After going 7-3 during Championship Week and 6-2 during the first week of this year’s bowl extravaganza, here’s the old college try to keep things going.
Strange bedfellows (competing teams) and weird names (the bowls) are coins of the realm during the opening weeks of the college bowl season. Most of these schools fly under the radar until bowl season comes around. Who knew UTSA had a football team? And where is UTSA, anyway? So with a deep breath….
MONDAY: Old Dominion v. -9 Tulsa. There’s unevenness here in terms of the quality of leagues involved and the talent on the field. Neither team had a great year (both were 6-6) even though each squad had moments–ODU is on a five-game winning streak and Tulsa gave the OSU’s (Okla and Ohio, that is) scares. Because the Golden Hurricanes played better competition I’m going with Tulsa to win and cover. Play the over (53) while you are at it.
TUESDAY: Kent State v. -3 Wyoming. Here are two teams that win when you don’t expect it and lose when you are convinced they will win. Wyoming should win this game handily but the ‘Boys sometimes don’t show up to play. Defense will be the decider. KSU doesn’t play it (gives up 35 points a contest). That said, at times, Wyoming has had trouble scoring (13 and 14 points, respectively, in the last two losses). I think (hope is a better word) that the thought of losing to the Flashes will be enough for Wyo players to come through. If not, KSU will win convincingly. That said …. I’m going with Wyo to cover OR Kent State to win going away.
UTSA v. -1.5 San Diego State. I’ve seen enough of UTSA to know it’s a team on the move. The team looked terrific (twice) against juggernaut Western Kentucky, while the Aztecs looked pitiful against Utah State in the Moutain West Championship game. My take is that SDSU peaked too soon. I saw State play earlier in the year in winning games against PAC-12 competition (Arizona and Utah, the eventual PAC-12 champ). The Aztecs looked great. I also think this bowl (and winning it) means a lot more to USTA than it does to SDSU. Bottom line: I have confidence in one team and not the other. USTA.
WEDNESDAY: Missouri v. -4 Army. Yikes! How can an SEC team be +4 against a military academy? Well, Mizzou can. Army will be hopping mad after losing the biggest game of the year to an outmatched Navy squad. Missouri? The Tigers can’t seem to get out of their own way. Key in this one is Army’s running game–as it is every single game–and it won’t take long to see the outcome. If Army’s triple-option gets going, they’ll score all day on the Tigers–just like they did in 2019 (70-14) in a game that cost Houston’s Applewhite his job. Army to win and cover.
THURSDAY: North Texas v. -3 Miami OH I think the Mean Green has too much for the Redhawks. UNT is on a five-game win streak, too, beating UTSA in its last outing, and doing so convincingly. North Texas
UCF v -6.5 Florida. Two mediocre teams go up against each other in this one … although that’s a metaphor for almost all of the early bowl match-ups. UCF has something to prove and will come out swinging, but the problem with this team is that it barely wins against mediocre teams (USF, 17-13) and gets blown out by good ones (SMU 55-28). I don’t see the Knights hanging on for all four quarters. Gators to win and cover.
FRIDAY: -4.5 Memphis v. Hawai’i. This is a tough one because (as almost always) the Rainbow Warriors play a bowl game at home. Memphis had aspirations this year that didn’t transpire. Will the Tigers bring enough to win on the Island? That’s the big question. Both teams give up plenty of yards, especially on the ground, and both teams also play unevenly. Hawaii gave up 50 to a not-very-good Colorado State team but then stymied Wyoming (only giving up 14). (Gulp!) Hawaii
SATURDAY: -5 Georgia State v. Ball State. I’ve seen both teams play this year, and I like BSU more than GSU. That’s saying a lot, too, because Georgia State closed out the season well (4-1) and BSU lost two of its last three. Still, I like the BSU coaches and the team’s scheme. Ball State
