NCAA Football 2019 Bowl picks part II

Most of the games have been one-sided so far, but we've had some surprises.  The MAC, who has struggled in bowl games over the past few years, started 2-0.  That already beat the total number of bowl victories they had in the past two years.  Boise State was completely demolished by Washington.  Kent State won their first bowl game after losing their first three, and Liberty won their first ever bowl game.

Continuing with our picks, where we are getting mostly Power Five teams now...

Dec 27
Military Bowl : North Carolina Tar Heels (6-6) v Temple Owls (8-4) - North Carolina can be unpredictable at times, but Temple has shown great power during the season.  Traveling from Philadelphia to Annapolis makes this a regional game for them, too. Statistically they are fairly similar, although the Owls have proven a little more tenacious on defense, and that often makes the difference in close games, which I think this will be.  TEMPLE

Pinstripe Bowl : Michigan State Spartans (6-6) v Wake Forest Demon Deacons (8-4) - The Spartans have a good defense, but their offense was woefully inconsistent.  They can shoot themselves in the foot and cough up the ball at the most inconvenient times.  The special teams on the Spartans weren't great, either.  For those reasons, I think the first Big Ten team to play in the bowls will not win.  WAKE FOREST

Texas Bowl : Oklahoma State Cowboys (8-4) v Texas A&M Aggies (7-5) - There will be plenty of fans of each team, so the Texas location won't give much of a "home state" advantage to the Aggies.  The Aggies had a decent defense this season, but I don't think that defense can hold back the dynamic offense of the Cowboys.  OKLAHOMA STATE

Holiday Bowl : USC Trojans (8-4) v #21 Iowa Hawkeyes (9-3) - It's Big Ten v Pac-12 in California, where the Pac-12 tend to win.  However, the Trojans have not had to face a defense as tough as Iowa's this season, and I don't think they will be able to take it.  The Hawkeyes will wear away at them until advancing the ball is like carrying a ball and chain.  IOWA

Cheez-It Bowl : #22 Air Force Falcons (10-2) v Washington State Cougars (6-6) - The Huskies have already pulled off one upset, but they were the stronger team from Washington this year.  The Cougars won't manage the same trick, especially since they won't be on the field as long, since Air Force commands the time of possession.  AIR FORCE

Dec 28
Camping World Bowl : #10 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (10-2) v Iowa State Cyclones (7-5) - Iowa State played some strong games this season, and was a sentimental favorite of the ESPN analysts.  However, sentimentality will not get them past the powerful Irish squad.  NOTRE DAME

Cotton Bowl Classic : #5 Penn State Nittany Lions (10-2) v #13 Memphis Tigers (12-1) - This is the first battle between Top 25 teams since the Boca Raton Bowl.  It's a great prelude to the two semifinal playoff games that follow.  That said, poor Memphis will have their hands full against the powerful Nittany Lions defense.  It may be close at halftime, but Penn State will crush them in the second half.  PENN STATE

PLAYOFF - Peach Bowl : #2 LSU Tigers (13-0) v #8 Oklahoma Sooners (12-1) - The Sooners come into this game without some key players, but they weren't going to win this game even with those players.  LSU has just too strong an offense, and the Sooners won't be able to keep up.  LSU

PLAYOFF - Fiesta Bowl : #1 Ohio State Buckeyes (13-0) v #3 Clemson Tigers (13-0) - Many national analysts are favoring Clemson, mainly because their offense woke up in the last four weeks of the season.  However, the ACC does not have the quality defense that Clemson will face.  The Buckeyes secondary will pressure the receivers, and Trevor Lawrence will need to get rid of the ball much faster than he is used to.  His rhythm will be off, and that will kill them.  Clemson may score first, because they'll come up with some "quick strike" schemes, but the Buckeyes will adjust at halftime and shut them down.  OHIO STATE

Dec 30
First Responder Bowl : Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (8-4) v Western Michigan Broncos (7-5) - The Broncos started the season slowly but caught fire at the end of the season.  That momentum will make them dangerous, but it may have cooled enough by Dec 30th.  The Hilltoppers have a killer defense, and they will frustrate the Broncos.  WESTERN KENTUCKY

Music City Bowl : Mississippi State Bulldogs (6-6) v Louisville Cardinals (7-5) - In an SEC v ACC like this one, the SEC usually comes out on top.  This time, though, I'm picking the ACC.  The Bulldogs were chronic underachievers this season.  While Louisville wasn't spectacular, they basically played up to expectations.  LOUISVILLE

Santa Clara Bowl : Cal Golden Bears (7-5) v Illinois Fighting Illini (6-6) - The Illini have a very opportunistic defense that forced the second most turnovers of the conference.  Their offense can go cold, though, so I'm afraid the Illini, who have waited a decade to return to a bowl game, will not succeed.  CAL

Orange Bowl : #19 Florida Gators (10-2) v Virginia Cavaliers (9-3) - Another SEC v ACC matchup, and this one should end fairly typically.  Virginia may keep it close for nearly three quarters, but Florida will end up surging late and running away with it.  FLORIDA