Poinsettia Bowl Pick Odds - Utah vs California Pick

Last Years Pick: TCU +2.5, Win

Poinsettia Bowl Opening Odds: California -3 Total 53.5 - For live up to date Odds Checkout Diamond Sportsbook and use bonus code DSI100 and get $100 Free Play Cash on your opening deposit of $100!

In this bowl game two teams that started off the year at different points now facing another crossroad to the season. Utah started the season off slow but ended the season playing very well and is even ranked in the low 20’s in most polls. California had high hopes to start the season and then went into a tailspin they could never pull out of and lost games they were expected to win down the stretch so the challenge will be to see what team shows up for this game.

The first thing that stands out is the line as the California Bears are favored by a field goal over the Utah Utes yet the Utes are ranked. This is a sign that has been used before to back the favorites. This cannot be the only thing to back the favorite and therefore more handicapping is required. It's unclear whether the Bears will have the services of running back Jahvid Best, who spent the early part of the season as a leading Heisman Trophy candidate. He suffered a concussion against Oregon State on Nov. 7 and hasn't played since, in large part because of a back problem brought on by the fall that knocked him out. This is important to know before playing this game so if you do play it make sure of his status.

The Utes travel well and are the healthier team at the moment. The Utes are 26-7-1 ATS in their last 34 games as an underdog and face a Cal team that has cashed it in on the season after getting blown out against Washington. The Golden Bears are 3-13 ATS in their last 16 games as a favorite of 0.5-3.0 and will never be in this game and the Utes should win going away so the points are a nice bonus. I am taking the points now in case Best doesn’t play.

Bowl Pick: Utah +3

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History of the Poinsettia bowl and results.

Poinsettia Bowl Results
Date	Won	Pts.	Lost	Pts.
12/22/05	Navy	51	Colorado State	30
12/19/06	TCU	37	Northern Illinois	7
12/20/07	Utah	35	Navy	32
12/23/08	TCU	17	Boise State	16