Bowl Game Rankings: Bowls. Just Bowls.
They’re bowl games. College football will be played, people might show up, they might not, no big whoop.
24. New Mexico Bowl
SMU vs BYU
Saturday, December 17, 2022
2:15, ESPN
Dreamstyle Stadium, Albuquerque, NM
Last Year: Fresno State 31, UTEP 24
Pre-Bowl Ranking: 2021: 43, 2020: ,21 2019: 36
Post-Bowl Ranking: 2021: 19, 2020: NA, 2019: 24
What do you want out of a bowl game? Fireworks. SMU is always hit-or-miss, and BYU has a way of going off when it gets into a groove, but this should be a back-and-forth game with lots and lots of big plays. It might be a slight disappointment of a season for BYU, but might mean it brings it that much more.
23. Pinstripe Bowl
Syracuse vs Minnesota
Thursday, December 29, 2022
2:00, ESPN
Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY
Last Year: Maryland 54, Virginia Tech 10
Pre-Bowl Ranking: 2021: 25, 2020: NA, 2019: 24
Post-Bowl Ranking: 2021: 37, 2020: NA, 2019: 18
We know exactly how this is going to go. Minnesota shows up. It starts to run the ball. The defense keeps Syracuse from doing much. The offense runs the ball. Repeat. PJ Fleck and the Gophers win another low scoring game. Even so, there’s a methodical way the program does the bowl thing that’s entertaining in its own way.
22. SERVPRO First Responder Bowl
Memphis vs Utah State
Tuesday, December 27, 2022
3:15, ESPN
Gerald J. Ford Stadium, University Park, TX
Last Year: Air Force 31, Louisville 28
Pre-Bowl Ranking: 2021: 19, 2020: 27, 2019: 25
Post-Bowl Ranking: 2021: 9, 2020: 5, 2019: 2
Expect fun. Utah State was one of the nice surprises of last year’s bowl season with its win over Oregon State, and this year it turned it around late to get the offense going to finish on a 5-2 kick. However, it didn’t exactly rip though a slew of killers. Memphis will set a fast pace, but the Aggies should be able to keep up.
21. AutoZone Liberty Bowl
Kansas vs Arkansas
Wednesday, December 28, 2022
5:30, ESPN
Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, Memphis, TN
Last Year: Texas Tech 34, Mississippi State 7
Pre-Bowl Ranking: 2021: 4, 2020: 20, 2019: 6
Post-Bowl Ranking: 2021: 31, 2020: 6, 2019: 7
Forgotten about in all the fun of Kansas turning the season around and getting to a bowl game is the 1-5 run to close out the season. The offense failed to overcome the problems on defense that were there from the start. If the Arkansas offense gets going early and the line starts paving the way for the ground game to take over … uh oh.
20. SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl
Florida vs Oregon State
Saturday, December 17, 2022
7:30, ABC
Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, NV
Last Year: Wisconsin 20, Arizona State 13
Pre-Bowl Ranking: 2021: 31, 2020: NA, 2019: 15
Post-Bowl Ranking: 2021: 17, 2020: NA, 2019: 36
Anthony Richardson isn’t playing. That was it. The Florida QB was the reason to get fired up for this – and the reason for the prime Saturday night slot on ABC. Florida’s lack of steady defense should make this entertaining, but the Oregon State D might turn the lights out. If nothing else, it’s a chance for America to finally see this terrific Beaver team.
19. Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic
USC vs Tulane
Monday, January 2, 2023
1:00, ESPN
AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX
Last Year: CFP Semifinal Alabama 27, Cincinnati 6
Pre-Bowl Ranking: 2021: 8, 2020: 3, 2019: 8
Post-Bowl Ranking: 2021: 29, 2020: 22, 2019: 11
Hope for the best bowl, prepare for the worst bowl. As quickly as most of the talent came into the USC family under Lincoln Riley, it all might be out just as fast, at least on offense. The defense will still be there, and the American Athletic Conference champs should certainly be able to power though with its running style. Even so, if the USC offense can get going at all like normal – let’s just assume Caleb Williams isn’t able to go and most of the stars are out – it’ll still be worth the watch.
18. Guaranteed Rate Bowl
Wisconsin vs Oklahoma State
Tuesday, December 27, 2022
10:15, ESPN
Chase Field, Phoenix, AZ
Last Year: Minnesota 18, West Virginia 6
Pre-Bowl Ranking: 2021: 26, 2020: NA, 2019: 5
Post-Bowl Ranking: 2021: 30, 2020: NA, 2019: 19
Wisconsin doesn’t exactly have a head coach, but Jim Leonard is still around until Luke Fickell gets up to speed. The O lost QB Graham Mertz to the transfer portal, and joining him is Oklahoma State QB Spencer Sanders – those two were being phased out late in the year anyway. Both teams had wildly disappointing years, but there’s enough talent around to make this one of the tighter bowls before the big ones kick in.
17. Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl
Air Force vs Baylor
Thursday, December 22, 2022
7:30, ESPN
Amon G. Carter Stadium, Fort Worth, TX
Last Year: Army 24, Missouri 22
Pre-Bowl Ranking: 2021: 28, 2020: 16, 2019: 32
Post-Bowl Ranking: 2021: 4, 2020: 8, 2019: 32
It’s asking a lot to match the fantastic 2021 version with Army coming through late to shock Missouri. Both teams will control the tempo and clock in their own way, but you have to like the Air Force style. These two are well-coached, they’ll be prepared, and it’ll be as intense as any of the pre-holiday bowls. Be angry if this isn’t a 60 minute battle.
16. Duke’s Mayo Bowl
Maryland vs NC State
Friday, December 30, 2022
12:00, ESPN
Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC
Last Year: South Carolina 38, North Carolina 21
Pre-Bowl Ranking: 2021: 20, 2020: 24, 2019: 22
Post-Bowl Ranking: 2021: 24, 2020: 9, 2019: 4
If you’re cool with a lunchtime bowl game without a lot of offense to ease your way into the day, here you go. Of course Maryland is high-powered, but let’s just guess it’ll be missing a few of its parts against a nasty NC State defense. There might not be the fireworks you want in a Terp game, but it should be close late.
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