As I sit here writing this post, I am reflecting on how Lane Kiffin has made me happy tonight.
Not only because he is doing exactly what I thought he would in the Boca Raton Bowl, putting on a show and going for the jugular on every occasion he gets, but also because it came to my attention during the broadcast that he was his normal douchebag self during the press conference leading up to the game as well.
Only Joey Freshwater would troll the other team’s mascot.
But I digress – thanks for letting me breathe easy during my 40 point confidence game, Lane.
Let’s take a look at what the third day of College Football Hanukkah has to offer us.
DXL Frisco Bowl
Louisiana Tech vs. Southern Methodist (Wednesday, 8 PM ET – ESPN)
If bowl games were supposed to be a vacation, don’t anyone tell SMU. The Mustangs will have to travel fewer than 30 miles to Frisco to play in this game, which will be a major advantage if the Boca Raton Bowl is any indication. Additionally, SMU head coach Sonny Dykes has a history with the opponent – he was the head coach at Louisiana Tech from 2010 to 2012. Similarly to the man before him in Plano, teams coached by Dykes are all about the offense and simply hope the opposition won’t be able to keep up. The Mustangs average nearly 500 yards of offense per game but are woeful defensively, allowing almost as many yards as they gain. Ben Hicks has transformed into a very capable passer and will test Louisiana Tech’s secondary all evening.
The Bulldogs aren’t going to wow you on either side of the football, but Skip Holtz’s team is disciplined and will be ready for this game. Since Louisiana Tech is essentially the away team in this matchup, that will be extremely important. Forcing turnovers, a specialty of the defense, will be the key to the Bulldogs game plan. If they can disrupt the rhythm of Hicks and the SMU offense, Louisiana Tech has enough talent to win this game. However, after what I saw in Boca Raton, it’s going to take a great performance by the “visitors” to convince me that playing close to home if you’re not situated in a vacation hotbed isn’t an advantage. I have the Mustangs in this one for 8 points thanks to a solid offensive performance.
My Pick: 42-27 Southern Methodist
If you have interest in offering your insight for any of the bowl games this season, shoot me an email at kbecks@aroundthecorn.com or reach out on one of ATC’s social media sites (Facebook, Twitter). I’d be happy to accommodate.
