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Holiday, Vegas, and Arizona Bowls Fearless Predictions

> Nick Bartlett's SuperWest postseason picks with his trademark humor and off-beat perspective


  By Nick Bartlett, SuperWest Sports

December 26, 2024



Bowl season is here and it’s time for my No-Nonsense Postseason Betting Tips.

I may not always be perfect, but if you’ve followed my advice in the past, you’re already ahead of the game.

I went 0-2 in my first postseason picks, bringing my season record to 108-44, good for 72 percent.

Now it’s on to the next round of bowls: the Holiday Bowl, the Las Vegas Bowl, and the Arizona Bowl.

As always, my selections include incredibly accurate game scores and just enough commentary to keep me drinking too much hot cocoa here in the South Shore District of Seattle.

My cup is almost empty, so let’s get on with the picks!

Washington State vs. No. 21 Syracuse

Friday, December 27
5:00 pm PT, FOX

As a Washington State alum, I wasn’t going to watch this game if Jake Dickert was still the head coach.

Now that Dickert left for Wake Forest and took his second half of the season landslides with him, I am interested in this contest.

From a logical standpoint, Syracuse should win. The Cougars have had over 20 players enter the transfer portal including John Mateer. “Big stud” John was pretty much everything for the Cougs on offense this year.

The key for WSU in this outing is to find something on offense. We’ve lost our starting quarterback, running back, and key wide receiver, Kris Hutson.

But interim coach Pete Kaligis might be the dude. He was brought to tears in a recent interview about finishing this thing the right way for his players.

For the Orange, the key is to limit turnovers. Syracuse boasts the nation’s leader passer in Kyle McCord, who has thrown for 4,326 yards, and 29 touchdowns—but also 12 interceptions on the year.

The Orange also feature Oronde Gadsden II, who’s a homewrecker at tight end.

If this was called Nick’s logical predictions, I’d pick ‘Cuse. But with my program on the brink of extinction, I’m riding with the Cougs.

WSU with a miracle.

Washington State 42 Syracuse 31

usc logoUSC vs. Texas A&M

Friday, December 27
7:30 pm PT, ESPN

This is another one of those transfer portal bowl games with both squads having a mass exodus of players.

USC has had at least nineteen players enter the portal, while Texas A&M has had at least twenty.

The key to this contest should be whether the Trojans can find a couple of playmakers on offense. SC had their “og” starting quarterback enter the portal, their top two running backs, and their top three wideouts as well.

This matchup feels like an opportunity for Jayden Maiava to take over. If he’s going to be the guy going forward, these are the types of games he must win, even with a lack of skill players around him.

For Texas A&M, the key is how they’ll perform defensively with their top three lineman all opting to prepare for the NFL Draft. It feels good to hear an NFL opt-out, the good old days.

Signal caller Marcel Reed will play for the Aggies, giving them some stability on offense. Reed isn’t a record-setter, but his completion rate has been rising throughout the second half of the season, which could prove vital in keeping A&M on the field.

Lincoln Riley has a 2-7 record in the postseason, but the Aggies’ lack of pass rush should allow Riley to scheme up something special.

USC flexes on the strip.

USC 28, Texas A&M 27

Colorado State vs. Miami OH

Saturday, December 28
1:30 pm PT, The CW

This game could be an ugly but fun matchup. Both of these offenses struggle to score the ball for different reasons.

Colorado State has been without Tory Horton all season, who would’ve been their best player on offense.

Without their star wideout, the Rams have found success with Avery Morrow at halfback. Morrow has rushed for 956 yards and nine touchdowns and is averaging 5.8 yards per carry.

CSU also has a solid quarterback in Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi. His statistics have dropped this season but he’s cut his interceptions in half as well.

Miami will need to rely on their defense. The difference between these two squads is that the RedHawks have a Top 20 stopper unit.

They’ll lose their best cornerback in Raion Strader to the transfer portal, but they should still be alright against a Colorado State offense that only scores 25 points per game.

Miami’s scoring offense is statistically worse than the Rams but they have a solid duo in Brett Gabbert and Keyon Mozee. This signal caller-halfback pair should be able to make just enough plays to help out the defense.

Both Rams and Hawks are akin to the desert.

But the birds from Ohio will survive the Sonoran.

Miami 24, Colorado State 17