My picks for the 2025 bowl season:
LA Bowl
Boise State vs Washington (-9.5)
Boise State had a dissapointing year, yet they still won the Mountain West championship in convincing fashion. Washington is a tough draw though. The Huskies were pretty inconsistent with some really good games (Illinois, Rutgers, UCLA) and some questionable performances (Michigan and Wisconsin). We’ll see which Washington we get, but I’d imagine they’ll get the win here.
Washington wins, Boise State covers
Veterans Bowl
Troy (-3.5) vs Jacksonville State
Both teams surprised me with how well they did this season, as they both were their conference’s runner-up. Both are really solid squads, but I’m leaning Troy here.
Troy wins and covers
Cure Bowl
Old Dominion vs USF (-6)
This game is more interesting than it may seem on the surface. USF will not have their HC, and I am unsure if Byrum Brown will play or not. That being said, USF still has far superior talent and they should win regardless, but don’t automatically count out the Monarchs who had sneaky good 9-3 season.
USF wins, Old Dominion covers
68 Ventures Bowl
Louisiana (-3.5) vs Delaware
I really don’t know much at all about either of these teams, but I do know Delaware crushed my initial expectations big time, and Louisiana underachieved big time. I’ll take Delaware.
Delaware wins and covers
Xbox Bowl
Missouri State (-2.5) vs Arkansas State
It’s pretty safe to say I am shocked that both of these teams made bowl games. I had these teams ranked 136 (last) and 125 respectively at the beginning of the season. Missouri State killed the last half of their schedule, and I expect them to ride that momentum to a bowl win in their first season in the FBS.
Missouri State wins and covers
Myrtle Beach Bowl
Kennesaw State vs Western Michigan (-4)
I love these kinds of games when we get to see the MAC champion vs the C-USA champion. Both teams are really good, and Kennesaw State destroyed my preseason expectations, but I think WMU has the edge here, and I don’t know how much longer WMU will be able to keep HC Lance Taylor before he gets a better job elsewhere in the American or the new Pac 12.
Western Michigan wins and covers
Gasparilla Bowl
Memphis vs NCST (-5.5)
Memphis lost their coach, and even if they did have him, I would pick NCST. They are a sneaky good team with wins over Virginia, Wake Forest, and Georgia Tech. They have a really good QB-RB tandem as well. I like the Wolfpack BIG in this one.
NCST wins and covers
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
Washington State vs Utah State (-3.5)
Utah State may be a 6-6 MW team, but they were just 2 plays short of being 8-4 and in the MW championship. They were really good in year 1 under Bronco Mendenhall, and they should get the win here to finish with a winning record. WASU has been impressive at times this year (SDSU, Ole Miss, UVA, JMU), but they lack consistency. That on top of losing their coach, all leads me to picking USU.
Utah State wins and covers
Boca Raton Bowl
Toledo vs Louisville (-8.5)
Not only must they play a solid ACC squad, but Toledo lost their long time head coach to UConn of all places. Beating Louisville is tall task to say the least. Louisville wins big.
Louisville wins and covers
New Orleans Bowl
Western Kentucky (-4) vs Southern Miss
Southern Miss is yet another school that lost their coach this offseason, and I am not sure if that would have even mattered because WKU is the better team. WKU almost beat LSU a couple weeks ago, so yeah, give me the Hilltoppers.
Western Kentucky wins and covers
Frisco Bowl
UNLV (-4.5) vs Ohio
UNLV’s 10-3 record is deceiving. I don’t think they are that good, but lucky for them, Ohio has some problems of their own. Their coach was recently put on leave, and it is beleieved that he will not coach in the bowl game. Ohio should be able to still put up a fight, but Dan Mullen’s UNLV team should be able to come out of this with a win.
UNLV wins and covers
Hawaii Bowl
California (-2.5) vs Hawaii
These teams are very evenly matched, good teams, but I have to give the edge to California here. Their QB, Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, is a stud, and I don’t think Hawaii will be able to stop him.
California wins and covers
GameAbove Sports Bowl
Central Michigan vs Northwestern (-10.5)
CMU isn’t very good. Northwestern is actually pretty good. Seems like an easy Northwestern win, but something is telling me Central Michigan makes this one close.
Northwestern wins, Central Michigan Covers
Rate Bowl
New Mexico vs Minnesota (-2.5)
The fact that Minnesota got a winning record is a joke. They are not a good football team, and they got a really lucky conference schedule. This is where the luck ends. New Mexico is a really solid Mountain West team, and they have won 6 straight. Make that 7.
New Mexico wins and covers
First Responder Bowl
Florida International vs UTSA (-8.5)
I thought UTSA was going to win the American, and boy was I wrong. They did beat Tulane and East Carolina, so I’ll give them some credit, but they were ultimately pretty dissapointing. FIU did a little better than I thought, especially in the second half of the season. This is a really tough one to pick, but I lean UTSA because I believe they have a better coach and overall talent.
UTSA wins, Florida International covers
Military Bowl
East Carolina vs Pittsburgh (-6)
This is another interesting matchup. Pittsburgh had a really tough schedule, and they were still able to go 8-4. East Carolina went 8-4 and had a mostly pretty easy schedule, but they blew a lot of teams out. This one should be really close, but I have to go with the talent on Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh wins, East Carolina covers
Pinstripe Bowl
Penn State vs Clemson (-3)
If I told you at the beginning of the year that Clemson and Penn State would be playing in the postseason, I would think that it would be in at least the quarterfinals of the playoffs… Nope, it’s in the Pinstripe Bowl. That being said, this game could be really good. I lean Clemson though, as i’d imagine Penn State will have a lot more tranfers/opt outs, and Clemson should be able to remain intact.
Clemson wins and covers
Fenway Bowl
UConn vs Army (-3)
If UConn still had their coach, would be picking the Huskies, but I don’t know how they will be able to fill the void that Jim Mora left, at least until Jason Candle gets there in the offseason. Army should remain intact and be able to sneak out a win.
Army wins and covers
Pop-Tarts Bowl
24 Georgia Tech vs 13 BYU (-4.5)
Apparently Notre Dame was originially supposed to have Georgia Tech’s spot before they pussed out and went crying to their mommies that they weren’t in the playoffs. Respect to BYU, because they have every right to be just as angry as Notre Dame, and yet, they are still playing in the bowl game. BYU should be motivated to prove the CFP wrong, and they always play well in bowl games too. Georgia Tech is no pushover though. Haynes King is a really good QB, and this offense will be able to score. I’ll take BYU, but this should be one of the more exciting bowl games to watch.
BYU wins and covers
Arizona Bowl
Miami (OH) vs Fresno State (-3.5)
Miami (OH) always seems to play really good in conference play, and then sucks everywhere else, and that trend should continue here. Fresno State is a really good team, and they should get the W.
Fresno State wins and covers
Mexico Bowl
23 North Texas (-3.5) vs San Diego State
North Texas lost their coach, and I doubt their stars will play in this one. San Diego State is the best team in the MW in my opinion, and they have something to prove. The Aztecs will pull off the upset and knock off an undermanned North Texas.
San Diego State wins and covers
Gator Bowl
25 Virginia vs 16 Missouri (-7)
Missouri has something to prove. They are not in the top 25 despite being just a few plays away from being 10-2 with wins over Vandy and Alabama. Drinkwitz will have his boys ready to play. Virginia on the other hand, just had their entire season crumble before their eyes. I don’t think they will be up for this one.
Missouri wins and covers
Texas Bowl
LSU vs Houston (-3)
Houston exceeded my expectations, and despite their 9-3 record being somewhat deceiving, they are still a quality squad. LSU wasn’t very good to begin with, and now without having Brian Kelly and a lot of players most likely transferring , LSU is screwed.
Houston wins and covers
Birmigham Bowl
Georgia Southern (-2.5) vs Appalachian State
I wouldn’t watch this game if it was being played in my backyard. This is probably the worst bowl game of the year, and I couldn’t care less who wins. I’ll take Georgia Southern cuz App State is really bad.
Georgia Southern wins and covers
Independence Bowl
Coastal Carolina vs Louisiana Tech (-7)
Coastal Carolina has 5 losses by 30+… yikes. Louisiana Tech is the better team here, and they should win despite not being very good in their own right.
Louisiana Tech wins and covers
Music City Bowl
18 Tennessee (-5.5) vs Illinois
Illinois was pretty dissapointing this year, and they have their hands full with this one. Tennessee should be able to march up and down on the Illini, and this will basically be a home game.
Tennessee wins and covers
Alamo Bowl
17 USC (-6) vs TCU
There should be a lot of points in this one. Both teams have really good QBs and really good WRs (we’ll see if the WRs even play though, my guess is no). This should be one of the more entertaing bowl games, but I have to give the edge to USC because they have the better defense.
USC wins, TCU covers
ReliaQuest Bowl
21 Iowa vs 12 Vanderbilt (-6)
This should be a good game with two of my favorite, gritty QBs. The difference being that Pavia is good and gritty and Gronowski is bad and makes up for it with his grittiness. This should be a good, physical game, but Vanderbilt’s offense has a lot more explosive potential, so they’ll get the W.
Vanderbilt wins and covers
Sun Bowl
Arizona State vs Duke (-1.5)
If Arizona State was fully intact, I would pick them, but Duke still has Mensah, and Arizona State hs Jeff Simms. This game will be tight, but I got Duke winning in a back and forth thriller.
Duke wins and covers
Citrus Bowl
19 Michigan vs 10 Texas (-4.5)
Texas should be able to run Michigan out of the stadium, but I’d imagine the Wolverines will have more motivation. Bowl games like this are all about motivation. Michigan will be able to hang around for a while, but Texas will win in the end.
Texas wins and covers
Las Vegas Bowl
Nebraska vs 14 Utah (-15.5)
Utah is by far the better team, especially since Nebraska doesn’t have Raiola. Utah normally plays good in bowls too, so they should be able to win big.
Utah wins and covers
Armed Forces Bowl
Rice vs Texas State (-10)
Texas State is the better team, but Rice isn’t actually that bad. I wouldn’t be surprised if Rice made this thing interesting.
Texas State wins, Rice covers
Liberty Bowl
Navy (-2.5) vs Cincinnati
Cincinnati’s season completely fell apart down the stretch, and that will continue here. Navy is the better team, and they will be better prepared.
Navy wins and covers
Holiday Bowl
Arizona (-3) vs SMU
Both of these teams are good, and both have really good QBs. Despite SMU having the slight QB advantage, I think Arizona is overall the better team, and they have been on a hot streak.
Arizona wins and covers
Duke’s Mayo Bowl
Wake Forest vs Mississippi State (-2.5)
On the surface, it may seem weird that a 5-7 team would be favored over an 8-4 team, but Mississippi State is really good. They beat Arizona State (when they were still healthy), and they should have beaten Tennessee, Florida, and Texas. Their freshman QB is a stud too. They might win this in a blowout.
Mississippi State wins and covers
There are way too many bowl games and this article will probably age horribly after just a couple days because of the transfer portal. UGHHHHHHHHHHHH
JacobErwin.com 