Bowl picks: TCU-Ole Miss, Baylor-Michigan St., Wisconsin-Auburn & more
Editor's note: Throughout the season, Bruce Feldman and Stewart Mandel have presented their weekly picks.
Below are their selections for the remaining bowl games (all times ET), minus the Sugar and Rose. The playoff picks will be coming separately on Wednesday.
Enjoy.
***
Outback: No. 18 Wisconsin (+6.5) vs. No. 19 Auburn (Thursday, Noon, ESPN2)
Mandel: Barry Alvarez is a Hall of Fame coach who had no shortage of big bowl wins (including three in Pasadena). But the Badgers’ interim coach retired in 2005, a year before Gus Malzahn first brought his unique hurry-up offense to the college level. Wisconsin’s defensive meltdown against Ohio State in the Big Ten title game does not bode well for its chances against QB Nick Marshall, RB Cameron Artis-Payne and WR Sammie Coates. Auburn 45, Wisconsin 30.
Feldman: The Badgers got throttled by Ohio State in their last time out, and Gus Malzahn's offense is every bit as explosive and just has too much firepower for Wisconsin. Auburn 35, Wisconsin 20.
Cotton: No. 5 Baylor (-2.5) vs. No. 8 Michigan State (Thursday, 12:30 p.m., ESPN)
Mandel: Presumably Art Briles had enough time to get over his team’s playoff snub, but you wonder whether his initial dismissiveness of the Cotton Bowl will trickle down to the players. The Spartans really had no wins of note during the season to justify their high ranking, but QB Connor Cook and that offense proved plenty dangerous in most of their games and capable of exploiting a leaky Bears defense. Meanwhile, Michigan State’s defense would surely love to send off revered coordinator Pat Narduzzi by slowing down Bryce Petty-led Baylor. Michigan State 34, Baylor 28.
Feldman: Art Briles' offense can be spectacular, but the hunch here is that outgoing MSU DC Pat Narduzzi will be able to contain it somewhat and the Spartans offense, led by QB Connor Cook, will hit some big plays of their own. Michigan State 31, Baylor 28.
Citrus: No. 16 Missouri (-5) vs. No. 25 Minnesota (Thursday, 1 p.m., ABC)
Mandel: The best part of this game is that it’s back to being called the Citrus Bowl. Minnesota will likely be the more motivated team, and while Shane Ray and the Tigers’ defensive front is fully capable of slowing down Gophers star David Cobb, Mizzou’s offense has been underwhelming all year. Jerry Kill’s team will put on a stout defensive performance in the program’s first New Year’s bowl in a half-century. Minnesota 14, Missouri 10.
Feldman: The Tigers have one of the best D-lines in the country, and they should be able to neutralize the Gophers' offense. Jerry Kill's bowl history also doesn't bode well for Minnesota; He's 0-4 all-time. Mizzou 17, Minnesota 10.
Armed Forces: Houston (+3) vs. Pittsburgh (Friday, Noon, ESPN)
Mandel: Tom Herman (Houston) and Pat Narduzzi (Pitt) are on the way, but until then, it will be Cougars interim coach David Gibbs taking on Panthers interim coach Joe Rudolph. Pitt’s got no shortage of offensive weapons with RB James Conner and WR Tyler Boyd. If the Panthers care, they should win. Pittsburgh 30, Houston 17.
Feldman: Two programs being led by interim coaches. I'll go with the Panthers since they'll have the two best players on the field in RB James Conner and WR Tyler Boyd. Pitt 23, Houston 17.
TaxSlayer: Iowa (+3.5) vs. Tennessee (Friday, 3:20 p.m., ESPN)
Mandel: The Vols have more talent but they’re young and unpredictable. Iowa was predictably mediocre this season, but don’t put it past Kirk Ferentz’s team to pull a mild surprise in the still-sort-of-the-Gator Bowl. Iowa 20, Tennessee 16.
Feldman: The young Vols are making good strides and should really benefit from the added bowl practices. UT's won three of its last four and has faced a lot better competition than the Hawkeyes have. Tennessee 24, Iowa 17.
Alamo: No. 11 Kansas State (+1.5) vs. No. 14 UCLA (Friday, 6:45 p.m., ESPN)
Mandel: Jim Mora’s a good coach, but he’s no Wizard. Bill Snyder will have his guys ready to go, the Wildcats’ defense will keep Brett Hundley somewhat in check and most of all, K-State’s big TE Zach Trujillo and FB Glenn Gronkowski will cause matchup problems for the Bruins D. Kansas State 33, UCLA 20.
Feldman: I was tempted to pick the Wildcats, but after the dismal start the Big 12 got off to, I'll go with Brett Hundley and Co. UCLA 34, K-State 27.
Cactus: Washington (-5.5) vs. Oklahoma State (Friday, 10:15 p.m., ESPN)
Mandel: Oklahoma State’s offense struggled much of the season but seemed to find its groove in the Bedlam victory over Oklahoma. Then all-purpose extraordinaire Tyreek Hill got kicked off the team. Chris Petersen’s team shuts down the Cowboys. Washington 26, Oklahoma State 13.
Feldman: The Huskies have three difference-makers on D, and they should be able to handle a Cowboys team that will miss big-play man Tyreek Hill. Washington 17, Oklahoma State 9.
Birmingham: East Carolina (+6.5) vs. Florida (Saturday, Noon, ESPN)
Mandel: Nearly seven weeks will have passed since Will Muschamp’s dismissal by the time the Gators return to the field. Pirates QB Shane Carden could shred Florida like Teddy Bridgewater in the Sugar Bowl two years ago, but only if Florida’s D just doesn’t show up. Florida 28, East Carolina 20.
Feldman: Shane Carden's a very good QB with some capable receivers, and I'll go with Ruffin McNeill's team to pull the upset. ECU 28, Florida 27.
GoDaddy: Toledo (-3.5) vs. Arkansas State (Sunday, 9 p.m., ESPN)
Mandel: It hasn’t been the finest bowl season for #MACtion (save for that crazy Central Michigan touchdown). Toledo provides some redemption in the last bowl of the season. (Because the national championship game is NOT a bowl.) Toledo 43, Arkansas State 40.
Feldman: Neither team has much of a defense, but the Red Wolves' D is just a touch better. Arkansas State 40, Toledo 35.
Mandel this season: 122-69 straight-up; 94-97 vs. spread
Feldman this season: 122-69 straight-up; 95-96 vs. spread
***
Music City: Notre Dame (+7.5) vs. No. 23 LSU
Mandel: Notre Dame’s injury-decimated defense could not have looked worse in the second half of the season, but it’s facing an LSU offense that’s struggled against decent competition. But the month layoff could benefit the young Tigers as well. They may not throw it all over the place like several Irish opponents during the season, but their defense should be able to rattle new Irish QB starter Malik Zaire. LSU 30, Notre Dame 21.
Feldman: No matter who is starting at QB for ND, the Irish are just too depleted to hang with the physical Tigers offense. LSU 30, Notre Dame 17.
Belk: No. 13 Georgia (-7) vs. No. 21 Louisville
Result: Georgia 37, Louisville 14
Mandel: This is one of those games where motivation could be a factor. Georgia, which has had its share of bowl stinkers, is not likely to bring it’s A game to Charlotte. Louisville’s offense took a hit when RB Michael Dyer was ruled academically ineligible, ending an already rocky career a game early, but there’s enough other pieces to score some points. And Lorenzo Mauldin and the Louisville D is more than capable. I smell upset. Louisville 27, Georgia 24.
Feldman: Losing RB Michael Dyer only hinders the banged-up Cards O that much more against a very talented UGA squad. Georgia 31, Louisville 20.
Foster Farms: Maryland (+14) vs. Stanford
Result: Stanford 45, Maryland 21
Mandel: It’s a little surprising to see a 7-5 Stanford team that struggled on offense much of the season as the biggest favorite of bowl season. Sure, the Cardinal are playing close to home, but Levi’s Stadium will hardly be packed. But Stanford QB Kevin Hogan played noticeably better late in the season and faced much tougher defenses in the Pac-12 than the Terps present. And Stanford’s top-three defense should dominate against an inconsistent Maryland offense.Stanford 27, Maryland 10.
Feldman: David Shaw's offense has been really shaky at times this season, but his D is still elite (16 ppg allowed), and that should be more than good enough against the Terps. Stanford 30, Maryland 14.
Peach: No. 6 TCU (-3) vs. No. 9 Ole Miss
Result: TCU 42, Ole Miss 3
Mandel: Gary Patterson’s program has won so many big games over the years, and yet beating a top-10 team from the SEC would likely be its most validating achievement yet. QB Trevone Boykin and the Horned Frogs offense won’t rack up 500 yards against a talented Rebels defense, but don’t be fooled by the numbers; this is a typically athletic and sound Patterson defense, too, led by LB Paul Dawson and S Sam Carter. They’ll get the better of Bo Wallace and the Rebels. TCU 30, Ole Miss 27.
Feldman: As outstanding as Trevone Boykin has been this season, the Rebels have a very athletic and talented defense that should slow him down, but Ole Miss' O won't have enough juice to to overcome Gary Patterson's defense anchored by the excellent Paul Dawson. TCU 24, Ole Miss 17.
Fiesta: No. 10 Arizona (-3) vs. No. 20 Boise State
Result: Boise State 38, Arizona 30
Mandel: On the one hand, this Boise team is nowhere near the level of its past Fiesta Bowl teams. On the other hand, 2014 Arizona is not quite 2006 Oklahoma or 2009 TCU. If QB Anu Solomon is at full strength, the Wildcats should be able to move the ball on a middle-of-the-pack Boise defense, but it’s Scooby Wright and the Wildcats’ D that could prove the difference. I see them holding down Broncos star RB Jay Ajayi. Arizona 37, Boise State 24.
Feldman: Broncos OC Mike Sanford has a very potent offense and will be a good test for the great Scooby Wright, but BSU's suspect defense won't be able to hang with the Cats explosive collection of skill guys. Arizona 35, Boise State 27.
Orange: No. 7 Mississippi State (-7) vs. No. 12 Georgia Tech
Result: Georgia Tech 49, Mississippi State 34
Mandel: Dak Prescott wasn’t as electric over the second half of the season as he was the first but likely benefitted from the break. Expect him to come out and play a complete game, particularly given the Jackets’ 104th-ranked defense (6.23 yards per play). Tech compensated for that defense with one of the nation’s most efficient offenses, but it’s no secret that Paul Johnson’s triple-option attack can become far less lethal given time to prepare. He’s 1-5 in bowl games at Georgia Tech. Mississippi State 38, Georgia Tech 24.
Feldman: As efficient as Tech's offense is, Paul Johnson's attack doesn't seem quite as dangerous when its opponent has time to prep for it. Johnson's lost six of his last seven bowl games while Dan Mullen's won three of four at MSU. Miss. State 30, Ga. Tech 20.