New Mexico Bowl (Albuquerque, NM)
North Texas vs. Utah State (-9), 2pm ESPN

The start of bowl season is a good one. North Texas started the season strong, but ended up with three losses. Utah State on the other hand lost only two games including a close seven point loss to Michigan State. So it should be an easy win for the Mean Green right? Wrong.

Utah State’s coach has departed to Texas Tech and I struggle to trust an interim coach in a bowl game. Both quarterbacks are very good throwing for 3000+ yards 27+ TDs and only 5 INTs. Expect a close game in New Mexico.

Top NFL Draft Prospect: EJ Ejiya, ILB, North Texas

Gambling Advice: Too many points for an interim coach. Still like Utah State to win, but close.

Auto Nation Cure Bowl (Orlando, FL)
Tulane (-3) vs. Louisiana-Lafayette, 2:30pm CBSSN

You have to be a hard core football fan to watch this game of two group of five teams barely above .500. Especially with two better bowls on. Tulane is the most unpredictable team in all of college football. They blowout Memphis and take Wake Forest to OT. They then get blown out by USF, Houston and Cincinnati.

The Ragin Cajuns lead this game with quality losses including Mississippi State and Alabama. I guess I’ll lean towards them.

Top NFL Draft Prospect: Donnie Lewis Jr, CB, Tulane

Gambling Advice: Take the Ragin Cajuns

Mitsubishi Motors Las Vegas Bowl (Las Vegas, NV)
Fresno State (-4.5) vs. Arizona State, 3:30pm ABC

The best game of opening bowl weekend. Fresno State won the Mountain West and only have two losses on the year (one is Boise State who they beat in the MWC Championship). Meanwhile everyone is surprised to see Arizona State in a bowl game in Herm Edward’s first season.

I want to focus in on Arizona State starting QB Manny Wilkins. The guy is in LAW SCHOOL while  playing football. I did the grunt work by finding the exam schedule at the ol’ Sandra Day O’Conner College of Law and guess what… he’s been done with his semester for over a week. Look out Fresno State, Wilkins can finally concentrate on X’s and O’s instead of Civ Pro. Arizona State star WR N’Keal Harry will be at the blackjack table instead of game, but how do you not pick the Sun Devils in Vegas?

Top NFL Draft Prospect: Renell Wren, DT, Arizona State (N’Keal Harry not playing)

Gambling Advice: Arizona State not only covers, they win.

Raycom Media Camellia Bowl (Montgomery, AL)
Georgia Southern (-1) vs. Eastern Michigan, 5:30pm ESPN

Georgia Southern got back to triple option football in 2018. They went from 2-10 to 9-3. Eastern Michigan has tried to stop the triple option before when they gave up 37 points to Army. The 15 point loss was their biggest all season.

I don’t care Eastern Michigan beat Purdue… it’s bowl season and I’m trusting the triple option.

Top NFL Draft Prospect: Nobody

Gambling Advice: Georgia Southern and the triple option

R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl (New Orleans, LA)
Middle Tennessee vs. Appalachian State (-7), 9pm ESPN

Are you really going to bet against a father and son’s last game together? Middle Tennessee State Head coach Rick Stockstill and QB Brent Stockstill team up for their final game together against Appalachian State. Appalachian State is a really good football team with their only losses to Penn State and triple option Georgia Southern.

But I have faith in Middle Tennessee State to keep it close against a team with a interim coach in New Orleans. Good luck to the substitute teacher from keeping the kids from going wild in NOLA.

Top NFL Draft Prospect: Darius Harris, OLB, Middle Tennessee State

Gambling Advice: The Stockstill family keeps this one close for Middle Tennessee State