The Oregon Ducks are 7½-point college football wagering favorites versus the Boise State Broncos in the 2017 Las Vegas Bowl. This in spite of the fact that running back Royce Freeman has decided to run in the opposite direction and skip the game. Freeman ran for 1,475 yards and 16 touchdowns this season. He concludes his college career No. 7 all-time in Football Bowl Subdivision with 5,621 rushing yards. Additionally, he is ESPN NFL draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr.’s No. 7-ranked draft-eligible running back. Thus Freeman will miss the eighth anniversary of The Punch. In their 2009 season opener, Oregon’s LeGarrette Blount punched Boise State’s Byron Hout in response to an alleged taunt. We don’t have footage, but it probably went down something like we’ll see below. Oohh Ahh!
The 2017 Las Vegas Bowl
- Date: Saturday, 16th December
- Time: 3:35 PM
- Venue: Sam Boyd Stadium, Whitney, NV
Sportsbook Vegas odds College Football Betting:
Oregon -7½ (+110) 61 (-110) -275
Boise State +7½ (-130) 61 (-110) +235
Oregon is not very good at covering following a win
The Ducks hit Sin City on Monday, but there have been, nor there will there be, any Swingers/Hangover/Very Bad Things-type shenanigans going on. “We have very clearly defined parameters that go with this thing as it relates to curfews and rules and regulations. One thing I have learned through the years, if you have to have a ginormous book of rules and policies, you probably have the wrong guys in the locker room,” head coach Mario Cristobal said. “We have the right guys that I trust and believe. At the same time, they are young guys so you have to trust and also make sure there is a clear understanding of what the guidelines are.”
The Ducks are 7-0 SU in its last seven games in December but 2-9-1 against the college football wagering spread in its last 12 games following a win. Oregon is averaging 52.1 points per game with quarterback Justin Herbert, who returned from injury a couple of weeks ago, as opposed to 15 without him.
Boise State is good at covering following a win
The Broncos have played bowl games every year since 2002. However, the 2017 Las Vegas Bowl will be the first such game for senior QB Montell Cozart. He won eight games in four years in Kansas. He then transferred to Boise State. “I honestly didn’t know he had never been to one until [Wednesday],” junior quarterback Brett Rypien said. “All week he’s been like, ‘This stuff is awesome.’ I’m like, ‘Montell, this is what a bowl game is.’ Then I realized it was his first one. It’s not like you take it for granted, but you really appreciate it when you see how much it means to him.” Cozart and Rypien have shared signal-calling duties this year.
Boise State is 4-1 ATS in its last five games following a win. The Broncos also are 4-11 against the college football wagering spread in their last 15 games playing a team with a winning record.