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Russell Athletic Bowl Odds: Virgnia Tech narrow favorite over Rutgers

The Hokies are expected to be able to handle the Scarlet Knights, but the Knights are likely to put up a fight.

By Pete Eich
Peter Casey-US PRESSWIRE

The 2012 Russell Athletic Bowl is between the Rutgers Scarlet Knights and the Virginia Tech Hokies, and if the latest odds are any indication it's going to be a close contest. Virginia Tech is the favorite, but they are only giving up 2.5 points to the Scarlet Knights.

The total in the game is 41.5 points, a reflection of Rutgers' stingy defense. They give up just 14.3 points per game, well below Virginia Tech's 23.9. Rutgers has combined with opponents to score at least 41.5 on just three occasions. Virginia Tech has played games that went over 41.5 eight times. Rutgers games came in under their total eight times in 2012, while the Hokies were over six times and under five.

The two teams enter the game with opposing momentum. Virginia Tech stood at 4-6 but managed to win their final two games and earn bowl eligibility, while Rutgers was 9-1 and missed out on an outright Big East title when they lost their final two.

Photographs by cstreet.us, thelastminute, turtlemom nancy , fesek, kthypryn, justinwright, sue_elias, pointnshoot, and scrapstothefuture used in background montage under Creative Commons. Thank you.