As usual, all times Eastern and all predictions wrong.

Thursday, January 8
7:30: Mississippi vs. Miami (Fiesta Bowl @ Glendale, AZ; ESPN): Both of these games will be interesting, but in somewhat different ways. This is the game with a lot more uncertainty, to me. At some point, the coaching staff chaos has to affect Mississippi, right? Miami defensive line is a nightmare for opposing offenses, but they lost two games! The Canes still feel more consistent to me despite that, and they’ve already surprised two teams with good-to-elite offenses with their line play. But they haven’t done it with against a QB with Trinidad Chambliss’s escapability. I’m leaning Canes here, but this one should be close and fun.
SP+ line: Miami by 2.5
Vegas line: Miss by 2.9
Watchability tier: IV
Previous meetings: Three, and they were all a long time ago. The first was a 14-0 Mississippi win in 1936. The Rebels won again in 1940. In 1951, Miami got their first win in the series, 20-7.
Last bowl game: Mississippi revenged their regular season loss to Georgia and beat them in the Sugar Bowl 39-34. The Canes upset Ohio State 24-14 in the Cotton Bowl.
Announcers: Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit, Holly Rowe, and Laura Rutledge

Friday, January 9
7:30: Indiana vs. Oregon (Peach Bowl @ Atlanta, GA; ESPN): In a playoff full of rematches, here’s another one. While the “it’s hard to beat a team twice” gods have appeared multiple times in this playoff, I feel very good about Indiana here. For starters, this game is at a neutral site and not in Eugene. The main thing though is that Indiana just looks better than everyone else. Their demolition of Alabama in the Rose Bowl was just the announcement. While I don’t think they’ll quite do that again here (Oregon’s defense is for real), I’m not sure anything can stop the Hoosiers on their march to destiny.
SP+ line: Indiana by 3.1
Vegas line: Indiana by 3.5
Watchability tier: IV
Previous meetings: These teams first met in 1963, a 28-22 Oregon win. A year later they faced off again, and the Ducks won again, 29-21. A one-off in 2004 saw a 30-24 Hoosier win. And, of course, they met back in October in a classic, with the Hoosiers rallying to win 30-20 in Eugene and preserving their perfect season. Currently the teams are 2-2 all-time.
Last bowl game: Oregon blanked Texas Tech 23-0 in the Sugar Bowl. Indiana embarassed Alabama 38-3 in the Rose Bowl.
Announcers: Sean McDonough, Greg McElroy, Molly McGrath, and Katie George