Bowl Season continues tonight and the pros at FiveStarPick.com have been working overtime to analyze tonight’s Las Vegas Bowl between the BYU Cougars and the Oregon State Beavers.  Las Vegas Sportsbooks list Oregon State as 2.5-point favorites with a total of 58.5.

Both of these teams expect to win tonight, but BYU(10-2 SU, 5-6 against the spread) is not getting much love from the betting public. However, several of our colleagues here in Vegas are questioning Oregon State’s (8-4 SU, 7-4 against the spread) heart in this game considering they were just a win away from going to the Rose Bowl. The Beavers lost to Oregon, 37-33, on December 3rd and are now playing here in Vegas, instead of Pasadena. We know the BYU boys will be staying close to the hotel room at night, but the big question for us is how will the Beavers react to the distractions this town brings? Seamless Gentlemen’s Club can be very tempting to a young man, and an old man for that matter, but I digress.  

If you want to know why the public likes Oregon State so much, look no further than Beaver QB, Sean Canfield (21 TDs, 3,103 yards). Canfield was a stud this year in the Pac 10 and with the help of running back Jacquizz Rodgers (1,377 yards, 20 TDs), opposing defenses have had there fair share of problems. Rodgers older brother, wide receiver James Rodgers, is another offensive weapon for OSU. James led the Beavers in receptions (87), yards (1,007) and receiving touchdowns (9) this season.

If you need additional reasons to back Oregon State tonight, their offense averaged 32.4 points per game this year and only turned it over eight times, the best in the nation.  In addition, the Beavers are 5-0 SU and 4-1 against the spread during Mike Riley’s tenure. The Beavers closed the year with a 7-1 record against the spread.

BYU has been no stranger to the desert. This will be the fifth straight year that the Cougars will play in the Las Vegas Bowl.  The team has gone 2-2 during this stretch, which includes last year’s setback to Arizona (21-31). This season, BYU has quarterback Max Hall (3,368 yards and 30 TDs) who is completing 67.5 percent of his passes. Hall also has a solid running back in Harvey Unga (1,016, 10 TDs), but tight end Dennis Pitta (57 catches, 784 yards) has been Hall’s goto guy for the 3rd down conversion.

The knock on BYU this year has been their defense against quality opponents. Florida State tourched the Cougars 54-28 in Provo on September 19th and TCU put up 38 on the Cougars on October 24th in Fort Worth. The bright spot for the Cougar defense was a 13-point effort against Oklahoma in Week 1.

Now let’s talk trends…The Pac 10 is 3-0 against the spread in head-to-head meetings against the Mountain West Conference during the regular season. Dating back to 2000, OSU is 7-1 SU and 5-3 against the spread versus schools from the MWC.  BYU is 5-4 against the spread in its nine meetings against Pac 10 opponents. The Pac 10 went 4-1 against the spread in bowl games last year and 10-1 against the spread in the last two postseasons.

So who covers the spread in the Las Vegas Bowl?  It’s very easy to find out.  Try FiveStarPick.com tonight for just ($19.99) and see if our talent for picking college and pro football winners exceeds your expectations.  We are the only sports handicapping service in the business who documents wins and losses and displays them on our homepage for all to witness.  It’s because we have nothing to hide…we just win games against the spread.  Join our family today and start your winning streak tonight.

Rick Riley – FiveStarPick.com

Cincinnati knew that it would have a great offense this season with quality guys like QB Tony Pike and wide receiver Mardy Gilyard.  The concern for Cincinnati was a defense that had to replace 10 starters. It turns out that might be a strength after allowing only 18 points in their first two games of the season including six (6) INT’s.

The Beavers aren’t nearly as dominant on defense as they’ve been in the past few years. Yet this is still the best defense Cincy has seen this season.  Oregon State will give the Bearcats fits trying to defend RB’s Jacquizz and James Rodgers. The brothers have compiled 548 total yards of offense and six touchdowns in their first two games.

Cincinnati has been the West Coast play for bettors as they’re 3-1 SU and against the spread when traveling West.

So who covers the spread in this matchup?  It’s very easy to find out.  Try FiveStarPick.com for a month ($99.99) and see if our talent for picking college and pro football winners exceeds your expectations.  We are the only sports handicapping service in the business who documents wins and losses and displays them on our homepage for all to witness.  It’s because we have nothing to hide…we just win games against the spread.  Join our family today and start your winning streak tonight.

Jimmy the Geek – FiveStarPick.com

Anytime USC plays in front of a nationally televised audience it’s big news.  It’s big news for fans, big news for the media and big news for gamblers.  Tonight the USC Trojans will try to remain unbeaten as they go on the road to play Oregon State.  Most sportbooks opened the line at 21 with the total set at 50, but the betting public has moved the line up to 27 and some feel it might hit 27.5 to 28 by game-time.

In 2006, Oregon State played spoiler to a #3 USC team beating them 33-31 and thus ruining their hopes for another national title.  The Beavers dominated on special teams forcing 4 turnovers and converting those turnovers into points.  Turnovers, in our opinion, will be Oregon State’s only chance tonight.

USC is lead by the surprising good play of QB Mark Sanchez.  It’s not whether or not Sanchez is a good QB, it’s that the critics weren’t sure that Sanchez could live up to the accomplishments of his two predecessors (Palmer-Leinart) who were both Heisman winners.  Sanchez was named Pac-10 offensive player of the week in both of his outings this season posting a 166.6 passer rating, completing 43-63, 510 yards, 7 TDs and 0 INTs.  The running back position for USC is also stacked with Joe McKnight (18 rushes/165 yards), C.J. Gable (13 rushes/91 yards), Allen Bradford (14 rushes/57 yards) and Stafon Johnson (13 rushes/51 yards) accounting for a total of 364 yards of offense in their two games.

What’s staggering is that this team is equally as good on defense.  LB’s Maualuga and Cushing sit behind a defensive line that includes DE’s Kyle Moore and Everson Griffen and tackles Averell Spicer and Fili Moala…all potential All-Americans.

The Beavers are definately going to have their hands full tonight, but to have a chance, starting QB Lyle Moevao is going to have to pull out all the stops and play like he has nothing to lose.  WR’s Shane Morales and Sammie Stroughter will be Moevao’s primary weapons, but Moevao might not have enough time in the pocket to get his receivers open.  Regardless…it should be fun to watch. 

So who covers the spread in tonight’s game?  Look no further for the answer.  FiveStarPick.com loves to handicap college football.  It is our specialty and we have been steadily getting more proficient every year since we got into the business in 1990.  Was that really 18 years ago?  Time flies when you’re making money.  Our membership has jumped from 600 off-season members to over 1900 this football season and it’s for one reason and one reason only…we win!  We are the most accurate sports handicapping service on the net and we will never give you a play that we are not heavily on ourselves.  As a matter of fact, our NFL Picks are so strong that they can move the line up to a full point within seconds of being published to our members.  It’s time to come down off the fence and join for 1 year.  A one year membership is only $99.00 and it will pay for itself in the 1st week.  We are nearly 65% against the spread in 2008 and our forte, College and NFL Football Picks, are just beginning.  You owe it to yourself to discover the benefits of membership.  Join today and start winning tonight.

Jimmy the Geek – FiveStarPick.com