It’s Bowl Season! I’ll predict every single bowl game and just because it’s the holiday season, I’ll sprinkle in some write ups as well.
New Mexico Bowl
Date: December 15th
Time 2:00 PM
Prediction: Utah State 38 North Texas 28
- This game features two QBs who are among the best in CFB. Mason Fine for North Texas and Jordan Love for Utah State. Fine threw for the 8th most yards in CFB and Love the 16th most. I’m picking Utah State simply because the defense is better.
Cure Bowl
Date: December 15th
Time 2:30 pm
Prediction: Tulane 27 Louisiana 24
- Louisiana had a terrific season making it to the Sun Belt Championship Game, where they fell to Appalachian State. The Ragin’ Cajuns have an excellent rushing attack. Led by Trey Ragas and Elijah Mitchell, they have the 14th best rushing attack in CFB. The Green Wave finished 6-6, but lost a few close games to Bowl Teams. They lost to Wake Forest by 6 and UAB by 7. Tulane has the 32nd ranked rushing attack in the nation. This game should be close and competitive, but I like Tulane by 3.
Las Vegas Bowl
Date: December 15th
Time: 3:30 PM
Prediction: (21) Fresno St 31 Arizona St 24
- Fresno State, the 2018 Mountain West Champions, look to take down the 7-5 Sun Devils, who exceeded expectations in year one under Herm Edwards. The Bulldogs have the 14th best Defense in CFB and Arizona State has one of the best RBs in CFB with Eno Benjamin (15 rushing TDs in 2018).
Camellia Bowl
Date: December 15th
Time: 5:30 PM
- If you read our new coaches report card, you’ll know that first year head coach Chad Lunsford has Georgia Southern flying high. Behind QB Shai Werts, who has yet to throw an interception this year, the Eagles have only turned the ball over 5 times this year. No reason to think this will be any different. GSU gets their 10th win of the year.
Prediction: Georgia Southern 27 EMU 24
New Orleans Bowl
Date: December 15th
Time: 9:00 PM
Prediction: Appalachian State 34 Middle Tennessee 24
Boca Raton Bowl
Date: December 18th
Time: 7:00 PM
Prediction: UAB 24 NIU 20
Frisco Bowl
Date: December 19th
Time: 8:00 PM
- Ohio QB Nathan Rourke is one of the most dynamic QBs in the country. He had 2225 yds passing with 22 TDs to go along with 816 yds and 13 TDs on the ground. Will that be enough against San Diego St? I say no. The Aztec defense, led by LB Kyahva Tezino, will do just enough to keep the Bobcats off balance, and get the W.
Prediction: SDSU 31 Ohio 28
Gasparilla Bowl
Date: December 20th
Time: 8:00 PM
Prediction: Marshall 38 USF 31
Bahamas Bowl
Date: December 21st
Time: 12:30 PM
Prediction: Toledo 42 FIU 28
Idaho Potato Bowl
Date: December 21st
Time: 4:00 PM
Prediction: BYU 24 WMU 16
Birmingham Bowl
Date: December 22nd
Time: 12:00 PM
Prediction: Wake Forest 42 Memphis 38
Armed Forces Bowl
Date: December 22nd
Time: 3:30 PM
- Fresh off of its victory over arch rival Navy, Army has a chance to win 11 games for the first time in its history. The Black Knights took Oklahoma to overtime earlier this year, by dominating time of possession. Coog star DL Ed Oliver is sitting this game out to prepare for the NFL draft. That’s bad news for Houston. Army gets it done.
Prediction: Army 34 Houston 27
Dollar General Bowl
Date: December 22nd
Time: 7:00 PM
Prediction: Troy 33 Buffalo 24
Hawaii Bowl
Date: December 22nd
Time: 10:30 PM
Prediction: Hawaii 34 Louisiana Tech 31
- How great was Hawaii QB Cole McDonald this season? He threw for 3,790 yards and 35 TDs and led the Rainbow Warriors to 8 wins. Louisiana Tech QB J’mar Smith had quite the season himself with 2,875 passing yards. Louisiana Tech also has DE Jaylon Ferguson who’s tied for 1st in CFB with 15 sacks. I’m going with Hawaii, led by a big game from Cole McDonald and WR John Ursua.
First Responder Bowl
Date: December 26th
Time: 1:30 PM
Prediction: (25) Boise State 34 Boston College 24
- Boston College OC Scot Loeffler departed for the Bowling Green Head Coaching Job. The BC Offense at times has looked sharp and other times it hasn’t. With Loeffler gone it’s no telling how it’ll look. Boise State ranks 11th in Total Offense and they’re led by QB Brett Rypien. He’ll have to watch out for Eagles DB Hamp Cheevers, who has 7 interceptions in 2018.
Quick Lane Bowl
Date: December 26th
Time: 5:15 PM
Prediction: Georgia Tech 31 Minnesota 21
Cheez-It Bowl
Date: December 26th
Time: 9:00 PM
Prediction: California 23 TCU 20
Independence Bowl
Date: December 27th
Time: 1:30 PM
Prediction: Temple 31 Duke 30
- I’ll admit it, I’m just not that big on Duke QB Daniel Jones and I think the Owls are vastly underrated, making this short and simple. Give me the Owls in a close one.
Pinstripe Bowl
Date: December 27th
Time: 5:15 PM
Prediction: Miami 24 Wisconsin 20
- The Bowl of Disappointing 2018 Teams, Wisconsin and Miami both underachieved and went 7-5 this season. The Canes have the 4th most Efficient Defense in CFB. However, Defensive Coordinator Manny Diaz is heading to Temple. So that could affect how this game goes.
Texas Bowl
Date: December 27th
Time: 9:00 PM
Prediction: Vanderbilt 31 Baylor 27
Music City Bowl
Date: December 28th
Time: 1:30 PM
Prediction: Auburn 31 Purdue 28
- Last year Auburn looked unmotivated vs UCF and lost their bowl game. Purdue has a high powered offense led by freshman WR Rondale Moore (103 rec 1,164 yards 12 TDs). This one could go either way. I’m not sure how motivated Auburn will be after a disappointing season, but talent wise the Tigers are better. So I’ll take them by a field goal.
Camping World Bowl
Date: December 28th
Time: 5:15 PM
Prediction: (20) Syracuse 37 (16) West Virginia 34
Valero Alamo Bowl
Date: December 28th
Time: 9:00 PM
Prediction: (24) Iowa State 34 (13) Washington State 31
- I’m taking the underdog in this one. The Cyclones are 3.5 point dogs and most of America will be on WSU after Iowa State barely won vs FCS Opponent Drake in Week 14. I smell a trap here.
Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl
Date: December 29th
Time: 12:00 PM
Prediction: (7) Michigan 24 (10) Florida 20
- A match-up of two strong Defensive Units, Michigan ranks 7th in Defensive Efficiency and Florida has one of the best pass rushers in the nation with Jachai Polite. Michigan should be fired up after that blowout loss to Ohio State.
Belk Bowl
Date: December 29th
Time: 12:30 PM
Prediction: South Carolina 31 UVA 24
- South Carolina WR Deebo Samuel won’t play in the Belk Bowl so he can focus on the 2019 NFL Draft. Even without him I like the Gamecocks to find a way to win this game. The Cavaliers have a very good secondary with Juan Thornhill and Bryce Hall leading the way, so it won’t be easy for South Carolina.
Arizona Bowl
Date: December 29th
Time: 1:15 PM
Prediction: Nevada 35 Arkansas State 31
Cotton Bowl
Date: December 29th
Time: 4:00 PM
Prediction: (2) Clemson 34 (3) Notre Dame 24
- Clemson has the #1 Ranked Defense based on Efficiency in 2018, the D-Line is phenomenal and the Linebackers have played well all season. If it’s one unit the Irish could expose it would be the Secondary. Notre Dame QB Ian Book threw for 2,468 yards and 19 TDs in 9 games this season. I expect Notre Dame to make this competitive but the Tigers pull away late.
Orange Bowl
Date: December 29th
Time: 8:00 PM
Prediction: (1) Alabama 49 (4) Oklahoma 34
- The Orange Bowl consists of the #1 Ranked Offense (Oklahoma) going up against the #2 Ranked Defense in Alabama. Alabama also ranks as the 2nd most Efficient Offense in 2018. The biggest concern for the Sooners is the defense. Can they make a few stops? I doubt it, so I like Alabama to win and cover the spread.
Military Bowl
Date: December 31st
Time: 12:00 PM
Prediction: Cincinnati 31 Virginia Tech 28
- Cincinnati has the 9th most Efficient Defense in CFB and only allowed 16.1 PPG this season. It’s a big reason why they went 10-2. Virginia Tech’s strength this season was their passing attack. Kansas transfer QB Ryan Willis who walked on at VT has a live arm and isn’t afraid to sling it. If VT wants to come away with the win, Willis needs to connect with Eric Kumah, Tre Turner, Damon Hazelton and Hezekiah Grimsley and spread out the Bearcats Defense.
Sun Bowl
Date: December 31st
Time: 2:00 PM
Prediction: Stanford 31 Pitt 20
Redbox Bowl
Date: December 31st
Time: 3:00 PM
Prediction: Oregon 28 Michigan State 20
Autozone Liberty Bowl
Date: December 31st
Time: 3:45 PM
Prediction: (23) Missouri 42 Oklahoma State 37
- This match-up consists of the 13th most efficient offense in CFB (Missouri) vs the 14th most efficient offense in CFB (Oklahoma State). I expect a lot of points in this one with two very good QBs. Oklahoma State QB Taylor Cornelius threw for 3,642 yards & 28 TDs, while Missouri QB Drew Lock threw for 3,125 yards and 25 TDs.
Holiday Bowl
Date: December 31st
Time: 7:00 PM
Prediction: (17) Utah 24 (22) Northwestern 16
TaxSlayer Gator Bowl
Date: December 31st
Time: 7:30 PM
Prediction: (19) Texas A&M 35 NC State 24
Outback Bowl
Date: January 1st
Time: 12:00 PM
- Points will be tough to come by as these two teams face off. Both have top defenses and mediocre offenses. Mississippi St’s defense is 3rd in the country in yards/game; Iowa is 7th. The Bulldogs’ defense is the top ranked scoring defense in the country; the Hawkeyes are 11th. On offense MSU is ranked 66th in the country in yards/game; Iowa is ranked 76th. Everything favors the Bulldogs. Give me more cowbell and the W.
Prediction: (18) Mississippi State 27 Iowa 17
Citrus Bowl
Date: January 1st
Time: 1:00 PM
Prediction: (12) Penn State 24 (17) Kentucky 17
Playstation Fiesta Bowl
Date: January 1st
Time: 1:00 PM
Prediction: (11) LSU 34 (8) UCF 24
Rose Bowl
Date: January 1st
Time: 5:00 PM
Prediction: (6) Ohio State 31 (9) Washington 23
Sugar Bowl
Date: January 1st
Time: 8:45 PM
Prediction: (5) Georgia 38 (15) Texas 24
National Championship Prediction đ
(1) Alabama 27 (2) Clemson 24
- This is my initial prediction (although, there are rumors that Tua won’t play in the semifinals). We’ll do a complete write up once we know for sure what the actual match up is.
