The 2009 Bowl Season continues tonight, and the pros at FiveStarPick.com have been working overtime to analyze tonight’s Champs Sports Bowl between the Miami Hurricanes and the Wisconsin Badgers.  Las Vegas Sportsbooks list Miami as 3-point favorites with a total of 58.

Wisconsin (9-3 SU, 5-6 Against The Spread) finished up the regular season winning four of its last five games.  Last year after a 7-6 record, the Badgers came to the Champs Sports Bowl to take on Florida State. They got crushed 42-13.

This year the Badgers have improved, but they still are somewhat one dimensional, relying heavily on the running game. Wisconsin is ranked 14th in the country with 31 rushing touchdowns and 206.7 rushing YPG.  In addition, they have the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year in John Clay. As the starting RB, Clay has amassed 1,396 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns in 2009.

Miami (9-3 SU, 6-5 Against The Spread) will try to counter the Badger running game with a rush defense that is giving up just 118.3 YPG on the ground, good enough for a 28th rank nationally. And these numbers are against teams with solid running games like Georgia Tech and Oklahoma.

Wisconsin was a lot better this year against the pass, giving up just 219.9 passing YPG, but Miami and Jacory Harris are 27th in the nation throwing the ball with 268.1 YPG. Harris has completed 60.4 percent of his passes for 3,164 yards and 23 touchdowns. Miami also has a solid ground game behind a pair of running backs in Craig Cooper and Javarris James.  The duo has combined for 1,157 yards and nine touchdowns.

Now let’s talk trends…In their last ten bowl appearances, Wisconsin is 4-6 Against The Spread, while Miami, is 7-3 Against The Spread in as many. The Badgers are 1-3 Against The Spread versus the ACC. Miami is 2-2 Against The Spread against the Big Ten since 1999.

If you are wondering who will cover the spread in the Champs Sports Bowl, try FiveStarPick.com tonight and eliminate the guesswork. For only $19.99 you can test us out and see if our talent for picking college and pro football winners exceeds your expectations.  We are the only sports handicapping service in the business who documents wins and losses and displays them on our homepage for all to witness.  It’s because we have nothing to hide…we just win games against the spread.  Join our family today and start your winning streak tonight.

Rick Riley – FiveStarPick.com

The pros at FiveStarPick.com love making money, and remember, money won is much sweeter than money earned.  Last night we celebrated with some “money won” as the Pitt Panthers covered the spread as 6.5-point road favorites.  But we can’t keep dwelling on past success, so today we will focus on the Oklahoma/Miami game.  Las Vegas sportsbooks list the Sooners as 7-point road favorites with a total of 51.

A loss to BYU in the season opener sent the Sooners bid for a National Championship into quick uncertainty.  In addition, Sam Bradford injured his right shoulder and it was unknown at that time whether or not he would return this season.

Oklahoma (2-1 straight up, 1-1 against the spread) has made due without Mr. Heisman, because Landry Jones has proven that he is the name of the future.  Jones has connected on 60.5 percent of his passes for 673 yards and nine touchdowns in Bradford’s absence.  It’s clear that the future is bright in Norman.  Jones guided the Sooners to a 45-0 victory over Tulsa as 18-point home favorites mostly by converting 11 of their 17 third downs.  Oklahoma’s defense also shined bright as Tulsa had five “three-and-outs” last Saturday and only two trips to the red zone.

Miami (2-1 SU, 2-1 against the spread) survived a late drive in Tallahassee and looked impressive against the Yellow Jackets at home.  Quarterback Jacory Harris had completed 65 percent of his passes for 656 yards and five scores pushing the Hurricanes into the Top 10 coming into Blacksburg. 

Last Saturday Miami lost 31-7 in a monsoon against Virginia Tech as 2 ½-point road favorites.  FiveStarPick.com members got the home dog, VA Tech…a nice cash for the good guys.  Jacory Harris was not so good connecting on only 9 of 25 attempts for 150 yards and an INT.  The Cane’s running game gained just 59 yards on the ground and converted just 1 of 11 third downs on the Hokie defense.

The Hurricanes have never been home dogs since Randy Shannon took over as head coach in 2007 and Miami has done well against Big XII squads recently with a 3-1 SU and against the spread record in its last four games. The Hurricanes’ lone defeat came in Norman as 11-point road underdogs in 2007, 51-13.

So who covers the spread in this matchup?  It’s very easy to find out.  Try FiveStarPick.com tonight for only ($19.99) and see if our talent for picking college and pro football winners exceeds your expectations.  We are the only sports handicapping service in the business who documents wins and losses and displays them on our homepage for all to see.  It’s because we have nothing to hide…we just win games against the spread.  Join our family today and start your winning streak tonight.

Jimmy the Geek – FiveStarPick.com