In less than two weeks, the national champion will be crowned but before that, YES, we still have one more week of bowl games. Let’s see if we can continue the winning in 2020. From all of us at Odds Shark to all of you, we wish you a happy and a WINNING year!!!!
January 4
Armed Forces Bowl: Southern Miss vs Tulane -7, 56.5
The Green Wave are 25th in the nation in rushing and 37th overall in total offense. QB Justin McMillan had 2,200 passing yards and 14 TDs, plus he was Tulane’s leading rusher, going for over 700 yards and 12 more majors. Conference USA’s Golden Eagles have lost their last two games by a total of 35 points and their best win of the season came against UAB. Southern Miss played a soft schedule and doesn’t have the defense to stop Tulane’s running attack.
Prediction: Tulane 40, Southern Miss 26
January 6
LendingTree Bowl: Miami-Ohio vs UL-Lafayette -14, 55.5
The Ragin’ Cajuns lost just three times this season, twice to the archrival Appalachian State Mountaineers and by 10 to SEC school Mississippi State. QB Levi Lewis had 24 touchdowns and had three running backs each go for over 800 yards rushing. The quarterbacks for Miami-Ohio had just 11 total touchdowns while throwing 10 interceptions. Their leading receiver had under 500 yards this season. The difference in point differential between these two schools was enormous. Miami-Ohio deserves credit for winning the MAC but they gave up 43 points more than they scored and Lafayette scored 255 more than its opponents. This game has mismatch written all over it.
Prediction: UL-Lafayette 51, Miami-Ohio 23
Previous Picks
TaxSlayer Bowl: Indiana vs Tennessee -2, 52.5
Indiana has had a great season with eight wins and is 22nd in the nation in passing yards. The Hoosiers have four receivers with over 500 yards. The Vols finished the season with five wins against less than average talent. Indiana continues to be productive in a solid season and wins this one as a slight underdog.
Prediction: Indiana 33, Tennessee 27
Birmingham Bowl: Boston College vs Cincinnati -7, 56
The Eagles will be without RB AJ Dillon as he wants to protect himself for the NFL draft. He was a major part of their offense, ripping off almost 1,900 yards and 15 TDs. Losing Dillon will be tough against Cincinnati. The Bearcats have three losses this season and those were against Ohio State and American Athletic Conference champ Memphis (twice). The Bearcats have a stud running back as well in Michael Warren. Warren has almost 1,200 yards and 14 touchdowns and he will be the difference in this bowl game for the Bearcats against Boston College.
Prediction: Cincinnati 28, Boston College 13
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl: Nevada vs Ohio -8, 58.5
Ohio has a solid offense that has been explosive lately. In the Bobcats’ last nine games, they have averaged 41 points and that’s mostly because they have a trio of runners who each have at least 550 yards rushing. When Nevada has lost this year, it has lost big. The Wolf Pack gave up 77 to Oregon, 54 to Hawaii at home and 33 in the season finale against UNLV. Nevada quarterbacks have only 13 passing touchdowns and have 13 total interceptions. In season point differential, Ohio is +92 while Nevada is -129. Ohio is just a stronger team with many more offensive weapons.
Prediction: Ohio 34, Nevada 20
