2011 Ticket City Bowl: Northwestern vs. Texas Tech Picks & Predictions
By Anthony Rome
Bet Northwestern vs. Texas Tech
Dallas, TX (The Spread) - Northwestern has a huge hill to climb when it takes on Texas Tech in the 2011 Ticket City Bowl on Saturday. Can they cover without quarterback Dan Persa? Continue reading for odds, picks and trends for this college football bowl matchup.
According to current college football bowl odds and oddsmakers from online sports book SBGGLOBAL.com, Texas Tech is currently a 9.5-point favorite over Northwestern in the Ticket City Bowl. The over/under total for this game is currently 60.5 points.
The Wildcats finished the regular season with a winning record at 7-5, but failed to cover in nine of their 12 games according to latest college football trends. The over hit in eight of their 12 games, as they allowed 27.7 points per contest this year.
The Red Raiders also finished with a winning record at 7-5 but also had a losing ATS record (5-6-1). They averaged 32.1 points per game this season and 30.3 points against. Their o/u record was 6-6.
2011 Ticket City Bowl Free Pick:
The Wildcats could have a tough time moving the ball without quarterback Dan Persa, who ruptured his Achilles tendon and is out for the season. Backup Evan Watkins threw for 302 yards and one touchdown in the final two games but even against a bad Texas Tech defense, he could struggle. The Red Raiders’ passing attack ranks eighth in the nation and Taylor Potts could have a field day against a Northwestern defense that has given up 27.7 points per game this year. With Persa being out, make sure you jump on Texas Tech as soon as possible because the public we likely push the line up. Our pick is Texas Tech –9.5.
2011 TICKET CITY BOWL FREE PICK: TEXAS TECH –9.5
2011 Outback Bowl: Penn State vs.Florida Picks & Predictions
By Anthony Rome
Tampa, FL (The Spread) - Urban Meyer will coach his final game at Florida when the Gators take on Penn State in the 2011 Outback Bowl. Will it also be Joe Paterno’s final game as well? Continue reading for picks, odds and trends on this college football bowl matchup.
According to latest college football odds and oddsmakers from online sports book Sportsbook.com, Florida is a 7-point favorite over Penn State in the Music City Bowl. The over/under total for this game is currently 48 points.
The Nittany Lions finished their regular season with a 7-5 record but failed to cover the spread in seven of their 12 games according to latest college football trends. The over also hit in seven of their 12 games this season.
The Gators also finished with a 7-5 record and went 6-6 against the spread. They averaged 29.2 points per game in the regular season and 21.1 points against. Their o/u record was 6-6.
2011 Outback Bowl Free Pick:
This could be a defensive battle throughout. Penn State’s defense allowed just 22.6 points per game to rank 40th in the nation in that category. Despite having to replace three starting linebackers, the Lions held opponents to just 187.9 passing yards per game, which ranked them 23rd in the nation and second in the Big Ten. Florida quarterback John Brantley was highly inconsistent this year after having to replace Tim Tebow. He threw just as many interceptions as touchdowns (nine) and threw for over 200 yards only four times. In the Gators’ four losses, he also threw six interceptions and zero touchdowns. This is too even a matchup for Florida to be laying seven points. Bettors often get sucked into taking the teams from better conferences, but this isn’t a very potent Gator team. Our pick is Penn State +7.
2011 OUTBACK BACK FREE PICK: PENN STATE +7
2011 Capital One Bowl: Michigan State vs. Alabama Picks & Predictions
By Anthony Rome
Bet Michigan State vs. Alabama
Orlando, FL (The Spread) - Nick Saban will face his old team on New Years Day when Alabama takes on Michigan State in the 2011 Capital One Bowl. Continue reading for picks, odds and trends on this college football bowl matchup.
According to current college football bowl odds and oddsmakers from online sports book SBGGLOBAL.com, Alabama is currently a 10-point favorite over Michigan State in the Capital One Bowl. The over/under total for this game is currently 51.5 points.
The Spartans finished the regular season with an 11-1 record and went 7-5 against the spread according to latest college football trends. They averaged 31.3 points per game and 20.1 points against.
The Crimson Tide wrapped up their season with a 9-3 record and went 7-5 against the spread. The under hit in seven of their 11 games as they held opponents to just 14.1 points per contest.
2011 Capital One Bowl Pick:
Michigan State has had one of the most consistent offenses in the nation but it’ll run into a buzz saw this weekend against Alabama. Led by its front seven, the Tide rank sixth in the nation in total defense, fifth in scoring defense and have allowed just 14.1 points per game. Their secondary was its biggest weakness coming into the season and it struggled at times this year, but should be fine against an MSU offense that likes to stay balanced. If ‘Bama takes away Edwin Baker and the rest of the Spartan’s rushing attack, then it could force MSU to be too one-dimensional. With players like Courtney Upshaw, Marcell Dareus and Damon Square, the Tide could shut MSU down on Saturday. The only question is whether or not Saban’s team will be motivated enough to care. We all saw what happened in the Sugar Bowl a couple of years ago when Utah smacked an unmotivated ‘Bama around for four quarters. We’ll take our chances: Our Pick is Alabama –10.
2011 CAPITAL ONE BOWL FREE PICK: ALABAMA –10
2011 Gator Bowl: Michigan vs. Mississippi State Picks & Predictions
By Anthony Rome
Bet Mississippi State vs. Michigan
Jacksonville, FL (The Spread) - Rich Rodriguez will probably need a strong showing by his Michigan Wolverines against Mississippi State in the 2011 Gator Bowl in order to retain his job for next season. But can the Wolverines pull off an upset? Continue reading for picks, odds and trends on this college football bowl matchup.
According to latest college football odds and oddsmakers from online sports book Sportsbook.com, Mississippi State is a 5-point favorite over Michigan in the Gator Bowl. The over/under total for this game is currently 59.5 points.
The Wolverines finished the regular season with a 7-5 record but failed to cover in nine of their 12 games according to latest college football trends. They averaged 34.3 points per game this season but allowed 33.8 PPG.
The Bulldogs went 8-4 in the regular season and covered in six of their 12 games in 2010. They averaged 27.1 points per game and 20.3 points against, as the under hit in eight of their 12 games.
2011 Gator Bowl Free Pick:
It’s no secret what Mississippi State has to do in this game: Slow down Denard Robinson and take advantage of a brutal Michigan defense. Running back Vick Ballard and quarterback Chris Relf shouldn’t have many problems moving the ball on offense today. Relf is going up against the 111th-ranked passing defense in the nation and he’s coming off a season-high 288 yards and three touchdowns in a win over Ole Miss. Robinson is the key to stopping Michigan’s offense and if Mississippi State can run the ball with success, they’ll keep Robinson on the sidelines. We don’t think the Wolverines will be able to slow down the Bulldogs for four quarters and Mississippi State may even roll big in this one. Our pick is MSU –5.
2011 GATOR BOWL FREE PICK: MISSISSIPPI STATE –5
2011 Rose Bowl: TCU vs. Wisconsin Picks & Predictions
By Anthony Rome
Pasadena, CA (The Spread) - Wisconsin will make its first trip to Pasadena in 11 seasons when it takes on TCU in the 2011 Rose Bowl. Continue reading for odds, picks and trends on this year’s Rose Bowl.
According to latest college football odds and oddsmakers from online sports book Sportsbook.com, TCU is a 3-point favorite over Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl. The over/under total for this game is currently 58.5 points.
The Horned Frogs finished a perfect 12-0 this year and covered in seven of their 12 games according to latest college football trends. They averaged 43.3 points per game this season and allowed just 11.4.
The Badgers had just one blemish on their record as they lost to Michigan State on the road. Wisconsin finished 11-1 in the regular season and covered in seven of their 12 games. They also won their last seven games by scoring 83, 48 and 70 points.
2011 Rose Bowl Free Pick:
TCU’s defense is nasty but we think Wisconsin will wear the Frogs down throughout the course of the game. The Frogs are built on speed and the Badgers on size and strength. Wisconsin’s offensive line is one of the best in the nation and they have a trio of running backs in John Clay, James White and Montee Ball. They also have a quarterback in Scott Tolzien who was one of the most accurate passers in the nation (he led the country in completion percentage at 74.3). Wisconsin’s defense will need to slow Andy Dalton and that TCU offense, just like Boise State did in last year’s Fiesta Bowl. The Badgers forced 23 takeaways this season, so they’re a defensive unit that can be very opportunistic. Our pick is Wisconsin +3.
2011 ROSE BOWL FREE PICK: WISCONSIN BADGERS +3
2011 Fiesta Bowl: Connecticut vs. Oklahoma Picks & Predictions
By Anthony Rome
Phoenix, Arizona (The Spread) - In easily the biggest mismatch of the five BCS bowl games, Oklahoma will take on Connecticut in the 2011 Fiesta Bowl. Continue reading for odds, picks and trends for this college football BCS bowl matchup.
According to current college football bowl odds and oddsmakers from online sports book SBGGLOBAL.com, Oklahoma is currently a 17-point favorite over Connecticut in the Fiesta Bowl. The over/under total for this game is currently 55 points.
The Huskies only needed to finish 8-4 to win the Big East. They covered in eight of their 12 games this season according to latest college football trends, while the under hit in seven of their 12 games overall.
The Sooners won the Big 12 after beating Nebraska in the title game and wrapped up their regular season with an 11-2 record. They covered in seven of their 13 games this season, while the under hit in seven of those 13 contests.
2011 Fiesta Bowl Free Pick:
Yikes. This is obviously a huge mismatch on paper but if anyone thinks that Bob Stoops’ team can’t be beaten in a BCS bowl, then you haven’t been paying attention. The Sooners have lost three of its last four bowl games and is 0-3 in their last three appearances in the Fiesta Bowl. They’re also 5-6 in bowls under Bob Stoops, who always seems to have unprepared teams at this time of the year. That said, Oklahoma is well aware of its penchant for mailing it in bowls and its due to thump somebody. The Huskies rank 113th in passing efficiency and you don’t want take on this Oklahoma team with a one-dimensional offense. If the Sooners can shut down Jordan Todman, the rout could be on. UCONN doesn’t have the horses on defense to slow Landry Jones and DeMarco Murray for four quarters. Hopefully we’re not falling into another Sooner BCS bowl trap here, but our pick is Oklahoma –17.
2011 FIESTA BOWL FREE PICK: OKLAHOMA –17