NCAA Football
2012-12-29 - Texas Longhorns at Oregon State Beavers
A Sports Betting Pick by FirstDown
United States: NCAA Football
Saturday 29 December 2012 - Kick Off 6:45pm
11:45pm (British Time)
Preview
These two teams come into this Bowl game off contrasting seasons- the Oregon State Beavers (9-3) have completed a remarkable turnaround from a season ago when they finished just 3-9; on the other hand, the Texas Longhorns (8-4) were expected to be a real contender in the Big 12 and this is seen as a season of disappointment for a school used to playing in big BCS Bowls.
There are other issues for Texas to face coming into this game as they have suspended two players who have been accused of sexual assault ahead of this game. Both Case McCoy and Jordan Hicks have been sent home for unspecified reasons, although it has been suggested that both broke curfew.
It will be interesting to see whether the rest of the team will gel together in a siege mentality state to get totally focused on this game or whether they are now concentrating on what happens to a couple of their team-mates.
Case McCoy was expected to start at Quarter Back from the Longhorns in this game, but that honour will be given to David Ash who has started most of the games this season and ended with a 17 touchdown and 7 interception regular season.
Ash will be hoping his Offensive Line can hold up here as Oregon State have brought an effective pass rush to the table. He will also be facing a Secondary that have effectively turned the ball over this season.
A real key for Texas will be whether Jonathan Gray and Joe Bergeron will be able to run the ball effectively in this game. Both the backs have helped the Longhorns to 4.7 yards per carry this season, although Oregon State have only allowed 130 yards per game on the ground this season.
Texas will also be using a new Offensive Co-Ordinator in this one as Bryan Harsin has been appointed the new Head Coach at Arkansas State. That means Major Applewhite will be given full responsibility to call the signals for the Longhorns in this one.
After a really good start to the season, Oregon State have just come back down to earth in recent games and they have had a controversy at Quarter Back in the final weeks of the season. It seems long-term starter Sean Mannion will be getting the call in this one, but it won't be easy for the Quarter Back in this one against this Texas Defense.
The Longhorns have only allowed 213 yards per game through the air while Texas will also be able to get plenty of pressure on Mannion behind the Beavers Offensive Line. Mannion will also have to take care of the ball better than he did in the final few weeks of the season as this Secondary is also capable of turning the ball over.
One area that the Longhorns Defense have struggled is against the run, allowing almost 200 yards per game on the ground. Storm Woods should be able to find some room to have a big game in this one as it looks for all the world in being a close one and the running game will remain important throughout.
Head to Head
This is only the second meeting between the teams- the Texas Longhorns destroyed Oregon State back in 1987 in their previous meeting.
Prediction
Neither team has come into this Bowl game with a lot of momentum and the whole game could be decided on whether the Texas Longhorns rally around each other following the accusations on two of their players.
Both Defenses should win the main battles, but I do like Texas' more than I like Oregon State's and I think they can cause a couple of key turnovers that could help them keep this close and possibly win outright.
Getting more than a field goal on the Longhorns looks a little generous and I will back them to keep this close at least.
The Pick :
Oregon State Beavers 20-23 Texas Longhorns
BEST BETTING TIP :
I'll back the Texas Longhorns + 3.5 Points @ 1.95
