BCS Bowl Games: Bet or Pass on the BCS Bowl Game Spreads

With the BCS lineup set in stone, there was a wealth of surprises that followed some of the bowl selections. Looking at the matchups and their points spread, there will be some obvious plays, but there will also be some obvious passes.

Knowing college football, there is always a surprise or two, especially in the bowl season. With the parody that filled the bowl season, it will be no surprise if the bowl season follows suite. The BCS has a knack for finding great matchups with a few snoozers that have hit in the past, but the matchups for this season should lead to some good competition.

Looking ahead at the early lines, here are the matchups and whether it is best to bet or pass this bowl season.

BCS National Championship Game

As it currently stands the 13-0 (9-0 SEC) No. 1 LSU Tigers are a one point favorite over the 11-1 (7-1 SEC) No. 2 Alabama Crimson Tide. The last game that these two teams played against each other finished in overtime with the Tigers winning by three points.

Picking this line is essentially picking LSU to win the ballgame and that is very likely to happen. If LSU can go to Tuscaloosa and win, what makes anyone think they can’t play in their own back yard and win? They can, and the Tigers will.

Take this game.

Bet

Orange Bowl

The 10-3 (6-2 ACC) No. 15 Clemson Tigers have battled through a very inconsistent finish to the 2011 season. The Tigers have not been able to finish well this season, losing three of their last five games.

The 9-3 (5-2 Big East) No. 23 West Virginia Mountaineers will face off against Clemson in the Orange Bowl and to start are a three point underdog to Clemson. Clemson has to be able to play with consistency and find big plays during this game to earn a win.

With the inconsistent play that has come from both of these teams, any line may be too extreme to take. Both teams could win and they could do it handily, so stay away from this win.

Pass

Sugar Bowl

The 10-2 (6-2 Big Ten) No. 13 Michigan Wolverines will face off against the 11-2 (7-1 ACC) No. 11 Virginia Tech Hokies in the Sugar Bowl this coming new year. The Wolverines have fought hard in conference to make it to the BCS, and the Hokies have surprised everyone, earning their BCS bowl bid.

At this point, the line is set at three in favor of a Virginia Tech win. With the volatility that both the teams have played with, it will be anything but easy money to assume that Tech would win this ballgame. Do to the teams inconsistencies I would pass on this game.

Pass

Fiesta Bowl

The Fiesta Bowl matches up the 11-1 (8-1 Big 12) No. 3 Oklahoma State Cowboys against the 11-1 (8-1 Pac-12) No. 4 Stanford Cardinal. Both teams rely on their offenses to make the big difference in the game, the difference is in the philosophy.

Oklahoma State wants to light up the skies while the Cardinal want to push the football on the ground and churn up clock with efficiency. The Fiesta Bowl currently has a 3.5 point difference with Oklahoma State getting the nod.

Oklahoma State is a good squad and the Cardinal defense will be a good matchup, unfortunately I would expect the Cowboys to have their best game of the season. I would bet this one.

Bet

Rose Bowl

The 11-2 (8-1 Pac-12) No. 5 Oregon Ducks will face off against the 11-2 (6-2 Big Ten) No. 10 Wisconsin Badgers in the Rose Bowl as the two conference champions will square off in Pasadena. Oregon is an  early 4.5 point lead. That seems to be a little modest.

The Badgers are a great football team, but will they have the speed to stop the Oregon offense? The Badgers will also need to keep this game as close as possible early so that the Ducks won’t be able to open up the offense.

Looking ahead, it seems to be an easy pick to go with the points as Oregon will likely win by 10.

Bet