Top College Football Bowl Picks of the Week – December 18th

The first round of college football bowl games was held over the weekend, and the level of play was surprisingly good given that many of the teams in action were not exactly household names. The great thing about bowl season is that we don’t really have much time to take a breath before the next set of games comes around, and we certainly have a bunch to look forward to this coming week. All told, we have 5 bowl games taking place between Tuesday and Friday, so let’s take a closer look at the NCAAF odds for each one, with some College Football bowl picks thrown in there as well.

Top College Football Bowl Picks of the Week – December 18th

IT’S THE FINAL COUNTDOWN!!!!!!!!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/3MEwIL9fCf

— FAU Football (@FAU_Football) 18 de diciembre de 2017

Akron Zips (7-6) vs. Florida Atlantic Owls (10-3)

• When: Tuesday, December 19, 7:00 p.m.
• Where: FAU Stadium, Boca Raton, Florida
• NCAAF Betting Odds: Florida Atlantic Owls -22.5

The Boca Raton Bowl features what appears to be a bit of a mismatch, with the Florida Atlantic Owls favored by 22 ½ coming into this Tuesday night tilt. While the Zips are huge underdogs, they were solid ATS this season, going 8-4-1. The Owls were also a good bet, though, going 9-4 ATS in their 13 games. These two went a combined 9-15 O/U, which makes the 64 ½ point total seem a little tough to beat. I like the Owls for you to include them in your College Football bowl picks, the Zips to cover, and the total to go UNDER. Pick: Akron Zips 20 – Florida Atlantic Owls 38

Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (6-6) vs. SMU Mustangs (7-5)

• When: Wednesday, December 20, 8:00 p.m.
• Where: Toyota Stadium, Frisco, Texas
• NCAAF Betting Odds: SMU Mustangs -5

Wednesday night brings us the Frisco Bowl and a game that looks as though it might well turn into a shootout. Both these teams play a wide-open style of football that usually results in a lot of points hitting the board. Both teams went 6-6 ATS this season, as well as a combined 13-11 O/U, so not a lot to go on with those numbers. SMU is favored by 5 points, with the point total set at 70. I like SMU to win, the Bulldogs to cover, and the point total to go OVER. Pick: Louisiana Tech Bulldogs 34 – SMU Mustangs 38

Temple Owls (6-6) vs. Florida International Golden Panthers (8-4)

• When: Thursday, December 21, 8:00 p.m.
• Where: Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, Florida
• NCAAF Betting Odds: Temple Owls -7

Thursday night sees the Gasparilla Bowl take place, with the Temple Owls and the FIU Golden Panthers squaring off. FIU may have had the better regular season record, but it is Temple who come into this one as a 7-point favorite. The Owls went 6-6 ATS this season, which was the same record as the Golden Panthers posted. Both teams combined to go 14-8 O/U, so we can perhaps expect some offensive fireworks here. I’m going to take Temple to win, although I do not think they will cover. I think the total will fall just UNDER the 56 points. Pick: Temple Owls 30 – FIU Golden Panthers 24

UAB Blazers (8-4) vs. Ohio Bobcats (8-4)

• When: Friday, December 22, 12:30 p.m.
• Where: Thomas Robinson Stadium, Nassau, Bahamas
• NCAAF Betting Odds: Ohio Bobcats -7.5

The Bahamas Bowl is set for Friday afternoon, and it features a pair of teams that had very solid regular seasons. The Bobcats are in as a 7 ½ point favorite for this one, with the point total set at 55 ½. Both teams were very good ATS bets this season, with the Blazers going 8-3-1, while the Bobcats went 8-4. Their combined O/U record was 11-12-1, with only 3 of the Blazers 12 games going over. I think the Bobcats win and cover, so be sure to put them in your College Football bowl picks list, and I like the total to go OVER. Pick: UAB Blazers 26 – Ohio Bobcats 38

Central Michigan Chippewas (8-4) vs. Wyoming Cowboys (7-5)

• When: Friday, December 22, 4:30 p.m.
• Where: Albertsons Stadium, Boise, Idaho
• NCAAF Betting Odds: PK-110

The Famous Idaho Potato Bowl is the second game in the bowl season double-header for Friday, and it features a pair of evenly matched teams, which is why the bookies have it as a Pick Em play. The point total is set at 44 ½. With Wyoming going just 2-9 ATS this season, we can perhaps expect a bit of a defensive struggle here, although I do think the point total will creep OVER in a Wyoming Cowboys victory. Pick: Central Michigan Chippewas 21 – Wyoming Cowboys 24