Tag: College Football Predictions

Alabama vs Kansas State Allstate Sugar Bowl Prediction Game Preview

Alabama vs Kansas State game preview, prediction, and breakdown for the Allstate Sugar Bowl on Saturday, December 31

Alabama vs Kansas State prediction, game preview, odds, how to watch. Allstate Sugar Bowl, Saturday, December 31

Alabama vs Kansas State Allstate Sugar Bowl Prediction Game Preview

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Alabama vs Kansas State How To Watch

Date: Saturday, December 31
Game Time: 12:00 ET
Venue: Caesars Superdome, New Orleans, LA
How To Watch: ESPN
Record: Alabama (10-2), Kansas State (10-3)
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Alabama vs Kansas State Allstate Sugar Bowl 5 Things To Know

Allstate Sugar Bowl Prediction, What’s Going To Happen, History

– By any normal standards it’s been a wonderful football season for Alabama. It blew out its arch rival Auburn, won ten games, made it to the Sugar Bowl, and came up with a thrilling win over Texas on the road. The two losses were this close to going the other way – losing on walk-offs at Tennessee and LSU – and …

It was a total disaster. Starting with losing the College Football Playoff National Championship to Georgia, 2022 has been a rough year for the Tide – at least by its own unreasonable-yet-attainable standards. But it just came up with a massive recruiting class, there’s a ton of big-time talent coming back, and now there’s a shot at closing out the calendar year with something big.

The stars are here – the NFL guys are supposed to play in this. Bama isn’t 100% operational – a slew of parts are in the transfer portal – but the starting 22 will be fine. The same goes for …

– Kansas State gets almost everyone of note back. The Big 12 champion won ten games, held on to take down TCU in the conference title game, beat its rival Kansas, and now it gets a shot to do something massive with a Sugar Bowl win over Bama.

It’s a rock-solid team that doesn’t beat itself, plays a hard-nosed brand of defense – the D was the best in the Big 12 – and owns the turnover battle. It’s hardly going to freak out just because it’s playing Alabama.

– This is the third bowl appearance for the Wildcats under head coach Chris Klieman. Last year’s team walked over a depleted LSU in a sad Texas Bowl, and the 2019 version couldn’t get past Navy in the Liberty. However, the program has won three of its last four bowls.

– How’s this for a bowl run for Alabama? Since closing out the 1975 season with a Sugar Bowl win over Penn State, it’s 34-14 with the last three losses coming in the College Football Playoff National Championship. How do you know your program is doing well? This is Alabama’s 15th bowl/national championship game in nine years of the CFP era.

– Can we get a good Sugar Bowl? The Ohio State College Football Playoff win over Alabama in 2014 was exciting, and the Texas win over Georgia at the end of the 2018 season was interesting – even though the Bulldogs didn’t seem to wake up until it was too late.

Eight of the last ten, though, have been decided by double-digits, including last year’s depressing- it took on a different tone after QB Matt Corral was injured – Baylor 21-7 win over Ole Miss.

CFN Experts CFP, NY6, Dec 28-Jan 2

Why Alabama Will Win The Allstate Sugar Bowl

Alabama has its guys.

If everything goes according to plan, QB Bryce Young and Edge rusher Will Anderson will be out there. Most of the main skill parts will be there, the defense has a little something to prove, and the team – sort of like the 35-16 win over Michigan in the 2020 Citrus – should show up and flex a little muscle.

It starts by holding up on the defensive front.

Kansas State can throw just fine with Will Howard at quarterback, but it really gets rolling when it controls games with the rushing attack, going 7-0 when coming up with 199 yards or more.

The Tide might have their problems defensively, but only five teams were able to get past 80 yards on the ground. With the time off to rest up and prepare, this group will be swarming all over Deuce Vaughn and …

Top 100 Bowl Players | Ranking Bowl Games So Far

Why Kansas State Will Win The Allstate Sugar Bowl

Kansas State doesn’t get enough appreciation for its offensive balance.

The defense is strong, the offense can keep things moving, and it’s Kansas State, the special teams are solid. Most impressively, 2,737 yards passing, 2,725 yards rushing, and Bama has to prepare for all of it.

This isn’t exactly a vintage Crimson Tide defense.

It’s very, very good – and elite by most normal standards – but Auburn was able to run way too easily on it, Hendon Hooker almost won the Heisman as he carried Tennessee to a win, and LSU averaged over five yards per carry in its victory. The offense should be able to mix it up, the offensive line will hold its own, and the time of possession will matter.

On the other side, Alabama might have Bryce Young, and the offense is deadly no matter what, but it doesn’t have the high-end wide receivers to make the K-State secondary sweat.

Basically, Kansas State has to be Kansas State. It has to win the turnover battle, penalties won’t be a problem, and it should be its normal frustrating self with the defense holding up just fine on third downs.

Allstate Sugar Bowl Prediction, What’s Going To Happen, History

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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5 Best College Football Bowl Predictions Against The Spread December 27-29 Games

5 best college football bowl predictions and picks against the spread and point totals for the first run from December 27th through the 30th? 

5 best predictions for this the early bowls. What are the best bets and picks for the bowl games from December 27th through the 30th?  

5 Best College Football Bowl Predictions December 27th-30th Games

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Expert Picks Dec 28-Jan 2, NY6, CFP
Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews & @PeteFiutak

Results So Far: 79-68-1
Bowl Season: 5-5

I know … I KNOW.

You could flip a coin and hit .500 on your picks – we’ve proven that every year with the Clucko the Chicken selections.

Anyone can go .500. My dead grandmother could hit .500 randomly guessing pick, and make a mean pierogi while doing it. That’s not the content you’re here for.

However, I’ll take the 3-2 rally in the last batch to get me up to the 50% mark, because this bowl season is insane.

Bless your heart if you were on the wrong end of Houston -6.5 in the final moments against Louisiana your 2022 Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl.

Merry Christmas to all those who assumed that a San Diego State team that held Middle Tennessee to -66 rushing yards would not only fail to cover, but lose outright.

Last second opt-outs, key players getting hurt right away, bad weather, worse play calling – welcome to the bowls so far. Almost everything we know from the regular season now means a fat load of jack squat.

But there’s a chance this might get a whole lot easier as we head into the finishing kick. There’s a better handle on who’s actually playing in these things and who isn’t. Start with that, assume the teams with the regular starting quarterbacks will somehow prevail, and even then, good luck.

I’ll do the final batch for the New Year’s Six and College Football Playoff games for Thursday night – I’m going to break something tasteful if my No. 1 for that isn’t nailed dead cold.

Until then, here are five that should work, starting with one that might be going on just as you’re reading this …

Click on each game for the game preview

5. Camellia Bowl: Buffalo vs Georgia Southern

Tuesday, December 27, 12:00 ESPN
ATS Line Georgia Southern -3.5
Pick Georgia Southern

I’m not going to lie, I’ve hit a wall with some of these bowl games and trying to guess whether or not some random guy who’s third on the depth chart is about to rise up and rock. I’m going to keep this simple.

Pick the teams that have the most key starters from the regular season still around. That sounds obvious, right? However, sometimes there are just enough good parts on the rest of the team to make up for the missing pieces, so that goes with Part Two of this simple way of doing this.

If all things were totally normal for a neutral site game in mid-October, who would you take?

Georgia Southern -3.5 against Buffalo if everything was even would be the call. Now throw into the mix that UB’s backfield is very, very thin, as is the offense isn’t steadily high-powered enough to keep up, and the Eagles are far better equipped to hang around in a back-and-forth shootout.

Buffalo’s defense takes the ball away in bunches, though. As long as Georgia Southern doesn’t get slaughtered in the turnover margin fight, this shouldn’t be a problem.

NEXT: College Football Pick Against the Spread No. 4: TicketSmarter Birmingham Bowl

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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)
– Sign up and live stream college football on ESPN+

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

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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)
– Sign up and live stream college football on ESPN+

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)
– Sign up and live stream college football on ESPN+

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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