2011 Bowl Predictions: Las Vegas Betting Odds Update

Casual sports bettors are starting to get more involved in betting the college bowl games this week with three of the 35 scheduled games kicking off Saturday.

Las Vegas oddsmakers have had nearly two weeks to play around with the betting odds due to early wagering, but most of the action flies in during the final hours before each contest.

Let's take a closer look at the odds board for some of the most anticipated games of the bowl season.

Arizona State Sun Devils vs. Boise State Broncos

The Boise State Broncos have settled in as 14-point favorites over the Arizona State Sun Devils in the MAACO Bowl Las Vegas.

I'm actually surprised that oddsmakers released the Broncos as 11.5-point favorites, allowing early bettors a real opportunity to score.

I've been told by many sports book managers in town that the line doesn't really matter to the casual fan—Boise State is receiving 80 percent of the action.

Arizona State's hiring of new head coach Todd Graham adds another wrinkle into handicapping this affair.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs. Florida State Seminoles

The Florida State Seminoles opened as three-point favorites over the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the Champs Sports Bowl, which is exactly where the number stands currently.

There was a five-minute period on Dec. 6 that the Seminoles actually fell to 2.5, but that was immediately bought up to three again.

I believe the Seminoles are the right play.

Washington Huskies vs. Baylor Bears

Baylor Bears quarterback Robert Griffin III won this year's Heisman Trophy, but that particular announcement had zero affect on the betting odds in Las Vegas.

Perhaps, the oddsmakers already juiced the line in anticipation of the junior walking away with the award when they opened up the Bears as 8.5-point favorites over the Washington Huskies.

Baylor seems like the easiest pick on the odds board due to remaining in the state of Texas and playing in the Valero Alamo Bowl.

Watch out.

Michigan State Spartans vs. Georgia Bulldogs

The Georgia Bulldogs opened up as field-goal favorites over the Michigan State Spartans in the Outback Bowl, but that price has moved off the key number and sits at 3.5.

Oddsmakers have done their job in setting the market in this Big Ten-SEC clash, as the wagering is split in half.

Bettors will find that the Bulldogs are 4-1 against the spread (ATS) as a neutral-site favorite of 3.5 to 10 points, while the Spartans are 3-8 ATS as an underdog in the same range.

Wisconsin Badgers vs. Oregon Ducks

The 2012 Rose Bowl will be one of the most heavily bet games of the year due to the potential shootout that many expect between the Oregon Ducks and Wisconsin Badgers.

Oddsmakers sent out the Ducks as 4.5-point favorites, which was bet down for just a moment before climbing to as high as 6.5 on Dec. 5.

The total has settled in at 72.

Stanford Cardinal vs. Oklahoma State Cowboys

Stanford Cardinal quarterback Andrew Luck finished second in the Heisman Trophy race, but next year's potential No. 1 pick is likely focused on pulling off a slight upset over the Oklahoma State Cowboys in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl.

The Cardinal may relish being underdogs for the first time this year, currently getting 3.5 points in the Las Vegas market.

Oklahoma State is a force in this situation, coming in with a 22-4-2 ATS mark as a favorite of 3.5 to 10 points.

Watch this line closely.

Michigan Wolverines vs. Virginia Tech Hokies

The Allstate Sugar Bowl features the Michigan Wolverines and Virginia Tech Hokies—a matchup that has many bettors wondering why one team is even in this game.

Virginia Tech is getting disrespected in the media by earning this spot after suffering a blowout loss to the Clemson Tigers in the ACC championship game.

Early wagering moved the Wolverines from a one-point favorite to 2.5 instantly on Dec. 4.

I'd be surprised if this number doesn't settle in at a field goal.

West Virginia Mountaineers vs. Clemson Tigers

The Clemson Tigers will likely be on every teaser card in Las Vegas when they take on the West Virginia Mountaineers in the Discover Orange Bowl.

Oddsmakers opened up the ACC champions as a pick 'em, but that was obviously a mistake.

No game featured a bigger line move than this one, settling in at 3.5 across the board in town.

The only value left in betting this game is if the Mountaineers start receiving four points near kickoff.

Alabama Crimson Tide vs. LSU Tigers

The Allstate BCS National Championship Game will be the most heavily bet game during the bowl season, as the LSU Tigers were sent out as slight one-point favorites, but the contest has turned into a pick 'em.

Simply picking the winner to cash is easy enough for anyone to understand.

The total has climbed a point from 39 to 40.