GATOR BOWL -- Indiana beat every non-elite program it had to in the Big Ten. The Hoosiers' losses all came to ranked teams -- Ohio State, Penn State, Michigan and Michigan State, not a bad loss in the bunch. QB Peyton Ramsey comes off his best game as a starter. Meanwhile Tennessee has trouble scoring away from Knoxville. The top play here is Indiana.

GATOR BOWL -- Momentum entering a bowl game can be overrated. But in a matchup that appears even in many respects, it must be considered. Tennessee’s lone straight-up loss in its last seven games came against Alabama. Indiana’s impressive season must be viewed in this context - the combined record of its victims was 25-71, with no foe winning more than five times. Uncertainty with injured key players - RB Steve Scott and G Simon Stepaniak - clouds the Hoosiers’ situation.

GATOR BOWL -- The battle of defenses in Jacksonville should be a Jan. 2 treat, and keep an extra special eye on the Volunteers. They gave up just 280.8 yards per game and 4.35 yards per play in November and are riding a five-game winning streak. The combination of a stifling defense and newfound confidence in quarterback Jarrett Guarantano will lead the Vols to the win. The fact that a field goal cashes makes this one easy money. Take Tennessee.

As a native Chicagoan I have spent my entire life watching Big Ten football, and I've learned a lot of lessons along the way. One such lesson has been that whenever there's a game between a mid-tier SEC team and a mid-tier Big Ten team, always take the SEC team no matter what.

GATOR BOWL -- This game is essentially a pick 'em, which is a testament to how well these teams have played this season. Indiana has been consistent, while Tennessee came on strong down the stretch. Because of that, and how well they run the ball and play defense, I'm rolling with the Vols.