College Football: Picking 40 bowl games against the spread

The Clemson Tigers celebrate after defeating the North Carolina Tar Heels 45-37 in the ACC football championship game at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joshua S. Kelly-USA TODAY Sports
The Clemson Tigers celebrate after defeating the North Carolina Tar Heels 45-37 in the ACC football championship game at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joshua S. Kelly-USA TODAY Sports /
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Appalachian State Mountaineers quarterback Taylor Lamb (11) looks to pass the ball during the first half against the Clemson Tigers at Clemson Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joshua S. Kelly-USA TODAY Sports
Appalachian State Mountaineers quarterback Taylor Lamb (11) looks to pass the ball during the first half against the Clemson Tigers at Clemson Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joshua S. Kelly-USA TODAY Sports /

Camellia Bowl – Appalachian State (-7.5) over Ohio

I don’t love the hook in this spot, but App State is simply the better team. The Mountaineers are (very) real offensively, and while Ohio is a nice story at 8-4, I don’t think they have the firepower to seriously compete. I would expect a scoring output in the 30s from App State, and that should be enough to cover even a substantial number.

Cure Bowl – Georgia State (+2) over San Jose State

The Georgia State Panthers probably have no business in a bowl game. The “other” team from Atlanta (sorry, Georgia Tech) needed an upset win over Georgia Southern to reach 6-6, but on the flip side, this is a team playing quite well as they approach the Cure Bowl. For me, this is a coin flip, but given the extra candy with Georgia State and a team that will be highly motivated, I’ll take the points. San Jose State simply isn’t very good.

New Orleans Bowl – Arkansas State (+2) Louisiana Tech

When in doubt, take the points. That is my entire explanation of this game, as both teams are frisky but I don’t have a firm lean. It’s better to be truthful with these things.

Miami Beach Bowl – Western Kentucky (-2.5) over South Florida

It appears that Las Vegas is giving USF a bit of a “home field advantage” in this spot, but I’m not buying it. I would probably lay up to a touchdown on WKU here, as I simply think they are the better team with the better quarterback. It isn’t as if you have to worry about the Hilltoppers not showing up focused for a game on national television, and I love me some Brandon Doughty. Lay the points.

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