Conference championship picks: 7-1 Season: 85-44
ACC teams start playing in bowl games today. Here are my picks for the first three games. Virginia and Virginia Tech play in their bowl games Thursday. I'll make other predictions as those games get closer, and I'll select a winner in the non-ACC playoff game as well (Oklahoma-Georgia). The other playoff game pits Clemson against Alabama in their third straight postseason matchup. The ACC put 10 teams in bowl games this season. Last year, the conference had 11 teams in, and it went 9-3 in the postseason, with Clemson winning in the national semifinals and championship. Happy holidays and enjoy watching!
Today
Quick Lane Bowl in Detroit
Duke (6-6) vs. Northern Illinois (8-4), 5:15 p.m. ESPN
The Blue Devils won four straight games to begin the year, then lost six straight before winning their final two to get to the postseason. Their best victories came over Northwestern and then to close the campaign against Wake Forest. The Huskies' best wins came against a 4-8 Nebraska team and two 6-6 teams from the MAC -- Buffalo and Western Michigan. NIU won eight games, but I like Duke, which lost by a touchdown to Florida State, Virginia, and Pittsburgh, and by five to Army.
Duke 26, Northern Illinois 22
Wednesday
Walk-On's Independence Bowl in Shreveport, La.
Southern Miss (8-4) vs. Florida State (6-6), 1:30 p.m. ESPN
Like Duke, FSU had to go on a streak just to get to the postseason, but it did indeed end up making it to a bowl for the 36th straight season to extend its own record by finishing with victories over Delaware State, Florida, and Louisiana-Monroe by an average of 39.7 points. The Seminoles lost to N.C. State, Miami, and Louisville by an average of 4.3 points and also played competitively in the season opener against Alabama for the majority of the game before losing quarterback Deondre Francis to what ended up being a year-ending injury. The Golden Eagles won eight games but only two came against teams in bowl games: Marshall and Louisiana Tech. Their losses came against Kentucky, North Texas, UAB, and Tennessee when the Volunteers were really struggling. The other three are bowl teams. Coach Jimbo Fisher has left for Texas A&M, but as long as the Seminoles are properly motivated, they should cruise in this one.
Florida State 34, Southern Miss 20
Pinstripe Bowl in New York
Boston College (7-5) vs. Iowa (7-5), 5:15 p.m. ESPN
This could be one of the better bowl games thus far in a postseason that hasn't had many good ones yet. It'll probably be low scoring, but the defenses are good and the teams disciplined. BC relies on freshman AJ Dillon to move the ball on the ground, and Iowa has senior Akrum Wadley. Both have quality wins this season as well, with Iowa crushing Ohio State and also beating surprising Iowa State. The Hawkeyes suffered close losses against Penn State (at the last second), Northwestern, and Michigan State. The Eagles took down Louisville and Florida State and destroyed UVa. BC finished the season winning five of six games, with the only loss coming by three to N.C. State. I really like BC, but Iowa had the better schedule and is, appropriately, the slight favorite.
Iowa 24, Boston College 21
ACC teams start playing in bowl games today. Here are my picks for the first three games. Virginia and Virginia Tech play in their bowl games Thursday. I'll make other predictions as those games get closer, and I'll select a winner in the non-ACC playoff game as well (Oklahoma-Georgia). The other playoff game pits Clemson against Alabama in their third straight postseason matchup. The ACC put 10 teams in bowl games this season. Last year, the conference had 11 teams in, and it went 9-3 in the postseason, with Clemson winning in the national semifinals and championship. Happy holidays and enjoy watching!
Today
Quick Lane Bowl in Detroit
Duke (6-6) vs. Northern Illinois (8-4), 5:15 p.m. ESPN
The Blue Devils won four straight games to begin the year, then lost six straight before winning their final two to get to the postseason. Their best victories came over Northwestern and then to close the campaign against Wake Forest. The Huskies' best wins came against a 4-8 Nebraska team and two 6-6 teams from the MAC -- Buffalo and Western Michigan. NIU won eight games, but I like Duke, which lost by a touchdown to Florida State, Virginia, and Pittsburgh, and by five to Army.
Duke 26, Northern Illinois 22
Wednesday
Walk-On's Independence Bowl in Shreveport, La.
Southern Miss (8-4) vs. Florida State (6-6), 1:30 p.m. ESPN
Like Duke, FSU had to go on a streak just to get to the postseason, but it did indeed end up making it to a bowl for the 36th straight season to extend its own record by finishing with victories over Delaware State, Florida, and Louisiana-Monroe by an average of 39.7 points. The Seminoles lost to N.C. State, Miami, and Louisville by an average of 4.3 points and also played competitively in the season opener against Alabama for the majority of the game before losing quarterback Deondre Francis to what ended up being a year-ending injury. The Golden Eagles won eight games but only two came against teams in bowl games: Marshall and Louisiana Tech. Their losses came against Kentucky, North Texas, UAB, and Tennessee when the Volunteers were really struggling. The other three are bowl teams. Coach Jimbo Fisher has left for Texas A&M, but as long as the Seminoles are properly motivated, they should cruise in this one.
Florida State 34, Southern Miss 20
Pinstripe Bowl in New York
Boston College (7-5) vs. Iowa (7-5), 5:15 p.m. ESPN
This could be one of the better bowl games thus far in a postseason that hasn't had many good ones yet. It'll probably be low scoring, but the defenses are good and the teams disciplined. BC relies on freshman AJ Dillon to move the ball on the ground, and Iowa has senior Akrum Wadley. Both have quality wins this season as well, with Iowa crushing Ohio State and also beating surprising Iowa State. The Hawkeyes suffered close losses against Penn State (at the last second), Northwestern, and Michigan State. The Eagles took down Louisville and Florida State and destroyed UVa. BC finished the season winning five of six games, with the only loss coming by three to N.C. State. I really like BC, but Iowa had the better schedule and is, appropriately, the slight favorite.
Iowa 24, Boston College 21
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