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Early ATS College Football Odds Picks for this Week’s Bowls

Written by on December 22, 2015

Following a five-game opening bowl weekend, the NCAA Football betting bowl season presents us with another set of matchups to continue the bowl season this week, including marquee clashes between Temple and Toledo, Tulsa and Virginia Tech, and UCLA against Nebraska. Of the bowl matchups slated for the week, here are my top-5 ATS picks. Feel to consider and add them in your NCAAF betting tickets for the week.

Early ATS College Football Picks for this Week’s Bowls

Marmot Boca Raton Bowl: #24 Temple vs. Toledo

When: Tuesday, December 22 at 7 pm ET, ESPN NCAAF Odds: Temple (-2.5) Analysis: Temple may have lost three of its last six games, but this is a team that was one of the best surprises in the nation after starting the season on a 7-0 run. Like the Owls, Toledo also started the season 7-0, but finished shakily by losing two of its last four games for a 9-2 finish. That said, these are two of the better teams from the Group 5 conferences, guaranteeing an entertaining duel. But when all is said and done, Temple’s balanced squad should be able to come out on top, taking the win and the cheap points. Pick: Temple (-2.5)

San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl: Boise State vs. Northern Illinois

When: Wednesday, December 23 at 4:30 pm ET, ESPN NCAAF Odds: Boise State (-8) Analysis: The Huskies, by their standards, have been a disappointing story this season, finishing the year on an 8-5 mark when they were pegged as favorites to claim the Mac Championship. The Broncos, on the flip side, have been decent performers, given their injury woes. More importantly, Boise State comes into this game led by freshman QB Brett Rypien, a promising QB who passed for 2,976 yards with 17 touchdowns and seven interceptions since taking over at the helm in Week 3. With Rypien starting this game, the Broncos should be able to put up a lot of points over the Drew Hare-less Northern Illinois. Pick: Boise State: (-8)

Popeyes Bahamas Bowl: Middle Tennessee vs. Western Michigan

When: Thursday, December 24 at Noon, ESPN NCAAF Odds: Western Michigan (-4.5) Analysis: If you haven’t watched the explosive receiving Western Michigan combo of Daniel Braverman and Corey Davis (who combined for 185 passes for 2,519 yards and 23 touchdowns) wreak havoc on weak passing defenses, then grab a front seat in this game to catch them live as they make a killing against Middle Tennessee’s porous defense. Pick: Western Michigan (-4.5)

Camping World Independence Bowl: Tulsa vs. Virginia Tech

When: Saturday, December 26 at 5.45 pm ET, ESPN NCAAF Odds: Virginia Tech (-13.5) Analysis: C’mon, Virginia Tech is good, but not good enough to take care of Tulsa by this big a margin. After Tulsa quarterback Dane Evans threw for 3,958 yards with 22 touchdowns against just eight picks this season, he should be able to figure enough in this game to keep things close against Virginia Tech’s middling offense. Pick: Tulsa (+13.5)

Foster Farms Bowl: UCLA vs. Nebraska

When: Saturday, December 26 at 9.15 pm ET, ESPN NCAAF Odds: UCLA (-6.5) Analysis: The Bruins should have certainly performed better, but going by the manner in which the nation’s top QB recruit Josh Rosen did in his first year (3,351 yards with 20 touchdowns and nine interceptions), you can’t help but feel that UCLA will be a team to watch. For Nebraska, well, there’s not much to say about them, except they have a long way to go in their rebuilding agenda, something UCLA will confirm to you by blowing past the Huskers for a double-digit victory. Pick: UCLA (-6.5)