There are just way too many bowl games now to pick every one, and I'm not sure I ever picked all of them on this blog. There are now 40 to be exact, not counting the championship game, which will pit Alabama or Michigan State against Clemson or Oklahoma. Three 5-7 earned bowl bids this year -- Minnesota, Nebraska, and San Jose State -- and though the bowls aren't NCAA-sanctioned, officials from the organization and others are finally realizing that there are too many and the product is diluted. Problem is, the ratings (not the attendance) for the games are still good, so ESPN and others have reason to put them on our TV sets, and companies still have reason to sponsor them as long as they will get money from the networks. So, while we may have reached a maximum on the number of bowls, it could be an uphill battle to actually get a few taken away.
Nine ACC teams made bowl games, and I'll pick eight of them in this post, and then select winners for the College Football Playoff on New Year's Eve in a few days, of which Clemson is a part.
Conference title game picks: 7-0 Overall: 92-38
Saturday
Hyundai Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas
Washington State (8-4) vs. Miami (8-4), 2 p.m. CBS
The Cougars, often a doormat in the Pac-12 had their best season in a decade under Mike Leach, who has been at the school since 2012. They have a prolific offense and might've gone 9-3 had they had their QB, Luke Falk, playing against rival Washington at the end of the year. The Huskies won that game, 45-10. WSU lost its opener against FCS school Portland State. Other than the finale, though, their only other losses were by six points to Cal and two points to Pac-12 champ Stanford. Miami hit the bottom of its season with a 58-0 loss to Clemson, prompting the firing of Al Golden. Since interim coach Larry Scott took over, though, Miami has gone 4-1. Still, I like the Cougars' offense to be too much for the Hurricanes to handle.
Washington State 38, Miami 34
New Era Pinstripe Bowl in New York
Indiana (6-6) vs. Duke (7-5), 3:30 p.m. ABC
The Hoosiers' season has been one of streaks: four straight wins, then six consecutive losses, then ending with two wins to become bowl eligible for the first time since 2007. Along the way, though, they only beat one team that is in a bowl now, the Sun Belt's Western Kentucky, and only won that contest by three. Their best game all year was probably a 34-27 home loss to Ohio State. The Blue Devils were rolling along in first in the ACC's Coastal Division until an improbable home loss to Miami where the Blue Devils actually should have won but the game's final lateral-filled kickoff return was called incorrectly. That game seemed to spiral the Blue Devils down hill a bit as they lost three games in a row after that setback to UNC, Pitt, and UVa. The only one that wasn't a blowout was the Virginia loss, but UVa was leading 42-20 at one point. Duke gathered itself and won its finale over Wake Forest. I think after some time to reflect and refresh, Duke will see the season it had and David Cutcliffe will have the Devils ready for the Hoosiers and they'll show they're the better team.
Duke 45, Indiana 38
Camping World Independence Bowl in Shreveport, La.
Tulsa (6-6) vs. Virginia Tech (6-6), 5:45 p.m. ESPN
Both these teams only have one win over a bowl team -- the Golden Hurricane over New Mexico and the Hokies over N.C. State. The line for the game, though, stands at Virginia Tech as about a two-touchdown favorite, the biggest line for any of the bowl games. It would definitely not surprise me to see Tulsa cover, as it possesses a pretty strong offense. But I can't see Tech getting upset in Frank Beamer's final game as head coach. As long as Michael Brewer is healthy as QB, I like the Hokies offense to do enough to win.
Virginia Tech 38, Tulsa 30
Monday
Military Bowl in Annapolis, Md.
Pittsburgh (8-4) vs. No. 21 Navy (10-2), 2:30 p.m. ESPN
This game is pretty interesting. The Panthers had a chance to win the Coastal Division for much of the year but lost by seven to UNC and ended up falling to Miami in their finale. They also only lost by three to Iowa, which is now 12-1. Pitt also struggled plenty though, only beating UVa by a touchdown and Syracuse and Georgia Tech by three each. The Midshipmen have a nice collection of five wins over bowl teams, all by double digits. They run a triple-option offense, and run it very well behind record-setting QB Keenan Reynolds. Pitt has prepared for the offense already this year by facing Georgia Tech, and teams typically do fairly well against that offense with extra time for preparation. However, I still give Navy a slight edge in this game, and it helps that it gets to play at its home stadium.
Navy 38, Pittsburgh 35
Tuesday
Russell Athletic Bowl in Orlando
North Carolina (11-2) vs. Baylor (9-3), 5:30 p.m. ESPN
After a bad opening loss to South Carolina, UNC nearly ran the table and got itself into the conversation for the College Football Playoff before falling to Clemson, 42-37, in the ACC title game. The Bears lost three of their final four games after an undefeated start and also lost its first- and second-string QBs to injury. Chris Johnson, their third QB, injured his foot against Texas in the season-ending loss, but he should face the Tar Heels. Still, I like UNC to beat Baylor in a shootout.
North Carolina 42, Baylor 38
Wednesday
Belk Bowl in Charlotte
N.C. State (7-5) vs. Mississippi State (8-4), 3:30 p.m. ESPN
The Wolfpack has zero, yes, zero wins over bowl teams. That's fewer than Virginia. They feasted on weak competition at the beginning of the year and managed just three ACC wins over bottom feeders Wake Forest, Boston College, and Syracuse. All but one loss -- by seven to Louisville -- was by double digits. The Bulldogs have four victories over bowl teams, so I have no solid reason to pick State, even though it will probably have the better contingent of fans at the game, given the proximity to Raleigh.
Mississippi State 34, N.C. State 27
Music City Bowl in Nashville
Texas A&M (8-4) vs. Louisville (7-5), 7 p.m. ESPN
The Aggles are in a bit of disarray. Two five-star QBs have announced they are transferring, Kyler Murray and Kyle Allen, both of whom started some games this season, and they've lost four of seven games. This is the perfect time for the Cardinals to pounce. Louisville has won five of six games.
Louisville 30, Texas A&M 27
Thursday
Chick-fil-A Bowl in Atlanta
No. 18 Houston (12-1) vs. No. 9 Florida State (10-2), Noon ESPN
The Cougars are a very good team and Tom Herman is a coach on the rise, but they have not faced a team like FSU this season. Houston's one loss was to 6-6 Connecticut. FSU was shocked by Georgia Tech and also lost to No. 1 Clemson. These teams have one common opponent in Louisville. Houston beat the Cardinals 34-31 in the second game of the season, while the Seminoles won, 41-21, in the middle of the season. I think Houston will push FSU, but the Seminoles will ultimately prevail.
Florida State 38, Houston 27
Nine ACC teams made bowl games, and I'll pick eight of them in this post, and then select winners for the College Football Playoff on New Year's Eve in a few days, of which Clemson is a part.
Conference title game picks: 7-0 Overall: 92-38
Saturday
Hyundai Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas
Washington State (8-4) vs. Miami (8-4), 2 p.m. CBS
The Cougars, often a doormat in the Pac-12 had their best season in a decade under Mike Leach, who has been at the school since 2012. They have a prolific offense and might've gone 9-3 had they had their QB, Luke Falk, playing against rival Washington at the end of the year. The Huskies won that game, 45-10. WSU lost its opener against FCS school Portland State. Other than the finale, though, their only other losses were by six points to Cal and two points to Pac-12 champ Stanford. Miami hit the bottom of its season with a 58-0 loss to Clemson, prompting the firing of Al Golden. Since interim coach Larry Scott took over, though, Miami has gone 4-1. Still, I like the Cougars' offense to be too much for the Hurricanes to handle.
Washington State 38, Miami 34
New Era Pinstripe Bowl in New York
Indiana (6-6) vs. Duke (7-5), 3:30 p.m. ABC
The Hoosiers' season has been one of streaks: four straight wins, then six consecutive losses, then ending with two wins to become bowl eligible for the first time since 2007. Along the way, though, they only beat one team that is in a bowl now, the Sun Belt's Western Kentucky, and only won that contest by three. Their best game all year was probably a 34-27 home loss to Ohio State. The Blue Devils were rolling along in first in the ACC's Coastal Division until an improbable home loss to Miami where the Blue Devils actually should have won but the game's final lateral-filled kickoff return was called incorrectly. That game seemed to spiral the Blue Devils down hill a bit as they lost three games in a row after that setback to UNC, Pitt, and UVa. The only one that wasn't a blowout was the Virginia loss, but UVa was leading 42-20 at one point. Duke gathered itself and won its finale over Wake Forest. I think after some time to reflect and refresh, Duke will see the season it had and David Cutcliffe will have the Devils ready for the Hoosiers and they'll show they're the better team.
Duke 45, Indiana 38
Camping World Independence Bowl in Shreveport, La.
Tulsa (6-6) vs. Virginia Tech (6-6), 5:45 p.m. ESPN
Both these teams only have one win over a bowl team -- the Golden Hurricane over New Mexico and the Hokies over N.C. State. The line for the game, though, stands at Virginia Tech as about a two-touchdown favorite, the biggest line for any of the bowl games. It would definitely not surprise me to see Tulsa cover, as it possesses a pretty strong offense. But I can't see Tech getting upset in Frank Beamer's final game as head coach. As long as Michael Brewer is healthy as QB, I like the Hokies offense to do enough to win.
Virginia Tech 38, Tulsa 30
Monday
Military Bowl in Annapolis, Md.
Pittsburgh (8-4) vs. No. 21 Navy (10-2), 2:30 p.m. ESPN
This game is pretty interesting. The Panthers had a chance to win the Coastal Division for much of the year but lost by seven to UNC and ended up falling to Miami in their finale. They also only lost by three to Iowa, which is now 12-1. Pitt also struggled plenty though, only beating UVa by a touchdown and Syracuse and Georgia Tech by three each. The Midshipmen have a nice collection of five wins over bowl teams, all by double digits. They run a triple-option offense, and run it very well behind record-setting QB Keenan Reynolds. Pitt has prepared for the offense already this year by facing Georgia Tech, and teams typically do fairly well against that offense with extra time for preparation. However, I still give Navy a slight edge in this game, and it helps that it gets to play at its home stadium.
Navy 38, Pittsburgh 35
Tuesday
Russell Athletic Bowl in Orlando
North Carolina (11-2) vs. Baylor (9-3), 5:30 p.m. ESPN
After a bad opening loss to South Carolina, UNC nearly ran the table and got itself into the conversation for the College Football Playoff before falling to Clemson, 42-37, in the ACC title game. The Bears lost three of their final four games after an undefeated start and also lost its first- and second-string QBs to injury. Chris Johnson, their third QB, injured his foot against Texas in the season-ending loss, but he should face the Tar Heels. Still, I like UNC to beat Baylor in a shootout.
North Carolina 42, Baylor 38
Wednesday
Belk Bowl in Charlotte
N.C. State (7-5) vs. Mississippi State (8-4), 3:30 p.m. ESPN
The Wolfpack has zero, yes, zero wins over bowl teams. That's fewer than Virginia. They feasted on weak competition at the beginning of the year and managed just three ACC wins over bottom feeders Wake Forest, Boston College, and Syracuse. All but one loss -- by seven to Louisville -- was by double digits. The Bulldogs have four victories over bowl teams, so I have no solid reason to pick State, even though it will probably have the better contingent of fans at the game, given the proximity to Raleigh.
Mississippi State 34, N.C. State 27
Music City Bowl in Nashville
Texas A&M (8-4) vs. Louisville (7-5), 7 p.m. ESPN
The Aggles are in a bit of disarray. Two five-star QBs have announced they are transferring, Kyler Murray and Kyle Allen, both of whom started some games this season, and they've lost four of seven games. This is the perfect time for the Cardinals to pounce. Louisville has won five of six games.
Louisville 30, Texas A&M 27
Thursday
Chick-fil-A Bowl in Atlanta
No. 18 Houston (12-1) vs. No. 9 Florida State (10-2), Noon ESPN
The Cougars are a very good team and Tom Herman is a coach on the rise, but they have not faced a team like FSU this season. Houston's one loss was to 6-6 Connecticut. FSU was shocked by Georgia Tech and also lost to No. 1 Clemson. These teams have one common opponent in Louisville. Houston beat the Cardinals 34-31 in the second game of the season, while the Seminoles won, 41-21, in the middle of the season. I think Houston will push FSU, but the Seminoles will ultimately prevail.
Florida State 38, Houston 27
Comments
Post a Comment