Gildan New Mexico Bowl- Colorado State vs. Washington State

Dec. 21, 1 p.m. CT

Albuquerque, N.M.

ESPN

Colorado State (7-6) is making its first bowl appearance since winning the 2008 New Mexico Bowl. The Rams finished third in the Mountain West’s Mountain Division behind the late-season rushing dominance of running back Kapri Bibbs, who quietly leads the nation in rushing touchdowns with 28.

Washington State (6-6) is in a bowl for the first time since 2003, getting there thanks to road upsets of the Arizona Wildcats and the USC Trojans. The Cougars, who finished tied for fourth in the Pac-12’s North Division, have the nation’s fourth-rated passing offense thanks to QB Connor Halliday’s 4,187 yards and 28 touchdowns and Mike Leach’s Air Raid offensive scheme he brought over from Texas Tech.

Garrett and I both see this one finishing in Washington State’s favor, but I see it being a closer game than he thinks.

Garrett: Washington State-24 Colorado State-13

Reed: Washington State 28 Colorado State 24

Royal Purple Las Vegas Bowl-  Southern California vs. Fresno State

Dec. 21, 2:30 p.m. CT

Las Vegas,NV

ABC

 This will be an awesome bowl game with a load of storylines for each team. The talent on the field in this one is ridiculous and it is well worth the watch.

Fresno State (11-1) fell short of a BCS bid when it lost its regular-season finale to San Jose State, but the Bulldogs regrouped to beat Utah State in the Mountain West title game. Fresno is an offensive juggernaut paced by QB Derek Carr, who leads all of college football with 4,866 yards and 48 touchdowns.

USC (9-4) had a midseason resurgence under interim coach Ed Orgeron after it fired Lane Kiffin five games into the year. The Trojans, who tied for second in the Pac-12’s South Division, overcame a rash of injuries to finish with the nation’s 21st-ranked scoring defense (21.3 points per game).

Fresno State needs a bowl victory to make sure this season is remembered. The 11 wins and MWC title are cool and all, but the Bulldogs haven’t won a bowl game since 2007. These players have to put the cherry on top of the sundae with a win.

Here’s the perfect opportunity to do just that against a USC team that will likely be playing with mixed emotions. Players are likely upset that Ed Orgeron wasn’t given a fair chance to become head coach, while Steve Sarkisian is still learning and trying to figure out how not to crash the new Lamborghini he was just given.

The Bulldogs have an explosive offense and would love nothing more than to win this game. I have USC winning, but Garrett just doesn’t see the Trojan defense being able to stop the offensive mastermind that is Derek Carr.

 Garrett: Fresno State-38 USC-20

Reed: USC 21 Fresno State 17

Famous Idaho Potato Bowl- Buffalo  vs. San Diego State

Dec. 21, 4:30 p.m. CT

Boise, Idaho

 Buffalo and San Diego State are facing off on the smurf turf in one of the first matchups of this bowl season.

Buffalo (8-4) is making just its second bowl appearance in school history and the first in America. The Bulls lost to Connecticut in the now-defunct International Bowl in Toronto in 2008, the only other season they’ve had a winning record since moving back to Football Bowl Subdivision in 1999. Buffalo finished second in the Mid-American’s East Division.

San Diego State (7-5) started 0-3 this season, including a home loss to an FCS team, but it won seven of eight during a stretch that saw the Aztecs go 3-1 in overtime games thanks to numerous late comebacks. SDSU is in a bowl for a school-record fourth straight year after finishing second in the Mountain West’s West Division.

No one really has much to say about this one, which sometimes leads to the most exciting games. However, we both do expect the Aztecs to win a close ballgame.

Consensus pick: San Diego State-24 Buffalo-21

R&L Carriers New Orleans Bowl- Tulane vs. Louisiana-Lafayette

When: Dec. 21, 8 p.m. CT

Where: New Orleans

TV: ESPN

In nearly a home game for both teams, these two Louisiana rivals have a deep history together.

Tulane (7-5) is making its first bowl appearance since 2002. The Green Wave, who play their home games in the Superdome, went 5-1 there this season despite one of the 10 lowest-ranked offenses in FBS. Tulane finished fourth in Conference USA’s West Division. Louisiana-Lafayette (8-4) is the Sun Belt champion and is playing in this game for the third straight year. But this time around, the Ragin’ Cajuns are limping into the Superdome on a two-game losing streak to a pair of 6-6 teams.

Again, not a lot to say about this one. However, Garrett and I are split. It should be close no matter who comes out on top. This might be one of those pre-Christmas games where magic is made. Take a cursory glance while enjoying your vacations.

Garrett: Louisiana Lafayette-28 Tulane-24

Reed: Tulane 28 Louisiana-Lafayette 24

Beef O’Brady’s Bowl –  East Carolina  vs. Ohio

When: Dec. 23, 1 p.m. CT

Where: St. Petersburg, Fla.

TV: ESPN

East Carolina comes in to this one as heavy favorites over an Ohio team that barely made a bowl game.

East Carolina (9-3) finished second in Conference USA’s East Division after getting blown out by Marshall in its season finale. The Pirates, who have wins over North Carolina and N.C. State, are 10th nationally in scoring (40.4 points per game), and QB Shane Carden has thrown for 3,866 yards and 32 touchdowns.

Ohio (7-5) is playing in a bowl for the fifth straight year and sixth time in eight seasons. The Bobcats finished third in the Mid-American’s East Division due to a late-season three-game losing streak, but senior QB Tyler Tettleton has led the school to bowl wins the past two years.

In this finish, Garrett and I expect ECU to be in front by a couple of scores, plain and simple.

Consensus Pick: East Carolina-24 Ohio-12

Hawaii Bowl-  Boise State vs. Oregon State

When: Dec. 24, 7 p.m. CT

Where: Honolulu, HI

TV: ESPN

Boise State (8-4) finished second in the Mountain West’s Mountain Division, and as a result it avoided being sent to the Las Vegas Bowl for the fourth straight year. The Broncos, making their 12th consecutive postseason appearance, will be playing under interim coach Bob Gregory after Chris Petersen left to take the job at Washington.

Oregon State (6-6) backed into a bowl spot despite losing its final five games of the season. The Beavers, who finished tied for fourth in the Pac-12’s North Division, still have the nation’s third-best passing game thanks to QB Sean Mannion (4,403 yards, 36 TDs) and wide receiver Brandin Cooks (1,670 yards, 15 TDs).

We’ll find out just how well Boise State can be without coach Chris Petersen when the Broncos battle Oregon State. A good percentage would be wise to believe it has a negative impact on the program, but you can expect these players to play with a ton of emotion for one game. That’s bad news for the Beavers.

The Bronco’s players are likely ticked off that Petersen finally left for the more popular program in a better conference and are going to want to prove to the world that unlike its coach, Boise State isn’t going anywhere. The Broncos haven’t lost a bowl game since 2008, while that was the same year Oregon State won its last bowl.

Oregon State plays little defense and has lost its last five games. I pick the Broncos to win mainly based upon their expected emotion and Oregon State’s lack of momentum (Certainly not their lack of fire-power). Garrett disagrees because of Sean Manion, Brandin Cooks, 2013 Biletnikoff Award winner (best wide receiver award), and the rest of the vaunted Beavers offense.

 Garrett: Oregon State-31 Boise State-17

Reed: Boise State 35 Oregon State 24

Little Caesars Bowl- Pittsburgh  vs. Bowling Green

When: Dec. 26, 5 p.m. CT

Where: Detroit

TV: ESPN

Pittsburgh (6-6) finished sixth in the ACC’s Coastal Division, but late-season wins over Notre Dame and Syracuse enabled the Panthers to make a bowl for the sixth straight year. The previous three were all at the BBVA Compass Bowl in Birmingham.

Bowling Green (10-3) won the Mid-American Conference title after beating Northern Illinois in the league championship game. The Falcons have won five straight thanks to a defense that is allowing the fifth-fewest points per game (14.8) in FBS, as well as a strong combo of QB Matt Johnson and running back Travis Greene. Their defense was the first one this year that had a solution for Heisman finalist Jordan Lynch.

Bowling Green has strung together five straight wins and is searching for its first bowl win since 2004. The problem is that the offensive line has struggled and will now go up against one of the best defensive players in the country.

Pittsburgh defensive lineman Aaron Donald has had a remarkable season, as he’s racked up 26.5 tackles for loss and 10 sacks. He often demands double teams and still manages to get into the backfield with ease. Bowling Green has allowed 34 sacks in 13 games, which is simply pitiful.

Donald has to be licking his chops with this matchup, and don’t be surprised if he ends his career with a game for the ages.

I have Pitt winning its first bowl game under Paul Chryst; Garrett has the Bowling Green Falcons because of their demolition of Northern Illinois.

Garrett: Bowling Green-34 Pitt-20

Reed: Pitt-21 Bowling Green-14

Poinsettia Bowl- Utah State  vs. Northern Illinois

When: Dec. 26, 8:30 p.m. CT

Where: San Diego

TV: ESPN

Utah State (8-5) gave Fresno State all it could handle before falling in Saturday’s Mountain West title game. The Aggies, who won the Mountain Division, are making a school-record third straight bowl appearance after not going to a bowl from 1998 to 2010. Utah State is seventh nationally in scoring defense, allowing 17.3 points per game.

Northern Illinois (12-1) was hoping to head west for a bowl game, but the Huskies were thinking of a BCS bid to the Fiesta Bowl. But then the Huskies lost to Bowling Green in the Mid-American title game, meaning electric QB Jordan Lynch will finish his college career a week earlier. Instead, they have to settle for San Diego.

Jordan Lynch folds against every quality defense he faces. It happened against Florida State in last year’s BCS Orange Bowl. It happened last week against Bowling Green. Now, Northern Illinois will go head-to-head against Utah State, a school that is ranked 12th in the country in total defense.

Good luck with that.

The Aggies held an explosive Fresno State offense to only 24 points, San Jose State to 12 and USC to only 17. This team gets after the quarterback (32 sacks) and has forced 28 turnovers on the season. If Lynch and company couldn’t move the ball against Bowling Green, they’re certainly have their hands full against a battle tested Utah State. But despite all that, Garrett and I believe Jordan Lynch prevails in what is his final game as a Huskie.

Garrett: Northern Illinois-27 Utah State-20

Reed: Northern Illinois 24 Utah State 20

Military Bowl-  Marshall vs. Maryland

When: Dec. 27, 1:30 p.m. CT

Where: Annapolis, Md.

TV: ESPN

 Marshall (9-4) fell at Rice in the Conference USA title game, which would have sent the Thundering Herd to the Liberty Bowl against an SEC team. Instead, QB Rakeem Cato and running back Essray Taliaferro get a much more favorable matchup with an ACC foe.

Maryland (7-5) started the season 4-0, but a bevy of injuries caused the Terrapins to finish fifth in the ACC’s Atlantic Division. When healthy, though, dual-threat QB C.J. Brown (2,583 yards of total offense, 23 total touchdowns) is hard to contain.

Not much to say about this one. Should be fun though. Garrett has Maryland and I have Marshall.

 Garrett: Maryland-17 Marshall-13

Reed: Marshall-17 Maryland 13

Texas Bowl- Minnesota vs. Syracuse

When: Dec. 27, 5 p.m. CT

Where: Houston

TV: ESPN

Minnesota (8-4) is looking for its first bowl win since beating Alabama in the 2004 Music City Bowl. The Golden Gophers finished fourth in the Big Ten Legends Division, but their defense kept them in many games despite an inconsistent offense.

Syracuse (6-6) finished fourth in the ACC’s Atlantic Division in its first season since moving from the Big East. The Orange reached bowl eligibility despite a very uneven season, especially on offense, where it rates 104th in passing and 99th in scoring.

The Golden Gophers are  matched up against 6-6 Syracuse, a team that’s ranked 100th in the country in scoring offense and lost 56-0 to Georgia Tech. Yikes. Minnesota is no world beater, but with wins over Nebraska, Penn State, and close games against Wisconsin and Michigan State , the Gophers prove that they are a team on the rise.

Minnesota’s defense should have no problem holding Syracuse to less than 14 points, and the offense will do just enough to finish the job. This is an inspired group that has rallied around head coach Jerry Kill. The hard work will finally pay off for the Golden Gophers.

Consensus Pick: Minnesota-27 Syracuse-10

Fight Hunger Bowl- BYU vs. Washington

When: Dec. 27, 8:30 p.m. CT

Where: San Francisco

TV: ESPN

 BYU (8-4) hedged its bets by securing a spot in this game before the season began, and it then locked it up with seven victories in nine games from the start of October. The independent Cougars are a fun team to watch, thanks to QB Taysom Hill.

Washington (8-4) will be playing in this game without the coach who led the team all season (Steve Sarkisian left to coach USC) or the person who will command the Huskies in 2014 (Boise State’s Chris Petersen has been hired but won’t take over until after the game). But, Washington still has QB Keith Price and running back Bishop Sankey.

The Fight Hunger Bowl is getting a defensive battle between BYU and Washington. Combined, these two teams have created 44 turnovers and 60 sacks. What’s most impressive about these defenses is that a combined five interceptions have been returned for a touchdown and Washington returned a fumble for a touchdown.

Needless to say, these teams have playmakers who know what to do with the ball after the turnover. Guys such as Washington’s Shaq Thompson, Marcus Peters and Sean Parker are always looking for the big play. You’d also be foolish to count out BYU’s Kyle Van Noy, one of the best linebackers in college football.

This game will be tight, and a key defensive play will be the deciding factor. Washington in a close one.

Garrett: Washington-28 BYU-16

Reed: Washington 24 BYU 21

Pinstripe Bowl- Notre Dame  vs. Rutgers

When: Dec. 28, 11 am CT

Where: Bronx, N.Y.

TV: ESPN

 Notre Dame (8-4) received as good a situation as it could have hoped for, being without a bowl affiliation and ineligible for the BCS. Getting to play in New York City satisfies the Fighting Irish’s desire to remain nationally relevant, which this game provides better than other opportunities in Dallas or Detroit.

Rutgers (6-6) didn’t qualify for a bowl until Saturday night, when it needed to beat South Florida at home to end a late-season skid. The Scarlet Knights, who finished sixth in the American Athletic Conference, received this slot over Houston due to their New Jersey fanbase.

Could Notre Dame really lose a third straight bowl game under head coach Brian Kelly?

Absolutely.

Even if it’s against a mediocre 6-6 Rutgers squad, the game is being played in Yankee Stadium. Yeah, a baseball stadium. It’s going to be freezing, and it’s going to be weird. Playing football on a baseball field doesn’t scream exciting. Instead, it raises a caution sign that we really shouldn’t even be here. These aren’t the type of games kids come to South Bend to play.

Meanwhile, New York should be packed with Rutgers fans, who are hoping for their second bowl win in the last three years. Give me the home team that is thrilled just to be playing an extra game. Garrett disagrees, as Notre Dame is the only team that has beaten the Big 10 champ Michigan State. Notre Dame also defeated Pac 12 South Division winner Arizona State.

Garrett: Notre Dame-24 Rutgers-9

Reed: Rutgers-17 Notre Dame-14

Belk Bowl- Cincinnati  vs. North Carolina

When: Dec. 28, 2:20 p.m. CT

Where: Charlotte, N.C.

TV: ESPN

 Cincinnati (9-3) finished third in the downgraded American Athletic Conference/Old Big East, falling in overtime to Louisville in its season finale. The Bearcats have gotten solid production from sixth-year QB Brendon Kay and a better-than-expected defense, but their record also includes only one victory over a winning team.

North Carolina (6-6) rebounded from a 1-5 start to win five straight games to get bowl-eligible, finishing fifth in the ACC’s Coastal Division. The Tar Heels have a talented dual-threat QB in Marquise Williams and maybe college’s best tight end, Eric Ebron.

Garrett: Cincinnati-31 North Carolina-17

Reed: Cincinnati-31 North Carolina 24

Russell Athletic Bowl-  Louisville  vs. Miami

When: Dec. 28, 5:45 p.m. CT

Where: Orlando, Fla.

TV: ESPN

Louisville (11-1) had one bad night, resulting in a Friday home loss to Central Florida. Without that loss, it would be in the BCS and involved in the discussion for the national championship game. Charlie Strong’s defense and the Teddy Bridgewater-led offense are still two of the best units in the country, but the one loss dropped the Cardinals off the national map.

Miami (9-3) started the year 7-0 but dropped three straight to finish in a three-way tie for second in the ACC’s Coastal Division after losing star running back Duke Johnson to a broken ankle against Florida State. The Hurricanes, who sat out bowl season the last two years while waiting out an NCAA investigation, haven’t won a bowl game since 2006.

The game pits teams that will be conference foes next season, as Louisville is joining the ACC. It will also be a homecoming of sorts for Bridgewater, a Miami native who originally committed to the Hurricanes before signing with Louisville. Some of his former high school teammates and competitors are looking forward to facing him.

In Bridgewater’s likely last game as a Cardinal before he hits the NFL, I’d just like to take a step back and acknowledge his fantastic career. Bridgewater is without a doubt the top offensive prospect in this year’s draft (If he chooses to go). He has changed the direction of Louisville program and deserves to be commended. Bravo, Teddy.

Garrett: Louisville-35 Miami-21

Reed: Louisville- 38 Miami 17

Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl- Michigan  vs. Kansas State

When: Dec. 28, 9:15 p.m. CT

Where: Tempe, Ariz.

TV: ESPN

Michigan (7-5) started 4-0 before hitting Big Ten play, and then it stumbled to fifth place in the Legends Division after its offense fell apart midseason. The Wolverines nearly upset Ohio State to end the season, though, with QB Devin Gardner showing he could still generate production.

Kansas State (7-5) lost to an FCS team to open the season and was 2-4 before winning five of six down the stretch to finish fifth in the Big 12. The Wildcats are in a bowl for the fourth straight year after losing in the Fiesta Bowl last season.

The Wolverines and Wildcats have very similar styles. Both rely on their defense to carry most of the load and create turnovers, while the one-dimensional offense does just enough to get by most of the time. I think Michigan wins this game on paper, but the constant turnovers and foolish mistakes from Devin Gardner keep Kansas State in it until the very end; but Garrett believes Michigan will be able to keep an arm length apart from the Wildcats the whole game.

Garrett: Michigan-30 Kansas State-17

Reed: Michigan 30 Kansas State 27

Armed Forces Bowl- Middle Tennessee vs. Navy

When: Dec. 30, 10:45 a.m. CT

Where: Fort Worth, Texas

TV: ESPN

Middle Tennessee (8-4) finished tied for second in Conference USA’s East Division after moving from the Sun Belt. The Blue Raiders, who last played in a bowl in January 2011, are riding a five-game winning streak during which they’ve averaged 42.6 points per game.

Navy (7-4) last played a bowl in Texas in 2009, when it defeated Missouri in the Texas Bowl. The Midshipmen have the third-best rushing offense in the country (320.1 yards per game), led by option QB Keenan Reynolds. Reynolds scored an FBS-record (for a quarterback) seven touchdowns in Navy’s last game.

Keenan Reynolds is the perfect quarterback for Navy’s triple-option. This season, he’s rushed for 1,124 yards and scored 26 touchdowns. No, those aren’t passing and rushing touchdowns combined, he’s really run for 26 scores. In the upset win over San Jose State, Reynolds scored eight total touchdowns.

Navy will play Middle Tennessee State in the Armed Forces Bowl. The Blue Raiders have the eighth worst defense in the C-USA. Uh, yeah, that’s pretty bad. What makes matters worse is that Navy’s offense is always difficult to stop regardless of how their season has gone. Now it’s going up against a defense that allowed 503 yards against Florida Atlantic.

Reynolds and the third-best rushing attack is going to put a hurting on Middle Tennessee.

 Garrett: Navy-24 Middle Tennessee-10

Reed: Navy 42 Middle Tennessee 10

Music City Bowl- Georgia Tech vs. Ole Miss

When: Dec. 30, 2:15 p.m. CT

Where: Nashville, Tenn.

TV: ESPN

Georgia Tech (7-5) is in a bowl game for the 17th straight year, with the last two seasons ending in trips to the Sun Bowl in El Paso. The Yellow Jackets’ option run game is sixth best nationally, at 311.7 yards per game, but that was only good enough to place them in a three-way tie for second in the ACC’s Coastal Division.

Ole Miss (7-5) dropped its last two games to sputter into bowl season, including an Egg Bowl defeat in overtime to instate rival Mississippi State. The Rebels, who finished tied for fifth in the SEC’s West Division, faced four Top 10 teams and went 1-3 against those teams with their one win coming against LSU .

Garrett: Ole Miss-28 Georgia Tech-24

Reed: Georgia Tech 28 Ole Miss 24

Valero Alamo Bowl- Oregon vs. Texas

When: Dec. 30, 5:45 p.m. CT

Where: San Antonio

TV: ESPN

 This is probably the most exciting non-BCS bowl game of the year. It’s filled with endless storylines and is a battle of new and old school. It’ll probably be going back-and-forth right before kickoff, but I can predict it will be a game for the ages. Texas will look at this game as a chance to prove to the world that it hasn’t fallen off the map. Similar to the game earlier this year against Oklahoma, the Longhorns will be ready for this game. Oregon is usually always ready for the bright lights, but Reed predicts its offense will struggle against the athleticism and size of the Longhorns’ defense. Oregon (10-2) had a late-season swoon that kept it from reaching the BCS Title Game for the fifth straight season and dropped it to second in the Pac-12’s North Division. The Ducks remain one of the country’s most explosive teams, though, with QB Marcus Mariota (3,412 yards, 30 TDs) pacing a unit that scores 46.8 points per game.

Texas (8-4) was 1-2 and left for dead before winning its first six Big 12 games, including over rival Oklahoma. The Longhorns dropped two of three at the end to finish in a three-way tie for second, despite an improved defense that helped overcome many late-season injuries. This will also be Mack Brown’s last game as the head coach of the Longhorns.

This pre-January game is one of the more highly anticipated of the non-BCS bowls. Garrett has Oregon’s high flying offense taking over this game and putting it out of reach early.

Garrett: Oregon-38 Texas-17

Reed: Oregon 27 Texas 24

Holiday Bowl- Arizona State vs. Texas Tech

When: Dec. 30, 9:15 p.m. CT

Where: San Diego

TV: ESPN

Arizona State (10-3) got blown out at home by Stanford in Saturday’s Pac-12 title game, its first loss in two months. The Sun Devils, who swept the league’s South Division opponents, have been led all year by QB Taylor Kelly (3,510 passing yards, 36 total touchdowns). ASU is averaging 41 points per game, ninth-best in FBS.

Texas Tech (7-5) began the year 7-0 and then dropped its final five games to finish sixth in the Big 12. The Red Raiders offense is still ranked ninth in FBS, but its defense has allowed 48.6 points per game during the season-ending 0-5 stretch.

Arizona State is going to be one MAD team after getting embarrassed against Stanford in the Pac-12 Championship Game. The Cardinal racked up 517 total yards and scored four first half touchdowns to win the game 38-14.Texas Tech shouldn’t get its hopes up in the Holiday Bowl. Unlike Stanford, the Red Raiders have no running game. They also aren’t physical at the line of scrimmage. The Sun Devils defensive front should have no problem generating pressure on freshman quarterback, Baker Mayfield. While you would expect the Red Raiders to still have success throwing the ball, Arizona State is third in the country with 21 interceptions. It’s going to be a long day for coach Kliff Kingsbury in his first bowl game.

Garrett: Arizona State 34 Texas Tech 24

Reed: Arizona State 35 Texas Tech 21

Advocare Bowl- Arizona vs. Boston College

When: Dec. 31, 11:30 p.m. CT

Where: Shreveport, La.

TV: ESPN

Arizona (7-5) lost three of four to finish the season fourth in the Pac-12’s South Division. The Wildcats, who are ranked 11th nationally in rushing offense, have the number two running back in the country in Ka’Deem Carey (156 yards per game) and a quarterback in B.J. Denker who has thrown for 14 touchdowns and rushed for 12 more.

Boston College (7-5) features FBS’ top-rated running back and 2013 Doak Walker Award winner (best running back award), Andre Williams, who ran for 2,102 yards despite getting hurt early in the Eagles’ season finale. BC finished third in the ACC’s Atlantic Division, partly because it was 0-3 against teams that finished with better records.

We have two of the top running backs in the country going at it with Andre Williams of Boston College and Ka’Deem Carey of Arizona. The AdvoCare V100 Bowl sure made out like bandits.

Williams led the country with 2,102 rushing yards, while Carey had an impressive encore from a year ago with 1,716 rushing yards. It goes without saying that these two workhorses are the reason their schools are participating in a bowl game this season.

Forget throwing the ball, just let these two runners duke it out for 60 minutes. Whoever has the most rushing yards at the end of the day wins.

This should be fun!

Garrett: Arizona-28 Boston College-27

Reed: Arizona 51 Boston College 45

Sun Bowl- UCLA vs. Virginia Tech

When: Dec. 31, 1 p.m. CT

Where: El Paso, Texas

TV: CBS

 UCLA (9-3) faced five ranked teams and lost to three of them, finishing second in the Pac-12’s South Division. The Bruins’ top rusher for the season was also its quarterback, Brett Hundley, but toward the end of the year they also discovered a hidden offensive gem in freshman linebacker turned running back, Myles Jack.

Virginia Tech (8-4) finished with the eighth-best scoring defense (17.4 points allowed per game), but only scored 23.4 per game itself, part of why the Hokies finished in a three-way tie for second place in the ACC’s Coastal Division. QB Logan Thomas has been decent, though his rushing numbers have been down.

Logan Thomas and Brett Hundley have got to be two of the most frustrating players for an NFL draft scout. They both have all of the potential in the world, but continue to make poor decisions with the ball and play with an endless amount of inconsistency.

In the Sun Bowl, Thomas will have the upper hand due to it being his last chance to impress the scouts, as he is a senior. All of the pressure is on him to deliver in his last collegiate game. Against a solid UCLA defense, this is a statement game that could either make or break his draft stock. Hundley could always return for another season and doesn’t really need this game as much as Thomas. UCLA will ride Hundley and Jack to a victory in El Paso.

Garrett: UCLA 28 Virginia Tech19

Reed: UCLA 24 Virginia Tech 21

Liberty Bowl- Rice vs. Mississippi State

When: Dec. 31, 3 p.m. CT

Where: Memphis, Tenn.

TV: ESPN

Rice (10-3) navigated a watered-down Conference USA to beat Marshall for its first conference title since 1957. The Owls have a solid run game and  a game manager in QB Taylor McHargue, not to mention a defense that has been able to slow opponents down.

Mississippi State (6-6) won its final two games to reach bowl eligibility, including an overtime victory in the Egg Bowl over Ole Miss. The Bulldogs have been sluggish on offense, but they’re better when dual-threat QB Dak Prescott is moving the ball around. Prescott will lead his troops to victory.

 Consensus Pick: Mississippi State-24 Rice- 17

Chick Fil A Bowl- Duke vs. Texas A&M

When: Dec. 31, 7 p.m. CT

Where: Atlanta

TV: ESPN

Duke (10-3) made its first-ever appearance in the ACC title game but got blown out by unbeaten Florida State. Nevertheless, this has been the best season in school history for the Blue Devils, which won the Coastal Division and used a smoke-and-mirrors approach to get to 10 victories.

Texas A&M (8-4) has the country’s most polarizing player in QB Johnny Manziel, but the Aggies couldn’t do any better than eight wins despite his exploits because of a defense that made it impossible to stop anyone. A&M went 0-4 against ranked teams and allowed 33.5 points per game in wins over four other bowl-bound opponents.

Did anybody have Texas A&M in the Chick-Fil-A Bowl?

Besides chowing down on endless chicken sandwiches, there is little benefit for the Aggies participating in this game. It’s almost as bad as Notre Dame playing inside of a baseball stadium. What are we doing here?

Anyway, while Johnny Manziel and company will likely give another subpar effort, Duke couldn’t be any happier. It’s another matchup against a quality opponent and provides great exposure for an upcoming football program. It also provides another chance for Duke to win its first bowl game since 1960. Think these players aren’t going to be jacked up?

Despite what the 45-7 score indicates, the Blue Devils hung around with Florida State for a while. You have to like their chances against an unmotivated Texas A&M that plays zero defense. However, Johnny Manziel will overpower the Blue Devil defense and will his team to victory.

 Garrett: Texas A&M 31 Duke 17

Reed: Texas A&M 31 Duke 28

Heart of Dallas Bowl- North Texas vs. UNLV

When: Jan. 1, 11 am CT

Where: Dallas

TV: ESPNU

North Texas (8-4) is making a bowl trip for the first time since 2004, doing so by finishing tied for second in Conference USA’s West Division after moving up from the Sun Belt Conference. The Mean Green have wins over C-USA champ Rice and a 10-win Ball State team, and they played Georgia tough early in the season.

UNLV (7-5) is in its first bowl game since 2000 and its first outside of Nevada since 1984. The Runnin’ Rebels, who finished tied for third in the Mountain West’s West Division, won more games this year than in the previous three seasons combined.

 Consensus Pick: North Texas-24 UNLV-10

Gator Bowl- Georgia vs. Nebraska

When: Jan. 1, 11 am CT

Where: Jacksonville, Fla.

TV: ESPN2

Georgia (8-4) somehow navigated a season’s worth of injuries to finish third in the SEC East Division. The Bulldogs had a strong offense all year, even with losses at running back, wide receiver, and late in the year, quarterback as four-year starter QB Aaron Murray went down, but their defense failed to hold its end of the bargain.

Nebraska (8-4) was one of the more disappointing big-name teams in the country this year, dropping games at home to UCLA and Iowa (both badly) en route to a third-place finish in the Big Ten’s Legends Division. The Cornhuskers used three QBs, but running back Ameer Abdullah was solid all season.

The game is a rematch of last year’s Capital One Bowl, which Georgia won 45-31.

What do you get when you add one of the most inconsistent teams in the country versus one of the injury-riddled teams in the country together?

One heck of a ball game.

Georgia has been banged up on both sides of the ball all season long and has still managed to keep things interesting over the last month. Nebraska has been-and-down all year and ended the season losing two out of its last three games.

Despite the hot-and-cold season from both programs, there’s still plenty of talent on both squads to make the Gator Bowl entertaining. Both defenses will have a hard time stopping anybody and it may be the last time to score that wins.

Regardless of what happens, you can expect a wild finish in this one, with Georgia coming out on top because of the exploits of the most complete running back in college football, Todd Gurley.

 Garrett: Georgia-45 Nebraska-17

Reed: Georgia-24 Nebraska-21

Outback Bowl- LSU vs. Iowa

When: Jan. 1, noon. CT

Where: Tampa, Fla.

TV: ESPN

LSU has won 10 or more games in six of the last eight seasons due to being physical and tougher than everybody else. A dominant defensive line and power running game usually wears down the opponent by the fourth quarter and gives the Tigers the win.

Surprise! LSU has met its match.

Iowa may not be as big as LSU, but it’s just as physical. The Hawkeyes have the third best defense in the Big Ten, allowing just 303 yards per game. Anthony Hitchens, James Morris and Christian Kirksey may be the best linebacker corps in the country. This is the same group that held Michigan to only 158 total yards and Nebraska to only 89 rushing yards.

LSU (9-3) lost road games to Alabama, Georgia and Ole Miss, but it is also the only team to take down SEC champ Auburn. The Tigers offense took a hit when QB Zach Mettenberger was lost to a knee injury in the season finale, but running back Jeremy Hill and a corps of strong receivers still provide plenty of options.

Iowa (8-4) is making its first New Year’s Day bowl in four years thanks to a plodding offense that does just enough to help out the 11th-best scoring defense (18.8 points allowed per game). The Hawkeyes’ losses were to teams with a combined record of 45-6.

Consensus Pick: LSU-31 Iowa-6

Capital One Bowl- South Carolina vs. Wisconsin

When: Jan. 1, noon. CT

Where: Orlando, Fla.

TV: ABC

If you still cherish the power running game and dominance in the trenches, the Capitol One Bowl is the game for you. Wisconsin and South Carolina have combined for nearly 500 rushing yards per game.

That’s a lot of running, huh?

Mike Davis has carried South Carolina’s offense all season long and quarterback Connor Shaw continues to show that he’s more of an athlete than a passer. The two have produced more than 1,600 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns this season. Meanwhile, Wisconsin has two 1,000-yard rushers in running backs Melvin Gordon and James White.

This game will take you back to the old days when quarterbacks weren’t asked to do much. With all the running and the constant ticking of the clock, this may also end up being the shortest bowl game of the season.

South Carolina (10-2) finished second in the SEC’s East Division but still managed to end up in the Top 10 of the final BCS rankings. The Gamecocks’ loss at Tennessee in October cost them dearly, or else they could have been the one to try to slow Auburn down in the conference title game.

Wisconsin (9-3) looked like an outside BCS contender until it lost at home to Penn State to end the season. Before that, the Badgers had been rolling for nearly two months behind the two-headed running combo of Melvin Gordon (1,466 yards) and James White (1,337) and a defense that is allowing 14.8 points per game. Garrett believes the Badger ground game will lead Wisconsin to a hard fought win, whereas Iis a believer in senior quarterback, Connor Shaw and dynamite pass rusher, Jadeveon Clowney, who is probably playing his last game before heading to the NFL.

Garrett: Wisconsin-28 South Carolina-27

Reed: South Carolina-27 Wisconsin-21

Rose Bowl- Stanford vs. Michigan State

When: Jan. 1, 4 p.m. CT

Where: Pasadena, Calif.

TV: ESPN

This one might be the most intriguing of the BCS games outside the National Championship, but also has the potential to be the slowest and most boring game (At least through the first three quarters). Both of these teams love to pound it out on the ground. With two of the country’s top three rushing defenses squaring off against units that like to run the ball, the game is going to be won at the line of scrimmage.

Michigan State (12-1) downed Ohio State in the Big Ten title game to earn its first Rose Bowl trip since it beat USC in the 1988 edition. The Spartans are allowing 12.7 points per game, fourth-best nationally, while QB Connor Cook and running back Jeremy Langford have paced an efficient offensive attack.

Stanford (11-2) is making its second straight trip to the Rose Bowl and fourth consecutive appearance in a BCS game after blowing out Arizona State in the Pac-12 title game. The Cardinal have made a habit of shutting down high-powered offenses, limiting the attacks of Oregon, UCLA and ASU (twice) behind the 10th-rated scoring defense (18.6 points allowed per game).

Speaking of defensive battles, Michigan State and Stanford will go at it in the BCS Rose Bowl. Both defenses are ranked in the Top 15 in the country and usually hold their opponents to under their season average in total yards.

The problem for the Spartans is that Stanford has an incredible offensive line as well, along with a talented running back who have yet to be stopped. Stanford is averaging close to 211 rushing yards per game and a lot of that production has come from Tyler Gaffney.

While Michigan State does have the best defense in college football, it can give up big plays in the running game. Nebraska had 182 rushing yards, Minnesota topped 100 and even Ohio State gashed this defense for 273 yards on the ground.

None of those teams are as physical up front as Stanford.

Both teams are surging on momentum, each having won their conference championship game. This game will take us back to the old ground and pound Rose Bowl games. It will be a classic.

Garrett and I are split on our picks.

Garrett: Stanford-27 Michigan State-20

Reed: Michigan State-27 Stanford-26

Fiesta Bowl- UCF vs. Baylor

When: Jan. 1, 7:30 pm CT

Where: Glendale, Arizona

TV: ESPN

 Both teams have had great seasons.The Bears won the Big XII and the Knights won the American Athletic Conference/Old Big East. However, neither team is currently surging on momentum or attracting overwhelming national attention. This has lead to the Fiesta Bowl perhaps being the most underwhelming of the BCS Bowls.

Baylor (11-1) is making its first-ever BCS bowl appearance after winning the Big 12 conference(or any previous variation) for the first time since 1980. The Bears haven’t looked as dominant since losing to Oklahoma State a few weeks back, but they’re still one of the most impressive offensive teams around and continue to lead FBS in scoring at 53.3 points per game.

Central Florida (11-1) is also in a BCS bowl for the first time in school history after going unbeaten in the American Athletic Conference. The Knights are the only team to beat Louisville, and they lost by a field goal to SEC power South Carolina. QB Blake Bortles (3,280 yards, 22 TDs) is drawing NFL attention, while the defense is 13th nationally, allowing 19.6 points per game.

Consensus Pick: Baylor-45 UCF-21

Sugar Bowl- Alabama vs. Oklahoma

When: Jan. 2, 7:30 p.m. CT

Where: New Orleans

TV: ESPN

It’s a battle between the head coach who almost never loses a big game and the coach who almost always folds under pressure. On paper, Nick Saban should have his way with Bob Stoops and the Oklahoma Sooners.

Not so fast.

Alabama hadn’t lived up to its standards even before the loss to Auburn. Yes, a win is a win, but you just don’t feel the same way when watching this team play. The offense isn’t firing on all cylinders with its surgical precision like it usually does and the defense can give up big plays at times. Oklahoma is a team that’s finally hitting its stride, ending the season on a three-game winning streak that included two straight road wins.

Alabama (11-1) missed out on a chance to three-peat after losing to Auburn on the final play of the Iron Bowl two weeks ago, but the Crimson Tide do get to represent the SEC in the stadium where they won the 2012 national title over LSU. Alabama is in a BCS bowl for the fifth time in six years, winning the last three by nearly 22 points per game.

Oklahoma (10-2) returns to the BCS after a two-year absence thanks to its last-second Bedlam Series win at Oklahoma State . The Sooners, making their 15th straight bowl appearance, last played in the Sugar Bowl in 2004, when they lost the BCS National Championship Game to LSU. That LSU team’s coach was Nick Saban.

The Sooners have the talent defensively to slow down AJ McCarron, while quarterback Trevor Knight and his running ability will give the Tide’s defense fits.

However, in the end, it’s gonna be Sooner fans that end up drinking away their broken hearts on Bourbon Street after the game.

Consensus Pick: Alabama-35 Oklahoma-10

Cotton Bowl- Missouri State vs. Oklahoma State

When: Jan. 3, 87p.m. CT

Where: Arlington, Texas

TV: Fox

Looking at the records of the teams in this game, looking at the stats, and looking at the rankings, this looks an awfully lot like a BCS game. That is a history the Cotton Bowl has made for itself. A geographically appealing matchup will feature the Big XII runner up vs. the SEC runner up. A game that would be a BIg XII conference game if it weren’t for the Tigers move to the SEC two years ago.

Gary Pinkel’s Tigers have had a similar season to that of Auburn. They won only two SEC conference games last season. Decimated by injuries, the Tigers’ move to the SEC was being questioned everywhere and Pinkel’s job security was in question. However, led by seasoned veteran quarterback James Franklin, star running back Henry Josey, and defensive end Michael Sam led the Tigers to an SEC East championship and an 11 win season. A very effective offense and a swarming defense have led the team to its first January bowl game since 2008.

On the flip side, Oklahoma State is coming off an extremely tough loss to rival OU in the last game of the season, which sends the Cowboys to Dallas as opposed to Glendale. The Cowboy’s quarterback, Clint Chelf, did not start the year as the number one passer on the roster. An injury to JW Walsh thrust Chelf into action against Lamar , and Chelf has not looked back. He has thrown 15 touchdowns to go along with 1,792 passing yards. He and his Cowboys are the only team to have defeated Baylor this year

Motivation will not be lacking in this game. It will be a game with the reward: pride. Pride in knowing that the season ended with a bang. We see Gary Pinkel’s Missouri Tigers coming out on top in this one and just reiterating the fact that the SEC is, in fact, superior to the BIg XII.

 Garrett: Missouri-31 Oklahoma State-28

Reed: Missouri-41 Oklahoma State-38

Orange Bowl- Ohio State vs. Clemson

When: Jan. 3, 7:30 p.m.

Where: Miami

TV: ESPN

Ohio State was just denied a trip to Pasadena. Their winning streak was halted at 24 games. I don’t really know if that’s something they’ll be able to overcome down in South Beach. It will be very interesting to see how Urban Meyer will handle a tough situation over the next month when it comes to preparing his guys for another game.

Something to note is that both of these teams have just come off of gut-wrenching losses. Ohio State lost to Michigan State in the Big Ten championship and watched their National Title hopes fly out the window of Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Clemson just lost to their instate rival, South Carolina, in their final regular season game.

For Clemson, they would’ve loved another shot at Florida State in the ACC Championship. Unfortunately, both the teams are in the Atlantic Division of the ACC so they could not have possibly faced off. Both Clemson’s losses come vs. top 10 teams. They have five wins against bowl-bound teams. In quarterback Tajh Boyd’s last game in a Tiger uniform, I look for him and junior wide receiver Sammy Watkins (likely to declare for the NFL Draft) to go off on the mediocre Ohio State defense.

As for Ohio State, it will be a battle against their own emotions. Here is a team that was a matter of minutes from a shot at the ultimate prize. Now they’re stuck in what is commonly thought to be the least prestigious of BCS Bowls. Will junior quarterback Braxton Miller and Hall of Fame head coach Urban Meyer be able to channel their anger and sadness to defeat Clemson? OSU is headed to Miami for the first time since beating Colorado in the 1977 Orange Bowl.

Ultimately, this will be a battle of the coaches. Two very similar teams with very similar skill sets will be on the field. I think Ohio State’s despair will be too much to overcome. If they were going to Pasadena for the Rose Bowl instead, it would be a different story. I just don’t think the fire and motivation will be there.

Clemson has been a big tease the last few seasons. It would rack up a boatload of yards and win a lot of games but then fall short against top tier opponents. It’s starting to pick up old habits this season with blowout losses to Florida State and South Carolina.

But expect the Tigers to continue to turn the corner with an Orange Bowl win over Ohio State.

The Buckeyes had their bags packed for the national championship. While a trip to Florida is convenient for Urban Meyer and his recruiting plans, the players don’t exactly want to be here. Sun Life Stadium isn’t exactly glamorous and sharing viewers with the Cotton Bowl isn’t the same as having the stage set to yourself.

It’s going to be tough for Ohio State to wake up for this game. However, Clemson coach Dabo Swinney will inspire his players to pull off another big bowl win to keep his program moving in the right direction.

***While the game itself is an intriguing one, it also provides a chance to bring up one of the most memorable moments in college football history: when Ohio State coach Woody Hayes punched a Clemson player during the 1978 Gator Bowl. That was the last meeting between the schools.

Consensus Pick: Clemson-45 Ohio State-41

BBVA Compass Bowl- Vanderbilt vs. Houston

When: Jan. 4, noon CT

Where: Birmingham, Ala.

TV: ESPN

Vanderbilt (8-4) is making its school-record third straight bowl appearance, the result of getting hot down the stretch. The Commodores won their last four games, allowing only 13.5 points per game in that span, while their offense was efficient if not flashy.

Houston (8-4) began the year 5-0 before sputtering in the second half of the season, but the Cougars did manage to finish fourth in the American Athletic Conference after moving up from Conference USA. QB John O’Korn has been effective throwing the ball, while the defense is 16th nationally, allowing just 20.2 points per game.

Consensus:Pick-Vanderbilt-35 Houston-31

GoDaddy.com Bowl- Ball State vs. Arkansas State

When: Jan. 5, 7 p.m. CT

Where: Mobile, Ala.

TV: ESPN

Ball State (10-2) finished second in the Mid-American’s West Division after losing to Northern Illinois and Jordan Lynch in mid-November. The Cardinals are 0-6 all-time in bowl games, but this season they’re scoring 40 points per game and have gotten 3,933 passing yards and 39 total touchdowns from senior QB Keith Wenning.

Arkansas State (7-5) is making its third straight trip to Mobile after losing to Northern Illinois in 2012 and beating Kent State last season. The Red Wolves, who finished second in the Sun Belt, have managed sustained success despite constant coaching turnover, including a one-year stopover by Auburn’s Gus Malzahn, now a household name.

Consensus:Pick: Ball State-28 Arkansas State-24

BCS National Championship Presented by Vizio

When: Jan. 6, 8:30 p.m. ET

Where: Pasadena, Calif.

TV: ESPN

What a year it has been for both teams (as is usually the case for the two teams that make it to the national championship).

The Auburn Tigers went from winning zero games in the SEC a year ago to winning the conference and taking down two-time undefeated champs and in state rival Alabama in the Iron Bowl. Tre Mason has been magical in the two most important games of the year (enter combined rushing statistics for Iron Bowl and SEC Championships.) His magic has been a reflection of Auburn’s season. For the Tigers can thank two miracles for wins against Georgia and Alabama. The perfect storm of Gus Malzahn as coach and an unstoppable run game featuring QB Nick Marshall and running back Tre Mason has the Tigers poised to make the most improbable turnaround in college football history. Auburn has five wins over ranked teams, and its rushing game is tops nationally at 335.7 yards per game.

As for the Florida State Seminoles, if they win the National Championship, there will be discussion as to where they belong on the list of ALL TIME great college football teams. They have a top 5 defense nationally , a top 5 offense nationally, the most explosive offensive player and Heisman trophy winner, one of the best coaching minds in the country, and have not come closer than two possessions of losing yet this season. They have blitzed through the season and have shown virtually no weaknesses. Jameis Winston, the quarterback of the number one team in the country has been unstoppable. Truly, unstoppable. He has been just as fun to watch as Johnny Football was last season. However, Winston isn’t the only superstar on the Seminoles roster. Devonta Freeman has turned in a stellar year as the leading rusher for Florida State. He has 13 rushing touchdowns and averages a huge 5.8 yards a carry. Freeman is liable to bust a monster run at any time as his longest touchdown run of the season went for 60 yards.FSU also has another running back, Karlos WIlliams who is not as good of a between the tackles runner as freeman, but more than makes up with for it with his speed as he averages an enormous 8.2 yards a carry, has run a touchdown for 65 yards. Williams is another weapon who consistently shows up as he has 11 rushing touchdowns this year. Kelvin Benjamin is a six foot five receiver with breakaway speed as he averages 19.1 yards a catch. He’s a consistent big play waiting to happen as he has 14 touchdown catches in 13 games  On defense, eight of the eleven starters are predicted to make NFL rosters next year. Defensive linemen Timmy Jernigan, Mario Edwards, and cornerback Lamarcus Joyner headline a physical defense that only give up 10.7 points per game tied with Michigan State for the best mark in the country. Oh and Florida State has the top kicker in the country in Roberto Aguayo. He has made all 90 of his extra points and made 19 of the 20 field goals he has attempted for an incredible 95%. Aguayo won the Lou Groza this year, which is the award for the best kicker in college football. If you think a kicker isn’t valuable, go talk to Nick Saban. He would probably give you a different opinion, as their kicking game is the reason they aren’t lined up across Florida State in what would have been their third straight National Championship Game.

Something to watch in this game will be the ball control of the Tigers offense who put the ball on the ground 3 times in the SEC championship. Will Nick Marshall be able to break it outside against the speedy defensive ends and linebackers of FSU? Will Jameis Winston finally be mortalized by an opposing team? In this game, Auburn’s offense might be their best defense.

This game will most likely be high scoring. Florida State’s defense is more capable of stopping Tre Mason than Mizzou’s defense was, as Mason tallied 304 yards rushing with more touchdowns and averaged 6.6 yards a carry. However, this game will probably come down to whichever defense can make a big stop or come down to flat out whoever has the ball last. Florida State may have opened up as an early favorite and probably for good reason. But you won’t catch me picking against those miracle Tigers.

Regardless of the talent level, how one-dimensional Auburn’s offense is and what Florida State should do in the big game, sometimes it’s just your season. Auburn: It’s your time to shine. A combination of Nick Marshall and Tre Mason cannot be stopped right now. And a youthful defense that includes speedsters Dee Ford and Carl Lawson coming off the edge are certain to give quarterback Jameis Winston problems.

It’s also important to note that Auburn is a school in the SEC. Yeah, the same conference that has won the last seven national championships.

Sometimes it’s just destiny.

I think Auburn will find a way to win its second national title in four years . Garrett thinks differently because of the Seminoles’ potent offense with Winston and explosive playmakers: Devonta Freeman, Karlos WIlliams, Kelvin Benjamin, Rashad Greene and Nick O’Leary. Combine that with one of the best defenses in the country equals trouble for the Tigers ground and their porous defense that allowed 38 points to a Georgia team missing most of its wide receivers and running backs due to injury, at Jordan-Hare Stadium no less. In Pasadena, the confetti will fall on the Seminoles who will end the year perfect.

***This game features two Heisman finalists in both Jameis Winston and Tre Mason

Garrett: Florida State-38 Auburn-35

Reed: Auburn-41 Florida State-38