Rose Bowl - Florida State Seminoles vs Oregon Ducks
Where: Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California
When: Friday 2nd January 2015 at 9:00AEST
College Football’s first ever semi-final or playoff will see the four best teams battle it out in the Rose Bowl and the Sugar Bowl.
The Rose Bowl is definitely on my bucket list and is known for its beautiful panoramic views, with the Pasadena Mountains in the backdrop. This was also the setting of the BCS Championship game last year.
The Seminoles haven’t lost a game since November 24th 2012 (or when Gangnam Style came out) yet they find themselves 8.5 underdogs. This is the first time this season they will start a game as an underdog. If you were one of the punters that bet on the Seminoles all season you may be reluctant to pull the trigger and with a 3-11 record ATS I don’t blame you. However they started every one of those games as a favourite and being the reigning champions sometimes it was an inflated line.
On the other hand the Oregon Ducks have been covering machines this season. They have covered their last 8 games by a substantial margin.
Preparation Time. This is a key handicapping factor to this game. Seminoles coach Jimbo Fisher has had three weeks to prepare for Marcus Mariota and the Ducks and although they have fallen behind in games and looked terrible in others I can’t help but feel like it was all due to this massive look ahead position of defending the title. This Seminoles team is possibly the most resilient team in college football history and if motivation was the big problem all year they won’t have any motivational issues today.
I believe the Seminoles also have more NFL ready guys and all the NFL scouts will be there watching so there will be extra motivation and effort.
College Football Bonus pick - I will also be making a small play at the Ohio State Buckeyes against Alabama.
Take note: Any of the tips in this article are simply the author’s opinion, so bet at your own risk and always gamble responsibly. Also be sure to check out the Before You Bet Twitter Page for all our thoughts in the lead up to bets! Happy punting!