Jarvis Benjamin Variety Hour

Yes; I missed Saturday’s slate.

Onwards and upwards!

TUESDAY 12/26

Quick Lane Bowl: Minnesota (5-7) -3.5 vs. Bowling Green (7/5) o/u: 40.5: Yuck. This game will most likely stink. The only reason I will be watching this; is that it’s on during the day in semi-#MACtion form. Minnesota is probably the better team on paper, if the -3.5 for a team with a record that is two games worse wasn’t clear enough. If I had to guess: this will be Athan Kalikmanis’s first and only time playing in an NFL stadium (Ford Field). 

SERVPRO First Responder Bowl: Texas State (7-5) -3.5 vs. Rice (6-6) o/u: 59.5: This is a rare both teams probably really want to win spot. Texas State (shoutout Michael Strahan) has done an overhaul of sorts to the program. I am rather shocked they are in a Bowl Game this quickly. The Rice Ricemen (I’m pretty sure that’s the mascot) will be looking to avenge the boy JT Daniels, who was forced into retirement (with a real injury, not a joke) after 4 stops and 8 years in college football (the joke part). Gun to my head? I’ll roll with the dog and the under. But My Tuesday official play is next!

Guaranteed Rate Bowl: Kansas (8-4) -12.5 vs. UNLV (9-4) o/u: 67.5: This feels like another game that both teams will care about! This also feels like FAR too many points. And as they say, things come in threes: this game feels like it has the potential to be very fun. UNLV likes to play fast, and Kansas is a Big 12 team with an above-average offense and an average(?) defense. The Jayhawks Offensive Coordinator is out the door to Penn State, and hopefully for those in Lawrence, he is bringing his QB-platoon strategy with him. I’m riding with the Runnin’ Rebs’ of UNLV +12.5 (in a game that feels semi-easy) (Uh oh)

WEDNESDAY 12/27

Military Bowl presented by GoBowling.com: Virginia Tech (6-6) -10.5 vs. Tulane (11-2) o/u: 44.5: So clearly, there are some missing bodies for the Green Wave. VIrginia Tech being a double digit favorite leads me to believe that one of the missing bodies is Michael Pratt. As you may know by now, I’m not the injury report guy. A game that is so clearly mispriced due to sit-outs, injuries and whatever else, is not worth your time or hard-earned money. 

Duke’s Mayo Bowl: West Virginia (8-4) -6.5 vs. North Carolina (8-4) o/u: 54.5: If you’ve watched either of these teams all year, you know that this line is semi-fair even if Drake Maye plays. This line leads me to believe that Maye is not going to play however. If so, WVU should stop UNC. The TarHeels up and down season will end on a rather disappointing downswing. WVU on the other hand, had a great season in terms of restoring the program. Let’s see if Steel Neal Brown can cap off his season with a hard-earned Mayo Bath. Pause.

DirecTV Holiday Bowl: Louisville (10-3) -7.5 vs. USC (7-5) o/u: 58.5: As I have definitely mentioned: Death, Taxes, and Jarvis Benjamin betting against Lincoln Riley in a bowl game. LOUISVILLE -7.5. Do I need more explanation? I doubt Caleb Williams is going to play, if that wasn’t clear. (Even though this line is semi-fair with him!) Plain and simple? I expect Louisville to bully the Trojans in this game. If he was smart, Jeff Brohm will be pounding the ball on the ground over and over again. Eventually (sooner rather than later) that Lincoln Riley defense is going to give in (and give up). See you next year Lincoln. 

TaxAct Texas Bowl: Texas A&M (7-5) -2 vs. Oklahoma State (9-4) o/u: 53.5: So, clearly Texas A&M had all that nonsense happen earlier this month with their next coach and who it will or won’t be. That is just about enough for me to lean to Mike Gundy and his Pokes in this game. I won’t take it officially, but I just cannot see Texas A&M putting together a complete enough effort to beat the Big 12 runner up in this game (Lol). To put it modestly: Mike Elko has a lot of work to do going forward. 

Thursday+Friday+Saturday will be next. CFP and New Year’s day will follow that. S/o Mason 1-0.

200 years too late.

Be Well.

JB