NCAA College Football Bowl Week 3 Picks - Late Games
NCAA College Football Bowl Week 3 Late Games
All times Eastern
Tuesday, December 31
Belk Bowl
The 7-5 Hokies don't excel on either side of the ball, but went 8-4 in the ACC, 6-2 in conference play, but lost their biggest game to Virginia, 39-30, knocking them out of the ACC championship. Prior to that, however, the defense was making strides, losing 21-20 to Notre Dame, but then beating Wake Forest, 36-17, Georgia Tech, 45-0, and Pitt, 28-0. If Virginia Tech's defense comes prepared, they could walk this one off.
Coin Flip: Kentucky
Prediction: Hokies 34 Wildcats 20
Arizona State head coach Herm Edwards has never been on the winning side of a bowl game as either a player or coach. The Sun Devils lost to lightweights Colorado, UCLA, and Oregon State, but topped Oregon, 31-28, and Arizona, 24-14, the final two games of the season. Offense is not their strong suit, but the defense also has some holes, especially against the run.
Coin Flip: Florida State
Prediction: Seminoles 38 Sun Devils 24
The Wildcats finished in the middle of the Big 12 with a record of 5-4 (8-4 overall). They were solid defensively, allowing 21.5 points per game, and were the only team in the conference to beat Oklahoma (48-41). Their record against ranked foes is 2-0, as they topped Iowa State, 27-17, to finish the regular season. A close call in what should be a defensive struggle, may go the way of the Wildcats.
Coin Flip: Navy
Prediction: Wildcats 23 Midshipmen 20
Georgia State's Panthers were never the running for the Sun Belt championship, as November losses to Louisiana-Monroe (45-31), Appalachian State (56-27), and Georgia Southern (38-10) completed a string of three losses in their last four games to close out the season. Deficient on defense, the Panthers better not get behind early, because Wyoming's stout defenders will shut them down.
Coin Flip: Georgia State
Prediction: Cowboys 45 Panthers 20
Utah came up short in the PAC-12 championship game, losing to Oregon, 37-15, in a game in which a win would have sent them to the national championship playoffs. They may not be very motivated after missing out on their big chance and Texas has the kind of offense that may give them problems. Also, if Utah falls behind early, they're really not built for late-game heroics. Expect Texas to keep the pressure on the Utes' defense.
Coin Flip: Utah
Prediction: Longhorns 27 Utes 24
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NCAA Bowl Week 3 Early Games
12:00 pm Virginia Tech (-2 1/2, 46 1/2) vs. Kentucky - Kentucky's defense got it done for the most part in 2019, allowing 18.9 points per game on average, but the offense was not up to SEC standards and turned the ball over too often. The Wildcats went 7-5 with a 3-5 record in conference, but, after a 2-3 start they went 5-2 with converted wideout, Lynn Bowden Jr., starting at QB. Bowden led the Wildcats in rushing in six of the last seven games. Closing out the season with three straight wins, including a season-ending 45-13 romp over Louisville, the Wildcats are looking forward to this game and 2020.
Tony The Tiger Sun Classic
2:00 pm Florida State vs. Arizona State (-4 1/2, 54) - This is a weird one. Florida State has an interim head coach, Odell Haggins, who took over after Willie Taggert was fired early November, and replaced QB Alex Hornibrook with James Blackman. The new look Seminoles beat BC and Alabama State (49-12) before falling to Florida to end the regular season.
Autozone Liberty Bowl
3:45 pm #23 Navy (-2 1/2, 52) vs. Kansas State - The Midshipmen had an outstanding campaign in 2019, going 7-1 in the American Athletic and 10-2 overall, closing out the regular season by planting a 31-7 rout on military rival, Army. Leading the nation in rushing at 363.7 yards per game, don't expect the Middies to air out the ball much, and their defense is good enough (22.8 ppg allowed) to keep Kansas State honest.
Nova Home Loans Arizona Bowl
4:30 pm Wyoming (-7, 48 1/2) vs. Georgia State - Other than a 20-6 loss at Air Force in their regular season finale, the 7-5 Wyoming Cowboys held their own in 2019. Their other four losses were all by five or fewer points, including a 20-17 OT loss on a missed field goal to Mountain West champion, Boise State. The Cowboys are not exceptional offensively, but their defense is as good as it gets.
Valero Alamo Bowl
7:30 pm #11 Utah (-7, 55) vs. Texas - The 7-5 Longhorns bombed out in the Big 12, after much hoopla and high hopes, losing three of their last five games, though they sill finished 5-4 in the Big 12. QB Sam Ehlinger was not the problem, he performed well thought the season, but the defense was a definite letdown, giving up big plays and tons of yardage in the wide-open conference.
