Like most of the teams in last week‘s bowl games, I only had 6 wins. Bowls are always tough now. They used to be tough because you just never knew which team would be more motivated. Now you don’t know which team had guys quit on them and pass on a free trip and one more game with their brothers.
Bowls: 11-10 (52.4%)
Regular Season: 111-34 (76.5%)
Overall: 122-44 (73.5%)
Since the 2nd week of bowls has so many games, we’ll split it up into two parts. The first part has a ton of Saturday games, and here’s how they’ll all go.
12/23
76 Birmingham Bowl
Troy vs. Duke – The Trojans have a new coach. Duke doesn’t have their star quarterback. The bowl that Alabama fans will attend because it’s in their back yard has lost some of it s luster. But there’s a Top Golf. Troy’s going to be more excited.
Troy 27, Duke 17
Duke 17, Troy 10 – FAILURE
Camellia Bowl
Arkansas State vs. Northern Illinois – Auburn’s last three coaches have coached at Arkansas State. Northern Illinois beat a ranked Alabama in 2003. So both of these teams are my favorite. I guess I’ll go with the Red Wolves this time.
Arkansas State 38, Northern Illinois 28
Northern Illinois 21, Arkansas State 19 – FAILURE
Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl
James Madison vs. Air Force – The last thing you want to be is the team playing the service academy picked for the Armed Forces Bowl. But it’s also James Madison’s first bowl game ever. The Dukes are slightly favored, but you can’t pick against America.
Air Force 21, James Madison 20
Air Force 31, James Madison 21 – SUCCESS!
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
Georgia State vs. Utah State – I sure do love a potato bowl, but this game ain’t it. Both of these teams literally had Auburn beaten in the last decade or so, but some pretty amazing finishes gave Auburn the win. Therefore, I don’t like either of them. Who cares?
Utah State 31, Georgia State 17
Georgia State 45, Utah State 22 – FAILURE
68 Ventures Bowl
South Alabama vs. Eastern Michigan – When I think of boring football games, I think of Ohio and Eastern Michigan. I don’t know what it is, but they literally make me want to avoid watching that game. Given that they are playing South Alabama might make me look at the score once, though.
South Alabama 34, Eastern Michigan 10
South Alabama 59, Eastern Michigan 10 – SUCCESS!
SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl
Utah vs. Northwestern – The Utes were all big and bad, hosted College Gameday, and finished 8-4. Northwestern should not be allowed to continue playing football after how the 2010 Outback Bowl went. Utah must win.
Utah 38, Northwestern 20
Northwestern 14, Utah 7 – FAILURE
Easy Post Hawai’i Bowl
Coastal Carolina vs. San Jose State – One went from Myrtle Beach to Hawai’i. One went from the the San Francisco Bay to Hawai’i. Who had the biggest upgrade? I also just noticed that media darling Coastal Carolina went 7-5 this year. Darn. Go Spartans.
San Jose State 34, Coastal Carolina 28
Coastal Carolina 24, San Jose State 14 – FAILURE
12/26
Quick Lane Bowl
Bowling Green vs. Minnesota – When I was talking about boring teams up there, I forgot one. Add in Bowling Green. Oh, and Minnesota didn’t quality for a bowl game due to a losing record, but there weren’t enough spots, so apparently they had good enough grades to get in. Yes, that’s really how it works. Remember when a bunch of Auburn fans a few years ago were all “Row the Boat?”
Minnesota 28, Bowling Green 18
Minnesota 30, Bowling Green 24 – SUCCESS!
SERVPRO First Responder Bowl
Texas State vs. Rice – TJ Finley is about to take on Rice and no I’m not talking about Mikata. I don’t know what Rice looks like in football this year (or any year), but I know TJ Finley had a good year.
Texas State 27, Rice 13
Texas State 45, Rice 21 – SUCCESS!
Guaranteed Rate Bowl
Kansas vs. UNLV – The Jayhawks have kinda been the level of South Carolina, but that’s good for them. UNLV beat Vandy this year, but who didn’t. Jonathan Wallace and Kansas run wild.
Kansas 38, UNLV 10
Kansas 49, UNLV 36 – SUCCESS!
Now that I’ve picked the bowls, you should go join the bowl pick’em. Just make sure you have them in prior to each game, but go ahead and do them all so you don’t have to worry about it. There’s prizes and stuff.
1 comment
Take Air Force. I know the Falcons have lost four in a row, but at one point they were a perfect 8-0. They ranked second among FBS teams in total rushing yards at 3,309 and rushing yards per game at 275.8. The
triple-option is still a pain to prepare for, even when a team has some extra time to prepare like James Madison did the last few weeks