The National Funding Holiday Bowl has been around since 1978 and has a history of producing high-scoring, entertaining games and let’s hope this year is no different when the Minnesota Gophers from the Big Ten Conference play the Washington State Cougars from the Pac-12 Conference. The Cougars are a touchdown favorite with a game total of 60.
Minnesota Gophers 8-4 vs Washington State Cougars 8-4
December 27, 2016
Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, California - 7:00 p.m., ET - ESPN
Washington State finished the season 8-4 and was 7-2 in the Pac-12. The Cougars had a legit chance to play in the Rose Bowl but those hopes went up in smoke when cross-state rival, Washington buried them in the Apple Cup on Black Friday. Still the Cougars had a great year and will be a very dangerous team to beat. If you give head coach Mike Leach a month to prepare, look out, he will have a few tricks up his sleeve.
Minnesota will play in its fifth straight bowl game and 19th overall when it faces the Cougars. The streak of five consecutive bowls is tied for the longest stretch in program history, as the Gophers also played in five straight bowl games from 2002-06. Minnesota snapped a seven-game bowl losing streak last year with a win in the Quick Lane Bowl but things will be much tougher this year against a really good Washington State team. If the game comes down to a field goal, the Gophers will be in good shape since they have one of the best kickers in the nation. Emmit Carpenter was named Big Ten Kicker of the Year, hitting on 21 of 23 field goals.
These teams have met five times with Washington State having the edge, 3-2. All five games were contested in Minneapolis, but the teams have not met since 1988. Minnesota beat Washington State in 1976 and 1982 and fell to the Cougars in 1965, 1971 and 1988.
Opening Line: Washington State -6, Total 60
Current Line at BookMaker Sportsbook: Washington State -7
Washington State opened up as a 6-point favorite and slowly rose to 7. That’s not much respect for a Gophers team that went 8-4 in arguably the best conference in football. The public love the Cougars and It would not surprise me to see the line rise even higher before kickoff. Be careful, here, the Gophers are a good team that won’t be intimidated or surprised by Mike Leach’s tactics.
Both teams were .500 against the spread and near .500 on the game totals.
THE PLAY
We all know that Washington State can score a bunch of points but Minnesota also likes to put up points and averaged almost 31 points a contest. This game has the making of a high scoring affair and the game total of 60 will be long gone midway through the fourth quarter. Both teams score at least 30 points making the OVER an easy winner, winner, chicken parm dinner.
The College Football betting odds and props for this week’s games were first available at BookMaker Sportsbook. Live wagering during commercials offers adjusted moneylines, totals and spreads. Log in and start gambling during the game now! The Minnesota Gophers and Washington State Cougars square off in the Holiday Bowl on Monday, December 27, 2016 at 7:00 p.m., ET. ESPN will televise the game live.
