Sugar Bowl Betting

Opening Line: Gators -13 / Bearcats +13 O/U 57.5
Time: 8:30 PM EST Friday January 1, 2010 on FOX

by Marasoft.com Staff

The Sugar Bowl is a sweet match up between the undefeated Cincinnati Bearcats and the defending National Champion Florida Gators. However, all the press before this BCS bowl game has been about Florida head coach Urban Meyer. First he said he would be stepping down as head coach because of health reasons, but then he stated he will just be taking an indefinite leave of absence and he hopes to be on the sidelines for the Gators next season. This game features two of the better QB's in the nation in Florida's Tim Tebow and Cincy's Tony Pike. The Bearcats missed out on playing in the National Title game when Texas kicked a last second FG to beat Nebraska.

This season Cincinnati was 3-0 against ranked opponents and 6-5 ATS and Florida was 1-1 against teams ranked in the top 25 and 5-6-1 ATS.

CLICK HERE TO BET ON COLLEGE FOOTBALL

USING YOUR CREDIT CARD

Florida lost their last game of the season 32-13 against Alabama, which cost them a shot in the BCS title game, while Cincinnati came back to beat Pittsburgh 45-44 in a barnburner, which gave them the Big East title and a shot in a BCS bowl game.

Florida has the nation's 12th ranked offense and they are all about QB Tim Tebow (2,413 yds 18 TD 5 INT), who was also the Gators' leading rusher with 859 yds 13 TD. Tebow is joined in the backfield by RB Jeffery Demps (738 yds 7 TD), who averaged an impressive 7.7 yards per carry this season. Tebow does have some solid WR targets, but the Gators' strength on offense is definitely running the ball, as they have the nation's 10th ranked rushing offense. The Cincinnati defense ranks 47th in the nation and 56th in the nation at defending the run. Their main goal will be stuffing the run, as they must make Tebow beat them with his arm or the Bearcats will be in for a long game.

Cincinnati and their 6th ranked defense is led by QB Tony Pike (2,350 yds 26 TD 6 INT). His main target of Mardy Gilyard had over 1,100 receiving yards this year and averaged over 14 yards per reception and the Gators' defense will have to keep him from making the big play. The Bearcats have the nation's 65th ranked rushing offense and RB Isaiah Pead (758 yds 9 TD) can really take the pressure off Pike if he can pick up some yards on the ground. The Florida defense is a stellar one, as they rank 4th in the nation and are great against both the pass and the run. However, if their defense plays like they did in the season finale loss to Alabama they will be in trouble. Florida ranked 20th in the nation with 35 sacks, so Cincy's offensive line has to play well in this game, especially protecting Pike.

Florida is 3-5-1 ATS in their last 8 games

The Marasoft Pick: Cincinnati