The Times’ college football experts make their picks: It’s near unanimous, Fresno State will beat Arizona State

With the regular season over, the Los Angeles Times’ college football “experts� move to making their picks for the first week of bowl games. National college football writer David Wharton was the regular-season champion with a record of 100-40, just ahead of deputy sports editor Mike Hiserman (98-42). But this is the playoffs, meaning anyone can win the title. That’s good news for sports editor and Texas graduate Angel Rodriguez (87-53), who is hoping to rally like Vince Young did in the 2006 Rose Bowl.

Ben Bolch

Tulane vs. Louisiana: Louisiana 34-27

North Texas vs. Utah State: Utah State 31-21

Fresno State vs. Arizona State: Fresno State 28-24

Georgia Southern vs. Eastern Michigan: Eastern Michigan 35-28

Middle Tennessee vs. Appalachian State: Appalachian State 42-27

Alabama Birmingham vs. Northern Illinois: Northern Illinois 30-21

San Diego State vs. Ohio: San Diego State 35-21

Marshall vs. South Florida: South Florida 49-24

Mike Hiserman

Tulane vs. Louisiana: Tulane 31-27

North Texas vs. Utah State: Utah State 34-24

Fresno State vs. Arizona State: Fresno State 28-24

Georgia Southern vs. Eastern Michigan: Georgia Southern 25-23

Middle Tennessee vs. Appalachian State: Appalachian State 28-23

Alabama Birmingham vs. Northern Illinois: Alabama Birmingham 23-20

San Diego State vs. Ohio: Ohio 30-24

Marshall vs. South Florida: Marshall 28-26

J. Brady McCollough

Tulane vs. Louisiana: Tulane 24-21

North Texas vs. Utah State: Utah State 31-30

Fresno State vs. Arizona State: Fresno State 27-20

Georgia Southern vs. Eastern Michigan: Georgia Southern 23-21

Middle Tennessee vs. Appalachian State: Appalachian State 28-21

Alabama Birmingham vs. Northern Illinois: Alabama Birmingham 17-14

San Diego State vs. Ohio: Ohio 28-24

Marshall vs. South Florida: Marshall 30-21

Blake Richardson

Tulane vs. Louisiana: Tulane 33-27

North Texas vs. Utah State: North Texas 38-30

Fresno State vs. Arizona State: Fresno State 30-24

Georgia Southern vs. Eastern Michigan: Georgia Southern 27-20

Middle Tennessee vs. Appalachian State: Middle Tennessee 33-24

Alabama Birmingham vs. Northern Illinois: Alabama Birmingham 23-17

San Diego State vs. Ohio: Ohio 26-21

Marshall vs. South Florida: Marshall 36-31

Angel Rodriguez

Tulane vs. Louisiana: Tulane 24-21

North Texas vs. Utah State: Utah State 34-21

Fresno State vs. Arizona State: Arizona State 27-24

Georgia Southern vs. Eastern Michigan: Eastern Michigan 28-24

Middle Tennessee vs. Appalachian State: Appalachian State 41-18

Alabama Birmingham vs. Northern Illinois: Northern Illinois 31-17

San Diego State vs. Ohio: San Diego State 31-20

Marshall vs. South Florida: South Florida 41-28

David Wharton

Tulane vs. Louisiana: Tulane 27-24

North Texas vs. Utah State: Utah State 35-24

Fresno State vs. Arizona State: Fresno State 30-27

Georgia Southern vs. Eastern Michigan: Georgia Southern 24-23

Middle Tennessee vs. Appalachian State: Appalachian State 27-20

Alabama Birmingham vs. Northern Illinois: Alabama Birmingham 21-17

San Diego State vs. Ohio: Ohio 28-23

Marshall vs. South Florida: Marshall 24-21

Expert: last week; season

Bolch: 7-3; 88-52

Hiserman: 9-1; 98-42

McCollough: 7-3; 94-46

Richardson: 7-3; 88-52

Rodriguez: 7-3; 87-53

Wharton: 8-2; 100-40