My picks for every bowl game after Christmas:
Quick Lane Bowl
Bowling Green vs Minnesota (-3.5)
Bowling Green had a great finish to the season on a 5-1 stretch, with their only loss coming by one point against Toledo. Minnesota on the other hand is 5-7 and barely made a bowl game because not every conference was able to fill their bids. They are also on a 4 game losing streak in which they lost all 4 games by double digits. I like Bowling Green to win this one outright.
First Responder Bowl
Texas State (-5.5) vs Rice
Both of these teams have been pretty inconsistent throughout the year, but it is pretty impressive that the both made a bowl game nonetheless. I like Texas State to win this one because I am more confident in their offense, but I like Rice to cover.
Guaranteed Rate Bowl
Kansas (-13.0) vs UNLV
UNLV did not end the season well, and I like the direction that Kansas is headed for the future. I’ll take Kansas to win, but UNLV should cover.
Military Bowl
Tulane vs Virginia Tech (-10.5)
Tulane may have lost their head coach and their QB, but I still like the Green Wave to win this one. Virginia Tech just flat out isn’t a very good team, and I like Tulane to defy the odds and come away with their 12th win of the season.
Duke’s Mayo Bowl
North Carolina vs West Virginia (-6.5)
This game should be a good one. Both teams had pretty good seasons, and UNC will be without Drake Maye. I do think North Carolina will still win though. I think WVU’s 8 win season was mostly a product of having a very easy schedule.
Holiday Bowl
Louisville (-7.5) vs USC
USC has lost so many players to the draft and the transfer portal already, while Louisville is just getting better. Even if both of these teams were at full strength, I would have gone with Louisville, and I am especially confident that they will win and cover now. Louisville wins big.
Texas Bowl
Texas A&M (-2.0) vs Oklahoma State
I don’t understand why Texas A&M is favored in this one. OKST was better during the season, TAMU has a new coach, and they lost a lot of their top contributors to the transfer portal. I like Oklahoma State to win this one.
Fenway Bowl
SMU (-10.0) vs Boston College
SMU is a much better team, I am just concerned about their motivation. Are they going to be motivated to play after they so nearly made it to a NY6 bowl game? We’ll see, but I think SMU will win despite, but not cover.
Pinstripe Bowl
Rutgers (-1.0) vs Miami (FL)
This game could be very interesting. I think Rutgers is more defensively sound, but Miami has much better talent. In the end, I think Miami will squeak out a win, but it will be very close.
Pop-Tarts Bowl
NCST vs Kansas State (-2.5)
This is one of my favorite matchups of this postseason between two top 25 teams. Both have plenty of momentum, and proven coaches, but I’ll give the edge to Kansas State as I trust their offense a little but more.
Alamo Bowl
Arizona (-2.5) vs Oklahoma
When I first saw this matchup, I thought this would be a very even game, however, Oklahoma will be losing their most important player in Dillon Gabriel, so I’ll go with Arizona to win this one.
Gator Bowl
Clemson (4.5) vs Kentucky
This is a pretty underrated matchup between two teams that can run the ball with good, athletic defenses. This one will probably come down to whoever takes care of the football better. I’ll lean Clemson in this one.
Sun Bowl
Oregon State vs Notre Dame (-6.5)
If both of these teams were at full strength, I would be very excited to see this game, but both teams will be missing some stars, including Oregon State missing their coach. In the end, I think Notre Dame has better depth and will win the game, but the Beavers will cover.
Liberty Bowl
Memphis vs Iowa State (-10.0)
I actually really like both of these teams and think they are both top-25 adjacent teams. I’m gonna go with Memphis to get the upset though. I think they’ll make one less mistake than Iowa State will.
Cotton Bowl
Missouri vs Ohio State (-1.0)
I think Missouri is going to be more motivated in this one as a lot of Ohio State’s players have transferred or declared for the draft. Missouri might win this one big.
Peach Bowl
Ole Miss vs Penn State (-4.0)
Ole Miss is running it back. They’ve got all their players buying in with a an actually functional offense. Penn State’s offense has been terrible when faced with competency. Give me Ole Miss BIG.
Music City Bowl
Auburn (-7.0) vs Maryland
Maryland had a dissapointing season, and will be without their star QB. Auburn is emerging as a new threat in the SEC and will finish Hugh Freeze’s first season with a W.
Orange Bowl
Georgia (-14.5) vs Florida State
Florida State missed the playoffs, and it does not seem like their players are motivated to prove the committee wrong. Georgia was already way better them, and this game will get ugly quick. Georgia will win and cover.
Arizona Bowl
Toledo vs Wyoming (-3.5)
These are two of the best Group of 5 teams in the country, but I like Wyoming to win because Toledo will be without their star QB.
Rose Bowl
Alabama vs Michigan (-2.0)
This is a very good semifinal matchup, but I’m gonna have to give the edge to Alabama. Michigan hasn’t played against an offense in the same hemisphere as Alabama’s, and will have a tough time adjusting. Roll Tide.
ReliaQuest Bowl
LSU (-10.0) vs Wisconsin
LSU won’t have Jayden Daniels, but I don’t think that will be a problem. LSU just have so much more talent than Wisconsin and is so far ahead of them as a program, that I think LSU will both win and cover.
Fiesta Bowl
Liberty vs Oregon (-17.5)
Bo Nix is playing in this game, which is really bad news for Liberty fans. I think Liberty will be able to cover, but Oregon is just to much.
Citrus Bowl
Iowa vs Tennessee (-8.5)
I think Iowa is extremely overrated, and Tennessee might completely shut out Iowa’s poor excuse for an offense. Tennessee will win by double digits.
Sugar Bowl
Texas (-4.5) vs Washington
This could be one of the best ever semifinal games. It may even rival the Georgia-Oklahoma Rose bowl. I think Texas has a clear advantage at the line of scrimmage, but Washington’s receivers have an advantage on Texas’ secondary. In the end, I think Texas will get the win, but this will be a classic to remember.
National Championship
While the matchup has not been officially decided yet, I think it will be a rematch between Alabama and Texas. While I think Alabama will get the win this time around as their team has improved immensely on both sides of the ball, this game should be one of the best national championship matchups in a long time.
JacobErwin.com 