Back by popular demand — and by demand, I mean a couple of people who mentioned off-hand that they remember these columns — are my college football bowl pics for 2018-2019.

I took a couple of years hiatus (my last series ran 2015-2016) and I wish I could say I spent those intervening months culminating facts, analyzing scores of data banks and prodding my NCAA gridiron insiders for information to bring to you a wealth of information to help you rule your college football bowl pool.

As it turns out, I did none of this. (There was a lot on TV, okay?)

Regardless, I did some cursory research for this season’s bevy of bowl games, and I hope they at least distract a bit from the madness going on in your home this holiday season.

This year’s batch of 41 — yes, 41! — games sees some great match-ups beyond the two Dec. 29 semi-finals and the Jan. 7 national championship. We’ve got WSU taking on Iowa State in the Valero Alamo Bowl … UW against Ohio State in the heralded Rose Bowl … Middle Tennessee battling Appalachian State in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl … what more could you want?

Below are the first slate of match-ups (with College Football Playoff ranking, if applicable, in parentheses), and more to follow in the Dec. 19 and Dec. 26 editions.

Good luck.

Saturday, Dec. 15

• Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl (Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta)

Match-up: North Carolina A&T vs. Alcorn State

Time, channel: 9 a.m., ABC

The skinny: We start off the bowl season with a premier squaring off of bitter rivals … perhaps not. North Carolina A&T’s Aggies (9-2), the MEAC champs, missed out on an undefeated season after losing two by a total of four points. The Aggies have a balanced attack that racked up more than 29 points per game and have a signature win (35-10 over Boston College). While SWAC champ Alcorn State (9-3) tallied some big numbers against some bad teams (Texas Southern, Louisiana College) and can run the ball, I like the Aggies in the bowl season opener.

My pick: North Carolina A&T 33, Alcorn State 17.

• New Mexico Bowl (Dreamstyle Stadium in Albuquerque, New Mexico)

Match-up: North Texas vs. Utah State

Time, channel: 11 a.m., ESPN

The skinny: How do you pick against a team whose mascot is “Mean Green”? North Texas (9-3) quarterback Mason Fine threw for 3,734 yards this season — eighth most in college football — and just five interceptions. But Utah State (10-2) has Jordan Love, whose 159.9 rating is a touch better than the Mean Green signal-caller. The Aggies losses year both came to ranked teams (Michigan State, 11th at the time, and Boise State), and that experience gives them the edge.

My pick: Utah State 27, North Texas 21.

• AutoNation Cure Bowl (Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Fla.)

Match-up: Tulane vs. Louisiana

Time, channel: 11:30 a.m., CBS Sports Network

The skinny: Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajuns (gotta love these mascots), the Sun Belt West champs, finished 7-6 after a 1-3 start that included losses to Alabama and Mississippi State. They boats a pair of top-flight running backs in Trey Regas and Elijah Mitchell, who combined for 2,092 yards and 20 touchdowns on the ground. Tulane (6-6), the American Athletic Conference-West champs, turned to LSU graduate transfer Justin McMillan at quarterback after a 2-5 start and, after a one-point win over Navy on Nov. 24, barely qualified for a bowl. The Green Tide is talented, but it may not be enough in this match-up up schools separated by a mere 135 miles.

My pick: Louisiana 28, Tulane 24.

• Mitsubishi Motors Las Vegas Bowl (Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada)

Match-up: (21) Fresno State vs. Arizona State

Time, channel: 12:30 p.m., ABC

The skinny: Ah, the first game with a ranked team. The Fresno State Bulldogs (11-2) come into the match-up on a high after knocking off Boise State in overtime to claim the Mountain West title, and lean heavily on the strong arm of senior Marcus McMaryion (3,453 yards, 25 TDs, 3 Ints). The Bulldogs also have several impressive wins this season, topping fellow bowlers Toldeo, Nevada and Hawai’i. Arizona State (7-5) has the unfortunate circumstance of playing in the PAC-12, a conference that last year went 1-8 in bowl games. The Sun Devils are sneaky good, however, with two wins over ranked teams (Michigan State, No. 15 at the time, and then 15th-ranked Utah) and several closes losses to good teams (Washington, Oregon, Stanford). But I can’t trust the PAC-12 right now.

My pick: Fresno State 38, Arizona State 35.

• Raycom Media Camellia Bowl (Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Ala.)

Match-up: Georgia Southern vs. Eastern Michigan

Time, channel: 2:30 p.m., ESPN

The skinny: Two somewhat middle-of-the-road teams both named Eagles battle in Alabama, as Eastern Michigan (7-5), winners of five of their past six, looks to upend the likely home crowd favorite Georgia Southern (9-3). A run-first team, Georgia Southern racked up three times as many rushing yards (3,130) as passing, while Eastern Michigan threw for more than 2,700 yards … a classic mix of styles.

My pick: Eastern Michigan 33, Georgia Southern 30 (OT)

• R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl (Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans)

Match-up: Middle Tennessee vs. Appalachian State

Time, channel: 6 p.m., ESPN

The skinny: Appalachian State (10-2), the Sun Belt-East champs, lost to Penn State in overtime in the season-opener, and by 20 to a good Georgia Southern team. Past that, the Mountaineers — behind a vaunted rushing attack — had impressive wins versus Louisiana (twice), Arkansas State and Troy. The Middle Tennessee (8-5) Blue Raiders got an impressive showing from quarterback Brent Stockstill (3,200+ yards) in earning a Conference USA-East title. What may come into play is the fact that Appalachian State is losing head coach Scott Satterfield (Louisville) and my not have the head coach roaming the sidelines on Dec. 15.

My pick: Middle Tennessee 230, Appalachian State 22.

Tuesday, Dec. 18

• Cheribundi Boca Raton Bowl (FAU Football Stadium in Boca Raton, Fla.)

Match-up: UAB vs. Northern Illinois

Time, channel: 4 p.m., ESPN

The skinny: I tend to favor any team nicknamed the Huskies, but Northern Illinois (8-5) is a mixed bag, with narrow wins against Eastern Michigan, Ohio, BYU and Toldeo, and late season losses to the likes of Miami (Ohio) and Western Michigan. UAB (10-3) had an eight-game win streak during the season but has seen some shaky play at quarterback in the past two weeks. This is a toss ‘em. Give advantage to the Huskies, who have two of the top sack leaders (Sutton Smith’s 15 is tied for first, Josh Corcoran’s 10 is tied for eighth) in the nation.

My pick: Northern Illinois 29, UAB 20.

Wednesday, Dec. 19

• DXL Frisco Bowl (Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas)

Match-up: San Diego State vs. Ohio

Time, channel: 5 p.m., ESPN

The skinny: By week seven, San Diego State (7-5) had six wins and looked like one of the more dangerous teams in college football. They they lost four of their last five, and flopped quarterbacks three times. After starting 1-1, the Ohio (8-4) Bobcats lost just three games by a combined nine points and got 1,142 rushing yards from A.J. Ouellette. Despite my affinity for Marshall Faulk’s alma mater, I’ll take the Bobcats.

My pick: Ohio 35, San Diego State 31.

Thursday, Dec. 20

• Bad Boy Mowers Gasparilla Bowl (Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla.)

Match-up: Marshall vs. South Florida

Time, channel: 5 p.m., ESPN

The skinny: Home field advantage here goes to the South Florida Bulls (7-5), who come into the game having lost five in a row and saw QB Blake Barnett, the Alabama transfer, battle injuries that kept him out two of the final three games. The Thundering Herd or Marshall (8-4) has won three of four and looking to upset the Bulls.

My pick: Marshall 31, South Florida 30.