Tag: bowl previews

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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– Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews & @PeteFiutak

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 Bowl Games: Ranking All 43. How Good Is Your Bowl?

How good are all the bowl games? How good are the matchups? We rank all 43 from the best-looking to the worst. How good is your bowl game?

How good are all the bowl games? How good are the matchups? We rank all 43 from the best-looking to the worst. How good is your bowl game?

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

– Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews & @PeteFiutak

There won’t be a ton of bowl games cancelled.

There won’t be a slew of loser teams getting in just to fill spots, and there aren’t teams tapping out after getting an invite.

After 2020, this should be a lot more fun. Sort of.

Now we have a new problem. Coaching changes.

So many teams have new coaches, lost assistants, transfers, opt-outs, and all because they can leave and it doesn’t really matter. College football is the one sport that plays its exhibition season at the end of the year …

And we LOVE it.

43 games – plus the national championship – mean 43 games to watch, 43 reasons to be distracted from your family, 43 investment opportunities, and 43 more moments of college football to enjoy.

Are there too many bowl games? Of course not. No one’s making you watch them – that’s what we’re here for.

Below are the bowl games you have to go out of your way to watch, and the ones you can skip if you have something better to do – like caroling, or needlepoint.

Here’s how the bowl 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 (Bowls 32-43)
– Nothing Better To Do (25-32)
– Bowls. Just Bowls (17-24)
– Restaurant Quality Bowls (9-16)
– Watch or Die (1-8)

Bowl Game Rankings: Deep Cuts

Here’s how you do these bowls. Start watching, and if you’re digging the groove, stay with it. If not, get out fast and save yourself for the bazillion other bowl games being thrown at you.

43. PUBG New Mexico Bowl

Saturday, December 18
ESPN, 2:15 pm
Dreamstyle Stadium, Albuquerque, NM
UTEP vs Fresno State 

Great for UTEP to be a part of the bowl world again, and great that it’s been able to have a strong season after so many years of pain and suffering. However, even without head coach Kalen DeBoer – who’s off to Washington – Fresno State should rip this game apart from the start if it comes in focused. And why? QB Jake Haener – who was originally going to leave for Washington – is back.

Line: Fresno State -11.5, o/u: 51
Last Year: Hawaii 28, Houston 14
Pre-Bowl Ranking: 2020: 21, 2019: 36
Post-Bowl Ranking: 2020: 21, 2019: 37

42. Bahamas Bowl

Friday, December 17
ESPN, 12:00 pm
Thomas Robinson Stadium, Nassau, Bahamas
Middle Tennessee vs Toledo 

This actually might be a little bit of fun – it’s the fist game of the bowl season – but can Middle Tennessee hold up against a Toledo offense that should roll? Let’s put it this way – if the Blue Raiders do what they do and take the ball, this will be interesting. If they don’t, this could be rough.

Line: Toledo -10.5, o/u: 52.5
Last Year: Canceled
Pre-Bowl Ranking: 2020: NA, 2019: 28
Post-Bowl Ranking: 2020: NA, 2019: 24

41. Cricket Celebration Bowl

Saturday, December 18
ABC, 12:00 pm
Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA
South Carolina State vs Jackson State 

Everything about the game is always fun, but this year, Coach Prime’s team should roll at will. Jackson State brings a great defense and might not crank up the offense with a whole lot of chances, but if this goes the way the respective seasons went for both sides, you’ll be okay to move along after the halftime show.

Last Year: Canceled
Line: Jackson State -10.5, o/u: 42.5

40. EasyPost Hawaii Bowl

Friday, December 24
ESPN, 8:00 pm
Clarence TC Ching Complex, Honolulu, HI
Memphis vs Hawaii

It’s the only college game on Christmas Eve, and it might be something to have on in the background when other stuff is happening, but don’t expect a wild shootout. Hawaii will be a bit more grinding than we all might like, but on the plus side, neither defense can come up with a third down stop.

Line: Memphis -7, o/u: 59.5
Last Year: Canceled
Pre-Bowl Ranking: 2020: NA, 2019: 36
Post-Bowl Ranking: 2020: NA, 2019: 37

39. Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl

Friday, December 31
CBS, 12:30 pm
Sun Bowl Stadium, El Paso, TX
Miami vs Washington State 

Give Miami credit for fighting through adversity all year, and now it has to do it again. There’s a shot that this follows form and is close like seemingly every other Hurricane game was over the second half of the year, but Washington State has its parts in place – including a settled coaching situation – and Miami is waiting for the Mario Cristobal era to get going.

Line: Miami -2.5, o/u: 59
Last Year: Canceled
Pre-Bowl Ranking: 2020: NA, 2019: 19
Post-Bowl Ranking: 2020: NA, 2019: 21

38. Valero Alamo Bowl

Wednesday, December 29
ESPN, 9:15 pm
Alamodome, San Antonio, TX
Oklahoma vs Oregon 

This would’ve been one of the games of the year in college football if it happened in the regular season, and there but for a few twists and turns, thing might have been a College Football Playoff matchup.

But who’s left? Both head coaches are gone, key players are missing, and this matchup is Exhibit A of why bowl games sometimes feel like exhibitions. It might be an entertaining game, though, depending on who’s out there.

Okay, okay, so Bob Stoops coaching Oklahoma is going to be cool – but do you really watch a game because of a head coach? There’s a great chance this gets ugly one way or another.

Line: Oklahoma -4.5, o/u: 61.5
Last Year: Texas 55, Colorado 23
Pre-Bowl Ranking: 2020: 17, 2019: 13
Post-Bowl Ranking: 2020: 18, 2019: 38

37. Tropical Smoothie Cafe Frisco Bowl

Tuesday, December 21
ESPN, 7:30 pm
Toyota Stadium, Frisco, TX
UTSA vs San Diego State 

This is going to be a good game, but it just won’t be all that interesting for the average fan because – at least until its last two games against Boise State and Utah State, with a slew of players out with covid in the latter – every San Diego State game feels like the final score is 2-1. If you like great defense and amazing punting, this is the game for you.

Line: UTSA -2.5, o/u: 49.5
Last Year: Canceled
Pre-Bowl Ranking: 2020: NA, 2019: 32
Post-Bowl Ranking: 2020: NA, 2019: 8

36. Frisco Bowl Classic

Thursday, December 23
ESPN, 3:30 pm
Toyota Stadium, Frisco, TX
Miami University vs North Texas

This is a last-second made-up bowl so two more bowl eligible teams could get an extra game – and for ESPN to shoehorn in another bowl game with nothing happening on a Thursday December afternoon. Cool – more college football – but the matchup will be a tough sell. There’s a chance for enough offense to make this one-off bowl interesting, though, as a lead-in to the Florida-UCF Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla.

Line: Miami University -3, o/u: 54

Bowl Schedule | Bowl Confidence Picks
Expert Picks: CFP & NY6 | Dec 17-27 | Dec 28-Jan 4

35. Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl

Saturday, December 18
ABC, 3:30 pm
Independence Stadium, Shreveport, LA
UAB vs BYU 

Here’s the problem. BYU deserves to be in a New Year’s Six bowl. It knows it, and it’s going to play like it.

Here’s the other problem – the Independence Bowls have been next-level awful over the last several years. The last four have been blowouts, and seven of the last nine were decided by double-digits. Hopefully UAB surprises, but …

Line: BYU -7, o/u: 54.5
Last Year: Canceled
Pre-Bowl Ranking: 2020: NA, 2019: 34
Post-Bowl Ranking: 2020: NA, 2019: 20

34. LendingTree Bowl

Saturday, December 18
ESPN, 5:45 pm
Ladd-Peebles Stadium, Mobile, AL
Liberty vs Eastern Michigan 

This should be higher if Liberty is a bit more entertaining. A total dud over the final few weeks of the season, it struggled to score even with several good veterans on offense. On the plus side, Eastern Michigan has an offense and usually plays tight games, but if Liberty finds its groove early, uh oh.

Line: Liberty -9, o/u: 58.5
Last Year: Georgia State 39, WKU 21
Pre-Bowl Ranking: 2020: 23, 2019: 37
Post-Bowl Ranking: 2020: 23, 2019: 28

33. Mercari Texas Bowl

Tuesday, January 4
ESPN, Time 9:00 pm
NRG Stadium, Houston, TX
Kansas State vs LSU 

LSU is waiting for the Brian Kelly era to get going, a slew of NFL bound players either tapped out at some point during the season, transferred away, or will likely be opting out, and … the team will play really, really hard for interim head man Brad Davis.

There’s a chance this could be an interesting game, but if Kansas State is playing at its highest level and LSU just doesn’t have the parts – or vice versa – this could go south quickly. No matter what, though, it’s the next-to-last college football game of the year, so you’ll watch.

Line: Kansas State -1, o/u: 47
Last Year: Canceled
Pre-Bowl Ranking: 2020: NA, 2019: 14
Post-Bowl Ranking: 2020: NA, 2019: 14

How Good Is Your Bowl?   
– Nothing Better To Do (25-32)
– Bowls. Just Bowls (17-24)
– Restaurant Quality Bowls (9-16)
– Watch or Die (1-8)

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 Bowl Games: Ranking All 28. How Good Is Your Bowl?

Ranking all 28 college football bowl games for the 2020-2021 season from the best-looking to the worst. How good is your bowl game?

[jwplayer IyoyGc7S]

Ranking all 28 college football bowl games for the 2020-2021 season from the best-looking to the worst. How good is your bowl game?

– Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews & @PeteFiutak

– Future College Football Playoff Sites & Dates

Ranking Every Bowl Game: Pre-Bowls

Ohhhhhhhh, are there some doozies this year.

Teams that jumped the gun and took their bowl invites early, a ton of teams with losing records, too many good programs opting out, and all while hoping to just get each of these crazy things in during a raging pandemic.

This year, the “there are too many bowls” crowd needs to stay mum. Several of them aren’t able to go, the Rose Bowl isn’t even the Rose Bowl, and the whole thing gets shot out of a cannon a day after all the pairings were announced.

Oh, you’ll watch. You have nowhere to go and nothing else to do. Oh yes, you will watch.

Let’s go.

Here’s how these things are categorized …

– Deep cuts
– Sure, whatever
– Bowls. Yes. Bowls
– Bowls that won’t suck
– Watch or die

Bowl Game Rankings: Deep Cuts

29. SERVPRO First Responder Bowl

Saturday, December 26
ESPN, 3:30 pm
Gerald J. Ford Stadium, Dallas, TX
Louisiana vs UTSA

This was one of the most exciting bowl games of last season, but this time around it has the potential to be a problem. If UTSA’s offense gets going it might stay close, but the Ragin’ Cajuns might come out and show that the rankings all season long had it wrong. This is a one-loss team that beat the Fiesta Bowl-bound Iowa State Cyclones, and it’s – no offense, or anything, SERVPRO First Responder Bowl – here.

Line: Louisiana -13.5, o/u: 59
Last Season: WKU 23, Western Michigan 20
Last year pre-bowl season ranking: 25
Last year final bowl season ranking: 2

28. Montgomery Bowl

Wednesday, December 23
ESPN or ESPN2, 7:00 pm
Cramton Bowl, Montgomery, AL
Florida Atlantic vs Memphis

We’re setting the bar way low for you two. The problem is that Florida Atlantic is all about the defense. It’s coming off a shootout loss to a miserable Southern Miss team, but usually the D rules the day. The concern is that Memphis takes over right away and FAU is never quite in it. Go you Owls and make this ranking look silly.

Line: Memphis -9.5, o/u: 50
Last Season: No Bowl
Last year pre-bowl season ranking: No Bowl
Last year final bowl season ranking: No Bowl

27. Myrtle Beach Bowl

Monday, December 21
ESPN, 3:30 pm
Brooks Stadium, Conway, SC
Appalachian State vs North Texas 

Technically, this should probably be rated a little bit higher. It’s a Monday afternoon game, North Texas puts up a bazillion points, gives up a bazillion and 5, and this should be a wild shootout. However, it should also be an Appalachian State blowout.

Line: Appalachian State -21, o/u: 64.5
Last Season: No Game
Last year pre-bowl season ranking: No Bowl
Last year final bowl season ranking: No Bowl

26. Duke’s Mayo Bowl

Wednesday, December 30
ESPN, 12:00 pm
Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC
Wake Forest vs Wisconsin

The problem is that Wisconsin still doesn’t really have all of its parts healthy, it still has a struggling offense, and it still has a defense that has the ability to turn the lights out on this Demon Deacon O. It might be a close game, but don’t confuse a tight score with an interesting football game. However, last year’s Belk wasn’t expected to be much, and it was a classic.

Line: Wisconsin -6.5, o/u: 55.5
Last Season: Kentucky 37, Virginia Tech 30
Last year pre-bowl season ranking: 22
Last year final bowl season ranking: 4

25. Union Home Mortgage Gasparillia Bowl

Saturday, December 26
ABC, 12:00 pm
Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL
UAB vs South Carolina

This is so crazy it just might work. An awful two-win SEC team going against the Conference USA Champion? It sounds like the makings of a sitcom, and it could turn out to be an interesting matchup if the Gamecocks are into it. If this is a USC blowout, though, this will set the “yeah, Group of Five can play with anyone” crowd back several steps.

Line: UAB -5, o/u: 43.5
Last Season: UCF 48, Marshall 25
Last year pre-bowl season ranking: 30
Last year final bowl season ranking: 30

24. LendingTree Bowl

Saturday, December 26
ESPN, 3:30 pm
Ladd-Peebles Stadium, Mobile, AL
WKU vs. Georgia State 

Don’t be shocked if this turns into one of the surprise bowl games. WKU plays hard, Georgia State has an interesting offense, and this should be among the most unpredictable bowl games. If the WKU offense isn’t working, though, this could be a long day.

Line: Georgia State -4.5, o/u: 53.5
Last Season: Louisiana 27, Miami University 17
Last year pre-bowl season ranking: 37
Last year final bowl season ranking: 28

23. R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl

Wednesday, December 23
ESPN, 3:30 pm
Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, LA
Louisiana Tech vs Georgia Southern

At the very least, there should be a decent energy in the building in some way. Louisiana Tech hasn’t been all that great, and Georgia Southern runs its quirky option, but there’s a chance this game bogs down fast. Call this a We Hope To Be Wrong ranking and that it’s at least close late, even if it’s not scintillating.

Line: Georgia Southern -6, o/u: 50
Last Season: Appalachian State 31, UAB 17
Last year pre-bowl season ranking: 33
Last year final bowl season ranking: 27

22. New Mexico Bowl

Thursday, December 24
ESPN, 3:30 pm
Toyota Stadium, Frisco, TX
Hawaii vs. Houston

San Diego State might have opted out, but it would’ve been a bit more interesting if the bowl had signed on the Aztecs from the Mountain West rather than Hawaii. However, don’t be shocked if this is far closer and far more interesting than the line. Hawaii will battle and Houston still has to prove its good.

Line: Houston -13, o/u: 60.5
Last Season: San Diego State 48, Central Michigan 11
Last year pre-bowl season ranking: 36
Last year final bowl season ranking: 37

– Sure, whatever
– Bowls. Yes. Bowls
– Bowls that won’t suck
– Watch or die

NEXT: Bowl Game Rankings: Sure. Whatever.

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

College Football Playoff, Bowl Game First Thought Predictions, Lines

The first predictions, early lines, and quick analysis on all college football bowl and College Football Playoff games. 

[jwplayer IyoyGc7S]

The first predictions, early lines, and quick analysis on all college football bowl and College Football Playoff games. 

– Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews & @PeteFiutak

– Future College Football Playoff Sites & Dates

Get ready for the sprint.

Usually we have the bowl announcement on the first weekend of December, we get a few weeks to go over it all and figure out what we’ve got, and then we dive in.

Not this year. It all gets going NOW, and we’re getting slammed with bowl games up through New Year’s Day. We’ll do the previews, predictions and breakdowns for each one over the next week or so, but here’s the first look, first thought, and knee-jerk analysis for each one.

Like they tell you in third grade, though, always go with your first answer.

All of the bowls will be done later today. Here are the first five to get this all going.

Myrtle Beach Bowl

Monday, December 21
ESPN, 3:30 pm
Brooks Stadium, Conway, SC
North Texas vs. Appalachian State

Knee-Jerk Instant Analysis: Nothing whatsoever against North Texas, but this has the potential to be the most lopsided of all of the bowl games, and it’s coming right out of the gate. Appalachian State has a fantastic defense, the offense was the best in the Sun Belt, and this program doesn’t lose bowl game and North Texas – at least lately – does.

Knee-Jerk No Research Prediction: Appalachian State 47, North Texas 20
Early Line Guess: Appalachian State -17.5
Actual BetMGM Line: Appalachian State -21

Famous Idaho Potato Bowl

Tuesday, December 22
ESPN, 3:30
Lyle Smith Field at Albertsons Stadium, Boise, ID
Tulane vs. Nevada

Knee-Jerk Instant Analysis: Nevada passing game vs. Tulane ground attack and a veteran head coach in Willie Fritz who’s been good at these things over his two seasons at Tulane. How much will the weather matter? It’ll be in the 60s in New Orleans this week and in the 30s in Boise, but the Green Wave has been too strong over the second half of the season.

Knee-Jerk No Research Prediction: Tulane 38, Nevada 30
Early Line Guess: Tulane -3
Actual BetMGM Line: Tulane -3

RoofClaim.com Boca Raton Bowl

Tuesday, December 22
ESPN, 7:00 pm
FAU Stadium, Boca Raton, FL
BYU vs. UCF

Knee-Jerk Instant Analysis: Ohhhhhhh, yeahhhhhh. UCF has been a killer lately in bowl games, BYU has been a killer, period. The Knights will make this interesting with a whole slew of big plays, but the Cougar lines will grind away and end up bashing their way to the win. Zach Wilson will cement his place as a first round pick with a brilliant statistical day.

Knee-Jerk No Research Prediction: BYU 34, UCF 27
Early Line Guess: BYU -5.5
Actual BetMGM Line: BYU -6

R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl

Wednesday, December 23
ESPN, 3:30 pm
Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, LA
Georgia Southern vs. Louisiana Tech

Knee-Jerk Instant Analysis: Warning … I’m probably going to change this pick once I really dive into the game – Louisiana Tech is awesome in bowl games under Skip Holtz. My instant reaction is that Georgia Southern has the option offense and ground game to pull this off, and it’s the better team, but again, I’m going with my first answer here, but will likely switch fast.

Knee-Jerk No Research Prediction: Georgia Southern 27, Louisiana Tech 23
Early Line Guess:  Georgia Southern -7
Actual BetMGM Line: Georgia Southern -6

Montgomery Bowl

Wednesday, December 23
ESPN or ESPN2, 7:00 pm
Cramton Bowl, Montgomery, AL 
Florida Atlantic vs. Memphis

Knee-Jerk Instant Analysis: Is this really Willie Taggart’s first bowl game as an FBS head coach? I’ll look that up to make sure once the preview is written, but I’m almost sure it is. FAU has a fantastic defense, and Memphis isn’t Memphis like we remember from last year, but the Owl O shouldn’t be able to keep up.

Knee-Jerk No Research Prediction: Memphis 30, FAU 17
Early Line Guess: Memphis -9
Actual BetMGM Line: Memphis -9.5

New Mexico Bowl

Thursday, December 24
ESPN, 3:30 pm
Toyota Stadium, Frisco, TX
Hawaii vs. Houston

Knee-Jerk Instant Analysis: It’s an annual tradition that I riff through this piece and don’t look up anything, but I did check the weather on this. It’s going to be in the 80s all week in Honolulu and maybe hit 50 in Frisco on Thursday. It’s not that Hawaii isn’t tough, but it’s asking so much for such a major change – the loss at Wyoming this year was in frigid temptations. There’s one other problem – all of Houston’s losses have been to strong teams. Hawaii will play well, but the Cougars break out here.

Knee-Jerk No Research Prediction: Houston 37, Hawaii 27
Early Line Guess: Houston -8.5
Actual BetMGM Line: Houston -11.5

The rest of the bowls to come later today.

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Bowl Schedule, Previews, Predictions, Scoreboard, TV, Game Times: 2020-2021

The 2020-2021 bowl matchups and the College Football Playoff game previews, predictions, and schedules.

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The 2019-2020 bowl matchups and the College Football Playoff game previews, predictions, and schedules.

– Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews & @PeteFiutak

– Future College Football Playoff Sites & Dates

Bowl Schedule, Predictions: 2020-2021

Click on each bowl for the CFN Game Preview & Prediction – to come

– New Year’s Six, College Football Playoff

All times Eastern

Myrtle Beach Bowl

Monday, December 21
ESPN, 3:30 pm
Brooks Stadium, Conway, SC
Bowl Tie-Ins: Conference USA or MAC or Sun Belt
Last Season: No Game
Bowl Matchup: Appalachian State vs North Texas 

Famous Idaho Potato Bowl

Tuesday, December 22
ESPN, 3:30
Lyle Smith Field at Albertsons Stadium, Boise, ID
Bowl Tie-Ins: MAC vs. Mountain West
Last Season: Ohio 30, Nevada 21
Bowl Matchup: Tulane vs Nevada

RoofClaim.com Boca Raton Bowl

Tuesday, December 22
ESPN, 7:00 pm
FAU Stadium, Boca Raton, FL
Bowl Tie-Ins: AAC or C-USA or MAC
Last Season: Arkansas State 34, FIU 26
Bowl Matchup: UCF vs BYU

R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl

Wednesday, December 23
ESPN, 3:30 pm
Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, LA
Bowl Tie-Ins: C-USA vs. Sun Belt Champion (if available)
Last Season: Appalachian State 31, UAB 17
Bowl Matchup: Louisiana Tech vs Georgia Southern

Montgomery Bowl

Wednesday, December 23
ESPN or ESPN2, 7:00 pm
Cramton Bowl, Montgomery, AL
Bowl Tie-Ins: ACC vs. AAC
Last Season: No Bowl
Note: This is the Fenway Bowl for this year only
Bowl Matchup: Florida Atlantic vs Memphis

New Mexico Bowl

Thursday, December 24
ESPN, 3:30 pm
Toyota Stadium, Frisco, TX
Bowl Tie-Ins: Mountain West or Conference USA or MAC
Last Season: San Diego State 48, Central Michigan 11
Bowl Matchup: Hawaii vs. Houston

Camellia Bowl

Friday, December 25
ESPN, 2:30 pm
Cramton Bowl, Montgomery, AL
Bowl Tie-Ins: MAC vs. Sun Belt
Last Season: Arkansas State 34, FIU 26
Bowl Matchup: Buffalo vs Marshall

Union Home Mortgage Gasparillia Bowl

Saturday, December 26
ABC, 12:00 pm
Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL
Bowl Tie-Ins: AAC or ACC or SEC
Last Season: UCF 48, Marshall 25
Bowl Matchup: UAB vs South Carolina

Cure Bowl

Saturday, December 26
ESPN, 12:00 pm
Camping World Stadium, Orlando, FL
Bowl Tie-Ins: AAC, MAC, Sun Belt
Last Season: Liberty 23, Georgia Southern 16
Bowl Matchup: Liberty vs Coastal Carolina

SERVPRO First Responder Bowl

Saturday, December 26
ESPN, 3:30 pm
Gerald J. Ford Stadium, Dallas, TX
Bowl Tie-Ins: AAC or ACC or Big 12
Last Season: WKU 23, Western Michigan 20
Bowl Matchup: Louisiana vs UTSA

LendingTree Bowl

Saturday, December 26
ESPN, 3:30 pm
Ladd-Peebles Stadium, Mobile, AL
Bowl Tie-Ins: MAC vs. Sun Belt
Last Season: Louisiana 27, Miami University 17
Bowl Matchup: WKU vs. Georgia State 

Cheez-It Bowl

Tuesday, December 29
ESPN, 5:30 pm
Camping World Stadium, Orlando, FL
Bowl Tie-Ins: ACC vs. Big 12
Last Season: Notre Dame 33, Iowa State 9
Note: Was Camping World Bowl last season
Bowl Matchup: Miami vs Oklahoma State

Valero Alamo Bowl

Tuesday, December 29
ESPN, 9:00 pm
Alamodome, San Antonio, TX
Bowl Tie-Ins: Big 12 vs. Pac-12
Last Season: Texas 38, Utah 10
Bowl Matchup: Texas vs Colorado

Duke’s Mayo Bowl

Wednesday, December 30
ESPN, 12:00 pm
Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC
Bowl Tie-Ins: ACC vs. Big Ten
Last Season: Kentucky 37, Virginia Tech 30
Bowl Matchup: Wake Forest vs Wisconsin

TransPerfect Music City Bowl

Wednesday, December 30
ESPN, 3:30 pm
Nissan Stadium, Nashville, TN
Bowl Tie-Ins: Big Ten vs. SEC
Last Season: Louisville 38, Mississippi State 28
Bowl Matchup: Iowa vs Missouri

Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl

Thursday, December 31
ESPN, 12:00 pm
Amon G. Carter Stadium, Fort Worth, TX
Bowl Tie-Ins: Pac-12 vs. SEC
Last Season: Tulane 30, Southern Miss 13
Bowl Matchup: Tulsa vs Mississippi State

AutoZone Liberty Bowl

Thursday, December 31
ESPN, 5:00 pm
Liberty Bowl, Memphis, TN
Bowl Tie-Ins: Big 12 vs. SEC
Last Season: Navy 20, Kansas State 17
Bowl Matchup: West Virginia vs Tennessee

Arizona Bowl

Thursday, December 31
CBS Sports Network, 4:00 pm
Arizona Stadium, Tucson, AZ
Bowl Tie-Ins: MAC vs. MW
Last Season: Wyoming 38, Georgia State 17
Bowl Matchup: Ball State vs San Jose State

Texas Bowl

Thursday, December 31
ESPN, 8:00 pm
NRG Stadium, Houston, TX
Bowl Tie-Ins: Big 12 vs. SEC
Last Season: Texas A&M 24, Oklahoma State 21
Bowl Matchup: TCU vs Arkansas 

Vrbo Citrus Bowl

Friday, January 1
ABC, 1:00 pm
Camping World Stadium, Orlando, FL
Bowl Tie-Ins: Big Ten vs. SEC
Last Season: Alabama 35, Michigan 16
Bowl Matchup: Northwestern vs Auburn

TaxSlayer Gator Bowl

Saturday, January 2
ESPN, 12:00 pm
TIAA Bank Field, Jacksonville, FL
Bowl Tie-Ins: ACC vs. SEC
Last Season: Tennessee 23, Indiana 22
Bowl Matchup: NC State vs Kentucky

Outback Bowl

Saturday, January 2
ESPN, 12:30 pm
Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL
Bowl Tie-Ins: Big Ten vs. SEC
Last Season: Minnesota 31, Auburn 24
Bowl Matchup: Indiana vs Ole Miss

NEXT: New Year’s Six Bowls

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