Tag: Cotton Bowl

Cotton Bowl: Memphis Tigers vs Penn State Nittany Lions odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Saturday’s Cotton Bowl betting odds between the Memphis Tigers and the Penn State Nittany Lions, with betting picks, tips and bets.

The Memphis Tigers (12-1) will face the Penn State Nittany Lions (10-2) Saturday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, at noon ET (on ESPN). We analyze the Memphis-Penn State odds and betting lines, while providing college football betting tips and advice on this matchup.

Memphis vs. Penn State: Three things you need to know

1. The UNDER has hit in seven of the last 10 games for Penn State.

2. Penn State allowed the seventh-fewest points this season, giving up just over 14 points per game.

3. The OVER has hit in 10 of the last 12 games where Memphis was considered the “underdog.”

Memphis vs. Penn State: Odds, betting lines and picks

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Monday at 4:50 p.m. ET.

Prediction

Memphis 35, Penn State 31

Moneyline (ML)

American Athletic Conference champion MEMPHIS (+200) is the play here. Penn State (-250) was surprisingly good this season, but it doesn’t have many quality wins on the schedule. And while you can make the case the Tigers don’t either, their moneyline odds are much more enticing. I’m counting on Memphis to find ways to create chunk plays against Penn State’s defense.

New to sports betting? Every $1 wagered on the Memphis ML will profit $2 if it wins.

Against the Spread (ATS)

Penn State (-7.5, +105) is favored by more than a touchdown despite going just 6-6 ATS this season. Making matters worse, Penn State has covered just twice in its past six games, and Memphis appears to be a team that could give the Nittany Lions fits on defense. I like MEMPHIS (+7.5, -129) to cover.

Over/Under (O/U)

The O/U is 60.5 (Over -106, Under -115), which feels just about right given how well each offense has played this season. It’s worth noting that the Over has hit in seven of the previous 10 games for Memphis as it can put up points with the best of them. I like the OVER 60.5 (-106) to hit in this one.

Get some action on this game or others, place a bet with BetMGM today. And for more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @Marcus_Mosher and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship, and there is no influence on news coverage.

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College Football Bowl Betting: Best Parlay Options

Previewing the college football bowl season betting odds and lines, with a look at the best three-team parlay for the holidays.

One of the best parts about bowl season in college football is all of the different betting options available. Below, we are looking at the best three-team parlay you can make for the next two weeks of bowl games.

Get some action on this game or others by placing a bet at BetMGM!

College Football Bowl Parlay Bets: Memphis vs. Penn State Moneyline

Photo Credit: Justin Ford – USA TODAY Sports

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Friday, Dec. 12 at 6:15 p.m. ET.

What: Cotton Bowl
When: Saturday, Dec. 28 at noon ET

For the first part of our bet, we are looking for an underdog to win or cover the spread to boost the total odds for our three-leg parlay. That is why I’m eying the Memphis Tigers (12-1) over the Penn State Nittany Lions (10-2) in the Cotton Bowl. Memphis is a 7.5-point underdog despite winning 12 games this season. Memphis has one of the best offenses in college football, averaging 40.5 points per game (PPG) this season to rank eighth in the nation. Memphis will certainly be challenged by a Penn State defense, which allowed just 14.1 PPG to rank seventh overall.

However, I like MEMPHIS (+200) on the moneyline – to win outright as it has proven to be one of the best teams in the country. If the moneyline makes you nervous, consider swapping out this pick with Memphis to cover the 7.5 point spread at -134 instead.

College Football Bowl Parlay Bets: LSU vs. Oklahoma Over/Under

Photo Credit: Matthew Emmons – USA TODAY Sports

What: Peach Bowl
When: Saturday, Dec. 28 at 4 p.m. ET

The Over/Under for LSU-Oklahoma is set at a monstrous 76 points. While both offenses can score 40 or more with ease, these playoff games tend to start off slow, given the amount of time off for the two teams. Don’t be shocked if both use the first quarter or so to “feel” each other out before picking up the tempo on offense.

It’s also worth noting that the Under hit in four of the last five games involving the Sooners. They have proven they are at least somewhat capable of defense this season. Oklahoma should be able to get at least a few stops early in this contest.

While it’s fair to expect a ton of points, bet the UNDER 76 (-110) to hit in the Peach Bowl.

College Football Bowl Parlay Bet: Michigan vs. Alabama Point Spread

Photo Credit: John David Mercer – USA TODAY Sports

What: Citrus Bowl
When: Wednesday, Jan. 1 at 1 p.m. ET

One of the biggest non-playoff bowl games will happen on New Year’s Day as Jim Harbaugh’s Michigan Wolverines (9-3) will take on Nick Saban’s Alabama Crimson Tide (10-2). While Alabama will be without their star quarterback in Tua Tagovailoa, it is still one of the best teams in college football, especially on offense.

That is why ALABAMA (-6.5, -118) is nearly a touchdown favorite here. In the Iron Bowl, Alabama was still able to put up 45 points against the Auburn Tigers without Tagovailoa on the field. The Tide should have no problem covering the spread against a Wolverines team that allowed 56 points to the Ohio State Buckeyes. Expect Alabama to win and cover in this Big Ten-SEC contest.

Altogether, this three-team parlay – with the Memphis ML – will payout at +958 odds. A $10 bet would return a profit of $95.80 if all three hit. It’s a decent-sized payout given the relatively safe bets.

Note: Swapping the Memphis spread in place of the ML lowers the payout to +516.

Get some action on this game or others, place a bet with BetMGM today. And for more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Ranking all 39 2019-2020 college football bowl games

There are 39 FBS bowl games this year. Which ones should Ohio State fans be the most interested in?

Bowl season comes at you fast–it starts in less than a week. There are 39 FBS bowl games this year. My advice, always, is to watch every single one of them. The more college football, the better, and I always really enjoy learning about the cool stories that some of these smaller programs have. Whether it’s a first bowl appearance in decades (or ever), a coaching turnaround, a crazy walk-on story, or something else, even the smallest of bowls always have compelling backstories.

I get it, though. Time is precious. Sometimes we can’t watch all the college football that we want. So I’m going to rank all 39 bowls games, from the “will be fun to watch” to the “can’t-miss.” And, of course, since this is a Buckeyes site, extra priority will be given to games that matter more to Ohio State. There’s no particular science to these rankings. Sometimes a game’s backstory will matter more; other times I’ll focus more on how competitive or high-quality the game is likely to be.

39. FBC Mortgage Cure Bowl: Liberty vs Georgia Southern

Saturday, December 21st, 2:30 PM

We get a first-time bowl team, as the Liberty Flames began their football program very recently. And the entire purpose of this bowl is to raise money to cure cancer, so that’s pretty cool too. Once we get to the game, though, Georgia Southern is pretty clearly the better team. The Eagles beat Appalachian State this year, and Liberty lost to Rutgers. It’s college football and anything can happen, but if you have to miss a bowl game, it should probably be this one. (Especially considering the fact that the Cure Bowl is on at the same time as two much better bowl games.)

38. Quick Lane Bowl: Pittsburgh vs Eastern Michigan

Thursday, December 26th, 8:00 PM

This is, by far, the least-compelling bowl game involving a Power 5 team. Pitt has talent and played Penn State close, but it’s never really a fun team to watch. Chris Creighton has done an insanely good job getting Eastern Michigan to a bowl game in three out of four years now, and it’s honestly shocking that a bigger school looking to rebuild hasn’t snatched him up yet. Still, there is a talent disparity, and neither team is that compelling to watch. If Pitt is flat once again, especially on offense, we could get a close game. If that doesn’t happen, though, there’s no real reason to stay on this game.

37. Camellia Bowl: FIU vs Arkansas State

Saturday, December 21st, 5:30 PM

There is nothing too compelling about this bowl game. The teams are probably evenly-matched, and FIU did pull off an incredible upset of the Miami Hurricanes a few weeks ago. Other than that, though, I’m not sure what about this game inspires fans to tune in.

36. Makers Wanted Bahamas Bowl: Buffalo vs Charlotte

Friday, December 20th, 2:00 PM

Aside from having a hilarious backstory for its sponsor and being the opening game of bowl season this year, it’s a little hard to be too excited about the Bahamas Bowl. The location is awesome for the students and a ton of fun, but the matchup leaves much to be desired. This is also Charlotte’s first-ever bowl game (the program only began in 2013), which is always cool to see, but Buffalo is much more talented. Make sure not to miss Buffalo’s defensive lineman LeDarius Mack (yes, Khalil Mack’s brother). And maybe we get a good game if Charlotte is inspired by its first bowl appearance and plays perfect football.

35. Tropical Smoothie Cafe Frisco Bowl: Utah State vs Kent State

Friday, December 20th, 7:30 PM

First of all, extra points to this game for having a hilarious sponsor. (Yes, that absolutely matters in bowl rankings. If you’re watching a game that’s not so compelling, it’s much more fun if you get to laugh every time ESPN’s commentators say the sponsor’s name.) Also, extra points for having an Ohio team. After that, though, it’s tough to look forward to this game. Utah State’s Jordan Love is going to want to end his college career on a high note, and the Aggies are a much better team than the Golden Flashes. Kent State is looking for its first-ever bowl win, which is always cool to see. Hopefully it gets it, but I wouldn’t hold out hope on it being a great game.

34. Nova Home Loans Arizona Bowl: Georgia State vs Wyoming

Tuesday, December 31st, 4:30 PM

Fun fact: both of these teams beat SEC teams this year. Georgia State took down Tennessee and Wyoming beat Missouri back in Week 1. Other than that, though, there’s not much compelling about this game. Wyoming is the better team, and the Cowboys have the defense to stifle Georgia State and make this game near-unwatchable. Watch the Liberty Bowl on New Years’ Eve, and maybe check in on the end of this one if it’s close.

33. Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl: Tulane vs Southern Miss

Firday, January 4th, 3:00 PM

Not enough people have watched Tulane this season, which is a shame. The Green Wave are a good team and the program is heading in the right direction. Southern Miss, though, is limping into a bowl on a two-game losing streak, and it wasn’t very competitive in either game. Let’s hope it doesn’t make it three in a row.

32. Famous Idaho Potato Bowl: Ohio vs Nevada

Friday, January 3rd, 3:30 PM

I’m a huge fan of Frank Solich. He always has a competitive MAC team and often finds some really good players. It’s very unfortunate that not enough of the country pays more attention to the Bobcats. But, other than this game being played on the blue turf (and often in snow), there’s not too much else to look forward to in this one.

31. New Era Pinstripe Bowl: Michigan State vs Wake Forest

Friday, December 27th, 3:20 PM

If you had the misfortune of watching Michigan State’s bowl game last year, you might be wondering why this game is ranked so high. Well, Michigan State is in the Big Ten, and the Pinstripe Bowl always had the added element of being played in an outdoor stadium in New York City in the winter. Combine that with Michigan State’s great defense and dysfunctional offense, and who knows what can happen.

Next… 30-21

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4

Notre Dame/Iowa State: How to Watch the Camping World Bowl

That day, at least in terms of college football, begins at noon ET on the 28th as Notre Dame takes on Iowa State in a contest that airs on ABC.

Saturday, December 28 will be one of the best Saturday’s of the season for college fans with a couple of intruiging bowl games before the College Football Playoff takes over at night.

That day, at least in terms of college football, begins at noon ET on the 28th as Notre Dame takes on Iowa State in a contest that airs on ABC.

Penn State and Memphis doing battle in the Cotton Bowl will kickoff at the same time on ESPN.

Finally the College Football Playoff will begin following the Cotton Bowl with both games airing on ESPN.

LSU and Oklahoma doing battle in the Peach Bowl and Ohio State takes on Clemson in the Fiesta Bowl.  It has not yet been announced which of those two games will air first and which will be shown in primetime, but I’d be willing to bet the Fiesta gets the nod.

2019-20 college football bowl game schedule, dates, times, betting lines

The 2019-20 bowl schedule features 40 games. Here’s a look at who will be playing who?

There are a plethora of bowl games on the 2019-20 schedule. If it feels like almost every school is in a postseason game, that’s because it has almost come to that. Here is all the info you need to know about bowl season.

December 20

Bahamas Bowl
Buffalo vs. Charlotte
Opening line: Buffalo -4.5
Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium
Nassau, Bahamas
2 p.m. | ESPN

Frisco Bowl
Kent State vs. Utah State
Opening line: Utah State -8.5
Toyota Stadium
Frisco, TX
7:30 p.m. | ESPN2

December 21

Celebration Bowl
Alcorn State vs. North Carolina A&T
NC A&T -7.5
Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Atlanta, GA
Noon | ABC
New Mexico Bowl
Central Michigan vs. San Diego State
Opening line: San Diego State -4.5
Dreamstyle Stadium
Albuquerque, NM
2 p.m. | ESPN
Cure Bowl
Liberty vs. Georgia Southern
Opening line: Georgia Southern -6
Exploria Stadium
Orlando, FL
2:30 p.m. | CBSSN |
Boca Raton Bowl
FAU vs. SMU
Opening line: SMU -3.5
FAU Stadium
Boca Raton, FL
3:30 p.m. | ABC
Camellia Bowl
Arkansas State vs. Florida International
Opening line: Arkansas State -3
Cramton Bowl
Montgomery, AL
5:30 p.m. | ESPN
Las Vegas Bowl
No. 19 Boise State vs. Washington
Opening line: Washington -3.5
Sam Boyd Stadium
Las Vegas, NV
7:30 p.m. | ABC
New Orleans Bowl
No. 20 Appalachian State vs. UAB
Opening line: Appalachian State -17.5
Mercedes-Benz Superdome
New Orleans, LA
9 p.m. | ESPN

December 23

Gasparilla Bowl
Marshall vs. UCF
Opening line: UCF -17.5
Raymond James Stadium
Tampa, FL
2:30 p.m. | ESPN

December 24

Hawai’i Bowl
BYU vs. Hawai’i
Opening line: BYU -2.5
Aloha Stadium
Honolulu, HI
8 p.m. | ESPN

December 26

Independence Bowl
Louisiana Tech vs. Miami (Fla.)
Opening line: Miami -7.5
Independence Stadium
Shreveport, LA
4 p.m. | ESPN
Quick Lane Bowl
Eastern Michigan vs. Pittsburgh
Opening line: Pittsburgh -11
Ford Field
Detroit, MI
8 p.m. | ESPN

December 27

Military Bowl
North Carolina vs. Temple
Opening line: North Carolina -6
Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium
Annapolis, MD
Noon | ESPN
Pinstripe Bowl
Michigan State vs. Wake Forest
Opening line: Michigan State -3.5
Yankee Stadium
New York, NY
3:20 p.m. | ESPN
Texas Bowl
No. 25 Oklahoma State vs. Texas A&M
Opening line: Texas A&M -4.5
NRG Stadium
Houston, TX
6:45 p.m. | ESPN
Holiday Bowl
No. 16 Iowa vs. No. 22 Southern California
Opening line: Iowa -2.5
SDCCU Stadium
San Diego, CA
8 p.m. | FS1
Cheez-It Bowl
Air Force vs. Washington State
Opening line: Air Force -2.5
Chase Field
Phoenix, AZ
10:15 p.m. | ESPN
Camping World Bowl
No. 15 Notre Dame vs. Iowa State
Opening line: Notre Dame -3.5
Camping World Stadium
Orlando, FL
Noon | ABC
Cotton Bowl Classic
No. 10 Penn State vs. No. 17 Memphis
Opening line: Penn State -7
AT&T Stadium
Dallas, TX
Noon | ESPN
Peach Bowl (College Football Playoff semifinal)
No. 1 LSU vs. No. 4 Oklahoma
Opening line: LSU -12.5
Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Atlanta, GA
4 p.m. | ESPN
Fiesta Bowl (College Football Playoff semifinal)
No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 3 Clemson
Opening line: Clemson -2
State Farm Stadium
Glendale, AZ
8 p.m. | ESPN
December 30
First Responder Bowl
Western Kentucky vs. Western Michigan
Opening line: Western Kentucky -1
Gerald J. Ford Stadium
Dallas, TX
12:30 p.m. | ESPN
Music City Bowl
Louisville vs. Mississippi State
Louisville -3.5
Nissan Stadium
Nashville, TN
4 p.m. | ESPN
Redbox Bowl
California vs. Illinois
Opening line: California -6
Levi’s Stadium
Santa Clara, CA
4 p.m. | FOX
Orange Bowl
No. 9 Florida vs. No. 24 Virginia
Opening line: Florida -13
Hard Rock Stadium
Miami Gardens, FL
8 p.m. | ESPN

December 31

Belk Bowl
Kansas vs. Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech -3
Opening line: TBD
Bank of America Stadium
Charlotte, NC
Noon | ESPN
Sun Bowl
Arizona State vs. Florida State
Opening line: Arizona State -5
Sun Bowl
El Paso, TX
2 p.m. | CBS
Liberty Bowl
Kansas State vs. Navy
Opening line: Kansas State -1
Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium
Memphis, TN
3:45 p.m. | ESPN
Arizona Bowl
Georgia State vs. Wyoming
Opening line: Wyoming -7
Arizona Stadium
Tucson, AZ
4:30 p.m.
Alamo Bowl
No. 11 Utah vs. Texas
Opening line: Utah -6.5
Alamodome
San Antonio, TX
7:30 p.m. | ESPN

Jan. 1, 2020

Citrus Bowl
No. 13 Alabama vs. No. 14 Michigan
Opening line: Florida -13
Camping World Stadium
Orlando, FL
1 p.m. | ABC
Outback Bowl
No. 12 Auburn vs. No. 18 Minnesota
Opening line: Auburn -7.5
Raymond James Stadium
Tampa, FL
1 p.m. | ESPN
Rose Bowl Game
No. 6 Oregon vs. No. 8 Wisconsin
Opening line: Oregon -2.5
Rose Bowl
Pasadena, CA
5 p.m. | ESPN
Sugar Bowl
No. 5 Georgia vs. No. 7 Baylor
Opening line: Georgia -7.5
Mercedes-Benz Superdome
New Orleans, LA
8:45 p.m. | ESPN

Jan. 3

Birmingham Bowl
No. 21 Cincinnati vs. Boston College
Opening line: Cincinnati -6.5
Legion Field
Birmingham, AL
3 p.m. | ESPN
Gator Bowl
Indiana vs. Tennessee
Opening line: PK
TIAA Bank Stadium
Jacksonville, FL
7 p.m. | ESPN

Jan. 3

Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
Nevada vs. Ohio
Opening line: Ohio -6.5
Albertsons Stadium
Boise, ID
3:30 p.m. | ESPN

Jan. 4

Armed Forces Bowl
Southern Miss vs. Tulane
Opening line: Tulane -6
Amon G. Carter Stadium
Fort Worth, TX
11:30 a.m. | ESPN

Jan. 6

LendingTree Bowl
Louisiana-Lafayette vs. Miami (Ohio)
Opening line: Louisiana -14
Ladd-Peebles Stadium
Mobile, AL
7:30 p.m. | ESPN

Jan. 13

College Football Playoff National Championship Game
Mercedes-Benz Superdome
New Orleans, LA
8 p.m. | ESPN

What to look for in the CFP selection committee’s fifth rankings

The College Football Playoff selection committee will be releasing its second-to-last rankings Tuesday night. Here’s what to look for.

The College Football Playoff selection committee’s penultimate rankings will be released tonight (Tuesday). There isn’t too much intrigue in them, and we are a bit past the point of the season where the committee will send us real messages–not that messages earlier in the season have been particularly consistent.

Instead, there are a few important things to look at as we set the stage for next week’s CFP selections and for the other New Years’ Six bids.

Utah vs Big 12

The first thing to look at is where the committee places the Utes. Utah has been ahead of Oklahoma and Baylor the past few weeks. If that stays the same, then we have no new information. If, however, Oklahoma (and/or Baylor) jumps Utah this week, that would show us that the Utes are on the outside looking in when it comes to the No. 4 spot. Also, remember to listen to what Rob Mullens says about this discussion, as he will almost certainly tell us something about how the committee compared Utah to the Big 12 teams. How meaningful that explanation is is anyone’s guess, but it will be the best we have.

Where do Alabama and Wisconsin move to?

Conference pecking order in the Big Ten will matter for the Rose Bowl, and for the SEC could matter for the Orange Bowl (or Sugar Bowl, if Georgia and LSU both make the Playoff). Will Wisconsin jump Penn State? If not, the Nittany Lions are all but guaranteed a Rose Bowl bid (assuming Wisconsin doesn’t beat Ohio State). If yes, then it will depend on if Wisconsin can keep the Big Ten Championship Game close enough to still stay ahead of Penn State. The committee has shown a trend of not dropping teams too far for losing in conference championship games. We’ll see if this year’s committee holds to that.

Alabama, meanwhile, will certainly fall out of the Top 8. The question is how much lower the Tide lands. Will Alabama fall behind Penn State or Wisconsin? What about Florida? Will the committee drop Alabama far enough to move it behind Auburn? Remember, the highest-ranked Big Ten or SEC team after the Rose and Sugar Bowl selections are made will go to the Orange Bowl. Florida currently sits in that position, assuming Georgia loses the SEC Championship Game. Will Wisconsin take the Rose Bowl spot and move Penn State to the Orange Bowl? Or Will Alabama become the new leading two-loss team and sit in line for the Orange Bowl? Could we see–as Penn State’s win over Michigan got weaker and Florida’s win over Auburn got better–the Gators jump Penn State, and move in to Orange Bowl position for the SEC?

The Group of 5 teams

The last bit of curiosity–other than the options at the bottom of the rankings (many of which are defensible and none particularly strong)–is how far Cincinnati falls. Will the Bearcats slide significantly behind Boise State, enough to hint that the Broncos are the Cotton Bowl favorites if Cincinnati beats Memphis this week? Or will Cincinnati only fall one or two spots (or maybe even stay ahead of the Broncos), indicating that a win over Memphis will likely be enough to jump Cincinnati back into the Cotton Bowl? Maybe Air Force showing up at the No. 25 spot would shed some light on this, but there’s honestly zero reason for the committee to rank Air Force over a Navy team that beat it head-to-head, so don’t expect to see the Falcons in here.

Other than that, things are pretty simple for the selection committee this week. The Top 17 have essentially locked themselves in, and all the fighting is from 18 on down. There are a few small questions we can get answers to, but for the most part we know all of the scenarios heading into conference championship game weekend.

ESPN experts predict Alabama’s 2019 Bowl Game

The Alabama Crimson Tide football team may have suffered a heart-breaking loss in the 2019 Iron Bowl against Auburn that took them out of the running to participate in the College Football Playoff, but that doesn’t mean their season is done. Nick …

The Alabama Crimson Tide football team may have suffered a heart-breaking loss in the 2019 Iron Bowl against Auburn that took them out of the running to participate in the College Football Playoff, but that doesn’t mean their season is done.

Nick Saban’s 10-2 team has been bowl eligible since beating Texas A&M in their Week 6 matchup at Kyle Field.

Well, since the Crimson Tide have one game left to play, it’s time to start guessing which bowl game they will be playing in and who they will be playing against.

ESPN college football experts Kyle Bonagura and Mark Schlabach weighed in.

Schlabach predicts Alabama will be making the trip to Dallas, Texas to face off against the Memphis Tigers of the American Athletic Conference in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic.

The 11-1 Tigers could potentially be the 2019 AAC Champions.

It is also worth noting that since 2016, Alabama has only lost to schools whose mascots are Tigers (Auburn, Clemson and LSU)

Bonagura has the Crimson Tide playing the Virgina Cavaliers in the 2019 Capital One Orange Bowl.

This would be Alabama’s second consecutive year in the Orange Bowl after they defeated the Oklahoma Sooners in the 2019 College Football Playoff Semi-final game to advance to the National Championship.

We are roughly two weeks away from knowing where Alabama will play their bowl game, and under three weeks away from the first bowl game being played on Dec. 20 when the Makers Wanted Bahama Bowl and the Frsco Bowl kick off.

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Race To New Year’s Six Bowl Game: Boise State Still Needs Help

Here is how Boise State can earn a Cotton Bowl berth.

[jwplayer 18QegcJn-sNi3MVSU]

Race To New Year’s Six Bowl Game: Boise State Still Needs Help

AAC is still in control.

Contact/Follow @JeremyMauss & @MWCwire

Broncos fans want Navy, or a split AAC title

The final weekend of the regular season still has a lot on the line for what teams are in the mix for the Cotton Bowl bid from the Group of Five schools. To cut through all of the noise there are three teams that can earn this bad, and we can stretch it to a fourth but it is a big stretch.

The teams that have the best shot are Memphis, Cincinnati and Boise State. There is a scenario where Navy gets in and force some chaos but that is unlikely, however since chaos is fun that path will be mentioned.

In the latest College Football Playoff rankings, the order is Memphis at 18, Cincinnati at 19, Boise State at 20, and Navy unranked.

The Broncos have the easiest path to go undefeated over its final two games as they take on Colorado State and then Hawaii in the Mountain West title game. Boise State is heavily favored in both.

The Tigers and Bearcats are basically tied at the hip. These two teams play at 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC this Friday and it could be a rematch the week later in the American title game.

If Memphis wins it will 100 percent be a rematch but if Memphis loses then they could be on the outside looking in. For it to not be a Bearcats vs. Tigers title game, it will require Navy to beat Houston, because in this scenario the Midshipman would be in the AAC title game with a better record.

If Navy loses to Houston it will be a Memphis vs. Cincinnati American title game. For the Middies to get in they need to win and Memphis lose.

For Boise State’s purposes and a potential Cotton Bowl berth, they would want Memphis and Cincinnati to split the final two games and give the American champ two losses. The College Football Playoff committee has never ranked a two-loss Group of Five champion over a one-loss ever, so those are odds Boise State should like.

An even better scenario would be for Navy to get into the championship game and beat Cincinnati. With Navy not ranked at the moment, they very likely would not move up high enough to surpass a Boise State team that will be around the late teens in the playoff rankings.

Also, if Navy wins the American the rankings just might be held since they play Army the week after the championship games. The committee noted in past years they would hold off the rankings but that was when Navy was ranked an in the conversation, them being not ranked probably means the committee would go with Boise State due to the difference in rankings.

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Wisconsin’s 2017 Cotton Bowl put PJ Fleck, Paul Chryst center stage

Recalling the 2017 Cotton Bowl (January, not December) between Paul Chryst’s Wisconsin Badgers and P.J. Fleck’s Western Michigan Broncos.

The Cotton Bowl had two games in 2017: One was played in late December, when Ohio State defeated USC. The other one was played on January 2 of that year, when the Wisconsin Badgers defeated the Western Michigan Broncos, 24-16. Western Michigan was the Mid-American Conference champion, the first (and still only, to date) MAC champion to win the Group of Five championship and play in a New Year’s Six bowl. The coaching quality of PJ Fleck emerged that season, when WMU went unbeaten in the regular season and earned its big date with Paul Chryst and Wisconsin in Arlington, Texas.

This was the first really big game between Fleck and Chryst. Their second really big encounter is this Saturday, as the Minnesota Golden Gophers try to win the Big Ten West for the first time and deny the Wisconsin Badgers a rematch with the Ohio State Buckeyes in Indianapolis in the Big Ten Championship Game.

Last year’s Fleck-versus-Chryst game didn’t sizzle. I say that not because Wisconsin was on the short end, but because Wisconsin didn’t have a very good team. Minnesota was also trying to find its bearings under Fleck and gain an identity as a program. This 2019 meeting, on the other hand, is a clash of quality teams and a battle for a division championship, maybe even a ticket to the Rose Bowl (with Penn State being in the mix for that latter prize as well). It is worth looking back on the first especially significant encounter between Fleck and Chryst on a national stage.

One key note to make about that (January) 2017 Cotton Bowl was that Chryst went into battle against Fleck and offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca (who accompanied Fleck in moving from Western Michigan to Minnesota) with Justin Wilcox as his defensive coordinator. The Western Michigan-Wisconsin Cotton Bowl is therefore not a renewal of the assistant coach battle (and Broyles Award semifinalist showdown) between Ciarrocca and current UW defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard.

Yet, even though so many faces were different — Wisconsin had T.J. Watt and Vince Biegel on defense, Corey Clement and Troy Fumagalli on offense — a few details of this game are certainly worth noting in connection to what we will see this upcoming Saturday in Minneapolis.

Jan 2, 2017; Arlington, TX, USA; Wisconsin Badgers running back Corey Clement (6) and head coach Paul Chryst and tight end Troy Fumagalli (81) celebrate the win over the Western Michigan Broncos in the 2017 Cotton Bowl game at AT&T Stadium. The Badgers defeat the Broncos 24-16. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

The third-down conversion rates for both teams were impressive. Western Michigan was 5 of 11, Wisconsin 7 of 11. The Badgers won this battle, and it certainly mattered in propelling them to victory. However, Western Michigan’s ability to convert a reasonable percentage of third downs enabled the Broncos to stay close. Time of possession in this game was a virtual tie: 30:05 for Wisconsin, 29:55 for Western Michigan. The Broncos kept the ball from the Badgers long enough to keep the game close. Western Michigan did cover the 8.5-point Wisconsin betting line. However, Western Michigan — with receiver Corey Davis on its roster — needed to hit the home-run pass to beat Wisconsin, and that did not happen against Wisconsin and Wilcox’s defense.

Davis had six catches for only 73 yards — 12 per catch — and was outgained by Wisconsin’s best offensive player that day. Fumagalli made sensational grabs in that contest, accumulating 83 receiving yards and powering the Badgers’ offense on a day when Clement was held to 71 yards by Western Michigan’s resolute defense.

I don’t need to tell anyone that Minnesota is more physical and skilled than that 2016 Western Michigan team. The Gophers are a much more formidable version of Fleck’s first great team in his coaching career. Nevertheless, the game flow Wisconsin established that day against Western Michigan is something Chryst and his staff will certainly want to replicate against Minnesota. If you offered Chryst a deal in which his team would get a 14-0 first-quarter lead, and get an 11-of-12 passing line for 159 yards — as Bart Houston delivered on that day — from Jack Coan, he will take it. He would sign on the dotted line. Sure, he wouldn’t like the part of the deal in which his lead running back gains only 71 yards, but the 7 of 11 number on third downs would likely lead him to accept this larger package of circumstances.

Strong third-down conversion rates, supremely efficient situational passing, and a two-touchdown first-quarter lead — with the opposing offense, coached by Fleck and Ciarrocca, not hitting a long downfield pass play — give Wisconsin and Paul Chryst a roadmap for how to play this game Saturday. The biggest concern and question mark: Can Jim Leonhard get a Fleck-busting defensive performance which was every bit as impressive as Justin Wilcox in the 2017 Cotton Bowl? More precisely, can Wisconsin’s back seven defend the RPOs and other delights the Fleck-Ciarrocca brain trust has in store for the Badgers in Minneapolis?

We will get to find out soon enough.

Latest Bowl Projections: Upsets Effect Notre Dame at All?

So what does it mean for Notre Dame? Are the chances of getting to a New Years Six Bowl different after last week?

With potential College Football Playoff teams Oregon and Penn State losing over the weekend some folks at Alabama, Baylor and Oklahoma got excited about their potential chances for making the playoff.

So what does it mean for Notre Dame? Are the chances of getting to a New Years Six Bowl different after last week? Here’s what the experts have happening for Notre Dame after the conclusion of week 13.

The eight sources we get them from don’t all have them posted yet but here’s what we have as of early Sunday evening:

247Sports (Brad Crawford):

Camping World Bowl vs. Texas

CBS (Jerry Palm):

Camping World Bowl vs. Texas

College Football News (Pete Fiutak):

Camping World Bowl vs. Oklahoma State

ESPN (Bonagura & Schlabach both):

Camping World Bowl vs. Oklahoma State

Sporting News (Bill Bender):

Camping World Bowl vs. Kansas State

It wouldn’t appear what happened yesterday was good for Notre Dame’s chances at a New Year’s Six Bowl. The way things sit now it would appear they’re headed to Orlando for the former Blockbuster turned Carquest turned MicronPC turned Mazda turned Champ Sports turned Russell Athletic turned Camping World Bowl.

How does Notre Dame get to Dallas instead? Douglas Farmer from NBC Sports did a good job creating a path.

It’s possible no-doubt but with the CFP Committee making clear last week how much they value results against common opponents (something I hate) I have trouble seeing how Notre Dame gets past Penn State who won against Michigan compared to the Irish who got rolled in Ann Arbor.