A 4-2 week was a hell of a way to kick off the Bowl Season and hopefully paid for some of the Christmas gifts you suckers picked up for your ladies. She’s still gonna ask where you’ve been going on Thursday nights but you’ve probably bought yourself a few weeks. The good news is we have a ton of games over the next few weeks and the bad news is football can no longer be your alibi for sneaking off to see the side piece! Here we go!…..-Fireman Mike

North Carolina +6 vs. Missouri - Independance Bowl

I don’t need to tell this crew but there’s no better motivator than the almighty dollar. North Carolina has a bevy of young stars on its roster -not to mention their coach is battling to keep his job- which means they’ll be playing extra hard this Monday afternoon. Quinton Coples and crew will keep this game close throughout and may even pull it out in the end.

North Carolina wins 24-21 and more importantly takes home the money!

Western Mich +3 vs. Purdue - Little Ceasers Bowl

Purdue has the name recognition but Western Michigan actually has the better, more explosive and productive players on their roster, with quarterback Alex Carder and wide receiver Jordan White who have been one of the more statistically impressive combinations in college football this season. Purdue will rely heavily on the run but will be hard pressed to keep up with Carder and White down the stretch.

Western Michigan wins straight up, 34-23, but we’ll take the points because they’re free.

Louisville +1 vs. North Carolina St - BELK Bowl

This is a story of two programs heading in the opposite direction. The future looks bright for Louisville, as Teddy Bridgewater seems like a pretty safe bet to lead the Cardinals into the next few seasons. Louisville has also been a pain in the ass to ACC teams in the past, going 13-2 ATS against ACC foes over the past fifteen contests and are also 6-0 as an underdog ATS this year.

Louisville wins an otherwise meaningless bowl game 31-27.

***I had to take a little step back for a day, and rightfully so considering the amounto fgarbage football that we’ve seen on television over the last week. The decent Bowl games are starting to come around and so should we.

FSU -3.5 vs. Notre Dame - Champs Sports Bowl

Notre Dame lines are always skewed a couple points and this game is no different. The Irish come into this one after a somewhat disappointing season but the same can be said for their opponent, who were many expert’s choice as a darkhorse for a National Championship. The Seminoles still have the Irish out-skilled at most positions especially along the lines where ND has made a small difference but don’t have the depth or athleticism of FSU quite yet. The quarterback play in this game should be poor but the ‘Noles will be able to stifle Notre Dame’s running game which will make all the difference in a low-scoring battle.

FSU wins 32-19 in a game that would have been awesome fifteen years ago and might be great within the next five.

Baylor -9.5 vs. Washington

Baylor’s RG3 was a worthy winner of the Heisman but Washington also has their own weapon in QB Keith Price who will be one of the darkhorse candidates for next year’s Trophy. Still, Baylor’s weapons are far too great for the Huskies to hang with in this one and the going-out party for Griffin III should be quite the scene!

Baylor puts up a double-nickel, winning 55-23 and sends RG3 out with a bang.

Mississippi State -6.5 vs. Wake Forest - Music City Bowl

This was supposed to be the season Dan Mullen brought Mississippi State to the next level but the underdevelopment of QB Chris Relf was a big reason why the BUlldogs never reached their full potential. Relf gets the start in this game and is playing for the small chance to play at the next level while Wake is simply happy to be here. Their schedules couldn’t have been more opposite and Wake didn’t beat a worthy opponent outside ofFlorida State whom they snuck up on. Mississippi St doesn’t have a plethora of big wins but they;ve braved a tough SEC schedule and came out with a .500 record and should probably be double-digit favorites in this one.

Miss St wins a low scoring battle, 24-13, in Mullen’s final game as Bulldogs head coach and gets a bigger job in the offseason.

Oklahoma -14 vs. Iowa - Insight Bowl

Iowa plays well in Bowl games, and I appreciate that fact. But this Iowa team has probably already overachieved simply by making it to the Insight Bowl and have to face an Oklahoma team that can score in bunches. Landry Jones has a lot to prove in this one and it could make the difference in whether or not he stays in Norman for another season or departs for the NFL. I expect the latter to happen after a big game against a depleted Iowa secondary who lose a ton of talent to the Draft over the past few seasons and hasn’t completely recovered just yet.

Oklahoma puts a whoopin’ on the Hawkeyes tot he tune of 44-20 and comes away with a victory in Jones’ last game under center.

Texas A&M -10 vs. Northwestern - Meineke Car Care Bowl

I don’t like betting against Northwestern because Pat Fitzgerald is one of the best coaches in the country and has done a fantastic job at his alma mater but the Wildcats are up against it in this one. A&M is extremely talented at the skill posiitons but can also get after th equarterback defensively and are tough along both lines. I’m actually surprised this spread isn’t a little higher. Even though we love dogs, we’re gonna have to stick with the chalk here and take the Aggies.

A&M wins 47-34 in a high-scoring affair. I like the OVER -70- here as well.