What a year for Clemson. After a sluggish start in a year when expectations were of BCS proportions, it fires its pedigree coach then promotes an assistant –Dabo Swinney- who gets things turned around and the team finds itself playing on New Years Day. And how about Nebraska? These guys finished really bad in 2007 but got its act together under first year coach Bo Pelini in 2008. The Cornhuskers will be Clemson’s opponent in today’s Gator Bowl at Municipal Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla., kickoff at 1 pm ET.
Oddsmakers at online super-sportsbook BetUS.com have set the sports odds favoring Clemson by a 1 ½ -chalk ATS and -125 moneyline with a 56 ½ total. Huskers backers are getting +105 moneyline juice as the underdog.
The 8-4 Cornhuskers, winners of five of their final six games, will take on Atlantic Coast Conference representative Clemson. Like Nebraska, the 7-5 Tigers finished strong, winning four of their final five games, including victories over Duke, Virginia and South Carolina to close the season.
Nebraska stood 3-3 at mid-season, but won five of its final six games with its only loss in that stretch coming at the hands of Big 12 Champion Oklahoma. Nebraska capped the regular season with three straight victories for the first time since 1999. A victory in the Gator Bowl would give Nebraska just its second nine-win season since 2003, but the 43rd overall nine-win campaign in school history.
Clemson boasts one of the nation’s top defenses entering the Gator Bowl. The Tigers rank 17th nationally in total defense, allowing just 294.8 yards per game and are 10th in passing yards allowed at 167.3 yards per game. Clemson has allowed just 16.6 points per game to rank 10th nationally, and has limited six opponents to 14 points or less including each of the final three games of the season. The Tigers are coached by Dabo Swinney who served as the interim coach for the final six games of the season, before being named head coach last week.
Sports-Odds.com predicts the Huskers will surprise Clemson and pull of a mild upset. The pick-Nebraska +105 moneyline.
BetUS.com is the online leader in sports gambling. Sign-on today at BetUS.com and take advantage of their generous bonus program. Use the extra cash to bet the bowls.
