The Penultimate Bowl

Yesterday, Pitt won handily, taking us to 2 over .500 with 2 games to go.

As for the Penultimate Bowl, I had you for a second there, didn't I?  You've lost track of what they call these games, too, haven't you?  The game tonight is the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl, and it will be staged in San Francisco.  It features the #15 University of Nevada Wolfpack (12-1) and the Boston College Eagles (7-5).  Nevada opened as a 9 point favorite.  That has been knocked down to 7 1/2. 

It's an intriguing match up.  Nevada's only loss this year was at Hawaii, and they can boast of having beaten Boise State.  Nevada features the #3 rushing offense in college football, and they're average over 42 points per game while surrendering about 20.

BC averages a little under 19 points per game and has held its opponents, on average to six-tenths fewer than it scores, quite a contrast to NV's propensity to blowouts. 

The seduction of this match up is BC's defense, ranked #1 against the run.  We have the #3 Nevada rushing offense teeing it up against the #1 BC rushing defense.  The teams that rush better than NV are option offenses, so we may infer that these guys can bring it.  BC compiled its #1 ranking against pretty decent competition, so we further infer that these guys can stop it.  The big question is can they keep within 7 1/2?

I think there's a better approach.  UNDER 55.