2015 Bowl Games: Picking all 41 college bowls and championship game against the spread

Nov 26, 2015; Austin, TX, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders running back DeAndre Washington (21) and quarterback Patrick Mahomes II (5) react against the Texas Longhorns during the second half at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Texas Tech beat Texas 48-45. Mandatory Credit: Brendan Maloney-USA TODAY Sports

AdvoCare V100 Texas Bowl
LSU vs. Texas Tech
Houston | NRG Stadium
Dec. 26, 9 p.m. on ESPN

This is probably not the bowl in Texas that LSU envisioned themselves in November, when everyone had them picked to run away with the SEC and Leonard Fournette to do the same with the Heisman.

What a difference a month makes.

The Tigers broke a string of three straight losses near the end of the season to win a yawner over Texas A&M (and save Les Miles’ job). They haven’t looked like the same LSU team since being blasted by Alabama on Nov. 7, and Fournette simply faded away.

Texas Tech, if nothing else, is good for a lot of trick plays, scoring and just fun football. They’re in a no-lose situation, and head coach Kliff Kingsbury is likely to pull out all the stops to make a good showing against the SEC.

Unless Leonard Fournette suddenly finds himself again, and the Tigers remember how to play pass defense (finishing the season 47th in the nation in that category) there is no way they’ll beat the Red Raiders.

Line: LSU, -7

That’s an awful lot of respect for the SEC in that spread, and Texas Tech is going to beat it, and probably win the game. Take the Raiders in the upset.

Next: Birmingham Bowl