College Football Schedules – Page 9

Ohio vs Wyoming Barstool Sports Arizona Bowl Prediction Game Preview

Ohio vs Wyoming game preview, prediction, and breakdown for the Barstool Sports Arizona Bowl on Friday, December 30

Ohio vs Wyoming prediction, game preview, odds, how to watch. Barstool Sports Arizona Bowl, Friday, December 30

Ohio vs Wyoming Barstool Sports Arizona Bowl Prediction Game Preview

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Ohio vs Wyoming How To Watch

Date: Friday, December 30
Game Time: 4:30 ET
Venue: Arizona Stadium, Tucson, AZ
How To Watch: Barstool Sports
Record: Ohio (7-5), Ohio (9-4)
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Ohio vs Wyoming Barstool Sports Arizona Bowl 5 Things To Know

Barstool Sports Arizona Bowl Prediction, What’s Going To Happen, History

– Ohio started 2-3, lost star QB Kurtis Rourke late in the year, and didn’t show much of a defense for a bulk of the season. But everything flipped under head coach Tim Albin, the team went on a seven-game winning streak to get to the MAC Championship. Losing 17-7 to Toledo in the title game wasn’t fun, but the team remains relatively intact. On the flip side …

– Wyoming is very much NOT bringing its normal 2022 self into this. It’s missing almost all of its key running backs and top target Joshua Cobbs, but it should still be able to run its style of play. It’s going to pound, and play defense, and try to keep the score low.

– It’s the fifth bowl appearance for the Cowboys under head coach Craig Bohl. He lost the first one in the 2016 Poinsettia to BYU, but reeled off three straight since including two over MAC teams and an Arizona Bowl over Georgia State.

– Ohio has also won three straight bowl games, but it hasn’t been in one since 2019. It was 2-8 all-time in bowls before this recent stretch – it’s a big deal for the program beyond just shooting for a ten-win season.

– The 2021 version was canceled – Boise State had to bow out against Central Michigan thanks to COVID issues. The previous two were rough – San Jose State wasn’t itself in a blowout against Ball State in 2020 due to COVID, and Wyoming whacked Georgia State 38-17 in 2019. Before that, three of the first four were outstanding with two overtime thrillers and a great inaugural meeting when Nevada hung on two beat Colorado State.

CFN Experts CFP, NY6, Dec 28-Jan 2

Why Ohio Will Win The Barstool Sports Arizona Bowl

Again, most of the normal pieces are there.

Kurtis Rourke went down with his knee injury in the middle of November, but if there’s any sort of a silver lining, it allowed back CJ Harris to get meaningful time running the attack. He’s big, he can run – he rumbled for three scores in the win over Bowling Green – and he’s got a whole lot of help from the other skill parts.

On the flip side, Wyoming’s missing parts are going to hurt. Ohio’s defense needs as much help as it can get, but its biggest issue is against teams that can throw – that’s not how UW rolls. It’s a running team, but Ohio is 8-0 when allowing fewer than 160 yards.

The Cowboys have only run for that many or more five times this season.

Top 100 Bowl Players | Ranking Bowl Games So Far

Why Wyoming Will Win The Barstool Sports Arizona Bowl

In Wyoming’s perfect world it runs the ball a gajillion times, controls the clock and the game with its style and defense, and wins 20-12.

It’s 7-0 this season when running 35 times or more and 0-5 when it doesn’t. Ohio is 6-0 when teams run fewer than 32 times, and 2-4 when opposing offenses run that much or more.

But it’s not like Wyoming can’t throw, and it’s going to give it a try against the nation’s second-worst pass defense. Everyone but Northern Illinois and Toledo threw for 229 yards or more against the Bobcat secondary, and the only reason those two didn’t was because they ran for well over 230 yards.

This is where QB Andrew Peasley comes in. He can run, and he might need to. For all of the problems, the offensive line is fine, the pass protection is there, and the team wins when Peasley is even slightly strong.

Wyoming is 5-1 when he throws for at least 140 yards.

Barstool Sports Arizona Bowl Prediction, What’s Going To Happen, History

NEXT: What’s Going To Happen, Ohio vs Wyoming Prediction, Barstool Sports Arizona Bowl History

Pages: 12

Maryland vs NC State Duke’s Mayo Bowl Prediction Game Preview

Maryland vs NC State game preview, prediction, and breakdown for the Duke’s Mayo Bowl on Friday, December 30

Maryland vs NC State prediction, game preview, odds, how to watch. Duke’s Mayo Bowl, Friday, December 30

Maryland vs NC State Duke’s Mayo Bowl Prediction Game Preview

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Maryland vs NC State How To Watch

Date: Friday, December 30
Game Time: 12:00 ET
Venue: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC
How To Watch: ESPN
Record: Maryland (7-5), NC State (8-4)
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Maryland vs NC State Duke’s Mayo Bowl 5 Things To Know

Duke’s Mayo Bowl Prediction, What’s Going To Happen, History

– Maryland did what it was supposed to do. It beat the mediocre teams, pushed a few of the good ones – it gave Michigan a fight – and dropped a 50/50 game to Purdue on the way to a 7-5 run. That’s not a knock in any way – head coach Mike Locksley has the program turned around and back in bowl games on a regular basis.

The offense has a terrific passing game and a style that can crank up the points and yards in a hurry, but it’s going to take a heavy lift with almost all of the star receivers getting ready for the NFL. On the plus side, veteran Taulia Tagovailoa is around. NC State is a different story.

– NC State is also losing a ton or receivers to a variety of issues. The quarterback situation isn’t exactly a mess, but it’s a bit of a question mark with injuries hitting the group hard. If the Wolfpack can hold with the current opt-out situation and a slew of their better defenders are playing, the team should be okay.

No matter what, this will be a bit of a rough end to what was supposed to be a monster season. Everything was fine starting out 4-0 – that’s not quite true; the O wasn’t smooth – and then star QB Devin Leary was hurt in the middle of the season, tough late losses to Boston College and Louisville hurt, and it didn’t turn out to be the run to the ACC title game it was supposed to be. However, beating North Carolina in the regular season finale helped.

– NC State could use a great bowl performance. Last year’s Holiday Bowl against UCLA was dropped, and the team lost its previous two bowls, both in the Gator. Overall, though, NC State has been good over the last 20 years going going 8-5 since losing the 2001 Tangerine to Pitt.

– Maryland was lousy in bowls with three losses in a row before last year’s team broke the run. It was a scrimmage against a gutted Virginia Tech, but it was a 54-10 fun way to end the 2021 season. Overall, though, the Terps have gone 8-5-1 since 1983.

– It’s been one of the ACC’s home bowls since it was the Continental Tire back in 2002, but the conference has dropped the last three. The final scores might not have been great, but the games were interesting. Even so, eight of the last ten Belk/Duke’s Mayo Bowls have been decided by 11 points or more.

CFN Experts CFP, NY6, Dec 28-Jan 2

Why Maryland Will Win The Duke’s Mayo Bowl

NC State is trying to piece it all together.

Offensive coordinator Tim Beck is the new Coastal Carolina head coach, the quarterback situation is a potential mess depending on who can actually go, and again, there’s a chance the defense could be dealing with a slew of late personnel losses.

No matter what, this isn’t a Wolfpack team that’s going to push the ball down the field enough to worry about, and the running game is hit-or-miss – to be kind about it.

State has to deal win on its run defense and keeping the score low. Maryland has to try getting out to a hot start with any sort of points early on. If it does that and the Wolfpack O has to push to come back, it’ll get out of its comfort zone in a big way.

Top 100 Bowl Players | Ranking Bowl Games So Far

Why NC State Will Win The Duke’s Mayo Bowl

The Terps are missing the wide receiver weapons to make the O go.

Tagovailoa will keep throwing no matter what, but he won’t have Rakim Jarrett, Dontay Demus, Jacob Copeland or TE CJ Dippre to throw to. Leading receiver Jeshaun Jones should play, but the offense needs more considering what NC State does against the run.

Maryland is 7-0 when running for 130 yards or more and 0-5 when it doesn’t. NC State comes into this 11th in the nation against the run allowing just 103 yards per game. The D allowed 130 or more just four times, and it’s going to load up and dare Tagovailoa to force throws to Jones.

The Wolfpack defense is terrific on third downs, the pass rush should sit in the backfield against the leaky Terp line, and …

Duke’s Mayo Bowl Prediction, What’s Going To Happen, History

NEXT: What’s Going To Happen, Maryland vs NC State Prediction, Duke’s Mayo Bowl History

Pages: 12

Notre Dame vs South Carolina TaxSlayer Gator Bowl Prediction Game Preview

Notre Dame vs South Carolina prediction, TaxSlayer Gator Bowl game preview, odds how to watch Friday, December 30

Notre Dame vs South Carolina prediction, game preview, odds, how to watch. TaxSlayer Gator Bowl, Friday, December 30

Notre Dame vs South Carolina TaxSlayer Gator Bowl Prediction Game Preview

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Notre Dame vs South Carolina How To Watch

Date: Friday, December 30
Game Time: 3:30 ET
Venue: TIAA Bank Stadium, Jacksonville, FL
How To Watch: ESPN
Record: Notre Dame (8-4), South Carolina (8-4)
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Notre Dame vs South Carolina TaxSlayer Gator Bowl 5 Things To Know

TaxSlayer Gator Bowl Prediction, What’s Going To Happen, History

– Notre Dame’s season started bad, got weird, and closes strong before the loss to USC. Call it the Marcus Freeman growing pain campaign. The team was able to figure it out rocked eventual ACC champion Clemson, and it got a nice bowl even though it lost to Marshall and Stanford along the way. After all the weird moments, getting to nine wins and closing out with a bowl would be terrific. There’s a problem, though …

The Irish are losing way too many important players. The pass rush took a major hit through the transfer portal and opt-outs, losing TE Michael Mayer to the NFL is big, and the quarterback situation is potentially a mess. On the flip side …

– Spencer Rattler is still in place for South Carolina. But who will he throw to? Star WR Josh Vann is questionable, a ton of tight ends are gone, and lowing RB Marshawn Lloyd to the transfer portal is tough. Throw in the losses in the secondary, and both teams will be throwing way too many unknown starters out there.

No matter what, it was an outstanding season for the Gamecocks. The ruined Clemson’s hope for the College Football Playoff. They ruined Tennessee’s hope for the College Football Playoff. They won seven of their last nine, had a tremendous passing game, but again, someone has to catch the ball.

– South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer won last year’s Duke’s Mayo Bowl over North Carolina. That made it six bowl wins in the last eight tries for the program going back to 2010. This doesn’t matter that much one way or another to take away from the season, but beating the Fighting Irish would still be a big deal.

– Notre Dame started going to bowl games in 1925. It took a while off and went back in 1970, and it’s been a mixed bag ever since – to be nice.

After beating Texas A&M in the Cotton Bowl at the end of the 1993 season, the Irish are just 6-15 in bowls including losing the last two, three of the last four, and four of the last six. After the way they collapsed in the Fiesta last year against Oklahoma State, winning this would be a huge deal for Freeman.

– The historic game that started in 1946 has been hit-or-miss lately. Rutgers was a late fill-in last year, and it showed in an ugly 38-10 loss to Wake Forest. Texas A&M annihilated NC State in 2018.

Between those two games, the Tennessee 23-22 win over Indiana at the end of the 2019 season and Kentucky’s 23-21 win over NC State at the end of the 2020 campaign were two of the best bowls of the respective seasons.

CFN Experts CFP, NY6, Dec 28-Jan 2

Why Notre Dame Will Win The TaxSlayer Gator Bowl

The Notre Dame personnel losses are huge, but South Carolina’s should be a tad more crippling if this turns into a low-scoring defensive battle.

Yes, the quarterback situation is a bit sketchy, and yes, losing Mayer and a few receivers is a problem, but the running game should still work.

Keep this extremely simple. Line up and pound away with an offense that got better and stronger on the ground as the season wore on, and try to control the clock throughout. The Irish weren’t always great at pounding away – Navy and USC were able to hold up just fine – but good things happened when the O line got into a groove.

They were 6-0 when running for over 150 yards and 7-1 when running for over 130. The South Carolina run defense hasn’t been bad and it shouldn’t be that big of a problem, but it got run on by Florida and Arkansas in losses and is 2-3 when allowing over 200 yards.

However …

Top 100 Bowl Players | Ranking Bowl Games So Far

Why South Carolina Will Win The TaxSlayer Gator Bowl

The Gamecocks will be able to load up against the run.

As is the Notre Dame passing game was hardly cranking up big things, and it can all but forget about anything amazing in this through the air. South Carolina won’t have to do anything funky in the secondary, and its lack of any sort of a pass rush or playmaking ability in the backfield won’t be a problem here.

Offensively, Spencer Rattler has to simply be careful.

Again, a slew of parts might be missing, but there’s a huge advantage at quarterback The Gamecock attack bakes at least two turnovers into the cake every game out, but the Notre Dame defense is hit-or-miss on takeaways. It destroyed Boston College with five of them, but it only forced multiple turnovers three times this season.

Rattler has to be the best offensive player on the field, and he’s got to make everyone around him better.

TaxSlayer Gator Bowl Prediction, What’s Going To Happen, History

NEXT: What’s Going To Happen, Notre Dame vs South Carolina Prediction, TaxSlayer Gator Bowl History

Pages: 12

UCLA vs Pitt Tony The Tiger Sun Bowl Prediction Game Preview

UCLA vs Pitt game preview, prediction, and breakdown for the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl on Friday, December 30

UCLA vs Pitt prediction, game preview, odds, how to watch. Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl, Friday, December 30

UCLA vs Pitt Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl Prediction Game Preview

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UCLA vs Pitt How To Watch

Date: Friday, December 30
Game Time: 2:00 ET
Venue: Sun Bowl, El Paso, TX
How To Watch: CBS
Record: UCLA (9-3), Pitt (8-4)
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UCLA vs Pitt Sun Bowl 5 Things To Know

Sun Bowl Prediction, What’s Going To Happen, History

– UCLA had a great season right up until it whiffed its chance at something massive. It lost to Oregon, but had it not slipped up against Arizona it would’ve gone into the USC game with shot at the Pac-12 title and the College Football Playoff. Even so, it was a strong year under Chip Kelly that showed a whole lot of promise for the near future. Who’s going to be back from this season to play in this?

The skill guys are the question marks, but at the very least there aren’t going to be the massive losses suffered by …

– Pitt is going to be a shadow of its 2022 self. QB Kedon Slovis is off to BYU, but that’s not the big problem. The defense is totally gutted by opt-outs and missing parts – it’s going to be patched together with duct tape and a few prayers.

On the plus side, the team comes into this on a roll with four straight wins, a balanced offense, and a defensive system that starts aggressive and stays that way for a full four quarters.

– Last year’s Pitt team had to deal with some missing pieces, too. Kenny Pickett didn’t play in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl against Michigan State, and it didn’t matter until late in the 31-21 loss. That’s just part of the program’s bowl woes – it’s been miserable over the last decade in these things.

It only won two of the last nine bowls, both wins were against MAC teams in one-score games, and just four of the losses were against Power Five programs. To take this further, Pitt is a rough 4-10 since beating Oregon State in the 2002 Insight.

– After having to tap out of last year’s Holiday Bowl at the last possible moment, this becomes UCLA’s first bowl game since losing to Kansas State in the 2017 Cactus. It hasn’t won a bowl since taking down the Wildcats in the 2015 Alamo after the 2014 season.

– Around since 1935, the Sun has lately been known more for the Frosted Flakes bath for the winner than the great games – and the games have been great. There was the canceled COVID year of 2020, but including last year’s stunning Central Michigan 24-21 win over Washington State, the last three and six of the last seven have been decided by a touchdown or less.

CFN Experts CFP, NY6, Dec 28-Jan 2

Why UCLA Will Win The Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl

As of this moment, the UCLA star skill parts are playing. At the very least the passing game should be okay with QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson and WR Jake Bobo likely to give it a go. In this, that might be enough.

Even if both teams were at full roster, Pitt would have a problem against the physical style UCLA plays – to a point.

The Bruin pass protection is just okay, but the offense finished the year third in the nation with a fantastic balance and ability to adapt and adjust on the fly. The Pitt run defense was outstanding all year, but the team was 3-4 when allowing more than 65 yards and 5-0 when it didn’t. Those numbers partly came from all of the plays behind made in the backfield.

UCLA’s low-rushing output of the season was 144 yards and hit 200 or more all but three times – it should get to 65 rushing yards after a drive or two.

More than anything else, again, Pitt is missing way too many key pieces. This won’t be the Panther team that was so good at times throughout the season. However …

Top 100 Bowl Players | Ranking Bowl Games So Far

Why Pitt Will Win The Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl

Again, Pitt has a style that works.

Of course the players have to make it all happen, but the defensive system puts together waves of pass rushers in place to keep being disruptive. No matter who’s out there for the Pitt D, the production should be there to at least make UCLA rush.

Yes, the Panther offense has to be able to keep up, and it’s going to need to be creative, but more than anything else it has to avoid making huge mistakes and hope the defense can take care of the rest.

UCLA isn’t great at forcing takeaways, but it’s 9-1 when it comes up with at least one turnover and 0-2 when it doesn’t. Pitt is 2-0 when it doesn’t turn it over, 5-1 when it only gives it up once, and 3-3 when it turns it over multiple times.

And yes, the Pitt run defense really is that good. It’s the best in the ACC, no one in the conference did a better job at controlling the clock, and …

Sun Bowl Prediction, What’s Going To Happen, History

NEXT: What’s Going To Happen, UCLA vs Pitt Prediction, Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl History

Pages: 12

Clemson vs Tennessee Capital One Orange Bowl Prediction Game Preview

Clemson vs Tennessee game preview, prediction, and breakdown for the Capital One Orange Bowl on Friday, December 30

Clemson vs Tennessee prediction, game preview, odds, how to watch. Capital One Orange Bowl, Friday, December 30

Clemson vs Tennessee Capital One Orange Bowl Prediction Game Preview

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Clemson vs Tennessee How To Watch

Date: Friday, December 30
Game Time: 8:00 ET
Venue: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, FL
How To Watch: ESPN
Record: Clemson (11-2), Tennessee (10-2)
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Clemson vs Tennessee Capital One Orange Bowl 5 Things To Know

Capital One Orange Bowl Prediction, What’s Going To Happen, History

– This would’ve been so awesome if everyone was in place in a College Football Playoff game between these two. As is it should be extremely entertaining.

It’s not just the Tennessee had a breakthrough season under head coach Josh Heupel. It’s that it showed just how explosive and fun it’s going to be for a long, long time.

It beat Bama, blew out LSU, and wasn’t totally awful in the loss to Georgia. Losing to South Carolina was bad, losing star QB Hendon Hooker to a knee injury was worse, but getting to the Orange Bowl is still a magnificent way to finish up the season.

There’s no Jalin Hyatt – the nation’s best receiver is getting ready for the NFL – and receiving mate Cedric Tillman is joining him, but the offense should still work and the defense is relatively intact.

– Clemson also gets back a ton of future NFL stars, especially on the offensive front. QB DJ Uiagalelei is gone to Oregon State, and losing pass rusher Myles Murphy and LB Trenton Simpson hurts, but this is QB Cade Klubnik’s offense to run and the next level would love to have the Tiger starting front four on D.

The Tigers would’ve been in the College Football Playoff had they beaten South Carolina – yeah, the CFP would’ve gone with a 12-1 ACC Champion over TCU and/or Ohio State.

Considering they way they buckled against the Gamecocks and got run over by Notre Dame, this – even more than the blowout over North Carolina in the ACC Championship – is the biggest moment for this year’s team. This will define the 2022 season narrative.

– Dabo Swinney is amazing in bowl games. He lost his first two at Clemson – one of them was the 70-33 epic to West Virginia in the 2012 Orange – and has been 10-4 since with two of the losses coming in College Football Playoff National Championships and two others in CFP semifinals.

– Tennessee won four straight bowls before dropping last year’s amazing 47-45 Music City to Purdue. Head coach Josh Heupel is 1-3 in bowl games – he was 1-2 at UCF before last year’s controversial loss with the Vols. The guy knows the Orange Bowl, though. He was the starting quarterback for Oklahoma in the 13-2 2001 BCS Championship win over Florida State.

– The Orange Bowl has been wildly hit-or-miss. It was a dog as a College Football Playoff semifinal last year – a 34-11 Georgia win over Michigan that was over after a few drives.

Going all the way back to 1996, 19 of the last 26 have been decided by double-digits. That’s totally misleading – there were some classics in there – but the bowl deserves something wild. This might be it.

CFN Experts CFP, NY6, Dec 28-Jan 2

Why Clemson Will Win The Capital One Orange Bowl

If you want the Cade Klubnik national breakout party to begin – America’s attention wasn’t exactly on the ACC Championship when the Big Ten title game was going on at the same time – here you go.

DJ Uiagalelei struggled against North Carolina, Swinney made the call right away and put in Klubnik, and …. boom. 20-of-24 for 279 yards and a touchdown in the blowout.

Now he gets the Tennessee secondary.

At some point this year the Vols were going to pay for their problems on defense. Florida’s Anthony Richardson rolled for over 450 yards, Georgia’s Stetson Bennett had an efficient day in a win, and ol’ Bryce Young came up with 455 yards and was a Jahmyr Gibbs drop away from Bama probably winning in Knoxville.

But it was South Carolina’s Spencer Rattler who went totally bonkers with 438 yards and six touchdowns – and, most shockingly for him, no picks – in the 63-38 win.

Now it should be Klubnik’s turn against the fifth-worst pass defense in the country. That, and the ball control aspect to this game should matter.

Clemson doesn’t dominate the clock, but it should have the ball for at close to 35 minutes, mainly because Tennessee doesn’t care a lick about time of possession and was dead last in the nation at it.

Top 100 Bowl Players | Ranking Bowl Games So Far

Why Tennessee Will Win The Capital One Orange Bowl

For all the talent and all the NFL star power on the Clemson defense, it wasn’t all that hard to move the ball on this bunch.

Wake Forest did it through the air, Notre Dame did it on the ground, Florida State did it however it wanted to, and Spencer Rattler had himself a day against the Tigers right after he disposed of the Vols.

Oh sure, the superstars up front can get into the backfield and be disruptive, and the overall stats are fine, but for Tennessee it’s going to be about cranking up the running game for over five yards per carry and getting a monster day out of Joe Milton.

The former Michigan quarterback got the start for Josh Heupel last year, but he was quickly replaced by Hendon Hooker. Thrown into a tough spot when Hooker went down, Milton wasn’t bad with a few deep plays in the loss to South Carolina and was just fine in the blowout over Vanderbilt.

The spotlight will be on Klubnik. Milton has the arm and enough experience to be okay, but as long as he can get things moving with his legs along with his arm, and if the running backs can help the cause, the offense will keep moving.

Here’s the problem …

Capital One Orange Bowl Prediction, What’s Going To Happen, History

NEXT: What’s Going To Happen, Clemson vs Tennessee Prediction, Capital One Orange Bowl History

Pages: 12

Texas vs Washington Valero Alamo Bowl Prediction Game Preview

Texas vs Washington game preview, prediction, and breakdown for the Valero Alamo Bowl on Thursday, December 29

Texas vs Washington prediction, game preview, odds, how to watch. Valero Alamo Bowl, Thursday, December 29

Texas vs Washington Valero Alamo Bowl Prediction Game Preview

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Texas vs Washington How To Watch

Date: Thursday, December 29
Game Time: 9:00 pm ET
Venue: Alamodome, San Antonio, TX
How To Watch: ESPN
Record: Texas (8-4), Washington (10-2)
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Texas vs Washington Valero Alamo Bowl 5 Things To Know

Valero Alamo Bowl Prediction, What’s Going To Happen, History

– You never know when it comes to these bowl games what kind of mayhem you’re going to get, but for all intents and purposes, Texas has to use this to set the tone for a potentially monstrous 2023. There are still plenty of great players in place, but it’s missing superstar RB Bijan Robinson and, potentially, a slew of important players on the defensive front.

The team was good late winning three of its last four, but the O stalled against TCU and couldn’t get by Oklahoma State before the finishing kick. It was able to crank up the ground game in the win over eventual Big 12 Champion Kansas State, but Mr. Robinson had something to do with that.

– Texas lost its main guy in Robinson, but QB Quinn Ewers is rolling. So is Washington QB Michael Penix Jr., who announced he’s coming back next year – this is when the 2023 Heisman campaign starts.

The Huskies closed out with six straight wins after losing back-to-back road games against UCLA and Arizona State. The offense caught fire, the defense held up just enough to to get by, and overall it was a fantastic first season under head coach Kalen DeBoer.

– This is Washington’s first bowl appearance in a few years, beating Boise State in a blowout to close out the Chris Petersen era in the 2019 Las Vegas Bowl. Before that it lost three straight bowls and was an ugly 5-13 since getting past Michigan in the 1992 Rose. On the other side …

– Texas has been a bowl game monster. It’s the first appearance since the Tom Herman era – his teams went 4-0 in bowls highlighted by a Sugar Bowl stunner over Georgia. Helped by the great run under Mack Brown, Texas has won 13 of its last 17 bowls since pulling off the 2001 Holiday over … Washington.

– This makes it three appearances in four years in the Alamo for Texas – it beat a strong Utah team in 2019 and whacked Colorado in 2020. Now it’s up to Washington and the Pac-12 to finally stand up to the Big 12. Overall the Alamo has been a dud over the last three seasons, but it was strong before that with four games decided by five points or fewer.

Washington State beat Iowa State 28-26 in the 2018 version. Other than that, the Big 12 is 6-1 in the last seven vs the Big 12, and 9-3 since the two conferences took over the bowl tie-ins in the 2009 season.

CFN Experts Picks CFP, NY6, Dec 28-Jan 2

Why Texas Will Win The Valero Alamo Bowl

The passing game will still work.

It’s Texas, so there are still running backs to rotate into the rushing mix behind a decent offensive line, but it’s not going to get nearly the same production without Bijan Robinson carrying the mail.

However, QB Quinn Ewers is still special, and so is future NFL starting WR Xavier Worthy – he’s still a year away from being eligible – going against a pass defense that was the least efficient in the Pac-12 and allowed 242 yards per game.

Washington brings the pass rush, but as long as Ewers can get into a groove, the offense can move just fine.

The Husky defense doesn’t take the ball away and doesn’t generate enough big plays, but it can get pounded on, too. The Texas passing attack takes center stage, and Robinson might not be there, but the ground game has to try. UW is 2-2 when allowing 150 rushing yards or more.

The Longhorns have to control the tempo, but …

Top 100 Bowl Players | Ranking Bowl Games So Far

Why Washington Will Win The Valero Alamo Bowl

Here comes the high-flying Washington offense that leads the nation in passing and third down conversions.

Texas lost both times it allowed 330 passing yards or more, and that’s par for the course for Penix Jr. and the Husky attack. It only failed to get to 330 passing yards four times, and it made up for it in three of them by running well.

Texas can be run on – it’s 1-4 when allowing 140 yards or more, and Washington is 4-0 when it gets to that mark – it’s going to get physical when it can.

The offense turned it over multiple times just twice – in the loss to UCLA and the win over Washington State. Washington isn’t going to beat itself, and Texas doesn’t force takeaways. To pull this off, Ewers and the Longhorns will have to keep pressing.

Again, Washington has a pass rush to at least be disruptive, but …

Valero Alamo Bowl Prediction, What’s Going To Happen, History

NEXT: What’s Going To Happen, Texas vs Washington Prediction, Valero Alamo Bowl History

Pages: 12

Florida State vs Oklahoma Cheez-It Bowl Prediction Game Preview

Florida State vs Oklahoma game preview, prediction, and breakdown for the Cheez-It Bowl on Thursday, December 29

Florida State vs Oklahoma prediction, game preview, odds, how to watch. Cheez-It Bowl, Thursday, December 29

Florida State vs Oklahoma Cheez-It Bowl Prediction Game Preview

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Florida State vs Oklahoma How To Watch

Date: Thursday, December 29
Game Time: 5:30 ET
Venue: Camping World Stadium, Orlando, FL
How To Watch: ESPN
Record: Florida State (9-3), Oklahoma (6-6)
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Florida State vs Oklahoma Cheez-It Bowl 5 Things To Know

Cheez-It Bowl Prediction, What’s Going To Happen, History

– There was a time not too terribly long ago when this was a national championship matchup. Okay, so it was over 20 years ago when they met for the BCS Championship – a 13-2 Oklahoma win – but these are still two powerhouse-infrastructure/expectation programs looking to use this as a possible launching pad.

This bowl hit a bad snag of really, really bad games from 2013 to 2019 when it was called the Russell Athletic Bowl and then the Camping World Bowl.

There were seven straight games of blowouts to various degrees, and then it became the Cheez-It Bowl. Oklahoma State beast Miami 37-34 in 2020, and last year Clemson pushed past Iowa State 20-13. These OU and FSU might keep it going.

– Florida State might have turned a corner under head coach Mike Norvell, but it puled up out of a three-game losing streak nosedive to close with five straight wins induing a total domination of Miami and a shootout victory over Florida. Throw in the early season win over LSU and it’s been a great year. Winning this would be a sweetener.

– Yeah, Oklahoma fell off a cliff. Lincoln Riley took the fun – and eventual Heisman winner Caleb Williams – out to LA, and Brent Venables was in charge of being the next star up to keep the program’s success going.

After a 3-0 start, OU lost six of its last nine games – including a 49-0 embarrassment against Texas – but it beat Oklahoma State, got bowl eligible, and now this is the first game of the rest of the program’s life.

– Oklahoma’s recent bowl history is all about context. Yeah, it’s just 3-5 in its last eight, but four of those five were College Football Playoff losses. Under Riley it hung 55 on a depleted Florida team in the 2020 Cotton, and put 47 on a depleted Oregon in last year’s Alamo.

– This signals the return to the bowl circuit for a Florida State program that was a given to get to one of these things since 1980. It missed out in the last two years after losing to Arizona State in the 2019 Sun, and it lost three of its last five – starting with a blowout loss to Oregon in the first ever College Football Playoff game – after winning three straight bowls.

CFN Experts CFP, NY6, Dec 28-Jan 2

Why Florida State Will Win The Cheez-It Bowl

Oklahoma is missing a few very, very important players.

RB Eric Gray is off to the next level, a few NFL-caliber offensive linemen – Anton Harrison and Wanya Morris – aren’t playing, and the defense loses some parts, too.

On the flip side, Florida State is getting back a few of its key players for this. It starts with QB Jordan Travis, continues with future NFL pass rusher Jared Verse, and in all, this is about as close to normal as FSU might get from here on for a bowl that’s not among the New Year’s Six elite.

The Seminoles will move the chains. The rushing attack under Norvell is doing what it’s supposed to, Travis is excellent on third downs, and it should all work against an Oklahoma defense that was last in the Big 12, struggles to get of the field, and doesn’t do much in the mix to help control the time of possession battle.

Yeah, the Sooner offense likes to move quickly, but it doesn’t help the D. The team is 0-5 when allowing 200 rushing yards or more. Florida State averages 218 yards per game on the ground.

Top 100 Bowl Players | Ranking Bowl Games So Far

Why Oklahoma Will Win The Cheez-It Bowl

Just keep up the pace.

The defense won’t be able to do much to slow down the Sooners, but even without Gray running the ball the offense should be able to keep up. There aren’t a lot of turnovers, there’s a good balance, and QB Dillon Gabriel is experienced enough to spread the ball around and keep the attack moving.

Yeah, Gray carried the workload, but there’s just enough of a rotation to go along with Gabriel getting on the move to potentially keep the Florida State defense honest.

As long as Gabriel is able to connect on the midrange throws and come up with manageable third down chances, this should be a back-and-forth fight.

The run defense has to sell out. Jordan Travis might be terrific at getting the ball into the hands of his playmakers, but everything chances for this OU D when it can hold on up front.

Just don’t get gouged, come up with a few takeaways – 5-2 when generating multiple turnovers – and …

Cheez-It Bowl Prediction, What’s Going To Happen, History

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Minnesota vs Syracuse Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl Prediction Game Preview

Minnesota vs Syracuse game preview, prediction, and breakdown for the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl on Thursday, December 29

Minnesota vs Syracuse prediction, game preview, odds, how to watch. Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl, Thursday, December 29

Minnesota vs Syracuse Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl Prediction Game Preview

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Minnesota vs Syracuse How To Watch

Date: Thursday, December 29
Game Time: 2:00 ET
Venue: Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY
How To Watch: ESPN
Record: Minnesota (8-4), Syracuse (7-5)
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Minnesota vs Syracuse Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl 5 Things To Know

Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl Prediction, What’s Going To Happen, History

– Minnesota started fast, crashed in the middle, and roared through the finishing kick. It kept the Paul Bunyan Axe with a win at Wisconsin to win four of its last five games with a punishing ground game, decent defense, and with a deliberate style that keeps working.

There aren’t any huge opt-outs or losses. For the most part this should be as close to the regular season version of the Gophers as reasonably possible, especially with future NFL starting center John Michael Schmitz and star RB Mohamed Ibrahim playing. On the flip side …

– Syracuse top RB Sean Tucker has opted out, and a few parts are gone from the defense – especially the secondary – but the team shouldn’t be too hamstrung.

In a tale of two seasons, the Orange started out 6-0 – helped by a thrilling win over Purdue – and then the tough part of the schedule kicked in full force over a five game losing streak before closing out with a win over Boston College.

– Syracuse is outstanding in bowl games, at least it has. been over the last 20 years. There haven’t been a ton of appearances lately, but it’s 6-1 in bowls since 199 with the last victory coming in the 2018 Camping World over West Virginia.

– Minnesota has been even better in bowl games lately. PJ Fleck has won his first three with the Gophers after going 1-2 at Western Michigan – to be fair, one of those losses was to Wisconsin in the New Year’s Six Cotton Bowl.

Minnesota was an automatic bowl season loser for years – going 0-7 from 2004 to 2015 – and then it all flipped winning five straight including last year’s Guaranteed Rate over West Virginia.

– After a rough starts with four straight blowouts to kickoff the run of the Pinstripe Bowl back in 2010, the bowl was terrific with two overtime games among four straight decided by one score. Things got rough with the COVID cancelation year of 2020 and the Maryland 54-10 whomping of Virginia Tech last year putting the pressure on this to at least be interesting.

CFN Experts CFP, NY6, Dec 28-Jan 2

Why Minnesota Will Win The Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl

Syracuse can’t and doesn’t win when it can’t and doesn’t stop the run.

The Orange are better against the decent passing teams and are 7-0 when allowing teams to run for fewer than 150 yards. They’re 0-6 when they don’t.

Minnesota has been held to under 150 just four times. Once was against the brick wall of an Illinois defense, once was against the Wisconsin D, and once was when several main parts were hurt in the loss to Purdue. 200 yards are the norm for this offense going 6-1 when it gets to 240 yards or more.

It’s just as big a problem the other way. Sean Tucker wasn’t used enough, but he’s still good enough to be missed. The Orange offense threw more, but it went 1-5 when it couldn’t get to 125 yards on the ground. The Minnesota D can help make the number tough to hit.

There isn’t going to be anything tricky about what the Gophers are going to do. Run, stop the run, win the mistake battle, leave.

Top 100 Bowl Players | Ranking Bowl Games So Far

Why Syracuse Will Win The Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl

Really, stop the Minnesota running game and you stop Minnesota.

It’s not like the Golden Gopher offense can’t throw, but it doesn’t operate at its best when it’s not able to control the game on the ground. It doesn’t necessarily own the clock, but it has a way of dominating the tempo when things are working.

Syracuse pivoted this year from a running team to more of a balance. It’s got the ability to stretch the field a bit, it’s decent at adapting on the fly, and there isn’t a problem with turnovers.

Minnesota might be fifth in the nation in total defense, but it doesn’t generate a lick of pressure, it’s last in college football in tackles for loss, and …

Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl Prediction, What’s Going To Happen, History

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Ole Miss vs Texas Tech TaxAct Texas Bowl Prediction Game Preview

Ole Miss vs Texas Tech game preview, prediction, and breakdown for the TaxAct Texas Bowl on Wednesday, December 28

Ole Miss vs Texas Tech prediction, game preview, odds, how to watch. TaxAct Texas Bowl, Wednesday, December 28

Ole Miss vs Texas Tech TaxAct Texas Bowl Prediction Game Preview

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Ole Miss vs Texas Tech How To Watch

Date: Wednesday, December 28
Game Time: 9:00 pm ET
Venue: NRG Stadium, Houston, TX
How To Watch: ESPN
Record: Ole Miss (8-4), Texas Tech (7-5)
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Ole Miss vs Texas Tech TaxAct Texas Bowl 5 Things To Know

TaxAct Texas Bowl Prediction, What’s Going To Happen, History

– It seems like it’s all just starting for Texas Tech. Head coach Joey McGuire came up with a good first run, the team got on a roll in the final three games to get here – beating Oklahoma in the regular season finale was fun – and now it’s got a chance to make a big statement going into what should be an interesting offseason.

The offense should crank up even more, the weapons are still around, and the team should put a giant number on the board against a questionable Ole Miss defense.

– Talk about transitional phases, Ole Miss is undergoing some massive changes when it comes to the depth, but considering all of the players who jumped into the transfer portal, there aren’t many killer departures.

The team comes in on a rough three game losing streak and with the seven game winning run to start the season well in the rearview mirror. Whatever – the offense is a blast, the ground game is among the best in America, and the will should be there because …

– Ole Miss was a dud in last year’s Sugar Bowl loss to Baylor after then-QB Matt Corral got hurt. The 21-7 loss was a bit for one of the best bowl programs going over the last 30 years, going 14-4 since losing the 1990 Gator to Michigan. Since 1968, Ole Miss is 19-6 in bowls.

– Going back to the run under the late Mike Leach, Texas Tech is also fantastic in these things. going 10-4 since taking down Clemson in the 2002 Tangerine. Last year’s team crushed Leach’s Mississippi State squad in a 34-7 Liberty Bowl win, but this is the first time up for McGuire. Win, and it’ll be the program’s first eight-win season since 2013 under Kliff Kingsbury.

– The Texas Bowl is relatively new, starting out in 2006, and it needs a good one. Terrific for a few years – with three of the four from 2016 to 2019 decided by a touchdown or less. The 2020 version was sacked thanks to COVID, and last year’s game was a total disaster with players wearing LSU uniforms – but hardly the team that played through the season – getting destroyed by Kansas State 42-20.

CFN Experts CFP NY6, Dec 28-Jan 2

Why Ole Miss Will Win The TaxAct Texas Bowl

Run, run, and run some more.

Quinshon Johnson came up with a massive freshman season with close to 1,500 yards and 16 scores, and with QB Jaxson Dart adding some pop on the ground. The Rebels lost to Arkansas even though it ripped off 463 rushing yards, but they’re 6-1 overall when running for 200 yards or more.

The Texas Tech run defense isn’t bad – the D generates a whole lot of plays behind the line – but there’s a problem when it struggles. The team is 1-3 when giving up more than 210 rushing yards – Ole Miss should get there.

On the other side, there’s just enough of a pass rush to keep Texas Tech QB Tyler Shough from getting comfortable. The Rebels are used to getting thrown on and it usually doesn’t matter – it’s the cost of doing business for this team to give up yards against teams trying to keep up.

But …

Top 100 Bowl Players | Ranking Bowl Games So Far

Why Texas Tech Will Win The TaxAct Texas Bowl

Here comes the Texas Tech passing game.

Tyler Shough has all the NFL pro passing talent the offense could want, but he hasn’t been able to stay healthy. It’s his show now with Donovan Smith transferring and Behren Morton hurt, and he showed what he could do with 436 yards and two scores in the shootout win over Oklahoma.

The Red Raiders don’t have to throw to win, but it certainly helps. They don’t necessarily care about the time of possession battle, but they don’t operate at warp speed.

Ole Miss – even with its running game – wants to go fast, fast, fast, but in this, the Red Raiders should be able to maintain control throughout. That’s going to matter.

There’s one big problem, though.

TaxAct Texas Bowl Prediction, What’s Going To Happen, History

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Oregon vs North Carolina San Diego County Credit Union Holiday Bowl Prediction Game Preview

Oregon vs North Carolina game preview, prediction, and breakdown for the San Diego County Credit Union Holiday Bowl on Wednesday, December 28

Oregon vs North Carolina prediction, game preview, odds, how to watch. San Diego County Credit Union Holiday Bowl, Wednesday, December 28

Oregon vs North Carolina San Diego County Credit Union Holiday Bowl Prediction Game Preview

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Oregon vs North Carolina How To Watch

Date: Wednesday, December 28
Game Time: 8:00 ET
Venue: Petco Park, San Diego, CA
How To Watch: FOX
Record: Oregon (9-3), North Carolina (9-4)
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Oregon vs North Carolina San Diego County Credit Union Holiday Bowl 5 Things To Know

San Diego County Credit Union Holiday Bowl Prediction, What’s Going To Happen, History

– Yeah, Oregon is losing a boatload of talent, and yeah, the focus is on head coach Dan Lanning and all the talent coming in, but the offense gets back star QB Bo Nix for this and next year, and whatever happens here is just a game to get through before preparing for what should be a monster 2023.

– Like Oregon, North Carolina has lost a ton of main guys. It hurts to not have WR Josh Downs – he’s off to the NFL – and way too many parts of the defense are done. It’s not like the D could afford to lose much, and it just did. However, also like Oregon, it gets its fantastic quarterback back with Drake Maye retuning instead of bolting through the transfer portal.

– The Tar Heels have been awful in bowl games whether it’s Mack Brown, or Larry Fedora, or Butch Davis. The program has dropped the last two bowls – including last year’s Duke Mayo to South Carolina – and five of the last six and eight of the last 11.

– For all of the good things Oregon has done, it’s having a tough time in bowl games. It was missing players and got rolled by Oklahoma in last year’s Alamo as part of a run of five losses in the last seven bowls. Even the two wins – 7-6 over Michigan State in the 2018 Redbox and 28-27 over Wisconsin in the 2019 season’s Rose Bowl – were tight.

– The Holiday is back. It was canceled in 2020, and last year it was halted at the last moment with UCLA having COVID issues. Before that it was a clunker for a few years with three straight relative blowouts – all decided by 11 or more – and eight of the last 11 weren’t close. This one should at least be a blast.

CFN Experts Dec 20-27 | CFP NY6, Dec 28-Jan 2

Why Oregon Will Win The San Diego County Credit Union Holiday Bowl

North Carolina’s defense gets a wee bit of a bad rap. Its job is to hold serve once in a while, and it’s not bad at doing that.

To a point.

It’s still a bad D overall with absolutely no pressure whatsoever generated into the backfield, not enough takeaways to make up for the problems, and with no discernible ability to stop anyone from throwing – partly because of the lack of pressure.

Statistically it was the ACC’s worst defense in both yards and scoring, and now to make things even more fun, several of the main defensive backs are done.

Even with a few parts gone, Oregon QB Bo Nix should be able to do whatever he wants. On the other side, the North Carolina offense should still work, but it won’t have star WR Josh Downs or new Wisconsin offensive coordinator Phil Longo.

But …

Top 100 Bowl Players | Ranking Bowl Games So Far

Why North Carolina Will Win The San Diego County Credit Union Holiday Bowl

Oregon offensive coordinator Kenny Dillingham is off being the new Arizona State head coach. That doesn’t mean Nix won’t be great, but things might not be quite as smooth.

For all of the dogging the North Carolina defense receives, Oregon’s isn’t exactly the 2000 Baltimore Ravens.

It generates even less of a pass rush than the Tar Heels do, it’s even worse on third downs, and the last time out it. was hammered on by the Oregon State running game for 268 yards and five touchdowns.

Of course Drake Maye is one of the headliners, but the Tar Heels can run a little bit. They’re 3-0 when running for more than 165 yards and 8-1 when coming up with more than 120 – and. 1-3 when they don’t.

The North Carolina offense will still work, Maye is Maye, and …

San Diego County Credit Union Holiday Bowl Prediction, What’s Going To Happen, History

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