Chapter 15

This Monday I went to see the tree at Rockefeller Center. Every year, we go about 40 people on a bus trip, parents and kids, and hang by the tree, following by hitting up this local bar. Moments like these are priceless for me. I cherish quality time with my parents, and our family friends.

Monday was NYC, Tuesday was getting our Christmas tree, Wednesday was for putting up the lights and Thursday was putting up the ornaments! I may more may not have persuaded my mom to get the biggest tree the place had to offer, so as a compromise I had to put the lights and ornaments on by myself! Let me tell you, it was worth it because this tree was looking good!

Anyways, happy holidays to all! And here is an open invitation to anyone who wants to come to my house from 1-4 on Christmas for a glass of wine!

Recap:
Alcorn State (+7) vs. North Carolina A&T – HIT! N.C. A&T 24 Alcorn State 22
Fresno State (-4.5) vs. Arizona State – HIT! Fresno State 31 Arizona state 20
Louisiana (+3) vs. Tulane – Miss. Tulane 41 Louisiana 24
Utah State (-7.5) vs. North Texas – HIT! Utah State 52 North Texas 13
Georgia Southern (-2) vs. Eastern Michigan – Push. Georgia Southern 23 E. Mich 21
Appalachian State (-6.5) vs. Middle Tennessee – HIT! App. State 45 Mid. Tenn 13
UAB (-1.5) vs. Northern Illinois – HIT! UAB 37 Northern Illinois 13
Ohio (-2.5) vs. San Diego State – HIT! Ohio 27 San Diego State 0
Marshall (-2.5) vs. South Florida – HIT! Marshall 38 South Florida 20

WOOOOOOO! I’m hot I’m hot! Keep riding with me (or fade me hard because I’m due for a bad week). Here is next week’s slate. The slate kinda stinks, it’s a bunch of mediocre 6-6 power five schools. The previous week was a bunch of group of five schools that had good seasons!

FIU (+7) vs. Toledo – Back in Chapter 8, I was all over FIU, only for them to let me down against FAU . They still finished 8-4 and 6-2 in the C-USA. FIU is pretty much college paradise being on the west side of Miami. I feel this could benefit them as they go to the Bahamas for this bowl. Miami isn’t the Bahamas, but Toledo is northern Ohio which has brutal winters! I believe FIU, with the better athletes, will be less on vacation mode, and more in football mode. Look for the explosive D’Vonte Price to break a few long ones.
FIU 33 Toledo 30

BYU (-10.5) vs. Western Michigan – This is one of three bowl games with a ten+ point spread. There is a few reasons why I will ride with the favorites here. First off, in the past 5 bowl seasons, the MAC is 6-22. This conference is historically weak in bowl games. Secondly, through my last article, the point differential for these games is an outstanding 154/8 points. With these two statistics, I will side with BYU and I am not worried about the large spread.
BYU 34 Western Michigan 17

Wake Forest (+3.5) vs. Memphis – I fully understand and support players skipping bowl games to get ready for the NFL, but man I really wanted to watch Memphis star RB Darrell Henderson. He has been vital to their success this year. Since he is not playing, I will take Wake Forest. Wake turned their season around when they switched to sophomore quarterback Jamie Newman. This dual-threat QB has protected the ball well, throwing eight touchdowns to only two interceptions in the last three games. If he continues this trend, Wake will come out on top of the Jared Birmingham Bowl.
Wake Forest 38 Memphis 34

Army (-5) vs. Houston – Win or lose, shout out Army for having one of their best seasons in decades, and more importantly for becoming men before they protect our country. Their triple option offense, and physical defense has led them to a 10-2 record where they only lost to playoff-bound Oklahoma. Houston will be a mighty foe for the Black Knights though, even though they will be without their best offensive and defensive player. We are robbed by injury of watching one of the most electric quarterbacks in the nation. Houston’s D’Eriq King averaged just under 300 passing yards a game, along with 70 rushing yards a game.
Army 28 Houston 21

Buffalo (-2.5) vs. Troy – To me, this is my least confident pick so far. Tyree Jackson is a stud for Buffalo, but that Troy defense is so stout, thanks to linebacker Hunter Reese. The dude reeks havoc, and is constantly in the backfield. Troy’s best part of their defense is their run defense. That being said, I will take Buffalo because their areal attack is hard to stop. Jackson has a cannon for an arm and I could see him still remaining successful, slinging it around. After seeing Buffalo embarrass Rutgers, I will back them in this game as they look for their first bowl win.
Buffalo 24 Troy 20

Hawaii (-1) vs. Louisiana Tech – Hawaii this year is playing in the Hawaii Bowl! While it isn’t the same field, it is basically a home game. Hawaii had an ugly stretch, losing four in a row, but they rebounded strong winning the last two. Their spread offense is unique thanks to their great coach. Coach Rolovich went to Hawaii as a quarterback, before bouncing around the arena football league. He knows all about the run and shoot! Louisiana Tech has won four straight bowl games, but I think that ends in Hawaii.
Hawaii 35 Louisiana Tech 31

#25 Boise State (-2.5) vs. Boston College – I want to apologies to two people for this pick! First, cous, I know you went to BC, but I still love ya! Second, Coach Campi. Coach was my tight ends coach when I worked for Rutgers, and boy was it fun working for him! He is now a d-backs coach at BC and is regarded as an ELITE recruiter. But, my first football moment was watching Boise upset Oklahoma in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl. 11 years later and Boise is still pumping out good teams. Look for senior Brett Rypien to end his career on a high note.
Boise State 34 Boston College 27

Minnesota (+5.5) vs. Georgia Tech – Minnesota is up and coming. Coach PJ Fleck might have the most energy I’ve seen by a head coach. His emotions are always up, but his team wasn’t. Want to hear inconsistency? Minnesota won 3 in row, then lost 4, then alternated winning and losing to finish 6-6! I could see the good Minnesota coming in to this one, and slowing down the running attack of Georgia Tech.
Minnesota 23 Georgia Tech 21

Cal (-1) vs. TCU – I’ll be honest, it is hard for me to bet against a TCU team that is coached by Gary Patterson. This dude has been there for 15 years and has helped elevate TCU from a small school Mountain West team, to a Big 12 team. That being said, I was just not impressed with them this season. Cal is nothing to be impressed with either, going 6-6, but I like how they finished the season. Both teams lack offense, so the under is a good play, but lets ride with Cal.
Cal 20 TCU 17

Temple (-4) vs. Duke – Temple humbled me this season. After they lost to Villanova, I wrote in Chapter 1 to bet against Temple every game this year. They destroyed Maryland that week, and went 8-2 after their 0-2 start. I was wrong, and they won me over. I am not sure who will play quarterback for Temple, but running back Ryquell Armstead will make it easy for them. Duke has a potential first round quarterback in Daniel Jones (which I just don’t see) but lost their last two, only scoring 13 total points. I’ll stay with the hot hand in Temple.
Temple 31 Duke 24

Wisconsin (+3.5) vs. Miami – The AP preseason poll had Wisconsin ranked 4 and Miami ranked 8 … and they both had a dud of a season. Congrats to them for at least making a bowl game, but this was a huge disappointment to be in the Pinstripe Bowl for both teams. Miami switched between quarterbacks like I switch between flavors of white claw at Butchs. To me, Wisconsin’s Jonathan Taylor will be the x-factor. He reminds me of Saquon Barkley … both former Rutgers commits and both carry their teams offenses. It will probably be very chilly in NYC, so I will ride with the better running attack.
Wisconsin 21 Miami 20

Baylor (+4) vs. Vanderbilt – Baylor coach Matt Rhule turns around programs. He built up Temple and he’s rebuilding Baylor. Baylor used to bring a spread, high-powered offense, but Rhule brings a tough mindset and a defensive background. He was a linebacker at Penn State so it’s fitting! The quarterback for Vanderbilt is the son of Giants coach Pat Shurmur. Like father like son, I think Vanderbilt goes home a loser like the Giants.
Baylor 21 Vanderbilt 18

**Bonus Pick**
Manny Machado signs with the Yankees (-150) – The Yankees want Machado and Machado wants the Yankees. Machado will have to decide, do I want a 7 year deal, join the Yankees, win a World Series or two, and become a free agent again at 33? Or do I want to get locked down with the Phillies for 10 years, and not become a free agent till he is 36, where there is close to no shot he gets another contract. The shorter, 7 year deal could actually be beneficial for him because he could get another contract. Just please keep Andujar, Yankees. An infield with Machado, Andujar and Gleyber would be AMAZING.

Thank you,
Goose