LVSC releases BCS lines

LVSC releases BCS lines
By Brian Edwards

Las Vegas Sports Consultants released its opening lines for the five BCS games Sunday night. The company will have numbers for the rest of the bowl games on Monday.

Much to the chagrin of Texas and USC fans (and justifiably so -- we need a playoff system pronto), Florida and Oklahoma will meet in the BCS Championship Game on Jan. 8 at Dolphin Stadium in Miami.

LVSC sent out Florida (12-1 straight up, 10-2 against the spread) as a 1½-point favorite with a total of 73. On Sunday night, The Las Vegas Hilton was using UF as a three-point ‘chalk’ with a total of 72.

The Gators have won nine consecutive games since losing 31-30 to Ole Miss back on Sep. 27. They beat Alabama 31-20 in Saturday’s SEC Championship Game, hooking up their backers for the eighth straight time as 10-point favorites.

Oklahoma (12-1 SU, 10-2 ATS) sealed its ticket to Miami by spanking Missouri 62-21 in the Big 12 Championship Game. The Sooners cashed tickets as 16-point ‘chalk.’

Bob Stoops spent three years as Florida’s defensive coordinator from 1996-1998. He was also Jeremy Foley’s first choice to replace both Steve Spurrier in 20002 and Ron Zook in 2004. But Stoops spurned the Gators to stay in Norman both times.

Texas and Ohio St. will collide in the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 5. LVSC opened the Longhorns as eight-point favorites with a total of 54. Bettors can back Jim Tressel’s team to win outright for a plus-250 return (risk $100 to win $250).

The Buckeyes will be playing in their sixth BCS game in the last seven years. The Longhorns have only played in the Fiesta Bowl once, losing to Penn St. 38-15 after the 1996 season.

Alabama will take on Utah in the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 2. LVSC opened the Crimson Tide as an 11-point favorite with a total of 45½. The Utes are plus-325 on the money line (risk $100 to win $325).

Penn St. and Southern Cal will square off in the Rose Bowl on New Year’s Day. LVSC opened the Trojans as 10-point favorites with a total of 47. The Nittany Lions are plus-300 on the money line.

Virginia Tech and Cincinnati will meet at the Orange Bowl in the New Year’s Day prime-time slot (8:15 p.m. Eastern). LVSC sent the game out as a pick ‘em with a total of 40.

**B.E.’s Bonus Nuggets**

--Florida’s Percy Harvin told the Gainesville Sun that he’ll be ready for the BCS Championship Game. Harvin, who wanted to play against Alabama but wasn’t cleared by doctors, has scored a touchdown in 14 consecutive games. Also, there’s an outside chance that senior tight end Cornelius Ingram, who tore his ACL during the first week of practice back in August, might be able to play against the Sooners. Ingram told the Sun that’s he’s “85 percent” right now.

--The ‘over’ is 11-1 overall for Oklahoma. The ‘over’ is on a 6-1 run for the Gators.

--The Sooners have lost four straight BCS games to West Va., Boise St., USC and LSU.

--Florida QB Tim Tebow has 28 touchdown passes compared to just two interceptions. Oklahoma’s Sam Bradford has a 48/6 TD-INT ratio.

--My Top Five:
1-Florida
2-USC
3-Texas
4-Oklahoma
5-Alabama

--If I had a vote for the Heisman:
1-Tim Tebow (Florida)
2-Colt McCoy (Texas)
3-Sam Bradford (Oklahoma)
4-Michael Crabtree (Texas Tech)
5-Brandon Spikes (Florida)

Coach of the Year:
1-Nick Saban (Alabama)
2-Mike Leach (Texas Tech)
3-Paul Johnson (Georgia Tech)
4-Urban Meyer (Florida)
5-Houston Nutt (Ole Miss)
6-Chris Petersen (Boise St.)
7-Brady Hoke (Ball St.)
8-Bobby Johnson (Vanderbilt)
9-Kyle Whittingham (Utah)
10-Turner Gill (Buffalo)

vegasinsider.com.