NCAA College Football Bowl Week 2 Picks - Late Games

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NCAA College Bowl Week 2 - late games

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Fearless Rick & Coin Flip NCAA Bowl Week 2 - Late Games

All times Eastern

Click here for early games.

Saturday, December 27

Military Bowl
Pittsburgh (-10.5, 55) vs East Carolina 11:00 am (ESPN) - East Carolina was one of the better teams in the American Conference, going 6-2 with an 8-4 mark overall. Of their four losses, three were to pretty good teams - NC State, BYU, Tulane. The 58-24 defeat at UTSA was due primarily to turnovers (4 of them). The Pirates returned the following week with a season-finishing romp of Florida Atlantic, 42-3.

Pitt went 8-4 overall, but lacked consistency and are coming off a demoralizing, 38-7, season-ending loss to Miami. Hard to say how committed the players will be in this sub-prime bowl. The Pirates may be more enthusiastic.

Coin Flip: Pittsburgh

Fearless Rick’s Pick: Panthers 27 Pirates 24


Pinstripe Bowl
Penn State vs Clemson (-3, 48.5) 12:00 pm (ABC) - For Clemson, this was a very forgettable season. Preseason talk was CFP and maybe a Heisman for QB Cade Klubnik. Neither panned out as the Tigers went 7-5 and 4-4 in the ACC.

The same could be said for Penn State, ranked as high as 4th or 5th preseason, a 30-24 loss to Oregon started a string of six straight losses and the firing of head coach Franklin. They managed to win three straight to finish the season 6-6 and make it to a bowl. They might be better than Clemson at this point. Call this the “Cry in your Beer Bowl.”

Coin Flip: Clemson

Fearless Rick’s Pick: Nittany Lions 28 Tigers 17


Fenway Bowl
UConn vs Army (-9.5, 43.5) 2:15 pm (ESPN) - After a 1-2 start to the season, the Huskies went 8-1 through their independent schedule, which, honestly, wasn’t very impressive, topping the likes of Boston College, FIU, Buffalo, but with bright spots in wins over Air Force, UAB, and Duke. They seem to have just enough talent on both sides of the ball to defeat so-so teams like 6-6 Army. 9 1/2 points? Don’t think so.

Coin Flip: UConn

Fearless Rick’s Pick: Huskies 27 Black Knights 21


Pop-Tarts Bowl
22 Georgia Tech vs 12 BYU (-4, 56) 3:30 pm (ABC) - Both teams were legitimate in 2025. BYU was second-best in the Big 12, 11-2 overall, both losses to Texas Tech, one a 34-7 blowout in the Big 12 championship. Other than that, they hammered everybody else. Close calls by identical 24-21 scores in wins over Colorado and Utah. Lots to like.

The Yellow Jackets were flying high at 8-0 before dropping three of four - to NC State, Pitt, and Georgia, though their 16-9 loss in that rivalry game was a very solid effort. QB Haynes King had a spectacular season, but he’ll need support from others on offense against a tight BYU defense.

Coin Flip: Georgia Tech

Fearless Rick’s Pick: Cougars 34 Yellow Jackets 24



Arizona Bowl
Miami (OH) vs Fresno State (-5.5, 41.5) 4:30 pm (CW) - Despite an 0-3 start and losses to Ohio and Toledo in the MAC, the RedHawks managed to reach the conference championship, losing to Western Michigan, 23-13, but the offense is very inconsistent and they are down to their third-string QB, Henry Hesson.

If Fresno State gets an early lead, it could be lights out here. The Bulldogs went 8-4 overall, highlighted by a 30-7 hammering of Boise State and a season=ending high note, 41-14 win at San Jose State.

Coin Flip: Fresno State

Fearless Rick’s Pick: Bulldogs 31 RedHawks 13


New Mexico Bowl
25 North Texas (-3.5, 54) vs San Diego State 5:45 pm (ESPN) - The Aztecs had a solid 9-3 season, and, if their defense is intact, it might be a long afternoon for the Mean Green from North Texas. The Aztecs threw thee shutouts this season and held five other opponents to 10 points or fewer, including Boise State and Fresno State.

11-2 North Texas lost to South Florida, 63-36 and to Tulane, 34-21, in the American championship game. Other than that, they mostly blew away mostly inferior competition. They bring an explosive offense to a game that could be one of the best of the weekend.

Coin Flip: San Diego State

Fearless Rick’s Pick: Mean Green 27 Aztecs 26


Gator Bowl
19 Virginia vs Missouri (-4, 44) 7:30 pm (ABC) - Losses to NC State, Wake Forest and Duke (in the ACC championship, 27-20) kept Virginia out of the CFP, and they have the kind of grit and determination to make the most of this bowl appearance. They were 7-1 in the ACC and 10-3 overall with equal contributions on offense and defense.

The Mizzou played a rugged SEC schedule, finishing 8-4, with all four losses against ranked SEC foes, Alabama, Vanderbilt, Oklahoma, and Texas A&M. Two of those losses were without QB Beau Pribula, who returned from injury to get wins in the final two games, but he’s entered the transfer portal and will not play. Advantage Virginia.

Coin Flip: Virginia

Fearless Rick’s Pick: Cavaliers 27 Tigers 17


Texas Bowl
LSU vs Houston (-3, 41.5) 9:15 pm (ESPN) - Weird situation for LSU, having hired Lane Kiffin as head coach, though he will not be head coach for this game. The Tigers started out the season with a 17-10 win at Clemson, won three more straight, but then lost four of five to Ole Miss, Vandy, Texas A&M, and Alabama, resulting in the firing of head coach Brian Kelly. With Kiffin taking over next season, plenty of the Tigers’ players will stay on, but some may opt out of this game regardless.

Houston was 6-3 in the Big 12, 9-3 overall and brings a high-powered passing game to the contest. With LSU in somewhat of a flux or a funk, the Cougars deserve the nod.

Coin Flip: LSU

Fearless Rick’s Pick: Cougars 24 Tigers 17


Click here for early games.


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