“I’m going to buy them their Christmas turkey”
“Buy? Do you really mean buy?”
“Yes, buy! In the Spirit of Christmas. The hard part’s going to be stealing the money to pay for it.”Sorry this is a day late.
I've given up with the dumb names of the bowls, using only initials until we get further up the food chain.
no clue on this quote... also have had no clue when it comes to the bowls so far this year...
THURSDAY, 12/20
BBG BOWL – TAMPA FLA.
(8-4) MARSHALL -3
(7-5) SOUTH FLORIDA
gasparilla bowl. home game for usf. bulls began the season 7-0 but have now lost 5 straight, giving up 245/game on the ground. herd is 11-1 su/ats in bowls since '98. marshall.
FRIDAY, 12/21
MWB BOWL – NASSAU-BAHAMAS (NICE JOINT FOR A BOWL GAME)(8-4) FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL
(7-5) TOLEDO -4.5
despite ohio u's impressive win last night, the mac still underperforms in the post-season (8-16 ats when allowing 26+/game). this game opened toledo -7 so most of the $$ has been on fiu. in a game where i think there'll be plenty of points, 4.5 is still too many to give. florida int'l.
FIP BOWL – BOISE, ID(6-6) BYU -12
(7-5) WESTERN MICHIGAN
the cougars impressed me early in the season but byu finished winning just 3 of their last 8. kind of surprised they're this big a favorite, especially after losing su/ats their last 4 bowls. wmu is 4-1 ats as double digit ooc dogs. western michigan.
SATURDAY, 12/22
JB BOWL – BIRMINGHAM, AL(6-6) WAKE FOREST
(8-5) MEMPHIS -3.5
1st time these two have played each other in 50 years. rb darrell henderson has been a stud for the tigers, gaining 1900+ and averaging 8.9/carry. pretty big accomplishment for wake to make a bowl after losing 13 players to season-ending injuries. both run the ball well and can't stop opponents. but with the deacons playing the tougher schedule, and memphis just 1-12-1 su vs the acc.... wake forest.
LMAF BOWL – FT. WORTH, TX(8-4) HOUSTON
(10-2) ARMY -4.5
before last year, the cadets had won 10 games in a season just once. it now totals 3. so a win here would mean the most ever. army averages 303/game on the ground and is #1 in time of possession in the country, and allows just 18 pts/game (15th in the nation). the cougars are 129th in time of possession, but 4th in scoring (49.4/game). so can speed overcome methodical? imho no. houston's best d-lineman (ed oliver) is sitting out the game, and their 3 other top d-linemen are banged up, as is qb d'eriq king. cfb nerd stat alert: the military schools are 33-13 ats in bowls since '81. army.
DG BOWL – MOBILE, AL(10-3) SUNY-BUFFALO -2
(9-3) TROY
buffalo enters off a crushing mac title game loss, blowing a 19 pt 3rd qtr lead to northern illinois in a 30-29 defeat. i like their qb (tyree jackson), a big kid who threw for nearly 2900 yds. troy has now won 30 games the last 3 years but lost their qb, kaleb barker to a torn acl in october. sun belt bowl dogs are 15-6-1 ats since '05; the trojans are 9-3-2 ats of late getting points. add in the better defense.... troy.
SOH BOWL - HONOLULU(7-5) LOUISIANA TECH
(8-5) HAWAII -1
off a 3-9 2017 and with just 8 starters back, not many saw hawaii having this good a 2018. after starting 6-1, though, the offense slipped back from 467/game to 362/game the 2nd half of the season, and during that stretch the rainbow warriors' defense allowed foes to run for 264/game. tech's offense is mediocre, but their d is better than hawaii's. plus tech is 5-1 su/ats in bowls since '08, and 48-24-1 ats getting points. louisiana tech.
WEDNESDAY, 12/26
SPFR BOWL – DALLAS TX(7-5) BOSTON COLLEGE
(10-3) #25 BOISE STATE -2
17th straight bowl game for boise state. bsu qb brett rypien has had a fantastic career (13,500+ passing) but he'll be facing a rock-solid bc defense that led the nation in interceptions. i think the eagles' star rb a.j. dillon will be healed up from an ankle injury that hobbled him in november. boston college.
QL BOWL – DETROIT, MI(6-6) MINNESOTA
(7-5) GEORGIA TECH -5
the last game for underrated ga tech coach paul johnson. even w/a month to prep, the gophers will have a lot to handle defending that option attack. since losing their best rb, the jackets have rotated fb's and both ended the season w/800+ yds rushing. gophers were up and down this year, but w/wins over purdue and an season ending upset at wisconsin, p.j. fleck will have his team up. they have a real good wr in tyler johnson, and tech's pass d is not good. big 10 bowl dogs are 5-0 ats vs acc foes, and the jackets are just 1-6 ats in bowl games after losing to rival georgia. i think tech wins, but minnesota covers.
CI BOWL - PHOENIX, AZ(6-6) TEXAS CHRISTIAN PK
(7-5) CALIFORNIA PK
who would have thought that in a tcu-cal match up that cal might actually have the better defense in this copper, no, bw3, no, insight, no, cactus, no, cheez-it... now that it!... bowl. frogs lost their starting qb mid-season, and have struggled thru injuries all season. but their d is still good, holding foes to 98 yds below their season average. but the bears are holding opponents to 103 below their season average, w/20 sacks in the last 6 games, including a win over washington. one bad trend for the left coast; w/arizona state's loss, the pac 12 is now 4-12 su/2-14 ats in bowls since the '16 season. but i'll roll the dice on the bears.
