College Bowl Predictions
Well, I kind of gave up on predicting games every week, as 1) it was taking too much time, and 2) I was getting all my predictions wrong.
However, we have a little free time here around the holidays, so we’ll throw some things down on paper, just for discussion.
Holiday Bowl: Arizona State +2.5 over Texas… We think this game means more to ASU. Texas is probably still reeling from dumping to rival Texas A & M.
Champs Sports Bowl?: Boston College -4 over Michigan State…. This might be the best game to bet on the slate. Michigan State? Average Big 10 team against a very good BC team with a pro QB. Shouldn’t be close, but don’t worry, if it is, MSU will do something dumb to cost themselves the game.
Texas Bowl (what are these bowls??): Houston +6 over TCU…. No real reasoning for this other than Houston is at home.
Emerald Bowl (who’s going to sell those nuts, now that Robert Goulet has died?): Oregon State -5 over Maryland… Oregon State is too good for the Terps, and is on a roll.
Meinike Car Care (didn’t this used to be the Cooper Tire Bowl?): UConn +2.5 over Wake Forest…. Two very middle-of-the-road teams, but we’ll take the points.
Liberty Bowl (I refuse to use the sponsor’s name in Bowls that have actually existed for more than 10 years): Mississippi State +3 over UCF… can’t believe I’m buying into this SEC myth, but it’s been a long time since the Bulldogs have been in a bowl, the game is in Memphis, which should make it a home game for them, I’m getting 3 points? I’ll take it.
Alamo Bowl: Texas A & M +5.5 over Penn State…. I’ve seen Penn State a few times this year, and they stink. Why they’re favored over anyone I don’t know.
Independence Bowl: Alabama -3 over Colorado…. Nick Saban must win this game, or he’ll be the biggest fool in college football.
Bell Helicopter Bowl (what is that??): Air Force +3.5 over Cal…. I was already to pick Cal, and then I looked and saw they’ve lost 6 out of the last 7 games. I don’t care who you’re playing, that sucks. The Cal players have apparently packed it in for the year, Air Force should be excited to be there, expect the unexpected.
Sun Bowl: South Florida -6.5 over Oregon….. Since Dennis Dixon got hurt, Oregon has been horr-rrr-ible. South Florida is explosive, and should cover the 6.5 points.
Roady’s Humanitarian Bowl (this game is literally sponsored by a truckstop, not a joke): Fresno State +5.5 over Georgia Tech. Seems like a long way to go for GT to play in a bowl game sponsored by a truckstop.
Music City Bowl: Kentucky -3 over Florida State…. Seems like a pretty even matchup, but apparently Bobby Bowden has suspended his whole team for the game, so we’ll take the home standing Wildcats.
Copper Bowl (didn’t this used to be the Copper Bowl?): Indiana +4 over Oklahoma State…. Two crummy teams, so we’ll take the points.
Peach Bowl: Auburn +2.5 over Clemson…. Damn, I did it again, picked another SEC team.
Outback Bowl: Wisconsin +2 over Tennessee…. Somehow Tennessee lost to Penn State last year, and if they can lose to PSU, they can lose to anyone.
Cotton Bowl: Arkansas +3 over Missouri…. We think Missouri has a helluva team, and is better than the Hogs, but it’s hard to get up for a game after you have a shot at the big game, and then fall all the way out of the BCS.
Gator Bowl: Virginia +6 over Texas Tech…. Seems like a bunch of points, we’ll take ’em.
Capital One Bowl: Florida -10 over Michigan… The Wolverines stink. Lloyd Carr stinks. We’re sorry to see him go. One thing Lloyd knows how to do, other than lose to the Bucks, is lose his bowl games. Lloyd’s Last Stand is a predictable blowout loss.
Rose Bowl: USC -13 over Illinois… the trendy pick would be the Illini, but we have a hunch that USC is going to make a statement.
Sugar Bowl: Georgia -7.5 over Hawaii… Another game where I wish I still bet. Hawaii is simply outclassed. Georgia will destroy them, no Boise State miracle this year. Although if Hawaii wins, shouldn’t they be the undefeated National Champions?
Fiesta Bowl: Oklahoma -7.5 over West Virginia… Hard for WVU to get ready for this game without a coach. Good job, Rodriguez, blow the national championship vs. Pitt, then screw WVU again. Funny, if he’d beaten Pitt, I wonder if he’d be reupping with WVU, and Les Miles would be at Michigan?
Orange Bowl: Virginia Tech -3 over Kansas… VT is the real deal.
International Bowl??? (what the hell is this doing here?): Rutgers -10 over Ball State…. Coach stays put, team is excited, team wins.
GMAC Bowl: Tulsa -5 over Bowling Green….. I have no reason why, just don’t care.
Championship Game: LSU -4 over Ohio State…. Aggggghhhh!!!!! I hate LSU, I hate LSU’s fans, I hate the SEC, I hate all the ESPN bootlickers who worship the SEC, but it’s just going to be too tough a hurdle for the Bucks to climb. It’s a home game for LSU. We suspended two of our cornerbacks, and we’re still coming off this ridiculously long layoff. I just don’t think our defense is good enough to carry us. We’ll probably hang close for awhile, then be done in by some Boeckman picks. LSU 31, Ohio State 20.
Well, I’ve been wrong all year, so here’s hoping I continue to be wrong! Go Bucks! Go Big Ten!
