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NCAA College Football Playoff First Round Games
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Fearless Rick & Coin Flip NCAA Bowl Week 1 Picks
All times Eastern
Week 16 Results: Rick: 0-2; Flip: 1-1
Editor’s Note: These early bowl games are incredibly difficult to pick and always will be due to a number of factors, including coaching changes, transfer portal, general enthusiasm or lack thereof, semester final exams, the fact that some of these teams won only 6 or 7 games, and other elements of college life too numerous to mention. Therefore, Fearless Rick and Coin Flip take no responsibility for the accuracy of these picks or for winnings or losses incurred from reliance upon them.
Tuesday, December 16
Salute to Veterans Bowl
The Gamecocks of Jacksonville State lost the Conference USA championship to Kennesaw State, 19-15, finishing 7-1 in conference games and 8-5 overall. In their eight wins, they only held one team under 21 points (Murray State, 45-10), which would seem to offer some hope for the Trojans.
Coin Flip: Troy
Fearless Rick’s Pick: Trojans 28 Gamecocks 24
StaffDNA Cure Bowl
South Florida’s claim to fame came early in the season, when the Bulls started out with wins over Boise State (34-7) and Florida (18-16). A reality check loss to Miami (49-12) followed, but the Bulls went 6-2 in the American conference and finished 9-3 overall. Their two AAC losses were heart-breakers, 34-31, at Memphis, and 41-38 at Navy.
Wile ODU’s defense may have turned a corner late this year, they’re probably not on par with South Florida’s offense, which scored 41 or more points in seven of their wins. Outside of unseen portal calls or coaching maneuvers, the Bulls should run away with this one.
Coin Flip: Old Dominion
Fearless Rick’s Pick: Bulls 42 Monarchs 17
Having lost three of their last five games, Delaware just barely made it to bowl eligibility. Louisiana won four straight after a 2-5 start, dropping their last game at Troy, 35-23. With this game being played in Mobile, Alabama, there should be a partisan Cajun crowd on hand. Delaware may not fare well. They were 1-5 in road games this season.
Coin Flip: Louisiana
Fearless Rick’s Pick: Ragin’ Cajuns 35 Blue Hens 21
Xbox Bowl
Each team has shown proficiency on offense and not much in the way of defense. Could be a game in which the last team with the ball under 2:00 wins the game. The 1.5 points are unlikely to matter. Turnovers and special teams may play huge roles.
Coin Flip: Arkansas State
Fearless Rick’s Pick: Bears 41 Wolves 36
Myrtle Beach Bowl
The Broncos’ 26-17 loss at Miami (OH) was their only conference defeat and they paid it back, 23-13, in the championship. This is a team showing purpose… and defense. No team scored more than 21 points in their 9 victories. Early non-con losses to Michigan State, Illinois, and North Texas, 33-30 OT, toughened them up.
The 10-3 Kennesaw State Owls will make a game of this. They won Conference USA, and, like the Broncos, avenged an earlier loss with a win in the championship game, 19-15 over Jacksonville State. Look for a minor upset if the Owls can soften up the Western Michigan defense.
Coin Flip: Western Michigan
Fearless Rick’s Pick: Owls 27 Broncos 24
The Tigers had a good thing going until three straight losses to Navy, East Carolina, and Tulane - the best teams in the AAC - turned a possible run at the conference championship into a 4-4 disappointment. Wins over Rice and USF to close out the regular season may have restored some confidence.
Both teams have explosive offensive potential and this may be a “defense optional” kind of game, so take the points and the OVER.
Coin Flip: NC State
Fearless Rick’s Pick: Tigers 38 Wolfpack 36
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