The bowl season wraps up with four excellent match ups. Here is our preview.
Iowa +2.5 at Florida, in the Outback Bowl: I think this game will be a fist fight in a phone booth. Iowa is the better team offensively while Florida boasts one of the best defenses in the country. Something has to give.
I expect a low scoring affair between these two physical teams. The first team to score 21 wins. That’s why I’m putting my money on Iowa. I think the Hawkeyes will win a tight one 21-17.
Western Michigan +8 v. Wisconsin in the Cotton Bowl: I’m going to put my money on P.J Fleck and his undefeated Western Michigan Broncos. I don’t think they’ll win this game but they’ll go toe to toe with the Badgers.
Wisconsin will struggle to defend Broncos wide receiver Corey Davis. He will take advantage of a suspect Wisconsin secondary. That’s why Western Michigan will be able to hang in this game.
Group 5 programs like Boise State and Houston have had great success in recent years. I don’t see Western Michigan following suit but I like them as an underdog from a betting standpoint.
USC -8 v. Penn State, in the Rose Bowl: I like this match up from a Rose Bowl stand point. It’s a traditional BIG 10, PAC-12 match up.
Penn State has been a great story but the Rose Bowl is SC’s game. The Trojans have won the Rose Bowl 24 times in program history. USC beat Penn State 38-24 in the 2009 edition of the game.
Eight points is a big number but I have confidence in Sam Darnold and the Trojans. Penn State has been a great story this season but they don’t have the talent to match up with SC. I like the Trojans as a one score favorite.
Auburn v. -8 Oklahoma, in the Sugar Bowl: I know Auburn plays good defense and they have an active front but no team is playing better offensively than the Sooners.
Sooners quarterback Baker Mayfield and wide receiver Dede Westbrook have been practically unstoppable this season.
I think Auburn’s defense will keep the Tigers in this game but they don’t score enough to win it. I’m putting my money on the Sooners as a favorite.