Fansided

2018 TaxSlayer Gator Bowl Odds And Prediction

By Mike Marteny

COLLEGE STATION, TX - AUGUST 30: Trayveon Williams #5 of the Texas A&M Aggies celebrates after scoring on a 73 yard touchdown run against the Northwestern State Demons during the first half of a football game at Kyle Field on August 30, 2018 in College Station, Texas. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
COLLEGE STATION, TX - AUGUST 30: Trayveon Williams #5 of the Texas A&M Aggies celebrates after scoring on a 73 yard touchdown run against the Northwestern State Demons during the first half of a football game at Kyle Field on August 30, 2018 in College Station, Texas. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images) /
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taxslayer gator bowl
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) /

2018 TaxSlayer Gator 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. The last one on New Year’s Eve is the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl

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
Northrup-Grumman Military Bowl
Hyundai Sun Bowl
Redbox Bowl
AutoZone Liberty Bowl

taxslayer gator bowl
RALEIGH, NC – NOVEMBER 25: Ryan Finley #15 of the North Carolina State Wolfpack reacts after scoring a touchdown against the North Carolina Tar Heels during their game at Carter Finley Stadium on November 25, 2017 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /

North Carolina State vs. (19)Texas A&M(-6.5) at Jacksonville, FL(3):

North Carolina State 9-3, 5-3(3rd ACC Atlantic)

Wins: vs. James Madison(24-13), vs. Georgia State(41-7), at Marshall(37-20), vs. Virginia(35-21), vs. Boston College(28-23), vs. Florida State(47-28), at Louisville(52-10), at North Carolina(34-28), vs. East Carolina(58-3)

Losses: at Clemson(7-41), at Syracuse(41-51), vs. Wake Forest(23-27)

Record vs. bowl teams: 3-3

Ryan Finley is one of the few that is playing in the bowl game in hopes of improving his draft stock. If he can have a strong game against A&M like he did pretty much every game this year, this can be an uncomfortable game for A&M. However, Finley will be without the services of leading receiver Kelvin Harmon, who is sitting out for the draft.

Jakobi Meyers still put up over 1,000 yards on the season, and Reggie Gallaspy could get more work as a result. Gallaspy ran for 349 of his 1,012 yards in the last two games of the season!

Texas A&M 8-4, 5-3(t-2nd SEC West):

Wins: vs. Northwestern State(59-7), vs. Louisiana-Monroe(48-10), vs. Arkansas(24-17), vs. Kentucky(20-14), at South Carolina(26-23), vs. Mississippi(38-24), vs. UAB(41-20), vs. LSU(74-72)

Losses: vs. Clemson(26-28), at Alabama(23-45), at Mississippi State(13-28), at Auburn(24-28)

Record vs. bowl teams: 4-4

This offense can run up points with anyone. Just ask LSU. Kellen Mond was very good all season, but Trayveon Williams is a game changer. The only real issue I see with A&M is the lack of a real threat on the outside.

A&M played both number 1 and number 2 this year. They almost beat Clemson and hung with Alabama for a while. Their record is a bit skewed because of it. A&M is one of the more dangerous four loss teams.

Prediction:

I wouldn’t be surprised if this game turned into a track meet. A&M would rather run the ball and play defense, but North Carolina State is going to try to spread this out. To me, the Texas A&M defense is just too tough for North Carolina State to consistently score on. This game stays pretty close, but probably not within seven.

Pick: Texas A&M

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!