College Football Bowl Picks 2022 Part Two (December 28-January 2)

The Bowl Season is well underway and there have been some quality post-season games for the fans and players to enjoy.

However, now the main events are fast approaching with the big New Year's Eve Bowl Games as well as the two College Football PlayOff Semi Final outings to line up the contenders for the National Championship, which will be decided next month.

Picks from the remaining Bowl Games will be added to this thread, Part Two, over the days ahead.

Wednesday 28th December

Oregon Ducks vs North Carolina Tar Heels Pick: There has been some big news for both of these schools ahead of this Bowl Game and that is both starting Quarter Backs are going to be returning in 2023. Things could change in the weeks ahead, but the Oregon Ducks (9-3) and North Carolina Tar Heels (9-4) will be feeling pretty good even if their 2022 seasons did not end in the manner they would have wanted.

At one stage both teams might have been thinking about the College Football PlayOffs, but Oregon lost two of their last three to fail to even make the Pac-12 Championship Game. The North Carolina Tar Heels were able to make the ACC Championship Game, but they were blown out by the Clemson Tigers and will want to erase that from the mind very quickly in order to compete in this Holiday Bowl.

The defeat to the Tigers actually means North Carolina dropped their last three games, but keeping hold of Drake Maye is really big for the school, despite the suggestions from Head Coach Mack Brown that other schools were enticing Maye to leave via the transfer portal. Drake Maye had a huge season at Quarter Back for the Tar Heels and returning will give North Carolina every chance to at least match the nine wins secured in 2022, although the first thought will be to reach ten wins.

North Carolina have not won at least ten games since 2015, but they will be confident behind Drake Maye- they will also be helped if the Offensive Line can break out some holes to put them of the chains and give their Quarter Back a bit more time to make his plays. The Tar Heels will also be aided by the relatively weak pass rush generated by the Oregon Ducks all season and Drake Maye and the Tar Heels can move the chains against a Ducks Defensive unit that have had issues making stops this year.

The Oregon Ducks will feel pretty good themselves though and have heard positive news from Bo Nix who transferred from the Auburn Tigers and has thrown for almost 3500 yards with 27 Touchdowns.

After their Head Coach left to take over in Miami, the Oregon Ducks are searching for back to back winning years of ten games. Dan Lanning is in his first Head Coaching role, but has shown he can take this team forward and having the starting Quarter Back returning in 2023 will raise expectations.

The overall numbers have shown that it will be possible for Bo Nix to hand the ball off and have the Ducks Offensive Line create running lanes, but down the stretch the North Carolina Defensive Line did stiffen up. That may have been at the detriment of defending the pass and I do think Nix will have plenty of time to attack this Secondary, even if the Tar Heels are stronger against the run than most would anticipate.

Bo Nix has looked to be a little more careful with the ball than Drake Maye and that could determine the outcome of the Holiday Bowl.

However, I do think this is a huge amount of points to be giving to the underdog with a Quarter Back like the one they have.

Both teams have disappointing recent trends to look at, and both Oregon and North Carolina have not always produced their best in Bowl Games. My feeling is that this could be a high-octane game though with plenty of successes for two of the Quarter Backs that are going to be leading the way in 2023 and I think Drake Maye can at least keep this one close.

Thursday 29th December

Syracuse Orange vs Minnesota Golden Gophers Pick: A rare winning season has already been secured by the Syracuse Orange (7-5), but that has meant some key performers have decided to skip the Bowl Game. They last played in a Bowl Game in 2018 and won that one, but this is going to be a tough test for a streaky Syracuse team that have been a little inconsistent all season.

A strong start was followed by a number of setbacks and the Syracuse Orange are a significant underdog against the Minnesota Golden Gophers (8-4) who continue to play hard under Head Coach PJ Fleck. Another win on Thursday will give Minnesota a chance to match the nine wins secured in 2021 and the Golden Gophers have won all three Bowl Games played under their current Head Coach.

There was also a stronger end to the season for the Golden Gophers compared with the Orange after Minnesota won four of their last five games to finish clear of the 0.500 mark for the season.

And unlike Syracuse, Minnesota could have their top Running Back available for this game and could also be boosted by Tanner Morgan's return at Quarter Back. I am sure he will be getting some reps to prepare for this game, but PJ Fleck has been happy with the performance of Athan Kaliakamanis in relief of Morgan and may feel he deserves to play this Bowl Game in order to be even stronger in 2023.

Ultimately the Quarter Back position is there to manage the game for the Golden Gophers who will be looking to pound the rock through Mohamed Ibrahim, a player who has bounced back from a serious injury to produce big numbers from the Running Back position. Controlling the line of scrimmage will be huge for Minnesota as they prepare to face an Orange Defensive Line that has found a way to clamp down on the run up front, but the feeling is that Ibrahim and the Golden Gophers will give their Quarter Back a chance.

Being able to play with fakes should give either Tanner Morgan or Athan Kaliakmanis an opportunity against this Syracuse Secondary that has allowed some big passing numbers.

With the Golden Gophers likely having some success moving the ball, the challenge will be on the Syracuse Offensive unit to at least keep their team competitive. Sean Tucker would have been the player they would have liked to have relied on the most, but the Running Back has opted out and I do think Syracuse will not find it easy to run the ball against this Minnesota Defensive Line.

Now they are going in without Tucker, Syracuse may have to rely on the arm of Quarter Back Garrett Shrader who has over 2300 passing yards and 17 Touchdowns this season. The Offensive Line has struggled to protect Shrader down the stretch, but I am not sure the Golden Gophers pass rush will have the consistency to put him under pressure.

Instead they will rely on their strong Defensive play at the line of scrimmage to force the Orange to convert from third and long spots, which could mean mistakes being made when in obvious passing spots.

Despite the lack of pressure being created by Minnesota up front, the Secondary have played hard down the stretch and I do think the Golden Gophers can win and cover.

Syracuse ended the season having failed to cover in their last five games and they are 2-6 against the spread in the last eight when facing a team with a winning record.

It has been a different end to the season for Minnesota who have dominated the majority of the opponents played down the stretch. This is a big spread for a team that relies on the run to cover, but I think they can win at the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball and that ultimately will put the Golden Gophers in a position to secure a big win.

Friday 30th December

Pittsburgh Panthers vs UCLA Bruins Pick: Things have changed in College Football over the years and players have decided they cannot afford to risk their futures by playing in extra games at this level that could be a detriment to a professional career. I completely understand the thought process, especially when schools that aim for the PlayOffs fall short of those goals, and I think Head Coaches have to adjust rather than complain.

A team like the Pittsburgh Panthers (8-4) have been hit hard with players deciding they are going to opt-out of the Sun Bowl.

After finishing with eleven wins in 2021 that included winning the ACC Championship, the Panthers ended 2022 behind the North Carolina Tar Heels in the Coastal Division. In five of the eight years that Pat Narduzzi has been the Head Coach of Pittsburgh the team have finished with at least eight wins and they have already hit that mark this season.

Successes in Bowl Games have been much harder to come by for Pittsburgh in recent years and they are going to be without key players on both sides of the ball in this one. Starting Quarter Back Kedon Slovis has already transferred to the BYU Cougars, while the leading rusher and inspirational Defensive Tackle Calijah Kancey has also declared unavailability.

It is going to be difficult for Pittsburgh to find the consistency they need with these kind of absences and they are facing a UCLA Bruins (9-3) team who could easily have pushed their way into the College Football PlayOff conversation if not for two tight, late losses.

Head Coach Chip Kelly may have been under some pressure after three difficult seasons to open his tenure in Los Angeles, but the Bruins won eight games in 2021 and have already surpassed that win total. They are going to be motivated to try and win a tenth game for the first time since 2014, while the team have not had the same kind of opt-outs as their opponent because the Bruins are going to be playing a first Bowl Game since 2017.

Even Dorian Thompson-Robinson has suggested he is leaning towards playing despite the fact that he has not tethered his future to the Bruins. That underlines how important it is to many of the players here to not only compete, but look to win the game and end the season with plenty of momentum to take into the New Year.

On paper it is a tough challenge to move the ball against the Panthers Defensive unit, but the absences that will overshadow the game from their perspective may offer one or two more avenues for the Bruins to exploit. They will certainly feel they can establish the run against a Panthers Defensive Line that does not have Kancey clogging things up and that should open the passing lanes for Thompson-Robinson or whoever Chip Kelly chooses to run the Offensive unit.

I don't want to discount the chances of the Pittsburgh Panthers completely- Nick Patti is getting the start at Quarter Back and the senior does not have a lot of experience despite the four years spent with the team. However, there are some vulnerabilities in the UCLA Secondary that could give Patti an opportunity to have a strong showing for the Panthers and at least give them a chance to keep this one close.

So while I don't think it will be a blowout, I also cannot ignore how poorly Pittsburgh have played in Bowl Games in recent years. They are 1-5 against the spread in their last six post-season games and now Pittsburgh have to deal with a highly motivated UCLA team who should have more consistency in their overall play.

A couple of late mistakes may see UCLA just do enough to pull clear of this number and give Chip Kelly his first Bowl win since his time with the Oregon Ducks.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs South Carolina Gamecocks Pick: A strong end to the regular season shows what the South Carolina Gamecocks (8-4) could achieve under Head Coach Shane Beamer who led the team to seven wins in his first season. That ended with a Bowl win and the Gamecocks will be hoping to upset the odds in the Gator Bowl against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish (8-4).

It has been an up and down season for the Fighting Irish, and there will be a genuine disappointment that the run of five years with at least ten wins is coming to a close regardless of how this Bowl Game goes down.

Finding the consistency in the play has been difficult and the Fighting Irish have been hit with a number of opt-outs on both sides of the ball, which is not a massive surprise. Instead of playing in the College Football PlayOff, which would have been the aim back in August, the key performers for Notre Dame do not want to risk their NFL Draft prospects by playing in this relatively 'low-key' Bowl Game.

The same cannot be said for South Carolina and Quarter Back Spencer Rattler has announced that he 'owes' the Coaching staff this Bowl Game. He did not really reach the levels expected in his time with Oklahoma and the Gamecocks, but a strong end to the season has Rattler considering whether he wants to enter the NFL Draft.

That is a decision for another day, but the appearance of Spencer Rattler certainly gives the Gamecocks every chance of earning the upset in the Gator Bowl. If this was a regular season game, you would suggest the Notre Dame Defensive unit would give South Carolina a lot of issues, but the opt-outs and the potential lack of motivation from some players may just offer Rattler the chance to finish the season with a flourish.

South Carolina will be missing some key players through their team, which lessens some of the enthusiasm for backing them, but Notre Dame are going to be without their main starting Quarter Back from the regular season. Drew Pyne has entered the transfer portal and rumoured to be heading to Arizona State and that means Tyler Buchner will be restored to the line up having lost the starting job in the regular season.

The Fighting Irish Offensive Line will feel they can still do enough to put Tyler Buchner in front of the chains by opening up running lanes, but I do have to question the motivation of the favourites considering the underachieving nature of the season.

It should not be an issue for South Carolina who may feel they are being underrated again having upset the Tennessee Volunteers and Clemson Tigers in their final two games, ruining the chances of either making the College Football PlayOff at the same time.

Motivation is always the hardest angle to factor into any Bowl Game pick, but in this case I think the Gamecocks will play harder for their Head Coach and having a starting Quarter Back leading the way could be the difference.

Saturday 31st December

Alabama Crimson Tide vs Kansas State Wildcats Pick: Back in August, it would have been seen as a huge disappointment for the Alabama Crimson Tide (10-2) to miss out on the College Football PlayOff. You have to place their participation in the Sugar Bowl into that context and it would be foolish to ignore the chances of players lacking motivation, but Nick Saban and those involved are speaking about this Bowl with plenty of respect.

For starters it is a positive way to end any season even if the Crimson Tide will look back at 2022 with some regret, while the decision made by Bryce Young to Quarter Back the team has to give all those left plenty of motivation to perform at their best.

It also helps that this is a pretty big Bowl Game against the Big 12 Champions Kansas State Wildcats (10-3) who upset the TCU Horned Frogs in the Championship Game, although ultimately it did not cost TCU a place in the College Football PlayOff.

Kansas State are clearly motivated by the chance to earn the upset and they have not had the same number of opt-outs as Alabama, but the Crimson Tide have to be considered a team with plenty of depth to make up for the absentees.

Both teams will be looking to run the ball and try and keep their Quarter Back in front of the chains and this is arguably more important for Kansas State than Alabama. Adrian Martinez is back for the Wildcats at Quarter Back as he concludes his College career, and he can offer a dual-threat out of the position, but he will not want to have to sit in the pocket and try and make plays from third and long against this Alabama Secondary.

Being in third and long would also encourage Alabama to unleash the pass rush at Adrian Martinez and converting those spots will not be easy for Kansas State. They may feel they can have some success running the ball considering the issues the Alabama Defensive Line had to close out the season, but this is a tough test for the Big 12 Champions.

Losing key Offensive Linemen may just give Alabama some pause for thought when it comes to running the ball, but I do think they can plug in enough players to keep themselves pounding the rock with success. Stopping the run has been challenging for Kansas State all season and they will rarely have faced the kind of talent Alabama bring to the field and so it should be better news for Bryce Young compared with Adrian Martinez.

The Quarter Back has played well and I think Young has a strong day throwing the ball, even with some of the inexperience he will be dealing with on the outside. Short, quick passes should keep the chains moving and I do think the Crimson Tide can win this game and ensure another season with at least eleven wins produced.

You never want to dismiss the chances of Kansas State who thrive on the underdog role, but Alabama crushed Michigan in their last Bowl Game that did not act as a College Football PlayOff Semi Final. With Bryce Young leading the way, I think there is every chance that Alabama can win this one going away and I will back them to cover the handicap.

TCU Horned Frogs vs Michigan Wolverines Pick: They may not have won the Big 12 Championship, but the TCU Horned Frogs (12-1) deserve their spot in the College Football PlayOff. That doesn't take anything away from the fact that they are probably the weakest of the four teams left, but the Horned Frogs can play with some freedom as most expect them to be beaten on Saturday.

They face the Big Ten Champions the Michigan Wolverines (13-0) who have won the Conference for a second season in a row. They were blown out in the College Football PlayOff Semi Final last year, but that experience will not have been lost on the Wolverines and they should be much better this time around.

They have not always been an easy team to read, but the Wolverines have dominated some of the tougher teams on the schedule. In particular, the crushing win over the Ohio State Buckeyes shows the kind of power that the Wolverines have and they are certainly the toughest opponent the TCU Horned Frogs will have seen this season.

Some have suggested the team with the most similarity that the Horned Frogs would have seen is the Kansas State Wildcats and those were close games. However, most will follow up the first suggestion by offering the fact that Michigan are much stronger and faster than the Kansas State athletes and ultimately they could have too much for the Big 12 team.

You know what you are going to get from the Wolverines- they are going to want to run the ball behind a very good Offensive Line and even without Blake Corum the Wolverines are confident they will be able to do that. They didn't need Blake Corum to thump their most recent opponents and Donovan Edwards should be able to rip off some big gains in this game.

JJ McCarthy is not asked to do too much from the Quarter Back position and he should be kept in third and manageable spots through much of this game. It is an encouraging position for a Quarter Back who has been very careful with where he throws the ball and I do think the Michigan Wolverines will find plenty of balance Offensively, which makes them very dangerous.

The Horned Frogs will feel they can have success when they have the ball and Max Duggan has raised his stock ahead of his move into the NFL Draft. The story has been one of surprise for much of the season, although it could be that much more difficult for Duggan if the TCU Offensive Line is not able to win at the line of scrimmage and keep the team in front of the chains.

Max Duggan has shown he can take the Horned Frogs on his back, and there have been some holes in the Michigan Secondary which have been exploited down the stretch. The Quarter Back has been well protected and given time he should have some success, although it is hard to ignore the fact that this Wolverines team is of a level that TCU would not have faced too often.

Michigan's blow out loss in the College Football PlayOff last season should give them the experience to pull clear in this one and these Semi Final games have rarely been close in recent seasons. Jim Harbaugh can underline his reputation as a strong Head Coach by taking Michigan to the National Championship Game for the first time and I like the Wolverines to pull clear in the second half by turning the ball over a couple of times to cover.

Ohio State Buckeyes vs Georgia Bulldogs Pick: When they were beaten by the Michigan Wolverines in their final regular season game, especially the manner in which they were beaten, some would have felt the Ohio State Buckeyes (11-1) had missed their chance of returning to the College Football PlayOff. However, other results ended up in favour of the Buckeyes and they have been invited into the final four with a genuine chance of redemption.

Beating the defending Champions Georgia Bulldogs (13-0) would be a massive form of redemption and a genuine upset. The Bulldogs are an unbeaten SEC Champion and they have now won fifteen games in a row, while Head Coach Kirby Smart has shown himself to be one of the top Coaches in College Football.

After blowing out the LSU Tigers in the SEC Championship Game, the Georgia Bulldogs are the favourites to win back to back National Championships, but they cannot overlook the Buckeyes.

As poor as they were against the Michigan Wolverines, this is a Buckeyes Offensive unit that can pile up some big yards and they may have learnt plenty from the defeat to put to good use in this big game.

Unfortunately for the Buckeyes, they are going to need to be a lot better if they are going to find a way to move the ball against the Georgia Bulldogs who have a Defensive unit that has grown in each passing week. A big part of this game on this side of the ball is going to be the line of scrimmage as the Bulldogs Defensive Line looks to clamp down on the run as they have for much of the season and force the Ohio State Buckeyes to take to the air.

The Buckeyes have to be confident in their Offensive Line, but they were held to a number someway below the season average in the loss to the Michigan Wolverines. Moving the ball against this Georgia team will be tough and that does put more pressure on CJ Stroud at Quarter Back.

Passing lanes had opened up against Georgia in their last three games, but a lot of that was down to the fact they had big leads in games and teams were forced to throw. Playing soft coverage makes the numbers look worse than they actually are and Stroud may have negotiate a strong pass rush and a Secondary that can make plays to turn the ball over through the air.

Instead of looking to win a shoot out, the Buckeyes may need to lean on their own Defensive unit and hope they are able to contain the Georgia Bulldogs.

Ultimately this could come down to the line of scrimmage again where the Georgia Offensive Line have been dominant all season- down the stretch the Buckeyes Defensive Line did show signs of wear and tear and I think that will give the Bulldogs a big edge in the overall game.

Stetson Bennett is not going to be asked to win the game from the Quarter Back position and being in third and manageable is huge for him. He has been well protected by the Offensive Line and the Georgia ability to run the ball will also cool down the powerful Ohio State pass rush, while Stetson Bennett has done enough to keep the chains moving when he has been asked to do so.

The Georgia Bulldogs are 8-2 against the spread in their last ten Bowl Games and they covered in both PlayOff games last season.

I've already mentioned the fact that these recent Semi Final PlayOff games have ended in blowouts more often than not and I think the Georgia Bulldogs will show a dominance at the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball that allows them to win and cover.

MY PICKS: North Carolina Tar Heels + 13.5 Points @ 1.85 Bet Victor (1 Unit)

Minnesota Golden Gophers - 10.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet Victor (1 Unit)

UCLA Bruins - 5.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

South Carolina Gamecocks + 2.5 Points @ 1.85 Bet Victor (1 Unit)

Alabama Crimson Tide - 6.5 Points @ 1.75 Bet Victor (1 Unit)

Michigan Wolverines - 7.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Georgia Bulldogs -  6 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

NFL Week 16 Picks 2022 (December 22-26)

The last three weeks of the NFL season should be incredibly tense with plenty for teams to achieve.

PlayOff places, Seeding within the Conferences and Divisional races look to come down to the wire, although the weather is a factor at play over the next few days.

Detroit Lions @ Carolina Panthers Pick: Six wins in seven games has dragged the Detroit Lions (7-7) into the Wild Card Race in the NFC and Head Coach Dan Campbell is looking for his team to maintain their push. Two big Divisional games will wrap up the season, but the Lions cannot afford to overlook any team they face down the stretch as they look to move past the Seattle Seahawks and Washington Commanders for the final NFC PlayOff place.

Winning on Saturday will put the pressure on those two immediate rivals for the post-season, especially as both Seattle and Washington have very tough road games to be played.

This is anything but an easy game for the Detroit Lions as they travel to the Carolina Panthers (5-9), a team fortunate to be playing in the NFC South which is likely going to be a Division which produces a PlayOff team with a losing record. The Panthers are only a game behind the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a tight Division and winning it will also come with at least one home PlayOff game next month so there is plenty for the Carolina Panthers to achieve, even after a disappointing defeat to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

It is going to be very cold at kick off on Saturday and that could be an advantage for the home team- Detroit may not come from a warm weather climate, but they are a team that play indoors and so the conditions will not be ones they particularly enjoy, although the NFC North team will not be making excuses as they try and secure an important road win.

The Detroit Lions will have made some headlines with some of the performances from the Offensive unit, but they will be thanking those on the other side of the ball for propelling this run that has pushed them to the edge of the PlayOff places. They likely will know exactly what to expect from Sam Darnold and the Carolina Panthers and recent weeks suggest the Detroit Lions can deal with what is going to be in front of them.

Running the ball is the key for the Panthers- they were not able to do that against Baltimore or Pittsburgh over the last month and have lost both of those games, but averaged 200 rushing yards in wins over Denver and Carolina in between those defeats. No one should be shocked by any Carolina approach which relies on the run, but the Detroit Lions Defensive Line have stiffened in recent games and I think the Lions win at the line of scrimmage.

There are passing lanes to be exploited, as even Zach Wilson showed last week, but I don't think you can trust Sam Darnold and the Panthers to really expose them. The Panthers Receiving corps isn't filled with a lot of top names and Sam Darnold is not the most accurate of Quarter Backs, while Darnold is going to be feeling a pretty fierce pass rush whenever he is left in third and long spots.

I am not expecting a huge Offensive game from Carolina, but I also think the Detroit Lions will have one or two issues moving the chains with consistency is this big Week 16 game.

All credit has to be given to Jared Goff and the Coaching staff for the improvements made by the Detroit Lions, but they will need a little more out of the run game in this one. Moving the ball against the Carolina Defensive Line is not always easy, but the Lions will want to stay in front of the marker rather than forcing Jared Goff to test a very good Secondary from third and long spots.

The Quarter Back will get more time than Sam Darnold when it comes to throwing the ball down the field thanks to the tough Detroit Offensive Line, but this does feel like a low-scoring game that could come to turnovers.

My feeling is that Dan Campbell's team will be the ones who are a little more careful with the ball and I think that will be key for the Lions as they bid for back to back road wins to keep the pressure on those above them in the NFC standings.

I have to respect the conditions and how tough they could be for the Detroit Lions, but this looks a poor match up for the 5-9 Carolina Panthers who are 4-10 against the spread in their last fourteen at home. At the same time Detroit have been a covering machine this season with seven straight covers and they are 9-4 against the spread in their last thirteen road games and I do think the Lions can cover again.

Detroit haven't been favoured on the road yet this season and that is a factor that also has to be given plenty of consideration as the sense of expectation builds a different kind of pressure.

However, I do think the Lions are well Coached and they can do just enough to win and cover and keep the momentum behind them through to the final two weeks of the regular season.

Buffalo Bills @ Chicago Bears Pick: The weather is going to be frigid and the wind is set to get up which makes it very tough to imagine there will be a lot of successful passing in this one. The Buffalo Bills (11-3) earned a vital win over the Miami Dolphins in Week 15, which leaves them one win, or one Miami loss, from winning the AFC East.

At this stage of the season, the Buffalo Bills will be thinking much deeper than simply winning their Division as they remain in control of the Number 1 Seed in the AFC. Home field advantage through to the Super Bowl and a Bye through to the Divisional Round can be big factors in the post-season, especially in the new format of the PlayOffs, and I think that will keep the Buffalo Bills focused off a Divisional win.

Of course this has to still be considered a look-ahead spot for the Bills as they will be facing the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 17, another huge Conference game that could have PlayOff implications for next month. It certainly raises some question as to why the Buffalo Bills will want to blow out the Chicago Bears (3-11) and cover the number and I am leaning towards the home underdog to come out with the spread win.

Last week the Bears pushed the Philadelphia Eagles in a five point home loss and I think the conditions should not bother the Chicago Offensive unit. Passing the ball has been secondary for the Bears this season, but Justin Fields and the rushing attack has been working very efficiently and it certainly suggests they can keep this one close.

Justin Fields has really grown into the season and the next step for his development will be the Bears bringing in some strong Receiving threats and upgrading the Offensive Line. The scrambling ability has been on display over the last several weeks, while designed runs have really worked for Justin Fields and his skill-set and I do think the Bears will be able to move the ball on the ground against the Buffalo Bills.

Last week Raheem Mostert had a big outing against the Bills Defensive Line, although that may have had something to do with the Bills respecting the passing power of the Miami Dolphins. They may be less inclined to do that this week, but Buffalo are also facing a Quarter Back with a genuine running threat, one that can make teams think again about tackling and chasing these players in a game where they may not be as focused as they have been in Conference games.

The feeling is that the Chicago Bears will have success running the ball, but the Buffalo Bills will also be pretty confident in their ability to move the ball.

He may not have the numbers of Justin Fields, but Josh Allen is more than capable of toughing it out on the ground at Quarter Back and the Bills in general should be confident in their rushing attack. The conditions might not be ideal for the pass, but they are facing a Chicago Defensive Line that has given up plenty of yards on the ground as injury and trades of key Defensive players have slowed them down.

Josh Allen is likely going to take a few more shots throwing in the Secondary than the Chicago Bears, but the conditions will make it tougher for him. He has also not been at his very best in recent games as the elbow issue from earlier in the season has perhaps been holding Allen back, and I do think this has the makings of a relatively close game as the Bears played against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 15.

Being able to run the ball as they have will be key for Chicago and I think they can be backed as the home underdog with the amount of points being given to them.

Recent trends for the Chicago Bears are not very encouraging and they have lost plenty of games by wide margins, but the Buffalo Bills have not blown out a lot of teams of late. Only one of their last seven games has been won by more than an 8 point margin and I think the Bears have the hook on that number, which should be enough to at least earn a backdoor cover in the cold, cold conditions expected.

New York Giants @ Minnesota Vikings Pick: Week 15 was a memorable one for both the Minnesota Vikings (11-3) and New York Giants (8-5-1) and they prepare for face off against one another with a real chance that this could be a Wild Card PlayOff Game next month.

The Vikings made history by overcoming a 33 point deficit on their way to beating the Indianapolis Colts at home and that is the largest deficit any team has ever recovered from to win a game in the history of the NFL. They have secured the NFC North, but the Vikings are still looking to lock down the Number 2 Seed which will mean having an opportunity to play two home PlayOff games at the very least in any run towards the Super Bowl.

For the New York Giants, late zebra interference helped them edge past the Washington Commanders and now New York are in a very strong position to make the PlayOffs. They still need a win or two to confirm a top seven finish in the NFC, and they are on a relative short week compared with the Minnesota Vikings, as well as dealing with the emotions of winning the game on the road at Washington.

There will have been plenty of emotional investment from the Vikings too, but the last home game until mid-January should mean there is a touch more to give from Minnesota.

They are a team that have perhaps been weaker than the current record suggests and I do think that will hopefully give us one or two more chances to oppose Minnesota before the end of the 2022 season, but the New York Giants are another who have overcome the numbers to produce their own record.

With that in mind, it is strange to see the Minnesota Vikings being asked to cover more than a Field Goal worth of points even though the schedule spot is arguably better for them than the New York Giants.

In recent games the Vikings have become a little one-dimensional with some struggles to run the ball as effectively as you would think with a player like Dalvin Cook at Running Back. They are going to be without Garrett Bradbury this week and that may be an issue for the Offensive Line, although I am also expecting Cook to have a stronger showing against a New York team that was being trampled by the Washington rushing attack in Week 15.

It will be a huge boost for Kirk Cousins at Quarter Back to see his team running the ball with any kind of consistency. Being in front of the marker is huge for Cousins and it will open up the Minnesota passing attack, while also making sure that the New York pass rush is just slowed down a touch.

Ultimately though, I do think the Giants pass rush will be able to make some plays that can slow down the Vikings Offensively. That was the key in holding the Commanders to 12 points last week, as well as some dubious officiating, and I do think the New York Defensive unit can give their Offense a chance to keep this one competitive.

Running the ball is the key for the New York Giants and Saquon Barkley looked like he was close to his best in the win over Washington last week. He should be able to pick up from where he left off and pound the rock successfully in this game, which in turn should make life for Daniel Jones that much more comfortable at the Quarter Back position.

Daniel Jones has had a strong season in a contract year and he has been playing well despite the injuries dominating the New York Receiving corps.

The Quarter Back is a threat to run the ball, but being in third and manageable should also mean he can attack this Minnesota Secondary which has given up plenty of yards through the air all season.

There isn't the consistency that the likes of Justin Jefferson can provide for the team on the other sidelines, but the New York Giants are doing the best they can with what they have in the Receiving unit. Darius Slayton has stepped up at times and the Giants should be able to have plenty of success Offensively, which should allow them to keep this game close on the scoreboard.

For all the successes the Minnesota Vikings have had this season, they are just 1-6-1 against the spread in their last seven Conference games, while the New York Giants are 5-1 against the spread in their last six on the road.

A backdoor cover for the Giants has to be a possibility in this game and I think getting the hook over a key number is good enough to back the road team to cover, even if they are not quite able to win this one.

Green Bay Packers @ Miami Dolphins Pick: Three road losses in a row have dented some of the confidence, but the Miami Dolphins (8-6) at least showed in the Week 15 loss at the Buffalo Bills that they can compete with the very best in the NFL. The losses to the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Chargers, especially the Chargers, were more disappointing, but the Dolphins remain in a position where they control their path into the PlayOffs.

The AFC East race is run after the narrow defeat to the Bills, but the Dolphins will return home for this Christmas Day showdown feeling like an opportunity is in front of them. Despite needing to earn a Wild Card spot, finishing with the Number 5 Seed in the AFC would mean a game against the AFC South Divisional winner and that is one that the Miami Dolphins will believe they can win.

If they can win out, the Dolphins have every chance of earning that coveted spot, but they will want to get back to winning ways regardless if only to have some momentum to take into the post-season.

They are hosting the Green Bay Packers (6-8) on a short week, but Aaron Rodgers has helped his team win two in a row to just about stay alive in the NFC. Like the Dolphins, the Green Bay Packers are out of the NFC North Divisional race, but they still have an opportunity to sneak into the PlayOffs.

And much like the Dolphins, Aaron Rodgers knows his team need to win out if they are going to earn the Number 7 Seed in the NFC. They will finish up with back to back home games, but this looks to be the toughest test left for the Packers who have not been the kind of team we associate with Rodgers in the NFL.

Instead of being a high-octane passing Offensive unit, the Green Bay Packers have relied on their tandem at Running Back to pound the rock to move into successful positions. Both Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon have been very productive, but this game looks a tougher test than recent outings with the Miami Dolphins Defensive Line controlling the line of scrimmage and clamping down on the run.

Doing the same here will put some pressure on Aaron Rodgers and his Receivers, who have not always been on the same page, and I am not sure they can take advantage of some of the holes in the Miami Secondary. You can never write off Rodgers completely, but there is enough evidence this season to think it could be another inconsistent passing day and the Quarter Back is also likely to feel plenty of heat from a much improved Miami pass rush if the Packers are left in obvious passing situations.

Green Bay would love to control the line of scrimmage Offensively, but may not have a lot of success doing that. On the other hand, the Miami Offensive Line has been busting out some big holes for Raheem Mostert to exploit and I think they can pick up from where they left off against the Buffalo Bills last week.

For a number of seasons it has been clear that stopping the run has been a huge problem for the Green Bay Packers are there are going to be some big lanes for Mostert in this one. The Packers Secondary haven't played badly, but that is also down to the fact that teams have not needed to test them as much and I think this Miami Offensive unit will be able to open up the passing lanes with the grinding done on the ground.

The last three games have seen Miami produce inconsistent passing efforts, but they have been better at home all season and I think that shows up here.

For some reason Aaron Rodgers has tended to dislike playing in Florida and I think Miami will do enough to win this Christmas Day offering and cover the spread.

The Dolphins are 20-8 against the spread in their last twenty-eight home games and the Packers are just 3-7 against the spread in their last ten on the road. I think the Dolphins will get back on track Offensively with a better balance in their play-calling than Green Bay are likely to manage and it should lead to a late score to put them over the line.

Denver Broncos @ Los Angeles Rams Pick: At the start of the season, the schedule makers would have set this non-Conference game for Week 16 and expected some huge PlayOff implications on the line. Instead it has been a miserable year for both the Denver Broncos (4-10) and defending Super Bowl Champions Los Angeles Rams (4-10).

It isn't even like they have a motivation to tank down the stretch with both teams trading away First Round Draft Picks and the season cannot end quickly enough at this point.

Nathaniel Hackett perhaps needs the wins more in order to avoid a firing at the end of his first season as Head Coach of the Denver Broncos. He has been massively criticised for some of the decisions made, but you have to say it was very hard to envision Russell Wilson struggling as much as he has through the course of 2022.

After suffering a concussion in his best game of the season against the Kansas City Chiefs, Russell Wilson missed a game before being declared ready to go for this Week 16 Christmas Day game. Next week the Broncos have a rematch with Kansas City and would love to at least dent their Divisional rivals season, but even a less than fully focused Denver team should have too much for the injury hit Los Angeles Rams playing on a short week.

Injuries have crushed the Rams through the 2022 season and they were miserable in the loss to the Green Bay Packers on Monday Night Football. Baker Mayfield may have produced a huge drive to beat the Las Vegas Raiders just days after arriving in Los Angeles, but he was battered and bruised by the Packers and now faces a Denver Defensive unit that have played hard this season through trying circumstances.

A banged up Offensive Line is unlikely to keep the Broncos from flooding into the backfield having continued to find a strong push up front, even after trading Bradley Chubb to the Miami Dolphins. A strong Defensive Line has not given up a lot of running room and that means Mayfield is likely going to be throwing under continued duress in this one.

Cooper Kuup is a huge miss from the Receiving corps and I think the Rams will struggle to move the ball with any consistency against the Denver Defense.

The same could be said of Denver when they have the ball, even with a returning Russell Wilson, but I do think they will have enough success to win and cover here.

With the injuries suffered on this side of the ball, the Los Angeles Rams have allowed teams to have more joy in running the ball and keeping Russell Wilson in third and manageable would be a big win for Denver. They have not protected Wilson that well, but he should be able to get the ball out of his hands quickly to keep the chains moving and the Broncos are expected to be the stronger team Offensively, even with the next game on deck serving as a possible distraction.

Russell Wilson looked to be getting on the same page as his Receivers in the game against the Kansas City Chiefs so the feeling is that he will put the Broncos in a position to win on the road.

No one will doubt the Coaching edge that the Rams have in this match up, but ultimately you can't account for the injury issues and the short week and I think Denver can be backed.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Arizona Cardinals Pick: Someone has to win the NFC South and it is becoming more and more likely that whichever team that is will be hosting a PlayOff game with a losing record. At the moment the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-8) remain a game clear in the Division and that despite losing three of their last four games, and they are in control of their own destiny with games against the Carolina Panthers and Atlanta Falcons to close out the season.

This has been an ugly season filled with mistake after mistake and the Buccaneers were punished for a terrible second half in their defeat to the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 15. Turnovers were fatal to their chances of winning the game and Tampa Bay will be kicking themselves having produced 159 yards more Offensively than the Bengals needed to do.

At least this week Tampa Bay have a chance to give their fans a delayed Christmas present by winning this game on the road when they head West to take on the Arizona Cardinals (4-10). Elimination from the PlayOffs have been confirmed for a team hit hard by injury and the Cardinals will actually be playing with a third string Quarter Back, which does not help their chances of snapping a four game losing run.

Colt McCoy went down with an early injury in Week 15 and has been ruled out so Trace McSorley will be making his first NFL start of his career with his second team in the professional game. He came in and struggled last week, but McSorley will have been working with the first team this week and ultimately cannot be any worse than the previous game.

Even with that in mind, it is going to be tough for the Quarter Back considering the lack of success the Cardinals are likely to have when it comes to running the ball. In recent games the Buccaneers Defensive Line have clamped down on the run and I do think they will be focused on containing Arizona and forcing the inexperienced Quarter Back to try and beat them through the air.

The Arizona Offensive Line has not offered a lot of pass protection so Trace McSorley is going to have to scramble around the pocket and potentially try and pick up yards with his legs. It will be difficult for him to play against an improving Tampa Bay Defensive unit and I do think some of the schemes will be designed to confuse McSorley when he does drop back to throw.

Moving the ball will be an incredible challenge for the Cardinals, but Tampa Bay have shown some signs of life on the Offensive side of the ball in recent games and should have more success. Tom Brady has been guilty of one or two mistakes, which is not like him, but he does have Receiving threats that should be able to expose the Arizona Secondary.

This game also represents a good chance for Tampa Bay to establish the run, which has been a season-long struggle for the team, and that should only aid Tom Brady that much more.

His Offensive Line will have some issues keeping the Cardinals out of the backfield, but being in front of the chains allows Tom Brady to negate the pressure with quick throws and I do think the Buccaneers will win this game.

Make no mistake, it is a very big spread considering the kind of season Tampa Bay have had, but Arizona look to be playing out the string and will be expecting a high Draft choice. The Cardinals are just 3-10 against the spread in their last thirteen at home and I do think they will have issues on both sides of the ball in this one as they play their final game in this Stadium in 2022.

It is not easy trusting the road team, but the Buccaneers can earn a rare cover in 2022 with a strong win by around ten to thirteen points here.

MY PICKS: Detroit Lions - 2.5 Points @ 1.91 Sky Bet (2 Units)

Chicago Bears + 8 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (2 Units)

New York Giants + 4.5 Points @ 1.92 Bet Victor (2 Units)

Kansas City Chiefs - 10 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (2 Units)

Tennessee Titans - 3.5 Points @ 2.00 Sky Bet (2 Units)

Philadelphia Eagles + 4.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet Victor (2 Units)

Miami Dolphins - 3.5 Points @ 1.95 Bet365 (2 Units)

Denver Broncos - 3 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (2 Units)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers - 7.5 Points @ 1.91 William Hill (2 Units)

College Football Bowl Picks 2022 Part One (December 16-27)

It has been a pretty miserable season for the College Football Picks in 2022 and sometimes it is just the way it goes.

Frustration aside, we are down to the Bowl Games and I am going to split the post-season into two threads with a final one being made for the National Championship Game in January. The first thread will largely be focusing from schools outside of the Power 5 Conferences, but the second thread should cover the two College Football PlayOff Semi Final games as well as the big New Year's Eve and New Year's Day Bowl Games.

I will add games to this thread through to December 27th, which is half way through the Bowl Season.

Friday 16th December

Miami (Ohio) Redhawks vs UAB Blazers Pick: Things are pretty clear for the two teams lucky enough to be opening the 2022 Bowl Season in the beautiful Bahamas and a winning record will be the reward for the team that can focus the best. On the other hand, a defeat will mean a losing season in 2022 and that should at least focus the Miami (Ohio) Redhawks (6-6) and UAB Blazers (6-6).

There is no doubt that playing in this location is a big test for the players with the distraction of the surroundings one that can be difficult to ignore.

Miami (Ohio) came up well short of expectations in the MAC, but they are in line to avoid their first losing season since 2017. Wins in three of their last four games have given them some momentum and the Redhawks are 1-1 outright, but 2-0 against the spread, in their last two Bowl appearances as they prepare for the extra game for the third time in four years.

Head Coach Chuck Martin has to be given credit for the way the Redhawks have played, but this is far from an easy match up for them Offensively. The struggles to run the ball have been a hindrance to the Redhawks approach and I am not sure the Offensive Line can take advantage of the main weakness of the Blazers Defensive unit.

Being unable to establish the run with any consistency will mean throwing from tough positions and that is where the Redhawks Offensive Line has had issues of late when it comes to protecting Aveon Smith at Quarter Back. Despite being a dual-threat from the Quarter Back position, Smith has taken plenty of Sacks in recent games and the Blazers pass rush could cause problems for him in this one.

Even if Aveon Smith has the time he wants to make throws, the Blazers Secondary will feel they can get the better of what has been a pretty limited passing game. Some improvements of late will encourage Miami (Ohio), but I am not sure that is enough to believe they are going to have a consistent passing game and certainly not one that can make up for any struggles to run the ball.

In reality it has been possible to run the ball against the Blazers Defensive Line for much of the season and I do think Smith's ability to tuck the ball will help the Redhawks. The problem will be if they are in obvious passing positions on the field, which will shift the edge to the Blazers, and I do think this veteran Offense could have some issues moving the ball with a lot of success.

At least the Coaching Staff and the Redhawks game plan will be familiar for the team going forward, but that is far from the case with the UAB Blazers. After winning nine games in 2021, UAB fans would have had high hopes going into the 2022 season, but this is a team that has fallen short and is now looking to avoid the first losing season since 2013 having seen the football programme restarted in 2017.

Some of the issues may have come from the surprising retirement of Bill Clark just weeks before the season was to begin- he has revitalised the Blazers in his six previous years with the team. The Interim position was handed to Bryant Vincent and the UAB players made it clear they wanted the tag removed and Vincent being made permanent Head Coach so it has been a surprise to them as much as many others that UAB have appointed Trent Dilfer to take the team forward.

It is an off-field distraction that has to be a concern to Blazers backers, but I do think the players will really put in one more big effort for Bryant Vincent in this Bowl Game. A disappointing end to the season saw UAB lose four of five games before rallying for a victory in their final regular season game to become Bowl eligible and have the shot to extend their run without a losing season to another year.

Much of this game could come down to the line of scrimmage on this side of the ball- all season the Blazers Offensive Line have been able to churn out huge numbers on the ground, but the Redhawks Defensive Line has been pretty stout up front. Unfortunately for Miami (Ohio), the recent games has seen something of a worn down Defensive Line allowing big plays and I do think the Blazers can pick up where opponents have left off and pound the rock with a huge amount of success throughout this game.

DeWayne McBride should have another strong game and that only makes things easier for Dylan Hopkins at Quarter Back with all in that position happy to be operating in front of the chains. With the way the Blazers have been able to run the ball, the passing game is one that can be good enough as long as the game is managed and I do think Hopkins and company can do that against the limited Miami (Ohio) pass rush and the one or two holes that should open up in the Secondary if the Redhawks look to load the box to stop the run.

My only concern in backing the UAB Blazers is that they have not really been able to cover recent marks set by the oddsmakers, but I do expect a big game to send off the Interim Head Coach who is much respected by his players. The Redhawks are 7-15 against the spread in their last twenty-two non-Conference games and I think they will come up a little short in this Bowl Game, even with the significant amount of points being given to them.

UTSA Roadrunners vs Troy Trojans Pick: The first Bowl Game may involve two teams hoping to finish 2022 with a winning record and give them something to build upon in 2023, but the Cure Bowl involves two teams who have already had extremely successful years.

The Troy Trojans (11-2) won the Sun Belt Conference Championship and Head Coach Jon Sumrall deserves a lot of credit for that. In his first season leading this school, Sumrall was taking over a Trojans team that had finished with three losing seasons in succession and it may have been hard to get an experienced team on board with what he wants to do.

Instead of any pushback, the players have bought into what their Head Coach has been selling and that has seen Troy win the Conference Championship and win at least ten games for the first time since 2018. The Trojans have won ten in a row, but the same can be said for the UTSA Roadrunners (11-2) who are taking aim at winning twelve games in back to back seasons, which would be a remarkable achievement.

Like their opponent, the Roadrunners ended up as Conference Champions having won the Conference-USA title and I have to give both of these teams a lot of credit for not only piling up the wins. As the saying goes, good teams win, great teams cover and both the Roadrunners and Trojans have been covering the spreads placed in front of them frequently down the stretch.

UTSA are led by a veteran Quarter Back in Frank Harris and he has already announced that he will be returning to San Antonio for a seventh season. This is extremely uncommon in College Football and Harris has admitted he thought about moving on, but the Quarter Back is comfortable with the Roadrunners and threw more passing yards this season compared with 2021, whilst also having four more Touchdown passes next to his name.

This is going to be a significant test for the experienced Frank Harris and that is because he is facing a Trojans Defensive unit which has been strong all season. Running the ball against them is going to be a huge challenge for the Roadrunners, but Harris is capable of helping make some moves on the ground.

All the Roadrunners really want to do is give the Trojans something to think about behind their strong Offensive Line and hope that is enough to give Frank Harris enough time to attack the Troy Secondary. It will be far from easy, but Harris is experienced enough to know what he needs to do and there are one or two holes in the Trojan Secondary that can be exposed by the Quarter Back who should surpass 4000 passing yards for the season by the end of this game.

Stopping the Roadrunners completely looks too tough a task, but the Troy Defensive unit will feel they can keep their team competitive and that is all the Offense can ask for. It is the Defensive side of the ball that should be credited the most in helping Troy produce the season they have, but the Trojans will feel they can move the ball effectively enough on the other side to have a chance for success.

However, much like their own Defensive Line, the Trojans may struggle to establish the run against the UTSA Roadrunners. In recent games there has been an improvement from UTSA up front, while the Trojans own Offensive Line has been a touch inconsistent when it comes to pounding the rock and that may put some pressure on Gunnar Watson at Quarter Back.

The passing yards have been decent enough, but Watson has had 10 Interceptions with the 13 Touchdown passes thrown and giving the ball away in this Bowl Game could be the difference between the teams. I do think the added experience in the UTSA rank at the most important position in Football will be the key, although Gunnar Watson should be able to have some very positive moments in the game considering the lack of pass rush pressure he is likely to face.

Ultimately it could come down to a turnover or two in making the difference between the teams and I think that is where my lean is with the UTSA Roadrunners as the two Conference Champions clash early in Bowl season.

Both teams have strong recent trends behind them, but I can see Frank Harris putting the Roadrunners on his back as they look for a first Bowl win in what should be a close, competitive game.

Saturday 17th December

Washington State Cougars vs Fresno State Bulldogs Pick: There has been a lot of upheaval around the Washington State Cougars (7-5) over the last couple of years, but they have won at least seven games in back to back seasons. This is about as successful as things have been in Washington State since Mike Leach departed as Head Coach, and I think there will be plenty of emotions in the stands and on the field in this Bowl Game, the first game that Washington State will have played since the sudden passing of their former Head Coach.

Mike Leach had a big impact at this school and I do think there will a real motivation to try and win this game in honour of the former Head Coach in Pullman. The Cougars were blown out by the Washington Huskies in their last game, but had won three in a row before that and will be looking to snap their run of two Bowl defeats in a row.

They face the Mountain West Conference Champions the Fresno State Bulldogs (9-4) who have won eight in a row to bounce back from a disappointing start to the season. It had felt like the Bulldogs were going to fall well short of expectations, but instead they have an opportunity to win at least ten games for the fourth time in six seasons, including back to back years.

Fresno State fans will point to the early injury suffered by Jake Haener, but the Quarter Back has led the Bulldogs on this eight game winning run and he has 18 Touchdown passes to go with 3 Interceptions this season. Jake Haener considered leaving the Bulldogs last season, but that would have been in the transfer portal and instead this could be last game for Fresno State before he tries to make his way into the professional game.

The pressure may be on Jake Haener considering the struggles the Bulldogs have had in running the ball with any consistency, although they are facing a Washington State Defensive Line that has given up some big plays on the ground of late. The threat of Haener may mean there are more opportunities for the Bulldogs to run the ball, but the feeling is that the Quarter Back's arm is going to be the key for Fresno State on this side of the ball.

There has been a few breakdowns in the pass protection, but Jake Haener should have a big game against this Cougars Secondary. The Cougars may struggle to stop the run of late, but they have had issues against the pass all season and this Bulldogs team can show off the ability through the air in this Bowl Game.

Washington State fans will believe their team can at least keep up with the Bulldogs on the scoreboard with the way their own Offense has been operating this season, but they also have to respect the performance level of the Fresno State Defensive unit during their winning run.

This is not an ideal Defensive unit to face- the Cougars are still a team who would prefer throwing the ball than running it, but the Bulldogs Secondary is the strength of the team. The Cougars may have some success running the ball in this one, even if their Offensive Line have been struggling to open gaps up front, but the main challenge will be throwing the ball with any consistency.

Cameron Ward has played well at Quarter Back considering his lack of experience at this level, and he has operated behind an Offensive Line that has not offered the kind of protection he would have hoped of late. However, the Bulldogs have not generated a huge pass rush this season and I think that gives Ward a chance to make a few more plays.

Ultimately I am not sure that will be enough to stay with the Fresno State Bulldogs through the entire four Quarters to be played and I will look for the Mountain West Champions to secure another win.

The Cougars have played well off a straight up loss, but they are 3-7 against the spread in their last ten non-Conference games. Fresno State are 6-2 against the spread in their last eight games against teams from the Pac-12, and the Bulldogs are going for a fourth Bowl win in a row.

While it should be close for a while, Fresno State can make one or two more plays to pull clear of the Washington State Cougars and they should be able to win this one by around a Touchdown mark.

Monday 19th December

Marshall Thundering Herd vs Connecticut Huskies Pick: An improvement was expected from Marshall Thundering Herd (8-4) in the second season under the guidance of Charles Huff at Head Coach and they have surpassed the seven wins earned in his first season at the helm. Now they are looking for a only a second nine win season since 2015 as the Thundering Herd try and win a first Bowl Game in four attempts.

While most expected the Thundering Herd to become Bowl eligible even if they were not able to win the Sun Belt Championship, the Connecticut Huskies (6-6) have to be one of the biggest surprises in College Football in 2022.

Jim Mora was a big hire as Head Coach, but even with the experience he brings to the table, it was a big ask to see a massive improvement from a team who went 1-11 in 2021. In fact Connecticut have won at least six games for the first time since 2015 and they are going to be playing with the motivation of trying to secure a winning season for the first time in twelve years.

All credit has to be given to the Coaching Staff and players for the kind of season the Huskies have had and it is remarkable to think this team has a 10-50 record since 2015 and before this one began. They had won three in a row prior to a defeat to the Army Black Knights, but the Huskies have a second shot to earn a seventh win in 2022, although they are a considerable underdog in this one.

I am not surprised when you think the Huskies are going to be lined up against a very tough Defensive unit and I simply don't know how they are going to move the ball with any kind of consistency in this one. The Huskies are pretty predictable in the approach they want to take in their Offensive game-plan and it is one that may not be as effective against this Thundering Herd team as they would like.

Connecticut want to run the ball and they have been pretty good at doing that this season- the big problem is that they don't offer much of a passing threat and have to deal with a Marshall Defensive Line that has been able to clamp down on the run all season. Even in recent games, the Thundering Herd have held teams to less than 3.5 yards per carry and they will believe they can put the Huskies behind the chains and force them to try and throw into the Secondary.

There have been one or two passing lanes that have opened up against Marshall, but this Huskies team are averaging just 107 passing yards per game this season. Add in the powerful Thundering Herd pass rush and I do think Marshall can make plenty of plays in this one on the Defensive side of the ball to limit the Connecticut output.

The line of scrimmage is so important in any American Football game and Marshall look to have an edge on both sides of the ball. While the Defensive Line have prided themselves on shutting down the run, the Marshall Offensive Line have opened up some big hopes up front and the team have been able to rip off some big gains on the ground.

More of the same has to be expected in this Bowl Game with the Huskies Defensive Line allowing 5.1 yards per carry down the stretch and 166 yards per game on the ground over the course of the season at 4.4 yards per carry. The Thundering Herd should be able to dominate at the line of scrimmage and Cam Fancher should be asked to manage the game at Quarter Back rather than trying to win it on his own.

Running the ball should give Cam Fancher some time in the pocket though and he should be able to find the right areas to exploit as the Marshall Thundering Herd finally end the season with a Bowl win for the first time since 2018.

Despite the poor run of losses in Bowl Games recently, Marshall are 7-3 against the spread in their last 10 post-season appearances. Trends are positive for the Connecticut Huskies as they have massively overachieved in 2022, but I think they struggle Offensively in this game and that should mean Marshall are able to pull away for the cover.

It is a big spread, but the Thundering Herd can control things at the line of scrimmage and that should see them do enough to move past this number.

Tuesday 20th December

Eastern Michigan Eagles vs San Jose State Spartans Pick: Becoming Bowl eligible is something that the Eastern Michigan Eagles (8-4) have become accustomed to under the guidance of Head Coach Chris Creighton. However, they have not won any of the four Bowl Games played since 2016 and will be looking to break the run and win a first post-season game since 1987 when playing for the fourth time in five seasons.

The Eagles have to be credited for already winning the most games in a single season under this Head Coach, but rounding 2022 off with another victory would be a big achievement. Before the arrival of Chris Creighton, the Eagles had become a programme that has not been used to winning seasons and the 2022 team could be sat right up behind the 1987 Bowl winners that secured a ten win season for that team.

Nine wins would be huge having only reached that number in the ten win 1987 season, but the Eastern Michigan Eagles are underdogs in this Bowl Game.

The San Jose State Spartans (7-4) are only playing in their second Bowl Game since 2015 and were well beaten as a 9 point favourite in 2020 when facing the Ball State Cardinals. This is the second time in three seasons that the Spartans have won seven games in a single season and they have bounced back from a 2021 season where they finished with just five wins, but San Jose State have been inconsistent at times through this season.

I simply don't know how highly you can rate the Mountain West Conference and the Spartans 'only' finished 5-3 within Conference play, but they do enter the Bowl Game having snapped a two game losing run to beat Hawaii on the road in the final game of the regular season. Unsurprisingly, the Conference record was not good enough to play in the Championship Game, but this is a team who will be motivated to secure a strong end to the season with the extra Bowl practices always important.

The Spartans and Eagles may have similar approaches to their Offensive game plans in this Bowl Game- neither has been running the ball as well as they would like and both will feel their own Defensive Lines can have the edge at the line of scrimmage to force the other to have to rely on the throw to really get the chains moving.

Out of the two, Eastern Michigan's Defensive Line have allowed one or two more openings, but the Eagles may feel their own Offensive Line has been a little stronger of the two in this game. Ultimately it will come down to Chevan Cordeiro for the Spartans and Taylor Powell at Quarter Back for the San Jose State Spartans and Eastern Michigan Eagles respectively.

You have to give Cordeiro a slight edge on the season numbers, but it could be a tough day for him if the Spartans are not able to establish the run. In recent games the Eagles Secondary have stepped up their play, but they have also been able to generate a pretty strong pass rush which may be able to break through the Spartans Offensive Line and make Chevan Cordeiro uncomfortable whenever he is in third and long spots.

He has been careful with the ball through much of the season and that has to be respected, but this is a ball-hawking Eagles Secondary that thrive on mistakes and rushed Quarter Back passes and it may give Eastern Michigan an opportunity to win a second ever Bowl Game.

They will need Taylor Powell to continue from where he left off in the regular season- the Quarter Back finished with 14 Touchdown passes and 7 Interceptions, but Powell had 6 Touchdown passes without an Interception in the last two games of the regular season and that is very encouraging for Eastern Michigan.

Taylor Powell will be further encouraged when he sees the kind of numbers that the Spartans Secondary were allowing at the end of the season following a very strong start to 2022. He has been better protected by his Offensive Line compared with his opposite number and that should mean Powell has some time in the pocket to find the holes in the Secondary and put the Eagles in a position to win this game.

Turnovers could be crucial to the outcome of this close Bowl Game, but I do think the underdog is getting enough points to be backed.

This is a step up for Eastern Michigan compared with the Conference opponents they have been playing, but San Jose State are just 6-13 against the spread in their last nineteen non-Conference games. The Spartans have also failed to cover in their last six overall, while Eastern Michigan are 4-0 against the spread this season when set as the underdog of less than 7 points.

I do think the recent Bowl defeats will have hardened Eastern Michigan and I think they can be backed with the points to at least keep this one competitive, if not win outright.

Wednesday 21st December

Western Kentucky Hilltoppers vs South Alabama Jaguars Pick: Both these teams may have come short in terms of a Conference Championship, but 2022 has been a strong season for the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (8-5) and the South Alabama Jaguars (10-2). The Hilltoppers are going for a nine win season for the third time in four years as they attempt to win this Bowl Game, but it has been an incredibly special year for South Alabama who were only beaten out in the race to reach the Sun Belt Championship Game on a tie-breaker with the Troy Trojans.

Any time you can win ten games in a single season has to be celebrated and especially with a school like South Alabama that have suffered losing years every season since 2013.

They have already surpassed expectations by winning ten games and reaching a first Bowl Game since 2016 and there is plenty of motivation within the team to become the first Bowl winners in South Alabama. That should fire them up in what should be a good game between two teams that will be playing with a real confidence and swagger.

With two teams that have done plenty more winning than losing in recent weeks, it is no surprise to anyone that confidence will be high in both camps.

You have to feel that the South Alabama Offensive game plan will be the one with a little more balance, but I do think both teams are going to struggle to run the ball. The Jaguars Defensive Line have been stout against the run all season and it may be a tough test, even for a good Western Kentucky Offensive Line, while the Jaguars have had issues establishing the run with any consistency, but also face a weaker Defensive Line.

Neither team will want to move away from the run too soon, but it is also clear that South Alabama and Western Kentucky will be looking at Quarter Backs who have had very strong seasons for them.

The Jaguars have Carter Bradley who has built on the limited experience he had with the Toledo Rockets and has managed to throw for almost 3000 yards and with 25 Touchdowns. His numbers will be tested by the Hilltoppers Secondary that ended the season in strong form, but Bradley should have enough time to make his plays and has shown he can find the holes to get the ball moving down the field.

South Alabama will be happy with their transfer starting behind Center, but Western Kentucky feel they have unearthed a gem in Austin Reed. Any player moving out of Division II to this level of College Football will be tested, but Reed has looked incredibly comfortable and has over 4200 yards with 36 Touchdowns for the Hilltoppers this season.

Awards have been earned by Austin Reed, but his focus will be on trying to help Western Kentucky to win this Bowl Game. The Hilltoppers Offensive Line have given him plenty of time when he has dropped back to throw and that has made life that much easier for Reed with a similar pattern expected to develop in this one.

I do like the underdog with the points in this one and a backdoor cover should be possible at the very least if Western Kentucky cannot win outright.

The Hilltoppers are 5-0 against the spread in their last five against a team with a winning record, while the South Alabama Jaguars could be feeling some pressure to win a first Bowl Game. I do have to respect the level that the Jaguars have produced this season, but the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers passing game should keep them competitive.

Thursday 22nd December

Baylor Bears vs Air Force Falcons Pick: The Baylor Bears (6-6) have been something of a mixed bag in the three seasons under the guidance of Head Coach Dave Aranda- they finished with a losing record in 2020, but had twelve wins in 2021 and won the Big 12 Championship, although they were not invited into the College Football PlayOff. This season they have a 6-6 record and this Bowl Game is perhaps more important than it would have been if the Bears had won one more game during the course of the regular season.

Motivation has to be a question mark for the Bears who gave up their Championship crown this season and now have to play this Bowl in the home of the team that took their title, and also a place in the PlayOff later this month.

The Bears ended the season with three straight losses, but that has led to changes with the main one being Dave Aranda now calling the plays on the Defensive side of the ball. It is going to be interesting to see if he holds that role into the 2023 season, but it will be the case in this Bowl Game as the Head Coach looks to take control of his own fate.

A losing record is not likely to end with a firing, but two losing seasons in three years certainly puts pressure on any Head Coach.

While the Bears are going to be questioned as to motivational levels, the Air Force Falcons (9-3) have put together another strong season and Service Academy schools are always gearing their players up to give their best every day. There will be a disappointment that they did not challenge to win the Mountain West Conference, but the Falcons have plenty to achieve with a win on Thursday meaning they would have won at least ten games in three of the last four years.

That would be a remarkable achievement for Air Force and this is a team that most people could guess as to how they will want to play. The Falcons use the triple-option and that means plenty of rushing attacks throughout the game, although just because you know what is coming, doesn't make it any easier to slow it down.

Over the course of the season, the Bears Defensive Line has actually played the run well, but they did have some signs of wear and tear down the stretch in the three game losing run. It is also a different kind of ask of the players to really get themselves up for stopping the run in a Bowl Game, one that is perhaps not the kind of profile they would have expected at the start of the season, and even more so when considering how hard it is to deal with the triple-option Offense even when truly focused on doing so.

The Falcons are not going to throw the ball around, but the play-action could be open to them if they wish to test the Baylor Secondary. Ultimately this side of the ball could be determined by 'how much' the Bears want to try and stop the run and I am not sure they are going to be massively motivated to do that all day long.

Even if the Bears are playing with full focus, they are going to have issues moving the ball themselves as they prepare to face what feels like an underrated Air Force Defensive unit. There is strength at the line of scrimmage and the Falcons will believe they can slow down any Baylor attempts to run the ball, even if the Bears have been competing at a higher level for much of the season and could be the toughest team Air Force have faced.

Being behind the chains would mean having to deal with the Falcons pass rush, but the Bears will believe they can have some success throwing the ball. Over the course of the season, Air Force have been playing the pass pretty well, but, again, you have to consider this Baylor team to be the best they have faced and so it may be tough to have the same Defensive consistency against a Big 12 opponent as they have had against Mountain West opponents.

These two teams both have some strong trends behind them of late, but my lean is with the underdog. I think Air Force can keep this one close and competitive behind their Defensive unit, but the triple-option Offense is not one that Baylor will be used to dealing with and can give the Falcons enough of an Offensive punch to keep this one within the number.

A Field Goal margin of victory for either team looks the most likely outcome of this game and I will back the underdog with the points.

Friday 23rd December

Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns vs Houston Cougars Pick: Matching the incredibly successful 2021 season was never a realistic possibility for Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns (6-6), but that does not mean this is not a disappointing season for them. The team had won at least ten games in each of the last three seasons and were expected to defend the Conference Championship won last season much more vigorously than they managed, while they could finish with a losing season for the first time since 2017.

That was before Billy Napier took over as Head Coach, but his departure to the Florida Gators has been difficult for the team.

The Ragin' Cajuns still had a number of experienced players returning for the 2022 season, but they are going to be without some key performers in this Bowl Game as players begin to focus on their moves to the professional ranks. That could leave them exposed when facing the Houston Cougars (7-5), although the Bowl is being played in Louisiana and that could give the underdog some further motivation.

Much like Louisiana, Houston were not expected to match the twelve wins produced in 2021, but the Cougars fell much shorter of the top of the American Athletic Conference than would have been hoped. Head Coach Dana Holgorsen has at least had back to back winning seasons, which does keep these Coaches in the job, and a second Bowl win in a row will give Houston some momentum to take into the next season.

As mentioned, the absence of some key Defensive players that are preparing for the NFL Draft really hurts the Ragin' Cajuns and I do think Clayton Tune and the Houston Offense will be able to do much of what they like in this Bowl Game. Running the ball has been a big help to Tune and I think the Cougars Offensive Line is going to help rip off some big gains on the ground, which can only be good news for a Quarter Back who has almost 4000 passing yards to go with the 37 Touchdowns.

Limited pressure is expected around Clayton Tune who should be able to do what he likes in the pocket as he attacks this Louisiana Secondary. The Cougars are expected to move the ball consistently through the game and I would not be surprised if they don't have to punt the ball more than twice all day.

Being without Defensive figures that have been important all season will also not affect the way Louisiana are able to move the ball when they have it and that is the one concern with backing Houston to win any game. For all of their stunning Offensive play, Houston have been porous Defensively and Chandler Fields will feel pretty good at Quarter Back.

However, the Ragin' Cajuns are also going to be without their top Wide Receiver and that could lead to some issues with sustaining drives and keeping up with Houston in a potential shoot out. It does not help Chandler Fields that the Houston Defensive Line have just stiffened up in recent games and will feel they can control Chris Smith if the Ragin' Cajuns try to establish the run, which puts that much more pressure on Fields and the passing game to get things going.

I do think Louisiana will have some success and playing at home should see them plenty motivated, but they look to have lost too many players for this one.

With a bit more pass rush pressure expected and a stronger Defensive Line, Houston look to have a key edge in this Bowl Game and that should see them win by around ten points.

Neither team has been the best in covering in Bowl Games, but Houston can do enough to win what may feel like a road game by a good margin and go into 2023 with a lot of confidence behind them.

Wake Forest Demon Deacons vs Missouri Tigers Pick: When you play in one of the Power 5 Conferences you are always thinking about a potential career in the NFL- in recent years it has become a trend that players will opt out of 'lesser' Bowl Games to make sure they are ready for the Draft and this year is not going to be any different.

It certainly leaves the Missouri Tigers (6-6) a little short handed in the Gasparilla Bowl with their top Sack artist and other key Defensive players declaring themselves unavailable as they look to make the next step in their careers. The Tigers will be motivated in trying to avoid back to back losing seasons, but other players have decided they want to test the transfer portal and those will also be expected to sit out in the Bowl Game, which makes this a big challenge for Missouri.

Missouri have lost their last three Bowl Games and might have been expecting to face Wake Forest Demon Deacons (7-5) without their starting Quarter Back. Sam Hartman has made it clear that his time with Wake Forest is over, although it is less clear whether that means transferring to another school or trying to push forward into the NFL.

However, in something of a surprise, Sam Hartman has declared that he will play his final game for Wake Forest in the Bowl despite the team failing to reach the ACC Championship Game in what has been a relatively disappointing season.

You may wonder why Sam Hartman would choose to play this game, but it may be something to do with the fact he could become the second ACC Quarter Back to throw for 13000 yards in his career. The only player to do that is Philip Rivers, who had a very strong NFL career, and Hartman will need 313 yards to reach that mark on Friday.

Wake Forest have averaged 314 passing yards per game this season so the target is achievable, although I think it would have been much tougher against a Missouri Defensive unit that had all of their players available. That is not the case in the Bowl Game though and Sam Hartman could have a big day with the Tigers not expected to be as fierce with their pass rush without Isaiah McGuire and DJ Coleman in the line up.

There may also be a bit more room to run the ball and I expect the Demon Deacons to make sure they are in third and manageable spots for much of the afternoon, which gives them and their star Quarter Back a big chance to win this game.

It won't be a blowout though and that is because Brady Cook and the Missouri Offensive unit look to match up pretty well with the Demon Deacons. The Tigers have been able to run the ball pretty efficiently down the stretch and the Offensive Line will believe they can win at the line of scrimmage and at least keep Cook in front of the marker.

Brady Cook may be without his top Receiving target in Dominic Lovett, but he should be under little pressure from the Wake Forest pass rush and will know there are some big holes in the Secondary which can be exploited. Having Lovett would have been massive, but I still think Brady Cook can have one of his better showings of the season having been a little disappointed with his return of 13 Touchdowns to go along with 7 Interceptions.

Ultimately the turnovers could be a problem having to focus on Receivers that have not been as reliable as Dominic Lovett and I think that will hurt Brady Cook and the Missouri Tigers.

They will have successes, but Sam Hartman and the Wake Forest Demon Deacons should have more against a Defensive unit missing inspirational players.

Missouri definitely finished the season with more momentum than Wake Forest, but the boost of having Sam Hartman for one more game may lead to a narrow win for the small favourite.

Tuesday 27th December

Georgia Southern Eagles vs Buffalo Bulls Pick: Some teams will be playing in Bowl Games over the coming days with a sense of disappointment that they are not in a higher profile setting, while others will just be pleased for the extra practices and chance to end the 2022 season on a high. This Camellia Bowl between the Buffalo Bulls (6-6) and Georgia Southern Eagles (6-6) pits two teams who have improved from last season and who will be looking to end the year with a winning record so there is plenty of motivation for both teams.

Adding to that is the fact that the Eagles are being led by Kyle Vantrease at Quarter Back- he was the Buffalo Bulls Quarter Back last season but transferred to Georgia Southern and it is a match up that both him and the Defensive unit for the Bulls are looking forward to.

Both teams snapped three game losing runs to win their final regular season game and become eligible to play in a Bowl, but the Kyle Vantrease additional factor is one that should have both very focused as they push for a seventh win in the 2022 season.

Ignoring the rest of the Offensive unit that the Georgia Southern Eagles have outside of Vantrease would be a mistake for the Buffalo Bulls. One of the main areas where the Eagles are going to have success is behind the tough Offensive Line which has opened up considerable holes for the rushing attack and now face a Bulls Defensive Line which ended the season struggling to stop the run.

In reality it has been a season-long challenge for the Bulls and I think the fact that Kyle Vantrease will be in third and manageable spots for much of the Bowl Game is a huge advantage for the Quarter Back and his team. He has shown he can get the passing game going in his season with the Eagles too and Kyle Vantrease should have time to make his plays down the field out of play-action, especially against the Bulls Secondary which has had problems.

Of course they do know the Quarter Back and may be able to stop passes with their knowledge of what Vantrease may want to do, but even then, I do think the Georgia Southern Eagles will be able to have a strong day Offensively.

Buffalo are not likely to be blown away having played pretty well Offensively too in the second season under Head Coach Maurice Linguist. They are also facing a Georgia Southern Defensive unit that has had their own problems stopping teams from moving the ball against them, so the feeling is that this is going to be something of a shoot out.

The entire key to the outcome of the game may be at the line of scrimmage on this side of the ball- while the Eagles Defensive Line has struggled to make stops, the Buffalo Bulls Offensive Line has not been able to bully teams up front and they will need to find a way to keep their own Quarter Back in third and manageable in order to stay in front of the chains.

Cole Snyder may not have been as effective as Kyle Vantrease, but he has thrown for over 2750 passing yards this season and has 17 Touchdowns to add to that. An issue has been the 8 Interceptions in a game where turnovers may prove to be the difference, while Synder has simply not been as consistent in the passing game as his counterpart on the other sideline.

I think that will ultimately show up in this Bowl Game and Georgia Southern can improve their 4-1 record against the spread in their last five non-Conference games. They have also backed up wins a little better than Buffalo, while the Bulls are 2-7 in their last nine against the spread when playing on a neutral field and it could be a game where a turnover or two allows the Eagles to pull clear and cover this mark.

Coastal Carolina Chanticleers vs East Carolina Pirates Pick: After back to back double digit winning seasons and losing a number of starters from both sides of the ball, Head Coach Jamey Chadwell will have known it was going to be a challenge to keep the standards going at Coastal Carolina Chanticleers (9-3). Instead they have reached another Bowl Game and are going for another double digit winning season when taking on an opponent from North Carolina.

It isn't the Tar Heels or the NC State Wolfpack, but the East Carolina Pirates (7-5) who are trying to put up their most wins in a single season since 2014. They have not played in a Bowl Game since that season after last season's Bowl Game was cancelled during more Covid-19 restrictions, but East Carolina have matched the seven wins earned in 2021 and have kept the improvement going under Head Coach Mike Houston.

They will have been disappointed to not have challenged much more consistently in the American Athletic Conference, but the East Carolina Pirates are still strong favourites in this Bowl Game.

Some of that may be down to the fact that Coastal Carolina have lost their last two games and they will have Grayson McCall playing his last game at Quarter Back having entered the transfer portal. There is always a small chance that McCall will return, but the suggestion is that he has firmly decided to try and leave the team with one last big performance.

Grayson McCall is facing an East Carolina Secondary that ended the season giving up passing yards for fun and he is not expected to be under a lot of pass rush pressure. However, the feeling is that the pressure will be on the shoulders of McCall with the Coastal Carolina Offensive Line struggling to open up rushing yards and now facing a Pirates Defensive Line that has been tough up front.

Some of that is down to the fact that teams will throw and have success against East Carolina, but they have also limited the yards per carry down the stretch. Grayson McCall sounds like he is focused and I think he has a very big game, but becoming one-dimension could be a problem for Coastal Carolina as they bid for an upset.

One much loved Quarter Back will be leaving in Conway, but the same will be happening for this experienced East Carolina team with Holton Ahlers playing his last game at Quarter Back for the Pirates.

Unlike the Chanticleers, the East Carolina Offensive unit looks like it may have a bit more balance than their opponents and that could be key to the outcome of this Bowl Game. The Pirates Offensive Line have been very strong up front and opened up some huge holes for gains on the ground and they will feel they can at least push Holton Ahlers into a position where the pressure is not completely on their Quarter Back.

If they are able to make some gains and move in front of the chains, Ahlers should be able to expose the Coastal Carolina Secondary which has ended the season giving up some big yards through the air. And running the ball is also huge in slowing down the Chanticleers pass rush, which should give Holton Ahlers the time to dissect the Secondary.

The East Carolina Pirates have the edge when it comes to recent trends compared with the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers, but the recent experience of Bowl Games is with the underdog.

Both of their recent Bowl Games have ended up in close contests and they may be getting enough points here to allow Grayson McCall to at least earn the backdoor cover for the Chanticleers.

This could be one of the high-scoring games of the post-season, and I do think both teams will have some big passing numbers at the end of it. Turnovers will be key to the eventual outcome of the game, but the feeling is that Coastal Carolina can throw well enough to at least make this huge number of points count in their favour.

MY PICKS: UAB Blazers - 10.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

UTSA Roadrunners + 1 Points @ 1.83 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Fresno State Bulldogs - 3.5 Points @ 1.85 Bet Victor (1 Unit)

Marshall Thundering Herd - 10 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Eastern Michigan Eagles + 3.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Western Kentucky Hilltoppers + 4.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Air Force Falcons + 4 Points @ 1.91 Sky Bet (1 Unit)

Houston Cougars - 7 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Wake Forest Demon Deacons - 1 Points @ 1.91 Sky Bet (1 Unit)

Georgia Southern Eagles - 4 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Coastal Carolina Chanticleers + 8 Points @ 1.83 Sky Bet (1 Unit)