College Bowl Picks 2014-15: Latest Odds and Predictions Against the Spread
When it comes to winning in bowl season, mindset is everything.
Expectations are built throughout the season inside each locker room, and not getting to a postseason game that's highly desired can leave teams listless to finish out the season. With that said, other programs motivated by their bowl appearance will take advantage of the chance to play a top-quality foe on national television.
The bowls do a fantastic job of pegging marquee matchups, and this year is no different, but analyzing how motivated a team will be can allow you to better navigate some interesting odds for bowl season.
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Let's keep that in mind and make a prediction for every single bowl on tap for the holiday season.
| Dec. 20 | R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl | Nevada (-1) vs. Louisiana-Lafayette | Nevada |
| Dec. 20 | Gildan New Mexico Bowl | UTEP vs. Utah State (-10.5) | UTEP |
| Dec. 20 | Royal Purple Las Vegas Bowl | Colorado St. vs. Utah (-4) | Colorado St. |
| Dec. 20 | Famous Idaho Potato Bowl | Western Michigan vs. Air Force (-1) | Air Force |
| Dec. 20 | Raycom Media Camellia Bowl | Bowling Green vs. South Alabama (-2.5) | Bowling Green |
| Dec. 22 | Miami Beach Bowl | BYU vs. Memphis (-1) | BYU |
| Dec. 23 | Boca Raton Bowl | Marshall (-10) vs. Northern Illinois | Northern Illinois |
| Dec. 23 | San Diego County CU Poinsettia Bowl | Navy vs. San Diego State (-2) | Navy |
| Dec. 24 | Popeyes Bahamas Bowl | Western Kentucky (-3) vs. Central Michigan | Western Kentucky |
| Dec. 24 | Sheraton Hawaii Bowl | Rice (-1) vs. Fresno State | Rice |
| Dec. 26 | Zaxby's Heart of Dallas Bowl | Illinois vs. Louisiana Tech (-6) | Illinois |
| Dec. 26 | Quick Lane Bowl | Rutgers vs. North Carolina (-3) | North Carolina |
| Dec. 26 | BITCOIN St. Petersburg Bowl | NC State vs. UCF (-2) | UCF |
| Dec. 27 | Military Bowl | Virginia Tech vs. Cincinnati (-3) | Cincinnati |
| Dec. 27 | Hyundai Sun Bowl | Duke vs. Arizona State (-7.5) | Arizona State |
| Dec. 27 | Duck Commander Independence Bowl | Miami (-3) vs. South Carolina | South Carolina |
| Dec. 27 | New Era Pinstripe Bowl | Boston College (-2.5) vs. Penn State | Penn State |
| Dec. 27 | National University Holiday Bowl | Nebraska vs. USC (-7) | USC |
| Dec. 29 | AutoZone Liberty Bowl | West Virginia (-3.5) vs. Texas A&M | West Virginia |
| Dec. 29 | Russell Athletic Bowl | Clemson vs. Oklahoma (-3) | Clemson |
| Dec. 29 | AdvoCare Texas Bowl | Texas vs. Arkansas (-6) | Arkansas |
| Dec. 30 | Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl | Notre Dame vs. LSU (-8) | LSU |
| Dec. 30 | Belk Bowl | Louisville vs. Georgia (-7.5) | Louisville |
| Dec. 30 | Foster Farms Bowl | Maryland vs. Stanford (-14.5) | Stanford |
| Dec. 31 | Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl | Ole Miss vs. TCU (-3) | Ole Miss |
| Dec. 31 | Vizio Fiesta Bowl | Boise State vs. Arizona (-3) | Boise State |
| Dec. 31 | Capital One Orange Bowl | Mississippi State (-7.5) vs. Georgia Tech | Mississippi State |
| Jan. 1 | Outback Bowl | Wisconsin vs. Auburn (-6.5) | Auburn |
| Jan. 1 | Goodyear Cotton Bowl | Michigan State vs. Baylor (-3) | Baylor |
| Jan. 1 | Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl | Minnesota vs. Missouri (-6) | Missouri |
| Jan. 1 | Rose Bowl Game | Oregon (-9.5) vs. Florida State | Oregon |
| Jan. 1 | Allstate Sugar Bowl | Alabama (-9.5) vs. Ohio State | Ohio State |
| Jan. 2 | Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl | Pittsburgh (-3) vs. Houston | Houston |
| Jan. 2 | TaxSlayer Bowl | Iowa vs. Tennessee (-3.5) | Tennessee |
| Jan. 2 | Valero Alamo Bowl | Kansas State (-2) vs. UCLA | Kansas State |
| Jan. 2 | Cactus Bowl | Oklahoma State vs.Washington (-4.5) | Oklahoma State |
| Jan. 3 | Birmingham Bowl | Florida (-7.5) vs. East Carolina | East Carolina |
| Jan. 4 | GoDaddy Bowl | Toledo (-3) vs. Arkansas State | Toledo |
Note: Odds via Odds Shark as of December 10.
Predictions for Top Bowls
Peach Bowl: Ole Miss vs. TCU (-3)
After their College Football Playoff hopes were dashed by the committee, TCU will have its chance to make a statement against a proven foe in the Peach Bowl versus Ole Miss.
For those taking the action in objectively, this is probably the most fascinating matchup of the bowl season. It pegs TCU's No. 2 scoring offense against the dominant defense of Ole Miss, which ranks atop the nation allowing just 13.8 points per contest.
The stout Rebels defense will have its hands full with Trevone Boykin, the Horned Frogs' junior quarterback who made a serious Heisman Trophy case with over 4,300 total yards and 38 touchdowns accounted for.
TCU has been on fire to close out the season, and head coach Gary Patterson doesn't see the playoff snub hampering his team's mindset, per The Clarion-Ledger's Hugh Kellenberger:
The Horned Frogs shouldn't be lacking in motivation after coming off a 4-8 campaign last year, but Ole Miss is battle-tested when it comes to facing top competition. The Rebels stifled Alabama's potent offense as well as Mississippi State's, holding each to 17 points scored.
Quarterback Bo Wallace and the Ole Miss offense has been stagnant at times against SEC defenses, but the Horned Frogs' defensive unit struggles in tight games. TCU has been in four one-possession games this season and allowed 30 or more points in each.
The Rebels offense will rack up the points early, and Boykin won't be used to the speed and physicality of the Ole Miss front seven. He'll show the resolve to get back in the game, but the Rebels will easily win to beat the spread.
Prediction: Ole Miss (+3) beats TCU, 34-30
Outback Bowl: Auburn (-6.5) vs. Wisconsin
What was already a mouth-watering New Year's Day matchup between Auburn and Wisconsin received an added wrinkle of interest with some news Wednesday afternoon.
That moment came when Wisconsin announced Gary Andersen had left his job as Badgers head coach for the same position at Oregon State. It was a shocking move, to put it lightly, and significantly clouded a week in which running back Melvin Gordon had been announced as a Heisman Trophy finalist.
Priority No. 1 for athletic director and former coach Barry Alvarez is finding a replacement, but he may decide to step back on the sidelines for a game, as told to Fox Sports' Bruce Feldman:
Alvarez can help motivate his down players by coaching the game, but he can't do much to stop the high-powered Auburn offense—an offense feasting its eyes upon a beleaguered Wisconsin defense fresh off conceding 59 points to Ohio State.
Ezekiel Elliott had his way against the Badgers' previously stable defense, cutting through open lanes at ease. With quarterback Nick Marshall and running back Cameron Artis-Payne running their deceiving option attack, lanes will become even more open.
As Bleacher Report's Zach Kruse noted, watching Gordon in his last game might be the only plus for Wisconsin fans:
Even if Gordon has a huge day in his final collegiate appearance, Wisconsin won't be able to air it out at the rate necessary to hang with Auburn. Tigers wideouts Sammie Coates and D'haquille Williams will take the top off the Badgers defense en route to an Outback Bowl rout.
Prediction: Auburn 44, Wisconsin 20
Note: Team stats per CFBStats.com unless otherwise noted.
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