College Football Bowl Season Hits Full Stride
NCAA Football Betting Lines
12/26/2006 - Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - I'll begin with Thursdays Independence Bowl in Shreveport, Louisiana. Oklahoma State and Alabama hook up in a game where tempo will decide the outcome. The Cowboys like to run it up, averaging 35.3 points per game on the season, while the Crimson Tide rely on a defense that allowed 18 ppg.
Oklahoma State is led by wide receiver Adarius Bowman, who caught 57 passes for 1,131 yards and 11 touchdowns. In the 42-32 win over Kansas, the former Tar Heel had a career day, catching 13 balls for 300 yards and four TDs. Quarterback Bobby Reid broke head coach Mile Gundys school record of 434 yards of total offense with 457 in that game, and he and Bowman will try to scorch Alabamas secondary.
Therein lies the problem for Oklahoma State. The Tide finished 16th in the country in pass defense, giving up 170 yards per game through the air. The team ended the season losing its last three games and four straight SEC match-ups. Offense was the problem, as Bama averaged only 16.6 ppg in conference play. Oklahoma State, however, does not play in the SEC.
The Cowboys also don't play much defense, as they allowed 30.4 points per game in Big 12 action. Alabama played high-flying Texas Tech in the Cotton Bowl last season, and the Tide held the Red Raiders to 10 points. Its true that Bamas defense was utterly amazing last year, but its also true that this years Oklahoma State team is nowhere near the quality of last seasons 9-3 Texas Tech squad.
The Cowboys are 1-3 SU/ATS in their last four bowl games. Alabama is 2-2 SU in its last four bowls, and all have been decided by four points or less, including two by one point. The Crimson Tide have played only five games on artificial turf since 2001 and are 0-5 ATS. However, they won three of those five, including a game over another Big 12 club, Iowa State, in this very same Independence Bowl.
Take Alabama plus the points and the under.
Clemson and Kentucky hook up in the first game on Friday at the Music City Bowl in Nashville. The Tigers were ranked 10th by the AP after week eight, but fell flat on their face, losing three of their last four games. One thing was primarily responsible for their great start: Weak competition. Clemson appeared to be dominant, but scoring 50+ points against Florida Atlantic, North Carolina, L-Tech and Temple does not prove anything.
In the Tigers' last four games, they scored 67 points for an average of 16.8 ppg, after having averaged 42.3 per game in their first eight contests. In the last contest vs. South Carolina, their defense let them down, giving up 492 total yards and 31 points in the three-point loss.
Kentucky has gone the opposite route, winning four of its last five games. The Wildcats also gave Tennessee all it could handle in the one loss, a 17-12 defeat in Knoxville. The Cats outgained the Vols, 410-336, and had a chance to win late but couldn't get into the end zone from Tennessees five-yard line.
Clemson will be without starting cornerback Duane Coleman, as the senior was suspended after getting arrested for possession of marijuana. That doesn't bode well for the Tigers, as the Wildcats finished the regular season ninth in the country in passing yards per game. The line in this game is way too high.
Go with Kentucky plus the points.
Oregon State takes on Missouri in the Sun Bowl down in Texas. The Beavers won seven of their last eight games, including a huge score over USC, plus road wins at Arizona and Hawaii. Their defensive stats are a bit skewed since they play in the Pac 10, but overall, OSU was much improved from last year.
The Beavers allowed 21 points per game, 12 less than in 05. They gave up 299 yards passing per contest last year, but allowed only 213 per game this season. That will come in handy vs. Missouris Chase Daniel, who completed 64% of his passes for 266 yards per game and 26 TDs.
Oregon State needs a big effort from 1,000-yard RB Yvenson Bernard since Mizzou might be able to shut down Matt Moore and the passing game. The Tigers led the Big 12 in pass defense, allowing 172 yards per game. However, the Big 12 is not known as a passing conference, as only two other teams besides the Tigers threw more than 32 times per game.
The Beavers are 3-1 SU and ATS in their last four bowl games, while Missouri is 1-1 SU and ATS since 2003. Nonetheless, the Tigers have covered just one of their last five postseason games.
This will be a fun game to watch, but Oregon State will prevail by a touchdown.
Time to make our way back to Tennessee for the Liberty Bowl, where South Carolina takes on Houston. The Cougars have not won a bowl since the Garden State Bowl in 1980. From 1981 to 2005, they are 0-6 SU and 2-4 ATS, and only two of those games were decided by single digits: a two-point loss to Washington State in 1988 and a triple overtime, six-point defeat at the hands of Hawaii in 2003.
South Carolina, on the other hand, is 3-1 both SU and ATS in its last four bowl games. Steve Spurrier leads the Gamecocks into Memphis to face Kevin Kolb and the explosive Houston offensive attack. Kolb has thrown 27 TDs on the year with only three picks and has completed 68% of his passes.
The key question in this game is: Can South Carolina stop the Cougars' passing game? Lets take a look at how the Gamecocks did against the top three passing teams in the SEC. They allowed an average of 22 points, 266 yards and a 65% completion percentage per game vs. Tennessee, Kentucky and Florida. Not the best of numbers.
South Carolina also has played only two games on artificial turf this decade, losing to Ole Miss in 03 and dropping a seven-point decision in last years Independence Bowl to Missouri.
Both teams had great ATS records this season, as the Gamecocks finished 8-3 and Houston ended up 8-4. There isn't much separating the two teams, and when you have an underdog that you think has a decent chance to win the game outright, you have to feel pretty good at getting the points.
Go with Houston to hang close with South Carolina and sneak out with the victory.
Saturday afternoon brings us Navy vs. Boston College in the Meineke Car Care Bowl. The Midshipmen need to run the ball well to be effective, and they won't be able to without Adam Ballard, who will miss the game after breaking his leg against Army. In addition, Boston College finished third in the ACC against the run, giving up 90 yards per game on a 3.2 yards per rush average.
Being an option-based team, Navy doesn't perform well vs. the pass, which will play right into the Eagles' hands. They led the conference, throwing for 241 yards peg game. Boston College only lost three games this season by a combined 12 points and will have no trouble with Navy.
One final nugget: The Eagles have not lost a bowl game since 1999 and are 6-0 SU and ATS since.
Take BC by double digits.
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Online Sportsbook Football Betting
LaDainian Tomlinson Favorite to be 2007 NFL MVP
With the first NFL preseason game less than two weeks away, it is time to start thinking about football once again at MySportsbook.com. Reigning NFL MVP LaDainian Tomlinson is currently the 5-1 co-favorite to win the award again alongside Super Bowl MVP Peyton Manning.
This shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone after his all out assault on the record books last season. For those suffering from amnesia or were under a rock last football season, all L.T. did last season was set the NFL record for rushing touchdowns (28), total touchdowns (31) and total points scored (186) to go along with his 1815 rushing yards and 508 receiving yards. At 6-1, Tom Brady is next in line which isn’t surprising considering all of the firepower the Pats added over the off-season. With the addition of Randy Moss, Donte Stallworth and Wes Welker; it would be quite difficult for Brady’s numbers not to improve from last years 3529 yards and 24 touchdowns. There appears to be some decent value in Drew Bees at 10-1 considering he probably would have won the award last year if it wasn’t for L.T.’s record breaking season.
There is no reason to think the Saints will come back to earth this season and playing in a weak NFC, they should have as good a shot as any to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl. At 15-1, Donovan McNabb could also be worth a look. Remember, many felt he was the MVP of the first half of the season before going down with a season ending injury. Reportedly, he is in great shape and well ahead of schedule to return to form. Also, he could have some added motivation to put up big numbers this season with the Eagles using their first pick in the draft on McNabb’s future successor Kevin Kolb.
Be sure to log on to MySportsbook.com to check out the complete odds for NFL MVP as well as all of the new football related futures. With the popularity of NFL futures, these betting lines will be sure to change as the money comes in; get the early sports lines now.
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Albert Pujols to be This Year's Home Run Champ Says Online Sportsbook
Barry Bonds is a 50-1 long shot to be this year's home run champ odds. The favorite to be this year's home run champ is none other than Albert Pujols, however.
Now that Barry Bonds is signed and in Giants camp, it is on to his pursuit of all of sports most prestigious records: the all-time home run mark. Bonds sits just 21 homers shy of tying Hank Aaron for the career mark at 755. Word out of Giants’ camp is that Bonds is the healthiest he has been in a few years. Bonds is just two seasons removed from his injury riddled 2005 campaign where he played in only 14 games and hit only 5 home runs. He did come back last year and had a solid season hitting .270 with 26 bombs. All eyes will be on Bonds this spring and summer not only because of his home run chase but his highly publicized steroid abuse allegations. If and when Bonds breaks the record, he surely will not get the positive attention one should for breaking a record that was once thought of as “unbreakable”. Despite Bonds decent season last year, he is just 50-1 at MySportsbook.com to lead the MLB in long balls this season.
Not surprisingly, the favorites to go deep the most times this season are Albert Pujols 5-1, Ryan Howard 6-1, David Ortiz 8-1 and Alex Rodriguez 12-1. With 49 homers, Pujols finished second in the National League behind Howard (58). Pujols is considered the favorite due to the consistent power numbers that he has posted since breaking into the league in 2001. Also one must consider the fact that he played in 16 fewer games then Howard did due to an injury. Howard smashed 58 homers in his first complete season of big league play en route to the National League MVP odds award. He silenced his critics by successfully hitting left-handed pitching. Howard also displayed the ability to use his power to the opposite field. Two attributes which should keep Howard amongst the league leaders in long balls for years to come. From the American League representatives, David Ortiz leads the field. Ortiz was second in the majors last year with 54 home runs. Except for 1999 when he only played in 10 games, Ortiz has improved on his home run numbers each year he has been in the majors (1997).
Be sure to log onto online sports betting site MySportsbook.com to check out the odds for who will lead the MLB in home runs this season. Below is just a sample of the players listed. With the highest credit card rates in the industry, MySportsbook.com is the place to bet on baseball this summer.
World Series odds
Adam Dunn 15-1
Albert Pujols 5-1
Alex Rodriguez 12-1
Alfonso Soriano 15-1
Andruw Jones 25-1
Barry Bonds 50-1
Carlos Delgado 40-1
David Ortiz 8-1
Jermaine Dye 40-1
Ken Griffey Jr. 100-1
Lance Berkman 40-1
Manny Ramirez 20-1
Richie Sexson 40-1
Ryan Howard 6-1
Travis Hafner 20-1
Vladimir Guerrero 40-1
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