Oregon draws favorable matchup in Fiesta Bowl
The Hotline has been picking Pac-12 bowl games since before the Pac-12 even existed.
Our first attempt was back in the late 2000s, at the end of the Pac-10 era.
This year, it’s the Pac-2. Only Oregon and Colorado are participating after five eligible teams declined invitations for various reasons related to COVID-19.
So we’ve adapted. Instead of limiting the Hotline picks to Pac-12 games, we’ve added the two semifinals and two wild cards.
Thank us later.
• Last week: 3-1 • Season: 18-11-1 • Five-star special: 3-3 All picks against the spread. Lines taken from vegasinsider.com
ARMY (+7.5) VS. WEST VIRGINIA (LIBERTY BOWL,
DEC. 31) » Imagine being West Virginia, thinking you have a showdown against an SEC school. Then the Vols withdraw and you get ... Army, with its nine wins, superb discipline and triple option. The Black Knights will be ready; they were desperate to play anyone after their date in the Independence Bowl was aborted because the Pac-12 didn’t have a team. The Mountaineers? Not so much. Pick: Army COLORADO (+9.5) VS. TEXAS (ALAMO BOWL, DEC. 29) » The Longhorns lost three games, but two were to NY6 teams (Iowa State and Oklahoma) and both were close. Meanwhile, the Buffaloes won’t have star linebacker Nate Landman and were exposed by Utah in their last game, two weeks ago. The line opened at 11 and has inched down to a reasonable level. But we’re
not convinced the Buffaloes have the personnel to hold up for four quarters. Pick: Texas
CINCINNATI (+7.5) VS. GEORGIA (PEACH BOWL, JAN. 1)
» The disparity in talent will be offset by the difference in motivation:
The Bearcats are playing for respect after the CFP slight, while the Bulldogs view anything outside the playoff as a step down. Also, watch Luke Fickell out-coach Kirby Smart. Pick: Cincinnati.
OREGON (+4.5) VS. IOWA
STATE (FIESTA BOWL, JAN. 2) » The Ducks drew the best possible opponent — any other NY6 option (Oklahoma or an SEC team) would have posed far greater trouble on the size-and-speed front. ISU coach Matt Campbell is one of the best in the country. He has one of the top players in tailback Breece Hall and a veteran quarterback in Brock Purdy. But Oregon’s roster is more talented. And the Cyclones are coming off a loss in the Big 12 title game. Pick: Oregon NOTRE DAME (+19.5) VS. ALABAMA (CFP/ROSE BOWL) » We’ve seen this show before — Notre Dame on the biggest postseason stage — and it’s not a pleasant sight. The oddsmakers are daring the public to take the points (19.5!), but the right move is to give them all ... and more, if necessary. Pick: Alabama. OHIO STATE (+7.5) VS. CLEMSON (CFP/SUGAR BOWL) »
The Buckeyes aren’t exactly stout in the secondary, and that’s problematic against Trevor Lawrence and Co. This won’t be like last year’s semifinal thriller. Not even close. Pick: Clemson.
STRAIGHT-UP WINNERS »
West Virginia, Texas, Cincinnati, Oregon, Alabama and Clemson.
FIVE-STAR SPECIAL » Oregon.