College Football 2016 Bowl Picks Against The Spread
By Ty Duffy
College football’s bowl season is upon us. TBL writers offer their prediction against the spreads for every bowl game that does not involve the college football playoff.
December 17
New Mexico Bowl [New Mexico(-7) vs. UTSA]
Ty: Too many points. UTSA
Kyle: New Mexico
Jason L: I feel like teams that play in bowl games named after them are overvalued. UTSA
Shamburger: New Mexico
Las Vegas Bowl [Houston(-3) vs. San Diego State]
Ty: No Tom Herman. Houston passing game that struggled against a very good SDSU secondary. San Diego State
Kyle: Houston
Jason L: One of my #1 rules this bowl season is to go against teams where the coach moved on for a better job, and they are favored. San Diego State
Shamburger: Houston
Camellia Bowl [Appalachian State vs. Toledo(-1)]
Ty: App State is the perfect team to counter Toledo. They run the ball and stop the pass. Appalachian State
Kyle: Toledo
Jason L: Any team good enough to beat Michigan a decade ago can cover in one of my favorite traditional bowl games, the Camellia Bowl. Appalachian State
Shamburger: Toledo
Cure Bowl [UCF(-5.5) vs. Arkansas State]
Ty: UCF’s defense is great on third downs, in the red zone, and against the pass. Central Florida
Kyle: Central Florida
Jason L: Feel like this was a big marketing opportunity miss not having this game on a Friday (I’m in love), but then again, this game sells itself. Central Florida
Shamburger: Central Florida
New Orleans Bowl [Southern Miss(-3.5) vs. Louisiana-Lafayette]
Ty: Louisiana-Lafayette
Kyle: Southern Miss
Jason L: Taking the Cajuns in Nawlins. Louisiana-Lafayette
Shamburger: Southern Miss
December 19-22
Miami Beach Bowl [Central Michigan vs. Tulsa(-11.5)]
Ty: If you’re going to get stuck at a crappy bowl game, this isn’t a terrible one. Central Michigan
Kyle: Central Michigan
Jason L: Tulsa will get the second win of the year by an Oklahoma school against CMU (Gundy nods). Tulsa
Shamburger: Tulsa
Boca Raton Bowl [Memphis vs. Western Kentucky(-5)]
Ty: Coach gone. Memphis has a really good pass defense. Memphis
Kyle: Memphis
Jason L: See my #1 rule. Memphis
Shamburger: Memphis
Poinsettia Bowl [BYU(-8.5) vs. Wyoming]
Ty: Give me the hyper-efficient crew on both sides of the ball that forces turnovers. BYU
Kyle: Wyoming
Jason L: Wyoming with the advantage after all the BYU players have to take the wife and kids to the San Diego Zoo all day.
Shamburger: Wyoming
Potato Bowl [Idaho vs. Colorado State(-13.5)]
Ty: Two-touchdown spread in what amounts to a road bowl game, no thanks. Idaho
Kyle: Colorado State
Jason L: No one comes into the Potato Bowl as a two-touchdown favorite and gets away with it. Idaho
Shamburger: Colorado State
December 23-24
Bahamas Bowl [Eastern Michigan vs. Old Dominion(-4)]
Ty: Home by Christmas. The ultimate crappy bowl. Eagles. Eastern Michigan
Kyle: Old Dominion
Jason L: I just learned that Old Dominion had a football team, but going against the directional Michigan schools out of spite.
Shamburger: Eastern Michigan
Armed Forces Bowl [Louisiana Tech(-3.5) vs. Navy]
Ty: Go Navy. Beat Louisiana Tech.
Kyle: La. Tech
Jason L: Navy is decimated and struggled at the end of the season, but I’ll take coach Niumatololo with time to prepare and rally as a dog.
Shamburger: Louisiana Tech
Dollar General Bowl [Ohio vs. Troy(-3.5)]
Ty: Take the points in a defensive battle. Ohio
Kyle: Troy
Jason L: The excitement of some Dollar General swag bags. Troy
Shamburger: Troy
Hawaii Bowl [Hawaii (NO LINE) vs. Middle Tennessee]
Ty: I’ll be contrarian. Hawaii
Kyle: Middle Tennessee
Jason L: Mele Kalikimaka. Middle Tennessee
Shamburger: Middle Tennessee
December 26
St. Petersburg Bowl [Miami of Ohio vs. Mississippi State(-12.5)]
Ty: The sort of game that really brings it home for Dan Mullen he’s coaching a 5-win team in Starkville. Miami (of Ohio)
Kyle: Miami (of Ohio)
Jason L: One learns early to make sure which Miami it is when checking the lines. Miami
Shamburger: Mississippi State
Quick Lane Bowl [Maryland (-1) vs. Boston College]
Ty: BC has a very good run defense. Running the ball is the only thing Maryland can do. Take the Dudes. Boston College
Kyle: Maryland
Jason L: Ty informed me that these two teams are fun to watch. Maryland
Shamburger: Boston College
Independence Bowl [N.C. State(-4.5) vs. Vanderbilt]
Ty: The Commodores are top five in red zone efficiency on both ends. The Wolfpack are…not. Vanderbilt.
Kyle: Vanderbilt
Jason L: Alabama avoids Vanderbilt again.
Shamburger: Vanderbilt
December 27
Heart of Dallas Bowl [Army(-10) vs. North Texas]
Ty: So Army is now favored by double digits against a team that went on the road and beat them by 17 earlier this season? North Texas
Kyle: Army
Jason L: Letdown game for the Black Knights. North Texas
Shamburger: North Texas
Military Bowl [Temple(-13) vs. Wake Forest]
Ty: Defensive battle. Temple lost its coach. Too many points. Wake Forest
Kyle: Wake Forest
Jason L: Wake Forest will be playing a game without leaking the game plan.
Shamburger: Temple
Holiday Bowl [Minnesota vs. Washington State(-6.5)]
Ty: Minnesota had to suspend 10 players. Washington State
Kyle: Washington State
Jason L: This game may not happen. I’ll take Washington State over Northern Illinois.
Shamburger: Washington State
Cactus Bowl [Boise State(-7.5) vs. Baylor]
Ty: Baylor should get some traction on the ground. Baylor
Kyle: Boise State
Jason L: Officially, this is the Motel 6 Cactus Bowl, so I’m diabolically rooting for an electric issue that causes the lights to go out. Baylor
Shamburger: Boise State
December 28
Pinstripe Bowl [Pittsburgh(-5.5) vs. Northwestern]
Ty: Pitt’s defense is a word that rhymes with it. Northwestern
Kyle: Pittsburgh
Jason L: Pitt beat both Clemson and Penn State? Easy call. Northwestern.
Shamburger: Pittsburgh
Russell Athletic Bowl [West Virginia vs. Miami(-3)]
Ty: Mark Richt with time to prepare. Miami
Kyle: West Virginia
Jason L: Holgo’s hair will dominate Orlando. West Virginia
Shamburger: West Virginia
Foster Farms Bowl [Indiana vs. Utah(-7.5)]
Ty: Too many points. Indiana has a good defense. Indiana
Kyle: Indiana
Jason L: I heard the Hoosiers couldn’t handle a real coach. Utah
Shamburger: Indiana
Texas Bowl [Texas A&M(-2) vs. Kansas State]
Ty: Good god. That’s… That’s Bill Snyder’s music. And Texas A&M is starting a backup quarterback. Kansas State
Kyle: Texas A&M
Jason L: Bill Snyder is gonna work some voodoo. Kansas State
Shamburger: Texas A&M
December 29
Birmingham Bowl [South Florida(-10.5) vs. South Carolina]
Ty: South Carolina can’t stop the run. That will be a problem. South Florida
Kyle: South Florida
Jason L: Charlie Strong in a must-win game. South Carolina
Shamburger: South Carolina
Belk Bowl [Arkansas vs. Virginia Tech(-7)]
Ty: Arkansas does one thing well and lost to Mizzou. Virginia Tech does multiple things well. Virginia Tech
Kyle: Virginia Tech
Jason L: In all honesty, I like to take big SEC dogs. Arkansas
Shamburger: Arkansas
Alamo Bowl [Oklahoma State vs. Colorado(-3)]
Ty: Colorado’s pass defense against a one-dimensional passing team. Colorado
Kyle: Oklahoma State
Jason L: Petitions for this to be a throwback Barry Sanders vs. Eric Bienemy game. Colorado
Shamburger: Colorado
December 30
Liberty Bowl [Georgia(-1) vs. TCU]
Ty: Man. This game is awful. TCU
Kyle: Georgia
Jason L: Big name programs, but a combined 13-11 this year. TCU
Shamburger: TCU
Sun Bowl [Stanford(-3.5) vs. North Carolina]
Ty: Not sold on this Stanford team. North Carolina
Kyle: Stanford
Jason L: Rooting for the Stanford band to take on the Tar Heel academics scandal. Stanford
Shamburger: Stanford
Music City Bowl [Nebraska vs. Tennessee(-3)]
Ty: I can’t pick Tennessee. Nebraska
Kyle: Tennessee
Jason L: I feel like those who once played for Bo Pelini are the real Champions of Life. Nebraska
Shamburger: Tennessee
Arizona Bowl [South Alabama vs. Air Force(-13)]
Ty: Too many points. South Alabama
Kyle: Air Force
Jason L: South Alabama is 5-6, and ended up not having to play LSU. Bowls! South Alabama
Shamburger: Air Force
Orange Bowl [Michigan(-7) vs. Florida State]
Ty: FSU can rush the passer. Dalvin Cook is the best playmaker Michigan has played. Major letdown spot for Michigan. Florida State
Kyle: Florida State
Jason L: What does this line move to when Harbaugh takes the Rams job? Michigan
Shamburger: Michigan
December 31
Citrus Bowl [LSU(-3.5) vs. Louisville]
Ty: Tigers control both lines of scrimmage. LSU
Kyle: LSU
Jason L: Looking forward to the shiny new Lane Kiffin offense. Louisville
Shamburger: LSU
Taxslayer Bowl [Georgia Tech(-3.5) vs. Kentucky]
Ty: *Looks up Kentucky’s run defense* Georgia Tech
Kyle: Georgia Tech
Jason L: I’m tired of having to look up where these bowl games are played. Kentucky
Shamburger: Kentucky
January 2nd
Outback Bowl [Florida(-2.5) vs. Iowa]
Ty: Big Game Kirk. Iowa
Kyle: Iowa
Jason L: Wrong team favored. /puts on Herky helmet. Iowa
Shamburger: Florida
Cotton Bowl [Western Michigan vs. Wisconsin(-7)]
Ty: Fleck is staying. Wisconsin’s pass defense isn’t so great. Row the boat. Western Michigan
Kyle: Wisconsin
Jason L: Pretty sure every time a directional school makes a top bowl, they win as a dog. (Central Florida over Baylor) Western Michigan
Shamburger: Wisconsin
Rose Bowl [USC(-6.5) vs. Penn State]
Ty: Trojan secondary can react to Trace McSorely arm punts. USC
Kyle: USC
Jason L: USC playoffs blah blah blah. Penn State, outright winner.
Shamburger: Southern Cal
Sugar Bowl [Auburn vs. Oklahoma(-3.5)]
Ty: Auburn’s defense is really good. I’m not sure Oklahoma can stop the run. Big Game Roberto. Auburn
Kyle: Oklahoma
Jason L: Is this a big game or not? Auburn
Shamburger: Oklahoma