We’re not doing a preview for every bowl game this year because we’re lazy, the Playoff has rendered most of these games even more pointless than they were, and once again, we’re lazy. Instead we’ll be rolling out Wager Wednesday style picks throughout the postseason so you can get slaughtered in your Bowl Pick Em Pool (if our Wager Wednesday performance this year is any indication). Here’s the first dose, covering all five game this Saturday…check back next week for more updates:
AUTO NATION CURE BOWL – ORLANDO, FL
GEORGIA STATE (+4) vs. SAN JOSE STATE: The first ever Cure Bowl gives us all the exciting chance to…ummm…see the newly renovated Orlando Citrus Bowl! So that’s something! Georgia State was 1-23 under Trent Miles entering the season and started their 2015 campaign 2-6, so it’s no small miracle that they’re even here. I’ll take the points for a team that hot. The Pick: Georgia State.
GILDAN NEW MEXICO BOWL – ALBUQUERQUE, NM
ARIZONA (-11.5) vs. NEW MEXICO: Last time Arizona played in the New Mexico Bowl they came back from a 21-0 deficit in one of the highest scoring, most entertaining games of the 2012 postseason. I don’t think they’re going to need that kind of last minute effort to knock off the Lobos. The line’s high enough to scare me, but in Rich Rod We Trust [vomits forever]. The Pick: Arizona.
ROYAL PURPLE LAS VEGAS BOWL – LAS VEGAS, NV
BYU (+2.5) vs. UTAH: Utah entered this season with much higher hopes than back-to-back Las Vegas Bowl victories, but they can secure their first 10-win season since joining the Pac-12 with a win over the injury riddled Cougars. The Utes have dealt with their own share of injuries and have faded down the stretch after starting 8-1 and reaching the #3 spot in the AP Poll, but I like them enough to take them covering a field goal in their home away from home. The Pick: Utah.
RAYCOM MEDIA CAMELLIA BOWL – MONTGOMERY, AL
APPALACHIAN STATE (-9.5) vs. OHIO: The Mountaineers are headed to Alabama in their first bowl eligible FBS season, while the Bobcats are seeking their first postseason win since 2012. The Mountaineers aren’t the FCS juggernaut we all knew a decade ago, but they were still extremely impressive this year, with their only losses coming to Clemson and conference champion Arkansas State. I like them outright, but that spread’s a little too ridiculous when #MACtion is in play. The Pick: Ohio.
R+L CARRIERS NEW ORLEANS BOWL – NEW ORLEANS, LA
ARKANSAS STATE (-1) vs. LOUISIANA TECH: No team from outside Louisiana has won the New Orleans Bowl since we launched Double Coverage five seasons ago. No sense messing with tradition…I’ll take the point. The Pick: LA Tech.