Boca Raton Bowl

FAU (-17) vs. Akron, total 61.5: I have been on the Lane Train all season long and I am not about to get off now. The Owls can score some points and while Akron has some Florida athletes that can match-up, they won’t. It is not about matching up when you play FAU, it is about keeping up. The Zips just don’t have enough firepower to win a shootout. I like FAU to win by four scores and cover in what should be an entertaining bowl game.

Frisco Bowl

SMU (-5) vs. Louisiana Tech, total 68: New coach Sonny Dykes will coach his first game as the head coach of the Mustangs. That could be a problem for SMU as players try to get acclimated to his system. Dykes only had two weeks to put his system in so SMU will struggle early in this game. Despite that, I like the number in this game. SMU is the better team and they should cover in what should be a good game.

Gasparilla Bowl

FIU vs. Temple (-8), total 58: I am going to put my money on FIU in the innagural Gasparilla Bowl. Why not? The Panthers have flown under the radar all season long. Butch Davis has done a good job restoring some pride in a program that was left reeling after Mario Cristobal’s departure. FIU has the athletes to match up with Temple but it will come down to the trenches. I think Temple will win this game but only by three points. I am putting the cash on the Panthers as a dog.

Bahamas Bowl

Ohio (-8) vs. UAB, total 60.5: UAB has been a terrific story in their first full season back as a program. Bill Clark and his staff have done a tremendous job of restoring the program and winning football games in the process. UAB won eight games this season.The Blazers will face an Ohio team that is well coached and diverse on offense. The Bobcats operate out of the spread offense but head coach Frank Solich likes to pound the football. UAB’s front seven has to hold up in this game because if they don’t, they could be in for a long day. I think this will be a back and forth affair but in the end, I am putting my money on the Blazers. +8 is a nice number to take for a dog in a bowl game.

Potato Bowl

CMU vs. Wyoming (even), total 46.5: Cowboys fans have to be disappointed with the way this season played. All of the hype coming into this season seemingly disappeared with the opening weekend loss to Iowa. Factor in that Josh Allen has been hurt and you can see why the Cowboys failed to meet expectations. Allen may not play in this game because of a shoulder injury. If he doesn’t, more pressure will fall on one of the best defenses in the country to stop a Chippawas offense that has been very good this season. This is a toss up. That means outside factors should determine who you take. I am taking Wyoming because they play better defense and they’ve played on the blue turf of Boise before.

Birmingham Bowl

USF (-2.5) vs. Texas Tech, total 66.5: The over, under in this game should have been 70+. Both teams can score points in bunches. USF poesses one of the most explosive offenses in the country and the Bulls are led by senior dual threat quarterback Quinton Flowers. Texas Tech has struggled on defense and they will have their hands full with the explosive Flowers. South Florida’s defense will also have its hands full with Texas Tech’s Air Raid but Bulls coach Charlie Strong has defended the Red Raiders before so he will have tricks up his sleeve for Kliff Kingsbury and company. I expect a shootout but I am going to put my money on the Bulls. they will win by three.

Armed Forces Bowl

Army vs. San Diego State (-6.5): This will be a ground and pound affair between two of the best rushing teams in the country. San Diego State will have its hands full with the Black Knights flexbone option offense spearheaded by quarterback Ahmad Bradshaw. Conversely, Army’s undersized defense will struggle to contain the nation’s leading rusher, Rashaad Penny and the Aztec rushing attack. Penny rushed for 2,027 yards and 19 touchdowns during the regular season. I like San Diego State in this one. I think Army’s undersized front will struggle to contain him. 

Dollar General Bowl

Appalachian State vs. Toledo (-7), total 62.5: Toledo has one of the most explosive offenses in the country. Jason Candle’s team averaged 39.2 points per game during the regular season. They did give up 25 points per game which could be an issue against Taylor Lamb and an App State offense that can put up points. I expect a shootout in this game but it is hard to pick against a Toledo team that is rolling right now. I’m putting the cake on the Rockets. 

 Hawaii Bowl

Fresno State vs. Houston (-1.5), total 46: Another game that should be a shootout. Fresno State has had a remarkable turnaround under Jeff Tedford. The long time head coach has recruited well and he has brought in the type of athletes that Fresno State is going to need to compete in the Mountain West. Houston is favored in this game but I am going with the dog. I like Fresno State to finish off a terrific turnaround season with a big win.