New Year’s Day 2013 College Bowl Game Betting Odds: Late Games
Carrie Stroup here with your New Year’s Day 2013 College Bowl game betting odds for Wisconsin vs. Stanford and Northern Illinois vs. FSU. You can bet these games here at Sportsbook.com and receive up to $250 in FREE CASH.
WISCONSIN BADGERS (8-5) vs. STANFORD CARDINAL (11-2)
Sportsbook.ag Line & Total: Stanford -6 & 47
Opening Line & Total: Cardinal -6.5 & 47.5
The Rose Bowl kicks off Tuesday when Big Ten champion Wisconsin faces Pac-12 title winner Stanford.
Wisconsin makes its third straight Rose Bowl appearance, but not with head coach Bret Bielema who surprisingly took the Arkansas job, leaving AD and former coach Barry Alvarez to guide the team. The Badgers are the first five-loss team to play in this bowl, but three of their defeats came in overtime, and they just crushed Nebraska 70-31 in the Big Ten title game. Stanford has been rolling since a controversial loss at Notre Dame, tallying seven straight wins (5-2 ATS). This matchup features two excellent runners in Wisconsin RB Montee Ball (133 rush YPG) and Cardinal RB Stepfan Taylor (111 rush YPG). The Badgers are kind of a mess here. Not only are they putting AD Barry Alvarez back on the sidelines to cover for departed coach Bret Bielema, but they also have a subpar quarterback in Curt Phillips who was allowed to attempt only eight passes in the Big Ten title rout of Nebraska. Wisconsin ran the ball 50 times for 539 yards against Nebraska, but that’s not going to happen with Stanford, which allows 87.7 rushing YPG (3rd in nation). The last time the Badgers faced a run defense in the same class as the Cardinal -- Michigan State (8th in FBS) -- they ran 37 times for 19 yards, with Montee Ball limited to 46 yards on 22 carries.
Wisconsin has lost back-to-back heart breakers in Pasadena, falling 21-19 to TCU in 2011 and 45-38 to Oregon in 2012. However, Alvarez has won all three Rose Bowls he's coached in, and has an impressive 8-3 bowl record. As this could be the final coaching game for Alvarez, it will definitely mark the final collegiate game for Montee Ball, who is the all-time FBS rushing touchdown leader with 76, and his 82 total touchdowns are also an NCAA record. But he wouldn't have these gaudy numbers if he tried to run against a defense like Stanford has (87.7 rushing YPG, 3rd in nation). Wisconsin has yet to determine whether first-string QB Joel Stave will be recovered enough from his broken collarbone sustained on Oct. 27, or if senior Curt Phillips will start under center.
Stanford is playing in its third straight BCS bowl, crushing Virginia Tech 40-12 in the 2011 Orange Bowl and covering the spread in a wild 41-38 overtime loss to Oklahoma State in the 2012 Fiesta Bowl. The Cardinal enter this game red-hot, taking down four straight ranked opponents -- including No. 1 Oregon on the road -- as part of their seven wins in a row. No offensive player is more valuable than Stepfan Taylor who rushed for 1,442 yards this season. It won't be easy adding onto that pile of yards though, as Wisconsin ranks 22nd in the nation in run defense (124.5 YPG). His punishing style of running, and durable frame has allowed Stanford to tally a 32:57 time of possession this year. QB Kevin Hogan has been strong since taking over the starting role, throwing 8 TD and 3 INT while leading his team to 30.8 PPG and 394 total YPG.
NORTHERN ILLINOIS HUSKIES (12-1) vs. FLORIDA STATE SEMINOLES (11-2)
Sportsbook.ag Line & Total: FSU -14.5 & 58.5
Opening Line & Total: Seminoles -14 & 58
Heavy underdog No. 15 Northern Illinois carries a long winning streak down to Miami to take on No. 12 Florida State in Tuesday's Orange Bowl.
Northern Illinois enters this game with a 12-game win streak (8-4 ATS), whereas Florida State is 11-2 SU for the year, but just 4-9 ATS. The Huskies, who have crushed their past two bowl opponents by a combined score of 78 to 37, will face a 'Noles team with a four-game bowl win streak, but three straight losses in the Orange Bowl (2001, 2004 and 2006). NIU is led by dynamic dual-threat QB Jordan Lynch (43 total TD) whose 364 total YPG rank 3rd in the nation. FSU also has a strong signal caller in EJ Manuel (261 total YPG), but its defense is excellent, allowing 254 total YPG (2nd in FBS) and 15.1 PPG (7th in nation). This game means a whole lot more for Northern Illinois than it does for Florida State, which has been one of the worst wagers in the nation this year, going 2-8 ATS in its past 10 games and 0-6 ATS in non-home games in 2012. Although FSU’s defense has the gaudy national rankings facing cupcakes both in and out of the ACC, the ‘Noles have been scalded by good offenses, allowing 37 points to both Clemson and Florida at home. The NIU offense is legitimate, having just hung 44 points and 524 yards against a Kent State team that was unbeaten in the MAC. FSU will find a way to win, but not by two touchdowns.
Northern Illinois is 21-1 in its past 22 games spanning two seasons, so it gives no apologies for becoming the first MAC school to earn a BCS bowl berth. And the Huskies can also take comfort that non-BCS schools are 5-2 all-time in these marquee bowl games. QB Jordan Lynch is a truly incredible player with 2,962 yards and 24 TD through the air and 1,771 yards (NCAA record for QB) and 19 TD on the ground. Lynch has rushed for at least 100 yards in 11 straight games, and is the biggest reason his team scores 38.2 PPG and gains nearly 500 total yards of offense (486 YPG). Senior WR Martel Moore remains Lynch's favorite target, catching 71 passes for 1,054 yards and 12 TD this year. Junior RB Akeem Daniels also makes this offense go, especially in the past two games where he's rushed for 240 yards and five scores. The defense isn't too shabby either, allowing just 19.0 PPG and 139 rushing YPG on 3.3 yards per carry this season.
Florida State still has a lot to prove, as it barely beat 15.5-point underdog Georgia Tech in the ACC Championship by six points, needing an interception in the game's final minute to secure the victory. The 'Noles are certainly capable of putting up points, averaging 39.9 PPG thanks to seven 40-point efforts this year. QB EJ Manuel has been consistently good all season, throwing for 3,101 yards and 22 TD, while adding another 284 yards on the ground. He also has three running backs with more than 550 rushing yards, led by James Wilder Jr.'s 583 yards and 11 touchdowns. Wilder was named MVP of the ACC Championship after rushing for 69 yards and 2 TD on just 10 carries. Florida State's defense has been fierce, but it will no longer be led by defensive coordinator Mike Stoops who took the head coaching job at Kentucky. FSU continues to be anchored by DE Bjoern Werner (13 sacks, 18 TFL).
- Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter
