There's no more BCS status to elevate the importance of a bowl game anymore, but the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl is a part of the College Football Playoff rotation and the New Year's Six, and it's still one of the most prestigious bowls of the year. And this season, the 2019 Fiesta Bowl will feature No. 8 UCF (13-0) against No. 11 LSU (9-3) at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. on Jan. 1, 2019, with kickoff scheduled for 1 p.m. ET. The Tigers are 7.5-point favorites with the total set at 58 in the latest LSU vs. UCF odds. But we know that UCF is a determined group, and before making your own 2019 Fiesta Bowl picks, you're definitely going to want to check out the LSU vs. UCF picks and predictions from the proven computer model at SportsLine.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every FBS college football game 10,000 times, and those who have followed it have seen massive returns. Over the past three years, this proprietary computer model has generated a jaw-dropping $4,210 profit for $100 bettors on its top-rated point-spread picks.
The model made some huge calls on Championship Week, including nailing Ohio State (-16.5) against Northwestern and Oklahoma (-9.5) against Texas. And when it comes to all top-rated picks, the model has been red-hot, entering the 2018 college football bowl season on a blistering 45-25 run. This same model also hit 70 percent of bowl picks the last three years. Anybody who has followed it is way, way up.
Now the model has evaluated the latest 2019 Fiesta Bowl odds and simulated every possible play for LSU vs. UCF 10,000 times. We can tell you it is leaning toward the under, but it also says one side of the spread cashes well over 60 percent of the time. You can only see that pick at SportsLine.
As UCF pursues an undefeated season, the Knights know that third-down efficiency will be absolutely critical. The Knights offense has been one of the best in the nation on third down because they set themselves up for success on first down and second down.
They convert on 51.3 percent of their third-down attempts, which is good for fourth in the country. But against an LSU defense that only allows conversions on 35 percent of third downs, it will be tough for them and whether or not they can win those battles consistently will probably define their performance.
But just because Central Florida has an efficient offense, doesn't mean the Knights will cover the Fiesta Bowl spread.
As both teams prepare for the Fiesta Bowl 2019, one big advantage for LSU is the recent success of Joe Burrow at quarterback. For most of the season, Burrow was looked at as a game manager and he played that role well. He threw for just four interceptions all season long, but towards the end of the regular season he made strides towards being a true playmaker.
Burrow had a passer rating of 150 or higher in each of his last three starts, throwing for 772 yards and six touchdowns with no interceptions and added a 100-yard, three-touchdown rushing performance in the marathon loss to Texas A&M. Even in that loss, Burrow repeatedly made plays to help advance the LSU cause and if the can do that against UCF, the talent edge for LSU should show through in the form of a cover.
So who wins LSU vs. UCF? And which side of the spread hits in over 60 percent of simulations? Visit SportsLine now to see the pick for the 2019 Fiesta Bowl, all from the model that has returned over $4,000 in profit for $100 bettors, and find out.