NEAL'S PICKS PALATIAL HEADQUARTERS -- Does this bowl season thing ever end?

Isabelle, Glenn and the gang are exhausted. However, we keep pushing. A new day has dawned.

Yep, it's a new year, a new decade, even, and it opens with us in first place as we begin the NFL playoffs.

There's a commitment to excellence at the palace these days. Expectations are heightened.

On to the picks...

Last Week:

Neal McCready: 20-4 overall, 13-11 ATS

Chase Parham: 14-10 overall, 11-13 ATS

Jeffrey Wright: 15-9 overall, 11-13 ATS

Zach Berry: 17-7 overall, 9-15 ATS

For The Season:

Neal McCready: 160-44 overall, 105-84 ATS

Chase Parham: 148-56 overall, 103-86 ATS

Jeffrey Wright: 156-48 overall, 102-87 ATS

Zach Berry: 159-45 overall, 99-90 ATS

Boston College (+7) vs. No. 21 Cincinnati, Ticketsmarter Birmingham Bowl, Legion Field, Birmingham, Ala., 2 p.m., ESPN

Neal McCready: Cincy has to be pissed to be in the crosshairs of Birmingham's crime zone, but it'll crush BC. Neal's Pick: Cincinnati 30, Boston College 21

Chase Parham: I'll take Cincinnati. The Bearcats aren't a bad team, and Boston College doesn't feel like a touchdown favorite. Parham's Pick: Cincinnat 34, BC 31

Jeffrey Wright: I don’t really care that Johnny Public is on Cincinnati. I don’t understand how you actually can bet on BC here.Wright’s pick: Cincinnati 31, Boston College 20

Zach Berry: Bearcats at The Old Gray Lady, a fitting tribute. Zach's Pick: Cincinnati 36, Boston College 24

Indiana (+2.5) vs. Tennessee, Taxslayer Gator Bowl, TIAA Bank Field, Jacksonville, Fla., 6 p.m., ESPN

Neal McCready: God, I love the Big Ten. Neal's Pick: Indiana 27, Tennessee 23

Chase Parham: I'd rather pull for Tom Allen. Parham's Pick: Indiana 30, Tennessee 28

Jeffrey Wright: All jokes aside, this game is what you want a meaningless bowl game to be. You have two teams that want to be there and a clashing of styles. Inevitably, I’m taking Tennessee because I think they have to win this game in order to rival A&M’s hype train in 2020. Wright’s pick: Tennessee 23, Indiana 17

Zach Berry: Vols are back. Zach's Pick: Indiana 30, Tennessee 26

Ohio (-8) vs. Nevada, Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, Albertsons Stadium, Boise, Idaho, 2:30 p.m., ESPN

Neal McCready: Ohio is decent. Nevada is not. Neal's Pick: Ohio 31, Nevada 17

Chase Parham: Just give me the points I have no idea other than it seems like a lot of points Parham’s Pick: Ohio 23, Nevada 20

Jeffrey Wright: Ohio hasn’t beaten a team with a pulse by more than a touchdown all year. I’ll live dangerously and take the points here. Wherever, here is because I have no idea what game this actually is. Wright’s pick: Ohio 24, Nevada 20

Zach Berry: Both defenses are bad, but give me the Frank Solich team. Zach's Pick: Ohio 38, Nevada 21

Southern Mississippi (+7) vs. Tulane, Lockheed Martin. Armed Forces Bowl, Amon G. Carter Stadium, Fort Worth, Texas, 10:30 a.m., ESPN

Neal McCready: Tulane will light up the Eagles. Neal's Pick: Tulane 34, Southern Miss 20

Chase Parham: Will Hall has a good chance to be Tulane’s next head coach. Parham’s Pick: Tulane 38, USM 20

Jeffrey Wright: Southern Miss’ offense really stunk down the stretch, and Tulane is a team that I believe is a little better than its record. Wright’s pick: Tulane 31, Southern Miss 20

Zach Berry: The Green Wave pass defense will give Jack Abraham fits. Zach's Pick: Tulane 33, Southern Miss 23

Buffalo Bills (+3) at Houston Texans, AFC Wildcard Game, 3:35 p.m., ESPN/ABC

Neal McCready: I actually think Buffalo is the better team. Give me the points. Neal's Pick: Buffalo 28, Houston 27

Chase Parham: It’s really good to see Laremy out of the disaster in Miami. Parham’s Pick: Houston 31, Buffalo 24

Jeffrey Wright: I love how we make the standard “death, taxes, (insert joke)” line a lot, but it really does feel like a certainty every year in the NFL is that the NFL Playoffs don’t start until the Texans lose at home on Wildcard Saturday afternoon on ESPN. Normally, my rule is always bet on the better quarterback, but rules were made to be broken. Wright’s pick: Buffalo 20, Houston 16

Zach Berry: The Mafia is a great story, but the Texans at full-strength are too good. Zach's Pick: Texans 24, Bills 21

Tennessee Titans (+4.5) at New England Patriots, AFC Wildcard Game, 7:15 p.m., CBS

Neal McCready: The dynasty dies. Neal's Pick: Tennessee 27, New England 23

Chase Parham: It’s New England in the playoffs until I’m proven wrong... Parham’s Pick: NE 27, Titans 17

Jeffrey Wright: I really want to bet on the Titans here because I’ve seen nothing that inspires confidence from the Patriots all season if you apply context. The only playoff teams that they’ve beaten this year are Buffalo (twice) and Philadelphia in Week 11, but I’ll believe that Belichick loses at home to a former assistant/player when I see it. Also, I’m not ready to believe that Tannehill can win a road game in Foxboro yet. Wright’s pick: New England 24, Tennessee 17

Zach Berry: I've seen this movie before. Zach's Pick: Patriots 25, Titans 20

Minnesota Vikings (+8) at New Orleans Saints, NFC Wildcard Game, 12:05 p.m., FOX

Neal McCready: Drew Brees is going to destroy the Vikings. Neal's Pick: New Orleans 35, Minnesota 17

Chase Parham: Minnesota is unstoppable. There’s no way New Orleans wins this game. Parham’s Pick: Vikings 49, Saints 3

Jeffrey Wright: Betting against Kirk Cousins in a playoff game is a passion for me, and I hear you’re supposed to follow your passions.Wright’s pick: New Orleans 31, Minnesota 17

Zach Berry: Revenge is a dish best served by Drew Brees and Michael Thomas and an offense that's clicking on all cylinders. Zach's Pick: Saints 36, Vikings 17

Seattle Seahawks (-2.5) at Philadelphia Eagles, NFC Wildcard Game, 3:40 p.m., NBC

Neal McCready: Seattle got screwed Sunday night. It's headed toward a date in New Orleans later this month. Neal's Pick: Seattle 30, Philadelphia 20

Chase Parham: I’m scared of the Seahawks but it won’t matter after the Vikings beat New Orleans today. Parham’s Pick: Seahawks 24, Eagles 13

Jeffrey Wright: This line stinks, but not as much as the NFC East does. Wright’s pick: Seattle 24, Philadelphia 17

Zach Berry: Birds aren't real. But, Russell Wilson is. Zach's Pick: Seahawks 22, Eagles 21

Louisiana-Lafayette (-14) vs. Miami (Ohio), Lendingtree Bowl, Ladd-Peebles Stadium, Mobile, Ala., 6:30 p.m., ESPN

Neal McCready: Billy Napier is a really good coach. God, I hated covering this game back in the day. Neal's Pick: ULL 37, Miami 20

Chase Parham: Billy Napier, for better or worse, has really tried to limit distractions for his group. I bet it's one ugly trophy. Parham's Pick: ULL 38, Miami 21

Jeffrey Wright: The line should be higher. Wright’s pick: ULL 41, Miami 20

Zach Berry: Billy Napier's bunch have won 10 games this year by an average of 27.2 points. I honestly don't think it'll be close. Zach's Pick: ULL 40, Miami (Ohio) 17