Bowl Mania: 2018 Valero Alamo Bowl Odds And Prediction

SAN ANTONIO, TX – OCTOBER 11: A general view of the exterior of the Alamodome on October 11, 2017 in San Antonio, Texas. The Alamodome will host the 2018 men’s Final Four. It will be the fourth time the men’s Final Four has been played inside the Alamodome. (Photo by Maxx Wolfson/Getty Images) /

2018 Valero Alamo Bowl Odds And Prediction

Bowl season is finally upon us! We are right in the middle of this. After the Christmas break, we have at least three games per day through Saturday. The last game on Friday is also one of the more interesting. It is the Valero Alamo Bowl from somewhere a lot warmer than Washington or Iowa!

More from College Football Odds

I finally lost a couple of picks over the week, but overall, I’m still doing pretty well.

For the rest of the bowls, 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:
Autonation Cure Bowl
Progressive New Mexico Bowl
Mitsubishi Motors Las Vegas Bowl
Raycom Media Camellia Bowl
R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl
Cheribundi Boca Raton Bowl
DXL Frisco Bowl
Bad Boy Mowers Gasparilla Bowl
Makers Wanted Bahamas Bowl
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
Jared Birmingham Bowl
Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl
Dollar General Bowl
So-Fi Hawaii Bowl
ServPro First Responder Bowl
Quick Lane Bowl
Cheez-It Bowl
Walk On’s Independence Bowl
NewEra Pinstripe Bowl
Academy Sports + Outdoors Texas Bowl
Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl
Camping World Bowl

BOULDER, CO – NOVEMBER 10: Gardner Minshew II #16 of the Washington State Cougars throws against the Colorado Buffaloes in the first quarter at Folsom Field on November 10, 2018 in Boulder, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /

(24)Iowa State vs. (13)Washington State(-3.5) at San Antonio, TX(1):

Iowa State 8-4, 6-3(t-3rd Big 12(10)

Wins: vs. Akron(26-13), at Oklahoma State(48-42), vs. West Virginia(30-14), vs. Texas Tech(40-31), at Kansas(27-3), vs. Baylor(28-14), vs. Kansas State(42-38), vs. Drake(27-24)

Losses: at Iowa (3-13), vs. Oklahoma(27-37), at TCU(14-17), vs. Texas(10-24)

Record vs. bowl teams: 3-4

We have seen the Iowa State offense have trouble against good defenses even after Brock Purdy took over at quarterback. However, this offense is still a very dangerous unit with David Montgomery in the backfield. Hakeem Butler has taken over for arguably the best receiver in school history, Allen Lazard, without missing a beat. Tarique Milton and Deshaunte Jones are dangerous receivers as well.

I don’t know how much of a compliment it is saying that Iowa State has the best defense in the Big 12(10). This is a conference notorious for high powered offenses. Iowa State can score with you if they have to, but you get the feeling they would rather run with Montgomery and let their defense shut you down.

Washington State 10-2 7-3(2nd Pac 12 North):

Wins: at Wyoming(41-19), vs. San Jose State(31-0), vs. Eastern Washington(59-24), vs. Utah(28-24), at Oregon State(56-37), vs. Oregon(34-20), at Stanford(41-38), vs. California(19-13), at Colorado(31-7), vs. Arizona(69-28)

Losses: at USC(36-39), vs. Washington(15-28)

Record vs. bowl teams: 4-1

The controversial loss to USC ended up really costing Washington State. If they had the win in that game, the loss to Washington at home in a blizzard wouldn’t have mattered. They still would have won the conference.

Graduate transfer Gardner Minshew lit up the conference for 4,480 passing yards and 36 touchdowns. The receiving corps always have to be ready. Leading receiver Dezmon Patmon only had 740 yards. Three other receivers had more than 500 yards receiving, and this team throws to the backs out of the backfield. It’s tough to defend a team that throws to so many different receivers.

In what is a bit of an anomaly in a Mike Leach offense, James Williams actually ran for more than 500 yards and Max Borghi tacked on another 353 out of the backfield. This isn’t like the Texas Tech offenses that never ran the ball.

Prediction:

Iowa State has plenty of experience defending spread offenses playing every week in the Big 12(10). Leach has evolved over the years, but the core principles of the offense are about the same. That’s what has kept this spread down.

Some will look at this spread and wonder why it is relatively low at 56. Both teams are strong on defense, so this game could end up being lower scoring than most think. There will still be a ton of yards racked up on either side, but this will remain close. I don’t really feel comfortable betting the spread or the over/under on this one.

Pick: Iowa State

Next. ESPN Capital One Bowl Mania picks. dark

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!