2019 College Bowl Picks – Camping World Bowl and the Cotton Bowl Classic: Business is picking up in the 2019 College Football bowl season, and while the College Football Playoff Semifinals highlight the action Saturday, Dec. 28, there are a couple of earlier games on the schedule, including the first of the New Year’s Six bowls. Before we find out who which two teams will compete for the national title, Notre Dame and Iowa State kick things off in the Camping World Bowl, and Memphis and Penn State square off in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic in a battle of top 20 teams.
Get the best college football picks this 2019-20 Bowl Season from the legendary National Sports Advisors!
Camping World Bowl: No. 15 Notre Dame (-4) vs. Iowa State
Both of these teams came up short in their biggest games this year, and while the Fighting Irish lost road games to Georgia and Michigan, all five of the Cyclones’ losses came to teams that were ranked at some point this season, including Big 12 frontrunners Baylor and Oklahoma. Notre Dame quarterback Ian Book and Iowa State quarterback Brock Purdy are both capable of taking over and making plays, but the Fighting Irish have been more consistent on the defensive side of the ball, ranking in the top 25 in total defense and fifth in the country in turnovers created. They also have a red hot, red zone weapon in receiver Chase Claypool. Claypool has caught 12 touchdowns this season, including eight in the last four games alone. I think the Book-to-Claypool connection and an opportunistic defense make the difference in an entertaining, higher-scoring affair.
Prediction: Notre Dame Fighting Irish (-4) Cover the Spread
Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic: No. 17 Memphis vs. No. 10 Penn State
The first of the New Year’s Six bowls pits the top Group of 5 team in the country, the Memphis Tigers, against the Penn State Nittany Lions. Led by a trio of playmakers in quarterback Brady White (3,560 yards, 33 TDs), running back Kenneth Gainwell (1,425 yards) and receiver Damonte Coxie (1,144 yards), the Tigers have an explosive, big-play offense that averages 40.5 points and 480.7 yards per game. Penn State is more of a defensive-oriented team, allowing just 14.1 points per game, but quarterback Sean Clifford and receiver KJ Hamler lead a respectable offense that is averaging 34.3 points per game and capable of creating some fireworks.
Give Memphis credit for putting together a 12-1 season. The Tigers grinded out an out-of-conference win against SEC doormat Ole Miss, survived a shootout with a powerful SMU offense and beat a solid Cincinnati team to close the regular season and again the next week in the AAC title game. However, Penn State’s defense is on another level compared to what Memphis is used to facing. Yes, the Nittany Lions lost to Ohio State, but they held the Buckeyes’ juggernaut of an offense to a season-low 28 points. I think Penn State’s defense will keep White and company in check and lead the Nittany Lions to the win.
Prediction: Penn State Nittany Lions (-6.5) Cover the Spread
