College football betting comes to a close when the Alabama Crimson Tide and Texas Longhorns collide for the national title at the Rose Bowl tonight (December 7th, 2010). Oddsmakers have set the college football point spread at -4 in favor of Alabama, while the total is set at 46 points.
BetUS Sportsbook has been kind enough to provide us with this awesome commentary on the BCS Championship and the betting odds plus spread for those that would like to bet on the game. Make sure to use BetUS as your sportsbook of choice for the BCS Championship Game.
Ever since the teams were ranked No. 1 and No. 2 at the beginning of bowl season, the spotlight has shone the brightest on the big-name talents – players like Texas quarterback Colt McCoy and Alabama’s Heisman-winning running back Mark Ingram.
There has been a lot of talk about the two teams’ defenses, which both ranked among the Top 3 in the country. As well as a lot of coverage on the coaching battle between the Crimson Tide’s Nick Saban and the Longhorns’ Mack Brown.
However, when the whistle blows and push comes to shove, it will be some of the lesser-known players making the difference. Colt McCoy and Ingram will do what they do, but the winning team will be the one whose talents step up to the challenge.
D.J. Monroe/Marquise Goodwin (Texas KR)
Perhaps the biggest wild card heading into Thursday’s title game is the status of Longhorns kick returner D.J. Monroe. The talented red-shirt freshman, who was second in average kick return yards in the nation with almost 36 per game including two touchdowns, has missed the last three games after getting arrested for a DWI in November. Freshman Marquise Goodwin could get the nod from coach Brown, who hasn’t decided who he will start on special teams. Goodwin has averaged just over 22 yards per return and found the end zone in a win over Texas A&M. Alabama is susceptible to big returns on special teams, ranking second last in the SEC in opposing kick return yards (26.55) and giving up two touchdowns on returns this season.
Trent Richardson (Alabama RB)
Richardson put together an impressive freshman campaign behind Ingram. He rushed for 640 total yards (49.23 per game) and found the end zone six times. Against Florida in the SEC Championship, the explosive back carried the ball 11 times for 80 yards and finished ranked 13th in the conference in yards per game.
Hunter Lawerence (Texas K)
If it wasn’t for the steady foot of Hunter Lawerence, the Horns wouldn’t be in the national title game. The senior kicker launched a 46-yard field goal as time expired to edge the Nebraska Cornhuskers 13-12 in the Big 12 Championship. He has hit 88 percent of his field goal attempts this season and hasn’t missed since a blowout win over UCF on November 7. Last season, he was perfect in Texas’ win over Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl, booting one field goal and three extra points.
Colin Peek (Alabama TE)
Alabama’s tight end is quickly becoming the team’s go-to guy in the crunch. Colin Peek was on the receiving end of a touchdown in each of the Tide’s last two wins, including a 39-yard day on three catches against the Gators. The Georgia Tech transfer was recently on the cover of Sports Illustrated catching that score against Florida and is playing a bigger role since returning from a knee injury.
Thursday, January 7th – Rose Bowl (Pasadena, CA) – 8:15 PM ET
Rose Bowl Betting Spread: Alabama -4
Texas: The Week That Was
The Longhorns were very fortunate to slip by the Nebraska Cornhuskers, 13-12, and win the Big 12 Championship Game. Texas didn’t figure to be sorely tested by Nebraska, but with defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh sacking UT quarterback Colt McCoy four and a half times, the Huskers carried the play for most of the evening. Heading into the final few seconds of regulation time, Mack Brown’s Longhorns trailed by a score of 12-10.
Then Texas got very lucky. McCoy threw a pass out of bounds with one second left, while Nebraska’s coaches argued that time had expired. UT kicker Hunter Lawrence was able to step onto the field and hit a 46-yard field goal on the final play to lift the Longhorns to victory.
Alabama: The Week That Was
The Crimson Tide maxed out in a forceful 32-13 thumping of Florida in the SEC Championship Game on Dec. 5 in Atlanta. For a full year, Nick Saban’s squad dreamed of getting a rematch against the same group of Gators that defeated the Tide in the 2008 SEC title tilt. Those 12 months of waiting were channeled into a frighteningly good performance, as Alabama whipped the defending national champions on both sides of the ball. The Tide outrushed Florida, 251 yards to 88, and converted 11 of 15 third downs compared to the Gators’ 4 of 11 rate. After taking a 19-13 lead to the locker room at halftime, Bama shut out Florida in the second half and pulled away for an easy 19-point triumph.
The Week That Is:
The last time Texas played in a national championship game – the 2006 Rose Bowl – the Longhorns were a clear underdog to a team that was perceived to be vastly superior. The USC Trojans were being hailed as one of the great college football teams of all time, but Mack Brown’s boys begged to differ. Quarterback Vince Young led a spirited comeback from a late 38-26 deficit, as Texas tripped the Trojans, 41-38, on a touchdown with 19 seconds left in regulation time.
Let that occasion serve as an example of what could happen when Texas faces Alabama for the 2009 national championship. Alabama played the best game it could possibly play one month ago against Florida, while Texas’s offense couldn’t have played any worse than it did against Nebraska in the Big 12 Championship Game. Alabama will come down to earth, and Texas will be better. The question is this: Will Texas improve enough to beat a less-than-perfect Bama bunch?
The odds suggest not. Texas has struggled on offense for much of the year, and Alabama’s physicality is second to none. The Longhorns might start strong, but Bama should wear down Texas in the fourth quarter.
Rose Bowl Betting Pick: Alabama -4
Former Heisman Trophy winner and All-Pro wide receiver Tim Brown has been bringing his football expertise into your living room all season long at Betflix at BetUS, giving you his college football betting picks. And he’s back this week, to bring you his preview of the biggest game of the year: The 2010 BCS National Championship game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Texas Longhorns.
In the game, Brown likes Alabama. As he mentioned, for Alabama, it starts with their No. 1 ranked defense, which allowed just 11 points per game this year.
It is a defense that is led by several All-Americans, including Butkus award winner Rolando McClain, and is a group which did an excellent job of shutting down Tim Tebow and the high-scoring Florida offense in the SEC Championship game. In the game, Florida, a team which was averaging over 30 points per contest coming in, was held to just 13 by Alabama’s aggressive defensive attack. The Crimson Tide also ranked second in college football in total defense, allowing just 241 yards per game, as well as second in run defense as well.
Brown also believes that Alabama’s offense is due for its biggest game of the year. He cites Heisman Trophy winning running back Mark Ingram as the biggest difference in this game. Ingram finished the season rushing for 1542 yards and 15 touchdowns. In his analysis of this game, Brown compares Ingram’s skill at running back to one of the all-time greats, former Dallas Cowboy Emmitt Smith.
Alabama is a team which got better in every game it played, finishing 13-0 in the rugged SEC. Included in those 13 wins, were a staggering nine against bowl teams, with six of those victories coming by double-digits. And not only were they the only team to beat Florida in 2009, but as we mentioned before, they did so in dominating fashion.
The biggest key for Alabama that Brown didn’t have time to mention, is the continued development of quarterback Greg McElroy. The redshirt junior came into this season having never started a game in Tuscaloosa, and obviously went undefeated in his first year replacing the departed John Parker Wilson.
McElroy got better as the season went on as well, throwing for eight touchdowns and just one interception in his last five games. He also completed over 66 percent of his passes in the last two wins, victories over Auburn and Florida, both winners this bowl season.
Alabama is the favorite, and our expert Tim Brown likes the Tide to win comfortably. To get insight from the former NFL superstar on all of this week’s football action, including his thoughts on the NFL playoff betting odds, be sure to visit Tim Brown in the BetFlix film room at BetUS.
What’s your take on this game? Do you think Alabama or Texas will win the game? Will Alabama cover the spread (4 points)?
BetUS Sportsbook has been kind enough to provide us with this awesome commentary on the BCS Championship and the betting odds plus spread for those that would like to bet on the game. Make sure to use BetUS as your sportsbook of choice for the BCS Championship Game.
Ever since the teams were ranked No. 1 and No. 2 at the beginning of bowl season, the spotlight has shone the brightest on the big-name talents – players like Texas quarterback Colt McCoy and Alabama’s Heisman-winning running back Mark Ingram.
There has been a lot of talk about the two teams’ defenses, which both ranked among the Top 3 in the country. As well as a lot of coverage on the coaching battle between the Crimson Tide’s Nick Saban and the Longhorns’ Mack Brown.
However, when the whistle blows and push comes to shove, it will be some of the lesser-known players making the difference. Colt McCoy and Ingram will do what they do, but the winning team will be the one whose talents step up to the challenge.
Impact Players
D.J. Monroe/Marquise Goodwin (Texas KR)
Perhaps the biggest wild card heading into Thursday’s title game is the status of Longhorns kick returner D.J. Monroe. The talented red-shirt freshman, who was second in average kick return yards in the nation with almost 36 per game including two touchdowns, has missed the last three games after getting arrested for a DWI in November. Freshman Marquise Goodwin could get the nod from coach Brown, who hasn’t decided who he will start on special teams. Goodwin has averaged just over 22 yards per return and found the end zone in a win over Texas A&M. Alabama is susceptible to big returns on special teams, ranking second last in the SEC in opposing kick return yards (26.55) and giving up two touchdowns on returns this season.
Trent Richardson (Alabama RB)
Richardson put together an impressive freshman campaign behind Ingram. He rushed for 640 total yards (49.23 per game) and found the end zone six times. Against Florida in the SEC Championship, the explosive back carried the ball 11 times for 80 yards and finished ranked 13th in the conference in yards per game.
Hunter Lawerence (Texas K)
If it wasn’t for the steady foot of Hunter Lawerence, the Horns wouldn’t be in the national title game. The senior kicker launched a 46-yard field goal as time expired to edge the Nebraska Cornhuskers 13-12 in the Big 12 Championship. He has hit 88 percent of his field goal attempts this season and hasn’t missed since a blowout win over UCF on November 7. Last season, he was perfect in Texas’ win over Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl, booting one field goal and three extra points.
Colin Peek (Alabama TE)
Alabama’s tight end is quickly becoming the team’s go-to guy in the crunch. Colin Peek was on the receiving end of a touchdown in each of the Tide’s last two wins, including a 39-yard day on three catches against the Gators. The Georgia Tech transfer was recently on the cover of Sports Illustrated catching that score against Florida and is playing a bigger role since returning from a knee injury.
BCS Championship Gambling Odds
Thursday, January 7th – Rose Bowl (Pasadena, CA) – 8:15 PM ET
Rose Bowl Betting Spread: Alabama -4
Texas: The Week That Was
The Longhorns were very fortunate to slip by the Nebraska Cornhuskers, 13-12, and win the Big 12 Championship Game. Texas didn’t figure to be sorely tested by Nebraska, but with defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh sacking UT quarterback Colt McCoy four and a half times, the Huskers carried the play for most of the evening. Heading into the final few seconds of regulation time, Mack Brown’s Longhorns trailed by a score of 12-10.
Then Texas got very lucky. McCoy threw a pass out of bounds with one second left, while Nebraska’s coaches argued that time had expired. UT kicker Hunter Lawrence was able to step onto the field and hit a 46-yard field goal on the final play to lift the Longhorns to victory.
Alabama: The Week That Was
The Crimson Tide maxed out in a forceful 32-13 thumping of Florida in the SEC Championship Game on Dec. 5 in Atlanta. For a full year, Nick Saban’s squad dreamed of getting a rematch against the same group of Gators that defeated the Tide in the 2008 SEC title tilt. Those 12 months of waiting were channeled into a frighteningly good performance, as Alabama whipped the defending national champions on both sides of the ball. The Tide outrushed Florida, 251 yards to 88, and converted 11 of 15 third downs compared to the Gators’ 4 of 11 rate. After taking a 19-13 lead to the locker room at halftime, Bama shut out Florida in the second half and pulled away for an easy 19-point triumph.
The Week That Is:
The last time Texas played in a national championship game – the 2006 Rose Bowl – the Longhorns were a clear underdog to a team that was perceived to be vastly superior. The USC Trojans were being hailed as one of the great college football teams of all time, but Mack Brown’s boys begged to differ. Quarterback Vince Young led a spirited comeback from a late 38-26 deficit, as Texas tripped the Trojans, 41-38, on a touchdown with 19 seconds left in regulation time.
Let that occasion serve as an example of what could happen when Texas faces Alabama for the 2009 national championship. Alabama played the best game it could possibly play one month ago against Florida, while Texas’s offense couldn’t have played any worse than it did against Nebraska in the Big 12 Championship Game. Alabama will come down to earth, and Texas will be better. The question is this: Will Texas improve enough to beat a less-than-perfect Bama bunch?
The odds suggest not. Texas has struggled on offense for much of the year, and Alabama’s physicality is second to none. The Longhorns might start strong, but Bama should wear down Texas in the fourth quarter.
Rose Bowl Betting Pick: Alabama -4
Former NFL All-Pro Wide Reciever Tim Brown Makes His BCS Championship Prediction
Former Heisman Trophy winner and All-Pro wide receiver Tim Brown has been bringing his football expertise into your living room all season long at Betflix at BetUS, giving you his college football betting picks. And he’s back this week, to bring you his preview of the biggest game of the year: The 2010 BCS National Championship game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Texas Longhorns.
In the game, Brown likes Alabama. As he mentioned, for Alabama, it starts with their No. 1 ranked defense, which allowed just 11 points per game this year.
It is a defense that is led by several All-Americans, including Butkus award winner Rolando McClain, and is a group which did an excellent job of shutting down Tim Tebow and the high-scoring Florida offense in the SEC Championship game. In the game, Florida, a team which was averaging over 30 points per contest coming in, was held to just 13 by Alabama’s aggressive defensive attack. The Crimson Tide also ranked second in college football in total defense, allowing just 241 yards per game, as well as second in run defense as well.
Brown also believes that Alabama’s offense is due for its biggest game of the year. He cites Heisman Trophy winning running back Mark Ingram as the biggest difference in this game. Ingram finished the season rushing for 1542 yards and 15 touchdowns. In his analysis of this game, Brown compares Ingram’s skill at running back to one of the all-time greats, former Dallas Cowboy Emmitt Smith.
Alabama is a team which got better in every game it played, finishing 13-0 in the rugged SEC. Included in those 13 wins, were a staggering nine against bowl teams, with six of those victories coming by double-digits. And not only were they the only team to beat Florida in 2009, but as we mentioned before, they did so in dominating fashion.
The biggest key for Alabama that Brown didn’t have time to mention, is the continued development of quarterback Greg McElroy. The redshirt junior came into this season having never started a game in Tuscaloosa, and obviously went undefeated in his first year replacing the departed John Parker Wilson.
McElroy got better as the season went on as well, throwing for eight touchdowns and just one interception in his last five games. He also completed over 66 percent of his passes in the last two wins, victories over Auburn and Florida, both winners this bowl season.
Alabama is the favorite, and our expert Tim Brown likes the Tide to win comfortably. To get insight from the former NFL superstar on all of this week’s football action, including his thoughts on the NFL playoff betting odds, be sure to visit Tim Brown in the BetFlix film room at BetUS.
What’s your take on this game? Do you think Alabama or Texas will win the game? Will Alabama cover the spread (4 points)?