2014 Rambling Sports Bowl Week 1 CFB Preview

Bowl season is here and it certainly is the most wonderful time. This preview covers the games from 12/20 to 12/26 and there are some fun games, some duds and some that I just don't know what's gonna happen. Enjoy it while it lasts because soon football will be gone.

Saturday, December 20th, 2014:

R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl (35): Nevada (24.78) vs Louisiana (23.25), 11:00 am ESPN, Nevada-Louisiana this is a fairly evenly matched game if not the most exciting match-up. There are usually some fireworks in New Orleans and this year should be no different. Power Pick: Nevada by 1.53 My Pick: Nevada 24-21 Line: Nevada -1
Gildan New Mexico Bowl (33): UTEP (-2.44) vs Utah State (21.06), 2:20 pm ESPN, UTEP meets Utah State one state over to in a showdown of a Miners team that is a bit of a surprise and a Utah State team that has started four quarterbacks this season. Power Pick: Utah State by 23.50 My Pick: Utah State 31-20 Line: Utah State -10
Royal Purple Las Vegas Bowl (12): Colorado State (28.47) vs Utah (51.91), 3:30 pm ABC, This is one of my favorite under the radar games and unfortunately with NFL games this Saturday it is going to be buried. Colorado State is down their head coach who went to Florida but this is one of the best mid-majors against a very good major conference school. Power Pick: Utah by 23.44 My Pick: 28-24 Line: Utah -3
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl (32): Western Michigan (-7.87) vs Air Force (10.53), 5:45 pm ESPN, Western Michigan is a lot of fun and a great story of this college football season. They are also terribly underrated by my power ranks. Air Force is a team of pilots who don't put the ball in the air all that often. This one isn't gonna rival the NFL games but it should be some fun on commercials. Power Pick: Air Force by 18.40 My Pick: Air Force 24-21 Line: Western Michigan -1.5
Raycom Media Camellia Bowl (37): South Alabama (5.19) vs Bowling Green (11.85), 9:15 pm ESPN, South Alabama was pretty good in the Sun Belt this year and took advantage of a power shake up. Bowling Green finished second in the MAC even without their starting QB for most of the year. I think BGSU is better but this games strikes me as one that gets funky. Power Pick: Bowling Green by 6.66 My Pick: Bowling Green 24-20 Line: South Alabama -2.5

Monday, December 22nd, 2014:

Miami Beach Bowl (9): Memphis (24.44) vs BYU (24.32), 2:00 pm ESPN, Another great game and it's a stand alone on Monday afternoon in Miami. Memphis and Justin Fuentes took the country by storm making a second straight bowl game. BYU lost Taysum Hill but haven't been as bad as expected. This should be slugfest and a great one to watch this early in bowl season. Power Pick: Memphis by .12 My Pick: Memphis 21-20 Line: Memphis -2

Tuesday, December 23rd, 2014:

Boca Raton Bowl (24): Marshall (34.14) vs Northern Illinois (40.07), 6:00 pm ESPN, I may have put this game too low between the MAC champ and the C-USA champ. Both were by far the best team in their respective conferences. NIU has the better defense and the difference in offense isn't enough to make up for it. Herd with a second loss in 3 tries in a close but fun loss to the Huskies. Power Pick: Northern Illinois by 5.93 My Pick: Northern Illinois 38-35 Line: Marshall -10
San Diego County Credit Union Pointsettia Bowl (25): Navy (28.18) vs San Diego State (16.80), 9:30 pm ESPN, I want to get hyped for this game it's a solid match-up but with Marshall-NIU up before it and the late game on a Tuesday, my give a fuck is busted. It could be interesting so keep an eye but don't lose sleep pre-Christmas. Power Pick: Navy by 11.38 My Pick: Navy 38-21 Line: San Diego State -2.5

Wednesday, December 24th, 2014:

Popeyes Bahamas Bowl (31): WKU (19.60) vs Central Michigan (16.52), 12:00 pm ESPN, This is the slog of bowl season, the Christmas Eve games. There just isn't much to do on this it's a game and should get you through the early afternoon lull but that's about it. Power Pick: WKU by 3.08 My Pick: Central Michigan 23-20 Line: WKU -3

Hawaii Bowl (36): Fresno State (15.72) vs Rice (14.09), 8:00 pm ESPN, Woo Christmas Eve in Hawaii, and oh yeah we got a football game to play. Not much else to say neither of these teams is as good as they were last year. Power Pick: Fresno State by 1.63 My Pick: Fresno State 28-24 Line: Rice -2

Friday, December 26th, 2014:

Zaxby's Heart of Dallas Bowl (38): Louisiana Tech (.69) vs Illinois (25.46), 1:00 pm ESPN, ZAXBY's in a bowl that references hearts and not heart attacks. Illinois squeaked into a bowl game and gets a nice match-up and a fairly good chance at a win. Power Pick: Illinois by 24.77 My Pick: Illinois 17-14 Line: Louisiana Tech -6
Quick Lane Bowl (20): North Carolina (37.43) vs Rutgers (37.59), 4:30 pm ESPN, The last of this weeks interesting games are a pair of Power 5 squads that were enigmas all year. Rutgers started well, lulled and then finished strong to land in this spot. North Carolina lost to East Carolina early but rebounded nicely in a mediocre ACC. This should be a really even match-up and at worst a good hangover watch. Power Pick: Rutgers by .16 My Pick: North Carolina 21-20 Line: North Carolina -3
BITCOIN St. Petersburg Bowl (29): UCF (34.45) vs NC State (16.26), 8:00 pm ESPN, This one is a look to the future as both teams had good enough seasons but neither is where they hope to be soon. UCF took a small step back in the first year post-Bortles and should be even better next season. NC State was a surprise and needs to build off of a surprising year. Power Pick: UCF by 18.19 My Pick: UCF 38-24 Line: UCF -2