Bowl pairings and the College Football Playoff field are set. Who’s taking home the hardware? Here are our bowl game predictions for all 41 contests.
More: Complete bowl game schedule
After a few weeks off from college football bowl season is here. There are 41 bowl games this season, and while that might seem like a lot, it wasn’t enough to go around. Three bowl eligible teams are not bowling this season – Buffalo (6-6), UTSA (6-5) and Western Michigan (6-6).
There were simply too many bowl eligible teams this year to give everyone a spot. That differs from last season when teams like 5-7 Mississippi State earned an invitation. It’s particularly painful for Western Michigan which was preparing for a Cotton Bowl appearance a year ago.
While those three teams won’t be participating, 80 teams have earned invitations. That includes a pair of teams that will be playing twice. The College Football Playoff field consists of No. 1 Clemson, No. 2 Oklahoma, No. 3 Georgia and No. 4 Alabama. Storylines for the Playoff are plentiful. Will Clemson repeat? Could there be an All-SEC Championship Game?
There are dozens of bowl games before we get to the finale of the college football season. From the start of the postseason on Dec. 16 to the College Football Playoff National Championship game we predict every bowl game of the 2017 season.
R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl
Troy vs. North Texas
Location: New Orleans, Louisiana
Date: Saturday, Dec. 16
Time: 1 p.m. ET
Troy (10-2) secured a share of the Sun-Belt title with a thrilling come from behind victory over Arkansas State in the final minute of their regular season finale. The Trojans also own a 24-21 victory over LSU at Tiger Stadium on Homecoming night.
They’ll square off with North Texas (9-4) which ended their regular season with a loss to Lane Kiffin’s FAU team in the Conference USA Championship Game. The Mean Green also fell to FAU in the regular season, but won eight straight games against opponents that weren’t the Owls.
The defense of the Trojans will be the deciding factor in this one. Troy allows just 17.5 points per game and has been particularly stringy against the run this season allowing 114.8 yards per game. For reference, that’s just two yards more than Clemson.
Prediction: Troy 30, North Texas 17
AutoNation Cure Bowl
Western Kentucky vs. Georgia State
Location: Orlando, Florida
Date: Saturday, Dec. 16
Time: 2:30 p.m. ET
Western Kentucky (6-6) finished third in the Conference USA East. The Hilltoppers got off to a hot start, winning five of their first seven games. However, the second half of their season was not so kind, the only win they earned after Oct. 20 came in triple overtime against Middle Tennessee.
Georgia State (6-5) finished fourth in the Sun Belt, ending their season with consecutive losses in which they were outscored by a combined margin of 55-20.
Neither of these teams brings in an explosive offense. WKU averages 26.2 points per game while Georgia State averages 19.7. The edge in this one goes to the Hilltoppers because of their effectiveness on third downs. They convert on 44.2 percent of their third down tries, 29th best in the nation. Longer drives lead to more scoring chances and the edge in what should be a close game.
Prediction: Western Kentucky 24, Georgia State 21
Las Vegas Bowl
Oregon vs Boise State
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
Date: Saturday, Dec. 16
Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
Oregon (7-5) will be bowling without their head coach, Willie Taggart, who left the Ducks after just one season to take the vacated Florida State head coaching position. Mario Cristobal has been named the interim coach for the Duck’s bowl game. They’ll face ever-dangerous Boise State (10-3), champions of the Mountain West Conference.
Both Oregon and Boise State fans have a hard time forgetting the last time these two programs met. The Broncos won 37-32, but it was a skirmish after the game that drew the most attention. Former Ducks running back LeGarrette Blount threw a devastating punch that connected with celebratory Broncos defensive end Byron Hout, knocking him to the turf.
There’s no Blount to punch back for the Ducks in this one. Oregon has been much improved since starting quarterback Justin Herbert returned from injury, but the Broncos just don’t allow many points. Three opponents have topped 24 points against them this year and the Ducks will be the next victim.
Prediction: Oregon 21, Boise State 41
Gildan New Mexico Bowl
Colorado State vs. Marshall
Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico
Date: Saturday, Dec. 16
Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
Colorado State (7-5) finished as the runner up in the Mountain West mountain division. The Rams picked up two fairly competitive early non-conference losses against Colorado and Alabama. Two of their three conference losses came by a combined six points with the other being a 17-point home loss to Air Force.
Marshall (7-5) hasn’t played a game decided by more than a touchdown since October. The Thundering Herd ended the season 1-3 with three defeats by a combined eight points and the lone victory over Western Kentucky by a touchdown.
The Rams were one of three teams to score more than 20 points against the Alabama Crimson Tide. If Nick Stevens and company can find a way to move the ball on Nick Saban it’s hard to see them being held back by a Marshall defense that ranked near the middle of the pack through the air.
Prediction: Colorado State 28, Marshall 20
Raycom Media Camelia Bowl
Middle Tennessee vs. Arkansas State
Location: Montgomery, Alabama
Date: Saturday, Dec. 16
Time: 8 p.m. ET
Middle Tennessee (6-6) was about as erratic a team as you could find in college football this season. They fell to Minnesota by 31 points and beat UTEP by 27 points. Flip flopping between wins and losses and never reaching more than two of either finish in a row.
Arkansas State (7-4) has been much more consistent. The Red Wolves nearly upset Nebraska to start the year and lost a thrilling Sun Belt finale too Troy in the final seconds. They finished third in the Sun Belt with a 6-2 conference record.
The matchup to watch in this one will be Arkansas State quarterback Justice Hansen against the Middle Tennessee defense. Hansen is averaging 330 yards per game and a hair over three touchdown passes per game. He’s turned the ball over multiple times in three of his team’s four losses. He’ll air it out, but the extra preparation time will favor him and the Red Wolves.
Prediction: Middle Tennessee 20, Arkansas State 40
Cheribundi Tart Cherry Boca Raton Bowl
FAU vs. Akron
Location: Boca Raton, Florida
Date: Tuesday, Dec. 19
Time: 7 p.m. ET
The Fighting Lane Kiffins, also known as FAU, had quite the year in the first season under the former Alabama offensive coordinator. In fact, the Owls went 10-3 with a Conference-USA title and they did so after beginning the season 1-3. Jason Driskel had an impressive year, but the run game, led by sophomore Devin Singletary led the way.
Akron, on the other hand, finished the year just 7-6 but finished in first place in the MAC East before losing in the conference title game to Toledo. The Zips didn’t do anything above average, but had an improbably run to the conference championship.
This game doesn’t seem fairly matched, but then again, Conference-USA isn’t as strong of a league as the MAC. Still, Florida Atlantic has some serious momentum right now while the Zips are coming off a second straight loss to Toledo in 2017 by double digits. The Owls will run all over the lackluster defense of the Zips en route to a victory in Boca Raton.
Prediction: Akron 17, FAU 34
DXL Frisco Bowl
Louisiana Tech vs. SMU
Location: Frisco, Texas
Date: Wednesday, Dec. 20
Time: 8 p.m. ET
Losing a head coach before a postseason game is never easy, just as SMU (7-5). The Mustangs just watched head coach Chad Morris accept the job with Arkansas and that might be bad news moving forward. However, they didn’t get to be one of the top offenses (12th) in college football without any remaining talent. All eyes will be on Ben Hicks, Trey Quinn and Courtland Sutton.
Louisiana Tech (6-6) had an up-and-down season and will get an opportunity to finish on the positive side of things with a win in the Frisco Bowl. They have a much better defense than the Mustangs, but the offense averages nearly 100 yards less per game. Can rising sophomore quarterback J’Mar Smith lead this team to an upset?
It seems as if SMU’s offense may just be too high-powered for Louisiana Tech, and that may be the case, but not having Morris around will be quite the adjustment. The Mustangs will struggle early on, but pull off a comeback thanks to strong games from Hicks at quarterback and his two 1,000-yard receivers. This will be an instant classic.
Prediction: Louisiana Tech 35, SMU 38
Bad Boy Mowers Gasparilla Bowl
FIU vs. Temple
Location: St. Petersburg, Florida
Date: Thursday, Dec. 21
Time: 8 p.m. ET
Fortunately for Florida International (8-4), it doesn’t have to travel very far to play in its bowl game. Unfortunately, it’s arguably the worst named bowl of all. That’s out of the Golden Panthers’ control, though, as they were one of a number of Group of Five teams in Florida to exceed expectations in 2017.
Temple (6-6) lost its head coach in the offseason to Baylor, but even without Matt Rhule, the Owls found a way to make the postseason. They finished the year with three wins in four games to become bowl eligible and despite the defense not being what it was last season, the Owls found a way to reach six wins.
Although Temple is the bigger name in this matchup, I just don’t see the Owls holding red-hot senior quarterback Alex McGough in check. He’s had a breakout season for FIU and has plenty of weapons at his disposal. Temple doesn’t have much offense, which plays in the Golden Panthers’ favor.
Prediction: Temple 21, FIU 28
Bahamas Bowl
Ohio vs. UAB
Location: Nassau, Bahamas
Date: Friday, Dec. 22
Time: 12:30 p.m. ET
Ohio (8-4) was looking like the team that would represent the MAC East in the conference title game against Toledo, but the Bobcats melted down in the final two games of the year. They traveled to Akron and lost by a field goal and then lost by a touchdown at Buffalo to end the year. Can the Bobcats rebound for a Bahamas Bowl win?
One of the best feel-good stories of the 2017 season, UAB (8-4) went from not having a football program to making a bowl game. The Blazers, led by surprising junior quarterback A.J. Erdely, won four of their final five games and went 6-2 in C-USA play. They don’t have a remarkable offense nor top-notch defense, but they wore teams down late in the year.
It’s going to be a relatively low-scoring affair in the Bahamas. The Blazers get rewarded for reaching their first bowl since the reinstatement of the program with a trip to paradise and Ohio gets a chance to win a ninth game. Ohio’s offense will be just too much for UAB to handle as this one goes down to the wire but a late Nathan Rourke touchdown pass seals it.
Prediction: UAB 17, Ohio 24
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
Central Michigan vs. Wyoming
Location: Boise, Idaho
Date: Friday, Dec. 22
Time: 4 p.m. ET
Central Michigan (8-4) was dominant on either side of the ball this season. The Chippewas ranked near the nation average in both offense and defense. Nevertheless, they found the right mix more often that not. They finished second in the MAC West this season and enter their bowl game on a five-game winning streak.
Wyoming (7-5) features a perplexing combination of top-flight quarterback prospected Josh Allen and the nation’s 126th ranked offense. The Cowboys averaged an abysmal 286.9 yards per game, but with Allen on board the possibility of a big outing and plenty of points is always on the table.
Allen missed the final two games of the regular season with a shoulder injury. He’s expected to be healthy in time for the Cowboys’ bowl game, and unlike other stars, he probably needs the game to build his draft stock. While NFL scouts are giddy about his potential he has plenty of work to do. Allen has throw for more than 200 yards in four of his 10 games this season. That’s not a high bar, but more often than not he’s failed to be the difference maker he was supposed to be. That will be enough for the Chippewas to win.
Prediction: Central Michigan 27, Wyoming 16
Birmingham Bowl
Texas Tech vs. USF
Location: Birmingham, Alabama
Date: Saturday, Dec. 23
Time: Noon ET
Texas Tech (6-6) head coach Kliff Kingsbury preserved his job with a regular season ending win over Texas in Austin. The fifth-year head coach has won a bowl game since his first year at the helm in Lubbock when the Red Raiders defeated No. 16 Arizona State. A win in the Birmingham Bowl wouldn’t extinguish his hot seat, but it would be another step in the right direction for a team seeking an exit from the bottom half of the Big 12.
They’ll have their hands full with South Florida (9-2). The Bulls dropped an epic regular-season finale against Central Florida, finishing second in the AAC East in their first year under the leadership of former Texas coach Charlie Strong.
As he’s been in every game up to this one, USF quarterback Quinton Flowers will be the difference maker. Flowers leads the Bulls in rushing and needs just 28 yards to crack 1,000 on the ground this season. Texas Tech will counter with 3,546 yard passer Nic Shimonek. These two quarterbacks have combined for 14 interceptions this year, so expect few turnovers and a lot of points with the better signal caller getting the victory.
Prediction: Texas Tech 40, USF 48
Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl
San Diego State vs. Army
Location: Fort Worth, Texas
Date: Saturday, Dec. 23
Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
Army (9-3) is coming off a monumental victory over Navy in the final week of the regular season that earned them the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy for the first time since 1996. A win in the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl would given the Knights their first 10-win season since that 1996 season when they finished as a ranked team for the only time in the past five decades.
To accomplish that feat they’ll have to go through San Diego State (10-2). The Aztecs were one of the last teams to accept a bowl invitation despite their superb record. They beat two Power 5 teams this year, downing Arizona State on the road before upsetting then-No. 19 Stanford at home – even though the lights went out.
Army enters the game third in the nation in rush attempts. San Diego State’s Rashaad Penny led the nation in rushing and was the only back to top 2,000 yards on the ground. Similar to Army’s final regular season game against Navy, this is going to be a physical, grind-it-out game but when in doubt, go with the best player of the field, that’s Penny.
Prediction: San Diego State 31, Army 16
Dollar General Bowl
Appalachian State vs. Toledo
Location: Mobile, Alabama
Date: Saturday, Dec. 23
Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
Appalachian State (8-4) was the co-champion of the Sun Belt. Following a 21-point defeat by Georgia in their season opener the Mountaineers lost three more games by a combined margin of 11 points. They rarely find themselves too far away and will give Toledo a fight from the opening whistle.
Toledo (11-2) owns one of the most prolific scoring offenses in the country. The Rocket’s 39.2 points per game came through consistent offensive outbursts every week. Just once this season were the Rockets held below 27 points. That offense led them two a MAC title as the Rockets blasted Akron 45-28 in the conference championship game.
The Mountaineers rank 39th in the nation in total defense. As good as their offense has been this year it’s been the other side of the ball that’s kept them in games. With several weeks to prepare they’ll have a plan to limit Toledo gunslinger Logan Woodside and pull off the upset.
Prediction: Appalachian State 28, Toledo 27
Hawai’i Bowl
Houston vs. Fresno State
Location: Honolulu, Hawaii
Date: Sunday, Dec. 24
Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
Houston (7-4) took a bit of a step backwards after the departure of Tom Herman to Texas. However, just like under Herman, Houston won a few games they shouldn’t have won and lost a few head scratchers along the way. The Cougars beat No. 17 USF and lost to 5-7 Tulane two weeks later.
Their opponent in the Hawai’i bowl, Fresno State (9-4), came extremely close to a MWC Title. The Bulldogs beat Boise State in the final week of the regular season but fell to them in a rematch a week later in the conference championship game. Head coach Jeff Tedford has orchestrated an incredible turnaround after taking charge of a Fresno State squad that went 1-11 a season ago.
Neither the Bulldogs or the Cougars have overwhelmingly talented offenses, instead both teams pride themselves on their defensive prowess. The edge on that side of the ball goes to Fresno State which allows 17.2 points per game (compared to Houston’s 23.0) and 319.0 yards per game (compared to Houston’s 417.5)
Prediction: Fresno State 17, Houston 14
Zaxby’s Heart of Dallas Bowl
West Virginia vs. Utah
Location: Dallas, Texas
Date: Tuesday, Dec. 26
Time: 1:30 p.m. ET
West Virginia (7-5) was a pesky out in the Big 12 this season. The Mountaineers found themselves in plenty of shootouts behind the arm of Florida transfer Will Grier and receiver David Sills V. Grier’s status for the game is still uncertain after he suffered a gruesome finger injury against Texas late in the season. He was spelled by redshirt sophomore Chris Chugunov.
Utah (6-6) has quarterback concerns of their own. Starter Tyler Huntley has battled injuries down the stretch and his status one way or another hasn’t been confirmed for the bowl game. If he can’t go senior backup Troy Williams will start in his stead. They’ve leaned heavily on running back Zach Moss who has 1,023 rushing yards and nine touchdowns on the ground so far this season.
It’s entirely possible this game will feature two backup quarterbacks and two sputtering offenses. The edge goes to the team with the better defense, and that’s the Utes by a wide margin. Utah was the 32nd ranked defense in the nation during the regular season. West Virginia checked in at No. 111.
Prediction: West Virginia 20, Utah 30
Quick Lane Bowl
Northern Illinois vs. Duke
Location: Detroit, Michigan
Date: Tuesday, Dec. 26
Time: 5:15 p.m. ET
Northern Illinois (8-4) picked up their marquee victory of the season on the road over Nebraska, cranking up the temperature on Husker head coach Mike Riley just a few weeks into the 2017 season. The Huskies finished second in the MAC West, ending conference play with a 6-2 record with both losses coming away from home.
Duke (6-6) fought off advances by Tennessee to hire away head coach 10-year head coach David Cutcliffe. Cutclife’s squad streaked out to four consecutive victories, then lost six games in a row. They went on to win their last two games (over Georgia Tech and Wake Forest) to clinch bowl eligibility on the final weekend of the regular season.
This game features two low-volume offenses that have each had their share of ups and downs. Neither Duke quarterback Daniel Jones (12 touchdowns, 11 interceptions) or Northern Illinois quarterback Marcus Childers (15 touchdowns, five interceptions) has differentiated themselves in a significant fashion. Where the Blue Devils do stand out is there clean play, averaging 42.6 yards per game in penalties, 28th best in the nation. Minimizing mistakes will be enough to get Duke the last chance and they’ll cash in.
Prediction: Duke 34, Northern Illinois 28
Cactus Bowl
UCLA vs. Kansas State
Location: Phoenix, Arizona
Date: Tuesday, Dec. 26
Time: 9:00 p.m. ET
UCLA (6-6) has had a busy offseason. The Bruins fired Jim Mora and replaced him with the elusive Chip Kelly, finally luring the former Oregon head coach back to the college ranks. It took a win in their final regular season game under interim coach Jedd Fisch for the Bruins to earn bowl eligibility.
Bill Snyder’s team’s don’t wow you with flair or flashiness, they just play tough. Kansas State (7-5) has worked their way to another respectable season in Manhattan. After sitting at 5-5 the Wildcats knocked off Oklahoma State and Iowa State and enter the postseason playing their best football.
The x-factor that likely decides this game is the status of UCLA quarterback Josh Rosen. He’s expected to enter the NFL Draft this coming spring which leaves his participation in the Bruins’ bowl game up in the air. Should he declare he’d likely be a first round selection, leaving the benefits from playing in a non-Playoff bowl game negligible at best. Even if he plays expect to see a decent dose of backup Devon Modster.
Prediction: UCLA 31, Kansas State 33
Walk On’s Independence Bowl
Southern Miss vs. Florida State
Location: Shreveport, Louisiana
Date: Wednesday, Dec. 27
Time: 1:30 p.m. ET
Southern Miss (8-4) is undefeated in the state of Louisiana in 2017. They have wins over Louisiana Monroe and Louisiana Tech on their way to a second place finish in the West Division of Conference USA. The Golden Eagles fell to both Power 5 teams they played this season, Kentucky and Tennessee.
Florida State (6-6) has been through a wild couple of weeks and the focus in Tallahassee is on everything but the upcoming bowl game. Jimbo Fisher bolted for Texas A&M and Willie Taggart has returned from a brief west coast stint to take the helm at Florida State. Momentum for the future is building, but there’s still one game left to play before the Taggart era is under way.
There are a lot of reasons to want to go out on a limb and pick Southern Miss to pull off a stunner, but regardless of where the Noles’ hearts are the talent on the roster is undeniable. Cam Akers and Jacques Patrick are each averaging more than five yards per carry and a steady pounding of both of those backs on the ground will prove to be more than enough effort to salvage a winning record for the Seminoles this season.
Prediction: Southern Miss 10, Florida State 35
New Era Pinstripe Bowl
Iowa vs. Boston College
Location: New York, New York
Date: Wednesday, Dec. 27
Time: 5:15 p.m. ET
Two unassuming powers match up in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl. Iowa (7-5) put the bow on their 2017 season with a shocking 55-24 upset of No. 6 Ohio State, effectively booting the Buckeyes from the College Football Playoff. They’ll need to find ways to channel that offense again. Iowa has scored fewer than 20 points in all five of their losses.
Their opponent, Boston College (7-5), was equally unpredictable. The Eagles dropped four of their first six games with a sputtering offense but later smashed Florida State 35-3. The offense has continued to strengthen as the season progresses, topping 35 points or more in five of their final six games.
Eagles’ running back AJ Dillion against Hawkeyes’ back Akrum Wadley should make for a fascinating matchup but the quarterback position figures to be the difference maker. Nathan Stanley, who took over at Iowa for CJ Bethard, hasn’t missed a beat throwing 25 touchdown passes and just six interceptions. He outduels Anthony Brown in a surprise shootout.
Prediction: Iowa 45, Boston College 41
Foster Farms Bowl
Purdue vs. Arizona
Location: Santa Clara, California
Date: Wednesday, Dec. 27
Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
To much surprise from anyone that watched much of the Pac-12 this year, Khalil Tate did not get much love during the Heisman voting. He’ll return to the field for a prime time game determined to earn notice for himself and Arizona (7-5). The Wildcats’ quarterback saw his aura take a hit with three losses in his final four games.
He’ll look to get back on the right foot against Purdue (6-6). The Boilermakers, under the direction of Jeff Brohm, are somewhat ahead of schedule. They held several ranked opponents close, nearly upsetting Louisville and Wisconsin. Brohm turned down overtures from Tennessee this offseason, electing to continue to build up the Boilermakers.
Brohm took a program with nine total wins over its past four seasons and brought them to bowl eligibility. He’s done a tremendous job, but the elusiveness of Tate is something that no amount of scheming will be able to silence completely. Purdue will get their licks in, but Arizona and Tate will bring the fireworks.
Prediction: Purdue 21, Arizona 41
Academy Sports and Outdoors Bowl
Missouri vs. Texas
Location: Houston, Texas
Date: Wednesday, Dec. 27
Time: 9:00 p.m. ET
Missouri (7-5) and Texas (6-6) might not have any body left to show up to the game come late December. Texas has already had multiple players announce they intend to skip the bowl game and will declare for the upcoming NFL Draft. That includes tackle Connor Williams and safety DeShon Elliott. Running back Chris Warren will transfer, leaving the Longhorns three starters down and counting.
The Tigers will be without offensive coordinator Josh Heupel who was hired to be the next head coach at Central Florida, replacing Scott Frost. He’s taken offensive line coach Glen Elarbee with him to UCF. Also departed this season are defensive coordinator DeMontie Cross (fired) and cornerbacks coach Greg Brown, now with Auburn.
But, despite the attrition on both sides there is still a game to be played. Missouri has the national leader in touchdown passes, Drew Lock, on their side while Texas has flip flopped back and forth all season between Shane Buechele and Sam Ehlinger. No established quarterback and no running back is bad news for the Longhorns.
Prediction: Missouri 51, Texas 31
Military Bowl Presented by Northrop Grumman
Virginia vs. Navy
Location: Annapolis, Maryland
Date: Thursday, Dec. 28
Time: 1:30 p.m. ET
Virginia (6-6) started the 2017 season with a bang, handing Boise State a shocking 42-23 loss on their own blue turf. That was the worst loss suffered by the Broncos at home since 2001 and it put the Cavaliers on the map as a team that should not be overlooked. The strong start cooled rather quickly as the Hoos finished the year with just one win in their final six games.
Navy (6-6) is coming off another regular season-ending loss to Navy, the second straight year they’ve fallen to the Black Knights after a 14-year winning streak. They too limped into bowl season, winning one of their last seven games. However, it true military academy fashion, they were all close and relatively low scoring.
The Midshipmen are going to go all in on the running game, and they should see success. The Cavaliers allowed 178.3 yards per carry this season. They’ll counter with senior quarterback Kurk Benkert who is tied for first in the ACC with 25 passing touchdowns. Experience beats effort, and Virginia edges Navy.
Prediction: Virginia 41, Navy 31
Camping World Bowl
Virginia Tech vs. Oklahoma State
Location: Orlando, Florida
Date: Thursday, Dec. 28
Time: 5:15 p.m. ET
Starting the season with a 4-0 record, Virginia Tech (9-3) set itself up with a huge matchup with No. 2 Clemson to open ACC play, but fell short. The Hokies still played well under up-and-coming coach Justin Fuente and developed another star under center in freshman Josh Jackson. He passed for 2,743 yards and 19 touchdowns, developing a strong connection with Cam Phillips.
Oklahoma State (9-3) had more of a disappointing season as many saw the Cowboys as national title contenders, but they lost some games they shouldn’t have. They did, however, bring back Mike Gundy who signed an extension and Mason Rudolph had a heck of a year passing the ball with 4,553 yards and 35 touchdowns. James Washington caught 69 passes for 1,423 yards and 12 touchdowns and was named the nation’s top receiver.
This is a game which could have been looked at as a potential New Year’s Six matchup after the first month or two of the season. Neither of these teams are slouches and both have some firepower on offense. Virginia Tech has more defense, but will it be enough to stop the high-powered attack of the Cowboys? Probably not just yet as Rudolph will have a huge game, torching the Hokies for 300 yards.
Prediction: Oklahoma State 38, Virginia Tech 27
Valero Alamo Bowl
Stanford vs. TCU
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Date: Thursday, Dec. 28
Time: 9:00 p.m. ET
One of the biggest surprises in the Pac-12 late in the season was Stanford (9-4). The Cardinal struggled early in the season with losses to USC and San Diego State to drop them from the rankings, but they came on strong late to win the Pac-12 North title. Bryce Love led the way as a Heisman Trophy finalist, totaling 1,973 yards and 17 touchdowns rushing.
Along those same lines, TCU (10-3) was also a surprise in the Big 12. The Horned Frogs began the season outside the Top 25 and climbed all the way into the top 10. Gary Patterson led the Horned Frogs to the Big 12 title game, but they came short against Oklahoma for the second time on the year. Kenny Hill had a strong senior season with 2,838 yards and 21 touchdown passes and TCU had one of the best defenses in the conference.
This isn’t going to be a defensive battle, though. Both Stanford and TCU have average defenses, nationally, and Love is going to have a big game for the Cardinal with nearly 200 yards rushing. Hill will have a decent game through the air, but turnovers will doom him late. KJ Costello will play a decent game for the Cardinal, enough to give them plenty of hope for 2018. This game will go down to the wire.
Prediction: Stanford 30, TCU 27
San Diego County Credit Union Holiday Bowl
Michigan State vs. Washington State
Location: San Diego, California
Date: Thursday, Dec. 28
Time: 9:00 p.m. ET
After a 3-9 season in 2016, people were quick to call for Mark Dantonio‘s job. However, the Michigan State (9-3) head coach put together an epic turnaround, improving the Spartans to 9-3 and making them contenders in the Big Ten again. Brian Lewerke was a big reason for the turnaround as well as his targets in the receiving corps. Don’t sleep on this Michigan State defense, either.
Speaking of defense, Washington State (9-3) has had a strong one all season long under the watch of coordinator Alex Grinch. Mike Leach has done a solid job with this team, but it fell short of his goal of a Pac-12 title. Luke Falk finished with 3,593 yards and 30 touchdowns, but had a shaky year and will be losing his top two receivers for the bowl game.
Michigan State’s defense will get after Falk, but expect Washington State’s front-seven to make life difficult for Lewerke, too. The difference is that Michigan State actually has a run game with LJ Scott leading the way and Lewerke can run with the ball. Could this be Leach’s last game as head coach? Potentially, but not having top receivers will wear down the Cougars.
Prediction: Washington State 20, Michigan State 27
Belk Bowl
Wake Forest vs. Texas A&M
Location: Charlotte, North Carolina
Date: Friday, Dec. 29
Time: 1:00 p.m. ET
Texas A&M (7-5) has the opportunity to earn their fourth consecutive 8-5 season with a win in their first ever Belk Bowl appearance. That same finish led to the removal of Kevin Sumlin and the hiring of Jimbo Fisher from Florida State. They’ll be led by interim coach Jeff Banks but one can only help wonder if the Aggies will be focused enough on the task at hand and not the future.
Wake Forest (7-5) doesn’t have drama surrounding their program. The Demon Deacons are making their second straight bowl appearance after playing a postseason game just once in the from 2009 to 2015. They clinched bowl eligibility with an impressive home victory over No. 19 NC State and also have a victory over former Heisman Trophy winner Lamar Jackson on their resume.
The buzz around the future in College Station has become intoxicating to the point that a bowl game is way past an afterthought. Wake Forest has a strong offense and a decent defense, but the Aggies have comparable stat lines. In the end the Aggies have future first round pick Christian Kirk, and he might just win the game on his own.
Prediction: Wake Forest 28, Texas A&M 31
Hyundai Sun Bowl
Arizona State vs. NC State
Location: El Paso, Texas
Date: Friday, Dec. 29
Time: 3:00 p.m. ET
At one point this season, NC State (8-4) was the talk of the ACC. The Wolfpack beat Florida State on the road, but that was considered a premier win at the time. They have some good wins, but lost three of their final five games of the regular season, going from a potential top-10 team to No. 24. Bradley Chubb will be a name to watch on defense and Ryan Finley was a breakout star with 3,200 yards and 16 touchdown passes under center.
Arizona State (7-5), on the other hand, lost its head coach Todd Graham who was fired after the season and Herm Edwards has been brought in as his replacement. Will the attention of the team be on the bowl game against NC State? Hard to say. Manny Wilkins has been surprisingly-strong under center, beating out Alabama-transfer Blake Barnett in the preseason and he has one of the best receivers no one talks about in sophomore N’Keal Harry.
With the minds of the Sun Devils in about 10 different subject matters, NC State is going to figure out the winning recipe early on and stick to it. Wilkins will be running for his life from Chubb and the rest of that Wolfpack defensive line. However, he will have a strong game passing the ball to Harry and both NC State’s Nyheim Hines and Arizona State’s Demario Richard are going to put on a show with their legs.
Prediction: Arizona State 23, NC State 33
Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl
Northwestern vs. Kentucky
Location: Nashville, Tennessee
Date: Friday, Dec. 29
Time: 4:30 p.m. ET
The overtime kings, Northwestern (9-3) set the record for most consecutive overtime wins this season. The Cardiac Cats defeated Iowa, No. 16 Michigan State and Nebraska in five total overtime periods as a part of a seven game wining streak to cap off their regular season. Their 2-3 start included losses to No. 10 Wisconsin and No. 4 Penn State, outside of stumbling on the road at Duke the Wildcats put together a more than respectable season.
Kentucky (7-5) had their chances to emerge in the crowded SEC East but could not get out of their own way. The Wildcats left a Florida receiver wide open in the endzone to spoil their first victories over the Gators in decades and were surprisingly uncompetitive against Mississippi State and rival Louisville.
In a battle of all Wildcats its hard to see what Kentucky has going for them outside of stud running back Benny Snell. His 1,318 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns are impressive, but Northwestern finished the regular season as the No. 9 ranked rushing defense in the nation. Plus, they don’t lost close games, at least not if they can get them to overtime.
Prediction: Northwestern 38, Kentucky 19
Nova Home Loans Arizona Bowl
New Mexico State vs. Utah State
Location: Tuscon, Arizona
Date: Friday, Dec. 29
Time: 5:30 p.m. ET
Nestled between the meet of the bowl season is an under-the-radar all-Aggie battle between New Mexico State (6-6) and Utah State (6-6) in the Nova Home Loans Arizona Bowl.
The New Mexico State Aggies are the ultimate feel-good story. They haven’t played in a bowl game since 1960 and will be ending their more than half a century long bowl drought this year. Despite earning their sixth win in their regular season finale against South Alabama, the bowl trip remained in question. School funds wouldn’t be sufficient to take the Aggies far, so the opening at the Arizona Bowl proved to be the perfect, affordable fit.
The best player on the field in this one will be New Mexico State quarterback Tyler Rogers. He’s thrown for 3,825 yards, 25 touchdowns and 16 interceptions this season. Utah State had a big win over BYU which looked impressive at the time, but the Cougars finished 4-9. Without a dominant player on their side of the field it’s hard to stray from what could be a story booking ending to New Mexico State’s season.
Prediction: New Mexico State 34, Utah State 30
Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic
USC vs. Ohio State
Location: Arlington, Texas
Date: Friday, Dec. 29
Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
At one point, USC (11-2) was considered a top-five team in the nation and the Pac-12’s favorite to make it to the College Football Playoff. Well, that didn’t quite work out as the Trojans lost a couple of games they shouldn’t have and Sam Darnold struggled with turnovers. He still finished the season with 3,787 yards and 26 touchdowns and Ronald Jones II was one of the top running backs in the nation. Oh yeah, and USC won the Pac-12.
From the Pac-12 champ to the Big Ten winner, Ohio State (11-2) was left out of the College Football Playoff controversially. Alabama snuck in at No. 4 while Ohio State, a conference champ, was left at fifth. Will they play motivated in the Cotton Bowl or just flat? Senior quarterback JT Barrett won’t let his team put up a dud in postseason play for the second straight year and the backfield duo of JK Dobbins and Mike Weber are there to help as well.
Honestly, this game could go either way and might be the best non-playoff matchup of bowl season. The Buckeyes are favored by over a touchdown, but this game might come down to a field goal. Barrett will have a solid game against a shaky USC secondary and Darnold will struggle early on against Ohio State’s before coming on late. Expect another thriller between the Trojans and the Big Ten champ.
Prediction: USC 34, Ohio State 37
Taxslayer Bowl
Mississippi State vs. Louisville
Location: Jacksonville, Florida
Date: Saturday, Dec. 30
Time: Noon ET
Louisville (8-4) fell off the map earlier in the year thanks to some bad losses, but didn’t finish all that poorly. In fact, the Cardinals won four of their final five games after starting the year just 4-3 and Lamar Jackson had himself a heck of a season. He finished in the top three of Heisman voting with 3,489 yards and 25 touchdowns through the air along with 1,443 yards and 17 rushing scores. He had a better season than his Heisman campaign, but didn’t win because of his team’s record.
On the other hand, Mississippi State (8-4) is one of those teams that might have its mind located somewhere off the field thanks to the departure of head coach Dan Mullen. He took the job at Florida, which has to hurt Bulldogs fans. He leaves behind a quarterback in Nick Fitzgerald that struggled more than expected this year in Nick Fitzgerald along with a decent defense which helped Mississippi State surpass expectations.
Mississippi State is going to play hard no matter what, but you have to figure the past few weeks will wear on the young players. The Bulldogs’ run game, led by Aeris Williams, is going to stand out but it will be the Lamar Jackson show once again. He’s going to prove why he should have won the Heisman with an impressive 450-yard (all-purpose) performance. He’ll be the difference in this one.
Prediction: Louisville 34, Mississippi State 26
Autozone Liberty Bowl
Memphis vs. Iowa State
Location: Memphis, Tennessee
Date: Saturday, Dec. 30
Time: 12:30 p.m. ET
Matt Campbell completely turned Iowa State (7-5) around. That record doesn’t seem impressive at first glance, but from where the program was when he took over two years ago, it’s a heck of an upgrade. And he did it with a backup quarterback in Kyle Kempt who came in and led the Cyclones to a road upset over Oklahoma to put the team on the map, filling in for Jacob Park. Keep an eye out for Allen Lazard, too.
Memphis (10-2) doesn’t get enough credit for being one of the nation’s best Group of Five teams. The Tigers beat teams like UCLA, SMU, Houston and Navy on their way to a 10-win season and Mike Norvell was on the top of every top program’s wish list in terms of replacement coaches. Riley Ferguson had a heck of a season under center, passing for 3,971 yards and 36 touchdowns while Darrell Henderson has 1,154 rushing yards and nine scores. This offense is scary.
This should be called the bowl of teams that exceeded expectations in 2017 and had coaches that everyone wanted but re-signed with their respective programs. That would be too long of a name, obviously. Iowa State is going to put up a good fight against one of the nation’s most intriguing offenses in Memphis, but Kempt and Lazard aren’t enough to keep up with Ferguson, Anthony Miller and a strong rushing attack.
Prediction: Iowa State 30, Memphis 42
Playstation Fiesta Bowl
Washington vs. Penn State
Location: Glendale, Arizona
Date: Saturday, Dec. 30
Time: 4:00 p.m. ET
Prior to the 2017 season, Washington (10-2) was looked at as a potential playoff team as it had made it in 2016, winning the Pac-12 in the process. Jake Browning had a strong junior season, but didn’t quite live up to the Heisman hype. He has passed for 2,544 yards and 18 touchdowns with Dante Pettis leading the way in the receiving corps. Don’t sleep on Myles Gaskin in the run game as he has 1,282 yards and 19 scores.
Penn State (10-2) was also considered a strong playoff contender before the season after winning the Big Ten a year ago, but this Nittany Lions team had a huge target on their backs all year long and struggled against Ohio State and Michigan State on the road. Trace McSorley still stood out as an All-Big Ten performer with 3,228 yards and 26 passing touchdowns while junior running back Saquon Barkley was a preseason Heisman favorite but didn’t even receive an invite to the ceremony.
Both of these teams might be playing angry as they probably felt like they each had playoff-level talent, but a Fiesta Bowl will do. Barkley is going to prove critics who say he should sit the bowl game out wrong and rush for 150 yards but Browning will have a field day against this Nittany Lions secondary. In the end, Penn State just has too many weapons for the Huskies to account for but it’ll be a close contest.
Prediction: Washington 27, Penn State 31
Capital One Orange Bowl
Wisconsin vs. Miami
Location: Miami Gardens, Florida
Date: Saturday, Dec. 30
Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
Wisconsin (12-1) probably feels like it should have been in that final playoff spot discussion especially if Alabama, a non-conference title game participant, was. In the end, the Badgers will settle for another New Year’s Six bowl under Paul Chryst and they will be led by freshman sensation running back Jonathan Taylor, who has 1,847 yards and 13 touchdowns, and an elite defense.
Miami (10-2) was also in the discussion for a College Football Playoff berth, but a complete meltdown in the final two games of the season changed that. The Hurricanes lost to Pittsburgh in a shocking upset in the regular season finale and then were blown out by Clemson, 38-3, in the ACC Championship. National Coach of the Year Mark Richt will have his guys ready for the Orange Bowl, though. The U is back.
This is one of those games that will be tough to judge as each team has a strong defense and offenses that leave a lot to be desired. Taylor is the Badgers’ biggest offensive weapon and Malik Rosier is coming off a couple of tough games, but Travis Homer is there to help out in the run game. In the end, Wisconsin’s defense is going to make like difficult for the Hurricanes and Taylor will go off for 200 yards and a couple of scores.
Prediction: Wisconsin 24, Miami 17
Outback Bowl
South Carolina vs. Michigan
Location: Tampa, Florida
Date: Monday, Jan. 1
Time: Noon ET
It’s hard to picture an Outback Bowl without a ranked team, but that’s the case this year. Michigan (8-4) controversially snuck in out of the Big Ten and that’s without a victory over a team with a winning record. Brandon Peters might be motivated to play the best game of his career because he has the weight of beating incoming transfer Shea Patterson out for the starting job in 2018 — assuming Patterson is granted a special waiver to play right away.
Will Muschamp has done a solid job at South Carolina (8-4) since taking over, but it seems like he’s on the verge of getting the Gamecocks into that “contender” status in the SEC. Jake Bentley is a rising sophomore quarterback who tailed off at the end of the year but who has plenty of talent and this team might just surprise some people next year. This year, though? An Outback Bowl win would be quite a confidence-booster.
Michigan’s defense will be too much for South Carolina to handle and the Wolverines’ run game, too, will give the Gamecocks fits. Karan Higdon has been a surprise for the Wolverines on the ground and will have another solid game, but don’t overlook Bentley who hasn’t had a 250-plus yard performance since Sept. 30. He will be hungry to show off, but will throw a couple of late picks to this strong Wolverines secondary.
Prediction: Michigan 21, South Carolina 13
Chic-fil-A Peach Bowl
Central Florida vs. Auburn
Location: Atlanta, Georgia
Date: Monday, Jan. 1
Time: 12:30 p.m. ET
Losing in the SEC title game to a red-hot Georgia team, Auburn (10-3) saw its playoff hopes crushed. There was some good that came from that week, though, as head coach Gus Malzahn signed an extension, ending any rumors that he would head to Arkansas in the offseason. Jarrett Stidham has been a godsend at quarterback and that defense is scary. Any offense which Kerryon Johnson flies under the radar is a scary one.
Scott Frost decided to wait until after the Peach Bowl to assume his position as Nebraska’s next head coach. He turned UCF (12-0) around completely and there were some people who believed the Knights deserved a spot in the College Football Playoff. Auburn’s defense will be tested by sophomore sensation quarterback McKenzie Milton who has passed for 3,795 yards and 35 touchdowns on the year.
Unfortunately for the Knights, they haven’t faced a defense quite like Auburn’s this season and that’s going to spell doom. While they want to win for Frost, the Tigers just have too much firepower on both sides of the ball and the Knights’ cinderella season will come to an end. Auburn’s defense will get after Milton early and often and Stidham will have a 300-plus yard passing game.
Prediction: UCF 17, Auburn 30
Citrus Bowl presented by Overton’s
LSU vs. Notre Dame
Location: Orlando, Florida
Date: Monday, Jan. 1
Time: 1:00 p.m. ET
Notre Dame (9-3) looked like it would be headed for its first College Football Playoff appearance and then the Miami game happened. The Irish were dismantled by the Hurricanes and that led to a close win over Navy the next week and then a loss to Stanford to end the year. Brandon Wimbush showed an inability to be consistent through the air and Josh Adams struggled at the end of the season. Still, Brian Kelly led this team back in impressive fashion after a 4-8 season in 2016.
Ed Orgeron took over the LSU Tigers (9-3) after Les Miles was let go as an interim coach and then shook that interim tag in the offseason. He led the Tigers to a strong season despite a tough home loss to Troy in the middle of the year. He replaced Leonard Fournette nicely with Derrius Guice and made the most of the passing game with Danny Etling under center — he threw just two picks all year. The Tigers aren’t going to make many mistakes and the defense is solid, which frustrates the heck out of opponents.
This might end up being one of the best non-New Year’s Six bowls and that’s not surprising given the way these two teams have played this year. However, Notre Dame just has slightly more offense than the Tigers and that’ll be the difference. The Fighting Irish have a stellar rushing attack and that will test the Tigers who have a strong run defense. It’s power against power and I can see Kelly getting his team on the board early and not looking back.
Prediction: Notre Dame 34, LSU 23
College Football Playoff at the Rose Bowl presented by Northwestern Mutual
Oklahoma vs. Georgia
Location: Pasadena, California
Date: Monday, Jan. 1
Time: 5:00 p.m. ET
Oklahoma (12-1) was dealt what felt like a crushing blow when they were upset at home by Iowa State. The then 4-1 Sooners faced a tough Big 12 slate with perfection being essential if their dwindling College Football Playoff hopes would come to fruition. They did it. They stayed perfect and crushed some good teams along the way. Baker Mayfield took home the Heisman Trophy and the Sooners enter the postseason on an eight-game winning streak.
Georgia (12-1) stumbled late to a tough Auburn squad before getting their revenge in the SEC Championship Game. The Bulldogs ran circles around what was then the No. 2 team in the country, downing them 28-7 in dominant fashion.
Oklahoma hasn’t faced a defense this good all season. There’s a reason Georgia linebacker Roquan Smith received a couple of Heisman votes himself. Conversely, the Oklahoma offense is a cut above what Georgia has seen so far. When an elite offense faces and elite defense always take the defense.
Given ample time to prepare the Georgia offense had no problem with a voracious Auburn defense. On the opposite end of the battle of strength against strength, Georgia ranks 23rd in the nation in scoring offense while Oklahoma ranks 52nd in scoring defense.
Prediction: Georgia 35, Oklahoma 31
College Football Playoff at the AllState Sugar Bowl
Clemson vs. Alabama
Location: New Orleans, Louisiana
Date: Monday, Jan. 1
Time: 8:45 p.m. ET
We’re not used to saying this, but Alabama (11-1) snuck into the College Football Playoff this season and many believe the Crimson Tide should have been left out. Nick Saban has yet another solid team, but a late-season loss to Auburn and heading into the playoff without a conference title is somewhat controversial. Jalen Hurts has had a quiet season with 1,940 yards and 15 touchdowns, but has thrown just one pick. Damien Harris and Bo Scarbrough in that backfield are quite dynamic, though.
Clemson (12-1), on the other hand, was essentially a lock to make the playoff as it was in the top-four all season and reached No. 1 in the past few weeks. The Tigers may have lost Deshaun Watson from last year’s title team, but have replaced him with Kelly Bryant, Travis Etienne and an elite defense. Bryant has been solid this season, passing for 2,678 yards and 13 scores, Etienne has had a strong freshman season with 744 yards and 13 rushing scores and the defense allows just 278 yards per game.
Honestly, this national title rematch from the past two seasons is going to be much more of a low-scoring affair than it’s been. Clemson has a top defense and Alabama’s is slightly better, on paper. Bryant and Hurts will be held in check while both running games will be forced to carry the load. Expect a grind-it-out victory for the defending champs, but it will be yet another instant classic.
Prediction: Alabama 20, Clemson 23
College Football Playoff National Championship presented by AT&T
Projected Matchup: Clemson vs Georgia
Location: Atlanta, Georgia
Date: Monday, Jan. 8
Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
For the first time in over two years, we won’t see Clemson taking on Alabama, but rather another foe from the SEC in Georgia. The two teams seem to be the hottest in the country heading into postseason play and there wouldn’t be many experts who’d argue that these aren’t the top two squads.
This is going to be another hard-nosed battle, similar to what Clemson saw in the first round of the playoff against Alabama, but the Tigers are going to be even more prepared to face a strong defense. Playing and beating the Crimson Tide will give them a slight offensive advantage over Georgia, but you cannot sleep on the Bulldogs’ attack.
Freshman Jake Fromm has been impressive in his first year as the starting quarterback and the tandem of Nick Chubb and Sony Michel in the backfield is scary.
Clemson will hold the Bulldogs in check through the first three quarters, but Georgia will find a way to put up some late scores and force a down-to-the-wire thriller. This could be an even more exciting finish than last year’s game against Alabama for the Tigers.
Next: Post-Regular Season 2018 NFL Mock Draft
In the end, Georgia wins on a last-second field goal to send the Peach State into a frenzy and Kirby Smart instantly becomes a legend in Athens.