Alright I've screwed with part two and three a bit and decided to lump all the non-New Years Eve and New Years Day games plus Kansas State-UCLA. I thought there was a clear delineation between the games below and the next set of games. So I got side-tracked Christmas week after leaving part 2 too long and didn't get this done before the December 27th games.
Monday, December 29th, 2014:
AutoZone Liberty Bowl (18): West Virginia (27.69) vs Texas A&M (63.00), 1:00 pm ESPN, A match-up of air raid masters who cut their teeth at Houston before moving up in the college football hierarchy. Neither team played a ton of defense but the Mountaineers showed some moxie on the defensive side of the field. That is except for Myles Garrett who has been an absolute beast of a freshman defensive end and a fine replacement for Jadeveon Clowney for freak of the year. Power Pick: Texas A&M by 35.31 My Pick: Texas A&M 48-45 Line: West Virginia -1.5
Russel Athletic Bowl (7): Oklahoma (62.91) vs Clemson (51.92), 4:30 pm ESPN, This is a match-up of a team with playoff aspirations preseason and a team that may be underrated due to a thrashing from number 3 Florida State or may just be a good team that played no one else. I know Oklahoma has the talent advantage, and with Watson out I don't see how Clemson can put up enough points to beat the Sooners. Power Pick: Oklahoma by 10.99 My Pick: Oklahoma 31-27 Line: Oklahoma -4
AdvoCare V100 Texas Bowl (17): Texas (36.67) vs Arkansas (36.65), 9:00 pm ESPN, One of my favorite games of the bowl season that isn't a big time match-up, higher ranks or better play would have made this one borderline top ten. Texas has continued to play better especially on defense as the season has continued on and looks to make a good show of it in a lackluster year one under Strong. Arkansas may have had the largest improvement of any team in the nation, but they still lack anything resembling a passing attack and a defense that still doesn't have all the athletes they need. Power Pick: Texas by .02 My Pick: Arkansas 17-14 Line: Arkansas -6.5
Tuesday, December 30th, 2014:
Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl (8): Notre Dame (50.44) vs LSU (54.78), 3:00 pm ESPN, LSU had a lot of youth on offense this year and a month of practice shouldn't hurt that development. Notre Dame doesn't know who their quarterback is going to be. Power Pick: LSU by 4.34 My Pick: LSU 28-24 Line: LSU -7.5
Belk Bowl (6): Louisville (48.74) vs Georgia (60.34), 6:30 pm ESPN, Power Pick: Georgia by 11.60 This is one of my favorite games of the whole bowl season. Louisville brings in one of the nastiest defenses in the country with an offense that hasn't quite figured out QB. Georgia has a QB who isn't good enough to replace Murray and a rushing game that is better than most in the country. Also you get former Bulldog DC Todd Grantham, but unfortunately not Mike Bobo who is headed to Colorado State. My Pick: Georgia 27-21 Line: Georgia -7
Foster Farms Bowl (19): Maryland (45.99) vs Stanford (63.53), 10:00 pm ESPN, This game, although close in rank doesn't hold anything for me. Stanford wasn't as good as expected, Maryland lived up to what I expected and this should be a match-up dominated by Stanford's defense. Power Pick: Stanford by 17.54 My Pick: Stanford 31-23 Line: Stanford -14
Friday, January 2nd, 2014:
Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl (23): Houston (32.88) vs Pittsburgh (28.61), 12:00 pm ESPN, This one was better before both teams lost there coaches (Pitt-Lost to Wisconsin, Houston-Fired), but both teams have good spots. Houston has a very good offense with a defense that has picked their spots this year. Pittsburgh has one hell of a run game but I don't think they have what it takes to pull off the victory here. Power Pick: Houston by 4.27 My Pick: Houston 38-35 Line: Pittsburgh -3
TaxSlayer Bowl (27): Iowa (42.31) vs Tennessee (29.72), 3:20 ESPN, Teams headed in opposite directions? Many think so and I can't disagree too much other than to ask if stagnant is considered a direction? This game won't tell us too much but the next set of recruiting rankings certainly seem to have pertinent information. I think the experience of Iowa and Tennessee's inability to stop the run prove the keys to this game. Power Pick: Iowa by 12.59 My Pick: Iowa 24-21 Line: Tennessee -3.5
TicketCity Cactus Bowl (22): Oklahoma State (36.01) vs Washington (58.69), 10:15 pm ESPN, The all let down bowl. Oklahoma State was making changes this year but where still expected to compete in the Big XII. The loss of their QB early didn't help but they still were not quite what the Cowboys fans were hoping for. Washington made an upgrade at coach but it didn't pan out year one the many hoped and/or thought it would (Me). I still think Petersen was a great hire for Washington and that there is a lot of talent on this team. An extra month of practice can only help. Power Pick: Washington by 22.68 My Pick: Washington 38-24 Line: Washington -6
TaxSlayer Bowl (27): Iowa (42.31) vs Tennessee (29.72), 3:20 ESPN, Teams headed in opposite directions? Many think so and I can't disagree too much other than to ask if stagnant is considered a direction? This game won't tell us too much but the next set of recruiting rankings certainly seem to have pertinent information. I think the experience of Iowa and Tennessee's inability to stop the run prove the keys to this game. Power Pick: Iowa by 12.59 My Pick: Iowa 24-21 Line: Tennessee -3.5
TicketCity Cactus Bowl (22): Oklahoma State (36.01) vs Washington (58.69), 10:15 pm ESPN, The all let down bowl. Oklahoma State was making changes this year but where still expected to compete in the Big XII. The loss of their QB early didn't help but they still were not quite what the Cowboys fans were hoping for. Washington made an upgrade at coach but it didn't pan out year one the many hoped and/or thought it would (Me). I still think Petersen was a great hire for Washington and that there is a lot of talent on this team. An extra month of practice can only help. Power Pick: Washington by 22.68 My Pick: Washington 38-24 Line: Washington -6
Saturday, January 3rd, 2014:
Birmingham Bowl (21): East Carolina (20.27) vs Florida (44.41), 1:00 pm ESPN, Well, this one puzzles me, all at once this is a game of have's vs have not's, offensive juggernauts vs defensive masters, but most of all it's a game where I think I know how it ends but not how we get there. Power Pick: Florida by 24.14 My Pick: Florida 24-21 Line: Florida -6.5
Sunday, January 4th, 2014:
GoDaddy Bowl (38): Toledo (28.38) vs Arkansas State (-1.11), 9:00 pm ESPN, Toledo is my pick and that's about it, the numbers say slight lean Arkansas State, my numbers say big lean Toledo. My gut says Toledo and well there isn't much more to this one. Power Pick: Toledo by 29.49 My Pick: Toledo 31-13 Line: Toledo -3.5
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