College Football Betting: Looking Forward To Final 2011 Bowl Games

While it may not be as exciting as counting down to midnight later on, there is a long list of college football betting games for players to look forward to heading in to the final football weekend of 2011. Here is a quick look at some of the top matchups to keep an eye on before the clock hits midnight for 2011.

Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl
Mississippi State Bulldogs vs. Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Friday December 30, 2011 – 6:40 PM ET

Another SEC representative will take to the field looking to add to their conference’s win totals in bowls this year, as the Bulldogs battle Wake Forest in the Music City. Mississippi State failed to live up to expectations this year, but did do enough in the nation’s toughest conference to earn a spot in this game against the Demon Deacons. Considering that both of these schools barely qualified for the postseason, and both have a lot to prove going forward, look for the sports betting underdogs to come through and cover the number.

College Football Betting Pick: Wake Forest Demon Deacons + 7

Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl
Illinois Fighting Illini vs. UCLA Bruins
Saturday December 31, 2011 – 3:30 PM ET

While this game is called he Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl, it could be renamed the “Best Interm Coach Bowl” as both of the men patrolling the sidelines have taken over for fired coaches this season. While Vic Koenning has yet to put his fingerprints on the Fighting Illini as a head coach, it will be interesting to see how the Bruins respond in this game after bidding a tearful farewell to former coach Rick Neuheisel. Similar to the previous game, neither of these team’s deserve to be an overwhelming favorite as listed by the pay head bookies, but Illinois should have the edge in intensity heading in to this contest.

College Football Betting Pick: Illinois Fighting Illini - 3

Chick-fil-A Bowl
Virginia Cavaliers vs. Auburn Tigers
Saturday December 31, 2011 – 7:30 PM ET

The Auburn Tigers will hold the distinction of defending national champion’s for one more week before a new BCS champion is crowned, and although they won’t get a shot to repeat this year, they will still get their opportunity to clinch a postseason win. However, other than that Auburn is nowhere near where they were a year ago, as they enter this game on the heels of three blowout losses in their past four NCAA football games. To be fair, two of those three losses were against the two teams that will play in this year’s national title game in No. 1 LSU and No. 2 Alabama, so it probably isn’t a good reflection of where they stand heading in to this game. Virginia suffered a blowout loss of their own in their season finale, losing 38-0 to Virginia Tech, and that has to be the more concerning defeat of the two.

College Football Betting Picks: Auburn Tigers - 3