NON-PLAYOFF BOWL GAMES
RUSSELL ATHLETIC BOWL
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#10 North Carolina (11-2) vs #17 Baylor (5:30 PM ET, on ESPN, in Orlando, Florida)
My pick: #10 North Carolina defeats #17 Baylor 34-20
What to watch for: North Carolina's defense. North Carolina has made a big improvement on the defensive side of the ball from last season to this season, and I think in a game vs a Baylor offense that was explosive but now beat up, I think the UNC defense will show up a play well enough to get the victory in the Citrus Bowl.
My thoughts/reasons: I think that North Carolina will come into this game looking like a team that has something to prove, while I think Baylor will look a little deflated because of where they were and where they are now. So I see North Carolina getting the victory in the end to finish off the season strong.
Photo credit: Gerry Broome - AP
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CHICK-fil-A PEACH BOWL
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#18 Houston (12-1) vs #9 Florida State (10-2) (12:00 PM ET, on ESPN, in Atlanta, Georgia)
My pick: #9 Florida State defeats #18 Houston 38-24
What to watch for: Florida State's running game. Florida State has one of the best running backs in the nation in RB Dalvin Cook, who has had a tremendous season. I think that Houston will try to do their best slowing down Cook and that FSU running game, but I think the Seminoles will be too much for the Cougars to handle, and I see Florida State getting the win to win the Peach Bowl, and get to 11 wins on the seasons.
My thoughts/reasons: Houston has had a great season under first-year head coach Tom Herman, and I think they'll continue to build off of this great season that they have had, but I think Florida State's talent and physicality as of right now will get the Seminoles the win in this game.
Photo credit: Mark Wallheiser - AP
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OUTBACK BOWL
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#13 Northwestern (10-2) vs #23 Tennessee (8-4) (12:00 PM ET, on ESPN2, in Tampa, Florida)
UPSET
My pick: #23 Tennessee defeats #13 Northwestern 27-10
What to watch for: Tennessee's defense. Tennessee's defense has played really well at some points of the season, and they've struggle at other points. But I think in this game, their defense and their physicality will wear down Northwestern, and give the Wildcats a hard time on offense. So I see the Vols' defense being a big part in a win to get them to 9 wins on the season and to get them an Outback Bowl victory to end their season on a good note.
My thoughts/reasons: Northwestern has been one of the surprise teams of the season, but I think in this game they'll fall short, and suffer their third loss of the season, this time to Tennessee who I think will be just to strong and tough for Northwestern to handle in the end.
Photo credit: Adam Lau - News Sentinel
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CITRUS BOWL
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#14 Michigan (9-3) vs #19 Florida (10-3) (1:00 PM ET, on ABC, in Orlando, Florida) UPSET
My pick: #19 Florida defeats #14 Michigan 17-14
What to watch for: Florida's defense. Florida has needed as much help as they could possibly get from their defense ever since their offense started going down hill, and in this game, I see their defense playing well, and executing the way they need to. Also, Michigan hasn't really looked like the same team ever since their 27-23 loss to Michigan State on October 17th, and I think that they'll continue to struggle to hit their stride in this game as well, and although Florida hasn't looked great at all either recently, I see Florida pulling off the Citrus Bowl victory to improve to 11-3 on the season.
My thoughts/reasons: These are two teams who have done great under first year head coaches, and I think they'll continue to build their programs off of this season, but somebody's gotta win, and somebody's gotta lose, and I see Florida being the team getting the win and Michigan being the team that falls short in a game that I think will be close and low scoring.
Photo credit: Kim Klement - USA Today Sports
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FIESTA BOWL
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#8 Notre Dame (10-2) vs #7 Ohio State (11-1) (1:00 PM ET, on ESPN, in Glendale, Arizona)My pick: #7 Ohio State defeats #8 Notre Dame 31-24
What to watch for: Ohio State's running game. Ohio State has one of the best running backs in college football in RB Ezekiel Elliott, and I think they'll use him and the rest of the Buckeyes' running game successfully in a game I think the Buckeyes will come out victorious in. Also, The Fighting Irish's running defense (62nd in the FBS) isn't as good as their passing defense (26th in the FBS), so I think Ohio State will find a way to get the victory, mainly behind their running game.
My thoughts/reasons: Both teams have fell short of their goal this season, so both of these teams could come into this game deflated or motivated, and I think both of these teams will come in pretty motivated. But I think that Ohio State will find a way with their experience to pull out a close victory to win the Fiesta Bowl.
Photo credit: Rick Osentoski - USA Today Sports
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ROSE BOWL
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#6 Stanford (10-2) vs #5 Iowa (11-1) (6:00 PM ET, on ESPN, in Pasadena, California) UPSET
My pick: #6 Stanford defeats #5 Iowa 24-17
What to watch for: Stanford's defense. Stanford's defense has had some really good moments this season, and some not so good moments this season. In this game, they'll face a smash-mouth offense in Iowa, who has a really good running game, and a passing game that doesn't make many mistakes. So although they're facing an offense that can wear teams down, I think they'll play well enough to get the win.
My thoughts/reasons: Both of these teams have had very successful seasons, and both of these teams very well could've been in the CFP right now, but even though I think both of these teams are happy to be in the Rose Bowl, I'm sure they aren't completely satisfied with the way things turned out. In terms of the game, I think it'll be a pretty close game, but I see Stanford pulling out the win in the end to finish their season off strong.
Photo credit: David Zalubowski - AP
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SUGAR BOWL
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#16 Oklahoma State (10-2) vs #12 Ole Miss (9-3) (8:30 PM ET, on ESPN, in New Orleans, Louisiana)
My pick: #12 Ole Miss defeats #16 Oklahoma State 45-31
What to watch for: Ole Miss' passing game. Ole Miss has a very, very talented WR corp, and they also have a pretty good QB in Chad Kelly who has played well as of late. In this game, vs a defense in Oklahoma State who has struggle this season, I see the Rebels having their way with the Cowboys' defense, and I see that being a big part in a game I see Ole Miss getting the victory in.
My thoughts/reasons: Both of these teams have had pretty good seasons, and both obviously want to end it on a good note, and since Ole Miss lost 42-3 last season to a BIG-12 team, I see them getting their redemption in this game because of that and other things. I think Ole Miss will start the game off right, and cruise to the victory in the end.
Photo credit: Justin Ford - USA Today Sports
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ALAMO BOWL
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#11 TCU (10-2) vs #15 Oregon (9-3) (6:45 PM ET, on ESPN, in San Antonio, Texas) UPSET
My pick: #15 Oregon defeats #11 TCU 48-41
What to watch for: Oregon's offense. Oregon's offense has played really well in the month of November, and I think they'll play well again vs the Horned Frogs in this game. I don't just think Oregon will play well on the offensive side of the ball because of their offense, I also think that TCU's injuries have also really limited TCU's ability to stop other teams. TCU's defense is a pretty good defense when they're healthy, but vs this offense with all the unfortunate injuries TCU has suffered on the defensive of the ball. Oregon has suffered injuries as well, just not as much and extreme as TCU has. So in the end, I see Oregon pulling off the win in a shootout to get to double-digit wins in their 8th straight season.
My thoughts/reasons: Both Oregon and TCU are very talented teams, and they are both obviously hoping to get another win to finish off this season strong. But I think that Oregon, with all the momentum that they have right now after winning six straight games, will come up big to get another victory in a close entertaining game to watch.
Photo credit: Ross D. Franklin - AP
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HOLIDAY BOWL
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#25 USC (8-5) vs Wisconsin (9-3) (10:30 PM ET, on ESPN, in San Diego, California) UPSET
My pick: Wisconsin defeats #25 USC 24-19
What to watch for: Wisconsin's defense. Wisconsin's defense has played really well this season, they've been pretty consistent in playing well, and they've also held five opponents under ten points this season. But they will face an offense in USC's that has a lot of talented players, and an experienced QB. I think that Wisconsin's defense will play well enough in this game to get the victory and to reach 10 victories on the season.
My thoughts/reasons: These two teams are pretty solid teams, and you can make an argument that both of these teams should be ranked in the top 25. But in this game, I see Wisconsin coming out victorious in the end with a victory to finish off the season strong because of multiple reasons, but especially their defense that I mentioned earlier.
Photo credit: Hannah Foslien - Getty Images
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This bowl season should be very, very exciting. There are a lot of matchups that should be fun, and entertaining. So enjoy CFB bowl season!
Here are some other good bowls that should be on your game radar:
MILITARY BOWL: Pitt (8-4) vs #21 Navy (10-2)
TEXAS BOWL: #20 LSU (8-3) vs Texas Tech (7-5)
BELK BOWL: NC State (7-5) vs Mississippi State (8-4)
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
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