Top 3 Bowl Games to Bet
There are plenty of great wagering opportunities this bowl season, but wading through the multitude of games, (many of which feature teams even casual fans don’t know about) can be a tedious exercise. But don’t worry because I’ve done it for you! Here are three games that are sure winners on the spreads, so enjoy your holiday bonus!
Capitol One Bowl-Nebraska +10 vs. Georgia -10
After getting thrashed by Wisconsin in the Big Ten Championship, confidence has to be at a low for the Cornhuskers coming into this game against one of the most powerful offenses in the nation in Georgia. Georgia may be coming off a loss as well, but it’s game it just as easily could have won against a team, Alabama, that is now in the BCS National Championship Game.
Georgia has more than enough weapons to score on a team that gave up 70 points in its last game and has a strong enough defense to limit Nebraska’s ground attack. The Bulldogs should be able dominate both sides of the ball in this one, which is why I like Georgia to easily cover -10 points against Nebraska. Normally a 10-point spread in a bowl game is worrisome and something to stay away from, but with this match-up, there shouldn’t be any concern.
Sugar Bowl-Louisville +13.5 vs. Florida -13.5
Louisville may have cooled off at the end of the season, but it brings a 10-win squad with it to a showdown with one of the nation’s best defenses in Florida. The Gators escaped several times throughout the year, but flexed their defensive muscle more times than not en route to an 11-1 2012 campaign.
The only games Florida really dominated opponents was ones in which they scored defensively and created tons of turnovers. They certainly could do that against Louisville, but it’s far more likely that the Cardinals will keep things close with their effective offense and fairly strong defense. I don’t see a team that won 10 games getting blown out by the Gators, a team that focuses its offense on the run game. Take Louisville to cover +13.5 in this one, but the Gators to win.
BCS National Championship-Alabama -10 vs. Notre Dame +10
This year’s national title game features two very similar teams in terms of style and strength, which is why it’s surprisingly that the spread is so high at 10 points. Alabama and Notre Dame rank 1st and 2nd in the country on defense respectively, so it’s reasonable to think that the game will be relatively controlled and low-scoring. This is course sets up for a lower margin of victory for the winning team.
I do like Bama in this one. Their experience will help them pull through in the clutch against the Irish, but a 10-point spread is crazy. Notre Dame is a team, the only team, that went undefeated for a reason. They are solid in all phases of the game and are led by some of the best players in the country, including Heisman finalist Manti Te’o. Thinking any team could stomp them by two touchdowns is crazy. Take Notre Dame to cover +10, but Bama to repeat as champs.
