College Football: Picking 40 bowl games against the spread
By Brad Rowland
Music City Bowl – Louisville (-5) over Texas A&M
Woof. This game isn’t going to be fun, and I don’t like either side. Give me the Cardinals because of the exodus of Texas A&M quarterbacks in recent days. Let me emphasize, though, that I wouldn’t touch this game in any form or fashion, especially after it moved nearly a touchdown following the Kyler Murray transfer announcement.
Holiday Bowl – Wisconsin (+3) over USC
Nobody likes Wisconsin in this spot, meaning that I absolutely do. The Trojans are clearly the public side with more than 80% of the action, but the line appears deadlocked at three, and Wisconsin is the right side in my view given the extra bit of candy. This isn’t your traditional Badgers team that dominates on the ground, but they are capable of holding USC down with strong defense and Wisconsin will make enough plays to hold on for the cover and what I believe will be an outright win.
Peach Bowl – Florida State (-7) over Houston
I’m sorry, Houston.
Florida State should have a healthy (and motivated) Dalvin Cook for this game, and the Cougars are simply overmatched from a talent perspective. I have been a proponent of Houston’s overall talent and the great work of Tom Herman throughout the season, but unless you are giving me double-digits on the field, I have to take the ‘Noles in Atlanta.
Outback Bowl – Northwestern (+8.5) over Tennessee
No one believes that Northwestern is a good college football team, despite the fact that they finished with double-digit wins. To be honest, I am kind of on board with that theory, but the Wildcats do boast a legitimate defense, and with this number sitting at more than seven points, I can’t take Tennessee.
The Vols would be my pick to win outright, but Northwestern mucks this one up enough where I expect a close game in either direction.
Next: Citrus, Fiesta, Rose, Sugar