2010 Gator Bowl Florida State vs. West Virginia Picks & Predictions

Last Updated on January 1, 2010 10:00 am by drew

Gator Bowl Pick

Bobby Bowden coaches his final game Friday at 1PM ET as he leads
Florida
State into the 2010 Gator Bowl against

West Virginia from Municipal Stadium.

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Bowden has led the Seminoles to a 6-6 record this season and a 3-9 mark against the spread.

Florida
State has won two of its last three games but failed to cover in four of their last five.

West Virginia is 9-3 on the year and 5-6 against the spread. The Mountaineers have won their last two games and covered in their last three.
Oddsmakers from online sports book SPORTSBETTING.com have made
West Virginia 2.5-point favorites over

Florida
State on Friday afternoon. The over/under total for this game has been established at 59.5.

Florida
State is scoring 29.8 points per-game this year and averaging 420.9 yards of offense per-outing. Quarterback Christian Ponder has thrown for 2,717 yards and 14 touchdowns while Jermaine Thomas has rushed for 711 yards and seven scores.

West Virginia is giving up just 20.8 points and 330 yards per-game on defense.

West Virginia is scoring 26.6 points per-game on offense as the Mountaineers have a strong running game behind Noel Devine. Devine has rushed for 1,297 yards and 12 touchdowns this season. The Seminoles are giving up 30.8 points and 443.5 yards per-game this year defensively.

Florida
State has struggled to stop the run, as they give up 203.9 yards per-game on the ground.

This game has to have so consideration put toward Bowden, who ends his career after 44 years. Expect

Florida
State to play very motivated and with a lot of emotion, which can make up for some of their previous faults this season.

West Virginia is not a juggernaut on either side of the ball, so the Seminoles will have opportunities to make plays on offense and defense, it will just be a matter of if they can take advantage of WVU’s mistakes. Containing Devine will be big as FSU has to make

West Virginia drive downfield and not give up the big play. Trends favor the Seminoles as the Mountaineers are only 7-18 against the spread against ACC opponents since 1992. We suggest a pick of

Florida
State and Bobby Bowden with the points.

Our Gator Bowl Free Pick for this matchup is:

FLORIDA
STATE +2.5 and UNDER 59.5.
College Football Bowl Season Betting Trends
All games in this series since 1992

FLORIDA ST is 1-0 against the spread versus
W VIRGINIA since 1992

FLORIDA ST is 1-0 straight up against
W VIRGINIA since 1992

1 of 1 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL since 1992

W VIRGINIA is 7-18 ATS (-12.8 Units) against ACC opponents since 1992.

Florida
State is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games

Florida
State is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games

West Virginia is 11-3 SU in its last 14 games

Bowl Season College Football Injury Report
FLORIDA ST

[OT] 12/06/2009 – Antwane Greenlee is "?" vs

West Virginia in the Gator Bowl. ( Knee ) 

[OL] 12/06/2009 – John Prior is "?" vs

West Virginia in the Gator Bowl. ( Knee ) 

[LB] 12/06/2009 – Vince Williams is "?" vs

West Virginia in the Gator Bowl. ( Back ) 

[LB] 12/06/2009 – Aaron Gresham is "?" vs

West Virginia in the Gator Bowl. ( Knee ) 

[LB] 10/18/2009 – Maurice Harris out for season ( Neck ) 

[TE] 10/13/2009 – Caz Piurowski out for season ( Knee ) 

[OT] 12/06/2009 – Garrett Faircloth is "?" vs

West Virginia in the Gator Bowl. ( Hip ) 

[QB] 11/08/2009 – Christian Ponder out for season ( Shoulder ) 

[OG] 12/17/2009 – Rodney Hudson is upgraded to probable vs

West Virginia in the Gator Bowl. ( Knee ) 

[DT] 12/06/2009 – Demonte McAllister is "?" vs

West Virginia in the Gator Bowl. ( Knee ) 

[S] 12/06/2009 – Jajuan Harley is "?" vs

West Virginia in the Gator Bowl. ( Hamstring ) 

W VIRGINIA

[DT] 12/23/2009 – Scooter Berry expected to miss Friday vs.

Florida
State ( Eligibility ) 

[S] 12/23/2009 – Nate Sowers expected to miss Friday vs.
Florida
State ( Eligibility ) 
Gator Bowl Odds
Florida
State Seminoles +2.5 Over 59.5 (+260)

West Virginia Mountaineers -2.5 Under 59.5 (-340)
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Posted: 1/1/10 9:00AM ET