College football picks, bowl games: Tennessee vs. Clemson, Texas vs. Washington highlight best bets

Many school football followers and detractors alike declare there are too many bowl video games. It’s a sentiment I’ll by no means agree with, however I perceive why they really feel that approach. While I like all bowl video games as in the event that they have been my youngsters, a few of the earlier matchups aren’t as inspiring. They’ll do in the event you’re residence on a Tuesday afternoon and in search of one thing to observe.

Even in the event you really feel that approach, nevertheless, it’s a must to admit we’re getting into the candy spot of bowl season. The ramp-up to the end begins this week with a number of video games daily and the Power Five conferences out in full pressure. While the College Football Playoff semifinals aren’t till Saturday night time, there are many video games to get by beforehand, so we would as properly guess on them.

All odds courtesy of Caesars Sportsbook.

Games of the Week

No. 6 Tennessee vs. No. 7 Clemson

Featured Game | Clemson Tigers vs. Tennessee Volunteers

Orange Bowl — Friday, Dec. 30: The first New Year’s Six bowl kicks off Friday night time in Miami with two orange groups. It’s the orangest Orange Bowl attainable, because the brighter orange of Clemson clashes with the creamier orange of Tennessee. I hope each groups come out in all-orange uniforms to make issues enjoyable and complicated. 

What I’m not anticipating is as many factors as the entire suggests. Neither workforce may have its beginning quarterback. If you are a Clemson fan, you are joyful about this. Tigers followers have clamored for Cade Klubnik a lot of the season, and now they’ve him. Vols followers aren’t practically as happy. Joe Milton is filling in for the injured Hendon Hooker, who was having one of many best seasons of any participant within the nation. I don’t count on both offense to flourish. Clemson’s offensive issues run far deeper than DJ Uiagalelei and will not be solved by his absence. And Milton has one of many strongest arms you may ever see. It’s simply not very correct, and accuracy is sort of vital in Tennessee’s offense. Tennessee 28, Clemson 27 | Under 63.5

No. 12 Washington vs. No. 20 Texas

Featured Game | Washington Huskies vs. Texas Longhorns

Alamo Bowl — Thursday, Dec. 29: Texas is a $200,000 sports activities automobile with the engine of your mother’s 2014 Subaru Outback. It’s going to get you wherever you might want to go, however despite the fact that it appears to be like prefer it ought to go a lot sooner, there is a regarding vibration all through the cabin when you begin creeping up towards 80 mph. For no matter purpose, the Longhorns are by no means the sum of their components and overrated available on the market too typically. This is one other instance.

With Doak Walker winner Bijan Robinson and fellow working again Roschon Johnson opting out, the Longhorns might be with out their best participant and a key contributor. Linebacker DeMarvion Overshown is sitting the sport out, too. Meanwhile, Washington returns quarterback Michael Penix, and he is seen as a Heisman candidate for subsequent season. Given Texas’ constant underperformance and lack of key gamers, it is exhausting to belief the Horns as favorites right here, is not it? Washington 38, Texas 35 | Washington +3

Lock of the Week

No. 13 Florida State vs. Oklahoma

Featured Game | Florida State Seminoles vs. Oklahoma Sooners

Cheez-It Bowl — Thursday, Dec. 29: There might be a big Florida State bandwagon this offseason full of individuals telling you that the Seminoles will win the ACC subsequent season and will attain the College Football Playoff. I will not say I’ll be the one driving the bandwagon, however I’ll be on it, and I’ll be loud. It’s a program on the right track and poised to reap the benefits of an ACC with out a dominant program heading into subsequent season.

Oklahoma had a tough 12 months in its first season underneath coach Brent Venables. Like the Seminoles, I count on the Sooners to be higher subsequent 12 months … however not on this recreation. Florida State’s the a lot better workforce, and that ought to grow to be evident over a full 60 minutes. This won’t be a blowout, however I do not count on the Sooners to ever actually have a shot at successful, both. Florida State 38, Oklahoma 24 | Florida State -9.5

Over of the Week

No. 15 Oregon vs. North Carolina

Featured Game | North Carolina Tar Heels vs. Oregon Ducks

Holiday Bowl — Wednesday, Dec. 28: There are questions in regards to the North Carolina offense heading into this recreation as a result of offensive coordinator Phil Longo left to take the identical job on Luke Fickell’s workers at Wisconsin. I’m not apprehensive as a result of the Tar Heels might be going through an Oregon protection that is been terrible all season lengthy and lacking its best cornerback. Also, regardless of the Heels have misplaced on offense with their play-caller, they’ve given all of it again with the gamers that might be lacking from a protection that is been one of many worst within the nation all season lengthy.

That’s one thing Oregon and Bo Nix will reap the benefits of, even when their offensive coordinator Kenny Dillingham is now the top coach at Arizona State. It’s exhausting to think about many defensive stops on this recreation, and I do not wish to. As lengthy as these two groups play the identical approach they’ve performed all season, this might be a simple over to money. Oregon 48, North Carolina 34 | Over 75

Under of the Week

Minnesota vs. Syracuse 

Featured Game | Minnesota Golden Gophers vs. Syracuse Orange

Pinstripe Bowl — Thursday, Dec. 29: You could keep in mind Syracuse because the workforce that started the 12 months 6-0 and climbed to No. 14 within the AP Top 25 earlier than the ground fell from beneath it. The Orange dropped 5 straight earlier than ending the common season with a win. In fact, Syracuse was by no means nearly as good as its 6-0 begin steered, nor was it as unhealthy because the five-game shedding streak. It’s a wonderfully OK workforce. It’ll be diminished on this bowl recreation, nevertheless. Leading rusher Sean Tucker, the workforce’s most dependable offensive piece, has opted out. 

That’s not good for the Syracuse offense, however It is sweet for the underneath. Minnesota’s offense likes to run the ball and isn’t in a rush to start out the subsequent play. Minnesota is the stronger workforce on this matchup, however asking the Gophers to cowl 10 factors is a bit a lot, particularly in what must be a low-scoring affair. The underneath is the best way to go. Minnesota 24, Syracuse 14 | Under 42

Wagon of the Week

Ohio vs. Wyoming

Featured Game | Wyoming Cowboys vs. Ohio Bobcats

Arizona Bowl — Friday, Dec. 30: If you do not wish to comply with me right here, do not. This is a numbers play, you see, but it surely’s additionally a play of loyalty. Ohio has been so good to me within the 2022 season. A tough begin to the Bobcats’ season had a big impression on how they have been seen available on the market. As a MAC program hardly ever within the highlight, it took approach too lengthy for the market to catch as much as the actual fact this Bobcats workforce was much better than anticipated. I did notice it, although, and I used to be a contented passenger for the journey of eight straight covers (by a median of 14.2 factors).

Sadly, the market has lastly caught on. There is not practically as a lot worth on Ohio as there was in October and November, however some meat stays on the bone. I would not have included it in The Six Pack if this was the common season and we had 60 video games from which to decide on. For bowl week, although, it is sufficient. After all of the Bobcats have accomplished for me in 2022, that is the least I can do in return. Ohio 23, Wyoming 17 | Ohio -1

Which school football picks are you able to make with confidence throughout bowl season, and which underdogs will win outright? Visit SportsLine to see which teams will win and cover the spread — all from a confirmed laptop mannequin that has returned nearly $2,500 in revenue over the previous six-plus seasons — and discover out.