Plenty of distractions at Ohio where HC Brian Smith has been relieved of duties and DC John Hauser takes over on an interim basis. Sources say this will be an audition of sorts in Frisco for Hauser to land the full-time job...stay tuned. In the meantime, apparently no opt-outs of note for the Bobcats, meaning top weapons QB Parker Navarro & RB Sieh Bangura will feature, and remember that Ohio has won six straight bowls. UNLV will be a test as the Rebs have an explosive offense led by dual-threat Virginia transfer QB Anthony Colandrea, and no opt-outs of note, but UNLV's defense had trouble slowing balanced foes, and this spread is not insignificant. Play Ohio (Scooter's Coffee Bowl at Frisco)

Head coaches come and go during the bowl season but rarely like this one. Ohio canned Brian Smith for undisclosed but "serious professional misconduct." That's got to throw a team off course. Smith had helped the Bobcats extend their SU bowl win streak last season to a half-dozen. Now they must recalibrate. UNLV has been nearly golden on the money line as favorites, going 9-1. With QB Anthony Colandrea cooking and the bowl-experienced Dan Mullen coaching, the Rebels need not outscore Ohio by much to bring home an ATS win.