Your Pigskins and Ponies Picks for Dec. 26-31

Derek Cooley and I had the kind of weekend action seekers dream about. We were a combined 10-1 against the spread and iced the cake with two solid winners from three horse racing plays.
As the saying goes, every squirrel finds a nut, but the calculated squirrels with good opinions find, and store, more. 

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 Vegas and am feared by fantasy football mavens nationwide, but when it comes to the college game, I chose to punt.
That’s where Derek 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! 
Pro Pigskins – by Joe Kristufek
Perfect. 
We zeroed in on underdogs last week, and not only did they cover the spread, all three won outright.
Road warriors the Atlanta Falcons and the New York Giants defeated the New Orleans Saints and St. Louis Rams, respectively, and the Cincinnati Bengals took care of the Denver Broncos at home.
Hopefully, a few readers took it one further and scored big on the money-line.
Pro Football Superfecta
Last week: 3-0 (1.000)
Season Total: 22-24-2 (.478)
One of my favorite “angles” in sports betting is to take the over in meaningless games in the NFL finale. None of these players want to go into the offseason injured, and the effort, particularly on defense, can be compromised.
Sunday, Dec. 28

New York Jets at Miami Dolphins OVER 41 ½
Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings OVER 43 ½
New Orleans Saints at Tampa Bay Buccaneers OVER 47

Green Bay Packers (-7 ½) vs. Detroit Lions
The Lions defeated the Pack 19-7 in week three, but Green Bay is a much better team now that they were then, and the Packers ground game has improved by leaps and bounds. The Packers are 7-0 at home and the Lions are not a cold weather team. The division title and a first round playoff bye are on the line, and quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the boys surely recognize the significance.
GREEN BAY WILL BE READY

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College Pigskins – by Derek Cooley
If you’re a college football fan, it doesn’t get any better than this.
Bowl season is money season and we blasted out of the starting gate with seven winners from our first eight plays.
The blinkers are on and confidence remains high!
College Football Pick Ten – Let’s Go Bowling!
Bowl Week 1 (thru Dec. 23): 7-1
Season Total: 55-53-1 (.509) with Bowl advance plays pending
Bowl Season - Week Two
Heart of Dallas Bowl - Louisiana Tech (-6) vs. Illinois (Friday, 1 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Although the Bulldogs will be without five starters do to academic ineligibility, Louisiana Tech still has Skip Holtz on the sidelines, who has done a phenomenal job this year, and workhorse running back Kenneth Dixon, who will fully take advantage of the Fighting Illini run defense. If LA Tech gets ahead, and they usually do, Reilly O'Toole will be forced to throw more ... against not only a good secondary, but a defense that has caused 40 turnovers this year. 
Quick Lane Bowl - Rutgers (+3) vs. North Carolina (Friday, 4:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Rutgers is coming into this game hot, for Rutgers standards that is, with its come-from-behind victory against bowl-bound Maryland. And coming into a game hot and motivated is what will help a team win a bowl game that takes place in Detroit.
St. Petersburg Bowl - Central Florida (-2) vs. North Carolina State (Friday, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Central Florida boasts one of the nation's elite run defenses, and running the ball is something that the Wolfpack of North Carolina State has done extremely well as of late, propelling them to a bowl bid. The Golden Knights have been on bigger stages before, albeit with Blake Bortles, but that still matters when it comes to college kids. This will be Dave Doeren's first bowl game at the helm of NC State, but it won't be his first bowl win. Central Florida, playing basically at home in this one, will control NC State's run game and force them into a passing attack that has not fared well for them this season.
Military Bowl - Virginia Tech (+3) vs. Cincinnati (Saturday, 1 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Virginia Tech's defense is key in this one. Cincy is riding a seven-game winning streak, but they haven't seen a defense or secondary of the quality that they will see across from them in this one. The Bearcats win-streak will be snapped as the Hokies "win one for Beamer" and end a really rough season on a high note.
VIRGINIA TECH COACH FRANK BEAMER

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Sun Bowl - Arizona State (-7.5) vs. Duke (Saturday, 2 p.m. ET, CBS)
The Sun Devils will have a nice advantage in the stands when they face the Blue Devils in El Paso. Those fans will see the Taylor Kelly to Jalean Strong connection one (or two, or three) last time(s) as this match-up of leaders of the underworld will go to that of the Sun, and pretty easily. 
Independence Bowl - South Carolina (+3.5) vs. Miami (Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC)
As I like to stress, college kids have many more outlying variables that can affect their play on the field. Miami's national title game was their loss to Florida State. Duke Johnson will impress, but the Ol' Ball Coach will have the Gamecocks ready for the team victory, or at least a cover.
Pin Stripe Bowl - Penn State (+2.5) vs. Boston College (Saturday, 4:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Penn State will bring the troops, and lots of them, from Happy Valley as Penn State finally plays in a bowl game after getting their bowl ban lifted. They will look like a different team, a team not just happy to be there but a team with something to prove AND to be gained from a victory over BC. 
Holiday Bowl - USC (-7) vs. Nebraska (Saturday, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Nebraska's locker room will be organized chaos in this one as many of those on the team did not support the firing of Bo Pelini. Cody Kessler couldn't care less for the thoughts of the Cornhuskers, and it will show. 
Liberty Bowl - West Virginia (-3.5) vs. Texas A&M (Monday, 2 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Clint Trickett will be back just in time to quarterback his Mountaineers against an awful Texas A&M defense that can't seem to get out of its own way.
Russell Athletic Bowl - Oklahoma (-3) vs. Clemson (Monday, 5:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Clemson's great defense won't be enough to overcome the loss of quarterback Deshaun Watson, offensive coordinator Chad Morris leaving to coach SMU and Oklahoma running back Samaje Perine in the opposing backfield.
Advocate V100 Texas Bowl - Arkansas (-6) vs. Texas (Monday, 9 p.m. ET, ESPN)
A home game for Texas will keep this game close. However, Arkansas has played in many, many close games in the vaunted SEC West. This will seem like a bit of a break for the Razorbacks, as they pull away and win by at least a touchdown.
Music City Bowl - LSU (-7) vs. Notre Dame (Tuesday, 3 p.m. ET, ESPN)
LSU's great defense goes up against Notre Dame's strength, its offense. Although LSU's offense has been anything but spectacular, expect the Tiger's D to force mistakes from turnover-prone Everett Golson and give the LSU offense ample opportunity to put this game out of reach.
Belk Bowl - Georgia (-6.5) vs. Louisville (Tuesday, 6:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
History says Bobby Petrino has been stellar in his career at Louisville against the SEC — five wins as opposed to only one loss to be more specific. However, I think Michael Dyer's ineligible status looms much larger than one would presume. Georgia's run-game, minus Todd Gurley, will control this game all the way to a victory.  
Foster Farms Bowl - Stanford (-14) vs. Maryland (Tuesday, 10 p.m. ET, ESPN)
This is the biggest spread of the bowl season, and rightfully so. Stanford has played an incredibly tough schedule, and looked bad at times, but right now is not one of them. Kevin Hogan, Ty Montgomery and Co., playing at Levi Stadium in San Francisco, is not what a slumping Maryland team wants to see.
Chick-fil-A Bowl - TCU (-3) vs. Ole Miss (Wednesday, 12:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Gary Patterson will have his team focused on the right things at the right time, even though they did everything in their power to get into that playoff.
Fiesta Bowl - Arizona (-3) vs. Boise State (Wednesday, 4 p.m. ET, ESPN)
A home game for the Wildcats, who will relish in the national spotlight at a decent time of day! They ran into a buzzsaw in Marcus Mariota and Oregon in the PAC-12 title game. Things will be different in this one.
Orange Bowl - Georgia Tech (+7) vs. Mississippi State (Wednesday, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN)
This game will be close to the end, as both teams have endured and taken far different paths to get to this point. Georgia Tech could win this one, and they are just as likely to lose this one. However, 7 points is just too many points to give the Ramblin' Wreck.
Ponies – by Joe Kristufek
Doing our best Santa Claus impression, we spread cheer and distributed a couple of gifts last week.
Sky Flight, bet down to 9-2 off the 10-1 morning line, closed strongly to win the Tropical Park Derby and Promise Me Silver overcame slow start to romp as 7-5 favorite in the Letellier Memorial Stakes. Shuffled back a bit early, Dancing House kicked it in too late. She lost by less than a length and settled for third in the Tropical Park Oaks. 
Last week: 3-2-0-1 ($2 WPS * $18 wagered * $36.70 returned)
Season Total: 47-17-6-3 ($2 WPS * $282 wagered * $357.50 returned = $7.60 ROI)
Saturday, Dec. 27
Gulfstream Park - Hallandale, Fla.
Race 8 – La Prevoyante Handicap (G3)
#7 Julie’s Love (morning-line odds, 12-1)
In a race with potentially vulnerable favorites, I’m going to take a shot with this veteran mare, one of three entered by trainer Graham Motion. She ran only four times last year, but has held her own with graded stakes competition in the past. She appears on edge to fire fresh and with Julien Leparoux astride, she’s sure to get a patient ride.
Race 9 – Mr. Prospector Stakes (G3)
#8 Simmstown (morning-line odds, 9-2)
This one could go either way, so watch the toteboard for clues and take a close look at this guy in the paddock and post parade. He hasn’t raced in nearly a year, but his efforts just prior to the vacation were inspiring. Trainer Marty Wolfson appears to have him ready to fire a big shot off the bench, he’s well drawn outside and in a race that is not short on speed, he may be able to run them down in the lane. 
Race 10 – W. L. McKnight Handicap (G3)
#2 Unitarian (morning-line odds, 6-1)
This guy’s claim to fame is an upset win in the Grade 2 Elkhorn Stakes at Keeneland in April. A soon to be 5-year-old, I think the best is yet to come, and you certainly must respect the human connections of trainer Todd Pletcher and jockey Johnny Velazquez. He does his best work on firm ground and is proven on this course. 
UNITARIAN WINNING ELKHORN

Photo by Eclipse Sportswire