The 2011 Champs Sports Bowl will make many college football fans nostalgic. The Florida State Seminoles and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish will evoke memories of the 1990s this December.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs. Florida State Seminoles – Thursday, December 29
Sports betting line: Florida State -3
Why Notre Dame Will Win
When you do your homework and assess your best sportsbook on this game, you can’t deny the notion that this will be a trip down memory lane. Take yourself back in time if you’re able to: In November of 1993, the No. 1 Florida State Seminoles traveled to South Bend, Indiana, to take on the No. 2 Notre Dame Fighting Irish in one of the most-hyped regular-season games of the past 20 years. It’s reasonable to say that the presence of Notre Dame in a matchup of such significance and prominence enabled Seminoles-Irish to attain a level of buildup matched only by this year’s LSU-Alabama encounter. Florida State and Notre Dame both moved the needle in terms of national interest not just because they were recognizable programs, but because their coaches – Bobby Bowden for FSU and Lou Holtz for Notre Dame – were very media friendly, always ready with a quip or quote that would delight the national press corps. Oh, and the two teams had some special players as well. Eventual 1993 Heisman Trophy winner Charlie Ward commanded the Seminoles’ devastating offense, while Notre Dame was powered by defensive tackle Bryant Young, offensive tackle Aaron Taylor, and other NFL-worthy stalwarts on both lines.
Notre Dame won that game in 1993, and the Fighting Irish could very well take this game, too. Florida State has been a snake-bitten team this past season. The quarterback spot has been a constant source of inconsistency due to both injuries and a spotty offensive line. Moreover, Florida State head coach Jimbo Fisher has made poor decisions in endgame or clock-management situations, creating a crisis of confidence for the Seminoles. Notre Dame has the better coach in this game, Brian Kelly, and will have a chance to keep Florida State on its heels.
Why Florida State Will Win
The college football betting experts who are looking at this contest could very well say that the best reason to take Florida State has little to do with Xs and Os. Brian Kelly, for all of his credentials as a head coach, has failed at Notre Dame, at least in one key respect: Kelly has simply not managed to cultivate a quarterback the way he did with Tony Pike and Zach Collaros at the University of Cincinnati. Kelly has thrown his players under the bus, specifically recruits who were brought to South Bend by former coach Charlie Weis. The negativity in the Notre Dame locker room over the course of the season is likely to make Notre Dame far less interested in the outcome of this game. Expect Florida State to carry a positive attitude to the field and whip the Fighting Irish.
Who Will Win
It’s true: Notre Dame’s players really grumbled about Brian Kelly this season. The Fighting Irish do not like playing for him at this point in time. Jimbo Fisher has not done a great job at Florida State, but his players haven’t quit on him. Take Florida State because of inspiration, not perspiration.
College Football Betting Pick: Florida State