College Football Odds: Liberty Bowl

The Razorbacks are the 8-point favorites to win the Cotton Bowl. (AP Images)

Saturday’s Liberty Bowl in Memphis pits the Conference USA champion against an SEC opponent for the fourth straight year, with East Carolina and Arkansas the matchup this season. The Pirates, who lost to Kentucky in this game last year, are 8-point underdogs on Bodog’s college football odds.

ECU (9-4, 6-6 ATS) started the season 3-3 but won six of its final to take the CUSA title for the second year in a row, via an upset of No. 21 Houston. The tide turned for the Pirates once senior QB Patrick Pinkney got on track. In the first six games, he averaged 178 yards passing with four TDs, completing just 56 percent. In the last seven games, Pinkney averaged 238.6 yards, threw for 10 touchdowns and completed 62.6 percent. He hasn’t thrown a pick in the past four games. ECU averaged 38.5 points per game in its final six wins.

The Razorbacks (7-5), who are in their first bowl game under second-year coach Bobby Petrino, have one of the nation’s top passing offenses behind QB Ryan Mallett, who threw for more than 3,400 yards and 29 TDs. The Hogs are in the top 10 in the nation in scoring and passing.

There could be plenty of throwing Saturday because neither defense ranks in the Top 100 in pass defense. East Carolina allowed 527 yards passing in the C-USA title game but did have 17 interceptions this season. This is the first meeting between ECU and Arkansas and there were no common opponents this season.

When making your college football bet at Bodog on this one, recent history suggests an Arkansas close victory. That’s because the SEC has won the past three at this bowl, while the past eight Liberty Bowls overall have been decided by eight points or less.

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