ARIZONA BOWL -- Motivation is often the unknown variable in these second-tier bowls. There is no master with San Jose State’s. The Spartans are a win away from an unbeaten season. Orphaned for most of the year because of coronavirus restrictions in Northern California, they are battle-tested. Their sharp passing game could eat up Ball State’s 118th-ranked pass defense. Add in a unit that has yet to allow more than 24 points per game, and you get a team that has posted every win by double digits. The line for this matchup stands as the lowest possible two-digit number.

ARIZONA BOWL -- It's a rare bowl game not on ESPN/ABC but instead CBS has the telecast from Tucson. It features the MAC champion and Mountain West champion. This line has been vacillating between 9.5 and 10 all morning, and we'll jump now that it's back to 10. The SportsLine Model has the Spartans winning by 9, but several others I have checked believe SJSU should only be about a 4-point favorite. Ball State may have a bit more motivation as the program has never won a bowl game. Cards WR/KR Justin Hall is one of the best players nationally you may not know about. He's among the leaders in all-purpose yards. The Cardinals have covered seven straight games as underdogs.

ARIZONA BOWL -- The Cardinals surprised the world with a win over Buffalo in the MAC Championship Game. Both of these teams have explosive offenses and weather shouldn't be much of an issue in Arizona. This has the feeling of one of those crazy postseason bowls that we all remember forever.