SUGAR BOWL: VIRGINIA TECH vs. AUBURN at New Orleans
Virginia Tech, 10-2 SU and 8-3 ATS, won the ACC title in its first year in the league by prevailing 16-10 at Miami of Florida in its regular season finale.
The Hokies went 3-1 straight-up and 3-0 against the number in non-conference games this year, falling to top-ranked Southern Cal 24-13 in the season opener. They?ve covered eight of their last 11 non-conference games, but have failed to score the spread win in four straight games played on turf. However, they?re on spread runs of 5-0 versus winning teams and 4-1 when getting points.
The ninth-ranked Hokies have been to 12 straight bowls under ACC Coach of the Year Frank Beamer and are 5-6 straight-up and 4-7 against the number in their last 11 bowl appearances. They lost outright 52-49 to California in last year?s Insight Bowl, falling to 1-2 straight-up and 0-3 versus the number in their last three bowls.
The Hokies played for the national championship five years ago in the Sugar Bowl and failed to stay inside the 5?-point spread in a 46-29 loss to Florida State.
The Hokies went 5-1 both straight-up and against the spread versus bowl teams this season, out-scoring them by an averaged margin of 22-17.
Play-making quarterback Brian Randall threw 19 scoring passes this year and just seven interceptions as he was named the conference?s offensive player of the year. Scatback Mike Imoh came on around midseason and finished with 704 yards rushing. He was bothered by a hamstring injury late in the year but is listed as probable for the contest. Cedric Humes rushed for 595 yards as the Hokies averaged 187 yards per game rushing.
On the year, Virginia Tech averaged 32.2 points and 365 yards per game. Meanwhile, its defense allowed just 12.6 points and 265 yards per contest. The Hokies intercepted 18 passes, sacked the quarterback 32 times and allowed just 3.3 yards per carry.
V-Tech stayed under the total in six of eight games this year, including four of five versus teams with winning records.
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Third-ranked Auburn, 12-0 SU and 7-4 ATS, won its first outright SEC title since 1987 by beating Tennessee for a second time this season in the league?s title game. The Tigers, though, didn?t cover in that win as they failed to score the spread victory in their final two contests. They?re on a 22-13-3 spread run the last three years and have covered 12 of their last 18 versus teams with winning records. However, Auburn has failed to cover five of its last seven when laying between 3? and 7 points.
Auburn is in its fifth straight bowl game under coach Tommy Tuberville and is 2-2 straight-up and 3-1 against the number in its last four bowl outings. The Tigers have won and covered their last two bowls after beating Wisconsin by two touchdowns in last year?s Music City Bowl. Tuberville is 3-2 straight-up and 4-1 against the number as a head coach in bowls.
The Tigers went 5-0 straight-up and 2-3 versus the spread against bowl teams this year, out-scoring them by a 25-13 average margin.
The Sugar Bowl favorite has covered six of the last eight years.
Auburn quarterback Jason Campbell had a solid season under first-year offensive coordinator Al Borges. Campbell completed 70 percent of his passes with 19 touchdowns and only six picks. The first-team all-SEC performer, who finished third in the nation in passing efficiency, was supported by a running game that averaged 189 yards an outing. Cadillac Williams rushed for 1,104 yards and Ronnie Brown added another 841 yards on the ground as the Tigers averaged 33.4 points and 433 yards per game.
Auburn gave up just 11.2 points per game and finished as the country?s top scoring defense. Twenty-four different players had a tackle for a loss, 13 recorded a sack, and eight forced a fumble. They had allowed just one rushing touchdown all year long before Tennessee rushed for three scores and 228 yards in the SEC Championship Game. Still, the four rushing TDs permitted was the lowest in the nation this season.
Auburn stayed under the total in two of its final three games and in each of its past two bowls outings. The Tigers have also failed to top the posted price in four of their last five non-conference games.
ATS ADVANTAGE: UNDER
Virginia Tech, 10-2 SU and 8-3 ATS, won the ACC title in its first year in the league by prevailing 16-10 at Miami of Florida in its regular season finale.
The Hokies went 3-1 straight-up and 3-0 against the number in non-conference games this year, falling to top-ranked Southern Cal 24-13 in the season opener. They?ve covered eight of their last 11 non-conference games, but have failed to score the spread win in four straight games played on turf. However, they?re on spread runs of 5-0 versus winning teams and 4-1 when getting points.
The ninth-ranked Hokies have been to 12 straight bowls under ACC Coach of the Year Frank Beamer and are 5-6 straight-up and 4-7 against the number in their last 11 bowl appearances. They lost outright 52-49 to California in last year?s Insight Bowl, falling to 1-2 straight-up and 0-3 versus the number in their last three bowls.
The Hokies played for the national championship five years ago in the Sugar Bowl and failed to stay inside the 5?-point spread in a 46-29 loss to Florida State.
The Hokies went 5-1 both straight-up and against the spread versus bowl teams this season, out-scoring them by an averaged margin of 22-17.
Play-making quarterback Brian Randall threw 19 scoring passes this year and just seven interceptions as he was named the conference?s offensive player of the year. Scatback Mike Imoh came on around midseason and finished with 704 yards rushing. He was bothered by a hamstring injury late in the year but is listed as probable for the contest. Cedric Humes rushed for 595 yards as the Hokies averaged 187 yards per game rushing.
On the year, Virginia Tech averaged 32.2 points and 365 yards per game. Meanwhile, its defense allowed just 12.6 points and 265 yards per contest. The Hokies intercepted 18 passes, sacked the quarterback 32 times and allowed just 3.3 yards per carry.
V-Tech stayed under the total in six of eight games this year, including four of five versus teams with winning records.
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Third-ranked Auburn, 12-0 SU and 7-4 ATS, won its first outright SEC title since 1987 by beating Tennessee for a second time this season in the league?s title game. The Tigers, though, didn?t cover in that win as they failed to score the spread victory in their final two contests. They?re on a 22-13-3 spread run the last three years and have covered 12 of their last 18 versus teams with winning records. However, Auburn has failed to cover five of its last seven when laying between 3? and 7 points.
Auburn is in its fifth straight bowl game under coach Tommy Tuberville and is 2-2 straight-up and 3-1 against the number in its last four bowl outings. The Tigers have won and covered their last two bowls after beating Wisconsin by two touchdowns in last year?s Music City Bowl. Tuberville is 3-2 straight-up and 4-1 against the number as a head coach in bowls.
The Tigers went 5-0 straight-up and 2-3 versus the spread against bowl teams this year, out-scoring them by a 25-13 average margin.
The Sugar Bowl favorite has covered six of the last eight years.
Auburn quarterback Jason Campbell had a solid season under first-year offensive coordinator Al Borges. Campbell completed 70 percent of his passes with 19 touchdowns and only six picks. The first-team all-SEC performer, who finished third in the nation in passing efficiency, was supported by a running game that averaged 189 yards an outing. Cadillac Williams rushed for 1,104 yards and Ronnie Brown added another 841 yards on the ground as the Tigers averaged 33.4 points and 433 yards per game.
Auburn gave up just 11.2 points per game and finished as the country?s top scoring defense. Twenty-four different players had a tackle for a loss, 13 recorded a sack, and eight forced a fumble. They had allowed just one rushing touchdown all year long before Tennessee rushed for three scores and 228 yards in the SEC Championship Game. Still, the four rushing TDs permitted was the lowest in the nation this season.
Auburn stayed under the total in two of its final three games and in each of its past two bowls outings. The Tigers have also failed to top the posted price in four of their last five non-conference games.
ATS ADVANTAGE: UNDER
