College Football Bowl Games: BCS National Championship
By Hank Harris • Jan 6th, 2010 • Category: NCAAFBCS National Championship Game: No. 2 Texas Longhorns vs. No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide (Thursday, 8 pm ET, ABC).
BCS National Championship Odds: Crimson Tide -4, Over/Under 46.
Well, despite some frustration about “smaller schools” not getting a chance to compete for a National Title, this game does pit two undefeated teams, from power conferences, against one another. It does have two pre-season Top 5 teams representing two of the biggest programs in college football. In an individual representation of these two teams, each has their own player that received over 200 1st place Heisman first place votes. Mark Ingram won the award while Colt McCoy finished a close 3rd. The names are big, the programs are bigger, and this game should have fireworks to celebrate a 1 vs 2 match-up.
Both teams come in undefeated, and while Alabama rewarded bettors that sided with them this season, going 8-5 ATS, the Longhorns were just 5-7-1 ATS despite the undefeated record. The Longhorns needed a last second 46-yard field goal to beat Nebraska in the Big 12 Championship while Alabama crushed former #1 Florida 32-13 in the SEC Final. Texas had the more explosive offense all season long, scoring more and out gaining Alabama in yardage. The Crimson Tide played stronger defense, allowing fewer points and controlling the clock. Both teams were excellent on both sides of the ball.
Both teams haven’t played a game since the 5th of December, over a month between football games. Both teams finished close to .500 in the over/under – Texas going 6-7 and Alabama finishing 6-6-1. 58% of the public bet likes the favored Crimson Tide. Texas is 3-7 ATS in their last 10 bowl games, while Alabama is 2-3 SU in their last 5 bowl games including a 17-31 loss to Utah last season. The Big 12 is 4-3 this bowl season while the SEC is 5-4. Alabama hasn’t won a title since 1992 when they shard the honors with Florida State. Texas won in 2005 when the Longhorns upset Reggie Bush and the Trojans. Alabama is 7th on the all time Championship list with 16; Texas is tied for 12th with 9 titles.
Hank Harris is a professional writer with more than 25 years experience. He has written on sports betting and gambling for more than a decade of that time. He covers all sports, from the NFL to the NBA to NCAA College.
He is originally from the Boston area and is now based out of Las Vegas.
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