Cappers Sports Picks - The Experts

Iowa/Washington 9:00: Jedd Fisch has his men ultra-competitive in his third year at Washington. He's been able to retain a good quantity of production from last year's 9-4 bowl winning team. And his QB Desmond Williams is a dangerous dual threat. Washington has a finesse offensive game. Not overwhelming on the ground, QB gets sacked too much (3 sacks per game). Enter Iowa's smash mouth run game (Phillips ankle good to go) and a stingy defense (8th scoring defense). QB Hank Brown (AC joint) is questionable but Hecklinski has playing experience and not a falloff. Washington just 1-16 ATS after USC. Iowa 6-0 ATS as a dog vs an opponent off a SU loss. We'll grab the points. 

Temple/USF 7:30: Temple was a half a minute away from being 4-0 ATS on the season after dropping to Army late last week. Temple's HC Keeler has his team going in the right direction. They've got a run game, a decent QB in Sheppard and play pretty good defense. They lost but covered in this matchup last year. USF just 1-6 ATS as a conference favorite of less than 10 points vs an opponent with revenge. New Bulls' HC Hartline doing a decent job but untested early. Temple the call. 

Wyoming/NDS 3:30: This is the "Battle of the Basins" and not a good matchup for Wyoming. They're coming off a comfortable win at home vs struggling Hawaii. The Cowboys' program has gradually deteriorated in the two years Sawvel took over for longtime bowl game producing Craig Bohl. NDS, on the other hand, Bison is a heavily rooted football institution with numerous Division II titles itching or the opportunity to compete with the big boys. This is their inaugural year in the FBS and they should transition well. Polasek, in his third year, kept the winning momentum going. He has a well-balanced team including a Top 10 defense that should suffocate the 132nd offense down today. Bison the call. 

Pittsburgh/Virginia Tech 7:00: Both teams unbeaten in this ACC matchup. First year VT HC Franklin continues to pulverize losing teams - running his record to 74-4 vs under .500 squads; however, Franklin struggled vs winning teams with a less than mediocre 38-47. He's taking on a dangerous Pittsburgh team under Narduzzi. Narduzzi 7-1 ATS on the road vs undefeated foes and 6-0 ATS when the Panthers are coming off a win. Moreover, Panthers are money on weekdays at 9-1 ATS. Narduzzi has what he wants this year: Good QB play - Heintschel, solid run game (5 YPC) and a Top 10 defense. Pittsburgh the call. 

Oregon/USC 7:30: USC's time to get that signature win. Riley's time is limited without a win here. All systems in check for the Trojans. #1 recruiting class, loaded talent in return production, and have the Ducks at home where they're most comfortable. Oregon has been underachieving this year (1-2 ATS) including a loss to a non-ranked opponent. QB Moore sacked 6 times this season and USC Patterson surely has an aggressive blitz scheme installed. USC backend has given up the big play. Oregon WR McClellan's absence will help some. We'll look for the Trojans to deliver.

Iowa/Michigan 3:30: Michigan struggling early in games and won't have the luxury of starting slow vs Iowa. Iowa has more offense than they did in '23 - last time they played Michigan. They now have strong run game and that usual dominant defense. Quarterback play always an issue for Iowa, but Hank Brown not bad. He manages the game well and won't lose it for them. Michigan one of the youngest teams in the Big Ten, don't have the continuity that this Iowa team has. We'll grab the Hawkeyes here.  

UCLA/Maryland 1:30: UCLA has renewed life under Chesney. They now have a run game with Knight to take pressure off QB Lamaleava. Maryland plays tough against the lightweights but when pressed against quality foes, come up short under Locksley. Lost last week to V Tech. MD lost last year to a weaker UCLA team. They're just 1-9 ATS with revenge under Locksley. UCLA the call. 

Boston College/Virginia Tech Noon: James Franklin off to a good start and should cruise. BC got thrashed at Cincinnati, barely beat mediocre Rutgers, and held on for dear life against lightweight Maine. BC's O'Brien doesn't have a whole lot of talent on offense but has a respectable defense. Franklin, on the other hand, recruits well, got himself a QB Grunkemeyer leading a Top 10 offense. VT' defense should swallow up the Eagles' weak offense led by struggling QB McKenzie. VT defense leads the nation in sacks and sports a Top 30 defensive distinction. Bottom line, Franklin has always salivated on munching down inferior opponents, and he's lined up with another one today. 

Army/Temple 4:00: Temple no longer a Homecoming invite under Keeler. The Owls showed grit last year by manufacturing the most wins (5) since 2018. And despite dropping two straight, they've covered all three of their games this season. They have their QB in Sheppard, who did a bang-up job filling in for Smolik And the offensive line starting to gel - helping generate 5.2 YPC. Defensively, respectable vs the run and should be well disciplined in assignment football vs the predominant run-oriented Triple Option of Army. Temple lost 4 straight in this series but covered 2 of the last 3, including last year's one point loss under Keeler. We'll look for the Owls to deliver. They're 13-1 ATS as a home dog of less than 7 points with revenge!

Liberty/CC 7:30: Liberty HC Chadwell turned in three strong winning seasons for the Chanticleers from 2020 through 2022 before bumping up to Liberty to keep the Flames rolling. He had a down year last season but restocked his cupboard with some solid talent. QB Purdie does a solid job a the helm and there is a stable of RBs grinding out yards behind an experience offensive line. Flames don't give up yards liberally and have a solid secondary. CC has talent but gives up sacks and fumble a lot. First year HC Beard still trying to mesh his team together. Liberty the call. 

Michigan State/ND 7:30: Once proud program now sees itself getting 30 points! The ultimate insult and veteran HC Fitzgerald will surely make his team aware of it. Spartans do have some quality offensive weapons in QB Milivojevic, RB Edwards and some quality receivers in Bullard and McCray. ND is surely a veteran and dominant team with the most returning production of any other team not to mention Heisman Trophy favorite CJ Carr. But 30 points a bit much to lay here. We'll grab the points with the scrappy Spartans. 

Florida/Auburn 7:00: Two winning coaches go at it but will give the edge to Summrall. He turned around two mid major programs leading to this. He has good returning production, solid recruiting class and a good QB Philo. 

Mississippi State/S. Carolina 4:15: USC has the hyped QB in Sellers and the ground game gashed lightweights Towson and Kent; however, they face a legitimate conference foe this week in Miss State. Bulldogs beat down a good Minnesota team while holding them to just 13 rush yards! And offensively, the Bulldogs have a versatile QB of their own in Kamario Taylor. USC 1-5 ATS before Alabama. Take the Bulldogs. 

USC/Rutgers 3:30: You would think the Scarlet Knights are hungry for a win after an embarrassing home loss to previously season winless U Mass, then failing at a weak Boston College team. Today, they do get a Trojans team that has to travel cross country; however, USC has too many weapons for the embarrassingly bad defense of Rutgers to contain. Rutgers 0-11-3 ATS as conference dogs of 13 or more points vs opponent greater than .500. USC the call. 

Ohio State/Texas 7:30: Going to stay on Ohio State for their third straight win over Sark and the Longhorns. Sure, OSU lost lots of defensive talent, which gave Arch Manning a world of hurt back in Week 1 last season, but the Buckeyes restocked and still have quality up front and on the back end. Offensively, J Smith and company hard to stop at this level. We'll ride the Buckeyes here. 

Iowa State/Iowa 7:30: At first glance, Iowa should blow the Cyclones out of the state; after all, Matt Campbell, who won the last two meeting at Iowa, is now running the show at Penn State and he took nearly his entire team with him there. Cyclones left with the cupboard bare; however, I'm not discounting Jimmy Rogers as a coach He did some great things at SDS and did an amazing job in one year at Washington State last season. He brought some of his boys in including QB Raynor who did well last week. Iowa, on the other hand, as usual, unsettled at QB. Great defense, good run game but limited in offensive creativity. We'll take the points here with Iowa State. 

Memphis/Boise State 6:00: Memphis doing well under Huff with two solid wins. But Boise State proved they can swing with the big boys. Boise went into Eugene last week and nearly knocked off the loaded Ducks. QB Madsen was fearless and the Broncos defense is solid. Boise State an electric 13-1 ATS off a SU loss. We'll lay the wood. 

USF/Army Noon: More continuity to an Army program that returns nearly 70% of its starters. USF has an entire new staff, really good transfer portal personnel, but very little returning production from last year's bowl team under now departed Golesh. Army crushed lightweight Bryant last week and sport an 8-1 ATS mark after allowing less than 7 points. Army the call. 

SMU/Florida State 7:30: Fla State has a game under the belt already, defeating lightweight NMSU. Big upgrade against SMU. Although SMU HC Lashlee lost a lot of starting personnel, they restocked well and do have some solid returning production. SMU is powered by versatile QB Kevin Jennings. He's got some solid skill personnel and the strength of the offense - offensive line with three returning starters and portal transfers. Fla State going with veteran QB Ashton Daniels who is now 6-18 as a starter with a 24-23 TD/INT. SMU defense has been one of the best sack defenses over the last three years and well stocked. SMU destroyed Fla State in 2024. Seminoles not great on weekdays at 1-7 ATS. We'll take the Mustangs. 

Wisconsin/ND 7:30: ND enters week 1 with a major chip on their shoulders after getting snubbed by the CFP Committee last season. In retrospect, instead of blaming, ND staff and players are looking in the mirror; after all, they lost their first two games of the season to immediately put them on the immediate playoff bubble. ND had plenty of time to stew over their playoff absence. The Irish are loaded with the nation's #! returning production, excellent recruiting class, a loaded defense, and a Heisman Trophy candidate (CJ Carr) behind a physical front and plenty of skill players. Wisconsin, meanwhile, has gone downhill fast in the Fickell era. No longer a power run game or physical Top 10 defense. We'll lay the wood at Lambeau today. 

Louisville/Ole Miss 7:30: This one kicking off at Nissan Stadium in TN. I like Louisville's chances here. Jeff Brohm always dangerous as a dog, especially getting 6 or more points - 3-1 SU/ATS. He's knocked off some Top 10 teams in his coaching career including last year's outright at Miami Fla as a 10.5 dog. Louisville has 5 returning starters back from their 16th ranked defense (total). And they've got a strong run game behind Issac Brown and Keyjuan Brown, who each averaged more than 7 YPC! The offensive line is a question mark with just one returning starter and filled with transfer portal guys. They'll need to gel early and protect new QB Kienholz (from Ohio State) who offers more mobility than departed Miller Moss. Ole Miss is dangerous with QB Chambliss and RB Lacy. But we'll take the points.

Clemson/LSU 7:30: Coaching vagabond Kiffin once again did the necessary poaching, including from the NFL. He does have a really good QB Same Leavitt (Arizona State) and an abundance of surrounding talent. But I won't discount what Swinney has done with Clemson. He built them the old-fashioned way - mostly through recruiting. He's going with his 4th year QB Vizzina who is finally getting his chance. Chad Morris returns as OC which should help. Swinney did hit some transfer portal to add depth. We'll look for Clemson to keep it competitive. 

Oregon State/Houston Noon: Houston developed the last two years under Fritz and now ready to compete for a Big 12 title. Twelve returning starters and lots of returning production including QB Weigman and explosive receiver Thomas. Oregon State in a rebuilding mode with first year HC Shephard. Houston the call.

Mia Fla/Stanford 9:00: Stanford looked good in Pritchard's debut. The run game was cooking (158 yards) and QB Warren was distributing the ball well to his receivers. He's got good skill weapons including RB Ford and WR Hall. Of course, Miami Fla is another animal. Although losing some quality personnel and ridiculously good defensive bookends to the NFL, they've restocked and are loaded. QB Mensah, QR Toney and RB Fletcher are as good as they get. But just a tad much to give the Cardinal that are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 home games. We'll tread lightly with Stanford. 

Colorado/G Tech 8:00: One of the few competitively lined games of the night. We'll give the edge to the Yellow Jackets. Both teams have filled lots of vacancies with defected players, graduation, etc. Colorado, however, has a complete overhaul under Sanders. He replaced both coordinators, zero returning starters defensively, and has around 42 incoming transfers. they have a new offense (Go-Go) installed in OC Marion's first year running the show. But will it be compatible with a new defense under a new coordinator this early in the season with a talented but unproven QB Lewis. Some good skill weapons surround him, but will the offensive line hold up against a revamped G-Tech front. Tech's HC Brent Key did a nice job guiding his team to bowl games for three straight seasons. He's got Alberto Mendozo (Fernando's brother) running the offense this season and Michigan transfer RB Haynes to keep the ground game pounding it out. Home crowd and a more stable program give the Engineers the edge here. Tech the call. 

NC State/Virginia 3:30: Last season, Virginia had no answer for QB CJ Bailey. Beiley decimated Virginia's defense for 200 yards passing, including a TD pass and 44 yards rushing including 2 TDs. Offseason additions for Virginia proposes to fix those leaks in the defense. They added 8 defensive backs from the transfer portal and will have LB Kam Robinson back after missing that September 6th game. Offensively, Virginia has one of the top offensive lines in the country and a couple of experienced QBs in Pribula (snatched from Missouri) and former Pitt standout Eli Holstein. Yes, Virginia HC Elliot did some serious work in the offseason in the portal grabbing players with a combined 571 starts and 39,158 snaps! That's twice as many as NC State garnered. We'll look for the Cavaliers to exact revenge here. 

SJS/USC 3:00: At first glance, taking the generous number of points seems to be the call. Delve deeper and it's apparent this is a mismatch. In the offseason, SJC had a complete overhaul in their coaching staff and player personnel. Defections were plentiful and former Navy HC Niumatalolo is left with just two returning starters on offense and zero defensively. Their returning production ranks at the bottom of the NCAA. The Spartans are breaking in a new QB Luke Weaver who is a castoff of Hawaii. He's had just 2 career starts. USC, on the other hand, landed the #1 recruiting class in the nation with loads of returning players including Heisman hopeful QB Maiava and nearly his entire offensive line from last season. Lincoln Riley is known to get out of the gate quick and fall off down the stretch (Kliff Kingsbury clone). His knock has been defense; however, former TCU HC Patterson, who had 5 Top 10 defenses while manning the ship in Fort Worth, is now the DC. We'll look for the Trojans multitude of weapons to eventually pull away and cover this. 

Miami-Fla/Indiana 7:30: Big fan of Cignetti and what he's done with the Hoosiers. But this may be a tad too many points to lay vs an uber athletic Hurricanes team loaded with 5* talent. Sure, Cignetti took 13 zero-star athletes with him from JMU and developed them into winners, some All-Americans, and has the best QB in the nation - Mendoza - running the show; however, Miami-Fla has a veteran team too; albeit not as disciplined but dangerous. Super electric WR Toney is as dangerous as any player in the nation. Fletcher is a hard-nosed runner behind a strong offensive line. Beck has gotten more confident at the helm and more equipped to handle pressure. Defensively, the 'Canes defense is well orchestrated and has an abundance of game wreckers, including edge rushers Mesidor and Bain. Moreover, suspended S Lucas will be back in the second half. Should be a lot closer than people think. We'll take the points. 

Oregon/Indiana 7:30: Indiana has proven to be one of the most disciplined teams in the nation. Fundamentally strong on both sides of the ball, and special teams. The Hoosiers are one of the least penalized teams (both sides of ball) in the nation, rarely turn the ball over yet are highly opportunistic on the defensive side. Mendoza has proven to be a big time QB and has great talent in all facets. These teams squared off earlier in the year and it wasn't as close as the score indicated. If not for a Mendoza pick six early in the 4th quarter, Hoosiers would have rolled easily. Oregon definitely a formidable opponent but love the attention to detail and confidence that HC Cignetti has brought to this Hoosiers team. They're a disciplined, smash mouth team with speed that expects to win.  Indiana the call. 

Ole Miss/Mia-Fla 7:30: Respect Mia-Fla defense but I see Ole Miss offensive output continuing. Two-time Division II National Champion - QB Chambliss has that escapability and precision passing in clutch times to deliver the goods. That last few minutes of the Georgia game clearly revealed that. Sure, the well-coached Miami defense will do everything possible to shut down running lanes and attempt to corral Chambliss; however, the #5 offense has arguably the best offensive line that Miami has faced, a really good running back in Lacy and some topflight receivers in Wallace and Stribling to support Chambliss. Miami offense is productive too with RB Fletcher and freshman sensation - Toney. But the jury is still out on QB Beck in big games. Ole Miss has a well-disciplined secondary and decent against the run. They have a big-time wrecking machine linebacker in Perkins. Moreover, no Kiffin, no problem. All the important coordinators have stayed, including Weiss Jr. and new head man - Golding. Furthermore, the wildcard could come down to Kicker Carneiro (5 for 5 from 40+ and 2 for 2 from 50+). Ole Miss always a dangerous dog in the Kiffin era - 6-0 ATS of fewer than 6 points. 

Arizona/SMU 8:00: Both of these teams are at near full tilt with very few opt outs. And they're closely matched as the line indicates. What separates them is that Arizona is in the top tier defending the pass while SMU languishes near the bottom. Arizona's versatile QB Fifita guides a productive and well-rounded offense. SMU's QB Jennings is very good but has had his moments of struggle vs top tier teams (remember last year's CFP?). SMU is 0-5 SU in its last 5 bowl games. I liked how the Wildcats finished strong down the stretch. We'll grab the Wildcats. 

Navy/Cincinnati 4:30: Service academies on a roll in bowls: 7-0 run! I'm not jumping off here. Navy has consecutive 10-win seasons led by versatile QB Horvath. Navy sports the #1 rush team in the nation. Cincy defense not that good stopping the run (174 YPG). And now they won't have their top 2 defensive players plus 4 of 5 out in the secondary due to opt outs. Offensively, they will have their starting offensive line but won't have QB Sorsby (27 TDS air/9 TDs run) who is pursuing options. Instead, career bench warmer Lichtenberg (333 yards in 4 seasons) gets the nod. Also, top rusher Walker (709 yards) opting out. Navy is just too well connected to fall to a makeshift team despite being in a Power 5 Conference. Navy the call. 

Ole Miss/Georgia 8:00: Georgia much better than they were back on October 18th when they outdueled the Rebels 43-35. Their defense much better, run game better and better QB play by Stockton. Ole Miss throttled Tulane - a team that should not have been in the playoffs to begin with. Smart had to deal with the extended layoff for his team and to get them jump started early in this game. He's a big game coach, experienced that bye layoff loss last year and should have learned from it. We'll look for him to have his them ready. Georgia the call. 

Alabama/Indiana 4:00: Once again, that extended rest comes in for the team with a bye. That 26-day rest period for Indiana most likely will create a bit of rust - like it did for its Big Ten brethren - Ohio State yesterday. Both teams get some of their stars back including Alabama's edge rusher - Overton and Hoosiers' Omar Cooper. Tide does have a Top 10 pass defense in the nation. I don't like the run disparity - Hoosiers have a Top 10 run game while Alabama ranks 118th. But Ty Simpson is almost as dangerous as Hoosier's Heisman - Mendoza. Alabama's receivers have had lots of drops throughout the season, but strange things happen in the playoffs and let's not forget - Tide always has Top 10 talent. We'll take the points. 

Oregon/Texas Tech Noon: These teams are so evenly matched with explosive offenses, stingy defenses and solid special teams. And I'm going against some principles that I've had success with the last few years in the CFP: The long layoff being a problem for the team with a bye week: after Ohio State yesterday, the team with the bye is now 0-5! Btw, I had Miami Fla (+9)! I believe Tech HC Joey McGuire, who's been vocal of he long layoff, is skilled enough to keep his veteran team sharp during their layoff. And sure, the Big Ten has been great in bowl games thus far and I've ridden a number of those wins; however, Tech has taken out virtually every team they've been confronted with including two blowout wins over a real good BYU team. Their only loss came against Arizona State in which they didn't have their QB Morton (leg). Morton is back and he's got tall explosive receivers, similar to what USC gave them trouble with. They've got a great run game too. Defensively, Tech is extremely stingy and have All American LB Jacob Rodriguez manning the middle. Two similar staunch teams - Iowa and Indiana gave Oregon trouble. Oregon has dominated when able to run for 100+ yards but 0-2 SU when unable to do so. You know where we're going with this. We'll lean towards Tech here to get it done. 

Miami-Fla/Ohio State 7:30: Never like going against the Buckeyes, especially in big games, but I'm taking the points here. Long layoffs don't equate with success in college football playoffs. It's been 25 days since the Buckeyes battled on the gridiron. Well rested but rust expected. On the flip side, Miami has, perhaps, the ideal amount of rest (10 days) to heal and stay in football rhythm. Ohio State did show a bit of vulnerability protecting QB Sayin (5 sacks) vs Indiana. Miami has an effective QB rush (7 sacks vs A&M) led by top NFL prospect Bain. And the Buckeyes do have an injury to their starting tackle on the offensive line. Offensively, Beck not a favorite, and when he's bad, he's real bad. He's been really bad in 2 games (Louisville and SMU) in which combined for 6 interceptions, but Miami was still able to stay within one score. OSU DC Patricia has done an amazing job shutting down most QBs this year and should have an effective scheme set. But just a tad too many points here. Take the points. 

Iowa/Vanderbilt Noon: Love QB Pavia but he won't have his favorite target TE Stowers (NFL opt out). Vandy faces another stifling Iowa defense (Top 10 scoring). And on the other side of the ball, Iowa offense won't scare anyone, but QB Gronowski is a tough S.O.B. too. He won back-to-back FCS Championships before he got to Iowa with South Dakota State. He operates behind an offensive line that won the Joe Moore Award (best offensive line) for the second consecutive year Iowa grinds out games and lost two close ones against current CFP heavyweights Oregon and Indiana. Take the points. 

USC/TCU 9:00: TCU probably stays in this game with QB Hoover; however, Hoover chose to be in the transfer portal, and I'm not convinced Ken Seals (former Vandy starter) is going to outduel USC's Maiava. Seals sports a 29/23 TD/INT ratio. He'll face an opportunistic defense (11 INTs) that's gotten better over the last few years. DC Lynn is leaving for Penn State in the same position under new HC Campbell. I'm hoping he's concluding his tenure with USC and coaching up the Trojans for this game. Offensively, USC is without top WRs Lemon and Lane (NFL opt outs). But Maiava does have a very good freshman in Hines (398 yards receiving/2 TDs) and a run game with RB King Miller. TCU defense mediocre and with Seals running the offense, not certain TCU can hang. We'll lean on the Trojans here. 

Tennessee/Illinois 5:30: Thus far this bowl season, Big Ten 5-0 while SEC 0-2. I'm staying on the Big 10 and going blue collar Bielema and the Fighting Illini here. Illinois has a veteran team from last year's bowl winner. Luke Altmyer not as prolific a passer as his counterpart Joey Aguilar, but Tennessee defense not very good on the backend. And they'll be shorthanded with DBs Hood and McCoy. Illinois won't have LT Davis (NFL opt out) and that's trouble; however, Tennessee won't have edge rusher Joseph's and LB Carter - both opt outs. We'll give the edge to Illinois. 

LSU/Houston 9:15: Houston has much more stability in their program under Fritz. Virtually no opt outs from key players and excited to be at this bowl. LSU, however, undergoing coaching transition and must adjust to opt-outs from key players. Tigers had virtually no run game in the regular season - in the bottom tier of rush yards per game and yards per carry. Houston defense packs a punch and well rounded. We'll give the edge to Houston. 

G-Tech/BYU 3:30: Both teams close to playoff spots, but costly losses killed their chances down the stretch. BYU, which had bad losses to Texas Tech, is almost fully loaded with a mission attitude. I like the Engineers with Haynes King and company, but the Tech defense has issues. We'll grab the more well-rounded team with a big chip on their shoulder. 

New Mexico/Minnesota 4:30: Great season for New Mexico and first year HC Eck; however, Minnesota the call here. The Lobos did upset UCLA early in the year before the Bruins went on a firing spree and improved. Lobos went on a 6-0 run down the stretch. But I'm not a fan of the MWC (1-3 in bowls). Minnesota is not in the elite class of the Big Ten but capable of beating the bottom feeders of the division and sport a solid record against non-conference. Moreover, HC Fleck preps his boys well for bowls. Minnesota is 6-0 in bowl games under him. Neither offense is explosive and their defenses are respectable. What separates them is that the Gophers hold onto the ball and more disciplined on the offensive end. NM has had a fumble problem and penalties. We'll grab the the Golden Gophers. 

UNLV/Ohio U 9:00: Bobcats won't have their coach Brian Smith (fired) but they're in good hands with interim - DC Hauser. Ohio U defense very good. They'll need to be against MWC P.O.Y. QB Colandrea. On the other hand, UNLV defense not good, especially vs the run - bottom half of FBS teams. Ohio U has a solid run game with RB Bangura and steady QB play with Navarro. Ohio U has a history of playing well in bowl games - 6-0 run. They also play well on weekdays at 11-3 ATS. MWC 0-2 in bowls. MAC 1-0 in bowls. We'll roll with the MAC and Ohio U. 

Tulane/Ole Miss 3:30: The first meeting - September 20, resulted in a 45-10 blowout. Ole Miss equipped with too much offensive firepower. On the other hand, Tulane offense was unable to do anything through the air as QB Retzlaff was benched, and his backup Sullivan was just as bad. As we roll into this game, Sumrall, who is now the new HC of Florida, agreed to stay and coach the Green Wave. Ole Miss won't have Kiffin (now at LSU) but retains assistants to coach up Ole Miss here. DC Golding will take over the HC duties and OC Weiss Jr. will call the plays. Based on talent, should see a similar result to the earlier season drubbing. We'll lay the wood. 

Miami-Fla/Texas A&M Noon: College Station is a real tough place to play. Crowd will be in a frenzy. Miami-Fla QB Beck hasn't seen this environment all season. I have a feeling he'll struggle vs Elko's defense. It is the best 3rd down defense in the FBS at 22.7% conversion. Aggies' defense shows various looks and has befuddled many a QB this season. Beck struggled horribly vs Louisville when faced with similar disguised fronts. Sure, Toney is an explosive force, but Elko had some extra time to prepare and that's a plus. Respect Hurricanes' great defense but A&M has their share of explosive offensive players in Concepcion and Craver. And QB Reed has the ability to extend plays. Cristoball just 1-5 ATS / 2-4 SU in bowl games. We'll lay a FG with the Aggies here. 

Alabama/Oklahoma 8:00: Oklahoma won November 15th matchup 23-21. Alabama sported a 23-12 first down advantage. And QB Simpson threw for 326 yards. Unfortunately, 2 fumbles lost and an interception cost them. Look for disciplinarian HC Deboer to have his men clean up their game. He has a history bouncing back after sluggish outings. And none more sluggish than their SEC Championship loss to Georgia. Alabama does get TE Cuevas and RB Miller back. Jury still out on Oklahoma offense with Mateer and company. We'll roll with the 'Tide.

Old Dominion/USF 5:00: USF sported the #1 total offense in the FBS. Unfortunately, the HC Golesh - fled to Auburn. And the engine that runs it - QB Byrum Brown - opted out. His backup - Gaston Moore- in garbage time - threw for 54 yards. Old Dominion has a Top 20 scoring defense and should be prepared - with a majority of their coaches and key players sticking around. On the other hand, USF defense not the most reliable and penalized frequently; however, Monarchs won't have their starting QB Colton Joseph either. He was explosive with his feet more than through the air. His backup Henicle - didn't see a whole lot of action either and should rely on RB Jones (7.6 YPC). Bulls' run-stop-unit not all that bad - allowing 3.6 YPC. Old Dom went - 0-5 O/U down the stretch. USF 0-2 in last 2 games. We'll stay "Under" here. 

Army/Navy 3:00: Last season, Army's loss to Navy hit them hard. They took it out on their bowl foe - LA Tech 27-6 but it didn't have the same impact as beating the Midshipmen. Army HC Monken took it especially hard, and this game means everything. Navy has a significant advantage in offensive production with QB Horvath. He's rushed and passed for more than 1000 yards and has combined for 23 TDs. The Midshipmen sport a modernized triple option that's vaulted them to the top 20 in yards and top 25 in scoring. Army, however, runs the more archaic triple option but efficient with QB Cale Hellums at the controls. They're the least penalized team in the FBS. And the Black Knights have a better defense. We'll throw out the stats in this rivalry which puts the Commander-In-Chief Trophy on the line with both teams already dispatching Air Force. We'll grab the points with the revenge minded Army. 

Indiana/Ohio State 8:00: Indiana had a breakout season last year but faltered down the stretch dropping two of their last three games, including to Ohio State. In the off-season, Hoosiers HC Cignetti bolstered his offensive line, got a Heisman Trophy QB candidate - Mendoza, and plenty of skill weapons. They've had a fantastic season and deserved of their #2 ranking. On the other hand, Ohio State simply reloaded after losing both coordinators and a ton of talent to the NFL. Tate and Smith remain the most dangerous receiving duo in the NCAA, the run game is there with Bo Jackson behind a solid offensive line and led by Heisman candidate QB Sayin. Defensively, new DC Matt Patricia has engineered the lowest scoring defense in the land and allowed the least number of yards. To be the champ, you got to beat the champ, and I don't believe Indiana is ready for that yet. We'll stay on the BUCKEYES

Georgia/Alabama 4:00: Alabama controls a 9-1 SU run in this series including earlier this season. September 27th, Georgia defense unable to contain QB Simpson (276 yards/2 TDs). The Bulldogs have recently clamped down defensively, QB Stockton has progressed well since that game, and the run game is cooking. Alabama, however, has gotten by without a dominant run down the stretch. Their run game has been mediocre, lost to Oklahoma and barely got by Auburn. We'll look for Smart to get his revenge. 

Analysis to follow...

Analysis to follow...

Vanderbilt/Tennessee 3:30: Both teams still in the hunt for the CFP: #14 Vanderbilt/#19 Tennessee; therefore, must win situation here for both. We'll give the edge to this veteran Vanderbilt team. They had a breakout season last season with QB Pavia and followed up with many of those returning starters. One game that they lost that they're still stewing over is to this Tennessee team in the last game of the season. That was their 6th straight loss to Tennessee. The maturity of the Commodores should continue to come into play just as it did with their 4-1 SU/5-0 ATS mark this season in revenge games from last season losses. Vandy sports a 3-0 SU mark vs ranked teams this season while Tennessee sports an 0-3 SU mark in the same stat. Tennessee 0-11 ATS vs greater than .500 conference opponents off back to back SU/ATS wins. Vandy the call.  

Missouri/Arkansas 3:30: Missouri lost some tough games to elite SEC teams. Arkansas, on the other hand, preseason high ranking went awry early with a defense that couldn't stop anyone ultimately costing the job of HC Pittman. And coaching vagabond Petrino, who took over, unable to get the troops to play for him. Hogs on a dismal 0-9 SU spiral. Arkansas won't have RB Russell or WR Jean. And even though Arkansas has some explosive play personnel left in its arsenal, Missouri has a well rounded defense that is stingy giving up yards and points. Missouri offense can lean heavily on RB Hardy here. And even QB Pribula can put some numbers up. Missouri the call. 

Ohio State/Michigan Noon: Ask anybody in Ohio what is more important: Winning another NCAA National Championship or beating Michigan. Nine out of 10 people will unequivocally go with the latter. The Buckeyes have lost 4 straight in this series under Ryan Day. Day and company have prepared for this one since spring ball. In came in Matt Patricia as the new DC and he's done a tremendous job. The Buckeyes lead the NCAA in defense in virtually every statistical category and allow a paltry 7.6 PPG. The Buckeyes will certainly not allow Michigan to run on them like the last few years. They allow a measly 3.8 YPP - #1 nationally. Michigan QB Underwood hasn't exhibited the vertical passing game all season and shouldn't here vs a staunch Buckeyes' backend. On the other hand, Buckeyes' QB Sayin having a great season and has the explosive game personnel with Tate and Smith. I do realize Tate and Smith are questionable but the Buckeyes have good depth at the skill positions, including Inniss RB Jackson and TE Klare and a formidable offensive line. Buckeyes the call. 

Houston/Baylor Noon: Baylor off back to back blowout losses see their bowl appearance slipping away. They're catching already bowl eligible Houston off competitive loss to TCU. Cougars' HC Fritz always dangerous off a loss and 5-0 with the Cougars on the road. Baylor with limited run game but can air it out (#2 pass yards) with Sawyer. Problem for Baylor is Houston can rush the passer (2.1 SPG) and solid and opportunistic on the back end (1 INT per game). On the other hand, Baylor defense yielding, especially on the ground (195.5 YPG). Houston can run the rock and QB Weigman works well off play action. Baylor defense ranks near bottom of the NCAA in QB sacks. Throw in revenge from last year - Baylor 20-10, we'll roll with Houston. 

Western Michigan/Eastern Michigan 7:30: Western Michigan can finish 7-1 in MAC and should here. Eastern Michigan is able to beat some of the bottom dwellers of the MAC and can stick around in games vs competitive MAC foes, but Broncos have a bit too much firepower for the Eagles. WM averages 163 YPG rushing while the EM defense has a way too much yielding run-stop-unit (135th). WM QB Lowry is part of that prolific run game (5 YPC) yet careful with football in the air (7 TD/2 INTs). On the other hand, EM QB Noah Kim respectable but limited supporting cast. WM defense TOP 20 in YPG and YPP and can sack the QB (6th nationally). WM the call. 

BYU/Cincinnati 8:00: #11 ranked BYU looks focused in their quest to reach the CFP. They bounced back nicely last week in blowout fashion after their first loss of the season. Cincinnati, on the other hand, suffered back-to-back losses with QB Sorsby struggling in both. It won't get any easier today for him. BYU brings a strong defense with 25 sacks and 11 INTs. Offensively, Cougars are in good hands with versatile QB Bachmeier. BYU, runs the football well, has good QB play, and plays strong defensively. BYU the call. 

USF/UAB 3:00: UAB's coaching change in mid-October initially resulted in them shocking Memphis on October 18th as a 24-point dog. Since then, the Blazers haven't come close to winning or covering. Today, they face an ornery USF team coming off a loss to Navy. Since last season, the Bulls are 5-0 ATS off losses, including 3-0 SU/ATS this season. The up-tempo 5th ranked offense of USF should throttle through a UAB defense that's 135th in scoring allowed. USF the call. 

Louisville/SMU Noon: This Louisville team can legitimately be undefeated if not for some sloppy plays. Their 3 losses were by 3 or less. Defense has been outstanding, but their 15 offensive turnovers resulted in 70 points allowed. That's uncharacteristic of a Jeff Brohm team. They're gearing towards revenge from last year's 37-27 loss. They're capable of hanging with this SMU team. We'll look for Miller Moss and company to clean it up and deliver today. 

Rutgers/Ohio State Noon: Ohio State has been a covering machine this season at 8-1-1 ATS; however, this could easily be trouble for the Buckeyes. QB Sayin won't have his top two receivers - Tate and Smith! Sure, the Buckeye machine should keep rolling; after all, their second level players are as good or even better than Rutgers' skill personnel. Nevertheless, Rutgers' HC Schiano had an extra prep week to prepare. Scarlet Knights 10-1-1 ATS with rest. And let's not forget the most important game of the season on the ledger for OSU - Yep that maize and blue team up north. Rutgers the call. 

Missouri/Oklahoma Noon: Oklahoma has won 18 straight in this series at Norman. I don't expect them to falter here. They're coming off back-to-back wins over Tennessee and Alabama to jump back in CFP picture. They're relatively healthy with even a possibility of LB Mason Thomas (quad) back on the field. Missouri is a formidable foe; however, with freshman QB Zollers (QBR 26.9 over 2 starts), they're extremely reliant on nation's leading rusher Hardy (1,346 yards). There is a shot that Pribula (ankle) could play but not ready to face this Sooners' Top 10 defense.  And Sooners' run stop unit is lights out: allow 82 YPG/2.5 YPC. On the other hand, Missouri defense is outstanding (allow 19.9 PPG) but Sooners' QB Mateer can make plays. Sooners the call. 

Hawaii/UNLV 10:30: Hawaii is no longer a pushover. It used to be Hawaii was a lightweight traveling inland. Fourth year HC Timmy Chang has them competitive as a traveler and in line for their first bowl game since 2020. Rainbow Warriors won 2 of the last 3 games as a traveler and should give the defensively challenged Rebels (6.6 YPP) a run for the money. Hawaii has a sharp shooting lefty QB Micah Alejado who can sling it. He's thrown 15 TDs and just 3 INTs over his last 5 games. Hawaii is backed with a respectable veteran defense that will be tested against a productive offense with QB Colandrea and strong run game. We'll look for the Warriors to be up to the challenge and deliver. 

Akron/Bowling Green 7:00: Bowling Green's season started promising under HC Eddie George on a 4-2 ATS run but took a dramatic turn in mid-October sliding on an 0-4 SU/ATS plunge. One of the main reasons was going through five QBs. Without stability at the QB position, BG became one of the lowest scoring teams in the first half (7.8 PPG). On the other hand, Akron's offense picked up as the season progressed with QB Finley (threw 2 or more pass TDs in 7 games). His receivers: Polk, Mason and Marcel Williams had breakout games; moreover, a run game was established by RB Gant. Defensively, Akron has 18 takeaways. This series is 3-0 SU by BG but Akron has covered 4 of the last 5. We'll grab the Zips in their final game. 

Florida/Ole Miss 7:00: Last November, Florida dealt Ole Miss their third loss last season, effectively ending the Rebels playoffs hopes. Rebels coming off a scrimmage vs Citadel should be well rested and locked in here. Interim Gators' HC Gonzalez having trouble utilizing QB Lagway. We'll roll with Ole Miss. 

Purdue/Washington 7:00: Former Purdue HC Ryan Walters, who was fired after a 5-19 record with the Boilermakers, is now the DC of Washington. Purdue, which scored a paltry 20.9 PPG, won't have their leading rusher Mockosee (ankle) and they don't have enough offensive weaponry to hang here. Washington should bounce back strong after stunning loss at Wisconsin last week. And keep in mind that Huskies' HC Fisch is 12-2 ATS at home in conference games. Huskies roll. 

Maryland/Illinois 3:30: Locksley a dead man walking as he lost his team. He's been notorious for November collapses in his coaching career and it's rearing its ugly head again. 0-5 slide with the last 2 games being outscored 90-30. Going to be hard to go to Champaign against a veteran well coached team like Illinois. 

South Carolina/Texas A&M Noon: A&M a legitimate #3 ranked team in the nation. HC Elko has them playing at a high level on all cylinders. South Carolina, on the other hand, underachieving substantially from a season ago. Pre-season Heisman candidate QB Sellers leading a sputtering offense ranked 114th in the nation; as a result, during their bye-week fired offensive coordinator Mike Shula and offensive line coach - Teasley. Shula was hired to replace Dowell Loggains (now HC Appalachian State) before bowl game last season; consequently, Shula never established connectivity with the offense or Sellers, including losing the bowl game to Illinois. A&M is focused and driven to avenge their embarrassing loss to SC last season 44-20 - getting outscored 24-0 in second half. A&M defense ranks #1 in sacking QB 3.6 sacks per game and will face the most sacked QB in the NCAA (3.6 SPG). Offensively, A&M rolling behind QB Reed throwing at least 2 TD passes in 7 of 9 games. We'll lay the wood. 

Clemson/Louisville 7:30: #20 Louisville was possibly looking ahead to this game last week when they were stunned by 18'-point dog - California. Don't expect HC Brohm to lose two in a row. He's 5-0 ATS at home off SU conference favorite loss. Cardinals' QB Moss coming off worst game of the season. We'll look for him to be more dialed in tonight. On the other hand, Cardinals' defense stingy giving up yards. Clemson offense has not been connected since OC Garrett Riley joined the staff back in 2023. Klubnik has been a pre-season Heisman candidate for last few seasons but never materialized as an elite QB. It doesn't help that their run game is ranked 107th in the nation. Cardinals' run stop unit solid - allowing 3.3 YPC. We'll grab the home team tonight. 

Toledo/Miami-OH: On paper looks like the class of the MAC. They're defense is incredible and offense is led by a very good QB Gleason. But in real time, the Rockets struggle on the road; as a matter of fact, they're now 1-11 ATS as road favorites of more than 3 points, including 0-2 ATS this season. They're desperate for a win here to stay in running for MAC Championship game but we'll side with Miami OH. Redhawks' QB Finn, who played 5 seasons at Toledo, gets a shot at his old team here. Miami OH a bit more disciplined on both sides of the ball in Oxford. We'll stay at home with Miami. 

Kent State/Akron 7:30: 69th meeting in this bitter rivalry against schools that are a 17 minute drive away. Wagon Wheel on the line and we're going with Akron. Zips opportunistic defense (17 takeaways) should halt a sputtering offense ranked 132nd in the nation. They do have a decent QB DeShields and his go-to target Wolford, but, other than that, devoid of weapons. On the other hand, Zips clearly no offensive juggernaut but do rise to the occasion against inferior teams. Zips have a respectable QB Finley and an emerging run game with leading rusher - Gant. Go Zips!

Texas A&M/Missouri 3:30: A&M feeling good after October 25 blowout at LSU. They're now sitting at #3 in the National Polls. Meanwhile, Missouri, lost at Vanderbilt on the 25th. They also lost their QB Pribula (ankle). But Matt Zollers stepped in and did well. Drinkwitz had an extra week to simplify the system and work to the strengths of him. Missou does have a solid offensive line and one of the nation's top RBs - Hardy to help him out. He also has a solid vertical threat in Coleman Jr. Last season, A&M destroyed Missouri 41-10 at College Station. Missouri a sweet 11-1 ATS as a home dog with revenge. A&M 0-4 ATS off a bye week and just 1-7 ATS off a double-digit ATS road win. We'll grab the TD here. 

Oregon/Iowa 3:30: We won't sleep on the blue-collar Hawkeyes who will try to muck this game up against the speedy and sleek Ducks in what should be a crappy weather day. Game time temperature is expected at 26 degrees with 20 MPH winds and a 70% chance of sleet. Both teams have tremendous defenses (allow around 13 PPG). Oregon offense much more explosive but Iowa has demonstrated a tendency to slow prolific scoring teams down in Iowa City. Hawkeyes are a sweet 21-3 SU in November and won 17 of their last 20 at home. We'll stay on mudder QB Gronowski (11 rushing TDs) and Iowa. 

Iowa State/TCU 3:30: We won't discount Iowa State and Matt Campbell. They are on an 0-4 slide but by 8 points or less. QB Rocco Becht we still believe in. And the RBs Hansen (613 rush yards) and Sana (558) surely help out. Iowa State a strong 10-1 ATS as dogs of more than 3 points off SU/ATS loss. Iowa State the call. 

Temple/Army Noon: Never like going against Army but this one may be justified. K.C. Keller, who did an amazing job at Sam Houston State while there, is apparently doing the same at Temple. The Owls are 4-0 ATS as a traveler and Keller is 2-0 vs service academies. He and the Owls covered vs Navy earlier this year. With the road team 4-1 ATS in this series, we'll look for Temple to stay within the number. 

Houston/UCF 8:00: Houston further along in the development of their program under HC Fritz. Both teams coming off demoralizing losses. Last week, uncharacteristic sloppy play (4 turnovers) by the Cougars cost them the game. Look for Fritz to clean things up this week. Weigman is a more polished QB than his counterpart Tayven Jackson. Defensively, Houston has a ton of experience but not great coordination from new DC. Nevertheless, I expect Houston to deliver. 

Kent State/Ball State 7:00:Kent State coming off a big upset of Bowling Green; however, I'm not putting a lot of stock into it. BG really struggling with their QB situation right now. Other than that they've beaten losing DI FCS transitioning team and an 0-8 U Mass team. Ball State is undefeated at home including beating the class of the MAC Ohio U. We'll grab the Cardinals here.  

U Mass/Akron 7:00: Akron is not an offensive juggernaut nor are they stout on the defensive end; however, they're facing the worst team in the NCAA and should deliver another win. The Zips are coming off an impressive road win at Buffalo as a 10-point pup on October 25th. Zips' QB Finley (13/7 TD/INT) should improve his stats against one of the worst defenses in the NCAA that allow 36 PPG. On the other hand, U Mass offense also at the bottom of the NCAA in offense scoring a paltry 11.5 PPG. Zips' defense is yielding but they did snatch 4 interceptions at Buffalo on the 25th. The Zips are 6-1 AT with rest off a SU win. Go Zips!

Georgia/Florida 3:30: Both teams coming off wins and a bye week. Georgia is on a 3-0 SU/ATS roll after dropping to Alabama September 27th. Florida barely snuck by Mississippi State and then fired their coach - Napier. Wide receiver's coach - Billy Gonzalez takes over as the interim coach. A lot of times a new mid-season coach can provide new energy and enthusiasm. We've already seen it a few times this year with UCLA, UAB, and even Penn State is covering. But Georgia eyeing CFP and don't believe HC Smart will allow any slip ups. Georgia has dominated this series winning 7 of the last 8 SU, including 4-0 SU/ATS at The Swamp. This one is at a neutral site in Jacksonville. Both defenses are staunch but Georgia offense much more efficient with Gunner Stockton. Stockton has accounted for 17 TDs (10 passing/7 rush), 1553 yards passing with just 1 INT in 200 attempts. Much hyped DJ Lagway never lived up to his billing - with 9 TD but also 9 INTs. Florida run game not strong enough to put a dent in the Georgia run stop unit (12th nationally). We'll lay the TD.  

Vanderbilt/Texas Noon: With the arrival of QB Pavia, the Commodores have gone 14-6 ATS including 6-2 ATS on the road. They've already beaten two Top 15 teams this season. Last season, they snuck up on a lot of SEC teams; this year, they expect to win these big SEC games. This is a veteran team with 19 experienced starters and lots of returning production from last year's bowl winning team that is well connected. On the other hand, Texas not thoroughly in unison as a team. Manning in concussion protocol but most likely will get the nod over Caldwell. Longhorns' offensive line hasn't protected Manning that well (2.2 sacks a game). The Vandy tenacious defense sacks QBs at a 2.6 rate per game this season. With 27-24 revenge in mind from last season's loss in Nashville, we'll look for Vandy to get er done today. 

Miami-Fla/SMU Noon: SMU has lots of injuries, but second level players well coached in Lashlee's regime. They're coming off their worst offensive performance of the season last week at WF yet still had a chance to win the game. SMU defense kept them in the game. The Mustangs' defense is yielding but allows a respectable 21 PPG. They have a ball hawking secondary and can get after the passer (7th and 8th in nation, respectively). Miami-Fla QB Beck has shown his vulnerability to good secondaries that can rush the passer (Louisville). On the other hand, SMU QB Jennings is solid running the offense in his second season at the helm. Look for a more polished performance at home from him today. Mustangs are 10-1 ATS at home in conference games against greater than .600 opposition. SMU the call. 

Army/Air Force Noon: Both teams know each other's systems (triple option) and both are atop the NCAA in rushing yards. But defensively is where they separate. Army allows 24 PPG where AF allows 37. Army's QB Hellums starting to run the offense smoothly. The Black Knights' offense also at the top of the NCAA in fewest penalties. Army 4-2 SU/5-1 ATS in this series and we'll look for them to keep it rolling. 

UTEP/Kennesaw State 8:00: UTEP coming off blowout of lightweight Sam Houston; however, can't trust the Miners here. They're 0-6 ATS on weekdays off a double-digit SU win. They're now taking on a revenge minded Owls team that's 5-1 ATS at home. Owls lost in OT last year to the Miners in El Paso. This season, new HC Jerry Mack - brought in a strong transfer class and found their QB in Amari Odom behind a solid offensive line. Mack has them rolling in the right direction. The Miners, however, are struggling badly offensively with poor QB play. And newly inserted Skyler Locklear hasn't done much better guiding a turnover laden (15 turnovers) offense. We'll roll with the Owls.