"The Stack" 12-22-16
Duke's Grayson Allen tripped an Elon player last night and had a little tantrum on the bench. It is the third time in a year that he has tripped a player. Coach K needs to do something about this.
Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
The Stack is back on this Thursday and we know you have made the right decision to read today’s post. It’s a much better decision than intentionally tripping an opponent, right Ted Cruz lookalike Grayson Allen of Duke? It’s also a much better decision than getting drunk on the plane ride home from a game in Miami and blowing a .217 when cops find you passed out in your car right Michael Floyd? Bowl games and a TNF are coming up so let’s get right to “the stack” for today, Thursday, December 22nd:
Bowl game previews
Thursday
Idaho vs. Colorado State (Famous Idaho Potato Bowl) 7 PM ET ESPN
First off, congrats to BYU for holding off Wyoming late to win the San Diego County Credit County Union Poinsettia Bowl 24-21. Unbeknown to me, apparently Idaho is moving down from D-I athletics. This is their last hurrah (for now) at a bowl game. Good luck against Colorado State. This Rams team is pretty good, but Idaho has been a very surprisingly good team. Watch out for the upset in this one.
Pick & confidence points: Colorado State, high 30s (36-39)
Friday (12/23)
Eastern Michigan vs. Old Dominion (Popeyes Bahamas Bowl) 1 PM ET ESPN
Fun trip for both of these teams to go play in the Bahamas. For Eastern Michigan, it’s only their second bowl game in program history. I’ve been a big fan of theirs this season. Don’t know why I feel confident that they will lose to Old Dominion. That’s probably a bad sign.
Pick & confidence points: Old Dominion, low 20s (20-23)
Louisiana Tech vs. Navy (Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl) 4:30 PM ET ESPN
Louisiana Tech can score a lot of points. Navy has looked underwhelming at best in each of their last two games. Somehow though, I think they are going to win this one. Show me something Navy.
Pick & confidence points: Navy, mid to upper teens (16-19)
Ohio vs. Troy (Dollar General Bowl) 8 PM ET ESPN
Not going to lie, probably couldn’t give me a dollar to watch this bowl game. No interest in it. Having said that, Troy has shown flashes at times in the Sun Belt that they are a force to be reckoned with. I think they win this one.
Pick & confidence points: Troy, low to mid 20s (22-25)
Saturday 12/24
Hawaii vs. Middle Tennessee State (Hawai’i Bowl) 8 PM ET ESPN
Home game for the Rainbow Warriors. That gives them a distinct advantage, but this MTSU team is good. I think they find a way to get a victory on the “road.” They’re the better team.
Pick & confidence points: MTSU, mid 20s (24-27)
New York Giants @ Philadelphia Eagles 8:25 PM ET NBC & NFL Network (streaming live on Twitter)
Switching to the NFL now, the Eagles get offensive lineman Lane Johnson back after his ten game suspension. The Eagles were 2-8 in those two games. Coincidence? Yes, actually. The Eagles just aren’t very good. The Giants are playing some of the best football in the NFL right now and this game means an enormous amount to them in hopes of applying pressure on the Cowboys for the NFC North. I have faith in Eli Manning, Odell Beckham Jr. and that defense to get a win over the Eagles.
Prediction: Giants 24 Eagles 17
Coming up Friday: Week 16 NFL preview and predictions
Listen to this week's "The Sports Block" podcast here.
