BCS Breakdown – What the Championship Games Mean
by Tim Furious
SEC – #1 Florida Gators vs. #2 Alabama Crimson Tide
As you can probably guess, the team that remains undefeated in this game is going to the BCS Championship. There won’t be a rematch of this game because that’s not what the pollsters, TV stations or college football betting fans want to see. Florida’s getting the early nod from the oddsmakers, but ‘Bama is 4-1 ATS when playing the Gators. Take your pick.
NCAAF Betting Line: Florida (-4.5) vs. Alabama
Big 12 - #3 Texas Longhorns vs. Nebraska Cornhuskers
Texas has everything on the line in this game, and it shouldn’t be much of a challenge considering they’re double-digit favorites to win the game. The Longhorns, and their betting investors, are going to the BCS Championship game with a win.
NCAAF Betting Line: Texas (-14) vs. Nebraska
Rose Bowl Invite - #16 Oregon State Beavers vs. #7 Oregon Ducks
The Ducks need some big favors to make the bowl series, but a win over the in-state rival Beavers will cement a foothold in the Rose Bowl against Ohio State. Had they not decided to lose against freaking Stanford, then their stock would be much, much higher.
NCAAF Betting Line: Oregon State vs. Oregon (-10)
FedEx Orange Bowl Invite
#7 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets vs. #15 Clemson Tigers
Georgia Tech all but guarantees their appearance in the FedEx Orange Bowl if they can get past C.J. Spiller and the Clemson Tigers. Though the Tigers are 1-5 SU in their last five games against the Jackets, Tech lacks the dynamic defense to fully shut down a player like Spiller whose knocking on the Heisman door. He can bust through to NYC with a championship caliber performance against Georgia Tech.
NCAAF Betting Line: Georgia Tech (-1) vs. Clemson
Tostitos Fiesta Bowl Invite
New Mexico State Aggies vs. #6 Boise State Broncos
The Broncos will go undefeated even if they don’t beat the spread against New Mexico. There’s just no way in hell that the Broncos are losing at home after going 8-3 ATS this year. No way. Bet on it. Go ahead and bet on it now. The entire starting roster could die in a bus crash and they’d still beat the useless Aggies. A date with Iowa is in the bag.
NCAAF Betting Line: New Mexico vs. Boise State (-46.5)
Allstate Sugar Bowl Invite
#5 Cincinnati Bearcats vs. #8 Pittsburgh Panthers
The Bearcats have been incredible this season, even though they’re just 5-5 ATS. They have one more betting hump to get over when they meet the Panthers in a Big East battle. Should the Bearcats win, their undefeated season and top-5 ranking will claim a prize in the bowl series.
Of course that “prize” also means they’ll face either Alabama or Florida (the loser of the SEC Championship game). Sounds like a real treat! First things first, though. The Bearcats need another Heisman worthy performance from Tony Pike, who has 23 touchdown passes this season despite missing significant time with injuries.
NCAAF Betting Line: Cincinnati vs. Pittsburgh (-1)
