The SEC has won four of the past five Capital One bowls against Big Ten foes, and Georgia is favored to continue that trend this year against the Nebraska Cornhuskers.
2013 Capital One Bowl odds: Nebraska vs. Georgia betting preview, pick
Georgia narrowly missed playing for the BCS title, so handicappers must decide if they are motivated and bet the Capital One Bowl odds menu accordingly. The Bulldogs were early 10-point favorites over Nebraska. Jan. 1, 1 p.m. ET, ABC
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The 11-2 Bulldogs, runners-up in the SEC this season, were favored by nine points in early Capital One Bowl odds action, and the 10-3 Cornhuskers, runners-up in the Big Ten, get together for a New Year’s Day bowl game. That spread was quickly bet up to -10 at most sportsbooks tracked by OddsShark.com.
Coming into this season Georgia figured to have a good shot at winning the SEC East again, and that’s just what they did. The Dawgs opened 5-0 this year, with a dominating win over a pretty good Vandy team, but then lost badly, 35-7, at South Carolina.
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But Georgia recovered to win its next six games, including a tough, 17-9 victory over Florida that eventually meant the difference in who won the East Division title. The Bulldogs then lost the SEC championship game to No. 1 Alabama, 32-28, when they were stopped on the Tide’s five-yard-line as the clock ran out.
Led by junior QB Aaron Murray, who threw 31 TD passes vs. eight interceptions, and the RB combo of Todd Gurley and Keith Marshall, who together ran for nearly 2,000 yards, the Bulldogs averaged 458 yards and 37 points per game this season. On the other side of the ball, Georgia's defense, led by SEC Defensive Player of the Year Jarvis Jones, allowed 351 YPG and held five of its last six opponents to 14 points or less.
Nebraska came into this season as the favorite to win the Big Ten’s Legends Division, then lived up to those expectations by going 7-1 in conference play. The ‘Huskers started off 3-1 in non-conference play, losing an early game out at UCLA, then rallied to beat Wisconsin, 30-27, in their Big Ten opener. They then went to Columbus and got rolled, 63-38, by the Buckeyes.
But Nebraska won its next six games, coming from behind to win at Northwestern and at Michigan State, to win the Legends Division by a game over Michigan. But in the Big Ten championship game Nebraska got rocked, allowing more than 500 yards rushing in losing a re-match vs. Wisconsin, 70-31.
Powered by QB Taylor Martinez, who accounted for 3,500 yards from scrimmage and 31 touchdowns, the ‘Huskers averaged 462 YPG and 35 PPG. Defensively, Nebraska held foes to 343 YPG.
Nebraska is playing in a bowl for the fifth straight season, and in the Capital One Bowl for the second straight year. Last January the Huskers lost this bowl game to South Carolina, 30-13. Georgia has lost its last two bowl games. Last year the Bulldogs fell to Michigan State in the Outback Bowl, 33-30, in triple-overtime.
Capital One Bowl Pick: Georgia is balanced on offense, and tough on defense, while the ‘Huskers should be concerned, after getting absolutely routed their last time out. Ten points might seem a bit much, but we’ll go with the Dawgs. (courtesy of PickShark.com)
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