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Home  Sports News College Football News 2008 Gator Bowl Picks Betting Preview (12-31-2007) |
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2008 Gator Bowl Picks Betting Preview (12-31-2007) |
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Written by JeffAlexander
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Monday, 31 December 2007 |
Virginia and Texas Tech are set to battle in Jacksonville, Florida on January 1st at 1 PM EST for the 2008 Gator Bowl . It seems like this game has seen it's fair share of blowouts over the last twenty years and Texas Tech is a team that can do just that. The Red Raiders are set as nearly a touchdown favorite over their foes from the ACC, and with an offense that puts points up like Tech's a touchdown is hardly anything. If you want to beat the point spread on this game then we recommend signing up for Jeff Alexander's college bowl picks package, but if you want to handicap it yourself and try to beat the odds then let this preview be your guide
Texas Tech comes into this game 8-4 straight up (SU) and 6-5 against the spread (ATS) while averaging 41.8 points per game ppg and giving up 25.8 ppg. The offense ranked no. 6 in the nation with that average and the Red Raiders also had the best passing team in the nation with 475.6 yards per game (ypg). That high octane attack also led receiver Michael Crabtree to the top of the ranks in yards (1,8610 and touchdowns (21). Defensively the Red Raiders struggle. They are giving up 177.3 ypg on the ground, which is a big reason that teams are able to put up so many points against them. It will be interesting to see which team shows up for this one, the Red Raiders who put on a clinic in beating the Sooners and knocking them out of title contention in their last game, or the ones who got beat up by Texas, Colorado, and Missouri coming down the home stretch.
Virginia is 9-3 SU and 5-7 ATS and has been the king of close games. They set an NCAA record this year by winning five contests that were decided by two points or less. Does that mean that they just know how to win, or a little bit of luck might be factored into that record. The odds makers obviously think luck had more to do with it if they are setting them as a touchdown underdog to a team with a worse record. It could also mean that the defense just didn't allow the offense to lose games. Virginia only allowed the opposition 18.8 ppg, which was good for 13th in the nation. The pass rush is a strength, which will come in handy against Tech's pass heavy scheme. The offense needs a quarterback to step up as both Jameel Sewell and Peter Lalich struggled during the regular season. Sewell can help move the ball with his feet, but his passing is very inconsistent. It doesn't help that the Cavs were forced to turn to their third string running back due to injuries, and the ground game never really got going. It's going to have to against a weak Red Raider run defense.
Interesting Trends:
Texas Tech is 10-4 SU over their last 14 games
The Red Raiders have gone UNDER the total in five of their last seven
Virginia is only 2-5 ATS in their last seven games
The total has gone UNDER in 11 of Virginia's last 16 games
Oddsmakers predicted score:
Texas Tech Red Raiders 33
Virginia Cavaliers 27
2008 Gator Bowl Odds:
Texas Tech Red Raiders -6
Virginia Cavaliers +6
Total set at 59
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Last Updated ( Monday, 31 December 2007 )
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