Tag Archives: Bowl Predictions

Sugar Bowl Predictions: Cincinnati Bearcats vs. Florida Gators

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One of these teams was supposed to go undefeated. One of these teams had a quarterback that was supposed to find himself at the top of the Heisman list, and one of these two programs were heavy favorites to win a National Championship – but the other team actually went undefeated, and the other team should have had a quarterback on the Heisman list (and would have had he not been out for a handful of games), and the other team got robbed a chance at the National Championship despite being undefeated, because they don’t play in a conference with “big” money. There it is. So Cincinnati comes to the Sugar Bowl trying to prove themselves a legit title contender, and Florida, well, they come to show that their game against Alabama was a fluke, and to send one of the best college players of all time out on a win.

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Both of these teams will be without the head coach that got them to where they are. Cincinnati’s head man Brian Kelly bolted for a chance to rebuild and their interim coach, Jeff Quinn headed out promptly, taking the Buffalo head job. Then you have Florida, and Urban Meyer’s health problems have him out of this game, and almost retiring from the position altogether, but that’s all up in the air, or changed, or – well, we’ll see how that goes in due time.

The bottom line is Florida is an elite team in the country. Their defense has heaps of NFL talent and their offense has one of the greatest leaders of college football history – not to mention speed that Cincinnati hasn’t seen. And I think Cincinnati’s luck has run it’s course – this is a team that had their fair share of close games, and should have lost their last one. Having something to prove is a little overrated, especially when you’re going up against one of the best teams in college football after they got kicked around and embarrassed in front of the sporting world. Something tells me they’ll be plenty motivated.

Cincinnati Bearcats @ Florida Gators (-10.5)

Kentucky Wildcats vs Clemson Tigers: Music City Bowl

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60% of the betting public likes Clemson, and that makes sense. It’s the Tigers that have finished the season with the type of flourish most expected from them all season long. It’s the Tigers that possess one of the most dynamic players in all of college football, running back, kick/punt return, receiving option, super player C.J. Spiller. There’s lots of flash on Clemson’s side, but one might say that Kentucky finished the season just as strong.

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Both teams lost their last game, but Kentucky, like Clemson, won 5 of their last 7 games. Two of those were as double digit underdogs, beating Georgia and Auburn. Kentucky barely lost to Tennessee (overtime), Mississippi State (a touchdown), and South Carolina (2 points). Their other two losses? Alabama and Florida. Kentucky is 6-6 ATS on the season, and 3-1 overall on the road – a nice stat for bowl teams. They score 27.2 per game while giving up 22.8. They are 5-3 ATS and SU in their last 8 games.

Clemson has won 6 of their last 8, but come into the Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl losing two in a row. An embarrassing loss to South Carolina on the road, and a close loss (5 points) to Virginia Tech for the ACC crown. Clemson is 8-5 SU this season, and 8-5 ATS, and 5-3 ATS over their last 8 games.

And taking a decent ACC team over an SEC opponent hasn’t made much sense, but that’s the direction I’m going. Clemson has a solid rushing attack, and when they out-rush opponents, they usually win. Kentucky has been out-rushed 5 times in the last 10 games, they’ve lost 4 of those contests. I think Clemson’s D-line can stifle Kentucky’s rush attack, and that will allow the Tigers to run the show.

Kentucky Wildcats VS Clemson Tigers (-7)

New Mexico Bowl: Wyoming Cowboys vs. Fresno State Bulldogs

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New Mexico Bowl: Fresno State Bulldogs have won 7 of their last 8 games, and they are playing good offensive football coming in. Defensively, they certainly leave something to be desired, I mean not many teams give up 50+ points and win, but that’s what Fresno did to finish the season. Still, the only team they lost to over the last 8 games of the season was Nevada, one heck of a football team that almost ended Boise State’s undefeated run. Fresno has shown they can play with anyone.

Now that might be tough considering their draw in the opening Bowl game of the College Bowl season, they get Wyoming… Tough draw? Hardly, the Cowboys just barely go into the bowl family, and maybe, just maybe the Bulldogs find a tough time getting up for the Cowboys. But I’m not betting on that, I’m betting on a Fresno team that will play anybody anywhere, and a bowl game closer to Wyoming doesn’t worry me much – plus, Fresno is just flat out better.

Wyoming Cowboys gives up 10 more points a game than they score, and it’s not like they’re on fire coming into the bowl season – they’ve lost 4 of their last 6 games, and they haven’t played well against winning football teams. Fresno allows a lot of points, no doubt about that, giving up nearly 28 per game, but they throw it and run it and have the athletes to beat up on Wyoming, and I think they do.

Fresno State Bulldogs (-11.5) vs. Wyoming Cowboys