BCS National Championship Betting Odds
Opening Line: Crimson Tide -4 / Longhorns +4 O/U 45
Time: 8 PM EST Thursday January 7, 2010 on ABC
This game is for all the marbles, as the National Championship will be decided by the Texas Longhorns vs. Alabama Crimson Tide in the BCS title game. Both of these teams are undefeated and this is the first year since 2005 that 2 undefeated teams will be facing each other for the National Championship. Both teams are solid on both sides of the ball and scoring may be at a premium for this match up. The Tide feature Mark Ingram, who won the Heisman trophy this season, and the Longhorns feature 1st team All American QB Colt McCoy, who leads the Longhorns and their dynamic passing offense. Ingram will be facing a tough Texas rushing defense that led the nation only allowing 62.15 rushing yards per game. This season Texas ranked 4th in the nation in scoring averaging 40.7 points per game.
This season Texas was 5-7 ATS and Alabama was 8-4 ATS.
In their last games Texas beat Nebraska 13-12 in the Big 12 Championship Game and Alabama beat Florida, snapping the Gators' 22 game winning streak, 32-13 in the SEC title game.
Texas had the nation's 20th ranked offense this season and they are led by QB Colt McCoy (3,512 yds 27 TD 12 INT), who connected on 70.5% of his passes this season. The Longhorns have a solid WR corps and McCoy's main target is WR Jordan Shipley (106 rec 1,363 yds 11 TD), who averaged just under 13 yards per reception this season. The Longhorns can run the ball, as they ranked 55th in the nation in rushing yards per game behind RB Tre' Newton and QB McCoy. The strength of the Longhorns is the aerial attack, but the Bama secondary is legit led by Javier Arenas (12 tackles for loss, 5 sacks) and Mark Barron (7 INT). Alabama and their 3rd ranked defense also had 31 sacks this season and if they can pressure McCoy and not give him time to find his targets they will be in good shape.
Alabama had the nation's 35th ranked offense led by QB Greg McElroy (2,450 yds 17 TD 4 INT) and his two main targets are Julio Jones and Marquis Maze, who each averaged at least 13 yards per reception this season. McElroy may have to air it out if the Longhorns can stuff the run. The Longhorns led the FBS this season with 24 interceptions and ranked 23rd in the nation only giving up 189 passing yards per game. Ingram (1,542 yds 15 TD) is the Tide's main offensive weapon and he averaged 6.2 yards per carry this season. The Texas defense ranks 3rd in the nation and they can't let Ingram have a big game.
The Tide have played in an NCAA-record 57 bowl games and they are tied with USC for the most wins with 31. The Longhorns have the second-most bowl appearances with 49.
Future Betting Odds
NCAAF Handicapping
Boise State Broncos at Virginia Tech Hokies 9-6
Two top 25 teams face off in a rare Monday night tilt. Boise State Broncos take on the Virginia Tech Hokies in a a huge non-conference game for both teams in week one. The Broncos opened up as a 2.5 favorite but the public money have them as a 2 point dog against the spread at 5Dimes with the betting total line at 51.