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| The Lobos knocked off Boise State for the first time in school history earlier this season. Brian Losness-USA TODAY Sports |
New Mexico Bowl: Arizona (3-6 Pac-12 South) and New Mexico (5-3 MW Mountain) are set to clash in this season's first bowl game. The two schools had long shared a border rivalry and a conference, but have only played irregularly since 1977. This year's game will be the 67th meeting between the Wildcats and the Lobos, and the first since 2008. Arizona leads the series 43-20-3 overall, although the two schools have split the last 26 games with 13 wins each. The Lobos are ending an eight-year bowl drought with their appearance in a bowl this season. Incidentally, New Mexico will be playing this game at their home field, University Stadium, in Albuquerque.
Arizona has been one of this season's more disappointing teams. Coming off a successful 2014 campaign and returning several key players, the Wildcats were ranked for the first four weeks this season. Injuries took some toll, but the Cats usually faltered on the biggest stage. On their worst days, the Wildcats dropped blowout losses to UCLA, Stanford, Washington, and Arizona State. A double-overtime win over Utah, which granted them bowl eligibility, was undoubtedly the brightest moment in Arizona's season.
After nearly a decade of losing seasons, the up-and-down year of 2015 ended as a surprising success for the New Mexico Lobos. The Lobos lost badly to Tulsa and Arizona State but managed to upset both Boise State and Air Force by capitalizing on turnovers. UNM ended just one win shy of winning their division and making an appearance in their conference championship game.
The strength of Arizona is their prolific offense, although their performance has been seriously diminished at times when quarterback Anu Solomon, who has suffered from periodic injuries, is not on the field. New Mexico relies heavily on their steady rushing attack, as they generally don't excel in other aspects of the game. The outcome of this game will likely be decided by how well Arizona copes with their injuries and personnel shortages.
- Arizona (6-6) over New Mexico (7-5), 28-21
Las Vegas Bowl: Another rivalry returns when Utah (6-3 Pac-12 South) and BYU reignite the Holy War in Nevada's Sin City. Barring a break period during the Second World War, the Utes and the Cougars had played every season from 1922 until 2013. The series was slated to pick up again next season, but the bowl planners ended up renewing the game a year early. Utah leads the overall series 54-31-4.
Good defense carried Utah to a nine-win record and a tie for first place in the Pac-12 South. The Utes began their season with six-straight victories, including wins over Michigan, Oregon, Cal, and Arizona State. For a week, the Utes were ranked third in the country. However, with the following week came a blowout loss to USC and the Utes have been out of the spotlight since. Narrow losses to Arizona and UCLA prevented Utah from appearing in the Pac-12 title game in December.
Like the Utes, the Cougars compiled a 9-3 record, although they managed it as an independent. BYU started their season with a fantastic Hail Mary-finish against Nebraska. The next week they won in remarkably similar fashion against Boise State. The Cougars then lost to UCLA before being shutout by Michigan in Ann Arbor. BYU won seven of their last eight, only losing to Missouri.
This game should be a defensive struggle. Both squads have reasonably good defenses paired to unbalanced and flawed offenses. Having battled through a tough Pac-12 schedule, the Utes may be slightly more prepared to win this bowl game.
- 22 Utah (9-3) over BYU (9-3), 19-16
Camellia Bowl: Appalachian State (7-1 Sun Belt) will be making their first bowl appearance in history when they face Ohio (5-3 MAC East) in Montgomery. Ohio has done well this season, but App State has had an unqualified success. The Mountaineers have ten wins and just two losses (to undefeated Clemson and Sun Belt Champion Arkansas State) in their second season as FBS members. The key to App State's success has been an efficient, run-based offense and good defense. Ohio has no major weakness nor any tremendous strengths. Appalachian State should come out with another win here.
- Appalachian State (10-2) over Ohio (8-4), 35-21
Cure Bowl: After winning just two games over the previous three years, few would have anticipated Georgia State (5-3 Sun Belt) would reach six wins and a bowl game before this season. The Panthers will be appearing in their first bowl game in history after beginning their football program in 2010. Their first bowl opponent will be San José State (4-4 MW West), who, due to a shortage of six-win teams, have been granted bowl eligibility despite finishing with just five wins. Georgia State began this season poorly, winning just two of their first six games. The low-points came in a 23-20 loss to miserable Charlotte and a 41-33 loss to FCS-team Liberty. The Panthers rebounded with three-straight conference wins. Then, in their final game of the regular season, the Panthers demolished in-state rival Georgia Southern 34-7 to become bowl eligible; so far, this stands as the greatest victory in the young programs's history. Although they lack a winning record, San José State may not be the worst bowl team this year. The Spartans had a few narrow losses and two were to Auburn and BYU. The Spartans' 10-point win over New Mexico was their most impressive. Watch this game to see Georgia State's entertaining air raid offense. The Panthers will have their work cut out for them again to keep up with SJSU's more balanced offensive attack.
- San José State (5-7) over Georgia State (6-6), 35-28
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| Arkansas State was easily the most excellent team in the Sun Belt. The Red Wolves defeated their conference opponents by an average score of 49-28. Stephen B. Thornton |
New Orleans Bowl: Yet another old rivalry will be revived when Arkansas State (8-0 Sun Belt) plays Louisiana Tech (6-2 C-USA West). The Red Wolves (then known as the Indians) played the Bulldogs regularly from 1956 to 1998 but haven't met again since. Louisiana Tech leads the series 25-12 overall.
Arkansas State has established itself as the most consistently successful Sun Belt program of the last half-decade. That's why it wasn't so surprising to see the Red Wolves run undefeated through their conference schedule on their way to a nine-win season. Arkansas State's three losses came to USC, Missouri, and Toledo, although only the loss to Missouri was close. The Red Wolves won every conference game by at least 10 points.
Louisiana Tech had a good year as well, even if they didn't match the success of Arkansas State. The Bulldogs lost four times, including close games to Western Kentucky and Kansas State. Louisiana Tech lost out on a chance to meet WKU again in the C-USA title game when they were blown out by Southern Miss in the regular season finale. An impressive 45-16 win over Middle Tennessee was the high point of the Bulldogs' season.
The Red Wolves depend on their reliable ground game to outscore opponents. Louisiana Tech passes the ball with similar efficiency. Neither team is particularly excellent on defense, so we should see a high-scoring game if we're lucky.
- Arkansas State (9-3) over Louisiana Tech (8-4), 41-34
Miami Beach Bowl: Western Kentucky (8-0 C-USA East) meets South Florida (6-2 American East) in one of the more intriguing early bowl games. South Florida's head coach, Willie Taggart, who grew up in nearby Bradenton, will be facing the school he formerly coached and his alma mater, Western Kentucky. Taggart left WKU in 2012 to accept the South Florida position.
Western Kentucky has had their best season as an FBS team this year, winning 11 games and going undefeated in conference play. The Hilltoppers' two losses were a close game against Indiana and a blowout loss to LSU (although even that game was close at the half). Louisiana Tech was the only C-USA team to challenge WKU; every other conference team was felled by 16 points or more.
South Florida was a team that seemed to improve as the year went on. The Bulls started the season 1-3, with respectable losses to Florida State and Memphis as well as a more inexplicable defeat against Maryland. USF went on to win seven of their final eight, including blowout victories over Temple and Cincinnati.
Western Kentucky possesses one of the nation's most productive passing attacks. The running game and defense haven't been too important when the Hilltoppers put 50 or more against their average conference opponent. South Florida is as reliant on their ground game as Western Kentucky is on the pass, although they aren't quite so prolific as the Hilltoppers on offense. However, the Bulls' defense is superior to WKU's. Like any team, the Bulls must limit the Hilltopper offense to defeat them.
- South Florida (8-4) over 25 Western Kentucky (11-2), 34-27
Potato Bowl: This year, Boise hosts Akron (5-3 MAC East) and Utah State (5-3 MW Mountain) for its bowl game. The Zips will be making their first bowl appearance since 2005. To become eligible, the Zips needed one of the MAC's better defenses. The Akron offense was less formidable, ranking near the bottom of the FBS. Utah State is a very average team in most respects, though to their credit the Aggies blew out Boise State and played close in losses against Utah, New Mexico, and Air Force. The Aggies seem to play better against their best competition, so look for them to have the edge against Akron.
- Utah State (6-6) over Akron (7-5), 20-14
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| Toledo lead the all-time series against Temple 7-3. This is the first time the two schools will meet in the postseason. Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports |
Boca Raton Bowl: It seems appropriate for Temple (7-1 American East) and Toledo (6-2 MAC West) to play each other this postseason. Both teams had historically good seasons and were ranked for a good portion of the year. Both teams upset a major out-of-conference opponent. But neither ended up champions of their own conference.
Temple won their first seven games this year, including a dominant 27-10 victory over Penn State. The Owls then lost a close game against Notre Dame and later were blown out by USF. However, they followed their loss to South Florida with wins over Memphis and UConn, advancing them to the American title game. Temple ended up losing to Houston, foiled by costly turnovers.
Toledo also won their first seven contests, most notably a 16-12 win against Arkansas. The Rockets' first fell to Northern Illinois and ended their season with another narrow loss to Western Michigan. Toledo was one win away from appearing in the MAC title game against a Bowling Green team they handled easily earlier this season.
Both teams have serviceable offenses, but their two strengths are their defenses. Another strong showing by the Owls defense could keep the Rockets from lifting off.
- Temple (10-3) over Toledo (9-2), 27-20
Poinsettia Bowl: Boise State (5-3 MW Mountain) and Northern Illinois (6-2 MAC West) will both be looking for their ninth win of the year Tuesday in San Diego. A win could make up for two somewhat disappointing season endings. The Broncos always enter a season with high expectations, but ended up losing to BYU, Utah State, New Mexico, and Air Force. Although the Broncos did defeat Washington, Virginia, and Colorado State, they ended no where near their preseason goals. NIU began the year 2-3, with close losses to Ohio State, Boston College, and Central Michigan. They followed this with seven straight wins before dropping a close game to Ohio. Injuries, particularly to the quarterback position, had reduced the Huskie offense dramatically, and NIU has easily defeated by Bowling Green in the MAC title game. Boise State should have more pieces in place and enough to beat Northern Illinois.
- Boise State (8-4) over Northern Illinois (8-5), 31-14
GoDaddy Bowl: Bowling Green (7-1 MAC East) and Georgia Southern (6-2 Sun Belt) match up for this season's bowl in Mobile. Bowling Green ended a great ten-win season with a win over Northern Illinois and a MAC championship. The Falcons' three losses were a blowout against Tennessee, a close loss to Memphis, and a sizable defeat against Toledo. However, most conference opponents were handily vanquished by the Falcons' ruthless aerial attack. Georgia Southern started the year inauspiciously, being shutout by West Virginia 44-0. The Eagles won seven of their next eight (losing in a blowout to Appalachian State) before losing a heartbreaker in overtime against Georgia. The Eagles won one more game before ending the regular season with an embarrassing loss to Georgia State. Georgia Southern's triple option offense can be difficult to stop, however, Bowling Green should be one class above the Eagles this year.
- Bowling Green (10-3) over Georgia Southern (8-4), 38-24
Bahamas Bowl: Football heads to the archipelagos for Christmas Eve's two bowl games. Middle Tennessee (6-2 C-USA East) and Western Michigan (6-2 MAC West) will go to battle in Nassau. Middle Tennessee began the year 3-5 before winning their last four (including a 27-24 win over Marshall). Among the Blue Raiders' five losses were blowouts against three good teams (Alabama, Western Kentucky, and Louisiana Tech) and two close losses against Illinois and Vanderbilt. The Broncos were also blown out three times against good or decent teams (Georgia Southern, Ohio State, and Bowling Green) but lost respectably against Michigan State and Northern Illinois. The Broncos ended their regular season on a high note with a narrow win over Toledo. Both teams feature the passing game as a strength. Middle Tennessee has a better defense, although it's just in the top half of Conference USA. This could have the potential to be another high-scoring barnburner in New Providence.
- Western Michigan (7-5) over Middle Tennessee (7-5), 45-42
Hawaii Bowl: San Diego State (8-0 MW West) and Cincinnati (4-4 American East) head to Oahu to take part in the island's annual bowl game. San Diego State started the season poorly, losing their first three games against FBS competition (two blowouts against Cal and Penn State and an embarassing home loss to South Alabama). However, the Aztecs ended their season with a nine-game winning streak (shorter than only Clemson's and Alabama's) and a win over Air Force in the Mountain West title game. Cincinatti had a more up-and-down season. The Bearcats followed their narrow loss to Memphis with a good win over Miami. After that came a loss against BYU, but that was followed by a blowout win over UConn. Cincinnati suffered a heartbreaking loss against Houston but were dominated by South Florida. San Diego State's strength is the Mountain West's best defense and a pounding ground game. Cincinnati prefers to throw the ball (which they do very well), but lack a particularly strong defense. Defense and game management should favor the Aztecs again in this matchup.
- San Diego State (10-3) over Cincinnati (7-5), 34-24
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