Poinsettia Bowl
December 22, 2009
If we?ve seen anything show up during the early results of the college bowl season, it?s that the more talented team doesn?t always win.
Wyoming (+300) cashed in with an outright win in Albuquerque and Middle Tennessee State (+150) did the same in beating the Golden Eagles at the New Orleans Bowl.
So what does a bettor do when both teams have talent that is fairly equal? That is the question that the gambling public must ask when the Utes face off with California (8-4 straight up, 5-6 against the spread) in the Poinsettia Bowl at 8:00 p.m. EST on ESPN.
Utah (9-3 SU, 5-7 ATS) comes into this contest with a lot of public support to come through for the outright win at plus-140 (risk $100 to win $140). It?s hard to argue against the Utes for this game. This is a program that manhandled the Crimson Tide just last season in the Sugar Bowl. And let?s not forget the fact that they boast an 8-0 SU and 6-2 ATS in their last eight postseason matches.
As much as the public is on the Utes right now, Cal is still a 3 ?-point favorite with a total of 52 for this bowl game.
That line doesn?t surprise betED?s sportsbook manager, Randy Scott. ?Opening numbers take very little consideration for a team?s bowl history when we put out a line on a team. That plays more into the public?s opinion than it does with the betting shops.?
There is a good reason for the betting shops to side with the Golden Bears, when you consider the state of flux that is Utah?s offense.
The Utes? have done well when you look at the stats: they rank 45th running the ball (169.4 yards per game) and 55th throwing it (220.2 YPG). Yet they?re going into their fifth straight game with true freshman Jordan Wynn under center.
Wynn has shown himself to do a fine job as quarterback by completing 55 percent of his passes for 991 yards and five touchdowns since getting the job against New Mexico on Nov. 7. However, the offense has yet to put together what many would call a full-game effort with Wynn as the starter.
What Utah has done is shore up its ground game with Eddie Wide setting up in the backfield. All Wide has done is lead the Mountain West in rushing with 1,032 yards and 12 touchdowns, also a league best.
The Golden Bears figured they had a good shot at making a run at the Rose Bowl this season, but some embarrassing losses to Oregon and Southern Cal quickly put an end to that discussion. And they did have some bright spots on the attack.
Kevin Riley has connected on 55 percent of his passes for 219.7 YPG through the air for 17 scores and six picks. In his last four games, however, Riley has thrown just as many interceptions as he did touchdowns (4).
Cal is going into this game without Jahvid Best, who has presumably finished up his college career after suffering a concussion against the Beavers on Nov. 7. The loss of Best didn?t affect the line too much. Randy Scott notes the Golden Bears? would have been seven-point favorites for this game.? Shane Vereen has been tasked with taking over the starting duties and has done a great job so far. Vereen is averaging 148.0 rushing YPG with four touchdowns.
Vereen will have his work cut out for him against the Utah defense that ranks 57th in the nation against the run, giving up 172.8 YPG on the ground. Given that the Utes are struggling to find a good mix to replace defensive end Derrick Shelby (ACL) and Kenape Eliapo (eye), who are both down for the count.
Riley won?t have it easy either when trying to pass on Utah. The Utes are giving up just 172.8 YPG via the sky, which ranks them 14th nationally. They?ve also picked off 15 passes this season, so you can bet California will be looking for low risk passing chances to use given Riley?s recent issues.
We mentioned earlier that Utah has been dominant in postseason play. But did you know that the Golden Bears have been quite successful in bowl play? Cal is 6-1 SU and 4-3 in the last seven seasons in bowl games ? it?s the longest bowl game streak in the history of football in Berkeley.
At first blush, you?ll be thinking this is going to be a touchdown-fest. The numbers, however, show something to the contrary. The ?under? has gone on a 7-2 run for the Utes. California has watch the ?under? go 4-1in its last five decisions.
These two have split their two meetings SU and ATS. The last meeting was in 2003 with the Utes winning as one-point home favorites, 31-24.
Utah has posted a 5-5 SU and 6-4 ATS record as an underdog against teams from the Pac-10 since 1996. However, the Utes are in a funk right now, as evidenced by a 1-3 SU and ATS in the last four tilts in that situation.
The Golden Bears haven?t been a great wager as favorites against the Mountain West by going 5-3 SU, but just 3-5 ATS over the last eight years. They are on a 5-0 SU and 3-2 ATS run though.
Weather for the game is typical for San Diego in December: 44 degrees with no chance of precipitation and light wind.
December 22, 2009
If we?ve seen anything show up during the early results of the college bowl season, it?s that the more talented team doesn?t always win.
Wyoming (+300) cashed in with an outright win in Albuquerque and Middle Tennessee State (+150) did the same in beating the Golden Eagles at the New Orleans Bowl.
So what does a bettor do when both teams have talent that is fairly equal? That is the question that the gambling public must ask when the Utes face off with California (8-4 straight up, 5-6 against the spread) in the Poinsettia Bowl at 8:00 p.m. EST on ESPN.
Utah (9-3 SU, 5-7 ATS) comes into this contest with a lot of public support to come through for the outright win at plus-140 (risk $100 to win $140). It?s hard to argue against the Utes for this game. This is a program that manhandled the Crimson Tide just last season in the Sugar Bowl. And let?s not forget the fact that they boast an 8-0 SU and 6-2 ATS in their last eight postseason matches.
As much as the public is on the Utes right now, Cal is still a 3 ?-point favorite with a total of 52 for this bowl game.
That line doesn?t surprise betED?s sportsbook manager, Randy Scott. ?Opening numbers take very little consideration for a team?s bowl history when we put out a line on a team. That plays more into the public?s opinion than it does with the betting shops.?
There is a good reason for the betting shops to side with the Golden Bears, when you consider the state of flux that is Utah?s offense.
The Utes? have done well when you look at the stats: they rank 45th running the ball (169.4 yards per game) and 55th throwing it (220.2 YPG). Yet they?re going into their fifth straight game with true freshman Jordan Wynn under center.
Wynn has shown himself to do a fine job as quarterback by completing 55 percent of his passes for 991 yards and five touchdowns since getting the job against New Mexico on Nov. 7. However, the offense has yet to put together what many would call a full-game effort with Wynn as the starter.
What Utah has done is shore up its ground game with Eddie Wide setting up in the backfield. All Wide has done is lead the Mountain West in rushing with 1,032 yards and 12 touchdowns, also a league best.
The Golden Bears figured they had a good shot at making a run at the Rose Bowl this season, but some embarrassing losses to Oregon and Southern Cal quickly put an end to that discussion. And they did have some bright spots on the attack.
Kevin Riley has connected on 55 percent of his passes for 219.7 YPG through the air for 17 scores and six picks. In his last four games, however, Riley has thrown just as many interceptions as he did touchdowns (4).
Cal is going into this game without Jahvid Best, who has presumably finished up his college career after suffering a concussion against the Beavers on Nov. 7. The loss of Best didn?t affect the line too much. Randy Scott notes the Golden Bears? would have been seven-point favorites for this game.? Shane Vereen has been tasked with taking over the starting duties and has done a great job so far. Vereen is averaging 148.0 rushing YPG with four touchdowns.
Vereen will have his work cut out for him against the Utah defense that ranks 57th in the nation against the run, giving up 172.8 YPG on the ground. Given that the Utes are struggling to find a good mix to replace defensive end Derrick Shelby (ACL) and Kenape Eliapo (eye), who are both down for the count.
Riley won?t have it easy either when trying to pass on Utah. The Utes are giving up just 172.8 YPG via the sky, which ranks them 14th nationally. They?ve also picked off 15 passes this season, so you can bet California will be looking for low risk passing chances to use given Riley?s recent issues.
We mentioned earlier that Utah has been dominant in postseason play. But did you know that the Golden Bears have been quite successful in bowl play? Cal is 6-1 SU and 4-3 in the last seven seasons in bowl games ? it?s the longest bowl game streak in the history of football in Berkeley.
At first blush, you?ll be thinking this is going to be a touchdown-fest. The numbers, however, show something to the contrary. The ?under? has gone on a 7-2 run for the Utes. California has watch the ?under? go 4-1in its last five decisions.
These two have split their two meetings SU and ATS. The last meeting was in 2003 with the Utes winning as one-point home favorites, 31-24.
Utah has posted a 5-5 SU and 6-4 ATS record as an underdog against teams from the Pac-10 since 1996. However, the Utes are in a funk right now, as evidenced by a 1-3 SU and ATS in the last four tilts in that situation.
The Golden Bears haven?t been a great wager as favorites against the Mountain West by going 5-3 SU, but just 3-5 ATS over the last eight years. They are on a 5-0 SU and 3-2 ATS run though.
Weather for the game is typical for San Diego in December: 44 degrees with no chance of precipitation and light wind.
