Bowl Picks (Part One)

I’m the world’s worst bowl picker. Even more variables than the regular season. Generally I go with my knowledge of the teams, what conference they’re in (strength of schedule), bowl proximity, point spread, and mostly the Sagarin rankings, which really only help for teams I don’t know.
Those Sagarins have failed me plenty of times.

 

Sagarin ratings for the most part fall in line with the point spreads.
I’ve only picked a few “upsets”. Winners below in BOLD.

 

12.20 Bahamas Bowl Buffalo 7-5 (81) v Charlotte 7-5 (117).

 

12.20 Frisco Bowl Utah State 7-5 (71) v Kent State 6-6 (105)

 

12.21 Celebration Bowl North Carolina A&T 8-3 (159) v Alcorn State 9-3 (165). I have no idea.

 

12.21 New Mexico Central Michigan 8-5 (97) v San Diego State 9-3 (61)

 

12.21 Cure Bowl Georgia Southern 7-5 (83) v Liberty 7-5 (119).

 

12.21 Boca Raton Bowl Florida Atlantic 10-3 (54) v Southern Methodist 10-2 (34)

 

12.21 Camellia Bowl Arkansas State 7-5 (92) v Florida International 6-6 (118). FIU lost their coach.

 

12.21 Las Vegas Bowl Boise State 12-1 (25) vs Washington 7-5 (19).
Huskies are losing their coach.

 

12.21 New Orleans Bowl Appalachian State 12-1 (28) vs UAB 9-4 (107). Don’t mess with the Mountaineers.

 

12.23 Gasparilla Bowl Central Florida 9-3 (27) vs Marshall 8-4 (85).
Golden Knights shooting for a ten win season.

 

12.24 Hawaii Bowl: Hawaii 9-5 (76) vs Brigham Young 7-5 (64).
Can the Rainbow Warriors pull off the upset on their home field?
Cougars have had a good year.

 

12.26 Independence: Louisiana Tech 9-3 (91) vs Miami 6-6 (53).
In Tech’s back yard, in the cold and rain,
the Canes better show up ready to play. Possible upset.

 

12.26 Quick Lane Bowl Pittsburg 7-5 (63) v Eastern Michigan 6-6 (113). Panthers have the better team.

 

12.27 Military Bowl North Carolina 6-6 (48) vs Temple 8-4 (67).
Will be close. Temple may want it worse. Heels better come to play.

 

12.27 Pinstripe Bowl: Wake Forest 8-4 (57) vs Michigan State 6-6 (37). Demon Deacons will be fired up, though next to Clemson,
they’ll be facing their toughest opponent all year.  

 

12.27 Texas Bowl: Oklahoma State 8-4 (22) v Texas A&M 7-5 (18).
Are the Cowboys the tough team the Aggies finally beat
Hopefully Jimbo and Kellen Mond don’t let us down again.

 

12.27 Holiday Bowl Southern Cal 8-4 (21) v Iowa 9-3 (16).
Hawkeyes will want it worse, but will need to score more than field goals
to win. Trojans may still be in disarray.  

 

12.27 Cheez-It Bowl Air Force 10-2 (31) v Washington State 6-6 (42).
Air Force will be more motivated. Cougars will compete but fall short.

 

12.28 Camping World: Iowa State 7-5 (23) v Notre Dame 10-2 (13).
Doesn’t look like Iowa State has the firepower to pull off the upset.

 

12.28 Cotton Penn State 10-2 (11) vs Memphis 12-1 (17).
Nittany Lions will have to bring their A game, but they’re the better team.
Memphis will be motivated, as will their fans.

 

12.28 Peach LSU 12-0 (3) v Oklahoma 11-1 (5).
Bayou Bengals will continue to roll.  

 

12.28 Fiesta Ohio State 12-0 (1) v Clemson 12-0 (2).
Buckeyes showed they’re human in their conference championship game.
Unlike the Badgers, Clemson will be able to finish the drill.