2016 College Football Bowl Game Picks & Predictions: St. Petersburg Bowl, Quick Lane Bowl & Camping World Independence Bowl:After an off day, the 2016 college football bowl season resumes Monday, Dec. 26, with a trio of games. The three-game slate kicks off the main stretch of the bowl season. The top teams will be in action soon, including the four teams that reached the College Football Playoff. In the meantime, the mid-pack teams from major conferences will start to take center stage. With that in mind, let’s take a closer look at the St. Petersburg Bowl, Quick Lane Bowl and Camping World Independence Bowl. Get more expert college football bowl picks from the nation’s top college football handicappers on NSAwins.com.
2016 College Football Bowl Game Picks & Predictions: St. Petersburg Bowl, Quick Lane Bowl & Camping World Independence Bowl
St. Petersburg Bowl: Miami (Ohio) vs. Mississippi State
In one of the stranger matchups of the bowl season, the Mississippi State Bulldogs and their 5-7 record will face off against a Miami RedHawks team that started 0-6 before closing the year with six straight wins to grab a bowl bid.
The best player on the field in this game will likely be Mississippi State’s dual-threat quarterback Nick Fitzgerald. However, the RedHawks have been rock solid on defense all year, and the unit has been even better during the team’s winning streak. More importantly, the Bulldogs are a five-win team, and two of those wins came against Samford and Massachusetts. I’ll take the momentum of Miami and 12 points.
Prediction: Miami RedHawks (+12) Cover the Spread
Quick Lane Bowl: Maryland vs. Boston College
In a battle between two teams that are the definition of mediocrity, the Maryland Terrapins will face the Boston College Eagles in the Quick Lane Bowl. Both teams enter the matchup at 6-6, and both teams were clobbered by tougher opponents in conference play.
Maryland lost to Big Ten powers Penn State, Michigan and Ohio State by a combined score of 159-20. Against ACC juggernauts Clemson, Louisville and Florida State, Boston College was beat down to by a combined score of 153-24.
Neither one of these teams has a lot of offensive firepower, and this game is destined to be a lower-scoring affair. Boston College has been slightly better on the defensive side of the ball overall, so I’ll take the Eagles and the points.
Prediction: Boston College Eagles (+2) Cover the Spread
Camping World Independence Bowl: NC State vs. Vanderbilt
In a game that figures to be a defensive battle, the NC State Wolfpack takes on the Vanderbilt Commodores. Both teams enter the matchup at 6-6, and while there is no doubt that both sides lack offensive playmakers, these defenses are legit.
Both teams rank in the top 15 nationally in scoring defense, with NC State allowing just 14.0 points per game and Vanderbilt allowing 13.0 per game. These teams didn’t pad those numbers against weak competition either. The Wolfpack held both Clemson and Florida State to just 24 points, and The Commodores held both Florida and Auburn to 23 points or less.
With points likely to be at a premium, NC State’s slight edge in offensive playmakers should make a big difference. Wolfpack running back Matthew Dayes is the biggest offensive threat on the field, and quarterback Ryan Finley has been playing better of late topping 300 yards in three of his last five games. NC State manages to put some points on the board, and the Wolfpack defense does the rest.
Prediction: North Carolina State Wolfpack (-4) Cover the Spread
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