BCS Bowl Game Odds & Picks

Among the five BCS games, the Rose Bowl, being ”The Granddaddy of Them All” and the BCS National Championship game, which determines the best team in college football, are hands down the highest anticipated and most wagered on games at BetOnline. But the Orange Bowl, Sugar Bowl and Fiesta Bowl also captivates excitement and delivers major online betting stakes to the BCS table. Here’s a look at the trio along with your New Year money-makers

Orange Bowl—No. 19 Virginia Tech vs. No. 12 Cincinnati (8:00pm EST – Miami, FL)

Cincinnati (11-2 SU, 6-6 ATS) was ransacked by injuries throughout this season, most notably at quarterback where they’ve used four different starters, but head coach Brian Kelly has done a spectacular job of finding a way to win and claim its first Big East title. Cincinnati’s ability to overcome countless hurdles earned them their first trip to a BCS game, as they’ll appear in the Orange Bowl against No. 19 Virginia Tech (9-4 SU, 5-7 ATS).

The Bearcats beat three ranked opponents and their No. 12 ranking is the highest that either team has achieved this season. Though, Cincinnati didn’t appear in the BCS standings until after its Nov. 8 game, and Virginia Tech didn’t show up until the last week.

The Bearcats can strike quick on offense but the unit is at its best when they methodically move the ball by attacking the seams. Quarterback Tony Pike, who completed 62.9 percent of his passes with 18 TDs and seven interceptions this season, and his wideouts Dominick Goodman and Marty Gilyard will be in for a fight against Virginia Tech’s physical defense.

—Bearcats are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 bowl games.

—Bearcats are 4-1 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.

—Bearcats are 12-4 ATS in their last 16 games on grass.

—Bearcats are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 Thursday games.

Frank Beamer’s Hokies love to send multiple defenders at the quarterback and force him to get the ball out of his hands quickly and make mistakes. If Pike can’t read the defense at the line, than he’s going to have a long day. Still, the Bearcats have an experienced defense and match up well against an inexperienced Hokie offense.

While Tyrod Taylor looked good in the ACC Championship Game against Boston College, he must prove that he can win moving the ball through the air. If the Bearcats contain him and not allow him to keep drives alive with his feet, Tech might struggle putting points on the board.

—Hokies are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 bowl games.

—Hokies are 5-2 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.

—Hokies are 1-8 ATS in their last 9 non-conference games.

—Hokies are 14-4 ATS in their last 18 Thursday games.

Beamer, who has the Hokies in the Orange Bowl for the second straight year, is seeking to end the ACC’s eight-game losing streak in BCS bowls. The Hokies gave up 17.5 points per game this season, and held nine of their 13 opponents below 20. They forced 30 turnovers, including four games with four takeaways or more.

Analysis: Cincinnati has had a great season. But this game should come down to two things – defense and special teams, which are the two things that make ”Beamer Ball” what it is.

Free BCS Bowl Picks: Virginia Tech +2½

Sugar Bowl—No. 6 Utah vs. No. 4 Alabama (8:00pm EST – New Orleans, LA)

Alabama (12-1 SU, 9-4 ATS) is expected by oddsmakers to win its BCS bowl by a healthy margin, even though Utah (12-0 SU, 7-3-1 ATS) is the only undefeated team to play in a BCS bowl game. The Tide has an edge in athleticism, and the Louisiana Superdome will be filled with Crimson. They are a short drive from New Orleans, and they haven’t been there for the Sugar Bowl in 16 years. Alabama is 8-4 SU in the Sugar Bowl, and its 31 bowl victories lead the nation.

Alabama has a major advantage up front on both sides of the ball and even though their offense has lacked explosiveness at times this season. Tide quarterback John Parker Wilson doesn’t have big numbers, throwing for 2,096 yards and nine touchdowns. But in the backfield they have Glen Coffee, who had 1,347 yards and 10 touchdowns, with four 100-yard games and a 200-yard effort.

Overall, Alabama’s offense is run oriented so expect a huge serving of Coffee for four quarters to wear the Utes down. Coffee can break Bobby Humphrey’s single-season school rushing mark with 125 yards against Utah. Alabama averages 31.2 points and 196.5 rushing yards.

Utes have had a great year and you don’t win 12 games by accident. Utah, which finished no worse than 41st in the FBS in 10 major statistical categories and was 15th in scoring at 37.4 points per game, reaching the 40-point mark six times. Defensively, the Utes finished 12th in the FBS in scoring defense at 17.3 points per game and 14th in rushing defense, yielding 104.8 yards per contest.

Utah also has a good track record in bowl games, going 10-3 and carrying the second-longest active bowl winning streak at six games. The Utes also have the nation’s longest active overall winning streak at 13 games after the Tide’s 13-game run ended against Florida.

Utah quarterback Brian Johnson will face a Tide defense ranked third in the FBS with 256.9 yards allowed per game, fourth in rush defense at 78.9 and sixth in scoring defense with 13.0 points a game.

Alabama All-America left tackle Andre Smith has been suspended from the Sugar Bowl for violating team rules, possibly signaling an end to the Outland Trophy winner’s college career. Coach Nick Saban did not specify Smith’s violation leading up to the suspension. Smith’s absence could mean starting guard Mike Johnson moves over to be replaced by David Ross.

Analysis: Outside of an impressive come-from-behind win over TCU, the Utes haven’t faced a superior opponent all season that even comes close to the Alabama’s talents. Utah is 0-6 SU against SEC teams, and the losing streak will continue with the Tide rolling to a cover win.

Free College Football Picks: Alabama -9

Fiesta Bowl—No. 3 Texas vs. No. 10 Ohio St. (8:00pm EST – Glendale, AZ)

When No. 3 Texas (11-1 SU, 9-3 ATS) plays No. 10 Ohio State (10-2 SU, 5-6 ATS) in the Fiesta Bowl it will be the teams’ third meeting in four seasons. The Longhorns won in Columbus 25-22, on their way to winning the 2005 national championship. The Buckeyes won in Austin 24-7, on their way to the championship game a season later.

Outside of the national championship game, this might be the best bowl matchup of the season. Ohio State lost each of their toughest games this season when they were defeated by USC and Penn State, but freshman quarterback Terrell Pryor brings an added dimension to the field and seems to be getting better each game. Of course, it helps having a running back in Chris “Beanie” Wells in the same backfield.

Pryor completed 62.2 percent of his passes for 1,158 yards and threw 12 TDs and four interceptions in nine games as starter. He also rushed 99 times for 424 yards and five scores during that span, finishing as the second-leading rusher (553) on the team behind Wells (1,091). An early season injury cost Well the opportunity to possibly win the Heisman Trophy, but otherwise he’s been dominant this season. His combination of speed and power makes him one of the best backs in the nation.

For Texas, everything revolves around quarterback Colt McCoy, who has been nothing short of phenomenal this season. McCoy just finished one of the best regular seasons in Texas history, setting school records with 3,445 yards and 32 TDs to go along with an NCAA-record 77.6 percent completion rate. He excels at getting the ball out of his hands quickly and accurately, and allowing his receivers to make plays after the catch. And when his receivers are blanketed, McCoy is equally effective with his legs as evidence by his team-leading 576 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns. The Longhorns were 11th in the nation with 299.5 yards in the air.

However, McCoy and the Longhorns haven’t faced a defense as good as Ohio State’s this season, who limited opponents to the sixth-fewest passing yards per game (164.3). The Buckeyes are experienced and physical on this side of the ball and allowed 13.1 points per game. They were eighth in total defense, allowing 279.3 yards per game, while the Longhorns ranked 50th (339.9) and gave up 18.6 points per game.

Analysis: Texas has something to prove after being snubbed by the BCS and they’ll use this game to prove that they deserved a shot to play in the national championship game. Pryor will make some good plays on the ground and in the passing game, but he’ll be out played by McCoy. The Longhorns win this one while making a statement.

Free BCS Bowl Picks: Texas -8

Be sure to checkout all the latest BetOnline NCAA football odds for your bankroll building lines. As well, Happy New Year and may all the scores go your way in 2009!