Category: Conference USA

Middle Tennessee 25, San Diego State 23 EasyPost Hawaii Bowl What Happened, What It All Means

Middle Tennessee 25, San Diego State 23: EasyPost Hawaii Bowl what happened, player of the game, and what it all mean

Middle Tennessee beat San Diego State 25-23 to win the EasyPost Hawaii Bowl. What happened, who was the player of the game, and what does it all mean?

Middle Tennessee 25, San Diego State 23 EasyPost Hawaii Bowl What Happened, Player of the Game, What It All Means

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EasyPost Hawaii Bowl What Happened

– Middle Tennessee’s Zeke Rankin nailed his fourth field goal of the game with just over two minutes to play to give his team a 25-23 lead. San Diego State couldn’t answer with the final drive stalling. The Blue Raiders marched relatively easily for the game-winning kick, responding to a 52-yard bomb from SDSU’s Jack Browning for a 23-22 late lead.

– San Diego State took a 14-0 lead on two Jalen Mayden touchdown passes, getting one to Kenan Christon who took it 73 yards for a score. Middle Tennessee scores 16 straight points on three of Rankin’s field goals and a Chase Cunningham eight-yard touchdown pass to defensive lineman Jordan Ferguson.

– Both defensive fronts took over. Middle Tennessee finished with -66 net yards rushing thanks to seven sacks and 12 tackles for loss from SDSU. Aztec defensive end Keshawn Banks led the way with two sacks and four tackles for loss.

100 Best Bowl Players | Ranking How Good the Bowls Were

EasyPost Hawaii Bowl Player of the Game

Jordan Ferguson, DE Middle Tennessee
His big moment came on San Diego State’s final drive with a big play to force a desperation heave. He was second on the team with five sacks with a tackles for loss to go along with his touchdown catch.

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

EasyPost Hawaii Bowl Fun Stats

– Turnovers: San Diego State 5 – Middle Tennessee 1

– The two teams combined to convert just 7-of-33 third down chances.

– San Diego State outgained Middle Tennessee 364 yards to 170.

EasyPost Hawaii Bowl What It All Means

Middle Tennessee’s offensive line couldn’t hold up under the pressure of the San Diego State defense, but Chase Cunningham was able to keep his cool and make plays to get the offense in a position to win it. The field goals were enough to pull it off.

The eight-win season was the best campaign since 2018, and the bowl win was the second in a row under head coach Rick Stockstill. He’s just 4-6 in the post-season, but with the way his team closed this year out, his program is still terrific.

Next year San Diego State has to relax on the mistakes. Middle Tennessee might be great at forcing takeaways, but the Aztecs giving the ball away five times, no running game, and too many penalties cost them a bowl win.

It was an uneven year, but at least there’s hope for 2022 with Jalen Mayden a good quarterback to work around. As bad as things were at times, the program still hasn’t had a losing season since 2009, and this was the first bowl loss in the last three. The program is 6-6 in bowls since that 2009 campaign.

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– 2022-2023 Bowl Schedule, Predictions

College Football Expert Picks Predictions: Playoff, New Year’s Six, Bowls December 28-January 2

College Football Expert picks and predictions for the College Football Playoff, New Year’s Six, and bowls from December 28th to Januarry 2nd

College football expert picks, predictions: College Football Playoff, New Year’s Six games, and bowls between December 28th and January 2nd

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* next to the pick means the team will win, but not cover.
Click on each game for the game preview and CFN Prediction

Bowl Game College Football Expert Picks 
Military UCF vs Duke | Liberty Kansas vs Arkansas
Holiday UNC vs Oregon | Texas Texas Tech vs Ole Miss
Pinstripe Syracuse vs Minnesota | Cheez-It OU vs FSU
Alamo Washington vs Texas | Mayo NC St vs Maryland
Sun Pitt vs UCLA | Gator South Carolina vs Notre Dame
Arizona Ohio vs Wyoming | Orange Tennessee vs Clemson
Sugar Kansas St vs Alabama | Music City Kentucky vs Iowa
CFP Fiesta TCU vs Michigan | CFP Peach Ohio St vs Georgia
ReliaQuest Miss State vs Illinois | Cotton Tulane vs USC
Citrus Purdue vs LSU | Rose Penn State vs Utah
Results So Far | Bowls December 20-27

Bowl Schedule, Predictions | NFL Week 15 Expert Picks 

UCF vs Duke

Military Bowl

Line: Duke -3, o/u: 62.5

Eric Bolin, RazorbacksWire.com: UCF
Evan Bredeson, CornhuskersWire.com: UCF
Tony Cosolo, ColoradoBuffaloesWire.com: UCF
Jeff Feyerer, CFN: Duke
Pete Fiutak, CFN: Duke
Cami Griffin, LonghornsWire.com: Duke
Dan Harralson, VolsWire.com: UCF
Phil Harrison, BuckeyesWire.com: Duke
Jeremy Mauss, MWwire.com Duke
Kevin McGuire, NittanyLionsWire.com: UCF
Big Game Ben Niewoehner, CFN UCF
E, CFN Duke
Tyler Nettuno, LSUTigerswire.com UCF
Zack Pearson, TarHeelswire.com Duke
Johnny Rosenstein, SportsBookWire.com: Duke
Nick Shepkowski, FightingIrishWire.com: Duke
Scott Steehn, WinnersandWhiners.com: UCF
Joe Vitale, UGAWire.com: Duke
Clucko the Chicken (a coin flip), CFN: UCF
CONSENSUS PICK: Duke

NEXT: Kansas vs Arkansas Expert Picks Predictions

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San Diego State vs Middle Tennessee EasyPost Hawaii Bowl Prediction Game Preview

San Diego State vs Middle Tennessee game preview, prediction, and breakdown for the EasyPost Hawaii Bowl on Saturday, December 24

San Diego State vs Middle Tennessee prediction, game preview, odds, how to watch. EasyPost Hawaii Bowl, Saturday, December 24

San Diego State vs Middle Tennessee EasyPost Hawaii Bowl Prediction Game Preview

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San Diego State vs Middle Tennessee How To Watch

Date: Saturday, December 24
Game Time: 2:30 ET
Venue: Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex, Honolulu, HI
How To Watch: ESPN
Record: San Diego State (7-5), Middle Tennessee (7-5)
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San Diego State vs Middle Tennessee EasyPost Hawaii Bowl 5 Things To Know

EasyPost Hawaii Bowl Prediction, What’s Going To Happen, History

– It’s been a weird year for San Diego State. The opening of its shiny new awesome stadium was a total flop – losing to Arizona 38-20 – to kickoff an ugly run of offense in a rocky 2-3 start that was a somewhat miraculous late drive against Toledo away from being even worse.

The team switched offensive coordinators, defensive back – and former Mississippi State QB – Jalen Mayden took over under center, and it all clicked. This isn’t the nasty team of 2021, but it’s solid now.

– Middle Tennessee had a rough start, too, going 3-4 with a strange loss to Louisiana Tech to be 4-5 going into the finishing kick. It won its last three games, took down four of the last five, and for that it got to go to Hawaii. Overall the team has been just okay, but the defense takes it away in bunches.

– This is the tenth bowl appearance under Middle Tennessee head coach Rick Stockstill, and the results haven’t been anything great until the last few bowls. The program was 2-2 in bowls up until 1964, and everything else has been done under the current head man going 3-6, but 2-3 over the last three including a win over Toledo in last year’s Bahamas.

– San Diego State is hit-or-miss in bowls. Only the 2017 42-35 loss to Army was a close game out of the last six appearances. The Aztecs pushed past a good UTSA in last year’s Frisco, and took down Central Michigan in a blowout in the 2019 New Mexico to make it four wins in the last six. Head coach Brady Hoke in his two stints at SDSU is 2-0 in bowls

– The Hawaii Bowl was canceled the last two seasons thanks to COVID, and it needs to come back roaring. The 38-34 Hawaii win over BYU in 2019 was good, and Fresno State and Houston played a good one in 2017, but six of the last eight have been double-digit blowouts.

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

Why San Diego State Will Win The EasyPost Hawaii Bowl

The defense is rested.

This is nowhere near the D that dominated throughout 2021, but overall it’s been a rock against the run since the midseason second half debacle against Boise State – and in the season finale against Air Force – and shouldn’t have too much of an issue against the Middle Tennessee attack.

The Blue Raiders have a hard time keeping defenses out of the backfield, they don’t do much of anything on the ground, and they’re going to need takeaways to manufacture points if the passing game doesn’t rock.

On the flip side, San Diego State found something in Mayden and the passing game. Middle Tennessee is statistically a rock against the run, but that’s because everyone spent so much time throwing. It allowed 300 or more passing yards in three of its last four games and over 400 in the tight win over FIU.

Mayden won’t bomb away, but he should be efficient. However …

2022-2023 Bowl Schedule, Predictions

Why Middle Tennessee Will Win The EasyPost Hawaii Bowl

Takeaways, takeaways, takeaways.

Middle Tennessee throws well and can run enough go get by, but it crushes teams by forcing mistakes with two or more takeaways in eight of the 12 games. It’s what the program does – it’s been great at it for the last few years.

San Diego State doesn’t has a massive turnover issue, but it’s not designed to overcome a slew of big mistakes. It turned the ball over multiple times in five games going 1-4 in those games. It was 6-1 when it didn’t give it away twice.

On the other side, Chase Cunningham is a nice veteran quarterback who should be a difference-maker. He threw for close to 3,000 yards with 19 scores, runs enough to be a problem, and he should be good for at least 200 passing yards.

EasyPost Hawaii Bowl Prediction, What’s Going To Happen, History

NEXT: What’s Going To Happen, San Diego State vs Middle Tennessee Prediction, EasyPost Hawaii Bowl History

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College Football Expert Picks Predictions Bowl Games December 20-27

College football expert picks and predictions for the bowl games from December 20th through the 27th

College football expert picks, predictions for all of the bowl games from December 20th through the 27th

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* next to the pick means the team will win, but not cover.
Click on each game for the game preview and CFN Prediction

Bowl Game College Football Expert Picks 
Fenway EMU vs SJSU | Boca Liberty vs Toledo
NO WKU vs USA | Armed Forces AF vs Baylor
Ind Louisiana vs Houston | Gasp Missouri vs WF

Hawaii MTSU vs SDSU | Quick NMSU vs BGSU
Camellia UB vs GaSo | 1st Resp Utah St vs Memphis
Birm Coast Carolina vs ECU | GuarRate Ok St vs Wis
Results So Far | Bowls December 16-19

Bowl Schedule, Predictions | Ranking all 41 Bowls
NFL Week 15 Expert Picks 

Famous Idaho Potato Bowl

Eastern Michigan vs San Jose State

Line: San Jose State -4.5, o/u: 55.5

Eric Bolin, RazorbacksWire.com: San Jose State
Evan Bredeson, CornhuskersWire.com: San Jose State
Tony Cosolo, ColoradoBuffaloesWire.com: San Jose State
Jeff Feyerer, CFN: San Jose State
Pete Fiutak, CFN: San Jose State
Cami Griffin, LonghornsWire.com: San Jose State
Dan Harralson, VolsWire.com: San Jose State
Phil Harrison, BuckeyesWire.com: San Jose State
Jeremy Mauss, MWwire.com San Jose State
Kevin McGuire, NittanyLionsWire.com: San Jose State
Big Game Ben Niewoehner, CFN Eastern Michigan
E, CFN San Jose State
Tyler Nettuno, LSUTigerswire.com San Jose State
Zack Pearson, TarHeelswire.com San Jose State
Johnny Rosenstein, SportsBookWire.com: San Jose State
Nick Shepkowski, FightingIrishWire.com: San Jose State
Scott Steehn, WinnersandWhiners.com: San Jose State
Joe Vitale, UGAWire.com: San Jose State
Clucko the Chicken (a coin flip), CFN: Eastern Michigan
CONSENSUS PICK: San Jose State

NEXT: Liberty vs Toledo Expert Picks Predictions

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South Alabama vs WKU R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl Prediction Game Preview

South Alabama vs WKU game preview, prediction, and breakdown for the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl on Wednesday, December 21

South Alabama vs WKU prediction, game preview, odds, how to watch. R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl, Wednesday, December 21

South Alabama vs WKU R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl Prediction Game Preview

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South Alabama vs WKU How To Watch

Date: Wednesday, December 21
Game Time: 9:00 pm ET
Venue: Caesars Superdome, New Orleans, LA
How To Watch: ESPN
Record: South Alabama (10-2), WKU (8-5)
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South Alabama vs WKU R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl 5 Things To Know

R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl Prediction, What’s Going To Happen, History

– South Alabama might be the best Power Five team you didn’t pay any attention to this season. You probably didn’t notice it came this close to beating UCLA, and you probably didn’t notice that it was that 32-31 loss and a 10-6 battle with Troy away from being perfect. It didn’t exactly roll a slew of killers, but it has a solid offense, it controls the clock, and it brings one of the best run defenses in the country.

– WKU brings the fun. No, it doesn’t care about time of possession, and it’ll see your solid offense with a high-octane passing attack. It lost star QB Austin Reed to the transfer portal – he was supposedly headed to Louisville – but he changed his mind and came back. Here comes the offensive show.

– The Hilltoppers have played in eight FBS-level bowl games and won five of them. Head man Tyson Helton won two of his three – including the 2021 Boca Raton with a 59-38 explosion over Appalachian State.

– This is just the third bowl game for South Alabama and the first under head coach Kane Wommack. It’s a showcase moment for him and the program that lost its first two bowl tries and hasn’t been in one since losing to Air Force in the 2016 Arizona.

– The New Orleans Bowl always seems like it should be fun – the matchups are always strong – but the last five have been relative blowouts and seven of the last eight were decided by 13 or more. It’s been the Sun Belt’s world winning the last four.

CFN Bowl Expert Picks: Dec 16-19 | Dec 20-27

Why South Alabama Will Win The R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl

How did South Alabama get it done this year?

It’s been a rock defensively, it doesn’t make a slew of mistakes or turnovers, and the ground game was one of the best in the nation. La’Damian Webb ran for over 1,000 yards and 13 scores, but he’s not alone in the rotation of runners including QB Carter Bradley.

Run well, rely on the defense, limit the turnovers – which, to be fair, come in bunches, but the team overcomes them. But against WKU it’s about holding up against a ton of midrange passes.

The Jaguars haven’t had too many problems surviving the games against teams that throw a ton. The wins haven’t been easy, but they can handle WKU thanks to a strong-tackling back-seven.

However …

Why WKU Will Win The R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl

Getting back Austin Reed changes the game.

He’s a veteran passer who’s been around the block as a big bomber for West Florida at the D-II level before fitting right in at WKU. The South Alabama defense might be terrific, but it’s about to get thrown on 50 times for at least 300 yards.

But it’s not just about Reed and the air show. The WKU offense can run well enough to mix it up, and the defense isn’t just along for the ride. It might have had a bumpy finish in a blowout loss to Auburn and a tough 32-31 fight with Florida Atlantic, but few teams in the country do more to take the ball away.

WKU’s defense is high-risk/high-reward. It can get run over, but it makes up for it with a ton of forced fumbles. It’ll give up big plays through the air, but it also generates a bunch of picks.

It’s just this simple. For all the good things the offense does, and as good as Reed is, WKU is 7-0 when coming up with two or more takeaways, and 1-5 when it doesn’t.

But …

R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl Prediction, What’s Going To Happen, History

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College Football Expert Picks, Predictions Bowl Games December 16-19

College football expert picks and predictions for the bowl games from December 16th through the 19th along with Army-Navy

College football expert picks, predictions for all of the bowl games from December 16th through the 19, along with Army vs Navy

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* next to the pick means the team will win, but not cover.
Click on each game for the game preview and CFN Prediction

Bowl Game College Football Expert Picks 
Army vs Navy | Bahamas: Miami Univ vs UAB
Cure: UTSA vs Troy | Fenway: Cin vs Louisville
Celeb: NC Cen vs JSU | New Mex: BYU vs SMU
LA: Fresno St vs Wazzu | LTree: Rice vs USM
Vegas: Florida vs Oreg St | Frisco: UNT vs Boise St
Myrtle: UConn vs Marshall | Results So Far

Bowl Schedule, Predictions | Ranking all 41 Bowls
CFN Experts Picks: Bowls December 16th-19th

Army vs Navy

Line: Navy -1.5, o/u: 32.5

Eric Bolin, RazorbacksWire.com: Army
Evan Bredeson, CornhuskersWire.com: Army
Tony Cosolo, ColoradoBuffaloesWire.com: Army
Jeff Feyerer, CFN: Navy
Pete Fiutak, CFN: Navy
Cami Griffin, LonghornsWire.com: Navy
Dan Harralson, VolsWire.com: Army
Phil Harrison, BuckeyesWire.com: Navy
Jeremy Mauss, MWwire.com Army
Kevin McGuire, NittanyLionsWire.com: Navy*
Big Game Ben Niewoehner, CFN Navy
E, CFN Army
Tyler Nettuno, LSUTigerswire.com Army
Zack Pearson, TarHeelswire.com Navy
Johnny Rosenstein, SportsBookWire.com: Navy
Nick Shepkowski, FightingIrishWire.com: Army
Scott Steehn, WinnersandWhiners.com: Army
Joe Vitale, UGAWire.com: Navy
Clucko the Chicken (a coin flip), CFN: Army
CONSENSUS PICK: Army

CFN Experts Picks: Bowls December 16th-19th

NEXT: Miami University vs UAB Expert Picks Predictions

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Boise State vs North Texas Frisco Bowl Prediction Game Preview

Boise State vs North Texas game preview, prediction, and breakdown for the Frisco Bowl on Saturday, December 17

Boise State vs North Texas prediction, game preview, odds, how to watch. Frisco Bowl, Saturday, December 17

Boise State vs North Texas Frisco Bowl Prediction Game Preview

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Boise State vs North Texas How To Watch

Date: Saturday, December 17
Game Time: 9:15 ET
Venue: Toyota Stadium, Frisco, TX
How To Watch: ESPN
Record: Boise State (9-4), North Texas (7-6)
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Boise State vs North Texas Frisco Bowl 5 Things To Know

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

– Boise State probably deserved a bigger spotlight – not to bowl shame – but the Mountain West tie-ins weren’t anything amazing. It might have missed out on the Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl with the Mountain West Championship loss to Fresno State, but there’s a shot at the first ten-win season since 2019 – that’s a long drought for this program.

After a midseason change of quarterbacks and offensive coordinators, the running game became dominant, the defense was among the best in the nation, and this is a chance to show off in the late night game at the end of a LONG day of football.

– North Texas also lost its conference championship game – dropping the Conference USA title to UTSA 48-27 – but even with a relatively successful year and a bowl appearance, the program sacked head coach Seth Littrell. Veteran head man Phil Bennett will take over for this, and then Washington State receivers coach Eric Morris will step in. Part of the problem for Littrell was …

– North Texas has been awful in bowl games. It lost its last five and seven of eight since 2002. Not only have the Mean Green lost in the recent post-season, they got trucked in four straight blowouts. The program is just 2-10 all-time in bowls starting with a loss to Nevada in your 1947 Salad Bowl. But …

– Boise State hasn’t exactly been a killer in this things lately. The first bowl appearance was in 1999 under head coach and now offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter. After winning four straight and getting out to an 11-5 bowl start up until 2016, the Broncos have lost two of their last three, weren’t able to play in the 2018 First Responder, and last year got hosed when UCLA had to back out of the Holiday at the last second. This is the team’s first bowl game since 2019. They haven’t won one since 2017.

– The Frisco Bowl has been a tad rocky so far, to be nice about it. This is the fifth time the game has been played with the 2020 version canceled, and the other four … they weren’t anything great. Kent State’s 51-41 win over Utah State in 2019 was a fun shootout, but that’s as close a game as there out of the four.

CFN Bowl Expert Picks: Dec 16-19 | Dec 20-27

Why Boise State Will Win The Frisco Bowl

Defense. Yeah … North Texas doesn’t really do that.

It’s 124th in the nation in total D, it has a hard time getting off the field, and worst of all in this, it struggles against the run. There isn’t enough pressure delivered into the backfield to generate enough big plays.

It played one Mountain West team this year, and got run over by UNLV for 365 yards in a 58-27 loss.

Boise State picked up the running game with 316 yards in a late September win over San Diego State, ran for 316 more yards in the win over Fresno State the following week, and everything kept on rolling from there. On the year the team is 7-0 when running for 148 yards or more.

North Texas allows 188 rushing yards per game. However …

Why North Texas Will Win The Frisco Bowl

North Texas has enough of an offense to be a problem for the Broncos.

The run defense isn’t going to slow down George Holani and company from getting their yards, but the Mean Green ground game needs to rip off big runs of their own.

They have a veteran in quarterback Austin Aune who can keep things moving with his midrange passes, but it needs to be the rotation of several good young running backs that has to keep grinding. Boise State doesn’t allow a slew of big, gashing runs, but it’s just 3-3 this season when giving up 150 yards or more.

North Texas hit that mark in every game but three, and lost all of them. In the other ten games it’s 7-3 when it’s able to control things a bit.

Boise State has had its breakdowns at times, and it suffered a power outage in the Mountain West Championship with just 321 yards of total offense. The team is 1-4 when failing to get to 325 yards, but …

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

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College Football Bowl Games: Ranking All 41. How Good Is Your Bowl?

Ranking all 41 bowl games. How good is each bowl game going to be and how do they all rank from 1 to 41?

How good are all the bowl games? How good are the matchups? We rank all 41 from the best-looking to the worst. How good is your bowl game?

College Football Bowl Games: Ranking Every Bowl, Pre-Bowls

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We’re not getting an expanded College Football Playoff until the 2024 season – that’s going to supercharge this time of year – and now college football is in this strange sort of holding pattern.

The transfer portal is gutting some teams. Players are opting out of the bigger bowls to get ready for the NFL. Ohio State WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba isn’t able to go in the CFP semifinal against Georgia. Coaches are switching teams, injuries are an issue, and …

Reality has come to breakfast. The business of college football no longer jibes with the exhibition aspect to the end of the season.

Whatever.

We’re getting 41 bowl games – assuming some teams don’t opt out if they just don’t have the personnel – and that means at least half will be awful-to-meh, a  bunch will be fun, and there will be a few that pop up here and there that restore your faith in humanity.

Yes, you may quibble with the interest you might have in the various bowls – OF COURSE you’re watching Michigan vs TCU no matter what. This is all based on what the best games should potentially be.

And with that, here’s our ranking of how good these bowl games should be. The hope is that most of the ones on the bottom rise up and rock, all while knowing that a slew of the top-ranked bowls will fizzle badly.

Here’s how the bowls are categorized as we ask the question. How good is your bowl? (We’ll revisit at the end and rerank based on how good they actually were.)

– Deep Cuts (32-41) | It’s Football. You’ll Watch (25-32)
– Bowls. Just Bowls (17-24) | Restaurant Quality (9-16)
– Watch or Die (1-8) | Initial Thoughts, Picks on all 41

Bowl Game Rankings: Deep Cuts

Here’s the plan. It’s a bowl game so you have to at least turn it on. If it’s awful, get out and save yourself for later because they keep throwing the bowls at you. However, check back once in a while to make sure you’re not missing anything.

41. Camellia Bowl

Buffalo vs Georgia Southern
Tuesday, December 27, 2022
12:00, ESPN
Cramton Bowl, Montgomery, AL
Last Year: Georgia State 51, Ball State 20
Pre-Bowl Ranking: 2021: 24, 2020: 10, 2019: 29
Post-Bowl Ranking: 2021: 27, 2020: 7, 2019: 17

It’s all about Buffalo. Georgia Southern has a big-time offense that’s going to push for 40 points. The Bulls have to prove they can keep up, and the first guess is no, they won’t be able to. That doesn’t mean this can’t be entertaining for a while, but it might mostly be a showcase for the Eagles and former UB QB Kyle Vantrease.

40. HomeTown Lenders Bahamas Bowl

UAB vs Miami University
Friday, December 16, 2022
11:30 am, ESPN
Line: UAB -11.5, o/u: 43.5
Thomas Robinson Stadium, Nassau, Bahamas
Last Year: Middle Tennessee 31, Toledo 24
Pre-Bowl Ranking: 2021: 10, 2020: NA, 2019: 28
Post-Bowl Ranking: 2021: 42, 2020: NA, 2019: 24

The Bahamas Bowl almost never goes according to plan. It’s right out of the gate, teams know in advance that they’re going to make travel plans, and in a crazy way it’s been in a pattern of great-awful-great-awful. Last year’s was great. It’s a toss-up, though, with the coaching change at UAB offsetting the talent level a bit.

39. LendingTree Bowl

Rice vs Southern Miss
Saturday, December 17, 2022
5:45, ESPN
Hancock Whitney Stadium, Mobile, AL
Last Year: Liberty 56, Eastern Michigan 20
Pre-Bowl Ranking: 2021: 34, 2020: 23, 2019: 37
Post-Bowl Ranking: 2021: 34, 2020: 23, 2019: 28

Okay, so Rice is here because it went to class – it was on top of the APR rankings so it was able to go bowling at 5-7. It’s going to be fired up to have an extra game, Southern Miss hasn’t been all that great over the last part of the season, and it should all combine for a hard-fought, tight bowl that should be more entertaining than it’ll get credit for.

38. Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl

Houston vs Louisiana  
Friday, December 23, 2022
3:00, ESPN
Independence Bowl, Shreveport, LA
Last Year: UAB 31, BYU 28
Pre-Bowl Ranking: 2021: 35, 2020: NA, 2019: 34
Post-Bowl Ranking: 2021: 11, 2020: NA, 2019: 20

Houston will always play up or down to its competition, but it’ll bring the offense when it has to. There’s a problem, though – it might not have to crank up the attack against a Louisiana offense that hasn’t done much of anything against anyone good. This is a true focus bowl – it’s not going to be pretty if the Cougars care. However, it’s going to be a Ragin’ Cajun-friendly crowd.

37. RoofClaim.com Boca Raton Bowl

Toledo vs Liberty
Tuesday, December 20, 2022
7:30, ESPN
FAU Stadium, Boca Raton, FL
Last Year: WKU 59, Appalachian State 38
Pre-Bowl Ranking: 2021: 2, 2020: 5, 2019: 16
Post-Bowl Ranking: 2021: 15, 2020: 20, 2019: 23

Toledo might have won the MAC Championship, but it’s been AWFUL in bowl games over the last four years. Liberty was AWFUL over the late part of the season before Hugh Freeze finally took the Auburn gig. The talent is there on both sides to make this fun, but the Boca Raton has been just okay lately.

36. Famous Idaho Potato Bowl

Eastern Michigan vs San Jose State
Tuesday, December 20, 2022
3:30 ESPN
Albertsons Stadium, Boise, ID
Last Year: Wyoming 52, Kent State 38
Pre-Bowl Ranking: 2021: 13, 2020: 13, 2019: 31
Post-Bowl Ranking: 2021: 14, 2020: 17, 2019: 31

It’s been a few years since we’ve had a good Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, but Eastern Michigan keeps every game close. It comes in on a bit of roll, and the chilly weather won’t be a problem. San Jose State is entertaining – QB Chevan Cordeiro is a baller who’s worth the watch.

35. Cricket Celebration Bowl

North Carolina Central vs Jackson State
Saturday, December 17, 2022
12:00, ABC
Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA
Last Year: South Carolina State 31, Jackson State 10
Pre-Bowl Ranking: 2021: , 2020: , 2019:
Post-Bowl Ranking: 2021: , 2020: , 2019: 

The man is still there. Deion Sanders has made Colorado the coolest school going, but he’ll still be around to finish the job at Jackson State. North Carolina Central can play and isn’t going to be a pushover, but after last year’s blowout Celebration Bowl loss, Coach Prime’s team should put on a show.

34. Wasabi Fenway Bowl

Louisville vs Cincinnati
Saturday, December 17, 2022
11:00 am, ESPN
Fenway Park, Boston, MA
Last Year: Canceled
Pre-Bowl Ranking: 2021: 41, 2020: NA, 2019: NA
Post-Bowl Ranking: 2021: 36, 2020: NA, 2019: NA

Neither team has its head coach with Scott Satterfield leaving from Louisville to Cincinnati, both programs are in a bit of a holding pattern, and with both teams looking to show off who’s still around for next year. Even so, this should be an entertaining dead-even game with the Cardinal defense a fun watch if it’s taking the ball away.

33. Frisco Bowl

Boise State vs North Texas
Saturday, December 17, 2022
9:15, ESPN
Toyota Stadium, Frisco, TX
Last Year: San Diego State 38, UTSA 24
Pre-Bowl Ranking: 2021: 37, 2020: NA, 2019: 32
Post-Bowl Ranking: 2021: 22, 2020: NA, 2019: 8

Uh oh. North Texas fired head coach Seth Littrell even after getting to the Conference USA Championship. Boise State might be too good for this bowl, and if it brings the focus, it’s combination of running game and defense could make this ugly fast. Let’s put it this way – North Texas already played one Mountain West team and lost to UNLV 58-27.

– Deep Cuts (32-41) | It’s Football. You’ll Watch (25-32)
– Bowls. Just Bowls (17-24) | Restaurant Quality (9-16)
– Watch or Die (1-8) | Initial Thoughts, Picks on all 41

NEXT: Bowl Game Rankings: Bowls. Like You Have Anything Better To Do.

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4, Page 5

College Football News Freshman All-America Team 2022

College Football News 2022 Freshman All-American Team. The best new young stars from this season.

College Football News Freshman All-America Team. Who were the best and brightest young stars of the 2022 season?

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College Football News Freshman All-America Team 2022

Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews & @RichCirminiello

First Team Freshman All-American Offense

QB Drake Maye, North Carolina
RB Quinshon Judkins, Ole Miss
RB Richard Reese, Baylor
WR Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona
WR J.Michael Sturdivant, Cal
TE Brady Hunt, Ball State
OL Kelvin Banks, Texas
OL Austin Barber, Florida
OL Will Campbell, LSU
OL Blake Miller, Clemson
OL Roger Rosengarten, Washington

First Team Freshman All-American Defense

EDGE Gabe Jacas, Illinois
DI Dontay Corleone, Cincinnati
DI Deone Walker, Kentucky
EDGE Trey Moore, UTSA
LB Jaishawn Barham, Maryland
LB Abdul Carter, Penn State
LB Harold Perkins, LSU
CB Terrion Arnold, Alabama
S A.J. Haulcy, New Mexico
S Malaki Starks, Georgia
CB Benjamin Morrison, Notre Dame

First Team Freshman All-American Special Teams

PK Dominic Zvada, Arkansas State
P Riley Thompson, Florida Atlantic

Second Team Freshman All-American Offense

QB Taylen Green, Boise State
RB Jaydn Ott, Cal
RB Nicholas Singleton, Penn State
WR Jared Brown, Coastal Carolina
WR Evan Stewart, Texas A&M
TE Var’Keyes Gumms, North Texas
OL Marcus Mbow, Purdue
OL Emmanuel Pregnon, Wyoming
OL Mason Randolph, Boise State
OL Kingsley Suamataia, BYU
OL Trey Zuhn, Texas A&M

Second Team Freshman All-American Defense

EDGE David Bailey, Stanford
DI Walter Nolen, Texas A&M
DI Jaheim Oatis, Alabama
EDGE Dasan McCullough, Indiana
LB Lander Barton, Utah
LB Deontae Lawson, Alabama
LB Chris Paul, Arkansas
CB Jeremiah Earby, Cal
S Nick Emmanwori, South Carolina
S Devin Lemear, Baylor
CB Jalen McMurray, Temple

Second Team Freshman All-American Special Teams

PK Drew Stevens, Iowa
P James Ferguson-Reynolds, Boise State

Third Team Freshman All-American Offense

QB Quinn Ewers, Texas
RB Roman Hemby, Maryland
RB Damien Martinez, Oregon State
WR Barion Brown, Kentucky
WR Ja’Lynn Polk, Washington
TE Tanner Koziol, Ball State
OL Emery Jones, LSU
OL Febechi Nwaiwu, North Texas
OL Micah Pettus, Ole Miss
OL Jalen Rivers, Miami
OL Jonah Savaiinaea, Arizona

Third Team Freshman All-American Defense

EDGE Oluwaseyi Omotosho, Wyoming
DI Jordan Guerad, FIU
DI Damonic Williams, TCU
EDGE Mykel Williams, Georgia
LB Devyn Curtis, Middle Tennessee
LB Jacob Manu, Arizona
LB Drue Watts, Nevada
CB Torrie Cox, Ohio
S Kendal Daniels, Oklahoma State
S Jaden Hicks, Washington State
CB DQ Smith, South Carolina

Third Team Freshman All-American Special Teams

PK Nathanial Vakos, Ohio
P Brett Thorson, Georgia

Honorable Mentionable Freshman All-American Offense

QB: Braylon Braxton (Tulsa), Clay Millen (Colorado State), E.J. Warner (Temple)

RB: Kaytron Allen (Penn State), Sieh Bangura (Ohio), Marquis Crosby (Louisiana Tech), Trevor Etienne (Florida), Kaleb Johnson (Iowa), Devin Mockobee (Purdue)

WR: Skyler Bell (Wisconsin), Jerand Bradley (Texas Tech), Luther Burden (Missouri), Kody Epps (BYU), Matthew Golden (Houston), Dane Key (Kentucky), Jordyn Tyson (Colorado), Antonio Williams (Clemson)

TE: Jordan Dingle (Kentucky), Donovan Green (Texas A&M), Justin Joly (UConn), RJ Maryland (SMU), Mason Taylor (LSU), Jack Velling (Oregon State)

OL: Cole Hutson (Texas), Damon Kaylor (Ball State), Drew Kendall (Boston College), Tomas Rimac (West Virginia), Jayden Williams (Ole Miss)

Honorable Mentionable Freshman All-American Defense

EDGE: Patrick Payton (Florida State), Braden Siders (Wyoming), Kenard Snyder (ULM), Shemar Stewart (Texas A&M), Khordae Sydnor (Purdue), Pryce Yates (UConn)

DI: Joshua Farmer (Florida State), Mason Graham (Michigan), Derrick Harmon (Michigan State), Grady Kelly (Colorado State), Denzel Lowry (Old Dominion), Simote Pepa (Utah)

LB: Ernest Hausmann (Nebraska), Shemar James (Florida), Derek McDonald (Syracuse), Ben Perry (Louisville)

CB: Aamaris Brown (USF), Mansoor Delane (Virginia Tech), Davison Igbinosun (Ole Miss), Will Johnson (Michigan), Hezekiah Masses (FIU), Chandler Rivers (Duke), Upton Stout (WKU), Ceyair Wright (USC)

S: Shyheim Brown (Florida State), Micah Harper (BYU), Demetrius Hill (FIU), Ike Larsen (Utah State), Jordan Lovett (Kentucky), Peter Manuma (Hawaii), Clayton Powell-Lee (Georgia Tech)

Honorable Mentionable Freshman All-American Special Teams

PK: Colton Boomer (UCF), Carter Brown (Arizona State), Denis Lynch (USC), Collin Rogers (SMU)

P: Tom Ellard (WKU), Tyler Perkins (Iowa State), Jack Stonehouse (Missouri), Oliver Straw (West Virginia)

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– 2022-2023 Bowl Schedule, Predictions

Troy 18, UTSA 12 Duluth Trading Cure Bowl What Happened, What It All Means

Troy 18, UTSA 12: Duluth Trading Cure Bowl what happened, player of the game, and what it all means

Troy beat UTSA 18-12 to win the Duluth Trading Cure Bowl. What happened, who was the player of the game, and what does it all mean?

Troy 18, UTSA 12 Duluth Trading Cure Bowl What Happened, Player of the Game, What It All Means

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– Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews & @PeteFiutak

Duluth Trading Cure Bowl What Happened

– UTSA got up 12-0 on a Troy snap out of the end zone for a safety, and helped by a two-yard Frank Harris touchdown pass to Zaire Franklin. That was it for the Roadrunner scores as mistake after mistake proved costly.

Troy scored 19 unanswered points, highlighted by a Gunnar Watson 12-yard touchdown pass to RaJae Johnson to capitalize off a Keyshawn Swanson pick near the end zone to stall a UTSA drive.

– UTSA is going to be kicking itself for this one. It had a 12-0, but turned it over five times, got hit with nine penalties – one big one that kept a drive alive – and allowed a fake punt for a first down, and yet it had chance after chance to take over. UTSA’s offense suffered drop after drop – not helped by some questionable play calls – along with all of those mistakes. However …

– Give the Trojans credit. The offense didn’t work all that well, the defense bent a bit too much, and they couldn’t put the game away despite all the UTSA errors. The defense came up with stop after stop, overcame its own mistakes, and got the thrilling bowl win.

– 2022-2023 Bowl Schedule, Predictions

Duluth Trading Cure Bowl Player of the Game

KJ Robertson, LB Troy
Several Troy defensive players could’ve been here – Carlton Martial led the team with 14 tackles and CB Reddy Steward had a huge day. Robertson did a little of everything with 9 tackles with an interception.

CFN Bowl Expert Picks: Dec 20-27

Duluth Trading Cure Bowl Fun Stats

– Total offense: UTSA 345 – Troy 153

– Penalties: UTSA 9 for 105 yards, Troy 2 for 22 yards

– Turnovers: UTSA 5, Troy 2

Duluth Trading Cure Bowl What It All Means

Troy closed out one of its best – if not the strongest – seasons in the program’s history, and it was the strongest in the 22 years since moving up to the FCS world. Not bad for Jon Sumrall’s first season. Along with a Sun Belt Championship and now a Cure Bowl win, the 12 wins push pass the 11-2 2017 season. This also makes it five straight bowl wins going back to 2010.

UTSA was fantastic all season long, and it had this game in its hands, but couldn’t come through. It was still a fantastic season with a Conference USA title, but the program is still winless in bowl games – 0-4 losing the last three years – and it wasn’t able to match last year’s 12-2 season.

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– 2022-2023 Bowl Schedule, Predictions