| 10 Things To Consider When Handicapping | | | | plays a big part in the preparation, |
| Bowl Games.... | | | | discipline and conduct of the players |
| Handicapping bowl games has a few | | | | when on the road. #7 - Handicapping |
| different things to consider when trying | | | | the regular season is certainly a little |
| to beat the line. You obviously still | | | | easier as you have both teams having |
| have to take your normal statistical | | | | played basically the teams within their |
| handicapping formulas into | | | | conference. This makes it easy to |
| consideration, but there are situations | | | | compare results against common teams. In |
| that are unique to handicapping bowl | | | | bowl games you don't have that luxury, |
| games. Here are the ones I consider to | | | | but comparing the results of common |
| be important when doing your | | | | regular season opponents that do exist |
| analyzation. #1 - Look for teams | | | | is one of my favorite angles for getting |
| coming into their bowl with momentum...I | | | | an edge in handicapping bowl games. If |
| like to look at the last 3 games. Teams | | | | team A for example has lost two games by |
| coming in on winning streaks are more to | | | | an average say of 10 points per game to |
| my favor than teams that have lost their | | | | two teams that team B has beaten by an |
| last game or 2 out of 3 of their last 3 | | | | average of say 7 points, you most |
| games. #2 - Watch for the "I'd rather | | | | definitely have to figure this into your |
| be home watching TV" teams. These are | | | | final prediction. Also in this category, |
| teams who feel they were slighted in the | | | | you will want to weigh the performance |
| bowl they accepted. Some of the better | | | | of the two teams against teams that are |
| teams in the country having to settle | | | | in bowl games. #8 - Overall schedule |
| for lesser bowl games have a tendency to | | | | strength is a very important factor in |
| not even want to be there. I't's like an | | | | handicapping bowl games, especially the |
| embarrassment to them and mentally are | | | | strength of the conference of both |
| not prepared with a winning attitude. | | | | teams. A team coming from a major |
| #3 - On the other side of the coin from | | | | conference will often be matched against |
| #2, watch out for teams who are just | | | | a team from a much overall weaker |
| excited to be there. Some teams who had | | | | conference. Playing a full schedule of |
| no thoughts of playing in a bowl game at | | | | much tougher opponents will give a big |
| the beginning of the season have a | | | | edge over a team playing their entire |
| tendency to feel their season has been | | | | schedule against a lesser conference. |
| accomplished and whether they win or | | | | #9 - Always give an edge factor to teams |
| lose doesn't really matter. They feel | | | | that have a high percentage of spread |
| the season is already made. #4 - Look | | | | covers during the regular season, |
| for teams who have "been there, done | | | | especially covering the spread as a |
| that". There is a lot of hype and | | | | underdog. This indicates that they are |
| distractions during bowl game week and | | | | playing "up" against the tougher |
| teams that have never experienced it may | | | | opponents and have had a lot of value |
| be at a disadvantage when facing a team | | | | against the line. This will become even |
| with bowl experience. #5 - Look for | | | | more prominent in a big game such as a |
| teams with coaches who have considerable | | | | bowl game. #10 - Look for teams that |
| bowl game experience and especially a | | | | may be in a revenge situation from the |
| winning record in bowl games, this | | | | previous bowl season. It is not revenge |
| demonstrates an ability to "win the big | | | | against the team they are playing but |
| game". Experienced coaches have an edge | | | | more so to overcome a poor performance |
| on preparing their teams for the hype of | | | | from a previous bowl game experience. A |
| bowl games over a coach who is a first | | | | team who last year was a first time bowl |
| timer. (Continued from previous | | | | team and got blown away, will have |
| newsletter) #6 - Seeing as all bowl | | | | gained a lot of experience and will be |
| games are played on neutral fields, it | | | | much more prepared and will want to |
| is really a road game for both teams. I | | | | erase the stigma from last year. |
| like to give an edge to teams who have | | | | As mentioned earlier, you still need to |
| had winning records on the road, | | | | go through the normal statistical |
| especially against the spread during the | | | | routine of handicapping the game |
| regular season. Teams that do not have | | | | including the objectives such as |
| good road records will have the added | | | | injuries, field conditions etc….The |
| problem of dealing with all the hype. | | | | above are angles that are primarily |
| Bowl experience of the coaches also | | | | unique to handicapping bowl games. |