December 27 College Bowl Picks: Military, Sun, Independence, and Holiday Bowls
By Joe Micik
Sep 20, 2014; Blacksburg, VA, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies quarterback Michael Brewer (12) throws a pass during the first quarter against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Lane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports
While Boston College fans will only be concerned with the activity at Yankee Stadium, there are still four other December 27 college bowl picks to make.
Some of these games were ones to which the Eagles might have gone, but thankfully, we got the most local of them all. Not including the Pinstripe Bowl pick, which you already got, there are the Military, Sun, Holiday, and Independence Bowls to consider.
Who takes home the hardware in these games?
December 27 College Bowl Picks: Military Bowl
Cincinnati (-2.5) vs. Virginia Tech | Annapolis, MD | 1pm ET (ESPN)
Virginia Tech should be counting their lucky stars that Beamerball is in a bowl game for the 22nd-straight season. It literally came down to the last drive of the season on defense for the Hokies, but they stood tall, and here they are in the Military Bowl against the Bearcats.
It was one nauseating ride for Virginia Tech, who fell below .500 at 4-5 once your Boston College Eagles beat them, with the game at #21 Duke likely to push them to the brink. The Hokies went on to stun Duke and beat Virginia to get bowl-eligible. As for the middle game against Wake Forest, er, most people are trying to forget it.
Our ACC rivals face Cincinnati, a team with a high-flying offense but a shaky defense. Things got better late in the season for the Bearcats, but they gave up some big numbers early in the year. For example, in a three-game stretch against Ohio State, Memphis, and Miami, Cincinnati allowed 146 points and an astounding 1,941 yards.
Virginia Tech’s calling card is their defense, and definitely not their offense. QB Michael Brewer struggled, ending up with 17 touchdowns and 14 interceptions as well as a completion percentage below 60 percent. He is not very mobile, and his offensive line did him no favors, ranking in the bottom quarter of offenses at giving up sacks.
It is going to be on Bud Foster and his defense to slow down Gunner Kiel and the Cincinnati offense. Beyond slowing it down, stopping it might be a better idea, as the Bearcat defense is improving and the Hokie offense has only had brief flourishes.
This could be a close game, but look for Cincinnati to take it.
Cincinnati -2.5