NCAA Betting: Handicappers Hate On Texas

READ MORE: NCAA Betting, Rose Bowl, USC, University of Texas

Since Pinnacle Sports posted odds on a Rose Bowl tilt between Texas and USC the bookies have chimed in and made their prediction. Amazingly, the USC Trojans are the consensus pick giving 5 1/2 points:

“I believe USC is clearly the best team in the land, and despite their recent streak of non-covers and the close win at Notre Dame, I still would prefer USC over Texas at a touchdown or lower,” said Andy Iskoe. “The game is basically a home game for USC being at the Rose Bowl.”

Are we missing something? Texas just can’t get any respect at all. Surprising considering how dominant they’ve been all season—ATS-wise as well—and if we were picking today, there wouldn’t be a doubt in our mind to to take the Longhorns. Don’t they divide the tickets up evenly in Bowl games anyway? The homefield advantage seems like a preposterous point. USC’s resiliency throughout the season has been admirable—but not dominant.

Sharps, Oddsmaker Favor USC Over Texas [Covers]
It’s Never Too Early To Get Your Rosebowl Number [Oddjack]

Chopping Lines: Vince Young’s Pants Are on Fire

READ MORE: Chopping Lines, NCAA Football, THE Ohio State University, University of Texas

Saturday, 8 p.m.

University of Texas (1-0) (#2)

at

THE Ohio State University (1-0) (#7)

Best Line: TEXAS +1.5, OSU -1, O/U 46.5

We wonder if Maurice Clarett will be welcome on the sidelines during this game? Or maybe he can give the locker room speech? This is a horrible game to bet. Too much emotion and all of this rah-rah bullshit makes this thing pretty much a pick ‘em. But OSU is giving points based on their 400,000-seat stadium and raging Buckeye fans. And all of the focus this week is on Texas quarterback Vince Young and his ability to take over a game. OSU linebacker Bobby Carpenter’s “No Heisman” comment isn’t exacltly locker-room material, but for some reason, people are making out to be that way—like, does he want him to pass for 600 yards and run for 300 more? Here’s the take-away stat that we must focus on and makes this pretty much a coin toss: Ohio State has never lost a night game in Columbus and hasn’t lost a nonconference game at home since 1990. Texas has won 21 of its last 22 games on the opponent’s home field. So, we guess that makes Texas the underdog?

PICK!: TEXAS +1.5

College Football Betting: Big 12

READ MORE: Big 12 South, College Football Betting, University of Texas

The Big 12 South—as big as it is—still revolves around Texas. Ten-gallon hats. Mechanical bulls. Baby back ribs. Shaky death penalty laws. And the Longhorns will be the class of the conference, regardless of what the Oklahoma Sooners think. Covers breaks down the Big 12 conference with the lovely straight-up(SU) and against the spread(ATS) predictions. Make your best attempt at hook ‘em horns, knock up your best looking sow, and go there.

Big 12 South Preview [Covers]