Your aunt is asking you questions that are way too personal, the niece and nephew are screaming again, and you've run out of things to say to Cousin Billy. Thankfully, there's sweet salvation: a bowl game on TV. You get to tell your curious uncle that you're taking the points with some school he's never heard of. If you win, you look like a savant, and if you lose, you get to blame some jerk from an awesome sports app. It's a win-win situation.
Frisco Classic: North Texas vs. Miami-OH (-3, 54.5)
Line history
Miami (Ohio) opened as a -4 favorite, but bettors have gravitated to North Texas as the line dropped a point to the key number of -3. The total has increased from the opener of 52.5.
On the field
Presumably, the Mean Green are getting attention from the public due to a late-season run that earned them bowl eligibility as they won five straight to finish the year. Their last win came over eventual conference champion UTSA where the two-headed attack of Ikaika Ragsdale and DeAndre Torrey combined for 254 rushing yards. That's how North Texas scores.
The Mean Green win their games, though, with their pass defense. Facing Brett Gabbert and a pair of his favorite targets, North Texas will need to rely on a pass defense that has kept teams to 230 yards per game through the air.
As is often the case, MAC teams have struggled to start bowl season, so I'll back UNT to keep that trend going.
Pick: North Texas +3
Gasparilla Bowl: UCF vs. Florida (-7, 55.5)
Line history
This line opened with Florida -6.5 before being forced to -7.5. It has since bounced between -7 and -6.5. The total hasn't moved much, with a small tick down from the opener of 56.
On the field
Gus Malzahn has UCF in a bowl game, which isn't all that exciting on the surface for a program that found its way into major New Year's Day games in the past. However, Malzahn and the Knights get a rare crack at the in-state SEC squad. Dillon Gabriel has left for UCLA, so freshman quarterback Mikey Keene will get the start and all the practice reps that come with it.
Meanwhile, Emory Jones is the only option for the Gators, even though the expectation is that Anthony Richardson will take over full time in the fall. Add in a handful of transfers and opt-outs among Florida's top players, and I don't think it's guaranteed that the Gators stay interested for 60 minutes.
Malzahn will have his team ready for an SEC challenge, likely hyping it as a game that matters for UCF's future, while Florida is playing out the string with a bowl game in nearby Tampa.
Pick: UCF +7
Hawai'i Bowl: Hawaii vs. Memphis (-8.5, 55.5)
Line history
The line has taken off from the common opening of Memphis -4.5 all the way to -8.5. Meanwhile, the total has dropped from 61 to the mid-50s.
On the field
This might not qualify as "on the field," but Hawaii head coach Todd Graham has recieved backlash in his first season on the island. Starting quarterback Chevan Cordeiro has jumped into the transfer portal, leaving a team that had rare struggles at home this season without a reliable option at the pivot.
The line move indicates the expectation that the Tigers will be all business in their trip to Hawaii. If that's the case, Memphis should win this game easily and cover all numbers. However, with a move this drastic and me sitting on a -4.5 ticket, I can't advocate taking the worst of the number, but I'd definitely steer clear of the Rainbow Warriors.
Pick: Pass, Memphis in pool play
Camellia Bowl: Ball State vs. Georgia State (-6, 50.5)
Line history
It's another favorite on the way up, as Georgia State moved from -3.5 to -6. The total went up as well from 49.5 to 50.5.
On the field
Georgia State is the up-and-comer of the Sun Belt. With Appalachian State taking a step back and Louisiana losing its head coach to a bigger job, the Panthers won't have 25-1 odds to win the conference next season. Part of their success has come from winning games as favorites, going 5-1 in contests where they were favored -4.5 or higher.
Darren Grainger took over as Georgia State's starting quarterback midway through the season, and the offense took off shortly thereafter. I wouldn't bet on Ball State slowing down that offense with its 104th-ranked defense, per ESPN's SP+. It's also unlikely that Drew Plitt and his 104th-ranked offense can match the Panthers score-for-score.
I'm always looking for teams excited to play their bowl game and who are looking to build toward next season. The Panthers finished their regular schedule 6-1, with one close loss to Louisiana. Expect Georgia State to keep the momentum going with a big win over Ball State.
Pick: Georgia State -6
Matt Russell is a betting writer for theScore. If there's a bad beat to be had, Matt will find it. Find him on Twitter @mrussauthentic.
