College Bowl Picks – #15 Miami vs. #25 Wisconsin in the Champs Sports Bowl

2009 Champs Sports Bowl

No. 15 Miami Hurricanes (9-3 SU, 6-5 ATS) vs. No. 25 Wisconsin Badgers (9-3 SU, 5-6 ATS)

Tuesday, December 29: 8:00 p.m.

College Bowl Betting Odds: Miami -3, Total Points 57 ½

Here are some betting trends which may impact this game:

Miami : 4-1 SU in their last 5 games
Miami: 2-4 ATS in their last 6 games
Miami: The total has gone OVER in 4 of their last 6 games

Wisconsin: 4-1 SU in their last 5 games
Wisconsin: 2-1 ATS in their last 3 games
Wisconsin: The total has gone OVER in 4 of their last 5 games

One of the best pre-New Year’s bowl games will take place in Orlando, when the Miami Hurricanes and Wisconsin Badgers do battle in the Champs Sports Bowl.

For Miami, it was a resurgence of sorts, under third year coach Randy Shannon. After years of dominating college football, “The U,” is back, getting nine wins this year, and almost capturing an ACC title.

Miami is led by one of the top up-and-coming quarterbacks in college football, sophomore Jacory Harris. Harris, a Miami native, has been phenomenal this year, throwing for 3164 yards and 23 touchdowns.

As the season wore on, Harris did become a little turnover prone though, tossing 17 interceptions, however only one was in his last two games. In the running game, Graig Cooper and Damien Berry combine to give the Hurricanes a formidable attack. On the year, they combined for over 1100 yards and 14 touchdowns.

Bet on this and more of the hottest sports events at BetOnline.com Join NOW

As for the Miami defense, it still has a long way to go, and has also been plagued by injuries this year. Still though, they rank in the top half of every important category in college football, and their 321 yards of total offense ranks 25 th in the game. The Hurricanes are led by a strong defensive front and linebacker trio.

On the other sideline is the Wisconsin Badgers. While they don’t wow you with supreme athleticism, they do attack you with an old school running game, featuring bruising back John Clay. Clay weighs in at about 250 lbs., and uses every ounce of it, as he rushed for 1396 yards and 16 touchdowns this year.

In thinking of Clay, think of Brandon Jacobs of the New York Giants. At quarterback is junior Scott Tolzien, who despite some midseason struggles really was consistent most all of 2009. He threw 2445 yards and 16 touchdowns this year.

So when these two teams square off in Orlando, who’ve you got? The point spread indicates that this one is close, and personally, I believe it favors Wisconsin Badgers.

While Miami wows you with its athletes, they can also at times become turnover prone, and at others, downright careless. And with most of the Hurricanes expecting to go to the Gator Bowl, who knows how motivated they’ll be by this one.

Finally, I think Clay will be the difference. He is the type of back the Big 10 is famous for, big, punishing and a guy that wears you down after four quarters.

I’m taking the Wisconsin Badgers in an upset, in this bowl season’s betting odds.

College Bowl Pick: Wisconsin +3