Hello fans – history was made today. There were two bowls and 3 milestones. First, Charlotte played in their first bowl ever – Nassau isn’t a bad first stop. Buffalo did win the game and cover the spread (a loss for the GCR), and it was their first ever bowl win in 4 tries. Congratulations to both teams. Conference-mate of the Bulls, Kent State also won its first bowl in 4 tries as the Golden Flashes upset Utah State – score a victory for the GCR. So 1-1 today but a lot of games to go.
I input those games and recalculated the rankings and predictions. These are reflected below.
There are 9 games tomorrow that will help drive toward a great prediction bowl season or a bunch of embarrassment. Here they are in order (all times Eastern).
First up, at noon, is the Celebration Bowl between the MEAC and the SWAC. This year’s match up is North Carolina A&T (152/38) versus Alcorn State (101/10). Vegas likes NC A&T -3.0, but the GCR is going with Alcorn State 61.5. This is the upset of the day.
Next up is a pair of games starting at 2:00. Montana State (182/58) who is somehow still alive in the FCS playoffs will meet up in the first semifinal of the day with defending champion North Dakota State (103/8). Vegas expects a blowout -17.5 and the GCR concurs 74.4%.
The first FBS bowl of the day pits C Michigan (78/76) against San Diego State (59) in the New Mexico Bowl. Bugs Bunny may make a wrong turn here, but Vegas (State -3.5) and the GCR 56.2% are aligned.
At 2:30, Liberty (92/86) and Georgia Southern (52) collide in Liberty’s first ever bowl game. The Flames just promoted to FBS last year and made it in their first year of eligibility. Congratulations, however, the day will go up in smoke as the Eagles are both Vegas (-5.0) and GCR (55.5%) favorites
At 3:30 the first of two (the other being the Hawaii Bowl in a couple of days), home game bowls. I don’t think Vegas is taking that into consideration. Florida Atlantic (36), who also hosted the C-USA conference championship game, will host the Boca Raton bowl and Southern Methodist (34) who started off great, but have dwindled late in the season. Vegas has the Mustangs -8.5, but the home-town Owls take this one 55.2. The upset of the week, FBS style.
At 5:30 we will be entertained by the Camellia Bowl (I don’t know what a camellia is, but it’s some kind of “Montgomery’s got the answer” kind of thing, I’m sure. Florida International (104/94) and Arkansas State (77/75) kickoff in what promises to be a hard-fought one score victory for…Arkansas State (Vegas -1.5, GCR 56.5%).
At 6:30, the other FCS semifinal yawner begins with Weber State (144/28) flying across the country to lose to James Madison (65/1). Vegas says -17.0 and the GCR has this as runaway as well 78.0%.
The first Power 5 team plays (and loses) at 7:30 when Washington (45) takes on Boise State (14) in the Las Vegas Bowl. Both teams from the northwestern state will play Group of 5 teams. Maybe Washington State will fare differently, but their cousins, who are Vegas favorites -3.5, will drop the game to the high-powered Bronco team 65.1%.
We close out the day with UAB (97/90) taking on Appalachian State (19). Frankly App State deserves a better bowl than this – beating both Carolina teams and everyone else (except Georgia Southern). This should be a blowout of epic proportions. Vegas says -16.5 and the GCR says 75.4%.
I hope the 1-1 start is not indicative of this weekend – enjoy the games, be safe out there, and I’ll see you Sunday night.
Thanks, G
