2019 College Bowl Picks: Celebration Bowl, New Mexico Bowl, Cure Bowl & Camellia Bowl: The 2019 College Football bowl season rolls on with a loaded December 23 slate that features seven games. A lot of teams from smaller conferences are in action, but we also have out first ranked teams getting into the mix. I’ll break up the predictions into two parts, beginning with the Celebration Bowl, New Mexico Bowl, Cure Bowl and Camellia Bowl and saving the showdowns featuring the higher-profile teams for later. Let’s dive into the busy schedule.
2019 College Bowl Picks: Celebration Bowl, New Mexico Bowl, Cure Bowl & Camellia Bowl
Celebration Bowl: Alcorn State vs. North Carolina A&T
For the second year in a row, Alcorn State and North Carolina A&T will meet in a bowl game. The Aggies picked up a 24-22 win in last year’s game, and armed with a few more playmakers on both sides of the ball, I think they have the edge yet again. Running back Jah-Maine Martin has accounted for 21 total touchdowns and is averaging more than seven yards per carry, and edge rusher Devin Harrell leads the best defense in the MEAC. Alcorn State quarterback Felix Harper has tossed 30 touchdowns and is a playmaker in his own right, but I think the Braves are going to struggle in the trenches on both sides of the ball. Back the Aggies in this one.
Prediction: North Carolina A&T Aggies Win the Game
New Mexico Bowl: Central Michigan vs. San Diego State
We have a classic battle of styles in this one as Central Michigan’s high-powered offense meets San Diego State’s stingy defense. Led by 1,000-yard rusher Jonathan Ward, the Chippewas are averaging 31.9 points per game, 12.9 more points per game than they Aztecs. However, San Diego State ranks fourth in the country in scoring defense, allowing just 12.8 points per game, and fifth in total defense, allowing just 288.7 yards to opponents. In fact, the Aztecs haven’t allowed more than 23 points in a game all year and have held 10 of their 12 opponents to 17 points or less. The style might not be flashy, but SDSU has shown the ability to bottle up any offense and control the pace with a conservative, mistake-free approach. Look for the Aztecs to impose their will on the Chippewas and do what they do best, grind out a win in a low-scoring affair.
Prediction: San Diego State Aztecs (-4) Cover the Spread
Cure Bowl: Liberty vs. Georgia Southern
Liberty will be getting its first taste of bowl season, but the Flames probably won’t like what Georgia Southern is serving. The Eagles have a dynamic rushing attack that ranks eighth in the country, averaging 260.9 yards per game. Georgia Southern has three players who have rushed for more than 600 yards and at least five touchdowns, which is bad news for a Liberty defense that is allowing almost 200 rushing yards per game to opponents. Georgia Southern knocked off two of the best teams in the Sun Belt, handing a ranked Appalachian State team its only loss of the year. The Eagles simply have too much talent and too many weapons for Liberty to handle. Georgia Southern runs wild and wins going away.
Prediction: Georgia Southern Eagles (-6) Cover the Spread
Camellia Bowl: Florida International vs. Arkansas State
Nothing jumps off the page with either of these teams, and both sides have actually allowed more points than they have scored this year. Yes, Florida International has former Miami Hurricanes coach Butch Davis at the helm, but the Panthers haven’t won a game outside of the state of Florida all year and went 3-5 in Conference USA. In case you were wondering, the Camellia Bowl will be played in Montgomery, Alabama, so FIU’s road woes are worth keeping in mind. More importantly, I think the Red Wolves have the most dynamic player in this matchup in receiver Omar Bayless. He enters the bowl game with 84 catches for 1,473 yards and 16 touchdowns, averaging 17.5 yards per reception. I think he makes the difference in a back-and-forth, higher-scoring affair.
Prediction: Arkansas State Red Wolves (-3) Cover the Spread
