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

Following a very profitable regular season, week one of Bowl season was a little rough. We started out 3-0, but finished 4-6 (with two games left today/Thursday).

The one bright spot was our only original bowl preview pick hit and hit hard with Boise State blowing out Northern Illinois in the San Diego Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl.

Bowl week two brings some more familiar teams and intriguing matchups, with some additional explanation on why I like some of the more marquee games as well as our original preview games.

Here we go - Week two of bowl season!

*All times are Eastern

Pre-Bowl Best Bets: 1-0

Bowl Record - 4-6 (.400)

Season Total: 48-36-1 (.570)

Bowl Week 2

Saturday – Dec. 26, 2015

St. Petersburg Bowl - St. Petersburg, Fla.

Connecticut +4.5 vs. Marshall

11 a.m. - ESPN 

Hyundai Sun Bowl - El Paso, Texas

Miami vs. Washington State -2.5

2 p.m. - CBS

Miami's defense has the tendency to give up a lot of points, and Washington State's head coach Mike Leach knows how to get his boys to score. It's been 12 years since Washington State won their last bowl game, with only a 2013 New Mexico Bowl loss as its only other bowl appearance during that time period. Wazzou gets it done.

Zaxby's Heart of Dallas Bowl - Dallas, Texas

Southern Miss +9 vs. Washington

2:20 p.m. - ESPN

It's been one hell of a turnaround for the Southern Miss football program from just a few years past. They will keep this one close.

New Era Pinstripe Bowl - Bronx, N.Y.

Indiana -2.5 vs. Duke

3:30 p.m. - ABC

Duke won the basketball matchup, Indiana will win the football match up. Jordan Howard needs to play for the Hoosiers, and he will have a field day at Yankee Stadium if he does.

Camping World Independence Bowl - Shreveport, La.

Tulsa vs. Virginia Tech -13.5

5:45 p.m. - ESPN

The fightin' Frank Beamers will take coach out in style over a bad 6-6 Tulsa team. I mean, you can't pick any other way in this one!

Foster Farms Bowl - Santa Clara, Calif.

UCLA -6.5 vs. Nebraska

9:15 p.m. - ESPN

Josh Rosen will be the difference for the Bruins, shining on the professional stage ... er, the professional stadium.

Monday, Dec. 28, 2015

Military Bowl presented By Northrop Grumman - Annapoils, Md.

Pittsburgh vs. Navy -3

2:30 p.m. - ESPN

I'm not picking against Keenan Reynolds aka Mr. Football aka Mr. America. Especially with Head Coach Ken Niumatalolo staying at Navy after being sought by BYU.

EXPECT A BIG GAME FROM KEENAN REYNOLDS

"Warrior Games athletes honored at Navy-Air Force football game 141004-D-DB155-022" by EJ Hersom - https://www.dvidshub.net/image/1598061. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons.

Quick Lane Bowl - Detroit, Mich.

Central Michigan +6 vs. Minnesota

5 p.m. - ESPN2

Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2015

Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl - Fort Worth, Texas

California -7 vs. Air Force

2 p.m. - ESPN

This game was really tough for me; I just don't know what team will show up for either of these squads. Air Force that went to Boise St. and won or lost their last two games to New Mexico and San Diego State? Will we get Cal from the beginning of the year or Cal that couldn't beat a quality PAC12 opponent? I think this game is too important for Cal QB Jared Goff to not perform well. Cal wins and covers.

Russell Athletic Bowl - Orlando, Fla.

North Carolina -3 vs. Baylor

5:30 p.m. - ESPN

At this time of the year, with everything considered and injuries accounted for, I think UNC is just flat out the better team. I mean, can anyone else get hurt for Baylor?

NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl - Tucson, Ariz.

Nevada +3 vs. Colorado State

7:30 p.m. - Campus Insiders

*AdvoCare V100 Texas Bowl - Houston, Texas

LSU -7 vs. Texas Tech

9 p.m. - ESPN

Here's our second "Bowl Preview Pick", with LSU winning and covering against Texas Tech. I think Les Miles staying will allow an LSU team to actually play with some passion in a bowl game they most likely aren't too fond of. I think Leonard Fournette will carry the ball 30+ times, control the clock, and get damn near 200 yards rushing. LSU big. 

Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2015

Birmingham Bowl - Birmingham, Ala.

Auburn vs. Memphis +2.5

Noon - ESPN

I think this game could be about motivation. Motivation for Paxton Lynch and this Memphis team will carry them through this one against an Auburn team that just totally fell flat on high preseason expectations. Remember, team and individual motivation is a big factor is some of these bowl games.

Belk Bowl - Charlotte, N.C.

NC State +5 vs. Mississippi State

3:30 p.m. - ESPN

Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl - Nashville, Tenn.

Texas A&M vs. Louisville -4

7 p.m. - ESPN

This spread has moved a full seven points ever since Texas A&M started as a three-point favorite. Somebody knows something ... and nobody wants to play quarterback for the Aggies. I'll take Louisville! 

National Funding Holiday Bowl - San Diego, Calif.

USC -3.5 vs. Wisconsin

10:30 p.m. - ESPN

I figured this spread would be much higher. I don't like Wisconsin traveling West and playing a game at 9:30 p.m. Madison time. I haven't been impressed with the Badgers this year, and I think this has potential for a blowout written all over it.

Pro Pigskins – by Joe Kristufek

Finally.

After a very slow start to begin the season, we’ve grinded our way back to a positive record.

Five winning selections vs. the number last week, including the St. Louis Rams over the Tampa Bay Bucs, Kansas City Chiefs over Baltimore Ravens, Seattle Seahawks over Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions over New Orleans Saints and New York Jets/Dallas Cowboys under (Jets -3 was a push).

The blemishes were provided when the Washington Redskins beat the Buffalo Bills and the Lions/Saints game went over the total.

Last week: 5-2-1

Season Total: 41-40-4 (.506)

Week 16

Saturday, Dec. 26

Washington Redskins +3 at Philadelphia Eagles

Is Kirk Cousins really as good as he’s shown the past few weeks? Sure looks like it and with an extra motivated DeSean Jackson leading the charge, he should be able to carve up the Eagles secondary. The Washington mojo is peaking, and if things go bad early, the Philly fans will be heard in a negative way. If the Redskins win, they take the division. You like that? 

DeSEAN JACKSON WILL BE MOTIVATED

"DeSean Jackson November 2014" by Keith Allison - →This file has been extracted from another file: DeSean Jackson Andre Roberts 2014.jpg.. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons.

Sunday, Dec. 27

New York Giants at Minnesota Vikings UNDER 45

The Giants are without their star weapon in WR Odell Beckham Jr. and none of their other receivers poses a fraction of the same threat. The Vikings will look to pound the rock and play defense.

New York Jets +3 vs. New England Patriots

Even with so many weapons down, the Patriots seem to have righted their offensive ship, but now they must face the archrival Jets, who are in playoff survival mode. QB Ryan Fitzpatrick and WRs Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker have all far exceeded expectations. The Jets won’t go down without a fight, and honestly, I expect them to win outright.

Buffalo Bills -6 vs. Dallas Cowboys

Kellen Moore. Really? Has it come to this?

The Cowboys have ripped through QBs like water and they have nothing left to play for. The Bills have lost four of their last five, but all against playoff-contending teams, which Dallas is not. They’re at home and will make a strong push to get back to .500.

Arizona Cardinals -4 vs Green Bay Packers

In what could be a potential playoff preview, the Cardinals are simply the better team, and they’re at home. Green Bay has won their last three road games, but Arizona is on an eight-game winning streak overall, and they’re playing as well as they have all season.

CARSON PALMER HAS THE CARDINALS PLAYING VERY WELL

"Carson Palmer 2014" by Greg Buch FFSwami.com - Flickr. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons.

Monday, Dec. 28

Denver Broncos -3.5 vs. Cincinnati Bengals

I never thought I would say this, but the Bengals are a shell of themselves without Andy Dalton. QB AJ McCarron has been far from impressive. “Game manager” comes to mind. The Broncos are not happy about last week’s implosion at Pittsburgh. The defense will return to form in a big way this week.

Ponies – by Joe Kristufek

With two winners and a second from five plays last week, doubling the wagers wasn’t a bad idea. Unfortunately, we fell just short of break even.

Cash Control and Eagle both came through as the favorites, while Twirling Cinnamon fell just short. Without visible excuses, Speightstastic and Lewis Vale both ran fourth.

It’s back to the Big Easy this week, where once again I have informed opinions that I’m confident about.

Last week (doubled up): 10-4-2-0 ($2 WPS * $60 wagered * $52 returned)

Season Total: 60-10-10-8 ($2 WPS * $360 wagered * $213.40 returned = $3.56)

Saturday, Dec. 26

Fair Grounds – New Orleans, La.

Race 6 – Pago Hop Stakes

#7 America Mon Amie (morning-line odds, 12-1)

If you toss out her recent clunker at Churchill Downs, which you easily can because it was run over a very boggy turf course, this gal is as good as any here.

#10 Emmajestic and #14 Werewolf are other 12-1 ML longshots to consider

Race 7 –  Pan Zareta Stakes

#2 Super Saks (morning-line odds, 4-1)

This speedy filly has finally figured it out. The winner of her last two starts, she has the speed to break their hearts again. It could be a repeat of the Dream Supreme Stakes at Churchill Downs, with #5 House of Sole (2-1 ML) once again rounding out the exacta.

Race 8 – Woodchopper Stakes

#6 Bullards Alley (morning-line odds, 12-1)

Somewhat shockingly, this improving son of Flower Alley has run 11 times this year, but not once against strictly 3-year-olds. He gets that opportunity today. He’d run out on the parking lot if you asked him too, but turf is perhaps his best surface.

#1 Chip Leader (4-1 ML), #4 Wireless Future (7-2 ML) and #9 Granny’s Kitten (10-1 ML) are others worth considering.

*Note that Bullards Alley is also entered in race 8, a second level allowance on dirt, also 12-1 ML. You can play him there, too. 

NO SHORTAGE OF RACING ACTION AT FAIR GROUNDS THIS WEEKEND

Photo by Eclipse Sportswire