The 2018-19 bowl season kicks off this weekend, beginning with the Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl, matching FCS opponents Alcorn State (9-3) versus North Carolina A&T (9-2) at noon in Atlanta.
The bowl season has flourished thanks to ESPN which is broadcasting all but seven of the games, including the CFP National Championship from Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara on Jan. 7.
A few sponsors have changed, the Zaxby’s Heart of Dallas Bowl has become the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl; the Cactus Bowl is the Cheez-It Bowl and the Foster Farms Bowl is the Red Box Bowl.
For the next three weeks The Recorder will publish capsule summaries to help you binge watch all 39 games through New Year’s Day.
Here’s a rundown of the matchups from Dec. 15-18. Picks are against the spread, but don’t take my word. Get out your pencils and start circling the winners.
SAT., DECEMBER 15
AutoNation Cure Bowl 1:30 p.m., CBSSN
Tulane (6-6) vs. Louisiana (7-6)
Camping World Stadium, Orlando
Line: Tulane by 3 (59)
ATS*: Tulane 5-7; Louisiana 9-4
SOS**: Tulane 76; Louisiana 102
Tulane RBs Darius Bradwell and Corey Dauphine combined for 1,738 yards and 16 TDs. Signature wins were against Memphis and South Florida. Offense coughed up 11 fumbles, tied for 13th-most in FBS. .… La. QB Andre Nunez a juco walk-on, completed 64.4 percent of his passes for 2,136 yards, 19 touchdowns and a dozen picks. Trey Ragas and Elijah Mitchell rushed for 2,092 yards and 20 TDs. PICK: Tulane
Gildan New Mexico Bowl 2 p.m., ESPN
Utah State (10-2) vs. North Texas (9-3)
Branch Field at Dreamstyle Stadium, Albuquerque
Line: Utah St. by 9½ (67)
ATS: Utah St. 9-3; No. Texas 4-8
SOS: Utah St. 72; No. Texas 121
Utah State’s Jordan Love tossed 65.8 percent completions for 3,208 yards, 28 TDs and five interceptions. Aggies’ only losses were to Mich. State and No. 23 Boise State by a combined 16 points. Aggies’ 566 points were the third-most behind Oklahoma and Alabama. … Mean Green’s Mason Fine had comparable stats to Love. He completed 64.6 percent of his passes for 3,734 yards, 27 TDs and five picks, but North Texas’s strength of schedule was Bottom 10. PICK: Utah State
Mitsubishi Motors Las Vegas Bowl 3:30 p.m., ABC
Fresno St. (11-2) vs. Arizona St. (7-5)
Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas
Line: Fresno St. by 4½ (52)
ATS: Fresno St. 9-4; Az. State 7-5
SOS: Fresno St. 64; Az. State 46
Sun Devils rank mediocre 55th in points scored and receiver N’Keal Harry (73 catches, 9 TDs) is saving himself for the NFL. Not good. … Bulldogs’ Marcus McMaryion transferred from Oregon State after his sophomore year and having already graduated. Immediately eligible, in two seasons he’s completed 496 passes (66.2%) for 39 TDs and only eight interceptions. The Bulldogs have outscored opponents 150-21 in in the third quarter this season. PICK: Fresno St.
Raycom Media Camellia Bowl 5:30 p.m., ESPN
Ga. Southern (9-3) vs. E. Michigan (7-5)
Cramton Bowl of Montgomery, Alabama
Line: Ga. Southern by 1 (47½)
ATS: Ga. Southern 9-3; E. Mich. 7-5
SOS: Ga. Southern 106; E. Mich. 92
E. Michigan upset Purdue in the second week of the season, 20-19. QBs Tyler Wiegers and Mike Glass III threw for 2,707 yards, 17 TDs and just three INTs. Seventeen players scored at least one touchdown. Eagles’ punts went further per game (296 yards) than any other FBS team. … Ga. Southern led the FBS in turnover margin (+1.8 pg). QB Shai Werts threw only 65 passes but 10 were for TDs with no interceptions. Werts ran for 13 touchdowns and was the team’s second leading rusher. Ga. Southern punter Magil Baverle averaged under 40 yards a kick. PICK: Ga. Southern
R&L Carriers New Orleans Bowl, 9 p.m., ESPN
Appalachian St. (10-2) vs. Midd. Tenn. State U.
Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans
Line: App. State by 7 (50½)
ATS: App. State 7-4; MTSU 8-5
SOS: App. State 84; MTSU 83
Mountaineers ranked fourth in FBS total defense. Playmakers Darrynton Devans, Zac Thomas, Jalin Moore, D’Andre Hicks, Corey Sutton and Dominique Heath all scored at least one touchdown of 62 yards or longer. … MTSU lost Conference USA Championship to Alabama-Birmingham by two points after beating UAB in the regular season finale, 27-3. QB Brent Stockstill completed 70.5 percent of his 427 passes. His favorite reciver was Ty Lee (828 yards; 7 TDs). PICK: MTSU
DECEMBER 18
Cheribundi Boca Raton Bowl, 7 p.m., ESPN
UAB (10-3) vs. Northern Ill. (8-5)
Schnellenberger Field at FAU Stadium
Boca Raton, Florida
Line: UAB by 2½ (43½)
ATS: UAB 9-4; No. Ill. 7-6
SOS: UAB 110; No. Ill. 67
ONE LINERS: Northern Illinois a traditional Mid-American power, used defense to beat BYU, 7-6, and offense to beat Buffalo for the MAC championship, 30-29. Huskies’ Sutton Smith tied for the most sacks in FBS (15). … UAB gunslingers A.J. Erdely and Tyley Johnston III threw 14 touchdown passes and 15 interceptions, but Blazers had fewest fumbles in FBS. Ground gainer Spencer Brown’s 16 touchdowns ties him for tenth most in FBS. PICK: No. Ill.
*ATS=Against the Spead; **SOS=Strength of Schedule
Sources: SBNation.com, TeamRankings.com, ESPN.com, CBSSports.com, Oddsshark.com, NCAA.com., sports-reference.com