College Football Handicapping Articles

2011 Virginia Tech Hokies Predictions and BCS Futures Odds
by Alan Matthews - 6/17/2011

It’s not too often that you will say a team that had National Championship aspirations had a pretty good season after starting 0-2, including losing at home to a Division I-AA team. However, Virginia Tech did accomplish some pretty big things in 2010 despite doing exactly that.

College Football Predictions: Who Replaces Jim Tressel at Ohio State?
by Alan Matthews - 5/30/2011

The college football world shifted on its axis on Monday when Ohio State announced it had accepted the resignation of Coach Jim Tressel in the wake of Tressel’s cover up of NCAA infractions by some of his players. And it seemed something new leaked out about the program almost daily. So the Buckeyes brass essentially forced Tressel to quit – with all the negative publicity he probably would have been fired regardless even though Tressel was supported by his athletic director as recently as two weeks ago at the Big Ten meetings.

College Football Championship Predictions and BCS Futures Odds
by David Schwab - 5/24/2011

The first futures odds for the 2012 BCS Championship were actually released before the 2011 BCS title game between Auburn and Oregon was even played. Back in mid-January Bodog opened Oklahoma as the odds-on-favorite at 7/2 to win this year’s title. Four months later the odds have slipped back to 9/2, but the Sooners are still the early favorite to win it all.

BCS National Championship Game Odds With Betting Predictions
by Robert Ferringo - 1/10/2011

Lights. Camera. Action. And like it or not, but the BCS System is about to crown another college football National Champion. Full bragging rights will be claimed and history will be written at 8:30 p.m. tonight when No. 1 Auburn takes on No. 2 Oregon in what promises to be as fast-paced and high-flying BCS National Championship Game. The game will take place at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.

Compass Bowl Predictions: Pitt vs. Kentucky Odds and Betting Picks
by Robert Ferringo - 1/5/2011

So, do you want to coach the Pittsburgh Panthers in their bowl game? Apparently no one else wants the job, as the Panthers are set to take on Kentucky in the Compass Bowl at noon on Saturday, Jan. 8 in Birmingham. Despite the look of a program in disarray, the Panthers are actually favored to topple their SEC opponent.

Predictions for Where Jim Harbaugh Will Coach Next
by T.O. Whenham - 1/5/2011

Everyone loves a good coaching circus, and the one surrounding Stanford’s Jim Harbaugh is as good as any we have seen in a long while. Harbaugh is, to put it mildly, a hot commodity. If you watched the Orange Bowl on Monday night you have a good sense of why.

Sugar Bowl Preview: Ohio State vs. Arkansas
by Robert Ferringo - 1/4/2011

The Buckeyes, the pride of the Big Ten, will take on Arkansas tonight at 8:30 p.m. at the Superdome in New Orleans for the Sugar Bowl. Despite its constant failure on the biggest stages and plenty of off-field controversy, Ohio State has an opportunity to win its record-tying sixth BCS bowl game. Arkansas, on the other hand, is playing in its first.

Orange Bowl Predictions: Stanford vs. Virginia Tech Odds and Betting Picks
by Robert Ferringo - 12/31/2010

“How did they get in here?” I suppose that could be the sentiment toward either of this year’s Orange Bowl teams as both Stanford and Virginia Tech have to be considered somewhat of surprise participants in one of the sport’s most prestigious bowl games. However, they will meet at 8:30 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 3, in the Orange Bowl and the winner will claim a BCS title (though not THE BCS Title) for its faithful fans and followers.

Rose Bowl Predictions: TCU vs. Wisconsin Odds and Betting Picks
by Robert Ferringo - 12/30/2010

All we have heard for the last two years is how TCU and the other mid-major college football teams want a shot at the Big Boys for the Big Money. Well, this year the Horned Frogs are going to get a crack at one of the biggest boys on the block.

Fiesta Bowl Predictions: UConn vs. Oklahoma Odds and Betting Picks
by Aaron Smith - 12/30/2010

There is always a team that ends up in a BCS game when they truly aren’t one of the best in the nation, and this year it is the UConn Huskies. They are representing the Big East, which was just awful all season long. The Huskies were just 8-4 on the year, but they did win their final four games of the season. Can Connecticut come out and prove to the college football world that they belong? They will take on a very talented Oklahoma team that has one of the best offenses in the nation. Kickoff is set for 8:30 p.m. EST on New Year’s Day.

Capital One Bowl Predictions: Michigan State vs. Alabama Odds and Picks
by Alan Matthews - 12/30/2010

For my money, the New Year’s Day Capital One Bowl in Orlando is the best non-BCS bowl this season – and actually I’d argue this Michigan State-Alabama matchup is better than the UConn-Oklahoma Fiesta Bowl. Michigan State (11-1) shared the Big Ten title with Wisconsin and Ohio State and won a school-record 11 games.

Outback Bowl Predictions: Florida vs. Penn State Odds and Betting Picks
by Alan Matthews - 12/30/2010

It seems all the news surrounding the New Year’s Day Outback Bowl in Tampa between Florida (7-5) and Penn State (7-5) is about the teams’ respective coaches and not really a whole lot on the field. Of course, everyone knows by now that this will be the final game in the Florida coaching career of Urban Meyer, who announced he was stepping aside in early December.

Gator Bowl Predictions: Michigan Wolverines vs. Mississippi State Bulldogs Odds
by T.O. Whenham - 12/29/2010

After a two-year absence, the Michigan Wolverines (7-5) return to bowl action -- they face the Mississippi State Bulldogs (8-4) in the Gator Bowl. Game time is 1:30 p.m. EST on New Year’s Day in Gainesville, Florida. This is the first time the storied programs will meet.

TicketCity Bowl Predictions: Northwestern vs. Texas Tech Odds and Picks
by Nicholas Tolomeo - 12/29/2010

Northwestern and Texas Tech have the same New Year’s plans and the same record, but the similarities end there. Both 7-5 teams meet in the inaugural Ticket City Bowl on New Year’s Day at noon EST. Northwestern will be looking for its inaugural bowl win. Texas Tech is shooting for its 12th bowl win and seventh since 2002.

Music City Bowl Predictions: North Carolina vs. Tennessee Odds and Picks
by T.O. Whenham - 12/29/2010

This year’s Music City Bowl features a game I would rather see on the hardwood than the turf -- North Carolina (7-5) and Tennessee (6-6) meet on Thursday, Dec. 30 at 6:30 p.m. EST in Nashville in the home of the Tennessee Titans. Surprisingly, the two programs haven’t played each other since 1961. They were supposed to play twice the next two years,

Liberty Bowl Predictions: Georgia vs. Central Florida Odds and Picks
by Nicholas Tolomeo - 12/29/2010

The matchup will play itself out numerous times over the college football bowl season. A team from a mid-major conference with a better record and ranking and a conference title in tow heads to a December bowl game against a big-time program from a BCS conference that is going through a down year and has suspect motivation for this lower-tier bowl game.

Sun Bowl Predictions: Notre Dame vs. Miami Odds and Picks
by Alan Matthews - 12/29/2010

One of college football’s most-heated and best rivalries, which helped shape the sport in the 1980s, is renewed for the first time in 20 years when Notre Dame faces Miami (Fla.) on New Year’s Eve afternoon in the Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas.

Meineke Car Care Bowl Predictions: South Florida vs. Clemson Odds and Picks
by T.O. Whenham - 12/29/2010

This year’s version of the Meineke Car Care Bowl -- which features South Florida (7-5) and Clemson (6-6) in Charlotte on Friday, Dec. 31 at noon EST -- will be the last under this not particularly long serving or prestigious name. Meineke has moved on, and starting next year the game will have a new and less awkward name - the Belk Bowl. Clemson is making their debut in the game, while South Florida lost to North Carolina State in 2005. The programs have never met on any field.

Chick-fil-A Bowl Predictions: Florida State vs. South Carolina Odds and Picks
by T.O. Whenham - 12/29/2010

The last bowl game of the calendar year kicks off at 7:30 p.m. EST on Friday, Dec.31 in Atlanta when Florida State (9-4) and South Carolina (9-4) clash in the Chick-fil-A bowl. The two teams have no history playing each other -- they haven’t played each other since 1991 -- but there is still a rivalry story here. When South Carolina Coach Steve Spurrier was at Florida his bitter rivalry with Florida State may have been the best in the country.

Holiday Bowl Predictions: Nebraska vs. Washington Odds and Picks
by Nicholas Tolomeo - 12/28/2010

Bowl executives generally try avoiding rematches in bowl games. Nebraska vs. Washington in the Holiday Bowl may be exactly the reason why. Just over three months after the Cornhuskers thumped Washington, 56-21, in Seattle, the two teams are reunited Dec. 30 in the Holiday Bowl at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego at 10 p.m. EST.