2011 Bowl Predictions: The One Bet You Absolutely Need To Make

The BCS bowl schedule has been out for quite some time now and so have the betting odds for every bowl game. If you're a smart gambler you have already taken a look at the lines and tried to find an advantage anywhere you can.

Of course, if you don't see anything you like right away, you wait for the line to move up or down in your favor.

Looking at the BCS bowl lines, there is one line that you absolutely need to pound. And that line would be Stanford +3.5 over Oklahoma State. 

I'll take Andrew Luck and the Stanford offense, over the Cowboys defense that is ranked 107th in the country any day. Sure, Oklahoma State has forced 42 turnovers which is the most in the country, but that would mean Stanford would have to turn the ball over.

As a team they've only turned it over 15 teams this season, which is tied for 10th best in the country. Andrew Luck is also averaging just one interception every 50 passes.

Playing defense like this may have worked well for the Cowboys all season but I don't see it happening this time.

Stanford's defense, on the other hand, is ranked 25th in the country as they only allow 331 total yards. And those stats count as they play offensive powerhouses like USC, Oregon, Notre Dame and underrated teams like Washington State and Washington.

Then you throw in the letdown factor that Oklahoma State will be experiencing, and I like Stanford even more. The Cowboys wanted to play in the national championship game and will likely have a difficult time waking up for this game.

We've seen it every year. The disappointed team always comes out flat and gets destroyed by the motivated team that is just happy to be playing in a BCS bowl.

So, you have two great offensive teams and one team that plays defense, while the other doesn't. That team that doesn't play defense is also not happy with this game to begin with. Then you throw in the fact that it's probably Luck's last game at Stanford, and he'd like it to be a victory.

The choice is easy for me.

Stanford is 7-0 against the spread in their last seven non-conference games.

Pick: Stanford +3.5

Randy Chambers is a B/R Featured Columnist that covers college football and the NFL. You can contact him @Randy_Chambers or [e-mail]