Nevada vs Colorado State Arizona Bowl Betting Preview

Posted by Alex Murphy on Monday,December 28, 2015 1:08, EDT in

For the first time since 1979, two opponents from the same conference will square off in a non-playoff bowl game when Mountain West rivals Nevada and Colorado State square off in the 2015 Arizona Bowl on Tuesday, December 29 at 7:30 PM ET, live from Arizona Stadium in Tucson, Arizona. Now, let’s find out which team will win and cover the college football odds spread to close out its 2015 campaign on a positive note.

How To Bet The Wolf Pack vs. Rams NCAA Fooball Lines TV & Game Info

When: Tuesday, December 29, 7:30 PM ET
Where: Arizona Stadium, Tucson, Arizona
TV: American Sports Network/Campus Insiders
NCAAF Line: Colorado State -3
O/U: 55.5

The Colorado State Rams are favored by 3 points after opening as a 3.5-point favorite on Arizona Bowl NCAAF lines while the game’s Over/Under total sits at 55.5 after opening at 56. Colorado State is a -160 pick against the Moneyline while Nevada is a +140 Moneyline pick.

Why Bet The Nevada Wolf Pack Odds at +3

Because you’re a Nevada alum! The Wolf Pack (6-6 SU, 7-4-1 ATS) are making their 10th bowl appearance in the last 11 seasons, but come into this affair riding a two-game losing streak, including their humbling 31-14 loss against San Diego State in their regular season finale. Nevada has an elite rushing attack that averaged a stellar 205.6 yards per game to rank 29th nationally. The Wolf Pack are one of just two FBS teams that feature a pair of 1,000-yard rushers in tailbacks James Butler (1,153) and Don Jackson (1,029). Unfortunately, Nevada averages a modest 26.1 points per game while allowing 27.2 points per contest defensively to rank 65th in the nation.

The Wolf Pack do have a pair of All-Mountain West defensive linemen in Ian Seau and Lenny Jones. Nevada will have an interim offensive coordinator taking charge in this bowl game pairing with offensive coordinator Nick Rolovich leaving to accept the head-coaching position at Hawaii.

Why Bet The Colorado State Rams Odds at -3

Because they’re the superior team in all three phases! Colorado State (7-5, SU, 6-5-1 ATS) is making its third consecutive bowl appearance and have won 11 of 13 meetings against Nevada. Colorado State ranked a respectable 60th in scoring by putting up 30.2 points while ranking 64th in points allowed (27.2 ppg).

Quarterback Nick Stevens has completed 61.8 percent of his passes for 2,368 yards with 21 touchdowns and 12 interceptions while running back Dalyn Dawkins led the Rams in rushing with 805 yards. The Rams’ best offensive player is senior All-Mountain West receiver Rashard Higgins (66 receptions, 933 yards, eight TDs). Higgins needs 115 receiving yards to become the program’s all-time leader in career yardage.

My Expert Pick & Final Score Prediction

A convincing 74 percent of the betting public likes Colorado State to get the ‘W’ and accompanying ATS cover and I think the pick is a virtual lock with Colorado State being the better team in all three phases. I know Nevada has gone 4-0-1 ATS in their last five games, but the Wolf Pack are also just 1-4-1 ATS in their last half-dozen neutral site games and an uninspiring 1-5-1 ATS in their last seven bowl games.

With Colorado State going 10-4 ATS in their last 14 games following an ATS loss and the favorite in this Mountain West rivalry going a near-perfect 5-1 ATS in their last six meetings, I say Colorado State is the easy pick!

My final score prediction is Colorado State 30 Nevada 24