Your Pigskins and Ponies Picks for Dec. 17-21

Welcome to ABR’s Pigskins and Ponies column, where winners play!
Horse racing is my means to an end, and I love the sport like no other, but I admit it, like most of you, on a Sunday afternoon in the fall, it’s hard to pull me away from my couch … and NFL RedZone.
I have a wanted sign in Las Vegas and am feared by fantasy football mavens nationwide, but when it comes to the college game, I choose to punt.
That’s where Derek Cooley comes in. The dude is a loaded gun of university knowledge.
Let’s kick off the football, spring the horses from the gate and pad our bankrolls!
**Lines as of Wednesday Night from scoresandodds.com**
College Pigskins – by Derek Cooley
It has been a fun season and winning made it that much more enjoyable … 48-36-1 against the spread is something to be proud of, but we aren’t finished yet. For the next three weeks, we are going to pick every bowl against the spread. Yes. Every. Single. Bowl. 
Contrary to popular belief, there are not too many bowls.  No such thing!
Season Total: 48-36-1 (.57)
Bowl Week 1 *All times are shown in Eastern Time*
Saturday – Dec. 19, 2015
Gildan New Mexico Bowl - Albuquerque, N.M.
Arizona vs. New Mexico +9
2 p.m. - ESPN
Royal Purple Las Vegas Bowl - Las Vegas, Nev.
BYU vs. Utah -2.5
3:30 p.m. - ABC
Raycom Media Camellia Bowl - Montgomery, Ala.
Ohio +7.5 vs. Appalachian State
5:30 p.m. - ESPN
Cure Bowl - Orlando, Fla.
San Jose State vs. Georgia State +2.5
7 p.m. - CBS Sports
R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl - New Orleans, La.
Arkansas State +2 vs. Louisiana Tech
9 p.m. - ESPN
Monday – Dec. 21, 2015
Miami Beach Bowl - Miami, Fla.
Western Kentucky vs. South Florida +2.5
2:30 p.m. - ESPN
Tuesday – Dec. 22, 2015
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl - Boise, Idaho
Akron vs. Utah State -6.5
3:30 p.m. - ESPN
Marmot Boca Raton Bowl - Boca Raton, Fla.
Toledo vs. Temple -1.5
7 p.m. - ESPN
Wednesday – Dec. 23, 2015
San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl - San Diego, Calif.
Boise State -8.5 vs. Northern Illinois
4:30 p.m. - ESPN
GoDaddy Bowl - Mobile, Ala.
Georgia Southern vs. Bowling Green -7.5
8 p.m. - ESPN
Thursday – Dec. 24, 2015
Popeyes Bahamas Bowl - Nassau, Bahamas
Middle Tennessee vs. Western Michigan -3
Noon - ESPN
Hawai’i Bowl - Honolulu, Hawai’i
San Diego State +1 vs. Cincinnati
8 p.m. - ESPN
Pro Pigskins – by Joe Kristufek
Following a slow start and a strong midseason against the number, we’ve been treading water the last few weeks and last Sunday was no exception.
Seattle (+ under) and Carolina both continued their playoff push with dominating wins against teams who have mailed it in.
On the down side, Philadelphia edged Buffalo, St. Louis did just enough against Detroit and the Chicago/Washington game barely ticked over the total.
Last week: 3-3
Season Total: 36-38-3 (.486)
Week 15
Thursday, Dec. 17
St. Louis Rams -1.5 vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Following five straight losses, the Rams finally came through with a home win last week against the Detroit Lions, while the Bucs lost, at home, to the New Orleans Saints. In the battle of top Rookie of the Year candidates, the edge goes to Todd Gurley over Jameis Winston, whom I believe will be seriously challenged in a short week by a fired-up St. Louis defense.
Saturday, Dec. 19
New York Jets -3 at Dallas Cowboys UNDER 41.5
The Cowboys are struggling to move the ball and their season is all but over. QB Ryan Fitzpatrick is enjoying a great run of games, but the Jets success is predicated on running the ball and defense. I can’t see the Cowboys scoring more than 10 points and I doubt the Jets will put up 30. Let’s make a prediction of 23-10.
Sunday, Dec. 20
Kansas City Chiefs -7.5 at Baltimore Ravens
These are two teams heading in different directions. The Chiefs are on a serious roll and they have everything to play for. All of the Ravens offensive weapons are on the sidelines and they can’t wait for the offseason to begin. 
TRAVIS KELCE AND THE CHIEFS ARE ON A ROLL

"Travis Kelce" by Jeffrey Beall - Own work. Licensed under CC BY 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons.
Buffalo Bills -1.5 at Washington Redskins
The Bills hope to keep their fading playoff hopes alive while the Redskins attempt to keep pace with, or potentially get a jump on, the Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants for divisional honors. Sure the Redskins are 5-2 at home, but they’ve played a much softer schedule than the Bills, which I believe is the better team. 
Seattle Seahawks -14.5 vs. Cleveland Browns
The Seahawks are back in a big way and you know that defense and their fans are salivating at the opportunity to face Johnny Football. This could get ugly. 
Monday, Dec. 21
Detroit Lions +3 at New Orleans Saints UNDER 50.5
The Lions are 4-9, but they’ve won three of their last five and their two recent losses could easily have gone their way. Detroit’s defense has really stepped up during that stretch and they face a New Orleans team that will have a tough time running the ball with its best backs sidelined for the season. 
MATTHEW STAFFORD AND THE LIONS SHOULD HANDLE THE SAINTS

"Matthew stafford 2014" by original: Mike Morbeckderivative: Diddykong1130 - Matthew Stafford. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons.
Ponies – by Joe Kristufek
It was another tough week at the windows, but as the quality heats back up, I’m confident the selections will follow.
Encryption didn’t fire at all in the Harlan’s Holiday at Gulfstream Park and at Fair Grounds, Sweet Pea Mama Ve learned valuable lessons in her debut but finished evenly and something went array with Bayou Banker in the Louisiana Champions Day Juvenile Stakes.
I absolutely love Saturday’s Fair Grounds card, so much so that I’ll double the action to $4 WPS per selection.
Last week: 3-0-0-0 ($2 WPS * $18 wagered * $0 returned)
Season Total: 50-6-8-8 ($2 WPS * $300 wagered * $161.40 returned = $3.23)
Saturday, Dec. 19
Fair Grounds – New Orleans, La.
Race 6 – Blushing K. D. Stakes
#3 Cash Control (morning-line odds, 6-1)
Also entered in the ninth race, Tiffany Lass, on dirt (#9 at 3-1 ML odds), it will be interesting to see where trainer Brad Cox runs her. I think she’s a better horse on grass, but the dirt race seems like an easier spot. Either way, I’m a big fan of her two most recent runs at Churchill Downs and believe the best is yet to come in her career. Play her in either spot. 
Race 7 – Letellier Memorial Stakes
#5 Speightstastic (morning-line odds, 7-2)
Sure she’s a maiden, but she’s run second in all three starts and, in her most recent run, she lost to a filly in Royal Obsession who could be really special. For a stakes, this isn’t a very strong field.
Race 8 – Buddy Diliberto Memorial Stakes
#4 Lewis Vale (morning-line odds, 8-1)
After missing the entire 2014 campaign, this talented son of Flower Alley has returned with style. He’s won three of his last four and was ultra-impressive off the bench in the most recent race at Fair Grounds. He’s versatile and in a competitive race, the price should be right. 
Race 10 – Tenacious Stakes
#2 Eagle (morning-line odds, 4-1)
Briefly on the Triple Crown trail last spring, this talented 3-year-old Candy Ride colt has progressed smartly since returning to the race wars. He defeated talented rivals at Keeneland two races back and last time out he took down Springboard, who is sharp as a tack himself. There’s no reason to think he won’t run another huge race here.
EAGLE BEFORE THE 2015 LECOMTE STAKES

Photo by Eclipse Sportswire
Race 11 – Sugar Bowl Stakes
#2 Twirling Cinnamon (morning-line odds, 2-1)
I thought the maiden race he won at Churchill Downs in June was the strongest for 2-year-olds all season, but a pair of follow-up starts proved disappointing. He’s rediscovered his mojo recently. First, he won a turf route at Indiana Grand, and his recent fifth-place finish at Keeneland, a race in which he broke poorly, was hung wide and then closed serious ground on a track that favored pace-pressing types, was a lot better than it looks.