NCAA College Football Bowl Week 3 Picks - Early Games
NCAA College Football Bowl Week 3 Early Games
All times Eastern
Results:
Bowl Week 3: December 27 ‹ January 1
Thursday, December 27
Independence Bowl
Duke started out 4-0, but then went south, just 3-5 the rest of the way. Their last two losses were 35-6 at Clemson and 59-7 at home against Wake Forest. Duke is a tough call, depending on whether they're even motivated, but it appears that Temple is building toward next season ands deserves favoritism and a long look.
Coin Flip: Temple
PREDICTION: Owls 34 Blue Devils 20
Wisconsin was a major disappointment, expected to challenge for the Big Ten West division, bu they finished second to Northwestern, who hammered them, 31-17, back in October. The Badgers never recovered from that and other losses to Michigan (38-13), Penn State (22-10) and Minnesota (37-15). The offense is sloppy, but features stud running back Jonahthan Taylor, who rumbled for 1989 yards this season. Miami should be able to roll up in a single-safety zone defense, hold Taylor to 150 yards and squelch the Badgers on third downs. That should be enough to salvage a bowl victory.
Coin Flip: Miami
PREDICTION: Hurricanes 35 Badgers 24
The Commodores' schedule was just too tough, with losses to Notre Dame, Georgia, Kentucky, and Florida just to name a few, and they finished with two straight wins, over Ole Miss and Tennessee. Vandy may be just a step better than the Bears, but this one figures to be very close, so Baylor gets the nod in a squeaker.
Coin Flip: Baylor
PREDICTION: Bears 31 Commodores 29
Music City Bowl
The Boilermakers' David Blough threw for 3,521 yards with 25 TD passes, his primary receiver, Rondale Moore, accounting for 1,164 yards on 103 receptions. Purdue's finest moment was their stunning upset of Ohio State, but they also lost some games they should have won.
Auburn's stars are on defense, where LB Deshaun Davis led the team with 93 tackles and Noah Igbinoghene was a standout in the secondary.
Purdue's prolific offense should be able to solve Auburn's defense, but the Tigers will stay in the game as Purdue isn't strong defensively. Purude won their last bowl appearance with a 38-35 win over Arizona, while the Tigers lost, 34-27, to UCF in last season's Peach Bowl.
Coin Flip: Auburn
PREDICTION: Boilermakers 30 Tigers 27
With neither team offering much resistance on defense, this game could become be the highest-scoring contest of the weekend. The last team with the ball could be the determining factor, though the Orange may be just a little more motivated than West Virginia players who may be suffering some disappointment after losing their last two games, to Oklahoma State, and then, Oklahoma, 59-56, in the Big 12 championship.
Syracuse hasn't been to a bowl since 2013, but they've won three of their last four. The Mountaineers have dropped three of their last four bowl appearances.
Coin Flip: Syracuse
PREDICTION: Orange 52 Mountaineers 45
The Cyclones starter their season with a 1-3 mark, but went 7-1 after installing freshman Brock Purdy at QB. This is a team that made giant strides through the season and went virtually unnoticed outside the Big 12. Iowa State allowed 22.5 ppg, which is a fairly impressive feat in their offense-happy conference and that should make the going tough for the high-flying Cougars, who averaged 38.3 ppg.
These are two up-and-coming programs and it's a shame either has to be on the losing end here, but Iowa State's defenders should be able to contain - somewhat - the Washington State offense.
Coin Flip: Washington State
PREDICTION: Cyclones 34 Cougars 31
Peach Bowl
While the Wolverines my be disappointed in the outcome of a super 10-2 season, if they play up to their potential, a sizable victory is possible, though the Gators possess a very strong defense that allowed 20.4 ppg and will offer stiff resistance to the Michigan offense. Florida will be facing one of the country's top defenses themselves, as the Wolverines allowed just 17.6 ppg, despite the huge hurting put on them by the Buckeyes. Still, if properly motivated, Michigan could control the ball and the clock.
Coin Flip: Michigan
PREDICTION: Wolverines 28 Gators 17
South Carolina was solid on both sides of the ball and should put forward a good effort, testing out some subs for next season while giving their seniors a chance to shine. Virginia only played one ranked team - Miami, #16 at the time - and beat them, 16-13, but losses to Indiana, NC State, Pitt, were not up to par, and their final two games were on the road at Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech, both of them resulting in 3-point, overtime defeats. The Cavaliers are not going down easily. Look for a tight, defensive struggle.
Coin Flip: South Carolina
PREDICTION: Gamecocks 20 Cavaliers 18
Nevada was competitive in the Mountain West thanks to a solid defensive unit that powered four straight wins down the stretch before a season-ending, 34-29, loss at UNLV. Playing in their back yard, the Wolf Pack deserves more of an edge, coming out of a stronger conference.
Coin Flip: Nevada
PREDICTION: Wolf Pack 28 Red Wolves 23
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Bowl Week 3 Late Games
Bowl Week 1: Rick: 5-3; Coin: 4-4
Bowl Week 2: Rick: 4-5; Coin: 2-7
Cumulative: Rick: 9-8; Coin: 6-11
1:30 pm Duke (7-5) vs. Temple (8-4) (-3, 56) - If momentum means anything, Temple should slaughter the Blue Devils. The Owls started the season 0-2, then went 8-2, winning their last three, culminating in a 57-7 road rout at UConn.
Pinstripe Bowl
5:15 pm Miami (7-5) (-4, 47) vs. Wisconsin (7-5) - Miami was, after six games, 5-1, but lost four straight before winning their last two, finishing third in the ACC Coastal with a 4-4 mark in conference play. Both their offense and defense have been spotty, but very good when at their best, and they should be well rested and ready to go against the Badgers.
Texas Bowl
9:00 pm Vanderbilt (6-6) (-3 1/2, 55) vs. Baylor (6-6) - Baylor has some talent in their receiving corps, and they should be much improved next season, and the extra time may help move things forward in the program via this game. The Bears were only 4-5 in the conference, but beat Texas Tech and Oklahoma State, so they're pointed in the right direction.
Friday, December 28
1:30 pm Auburn (7-5) (-4, 54 1/2) vs. Purdue (6-6) - This should be a showcase of some future NFL talent, as both teams struggled through tough conference schedules but had some standout players.
Camping World Bowl
5:15 pm #20 Syracuse (9-3) vs. #16 West Virginia (8-3) (-2, 68 1/2) - Prepare the highlight reels for this contest between two offensive juggernauts, ranked #9 (WVA) and #10 (SYR) nationally. The Mountaineers averaged 42.3 points per game, the Orange, 40.8.
Alamo Bowl
9:00 pm #24 Iowa State (8-4) vs. #13 Washington State (10-2) (-4, 54 1/2) - The Cougars got plenty of attention in the PAC-12, challenging for the conference title, only to be undone in their final regular season game, a 28-15 loss to Washington.
Saturday, December 29
12:00 pm #10 Florida (9-3) vs. #7 Michigan (10-2) (-7 1/2, 50 1/2) - It's the SEC vs. the Big Ten in this season's version of the Peach Bowl, and the Wolverines are rightly favored by more than a touchdown. Michigan's stellar season was abruptly demolished when they travels to Columbus for their annual meeting with Ohio State, resulting in a humiliating, 62-39 loss. Michigan's hopes of playing in a National Championship Semi-Final were crushed, as were Rose Bowl aspirations.
Belk Bowl
12:00 pm South Carolina (7-5) (-4, 54 1/2) vs. Virginia (7-5) - The Gamecocks are back in a bowl after topping Michigan, 26-19, in last season's Outback Bowl, having won seven and lost five, all of those defeats at the hands of ranked opponents - Georgia, Kentucky, Texas A&M, Florida, and Clemson, an impressive list.
Arizona Bowl
1:15 pm Arkansas State (8-4) (-1, 60) vs. Nevada (7-5) - Figure on this game to be a teaser for better games later in the pair of National Championship semi-finals. Arkansas State's Red Wolves were champions of the Sun Belt, finishing 5-3 in conference with a 33-7 victory over Texas State in the championship game. They are capable of lighting up opposing defenses with a bevy of swift receivers.
