The Bowl Championship Series, which includes five bowl games, is really about one game: the National Championship. The series includes four other bowls, each of which is an individual entity and the results of which have nothing to do with the final game of the BCS.
Along with the BCS National Championship are the Rose Bowl, Fiesta Bowl, Sugar Bowl and Orange Bowl. Together, the teams that compete in these five games represent the best of best in college football.
One Game
It is important to remember that the BCS National Championship Game is one contest, and that thirty-eight other bowl games are available for wagering. Many of those other games offer sports bettors a much better chance of making cash. So before you go headlong into the fray with expectations of making a killing on the big game, take a deep breath. This is certainly not the only postseason college football game on which you should bet.
The Spread, Money line, and Over/Under
The spread in the BCS National Championship Game tends to be fairly tight, making it a tough nut to crack. Money line bets can offer you good value, especially if you expect a close contest and the bookmakers do not. Totals tend to be fairly low for this game (at least, low for college football). In betting on totals, take a good hard look at how the defenses and offenses matchup for both teams.
Which Team is Best?
This game is about determining the national champion in college football. Before making your bet, and putting aside all passion, team loyalties, and school rivalries, which team really is the best? Does one or the other seem to be the better of the two clubs?
The BCS rankings utilize a range of factors, including the AP and USA TODAY polls, computer generated rankings, and various other types of criteria. Many people question the process for picking the two teams that will meet for the national championship. One team may very well be superior to the other, and if you believe that is the case, then be sure to afford them the respect they deserve when you’re wagering.
The X-Factor
The x-factor can be one of many things, including the coach, recent developments that can become a distraction for one team, experience in big games, major injuries, and more. Ask yourself: Is there one factor that can determine the outcome of the game, and if there is, which team will it favor?
National Stage Fright
Are both teams ready to play on what is the biggest college football stage in the nation? Some players might feel more pressure than others, which can dramatically affect their play. How long will it take the teams to settle in and focus on the game? Will the massive media coverage make one team more likely to make a mistake?
Protecting Yourself from Hype
Just as with other major contests, with college football you want to protect yourself from the hype. There’s a lot of it for the BCS National Championship Game. As a savvy sports bettor, you can’t allow all of the media-generated “news” to distract you from using solid analytical and handicapping skills to pick a winner.