GATOR BOWL PICKS AND ANALYSIS: WEST VIRGINIA VS. FLORIDA STATE

In what is sure to be a very emotional day for everyone involved, Florida State head coach Bobby Bowden will coach his last game.  His Seminoles finished 6-6 this season, good enough to get an invitation to the Gator Bowl in Jacksonville, Florida for what should be a big send off to conclude his 44 year coaching career.  Florida State will face a 9-3 West Virginia team that would like nothing more than to send Bowden off on a losing note.  The college football betting line for the game has West Virginia installed as a -2’ favorite with the total set at 59’.

The 80 year Bowden had hoped to coach next season, but after meeting with university official on December 1st was informed that was not an option.  He soon announced that this game would be his last.  Offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher has been his designated replacement since 2007, so the hope is that the transition to the new coach will be relatively seamless.  Under Bowden, the Seminoles have played in the Gator Bowl on four different occasions winning in all.

West Virginia finished the season strong to take a tie for second place in the Big East behind 12-0 Cincinnati.  They’ll enter this game with four consecutive bowl victories, and looking to spoil Bowden’s retirement with a fifth.  The Mountaineers have a very productive offense that is capable of scoring through the air as well as on the ground and a serviceable defense.

Way too much overcompensation in the line due to the fact that this is Bobby Bowden’s last game as Seminoles head coach.  The reality remains that this Seminoles team just isn’t very good.  FSU is really bad on defense, ranking #110 nationally in total defense and the coaching staff is in disarray with Jimbo Fisher already making a number of hirings and firings to get ready for next year.  Mountaineers are simply a much superior team in every phase of the game with a big play QB in Jarrett Brown and running back in Noel Devine.  The Seminoles players may be motivated to win one last game for Bowden, but the talent simply isn’t there.  West Virginia should win and cover with relative ease with enough points put on the board to push this one OVER the total.

Bet the Gator Bowl West Virginia vs. Florida State at Sports-1.