DECEMBER 26 & 27 GAMES, LINES AND VIRUS PICKS

Motor City Bowl:
Middle Tennessee vs Central Michigan (-9.5)

Over/Under 51.5

Money Line
Middle Tennessee +270
Central Michigan -340

The battle of the state-centers here in this underwhelming matchup. Central Michigan is on a tear right now, winning 7 of 8, all by double digits. This spread is still in single digits, and Middlee Tennessee has lost their last two. Add to that fact that this game is in Michigan (Detroit), and you've got a recipe for a rout.

100 on Central Michigan to cover
60 on the UNDER

EMERALD BOWL
Florida State vs UCLA (-4.5)
Over/Under 40.5

Florida State is lucky to even be in a bowl game this year and UCLA probably saved themselves a bid by knocking off USC late in the season. UCLA can't play defense, but it doesn't matter because Florida State can't score. Florida State has a pretty good defense, but UCLA is even worse on offense than FSU, if you can believe that. As much as I hate the Seminoles, 4.5 just seems like too much to give UCLA. This should be a low scoring game, but I can't convince myself to bite on either side of that Over/Under.

60 on FSU to cover

IDEPENDENCE BOWL
Oklahome State (-2.5) vs Alabama
Over/Under 51

Another pair of lopsided teams here whose strengths play into the other team's strengths. Alabama is lousy on offense, but OkSt is possibly even worse on defense. Oklahoma State has a powerful offense, boasting the 8th rushing attack in the country and 16th best offense overall, but Alabama is an SEC team, and if there's one thing they do in the SEC, it's play crushing defense. I say, when in doubt, go with the defensive team.

50 on Alabama to cover
30 on the UNDER

Holiday Bowl
California (-5) vs Texas A&M
Over/Under 53

Texas A&M has had a very quiet 9 win season, while Cal's 9 win season can best be classified as a disappointment. Cal has speed all over the field, but has proven in several games this year that a team full of tracks stars doesn't necessarily guarantee a victory. The best way to put it is that Cal is soft, and when they face a hard-hitting defense, they wither. Tennessee put the screws to them, as did USC and, surprisingly, Arizona . Texas A&M is surprisingly in the top 30 offensively in total yards and points scored and has the 7th ranked rush offense in the nation. Texas A&M looks extremely underrated in this game, and were very convincing in their win against Texas.

80 on Texas A&M to cover
I'll probably lay some on the money line when it surfaces

TEXAS BOWL
Rutgers (-7.5) vs Kansas State
Over/Under 45

To the 4 of you who get to watch this game, congratulations. It's absurd that a 10-2 team is relegated to a December 28 game against a lousy Big-12 opponent on a network that nobody in the country has in their cable package. The bad news for Kansas State is that there's approximatley a 0% chance that Greg Schiano lets the situation get to his team. Schiano staying at Rutgers over the Miami job should inspire the players to some degree, and Rutgers comes ready to play almost every week. It looks like a long day for KSt.

I'll abstain from a pick here until closer to game time. That's a big spread.