WAYNE ROOT
No Limit--Minnesota +
_____________
Perfect Play--Wake Forest +
One can make money in boring games. Matt Colburn, Cade Carney, and quarterback John Wolford have made this a running team with the latter player only throwing for about 1,600 yards in the 2016 season. Talking about eating up the clock, Wake Forest should use a calendar when they have the ball. Remember, we are catching double digits on this game. Temple comes to play minus their head coach who just signed with Baylor and bolted. Interim head coach Ed Foley will lead the Owls against Wake, with former Florida defensive coordinator Geoff Collins waiting in the wings to take over full-time duties afterward. How Ed Foley handles running the show in his interim status will be key for keeping his team motivated. Both teams bring the toughness, both teams are great on the defensive front, and both teams should make this a fight. Temple is third in the nation in total D, while Wake Forest is giving up just 22 points per game.
_________________
Inner Circle--Baylor +
Most college football programs would love a 10-win season, but disappointing losses to Wyoming and Air Force in the second half of the season cost Boise State an opportunity to play for a conference title and a spot in a New Year’s Six bowl. The Broncos will be hard pressed to find motivation for this game. For Baylor, it represents playing for a brand new coach ushering in a new era for Baylor football. Overall, Baylor is averaging 34.9 points and 523.3 yards of total offense per game. As impressive as those numbers may seem, both are the lowest for the program since 2010. It is worth noting that Baylor has played six teams that rank among the top 25 nationally in total offense while the Broncos have faced only one. Also, the Bears held four opponents to 13 points or fewer, while all but two teams scored at least 16 points against Boise State. Look for the Bearcats to come in closing out an era and playing loose and with not a care. Boise missed out on the Cotton Bowl and can hardly keep their emotions in check playing in the Motel 6 Bowl.