Ugh, behind again…
12/31, Armed Forces: Air Force vs. Cal(-4.5)
I’ll take the points, I think Cal won’t care enough.
12/31, Humanitarian: Fresno State vs. Georgia Tech(-6)
I must have missed something; Tech is bad. Take the points.
12/31, Sun: Oregon vs. South Florida(-6)
The Ducks really mailed it in after Dixon got hurt. I think USF isn’t as good as people thought early, but not as bad as people think now. What scares me is that Vegas knows this and put the line at six. Ugh. I have to give the points, unless Dixon’s knee is magically back from the dead.
12/31, Music City: Florida State vs. Kentucky(-9.5)
OK, the line has adjusted for grade-gate or whatever they’re calling it. FSU is just plain bad, and won’t be up for a piddly bowl like this one, wereas any bowl bid is a big deal for Kentucky. Wildcats cover the big number.
12/31, Insight: Indiana vs. Oklahoma State(-5)
I have no idea. Neither of these teams can be any good, but IU is still playing on the whole dead coach emotion thing, so I’ll take the points.
12/31, Peac, err, Chick-fil-a: Auburn vs. Clemson(-2.5)
Hey, two ranked teams! Maybe the ACC isn’t as bad as I thought, I’ll go with Clemson here.
1/1, Outback: Wisconsin vs. Tennessee(-1.5)
Not very many points, probably because the Badgers have been good in bowls of late. I’ll take the point and a half.
1/1, Cotton: Arkansas vs. Missouri(-3.5)
Obviously, Mizzou got jobbed out of a BCS bid—how do you beat Kansas on a neutral field and then they get a better bid? The question is whether that turns into indignation or whether it means Missouri just won’t care. I’ll probably watch just to see McFadden run. I’ll assume Missouri will prove the BCS committee right and tank it.
1/1, Gator: Virginia vs. Texas Tech(-6)
As far as I can tell, the wrong team is favored here. Tech throws the ball around a lot, but I don’t remember them beating anybody good this year. Oh, wait, yeah, Oklahoma, the best team not playing for the national title. Yeah, OK, I’ll give the points.
1/1, Capital One: Michigan vs. Florida(-10.5)
Hmm, I’m thinking the spread should be like 14. Orlando is like within spitting distance of Gainesville, and oh yeah, Michigan sucks this year. Michigan particularly sucks against mobile quarterbacks running the spread, which is, you might say, a bad matchup here. Bye, Lloyd, don’t let the door hit you on the way out.
1/1, Rose: Illinois vs. USC(-13.5)
USC is a lot better, but that seems like too many points to me. I’ll take a chance and take the points. I fear that the half-point will be my undoing in a 35-21 game.
1/1, Sugar: Hawaii vs. Georgia(-7.5)
If I’m the UGA coach, I’m playing the film from last year’s Boise State game on a loop so that my players don’t take this lightly. Hawaii also isn’t as good as Boise was last year. Dawgs in a rout.
More to come! I’ll update records and stuff, too, from the couch on New Year’s Day, which I plan to spend anesthetized in front of the TV…
I blew it on the 1/31 games. I thought we did those already. I guess you can take or leave them – up to you. Here are the 1/1 responses:
1/1, Outback: Wisconsin vs. Tennessee(-1.5)
I’ll give the points. Go Vols!
1/1, Cotton: Arkansas vs. Missouri(-3.5)
Kansas got the better bid because they promised to buy more tickets. Simple as that. Sad, really. I’ll take Arkansas, McFadden, and the points. Assuming he’s not suspended. If he is suspended, I’ll give the points.
1/1, Gator: Virginia vs. Texas Tech(-6)
This is a terrible New Year’s day game. I guess I’ll give the points and take the high flying Texas Tech offense.
1/1, Capital One: Michigan vs. Florida(-10.5)
I think the Wolverines will have a tough time against Florida. Tebow will try to put on a show. I’ll give the points.
1/1, Rose: Illinois vs. USC(-13.5)
Illinois did some nice things this year, but they’re overmatched. USC in a rout.
1/1, Sugar: Hawaii vs. Georgia(-7.5)
Georgia is really good, and they can run the ball. That means Hawaii will rarely get the ball to throw it. Which means they will lose badly.