International Bowl Betting Odds
Opening Line: Bulls -6.5 / Huskies +6.5 O/U 50
Time: 12 PM EST Saturday January 2, 2010 on ESPN2
In the only bowl game not played in the United States the South Florida Bulls face the Northern Illinois Huskies in the International Bowl taking place in Toronto, Canada. This game may not see a lot of offensive fireworks, as neither team has a high-scoring offense, but both teams have a solid defense. South Florida ended the season slumping, as they lost 5 of their last 7 games after starting the season 5-0. This season South Florida was 2-3 against ranked teams so they did play a pretty tough schedule.
This will mark the 2nd year in a row that Northern Illinois will play in a bowl game. Much like the Bulls the Huskies did not end the season on a high note losing their last 2 games after they had won their previous 4. Northern Illinois is much much closer to Toronto than South Florida is, duh, so the Huskies may have a bit of a home field advantage with more fans heading north of the border to check out the game.
This season South Florida was 4-6 ATS and Northern Illinois was 5-6 ATS.
In their last game the Salukis lost to Central Michigan 45-31 and the Bulls lost to Connecticut 29-27.
South Florida has the nation's 72nd ranked offense and they are led by QB B.J. Daniels (1,766 yds 12 TD 9 INT) and he can air it out, but he is a running QB and he also leads the Bulls in rushing with 798 yards and 9 TD. He is joined in the backfield by RB Moise Plancher (570 yds 5 TD) and he gives the Bulls a great 1-2 punch from the rushing attack. Northern Illinois has a solid defense, as they rank 27th in the nation and they are legit at both defending the run and the pass. If NIU can keep Daniels from having a good game on the ground and forcing him to beat them through their air they may score the upset.
Northern Illinois is led by QB Chandler Harnish (1,540 yds 11 TD 5 INT) and since the Huskies passing offense only ranks 110th in the nation they will have to run the ball to win. The Huskies have a solid RB tandem in Chad Spann (945 yds 19 TD) and Me'co Brown (645 yds 4 TD). South Florida has the nation's 31st ranked defense and their main goal will be keeping Spann and Brown from moving the chains on the ground.
Both South Florida and Northern Illinois are only 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games.
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.