College Football: 2017 Taxslayer Gator Bowl Odds And Prediction

JACKSONVILLE, FL – JANUARY 01: A general view from high in the stadium as the Florida State Seminoles take on the West Virginia Mountaineers during the Konica Minolta Gator Bowl on January 1, 2010 at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida. Florida State defeated West Virginia 33-21 in Bobby Bowden’s last game as a head coach for the Seminoles. (Photo by Doug Benc/Getty Images) /

2017 Taxslayer Gator Bowl Odds And Prediction

We are down to the last nine bowl games. Five of them are part of the Big Six. This one is not, but the Taxslayer Gator Bowl promises to be an interesting one. They may have taken the Gator out of the name, but this will always be the Gator Bowl to me. No matter what advertising feces they smear on it.

More from College Football Odds

For the rest of the bowl season, you will get my picks against the spread and point wagers just like I did all season long. I had a solid regular season, but I can make it look a whole lot better with a strong bowl season!

Just in case you missed any:
R+L Carriers New Mexico Bowl
Autonation Cure Bowl
Las Vegas Bowl
Gildan New Mexico Bowl
Raycom Camellia Bowl
Cheribundi Tart Cherry Boca Raton Bowl
DXL Frisco Bowl
Bad Boy Mowers Gasparilla Bowl
Bahamas Bowl
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
Birmingham Bowl
Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl
Dollar General Bowl
Hawaii Bowl
Zaxby’s Heart Of Dallas Bowl
Quick Lane Bowl
Cactus Bowl
Walk On’s Independence Bowl
New Era Pinstripe Bowl
Foster Farms Bowl
Academy Sports And Outdoors Texas Bowl
Northrup Grumman Military Bowl
Camping World Bowl
Valero Alamo Bowl
San Diego County Credit Union Holiday Bowl
Belk Bowl
Hyundai Sun Bowl
Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl
Nova Home Loans Arizona Bowl
Goodyear Cotton Bowl

STARKVILLE, MS – NOVEMBER 23: Aeris Williams #22 of the Mississippi State Bulldogs carries the ball as he tries to elude the pursuit of DeMarquis Gates #3 of the Mississippi Rebels during the first half of an NCAA football game at Davis Wade Stadium on November 23, 2017 in Starkville, Mississippi. (Photo by Butch Dill/Getty Images) /

Louisville(-6.5) vs. Mississippi State at Jacksonville, FL(2):

Louisville 8-4, 4-4 (t-5th ACC):

Wins: vs. Purdue(35-28), at North Carolina(47-35), vs. Kent State(42-3), vs. Murray State(55-10), at Florida State(31-28), vs. Virginia(38-21), vs. Syracuse(56-10), at Kentucky(44-17)

Losses: vs. (3)Clemson(21-47), at (24)North Carolina State(25-39), vs. Boston College(42-45), at Wake Forest(32-42)

Record vs. bowl teams: 3-4

Lamar Jackson is still one of the most electrifying players in College Football. So why didn’t he win the Heisman? Because ESPN stopped pumping him after losses to Boston College and NC State early in the conference schedule. It is true that Jackson is better than he was last year. He will no longer lose the game for you by himself. The maturation of Jackson was evident this year, but he didn’t have a whole lot around him. Particularly on the defensive side of the ball. Jackson threw for 3,489 yards and ran for 1,443 more while accounting for 42 touchdowns. He is what makes this team go.

Mississippi State 8-4, 4-4 (t-6th SEC):

Wins: vs. Charleston Southern(49-0), at Louisiana Tech(57-21), vs. (12)LSU(37-7), vs. BYU(35-10), vs. Kentucky(45-7), at Texas A&M(35-14), vs. Massachusetts(34-23), at Arkansas(28-21)

Losses: at (11)Georgia(3-31), at (13)Auburn(10-49), vs. (2)Alabama(24-31), vs. Mississippi(28-31)

Record vs. bowl teams: 4-3

This would be a great matchup if Nick Fitzgerald were able to play, but he dislocated his ankle in the first quarter of the Egg Bowl. Keytaon Thompson was solid in relief, but this was obviously not the same team. Most of this is going to fall to Aeris Williams. Williams could have a big day against the Louisville defense, but will they get enough out of Thompson to hang around?

Prediction:

The only player(s) that Mississippi State faced that might be as dynamic as Jackson were the rushing attacks of Georgia and Auburn. Neither of those ended well. Louisville’s defense isn’t good enough to turn this into a rout, but I don’t really see how the Bulldogs hang within single digits. I’m also comfortable taking the over on 63.5.

Pick: Louisville

Next: 2017 Capital One Bowl Mania Picks

Stay tuned for the rest of the bowl picks against the spread, and our DFS picks for the NBA, NFL, and even some NHL action! We have something for everyone