Alabama, Texas meet for BCS Championship
The Crimson Tide won the SEC Championship in convincing fashion over Florida while the Longhorns needed a last-second field goal to top Nebraska and win the Big 12 to claim their spot in the BCS title game. With three other unbeaten schools – Boise St, Cincinnati and TCU – the matchup on Jan 7 between Alabama and Texas certainly generated its share of controversy, but in the end the BCS got its two top teams.
Bettors were perilously close to seeing the Bowl Championship Series turned on its head in the Big 12 Championship Game on Saturday night.
For weeks we’ve all been waiting for the seemingly pre-ordained BCS National Championship Game matchup between the SEC champion and Texas to materialize, and we got our wish when the BCS pairings were announced on Sunday night.
Alabama held up the SEC’s end of the bargain with its 32-13 handling of Florida in the SEC championship game on Saturday, cashing as 4 ½-point underdogs in the win. Matters were much more dramatic for Texas, which needed a 46-yard Hunter Lawrence field goal as time expired to edge Nebraska (+14) 13-12 in the Big 12 title game on Saturday night.
Had the Longhorns blown it against the Cornhuskers, it’s tough to know how the BCS would have shaped up. Texas may still have found itself in the title game, but it’s unlikely. Cincinnati or TCU could have slipped into a showdown with Alabama, with the Longhorns getting dropped to the Fiesta Bowl. In any case, a Texas loss to Nebraska would have created even more controversy than already exists with regards to the BCS.
BCS National Championship Game: No. 2 Texas vs. No. 1 Alabama (-4½, 45)
Jan 7, 8:00 p.m. (ET) ABC
Oddsmakers opened the Crimson Tide (13-0, 8-5 ATS) as 4-point favorites for their battle with the Longhorns (13-0, 5-7-1 ATS) at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, but they were quickly bet up to -4 ½ and -5 at most sportsbooks.
Chalk up the line movement to Alabama’s impressive performance against Florida. The Tide went 11-of-15 on third down in their win over the Gators, who had only 89 yards rushing at the Georgia Dome. Alabama racked up 251 yards on the ground of its own including 113 yards and three touchdowns from Heisman Trophy candidate Mark Ingram.
If there’s a team that can handle Ingram it’s Texas. The Longhorns lead the country in run defense at 62.3 yards against per game.
Orange Bowl: No. 10 Iowa vs. No. 9 Georgia Tech (-3½)
Jan 5, 8:00 p.m. (ET) FOX
Quarterback Richard Stanzi (ankle) is expected to be back under center when the Hawkeyes (10-2, 7-4 ATS) clash with the Yellow Jackets (11-2, 8-4 ATS) at LandShark Stadium in Miami.
Stanzi missed both of Iowa’s games to end the Big Ten schedule, and was limited in its upset loss to Northwestern in Week 10. With Stanzi back calling plays, the Hawkeyes are a sharp play against the Jackets. The ACC champion, Georgia Tech, is representing a conference that’s only 1-8 ATS in the BCS this decade.
Fiesta Bowl: No. 6 Boise State vs. No. 4 TCU (-8)
Jan 4, 8:00 p.m. (ET) FOX
The Horned Frogs (12-0, 8-4 ATS) and Broncos (13-0, 8-5 ATS) meet in a redux of last season’s Poinsettia Bowl in Glendale at University of Phoenix Stadium.
Books like Texas Christian by more than a touchdown, even if it trimmed Boise State by only a point when the schools met last December. The Broncos covered as 3.5-point pups in the Frogs’ 17-16 win, although the current Mountain West champs outgained Boise State 472-250 on the day.
Rose Bowl: No. 8 Ohio State vs. No. 7 Oregon (-3½)
Jan 1, 4:30 p.m. (ET) ABC
Two worlds collide when the Buckeyes (10-2, 9-3 ATS) tackle the Ducks (10-2, 7-5 ATS) in Pasadena in the Granddaddy of Them All.
On top of its impressive mark against the spread, Ohio State has been almost as profitable as an under wager this season, going 3-8-1 O/U.
High-flying Oregon has played over in nine of 12 games this season, including in six consecutive contests (5-1 SU, 3-3 ATS) to close out the Pac-10 slate.
Sugar Bowl: No. 5 Florida vs. No. 3 Cincinnati (+11)
Jan 1, 8:30 p.m. (ET) FOX
The Big East champion Bearcats (12-0, 6-6 ATS) are seeing the most points of any BCS team for their matchup with the Gators (12-1, 6-6 ATS) at the Superdome in New Orleans.
Cincinnati has to overcome the rumors surrounding head coach Brian Kelly’s potential departure to Notre Dame to prepare for Florida. For their part, the Gators have to avoid a huge letdown after falling to Alabama.
The Bearcats haven’t lit it up at the window lately. Cincy has dropped four in a row against the number after failing to cover as 1 ½-point road chalk in their 45-44 shading of Pittsburgh in the Big East finale on Saturday afternoon.
The Crimson Tide won the SEC Championship in convincing fashion over Florida while the Longhorns needed a last-second field goal to top Nebraska and win the Big 12 to claim their spot in the BCS title game. With three other unbeaten schools – Boise St, Cincinnati and TCU – the matchup on Jan 7 between Alabama and Texas certainly generated its share of controversy, but in the end the BCS got its two top teams.
Bettors were perilously close to seeing the Bowl Championship Series turned on its head in the Big 12 Championship Game on Saturday night.
For weeks we’ve all been waiting for the seemingly pre-ordained BCS National Championship Game matchup between the SEC champion and Texas to materialize, and we got our wish when the BCS pairings were announced on Sunday night.
Alabama held up the SEC’s end of the bargain with its 32-13 handling of Florida in the SEC championship game on Saturday, cashing as 4 ½-point underdogs in the win. Matters were much more dramatic for Texas, which needed a 46-yard Hunter Lawrence field goal as time expired to edge Nebraska (+14) 13-12 in the Big 12 title game on Saturday night.
Had the Longhorns blown it against the Cornhuskers, it’s tough to know how the BCS would have shaped up. Texas may still have found itself in the title game, but it’s unlikely. Cincinnati or TCU could have slipped into a showdown with Alabama, with the Longhorns getting dropped to the Fiesta Bowl. In any case, a Texas loss to Nebraska would have created even more controversy than already exists with regards to the BCS.
BCS National Championship Game: No. 2 Texas vs. No. 1 Alabama (-4½, 45)
Jan 7, 8:00 p.m. (ET) ABC
Oddsmakers opened the Crimson Tide (13-0, 8-5 ATS) as 4-point favorites for their battle with the Longhorns (13-0, 5-7-1 ATS) at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, but they were quickly bet up to -4 ½ and -5 at most sportsbooks.
Chalk up the line movement to Alabama’s impressive performance against Florida. The Tide went 11-of-15 on third down in their win over the Gators, who had only 89 yards rushing at the Georgia Dome. Alabama racked up 251 yards on the ground of its own including 113 yards and three touchdowns from Heisman Trophy candidate Mark Ingram.
If there’s a team that can handle Ingram it’s Texas. The Longhorns lead the country in run defense at 62.3 yards against per game.
Orange Bowl: No. 10 Iowa vs. No. 9 Georgia Tech (-3½)
Jan 5, 8:00 p.m. (ET) FOX
Quarterback Richard Stanzi (ankle) is expected to be back under center when the Hawkeyes (10-2, 7-4 ATS) clash with the Yellow Jackets (11-2, 8-4 ATS) at LandShark Stadium in Miami.
Stanzi missed both of Iowa’s games to end the Big Ten schedule, and was limited in its upset loss to Northwestern in Week 10. With Stanzi back calling plays, the Hawkeyes are a sharp play against the Jackets. The ACC champion, Georgia Tech, is representing a conference that’s only 1-8 ATS in the BCS this decade.
Fiesta Bowl: No. 6 Boise State vs. No. 4 TCU (-8)
Jan 4, 8:00 p.m. (ET) FOX
The Horned Frogs (12-0, 8-4 ATS) and Broncos (13-0, 8-5 ATS) meet in a redux of last season’s Poinsettia Bowl in Glendale at University of Phoenix Stadium.
Books like Texas Christian by more than a touchdown, even if it trimmed Boise State by only a point when the schools met last December. The Broncos covered as 3.5-point pups in the Frogs’ 17-16 win, although the current Mountain West champs outgained Boise State 472-250 on the day.
Rose Bowl: No. 8 Ohio State vs. No. 7 Oregon (-3½)
Jan 1, 4:30 p.m. (ET) ABC
Two worlds collide when the Buckeyes (10-2, 9-3 ATS) tackle the Ducks (10-2, 7-5 ATS) in Pasadena in the Granddaddy of Them All.
On top of its impressive mark against the spread, Ohio State has been almost as profitable as an under wager this season, going 3-8-1 O/U.
High-flying Oregon has played over in nine of 12 games this season, including in six consecutive contests (5-1 SU, 3-3 ATS) to close out the Pac-10 slate.
Sugar Bowl: No. 5 Florida vs. No. 3 Cincinnati (+11)
Jan 1, 8:30 p.m. (ET) FOX
The Big East champion Bearcats (12-0, 6-6 ATS) are seeing the most points of any BCS team for their matchup with the Gators (12-1, 6-6 ATS) at the Superdome in New Orleans.
Cincinnati has to overcome the rumors surrounding head coach Brian Kelly’s potential departure to Notre Dame to prepare for Florida. For their part, the Gators have to avoid a huge letdown after falling to Alabama.
The Bearcats haven’t lit it up at the window lately. Cincy has dropped four in a row against the number after failing to cover as 1 ½-point road chalk in their 45-44 shading of Pittsburgh in the Big East finale on Saturday afternoon.