2018 Northrup-Grumman Military Bowl Odds And Prediction

ANNAPOLIS, MD – DECEMBER 27: The Cincinnati Bearcats offense lines up against the Virginia Tech Hokies defense during the first half of the 2014 Military Bowl at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium on December 27, 2014 in Annapolis, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /

2018 Northrup-Grumman Military Bowl Odds And Prediction

We are finally up to New Year’s Eve with our bowl picks. We have six bowl games for our New Year’s Eve, the most of any day so far this bowl season. It kicks off with the Nothrup-Grumman Military Bowl. It just doesn’t feel right not seeing a military academy in this game!

More from College Football Odds

It was a rough weekend no matter what. I at least hoped Oklahoma would put up a fight. Despite Alabama not covering, Oklahoma was never really in that game.

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
Valero Alamo Bowl
Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl
Belk Bowl
Nova Home Loans Arizona Bowl
Goodyear Cotton Bowl
Capital One Orange Bowl

BLACKSBURG, VA – NOVEMBER 3: Quarterback Ryan Willis #5 of the Virginia Tech Hokies throws against the Boston College Eagles in the first half at Lane Stadium on November 3, 2018 in Blacksburg, Virginia. (Photo by Michael Shroyer/Getty Images) /

Cincinnati(-6.5) vs. Virginia Tech at Annapolis, MD(3):

Cincinnati 10-2, 6-2(3rd AAC East)

Wins: at UCLA(26-17), at Miami(OH)(21-0), at Alabama A&M(63-7), vs. Ohio(43-30), at Connecticut(49-7), vs. Tulane(37-21), at SMU(26-20), vs. Navy(42-0), vs. South Florida(35-23), vs. East Carolina(56-6)

Losses: at Temple(17-24), at Central Florida(13-38)

Record vs. bowl teams: 3-2

Show of hands: how many of you actually realize that Cincinnati won ten games? How many of you realized that Cincinnati only played five bowl bound teams? That is going to cause some people to move off of the Bearcats here, and that’s fine with me.

The Cincinnati defense was as tough as usual, but the difference this year was the offense. True freshman Desmond Ridder took over in the Ohio game, and this offense really good off after that. The strong play of Ridder really opened things up for Michael Warren and the run game.

Virginia Tech 6-6, 4-4(t-3rd ACC Coastal):

Wins: vs. Florida State(24-3), vs. William And Mary(62-17), at Duke(31-14), at North Carolina(22-19), vs. Virginia(34-31), vs. Marshall(41-20)

Losses: at Old Dominion(35-49), vs. Notre Dame(23-45), vs. Georgia Tech(28-49), vs. Boston College(21-31), at Pittsburgh(22-52), vs. Miami(FL)(14-38)

Record vs. bowl teams: 3-5

The wheels really fell off when Josh Jackson got hurt, but Jackson doesn’t play defense. And it ‘s not like Kansas transfer Ryan Willis didn’t play well. He did. The defense was gouged deep by Old Dominion, and ACC foes made a living off of it for much of the conference season. The Hokies won two games they probably had no business winning to even get into this game. Strangely enough, that is part of what has me lowering this bet.

Prediction:

This game is in Annapolis, so it’s a relatively short trip from Blacksburg. For Hokies fans that thought the bowl streak was over, they are going to show up in force here to support their team. It’s going to be almost like a road crowd for the Bearcats.

Cincinnati is one of the more balanced teams on both sides of the ball that I’ve seen this year. The Hokie defense has had issues, and the Cincinnati offense is built to take advantage. On paper, Cincy could run off with this. If it were in a mostly neutral location, I would bet more on this. Virginia Tech does scare me though with the way they closed the year.

Pick: Cincinnati

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!