FAVORITE TEAMS

WALK-ON’S INDEPENDENCE BOWL – 10:30AM PT/ 1:30PM ET [ESPN]

TEMPLE (8-4) VS DUKE (7-5)

Both teams meet for the first time. One team has gained momentum in conference play while the other team has dwindled in conference play. Temple won six of their last eight games and nearly upset UCF for a conference title opportunity. Duke lost five of their last eight games (currently lost two straight games) after starting 4-0 along with defeating an 11-win Army team and Big Ten conference title runner-up Northwestern. The injuries once again plagued the Blue Devils and quarterback Daniel Jones at times plays inconsistent, but put additional skepticism on the rest of the offense. Duke won their last two bowl games, but injuries and inconsistencies could plague them against an underrated Temple defense. Temple is 3-4 all-time and are without Geoff Collins after he took the Georgia Tech job, but they have plenty of optimism going into the bowl game regardless.

MY PICK: TEMPLE

NEW ERA PINSTRIPE BOWL – 2:15PM PT/ 5:15PM ET [ESPN]

MIAMI (7-5) VS WISCONSIN (7-5)

This is the sixth meeting between these two teams and is also a rematch from last season’s bowl game. This will also be their fifth meeting in the state of Florida (Miami – 1958 and 1988, Orlando – 2009, and Miami Gardens – 2017). Both teams had similar expectations from last season, but failed to live up to it. Wisconsin’s new defensive replacements and the lack of consistent passing hurt their run in the Big Ten West. Miami had some flaws in the quarterback position and unfortunately, N’Kosi Perry lost his job to Malik Rosier for the bowl game over a video. This game will focus on Wisconsin running back Jonathan Taylor and Miami’s run defense. Miami allowed three 100 yard rushers all season (0-3) and Jonathan Taylor ran less than 100 rush yards in their loss against Northwestern. Whoever wins that battle will most likely win the game.

MY PICK: WISCONSIN

ACADEMY SPORTS + OUTDOORS TEXAS BOWL – 6PM PT/ 9PM ET [ESPN]

BAYLOR (6-6) VS VANDERBILT (6-6)

Baylor and Vanderbilt meet for the third time and cross paths again after their last one in 1954. Baylor is in their home state and returns to a bowl game after going 1-11 last season. They’re also 2-0 against the Commodores. Even though Baylor’s statistics are slowly improving, they’re still allowing 31 points per game and that’s a big problem. Vanderbilt’s win over their in-state rival Tennessee is a confidence boost. They appear in Texas for a bowl game for the first time. They’re also 3-2 in bowls since 2008. This sounds like a good game, but Baylor is 4-6 in Texas-type bowl games and Matt Rhule is 0-2 in bowl games. What’s worse is since they allow 31+ points per game, Vanderbilt won all six of their regular season games when scoring 30+ points.

MY PICK: VANDERBILT