College Football Bowls 2008/2009; Mitch’s Early Leans Part 2

I know my first early leans weren't so popular with many, I guess no matter what I say 50 percent of the people who read it are bound to be disappointed.

I would hope that people realize that these are just leans and not my final picks. I'm not anywhere near done with my final analysis and as everyone knows, I always show as much of my reasoning behind my picks as I feel people are interested in seeing and beyond that they are open for discussion in the forum.

Just because I pick against or lean against a certain team in a certain game it doesn't mean I "hate" them, it just means I like my chances picking the other side, it's really that simple.

I always go the extra yard in making my picks, I don't just look at a list of games and circle winners, I leave that for the rest of the Internet geniuses and their crystal balls, how so many people have so many of their bowl picks already out and have for days is amazing to me and shows they haven't put any time or effort into it at all but more are just looking for something to write about.

I welcome those pickers and all people interested to enter my free bowl picking contest. I started the picking contests during the regular season and they gained momentum every week. It's not just a great chance to actually see how you stack up picking games against everyone else but it also gives you a forum to post your picks and debate them with everyone else. I honestly believe that the 350,000+ people a month who visit The College Football Place are among the most educated fans of the game anywhere.

While I won't be releasing any picks until next week, I am in the midst of research and I'm seeing trends and stats which are making me lean one way or another in certain games. I talked about four of these leans last time out and I'll try a few more today.

Alabama is -10 1/2 over Utah

And while I would love to be able to jump on board and pick the underdog, I am leaning heavily toward taking the Crimson Tide. I for one wasn't overwhelmed with Bama's performance this year and I thought that John Parker Wilson would cost them in the end, while I think they eventually lost as a team (just as they had won as a team) Alabama is a pretty solid choice in this one as I think the Utes may have a hard time moving the ball.

While I know five weeks off between games is a long time and I know we once again have a match up of great coaches, without locking in, I would think Alabama may be three to four touchdowns better than Utah in yet another very bad and boring BCS game.

Of course this can all change in the upcoming weeks as I begin to dig deeper.

LSU +5 against Georgia Tech

I have heard the words Georgia Tech and lock about 15 too many times the past few weeks and being the contrarian I am, it reeks of an easy LSU cover (late FG anyone?) or an outright win. I think it would be tough to dispute who has better athletes, the better coach is a coin flip, and big game experience makes me think taking the points here might not be such a bad play.

While the game may be a home game for Georgia Tech, LSU hasn't fared to poorly in their trips to Atlanta.

See more of Mitch's College Bowl 2008/2009 leans