2013 Mountain West Football Odds: BOWL SEASON!

Let's get right to it: there's three hours before the games begin and you don't want to miss a single play. So hold on to your pants and make those last-minute bets!

All times in Pacific Standard Time

Saturday, December 21, 2013

11:00 AM: New Mexico Bowl

Colorado State vs Washington State (-6), O/U=66.5- No matter what, TAKE THE OVER ON THIS GAME. With Mike Leach's Air Raid and Jim McElwain's Mini-Process (a term that I like to think I just made up), the key to this game will be Kapri Bibbs. Easily the most explosive player on the field, if he struggles, then the Rams have no chance.

My Pick-Rams cover- This game will involve Shaquil Barrett pressuring Connor Halliday and forcing him to make rushed decisions. However the determining factor of this game is how many touchdowns Kapri Bibbs gets. If it's more than two, Colorado State wins.

12:30 PM: Las Vegas Bowl

Southern California (-6) vs Fresno State, O/U=63.5- I don't know what the odds-makers were thinking here give USC any advantage. Right now Fresno State has every advantage they need. The only way the Trojans win this game is if Cody Kessler has a brilliant performance.

My Pick-Bulldogs cover- We all know what Derek Carr, Davante Adams, Isaiah Burse and company can do on offense. The key will be how well USC can keep up.

2:30 PM: Famous Idaho Potato Bowl

Buffalo vs San Diego State (-2), O/U=50- What might easily be the most defensive game in all of bowl season (unless you count the Rose Bowl), the key matchup to this game will be power defending versus power running. Which makes for some possibly very boring football. Now let's take a look at the wea- OH LORD IT'LL BE 31 DEGREES AT KICKOFF!

My Pick-Buffalo covers- This game will ultimately come down to the last play, where both of these teams who have struggled with special teams, will have to make the field goal to win the game. I'm going with Buffalo.

December 24, 2013

Hawaii Bowl

5:00 PM: Oregon State (-3) vs Boise State, O/U=64- You know, it's nice to know that despite Chris Petersen leaving the program, the staff will maintain high standards for this team. Suspending Joe Southwick and Nick Patti, then sending Southwick home? Whatever rules they broke, I hope it was worth it. Oregon State now has a huge advantage.

My Pick-Boise State covers- Still though, Oregon State hasn't been good for the last half of the season and Boise State still has a front seven that can pressure Sean Mannion all day. If the front line sacks Mannion three times or more, the Broncos will win.

December 26, 2013

Poinsettia Bowl

6:30 PM: Utah State vs Northern Illinois (-1.5), O/U=57.5- Jordan Lynch. Jordan Lynch. Jordan Lynch. Jordan Lynch. Jordan Lynch. Jordan Lynch. Jordan Lynch. Jordan Lynch. Jordan Lynch. Jordan Lynch. Now that I'm done impersonating ESPN talking heads, this game will not come down to the Heisman finalist. Rather, it will come down to Utah State's defense and how well they can hold Lynch. They did well enough to beat Fresno State in the MWC Championship Game, though the scoreboard suggests otherwise. If the Aggies' defense keeps Lynch to under 300 total yards, the Aggies will win.

My Pick-Utah State covers- Another close game will lead to the last possession. Look for the Aggies to pull something crazy to beat the Huskies.

January 1, 2014

Heart of Dallas Bowl

9:00 AM: UNLV vs North Texas (-6.5), O/U=54.5- Can UNLV keep the momentum going? Will Caleb Herring, Devante Davis and Tim Cornett be able to score at will against a very strong North Texas defense? I think they can and will. In all the Mean Green's wins, North Texas has given up 12.5 PPG, whereas in their losses they have given up 29.3 PPG (though that's heavily skewed by Georgia's beat down). Only the Georgia game has the Mean Green played a team with such explosive offense, and that will be the difference in this game.

My Pick-UNLV covers- UNLV can and will put up the points against this Conference USA foe, thus continuing their undefeated trend against the Mean Green (currently 4-0 all time).