Like the grand finale at a Fourth of July fireworks celebration, college football coaches are emptying their playbooks to regale fans with one last flash of razzle dazzle before the season ends. Scoring tends to rise, and TV commentators have plenty of time to fill and do so by sharing personal tidbits about the players.
When else but during bowl season could Western Kentucky quarterback Mike White lob a touchdown pass to right tackle Forrest Lamp, or how else could we hear that Memphis’s defensive end Jonathon Wilson is nicknamed Swamp Donkey? And when was the last time the over/under reached 81 points and the final score was 51-31 — 82 points?
Probably sometime during last year’s bowl season. It began anew last weekend, and eight games are already in the books. After Tuesday’s game, favorites had won four games and two of three underdogs won outright. The only underdog not to win outright was Texas-San Antonio (one game was rated a pick’em).
Coaches are allowing cameras into the locker rooms for those “Win one for the Gipper” moments that don’t always turn out like they did in the movie. “What we have today is the opportunity to make a statement and show what it means to play at CMU,” said Central Michigan coach John Bonamego, whose team was drilled by WKU, 55-10 in the Miami Beach Bowl.
Here’s a look at the upcoming bowl games for the next seven days, with the betting lines and predictions against the spread:
Tonight
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
Colorado State (7-5) vs. Idaho (8-4)
At Alberston Stadium, Boise
Kickoff: 7 p.m. TV: ESPN
Line: Colorado St. by 15
The Vandals are dropping to the FCS and joining the Big Sky Conference in 2018. According to CBS Sports, students were paying $127 per semester to fund the team at the FBS level. Former UMass coach Charley Molnar is Idaho’s wide receivers coach, The Vandals’ most potent weapon on offense could be place kicker Austin Rehko with 26 field goals and 35 point-after touchdowns.
Mountain West Conference teams are off to a 2-0 start this bowl season. The MWC’s San Diego State was a four-point underdog against Houston in the Las Vegas Bowl and won 34-10. The Rams beat San Diego State 63-31 three weeks ago, ergo the Rams rock behind junior Nick Stevens and his 165.7 quarterback rating.
PICK: Colorado State/Under 65½
Friday
Popeye’s Bahamas Bowl
Old Dominion (9-3) vs. E. Michigan (7-5)
At Robinson Stadium, Nassau
Kickoff: 1 p.m. TV: ESPN
Line: Old Dominion by 4
Old Dominion has the fourth-best turnover margin in the FBS. The Monarchs switched quarterbacks midway through the 2015 season and are 12-4 with David Washington under center. He’s thrown just four interceptions and eight of his 28 TD passes went to senior redshirt Zach Pascal, who could be the first ODU player ever taken in the NFL draft.
As for Eastern Michigan, this is the Eagles’ first bowl game in 29 years and its first winning season in 21 years. The Eagles hit the jackpot by landing in the Bahamas and not Detroit or Birmingham. Now they have to focus on football. The Eagles were a respectable 34th of 128 teams in total offense averaging 454 yards a game, but opponents picked off 16 passes this year.
PICK: Old Dominion/Over 64½
Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl
Louisiana Tech (8-5) vs. No. 25 Navy (9-4)
At Carter Stadium, Fort Worth, Texas
Kickoff: 4:30 p.m. TV: ESPN.
Line: La. Tech by 6
Navy leads the nation in fewest penalties per game (3.3) but attrition has taken its toll. The Midshipmen are down to their third string quarterback and second string running back and are reeling from back-to-back losses against Temple and Army.
The Bulldogs are a smash-mouth team with the nation’s third-best passing attack. Quarterback Ryan Higgins has completed 300 passes for 4,208 yards and 37 TDs.
PICK: La. Tech/Under 66½
Dollar General Bowl
Ohio (8-5) vs. Troy (9-3)
At Ladd-Peebles Stadium, Mobile, Ala.
Kickoff: 8 p.m. TV: ESPN
Line: Troy by 4
Bobcats lost the MAC title game by six points to Western Michigan. They’ve also lost a dozen fumbles, which is the second-most in the FBS. Their placekicker Louie Zervos is tied with the Idaho PK for the most field goals in the FBS with 26. The MAC is 0-2 this bowl season.
Troy likes to use all four downs and usually succeeds with a 15-for-23 rate on the last go. The Trojans lost by six points to No. 2 Clemson early in the season, but were blown out three weeks ago by Arkansas State.
PICK: Troy/Over 49½
Saturday
Hawaii Bowl
Hawaii (6-7) vs. Middle Tennessee State (8-4)
At Aloha Stadium, Honolulu
Kickoff: 8 p.m. TV: ESPN.
Line: MTSU by 6
Raiders running back Travis Mathers’ 114 points on 19 TDs (16 rush, 3 pass) is tied for 8th-most among non-kickers. Rainbow Warriors one of only three teams with losing records to get a bowl bid, and it took a late TD against UMass to seal the deal.
The reason most sports books still haven’t posted a line is because of MTSU sophomore QB Brent Stockstill, who is still recovering from surgery to repair a broken right (non-throwing) collarbone that he suffered against Texas-San Antonio on Nov. 5.
The number crunchers at cbssports.com rank Hawaii as the second-lowest (93rd) of any FBS team to get a bowl invite, 45 spots lower than MTSU.
PICK: MTSU (No O/U)
St. Petersburg (Fla.) Bowl
Miami-Ohio (6-6) vs. Mississippi State (5-7)
At Tropicana Field
Kickoff: 11 a.m. TV: ESPN
Line: Mississippi State by 14
Two teams with a combined 11-13 record will play a bowl game inside a domed baseball stadium. Somehow this game lacks that certain something. Miami-Ohio is only two years removed from having the longest losing streak (21 games) in the FBS, and yes, they beat UMass to end it. The Red Hawks are the 82nd-best team in the FBS and the Bulldogs aren’t much better at No. 70, but their last two wins were against Texas A&M and Ole Miss. Bet the conference (SEC), not the team.
PICK: Miss. State/Under 58
Quick Lane Bowl
Maryland (6-6) vs. Boston College (6-6)
At Ford Field, Detroit
Kickoff: 2:30 p.m. TV: ESPN
Line: Maryland by 1
New England’s only bowl entry beat Wake Forest in the season finale to save the season and possibly every coach’s job. The Eagles have the 9th best sack-per-game ratio and are 8th best in team defense.
Maryland QB Perry Hills hits at 66 percent clip. The Terps lost four of their last five games, including 59-3 to Michigan.
PICK: BC/Under 43½
Camping World Independence Bowl
NC State (6-6) vs. Vanderbilt (6-6)
At Independence Stadium, Shreveport, La.
Kickoff: 5 p.m. TV: ESPN2
Line: NC State by 4
Vanderbilt comes into the postseason with back-to-back wins against Ole Miss. and Tennessee. NC State gets in despite losing five of its last seven games, including 54-13 against Louisville. Isn’t there a casino in Shreveport? That might be more fun.
PICK: NC State/Under 44
Tuesday
Zaxby’s Heart of Dallas Bowl
Army (6-5) vs. North Texas (5-7)
At Cotton Bowl
Kickoff: noon. TV: ESPN
Line: Army by 10
Black Knights’s defense yields 282 yards a game, fourth-fewest in the FBS. The Mean Green lost four of their last five games, including 52-24 against UTEP, and cbssports.com ranks them 100th of 128 teams., i.e., the team that least deserves a bowl game invite. Army is ready for a Grenada-type laugher land invasion.
PICK: Army/Under 49½
Military Bowl
No. 24 Temple (10-3) vs. Wake Forest (6-6)
At Navy-Marine Corps Stadium, Annapolis, Md.
Kickoff: 3:30 p.m. TV: ESPN
Line: Temple by 11½
Wake Forest became embroiled in scandal after it was revealed that an assistant coach-turned-broadcaster gave classified material to at least one opponent (Louisville) who was willing to take it. Pundits are referring to it as Wakileaks.
Temple coach Matt Rhule has left for Baylor, a school mired in its own share of scandal. The Owls took no prisoners against Navy. They’ve allowed the second fewest passing yards per game in the FBS (behind only Michigan) and are third in total defense (behind Alabama and Michigan).
PICK: Temple/Over 40½
National Funding Holiday Bowl
Minnesota (8-4) vs. Washington St. (8-4)
At Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego
Kickoff: 7 p.m. TV: ESPN
Line: Washington St. by 10
Golden Gophers are in disarray with 10 players suspended for alleged sexual assault. The Cougars lost the first two games of the season by a combined six points, reeled off eight straight wins and made it up to No. 22 in the CFP rankings. Losses to No. 10 Colorado and No. 4 Washington (45-17) rocked them backed to reality and out of the Top 25.
PICK: Minnesota/Under 61½
Motel 6 Cactus Bowl
Boise State (10-2) vs. Baylor (6-6)
At Chase Field, Phoenix
Kickoff: 10:15 p.m. TV: ESPN.
Line: Boise State by 7½
The once-mighty Bears have lost six straight games and deposed coach Art Briles is suing Baylor for defamation and conspiracy.
Boise State’s all-purpose back Jeremy McNichols scored 162 points this season, the most of any player in the FBS.
PICK: Boise St/Under 66½
Wednesday
New Era Pinstripe Bowl
No. 23 Pittsburgh (8-4) vs. Northwestern (6-6)
Yankee Stadium, Bronx, N.Y.
Kickoff: 2 p.m. TV: ESPN
Line: Pitt by 5½
Panthers’ claim to fame this season was handing No. 2 Clemson its only loss. Panthers lead the FBS in kickoff returns and have scored four defensive touchdowns, but have allowed opponents to cash in frequent flyer yards to the tune of 343 per game, highest of any team in the FBS.
Northwestern’s consecutive wins against Iowa, Mich. State and Indiana bode well at midseason, but can’t expect a team with six losses to beat a Top 25 opponent.
PICK: Pitt/Over 66
Russell Athletic Bowl
No. 16 West Virginia (10-2) vs. Miami (8-4)
At Camping World Stadium, Orlando, Fla.
Kickoff: 5:30 p.m. TV: ESPN
Line: Miami by 3
In classic Hurricanes tradition, quarterback Brad Kaaya has thrown for 3,250 yards and 23 touchdowns. When the drives stall, kicker Michael Badgley’s 20 field goals puts points on the board.
Mountaineers quarterback Skyler Howard has 26 touchdown passes and the team was 8-1 when it played Oklahoma and was Soonered into oblivion, 56-28.
PICK: West Virginia/Over 56½
Foster Farms Bowl
Indiana (6-6) vs. No. 19 Utah (8-4)
At Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, Calif.
Kickoff: 8:30 p.m. TV: Fox
Line: Utah by 7½
Utah placekicker Andy Phillips is 27 years old. He spent five years on the U.S. Ski Team and two years doing missionary work before going out for football. Indiana snuck into the post season with a two-point win against Purdue.
The Utes have won nine of their last 10 bowl games under coach Kyle Whittingham.
PICK: Utah/Under 54½
Advocare V100 Texas Bowl
Texas A&M (8-4) vs. Kansas State (8-4)
At NRG Stadium, Houston
Kickoff: 9 p.m. TV: ESPN.
Line: Kansas State by 2½
Inconsistent Aggies lost 11 fumbles this year which bodes well for Kansas State which was top ten in turnover margin. A&M running back Trayveon Williams averages seven yards a carry and has gained for 1,024 yards and scored eight touchdowns.
PICK: Kansas State/Under 57