Posted on 12/14/2007 4:09:54 PM

NCAAF Wagering Action - Petrino lifts spirits in Arkansas

By BetUS Staff

The college football bowl season can be one of the most frustrating times on the NCAAF betting calendar. NCAA football lines are released weeks before the games are played, and a lot can happen in those weeks – coaching changes, for example.

The biggest change to hit the newswire saw Bobby Petrino abandon ship in Atlanta on Tuesday and leave the NFL for a lower-paying job with the Arkansas Razorbacks. Petrino will not be coaching at the upcoming Cotton Bowl; defensive coordinator Reggie Herring retains his interim status for the Jan. 1 matchup against the Missouri Tigers. As a result, the betting line stood firm at Missouri –3 throughout the bedlam over Petrino’s hiring.

He’s not officially coaching Arkansas until next season, but that doesn’t mean Petrino’s hiring will have no impact on the Cotton Bowl. Whatever bridges Petrino may have burned after leaving Atlanta (and his many other stops along the way) are going unrecognized by the Razorbacks. They’re just happy that Houston Nutt’s replacement is the man who led the Louisville Cardinals to victory in the Orange Bowl just two years ago.

“In the back of our heads every day we were wondering who it was going to be,” junior center Jonathan Luigs told the Associated Press. “We kept hearing rumors who the hotlist might be, who they were talking to, what our future holds. It's just good to have it over with, and we can move on and prepare for Missouri.”

That moving on included Wednesday’s practice, when Petrino held his first team meeting with the Razorbacks. The mood was positive afterward – excellent news for Arkansas supporters, who saw their team finish the season on a 5-1 run (both straight up and against the spread) to qualify for one of the most prestigious bowl games of the year.

At the other end of the field, Missouri’s arrival at the Cotton Bowl will feel more like a consolation prize. The Tigers lost their shot at the national title with a 38-17 loss to the Oklahoma Sooners; that dropped Missouri to 11-2 SU and 9-3 ATS, but 3-3 ATS over the last six games. Despite what the NCAAF odds may say, these are two closely matched teams in terms of efficiency, both with excellent offenses combining to send the over to a 16-7 record. The total for this contest is 69.5 points.

NCAA football betting is coming to an end, and BetUS sportsbook already has tons of college football Bowl Game odds and NCAA football lines available for those of us who can't wait. Bet on the 2008 BCS National Championship winner. Bet NCAA Football Futures in our sportsbook today in the Future / props section!