NCAA COLLEGE BOWL GAMBLING LINES

BCS PREVIEW: No Thorns on This Rose

No. 1 USC duels No. 2 Texas in a national title game that - for once - highlights an outstanding four-game championship series

Dec. 29, 2005

By Carlisle Richards
BodogNation Contributing Writer

2006 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP - THE ROSE BOWL

The BCS has finally got it together.

After three years of senseless numbers, rankings and calculations, the confusing formula that decides the Bowl Championship Series finally came up with the right answer. There will be no controversy, no angry coaches, no fans throwing stones outside the Rose Bowl and no ties for the college football national championship. The BCS has created a collision in Pasadena that has been on every college wishlist since USC was No. 1 and Texas No. 2.

“It’s a perfect match-up for everyone concerned,” USC coach Pete Carroll told the Associated Press this week. “This is an extraordinary opportunity for us, to be able to play in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. It’s the goal of our program. We’ve done everything we can do to focus on that. It’s all we could ever ask for.”

With BCS perfection coming on Wednesday, there will be a true national champion that has been M.I.A. since the Ohio State Buckeyes took home the crown in 2002.

In 2003, the Trojans had to share the title with the LSU Tigers after being left out of the Sugar Bowl. Last year, the 13-0 Auburn Tigers were left out of the championship game while the Trojans beat up on the outmatched Oklahoma Sooners, winning the Orange Bowl in a 55-19 blowout. The dismantling caused many to cry out and demand some kind of playoff system to fix the constant glitches. But this year USC and Texas lived up to their lofty expectations, and left no doubts about who were the top seeds in college football.

“It’s a magical match-up this year,” Rose Bowl chief executive Mitch Dorger said Sunday in the LA Times.

Unparalleled offense is what makes this title game closer than any other on paper. While the Trojans have F1 running back and Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush (1,658 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns while averaging 8.9 yards per carry), the Longhorns have the equally electrifying Heisman runner-up, Vince Young (2,769 passing yards and 26 touchdowns), to keep the Trojan linebackers on spy and the corners eyeing the deep ball.

And with both teams averaging an amazing 50 points per game, questions as to who has the offensive advantage only adds to the drama of the NCAA championship.

“If you have two really beautiful girls, I don’t think you have to pick,” coach Mack Brown told the Times. “They’re both really pretty. These are two great offenses. People that have watched them know that. Fifty points, that’s hard to score.”

Although the Trojans opened as 7-point favorites and are playing in their home state, this game could be a classic nailbiter.

“This game is what everyone wants to see,” Bush said. “It’s what we want to see. We want to see the best team. You aren’t the best until you beat the best.”

FIESTA BOWL: Irish Aim to Cap Dream Season

In his first year, coach Charlie Weis brought Notre Dame football back to prominence. Now, if Weis can end a bowl game losing streak that has lasted for seven games and 12 years, a statue may be built in his honor outside Notre Dame Stadium.

“That’s something that obviously needs to end,” quarterback Brady Quinn told the AP, referring to the bowl losing streak. “It’s been going on far too long.”

If Quinn and the Fighting Irish can continue to tilt the scoreboard (they averaged 38.2 points this season) they may be able to beat one of the best defenses in the country. The Buckeyes have limited opponents to 14.8 points per game and are headlined by Lombardi Award winner A.J. Hawk.

sugar BOWL: BULLDOGS HAPPY TO BE HOME

As if Georgia didn’t already have an advantage over West Virginia because of starting quarterback D.J. Shockley, the Bulldogs also will be playing close to home. Led by the phenomenal Shockley, who put up 2,311 passing yards and 21 touchdowns this season, the Bulldogs - and a large number of their fans - will make the trip from Athens to Atlanta for Monday's game.

“It's going to be a little bit different because it's in a different city, but we love Atlanta,” Georgia coach Mark Richt said to the AP. “We would have been excited to go back to New Orleans because we love it there, but that's not going to happen.”

Since 1935, the Sugar Bowl has been played in New Orleans, but because of the damage wreaked by Hurricane Katrina the game had to be moved out of the Crescent City. Atlanta seemed a logical choice to the Sugar Bowl executive and the decision should delight the Georgia faithful.

If the Altanta fans make the Bulldogs feel at home in the Georgia Dome, there may be no hope for the Mountaineers. The Bulldogs, who last won the Sugar Bowl in 2003, are 5-1 and average 34.5 points per game at home.

ORANGE BOWL: Joe Pa, Penn State Making Believers

Coach Joe Paterno has a chance to cap off a magical rebirth of the Penn State Nittany Lions with a victory over Florida State.

The Nittinany Lions became the unlikely Big Ten champions for the first time in 11 years in a conference that's been dominated by programs such as Ohio State and Michigan.

“People picked us to go sixth in the Big Ten,” quarterback Michael Robinson told the AP. “People said we should be happy with six or seven wins. Now we're on top of the Big Ten.”

Although the 9½-point spread in favor of Penn State tells bettors to expect a blowout, the Seminoles' impressive victory in the ACC title game should be a warning for the Lions. With that 27-22 victory over favored Virginia Tech on Dec. 3, Florida State proved it can compete with the best in the nation. No one should be handing Paterno and Penn State the Orange Bowl crown just yet.

Note: All times Eastern; football lines subject to change

Who's going to beat USC? Anybody? Got an opinion, share it with the Nation.

For more information on Bodog’s NFL Gambling, see https://www.bodog.com/sports-betting/ncaa-college-football.jsp