My annual attempt to successfully predict College Football Bowl Games is back. As you will soon realize, I do not use scientific analysis to pick my winners. Here we go with games starting tonight (Thursday).
Thursday, Dec. 22
Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl • Baylor vs. Air Force…7:30 p.m., ESPN
Air Force is the best of the Armed Forces this year. Baylor had a down season in 2022 and our Air Force should be able to handle Bears.
Friday, Dec. 23
Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl • Louisiana vs. Houston….3 p.m., ESPN
The Cougars have built a successful program of late. There will be alot of points in this one and I don’t see Louisiana scoring enough to win.
Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl • Wake Forest vs. Missouri…6:30 p.m., ESPN
Wake Forest averages around 40 points a game while Missouri gives up close to 40 per contest. I see the Demon Deacons putting 50 on the board while taking care of business.
Saturday, Dec. 24
EasyPost Hawai’i Bowl • Middle Tennessee State vs. San Diego State…8 p.m., ESPN
San Diego State will win. You know why? The Aztecs are used to traveling to the Islands. Middle Tennessee will take it all in and forget how to play football.
Monday, Dec. 26
Quick Lane Bowl • New Mexico State vs. Bowling Green…2:30 p.m., ESPN
This game is being played in Detroit. Culture and weather shock for New Mexico State. Bowling Green will travel north a bit from Ohio and pick up another win.
Tuesday, December 27
Camellia Bowl • Georgia Southern vs. Buffalo…Noon, ESPN
Game is taking place in Alabama so it is a short trip for Georgia Southern. Buffalo is likely just happy to be playing somewhere warmer. They will be even happier after pinning a loss on Georgia Southern.
SERVPRO First Responder Bowl • Memphis vs. Utah State…3:15 p.m., ESPN
I am going with Utah State here. Not sure why but let me share this with you. Memphis does not have to sing the Blues because it has amazing barbecue.
TicketSmarter Birmingham Bowl • Coastal Carolina vs. East Carolina…6:45 p.m., ESPN
This game should take place in Myrtle Beach where Coastal Carolina is located. Instead, both of these coastal schools from the Carolinas will travel to Birmingham, Alabama. I will go with East Carolina since they rarely see Bowl Game action and will be motivated.
Guaranteed Rate Bowl • Wisconsin vs. Oklahoma State…10:15 p.m., ESPN
A battle between the Big Ten and the Big 12. The Badgers finished strong while the Cowboys did their annual fade. I like Wisconsin here.
Wednesday, Dec. 28
Military Bowl Presented by Peraton • UCF vs. Duke…2 p.m., ESPN
Will Duke become more of a football school now that Coach K has retired? Doubtful. Give me UCF in a close one.
AutoZone Liberty Bowl • Kansas vs. Arkansas…5:30 p.m., ESPN
Don’t get me started on the spelling and pronunciation of these two states. Why is Arkansas pronounced Are-Can-Saw or Kansas Can-Saw? Just wondering. Anyway, Arkansas will win this one going away.
San Diego County Credit Union Holiday Bowl • Oregon vs. North Carolina…8 p.m., Fox
Sorry Tar Heels fans. UNC is not going to know what hit them in this matchup. At least they get a free trip to San Diego. Take the Ducks big.
TaxAct Texas Bowl • Texas Tech vs. Ole Miss…9 p.m., ESPN
This will basically be a home game for Tech. Still, I feel like Ole Miss will come out on top while keeping the scoreboard busy.
Thursday, Dec. 29
Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl • Syracuse vs. Minnesota…2 p.m., ESPN
This game will be played at Yankee Stadium. The ‘Cuse’ will travel down from upstate New York and fall to a Big Ten School. I am looking for good things from the Big Ten this year.
Cheez-It Bowl • Oklahoma vs. Florida State…5:30 p.m., ESPN
Florida State is on the way up while Oklahoma appears to be spiraling downward. Still, I just can’t go against the Sooners in a Bowl Game.
Valero Alamo Bowl • Texas vs. Washington…9 p.m., ESPN
The Longhorns will board buses to travel to San Antonio for this one. Washington will likely enjoy the trip and the Alamo. An interesting matchup with Texas winning a close one.
Friday, Dec. 30
Duke’s Mayo Bowl • Maryland vs. NC State…Noon, ESPN
These schools played each other annually back in the day. Back when Maryland was in the ACC. Nothing will change. The Wolfpack will win again.
Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl • Pittsburgh vs. UCLA…2 p.m., CBS
Reliving my Frosted Flakes mornings. Never thought Tony would get his own bowl game. Not sure what to expect here. Guess I will go with UCLA. I do know that not many of these kids have been to El Paso, TX.
TaxSlayer Gator Bowl • Notre Dame vs. South Carolina…3:30 p.m., ESPN
The Irish, again, thought they would make the Playoff. I think it will be a let down game for them while South Carolina is getting better on an annual basis.
Barstool Sports Arizona Bowl • Ohio vs. Wyoming…4:30 p.m. Barstool
Not sure why I would want to watch this one. If I did, it might be hard to find. Not sure if I can find the Barstool channel. I will go with Wyoming.
Capital One Orange Bowl • Tennessee vs. Clemson…8 p.m. ET, ESPN
This will be one of the better bowl games of the season. Lots of orange. Clemson will likely prevail. But only because the Volunteers will have their backup quarterback.
Saturday, Dec. 31
TransPerfect Music City Bowl • Iowa vs. Kentucky…Noon, ABC
Both teams struggle to put points on the board. Iowa hardly scores against bad defenses. The Wildcats boast a great defense and it will carry them to victory as the SEC will beat the Big Ten again.
Allstate Sugar Bowl • Alabama vs. Kansas State…Noon, ESPN
Most thought the Crimson Tide would not be motivated since they are not in the playoff. Apparently not, as their top players have opted to play instead of beginning NFL preparations. Kansas State will struggle if that is the case.
Monday, Jan. 2
ReliaQuest Bowl • Mississippi State vs. Illinois…Noon, ESPN2
The Big Ten continues to show out well as the Illini will eke out a win over an underrated Mississippi State team. Will be a defensive battle for sure.
Cheez-It Citrus Bowl • LSU vs. Purdue…1 p.m., ABC
Purdue has become a basketball school as evidenced by its current No. I ranking. The Boilers lost their coach to Louisville and their best players have chosen to sit this one out. Take the Tigers in a blowout.
Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic • USC vs. Tulane…1 p.m., ESPN
Speaking of blow outs. Tulane will not know what hit them. I can see the Trojans scoring over 50 points in this one.
Rose Bowl Game Presented by Prudential • Utah vs. Penn State…5 p.m., ESPN
The Big Ten comes up big again as the Nittany Lions will travel west and beat a pretty good Utah team that took are of USC twice this year.
That leaves the playoff teams. No. 1 Georgia will square off against No. 4 Ohio State. The Bulldogs will attempt to defend their national title against a Buckeyes team still smarting from their loss to Michigan. I think Georgia will prevail and meet Michigan in the Championship game after the Wolverines defeat TCU in the semis.
I will go with Michigan to win it all.
