2018-19 College Football Bowl Season: Picks

Here are my picks for the 2018-19 College Football bowl season.

Saturday, December 15th
Cure: Tulane (6-6; 5-3) vs Louisiana (7-6; 5-3)- 1:30, CBSSN: The Green Wave probably expected to be better than this although the Rajun Cajins certainly exceeded expectations by reaching the Sun Belt championship game. The Green Wave are the better team and I expect them to win by double digits.
Pick: Tulane

New Mexico: North Texas (9-3; 5-3) vs Utah State (10-2; 7-1)- 2:00, ESPN: This is a sneaky good game between two teams that exceeded expectations this season. The Aggies lost their coach Matt Wells to Texas Tech but that won't be an issue here as I expect them to win this game although it wouldn't shock me if the Mean Green give them a game.
Pick: Utah State

Las Vegas: Arizona State (7-5; 5-4) vs Fresno State (11-2; 7-1)- 3:30, ABC: The Sun Devils exceeded all expectations this year and find themselves here credit to Herm Edwards in his first year. The Bulldogs had another great year as they win the Mountain West. The Bulldogs are the better team and I think the Sun Devils can hang around in this one too.
Pick: Fresno State

Camellia: Georgia Southern (9-3; 6-2) vs Eastern Michigan (7-5; 5-3)- 5:30, ESPN: The Eagles certainly had a phenomenal turnaround this year as they came close to getting to the Sun Belt title game. The job Chris Creighton has done has been great the last few years turning the program around, but I like the Eagles to take this one.
Pick: Eastern Michigan

New Orleans: Middle Tennessee (8-5; 7-1) vs Appalachian State (10-2; 7-1)- 9:00, ESPN: This is the best bowl game on paper as these two teams made their respective conference championship game although the Mountaineers won there's and the Blue Raiders didn't. Some folks out there think the Blue Raiders can win this outright, but I like the Mountaineers to get the win and their defense to get a few key stops late in this one.
Pick: Appalachian State

Tuesday, December 18th
Boca Raton: UAB (10-3; 7-1) vs Northern Illinois (8-5; 6-2)- 7:00, ESPN: The Blazers story from not having a team to getting it's team back and it being very good is phenomenal and they won the C-USA Championship game over the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders. The Huskies pulled off an upset in the MAC Championship game over the Buffalo Bulls. I love the Blazers here with the better team and to get the win.
Pick: UAB

Wednesday, December 19th
Frisco: San Diego State (7-5; 4-4) vs Ohio (8-4; 6-2)- 8:00, ESPN: The Aztecs are a solid team that happened to fall apart toward the end of the season. The Bobcats meanwhile finished the season strong heading into this game. That said, I just think Rocky Long has the better team on his hands and will get the win here.
Pick: San Diego State

Thursday, December 20th
Graspilla: Marshall (8-4; 6-2) vs South Florida (7-5; 3-5)- 8:00, ESPN: The Thundering Herd are a solid C-USA team and Doc Holliday has done great as he tends to do all the time. The Bulls are a team that has collapsed by losing their last five games. Remember when the Bulls were unbeaten and ranked? That was a distant memory. Herd win.
Pick: Marshall

Friday, December 21st
Bahamas: FIU (8-4; 6-2) vs Toledo (7-5; 5-3)- 12:30, ESPN: This should be a fun bowl game. The Panthers exceeded all expectations to get to this spot and that's credit to Butch Davis, who's building a respectable program. The Rockets to me are a team that had underachieved to some sort in a West division in the MAC that seems to be up for grabs annually. The pick here is the Panthers because they feel like they have something to prove here.
 Pick: FIU


Potato: Western Michigan (7-5; 5-3) vs BYU (6-6)- 4:00, ESPN: Tim Lester did a great job getting this Broncos team to back to back bowls after TJ Fleck left for Minnesota. The Cougars are back in a bowl after a one year hiatus. The Cougars have the better team led by quarterback Zach Wilson and I expect them to get the win.
Pick: BYU

Saturday, December 22nd
Birmingham: Memphis (8-5; 5-3) vs Wake Forest (6-6; 3-5)- 12:00, ESPN: The Tigers had many ups and downs throughout their season and the same could be the same for the Demon Deacons. This has the makings of a high scoring affair and I think the Tigers get the win here.
Pick: Memphis

Armed Forces: Houston (8-4; 5-3) vs Army (10-2)- 3:30, ESPN: The Cougars come into this game not having Ed Oliver or D'Eriq King. The Knights have had a phenomenal season in which they were ranked in the AP and Coaches Polls. With the Cougars two stars out for this, I like the Knights to win the game on the field to cap off their season.
Pick: Army

Dollar General: Buffalo (10-3; 7-1) vs Troy (9-3; 7-1)- 7:00, ESPN: The Bulls have had a great year, but lost the MAC Championship against an inferior Northern Illinois team. The Trojans have had a solid year as well although they did not make their conference championship. The Bulls have a stud wideout in Anthony Johnson and I expect him to have a monster game to give the Bulls a win.
Pick: Buffalo

Hawaii: Hawaii (8-5; 5-3) vs Louisiana Tech (7-5; 5-3)- 10:30, ESPN: The Rainbows are a team that's overachieved this season and get their bowl game in their home stadium. The Bulldogs are a team that to me underachieved a little bit. Skip Holtz as an underdog in awesome and I don't love how the Rainbows finished their season. Bulldogs get the win.
Pick: Louisiana Tech

Wednesday, December 26th
First Responder: Boston College (7-5; 4-4) vs (25) Boise State (10-3; 7-1)- 1:30, ESPN: This should be a fun game between two teams that had good seasons. The Eagles have faltered a little bit later on in the season and running back AJ  Dillon wasn't healthy. Dillon is playing in this one, but I feel that the Broncos are the better team here and will win a close one.
Pick: Boise State

Quick Lane: Minnesota (6-6; 3-6) vs Georgia Tech (7-5; 5-3)- 5:15, ESPN: The Gophers were unlikely to be in a bowl game the last week of the regular season and wound up winning as a big underdog to get to this spot. The Yellow Jackets have had some good moments this season as well this year. This is Paul Johnson's final game as the Jackets coach and I expect him to have a proper send off with a win.
Pick: Georgia Tech

Cheez-It: California (7-5; 4-5) vs TCU (6-6; 4-5)- 9:00, ESPN: The Golden Bears have a nice foundation and have some good moments this season. The Horned Frogs are a team that underachieved this season, but snuck into this spot with a few upset wins late in the season. I love the Bears in this spot and I think their defense can make more stops than the Frogs defense.
Pick: California

Thursday, December 27th
Independence: Temple (8-4; 7-1) vs Duke (7-5; 3-5)- 1:30, ESPN: The Owls lost their head coach to Georgia Tech, but that won't be a distraction to them. The Blue Devils have underachieved to some degree this year due mainly due to injuries. Geoff Collins or not, the Owls are the better team and there's a reason why they are favored in this spot.
Pick: Temple

Pinstripe: Miami (7-5; 4-4) vs Wisconsin (7-5; 5-4)- 5:15, ESPN: Here we have the battle of two major disappointments. The Hurricanes and Badgers both have solid defenses, but have gotten subpar quarterback play which held the two teams back throughout the season. This was a hard call, but I just trust the Badgers here more than the Canes.
Pick: Wisconsin

Texas: Baylor (6-6; 4-5) vs Vanderbilt (6-6; 3-5)- 9:00, ESPN: Matt Rhule and Derek Mason both deserve credit for taking their teams here as neither team was thought to be a bowl team this season. I do think this will be a pretty high scoring affair and I think Kyle Shurmur leads the way for the Commodores.
Pick: Vanderbilt

Friday, December 28th
Music City: Purdue (6-6; 5-4) vs Auburn (7-5; 3-5)- 1:30, ESPN: The Boiler Makers year will be remembered fondly regardless of this bowl result due to Jeff Frohm committing to stay long term and super-fan Tyler Trent, who's battling cancer, giving the team an inspiring lift prior to their big upset win over Ohio State. The Tigers season has been a major disappointment on all accounts. The Boiler Makers are an undeserving underdog here and they'll prove odd-makers wrong and cap off a memorable season with a win.
Pick: Auburn

Camping World: (16) West Virginia (8-3; 6-3) vs (20) Syracuse (9-3; 6-2)- 5:15, ESPN: The Mountaineers season was promising and a few bad breaks in their last two games perhaps cost them a spot in the College Football Playoff. The Orange have had a surprisingly great season, but have lost to the best three teams they've played. Will Grier is not playing in this game and that single handily gives the Orange the advantage in this game against their former Big East rival.
Pick: Syracuse

Alamo: (24) Iowa State (8-4; 6-3) vs (13) Washington State (10-2; 7-2)- 9:00, ESPN: This game is phenomenal. The Cyclones have had another great season and have showed improvement from last season too. The Cougars were arguably the biggest surprise in the sport this year, but they had a favorable schedule and teams in their conference underachieved. That said, the wrong team is favored here and the Cyclones will prove odd-makers wrong as the Cougars "Coug It".
Pick: Iowa State

Saturday, December 29th
Peach: (10) Florida (9-3; 5-3) vs (7) Michigan (10-2; 8-1)- 12:00, ESPN: These two programs hooked up not long ago and Jim Harbaugh's team came thru victorious. The Gators team vastly overachieved this year and that's credit to Dan Mullen and the job he has done. The Wolverines have had a great season as Jim Harbaugh finally has a decent quarterback in Shea Patterson, and I believe he gets the job done and leads the Wolverines to the win.
Pick: Michigan

Belk: South Carolina (7-5; 4-4) vs Virginia (7-5; 4-4)- 12:00, ABC: Both of these teams have had moments this season both good and bad. The Gamecocks are great offensively and bad defensively. The Cavs aren't good offensively and are somewhat competent defensively. The unit I trust the most is the Cocks offense led by Jake Bentley. Will Muschamp's team gets the win.
Pick: South Carolina

Arizona: Arkansas State (8-4; 5-3) vs Nevada (7-5; 5-3)- 1:15, CBSSN: Both the Red Wolves and the Wolf Pack have had moment this tear birth good and bad. The better team here is the team that's the underdog and that is the Wolf Pack and I think they get the outright upset victory.
Pick: Nevada

Monday, December 31st
Military: Cincinnati (10-2; 6-2) vs Virginia Tech (6-6; 4-4)- 12:00, ESPN: The Bearcats were unbeaten early in the season and lost twice late in the season. The Hokies had a very strange season and still wind up extending their bowl appearance streak. The Bearcats are the better team this year and I like them in this spot.
Pick: Cincinnati

Hyundai Sun: Stanford (8-4; 6-3) vs Pittsburgh (7-6; 6-2)- 2:00, CBS: The Cardinal quietly went 8-4, but it felt like more of a disappointment. The Panthers were a big surprise this year winning the Coastal Division. Bryce Love is not playing in this game, but that won't be a problem for a Cardinal team that has played a majority of the season without Love as they'll get the win.
Pick: Stanford

Redbox: Michigan State (7-5; 5-4) vs Oregon (8-4; 5-4)- 3:00, FOX: Both the Spartans and Ducks have had disappointing seasons. These teams faced each other in 2014 and 2015 and each team won once. Justin Herbert is playing and coming back to school, but I don't love what I've seen from him and I like Sparty to get the win.
Pick: Michigan State

Liberty: (23) Missouri (8-4; 4-4) vs Oklahoma State (6-6; 3-6)- 3:45, ESPN: This is poised to be a very high scoring game. The Tigers finished their season very strong. The Cowboys had a wild season with so many close calls. Drew Lock has had a strong year throwing the ball for the Tigers and I like them here to win.
Pick: Missouri

Holiday: (22) Northwestern (8-5; 8-1) vs (17) Utah (9-4; 6-3)- 7:00, FS1: Both of these teams wound up losing in their respective conference championships and now they're here. The Wildcats finished their season strong. The Utes have suffered a number of key injuries this season on the offensive end. Give me the Cats as Pat Fitzgerald gets his team up for this one.
Pick: Northwestern

Gator: NC State (9-3; 5-3) vs (19) Texas A&M (8-4; 5-3)- 7:30, ESPN: The Wolfpack quietly had a great season this year and Ryan Finley has been solid. The Aggies have overachieved this season and that's credit to Jimbo Fisher, who's done a great job this year. Kellen Mond has been good for the Aggies at quarterback and I think he leads them to a win.
Pick: Texas A&M

Tuesday, January 1st
Outback: (18) Mississippi State (8-4; 4-4) vs Iowa (8-4; 5-4)- 12:00, ESPN2: Both of these teams were ranked at some point of the season. Nick Fitzgerald is playing his last collegiate game for the Bulldogs. The Hawkeyes had some fine games and others were clunkers. I trust Fitzgerald in his finale and for Joe Morehead to get his first bowl win.
Pick: Mississippi State

Fiesta: (11) LSU (9-3; 5-3) vs (8) UCF (13-0; 8-0)- 1:00, ESPN: The Tigers have overachieved this season and Ed Orgeron deserves a ton of credit. The Knights story has been phenomenal with two straight unbeaten seasons at risk. McKenzie Milton is recovering from an dislocated knee and now at quarterback is Darriel Mack Jr. The Tigers offense is not very good although neither is the Knights defense. That said, give me the Knights to complete their second straight unbeaten season.
Pick: UCF

Citrus: (14) Kentucky (9-3; 5-3) vs (12) Penn State (9-3; 6-3)- 1:00, ABC: The Wildcats have had such a phenomenal season and find themselves in a nice bowl game. The Nittany Lions took a stepback without Saquon Barkley on their team. That said, the Lions are the better team here with the better quarterback led by Trace McSorley.
Pick: Penn State

Rose: (9) Washington (10-3; 7-2) vs (6) Ohio State (12-1; 8-1)- 5:00, ESPN: Both of these teams won their respective conference games. The Huskies underachieved and Jake Browning did not have a great season. The Buckeyes losing at Purdue cost them a birth in the College Football Playoff and didn't have Nick Bosa most of the year. Dwayne Haskins has something to prove in this game as he's potentially auditioning for an NFL team in this spot and I like him to lead the Buckeyes to a win in Urban Meyer's final game as coach.
Pick: Ohio State

Sugar: (15) Texas (9-4; 7-2) vs (5) Georgia (11-2; 7-1)- 8:45, ESPN: The Longhorns find themselves in a good bowl game despite a record that isn't that great. The Bulldogs arguably would have been a playoff team if they did not lose to LSU in the regular season. Jake Fromm is such a great quarterback and he'll lead the Bulldogs to a beatdown over the Longhorns.
Pick: Georgia