Bowl Predictions: New Year's

The new year is imminent and the bowls are getting bigger and bigger. Up until New Year's Eve, only seven Top 25 teams played in bowl games; the rest are left to battle each other over the next three days. There's no doubt that 2014 will end and 2015 will begin with some thrilling football action.

Ole Miss may be able to rely on their defense, but must find
some way to move the ball against TCU. Michael Chang

Peach Bowl: New Year's Eve begins with a tremendous match-up between Ole Miss (5-3 SEC West) and TCU (8-1 Big 12). These two Top 10 teams were both in the midst of the playoff race at different points in the season.

Ole Miss won their first seven games, in retrospect, an impressive feat. During this streak the Rebels defeated six future bowl teams (including Louisiana-Lafayette, Texas A&M, and Tennessee) and three future conference champions (Boise State, Memphis, and Alabama). The games against Memphis and Boise State were close until the Rebels pulled away in the fourth quarter; while those wins looked good when they happened, they're even more impressive now. Ole Miss held Memphis to three points – against only one other opponent were the Tigers held to less than 24; in addition, no other opponent beat Memphis by more than seven points (including Pac-12-power UCLA). The Rebels beat Boise State by 22 points – only one other team (Air Force) defeated the Broncos. The apex of the Rebels' season was their six-point triumph over Alabama, a win that broke a 10-year losing streak to the Tide. The Rebels downed the Tide with good defense and an efficient passing game. This impressive streak skyrocketed Ole Miss to the top of the polls. Finally, LSU reminded the Rebels of their mortality. In a defensive slugfest, the Tigers effectively stymied the Rebel offense and won a close game despite losing four turnovers. Next week, the Rebels lost another heartbreaker, this time, to Auburn. Playmaking receiver Laquon Treadwell also suffered a season-ending injury in the defeat. Disaster struck Ole Miss against Arkansas... the Rebels lost six turnovers in the shutout loss. The Rebels redeemed themselves in a dominant victory over rival Mississippi State in the Egg Bowl.

TCU may have the most impressive résumé of any team outside the playoffs. The Horned Frogs won their first four games against Samford, Minnesota, SMU, and Oklahoma before their one and only loss of the season. Against Baylor, the Horned Frogs let a 21-point fourth-quarter lead slip away, losing on a last-second field goal. TCU rebounded with two dominating victories over Oklahoma State and Texas Tech. The Frogs need a last-second field goal of their own to defeat their next opponent, West Virginia. TCU followed this escape with an obliteration of Kansas State; they followed this, perhaps their most impressive win of the season, dodging an upset against Kansas. Pushing towards a possible playoff berth, the Frogs proceeded to demolish their final two opponents.

Together, Ole Miss and TCU have the two best defenses of their respective conferences. The Rebels' Bo Wallace and the Frogs' Trevone Boykin are two talented, experienced quarterbacks, both highly capable of running their offenses. The Rebels will miss Treadwell in this game, but still have enough talent to win.

• 9 Mississippi (9-3) over 6 TCU (11-1), 31-24

The Broncos could continue their streak of Fiesta Bowl
success with a win over Arizona. Brian Losness-USA TODAY Sports

Fiesta Bowl: Arizona (7-2 Pac-12 South) returns to the premier bowl game of its home state for the first time since 1994 and only the third time ever. Their opponent, Boise State (7-1 MW Mountain), is well-known for its success in Glendale and is also making its third appearance in the game. The Wildcats have already earned 10 wins this season – a feat accomplished by only two other teams in this 115-year-old program's history. By contrast, Boise State has played football for just 46 years, but already has 21 seasons of 10 wins or more.

Arizona won the first five games of their season, though it wasn't easy. The first was a blowout win over UNLV; this was followed by four straight nail-biters over UTSA, Nevada, California, and Oregon. The win over Cal was achieved via a last-second Hail Mary. The impressive victory over Oregon in Eugene was done while many Ducks were sidelined by injuries. The undefeated season ended the next week with a narrow loss to USC. The Cats next beat Washington State before losing again to the other Los Angeles team, UCLA. Arizona won out their last four games, notched notable victories against Utah and Arizona State, and clinched a spot in the Pac-12 Championship Game. There they met Oregon for a rematch, seeking to duplicate their previous result. This time, however, the Ducks were healthier and better prepared; the Wildcats were crushed by the eventual playoff-team.

The Broncos began their season with a blowout loss to Ole Miss. They bounced back the next week to score a decisive victory over Colorado State. Boise State rolled past UConn and Louisiana-Lafayette before dropping another game, this time, a two-touchdown defeat against Air Force. The Broncos wouldn't lose another game all season. They slipped by Nevada and Fresno State, outscored BYU and New Mexico, came back against San Diego State, and swept aside Wyoming and Utah State. They ended this run with a dominating rematch win over Fresno State.

These teams appear evenly matched... both have good offenses that compensate for often-vulnerable defenses. Both have balanced offenses but somewhat lean towards the pass. This game should be close and high scoring.

• 10 Arizona (10-3) over 20 Boise State (11-2), 48-45

The Bulldogs weathered the nation's best division during the
regular season, although Georgia Tech is well equipped to
deliver them a sting. Derick E.Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Orange Bowl: A battle between Mississippi State (6-2 SEC West) and Georgia Tech (6-2 ACC Coastal) will decide the final victory of the calendar year. Both teams excelled this season, winning 10 games each and contending with the nation's elite. Despite sharing a conference for 30 years, the Yellow Jackets never met the Bulldogs while members of the SEC, though the two programs have played each other while members of different conferences (Tech has won each of the previous four).

Mississippi State was one of the last undefeated teams to fall this season, winning all of their first nine games. The Bulldogs won their first three games, but first started to gain repute after holding off an LSU comeback in Death Valley. State continued to impress by convincingly besting their next two opponents, Texas A&M and Auburn. The Bulldogs continued to roll until traveling to Tuscaloosa to take on the Tide. The Alabama defense forced three interceptions from Bulldog quarterback Dak Prescott, which was, in the end, too much for Mississippi State to overcome. An easy win over Vanderbilt was followed by another crushing defeat to rival Ole Miss.

The Yellow Jackets were not so impressive during the early season. Georgia Tech won their first two games over Wofford and Tulane. Then, Georgia Southern, another in-state option-offense team, came into Atlanta, hungry for an upset. Ultimately, a furious comeback by the Eagles fell short, and the Jackets escaped. Georgia Tech fought off their next two opponents, Virginia Tech and Miami. A strong Duke team downed the Yellow Jackets the next week while a talented-but-inconsistent North Carolina squad gave Georgia Tech a two-game losing streak. But things were starting to click for the Jackets. Georgia Tech blasted their next four ACC opponents, outscoring Pittsburgh, Virginia, NC State, and Clemson by significant margins. The Yellow Jackets clinched a division championship before heading to Athens to take on rival Georgia. In an improbable overtime victory, Georgia Tech shocked the Dawgs and won their first game over Georgia in six years. Tech then traveled to Charlotte for the ACC Championship Game against Florida State. The Jackets nearly pulled the upset, but couldn't stop FSU's offense consistently enough.

It's probably accurate to say that Mississippi State has played better this season... however, Georgia Tech has played better ending the season. Both teams have good offenses; in fact, Georgia Tech's flexbone is one of the most effective and hard-to-stop offenses in the country. Mississippi State, on the other hand, has the superior defense (one equipped to limit Tech's triple-option attack). The Bulldog defense must react well to the absence of their defensive coordinator, who has left Mississippi State for a position at another school. Georgia Tech should win if they can execute their offensive gameplan and not allow themselves to fall behind.

• 12 Georgia Tech (10-3) over 7 Mississippi State (10-2), 35-30

Longtime head coach Barry Alvarez will once again lead the
Badgers into a bowl game. Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

Outback Bowl: The new year begins with Auburn (4-4 SEC West) taking on Wisconsin (7-1 Big Ten West) in Tampa. Each team had their moments this season, even if they couldn't win their biggest games.

Runners-up in last year's national championship game, the Auburn Tigers had high hopes coming into the season. Coming into November, it looked as though they could live up to or exceed those hopes. The Tigers started off with a dominating win over talented Arkansas. Following a blowout of San José State, Auburn traveled to Kansas State, where they earned a close and hard-fought win over the Wildcats. The Tigers crushed a good Louisiana Tech team before humiliating Louisiana State. By this point, the Tigers were undefeated and pushing towards the top spot in the polls. Fortunes turned sour after a sloppy, turnover-filled trip to Starkville, where the the Tigers fell hard to Mississippi State. The Tigers scraped by their next two opponents, South Carolina and Ole Miss, but were still in contention for their ultimate goal. Then Texas A&M strolled into town and shocked the turnover-prone Tigers. Inopportune fumbles and interceptions continued to haunt Auburn; Georgia exploited Tiger miscues and stomped AU in Athens. Auburn sleepwalked past Samford in preparation for their date with Alabama. The Tigers' effort was valiant, but the Tide made a few more critical plays and pulled away in the fourth quarter.

Wisconsin's season began with everything looking rosy for the Badgers... until the third quarter of the opening game. The Badgers surrendered a 17-point second-half-lead to LSU, eventually losing by four. Wisconsin recovered by convincingly beating three lesser teams (the best being Bowling Green), but began October with a loss to Northwestern. The Badgers turned a page and wouldn't lose again until December. The Badgers beat Illinois then destroyed their next four opponents (Maryland, Rutgers, Purdue, and Nebraska). Badger running back and Heisman-runner-up Melvin Gordon set the single-game FBS rushing record in the blowout of Nebraska (though it was broken a week afterwards). Wisconsin edged both Iowa and Minnesota over the next two weeks. The Badgers' win over the Golden Gophers clinched them a berth in the Big Ten Championship Game against Ohio State. The following game was an utter disaster for Wisconsin – the Badgers couldn't move the ball or stop the Buckeyes. Head coach Gary Andersen left for another program just a short time later.

As solid a Big Ten team Wisconsin is, Auburn appears to have the better squad. Wisconsin may have a slightly better defense (though it's hard to judge, as both teams were inconsistent defensively), but, as long as they avoid excessive turnovers, Auburn has the superior offense. Wisconsin has one of the most productive rushing attacks in the FBS... on the other hand, their passing game is hardly feared. Auburn has both one of the most effective running games and a viable pass threat. In addition, coaching chaos may play a role in this game. Auburn is missing their defensive coordinator while Wisconsin has an interim head coach (AD and former head coach Barry Alvarez). The Badgers have a history of playing tough in bowl games, but still expect Auburn to win here.

• 19 Auburn (8-4) over 18 Wisconsin (10-3), 42-20

Motivation may be a key factor in the match-up between the
Spartans and the Bears. Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports

Cotton Bowl: Michigan State (7-1 Big Ten East) meets Baylor (8-1 Big 12) in an intriguing match-up of big conference heavyweights. Weaknesses among these two elite teams are few and far between.

Michigan State did not last long among the nation's unbeaten. After winning an easy game, the Spartans traveled to Eugene to take on Oregon. For three quarters, the two teams were even. After four, the Ducks outlasted MSU and were clear victors. The Spartans soon got back on track and back to their dominant ways. Of their next six victories, only the win over Nebraska was at all competitive. In that game, the Spartans built up a big lead over the first three quarters... only to see the Cornhuskers nearly pull off a miraculous comeback. Then came the most important date of the season, the game against Ohio State. Just like the Oregon game, it was competitive for three quarters... then the Buckeyes pulled away. Michigan State released their frustration by bashing their next three opponents (Maryland, Rutgers, and Penn State) into submission. The Spartans ended their season having lost just twice (and both losses were to playoff teams).

Big 12 co-champion Baylor started their season blowing out their first five opponents. Although none of those five teams finished the regular season with a winning record, the Bears made their superiority evident. Next came TCU – the game that would define Baylor's season. The Bears overcame a 21-point fourth-quarter deficit to top the Horned Frogs on a last-second field goal. However, the Bears couldn't avoid the letdown, and were soundly defeated by West Virginia in Morgantown. This loss ultimately decided the Bears' placement in the Cotton Bowl rather than the playoffs. Baylor went on the demolish Kansas, Oklahoma, and Oklahoma State in their next three games. The Bears almost had another letdown against Texas Tech; a failed two-point conversion kept the game out of overtime. Baylor finished their season with an impressive win over Kansas State.

This bowl is one of the more difficult to predict. Baylor has a spectacular offense, perhaps the nation's best. The Bear defense is better than most in the Big 12. Michigan State plays very well on both sides of the ball. What may be missing for both teams is motivation. This could be a tremendous problem for Baylor, who had hoped to make the playoffs up until the final four were officially selected. On the other hand, the Bears may be motivated to prove their worth. The Spartans have yet to prove they can play a full four quarters against an excellent team like Baylor. Due to these factors, this game's outcome is among the most unpredictable. The more motivated team, rather than the best, may be the team that wins.

• 5 Baylor (11-1) over 8 Michigan State (10-2), 37-34

Only the state of Iowa separates them; despite this, Missouri
and Minnesota are meeting for just the ninth time in history
and the first time since 1970. Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

Citrus Bowl: Few expected Missouri (7-1 SEC East) or Minnesota (5-3 Big Ten West) would end up in Orlando for the postseason. But, after surprisingly successful seasons by both teams, here they are.

The Tigers began their season with three wins that look better in retrospect than they did at the time. Missouri beat South Dakota State, a strong FCS team, in their season opener. They following this with a big win over Toledo, one of the MAC's best. The next week, they blew out UCF, a team that would go on to win their conference. Then came their most inexplicably poor performance, a four-point loss to a mediocre Indiana squad (who would only go on to win one Big Ten game all year) at home. The Tigers returned the following week to shock South Carolina in South Carolina. After two weeks of preparation, Mizzou was shut out at home by Georgia. They turned around following week to crush Florida in Gainesville, while scoring four non-offensive touchdown. The bizarre season continued, but Mizzou kept winning. They went on to beat Vanderbilt and Kentucky in close games. Then they beat Texas A&M, Tennessee, and Arkansas in closer games. By December, the Tigers had clinched a spot in the SEC Championship Game against Alabama. Mizzou played a close game through the first three quarters, but Bama pulled away in the fourth.

Minnesota built upon last season's success for another strong season. After winning their first two, the Golden Gophers fell badly against TCU (although that team would later prove to be excellent). The Gophers won their next two over San José State and Michigan. Minnesota edged Northwestern and Purdue in the following weeks. After starting the season winning six of their first seven, the Gophers lost three of their last five. Ending October, they fell again to Illinois in a close game. They following this by obliterating Iowa in Minneapolis. Next week, they lost a competitive game to Ohio State. Never to lose twice in a row, the Gophers rebounded with an impressive victory over Nebraska. The Gophers could not find the same success next week against Wisconsin, ultimately falling to the Badgers with a conference championship berth on the line.

Statistically, neither team appears dominant. Both teams have good defenses, but each is a step below the elite. The strength of each offense is the run, although neither offense is particularly fearsome. One thing each team does very well is win. More often than not, things just end up going their way. The key match-up is Minnesota's rush offense versus Missouri's rush defense. These are the most effective units of each team, and they will be going head-to-head. Missouri should be a better team and should win again on New Year's Day.

• 16 Missouri (10-3) over 25 Minnesota (8-4), 35-17

The Rose Bowl hosts Florida State and Oregon in the
first-ever playoff game of major college football.
Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports

Rose Bowl: The playoffs officially begin when Oregon (8-1 Pac-12 North) and Florida State (8-0 ACC Atlantic) kick off in Pasadena. These two titans of college football were the only teams to beat every team on their schedule this year. The two Heisman-winning quarterbacks on each sideline will receive much of the media coverage, but both teams are truly excellent in nearly every respect.

Oregon has played a better season this year than most programs ever have. After flying past a terribly overmatched South Dakota squad, the Ducks hosted Michigan State for a big-time brawl. In the end, Oregon powered past a very good Spartan team in the second half. The Ducks crushed Wyoming the next week, but injuries on the offensive line were piling up. With the line severely compromised, the Ducks could only escape Washington State with a seven-point win. The weakened Ducks would fall shortly afterwards. A scrappy and talented Arizona team arrived in Eugene hungry for another upset win over the Ducks. Oregon could not find offensive consistency and the opportunistic Wildcats came out as seven-point victors. That was the last fully competitive game the Ducks would play all season. Oregon would sail through the rest of their schedule, finishing with eight straight wins. The Ducks ran by UCLA, Washington, Cal, and Stanford before heading to Salt Lake City to take on the Utes. There, with the aid of a monumentally fortunate 99-yard fumble return, the Ducks held only a slight lead in the fourth quarter before pulling away. Two more conference wins secured the Ducks a rematch in the championship game against Arizona. Things went differently the second time around. Although the Wildcat defense held through the first quarter, things quickly got out of hand and the Ducks finished with a huge victory.

The Seminoles are the only undefeated team in the country, though it's hardly ever been easy. The defending champions have had a target on their backs all year, beginning with the season opener. Way back in August, the Noles were playing an average Oklahoma State team in Dallas. Florida State couldn't pull away, and the game's outcome was in question until the final onside kick was recovered. After beating the Citadel, star quarterback Jameis Winston was suspended and the Seminoles had to host Clemson. The Tigers controlled most of the game, but after a series of late critical mistakes by Clemson, the Noles forced overtime. FSU scored a touchdown to win it in OT. The Seminoles needed a second half comeback to overcome NC State in Raleigh the following week. After crushing two week opponents, the Seminoles were tasked with defeating Notre Dame in Tallahassee. That game could not have been closer; despite being outgained by a significant margin, the Noles won the game after an Irish touchdown was nullified by an offensive pass interference call as the clock winded out. Florida State needed another second half rally to get past Louisville in their next game. FSU beat Virginia the next week, but needed two late scores to beat Miami a week later. A field goal with less than five seconds remaining lifted Florida State past Boston College while a 94-yard interception return was the deciding score in a close home finale against Florida. FSU stayed true to form in the ACC Championship Game; the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets had the opportunity to win, but it was Florida State that came out a two-point winner.

The offenses of both Oregon and Florida State rank among the best in the nation. Oregon is extremely productive running the ball and passing the ball. Florida State's offense leans heavily towards the pass (and interceptions have been a problem), but the Seminoles have devoted more snaps to the running game late in the season. Both defensive squads are very solid; neither team has a particular advantage in that sector. Special teams are strong on both sides (though Oregon rarely attempts field goals for their placekicker). Oregon may have the slight advantage due to their more developed rushing game and lower tendency to lose turnovers.

• 2 Oregon (12-1) over 3 Florida State (13-0), 45-38

Few expected the Buckeyes to be here after an early loss to
Virginia Tech. Greg Bartram-USA TODAY Sports

Sugar Bowl: The other national finalist will be decided in New Orleans when Alabama (7-1 SEC West) and Ohio State (8-0 Big Ten East) clash. The Crimson Tide have proven resilient against a relentless schedule. The Buckeyes have overcome injuries to the quarterback position that would have crippled most teams. Each are led by head coaches that have six national titles between them.

Another year, another great Alabama team. The Crimson Tide started the season against West Virginia, who they eventually beat in a closer-than-expected game. The Tide drowned two weak opponents before Florida came to Tuscaloosa. Turnovers plagued Alabama, but the Tide exploited Florida's ineptitude and cruised past the Gators in the second half. Alabama had two weeks to rest and prepare for their next opponent, Ole Miss. In one of the best games of the season, the Rebels came back from a seven-point fourth-quarter deficit to stun the Tide in Oxford. Perhaps Alabama was in shock, as they nearly fell again the next week, barely getting by the Razorbacks with the aid of a missed Arkansas PAT. But the Tide returned to their best the following week, obliterating Texas A&M and holding them scoreless. Bama ended October with a win over Tennessee. Next the Tide headed off to Death Valley, where they managed to surpass LSU in overtime after a low-scoring, defensively-dominated period of regulation. Alabama followed this close, defensive victory with another, this time over Mississippi State. The Tide beat an FCS team before hosting Auburn in the annual Iron Bowl. Auburn brought their best game, and even had a lead going into the fourth quarter. Unlike most previous Alabama games this season, the bout against Auburn was dominated by offenses. The Tide outscored the Tigers in the final quarter. Mizzou challenged Alabama for the SEC title, but just like the Tigers before them, they couldn't play a full, four-quarter game against Alabama.

Ohio State started their year without star quarterback Braxton Miller, who suffered a season-ending injury before the first kickoff. Replacement J. T. Barrett had a good first game against Navy, even if the Midshipmen were overmatched. He didn't fare so well in his second game. The game against Virginia Tech was a disaster... but ultimately it was Barrett's three interceptions that doomed the Buckeyes. The Buckeyes would go on to win their next 11 games after that loss; meanwhile, the Hokies would only win four more all season. Kent State, Cincinnati, Maryland, and Rutgers all fell to the Buckeye's cleaver. Penn State put up a valiant fight, only to lose in double-overtime. Illinois was squashed by the might of the Buckeyes. Michigan State combated Ohio State for most of their game, but they too fell in the end. Minnesota was competitive with OSU, but didn't have enough to win. Surprisingly, Indiana and Michigan each played three competitive quarters, but couldn't hold back Ohio State in the fourth. J. T. Barrett had transformed from scapegoat to star quarterback by the end of the season. Unfortunately, Barrett suffered a season-ending injury in the game against Michigan. In came Cardale Jones, who faced the task of beating Wisconsin in the conference championship game. To the surprise of quite possibly everyone, the Buckeyes annihilated the Badgers, shutting them and Heisman-runner-up Melvin Gordon completely down.

Both Alabama and Ohio State are extremely talented and well-coached. Both possess defenses that rank among the best in the nation. Both have balanced, versatile offenses. Right now, both teams are flawed, but certainly have the potential to be great. However, Alabama's ceiling might just be a bit higher. The Tide have passed the gauntlet of the SEC West, and are more battle-tested than any other playoff team. Experience, coaching, and talent should give Alabama the edge they need to win.

• 1 Alabama (12-1) over 4 Ohio State (12-1), 37-17

With both their head coaches gone, Pitt and Houston look
towards temporary leadership. Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Armed Forces Bowl: It's not the Texans and the Steelers, but Houston (5-3 American) and Pittsburgh (4-4 ACC Coastal) will battle in Fort Worth. Both teams will be led onto the field by interim head coaches. Houston's Tony Levine was let go after three years of inconsistent offense and mixed on-the-field results. Pitt's Paul Chryst left to take the open job at his alma mater. The Cougars are no strangers to heartbreak. The introduction of their brand-new stadium was ruined when UTSA beat them in their home opener. Valiant comebacks against UCF, Tulane, and Cincinnati fell just short, costing the Cougars at least a share of their conference championship. The one shining moment of their season was a four-point win over Memphis. Pitt won their first three games, including a reasonably impressive 10-point victory over Boston College. Then came an excusable loss to Iowa. Then came an inexcusable loss to Akron. After another loss to Virginia, the season was in jeopardy. The Panthers made a temporary recovery by holding on against Virginia Tech, but dropped the following three to good teams (Georgia Tech, Duke, and North Carolina). Pitt finished with two straight wins over Syracuse and Miami. Houston has a balanced, if underwhelming, offense. However, the Cougar defense is excellent. Pitt possesses a run-heavy, but decently productive, offense. The Panther defense is good but not superior. This game is particularly hard to predict considering the coaching situation of both programs. During the regular season, Pitt could have been expected to win by about a touchdown. Under the current circumstances, anything could happen.

• Pittsburgh (6-6) over Houston (7-5), 34-27

Gator Bowl: Iowa (4-4 Big Ten West) and Tennessee (3-5 SEC East) face off for another classic SEC-Big Ten battle. The Hawkeyes have one more win, but the Volunteers played a more difficult schedule. Iowa won seven of their first ten games, though their most impressive victories during that span were over Pitt and Illinois. Four of the Hawkeyes' five defeats came to good teams (Maryland, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Nebraska); the losses to Wisconsin and Nebraska were particularly close and heartbreaking. Iowa's worst loss was to rival Iowa State, which came early in the season. Tennessee has endured a similarly difficult season. The Vols started off with two wins over future bowl teams, Utah State and Arkansas State. They lost badly to Oklahoma in the third week. After two weeks to rest and prepare, the Volunteers nearly pulled off a stunning upset of Georgia, but were defeated by just three points. After coming home to face Florida, the Vols lost by a mere point after conceding 10 unanswered fourth-quarter points. Tennessee won four of their last seven, beating Chattanooga, South Carolina (in overtime), Kentucky, and Vanderbilt, but losing to Ole Miss, Alabama, and Missouri. Tennessee is ostensibly the more talented team, but Iowa has a history of performing well in recent bowl games. Neither team has a consistently strong or balanced offense, but both defenses are solid and skilled. The winner should exit Jacksonville with a narrow, hard-fought victory.

• Iowa (7-5) over Tennessee (6-6), 24-17

The Alamo Bowl will be the last postseason game before the
national championship to feature two Top 25 teams.
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Alamo Bowl: San Antonio hosts two excellent teams for this season's bowl game. Kansas State (7-2 Big 12) won nine games, only losing to Auburn and the Big 12's co-champions. UCLA (6-3 Pac-12 South) played to an identical record in one of the nation's strongest divisions.

The Wildcats won their first two games over Stephen F. Austin and Iowa State (although they needed a late touchdown to win the latter). Kansas State hosted highly-ranked Auburn next, but missed three field goals and lost by six. The Wildcats won their next five, including a shocking one-point victory over Oklahoma in Norman and a shutout win over Texas. TCU was too good for K-State, easily topping the Wildcats in their contest. The Wildcats were lucky to exit Morgantown with a win over West Virginia, but cruised to a victory against rival Kansas. K-State ended the season with a decisive loss to Baylor.

UCLA began their season with sky-high expectations. Those expectations were lowered by many after a close win over Virginia in the season opener. Next came another close win, this time against a Memphis team that would later prove itself excellent. The Bruins barely beat Texas in the following game, leaving many doubting UCLA. The Bruins finally surpassed expectations with a rout of Arizona State. UCLA followed this success with an upset loss to Utah. A fantastic Oregon team handed the Bruins another loss the next week. UCLA won their next five games, though it wasn't always easy. Mediocre Cal and Colorado teams almost found a way to upset the Bruins. UCLA earned impressive double-digit wins over Arizona, Washington, and USC. Their season ended with an unexpected 21-point defeat to Stanford.

Despite their identical records, UCLA and Kansas State vary in the methods employed to succeed. The Bruins have a balanced, but not exceptional, offense and an inconsistently average defense. The Wildcats have a good offense and a well disciplined, solid defense; however, their offense can be too reliant on the pass. UCLA may be the team with a higher potential, but Kansas State more frequently plays at or near their full potential. If UCLA has been coached an prepared properly, they should have the edge they need to win.

• 14 UCLA (9-3) over 11 Kansas State (9-3), 31-28

Cactus Bowl: Washington (4-5 Pac-12 North) meets Oklahoma State (4-5 Big 12) in Tempe for this late postseason game. Each teams struggled during their conference schedules, but both ended up with enough wins to earn a bowl invitations. The Huskies started off winning their first four (including a narrow shootout victory over Eastern Washington and a rout of Illinois), but their streak ended with a close loss to Stanford in Seattle. Their first loss began a brutal stretch of five losses over seven games. Other than Stanford, the Huskies were also defeated by Oregon, Arizona State, UCLA, and Arizona – all strong teams, although only the losses to Arizona and ASU were particularly close. The Huskies won two straight to end the season. Oklahoma State started the season with a moral victory – a narrow loss to top-ranked Florida State. This was followed by a victory on the field but a moral defeat; star quarterback J.W. Walsh suffered a season-ending injury in their blowout of Missouri State. Oklahoma State won their next three games over weak opponents with backup quarterbacks, but lost the following five against better competition. The Cowboys were not competitive in any game against the Big 12's best... until the season finale. OK State ended the regular season on a high note with an improbable upset victory over rival Oklahoma. Neither team has a balanced or reliable offense; Washington relies too heavily on the run while Oklahoma State is too reliant on their passing game. In addition, the Cowboy defense is often exploited for its many weaknesses. The Huskies, on the other hand, have one of the best defenses in the Pac-12. It's this defense that should give Washington the advantage in this game.

• Washington (8-5) over Oklahoma State (6-6), 30-20

The Gators will need another great performance from their
secondary to combat the Pirates.
Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Birmingham Bowl: Before they meet again next September in Gainesville, East Carolina (5-3 American) plays Florida (4-4 SEC East) at Legion Field. Both teams failed to achieve their primary goals this season, but can enter the offseason with a win if they can get by their final opponent.

ECU began the year winning six of their first seven. During this stretch, the Pirates narrowly lost to South Carolina but upset Virginia Tech and North Carolina. Their played impressed voters, and the Pirates were ranked in the Top 25 entering November. Five fumbles capsized the Pirate against Temple, leaving ECU with two losses after their visit to Philadelphia. The Pirates lost their next game as well, this time in a shootout against Cincinnati. ECU temporarily righted the ship with two wins over Tulane and Tulsa, but lost their regular season finale on a last-second Hail Mary against UCF.

The Gators' season opener against Idaho was shelved until 2017 due to thunderstorm. The new season opener, against Eastern Michigan, ended with a lopsided shutout victory. Florida found their next opponent, Kentucky, far more formidable; it took three overtime periods for the Gators to down the Wildcats in the Swamp. The Gators traveled to Tuscaloosa the next week, but were no match for Alabama. Florida's offense was totally smothered by the Tide's superior defense. The Gators needed two scores in the fourth quarter to overcome Tennessee on the road. Returning home, Florida faced a vulnerable LSU team, but couldn't get it done in the end, losing a heartbreaker to the Tigers. The Gators could not immediately recover from this loss, as they handed Missouri a victory the following week, allowing an interception, fumble, kickoff, and punt for a touchdown. Inexplicably, Florida followed this abysmal performance with a resounding triumph over Georgia. The Gators won consecutive games with a victory over Vanderbilt, but lost in overtime to South Carolina the next week. This loss came after the Gators should have put the game away, costing head coach Will Muschamp his job. Muschamp remained to coach the Gators' victory over Eastern Kentucky and narrow defeat to Florida State.

The Pirates and the Gators are opposites in many respects. ECU has the nation's second most productive passing offense. Florida has one of the least productive passing attacks. Both offenses are rather average on the ground, although Florida is statistically better. The Gators have been close in many of their games this season due to their phenomenal defense. The Pirate defense is only average. The key position match-up will be East Carolina's receivers against Florida's defensive backs. These are probably the best units on each respective team. However, all things considered, the Gators have a significant talent advantage. During the regular season, Florida would have been heavily favored against the Pirates. However, now that the Gators are being led by an interim regime that may already have a foot out the door, the Pirates will almost certainly have the edge in coaching and preparation. The Pirates may also be more motivated to play in and win this bowl game. If the Gator offense can limit mistakes and if all units play near their potential, Florida should win their seventh game.

• Florida (6-5) over East Carolina (8-4), 27-20

GoDaddy Bowl: For the penultimate game of the season, we head off to Mobile to see Toledo (7-1 MAC West) play Arkansas State (5-3 Sun Belt). The Rockets lost two of their first three games, but would only lose two more all season. Three of Toledo's four losses were to Missouri, Cincinnati, and Northern Illinois – teams that would either go on to win their conference division or conference overall (the other was a seven-point loss to Iowa State). The Rockets narrowly lost to NIU on the road, a defeat that would cost them the MAC West title. Toledo's most notable wins were over Central Michigan, Western Michigan, and Bowling Green. The Red Wolves had a similar year; after dropping two of their first three, they would only suffer defeat three times again. None of Arkansas State's five losses were to teams that would finish with a losing record (those teams being Tennessee, Miami, Louisiana-Lafayette, Appalachian State, and Texas State). The Red Wolves' most impressive victory was in overtime against Utah State; their manhandling of South Alabama was their second strongest performance. Both teams possess balanced offenses with especially productive rushing attacks. Neither team has a particularly strong defense. Look for a high-scoring shootout here.

• Toledo (8-4) over Arkansas State (7-5), 52-45

Know Your Opponent: East Carolina

This season's Birmingham Bowl will officially mark the 41st bowl appearance by the Florida Gators. Their opponents are the Pirates of East Carolina University. The institution that is now ECU was originally chartered in 1907 as the East Carolina Teachers Training School. The first class was held in 1909 in Greenville. The school became a four-year college in 1920 and was renamed the East Carolina Teachers College. The teacher's college gradually expanded its programs, eventually renaming itself East Carolina College in 1951 after becoming a comprehensive college. ECC separated from the state university system in 1967 and changed its name again, this time to its modern moniker. It rejoined the state system just five year later, but kept the new designation. Currently, almost 22,000 undergrads and over 27,000 total students are enrolled at East Carolina. Purple and gold are the official school colors (although they usually appear as violet and yellow).

ECU's Dowdy–Ficklen Stadium is named after Greenville
tobacco tycoon James Skinner Ficklen and controversial
Orlando businessman Ron Dowdy. Wikimedia Commons

East Carolina football began in 1932, less than a year after the first male graduated from the college. The modern nickname was adopted quickly – ECTC being located in a region notorious for its historical association with piracy. The Pirates joined the North State Conference after spending their first 14 years as independents. ECC won their first conference title in 1953 as members of that conference. The Pirates departed that conference after the 1961 season and became an independent again. East Carolina joined the Southern Conference in 1965 and remained there until 1976. The Pirates won four conference championship during their tenure in the SoCon. ECU became independent again after 1976; they remained so until joining Conference USA in 1997. The Pirates won two C-USA titles before leaving for the American Athletic Conference in 2014. ECU plays home games on-campus at Dowdy–Ficklen Stadium. The stadium is designed to accommodate 50,000 spectators, although over 51,000 showed up to watch the Pirates take down the North Carolina Tar Heels in 2014.

Although occasionally the best team in their conference or their state, the Pirates have never been a program that could sustain major success. Only three times has ECU ended the season ranked (1983, 1991, 1995) and only once have they finished ranked in both major polls. The 1991 squad started their season with a loss to Illinois, but followed that with 11 straight wins (including victories over Syracuse in the Carrier Dome and NC State in the Peach Bowl). That team finished ranked ninth in both the Coaches and AP poll.

The Florida Gators and the East Carolina Pirates have played only once. That game, played in 1983, featured what were, at the time, probably the most talented teams ever fielded by each program. The Gators were 5-0-1 and were hosting the Pirates for Homecoming. The Pirates themselves had an impressive 5-1 record, having lost just once (and by a single point to FSU in Tallahassee). In front of a record-capacity crowd, the Gators ultimately triumphed with a 24-17 victory in a defensive, interception-plagued battle. The Gators would end the season 9-2-1 and ranked sixth in the country. The Pirates would finish 8-3, having lost just three times; each loss was on the road to a Florida powerhouse (Florida State, Florida, and Miami) and by no more than seven points. Their loss to Miami (played in the Orange Bowl) was by just five points to the eventual national champions. The Pirates ended 1983 ranked twentieth by the AP. The Gators would not risk scheduling the Pirates again until 2015. The Hurricanes would play the Pirates many times again, famously being upset by ECU in 1996 and 1999.

Bowl Predictions: After Christmas

The Illini surprised many by reaching a bowl but now must
play one of Conference USA's best, Louisiana Tech.
Michael Hickey/Getty Images

Bowl season's been good but it should only get better. After Christmas we'll start seeing a lot more elite teams from power conferences and increasingly more Top 25 match-ups.

Heart of Dallas Bowl: We go to the Cotton Bowl (the stadium, that is) for the first bowl game after Christmas. There we'll see Illinois (3-5 Big Ten West) face Louisiana Tech (7-1 C-USA West). The Fighting Illini scraped by their Big Ten schedule, eventually earning six wins and bowl eligibility for the first time since 2011. That's the same year Louisiana Tech played their last bowl game. The Illini have had an up-and-down season – barely getting past Western Kentucky and Texas State, losing to Purdue, but knocking off Minnesota and Penn State. The Illini have not contested the best teams they've played (Ohio State, Wisconsin, Washington, and Nebraska) and only beat one FBS team (Northwestern) by more than one score. The injury of quarterback Wes Lunt hurt the Illini passing game, though replacement Reilly O'Toole has made plays, too. Illinois has little ability to move the ball on the ground. Louisiana Tech may have had even more highs and lows than Illinois. The Bulldogs were crushed by P5-conference powers Oklahoma and Auburn, lost inexplicably to FCS-school Northwestern State, and were heartbroken by Marshall in the Conference USA Championship Game. They also breezed through their pre-championship conference schedule, beating all but two opponent by 11 points or more. By C-USA standards, the Bulldogs have an excellent offense and a good defense. Like Illinois, Louisiana Tech leans more towards the pass than the run. Tech should be the better team.

• Louisiana Tech (8-5) over Illinois (6-6), 34-26

Quick Lane Bowl: Rutgers (3-5 Big Ten East) comes into Detroit after a surprisingly successful inaugural season in the Big Ten. Plagued by poor defensive play all season, North Carolina (4-4 ACC Coastal) is now just 6-6 after appearing in the preseason Top 25. Rutgers started the season very well, going 5-1 after losing only a tight game to Penn State. The Scarlet Knight even beat Navy in Annapolis. They then proceeded to lose four of their next five games badly to a quartet of the Big Ten's best teams (Ohio State, Nebraska, Wisconsin, and Michigan State). Wins over Indiana and Maryland gave Rutgers seven victories on the season. North Carolina only barely managed to reach a bowl, but had to earn their six wins against a fairly difficult schedule. All six of the Tar Heels' losses came against bowl teams while four of their six wins were against teams now going bowling. After beating Liberty and San Diego State, UNC dropped four straight to East Carolina, Clemson, Virginia Tech, and Notre Dame. Then came the Heels' most impressive moment of the season, a five-point victory over Georgia Tech. Carolina's last five games included blowout losses to Miami and NC State and an impressive win over Duke. Although Rutgers may have a better defense than UNC, the Tar Heel have a notably better offense than the Scarlet Knights and a better chance to win.

• North Carolina (6-6) over Rutgers (7-5), 38-34

The Wolfpack must avoid mistakes to overcome the Knights
in St. Petersburg. Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports

St. Petersburg Bowl: North Carolina State (3-5 ACC Atlantic) has been one of the least consistent teams this year led by one of the least consistent quarterbacks, Jacoby Brissett. The Wolfpack's best performances of the year were a one-point win over Georgia Southern, a 12-point loss to Florida State (which was actually closer than the final score suggests), and a 28-point beatdown of rival North Carolina. NC State was soundly beaten by both Boston College and Louisville while they were totally obliterated by Clemson and Georgia Tech. UCF (7-1 American) has won nine games and part of a conference championship even though it's come against a rather weak schedule. UCF began the season with two losses to Penn State and Missouri and finished it winning nine of their final 10. Six of those wins came against teams that did not receive bowl bids while the other three were all by seven points or less. In fact, UCF was astoundingly lucky that they beat Houston and East Carolina (the former was via a late Houston fumble into the endzone; the latter was through a last-second Hail Mary). Their win over BYU was in overtime after BYU had already lost their star quarterback. UCF's third loss was their most incomprehensible – an eight-point defeat to a very poor UConn squad. Still, if fortunes continue to favor the Knights, and if their defense plays well when they have to, they should triumph again here.

• UCF (9-3) over NC State (7-5), 30-27

Military Bowl: Cincinnati (7-1 American) and Virginia Tech (3-5 ACC Coastal) will meet for the third time in a bowl game since 2008 when they play again this season. The Bearcats began the season 2-3 before reeling off seven straight wins to end the season. Their three losses all came to talented teams (Ohio State, Memphis, and Miami). Three of Cincinnati's nine wins (Toledo, East Carolina, and Houston) came against eventual bowl teams. The strength of the Bearcats is their passing offense, led by quarterback Gunner Kiel and his unusually large corps of receivers. Virginia Tech has been one of the strangest teams this year. Early this season, the Hokies downed future-playoff team Ohio State in Columbus... only to lose the very next week to East Carolina. Only Miami beat the Hokies by more than seven points. Virginia Tech also lost a bizarre double-overtime game to Wake Forrest by a score of 6-3. Needless to say, it has been a struggle moving the ball for the Virginia Tech offense. Besides Ohio State, Tech was also able to defeat bowl teams Western Michigan, North Carolina, and Duke. The Hokie defense should keep this game close, though Cincinnati should prove superior in the end.

• Cincinnati (9-3) over Virginia Tech (6-6), 27-24

Arizona State looks to win another Sun Bowl when they play
the Duke Blue Devils. Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Sun Bowl: The Duke Blue Devils (5-3 ACC Coastal) take on the Arizona State Sun Devils (6-3 Pac-12 South) in the Sun Bowl. But there's more intrigue to this match-up than just the convenient overlap of names. This is also the first bowl game matching two teams near the top of their respective Power Five conference. Duke's had another good year, winning nine while only dropping three; Arizona State has the same record. The Blue Devils three losses came against Miami, Virginia Tech, and North Carolina; the loss to the Hokies was by a mere point, though Miami and UNC both handled the Blue Devils with relative ease. Duke's most impressive win by far was their six-point victory over Georgia Tech. Arizona State's had several impressive wins this year, beating USC, Stanford, Washington, Utah, and Notre Dame. On the other hand, the Sun Devils were routed by UCLA and beaten by a subpar Oregon State team. ASU dropped their season finale to rival Arizona. While Duke's strength is their disciplined defense, Arizona State's edge is their capable West Coast offense. If the Sun Devils can score, they should top their Blue counterparts in El Paso.

• 15 Arizona State (9-3) over Duke (9-3), 34-27

Independence Bowl: Miami (3-5 ACC Coastal) will arrive in Shreveport looking to end their season on a high note after a disappointing skid at the end of the regular season. Their opponent, South Carolina (3-5 SEC East), has experienced a season of general disappointment. The Gamecocks and the Hurricanes are meeting for the 16th time and only the third time outside South Florida. The Hurricanes had a promising start to the season, winning six of their first nine games. Five of these wins came by at least 12 points against bowl teams while all three losses were against respectable opponents (Louisville, Nebraska, and Georgia Tech). Then the Canes dropped a heartbreaker to rival Florida State. The wheels seemed to come off after that loss, as Miami went on to lose badly to Virginia and Pitt. The Gamecocks started the season ranked in the Top 10 before losing to Texas A&M in their season opener. Carolina won their next three (including a three-point victory over Georgia) but then lost four of the proceeding five (all to SEC foes). Each of those four losses was by seven points or less. The Gamecocks finally got a game to go their way when they beat Florida in overtime. Carolina ended their season being dominated by rival Clemson. Considering the turbulent paths of both teams' seasons, it's difficult to foresee the outcome of this game. Carolina's combination of a strong offense and a vulnerable defense makes them prone close games. Whatever team is better coached and prepared will likely win this game.

• South Carolina (6-6) over Miami (6-6), 45-42

The season's been a struggle for Penn State but the Nittany
Lions can go out winners in Yankee Stadium.
Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

Pinstripe Bowl: The Bronx hopes to host yet another exciting college football game with Boston College (4-4 ACC Atlantic) and Penn State (2-6 Big Ten East) coming to the Big Apple. The Eagles upset USC early in the season and went on to scare most of the ACC's best competition (though, in the end, the Eagles would always fall short). BC plays excellent defense while duel-threat quarterback Tyler Murphy has proven difficult to stop. The scrappy Eagles lost by a mere 10 points combined to Colorado State, Clemson, and Florida State. Penn State, meanwhile, began their season 4-0 before losing six of their last eight. After being crushed by Northwestern, the Nittany Lions lost three consecutive heartbreakers to Michigan, Ohio State (in double-overtime), and Maryland. Wins over Indiana and Temple secured bowl eligibility for Penn State, but they could only manage a 12th place finish in the Big Ten by the season's end. Strong defense kept the Nittany Lions in most games, but a dysfunctional offense proved their downfall all too often. The Eagles should make a few more offensive plays than the Nittany Lions – enough to win them this game.

• Boston College (7-5) over Penn State (6-6), 23-16

Holiday Bowl: Nebraska (5-3 Big Ten West) and USC (6-3 Pac-12 South), two of college football's legendary programs, meet for the fifth time in history this year in San Diego. Nebraska finds itself without head coach Bo Pelini, who was dismissed at the end of the season despite leading his team to nine wins. The Cornhuskers won eight of their first nine (the lone loss was by five points against Michigan State) before being embarrassed by division rival Wisconsin. The Huskers lost their next game to Minnesota and fell out of the conference championship race. Nebraska beat five bowl teams, but losing their three biggest games left many fans disappointed. USC also found themselves losing most big games this season. Notably, the Trojans conquered Stanford, Arizona, and Notre Dame, but fell short against Boston College, Arizona State, Utah, and UCLA. Both teams have talented defenses and productive offenses. Where they differ most is offensive style; USC utilizes a pass-heavy attack while Nebraska is dependent on their ground game. USC should exploit the current turmoil in the Nebraska program to earn their ninth win.

• 24 USC (8-4) over Nebraska (9-3), 38-24

The Aggies have been up and down this season; they'll need
another good game to topple the Mountaineers.
Shanna Lockwood-USA TODAY Sports

Liberty Bowl: Expect plenty of points when Texas A&M (3-5 SEC West) plays West Virginia (5-4 Big 12) in Memphis. Each team possesses one of the nation's most productive passing offenses... their defenses are rarely so effective. The Aggies won their first five games, but lost five of their final seven. West Virginia started off winning six of their first eight before losing three of their last four. A&M was at their best when they upset South Carolina, Arkansas, and Auburn; their lowest moment was a 59-point shellacking against Alabama. The Aggies ended their season with two tough losses to Missouri and LSU. The Mountaineers began their season with a closer-than-expected loss to Alabama. This began a trend for the Mountaineers of losing big games. The one instance in which WVU broke this trend was their shocking 14-point upset of Baylor. West Virginia fell just short of upending TCU and Kansas State. The winner of this game should be the team that throws fewer interceptions.

• Texas A&M (7-5) over West Virginia (7-5), 41-38

Russell Athletic Bowl: The newly renovated Citrus Bowl Stadium hosts two of the nation's best units in its first bowl game of the year. Clemson (6-2 ACC Atlantic) boasts one of the best defenses in college football. Oklahoma (5-4 Big 12), on the other hand, has one of the best offenses. The Tigers' three losses all came to excellent teams (Georgia, Florida State, and Georgia Tech). Clemson was without their star freshman quarterback Deshaun Watson for much of the season, but their defense kept them competitive in every game not against a team from Georgia. Oklahoma has their own freshman phenom, halfback Samaje Perine. Perine holds the FBS record for most rushing yards in a single game (set against Kansas earlier this year). The Sooners notably defeated Louisiana Tech, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Texas. However, they lost against all their best competitors. Against TCU and Kansas State they fell just short; they were decimated by Baylor. Both Watson and Perine are expected to miss this game due to injury; this should greatly affect the offensive dynamics of both teams. Clemson, whose strength is their defense, should be more capable of winning this game shorthanded.

• 17 Clemson (9-3) over Oklahoma (8-4), 27-23

Arkansas and Texas renew an old rivalry in this year's Texas
Bowl. Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports

Texas Bowl: Two old Southwest Conference rivals meet again this year in Houston. Arkansas (2-6 SEC West) has what some consider to be the best 6-6 team in history. The Razorbacks were beaten soundly by Auburn and Georgia. However, their narrow losses to Texas A&M, Alabama, Mississippi State, and Missouri brought them praise in spite of their defeats. In addition, the Hogs blasted future-MAC champion Northern Illinois and shutout both LSU and Ole Miss. Texas (5-4 Big 12) has seen improvement over teams of recent years. The Longhorns played their best ball this year stampeding West Virginia in Austin. They came close, but couldn't pull off their upset bids of UCLA and Oklahoma. Usually, Texas lost badly to their best opponents. This year, expect the pork to be of higher quality than the beef in the Texas Bowl.

• Arkansas (6-6) over Texas (6-6), 37-13

Music City Bowl: After a late-season tailspin, Notre Dame finds themselves facing LSU (4-4 SEC West) in Nashville. An independent, the Fighting Irish began the season winning their first six games. The Irish beat Stanford and North Carolina at the end of this run. However, their season turned sour after a heartbreaking loss to Florida State in Tallahassee. After squeaking by Navy, the Irish lost their final four games. Notre Dame was shocked by Northwestern in overtime and narrowly beaten by Louisville, but were decisively bested by Arizona State and USC. LSU won seven of their first nine. The Tigers beat Wisconsin, Florida, and Ole Miss by a combined 10 points during this stretch, but also fell to Mississippi State and Auburn. After losing in overtime to Alabama, the Tigers were shut out by Arkansas. They ended their season with a narrow victory over Texas A&M. The Tigers have one of the country's best defenses, and should keep the Irish offense in check.

• 23 LSU (8-4) over Notre Dame (7-5), 38-21

A battle-tested Louisville team challenges Georgia in the
Belk Bowl. Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports

Belk Bowl: Two of the SEC and ACC's finest square off when Georgia (6-2 SEC East) plays Louisville (5-3 ACC Atlantic). The Bulldogs had their moments this year – crushing Clemson, Missouri, Arkansas, and Auburn – but one can't help feel they could have been more had star halfback Todd Gurley not been injured. The Dawgs narrowly lost to both South Carolina and Georgia Tech, but were flattened by Florida. These three losses kept a promising team out of the playoff picture. Louisville has been impressive in their inaugural ACC season. The Cardinals destroyed Miami and Boston College while suffering close losses to Virginia, Clemson, and Florida State. The Cards also downed NC State and Notre Dame. Both teams play excellent defense. Louisville has a good offense, too, but Georgia's is even better. If Georgia can find enough motivation, they should be the superior team and exit Charlotte with a victory.

• 13 Georgia (9-3) over 21 Louisville (9-3), 38-31

Foster Farms Bowl: Maryland (4-4 Big Ten East) travels westward to face Stanford (5-4 Pac-12 North) in the last bowl before New Year's Eve. The Terrapins surprised some earning bowl eligibility in their first year as a Big Ten team. The Terps won seven games, but only twice did they beat teams that would also go on to earn bowl invitations (Iowa and Penn State). Maryland lost close games to both West Virginia and Rutgers, but were routed by the best Big Ten competitors. Stanford hasn't had the most adept offense this year... luckily for them, their defense has kept most games within reach. The Cardinal lost games to USC, Notre Dame, and Utah by three points each. They also lost to Arizona State and, like most teams, badly to Oregon. The pièce de résistance for Stanford came in their season finale, when the Cardinal demolished UCLA in Pasadena. Ultimately, the Cardinal should win this game through good defense.

• Stanford (7-5) over Maryland (7-5), 21-14

Bowl Predictions: Before Christmas

The Ragin' Cajuns are three-time defending New Orleans
Bowl champions but will face a difficult challenge in Nevada
this Saturday. Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports

It's just about time for bowl season. That means we get to watch live college football just about every day from December 20th to January 4th. And that's why college football fans love the holidays. We'll start the bowl preview with every game held before Christmas. Follow my bowl predictions with live updates at ESPN's Bowl Mania.

New Orleans Bowl: Louisiana-Lafayette (7-1 Sun Belt) will be playing their postseason bowl in the Superdome for the fourth consecutive year. They'll also be looking for their fourth bowl win in that many years. This year, their opponent is the Nevada Wolfpack (4-4 MW West). ULL is coming off a successful season in the Sun Belt; their lone conference loss was to an Appalachian State team that was playing very well late in the season. Their three other losses were all blowouts to good teams (Louisiana Tech, Ole Miss, and Boise State). Nevada's season has been difficult at times... the Wolfpack mounted fourth-quarter-comebacks against Arizona, Boise State, and Colorado State (all three teams ended the season with at least 10 wins), but came up just short each time. Nevada tied the game late against an excellent Air Force team... only to lose in overtime. Their fifth and final loss was the only bad one (20 points to Fresno State). This is a Nevada team that is better than its record, although their not used to playing so far east as New Orleans. The Ragin' Cajuns are far more familiar with the location and are sure to bring more fans. Both teams are fairly average in most respects, though the run is the strength of both offenses. Although Louisiana-Lafayette may have "home-field advantage", the better team should be Nevada.

• Nevada (7-5) over Louisiana-Lafayette (8-4), 35-24

New Mexico Bowl: Utah State (6-2 MW Mountain) comes into Albuquerque as one of the biggest favorites of the bowl season. The Aggies have won nine games while only losing four (and each of their four losses were on the road to eventual bowl-bound teams). Their signature wins were convincing victories against BYU and Air Force. UTEP (5-3 C-USA West) has been decidedly less impressive this season, despite receiving a bowl bid. The Miners did not beat one team this season that will also be going to a bowl. Only once did they play a close game against a good (bowl-going) team. Utah State should avoid the upset if they continue to play good defense.

• Utah State (9-4) over UTEP (7-5), 38-20

Colorado State will battle an old conference rival when they
play Utah in Vegas. The two teams are meeting for the 80th
time since they first played in 1902. The Utes lead the series
55-22-2. Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Las Vegas Bowl: Utah (5-4 Pac-12 South) will be the first ranked team to play this postseason. The Utes are also the first team from a Power Five (P5) conference to play a bowl game. Their opponents, the Colorado State Rams (6-2 MW Mountain), are one of the best teams not from a P5 conference. However, the Rams must contend with the loss of head coach Jim McElwain, who left Fort Collins earlier this month to join a prominent program. The Utes are no strangers to close games and exciting fourth quarters. Seven of their 12 regular season games were decided by seven points or less (and Utah was 5-2 in those seven games). Most notably, the Utes downed UCLA, USC, and Stanford in nail-biters. The Utes have also played in three overtime games this year (the most of any team). Colorado State has won a few close ones of their own... four of their 10 wins were by seven or less. The Rams notched wins against Boston College, Nevada, and Utah State, but also lost a close one to Air Force and badly against Boise State. Colorado State has a potent offense (particularly through the air), but will be facing one of the best defenses they've seen all year. Mountain West teams tend to knock off their Pac-12 counterparts in this game, but, due to the absence of McElwain, expect the Utes to have a coaching and preparation advantage.

• 22 Utah (8-4) over Colorado State (10-2), 24-20

Potato Bowl: This year's edition of the Potato Bowl might be nicknamed the "Turnaround Bowl". Each team, Western Michigan (6-2 MAC West) and Air Force (5-3 MW Mountain), has won seven more games this year than they did the year before. Both teams should be well accustomed to the cold weather that often accompanies Boise's bowl game. After a disastrous 2013 season that only saw the Broncos win one game, WMU came back to almost win their conference this year. The Broncos play well on both sides of the ball and won six straight before dropping their season finale. Air Force has been one of the most surprising success-stories of the season. The Falcons swept their fellow academies and were formidable playing at home. Playing in Colorado Springs (where they went undefeated), Air Force shot down Boise State, Navy, Nevada, and Colorado State. The challenge for WMU will be stopping Air Force's option offense and moving the ball against a well-disciplined defense.

• Air Force (9-3) over Western Michigan (8-4), 34-27

Camellia Bowl: The final game of the first day of bowl season features two seemingly evenly-matched, if somewhat underwhelming, bowl teams. Bowling Green (5-3 MAC East) has lost four of their last six, although only one of their six total losses was to a team that ended with a losing record. Meanwhile, South Alabama (5-3 Sun Belt) has lost four of their last five, but haven't lost once to a team that ended below .500. In fact, neither team has any particularly impressive wins, but neither do they have any embarrassing losses. The Falcons have one more win, but the Jaguars have played a slightly more difficult schedule. BGSU has a poor defense, but a serviceable offense; USA is the direct opposite – they compensate for a poor offense with their defense. South Alabama will be playing their first bowl game in program history, so expect a good contingent of fans to make the trip to nearby Montgomery. If South Alabama can find enough success running they ball, they should pull out a close one. Expect a close game.

• South Alabama (6-6) over Bowling Green (7-6), 23-20

Memphis is enjoying a level of success not experienced in
decades. A win against BYU would match a school record for
wins in a single season. Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports

Miami Beach Bowl: BYU takes on Memphis (7-1 American) in the inaugural bowl game at Marlins Park. Memphis is ending its season in Miami after a historically good season – only the 1938 Tigers, who went 10-0, won more games. Memphis also won its first conference championship since 1971. BYU, which is an independent, had a good (but not outstanding) season. Memphis started their season 3-3 before reeling off six straight victories. The Tigers' first loss was an upset bid that fell just short against UCLA in the Rose Bowl. Their second loss was to Ole Miss in a game that was close until the fourth quarter while their third was to a now-bowl-going Houston squad. Although the Tigers have three "quality" losses, they only have one win that came against another bowl team (Memphis crushed Cincinnati back in early October). BYU has a similar record, although they began their season with four straight wins. The BYU Cougars' third win, which came against the Houston Cougars, was their only victory against an eventual bowl team. BYU followed their four straight wins with four straight losses. Each of those losses was to a good team (Utah State, UCF, Nevada, and Boise State). Part of this slump was due to the loss of quarterback Taysom Hill against Utah State. After dropping to 4-4, the Cougars pulled off another four straight wins. Memphis has a good offense, but BYU's is even better. BYU has a strong defense, but Memphis's is even stronger. These evenly matched squads are set up for a game that should come down to the wire.

• Memphis (9-3) over BYU (8-4), 34-31

Boca Raton Bowl: This new bowl game, played on the campus of Florida Atlantic University, matches the only two teams with at least 11 wins playing before Christmas against each other. Marshall (7-1 C-USA East) and Northern Illinois (7-1 MAC West) are the champions of their respective conferences. The Thundering Herd spent most of the season utterly dominating Conference USA. Only in their last three games were they truly challenged or beaten. With the season taken as a whole, Marshall was a class above their conference brethren both offensively and defensively. The Herd's only loss was an out-of-character overtime shootout against Western Kentucky. Marshall's ability to dominate their schedule was no doubt a result of their schedule's incredible weakness. Northern Illinois has played a comparably weak schedule. NIU's games have, in general, been more closely contested than Marshall's. Yet, the Huskies have a knack for winning games. Both teams' defenses were the class of their conferences, but only Marshall has a balanced offense. NIU's dependence on the ground-game could be their downfall against Marshall.

• Marshall (12-1) over Northern Illinois (11-2), 38-34

Poinsettia Bowl: San Diego State (5-3 MW West) will be playing on their home turf when they face Navy in the postseason. Navy should have plenty of their own fans present though, San Diego being home to a major naval base. Neither team was overly impressive this season, although both did achieve their goal of reaching a bowl. For the most part, the Aztecs fell short against the best competition from the Mountain West. The one exception was when they downed Air Force late in November. Navy played Air Force in early October but lost; the Midshipmen were most impressive when they sunk and destroyed Georgia Southern. Both teams are evenly matched but utilize different offensive styles. Navy has the better offense, though SDSU has a capable defense that effectively neutralized Air Force (who run an offense similar to Navy). The winner may be the team that loses less turnovers.

• San Diego State (7-5) over Navy (7-5), 31-27

Thomas Robinson Stadium in Nassau, Bahamas hosts the first
bowl played outside the United States since 2010 and the first
outside the US or Canada since 1937. Wikimedia Commons

Bahamas Bowl: This year, Christmas Eve is Archipelago Day in college football. The day's first game will be played in the city of Nassau on the island of New Providence in the Bahama Archipelago (better known as the Bahamas). This new bowl game is the first FBS postseason game held outside the United States since the 2010 International Bowl in Toronto. Before that, there was Havana's Bacardi Bowl, last officially played in 1937. Central Michigan (5-3 MAC West) will challenge Western Kentucky (4-4 C-USA East) in this remarkable game. The teams themselves are less remarkable. Central Michigan played an easy schedule and won seven games (the best being a 17-point victory over Northern Illinois); they were also decisively defeated by two of the worst P5 conference teams, Kansas and Syracuse. Like CMU, EKU was the only conference team to defeat its conference champion – the Hilltoppers topped Marshall by one point on the road. EKU also beat Bowling Green and Navy early in the season and have fewer bad losses than the Chippewas do. The Hilltoppers do, however, possess one of the worst statistical defenses in the FBS. They counter that with one of the best statistical offenses (they are particularly effective passing the ball). Western Kentucky should come out on top here, though their lack of a defense should keep it close.

• Western Kentucky (7-5) over Central Michigan (7-5), 44-41

Hawaii Bowl: Christmas Eve's second game will be played in the city of Honolulu on the island of Oahu in the Hawaiian Archipelago. There, Fresno State (5-3 MW West) will attempt to gain their seventh win of the season over a team that already has seven wins, the Rice Owls (5-3 C-USA West). Fresno State may have lost seven games this season, but three of those losses were to USC, Utah, and Nebraska and twice they lost to Boise State. The Bulldogs have two bad losses (UNLV and Wyoming) but also two good wins (San Diego State and Nevada). Fresno State is, essentially, an average team – in no way do they excel but they are good enough to win six games on their schedule. Much of the same can be said of Rice. For the most part, the Owls have beaten all the worst teams on their schedule while losing to all the best. Usually, the Owls crush teams lesser than themselves. But in every case the Owls played a better team they lost badly. Like Fresno State, the Owls are jacks-of-all-trades on the field and masters-of-none. Either team could win this as a close game or a blowout.

• Fresno State (6-7) over Rice (7-5), 35-31