While New Year’s Eve will always be about the countdown to midnight, the champagne, and the promise for change leading in to the next 12 months, there are several college football teams that will still be focused on everything that they have accomplished over the past year leading up to their bowl appearance. Once again, December 31 will be littered with a full slate of NCAA bowl games, and here is a quick look at some of the most interesting sports betting matchups.
Meineke Car Care Bowl Of Texas
Texas A&M Aggies vs. Northwestern Wildcats
Saturday December 31, 2011 – 12:00 PM ET
In a showdown of two of the most exciting quarterbacks in the nation this season, the Aggies will turn to Ryan Tannehill against Northwestern’s Dan Persa. However, adter losing four of their last five and watching head coach Mike Sherman get the axe, Texas A&M could have a tough time getting up to the same level as a Wildcats’ group that was knocked off by the Michigan State Spartans in the Big Ten Championship game the last time that they were on the field, and will be eager for revenge even though they are major underdogs according to the pay head bookies.
College Football Betting Pick: Northwestern Wildcats + 10
Hyundai Sun Bowl
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets vs. Utah Utes
Saturday December 31, 2011 – 2:00 PM ET
The Yellow Jackets will rely on the third-ranked rushing attack in the country to put a dent in Utah’s tough defensive front, which has helped the Utes to allow an average of less than 20 points per game. Georgia Tech ranked third in the country in rushing yards with an average of 316.8 per game, with the tandem of quarterback Tevin Washington and running David Sims leading the way, and they will look to lead the way once again in the Yellow Jackets’ 40th bowl appearance. In addition to his 890 yards and 14 scores on the ground, Washington has also thrown for 1,515 yards and 10 more touchdowns, although he is by no means a polished pocket passer. With an injury to starting quarterback Jordan Wynn the Utes have been forced to rely even more heavily on running back John White IV, and while he has been solid with 1,404 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns, the Utah NCAA football offense is far too one-dimensional.
College Football Betting Pick: Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets – 3
AutoZone Liberty Bowl
Cincinnati Bearcats vs. Vanderbilt Commodores
Saturday December 31, 2011 – 3:30 PM ET
Although they finished with a .500 record, three less wins than Cincinnati overall, the Commodores are still listed as the college football betting favorites for this game, which is testament to just how strong the SEC is. First-year head coach James Franklin is laying down the foundation for future success, and the fact that he already has his team in a bowl game for only the fifth time in the history of the program is very impressive. The Bearcats have something to prove after being edged out by West Virginia in a tiebreaker for the Big East championship, but unfortunately for them they will be playing a rising Vanderbilt team.
Gambling Advisor blog Free Pick: Vanderbilt Commodores – 1.5
