🏈 PJ'S Post Season Picks

[psychojoe]

POk folks, here is the fix. I know we have all been having withdrawal symptoms from the absence of college football games. Fortunately there is release coming soon. This week begins the bowl season, and there will be lots of action from now until mid January. Some of the early action features quality teams.


Raycom Bowl

South Alabama versus Bowling Green

Amidst the furor of the demise of UAB's football program, the progress of South Alabama's foray into FBS football has been overlooked by many. Unlike UAB, South Alabama seems to be a program on the rise, led by Bama's own, HC Joey Jones.

The Jaguars finished their season 6-6, with an ambitious schedule that included SEC foes South Carolina and Mississippi State. Bowling Green took on B1g foes Wisconsin and Indiana, actually recording a win against the Hoosiers en route to a runner up finish in the MAC.

Much as I would like to pick Joey's team, I think the Falcons edge in experience will prevail here.

PJ's Pick: Bowling Green 27 South Alabama 24

 

[psychojoe]

Famous Idaho Potato Bowl

Western Michigan versus Idaho

The Broncos of Western Michigan (8-4) take on the Air Force Academy Falcons (9-3). It is MAC versus MWC. In a nail biter the fly boys prevail.

PJ's Pick: Air Force 33 Western Michigan 31

 

[psychojoe]

Royal Purple Las Vegas Bowl

Utah versus Colorado State

This is a pretty good matchup for a game so early in the bowl season. The Rams had a super season, including wins over Power 5 teams Colorado and Boston College. Their 10-2 record was a springboard to land HC Jim McIlwain a plum coaching job at Florida. The defense oriented Utes had a good but might have been super season in the PAC 12. Geographically, these schools are near Vegas, so there should be plenty of enthusiasm for this one. I am looking forward to seeing former Bama player Dee Hart in action for the Rams. This will be a tight one, and the Rams will be prevailed.

PJ's PICK: Colorado State 27 Utah 23

 

[psychojoe]

New Mexico Bowl

Utah State versus UTEP

The Aggies take on the Miners in yet another Mid Major clash. Look for Utah State to take this one.

PJ's Pick: Utah State 31 UTEP 21

 

[psychojoe]

R&L Carriers New Orleans Bowl

Nevada versus Louisiana Lafayette

My instincts for word play have caused me to notice that one of the teams in this game is University of La., La. It is the Wolfpack versus the Rajin' Cajuns, a matchup of teams that seem to be very even. The bayou guys are much nearer home, and this gives the La La guys the edge.

Louisiana Lafayette 31 Nevada 27

 

[psychojoe]

More picks to come. I will try to get the bowl picks up within a week of the games.

 

[psychojoe]

Miami Beach Bowl

BYU versus Memphis

The Memphis Tigers have shown teeth and claws this season for the first time in years. No patsies this year, they have roared to a 9-3 record, with notable wins over Cincinnati and a late season blowout over UConn. They also defeated temple, a team which blew Vanderbilt away early in the season. Meanwhile, BYU's path to 8-4 included wins over Texas, Virginia and California, and losses to Boise and in state rival Utah State.

An interesting tidbit on this game is that if the Cougars win, the state of Utah will be undefeated in bowl games. I don't think this is happening, In any fight a tiger will take care of a cougar, and this one is no exception.

PJ's Pick: Memphis 34 BYU 24

 

[psychojoe]

Boca Raton Bowl

Marshall versus Northern Illinois

This one figures to be a high scoring shoot out. Marshall has a lot more ammunition.

PJ's Pick: Marshall 48 Northern Illinois 34

 

[psychojoe]

Poinsettia Bowl

Navy versus San Diego State

San Diego is a navy town, what with a large naval base located there. It is also the location of (doh) San Diego State, so there will be plenty of local interest in this one. Local interest is a good thing, as this one matches two 7-5 teams. The Midshipmen bring the nation's second ranked rushing attack, along with an anemic passing attack typical of triple option teams. SDSU brings a more balanced attack but about the same in yards per game. The Middies prevail in a tight one.

PJ's Pick: Navy 28 San Diego State 25

 

[psychojoe]

Popeye's Bahama Bowl

Central Michigan versus Western Kentucky

Wow, Two teams finish their seasons at 7-5 and get rewarded with a trip to the Bahamas. Really. The Chipewas will battle the Hilltoppers in this one. Watching this one will probably just remind me that it is cold and rainy here in Pelham, while in the Bahamas it is not. Someone has to win .

PJ's Pick; Western Kentucky 34 Central Michigan 31

 

[psychojoe]

Hawaii Bowl

Fresno State versus Rice

Think its bad that two mediocre teams go to the Bahamas for their game- it gets worse. Rice at least recorded a 7-5 record, but Fresno State checks in at 6-7. Maybe they can play this one on the beach. In case you haven't figured it out yet, I think that there are way too many bowls.

PJ'S Pick - Rice 28 Fresno State 27

 

[psychojoe]

Heart of Dallas Bowl

Illinois versus Louisiana Tech

It has been a few years since Illinois has been to a bowl game, and were it not for the plethora of bowl games now the Illini would not be here now. One of the rough tools I use in evaluating teams is net point differential. Illinois, on average, gives up seven points per game more than it scores. That tells me that they aren't quite as good as even a mediocre 6-6 record in the B1g would lead you to believe. La Tech, on the other hand, despite blowout losses to Oklahoma and Auburn, outscored its opponents by an average of 11 per game. The Bulldogs were actually quite good in their own weight class. The B1g gets its bowl season off to a bad start.

PJ's Pick - Louisiana Tech 34 Illinois 28

 

[psychojoe]

Quick Lane B owl

Rutgers versus North Carolina

I still shudder a bit when I think about 7-5. last Rutgers bowl game that I paid attention to. The name of this one sounds like it will be played in a bowling alley, and it is indeed being played indoors. That is one of the few redeeming virtues of playing in Detroit in late December. This one has attracted another B1g team with a winning record but a negative point differential. The teams are evenly matched from that perspective, as North Carolina gives up five more points per game than it scores, just as Rutgers does. The Tar Heels check in at 6-6, while Rutgers is at a robust 7-5. Not much to choose from here, but I think that ACC mediocrity triumphs.

PJ's Pick: North Carolina 30 Rutgers 26

 

[psychojoe]

The Bitcoin Saint Petersburg Bowl33

North Carolina State versus UCF

Please, don't try to explain to me what a bitcoin is. The last time that someone attempted this, I had a headache for three days. NC State's chief claim to fame this season was being one of the several mediocre ACC teams that was in the game against FSU in the fourth quarter. As the season wore on it became apparent that this was no particular honor for them. The Wolfpack did show themselves to be able to move the ball and light up the scoreboard. The Knights of UCF have shown themselves to be a more complete football team en route to a 9-3 record. They actually block and tackle at UCF.

PJ's Pick: UCF 34 NC State 24

 

[TerryP]

Heart of Dallas Bowl

Illinois versus Louisiana Tech

It has been a few years since Illinois has been to a bowl game, and were it not for the plethora of bowl games now the Illini would not be here now. One of the rough tools I use in evaluating teams is net point differential. Illinois, on average, gives up seven points per game more than it scores. That tells me that they aren't quite as good as even a mediocre 6-6 record in the B1g would lead you to believe. La Tech, on the other hand, despite blowout losses to Oklahoma and Auburn, outscored its opponents by an average of 11 per game. The Bulldogs were actually quite good in their own weight class. The B1g gets its bowl season off to a bad start.

PJ's Pick - Louisiana Tech 34 Illinois 28

You're calling it right on the line...guts. :eyeroll:

 

[psychojoe]

You're calling it right on the line...guts. :eyeroll:

If you made me play the spread I would take La Tech. I do like the over in this one.

 

[psychojoe]

Military Bowl

Cincinnati versus Virginia Tech

Virginia Tech beat Ohio State by 14. Ohio State beat Cincy by 22. So it should be a good day for the Hokies. In my best Lee Corso voice 'Not so fast my friend'. VT did little to distinguish itself other than that startling upset win over the fighting legumes. Late in the season they even found a way to lose to a wretched Wake Forest team. The surprising thing about this team is that even after Logan Thomas ran out of eligibility their QB play was still terrible Bud Foster's defense was still solid, and kept the Hokies in most of their games. In the end they needed a win over arch rival Virginia to be bowl eligible.

Unlike his typical Auburn teams, Tuberville's Bearcat teams have been high powered on offense, mediocre on defense. Their best win was a 54-48 shoot out win over East Carolina, en route to a 9-3 regular season record. Cincy will score enough points to force VT to actually score on offense, and as has happened to them in recent seasons, offensive miscues will be their undoing.

PJ's Pick - Cincinnati 31 Virginia Tech 24

 

[psychojoe]

Sun Bowl

Arizona State versus Duke

These teams have much in common. Their 9-3 records for starters, and each of them needed just one more win to have had a shot at playing for their conference championship. Arizona State, in particular, had a shot at big things, with two of their losses being near misses against USC and Arizona. The third loss, a 62-27 blowout by UCLA at home remains one that drives stats junkies like me crazy. The Sun Devils had over 600 yards of offense, and 38 first downs, yet they lost due to a turnover melt down. Duke seemed to be on target for another top 25 season until they managed to lose to mediocre North Carolina and Virginia Tech in the second half of the season. Thesare better coached. e are two of the better teams involved in the earlier bowls. Both have reason to be disappointed with their seasons, and the game doesn't really mean much to either team. I would call the motivation factor even. The Sun Devils have more talent, but the Blue Devils are better coached. This one could go either way, but in this battle of demonic forces -


PJ's P ick: Arizona State 30, Duke 28

 

[TerryP]

You're calling it right on the line...guts. :eyeroll:

If I play the spread I'm leaning that way as well...

 

[psychojoe]

Independence Bowl

South Carolina versus Miami

Not surprisingly, Shreveport has attracted a pair of teams with mediocre records. Both the Hurricanes and the Gamecocks come in at 6-6. South Carolina has had a strange season. They came in with high expectations, which were quickly deflated in the season opening debacle versus the Texas Aggies. Gamecock despair turned to delight the next week when they took down highly regarded Georgia. The ups and downs continued throughout the season as they apparently had Missouri beaten but faded badly in the fourth quarter. At Auburn they still had a shot at winning on their final possession of the game. They took down Florida, then managed to end the season as they had begun it, with an embarrassing loss to Clemson. It is hard to know how interested the Gamecocks are in being here. Do they want to play well here and build momentum towards the new season, or are they just playing out the string- that is the question.

The Hurricanes did not have the inflated expectations to deal with coming into the season, and they do seem to be on the upswing. They established themselves as a middle of the pack ACC team by taking FSU deep into the game before falling. Normally I dislike picking an ACC team over an SEC team, but to me the motivation factor is all in Miami's favor.

PJ's Pick - Miami 30 South Carolina 28