College football picks, bowl games: Michigan State vs. Pitt, Tennessee vs. Purdue among best bets
Hawaii Bowl was canceled on the eve of the game. College football has largely avoided postponements and cancelations this season. The Six Pack hopes all six of this week's games in the column get played.
No. 10 Michigan State Spartans take on No. 12 Pittsburgh Panthers in the college football bowl game.
Pitt quarterback Kenny Pickett and Michigan State running back Kenneth Walker won't play in the Peach Bowl. The game is a New Year's Six game. Nick Patti should start for Pitt. Jordon Simmons is filling in for Kenneth. Michigan will win 31-27. Michigan is at home. Pitt is in Nebraska. Tennessee is playing Purdue.
No. 14 Oregon Ducks take on No. 16 Oklahoma Sooners.
Oklahoma and Oregon are playing in the Alamo Bowl on Wednesday, Dec. 29. Both teams lost coaches recently. The players who are left on the teams are preparing for the NFL Draft. The game is expected to be entertaining. It's going to go either way. I'd bet on it being ugly. Oklahoma 24, Oregon 16.
Purdue Boilermakers and Tennessee Volunteers are playing in the college football bowl game.
Purdue has lost its top receiver David Bell and its most impactful player on defense George Karlaftis. Tiyon Evans has transferred to Louisville. Tennessee is as close to full strength as any team can be at this point of the season.
Air Force Falcons take on Louisville Cardinals in college football's featured game.
Air Force plays Louisville in the First Responder Bowl on Tuesday, Dec. 28. Service academies have gone 20-9 ATS in bowls since 2005. Louisville is 87th in defensive rush EPA and 105th against the run. Air Force is 7th on offense and 21st on points per possession.
Minnesota Golden Gophers take on West Virginia Mountaineers in the Alamo Bowl.
Minnesota went 11-2 in 2019 and won the Guaranteed Rate Bowl. Kirk Ciarocca, the offensive coordinator for the Gophers, will call plays for them. Cierocka recently returned to the team after working for Penn State. West Virginia is without Leddie Brown and Isaiah Esdale. Minnesota has won both of its previous bowl games under P.J. Fleck.
Virginia Tech is without starting quarterback Braxton Burmeister, two leading receivers Tre Turner and Tayvion Robinson, offensive lineman Lecitus Smith and defensive linemen Amare Barno and Jordan Williams. The Terrapins have been injured all season, but they should win comfortably. SportsLine's computer model has returned almost $3,600 in profit over the past five-plus seasons. It picks Maryland 31, Virginia Tech 23.
