
The Bowl Season kicks off this weekend. It’s going to be fun. Of the 40 Bowls, 37 are expected to be within one score or less.
Five games are on tap today starting with:
New Orleans Bowl – Troy -6.5 vs North Texas – Two teams are attempting to finish off great seasos with one more win. After a loss to Iowa in week 2 UNT lost only two more times. Both to Lane Kiffin’s CUSA champ Florida Atlantic.
Troy is the team that beat LSU and ended up co-champ in the Fun Belt.
Both teams are led by up and coming head coaches. North Texas’ Seth Latrell and Troy’s Neal Brown (Sun Belt COY) names should be surfacing on the Coaching Carousel starting next year
North Texas is an offensive dynamo, averaging 467 yards per game. CUSA Player of the Year QB Mason Fine leads the charge. He’s small at 5-10 180 but he is getting some looks by NFL scouts. By the time the game ends he will have 4,000 passing yards on the season.
He’ll be facing a Troy defense that led college football in red zone defense. The Trojans allowed only 23 scores on 39 drives from inside the 20. They will keep the heat on Fine as they have 101 tackles for loss including 36 sacks.
A key player form the Green Mean offense is questionable. Explosive RB Jeffrey Wilson (1,215 yards, 16 TDs) broke his foot and is not expected to play. The line went from 4.5 to 6.5 on the news.
Meanwhile 5 Troy players, including 2 starting WRs and 2 starting DBs are suspended for the game for undisclosed reasons.
I’m still going to go with the Trojans. The defense is one of the best in the Group of 5 and they have an outstanding KT in Marcus Jones. He cost me a quatloo in the Sun Belt championship with a last second TD.
It’s 4 year starter Troy QB Brandon Silvers last game. He’ll want to go out a winner and RB Jordan Chunn will look to set the Sun Belt rushing TD record. He needs just two more.
I’ll put a quatloo on the Trojans.
Five games are on tap today starting with:
New Orleans Bowl – Troy -6.5 vs North Texas – Two teams are attempting to finish off great seasos with one more win. After a loss to Iowa in week 2 UNT lost only two more times. Both to Lane Kiffin’s CUSA champ Florida Atlantic.
Troy is the team that beat LSU and ended up co-champ in the Fun Belt.
Both teams are led by up and coming head coaches. North Texas’ Seth Latrell and Troy’s Neal Brown (Sun Belt COY) names should be surfacing on the Coaching Carousel starting next year
North Texas is an offensive dynamo, averaging 467 yards per game. CUSA Player of the Year QB Mason Fine leads the charge. He’s small at 5-10 180 but he is getting some looks by NFL scouts. By the time the game ends he will have 4,000 passing yards on the season.
He’ll be facing a Troy defense that led college football in red zone defense. The Trojans allowed only 23 scores on 39 drives from inside the 20. They will keep the heat on Fine as they have 101 tackles for loss including 36 sacks.
A key player form the Green Mean offense is questionable. Explosive RB Jeffrey Wilson (1,215 yards, 16 TDs) broke his foot and is not expected to play. The line went from 4.5 to 6.5 on the news.
Meanwhile 5 Troy players, including 2 starting WRs and 2 starting DBs are suspended for the game for undisclosed reasons.
I’m still going to go with the Trojans. The defense is one of the best in the Group of 5 and they have an outstanding KT in Marcus Jones. He cost me a quatloo in the Sun Belt championship with a last second TD.
It’s 4 year starter Troy QB Brandon Silvers last game. He’ll want to go out a winner and RB Jordan Chunn will look to set the Sun Belt rushing TD record. He needs just two more.
I’ll put a quatloo on the Trojans.
Cure Bowl – Western Kentucky -6.5 vs Georgia State – You would have been wise to stay away from these teams from a betting perspective. Combines, these teams were 6-17 against the spread.
And both teams look like they are coming out of the bar at closing time. Western Kentucky has stumbled losing four of their last five while Georgia State has lost 2 of three.
Want to see some of the futility? Check out this hilarious punt by Western Kentucky
And both teams look like they are coming out of the bar at closing time. Western Kentucky has stumbled losing four of their last five while Georgia State has lost 2 of three.
Want to see some of the futility? Check out this hilarious punt by Western Kentucky

That has to be the worst fake punt of all time.
Ok, these teams did have their moments. They made a bowl after all.
Western Kentucky QB Mike White finished 9th in passing offense and led the Sun Belt in total offense behind 3,826 yards passing with 24 TDs against only seven picks. He ran for another six TDs too.
But they are one dimensional. The Hilltoppers hasn’t rushed for 100 yards in six straight games.
Georgia State’s WR Penny Hart is the best player on the field. He is a legit NFL prospect with 1,094 yards receiving and 8 TDs in just 11 games. He hurt his foot against Idaho in the final game of the season. News of the injury too the line from +5 to +6.5. He will play but may be hobbled.
I’m going to take the Hilltoppers. They know how to win bowl games. They are just one of 8 teams that have won bowls in three straight seasons. Georgia state has never won a bowl game in their eight year history. In fact they have never had a winning season.
No quatloos though. Both teams suck ATS.

Las Vegas Bowl – Boise State +7.0 vs Oregon – This should be the second best Power 5 vs Group of 5 bowl game after Auburn vs Central Florida.
Oregon comes in on a tear. When QB Justin Hebert went out early in the season they averaged just 15 points per game and went 1-4. When he returned thay averaged 52 points per game and went 6-1. He’ll play.
But they game will be even more on his shoulder as star RB Royce Freeman decided to shkip the game and get ready for the Combine. Freeman had nearly 1,500 yards rushing and six consecutive games over 100 yards.
Oregon will also be without HC Willie Taggart who after only one season at the helm, bolting back to the Sunshine state to take over at FSU.
Boise State is once again solid. HC Bryan Harsin led the Broncos to their 3rd double digit winning season on four years. BSU is balanced as they were in the top 40 in scoring offense and defense.
QB Brett Rypien leads the way for the Bronco. He is efficient, hitting 63.5% of his passes and doesn’t make mistakes. He has only five picks on the season and only one in his last eight games.
But the Broncos are missing their best RB too. Alexander Matthison went out with an ankle injury against Fresno State in the MWC championship game. Matthison had over 1,000 yards on the season with 12 TDs.
Boise State might not make mistakes but Oregon does. They are the worst team in college ball for penalties getting flagged and average 12 times per game for 112 yards.
I expect Oregon to come out firing early. When Taggert left, the players petitioned for Mario Cristobel to get the job. He did. The Ducks will be out to prove they made the right choice.
It will be up to the Broncos to weather the storm. I think they will and keep the game close.
I’ll put a quatloo on Boise
Oregon comes in on a tear. When QB Justin Hebert went out early in the season they averaged just 15 points per game and went 1-4. When he returned thay averaged 52 points per game and went 6-1. He’ll play.
But they game will be even more on his shoulder as star RB Royce Freeman decided to shkip the game and get ready for the Combine. Freeman had nearly 1,500 yards rushing and six consecutive games over 100 yards.
Oregon will also be without HC Willie Taggart who after only one season at the helm, bolting back to the Sunshine state to take over at FSU.
Boise State is once again solid. HC Bryan Harsin led the Broncos to their 3rd double digit winning season on four years. BSU is balanced as they were in the top 40 in scoring offense and defense.
QB Brett Rypien leads the way for the Bronco. He is efficient, hitting 63.5% of his passes and doesn’t make mistakes. He has only five picks on the season and only one in his last eight games.
But the Broncos are missing their best RB too. Alexander Matthison went out with an ankle injury against Fresno State in the MWC championship game. Matthison had over 1,000 yards on the season with 12 TDs.
Boise State might not make mistakes but Oregon does. They are the worst team in college ball for penalties getting flagged and average 12 times per game for 112 yards.
I expect Oregon to come out firing early. When Taggert left, the players petitioned for Mario Cristobel to get the job. He did. The Ducks will be out to prove they made the right choice.
It will be up to the Broncos to weather the storm. I think they will and keep the game close.
I’ll put a quatloo on Boise

The Sheriff has made his picks for the season
Like a good QB, the Sheriff is going for a 70% completion percentage on this year’s Bowl games (hasn’t done it yet but maybe this is his year).
Central Florida (+9.5) vs Auburn. Central Florida will get one more win for Scott Frost before he heads to Nebraska.
Wyoming (PK) vs Central Michigan. Josh Allen gets one last win in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl before heading pro.
San Diego State (-7) vs Army. Hate to pick against Army after that wonderful win in the snow against Navy, but Rashaad Penny will run for +200 yards in this game.
Fresno State (+2.5) vs Houston. Jeff Tedford will finish a fantastic year for the Bulldogs with a win in the Hawaii Bowl.
Arizona (-3.5) vs Purdue. The Sheriff’s heart is with the Boilermakers, but his head is with Khalil Tate. He’s going with his head.
Arizona/Purdue (OVER 65.5). Betting the OVERS on Khalil Tate was a winner for the Sheriff all year.
Oklahoma State (-4.5) vs Va Tech. Mason Rudolph heads to Disney World after winning the Camping World Bowl in Orlando.
USC (+7.5) vs Ohio State. This line is too big, even for the hated Condoms. This game will be close.
Memphis (-3.5) vs Iowa State. Memphis closes out a pretty amazing season with a win at home in the Liberty Bowl.
Washington (+2) vs Penn State. The Huskies need a win in the Fiesta Bowl to redeem their season. Chris Petersen will have his team ready to play.
Like a good QB, the Sheriff is going for a 70% completion percentage on this year’s Bowl games (hasn’t done it yet but maybe this is his year).
Central Florida (+9.5) vs Auburn. Central Florida will get one more win for Scott Frost before he heads to Nebraska.
Wyoming (PK) vs Central Michigan. Josh Allen gets one last win in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl before heading pro.
San Diego State (-7) vs Army. Hate to pick against Army after that wonderful win in the snow against Navy, but Rashaad Penny will run for +200 yards in this game.
Fresno State (+2.5) vs Houston. Jeff Tedford will finish a fantastic year for the Bulldogs with a win in the Hawaii Bowl.
Arizona (-3.5) vs Purdue. The Sheriff’s heart is with the Boilermakers, but his head is with Khalil Tate. He’s going with his head.
Arizona/Purdue (OVER 65.5). Betting the OVERS on Khalil Tate was a winner for the Sheriff all year.
Oklahoma State (-4.5) vs Va Tech. Mason Rudolph heads to Disney World after winning the Camping World Bowl in Orlando.
USC (+7.5) vs Ohio State. This line is too big, even for the hated Condoms. This game will be close.
Memphis (-3.5) vs Iowa State. Memphis closes out a pretty amazing season with a win at home in the Liberty Bowl.
Washington (+2) vs Penn State. The Huskies need a win in the Fiesta Bowl to redeem their season. Chris Petersen will have his team ready to play.