College Football Bowl Betting – Upset Alerts

In the Outback Bowl, NORTHWESTERN gets an opportunity to play on New Year’s Day, and opposing them is an Auburn team that started out the season looking like it might be an SEC contender, then faltered.

The Wildcats have the blood-and-guts leader in Mike Kafka, who will certainly benefit from a little rest, since he was nicked up for much of the season. This team has also covered ten of their last 13 games when getting points. That’s pretty strong, and they’re getting 7.5 points in the BetOnline college bowl betting odds.

* This is a mild one, but LSU has fought tooth-and-nail with some of the top teams in a superior conference to Penn State’s Big Ten, and getting two points in the BetOnline college bowl betting odds might present something of a bargain. After all, the Nittany Lions simply did not answer the bell against the two toughest teams they played this season ( Iowa, Ohio State; outscored by a combined 45-17) and the idea of Joe Paterno having such an edge over other coaches with more preparation time has drifted into pure myth. Sure, we have our doubts about LSU’s quarterback, Jordan Jefferson, but let’s not forget that he had an outstanding game in last season’s Chick-Fil-A Bowl.

* OKLAHOMA STATE is catching 3.5 points at BetOnline in its January 2 date against Ole Miss in the Cotton Bowl, and I am wondering why. Maybe it’s because the Cowboys have been without Dez Bryant, who was declared ineligible by the NCAA. Maybe it’s because Kendall Hunter, their great running back who should have been a Heisman contender, has been hurt for most of the year. But Hunter could get himself together with the extra prep time, which would make a great two-fisted rushing attack with Keith Toston (1177 yards).

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These guys also stop the run pretty well, allowing 2.9 yards a carry, and that will leave things to the Rebels’ quarterback, Jevan Snead, who in my opinion bombed this season with an opportunity to really raise his draft stock. Snead was able to complete only 54% of his passes and was intercepted 17 times. What’s more, he failed to come through at critical times as Ole Miss dropped early-season games against South Carolina and Alabama. What you do against Southeastern Louisiana doesn’t carry much weight when analyzing college football betting picks.

* In the Fiesta Bowl, two teams from outside BCS conferences do battle, in an unusual rematch of their bowl game from last year. While the Texas Christian Horned Frogs have indeed become more menacing on defense, ranking first overall, third against the rush, fourth against the pass, and as an added attraction, fifth in rushing offense and at the top of the list in kickoff returns, there is plenty of evidence that BOISE STATE, which is catching 7.5 points in the BetOnline NCAA college bowl odds, can trade punches all the way.

For one thing, they may have an edge at the quarterback spot, with Kellen Moore hitting 65% of his passes for 39 TD’s and only three interceptions. The Broncos have a lot of speed, make no mistake, have a +19 turnover margin and can play defense when so motivated. Remember the way they throttled Rose Bowl participant Oregon in the season opener, allowing just 152 yards? Having allowed only FIVE sacks all year, they will offer a big challenge tot he TCU pass rush, and we know from one past BCS bowl game in particular that Boise State usually has a surprise or two up its sleeve. There will be plenty of "giddy-yap" in this Bronco bunch.