Many college football fans and detractors claim there are too many bowl games. It’s a sentiment I never agree with, but I can understand why they feel that way. It wasn’t. If you’re home on a Tuesday afternoon and looking for something to see, they will.
But even if you feel that way, you have to admit you’re in the sweet spot for bowl season. The Power Five conference is in full swing this week with multiple games each day. The college football playoff semifinals aren’t until Saturday night, but there are plenty of games going through beforehand, so you’d better bet on them.
All odds courtesy of Caesars Sportsbook.
game of the week
No. 6 Tennessee Against No.7 Clemson
Featured games | | Clemson Tigers vs. Tennessee Volunteers
Orange Bowl — Friday, December 30: The first New Year’s Six Bowl kicks off Friday night in Miami with the two orange teams. It’s the orange bowl that’s as orange as possible, because Clemson’s bright oranges collide with Tennessee’s creamy oranges. Hopefully both teams will come out in all orange uniforms and make things fun and confusing.
What I don’t expect is as many points as the total indicates. Neither team has a starting quarterback. Tigers fans have been asking for Cade Krabnik for most of the season, and now they have him. Vols fans aren’t so happy. I don’t expect either attack to flourish. Clemson’s aggression problem is much more serious than DJ Uiagarelai’s and is not solved by him. absenceAnd Milton has one of the strongest arms you’ll ever see. Tennessee 28, Clemson 27 | Less than 63.5
No. 12 Washington Against No.20 texas
Featured games | | Washington Huskies vs. Texas Longhorns
Alamo Bowl — Thursday, December 29: The Texas is a $200,000 sports car powered by the engine from your mom’s 2014 Subaru Outback. You can go anywhere you want, and it seems like you could go faster, but when you start accelerating to 80mph, the whole cabin vibrates. For some reason, Longhorns are too often overrated in the market, not the sum of their parts. Here is another example.
With Dork Walker winner Bijan Robinson and fellow running back Roshon Johnson opting out, the Longhorns will lose their best player and key contributor. His linebacker DeMarvion Overshawn is also not in the game. Meanwhile, Washington has brought back quarterback Michael Pennix, who is seen as a candidate for Heisman next season. Given Texas’ consistent underperformance and lack of key players, it’s hard to trust the Horns as a favorite here, is it? Washington 38, Texas 35 | Washington +3
rock of the week
No. 13 Florida versus. Oklahoma
Featured games | | Florida State Seminoles vs. Oklahoma Sooners
Cheez-It Bowl — Thursday, December 29: There is a massive Florida bandwagon this offseason filled with people saying the Seminoles could win the ACC next season and make it to the college football playoffs. I wouldn’t say I’m the one pushing the bandwagon, but I’m going to ride it and speak up. This is a program headed in the right direction and poised to take advantage of the ACC without a dominant program for next season.
Oklahoma had a tough year in his first season under coach Brent Venables. Like the Seminoles, I expect the Sooners to do better next year, but not in this game. Florida State is a much better team and that should be evident over his 60 minutes. It’s not going to be a flop, but I don’t think the Sooners are actually going to win. Florida 38, Oklahoma 24 | Florida -9.5
over of the week
No. 15 Oregon versus. north carolina
Featured games | | North Carolina Tar Heels vs. Oregon Ducks
Holiday Bowl — Wednesday, December 28: There are questions about North Carolina’s offense heading into this game, as offensive coordinator Phil Longo left to do the same job as Luke Fickel’s staff. WisconsinThe Tar Heels are going to face the Oregon defense, so don’t worry. And whatever the Heels lost to playcaller offense, they gave it all back to players missing from the worst defense in the country all season.
Oregon and the Bownix will take advantage of offensive coordinator Kenny Dillingham, even if he becomes head coach. ArizonaIt’s hard to imagine many defensive stops in this game and I don’t want to. As long as these two teams play similarly throughout the season, this can easily be cashed in. Oregon 48, North Carolina 34 | 75+
this week’s under
Minnesota versus. Syracuse
Featured games | | Minnesota Golden Gophers vs. Syracuse Orange
Pinstripe Bowl — Thursday, December 29: Syracuse may be remembered as the team that started 6-0 and climbed to 14th in the AP Top 25 before the floor fell out from under it. The Orange lost five straight before ending the regular season with a win. In fact, Syracuse have not been as good as suggested in his 6–0 start, nor have they been as bad as during their five-game losing streak. It’s an okay team. However, it will be reduced for this bowl game. Top his rusher Sean his Tucker, his most reliable offensive piece on the team, has opted out.
It’s bad against Syracuse’s offense, but it’s good against the underside. The Minnesota offense loves to move the ball and is in no rush to start the next play. Minnesota is a strong team in this matchup, but requiring the Gophers that he covers 10 points is a bit of an overkill. Under is the way to go. Minnesota 24, Syracuse 14 | Under 42
wagon of the week
Ohio versus. wyoming
Featured games | | Wyoming Cowboys vs. Ohio Bobcats
Arizona Bowl — Friday, December 30: If you don’t want to follow me here, don’t follow me. It’s a game of numbers, but it’s also a game of loyalty. Thank you very much for your help in the 2022 season. The Bobcats’ rough start to the season had a significant impact on how they were viewed in the market. It took the market too long to catch up to the fact that this Bobcats team was much better than expected, as MAC programs rarely get the limelight. But I made it happen and was a happy passenger who rode 8 straight covers (averaging 14.2 points).
Sadly, the market has finally caught up. In Ohio he’s October and he’s not worth as much as November, but he still has meat on his bones. If this was the regular season and I had 60 games to choose from, I wouldn’t have included it in the six pack. Good enough for bowl week though. Given all that Bobcat has done for me in 2022, this is the least I can give. Ohio 23, Wyoming 17 | Ohio -1
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