NCAA Football Odds: No 18 Penn State at No 1 Alabama
Friday, September 10, 2010
by Bodog Sportsbook
There are some incredible matchups on Saturday in college football betting, including Michigan at Notre Dame, Miami at Ohio State and Florida State at Oklahoma. But the problem with those three games is that they all start around 3:30 ET, meaning that unless you have picture-in-picture, multiple TVs or are at a sports bar, you have to pick one to watch. Thus Saturday night’s Penn State Nittany Lions vs. - Alabama Crimson Tide game probably stands out as the top game of the weekend. Top-ranked Alabama is a 13-point favorite on Bodog’s NCAA football odds and there is live betting available.
By now you know the Tide are down two of their best players: running back Mark Ingram, the reigning Heisman winner (who now has no chance to repeat), and defensive end Marcell Dareus, who was the defensive MVP of last year’s national title game. Ingram underwent minor knee surgery before last week’s opener and isn’t quite ready to play. Dareus is serving the second of a two-game NCAA-issued suspension. Despite those significant losses, the line hasn’t really moved toward PSU at all.
The scary thing is that the Tide probably don’t lose much when Trent Richardson plays instead of Ingram. Richardson will make his second straight start after rushing for 66 yards on 10 carries, including a 39-yard TD, and catching three passes for 46 yards in a rout of San Jose State. Richardson didn’t play the second half because the game was out of hand. Penn State, meanwhile, hasn’t allowed a 100-yard rusher since Iowa’s Shonn Greene in 2008; Richardson topped 100 in the BCS title game against Texas (as did Ingram).
Alabama should have a major advantage at quarterback with experienced senior Greg McElroy, who still hasn’t lost a game since eighth grade, against PSU’s Robert Bolden, who is the first true freshman quarterback to start for Penn State in 18 years and was the first ever to start an opener under Joe Paterno. Bolden was 20 of 29 for 239 yards, two TDs and an interception in last week’s 44-14 win over Youngstown State. Slightly different level of talent and crowd on Saturday night. PSU probably needs a big game from star RB Evan Royster to win, but Alabama hasn't allowed a 100-yard rusher in 35 games. The Tide are 25-6 all-time in games when they are ranked No. 1 in the Associated Press poll.
The Tide have won 15 games in a row at Bryant-Denny Stadium, but Penn State has gone 8-1 on the road the past two seasons. These two powerhouses are meeting for the 14th time but first since 1990. The Crimson Tide, who visit Happy Valley next year, lead 8-5. This is PSU’s first regular-season game against an SEC opponent since the ’90 game against the Crimson Tide.
Be a player and bet at Bodog Sportsbook on the game of the day: Penn State at Alabama
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alabama crimson tide - college football betting - evan royster - greg mcelroy - joe paterno - live betting - marcell dareus - mark ingram - penn state nittany lions - robert bolden
