The USC Trojans and Fresno State Bulldogs meet for the first time since 2005 in this year’s Royal Purple Las Vegas Bowl.
The Bulldogs head to Las Vegas as Mountain West Conference champions, but while the Bulldogs own the better record SU it is the Trojans who are pegged as early favorites for the bowl matchup.
For updated lines and totals on all of this year's bowl games head over to the college football betting boards at 5Dimes and Bovada today.
Royal Purple Las Vegas Bowl
Saturday, December 21 @ 3:30pm ET
Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas, Nevada
Team: USC Trojans
Conference: Pacific 12
Records: 9-4 SU, 6-7 ATS, 5-8 OU
Team: Fresno State Bulldogs
Conference: Mountain West
Records: 11-1 SU, 5-7 ATS, 6-6 OU
Opening Spread / Total (from 5Dimes)
USC -5.5 / 62 Points
[ Royal Purple Las Vegas Bowl Matchup Stats | Fresno State vs USC Betting Preview ]
Royal Purple Las Vegas Bowl Betting Trends: The Bulldogs have been a solid 11-1 SU this season but just 5-7 ATS and a mere 1-5 ATS in their last six bowl game appearances . . The Trojans have had greater postseason success, posting a 7-2 record ATS in their last nine bowl games.
The Fresno State Bulldogs will be looking to prove the oddsmakers wrong when they face the USC Trojans in the Royal Purple Las Vegas Bowl. The Bulldogs, early 5.5 point underdogs, seemed destined for a perfect record and a more prestigious bowl appearance until falling 62-52 to San Jose State in the final game of the regular season. But the Bulldogs showed their grit, bouncing back to a 24-17 win over Utah State to claim the Mountain West championship. The Trojans meanwhile, have endured upheaval in their coaching ranks this season, culminating in the recent hiring of the team’s third coach this season. This followed an emotional 35-14 loss to rival UCLA in the annual Victory Bell game. Despite the adversity, the Trojans are ranked an impressive 16th in the nation in Defensive Total Yards, and have allowed just over 21 yards per game this season.
Las Vegas Bowl History (teams, score, spread, ATS winner, SU winner)
1996
Las Vegas Bowl
Nevada
18
Ball State
15
3
Push
NEVADA
1997
Las Vegas Bowl
Oregon
41
Air Force
13
3
OREG
OREG
1998
Las Vegas Bowl
North Carolina
20
San Diego State
13
7
Push
UNC
1999
Las Vegas Bowl
Fresno State
16
Utah
17
-5
FRESNO
UTAH
2000
Las Vegas Bowl
Arkansas
14
UNLV
31
-1
UNLV
UNLV
2001
Las Vegas Bowl
Utah
10
Southern Cal
6
-3.5
UTAH
UTAH
2002
Las Vegas Bowl
New Mexico
13
UCLA
27
-9.5
UCLA
UCLA
2003
Las Vegas Bowl
Oregon State
55
New Mexico
14
2.5
OREGST
OREGST
2004
Las Vegas Bowl
Wyoming
24
UCLA
21
-12.5
WYOMNG
WYOMNG
2005
Las Vegas Bowl
BYU
28
California
35
-8
BYU
CAL
2006
Las Vegas Bowl
BYU
38
Oregon
8
3.5
BYU
BYU
2007
Las Vegas Bowl
UCLA
16
BYU
17
-6.5
UCLA
BYU
2008
Las Vegas Bowl
BYU
21
Arizona
31
-3
ARIZON
ARIZON
2009
Las Vegas Bowl
BYU
44
Oregon State
20
2.5
BYU
BYU
2010
Las Vegas Bowl
Utah
3
Boise State
26
-16.5
BOISE
BOISE
2011
Las Vegas Bowl
Arizona State
24
Boise State
56
-14
BOISE
BOISE
2012
Las Vegas Bowl
Boise State
28
Wash
26
6.5
WASH
BOISE
2013
Las Vegas Bowl
Fresno State
USC
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The Boise State Broncos went 10-2 SU this season but only 6-6 ATS on the college football betting odds; that might be a red flag for their supporters as they take on the Washington Huskies in the Las Vegas Bowl on December 22.
For updated lines and totals on all of this year's bowl games head over to the college football betting boards at 5Dimes, Bovada, and BetOnline today.
MAACO Las Vegas Bowl
Saturday, December 22 @ 3:30pm ET
Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas, Nevada
Team: Washington Huskies
Conference: Pacific-12
Records: 7-5 SU, 7-5 ATS, 4-7 OU
Team: Boise State Broncos
Conference: Mountain West
Records: 10-2 SU, 6-6 ATS, 5-7 OU
Opening Spread / Total (from BetOnline)
Boise State -6.5 / 46 Points
[MAACO Las Vegas Bowl Matchup Stats]
MAACO Las Vegas Bowl Betting Trends: Nine of past 13 Las Vegas Bowls played UNDER the total . . . Boise State won and covered in past two Las Vegas Bowls.
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The Boise State Broncos look for a victory in the MAACO Las Vegas Bowl for the second straight year, this time against the Arizona State Sun Devils.
For lines and totals on all of this year's bowl games head over to the college football betting board at Bovada today.
MAACO Las Vegas Bowl
Thursday, December 22 @ 8:00pm ET
Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas, Nevada
Team: Arizona State Sun Devils
Conference: Pacific 12
Records: 6-6 SU, 9-2-1 ATS, 5-7 OU
Team: Boise State Broncos
Conference: Mountain West
Records: 11-1 SU, 4-8 ATS, 7-5 OU
Spread / Total (from 5Dimes)
Boise State -14.0 / 66 Points
[MAACO Las Vegas Bowl Matchup Stats]
Despite finishing No. 7 in the BCS standings, the Boise State Broncos didn’t win their conference to guarantee themselves an at-large BCS bowl bid, so they instead face the Arizona State Sun Devils in the MAACO Las Vegas Bowl.
Both teams finished 4-8 against the spread, but Boise State was substantially better straight up at 11-1 to ASU’s 6-6. ASU started the season off 6-2 SU, but lost four straight to end the season while giving up 36 points per game over that stretch. Plenty of offense is expected in this one as Boise State ranks 10th in the nation in passing (310.3 yards per game) and seventh in scoring (43.4 points per game) while ASU ranks 11th in passing (310.2 yards per game) and 25th in scoring (33.9 points per game)
Kellen Moore didn’t receive an invite to New York, but he did have a great campaign as he passed for 3,507 yards and 41 touchdowns to just seven interceptions. With a career record of 49-3, Moore could get win number 50 in his final game here in the MAACO Las Vegas Bowl.
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The Boise State Broncos had hoped to make the BCS title game this season, but their itinerary is instead sending them to play the Utah Utes as a big favorite in college football betting when the two meet for the MAACO Bowl.
MAACO Bowl
Wednesday, December 22 @ 8pm ET
Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas, Nevada
Team: Boise State Broncos
Conference: Western Athletic Conference
Records: 11-1 SU, 8-4 ATS, 6-6 OU
Team: Utah Utes
Conference: Mountain West Conference
Records: 10-2 SU, 7-4-1 ATS, 7-5 OU
Spread / Total (from
)
Boise State -17.5 / 60.5 Points
[MAACO Bowl Matchup Stats]
Boise State went undefeated last season to capture the Fiesta Bowl, and if they look a little lacklustre to start the MAACO Bowl it’s to be forgiven as they had plans of a BCS title game this year. That goal fell apart when they blew a lead against Nevada in a late November loss.
NCAAF odds stack highly in favor of Boise State, and it’s hard to argue with that when they possess an offense that ranks behind only No. 2 Oregon with 46.7 points per game, and sixth in total yards per game with 519.5.
Quarterback Kellen Moore drives this offense – passing for 3,506 yards and 33 touchdowns. He was number two in the nation behind Heisman trophy winner Cam Newton. The Broncos have so much ammunition that it’s easy to justify why sportsbooks give a huge edge on the MAACO Bowl odds.
Utah is in for a tough fight if they expect to win a tenth straight bowl game. The Utes need to play much better defensively and wait for better field position to score. This patience is a must because repeating a trend of allowing over 215.5 yards per game in the air to the pass-potent Broncos will bury them in a hurry.
The Utes allow only 104.5 yards on the ground, and that could give them the ability to concentrate on trying to shut down Moore and his receiving corps of Titus Young (1,151 yards, nine TDs) and Austin Pettis (814 yards, nine TDs).
For a team that was once ranked as high as No. 6 in the nation this big pointspread could allow for a double-paying wager with a Boise State win and a Utah cover.
Utah also has some weapons on offense, but is more balanced than a one-two punch. The posted total is set high and could give UNDER bettors an edge.