Southern Miss overcame the online betting spread to win the Conference-USA title, and they’ll head into the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl on Christmas Eve to face Nevada, a team that is built similar to the Golden Eagles, especially offensively. But due to a few injuries and a defense that takes advantage of mistakes, the Golden Eagles should be able cruise to their 12th win of the season.

What: NCAA Football Betting
When: Saturday, December 24th, 8:00 PM ET
Where: Aloha Stadium, Honolulu, HI
Pick: Southern Miss Golden Eagles -6.5

Why Bet On Nevada Wolf Pack (7-5 SU, 5-2 WAC, 5-7 ATS)

The Wolf Pack started off slow with four straight road games, losing three at Oregon, Texas Tech and Boise State, but head coach Chris Ault got the team back on track and they would have run the table to the WAC title if not for four-point losses to Louisiana Tech and Utah State, the two teams above them in the conference. The Wolf Pack are fifth in the country offensively, despite going between Tyler Lantrip and Cody Fajardo under center. The backfield is powered by the duel threat of Lampford Mark and Mike Ball, but Fajardo leads the team with 11 rushing touchdowns and Stefphon Jefferson averaged 6.1 yards a carry. Out of the pistol offense, Nevada can run any number of weapons at you. The defense is decent, ranking 52nd, but they’re 56th against the rush and 63rd against the pass. The rush defense has problems, but both aspect of Nevada’s defense has to step up because Southern Miss can hurt you either way.

Receiver Rishard Matthews (knee) was injured in a 56-3 rout of Idaho on Senior Day as the Wolf Pack were trying to get him enough receptions to lead the conference (which he did), and he should be fine for this game, while both quarterbacks, Lantrip (concussion) and Fajardo (ankle), are dealing with ailments. You’ll probably see both in this game (unless Lantrip isn’t cleared), but look for the Wolf Pack to lean even more heavily on the ground game. As a program, Nevada is 4-6 SU in bowl games and is going bowling for the seventh straight year. They’ve split two trips to the Hawaii Bowl, edging Central Florida in 2005 and then getting troubled by SMU in 2009.

Why Bet On Southern Miss Golden Eagles (11-2 SU, 6-2 C-USA, 8-4 ATS)

NCAA football betting players didn’t give the No.21 Golden Eagles much of a chance against Houston in the Conference-USA game; the Cougars were aiming for a BCS bowl and the title game was being played in Houston’s stadium. But Southern Miss played like a team with nothing to lose and rolled the Cougars 49-28 for their first conference championship since 2003 and the Golden Eagles did it with an offense that is incredibly balanced, finishing 23rd in rushing and 31st in passing for a total-offense ranking of 13th, although their opponents are balanced as well. Austin Davis owns most of Southern Miss’ records, but he gets plenty of help from running back Tracy Lampley, who is also dangerous in the passing game and as a punt returner, and like the Wolf Pack, the Golden Eagles are deep in the backfield. The defense is ranked 70th in passing defense, but they’re ninth in pass efficiency defense and even though they’re prone to giving up yards through the air, they force a ton of turnovers and only four teams in the nation have more interceptions than the Golden Eagles. Southern Miss is 9-12 in bowl games and this will be their tenth consecutive bowl game, but they’ve lost three of their last four.

The Golden Eagles were angry that no one had any faith in them and essentially put Houston in a BCS bowl; Southern Miss was still angry after whipping the Cougars as they felt they should have been in a BCS bowl and they’ll have to carry that over to this game against a very similar team. The Golden Eagles can make a big statement by blowing out the Wolf Pack and head coach Larry Fedora isn’t likely to let them forget that.

How It Will Play Out

Southern Miss enters this NCAA football betting matchup as 6.5-point favorites in Hawaii against Nevada, who have lost all three of their meetings with the Golden Eagles, but the two haven’t met since the 1990s. This is an excellent matchup to pass the time on Christmas Eve as the potential for a shootout is there whenever these two take to the field. Both teams have variety on offense and they have depth in the backfield, which means they can wear you down.

The edge goes to Southern Miss due to Nevada’s problems at quarterback and whoever is under center against the Golden Eagles, they’ll have to avoid turnovers against an opportunistic Southern Miss defense. In the end, Southern Miss has a chance to cap a glorious season with a victory and they’ll take advantage of the Nevada quarterbacks en route to covering the sports betting spread.

Sheraton Hawaii Bowl Betting Pick: Southern Miss Golden Eagles

Posted on December 18th, 2011 by admin
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The Boise State Broncos might be playing the Arizona State Sun Devils in the MAACO Bowl, but in many ways, they’ll simply be playing themselves. Will they take this game seriously?
Arizona State Sun Devils vs. Boise State Broncos – Thursday, December 22
Sports betting line: Boise State -14
Why Arizona State Will Win
When you do your homework and assess your best best sportsbook on this game, the only way the 6-6 Sun Devils can stay in the building with Boise State is if Boise State grumbles its way through this contest. BSU head coach Chris Petersen wasn’t much interested in Arizona State at a press conference last week, just after the end of the regular season. He lashed out at the BCS system, saying that everyone is “tired” of it and that a new system needs to be put in place. Petersen made these comments after his 11-1 team – the owner of an impressive win at Georgia in a season-opening neutral-site game played in Atlanta – was passed over for the Sugar Bowl by a Virginia Tech team that didn’t possess a single non-conference win that could begin to compare with Boise State’s triumph over Georgia. Moreover, Virginia Tech suffered two blowout losses to Clemson, whereas Boise State lost by one point to TCU on a touchdown and 2-point conversion in the final minute of regulation, followed by a missed field goal by the Broncos on the last play of the game. Clearly, on the merits, Boise State deserved the Sugar Bowl berth more than Virginia Tech, but the BCS reaffirmed the extent to which it rewards friendships and connections more than pure football resumes.
Boise State, for all it has accomplished over the past four years, has received only one BCS bowl bid . The Broncos have gone 22-2 over the past two regular seasons, but have now been sent to Las Vegas in the bowl season for two straight years. If Boise State doesn’t care about playing this game, Arizona State can swoop in and pick up a surprising victory. The matchup is uneven on paper, but if the heavy favorite is disinterested, the calculus can and will change very quickly.
Why Boise State Will Win
The college football betting  experts who are looking at this contest are not going to tell you that Arizona State matches up well with Boise State. Arizona State lost to a 3-9 Arizona team in November, and it followed that face-plant by surrendering 47 points to a mediocre California offense at home. This team is reeling, and it hasn’t even found a permanent head coach for the 2012 season. Even if a distracted and disappointed Boise State team does not play its best game, it’s hard to see how Arizona State will ever find enough fire and focus to last 60 whole minutes. Boise can sleepwalk through 30 minutes, but the Broncos won’t stay down for long, if at all. They should club ASU in convincing fashion.
Who Will Win
It’s simply a matter of Boise’s level of interest. The Broncos probably won’t be at their very best, but they’ll have to be horrible for at least 50 minutes if Arizona State is to have a chance. Boise will probably play poorly for 25 minutes at the most. Take the Broncos minus the points.

College Football Betting Pick: Boise State

Posted on December 16th, 2011 by admin
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The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs are happy to play in the Poinsettia Bowl. The TCU Horned Frogs are not. Will that pair of realities be enough to generate an upset in the bowl season?Louisiana Tech Bulldogs vs. TCU Horned Frogs – Wednesday, December 21
Sports betting line: TCU -10.5
Why Louisiana Tech Will Win
When you do your homework and assess your best best sportsbook on this game, you’ll realize that Louisiana Tech has shown a lot of mental toughness to get this far in 2011. Louisiana Tech, the champion of the WAC, has produced a sensational season under coach Sonny Dykes, who was just named the 2011 WAC Coach of the Year. One can’t say enough good things about the Bulldogs’ body of work in 2011, particularly their ability to overcome tough losses (35-34 to Houston after leading 34-7; falling to Mississippi State, 26-20, in overtime) with uncommon resilience. Many teams would have shriveled after absorbing those two stomach punches, but Louisiana Tech just kept coming. It won in the fourth quarter at Utah State, it won in the second half at Fresno State, and it won yet another conference road game at Nevada just before Thanksgiving, scoring 21 fourth-quarter points to erase a 20-3 deficit and claim the WAC title. This team never gives up, and if TCU doesn’t feel like competing, the Bulldogs can take advantage.
Why TCU Will Win
The college football betting  experts know that this is not an even matchup. The reality that has to gnaw at the insides of TCU head coach Gary Patterson as his team prepares to face the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs is this: The Horned Frogs won their third straight Mountain West Conference championship in 2011, only to be relegated to a pre-Christmas bowl game with little stature or value. TCU’s conference championship – won on the road at Boise State in a 36-35 thriller – did not lift the Frogs to the BCS once Houston fumbled away its Sugar Bowl shot with a horrid loss in the Conference USA Championship Game. West Virginia and Clemson are part of the power-conference club. Their three losses this past season didn’t matter, because they are both headed to the Orange Bowl. TCU’s two losses, as a conference champion, somehow mattered more, and it’s that reality which must make Patterson a very grumpy man at this point in time.
The only thing that can stop TCU from winning is its attitude. The Horned Frogs were good enough to beat Boise State on the road, and they can play with just about any team in the country. The defense is young, especially in the secondary, but Louisiana Tech doesn’t have the speed which can exploit matchups and make the Horned Frogs sweat. TCU is more powerful up front, and quarterback Casey Pachall has grown into the position over the course of the regular season.
Who Will Win
It’s purely a question of, “Will TCU care or not?” The sense here is that the Horned Frogs are too young to grumble their way through this game. They will care, and they’ll drill Tech by at least three touchdowns.

College Football Betting Pick: TCU

Posted on December 15th, 2011 by admin
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The Marshall Thundering Herd and the Florida International Golden Panthers are hardly regulars in the college football postseason. They’ll lock horns for a bowl trophy this December.
Marshall Thundering Herd vs. Florida International Golden Panthers – December 20
Sports betting line: Florida International -4
Why Marshall Will Win
When you do your homework and assess your best best sportsbook on this contest, you need to realize that Marshall has done good work to get to this point. The Thundering Herd are a resilient club from Conference USA which dealt league champion Southern Mississippi an unexpected defeat in September. Marshall’s prime player is defensive end Vinny Curry, who ranks second nationally this season with 21.5 tackles for loss, and is also tied for second in the nation with six forced fumbles. Oh, by the way, he is also tied for fifth with 11 sacks. Curry is a beast who makes the Thundering Herd defense go. Curry had 11 sacks and 21 tackles for a loss this season. Marshall still ranks in the lower half of the nation in rush defense, yielding 155 yards per game. Curry makes offenses work for every yard, and without him, the numbers posted by opposing offenses would be even higher.
Needing to win its final two games to become bowl eligible, Marshall showed true grit and came up with two clutch wins. One was on the road at Memphis in a 23-22 heartstopper before pulling out a 34-27 overtime win at home over East Carolina in game 12. That survival act enabled coach Doc Holliday’s team to reach this stage inside Tropicana Field. The Herd should have better athletes than FIU; Conference USA is superior to the Sun Belt.

Why Florida International Will Win
The college football betting  experts assessing this game know that Florida International is an under-the-radar success story in 2011. The Golden Panthers are making back-to-back bowl appearances for the first time in school history. FIU also won a school record eight games this season after making a splash by reaching its first bowl game in 2010.
The Golden Panthers will try to add the topper to their eight-win season and claim back to back bowl wins, which would be another school record for a program that is wrapping up the first full decade of its existence. Last year FIU defeated Toledo in the Little Caesars Bowl. The program changing win for the Golden Panthers came on September 9 when they went on the road and defeated Louisville. It was the first win against a BCS automatic qualifying opponent in school history.
Earlier in the season there was a legitimate quarterback battle at FIU. Starter Wesley Carroll lost his spot to Jake Medlock but then won it back after Medlock injured his shoulder against Louisiana-Monroe. Carroll, who is a fifth-year senior signal caller, stepped back in and completed 16 of 34 passes for 213 yards and three touchdowns, which helped the Golden Panthers win that particular conference game, 28-17, stabilizing the season in the process and enabling coach Mario Cristobal to forge an 8-4 season one year after winning the Sun Belt Conference in 2010. This team is resilient, and it has shown that it was not a one-hit wonder in 2010. Playing in its home state, FIU will be a tough out against a Marshall squad that is not loaded with offensive weapons.
Who Will Win
It’s hard to pick the Sun Belt over anyone in a bowl game. Marshall isn’t imposing, but it should have enough power in the trenches to turn back FIU in what should be a very close game. Take Marshall plus the points.

College Football Betting Pick: Marshall

Posted on December 15th, 2011 by admin
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The first of the season’s 35 bowl games is an intriguing one. Temple travels from Philadelphia to Albuquerque to face one of the most pleasant surprises in the Mountain West Conference.
Temple Owls vs. Wyoming Cowboys – Saturday, December 17
Sports betting line: Temple -6.5
Why Temple Will Win
When you do your homework and assess your best best sportsbook on this game, you need to realize that Temple will be hungry, always an asset for a bowl team. Temple arrives in Albuquerque with an 8-4 record, the same 8-4 record that did not bring them a bowl bid last season. Temple will be that much more motivated to win this bowl as a result. The Owls finished second in the Mid-American Conference East Division on the legs of running back Bernard Pierce and a stout defense. Temple’s run game averages seventh in the nation at 257 yards per game, which is good news for Temple given Wyoming’s run defense. Pierce, a 6-1 power back, has rushed for 1,381 yards this season and posted 25 rushing touchdowns. He is complemented in the rushing attack by the diminutive Matt Brown, the 5-5 back who averages 6.1 yards per carry and has totaled 867 rushing yards. The Owls have switched between three quarterbacks throughout the year in their limited passing game – currently, it appears Chester Stewart is the starter, who carries the best completion percentage of the three at 65 percent. Evan Rodriguez is Temple’s biggest passing target, pulling in 33 catches for 427 yards.
The Owls’ defense is top-25 in both run and pass defense, giving them a total defensive ranking of 15th. They, too, fare well in the turnover game, and give up a meager 14 points per game, third-best in the country. As long as Temple contains Wyoming’s offense, its running game can lean on the Cowboys in the fourth quarter.

Why Wyoming Will Win
The college football betting  experts who are looking at this game are wondering why Temple is favored by so many points. Wyoming plays in a tougher conference, the Mountain West, and the Pokes have knocked off quality teams from San Diego State and Air Force. Wyoming has been one of the surprise teams of 2011. After the Cowboys posted a 3-9 season in 2010, sophomore quarterback Austyn Carta-Samuels left the school a season removed from his MWC Freshman of the Year campaign. With Carta-Samuels’s departure and the absence of their two best defensive players to graduation, the Cowboys had a lot of question marks, but freshman signal-caller Brett Smith stepped up and answered plenty of them, leading the Cowboys to an 8-4 mark. Smith finished the regular season throwing 2,495 yards, and completing 61 percent of his passes with an 18-to-8 touchdown-to-interception ratio. Smith has also become a master of Dave Christensen’s spread offense, adding 645 rushing yards (second on the team) and 10 rushing touchdowns (first on the team).

Wyoming had enjoyed a balanced rushing attack with Alvester Alexander and Ghaali Muhammad, but Muhammad suffered a season-ending injury five weeks ago. Alexander has rushed for 678 yards, and freshman Kody Sutton has averaged 4.3 yards per carry in the stead of Muhammad. Smith’s favorite passing targets have been Chris McNeill and Robert Herron, both of whom have over 40 receptions, with McNeill posting the most yards at 504. Wyoming’s defense is average except when it comes to stopping the run—the Cowboys give up 230 rushing yards per game, close to last in the nation. Wyoming makes a lot of its hay in the turnover game, averaging a plus-1.25 margin per game, fourth in the nation.

Who Will Win
It’s baffling that Temple is giving a touchdown. Wyoming should definitely keep this game very close and, in all likelihood, win it outright. Take Wyoming plus the points without hesitation.

College Football Betting Pick: Wyoming

Posted on December 14th, 2011 by admin
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The Marshall Thundering Herd and the Florida International Golden Panthers are hardly regulars in the college football postseason. They’ll lock horns for a bowl trophy this December.
Marshall Thundering Herd vs. Florida International Golden Panthers – December 20
Sports betting line: Florida International -4
Why Marshall Will Win
When you do your homework and assess your best best sportsbook on this contest, you need to realize that Marshall has done good work to get to this point. The Thundering Herd are a resilient club from Conference USA which dealt league champion Southern Mississippi an unexpected defeat in September. Marshall’s prime player is defensive end Vinny Curry, who ranks second nationally this season with 21.5 tackles for loss, and is also tied for second in the nation with six forced fumbles. Oh, by the way, he is also tied for fifth with 11 sacks. Curry is a beast who makes the Thundering Herd defense go. Curry had 11 sacks and 21 tackles for a loss this season. Marshall still ranks in the lower half of the nation in rush defense, yielding 155 yards per game. Curry makes offenses work for every yard, and without him, the numbers posted by opposing offenses would be even higher.
Needing to win its final two games to become bowl eligible, Marshall showed true grit and came up with two clutch wins. One was on the road at Memphis in a 23-22 heartstopper before pulling out a 34-27 overtime win at home over East Carolina in game 12. That survival act enabled coach Doc Holliday’s team to reach this stage inside Tropicana Field. The Herd should have better athletes than FIU; Conference USA is superior to the Sun Belt.

Why Florida International Will Win
The college football betting  experts assessing this game know that Florida International is an under-the-radar success story in 2011. The Golden Panthers are making back-to-back bowl appearances for the first time in school history. FIU also won a school record eight games this season after making a splash by reaching its first bowl game in 2010.
The Golden Panthers will try to add the topper to their eight-win season and claim back to back bowl wins, which would be another school record for a program that is wrapping up the first full decade of its existence. Last year FIU defeated Toledo in the Little Caesars Bowl. The program changing win for the Golden Panthers came on September 9 when they went on the road and defeated Louisville. It was the first win against a BCS automatic qualifying opponent in school history.
Earlier in the season there was a legitimate quarterback battle at FIU. Starter Wesley Carroll lost his spot to Jake Medlock but then won it back after Medlock injured his shoulder against Louisiana-Monroe. Carroll, who is a fifth-year senior signal caller, stepped back in and completed 16 of 34 passes for 213 yards and three touchdowns, which helped the Golden Panthers win that particular conference game, 28-17, stabilizing the season in the process and enabling coach Mario Cristobal to forge an 8-4 season one year after winning the Sun Belt Conference in 2010. This team is resilient, and it has shown that it was not a one-hit wonder in 2010. Playing in its home state, FIU will be a tough out against a Marshall squad that is not loaded with offensive weapons.
Who Will Win
It’s hard to pick the Sun Belt over anyone in a bowl game. Marshall isn’t imposing, but it should have enough power in the trenches to turn back FIU in what should be a very close game. Take Marshall plus the points.

College Football Betting Pick: Marshall

Posted on December 14th, 2011 by admin
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The Ohio Bobcats have never won a bowl game in their history. The Utah State Aggies have won just one postseason game. Somebody’s got to win in the Idaho Potato Bowl.
Ohio Bobcats vs. Utah State Aggies – Saturday, December 17
Sports betting line: Utah State -2.5

Why Ohio Will Win
When you do your homework and assess your best best sportsbook on this game, you might be scared by Ohio’s bowl record, but there’s reason to look beyond it. Ohio is bowling for the fourth time in seven years under Frank Solich, but in five previous bowl appearances, the Bobcats are winless. Ohio led 20-0 at halftime of the MAC Championship Game, but fell 23-20 to Northern Illinois. At 9-4, the Bobcats are shooting for a ten-win season, a feat the school has accomplished only once, in 1968. Ohio is statistically sound in every way. The Bobcats can run the ball (206 yards per game, 24th nationally); they can pass (251 yards per game, 39th nationally); and they can stop the run (126 yards per game allowed, 30th nationally). Ohio’s pass defense and turnover margin are perfectly average, but that’s better than Utah State, which has been killed by giveaways this year.
The prolific Bobcat offense is led by Tyler Tettleton, the dual-threat sophomore quarterback. Tettleton has thrown for 3,086 yards and has a 26-to-10 touchdown-to-interception ratio. He is also the team’s leader in rushing touchdowns with nine (and 627 yards). With Donte Harden’s 939 rushing yards, and Ryan Boykin and Beau Blankenship adding another combined 845, Ohio truly is a pick-your-poison offensive power. With receiver LaVon Brazill averaging 16.3 yards per reception (1,042 yards total, with 10 touchdowns) making plays on the edges, Utah State will have a lot to deal with.

Why Utah State Will Win
The college football betting  experts who are examining this contest have to admire the resilience of the Aggies and coach Gary Andersen. Utah State has had a rollercoaster season. Of Utah State’s 12 games, nine were decided by seven points or fewer (five wins, four losses). Utah State went from last-minute losers to resolute winners, claiming its last five games to post a 7-5 record and qualify for its first bowl game since 1997. Freshman sensation Chuckie Keeton electrified the Western Athletic Conference with his often brilliant play in the first half of the season, but went down with a scary neck injury five games ago in Hawaii. Junior quarterback Adam Kennedy took over and has been at the helm during the five-game winning streak. Kennedy has completed 71 percent of his passes and thrown for 909 yards.
The Aggies’ strength is their run game. The top-20 offense comes from 278 rushing yards per game, good for sixth in the country, headlined by Robert Turbin, the WAC offensive player of the year. Despite only getting 40 percent of his team’s carries, Turbin ranks tenth in the country at 118 rushing yards per game. Turbin’s 1,416 rushing yards represent a nice total, but that number would be even bigger if not for the fact that he shares the ball quite a bit with Michael Smith and Kerwynn Williams, who have combined to rush for 1,193 more. Defensively, Utah State is solid at stopping the run with linebacker Bobby Wagner roaming. Overall the Aggies are slightly-above average defensively, but allow 28 points per game due to a consistently-negative turnover margin. As long as USU can protect the ball, though, it should be golden.

Who Will Win

Ohio’s punter publicly lamented the fact that his team was playing in this game. Utah State will have a partisan crowd on hand in Boise, and the Aggies will be more excited about playing this game in its given location. Take Utah State.

College Football Betting Pick: Utah State

Posted on December 13th, 2011 by admin
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Online betting players who are getting ready for bowl season know that you can find some excitement in the earlier games, and the R&L Carriers New Orleans Bowl features San Diego State and Louisiana-Lafayette, who are back in the bowls for the first time in a long, long time. Even though they’ll have the advantage in crowd support, San Diego State has one of the best running backs in the country and they should be able to cover.

What: NCAA Football Betting
When: Saturday, December 17th, 9:00 PM ET
Where: Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, LA
Pick: San Diego State Aztecs -5

Why Bet On San Diego State Aztecs (8-4 SU, 4-3 Mountain West)

The Aztecs finished fourth in the Mountain West, building upon their first bowl game since 1998, and this will be the first time that San Diego State has gone bowling in back-to-back seasons in 1966 and 1967. Three of their four losses came against teams who are now ranked (Michigan, TCU, Boise State) and head coach Rocky Long can consider his first year at the helm of the Aztecs as a success. Running back Ronnie Hillman is third in the nation in rushing as a sophomore and next year, he could end up being an NCAA football betting darkhorse for the Heisman in 2012. Quarterback Ryan Lindley isn’t asked to do too much and has thrown only eight picks this season (three of those came against TCU) and the offensive line is solid as San Diego State were 10th in sacks allowed. Defensively, the Aztecs are 57th in the country, but they struggle to stop the run as they’re 82nd in rush defense. When they come up against a good team, the defense can be suspect but against a team like the one they’re facing in this game, San Diego State can make stops.

San Diego State should be completely healthy by the time the New Orleans Bowl rolls around, although there was some concern over Hillman (ankle), but he should have plenty of time to recover. The Aztecs will aim to control the ball with Hillman, but Lindley will have to put the ball up to keep their opponents honest. Turnovers could be a factor as well, and San Diego State is 11th in the country in turnover margin.

Why Bet On Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns (8-4 SU, 6-2 Sun Belt)

The Cajuns finished the season with two straight losses at Arkansas State and Arizona, but they still managed to finish third in the Sun Belt and earned an invitation to a bowl for the first time in 41 years. Junior quarterback Blaine Gautier had a great year, throwing 20 touchdowns and only five picks, and he is also the team’s second-leading rusher behind Alonzo Harris. The line can be breached as the Cajuns are 70th in sacks allowed, but Gautier’s willingness to hold onto the ball and try to find a running lane has also been a factor in that statistic. The Sun Belt has never been known as a conference that places a high priority on defense, and the Cajuns are 72nd in total defense and 83rd in points allowed. Their secondary can be picked on as the Cajuns are 92nd in pass defense, but they’ve also returned seven picks for touchdowns, the most by any team since 1971 and they can get a pass rush generated as they’re tied for 30th in sacks. However, one player San Diego State would like to avoid is cornerback Dwight “Bill” Bentley, a ballhawk who is going to end up in the NFL someday. On special teams, don’t count out kicker Brett Baer, who has hit 92% of his field-goal attempts.

Bentley (shoulder) dislocated his shoulder in the regular-season finale against Arizona, but first-year head coach Mark Hudspeth thinks he’ll be ready to go and he would be a massive loss for the Cajuns as he is the lone player in the secondary that you don’t target. Linebacker LeMarcus Gibson (leg) was injured at the beginning of November and he’ll be doubtful for this game. The Cajuns would love to finish the season with a bowl win and the Sun Belt is 5-5 in 10 trips to the New Orleans Bowl.

How It Will Play Out

NCAA football betting odds have the Aztecs as a 5-point favorite at the Superdome, and even though they’ll travel well, the Cajuns may have the edge in crowd support given their proximity to New Orleans. It’s very important that they have the crowd on their side as the Cajuns are bowling for the first time in over four decades, but even more important is their ability to stop Hillman, which has been difficult to do this season.

Also, the Aztecs have to attack a secondary that can give up the big play and if Bentley isn’t 100%, it could be open season for Lindley. It should be an exciting game with plenty of scoring, but look for San Diego State to pull away and cover the sports betting spread in New Orleans.

New Orleans Bowl Betting: San Diego State Aztecs

Posted on December 10th, 2011 by admin
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The Stanford Cardinal and the Oklahoma State Cowboys both went 11-1 in the 2011 college football season. The winner of this game could easily finish No. 2 in the national rankings.

Stanford Cardinal vs. Oklahoma State Cowboys – Monday, January 2, 2012
Sports betting line: Oklahoma State -3.5

Why Stanford Will Win

When you do your homework and assess your best best sportsbook on this game, you have to realize that this is likely to be the final collegiate game for heralded quarterback and Heisman Trophy finalist Andrew Luck, the man who is so substantially responsible for turning Stanford from a Pac-12 also-ran into a BCS bowl team over each of the past two seasons. It’s true that Stanford’s former head coach, Jim Harbaugh, was the architect of this resurgence in Palo Alto, California; its also true that it was Harbaugh who instilled toughness into the Cardinal program at every position. However, without landing Luck, Harbaugh would not have won the 2011 Orange Bowl. He also would not have become the coach of the San Francisco 49ers. He also wouldn’t have set the table for first-year head coach David Shaw to win 11 games and punch a ticket to the Fiesta Bowl.

Luck is indeed the centerpiece of everything Stanford is, and everything Stanford does. Luck can be overwhelmed by speed and power from an opposing defense, as was the case in his team’s 53-30 loss at home to Oregon on Nov. 12. However, Oklahoma State’s defense is not a particularly strong or robust defense. The Cowboys got lit up by Kansas State earlier this season, struggled for two and a half quarters against Texas A&M, allowed over 30 points to Tulsa, and blew a 24-7 lead against Iowa State. Luck will be able to call running plays, bring OSU’s linebackers into the tackle box, and then throw over the top of the Cowboys’ defense on play action passes. Stanford is in good position to score 30 points, control the ball, and keep Oklahoma State’s defense off the field.

Why Oklahoma State Will Win

The college football betting  experts who are looking at this game are aware of how good Luck is, but they have to be convinced that Oklahoma State has fielded its most complete team in recent memory. The Pokes finally won their first Big 12 championship this season, breaking the stranglehold that Oklahoma and Texas held on college football in the South Central Plains. Oklahoma State has been regularly outflanked and outfoxed by Oklahoma in the rivalry known as the “Bedlam Series,” but this year, the Pokes finally threw down the hammer in a convincing 44-10 masterclass that chased away so many demons for head coach Mike Gundy.

Oklahoma State has certainly benefited this season from the fact that its quarterback, Brandon Weeden, is 28 years old, much like Florida State in 2000 with Heisman Trophy-winning 28-year-old signal caller Chris Weinke. Weeden’s maturity has been a galvanizing element on a team that has become more than just an entertaining offense. OSU’s defense isn’t brilliant, but the Cowboys have a positive turnover differential greater than 20, a central reason for their success this year. Oklahoma State scored multiple defensive touchdowns in the rout of Oklahoma, a sign that this team – whose defense was far worse in 2010 – has done a lot of growing this season. If OSU’s blend of top-notch offense and ballhawking emerges against Stanford, the Pokes should manage to win.

Who Will Win

This game pits Stanford, a team with a great quarterback and a rugged style of play, against an Oklahoma State squad that possesses more quickness on the edges and big-play receivers such as NFL prospect Justin Blackmon. Stanford could play a more tactically precise game on Jan. 2 and still lose because Oklahoma State has the better athletes at most positions. The enduring truth about football is that while quarterbacks can cover up a multitude of deficiencies, they can’t win big-boy games such as the 2012 Fiesta Bowl if they don’t have enough help from their teammates. Stanford has the best NFL draft pick on the field, but Oklahoma State has the best team. Take the Cowboys when all is said and done in Glendale, Arizona.

College Football Betting Pick: Oklahoma State

Posted on December 8th, 2011 by admin
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The Wisconsin Badgers and the Oregon Ducks have failed to win BCS bowl games under their current coaches. Someone will break the habit of losing in this year’s Granddaddy.
Wisconsin Badgers vs. Oregon Ducks – Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Sports betting line: Oregon -6.5

Why Wisconsin Will Win
When you do your homework and assess your best best sportsbook on this game, you cannot ignore the fact that both Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema and Oregon coach Chip Kelly have never won a BCS bowl game. Bielema finally made his first Rose Bowl last season, only to see his team lose to TCU when a game-tying 2-point conversion pass was batted down inside the two-minute mark of regulation. Kelly, for his part, lost to Ohio State in the 2010 Rose Bowl and then saw his Ducks lose to Auburn in the 2011 BCS National Championship Game. Both of these coaches are quite accomplished, and they’ve both made BCS bowls in each of the past two seasons (with Kelly making a BCS game for the third straight year, the only man who can boast such a distinction at this point in time). The stakes involved in this classic Big Ten-versus-Pac-12 matchup in Pasadena, California, are considerable. These programs and their coaches need the validation of a Rose Bowl victory to quiet their critics and affirm their worthiness on college football’s grandest stage, in the shadows of the San Gabriel Mountains and tucked into the Arroyo Seco.
Wisconsin has to like its chances for two simple reasons: balance and preparation time. Balance refers to the combination of quarterback Russell Wilson and running back Montee Ball. Wilson, a transfer from North Carolina State, has given the Badgers a strong-armed, big-play quarterback who can stretch opposing defenses by throwing the ball vertically and scrambling for yardage when plays break down. The knowledge that Wilson can strike at any time has made Ball, owner of 38 touchdowns this season (32 rushing, 6 receiving), a devastatingly effective ballcarrier. Ball is the player defenses primarily try to stop, but the brilliant Badger has been able to run, run, and run some more on a consistent basis in 2011. A total of 1,759 rushing yards has lifted Ball to the top of the list in the Football Bowl Subdivision, punching a ticket to the Downtown Athletic Club in New York for this year’s Heisman Trophy award ceremony. The balance found in Wisconsin’s offense will make the Badgers hard to stop. Oregon defensive coordinator Nick Aliotti will definitely have his hands full in this matchup.
The other key is preparation. Over the past three seasons, Oregon has lost five times. Of those five losses, three came in games that either began or ended UO’s season. The Ducks lost two bowl games and this year’s season-opening contest against LSU. (The team’s other losses came against USC this season and against Stanford in the middle of the 2009 campaign.) Wisconsin has what other bowl opponents used to great effect against Oregon: time. It’s very hard to prepare for Oregon’s offensive tempo in the middle of a season, but with a month off, the Badgers can formulate a good defensive plan. Moreover, the month-long layoff takes away rhythm and precision from Oregon’s offense, which thrives on repetitions and is not primed to play well following an extended break. If ever there was a good time to play Oregon, it’s after a long layoff. Wisconsin is catching UO at the right time.
Why Oregon Will Win
The college football betting  experts who are looking at this game are aware of Wisconsin’s strengths, and they’re also aware of Oregon’s deficiencies, but there’s definitely a different way to look at this game: power versus speed in Pasadena.
So many times in the past, a strong and physical Big Ten team has come into the Rose Bowl expecting to overpower a faster opponent from the Pac-10. Usually, the Pac-10 – now the Pac-12 – gets the last laugh. In the 1984 Rose Bowl, a six-win UCLA club humiliated a 10-win Illinois squad by a 45-9 score. In the 1986 game, UCLA did something very similar to a highly-credentialed Iowa club. USC has typically gotten the better of Michigan in Rose Bowl matchups over multiple decades. The Big Ten’s champion hasn’t always played in the Rose Bowl during the Bowl Championship Series’ 14-year existence, but it’s very much worth noting that since Wisconsin’s 2000 Rose Bowl win over Stanford, the Big Ten has won just once in Pasadena in early January. Yes, Ohio State’s win over Oregon in the 2010 Rose Bowl marks the only time in the past 11 seasons that the Big Ten has won the oldest bowl game of them all.
Oregon might be forced to play this game after a one-month layoff, but the Ducks will be motivated to break through on the BCS stage. They know how much their reputation will suffer if they lose, so they will play with a profound purpose against their foe from America’s Dairyland. Running backs LaMichael James and DeAnthony Thomas give UO speed to burn, speed that Wisconsin will find it very hard to contain. Wisconsin’s defense was gashed by Michigan State in the Big Ten Championship Game on Dec. 3; if that can happen, Oregon coach Chip Kelly can surely exploit the Badgers’ defense on the second day of January.
Who Will Win
It’s a terrific matchup and a defining one as well. Wisconsin and Oregon both want this game as badly as they need it. Ultimately, Pac-12 speed is likely to top Big Ten power in the Rose Bowl. That’s how the story usually ends in college football’s most beautiful and dramatic January setting.

College Football Betting Pick: Oregon

Posted on December 8th, 2011 by admin
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