4-6 IN BOWLS



NAVY vs. MISSOURI (Texas, December 31)...Rematch of 1961 Orange
Bowl, won by Mizzou 21-14 over Joe Bellinio’s Navy in a game that was
played in front of President-elect Kennedy. A star of game was Mizzou LB
Andy Russell, future Steelers All-Pro. Niumatalolo only 11-12 vs. number
since LY, but he was 3-1 as dog TY, and Mids still 35-18 vs. number away
from Annapolis since late ‘02. Navy has also covered 4 of last 5 bowls (barely
missing LY vs. Wake). Missouri only 2-6 last 8 and 3-7 last 10 vs. number TY
but did cover 4 of 6 away from Columbia (Tigers 0-5 vs. line as host TY).
Tech edge-Navy, based on team trends.



AIR FORCE vs. HOUSTON (Armed Forces, December 31)... Double
rematch from LY when teams split a pair of meetings in the Metroplex,
including this bowl. Cougs 1-4 vs. line as chalk away from home TY, 2-9 in
role since LY. Falcs covered 4 of last 5 TY, and Calhoun solid 22-13 overall
vs. number since taking over Falcs in ‘07. Tech edge-Air Force, based on
UH road chalk woes.




STANFORD vs. OKLAHOMA (Sun, December 31)...Bob Stoops no
covers last 3 of 5 of last 6 bowls. Sooners just 1-4-1 vs. line away from home
TY, 1-5-1 last 7 in role since late LY, 1-4 as road chalk TY. Harbaugh only 4-
8 vs. line away from Farm since LY (2-3 TY). Dogs of 7 or more 58-28 vs. line
in bowls since 2000, and Pac-10 5-0 vs. line in bowls LY . Tech edge-
Stanford, based on team and bowl trends.




IOWA STATE vs. MINNESOTA (Insight, December 31)...Minnesota
returns to Tempe for this game after getting whipped 42-21 by Kansas LY.
Gophers just 4-7 vs. line TY and 5-11 vs. number last 16 on board. Brewster
also just 2-5 vs. line last 7 as chalk (albeit slight chalk here) and has covered
just 1 of last 6 away from home. Third appearance last 4 years in this bowl for
Gophers, painful losers in first two (did cover in ‘06 vs. Texas Tech but blew
a huge halftime lead and cost Glen Mason his job). Paul Rhoads 7-4 vs. line
TY and 4-2 vs. number away from home.
based on Minnesota negatives.




TENNESSEE vs. VIRGINIA TECH (Chick-fil-A, December 31)... Beamer
26-12 vs. line away from home since ‘04 and also covered his last 4 on the
board TY. Hokies however have lost last two games at Georgia Dome (vs. Bama
in opener TY and in this game vs. Georgia in ‘06). Lane Kiffin 3-1 vs. line away TY
and 2-1 as dog. Tech edge-slight to VT, based on extended road mark.