Gator Bowl Betting

Florida State Seminoles (6-6) vs. West Virginia Mountaineers (9-3)
Opening Line: Mountaineers -3 / Seminoles +3 O/U 60
Time: 1 PM EST Friday January 1, 2010 on CBS

In the Gator Bowl the West Virginia Mountaineers take on the Florida State Seminoles. This game is Bobby Bowden's farewell, as the legendary FSU coach will be retiring. The Seminoles may have a little home field advantage with the game held in the Sunshine State, but their weak defense may hurt them AND they are without their star QB Christian Ponder, who is lost for the season after shoulder surgery. The Seminoles won 2 of their last 3 games and they were 1-2 against ranked teams this season. The Mountaineers ended the season well winning their last 2 games and they were 1-1 against teams ranked in the top 25.

This season FSU was only 3-8 ATS and West Virginia was 5-6 ATS.

In their last games of the season FSU lost to in-state rival Florida 37-10 while West Virginia beat a solid Rutgers team 24-21.

FSU has the nation's 27th ranked offense and they are now led by freshman QB E.J. Manuel (628 yds 2 TD 6 INT). Manuel has to play well in this game and not turn the ball over, which has been a problem with him since he became the starter. The FSU rushing offense ranks 66th in the nation and RB Jermaine Thomas (711 yds 7 TD). Thomas could really take some pressure off Manuel if he can move the chains on the ground. Manuel may have to step up, as the WVU D, which ranks 34th in the nation, is better at defending the run than the pass. The FSU offensive line has to play well against a WVU front line defense that has 29 sacks this season.

WVU has the nation's 60th ranked offense and they are led by QB Jarrett Brown. The Mountaineers' strength on offense is running the ball with RB Noel Devine (1,297 yds 12 TD), who was the 2nd leading rusher in the Big East this season and averaged 5.8 yards per carry this season. FSU may have to put up a lot of points since their defense is not legit to say the least. Overall their D ranks 110th in the nation and Devine may tear them up, as their rushing defense only ranks 108th in the nation.

FSU was 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games and the West Virginia is 11-3 SU in their last 14 games.