Last Week: 3-1 (2-2 ATS)
Season: 74-36 (49-53 ATS)
Four in the hole on picks against the spread. All I have left are the bowl games for a chance to rally for that .500 record. Loyal reader, I will do my level best.
Enjoy the Peach Bowl, Cowgirls. Good to see you've got your game faces on.
Independence Bowl -- Georgia Tech vs. Air Force (-3.0)
This will be an interesting battle between two triple option teams. I actually can't wait to watch this one unfold. I think the AFA has a better defense, though Al Groh's 3-4 offers some matchup benefits against the option. The Falcons are a more disciplined team, and this game means more to them than it does GT. I like Air Force in this one. 28-24, AFA
Champs Sports Bowl -- NC State vs. West Virginia (-2.5)
I'm a sucker for good quarterbacks, and I'm really a sucker for Russell Wilson. WVU probably has slightly better talent across the board, but I like this NC State team, and I like Wilson to go out with a bang. 29-21, NC State
Military Bowl -- ECU vs. Maryland (-7.0)
It's difficult to predict how the news of Ralph Friedgen's dismissal will impact the Maryland team as it prepares for and plays in this bowl game. Being played in DC, this is a veritable home game for the Terps. ECU isn't quite as good as they usually are, and Maryland has the burgeoning arm of Danny O'Brien to guide them. I like the Terps in a close battle here. 34-26, Maryland
Music City Bowl -- Tennessee vs. North Carolina (-2.0)
This is an interesting game between what appears to be two evenly-matched teams. However, I like the senior leadership of T.J. Yates over freshman Tyler Bray, and I like the desperation to end a tumultuous season on a positive note for UNC and Butch Davis. UT finished the season on a hot streak, but I don't think it'll carry over into this game. 27-19, UNC
Meineke Car Car Bowl -- South Florida vs. Clemson (-5.5)
This game will be a low-scoring sack festival. USF has an SEC-style defense and Clemson features stud defensive end Da'Quan Bowers, who will be a top-three NFL draft pick in April. I think this game will ultimately boil down to which quarterback handles the pressure best... and while it's hard to bet on Clemson's Kyle Parker (who has been incredibly shaky of late), I do think Clemson's superior talent will lead to a win in this game. 24-13, Clemson
Sun Bowl -- Notre Dame vs. Miami (-3.0)
Catholics vs. Convicts. The truth is, this game would have been awesome in 1988, but in 2010? Not so much. These are two imperfect, flawed, .500-type teams, desperately trying to recapture their old glory. Leonard Hankerson could break the game open for Miami, but I like Notre Dame's Michael Floyd better as a big-time playmaker. Irish in a mild upset. 27-24, ND
Chick-fil-A Bowl -- Florida State vs. South Carolina (-3.0)
Another great defensive struggle in the ACC bowl season. FSU can pulverize mistake-prone Stephen Garcia with the pass rush, but the Gamecocks can pulverize the Noles with Marcus Lattimore. This game comes down to the offenses --- who can get a little traction going and put some points on the board. I've got a gut feeling that Florida State will be the team to get it done, perhaps aided by a defensive score. 30-23, FSU
Orange Bowl -- Virginia Tech vs. Stanford (-3.0)
With Andrew Luck leading a physical team that is probably the best one-loss team in the nation, I expect to see the Cardinal curb stomp the Hokies. Tyrod Taylor can put up a resistance with his playmaking ability... but it won't be enough. "Character and cruelty" -- the Stanford way. 35-21, Stanford
