The Dirty Dozen and Bottom of the Barrel: Bowling for Dollars

Once upon a time in the 1960's through the 1980's there was a show on actual TV on stations all around the country called "Bowling for Dollars".

It involved some random guy getting selected to compete/bowl for a jackpot/prize money in front of a studio audience.

And ironically, it's not an unfair way to describe the College Football Bowl season.

College Bowl games are all about the money. They are largely glorified exhibition games played in front of small crowds, often during the middle of the week in December and broadcast on ESPN who somehow makes lots of money on them.

It's a largely antiquated system that rewards good---but not great teams (as long as they sell their tickets) with a trip to such places as Montgomery, Alabama or Shreveport, Louisiana. Places like Frisco, Texas and Albuquerque host games too.

None of those games get the love, attention or focus as well, any of the College Football Playoff games. These games exist, but are barely noticed.

Suffice to say---they are important to the teams playing in them. I think. It's hard to tell whether the hard sell made by most of them is to make sure they sell the ticket allotment or because there's genuine interest amongst the fan bases.

But I digress.

This is your "Bowling for Dollars" edition of THE DIRTY DOZEN" and maybe Bottom of the Barrel. And I would be negligent in my responsibility if I didn't mention this column is about picking the best teams, the worst teams and predicting games.

I also would be negligent if I didn't tell you this: A 6-0 Championship week slate pushed the prediction tally to 124-20 for the 2018 season.

And I challenge you.....no, DARE YOU to find anyone who picks games that well. Dare you!!

((Ed.Note: Bowl Predictions are much more difficult than regular games due to injuries, guy not playing etc. Consider that your disclaimer))

So with that, here are all 39 of your games (I think)....Listed in order they'll be played (Beginning Dec. 15th)

AIR FORCE RESERVE CELEBRATION BOWL

Alcorn State 27

North Carolina A&T 23

NEW MEXICO BOWL

Utah State 41

N.Texas State 37

AUTO NATION CURE BOWL

Louisiana 34

Tulane 27

(ed. note: Due to marital obligations, I am required to pick The Ragin Cajuns to Win)

MITSUBISHI MOTORS LAS VEGAS BOWL

Arizona State 38

Freson State 31

RAYCOM MEDIA CAMELLIA BOWL

Georgia Southern 34

Eastern Michigan 17

(ed. note: I'm required to pick Ga. Southern to win as an alumnus)

R+L CARRIERS NEW ORLEANS BOWL

Appalachian St. 41

Middle Tennessee 33

CHEREBUNDI BOCA RATON BOWL

UAB 27

N. Illinois 21

DXL FRISCO BOWL

San Diego St 43

Ohio 33

BAD BOY MOWERS GASPARILLA BOWL

Marshall 27

S.Florida 21

MAKERS WANTED BAHAMAS BOWL

FIU 33

Toledo 28

FAMOUS IDAHO POTATO BOWL

W.Michigan 42

BYU 32

JARED BIRMINGHAM BOWL

Wake Forest 37

Memphis 35

LOCKHEED MARTIN ARMED SERVICES BOWL

Army 31

Houston 23

DOLLAR GENERAL BOWL

Troy 25

Buffalo 21

SO FI HAWAIIAN BOWL

Hawaii 34

La. Tech 23

SERVPRO FIRST RESPONDER BOWL

Boston College 38

Boise State 31

QUICK LANE BOWL

Minnesota 27

Ga. Tech 23

CHEEZ-IT BOWL California 37

TCU 21

WALK-ON'S INDEPENDANCE BOWL

Duke 23

Temple 21

NEW ERA PINSTRIPE BOWL

Miami 31

Wisconsin 23

ACADEMY SPORTS AND OUTDOORS TEXAS BOWL

Baylor 28

Vanderbilt 27

FRANKLIN AMERICAN MUSIC CITY BOWL

Auburn 35

Purdue 32

CAMPING WORLD BOWL

Syracuse 43

West Virginia 33

VALERO ALAMO BOWL

Washington St. 37

Iowa State 34

CHICK FIL A PEACH BOWL

Michigan 23

Florida 21

BELK BOWL

South Carolina 37

Virginia 27

NOVA LOANS ARIZONA BOWL

Arkansas St. 34

Nevada 24

GOODYEAR COTTON BOWL (College Football Playoff Semi-Final)

Clemson 38

Notre Dame 31

CAPITAL ONE ORANGE BOWL (College Football Playoff Semi-Final)

Alabama 47

Oklahoma 42

MILITARY BOWL BY NORTHRUP GRUMMAN

Cincinnati 28

Virginia Tech 23

HYUNDAI SUN BOWL

Stanford 31

Pittsburgh 23

REDBOX BOWL

Oregon 35

Michigan St. 21

AUTO ZONE LIBERTY BOWL

Missouri 48

Oklahoma St. 41

SAN DIEGO COUNTY CREDIT UNION HOLIDAY BOWL

Utah 27

Northwestern 24

TAX SLAYER GATOR BOWL

Texas A&M 37

North Carolina St. 13

OUTBACK BOWL

Iowa 28

Mississippi St. 24

VRBO CITRUS BOWL

Kentucky 19

Penn State 14

PLAY STATION FIESTA BOWL

UCF 31

LSU 21 (why not?)

ROSE BOWL PRESENTED BY NORTHWEST MUTUAL

Ohio State 41

Washington 21

ALLSTATE SUGAR BOWL

Georgia 34

Texas 28

COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

Clemson 37

Alabama 35

Holy crap! That's a lot of frigging bowl games. It took me over an hour just to put them all in, never mind figure out who would win the games. I'm way to tired to do a Bottom of the Barrel....sigh...

Let me know your picks---if you've read this far, there are a couple of surprises here too....