"The Stack" 12-27-18

Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

We had a first in a bowl game yesterday...a cancellation. The First Responder Bowl in Dallas between Boston College and Boise State was cancelled due to lightning and weather in the area.

The Stack is back on this Thursday and our bowl picks have taken a turn for the worst. I can’t get any right and what’s worse; I had Georgia Tech with over 30 confidence points yesterday. Yikes! We must turn this around. Doesn’t help that Boston College and Boise State’s bowl game was cancelled due to weather. That’s a first. We have picks for today and to tomorrow’s bowl games with a special Saturday posting with Saturday and Monday’s bowl games. Now then, let’s get to some bowl picks in “the stack” for today, Thursday, December 27th:

Thursday’s bowl games

Walk-On’s Independence Bowl (Shreveport, LA)

8-4 Temple VS 7-5 Duke 1:30 PM ET ESPN

Temple’s interim head coach said his team would be excited to play at this bowl game when he went down there back in early December. Hopefully his team is still excited to play. Duke has a decent quarterback, but I think Temple has enough to get the job done.

Confidence points: Low double digits

New Era Pinstripe Bowl (New York, NY)

7-5 Miami (FL) VS 7-5 Wisconsin 5:15 PM ET ESPN

Is Miami really going to want to be in New York in December? Wisconsin has had a disappointing year, but they will be ready for this one and in a rematch of last year’s Orange Bowl, Wisconsin will get the job done.

Confidence points: Mid teens

Academy Sports + Outdoors Texas Bowl (Houston, TX)

6-6 Baylor VS 6-6 Vanderbilt 9 PM ET ESPN

Total toss-up. I’ve visited Nashville a couple of years ago so I’m partial to cheering for Vanderbilt. Plus after what has gone on at Baylor, I can’t cheer for them…at all. Give me Vanderbilt, but I’m not very confident.

Confidence points: Mid-single digits

Friday’s bowl games

Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl (Nashville, TN)

6-6 Purdue VS 7-5 Auburn 1:30 PM ET ESPN

Purdue super-fan Tyler Trent will be attending this game. He has been a tremendous inspirational story all season long. With him in attendance, that will definitely give Purdue a lift. Will Auburn be ready for this game? I am concerned, but they are the more talented team so I will take them to win.

Confidence points: Mid-teens

Camping World Bowl (Orlando, FL)

8-3 West Virginia VS 9-3 Syracuse 5:15 PM ET ESPN

If Will Grier was playing in this game for West Virginia, I would totally take them. He’s preparing for the NFL Draft though. While I would rather West Virginia win, without their quarterback, I have to pick the Orange.

Confidence points: Mid-single digits

Valero Alamo Bowl (San Antonio, TX)

8-4 Iowa State VS 10-2 Washington State 9 PM ET ESPN

Iowa State is a good team, but I can’t pick against Gardner Minshew and Mike Leach. They disappointed in the Apple Cup against Washington, but that had more to do with weather I think. They will get the job done against Iowa State.

Confidence points: High 20s

Coming up Friday: Week 17 NFL previews and predictions