there are still plenty of reasons to be glued to the television Christmas Eve! To spice up ratings, ESPN has tabbed Lou Holtz and Mark May to do the broadcast! The Under Armour halftime show will feature Hawaiis own all-time top selling female vocalist Amy HanaialiI (never heard of her) to sing her brand new hit single No Blue Turf Up In Here; What, What to serenade each viewers, very personal, Hawaii fantasies! Lets pick a winner in this Sheraton Monty Python Bowl!
Why in the crap did they choose to build an Island all the way out in the middle of the Pacific?is anybodys guess. Boise State brings in a ton of confidence after beating all the cupcakes on their schedule and losing to any team with a pulse (and San Diego State!) in un-Boise like fashion. Boise is 6-6 against the spread overall, 1-2 against the spread when an underdog, 1-2 against the spread when playing a non-conference opponent, and 1-2 against the spread when playing a .500 or greater team! That sort of sums up the Broncos in 2013; didnt play anyone and when they did snap the chin straps against a decent team—they fell down! Oregon State throws the ball all over the field (except for the Oregon game) and Boise State is terrible against the pass; 90th in passing yards against.
Oregon State started out nicely in 2013 winning 5 of their first 6 before dropping like asack of beaver peltswith a fistful of losses. Oregon State did show some moxie and What Up against Oregon covering a big 24+ point spread as a road dog in Eugene in their season ending Civil Scuffle with the Ducks. Curiously, Oregon State is 1-5 against the spread at home while the Beavers are 5-1 against the spread on the road!? I suppose we can conclude Hawaii is a road game for both so the big edge—at least in Home vs Away performance—must go to the players in candy apple-orangish yuk and black (that would be Oregon State)! But the end of the season collapse gives me pause. The Beavers started out strong beating Hawaii, Washington State, Calwait! Perhaps now we see why Oregon State started out so strong in 2013?? Beavers Head Coach Mike Riley seems to be a bright fellow, but taking 11 games to find out your team can run the ball is a little extreme; isnt it? For the year, the Beavers are 118th in the nation in rushing yards for. In their final game against in-state rival Oregon, Oregon State ran for over 200 yards on the ground and Jr. RB Terron Ward rushed 17 times for 145 yards—by FAR his biggest day in 2013 (2nd biggest dayGame 5 against Colorado with 55 yards!)! But has Mike Riley really Gotten It yet? This is Oregon States ultimate gamble; throwing the ball on every down and losing by 17 or having a balanced attack and winning by a touchdown or two???
Both defense are a little sagging but both defenses can supply enough muscle
to keep a decent offense in the game. The problem with Boise, of course,
is losing QB Joe Southwick to an injury on the first play from scrimmage
against Nevada in the 7th game. Junior QB Grant Hedrick has filled in nicely
as Acting President for Southwick but Southwicks leadership (which cannot
be measured statistically) was also lost and the Broncos cannot seem to
find themselves. He did come back for the first drive of the team’s last game but then went back to the bench. We’re not sure if he’ll be playing on Christmas Eve. Boise is a respectable 31st in passing yards for, 32nd
in rushing yards for, and 17th in rushing yards for but the Broncos, although
highly capable, seem to be wandering around in a drunken stupor waiting
for someone else to make a play. That attitude will get you beat against
the better teams and it is also the reason why Boise cannot Close games
out. As far as Peterson not being there on the sidelinesthe vast majority
of coaches can come and go without much drum-roll. Peterson was a class
act and the players loved Peterson and played for him. This little breakup
(Peterson and the players) will be a little differentlike when you split
town and your longtime girlfriend said It will work out for usNo, this
will not work out for Peterson or for Boise. Peterson and Boise are both
relationship oriented; its why Peterson was able to shuffle great players
to Boise in spite of Boise! No, both Peterson and Boise will struggle for
a little whilein long term relationships; all breakups tear a piece from
deep inside your soul leaving a gaping hole for which time can only repair.
Tims Pick to Cover the Point Spread: Oregon State Beavers -3
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