Tag: NCAAF

College Football Playoff predictions: Who will win the semifinal games?

Which two teams will face off for a national championship in January?

Welcome to Before The Snap, For The Win’s college football show where we’ll break down the sport’s trending storylines, examine each week’s biggest matchups and track the College Football Playoff and Heisman Trophy races.

The College Football Playoff is finally here! So by the time Saturday night ends, the college football world will know which two teams will be facing off on January 13 at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans.

The two playoff games, played in the Peach Bowl and the Fiesta Bowl, are back-to-back Saturday with No. 1 LSU playing No. 4 Oklahoma and then No. 2 Ohio State taking on No. 3 Clemson. Should the two Tigers teams win, Clemson will play for its third title in four years, while LSU will play for its first national championship since 2007.

Let’s break down the two games.

College Football Playoff Semifinal: Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl

Who: No. 4 Oklahoma (12-1) vs. No. 1 LSU (13-0)
Where: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
When: Saturday, December 28, 4 p.m. ET
Spread: LSU -13.5

Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow is obviously the star of the show here with his 77.9 completion percentage, and with almost a month to prepare, he should have no issue taking apart Oklahoma’s defense, even if it is ranked at the top of the Big 12. On the other side, the key for the Sooners is about more than quarterback and Heisman finalist Jalen Hurts. While Hurts can beat just about anyone on the ground, he needs to connect with star wide receiver CeeDee Lamb as much as possible. The Tigers are ranked 57th nationally in yards per game allowed and are giving up 12.53 yards per completion. Their defense isn’t what LSU fans have been used to, and to have a chance at winning, Oklahoma needs to take advantage.

However, both teams may not be at full strength. For LSU, top running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire is questionable for the playoff game as he recovers form a hamstring injury. For Oklahoma, defensive lineman Ronnie Perkins, running back Rhamondre Stevenson and wide receiver Trejan Bridges are suspended for at least the semifinal game.

FTW prediction: LSU

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College Football Playoff Semifinal: Playstation Fiesta Bowl

Who: No. 3 Clemson (13-0) vs. No. 2 Ohio State (13-0)
Where: State Farm Stadium, Glendale, Arizona
When: Saturday, December 28, 8 p.m. ET
Spread: Clemson -2.5

As Clemson coach Dabo Swinney recently pointed out, these two teams are “mirror images” of each other, more or less. Both teams are among the top five nationally in total offense, total defense, scoring offense and scoring defense, defensive yards per play and first downs.

More than Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence — who has never lost a college football game — running back Travis Etienne could be the key to a win for the Tigers. He has 1,500 yards this season with 17 touchdowns and 8.2 yards per attempt. If he’s on, Clemson’s offense could do some serious damage. For Ohio State, Heisman finalist Chase Young could change the course of the game. He leads the nation with 16.5 sacks this season in 11 games, but he’s been a little inconsistent as of late, and Lawrence has only been sacked 12 times this season.

FTW prediction: Ohio State

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Dabo Swinney on why Clemson and Ohio State are ‘literally mirror images’ of each other

Dabo Swinney sees a lot of similarities between the Tigers and Buckeyes.

As the No. 3 Clemson Tigers prepare to take on the No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes in the College Football Playoff semifinal in the Playstation Fiesta Bowl next weekend, Dabo Swinney’s biggest observation about his next opponent is a fairly obvious one: “A complete team in every sense of the word,” he told ESPN’s Marty Smith.

All season, the Buckeyes have been at or very near the top of the country in both total offense and total defense, and their leaders on both sides of the ball, quarterback Justin Fields and defensive end Chase Young, were both 2019 Heisman Trophy finalists. They’ve dominated just about every opponent so far this season, and it wasn’t a question of if they’d make the playoff but whether or not they’d be the top seed. (LSU is and will face No. 4 Oklahoma.)

But the only other team that consistently ranked among the top five on both sides of the ball was Clemson. A week out, the Tigers are slight 2.5-point favorites.

“There’s just no weaknesses,” Swinney told Smith about Ohio State (just after the 22-minute mark in the video below).

“I mean, they’re really good. They’re a mirror image of us, to be quite honest with you. If you look at us statistically, we’re [No.] 1 in this, they’re [No.] 2 in this. We’re [No.] 2 in this, they’re [No.] 1 in this. We’re [No.] 3 in this, they’re [No.] 2. I mean, we’re literally mirror images of each other.

“So I really wasn’t surprised to see that statistical analysis, but when you watch the tape, they’re a complete football team just like we are. We’re one of the few teams out there top five in the country [in] total offense and total defense, and so are they. They’re just good.”

Going into the playoff semifinal, the Tigers are ranked No. 3 nationally in total offense (547.7 yards per game) behind LSU and Oklahoma, while the Buckeyes are No. 5 (531.0 yards per game). Tigers’ Trevor Lawrence and Buckeyes’ Justin Fields are two of the best quarterbacks in the game, and the same goes for running backs Travis Etienne and J.K. Dobbins.

When asked what comes to mind about Young, who leads the nation with 16.5 sacks this season (after missing two games), Swinney said:

“Speed, just a monster off the edge, man. He’s a fast, twitchy dude that can get to the quarterback.”

However, Lawrence is behind an offensive line that has limited his number of sacks to 12 so far this season, and although he has eight interceptions this season, he hasn’t thrown one since mid-October. But his counterpart, Fields, has thrown just one.

On the other side, Clemson is No. 1 in total defense (244.7 yards per game), and Ohio State is No. 2 (247.6 yards per game). They’re also both among the top-5 teams in scoring offense and scoring defense, defensive yards per play and first downs. On offense, Clemson is No. 4 with 7.51 yards per play, while Ohio State is No. 7 with 7.02.

Swinney continued to explain what he sees in Ohio State:

“Defensive line, strong. Linebackers, good players, elite players in the secondary that can all run and cover, just like we got. Flip it over to the offensive side: Elite quarterback, elite running back, elite wideouts, elite offensive line. So it’s literally a mirror image of each other. You’re just in different uniforms.

“So it’s gonna be fun, man, just like practice. It’s like what we practice against every day. You know, when we go out there live good-on-good, I mean, that’s the best way you can prepare for a game like this because that’s the level of talent that you’re getting ready to play. … There’s gonna be some fun matchups, but I don’t really see a weakness really anywhere.”

The Fiesta Bowl is the second semifinal Saturday, December 28. LSU and Oklahoma play in the Peach Bowl at 4 p.m. ET, and then Clemson and Ohio State face off at 8 p.m. ET.

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N.C. A&T and Alcorn State combine for 108 points in Celebration Bowl thriller

They score 49 points in the third quarter alone.

Anyone who took the under in Saturday’s Celebration Bowl game between North Carolina A&T and Alcorn State lost big and didn’t have to wait until the end of the game to find that out.

The Aggies won their third straight Celebration Bowl and fourth in five years with a wild 64-44 victory in this high-scoring thriller.

Not only did they hit the combined 100-point mark, but the 108 total points are the most scored in Celebration Bowl history, according to ESPN Stats & Info. The under/over was 52, and these teams blew past that early in the third quarter — when they combined for 49 points in those 15 minutes alone.

The clear star of the game was N.C. A&T quarterback Kylil Carter. On 1st-and-10 with about 10 minutes left in the third, he connected with Ron Hunt for an epic 43-yard touchdown and a 38-17 lead with the extra point.

That was one of several monster bombs from Carter, who finished with a career-high six touchdowns, which also tied an N.C. A&T record. He went 18-for-30 for 364 yards, another career mark, and no interceptions.

But he actually wasn’t responsible for the the play that broke the combined 100-point mark. That was a crazy one worthy of this exciting matchup.

With a little less than five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, Alcorn State was still very much in this game. The Braves scored a one-yard touchdown to shrink their deficit to 55-44. But then on the extra point attempt, the snap was way too high and breezed over the holder’s head, and N.C. A&T defensive back Amir McNeill recovered it and took it all the way back to the opposite end zone.

What a great game. Here’s a look at some of the other incredible highlights from this matchup:

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Watch N.C. A&T’s and Alcorn State’s dazzling Celebration Bowl halftime band performances

SO GOOD.

The North Carolina A&T Aggies had a commanding 24-10 halftime lead over Alcorn State in Saturday’s Celebration Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, thanks in large part to two 50-plus-yard touchdown passes from quarterback Kylil Carter. Should NC A&T win, it will be its third straight Celebration Bowl victory and second consecutive one over the Braves.

Early in the second quarter, Carter connected with wide receiver Elijah Bell for a 53-yard touchdown to get the Aggies on the board, giving them a 7-3 lead.

And after Alcorn State responded with a touchdown of its own, Carter struck again, this time finding wide receiver Zachary Leslie for a monster 59-yard touchdown play only a few minutes later.

But in addition to these huge bombs downfield, both teams’ bands stunned during their halftime performances. That’s hardly surprising, especially since N.C. A&T finished No. 1 in the ESPN/The Undefeated HBCU Band Rankings this season, and these performances are as much fun to watch as the game, if not more so.

And thanks to The Undefeated, we can watch them over and over. So here’s N.C. A&T’s Blue and Gold Marching Machine:

More about the band via The Undefeated:

N.C. A&T’s Blue and Gold Marching Machine, which was tops in the September rankings, ended the season No. 1 because of No. 2 ratings in auxiliaries and musicality, No. 3 in percussion, No. 5 in drum majors, No. 6 in drill and design in the cumulative rankings for the season. The Aggies were No. 2 in the preseason rankings and in October, and were never out of the top five during the season.

And here’s Alcorn State’s Sounds of Dyn-O-Mite:

At the time of this post, N.C. A&T had a 52-31 lead in the third quarter.

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College Football Futures: National Championship Best Bets

Previewing the College Football Playoff futures including National Championship best bets.

The College Football Playoff kicks off Dec. 28 with the semifinals. Top-ranked LSU Tigers (13-0) faces the No. 4 Oklahoma Sooners (12-1) in the Peach Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, and the second-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes (13-0) will battle the No. 3 Clemson Tigers (13-0) in the Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz.

Below is my best bet and rationale for who will be crowned the national champion on Jan. 13.

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

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Friday, Dec. 20 at 2 p.m. ET.

CLEMSON +200

It’s amazing how relatively under-the-radar defending champion Clemson has flown in 2019. A bonafide dynasty, the Tigers have played in four of the five College Football Playoffs, winning two titles in their three Championship Game appearances, including last year’s 28-point blistering of the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence. (Photo Credit: Jamie Rhodes – USA TODAY Sports)

Tigers quarterback Trevor Lawrence received Burrow-esque hype following Clemson’s 2018 title run, but has been largely missing from the national conversation because of a shaky start to 2019 –  he threw eight interceptions in his first seven games. However, he finished strong with 20 passing touchdowns and NO interceptions and ended up with 41 total touchdowns. While LSU’s Joe Burrow is getting all the buzz heading into the CFP, make no mistake, Lawrence should be the No. 1 pick whenever he enters the NFL Draft, presumably in 2020.

Led by coach Dabo Swinney and defensive wizard Brett Venables, Clemson has the best coaching staff in the Playoff. No other coach in the CFP has a national championship appearance or title. The Tigers have been here before and the moment will not be too big for them. Despite all the defensive players drafted back in April, Clemson’s defense is still stout, allowing the least passing yards per game (138.5) in the country, and ranking ninth in rushing yards allowed (106.2 YPG).

Another random tidbit that I cannot explain but thought was worth mentioning: The No. 1 seed in the CFP has never won the national title. I don’t know if that’s because the top team is really feeling themselves during the extended break, grows complacent or the opening-round matchup against the No. 4 team isn’t difficult enough to get them ready for the title game. Whatever the case is, Clemson entering the CFP as the 3-seed only makes me feel better about my CLEMSON +200 ticket.

New to sports betting? Every $10 wagered on Clemson to win the National Championship would profit $20 if the Tigers prevail.

Want some action in this one? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @Geoffery_Clark 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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The 7 worst bowl game names of 2019, plus 3 so bad they’re actually good

Some bowl game names are good. These are not.

Finally, finally, finally: The 2019 college football bowl game season officially begins Friday afternoon with the Bahamas Bowl, and this year, games will be played way past New Year’s Day with the last one (not including the national championship game) coming on January 6.

There’s a lot to love about bowl games, from teams that would never schedule each other facing off to scenic backdrops of warmer locations than yours in the dead of winter to the excessive pageantry offered by some.

However, other aspects of bowl season could be better, particularly the ridiculous sponsored names attached to several games. Now, sponsors can be important for maximizing the potential of certain bowl games, and, of course, there’s a need for more money in a sport where everyone gets paid except the players.

But like in other sports, sponsors often lead to painfully terrible or awkward titles that make viewers cringe every time someone on TV attempts to say the full name of a bowl.

Good bowl game names are funny or clever or memorable. They’re not too long, say with a three- or four-word max, and “presented by” is never a good plan. A goofy or oddly specific product can be fun, like with the Cheez-It Bowl, and throwing a one-word company name ahead of a classic, like the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl, isn’t the most obnoxious thing.

So to celebrate the start of the 2019 postseason, here are our top worst bowl game names.

2019 Bowl Game Names So Bad They’re Good

3. Tropical Smoothie Cafe Frisco Bowl

Who: Utah State vs. Kent State
When: Friday, December 20, 7:30 p.m. ET
Where: Toyota Stadium, Frisco, Texas
We’d probably be a little less hard on this bowl game name if it was held someplace, you know, a little more associated with the word “tropical” than the landlocked Dallas-Fort Worth area. But there’s also something kind of great about “smoothie” being part of a bowl game name.

2. Bad Boy Mowers Gasparilla Bowl

(James Borchuck/The Tampa Bay Times via AP)

Who: UCF vs. Marshall
When: Monday, Dec. 23, 2:30 p.m. ET
Where: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa
There’s a love-hate relationship with this bowl name but it’s absolutely so bad it’s sort of good when you unpack it. Plenty of sponsors ruin bowl game names, but maybe more names should have “bad boy” and references to mythical pirates in them. Plus, this bowl game also leads to lawn mower races, which are something special, and the trophy is treasure chest.

1. Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl

[protected-iframe id=”7bbc2eb6be52490560c0402a045c3ef0-58289342-59856650″ info=”https://giphy.com/embed/3og0IOQjVKNpoS1Bug” width=”480″ height=”288″ frameborder=”0″ class=”giphy-embed”]Some bowl game names are good. These are not.

Who: Florida State vs. Arizona State
When: Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2 p.m. ET
Where: Sun Bowl Stadium, El Paso, Texas
Undoubtedly, this is the No. 1 bowl game name that’s so bad it’s good. As FTW editor Nick Schwartz pointed out in a brief debate about how good or how awful this bowl’s name is, it’s better than trying to stomach some seven-word monstrosity that’s inherently annoying to attempt to say or type. So the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl could be bad bad, but we actually think it’s good bad.

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Just Bad 2019 Bowl Game Names

7. Military Bowl Presented by Northrop Grumman

Who: North Carolina vs. Temple
When: Friday, Dec. 27, Noon ET
Where: Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, Annapolis, Maryland
What did we say about “presented by”? Everyone is going to drop that part anyway and just call it the Military Bowl — or the Rose Bowl, which also has a “presented by” sponsor.

6. Walk-On’s Independence Bowl

Who: Louisiana Tech vs. Miami
When: Thursday, Dec. 26, 4 p.m. ET
Where: Independence Stadium, Shreveport, Louisiana
Does this bowl name not make you think it’s a matchup of walk-ons? No disrespect to walk-ons. The upside here is the name will probably serve as inspiration for jokes at Miami’s expense if the team crumbles.

5. Cheribundi Boca Raton Bowl

(AP Photo/Pat Little)

Who: SMU vs. Florida Atlantic
When: Saturday, Dec. 21, 3:30 p.m. ET
Where: FAU Football Stadium, Boca Raton, Florida
Not as bad as when it was called the Cheribundi Tart Cherry Boca Raton Bowl — though that name was funnier — but still not great. What about just the Cherry Bowl? Obviously, you’d lose the brand name, but that gives off a classic bowl game vibe that people might like.

4. Academy Sports + Outdoors Texas Bowl

Who: Oklahoma State vs. Texas A&M
When: Friday, Dec. 27, 6:45 p.m. ET
Where: NRG Stadium, Houston
If you have special characters in your bowl game name, it’s probably not a good one.

3. FBC Mortgage Cure Bowl

Who: Liberty vs. Georgia Southern
When: Saturday, Dec. 21, 2:30 p.m. ET
Where: Orlando City Stadium, Orlando
There’s something about the name of this bowl game that makes you stumble over it just about every time you try to say it out loud. It shouldn’t be that challenging, but it is. And that’s not only annoying, but it also distracts from the name trying to raise money and awareness for breast cancer research.

2. San Diego County Credit Union Holiday Bowl

(AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Who: USC vs. Iowa
When: Friday, Dec. 27, 8 p.m. ET
Where: SDCCU Stadium, San Diego
That is too many words! Even the stadium name is abbreviated here. What about San Diego CCU Holiday Bowl? Still too many words, but at least the southern California city is still in here.

1. Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl

(Jacob Wiegand/The Tennessean/USA TODAY Network)

Who: Mississippi State vs. Louisville
When: Monday, Dec. 30, 4 p.m. ET
Where: Nissan Stadium, Nashville
This is a great example of a perfectly fine root bowl name being completely ruined by a sponsor jumping in. Simply the Music City Bowl sounds like a good time for all, and Nashville is a cool city. But throw Franklin American Mortgage ahead of it, and you’re stumbling through the name before you even get to the good part.

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Tua’s ‘decisions’ tweet sends dolphins fans into frenzy

Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is done on the field for the season, but Thursday he sent dolphins fans into a frenzy with a simple two-word tweet.

Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is done on the field for the season, but Thursday he sent dolphins fans into a frenzy with a simple two-word tweet.

Tua’s ‘decisions’ tweet sends dolphins fans into frenzy (Rolltidewire)

Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is done on the field for the season, but Thursday he sent dolphins fans into a frenzy with a simple two-word tweet.

Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is done on the field for the season, but Thursday he sent dolphins fans into a frenzy with a simple two-word tweet.

Texas’ Tom Herman apologizes after being caught flipping off a camera

Tom Herman said it was “poor judgment” when he gave a camera the double bird.

Tom Herman had one of the best moments on the first day of the early signing period for the top college football recruits.

Wednesday morning, the Texas football coach and others were gathered in a conference room, and Herman was so excited about something that he flipped the double bird to the Longhorn Network camera at the exact moment the network cut to a live shot of the conference room.

Unfortunate timing for him? Absolutely. Hilarious for the rest of us who clearly identified this as a joke? Also yes. But was it so malicious that he needed to issue an apology? Maybe, maybe not.

An explanation for what exactly was happening in that room was welcomed, but Herman didn’t really need to apologize for this. If anything, he should be apologizing for his wildly disappointing 7-5 team this season, not a joking moment that was accidentally captured on live TV.

But he did anyway.

Later on Wednesday during his signing day press conference, he said they were talking about his first Red River Showdown in 2017 at the Cotton Bowl — that raises more follow-up questions than anything — and somehow, that conversation led to him flipping off the camera.

Herman said:

“I do want to apologize for something that ended up on live TV this morning. We were joking, quite frankly, about my first experience riding into the Cotton Bowl [Stadium] on the bus and the warm welcome you receive in the Red River game. My very first experience — I think I told you guys this story, as well.

“And when it occurred, honestly, I had no idea. I wasn’t aware that the camera in the room was on live TV. Certainly had nothing to do with LHN, signing day, anything like that. But again, regardless, it was poor judgment on my part, and I do apologize for that.”

Of course he didn’t know he was on live TV. And did anyone really think he was targeting the Longhorn Network with his middle fingers or the new recruits? Come on.

He could have offered an explanation and laughed it off while still acknowledging his poor judgment. An apology was a bit unnecessary.

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College Football Betting Guide: 5 Best Big Game Bets – December 20, 21 Bowl Games

Breaking down the five best big college football games for Friday, Dec. 20; including college football picks, betting odds and more.

What’s going to happen in the five five of the biggest early games as the bowl season gets started?

– Contact/Follow @PeteFiutak

If you’re looking to get in on the sports betting action this weekend, be sure to sign up with BetMGM to take part in any of these games or other action on the schedule.

5. Makers Wanted Bahamas Bowl: Buffalo vs. Charlotte

Photo Credit: Matthew O’Haren – USA TODAY Sports

BetMGM Line: Buffalo -6.5, o/u: 51.5

Why You Should Bet On Buffalo: The Bulls have the right formula. They have the MAC’s best defense to go along with the running of 1,626-yard back Jaret Patterson. Overall, UB has the lines to take over the game right away. The O line is great for Patterson and the ground attack, and the defensive front lives behind the line. However …

Why You Should Bet On Charlotte: The 49ers have the players on the lines to be solid, too. Alex Highsmith is the best defensive end you’ve probably never seen, and he’ll be disruptive against the UB attack. As long as the defense is coming up with third down stops, this will stay close.

Prediction: Both programs are going for their first bowl win – UB has never won one, and Charlotte has never been in one. After a few notable late-season collapses over the last few seasons, the Bulls take care of Charlotte by more than a touchdown.
– CFN Full Bahamas Bowl Game Preview & Prediction

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

Photo Credit: Derick E. Hingle – USA TODAY Sports

BetMGM Line: Utah State -6.5, o/u: 67.5

Why You Should Bet On Utah State: It’s the final game in the Utah State career of QB Jordan Love, who’s had a mediocre year, but has the talent to be a good mid-round NFL Draft pick. He’s leaving early, and now he gets to roll against a Kent State defense that can give up big plays in chunks. USU will own third downs.

Why You Should Bet On Kent State: There’s a running game now. It wasn’t always there this season, but the Golden Flashes are finding ways to move the ball on the ground, and it made all the difference late. Kent State is 4-1 when running for 200 yards or more, and Utah State’s defensive front isn’t a brick wall.

Prediction: It’s been a great season for Kent State under rising-star head coach Sean Lewis, but Utah State is going to come out rolling. Love will have a strong final game as the Aggies win by more than a touchdown.
– CFN Full Utah State vs. Kent State Game Preview & Prediction

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3. R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl: Appalachian State vs. UAB

Photo Credit: Jeremy Brevard – USA TODAY Sports

BetMGM Line: Appalachian State -16.5, o/u: 48

Why You Should Bet On Appalachian State: UAB might be a wonderful story, but it built up its win total over the last few years with a whole lot of wins over a whole lot of miserable teams. The offense can hit a brick wall at times against the better defenses. That’s Appalachian State.

Why You Should Bet On UAB: The receiving corps is loaded with big-time playmakers who can get back in the game or take over early on. Austin Watkins and Kendall Parham crank out yards in bunches, and they should be able to come up with a few late scores to at least make the game interesting, if the Blazers aren’t winning outright.

Prediction: The coaching change at Appalachian State doesn’t matter. Shawn Clark makes the transition seamless, the offense will be razor-sharp, and bad things happen when UAB plays a good team. It’s a big number, but ASU covers. 
– CFN Full New Orleans Bowl Game Preview & Prediction

2. Cheribundi Boca Raton Bowl: SMU vs. Florida Atlantic

Photo Credit: Ray Carlin – USA TODAY Sports

BetMGM Line: SMU -3, o/u: 69.5

Why You Should Bet On SMU: There’s no Lane Kiffin around anymore – he’s off coaching Ole Miss – and Willie Taggart isn’t stepping in just yet. Just how much will the coaching change – defensive coordinator Glenn Spencer will coach in the interim – matter? QB Shane Buechele and the passing game will put the pressure on the FAU secondary from the start.

Why You Should Bet On Florida Atlantic: Takeaways, takeaways, takeaways. The Owl D loves to come up with turnovers, and it’ll make up for a few mistakes of its own with a slew of big plays. The defense leads the nation in takeaways with 31, and it should be able to keep the game alive with a few interceptions.

Prediction: SMU is too talented and too explosive. FAU is good, but the SMU offense will do enough to roll past the spread in a slightly lower-scoring game than the total. 
– CFN Full Boca Raton Game Preview & Prediction

1. Mitsubishi Motors Las Vegas Bowl: Boise State vs. Washington

Photo Credit: Ron Chenoy – USA TODAY Sports

BetMGM Line: Washington -3.5, o/u: 49.5

Why You Should Bet On Boise State: The Broncos pass rush is about to give Jacob Eason a whole slew of problems. It comes from all angles, and it’s good enough to keep an occasionally stagnant UW O from going anywhere. The Huskies are mediocre on third downs, and the Broncos should be able to keep that going.

Why You Should Bet On Washington: Do you really think Washington is going to send Chris Petersen out a loser? It’s the Coach Pete bowl as he’s coaching against his old program, and he’s got the lines to take over the game and hold up. With time to rest up, this UW D is going to be the real deal – Boise State hasn’t dealt with a defense this good  – especially against the run.

Prediction: Washington will get a big game out of its defense, the offensive front will hold up, and the attack will be just balanced enough to get by. The Huskies will get past the spread and the two teams will roll by the Over on the total.
– CFN Full Las Vegas Bowl Game Preview & Prediction

Now that you know what you need to know, head over to BetMGM and get some action in any — or all — of these games for college football bowl season.

For more coverage on the College Football slate of sports betting action, be sure to check out CollegeFootballNews.com. And for more sports betting tips and picks, be sure to access SportsbookWire.com.

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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