SEC Bowl Games: Odds and Picks
Jadaveon Clowney has one last college game before becoming a high draft pick at the Capital One Bowl
The SEC as usual is well represented in the bowl games. Some teams are new though as we do not have the Florida Gators going bowling for the first time in a long time. The last time UF missed the postseason was 1990 and that was because of NCAA probation. Replacing them will be the Missouri Tigers from the Eastern Division who will be taking on an old Big 12 rival in the Oklahoma State Cowboys at the Cotton Bowl. Mizzou should be excited about playing in one of the biggest bowls of the season.
Some of the SEC teams probably feel disappointed in the bowl they got. One such example should be the Vanderbilt Commodores who went 8-4 and yet were sent to the BBVA Compass Bowl in Birmingham to play the Houston Cougars. This should be a fairly entertaining game and Vandy should probably never take any bowl trip for granted, but they should have gotten a better game than this one. How about putting them in the Gator Bowl against the Nebraska Cornhuskers? Instead the Georgia Bulldogs, who played the Huskers last year at the Capital One Bowl will go to the Gator Bowl with an identical 8-4 record and a loss to the Commodores. But money talks and Jacksonville is just across the Georgia state line so it will attract many Bulldogs.
Another team that may not be too motivated to play their game is the Texas A&M Aggies who had visions of playing for a national championship this season but instead went 8-4 and will go to the Chick-Fil-A Bowl to take on the Duke Blue Devils. Another game Vandy will look at and say why not us? This game will be interesting though because it is likely Johnny Manziel‘s last game for A&M as he will be draft eligible next season.
One team that is gladly going to go to their bowl game is the Mississippi State Bulldogs who will be headed to the Liberty Bowl to take on the Conference USA Champion Rice Owls. They finished the regular season 6-6 and had to beat their arch rival Ole Miss Rebels to get into a bowl game. Going to the Liberty Bowl with a win over Ole Miss sure beats sitting home after losing to them.
The Rebels are probably a bit disappointed in their bowl when they will face the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in the Music City Bowl. Ole Miss had a good season going before dropping their last two games. Had they won those, they likely would be playing on New Year’s Day instead of December 30th.
The LSU Tigers are going to the Outback Bowl in Tampa Bay to face the Iowa Hawkeyes. This is a rematch of one of he best bowls in recent memory when these two played in the Citrus Bowl in 2005. Iowa won that game on the final play when they completed a 56 yard Hail Mary for a touchdown to win 30-25.
The South Carolina Gamecocks will once again try to win a New Year’s Day game in Florida over a Big Ten opponent to win 11 games. If they can beat the Wisconsin Badgers, it will be the third straight year they have pulled off the feat.
These are the non-BCS game involving the SEC. We will talk about the BCS Bowls at a later date. Here are some odds on these games on TopBet. Keep in mind these games are still two weeks away or more so these point spreads could fluctuate.
Ole Miss vs Georgia Tech- Ole miss is an early -3 -110 in this one and the Jackets are +3 -110. We like the Rebels to cover in this one.
Mississippi State vs Rice- The Bulldogs are -7 -110 and the Owls +7 -110. We think Rice +7 here.
Texas A&M vs Duke– The Aggies are -11.5 -110 and the Blue Devils are +11.5 -110. Duke doesn’t have enough defense to stop Manziel and the Aggies. Take A&M -11.5.
Georgia vs Nebraska– Georgia is -9 -110 and the Huskers are +9 -110. UGA won this game by 14 last year. But this year Aaron Murray won’t be playing. How motivated will the Bulldogs be when they were thinking national championship when the season began? Take Nebraska +9.
South Carolina vs Wisconsin- South Carolina is +1 -110 and the Badgers are -1 -110. We thought the Gamecocks would be favored. They may be by game day. We like USC +1 -110.
LSU vs Iowa- Iowa is +7.5 -110 and LSU is -7.5 -110. LSU won’t be too motivated in this one either. Take the Hawkeyes +7.5 as they should be fired up to be there.
Vanderbilt vs Houston– Vandy is -3 -110 and Houston is +3 -110. Vandy should still come out and give their best effort even though this may not be the game they thought they should get. They had better because the Cougars are tough. We will take Vandy -3 -110.
Missouri vs Oklahoma State– Mizzou is -1 -110 and the Cowboys are +1 -110. The Tigers were gashed on defense against the Auburn Tigers on the last day of the season while the Cowboys were blowing one to their arch rivals Oklahoma. Which team will shake off the disappointment? We like the Cowboys +1 -110.
