Just like our picks last week the 2012 Bowl season is heating up, with our predictions going 2-1 against the spread. This week features some really great games and top 15 teams that got a screw job from the BCS. Without further adieu, let’s get to making some money…
MAACO Las Vegas Bowl
Arizona State (+13) vs. No. 7 Boise State
Dec. 22, 8 p.m. ET (ESPN)
The aptly named MAACO Bowl is where the Broncos find themselves after wanting to suck on a tailpipe for missing out on a BCS game. Arizona State is playing their last game for Coach Dennis Erickson, and the Broncos are playing to show that they can beat “big conference” opponents. That won’t be a problem next year when Boise bails on the “Don’t call our logo a Rubik’s Cube, it’s an MC Escher-esque ‘M’ and ‘W’, DUH!” Mountain West Conference for the Big East, which will field teams as far as west California and possibly China some day, thus creating a REALLY far East division. The Sun Devils can throw the ball, which is the big weakness of the Bronco D. The line on this one is thirteen points, which is too great to pass up (pun intended). Take the points but expect a Bronco win.
Sheraton Hawaii
Nevada vs. Southern Miss (-6)
Dec. 24, 8 p.m. ET (ESPN)
This intriguing matchup features Conference USA champ Southern Miss against a feisty Nevada team that can flat out run the ball. Had this game happened pre-shutting down Houston it would have been a no-brainer to take Nevada and the points, however after seeing Southern Miss’s ability to score takes that pick off the table. Speaking of taking things off the table, Southern Miss’s coach Larry Fedora was snatched up by North Carolina but will be coaching this final game. Normally these sort of coaching changes can go either way. The key? Nevada’s only double digit loss of the season came at the hands of Boise State, who can score like mad. Couple that with the Golden Eagles ability to stop the pass and tougher schedule and the Golden Eagles should cover.
AdvoCare V100 Independence
Missouri (-4.5) vs. North Carolina
Are you kidding me? The WHAT Bowl?!!?
The champion of the “Worst Bowl Name” Naming Contest, the AdvoCare V100 Independence Bowl features Missouri against North Carolina. Missouri beat the teams they should’ve beaten and lost to their ranked opponents, sans an overrated Texas team, while NC defined the word “inconsistency”. The Tar Heels are losing their interim coach to Urban Meyer’s Ohio State team, and are take a losing ACC conference record into a game that won’t even be close. Lay the points and watch Mizzou run away with this one.
Check back next week where we’ll pick even more games!
