Bowl season starts tonight....

freewheeler · #1 12-19-2006, 01:01 PM

Anyone care to offer their opinion on TCU/NIU?

I like NIU for these reasons:

1) They have a very good running back.
2) MAC teams tend to be under-valued a little (at least they used to be...)
3) Public seems to like TCU because line has been getting bigger and bigger.

Is TCU really 12.5 points better in this one???

Ken_AA · #2 12-19-2006, 01:13 PM

I tihnk so, But I have not decided if I'm willing to put my money where my mouth is.

Check out TCU's run defense before you bank on the very good running back.

Ken

TNAchicago · #3 12-19-2006, 05:36 PM

I'll weigh in here b/c I'm a TCU grad & know the team's strengths/weaknesses well. TCU's run defense is good, but that can be misleading b/c of the effect from sacks counting as lost rushing yards. Wolfe will still break off multiple 10-20 yard runs - and is always a threat for the big play.

The biggest thing to realize is that TCU has dramatically increased its efficiency on offense in the last month of the season (ex-UNLV game). This is what people expected out of them all year. Well-balanced attack, plenty of weapons, etc. TCU was very banged up on offense early in the season (when all of its big games were scheduled).

I'm extremely confident that N. Illinois can't stop TCU's offense - TCU scores at least 35 pts here. BUT, N.Illinois might keep up with them simply b/c of the big threat of Wolfe. He can break them even against a fast D like TCU. N. Illinois has never really gotten blown out, and always manages to put up 14 pts. Conclusion:

THE OVER is a lock. I took it at 46 when it opened there.

Tmoney120 · #4 12-20-2006, 12:15 PM

Apparently not a "lock" [img]/images/graemlins/shocked.gif[/img]

brendanb438 · #5 12-20-2006, 01:48 PM

Not at all. But I won 3 units on the 6 pt tease of TCU -6 and over 40.5 on Greek last night. Also won 5 units on TCU-12. I wish I knew more about TCU and I would have bet way more. NIU screwed me 4 times this season whether betting for them or against them so it was nice to come out ahead against those bastards.

-Brendan

MyTurn2Raise · #6 12-20-2006, 03:17 PM

I stayed away for NIU specifically because i've had that type of success with them previously brendanb. Wish I would've bet, I leaned TCU. Oh well.

wiper · #7 12-20-2006, 11:43 PM

[ QUOTE ]
THE OVER is a lock. I took it at 46 when it opened there.

[/ QUOTE ]

thanks, bud...

TNAchicago · #8 12-21-2006, 12:38 PM

Sorry to all on that one. I was as shocked as everybody at how bad NIU actually was on offense. Just needing a FG in the last 11 minutes - and getting zero - was just insulting.

wiper · #9 12-21-2006, 01:04 PM

no worries, brother...i knew tcu's defense was good, but i still didn't expect wolfe to only have 28 yards...and like you said, just another score down the stretch and we're there...

MicroBob · #10 12-21-2006, 02:37 PM

[ QUOTE ]

2) MAC teams tend to be under-valued a little (at least they used to be...)

[/ QUOTE ]

As I said in another bowl thread...I think this is in the past.
The MAC had all those awesome QB's back then and the word was that they just weren't getting the respect.

Now they are getting too much credit for their accomplishments of a few years ago I think.

I really think the MAC has taken a step or two back this year. Just kind of a down year for the league.

That NIU game will likely influence my decision on the Motor City, GMAC and International Bowls which all have MAC teams (Central Mich, Western Mich and Ohio respectively).

WMU for example only beat Miami (OH) and Eastern Mich by 3 points each and those teams finished 2-10 and 1-11.

These teams just aren't that good or that dangerous imo (although Ball State's performance at Michigan certainly turns that idea on its ear).