Well, Saturday was not pretty. I was 3-2 straight up and a woeful 1-4 against the spread. A snap hook on an extra point by Boston College was costly, Arizona State missed covering the spread by one point, and Nebraska played a whole lot better offensively than I expected. To date Southern Cal-Nebraska (45-42 USC) has been the most entertaining bowl game. The Midland Gamecocks came through as predicted against Miami to clinch a winning season.
So, through two days of blogging picks, I am 5-3 straight up and 3-5 against the spread. Let's see if we can get back over .500 against those guys in the desert by going 3-for-3 on Monday.
Liberty Bowl -- Texas A&M vs. West Virginia (-1.5)
This looks like a wild matchup between erratic teams. Both teams can score. Both teams have had their share of crazy ups and downs this season. This game took a drastic turn last weekend when West Virginia quarterback Clint Trickett announced he was quitting as a player and becoming a coach because of numerous concussions he has suffered during his career. Some of you may remember Trickett putting on a show in Death Valley in 2011. He transferred to West Virginia after that season. Because the Mountaineers will not have Trickett tossing the biscuit, I am going to take the Aggies.
Russell Athletic Bowl -- Clemson vs. Oklahoma (-4.5)
This line has been creeping up since Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney announced in early December that phenom freshman quarterback DeShaun Watson was being shut down for the season to have knee surgery. It was the right decision because ACL rehab takes seven to nine months. That was the bad news for Clemson fans. The really bad news was that Cole Stoudt is back at quarterback for the Tigers. Stoudt led the Tigers to four victories at mid-season, but he also has been throwing interceptions at an alarming rate. Word out of the bowl practices is Stoudt has been sharp. There has been a lot talk in the media aimed at pumping up Stoudt in an effort to get him out of his funk. Stoudt says he's close to 100 percent physically, but he's going to take a shot in his injured shoulder before the game just to be safe. Oklahoma has quarterback Trevor Knight is back from a neck injury and running back Samaje Perine, the Big 12 Newcomer of the Year, is ready to go after turning an ankle in the loss to Oklahoma State. Perine averages 6.6 yards per carry and has scored 21 touchdowns this season. Almost every media outlet has picked the Sooners. I really don't want to buy what Clemson is trying to sell because Stoudt simply hasn't performed up to expectations most of the season. But my spidey sense tells me the trio of Tony Elliott, Jeff Scott, and Brandon Streeter has been a positive for Stoudt. I am going to swallow hard and say Stoudt will manage the game and take care of the ball, and the Tigers will find a way to pull it out. Take the Tigers and the points.
Texas Bowl
Texas vs. Arkansas (-6.5)
A classic old Southwest Conference matchup between two teams that both got better as the season went along. This will be the 78th meeting between the Horns and the Hogs. Texas, in its first year under the direction of Charlie Strong, won four of its last six to finish 6-6. Arkansas won three of its last five including shutouts of LSU and Ole Miss to finish 6-6. Bret Bielema has the Hogs going in the right direction. A bowl victory will continue Arkansas' march to respectability. Pig soey!!! Pick the Porkers.
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