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BattleFrog Fiesta Bowl Odds & Prediction

By Mike Marteny

Nov 28, 2015; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes running back Ezekiel Elliott (15) receives congratulations from offensive lineman Taylor Decker (68) in the third quarter against the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 28, 2015; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes running back Ezekiel Elliott (15) receives congratulations from offensive lineman Taylor Decker (68) in the third quarter against the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Here is the pick against the spread for the BattleFrog Fiesta Bowl!

We have finally made it to the New Year’s Six Bowls! Unfortunately, that means that bowl season is nearing an end. Have your Bowl Mania picks been destroyed by upsets? Luckily you can still find places to play against the spread! I will continue with my picks until the very end. I am doing well in the points system, but I think I am struggling against the spread during bowl time. I am about six games behind, so maybe it gets better!

More from College Football Odds

In case you missed how the point scale works, here is a brief rundown:

5. A lock. I am comfortable making a sizable wager on this game.

4. Very confident. Not quite a lock, but I am comfortable making a decent sized wager on it.

3. Middle of the road. Good enough that I would make a small wager on it.

2. Could go either way. So much so that I wouldn’t bet on it.

1. Stay away from these.

Just in case you missed any:

Now for the BattleFrog Fiesta Bowl! Really, Tostitos? You couldn’t save us from this?

Notre Dame vs. Ohio State(-5.5) at Glendale, AZ(2):

Notre Dame(10-2)

Wins: vs. Texas(38-3), at Virginia(34-27), vs. Georgia Tech(30-22), vs. Massachusetts(62-27), vs. Navy(41-24), vs. USC(41-31), at Temple(24-20), at Pittsburgh(42-30), vs. Wake Forest(28-7), vs. Boston College(19-16)

Losses: at Clemson(22-24), at Stanford(36-38)

Record vs. bowl teams: 4-2

Ohio State(11-1, 7-1):

Wins: at Virginia Tech(42-24), vs. Hawaii(38-0), vs. Northern Illinois(20-13), vs. Western Michigan(38-12), at Indiana(34-27), vs. Maryland(49-28), vs. Penn State(38-10), at Rutgers(49-7), vs. Minnesota(28-14), at Illinois(28-3), at Michigan(42-13)

Losses: vs. Michigan State(14-17)

Record vs. bowl teams: 7-1

No team in recent memory was able to survive all of the injuries that Notre Dame did. Baylor’s mish-mash in the bowl game was close, but Notre Dame had to do it for most of the season. And they survived with a total of two losses by four combined points. This team is one of the most tested just because of what they survived this year. That said, most of their “big” wins didn’t look so big by the end of the year. Does that make their season any less impressive? Probably not.

Ohio State’s musical quarterbacks concept limited their offense for much of the early part of the season. They narrowly escaped Northern Illinois, and likely wouldn’t have escaped Indiana had injuries not ravaged the Hoosiers in the second half. Their destruction of Michigan in the Big House quieted the doubters who ripped them after losing to a Michigan State team with a backup quarterback.

Ezekiel Elliot’s arrest will not affect his bowl status, but you know the NCAA…….they only punish when it suits them. Taking one of Ohio State’s best pieces away from a matchup against Notre Dame is not in their best interest.

Ohio State is a different – and better – team with J.T. Barrett at quarterback. Now that the Buckeyes have committed to him, it has opened up the offense. Notre Dame’s defense is good enough to given them some problems, but the same holds true for Ohio State. They didn’t give up more than 28 points in a game all year, which is unheard of in this day and age of college football. That gives them a decided advantage, but will the Buckeyes step up for this game?

My pick: Ohio State

Next: The Picks For Every Bowl Game!

Stay tuned for the picks of every bowl game against the spread!