Football Betting

Orange Bowl betting – historic Orange Bowl heads into 73rd year

Posted on 11/28/2008 11:28:06 AM By Blake Frazier

Orange Bowl odds: a legendary bowl game

BLAKE’S PICK: The ACC and the Big East were the forgotten conferences this season but, in spite of that, Cincinnati and Virginia Tech will square off in what will be a defensive showdown. Both teams have spotty quarterbacking and mediocre offenses, but both can play defense with the best of them. In the Cincinnati vs Virginia Tech odds, bet online with Virginia Tech as its special teams should be the difference.

The Bearcats roared to an 11-2 record and the Big East championship, while the Hokies dropped Boston College for the ACC championship. These two will meet in the Orange Bowl on January 1, 2009 in Miami, FL.

• When: January 1, 2009
• Sponsor: FedEx
• Stadium: Miami Field (1935-37), Orange Bowl (1937-96), Dolphin Stadium (1996-present)
• History: January 1, 1935 (Bucknell 26 Miami 0)
• Most Appearances: Oklahoma (18)
• Most Wins: Oklahoma (12)

Last Five Years:

Offshore sportsbook players always look forward to Orange Bowl betting, one of the original “big” NCAA bowl games on New Year’s Day. NCAA bowl betting will be exciting for this legendary game, which has hosted two BCS Championship games in the 2000s.

The Orange Bowl, second only to the Rose Bowl in terms of years, kicked off in 1935 at Miami Field, when the Hurricanes were drubbed 26-0 by Bucknell. Two years later, it made its move to the Orange Bowl Stadium, where it was played until 1996 when Dolphin Stadium took over. The game usually hosts the ACC champion, unless that team goes to the BCS title game, in which case two at-large BCS teams will battle for the trophy.

Oklahoma leads the way with 12 wins in 18 appearances, with seven of those wins coming from 1956-81. However, the Orange Bowl heyday was the 1980s and 1990s, when the Hurricanes (who played their home games at the Orange Bowl) won four times between 1984 and 199.

The BCS championship was last decided here in 2005, when USC pounded Oklahoma 55-19. The following season, the two most victorious coaches in NCAA football history, Bobby Bowden of Florida State and Joe Paterno of Penn State, saw their teams wage a 26-23 triple-overtime epic which went the way of the Nittany Lions.

2009 Orange Bowl betting is sure to be as exciting as the game, as three of the last five meetings have been decided by three points or less—and Louisville’s 11-point win over Wake Forest in 2007 was no romp.

This year’s NCAA football betting favorites from the ACC figures to be either Florida State or North Carolina. Big East teams have been given Orange Bowl bids in recent years, and that conference is currently a tight three-way battle between West Virginia, Cincinnati and Pittsburgh.

The Seminoles are no strangers to the Orange Bowl, with two appearances in the last five years, but they have not won this game since 1996.

For more Orange Bowl odds and other Orange Bowl betting, visit the Betting Edge every day through the season.

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.