Tostitos’ BCS National Championship Game
Oregon Ducks vs. Auburn Tigers
Monday January 10, 2011 – 8:30 PM ET
Online Sports Betting Odds: Auburn – 3
It was the Tigers that ensured that at least a couple of those teams wouldn’t have their shot in the big game after sweeping through the SEC with a perfect 13 wins. Auburn took down a couple of big programs, including the defending national champion Alabama Crimson Tide and LSU Tigers.
NCAA Football Betting Preview: Oregon
The Ducks will present a different type of challenge for Auburn, with their top-ranked offense looking to prove their speed and capability in a spread offense the Tigers have yet to face this year. Heisman trophy runner-up and running back LaMichael James rushed for 1,682 yards and 21 touchdowns, but that’s just the beginning of an offense that finished first in the FBS with an average of over 49 points per game. Dual-threat quarterback Darron Thomas may be one of the most underrated players in the game after throwing for 2,518 yards and 28 touchdowns, while rushing for another 492 and five scores. The Ducks’ defense has improved as the season continued, but still gave up over 500 yards on three separate occasions, and will need to prove its speed and tackling ability can overcome the strength of the Auburn line.
NCAA Football Betting Preview: Auburn
That Tigers’ line kept Heisman trophy-winning quarterback Cam Newton up long enough to throw for 2,589 yards and 28 touchdowns, while rushing for another 1,409 and 20 scores. What’s more, Newton played his best football in the biggest games, and remained calm and poised in the face of adversity in times where other signal-callers would have lost their composure. Auburn found the perfect complement to Newton in running back Michael Dyer, who rushed for 950 yards and five touchdowns. Newton and Dyer represent as lethal a tandem as any in college football. The Tigers’ defense struggled at times this season against tough, hard-running teams, and will now need to prove that they can keep up with a speedy, spread football betting offense.
The Match Up: Oregon vs. Auburn
The Ducks impressed many online bookies with their play in the PAC-10, and will prove that they can succeed against the top programs from any conference in the national title game. Oregon will attack relentlessly on both offense and defense, and will spoil the Tigers’ chances of giving the SEC a fifth straight national title.
BSNblog Pick: Oregon + 3