The last Saturday before Christmas and all through the day, bowl games were airing, and teams got to play. The helmets were polished to a glimmering shine, and fans were drinking their beer and their wine. The games, when counted, numbered all the way to seven, which, in this writer’s mind, is an example of heaven.
…..
Last night at the Gasparilla Bowl, UCF jumped to a 14-0 lead and led 17-3 before the Ramblin’ Wreck of Georgia Tech took the momentum and never shared again. One of the prettiest interceptions I’ve ever seen happened when Henderson of UCF took the ball from the receiver while rolling over him for the catch. A little bit of luck and a lot of concentration. That was the highlight for the Knights in the second half, though, as the Yellow Jackets added 13 following at 17-17 tie at the half. The GCR picked UCF to win, so that didn’t work out, but GT to cover, so that was a victory.
…..
Let’s jump into today’s action. First with a noon (all times Eastern) kickoff, we have the Camellia Bowl, held in Montgomery, Alabama, where the Arkansas St Red Wolves (6-6/108) who play in the Sun Belt, will face the N Illinois Huskies (6-6/131) of the MAC. As a reminder, OER means Offensive Efficiency Rating and DER means Defensive Efficiency Rating. Here’s how these two teams match up.
| Team | OER/PPG | DER/PPG | Opp’s Record – Rank | Vs Bowl Teams | Best Win | Worst Loss |
| ARST | 94 (151st)/27.8 | 92 (171st)/31.2 | 70-75 (.483) – 101st | 2-6 (.250) | UMASS (3-9/90) | Marshall (6-7/103) |
| NILL | 98 (129th)/25.3 | 105 (99th)/21.2 | 66-81 (.449) – 133rd | 3-1 (.750) | Ohio (10-3/48) | S Illinois (8-5/160) |
…..
Note: S Illinois is an FCS team in the Missouri Valley Football Conference. Vegas has Arkansas St to win -2.5 and the GCR agrees. Red Wolves to win and cover.
…..
Also at 12:00 and also in Alabama, we have the Birmingham Bowl matching up Troy Trojans (11-2/20), champions of the Sun Belt and Duke Blue Devils (7-5/33) of the ACC.
| Team | OER/PPG | DER/PPG | Opp’s Record – Rank | Vs Bowl Teams | Best Win | Worst Loss |
| TROY | 111 (83rd)/31.2 | 170 (11th)/17.2 | 81-78 (.509) – 102nd | 7-2 (.778) | App St (9-5/60) | Kansas St (8-4/19) |
| DUKE | 117 (72nd)/27.8 | 141 (28th)/19.8 | 86-60 (.589) – 13th | 3-4 (.429) | NC St (9-3/24) | Virginia (3-9/59) |
…..
Vegas likes Troy -7.0 and Troy has proven themselves to be good enough. The Trojans win and cover.
…..
Our first 3:30 game is the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl on the blue field in Boise. The Georgia St Panthers (6-6/97) of the Sun Belt take on the Utah St Aggies (6-6/112) of the Mountain West.
| Team | OER/PPG | DER/PPG | Opp’s Record – Rank | vs Bowl Teams | Best Win | Worst Loss |
| GAST | 98 (133rd)/25.8 | 94 (155th)/30.8 | 83-67 (.553) – 87th | 3-6 (.333) | Coastal Carolina (7-5/85) | Ga Southern (6-7/111) |
| UTST | 128 (34th)/34.1 | 77 (240th)/33.8 | 74-73 (.503) – 108th | 0-6 (.000) | UCONN (3-9/115) | San Jose St (7-5/89) |
…..
Vegas has Utah St -1.5, but the GCR sees a much more challenged and successful GAST pulling the upset. Panthers win and cover.
…..
Earlier in the month, Jacksonville St played and won its first ever bowl game. Can the James Madison Dukes (11-1/14) of the Sun Belt do the same against the Air Force Falcons (8-4/84) of the Mountain West in the Armed Forces Bowl played in Fort Worth?
…..
| Team | OER/PPG | DER/PPG | Opp’s Record – Rank | vs Bowl Teams | Best Win | Worst Loss |
| JMU | 125 (43rd)/35.2 | 148 (22nd)/18.5 | 73-76 (.490) – 109th | 8-1 (.889) | Troy (11-2/20) | App St (8-5/60) |
| AF | 103 (113th)/27.6 | 143 (26th)/17.9 | 70-77 (.476) – 123rd | 3-2 (.600) | Wyoming (8-4/56) | Hawaii (5-8/119) |
…..
Vegas sees a close game with James Madison -1.0. The GCR doesn’t see it very close at all. Dukes to win and cover.
…..
Back to Alabama, Mobile to be exact, at 7:00 for the 68 Ventures Bowl featuring the South Alabama Jaguars (6-6/88) of the Sun Belt in an effective home game against the E Michigan Eagles (6-6/129) of the MAC.
| Team | OER/PPG | DER/PPG | Opp’s Record – Rank | Vs Bowl Teams | Best Win | Worst Loss |
| SALA | 110 (86th)/30.9 | 126 (56th)/21.9 | 80-68 (.541) – 74th | 3-5 (.375) | Oklahoma St (9-4/28) | Louisiana (6-7/125) |
| EMI | 74 (220th)/20.3 | 96 (147th)/24.0 | 59-87 (.404) – 131st | 0-3 (.000) | UMASS (3-9/90) | N Illinois (6-6/131) |
…..
Vegas has South Alabama -17.0 and the GCR Tale of the Tape shows why it will happen. Jaguars eat up the Eagles – win and cover.
…..
At 7:30, in the Las Vegas Bowl, the Utah Utes (8-4/35) of the Pac 12 lock horns with the Northwestern Wildcats (7-5/61) of the Big 10.
…..
| Team | OER/PPG | DER/PPG | Opp’s Record – Rank | Vs Bowl Teams | Best Win | Worst Loss |
| UTAH | 92 (162nd)/24.5 | 156 (18th)/19.8 | 83-64 (.565) – 41st | 3-4 (.429) | Southern Cal (7-5/37) | Oregon St (8-4/23) |
| NW | 103 (109th)/22.8 | 102 (115th)/23.8 | 75-70 (.517) – 66th | 2-4 (.333) | Maryland (7-5/47) | Nebraska (5-7/86) |
…..
Vegas has the Utes -6.5 which is right in line with the GCR calculation. Utes win and cover.
…..
Our final game, with a 10:30 kickoff, is the Hawai’i Bowl played in Honolulu. The Coastal Carolina Chanticleers (7-5/85) of the Sun Belt goes head-to-head with San Jose St Spartans (7-5/89) of the Mountain West.
| Team | OER/PPG | DER/PPG | Opp’s Record – Rank | Vs Bowl Teams | Best Win | Worst Loss |
| CCAR | 105 (104th)/28.0 | 114 (77th)/24.7 | 87-64 (.576) – 83 | 6-4 (.600) | App St (9-5/60) | Ga Southern (6-7/111) |
| SJST | 118 (58th)/33.3 | 116 (70th)/25.8 | 82-67 (.550) – 92 | 3-5 (.375) | UNLV (94/70) | Air Force (8-4/84) |
…..
Vegas likes San Jose St -9.5, but the GCR knows that every Chanticleer opponent won at least 6 games (Duquesne is an FCS school and Army didn’t qualify for a bowl). Coastal Carolina with the upset win and cover.
…..
That’s it for today. Happy Holidays to everyone. We will be back on Tuesday as we prepare for the next round of games. We will also have our first conference comparison to share. Thank you for reading and sharing with others, G.
