Rose Bowl Betting Odds
Opening Line: Ducks -4 / Buckeyes +4 O/U 51
Time: 1 PM EST Friday January 1, 2010 on ABC
In the Rose Bowl in beautiful Pasadena, California on New Year's Day the first BCS game of the season takes place with the Pac 10 Champion Oregon Ducks facing the Big 10 champions Ohio State Buckeyes. This is a great match up with the Ducks and their 6th ranked rushing offense taking on an Ohio State defense that ranks 5th in the nation at defending the run.
Oregon won their last 3 games of the season, including beating ranked Oregon State in the Civil War game in their season finale, and this season the Ducks were 3-1 against teams that were ranked in the top 25. Ohio State ended the season on fire winning their last 5 games including beating Penn State in their last game, which vaulted them to the Rose Bowl and Big 10 title. This season the Buckeyes were 2-1 against ranked teams. Ohio State is making their 5th straight BCS bowl appearance.
This season Oregon was 7-5 ATS and Ohio State was 9-3 ATS.
In their last games of the season Oregon beat archrival Oregon State 37-33 and Ohio State beat Penn State 21-10.
Oregon and their 25th ranked offense is led by QB Jeremiah Masoli (2,066 yds 15 TD 5 INT). Oregon's strength is running the ball and Masoli is also the 2nd leading rusher on the Ducks with 659 yards and 12 TD. The big gun in the backfield is RB LaMichael James (1,476 yds 14 TD). It is pretty basic for the Ducks in this game, as if they can run the ball they have a great chance to win, but if they can't they will be in trouble. Ohio State has the nation's 5th ranked defense and they have limited opponents to only 12.2 points per game and 262.5 total yards per game, and an average of 83.4 yards on the ground. The Buckeyes will be sitting pretty if they can stuff the run and force Masoli to beat them with his arm.
Ohio State has the nation's 71st ranked offense and they are led by QB Terrelle Pryor (1,828 yds 16 TD 10 INT), who is also the Buckeyes leading rusher with 707 yards with 7 TD. Pryor does have a couple legit targets in DeVier Posey and Dane Sanzenbacher, who each averaged over 14 yards per reception this season. Oregon has the nation's 32nd ranked defense and they are solid against both the pass and the run. Their main goal in this game is, obviously, containing Pryor and not letting him pick up big yards on the ground and in the air. Ohio State has never lost to Oregon (7-0).
Our Selection : We're going to go with a total wager on this game. Here are some points to ponder. Ohio State's 5th ranked scoring defense has held their opponents to 18 or fewer points in 9 of their 12 games this season. In twelve games this season only two games have gone over the posted Rose Bowl total. Buckeyes will be limited in their passing game with the suspensions of Ray Small and Duron Carter, their number 3 and number 4 wideouts. Small's suspension is even more of an impact to Buckeyes return game as he's their top returner for punts and kickoffs. Take Under 51
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.