Florida State Seminoles vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Thursday, 12/29/11, 5:30 PM EST, TV: ESPN
Opening Point Spread: Florida State -3
Current Betting Line: Florida State -3.5
Opening Total: 48
Current Total: 46.5
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker
Florida State is making its 30th consecutive bowl appearance and will look to improve upon its 24-14-2 all-time record during the postseason. The Seminoles current streak is the longest active mark of its kind in the nation and the second-longest bowl streak in major college football. “I’m very excited about this game,” commented Seminoles head coach Jimbo Fisher. “Our wins and losses this year weren’t what we hoped they would be, but I’m not disappointed in where we’re going.” Florida State is 2-5 ATS as a favorite of 3.5 to 10 points the last two-plus seasons.
The Seminoles lead the all-time series, 4-2, including a 1-0 bowl record against the Fighting Irish. Florida State has certainly enjoyed its previous trips to Orlando, posting a 7-0-2 all-time mark. Quarterback EJ Manuel is no stranger to bowl games, playing in each of the last two postseason games, earning 2009 Gator Bowl MVP honors as a redshirt freshman. Senior wide receiver Bert Reed has participated in the last three bowl games, but has been limited to just nine catches for 49 yards. On the defensive side of the ball, coordinator Mark Stoops has directed a unit that ranks first in the country in allowing just 2.32 yards per rushing attempt.
Notre Dame closed out its regular season with victories in four of five games, but dropped a 28-14 contest to the Stanford Cardinal in the finale as seven-point road underdogs. The Fighting Irish will be led by quarterback Tommy Rees despite being benched due to a 6-for-13 performance with an interception against the Cardinal. Head coach Brian Kelly didn’t have much of a choice after backup signal-caller Dayne Crist announcing his transfer to Kansas. Notre Dame is 5-2 ATS as an underdog of 3.5 to 10 points the last two-plus campaigns.
The Fighting Irish definitely want to get the ball in the hands of wide receiver Michael Floyd, who set a single-season school record with 95 catches. Notre Dame has already enjoyed great success against ACC opponents this season, posting a perfect 3-0 record in those contests, with three of them occurring in the last four weeks of the regular season. Running back Cierre Wood will need to be up for the challenge of facing a stout rush defense, as he becamse the first 1,000-yard rusher for the program since 2006.
Bettors will likely back the Seminoles due to their 6-0-1 ATS mark in their last seven bowl games, while the Fighting Irish are 1-5 ATS as an underdog in such contests.
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