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| ERIC DRAPER — ASSOCIATED PRESS Fresno State is the only team to make a bowl game despite finishing 6-7. |
New Orleans Bowl
Nevada v. Louisiana-Lafayette. Louisiana-Lafayette may have won this bowl the past three seasons but my man-crush on Nevada Senior QB Cody Fajardo's explosive style of play knows no bounds.
Pick: Against better judgement, Nevada.
New Mexico Bowl
Utah State v. Texas-El Paso. The Mountain West Conference > Conference-USA. Utah State may have lost 3 Quarterbacks to injury (way to go, O-line) but, it all comes down to which team's success do you trust the most based on strength of scheduling? I'm really intrigued to see how UTEP's RB Aaron Jones performs after a very nice season.
Pick: Utah State.
Las Vegas Bowl
Utah v. Colorado State. Other than one embarrassing play, The Utah Utes had one of the most anonymous seasons among the top-25 ranked teams. Meanwhile, Colorado State was tearing apart most of the nation in a season which inspired Florida to hire their head coach, Jim McElwain, and a season which opened the country's eyes to 1st team All-American WR Rashard Higgins.
Pick: Utah.
The Famous Idaho Potato Bowl!
Western Michigan v. Air Force. Still my favorite bowl game name, THE Famous Idaho Potato Bowl features the great offense of Western Michigan and second year Head Coach P.J. Fleck versus the inconsistent Air Force Falcons. Air Force knows how to run the ball so Western Mich. may want to work on their run defense as passing is very optional in the Air Force football team.
Pick: Western Michigan.
Camellia Bowl? What the hell is that?
South Alabama v. Bowling Green. I wasn't aware South Alabama existed as a football entity until I saw this match-up. Bowling Green's color scheme confuses me but, one thing that's clear is nobody should really know anything about these two teams unless they watched Mid-week MACtion this season or are attending South Alabama's university.
Pick: Bowling Green.
Monday, December 22nd
Miami Beach Bowl
Brigham Young v. Memphis. Brigham Young has shown the capability of getting by without QB Taysom Hill (broken leg) and Memphis is a team without a definition other than they are an average team, skating by an easy schedule.
Pick: BYU
Tuesday, December 23rd
Boca Raton Bowl
Marshall v. Northern Illinois. Northern Illinois was a much more successful team with Jordan Lynch under center in 2013 but, their defense is still in tact and Marshall hasn't looked like BIG SCARY MARSHALL in a month. Rakeem Cato is nice but, Northern Illinois has the experience necessary to dispose of a Conference-USA team.
Pick: Northern Illinois
Poinsettia Bowl
Navy v. San Diego State. If you get the time to watch this game, don't expect to see the next Tom Brady or Aaron Rodgers. Navy's offense is strictly a ground and pound offense featuring about 5 separate running backs/fullbacks and mobile QB Keenan Reynolds (who led the team in rushing with 1,182 yards this season). San Diego State at least tries to throw the ball every now and then, despite their superior ground game. RB Donnell Pumphrey is one of the most under-the-radar 1,700 yard rushers in the nation and he will get a test on Tuesday against Navy's run defense.
Pick: Navy
Wednesday, December 24th
Bahamas Bowl
Central Michigan v. Western Kentucky. The MAC's most average team versus the team that crushed Marshall's hopes. Central Michigan has no idea what they're in for against QB Brandon Doughty, considering they haven't faced any Quarterback of note this season. This will be a wild one with Western Kentucky's lack of defense.
Pick: Western Kentucky
Hawaii Bowl
Fresno State v. Rice. Ignoring the frustration that is a 6-7 team qualifying for a bowl game in one of the best vacation spots in the world, Fresno State knows what they're about: Passing and a lot of passing. Rice just gave up 76 points to Louisiana Tech. I don't think I need to talk about a team that gave up 76 points to Louisiana Tech past the point of mentioning that they gave up 76 points to Louisiana Tech.
Pick: Fresno State
Friday, December 26th
Heart of Dallas Bowl
Illinois v. Louisiana Tech. I'm trying to imagine what a bowl with the Heart of Dallas inside of it looks like... Kind of gross. I have seen Illinois play football multiple times this season and changed the channel within minutes of the kickoff. Illinois is a bad football team.
Pick: Louisiana Tech in a blowout.
Quick Lane Bowl
Rutgers v. North Carolina. Rutgers started the season as a respectable team, beating Michigan, Navy, and Washington State and sticking with Penn State in a close loss. They WERE 5-1. Rutgers finished 7-5 with a point differential of -111 over their final six games. North Carolina was wildly inconsistent and finished at .500 after beating Georgia Tech & Duke but, losing painfully to NC State and Virginia Tech. Who can collect themselves and get the whole team in a must-win attitude? Somebody has to win!
Pick: North Carolina
St. Petersburg Bowl
NC State v. Central Florida. UCF barely lost any steps after losing Blake Bortles and Storm Johnson to the NFL's best college team in Jacksonville. One 9-3 season after their best team in years and they look like they have some serious potential to be realized before 2016. NC State does not know what a defense is but, QB Jacoby Brissett will keep them in contention for most of the game.
Pick: Central Florida (UCF)
Saturday, December 27th
| Eric Francis/Getty Images |
Cincinnati v. Virginia Tech. Gunner Kiel, other than being the best name for a Quarterback right now, was once the next 1st round bust to be taken out of Notre Dame. Now, he's achieving accolades at a pace that Notre Dame would be perfectly fine with right now (nobody turns the ball over like Everett Golson). Virginia Tech seems like they could go 1-11 and still qualify for a bowl game. No offense to Va.Tech fans but, I find the team to be a nuisance. I always think "okay, they have a solid history. They'll probably still be good enough to take a team like Wake Forest" but no... They lost 3-6 in double overtime to Wake Forest in one of the worst games of the NCAA football season. Not to mention, I always confuse them with Virginia. Dammit Virginia, get your football teams together!
Pick: Cincinnati
Sun Bowl
Arizona State v. Duke. Arizona State's QB situation (Taylor Kelly + Mike Bercovici) hurt their chances at the college playoff this year, as did the faltering defense that was once a great defense in 2013. Kelly has something to prove as this is his final game for Arizona State and Duke's defense is known for stalling better offenses. Expect this game to be close as Duke has an under-the-radar NFL head coaching candidate in David Cutcliffe.
Pick: Arizona State
Independence Bowl
Miami (FL) v. South Carolina. Steve Spurrier misses Jadeveon Clowney. South Carolina's defense put up some pretty uninspiring numbers this year and with Duke Johnson still a Hurricane for at least one more game, SC will have trouble stopping THE U.
Pick: South Carolina. Threw you for a loop there, didn't I? I still think this a game that comes down to coaching and Steve Spurrier > Al Golden.
Pinstripe Bowl (What is this?? A game for zebras?!)
Boston College v. Penn State. Christian Hackenberg's sophomore season didn't go anywhere near as well as planned. Penn State's defense is still one of the most underrated defensive units in the nation and Boston College has trouble passing the ball. Expect a low scoring battle with many un-watchable drives. It doesn't seem like the ideal television scenario to have two teams as mediocre as these to face each other, alas it is 2014, and more bowl games is what we asked for at some point in the past.
Pick: Boston College
Holiday Bowl
Nebraska v. USC. After Bo Pelini's ugly exit, Nebraska is going to be coached by Tim Beck. I know nothing about Tim Beck other than he owns two turntables and a microphone and isn't the coolest dude around (some might even refer to him as a "loser"). USC will have a field day against Nebraska's underachieving and lackadaisical defense.
Pick: USC
Monday, December 29th
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| Arkansas Head Coach Bret Bielema |
Texas A&M v. West Virginia. Outside of the playoff games, this was the hardest game to envision. I like what I've seen from Kyle Allen but, I'm just not sure if he's ready to win a bowl game. Clint Trickett is the opposing QB for West Virginia and has the experience necessary to pull off an upset win over the SEC in this likely entertaining game.
Pick: West Virginia
Russell Athletic Bowl
Oklahoma v. Clemson. My Heisman pick for next year is a bit vague. I'm taking one of the three Oklahoma Sooner stars (if they all return) and those three are QB Trevor Knight, RB Samaje Perine, and DE Eric Striker. One of those guys will win the Heisman next year. Clemson is still Clemson, Cole Stoudt is starting at QB and the team is a disaster waiting to happen.
Pick: Oklahoma
Texas Bowl
Arkansas v. Texas. Wait a minute... I smell something fishy... Texas in the Texas Bowl? Did they specifically create this game to satisfy the University of Texas's needs? Arkansas is on a bit of a hot streak after winning their first SEC game but, Texas? in the Texas Bowl? It's a trap! Get away!
Pick: Texas
Tuesday, December 30th
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| Chuck Burton / Associated Press |
Notre Dame v. LSU. Bahahahaha. Have you seen Notre Dame since they lost (wrongfully) to Florida State?
Pick: LSU
Belk Bowl
Georgia v. Louisville. Louisville has an explosive receiver (Devante' Parker) with nobody to throw it to him. It would have been nice if Todd Gurley could have stayed healthy long enough to play during the bowl season but, Nick Chubb has done enough to prove himself. Georgia misses Todd Gurley but, not in a "We can't win without him" way.
Pick: Georgia
Foster Farms Bowl
Maryland v. Stanford. Yadayadayada wacky jerseys. That's all anybody mentions when they talk about the Maryland Terrapins. I'm here to tell you that, yes those ARE the only notable things going on with this school's football. C.J. Brown is an interesting Quarterback with mobility and average passing ability but, there aren't a whole lot of things pulling viewers to ESPN for this bowl game. Stanford returned to dominance with their 31-10 upset of UCLA on November 28th.
Pick: Stanford
Wednesday, December 31st
Peach Bowl
Ole Miss v. TCU. How will TCU respond to going from third to sixth in the rankings? Can Bo Wallace and company keep up with TCU's offense? A very intriguing battle between two top nine teams in the nation, TCU was one of my favorites to be crowned the best team in the nation at one point this season. It's a shame they couldn't beat Baylor or look like a real contender against Kansas but, such is life. Ole Miss was also off to a hot start until reality stepped in and pushed the Ole Miss offense down a flight of stairs with the injury to the team's #1 WR Laquon Treadwell.
Pick: TCU
Fiesta Bowl
Boise State v. Arizona. Boise State's offense is crazy fun with a mobile QB in Grant Hedrick and one of the nation's best Running Backs in Jay Ajayi. The defense isn't anything special but, it must be good enough as the Broncos enter on an eight game winning streak. Arizona has a good offense that nearly matches Boise State's talent. The real deciding factor will end up being Scooby Wright III who will feast on Boise State's O-Line.
Pick: Arizona
Orange Bowl
Mississippi State v. Georgia Tech. The Triple-option offense is a strange offensive design that has worked miracles for the Yellow Jackets all season long. Things will change when G.Tech's run-heavy offense gets smothered by Mississippi State's defense. Dak Prescott was a Heisman candidate until the final couple weeks of the season and he should outshine Georgia Tech's solid defense as the Bulldogs are full of pent-up anger from their loss to Ole Miss.
Pick: Mississippi State
Thursday, January 1st, 2015
Outback Bowl
Auburn v. Wisconsin. Living in the state of Wisconsin, I am only slightly biased as I do make myself watch every Badger game for at least a portion of the time so that I'm fully aware what the conversations might be locally. Auburn is coming off of a widely disappointing season after making the championship last season. AD Barry Alvarez is once again stepping down from his box to coach this game in light of Gary Anderson's
Pick: Auburn
Cotton Bowl
Michigan State v. Baylor. In another match-up of two top ten teams, the Spartans have been excelling despite an overrated offense and a slightly-less-talented-than-last-year defense. Their reputation and the Big Ten's reputation could take a hit with a big loss to an overpowering, pissed off Baylor squad.
Pick: Baylor
Citrus Bowl
Missouri v. Minnesota. Missouri surprised quite a few by making the SEC Championship and followed that up by surprising virtually nobody by losing to Alabama. Minnesota overachieved with a talented running back (David Cobb) and nice but not TOO nice defense in the Big Ten. Speaking of defense, Missouri's Defense is outstanding and if they can stop the run, then they can stop Minnesota.
Pick: Missouri
Rose Bowl
#2 Oregon v. #3 Florida State. In one of the two playoff head-to-heads, Oregon is heavily favored by college football fans despite Florida State not losing a game in two years. Good luck with that one, America. The Ducks are missing future-pro corner Ifo Ekpre-Olomu and will be complacent with their average defense since their offense is the real star of the university. It's a shame that we'll have to hear that ear-splitting tomahawk chant for another week but again, such is life.
Pick: Florida State
Sugar Bowl
Alabama v. Ohio State. Is there any scenario college underdog fans would love to see more than Nick Saban get upset by a third-string Quarterback from a lesser conference. The one thing that I've learned in my years of watching college football is that the widely-considered evil entity always wins. I mean... Nick Saban will have had a full month to game-plan for a third-string Quarterback! How do you expect this game to finish?
Pick: Alabama
Lesser Importance Bowl Games happening between the first round of 4 and the championship
Friday, January 2nd
Armed Forces Bowl
Houston v. Pittsburgh.
Pick: Pittsburgh
TaxSlayer Bowl
Iowa v. Tennessee.
Pick: Tennessee
Alamo Bowl
Kansas State v. UCLA. This is actually a nice game between two ranked teams but, all the outside buzz will be gone once we know the championship match-up and begin our non-stop analysis.
Pick: Kansas State
Cactus Bowl (ouch)
Washington v. Oklahoma State.
Pick: Oklahoma State
Saturday, January 3rd
Birmingham Bowl
East Carolina v. Florida.
Pick: Florida
Sunday, January 4th
GoDaddy.com Bowl
Toledo v. Arkansas State. Why are we holding this game? Especially on an NFL playoff Sunday!
Pick: Toledo
Monday, January 12th
National Championship Game
Florida State/Oregon v. Alabama/Ohio State. Considering my picks for the first round are Florida State and Alabama, I think I'll choose one of those two teams to win it all. Sounds like a good plan, no? Jameis Winston and Jimbo Fisher versus Nick Saban and Amari Cooper, Florida State's defense versus Alabama's defense although, never at the same time. It could set up to rival last season's incredible win for Florida State over Auburn. In fact, it could even mirror last season's finish with a Florida State win over an SEC powerhouse.
Pick: Alabama 38 - Florida State 31.
Threw you for a loop again, didn't I? Alabama might not have the world's best Quarterback or running game as they've had in years past but, it's still Nick Saban, it's still a fantastic offensive line and most importantly, Jameis Winston is ridiculously turnover prone. Can that change against Bama's defense? It's possible but, I really don't think that happens. So, roll tide or whatever, I guess.
Enjoy the bowl season! but don't enjoy too much or you'll suffer from bowl game hangover before the most important game.
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