The best time of the year in college football is finally upon us, Bowl Season! Nothing beats college football games during the middle of the week presented by a wacky sponsor in various locations ranging from tropical areas like the Bahamas and Hawaii to baseball stadiums in New York and Boston, and even on campus sites like Boise, Idaho, and Mobile, Alabama.
Sadly, in the NIL and sports gambling era, these games are more meaningful to those watching than to the players on the field. So, to stay up to date with players opting out and having relevant gambling lines in previewing these games, I will be doing three days of games per article. If you want to test your knowledge up against our writers and other fans of Blitz Sports Media join our Bowl Mania Group here https://fantasy.espn.com/free-prize-games/sharer?challengeId=251&from=espn&context=GROUP_INVITE&edition=espn-en&groupId=06f75701-5341-4217-8881-d803bd4d1758 Here is part one of my college football bowl predictions
Army Black Knights vs. Navy Midshipmen
Game Info: Saturday 12/14, 3ET on CBS, in Landover, MD
Betting Info: Army -6.5, Total 39.5
While it is not a bowl game, Army and Navy will meet for the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy for the 125th time on Saturday, and it is one of the premier events of the college football calendar. Navy leads the series 62-55-7 all-time, but Army looks for their third straight win against Navy, following their 11-1 regular season and American Conference championship. Both teams run the triple-option offense and are led by their proficient running quarterbacks. Army QB Bryson Daily rushed for 1480 yards and 29 touchdowns, while Navy QB Blake Horvath rushed for 895 yards and 13 touchdowns. Horvath was the better passer of the two, throwing for 1154 yards and 11 touchdowns to Daily’s 877 yards and 8 touchdowns. This game was thought to possibly have CFP implications when both teams started 6-0, but both teams lost by 35+ points to Notre Dame, knocking them out of contention. For Army it was their only loss of the year, Navy also suffered losses to Rice and Tulane, who Army beat 35-14 in the American Championship game.
My Pick: Army 24-17
Salute to Veterans Bowl: South Alabama Jaguars vs. Western Michigan Broncos
Game Info: Saturday 12/14, 9ET on ESPN, Montgomery AL
Betting Info: South Alabama -7.5, Total 57.5
The first official bowl of the year is not the most exciting as two 6-6 teams from the Sun Belt and MAC square off. The Jaguars are led by Quarterback Gio Lopez, who threw for 2559 yards and an 18-5 touchdown to interception ratio. Jamaal Pritchett was Lopez’s favorite receiver, as he had 91 receptions for 1127 yards and nine touchdowns on the season. Western Michigan is led by Quarterback Hayden Wolff, who threw for 2214 yards and a 17-7 touchdown to interception ratio. The Broncos have a two-headed backfield with running backs Jayden Nixon rushing for 876 yards and 12 touchdowns, and Jaylen Buckley rushing for 657 yards and 8 touchdowns. South Alabama put up 87 points against FCS opponent Northwestern State this year, but their best FBS win was 24-22 against Louisiana, who won the Sun Belt. Western Michigan’s best win was 48-41 at Buffalo, who went 8-4 on the year.
My Pick: South Alabama 35-27
Frisco Bowl: Memphis Tigers vs. West Virginia Mountaineers
Game Info: Tuesday 12/17, 9ET on ESPN, Frisco, TX
Betting Info: Memphis -4.5, Total 58.5
West Virginia went into the season with people thinking they could be a dark horse team to win the Big 12 and make the College Football Playoff. They ended up going 6-6, firing head coach Neal Brown and bringing back old head coach Rich Rodriguez for next year. Memphis went 10-2 in the regular season, having cracked my top 25 rankings multiple times, and finished 25th in the final CFP Poll. The Tigers are led by Quarterback Seth Huggins, who threw for 3208 yards this year and a 23-6 touchdown to interception ratio. Memphis also has a standout Running Back in Mario Anderson Jr. who rushed for 1292 yards and 17 touchdowns. West Virginia Quarterback Garrett Greene threw for 1972 yards and a 13-11 touchdown to interception ratio. On the ground the Mountaineers are led by Jaheim White rushing for 817 yards and seven touchdowns, and CJ Donaldson Jr. with 651 yards and nine touchdowns. All of West Virginia’s wins this year came against Big 12 teams that did not make a bowl game and FCS opponent Albany. Memphis best win was playing spoiler at Tulane on Thanksgiving, winning 34-24 and knocking the Green Wave out of playoff contention
My Pick: Memphis 34-28
Boca Raton Bowl: Western Kentucky Hilltoppers vs. James Madison Dukes
Game Info: Wednesday 12/18, 5:30 ET on ESPN, Boca Raton, FL
Betting Info: James Madison -8, Total 52.5
Despite losing their coach Curt Cignetti and many transfers to Indiana, James Madison still went 8-4 in their first year under Bob Chesney. While their 4-4 record in the Sun Belt was mediocre, they went 4-0 in non-conference play, including winning 70-50 at North Carolina. The Dukes are led by Quarterback Alonza Barrett III, who threw for 2598 yards and had 33 total touchdowns, 26 passing and seven rushing. His favorite targets were Yamir Knight, with 567 yards and four touchdowns, and Omarion Dollison, with 551 yards and six touchdowns. On the ground, James Madison was led by George Pettaway, who had 880 yards and five touchdowns. On the Western Kentucky side, they went 8-4 and 6-2 in Conference USA play before losing at Jacksonville State in the CUSA Championship Game, despite winning the matchup the week before between the two teams. However, the Quarterback who got them there, Caden Veltkamp, and his backup TJ Finley have entered the transfer portal and will not be playing in this game. Wide Receiver Kisean Johnson and Running Back Elijah Young will have to play big roles for this undermanned Western Kentucky offense for them to have any chance in this game. Johnson lead the Hilltoppers receiving wise with 855 receiving yards and seven touchdowns, and Young rushed for 846 yards and was 2nd on the team in rushing touchdowns with three.
My Pick: James Madison 31-21
LA Bowl: Cal Golden Bears vs. UNLV Rebels
Game Info: Wednesday 12/18, 9ET on ESPN, Inglewood, CA
Betting Info: Cal -1.5, Total 50.5
It always fascinates me when the 6-6 power conference school is favored over the 10-win group-of-five school in matchups like this. UNLV has beaten multiple power conference opponents this year in Houston, Kansas, and Oregon State. The Rebels suffered a loss to their other power conference opponent, Syracuse, but other than that, the only other losses were to College Football Playoff team Boise State. UNLV is led by Quarterback Hajj-Malik Williams, who threw for 1885 yards and a 17-5 touchdown-to-interception ratio after taking over the starting role when Mathew Sluka entered the transfer portal. Ricky White III was the Rebels leading receiver with 1041 yards and 11 touchdowns. UNLV however will be without their coach Barry Odom as he has taken the head coaching job at Purdue. Cal went 6-6 and 2-6 in conference in their first season as members of the ACC. They were the only FBS team to lose to Florida State, but did have Miami on the ropes and almost knocked off the Hurricanes when College Gameday came to Berkeley for the first time ever early in the year. The Golden Bears were led by Quarterback Fernando Mendoza throwing for 3004 yards and 16 touchdowns on the year, but Mendoza is entering the transfer portal. Javion Thomas is Cal’s leading rusher with 598 yards and seven touchdowns. Without Mendoza, the Golden Bears will need a big game from their defense, who allows only 22 points per game, which is top 50 in the country.
My Pick: UNLV 28-24