Bodog.com Lists USC as Rose Bowl Favorites

With two Heisman Trophy winners sharing the backfield, a mercurial quarterback leading an undefeated powerhouse, and a defending national champion considered to be one of the best college teams ever assembled, this year's Rose Bowl is certain to live up to all the hype and expectations.

Bodog.com bookmakers list No. 1 USC as a 7.5-point favorite to repeat as national champion and defeat No. 2 Texas on January 4, 2006, in Pasadena, Calif. The Rose is the culmination of an NCAA postseason that features 28 bowl games and Bodog.com has odds on each one.

"Although I am looking forward to all of the exciting college bowl games , the Rose Bowl stands out – and it should," says Calvin Ayre, Founder and CEO of Bodog.com. "This year's Rose Bowl features the two teams who were favored to be here when Bodog.com bookmakers posted the odds at the beginning of the season. Both USC and Texas have garnered a large amount of action from bettors throughout the year, and we expect to see a lot more interest leading to this game that will decide the national champion."

Betting trends are a good indicator of the mindset of the public, so perhaps it is no coincidence Bodog.com bookmakers report that most of the betting action has been on the Trojans to cover the 7.5-point spread. During the season, bettors w ere more inclined to wager on games involving the Trojans than on those featuring Texas. However, those who bet on Texas were far more profitable.

Though USC went undefeated, it only beat the spread in half of its 12 games. In fact, during one stretch in October, the mighty Trojans failed to cover in four straight games. On the other hand, Texas (12-0) went 10-2 against the spread, the best record of all Division 1-A teams.

In the two days prior to the Rose, the three other BCS games will be played. On Jan. 2, the Fiesta Bowl features two 9-2 squads as 4-point favorite Ohio State battles Notre Dame. That night, Georgia (10-2) takes on West Virginia (10-1), a 7.5-point underdog, in the Sugar Bowl. On Jan. 3, Florida State (8-4) meets Penn State in the Orange Bowl; the Nittany Lions (10-1) are favored by 7.5 points.

In notable non-BCS games, UCLA (9-2) is a 3-point favorite over Northwestern (7-4) in a Vitalis Sun Bowl tilt that could be the highest scoring of all the games. The two explosive offenses meet on Dec. 30 in El Paso, Texas.

Also on Dec. 30, South Carolina and coach Steve Spurrier face Missouri (6-5) in The Independence Bowl in Shreveport, La. The Gamecocks (7-4) are 4-point favorites.

Two powerhouse programs face off in the Alamo Bowl as Michigan (7-4) takes on Nebraska (7-4) on Dec. 28. The Wolverines, currently favored by 11.5 points, are expected to leave San Antonio with the win.

In the Las Vegas Bowl on Dec. 22, a talented Cal team meets the surprising BYU Cougars (6-5). The Golden Bears (7-4) are 7-point favorites.