Appalachian State and UMass Vie For Div 1AA Football Title

Written by Benton Vale

Friday, 15 December 2006

While the NCAA major college programs are still a week away from the beginning of bowl season, the Appalachian State University Mountaineers will attempt to win their their second consecutive national football championship when they play the Minutemen of UMass in the NCAA Division 1AA Championship Game tonight from Finley Stadium in Chattanooga, Tenn. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. (Eastern) and can be seen on ESPN2.

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As a general rule, only NCAA Div. 1A games are listed on the Las Vegas and offshore wagering boards during the regular season but once the lower division 1AA enters its playoff season, the games are made available for wagering. In tonight’s game ASU is favored by a -3 ½ point chalk over UMass with a total of 46.

ASU (13-1) has won 13 straight football games since losing its opener on Sept. 2 to Div 1A and ACC member North Carolina State 23-10 in Raleigh while UMass (13-1) has won 12 in a row since losing by a single point at Navy on Sept. 9.

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In last weeks Div. 1AA semi-finals UMass defeated Montana 19-17 in Bozeman, Mt. and covered ATS as a +3 ½ point road underdog. The UNDER 38 ½ cashed on totals bets. The Mountaineers defeated Youngstown State 49-24 in their semi-final game played in their home stadium in Boone, N.C. on Saturday covering the -6 ½ point chalk. The OVER 50 easily cashed in totals bets.

ASU is seeking its second straight Div. 1AA title and the first school to repeat as national champs since Southern Conference rival Georgia Southern won back to back titles in 1999 and 2000. UMass is also seeking its second national championship, last winning the title in 1998.

Highlighted by true freshman quarterback Armanti Edwards, the Southern Conference Freshman of the Year, has led the ASU offense by putting together one of the most prolific seasons ever by a Division I quarterback, regardless of age or subdivision. Last week, the Greenwood, S.C. native became only the second freshman and fifth player overall in Division I history with 2,000 passing yards and 1,000 rushing yards in a season.

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UMass had the nation’s top defense last season in terms of scoring defense, giving up just 13.3 points per game. In 2006, UMass once again best in the nation, allowing just 12.29 points per game The Minutemen have allowed just seven points in three games this season, against Colgate (9/2), Stony Brook (9/23) and William & Mary (10/7). Overall six of UMass’ 14 opponents have been held to single-digits, most recently allowing nine against Maine (11/11). UMass has not allowed any team to score more than 21 points in a game this season. Navy and Villanova scored 21 in back-to-back weeks in September. Since then only New Hampshire in the regular-season on Nov. 4 scored 20 points.