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Bowl bets: Picking winners for all 39 bowl games

Jasen Vinlove / USA TODAY Sports

Each week during the college football season, theScore's Dane Belbeck will handicap every matchup and offer up a three-pack of picks.

Season Record

Gold/Silver/Bronze: 21-19-2
Other: 22-19
Twitter picks: 7-3
Overall: 50-41-2
Last year's Bowl picks: 24-15-1

Birmingham Bowl - South Florida (-2.5) vs. Texas Tech

Quinton Flowers and the high-powered South Florida offense against the air assault of Texas Tech could be the highest-scoring bowl game of the season. Both teams averaged over 34 points per contest on the season, and Flowers is coming off a 605-yard total offense performance in a loss to UCF to end the regular season. This one will be a track meet, but it's the Bulls' defense that will make the difference. South Florida ranks 37th in the country in points allowed per game, while the Red Raiders are significantly worse at 94th. Take the Bulls in this one. South Florida 40, Texas Tech 30

Holiday Bowl - Michigan State (+3) vs. Washington State

From 3-9 last year to 9-3 this year, 2017 was a remarkable turnaround for Michigan State. Its reward is a matchup with Washington State's high-powered offense in the Holiday Bowl. Once again, the Cougars have one of the nation's best passing attacks under Mike Leach, ranking second at 374 yards per contest. The Spartans' attack is more balanced, but have three passing games of 340-plus yards by Brian Lewerke on the season. Look for Michigan State to slow the Cougars passing game without leading receiver Tavares Martin Jr., and get the bowl victory for the Big Ten. Michigan State 31, Washington State 27

Military Bowl - Virginia (-2) vs. Navy

Virginia won't be fooled by the option-attack that Navy runs, as they already dealt with it earlier this year in a win over Georgia Tech. With weeks to prepare for their opponent, the Cavaliers should be well disciplined for the number of looks Navy can give, and the Midshipmen will be on an emotional low after losing to Army. Look for Kurt Benkert to open up the Navy defense with some deep passes and the Cavaliers to pull away late. Virginia 28, Navy 21

3 other matchups

Orange Bowl - Miami (+6.5) vs. Wisconsin

After winning the first 10 games of the season, Miami has crashed back to earth with losses to Pitt and Clemson. While those losses are concerning, the Hurricanes have been excellent at home this season, and the Orange Bowl is played at their home venue, Hard Rock Stadium. Wisconsin finally lost for the first time this season in the Big Ten title game with Alex Hornibrook struggling mightily without the usually dominant run game. Look for the Hurricanes to stack the box and force the Badgers pivot to make some throws against the ball-hawking secondary. That won't end well. Miami 27, Wisconsin 24

Heart of Dallas Bowl - West Virginia (+7) vs. Utah

It doesn't look like Will Grier will be healed in time to play in this one, but this spread still seems rather high for 6-6 Utah. The Utes breezed through non-conference play but were just 3-6 in the Pac-12. Dana Holgorsen and Jake Spavital have plenty of time to develop an offensive game plan without Grier and should be able to roll some points up on the Utes. Look for a big rushing day for the Mountaineers' stable of running backs and West Virginia to get the upset win. West Virginia 31, Utah 28

Cotton Bowl - USC (+7.5) vs. Ohio State

A blockbuster matchup for the Cotton Bowl sees traditional powerhouse programs USC and Ohio State face off. NFL scouts will be all over this contest to see how Sam Darnold fares against a pro-laden Buckeyes' defense. Darnold has shown numerous times he doesn't shy away from the big moment and this contest will be no different. Together with star running back Ronald Jones II, Darnold and USC will move the ball against the Buckeyes, who will still be smarting from missing out on the College Football Playoff. Darnold will end his college career with a win and head to the NFL with No. 1 pick buzz surrounding him. USC 33, Ohio State 30

Complete bowl picks

BOWL PICK OPPOSITION
New Orleans Bowl North Texas +7 Troy
Cure Bowl Western Kentucky +6.5 Georgia State
Las Vegas Bowl Oregon -7.5 Boise State
New Mexico Bowl Colorado State -5.5 Marshall
Camellia Bowl Arkansas State -3.5 Middle Tennessee
Boca Raton Bowl Florida Atlantic -22 Akron
Frisco Bowl SMU -5 Louisiana Tech
Gasparilla Bowl FIU +7.5 Temple
Bahamas Bowl Ohio -7.5 UAB
Idaho Potato Bowl Wyoming (pick) Central Michigan
Birmingham Bowl South Florida -2.5 Texas Tech
Armed Forces Bowl Army +7.5 San Diego State
Dollar General Bowl Appalachian State +8 Toledo
Hawaii Bowl Fresno State +2.5 Houston
Heart of Dallas Bowl West Virginia +7 Utah
Quick Lane Bowl Duke -5 Northern Illinois
Cactus Bowl Kansas State -2.5 UCLA
Independence Bowl Southern Miss +15.5 Florida State
Pinstripe Bowl Iowa -3 Boston College
Foster Farms Bowl Purdue +3.5 Arizona
Texas Bowl Missouri -3 Texas
Military Bowl Virginia -2 Navy
Camping World Bowl Oklahoma State -4.5 Virginia Tech
Alamo Bowl TCU -2.5 Stanford
Holiday Bowl Michigan State +3 Washington State
Belk Bowl Texas A&M +3 Wake Forest
Sun Bowl Arizona State +6.5 NC State
Music City Bowl Northwestern -7.5 Kentucky
Arizona Bowl Utah State -4 New Mexico State
Cotton Bowl USC +7.5 Ohio State
Taxslayer Bowl Louisville -6.5 Mississippi State
Liberty Bowl Iowa State +3.5 Memphis
Fiesta Bowl Penn State -2 Washington
Orange Bowl Miami +6.5 Wisconsin
Outback Bowl South Carolina +7.5 Michigan
Peach Bowl Auburn -9.5 UCF
Citrus Bowl LSU -3 Notre Dame
Rose Bowl Oklahoma +2 Georgia
Sugar Bowl Alabama -2 Clemson

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