It’s the SEC vs. the Big 12 for Texas bragging rights as the No. 13 LSU Tigers will arrive at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, looking to win their 11th straight season opener in the 5th annual Cowboy Classic against the No. 20 Texas Christian Horned Frogs in Week 1 college football action.
ESPN’s show College Game Day will visit “Death Valley” for the second time as the defending SEC East champion No. 5 Georgia Bulldogs kick off their 2013 season by renewing an old rivalry with a No. 8 ranked Tigers team that is looking to build on last year’s season success.
Although it’s still more than two weeks away, the smack talking has already begun with Ole Miss strength coach Paul Jackson talking trash about something Vanderbilt cornerback Andre Hal’s said regarding last year’s Commodores’ come-from-behind win over the Rebels.
When the calendar flips over to August, training camps open, and college football teams across the country hit the field for the first time after a long offseason.
The dog days of summer can be a grind for sports bettors. Major League Baseball offers a full card most days, but breaking down a similar looking board day after day can get old fast.
Future bets are a good way to shake things up. We’ve already taken a look at college football win totals, but there are still plenty of lines up on the board.
Here are another 10 win totals worthy of a closer look. Lines courtesy of Bovada.lv
The Razorbacks put up four wins all of last season as they battled through the whole Bobby Petrino/John L. Smith debacle. Brett Bielema solidifying the coaching position should be worth at least two wins. The team shouldn’t have too much trouble getting to 4-0 with an easy slate out of the gate.
The play: Over 5.5 (-140)
Louisville won 11 games a season ago, and this year they face a schedule that’s as soft as a cloud. They won’t meet any resistance whatsoever until their regular season finale at Cincinnati, and even that is a game they’ll be favored to win. Teddy Bridgewater will keep the offense rolling, and the team’s defense returns 11 starters.
The play: Over 10.5 (-140)
The Midshipmen won seven of their final eight regular season games in 2012, with an early season switch to Keenan Reynolds at quarterback paying huge dividends. Reynolds will be manning the controls once again this season, and another eight-win season isn’t out of the question.
The play: Over 6.5 (-115)
The Gamecocks have posted 11 wins in each of the last two seasons, and this year they avoid both Alabama and LSU. The toughest game on their schedule comes against a Georgia team that they’ve beaten each of the past three years. Jadeveon Clowney should put together a Heisman-caliber season.
The play: Over 9.5 (-115)
You don’t have to look hard to find a book that offers Texas as a favorite in each of their 12 contests. 19 starters return from a year ago, and the return of Jordan Hicks and Jackson Jeffcoat should help shore up a defense that struggled last season. The first month of their schedule will be tough, but after that the wins should flow with ease. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
The play: Over 9.5 (-135)
The Hoosiers return 19 starters from a team that finished 4-8 a year ago. Kevin Wilson has done a lot of good in his time with the program, but the team’s defense would have to get a lot better in a hurry if they’re going to finish 6-6 or better.
The play: Under 5.5 (+150)
Kansas went 1-11 in Charlie Weis’s first season at the helm a year ago. During his Big 12 Media Day appearance on Monday, Weis called his team a “pile of crap.” I’m not one to argue.
The play: Under 3.5 (-115)
The Spartans finished 6-6 a year ago, and struggled to score points. Now the offense will have to try to function without Le’Veon Bell or Dion Sims. The defense will be good because it always is, but nine wins is asking a lot.
The play: Under 8.5 (-115)
This is certainly the last recommendation a good Catholic boy wants to make, but there’s no denying that the Irish face a tough uphill battle this season. A lot of good fortune befell the Irish last season on their run to 12-0. This season, they’ll do battle without their number 5’s against a much tougher schedule.
The play: Under 8.5 (-115)
The Utes won only five games last season. This year, Oregon and Stanford appear on their schedule, which has been tabbed as one of the toughest in the nation. Kyle Whittingham has done a great job since arriving in Utah, but with only 12 returning starters and a tough schedule, a six-win season just isn’t in the cards for the Utes.
The play: Under 5.5 (-165)
As we continue the agonizingly slow crawl through the summer months toward the start of football season, it’s important to remember that there’s more on the board each day than just baseball. College football win totals offer value to the informed bettor who keeps an eye on the sport during the offseason.
The college football season officially gets underway on August 29th but many sportsbooks have begun posting lines for Week 1 games. The games still may be a ways away but here are five underdogs expected to make some noise in Week 1. Lines courtesy of BetOnline.
Crimson Tide vs. Fighting Irish College Football Spread/Handicapping
Well it is finally here. Two big brand names but still debate over whether these are the two most deserving schools (at least for me). Probably a defensive battle but with so much time to prepare who knows
#2 Alabama Crimson Tide (12-1) vs. #1 Notre Dame (12-0)
Monday January 7
Sun Life Stadium – Miami, FL
8:30
Moneyline: Alabama -345, Notre Dame +315 at SportsBettingOnline.ag
Spread: Alabama -9.5
O/U: 40.5
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Alabama is probably the most talented team in the nation. They always do well in recruiting rankings and now that mock drafts are the rage they are looking good there too.
The amazing thing is that they almost didn’t make it here. Johnny Heisman knocked them down earlier in the season and the Bulldogs nearly had their number in the SEC Championship.
Both of those teams have a nice mix of offensive talent to challenge their defense…The defense gets a lot of praise but the offense is very good too – they averaged 38ppg.
Its not flashy but the best offensive line in football paved the way for two 1000 yard rushers, Eddie Lacy and freshman T.J. Yeldon both averaged 6.5 yards per carry.
That line also gave QB A.J. McCarron time to complete nearly 70% of his passes. He makes few mistakes too (just 3 interceptions on the season)…Despite the one loss the Crimson Tide are heavy favourites at -9.5.
Alabama has been a poor bet this season at just 6-7 ATS including 1-4 ATS down the stretch.
This could be a tight defensive struggle but it could also be another examples of Bama’s recent dominance.
The last and only undefeated team in the nation is Notre Dame. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
Technically you can’t argue with their selection to the Championship game but for me they don’t pass the sight test for me. Their regular season had some nice wins but also some head scratchers, I think only one of their conquests, Stanford, lived up to expectations this season…
Statistically the defense has been a monster with linebacker Manti Te’o gaining lots of attention and finishing second in the Heisman race.
Its the offense led by QB Everett Golson that has everyone questioning this team.
They run the ball alright and have QB Tommy Rees as closer but it is hardly a good offensive team that is likely to struggle against Alabama…In addition to having strong defenses another trait the Irish have in common is a poor ATS record, just 7-6. That has been primarily because of their poor offensive showings.
It affected them as favourites with big numbers but I think it will do the same in this one too.
They might not be able to keep this one close.
Spread Pick: Alabama -9.5
O/U Pick: Over
Score Prediction:
This year’s GoDaddy.com Bowl features a talented Sun Belt Conference team locking horns with a MAC outfit coming off a memorable campaign.
I don’t know how things got weird and a game of this calibre got pushed to this late in the bowl calendar. I do know that there is nothing to like about it. SEC vs BIg East is not a good matchup in this one.
Pittsburgh Panthers (6-6) vs Ole Miss Rebels (6-6)
Saturday January 5
Legion Field – Birmingham, AL
1:00PM
Moneyline: Ole Miss -160, Pittsburgh +140 at SportsBettingOnline.ag
Spread: Ole Miss -3.5
O/U: 52
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The Panthers needed to win their final two games to become bowl eligible and they did. In fact they have gone the whole season on two game streaks, losing then winning, creating their current symetrical 6-6 record.
Mostly they are getting it done on the defensive side of the ball as the Panthers are inconsistent on offense at best…
At running back they have a difference maker in Ray Graham. The pint sized senior finally broke through with a 1000 yard season – but with his worst average per carry. He is tougher than he looks and plays well when the team wins.
QB Tino Sunseri has taken a lot of heat over the years but he put up some nice numbers as a senior too including a TD/INT ratio of 19/2…Pitts was 7-4 ATS this season including 5-1 the last two months of the season.
I think the only way you can like this team is as the underdog because you just can’t rely on them too much. That extra half point provides some value though.
Ole Miss also got their bowl qualifying win in the last week of the season, beating in-state rival Mississippi State in the Egg Bowl. They play in the toughest division in college football and held their own this year, losses to Vanderbilt, LSU and Texas A&M were all by 6 points or less. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
This isn’t a great team but with any other schedule they are probably 8-4…
Nothing in particular stands out about Ole Miss talent wise. QB Bo Wallace is alright but throws it too many times to the wrong guys. Former starting QB Randall Mackey gets used running the ball, at receiver and sometimes even throwing the ball too.
It is that kind of versatility that might come in handy with a lot of extra time to prepare…
Though just 6-6 Ole Miss has been a very profitable 9-3 ATS. This is a battle tested team that even though it is not super talented seems to play above its head.
Coach Hugh Freeze is doing a better job than you realize in his first year and it should end with a bowl victory.
Spread Pick: Ole Miss -3.5
O/U Pick: Under
Score Prediction: Ole Miss 24 – Pittsburgh 17
Both Texas A&M and Oklahoma ended the season hot winning 5 straight games and these teams are old rivals from in the Big 12. Johnny Manziel won the Heisman for the Aggies this season and became the first ever freshman to do so.
The Oregon Ducks and the Kansas State Wildcats will meet Jan. 3 in what might be the most highly anticipated bowl game outside of the BCS Championship. At one point it was presumed that this was going to be the national title game, but with both teams falling on the same day in November, they now find themselves facing off in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl.
In a sport that’s had so much change, scandal and upheaval over a short period of time, this clash for the National Title is a welcome surge of nostalgia for the college football traditionalist. These two historical football powers will meet on the strength of defense and motivation.
If you’re looking for a match-up that showcases the modern incarnation of the college game, you needn’t look any further than the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl. This BCS clash pits two high-octane offenses and two Heisman candidates against each other.
Many are expecting the Gators to stomp (and chomp) on Louisville but lets remember that as good as they are on defense they are offensively challenged. Louisville is solid all around and I think this game can be a pleasant surprise.
If you like tough, physical football, this is the matchup for you. The Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. is set to host the Stanford Cardinal and the Wisconsin Badgers, and both teams have quite a bit in common. Each squad runs the football and plays great defense, and while this won’t be the highest scoring bowl game this season, it will still be a battle of which team can assert their dominance from the start of the contest.
No. 6 Stanford Cardinal (8-2) vs Wisconsin Badgers
January 1, 2012
Rose Bowl, PASADENA, CALIF.
5:00 PM ET
Moneyline: Stanford -245, Wisconsin +205 from GTBets.eu
Spread: Stanford -6
O/U: 47
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The big question about the Wisconsin Badgers is whether or not they truly deserve to be in the Rose Bowl. An undefeated Ohio State and a rejuvenated Penn State both finished with better records than the Badgers, but because of bowl ineligibility, it’s Wisconsin who earns the nod despite being the No. 3 team.
But that being said, the Badgers are in, and they’ll look to prove that they can make the most of this opportunity.
Wisconsin’s defense is what propelled them to success in 2012. They’re ranked 19th in the country in points allowed, they’re 14th in total yards allowed, and they’ve been solid against both the run and the pass.
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But where this game is going to be won or lost is with running back Monte Ball. The senior tailback wasn’t able to re-create his 2011 Heisman-like season, but he is still the heart and soul of the offense. He’ll be matched up against one of the best run defenses in the country, so getting him going early is going to be a huge part of Wisconsin’s game plan.
The major storyline this season for the Stanford Cardinal was the insertion of Kevin Hogan into the starting quarterback spot. In four of his five appearances, the team scored at least 27 points, and his dual-threat abilities added a whole new aspect to Stanford’s offense. Running back Stephan Taylor also had a good year—he became the university’s all-time leading rusher—and he’ll be another player who looks to get Stanford going.
But the truth is that Stanford’s offense was just a mere footnote on a season that was carried the entire way by an elite defense. The Cardinal have one of the best front lines in all of football, and they showed it on a regular basis. In their statement win of the year—a road victory over No. 2 Oregon—they held Heisman hopeful Kenjon Barner to just 66 yards on the ground, and they’ll look to do the same thing to Monte Ball. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
Stanford’s rushing defense was ranked third this season, as they allowed just 88 yards per game in that category, but their passing defense was just 85th in the country.
They don’t have to worry about Wisconsin throwing the ball too much, as the Badgers ranked 115th in the country in passing yards, but a weak defensive attack in that area could allow their opponent some breathing room.
If Wisconsin can come out and find success against Stanford’s defense, all the talks about whether or not they deserve this game will go away.
But if they can’t, and Stanford comes out prepared as they always seem to be, this one will belong to the Cardinal.
•Cardinal are 10-1 ATS in their last 11 non-conference games.
•Cardinal are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games after accumulating less than 170 yards passing in their previous game.
•Cardinal are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a ATS loss.
•Cardinal are 4-1 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.
•Over is 4-0 in Badgers last 4 games on grass.
•Over is 5-0 in Badgers last 5 games after allowing more than 200 yards rushing in their previous game.
O/U Pick: Over 47
Score Prediction: Stanford 27 – Wisconsin 20
