Best Bowl Bets

With bowl season just around the corner here are some lines to jump on if you need to recoup some Christmas cash.

BYU -4 Oregon
Don't worry about the fact that this contest matches up Mountain West vs Pac 10. The reason this line isn't higher is because people look at this matchup and say the following:
1) Oregon went 10-2 last year.
2)BYU still has a team?
3) Oregon beat Oklahoma.
Tackling each in order.
1) Yes they did, but Arkansas and Wake Forest both went 4-7 last year. Things change.
2) Yes they do.
3) If that game was officiated correctly, Oregon would be 6-6 and possibly staying home for the holidays.
BYU's only losses were at Arizona (by 3) and at BC (by 7 in OT). That Arizona loss was the season opener and BC, well they are pretty good. Since that game, BYU has been challeneged once, by arch-rival Utah. They've won 9 in a row. Oregon has lost three straight including a 27 point home loss to Arizona and are only 2-4 away from home this year.

South Florida -3.5 East Carolina
The Golden Bulls are one of the most well coached in college football (Jim Leavitt is the man). They have won 3 of their last 4 including an impressive road win at West Virginia to conclude the regular season. The Bulls play in a better conference, have a better record, a better defense, and a better point differential. All signs point to a South Florida cover.

Rutgers -7.5 Kansas State
The only reason to fear the Scaret Knights would not cover here is motivation. After dropping a heartbreaker to West Virginia, the Knights get bumped from the Orange Bowl to the Texas Bowl. A bowl game being televised on the NFL Network. So it will be seen by fewer people than an episode of Daybreak. Still Rutgers has one of the best defenses in the nation and should be able to shut down the Wildcats offensive attack.

Virginia Tech -2.5 Georgia
Statistically, the Hokies have the best defense in the nation and have given up exactly two touchdowns in their last 6 games. And they're favored by less than a fiedl goal over a team that lost to Vandy and Kentucky? Yes Georgia spanked Auburn (in Auburn) and hung on against Georgia tech, but Auburn was not as strong as their 10-2 record would indicate (their offense broke 30 once in conference play) and Georgia Tech, well Reggie Ball is their quarterback.

Ohio State -8 Florida
This reminds me a lot of 2001 when Miami was head and shoulders above every other team. Ohio State's defense is very good. Put Chris Leak down for at least 2 throws off his back foot that result in interceptions. And Ohio State's quarterback is pretty good too. The Florida defense (as it has done all season) and some tricky eyer play calls will keep the Gators in it for the first 30 minutes, but tOSU will roll in the second half.