This is the final day of college football bowl games until New Year’s Day. So let’s make it count.
We’ve got some traditional powers going head-to-head and today is the day that Florida State hits the field again after being snubbed from the College Football Playoff.
We went 1-3 in Friday’s games and that brings our college football bowl picks record to 15-17-1.
Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl
Ole Miss 10-2 vs. Penn State 10-2
- Friday, 11 a.m. ET, ESPN
- Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
- Line: Penn State -4.5; Over/Under 48.5
Penn State comes in with the best defense in the country. The Nittany Lions led the nation in fewest yards and first downs and had the most sacks. They allow 223.2 yards per game. They rank third by giving up 11.42 points.
The downside is that defensive coordinator Manny Diaz left to take the head coaching job at Duke.
Ole Miss counters with an up-tempo offense that’s designed to keep the ball and wear down defenses. The Rebels average 455.4 yards per game. Quarterback Jaxson Dart had 2,985 yards passing and 20 touchdowns. He ran for another 377 yards and seven TDs. Quinshon Judkinss rushed for 1,052 yards and 15 touchdowns.
The only time Dart wasn’t great this season came in games he played against the best defenses in the SEC, Alabama and Georgia. Statistically, Penn State’s defense is better.
This is a tough call. It sets up for a Penn State win, which we would take if the Nittany Lions could prove to be a better scoring team. We’re going to take Ole Miss and the points.
TransPerfect Music City Bowl
Auburn 6-6 vs. Maryland 7-5
- Friday, 3 p.m. ET, ESPN
- Nissan Stadium, Nashville
- Line: Auburn -6.5; Over/Under 47.5
Auburn comes in trying to get that Iron Bowl taste out. Maryland is looking for its third straight bowl win.
Maryland is looking for a replacement for quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa, yep he’s the brother of Tua with the Dolphins, who owns the Big Ten career passing yards mark at 11,356. Two players – Billy Edwards and Cameron Edge – will get their shot at QB.
Auburn’s Payton Thorne threw for 1,671 yards and 15 touchdowns and ran for 524 yards. Running back Jarquez Hunter leads the Tigers with 865 yards rushing and seven TDs.
Maryland is one of seven teams that had at least 30 sacks and 15 interceptions.
Auburn has lost three straight bowl games and seven of its last nine. So, the Tigers are due! We’ll go with Auburn in this one.
Capital One Orange Bowl
Florida State 13-0 vs. Georgia 12-1
- Friday, 5 p.m. ET, ESPN
- Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida
- Line: Georgia -20.5; Over/Under 44.5
There is a group of college football fans, let’s call them the anti-SEC faction, who have gone all-in on for allegiance to Florida State. They dream of seeing the Seminoles beat Georgia. Not just beat Georgia, but steamroll Georgia.
Alas, that group will likely not get their wish. If this was any other time in the history of college football, not today, when players can transfer without penalty, Florida State might have a puncher’s chance. But the transfer portal wiped out the Seminoles.
Georgia is at the top of the rankings on both sides of the ball. The hallmark of the team is defense and the Bulldogs have allowed 295.2 yards and given up 16.6 points per game.
Carson Beck leads an offense that averaged 482.9 yards per game. Beck completed 74% of his passes for 3,738 yards and 22 touchdowns. The one downside for Georgia is that All-American tight end Brock Bowers is out with an ankle injury.
Florida State scored 37 points per game, but that was before quarterback Jordan Travis went out with an injury. It also ranks as one of the best defenses in the country and only gave up 15.9 points. It gave up less than 20 points in its last nine games. But, that was before so many guys entered the portal.
It seems that everybody projects this game to be a rout. Georgia being mad that it lost to Alabama in the SEC championship game to stop a 29-game winning streak and Florida State reeling from not being invited to the Playoff and subsequent player exodus.
Still, 20.5 is a huge number. This might be a mistake, but while we think Georgia will win, we’ll take Florida State and the points.
Barstool Sports Arizona Bowl
Toledo 11-2 vs. Wyoming 8-4
- Friday, 5:30 p.m. ET, CW Network/Barstool
- Arizona Stadium, Tucson, Arizona
- Line: Wyoming -3.5; Over/Under 44.5
It’s always fun how they sneak in one of these “What’s that bowl again” bowls right in the middle of the good games.
Toledo has had an interesting season. The Rockets lost their first game and last game and won everything in between. They had a good run, but like a lot of schools their size, a good run means losing some of the best players.
Quarterback Dequan Finn and running back Peny Boone went intothe portal after the season, so the Rockets will rely on Tucker Gleason at quarterback and Jacquez Stuart at RB. Stewart ran for 475 yards and five touchdowns and will likely be the focus of the offense in this game.
Defense is Wyoming’s strength. The Cowboys were third in the Mountain West in total defense, run defense and second in pass defense.
We’re taking the Under in this game.