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It’s possible that I’ve completely invented this memory in my brain, but this time of year I always think back to an old ESPN commercial.
Set to the Andy Williams Christmas tune “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” the commercial is not about Christmas — it’s about bowl season, baby, and we’re finally here.
Six games on Saturday (five FBS bowls, plus the Celebration Bowl) kick off the most glorious three-week stretch on the calendar. Almost every day, sometimes at night and sometimes randomly in the middle of the day, there will be football.
Some people say there are too many bowls — I don’t think there are enough. I won’t rest until the two absolute worst football programs in the country are playing on a random Thursday morning in the Times Leader Media Group Coal Bowl.
Until that day, I’ll settle for what we have. Let’s take a look at some of our early bowl offerings.
Myrtle Beach Bowl
Georgia Southern -3.5 vs. Ohio
Saturday, 11 a.m.
This is the one that will kick us off: 6-6 Georgia Southern from the Sun Belt taking on 9-3 Ohio from the MAC.
Just on paper, it looks like Ohio’s got the advantage, winning their last three while Georgia Southern is currently on a four-game losing streak.
But the most important factor in bowl game betting is knowing who’s available and who’s not. Players will declare for the draft, opt out due to injury or hit the transfer portal, and it’s critical to keep on top of that stuff.
Case in point: while Georgia Southern won’t be missing too much, Ohio’s taking a big hit.
The Bobcats won’t have starting QB Kurtis Rourke (he announced his commitment to Indiana literally as I’m writing this), and they’ll be without their two top running backs and leading receiver. It’s almost going to be an entirely different offense taking the field than the one that led Ohio to nine wins.
This will make things easier on the Georgia Southern defense, which has been relatively weak this season. The offense, however, has kept them afloat and will be able to score on the Bobcats here.
New Mexico Bowl
New Mexico St. -4 vs. Fresno St.
Saturday, 5:45 p.m.
If this were the Fresno State Bowl, I might be inclined to think differently.
It’s not a true home game for New Mexico State, playing at their in-state rival New Mexico’s stadium, but it’s close. The Aggies (10-4) welcome Fresno State (8-4) to town.
It’s hard not to love what New Mexico State has done this year, winning 10 games and playing in the Conference USA title game. Jerry Kill has done a remarkable job turning this program into a genuine winner, and they’re going to have all the motivation in the world to close out the year with a win in front of essentially a home crowd.
Jeff Tedford has never lost a bowl game at Fresno State, to be fair. The Bulldogs started the year 4-0 but struggled in the Mountain West portion of their schedule and have looked vulnerable on defense.
The Aggies will be able to run the ball, both with their halfbacks and with dangerous dual threat quarterback Diego Pavia, and I think it’ll be a happy ending for this very fun New Mexico State season.
Bengals -3 vs. Vikings
Saturday, 1 p.m.
The Bengals have been giving me fits all year, so here’s yet another attempt to pick the right side in a Cincy game.
Jake Browning has won two starts in a row, looking to make it three at home against the Vikings on Saturday (yes, Saturday — we’re at the point of the year where the NFL is playing Saturday games).
The Vikes are in a tough spot: those two glorious weeks of Josh Dobbs being good are over. He’s now the third-string QB, and it will be Nick Mullens drawing the start here.
He’s been around the league for a few years but hasn’t started a game since 2021 and has a 5-12 record as a starter overall.
Minnesota will also be without Alexander Mattison at running back. Justin Jefferson will be playing, but I’m sure there will be something of a cautious approach with him, given he left his return game last week after just two catches with a chest injury (unrelated to the injury that sidelined him for most of the season thus far).
Ja’Marr Chase will play for Cincy, and the emergence of Chase Brown as a threat out of the backfield in the passing game will help Browning get even more comfortable under center.
Packers -3.5 vs. Buccaneers
Sunday, 1 p.m.
This looks like a good spot to back the Packers after a brutal loss to the Giants on Monday night.
It was a night to forget for the Pack, turning the ball over three times and allowing Tommy DeVito to lead the most Italian game-winning drive of all time to sink Green Bay.
Now, there’s two ways this goes for the Packers, at 6-7 and clinging to the final playoff spot: either this unexpected loss sinks them, or they regroup and get on track.
I think the necessary adjustments will be made, I think the offense will take better care of the ball and the Bucs don’t excite me on either side of the ball.
I’m very bullish on the Green Bay receiving corps, and I think they may be primed for a big game here.