It’s the most wonderful time of the year and there’s nothing better than cashing in on mediocrity, which is the basis for the college Bowl Season. We cleaned up during the 2010-11 postseason and the plan will stay the same. Break down every game as they come for the next three week. Here we go!…..-Fireman Mike

Temple -7 vs. Wyoming - New Mexico Bowl

The Owls enter this game as the 7th best running team in the country while Wyoming is near the bottom of the list defending the ground game. Temple has a stable of backs that can each explode for over 100-yards apiece in any given game but also have a decent enough athlete at the quarterback position to keep opposing D’s honest throughout the game. I expect Temple to take full advantage of their Bowl invitation and even use their snub last year as some motivation in New Mexico. Wyoming can throw the ball fairly well but they’ll have to be too one-dimensional once they fall behind early.

Temple wins 37-17 and covers easily, running their record to 20-5 against the spread over the last three years when playing on a Saturday.

Ohio University + 1.5 vs. Utah State - Idaho Potato Bowl

The Bobcats have a 7-1 record against the spread when facing a winning team over the last three season, proving they play up to their competition. Had they not blown a 20-0 third quarter lead in the MAC Championship game, they’d be playing in a much better bowl game. Tyler Tettleton is a typical MAC quarterback, a big strong-armed signal caller who steps up at the right time and leads his underrated teammates to an overwhelming victory in big games. Utah State can put points on the board but they’ll be playing directly into the Bobcats hands if they choose to go that route.

Ohio wins straight up, 34-31, but we’ll take the points because they’re free!

San Diego St -4 vs. Louisiana-Lafayette - New Orleans Bowl

What is essentially a home game for ULL, San Diego State will force the tempo and feed the ball to one of the best running backs in the country in Ronnie Hillman. His ability to rack up yards will allow them to set up big plays through the air as well but he will ultimately be the key for the Aztecs. Considering Hillman will have the national audience to himself for the first time in his career I expect a huge game on his part while leading the Aztecs to victory in the process.

SDSU wins 41-28 and Hillman continues to climb the career rushing lists with his eyes on Marshall Faulk when it’s all said and done.

Marshall +4.5 vs. Florida International - Beef ‘O’ Brady’s Bowl

Florida International has been absolutely terrible when they’ve had time to think about the next game. They are 2-12 against the spread in their last fourteen games when they’ve had more than a week off. Marshall has also been a very good dome team over the years and they keep it on the ground, control the ball and can beat you through the air when necessary. FIU might have a little more team speed but something isn’t right with your coaching staff when you’re worse when you have more time to prepare for an opponent.

Marshall wins this game on the field, 27-24, but we’ll take the points because they’re free.

TCU -9 vs. Louisiana Tech - Poinsettia Bowl

The Horned Frogs have been extremely tough against some of the more high-powered offensive units in the nation but also have a quarterback that is comfortable in a shoot-out if a game were to go that route. Casey Paschall is one of the most underrated signal-callers in the nation and has some weapons around him to help. Louisiana Tech is a siltent cover, having gone 10-2 on the season against the spread but that was against the likes of San Jose St, New Meixco St and a terrible Ole Miss team. TCU had a down year considering what they’ve become accustomed to over the years but they have the horses to come back and have a big year in 2012. This will be their first step.

TCU wins big, 44-27, and covers handily.

Boise St -14 vs. Arizona State - Las Vegas Bowl

Both of these teams were downright terrible against the sread this season but for much different reasons. The Sun Devils were overrated from the beginning of the season while the Broncos were simply favored by a ton in every game they played except for a few. ASU does have a decent defense but this Boise team is trying to cap off a four-year run that is almost unprecedented in the history of college football. Kellen Moore is already the all-time winningest quarterback in college football history and his over-50 wins is almost an untouchable mark. The Broncos don’t get enough credit for their defense, especially their front four which is one of the most athletic in the college game. I see Boise clicking on all fronts on Thursday night and blowing out an ASU team that is in between coaching staffs and is expecting some of their best athletes to move on after this game.

Boise blows out another unworthy opponent 44-24 and takes the money in Moore’s final game as signal-caller for the Broncos.

Nevada vs. Southern Miss - OVER 63 - Hawaii Bowl

Both of these teams have high powered offenses and while Southern Miss is clearly the better, hotter and streakier team I simply can’t trust them giving nine points to a team as well coached as Nevada. The Pistol offense that they run can put points on the board in a hurry and if Southern Miss repeats anything close to what they did against Houston in the Conference USA Championship game we could see a combined score somewhere in the mid-80’s.

Southern Miss wins in overtime 47-44 on a field goal after a miss by the Wolfpack.