Fiesta Bowl: Stanford vs. Oklahoma State (-4) at 8:30 p.m.- O/U-74

[The Peoples Champ]

The money is pouring in here on OSU as they are now taking 75% of the action.

Again, I'm going against the grain and see Stanford as playing within the number in this one, as I view it as a USC/Stanford type game where both teams are going back and forth for a majority of the game, and I give Stanford an edge in the trenches, which will ultimately give them just a little bit more to win.

Prediction: Stanford 38, Oklahoma State 33

[louiemdj]

I think Stanford's defense is good, but I don't see them staying with the Oklahoma St offense the whole game. What about the total in this one? No way I take the under, but I'm think the number might be a little high in this one.

My predcition Oklahoma State 38 Stanford 28

[SkyBlues42]

I like the comparison to the Stanford/USC game, but I also think it could end up like the Oregon/Stanford game. More so the latter, than the game against USC. Points will be scored, but in the end, I don't think Stanford can keep up with Oklahoma State.

Even so, I'm still going to look into it further.

[Beyond the Bets]

Enjoying this one; will look to in-game bet whoever falls behind by two scores first if the price is right.

[The Peoples Champ]

SKB, did you look any more in to this one?

[SkyBlues42]

(01-02-2012 07:31 PM)The Peoples Champ Wrote:  SKB, did you look any more in to this one?

Sorry for not getting back. I did, and I liked Oklahoma State to cover the points. Rough way to end the game, but I felt lucky to even have a chance at a cover.

Still, it was very frustrating to see them called down at the half-yard line and then settle for the field goal. I know I'm biased, since I expected them to cover, but why risk a FG -- botched snapped, yanked kick -- when you could just pound the ball in.

If you get stopped on the first two tries, kick the FG on 3rd down.

[Skating Tripods]

Glad I didn't bet this game so I was just able to enjoy it as an impartial observer.

Awesome watching Luck and Blackmon do their thing in their final CFB game. Two tremendously talented players. I hope they both stay healthy.

[ChiefZilla]

(01-03-2012 09:01 AM)SkyBlues42 Wrote:  Still, it was very frustrating to see them called down at the half-yard line and then settle for the field goal. I know I'm biased, since I expected them to cover, but why risk a FG -- botched snapped, yanked kick -- when you could just pound the ball in.

If you get stopped on the first two tries, kick the FG on 3rd down.

If this was a pro-style offense, sure. Pounding it in there seems safer. But when you're shotgun-snapping the ball back 5 or 6 yards every play, "goal-line offense" becomes much more difficult. It's really where these types of offenses can sometimes have the most trouble.

[SkyBlues42]

True, but I also think that missed field goals/blocked FG's occur more often in college than the NFL. But that could just be because there are so many more games to notice something like that.

[KepowOb]

(01-03-2012 10:29 AM)SkyBlues42 Wrote:  True, but I also think that missed field goals/blocked FG's occur more often in college than the NFL. But that could just be because there are so many more games to notice something like that.

It's not so much the amount of games, but rather the amount of teams, and the lack of good kickers. The top 30 kickers in the NCAA are roughly as accurate, this season, as the top 30 in the NFL. Once you get out of the top 50 in the NCAA, your looking at kids who hit under 70% of their kicks, and outside the top 80 they hit less than 60%. I feel bad for some though, like North Texas' kicker who last year hit 86.5%, with 11 of his 15 attempts inside the 40, and then hitting only 50% this year, with only 5 of his 16 attempts inside the 40. I think the lack of accuracy outside the 40 is what separates most college kickers from NFL kickers.

Also, Oklahoma State's kicker was 7th most accurate in college this season, hitting 87%, and he made all his kicks inside the 30 (12 in all) so that might have been part of the decision as well.