Football Betting

Liberty Bowl Betting – SEC could be underdog against C-USA

Posted on 12/2/2008 2:00:32 PM By Blake Frazier

Liberty Bowl odds: A surprisingly long history

BLAKE’S PICK: Kentucky vs East Carolina odds have given the Pirates a 1.5-point betting edge, and this is because the Wildcats are truly awful offensively, failing to crack the Top-100 in total offense. East Carolina isn’t that much better, but they’ll have enough to get by the Wildcats. Bet online with the East Carolina Pirates.

The Wildcats finished last in the SEC East with a 6-6 record, while the Pirates won the C-USA title with a 9-4 mark after beating Tulsa. These two will meet in the Liberty Bowl on January 2, 2009 at 5:00 p.m. ET in Memphis, TN.

• Sponsor: AutoZone
• Date: January 2, 2009 at 5 p.m. ET
• Stadium: Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, Memphis, TN
• History: December 19, 1959 (Penn State 7 Alabama 0)

Last Five Years:

The Liberty Bowl has been an NCAA football institution since 1959, when Penn State shut out Alabama. The game moved to the Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium in 1965 and is now usually played between the champion of the Conference-USA and an SEC team. Since this agreement was made in 2006, the SEC has won both meetings with the C-USA, meaning Liberty Bowl betting players should lean towards the team from the major conference.

Mississippi State came in as three-point underdog on the Liberty Bowl line last season, but its defense put up a huge performance in a 10-3 win over Central Florida, forcing four turnovers. The Bulldogs won despite being outgained in offensive yards 219-199, lending more proof to the theory that defense wins.

Liberty Bowl betting could give the edge to the C-USA again, as Tulsa and its No.1 offense is in the driver’s seat to win the conference. Vanderbilt, South Carolina, LSU and Mississippi are all in the running for the SEC, and they will be looking to uphold the conference’s reputation of strong defense.

Get more advice on Liberty Bowl odds and other great bowl games at BetOnline.com, home to the Betting Edge.

Blake walked onto his college football team and had a brief stint as an assistant coach after he graduated. He brings a sharp mind to the world of sports handicapping. Blake understands the nuances of the game that only someone who has played would understand. Thoughts or questions? Email Comments@BetOnline.com.