Local10.com college football picks: Bowl games

PEMBROKE PARK, Fla. – Local 10 sports director Will Manso is the leader of the Local10.com college football picks, but a bad showing in the bowl games could make or break him.

Only one game separates Manso from Local 10 sports reporter Clay Ferraro, who is still very much in the running to be crowned season champion.

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Meanwhile, Local 10 meteorologist Julie Durda and Local 10 sports reporter Andrea Brody are battling to avoid a last-place finish. Currently, Durda is ahead of Brody by two games, but she would probably like a more comfortable cushion with some intriguing bowl games on the slate.

Everyone chose Florida State to defeat Conference USA champion Houston in the Peach Bowl. Michigan is also the unanimous pick to beat Florida in the Citrus Bowl.

Durda is picking Washington State to beat Miami in the Sun Bowl. The rest of the group is sticking with the Hurricanes, who haven't won a bowl game since 2006.

In addition to picking the set bowl games, the panel also made their picks for the College Football Playoff National Championship participants and the eventual national champion. Nobody picked No. 1 Clemson, instead choosing No. 4 Oklahoma -- the Tigers and Sooners will meet in the Orange Bowl on New Year's Eve -- to make it to Arizona.

No. 2 Alabama is the unanimous choice to beat No. 3 Michigan State in the Cotton Bowl, setting up a rematch of the 2014 Sugar Bowl between the Crimson Tide and Oklahoma.

Manso chose Oklahoma to defeat Alabama, but everyone else believes the Tide will hoist the national championship trophy for the fourth time since 2009. If the Sooners win, it will be their first national title since beating Florida State in the 2001 Orange Bowl.

Will Manso

Las Vegas Bowl: BYU vs. Utah
Miami Beach Bowl: Western Kentucky vs. USF
Boca Raton Bowl: Toledo vs. Temple
Sun Bowl: Miami vs. Washington State
Pinstripe Bowl: Indiana vs. Duke
Peach Bowl: Houston vs. Florida State
Orange Bowl: Clemson vs. Oklahoma
Cotton Bowl: Alabama vs. Michigan State
Citrus Bowl: Michigan vs. Florida
Fiesta Bowl: Notre Dame vs. Ohio State
Rose Bowl: Stanford vs. Iowa
Sugar Bowl: Oklahoma State vs. Mississippi

National Championship: Alabama vs. Oklahoma

Clay Ferraro

Las Vegas Bowl: BYU vs. Utah
Miami Beach Bowl: Western Kentucky vs. USF
Boca Raton Bowl: Toledo vs. Temple
Sun Bowl: Miami vs. Washington State
Pinstripe Bowl: Indiana vs. Duke
Peach Bowl: Houston vs. Florida State
Orange Bowl: Clemson vs. Oklahoma
Cotton Bowl: Alabama vs. Michigan State
Citrus Bowl: Michigan vs. Florida
Fiesta Bowl: Notre Dame vs. Ohio State
Rose Bowl: Stanford vs. Iowa
Sugar Bowl: Oklahoma State vs. Mississippi

National Championship: Alabama vs. Oklahoma

Andrea Brody

Las Vegas Bowl: BYU vs. Utah
Miami Beach Bowl: Western Kentucky vs. USF
Boca Raton Bowl: Toledo vs. Temple
Sun Bowl: Miami vs. Washington State
Pinstripe Bowl: Indiana vs. Duke
Peach Bowl: Houston vs. Florida State
Orange Bowl: Clemson vs. Oklahoma
Cotton Bowl: Alabama vs. Michigan State
Citrus Bowl: Michigan vs. Florida
Fiesta Bowl: Notre Dame vs. Ohio State
Rose Bowl: Stanford vs. Iowa
Sugar Bowl: Oklahoma State vs. Mississippi

National Championship: Alabama vs. Oklahoma

Julie Durda

Las Vegas Bowl: BYU vs. Utah
Miami Beach Bowl: Western Kentucky vs. USF
Boca Raton Bowl: Toledo vs. Temple
Sun Bowl: Miami vs. Washington State
Pinstripe Bowl: Indiana vs. Duke
Peach Bowl: Houston vs. Florida State
Orange Bowl: Clemson vs. Oklahoma
Cotton Bowl: Alabama vs. Michigan State
Citrus Bowl: Michigan vs. Florida
Fiesta Bowl: Notre Dame vs. Ohio State
Rose Bowl: Stanford vs. Iowa
Sugar Bowl: Oklahoma State vs. Mississippi

National Championship: Alabama vs. Oklahoma