UAB with a sparkling performance against BYU in a 31-28 Independence Bowl victory. Super stuff from the Blazers. A key fumble off a big pass play late in the game by BYU cost them, and the Blazers made some clutch plays on offense late in the game, none bigger than the 4th and 7, 14 yard touchdown pass from quarterback Dylan Hopkins to wide receiver Trea Shropshire with 6:17 late in the game for what was the game winning TD. DeWayne McBride also rushed for 183 yards on 28 carries, which included a 64 yard house call. He is just a sophomore, Hopkins is a junior, and Shropshire is a junior. Stud tight end Gerrit Price is a senior and he’ll have interest from the NFL. A lot to be excited about if you’re a UAB fan. An excellent 9-4 season, a highly promising 2022, an American Conference affiliation in 2024, and an outstanding, brand new home venue, Protective Stadium. So, excellent stuff on the Southside.

Here are predictions for the next 3 bowl games.

Tonight

Tropical Smoothie Cafe Frisco Bowl

UTSA (12-1) vs. San Diego State (11-2)

Toyota Stadium, Frisco, Texas

6:30

ESPN

Clay Matvick, Rocky Boiman, Tiffany Blackmon

SDSU by 3

I was all ready to pick UT-San Antonio, the Conference USA championship winner, after UAB impressively defeated BYU and Western Kentucky blasted App State in their respective bowl games, UAB in the Independence Bowl and Western KY in the Bahamas Bowl. But 1,400 yard rusher Sincere McCormick has decided to opt out of this game, so I’ll take the favorite in this one. The line has swung from UTSA by 2 1/2 to SDSU by 3

SDSU 28, UTSA 24

Tomorrow

Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl

Missouri (6-6) vs. Army (8-4)

Amon G. Carter Stadium, Fort Worth, TX.

7 PM CT

ESPN

Tiffany Greene, Jay Walker, Kris Budden

Army by 5 1/2

I’m going to take the Cadets in a close one.

Army 34, Mizzou 31

Thursday

Union Home Mortgage Gaspirilla Bowl

UCF (8-4) vs. Florida (6-6)

Raymond James Stadium, Tampa

6 PM

ESPN

Wes Durham, Roddy Jones, Taylor Davis

FL by 6 1/2

The Gators may not be as motivated, but they’ll have enough to defeat the Knights.

Florida 31, UCF 28