Welcome to Before The Snap, For The Win’s college football series where we’ll break down the sport’s trending storylines, examine each week’s biggest matchups and track the College Football Playoff and Heisman Trophy races.
While college football’s bowl season began nearly two weeks ago, the New Year’s Six bowls don’t kick off until later this week, starting with the Peach Bowl before moving onto the College Football Playoff matchups and the New Year’s Day games.
So for our final Before The Snap episode of 2021, we’re making picks against the spread for the New Year’s Six games, based on betting info provided by Tipico Sportsbook as of Tuesday, Dec. 28.
Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl
No. 10 Michigan State vs. No. 12 Pitt
Thursday, Dec. 30, 7 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Spread: Michigan State -2.5
O/U: 55.5
Our pick: Michigan State by a field goal in a low-scoring game fans will love to hate.
PlayStation Fiesta Bowl
No. 5 Notre Dame vs. No. 9 Oklahoma State
Saturday, Jan. 1, 1 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Spread: ND -2.5
O/U: 45.5
Our pick: Oklahoma State as 2.5-point underdogs over the Fighting Irish.
Rose Bowl Game
No. 6 Ohio State vs. No. 11 Utah
Saturday, Jan. 1, 5 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Spread: OSU -4.5
O/U: 64.5
Michelle’s pick: Ohio State by 3.
Caroline’s pick: Utah as 4.5-point underdogs against Ohio State.
Allstate Sugar Bowl
No. 7 Baylor vs. No. 8 Ole Miss
Saturday, Jan. 1, 8:45 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Spread: Ole Miss -1.5
O/U: 55.5
Michelle’s pick: Baylor as 1.5-point underdogs for no other reason than I have a feeling.
Caroline’s pick: Ole Miss in a game that is certain to be wild (but also the uniforms).
COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF: Goodyear Cotton Bowl
No. 4 Cincinnati vs. No. 1 Alabama
Friday, Dec. 31, 3:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Spread: Alabama -13.5
Over/Under: 57.5
Our pick: Alabama cruises to a win as a nearly two-touchdown favorite (which will not invalidate Cincinnati’s worthiness for this game).
COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF: Capital One Orange Bowl
No. 3 Georgia vs. No. 2 Michigan
Friday, Dec. 31, 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Spread: Georgia -7.5
Over/Under: 44.5
Our pick: Michigan and its defense stifles the Bulldogs.
