Bowl Game Prep Work
By Bodog
We hope you got all of your holiday shopping done, because it’s time to get back into your situation room. College football betting is once again in the spotlight, as the bowl season kicks off on Saturday. We’ve got three full weeks of college bowl action. Let’s get you up to speed.
The Tide Is High
If you’re looking for a breakthrough team, then you’re looking at the Crimson Tide. Alabama got its invite to the BCS Championship Game by dropping the Gators (-4.5) in the SEC title game, 31-13. Crimson Tide running back Mark Ingram followed that up by winning the first Heisman Trophy in Alabama football history. The Tide (13-0 SU, 8-5 ATS) are the No. 1 team in the BCS rankings and five-point favorites to beat No. 2 Texas (13-0 SU, 5-7-1 ATS) on January 7 (8:00 p.m. Eastern, ABC) in Pasadena, Calif.
Zero Tolerance
Texas and Alabama each go into the big game undefeated – two of five teams in the FBS to finish the regular season unblemished. Two of those unbeaten programs will take to the field in Glendale for the Fiesta Bowl on January 4 (8:00 p.m. ET, FOX), thanks to the controversial decision to pit the No. 4 Horned Frogs (12-0 SU, 8-4 ATS) against the No. 6 Boise State (13-0 SU, 8-5 ATS) in a battle of non-BCS squads. This is the first time two teams that don’t get automatic bids to the BCS will be in a major bowl. It’s also the first time in the history of the series that a non-BCS team (Boise State) has received an at-large bid. The same two clubs played at the Poinsettia Bowl last year, with TCU prevailing 17-16 as a 3.5-point favorite. The college football odds at press time had the Horned Frogs laying seven points this year; as always, check Bodog Sports for the freshest lines.
Kelly’s Heroes
The other perfect team is the No. 3 Bearcats (12-0 SU, 6-6 ATS), who won their second straight Big East championship and will play at the Sugar Bowl (8:30 p.m. ET, FOX) in New Orleans against the No. 5 Gators on New Year’s Day. However, Cincy will be playing without the coach that got them to this level. Brian Kelly has moved on to the greener and more prestigious pastures of Notre Dame. The reaction from the players after they heard the news was less than positive. “It’s like somebody turned their back on us,” tight end Ben Guidugli told reporters. Offensive co-ordinator and longtime Kelly disciple Jeff Quinn will coach the Bearcats at the Sugar Bowl; Florida (12-1 SU, 6-6 ATS) is favored by 11-points.
Bowden’s Last Stand
Although the Seminoles barely made themselves bowl eligible at 6-6 SU and 3-9 ATS, they also get to play on New Year’s Day at the Gator Bowl (1:00 p.m. ET, CBS) against his first FBS head coaching gig, No. 16 West Virginia (9-3 SU, 5-6 ATS). Were there better teams to take from the ACC? Sure, but Gator Bowl officials are not obligated to take them. They opted to go with a team with a great fan base and a coach taking his final bow. It’s hard to argue with their choice as Municipal Stadium in Jacksonville reportedly sold out within two hours. The Seminoles will arrive with a refurbished coaching staff under Bowden after incumbent Jimbo Richards shuffled the deck, bringing in Mark Stoops as the new defensive co-ordinator. Despite the turmoil, the Mountaineers are only three-point favorites (-105).
Book of Saturday
The bowl season truly kicks off on Saturday with an ESPN doubleheader. The New Mexico Bowl pits Fresno State against Wyoming at 4:30 p.m. EST. Then you get the UCF Knights battling Rutgers in the St. Petersburg Bowl at 8:00 p.m. EST. We’ll have live betting for the opener with the Bulldogs (8-4 SU, 7-4 ATS), who are 12-point favorites against an obviously outmatched Cowboys squad. Fresno State features Ryan Mathews (6.8 yards per carry), who led the FBS with 151.3 yards per game. Wyoming allowed 170.5 rushing yards per game to place No. 91 in that department.