Bowl Game Rankings: Bowls. Like You Have Anything Better To Do.
No, you shouldn’t put off that colonoscopy for this, and you don’t need to skip Junior’s appearance in the role of “a tooth” in the school play, but if it’s between one of these bowls and some TV holiday special involving song, you could do worse.
32. R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl
Saturday, December 18
ESPN, 9:15 pm
Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, LA
Marshall vs Louisiana
Here’s the problem – is Marshall that good? Louisiana should keep on rolling through its 12-1, Sun Belt championship season with a veteran team and offensive coordinator Michael Desormeaux taking over the head coaching gig.
Marshall used to be a sure-thing in bowls under Doc Holliday, but he lost his last two, Marshall is under new management, and this year’s 7-5 team has been okay, but hardly anything amazing. Long ramble short, be scared that the Ragin’ Cajuns roll in a sort of home game.
Line: Louisiana -4.5, o/u: 55
Last Year: Georgia Southern 38, Louisiana Tech 3
Pre-Bowl Ranking: 2020: 22, 2019: 33
Post-Bowl Ranking: 2020: 25, 2019: 27
31. SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl
Thursday, December 30
ESPN, 10:30 pm
Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, NV
Wisconsin vs Arizona State
There’s a shot we’re reading this wrong, but there’s an excellent shot that the rested and healthy Wisconsin defense – No. 1 in the nation over Georgia and Oklahoma State by a relatively huge margin – shuts this down to a total stop. If the running game gets rolling, too, forget it. Go to bed – this will end at around 2 am ET.
Line: Wisconsin -7, o/u: 42.5
Last Year: Canceled
Pre-Bowl Ranking: 2020: NA, 2019: 15
Post-Bowl Ranking: 2020: NA, 2019: 36
30. Quick Lane Bowl
Monday, December 27
ESPN, 11:00 am
Ford Field, Detroit, MI
Nevada vs Western Michigan
All forgiveness here for the wait-and-see ranking, but if Nevada QB Carson Strong plays, we’re going to adjust this fast and put this somewhere in the top ten – it’ll be a wild shootout.
Nevada head coach Jay Norvell is off to Colorado State, Strong will probably be getting ready for the NFL – he’s a bit banged up with a leg problem – and this is starting in the wee hours of the morning. You’re going to have to LOVE bowl games to get in on this.
Line: Western Michigan -3.5, o/u: 59
Last Year: Canceled
Pre-Bowl Ranking: 2020: NA, 2019: 39
Post-Bowl Ranking: 2020: NA, 2019: 9
29. Cheez-It Bowl
Wednesday, December 29
ESPN, 5:45 pm
Camping World Stadium, Orlando, FL
Clemson vs Iowa State
Hope for the best, prepare for a defensive slugfest.The concern is that it might be a hot mess in a whole slew of directions.
Maybe – after all the coaching changes – Clemson is just getting through this to get to the offseason, and a veteran Iowa State team comes in and rolls. Maybe Clemson goes Clemson and the defense shuts down the mediocre Cyclones cold.
Line: Iowa State -1, o/u: 45.5
Last Year: Oklahoma State 37, Miami 34
Pre-Bowl Ranking: 2020: 6, 2019: 5
Post-Bowl Ranking: 2020: 4, 2019: 19
28. Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl
Wednesday, December 22
ESPN, 7:30 pm
Amon G. Carter Stadium, Fort Worth, TX
Missouri vs Army
This is among the most interesting bowl matchups, but it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s going to be a great game. Army has won four of its last five bowls, and it pushed West Virginia hard in a 24-21 fight in last year’s Liberty, but Missouri is a Power Five program, and Army isn’t.
On the flip side, Missouri is a Power Five program that can’t stop the run, and Army beat Houston – not a Power Five team, but go with the bit – 70-14 against Houston in the 2018 Armed Forces Bowl.
Line: Army -3.5, o/u: 58.5
Last Year: Mississippi State 28, Tulsa 26
Pre-Bowl Ranking: 2020: 16, 2019: 32
Post-Bowl Ranking: 2020: 8, 2019: 32
Bowl Schedule | Bowl Confidence Picks
Expert Picks: CFP & NY6 | Dec 17-27 | Dec 28-Jan 4
27. Myrtle Beach Bowl
Monday, December 20
ESPN, 2:30 pm
Brooks Stadium, Conway, SC
Tulsa vs Old Dominion
It is our job to the ketchup popsicle to the person wearing white gloves – you’re going to be entertained by your 2020 Myrtle Beach Bowl whether you like it or not.
There’s a good chance Tulsa comes in and drops a hammer from the start, but Old Dominion is entertaining. It comes in on a five-game winning streak with a good enough offense to make this a battle.
Line: Tulsa -9.5, o/u: 53.5
Last Year: Appalachian State 56, North Texas 28
Pre-Bowl Ranking: 2020: 16, 2019: NA
Post-Bowl Ranking: 2020: 25, 2019: NA
26. Guaranteed Rate Bowl
Tuesday, December 28
FOX, 10:15 pm
Chase Field, Phoenix, AZ
West Virginia vs Minnesota
Lazy, unfair analysis, Part 1: Minnesota deserves to be in a higher-profile bowl game, and it’s not going to mope that it’s here.
Lazy, unfair analysis, Part 2: West Virginia hasn’t been great in bowls in recent years. It struggled to beat Army last season and got whacked in the previous three – again, lazy, I know, because those three under Dana Holgorsen has nothing to do with this team.
Lazy, unfair analysis, Part 3: Minnesota has been fantastic in bowls over the last several years, and PJ Fleck – one dud against Bowling Green aside – has been great in non-conference games.
Line: Minnesota -4, o/u: 45
Last Year: Canceled
Pre-Bowl Ranking: 2020: NA, 2019: 5
Post-Bowl Ranking: 2020: NA, 2019: 19
25. New Era Pinstripe Bowl
Wednesday, December 29
ESPN, 2:15 pm
Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY
Virginia Tech vs Maryland
There’s a shot this turns out to be a big bag of awesome if Virginia Tech can bring the offense, but it’s low on the list because of all the changes with the program, and because the team has been so flaky-weird this season. Speaking of flaky-weird teams, Maryland has played in just one game that ended up closer than 17 points – a win over an awful Indiana team – in its last nine games.
Line: PICK, o/u: 55
Last Year: Canceled
Pre-Bowl Ranking: 2020: NA, 2019: 24
Post-Bowl Ranking: 2020: NA, 2019: 18
How Good Is Your Bowl?
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