USC Trojans, Clemson weekend bowl favorites
After seven consecutive BCS bowl appearances, the Trojans will appear in the Emerald Bowl this holiday season after a most disappointing campaign for Pete Carroll's Southern Cal squad. Will USC find it tough to get up for their Saturday match against Boston College? In Sunday's Music City Bowl, Clemson carries touchdown chalk into its battle against the Kentucky Wildcats who will be directed by freshman QB Morgan Newton.
College football’s bowl season is supposed to be a great time for the underdogs, and 2009 has certainly followed that modus operandi.
Three underdogs won outright in the first four bowl games, the only exception being Rutgers (-2.5) in the St. Petersburg Bowl. Will the dogs keep barking in Week 2?
Emerald Bowl: Boston College vs. No. 24 Southern California (-7½, 44)
Saturday, Dec 26 - 8:00 p.m. (ET) ESPN
Only one of those four bowl games had a spread over four points. It should be considerably more difficult for Boston College (8-4 SU, 6-5 ATS) to beat the mighty USC Trojans (8-4 SU 3-9 ATS) at San Francisco’s AT&T Park.
But there are so many factors playing to the advantage of the Eagles in this matchup. The biggest: RB Joe McKnight (6.2 yards per carry) was still in Los Angeles at press time, reportedly dealing with an investigation into whether he received an improper perk, specifically the use of an SUV belonging to a Santa Monica businessman.
Also, tight end Anthony McCoy (22 catches), offensive tackle Tyron Smith, and defensive end Averell Spicer have all been ruled academically ineligible for USC.
Momentum is clearly not on the side of the Trojans this year. They not only failed to get into the Rose Bowl, but USC also lost three of its last five games and ended the regular season on a 1-6 ATS slide to fall out of contention for the more prestigious Holiday Bowl – No. 20 Arizona made it there instead. The Trojans had been to seven consecutive BSC bowls before this year. It’s impossible to overlook the role that motivation could play in this matchup.
Boston College is very happy to be here in its first season under coach and former defensive coordinator Frank Spaziani. The Eagles are the kind of nondescript team that can give you betting value against a media darling like USC. This is the No. 2-ranked defense in the nation according to Brian Fremeau’s efficiency numbers, and RB Montel Harris (4.8 yards per carry) is one of the better players in the game.
It’s easy to see why the line has dropped from USC -9 at the open. A 25 percent chance of rain in San Fran could also work in B.C.’s favor. And, of course, there’s that wonderful half-point.
Music City Bowl: Kentucky vs. Clemson (-7, 51½)
Sunday, Dec 27 - 8:30 p.m. (ET) ESPN
The Tigers (8-5 SU and ATS) will have to settle for laying seven points as they host the Wildcats (7-5 SU, 6-6 ATS) in Nashville. Temperatures will be around freezing, which will be unusual conditions for a Clemson team that’s already feeling a bit down in the mouth after losing the ACC title game – and a place in the Orange Bowl – to Georgia Tech.
But the Tigers are still expected by many observers to romp in this matchup. They’re ranked No. 19 in overall efficiency with Kentucky, the fourth-place team in the SEC East, much farther down the list at No. 44. However, Clemson has also dropped the cash in three straight games after an excellent midseason run.
Kentucky is also in need of a hug after losing in overtime to Tennessee (-3) to end the regular season and miss out on something bigger, like the Outback Bowl. The Wildcats are another one of those staunch running teams, handing the ball off 509 times compared to 300 pass attempts and gaining 4.6 yards per carry as a team.
Not bad. The emphasis on running became even more important when freshman QB Morgan Newton (five TDs, three INTs) had to take over for the injured Mike Hartline (six TDs, seven INTs) in Week 7.
Hartline will reportedly miss the Music City Bowl as well because of swelling in his knee. The ‘Cats were 5-2 SU and 4-3 ATS with Newton on the field, taking the 'over' to a 4-3 record.
The 'over' has also cashed in five times in a row for Clemson; however, all that scoring could slow down in the cold air at LP Field. Happy Holidays.
After seven consecutive BCS bowl appearances, the Trojans will appear in the Emerald Bowl this holiday season after a most disappointing campaign for Pete Carroll's Southern Cal squad. Will USC find it tough to get up for their Saturday match against Boston College? In Sunday's Music City Bowl, Clemson carries touchdown chalk into its battle against the Kentucky Wildcats who will be directed by freshman QB Morgan Newton.
College football’s bowl season is supposed to be a great time for the underdogs, and 2009 has certainly followed that modus operandi.
Three underdogs won outright in the first four bowl games, the only exception being Rutgers (-2.5) in the St. Petersburg Bowl. Will the dogs keep barking in Week 2?
Emerald Bowl: Boston College vs. No. 24 Southern California (-7½, 44)
Saturday, Dec 26 - 8:00 p.m. (ET) ESPN
Only one of those four bowl games had a spread over four points. It should be considerably more difficult for Boston College (8-4 SU, 6-5 ATS) to beat the mighty USC Trojans (8-4 SU 3-9 ATS) at San Francisco’s AT&T Park.
But there are so many factors playing to the advantage of the Eagles in this matchup. The biggest: RB Joe McKnight (6.2 yards per carry) was still in Los Angeles at press time, reportedly dealing with an investigation into whether he received an improper perk, specifically the use of an SUV belonging to a Santa Monica businessman.
Also, tight end Anthony McCoy (22 catches), offensive tackle Tyron Smith, and defensive end Averell Spicer have all been ruled academically ineligible for USC.
Momentum is clearly not on the side of the Trojans this year. They not only failed to get into the Rose Bowl, but USC also lost three of its last five games and ended the regular season on a 1-6 ATS slide to fall out of contention for the more prestigious Holiday Bowl – No. 20 Arizona made it there instead. The Trojans had been to seven consecutive BSC bowls before this year. It’s impossible to overlook the role that motivation could play in this matchup.
Boston College is very happy to be here in its first season under coach and former defensive coordinator Frank Spaziani. The Eagles are the kind of nondescript team that can give you betting value against a media darling like USC. This is the No. 2-ranked defense in the nation according to Brian Fremeau’s efficiency numbers, and RB Montel Harris (4.8 yards per carry) is one of the better players in the game.
It’s easy to see why the line has dropped from USC -9 at the open. A 25 percent chance of rain in San Fran could also work in B.C.’s favor. And, of course, there’s that wonderful half-point.
Music City Bowl: Kentucky vs. Clemson (-7, 51½)
Sunday, Dec 27 - 8:30 p.m. (ET) ESPN
The Tigers (8-5 SU and ATS) will have to settle for laying seven points as they host the Wildcats (7-5 SU, 6-6 ATS) in Nashville. Temperatures will be around freezing, which will be unusual conditions for a Clemson team that’s already feeling a bit down in the mouth after losing the ACC title game – and a place in the Orange Bowl – to Georgia Tech.
But the Tigers are still expected by many observers to romp in this matchup. They’re ranked No. 19 in overall efficiency with Kentucky, the fourth-place team in the SEC East, much farther down the list at No. 44. However, Clemson has also dropped the cash in three straight games after an excellent midseason run.
Kentucky is also in need of a hug after losing in overtime to Tennessee (-3) to end the regular season and miss out on something bigger, like the Outback Bowl. The Wildcats are another one of those staunch running teams, handing the ball off 509 times compared to 300 pass attempts and gaining 4.6 yards per carry as a team.
Not bad. The emphasis on running became even more important when freshman QB Morgan Newton (five TDs, three INTs) had to take over for the injured Mike Hartline (six TDs, seven INTs) in Week 7.
Hartline will reportedly miss the Music City Bowl as well because of swelling in his knee. The ‘Cats were 5-2 SU and 4-3 ATS with Newton on the field, taking the 'over' to a 4-3 record.
The 'over' has also cashed in five times in a row for Clemson; however, all that scoring could slow down in the cold air at LP Field. Happy Holidays.