Category Archives: college football

Bowl Games 2024: Happy New Year!

The bowl page has been updated, and my good start to bowl season has hit the skids a little bit. Hopefully our last big tranche of games will keep me above the 50% mark.

As usual, all times Eastern and all predictions wrong.

Tuesday, December 31st

Noon: Michigan vs. Alabama (ReliaQuest Bowl @ Tampa, FL; ESPN): This is a “IV” because of the helmets involved, but let’s face it: no one really asked for this rematch, and the game commentary will likely feature an early Bama lead and extended discussion of why they should’ve been in the playoff. If that’s the case, I’ll be directing my attention elsewhere.
SP+ line: Bama by 16.8
Vegas line: Bama by 12.5
Watchability tier: IV
Previous meetings: They didn’t meet for the first time until 1988, a 28-24 Michigan win in the Hall of Fame Bowl. The two sides have never played in the other’s home stadium: the long regular season meeting was a 2012 Jerryworld special that Bama won 41-14. They played a game of some note last season, when they met for the playoff in the Rose Bowl. Michigan won 27-20 in an instant classic. The series is now tied at 3 all.
Last bowl game: This is Michigan’s fourth straight postseason appearance, and first one that’s not in the playoff. In 2021 they lost to Georgia 34-11 in the Orange Bowl. Last season, these teams faced off in the Rose Bowl, as previously noted. The Wolverines then beat Washington 34-13 in last season’s title game. The Tide, for their part, have the third longest streak in the country, at 24. Back in the 1999 Independence Bowl, they beat Iowa State 14-13.
Announcers: Dave Flemming, Brock Osweiler, and Stormy Buonantony

2:00: Louisville vs. Washington (Sun Bowl @ El Paso, TX; CBS): Speaking of last year’s playoff teams, the Huskies didn’t have a fantastic season by any measure, but they still had a decent year in their new league. Louisville remains one the ACC’s more baffling squads, and may also be the conference’s best hope for improving a so-far dismal bowl season. I like them here.
SP+ line: L’ville by 12.9
Vegas line: L’ville by 2.5
Watchability tier: II
Previous meetings: This is the first meeting between these teams.
Last bowl game: For the Cardinals, this is their fourth straight bowl game, dating to a 31-28 loss to Air Force in the 2021 First Responder Bowl. Last season they lost 42-28 to USC in the Holiday Bowl. For the Huskies, this is their third straight postseason. In 2022 they beat Texas 27-20 in the Alamo Bowl. Last season, they re-matched with the Horns and got the best of them again, 37-31, in the Sugar Bowl. It turned out that the Sugar bowl, while entertaining as hell, took a lot out of the Huskies, as they then lost the title game 34-13 to Michigan.
Announcers: Brad Nessler and Gary Danielson

3:00: Illinois vs. South Carolina (Citrus Bowl @ Orlando, FL; ABC): Illinois runs into something of a buzzsaw, as one of the SEC’s hottest teams down the stretch comes in with plenty of talent and an attitude to match. I like the Gamecocks here.
SP+ line: USC by 10.3
Vegas line: Illinois by 9.5
Watchability tier: II
Previous meetings: This is the first meeting between these teams.
Last bowl game: Illinois’s last bowl game was a 19-10 loss to Mississippi State in the 2022-23 Reliaquest Bowl. The Gamecocks last appeared in the postseason in a 45-38 loss to Notre Dame in the 2022 Gator Bowl.
Announcers: Mark Jones, Roddy Jones, and Quint Kessenich

3:30: Baylor vs. Louisiana State (Texas Bowl @ Houston, TX; ESPN): These teams had relatively anonymous seasons that fell relatively short of expectations. So for the purposes of this game, that means it could go one of two ways: an absolute cracker of a matchup featuring plenty of offense and players trying to build momentum to next year, or a 4-hour slog to the finish line. I suspect the former probably favors LSU, and the latter Baylor. I like the Bayou Bengals here.
SP+ line: LSU by 6.1
Vegas line: Baylor by 1.5
Watchability tier: II
Previous meetings: They’ve met 11 times. The first established a theme that’s held for most of their history, when LSU won 48-0. in 1908, LSU won 89-0. Baylor had to wait until 1960 to score points, when they won 7-3. Their last meeting was in the 1985 Liberty Bowl, a 21-7 Baylor win. LSU leads the overall series 8-3.
Last bowl game: Baylor’s last bowl game was a 30-15 loss to Air Force in the 2022 Armed Forces Bowl. LSU would be on a 25 game streak, but did not play in a bowl in 2020, so instead they’re on four in a row, dating to the 2021-22 Texas Bowl, a 42-20 loss to Kansas State. Last season they beat Wisconsin 35-31 in the ReliaQuest Bowl.
Announcers: Roy Philpott, Sam Acho, and Taylor Davis

7:30: Boise State (#3) vs. Pennsylvania State (#6) (Fiesta Bowl @ Glendale, AZ; ESPN): The first quarterfinal could be the second most-intriguing game of the four. Penn State easily shrugged off prophecy and beat SMU in the first round, but this Boise team has earned their stripes. Heisman runner-up Ashton Jeanty is the real deal (just ask Oregon). I highly suspect the biggest problem for the Broncos is going to be Penn State offense, where it looks like Drew Allar and Co have figured things out. I am picking Penn State here, but I really do like the Broncos to keep it close. And after all, they’ve pulled out miracles here before.
SP+ line: Penn St by 11
Vegas line: Penn St by 10.5
Watchability tier: IV
Previous meetings: This is the first meeting between these teams.
Last bowl game: Boise should be on a 26 game postseason streak, but they did not play a bowl game in 2020 and their 2021 Arizona Bowl was canceled. In 2022 they beat North Texas 35-32 in the Frisco Bowl, and lost 35-22 to UCLA in the LA Bowl last season. Penn State defeated SMU in the first round of the playoff.
Announcers: Bob Wischusen, Louis Riddick, and Kris Budden

Wednesday, January 1

1:00: Arizona State (#4) vs. Texas (#5) (Peach Bowl @ Atlanta, GA; ESPN): Sun Devils, you’ve been considered. It was a fun season, and your route to winning the Big 12 was an enthralling mess. Literally no one predicted you’d be here, because you were predicted to finish last in the Big 12. But… yeah, I don’t see any way Texas doesn’t take care of business here.
SP+ line: Texas by 16
Vegas line: Texas by 12.5
Watchability tier: IV
Previous meetings: Just one: in the 2007 Holiday Bowl. The Longhorns won 52-34.
Last bowl game: The Sun Devils last appeared in the post season in a 20-13 loss to Wisconsin in the 2021 Las Vegas Bowl. The Longhorns defeated Clemson in the first round of the playoff
Announcers: Joe Tessitore, Jesse Palmer, and Katie George

5:00: Oregon (#1) vs. Ohio State (#8) (Rose Bowl @ Pasadena, CA; ESPN): And here’s our first rematch of the playoff. On October 12th, Will Howard got the ball back with 1:47 to go and the Buckeyes down 1. The game ended with Howard running as time expired. This clock mismanagement figured to be the only blemish on the Buckeye’s season until that thing happened in the The Game a month ago. Now, every indication is that these teams should play a cracker of a traditional looking Rose Bowl. It’s a little bit unfortunate, as I think overall these are the two best teams in the playoff, but again that really comes down to Ohio State blowing the Michigan game and as a result being seeded lower than they would’ve been otherwise (and denied a chance to face the Ducks in Indianapolis). Ultimately, though, I think that’s the edge here. Dan Lanning and his Ducks have gotten it done even when they haven’t looked their best. Ohio State has only two mistakes, but they’re mistakes that loom large in this contest. I think another narrow Oregon win is the likely scenario here.
SP+ line: Ohio St by 1.4
Vegas line: Ohio St by 2.5
Watchability tier: IV
Previous meetings: This will be the twelveth all-time meeting between these teams. The first was the 1957-58 Rose Bowl, a 10-7 Buckeye win. The Buckeyes then won six straight regular season contests until the sides met in the 2009-10 Rose Bowl. Five seasons later, Ohio State beat Oregon 42-20 in the inaugural College Football Playoff title game. The Ducks finally got on the board in a 2021 early season clash, a 35-28 win in Columbus. And, of course, now as B1G foes, Oregon defeated Ohio State 32-31 back in October. The Buckeyes hold the overall series lead 9-2.
Last bowl game: Oregon’s eight game postseason run dates to the 2017 Las Vegas Bowl, a 38-28 loss to Boise State. Last season they disposed of Liberty 45-6 in the Fiesta Bowl. Ohio State defeated Tennessee in the first round of the playoff.
Announcers: Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit, and Holly Rowe

8:45: Georgia (#2) vs. Notre Dame (#7) (Sugar Bowl @ New Orleans, LA; ESPN): I like the Irish here, and not just because I hate Georgia. For starters, while Backup QB Theory is a thing, there has got to be a reason Carson Beck was Georgia’s starter, and he’s out after having elbow surgery. Notre Dame has also been a team on a mission since the perhaps the most inexplicable loss of the season, their Week 2 loss to Northern Illinois. Their first round game against Indiana proved the point: a suffocating defense, and a mature, robust offense that can score on anyone. And Georgia, in contrast to years past, has been scored on this year. While they’re still a very dangerous team, I think overall they can get got, and the Irish have the tools to pull it off.
SP+ line: Georgia by 0.5
Vegas line: Georgia by 1.5
Watchability tier: IV
Previous meetings: This will be just the fourth all-time meeting between these teams. The first was 17-10 Georgia win in the 1980-81 Sugar Bowl. The teams played a home-and-away regular season series in 2017 and 2019, with Georgia winning close both times.”
Last bowl game: “Georgia owns the longest active postseason streak at 28, starting from a 33-6 win over Wisconsin in the 1997-98 Outback Bowl. Last season they demolished a completely depleted and demoralized Florida State team 63-3 in the Orange Bowl. (From the looks of it, it appears FSU didn’t quite recover this year.) Notre Dame defeated Indiana in the first round of the playoff.
Announcers: Sean McDonough, Greg McElroy, and Molly McGrath

Thursday, January 2

7:30: Duke vs. Mississippi (Gator Bowl @ Jacksonville, FL; ESPN): There’s two ways this game can go. Lane Kiffin and company show up focused and ready to take care of business against a team they should completely blow away on paper, or they’ll do the opposite thing. I’m betting ont he latter.
SP+ line: Mississippi by 18.9
Vegas line: Mississippi by 14.5
Watchability tier: II
Previous meetings: This is the first meeting between these teams.
Last bowl game: The Blue Devils are appearing in their third straight postseason. In 2022 they beat UCF 30-13 in the Military Bowl, and last season they beat Troy 17-10 in the Birmingham Bowl.
Announcers: Dave Pasch, Dusty Dvoracek, and Taylor McGregor

Friday, January 3

4:00: North Texas vs. Texas State (First Responder Bowl @ Dallas, TX; ESPN): Neither team will need to travel far for this one, though Denton is a tad closer than San Marcos. Regardless, I don’t have a lot fun facts for you on this one. I’m picking the Bobcats.
SP+ line: TxSt by 10.5
Vegas line: TxSt by 13.5
Watchability tier: I
Previous meetings: This is the first meeting between these teams (as major programs).
Last bowl game: The Mean Green’s last postseason appearance was a 35-32 loss to Boise State in the 2022 Frisco Bowl. The Bobcats are making their second bowl game ever, after making their first in last season’s 45-21 victory over Rice in the First Responder Bowl.
Announcers: Tom Hart, Jordan Rodgers, and Cole Cubelic

7:30: Virginia Tech vs. Minnesota (Mayo Bowl @ Charlotte, NC; ESPN): Once again, the main reason to tune in here is to see which coach will get mayonnaise dunked on them. And they are both, admittedly, hilarious options. I like Brent Pry as a slight favorite to get the dunk, but the general consensus out there definitely favors P.J. Fleck.
SP+ line: VPI by 2.8
Vegas line: Gophers by 7.5
Watchability tier: II
Previous meetings: This is the first meeting between these teams.
Last bowl game: Virginia Tech has now made two in a row after having a long streak snapped in 2020 (and for real in 2022). Last season they beat Tulane 41-20 in the Military Bowl. For the Gophers, this is their fourth bowl in a row, dating to the 2021 Guaranteed Rate Bowl, an 18-6 win over West Virginia. Last season they beat Bowling Green 30-24 in the Quick Lane Bowl.
Announcers: Matt Barrie, Dan Mullen, and Harry Lyles Jr.

Saturday, January 4

11:00: Buffalo vs. Liberty (Bahamas Bowl @ Nassau, Bahamas; ESPN): This game will start at 8am on the west coast, so the odds that I watch much of this are low. But it will be one of the four last FBS games of the season, so there’s that? I unfortunately also am picking Liberty here, but Buffalo could really do me (and everyone else) a favor here.
SP+ line: Liberty by 9
Vegas line: Bulls by 1.5
Watchability tier: I
Previous meetings: They’ve met twice, and fairly recently. The first was a 35-17 Liberty win in 2019, and Liberty won 55-27 last season.
Last bowl game: The Bulls’s last bowl game was a 23-21 win over Georgia Southern in the 2022 Camellia Bowl. This will be Liberty’s sixth bowl game in a row, dating back to a 23-16 win over Georgia Southern in the 2019 Cure Bowl. Last season the Libs were owned 45-6 by Oregon in the Fiesta Bowl.
Announcers: Matt Schumacker and Dustin Fox

Bowl Games 2024: Almost a College Football Saturday

The latest is… not the latest, as that will update as this post goes live. It’s fair to say this snuck up on me, but we’ll get this machine righted and ready to go.

As usual, all times Eastern and all predictions wrong.

Saturday, December 28

11:00: North Carolina vs. Connecticut (Fenway Bowl @ Boston, MA; ESPN): As the title mentions, this is almost a college football Saturday. I say “almost” because it may feel like one, but 8 games in one day is much less than a typical fall Saturday. However, we like the fact that there’ll be multiple games on throughout the day. And this “basketball special” is as good of a place to start as any. I favor UNC here just on paper, but the Huskies are the ones with any momentum. This could be a fun one, even before considering this one of the two games today that are being played in baseball stadiums.
SP+ line: UNC by 6.8
Vegas line: UNC by 2.5
Watchability tier: II
Previous meetings: Suffice it to say, this basketball special hasn’t seen a lot of action on the gridiron. UNC won 38-12 in 2008, and then again 12-10 in 2009.
Last bowl game: UNC’s current six game streak dates to the 2019 Military Bowl, a 55-13 win over Temple. The lost last season’s Mayo Bowl 30-10 to West Virginia. The Huskies last’s bowl game was a 28-14 loss to Marshall in the 2022 Myrtle Beach Bowl.
Announcers: Chris Cotter, Mark Herzlich, and Coley Harvey

Noon: Boston College vs. Nebraska (Pinstripe Bowl @ New York, NY; ABC): The math favors the Huskers, but BC really just has a way of sneaking up on teams. I don’t trust them to do that as much as past versions of BC, so I’ll stick with the Corn to win a bowl game finally.
SP+ line: Corn by 1.7
Vegas line: Corn by 3.5
Watchability tier: II
Previous meetings: This is the first meeting between these teams.
Last bowl game: BC beat SMU 23-14 in last season’s Fenway Bowl. The Cornhuskers, meanwhile, are finally back in the postseason. Their last appearance before this year was a 38-24 loss to Tennessee in the 2016 Music City Bowl.
Announcers: Mike Monaco, Kirk Morrison, and Dawn Davenport

2:15: Texas Christian vs. Louisiana (New Mexico Bowl @ Albuquerque, NM; ESPN): I’ve only been to Albuquerque once, and that really more of I’ve been through Albuquerque, but it seemed like a perfectly cromulent place to visit. And, and Frogs I suppose.
SP+ line: TCU by 1.5
Vegas line: TCU by 9.5
Watchability tier: II
Previous meetings: “They’ve met nine times, the first a 3-0 TCU win in 1931. The played fairly often before 1969, but most of them didn’t involve a lot of points either. The tied 3-3 in 1932, and then in the 1935-36 Sugar Bowl TCU won 3-2. The next three meetings were LSU shutouts, including a 5-0 special in 1962. After 1968, they’ve only played once: a Jerryworld special in 2013 that LSU won 37-27. LSU leads the overall series 6-2-1.”
Last bowl game: “TCU’s last postseason appearance was their run to the title game in 2022-23. They beat Michigan 51-45 in the Fiesta Bowl before losing 65-7 to Georgia in the title game. The Cajuns have raged their way to seven bowls in a row, dating to a 41-24 loss to Tulane in the 2018 Cure Bowl. Last season they lost to Jax State 34-31 in the New Orleans Bowl.”
Announcers: Brian Custer, Rod Gilmore, and Lauren Sisler

3:30: Miami vs. Iowa State (Pop-Tarts Bowl @ Orlando, FL; ABC): The perhaps most meme-worthy bowl of all is back it again, with fans having choice of one of three Pop-Tarts flavors to be consumed by the winning team after the game. The question, of course, is who that team will be. Iowa State had a great season by any measure, which was an all-timer by Iowa State standards, but they stumbled down the stretch. Of course, the Canes also fumbled the bag, blowing a chance at the playoff by losing to Syracuse in the last week of the season. Bowl games are all about motivation these days, and this one will be no exception. I like the Canes, but I think this could b a coin flip (and a fun game).
SP+ line: Da U by 12.8
Vegas line: Da U by 3.5
Watchability tier: III
Previous meetings: This is the first meeting between these teams.
Last bowl game: The Canes lost 31-24 to Rutgers in last season’s Pinstripe Bowl. Iowa State lost 36-26 to Memphis in last season’s Liberty Bowl.
Announcers: Tom Hart, Jordan Rodgers, and Cole Cubelic

4:30: Colorado State vs. Miami (Arizona Bowl @ Tuscon, AZ; The CW): The Arizona bowl makes it to actual television, but there may not be a lot of reason to notice this other than that both Miamis will be playing at the same time. I actually like Colorado State here, however. The Rams had a decent season in a tougher conference.
SP+ line: Miami by 2
Vegas line: Miami by 2.5
Watchability tier: I
Previous meetings: Two: a 41-21 Miami win in 2003, and a 31-10 Miami win in 2010.
Last bowl game: The Rams last bowled in the 2017 New Mexico Bowl, a 31-28 loss to Marshall. Miami would have a six game streak dating to 2019, but they didn’t play in a bowl in 2020, so they’ll just have to settle for four in a row. They beat North Texas 27-14 in the 2021 Frisco Football Classic, and lost 13-9 to Appalachian State in last season’s Cure Bowl.
Announcers: Thom Brennaman and Max Brown

5:45: North Carolina State vs. East Carolina (Military Bowl @ Annapolis, MD; ESPN): NC State should run away with this on paper, so the only thing to really watch here is if ECU can make a game of this at all.
SP+ line: NCSU by 6.7
Vegas line: NC State by 6.5
Watchability tier: I
Previous meetings: These in-state rivals have played often, with 32 overall meetings and not as lopsided as you’d think. The first was a 23-6 NC State win in 1970. They actually met in the 1991-92 Peach Bowl, a 37-34 NC State loss. The most recent was a 21-20 NC State win in 2022.
Last bowl game: NCSU would have a five game streak dating to the 2020 Gator Bowl, but the 2021 Holiday Bowl was canceled. So instead, it’s three in a row. In 2022 they lost 16-12 to Maryland in the Mayo Bowl, and last season they lost 28-19 to K-State in the Pop-Tarts Bowl. ECU’s last bowl game was a 53-29 win over Coastal Carolina in the 2022 Birmingham Bowl.
Announcers: Jay Alter, Rocky Boiman, and Alex Chappell

7:30: Brigham Young vs. Colorado (Alamo Bowl @ San Antonio, TX; ABC): This one could definitely be fun. Both teams will have their guys, and that includes the Buffs: apparently the Sanders boys and Travis Hunter will play. BYU didn’t play Colorado in the Big 12 regular season, so while this is technically an inter-conference matchup we haven’t seen this yet. BYU is famous for always “bringing it”, so that combined with Colorado’s star power should keep this entertaining.
SP+ line: BYU by 3.2
Vegas line: Colorado by 3.5
Watchability tier: IV
Previous meetings: They’ve met 12 times. The first was a 1923 41-0 Colorado win. The most recent was in the 1988 Freedom Bowl, a 20-17 BYU win. Overall, the Buffs hold a 8-3-1 advantage.
Last bowl game: BYU’s last postseason appearance was a 24-23 win over SMU in the 2022 New Mexico Bowl. Colorado’s last bowl game was a 55-23 loss to Texas in the 2020 Alamo Bowl.
Announcers: Dave Pasch, Dusty Dvoracek, and Taylor McGregor

9:15: Army vs. Louisiana Tech (Independence Bowl @ Shreveport, LA; ESPN): Army’s original opponent in this game was Marshall, and they backed out due to having too many players in the transfer portal. It’s an unfortunate situation and one that definitely needs to be fixed, but the issue is that the powers that be in college football… aren’t really. We’re in the midst of a generational change in college sports, and unfortunately until that shakes out things are going to feel relatively lawless. Oh, and if the Knights are at all motivated here they’ll blow LaTech out of the water.
SP+ line: Army by 22.1
Vegas line: Army by 13.5
Watchability tier: I
Previous meetings: Two: a 14-7 Army win in 2008, and a 35-16 Army win in 2013.
Last bowl game: Army’s last bowl game was a 24-22 win over Mizzou in the 2021 Armed Forces Bowl. For the Bulldogs, this is their first bowl game since the 2020 New Orleans Bowl, where they lost 38-3 to Georgia Southern.
Announcers: Lowell Galindo, Fozzy Whittaker, and Tori Petry

Monday, December 30

2:30: Iowa vs. Missouri (Music City Bowl @ Nashville, TN; ESPN): This is a match-up of teams that occupy a similiar niche in their conference, which is fitting. (You’d also think they had played more often, but, well, see below.) That niche is being obviously not quite as talented as the top teams, but being a sort of plucky team that gets by with good defense. In that role, though, Mizzou never really figured out the offense thing this year, where as the Hawkeyes did.
SP+ line: Iowa by 2.5
Vegas line: Mizzou by 2.5
Watchability tier: III
Previous meetings: Different sources have different records for this game, though overall for teams from states that border each other they still haven’t really met a lot. They played consistently starting in 1892, a Mizzou win. Before the modern era, they last met in 1910, a 5-0 Mizzou win. The most recent was a 27-24 Iowa win in the 2010 Insight Bowl. Overall, Mizzou holds a 7-6 lead.
Last bowl game: Iowa would have a 12 game streak dating to the 2013-14 Outback Bowl, but they did not play in a bowl game in 2020. So instead this is their fourth in a row, dating to the 2021-22 Citrus Bowl, a 20-17 loss to Kentucky. Last season they also lost in the Citrus Bowl, 35-0 to Tennessee. Mizzou has a four game streak now, dating to a 24-22 loss to Army in the 2021 Armed Forces Bowl. They beat Ohio State 14-3 in last season’s Cotton Bowl.
Announcers: Taylor Zarzour, Matt Stinchcomb, and Alyssa Lang

Bowl Games 2024: The Reason for the Season

As usual, the latest updates on how I’m doing are here. In the meantime, here’s the lineup through Friday. And as usual, all times Eastern and all predictions wrong.

Monday, December 23

11:00: Texas-San Antonio vs. Coastal Carolina (Myrtle Beach Bowl @ Conway, SC; ESPN): Coastal gets a home game, which I always wonder is a bit of a bummer for the team in question. Either way, I like the Road Runners here.
SP+ line: UTSA by 3.5
Vegas line: UTSA by 11
Watchability tier: I
Previous meetings: This is the first meeting between these teams.
Last bowl game: For the Roadrunners, this is their fifth straight bowl game. They lost to Louisiana 31-24 in the 2020 First Respondeder Bowl. Last season they beat Marshall 35-17 in the Frisco Bowl.
Announcers: Taylor Zarzour, Matt Stinchcomb, and Alyssa Lang

2:30: Fresno State vs. Northern Illinois (Potato Bowl @ Boise, ID; ESPN): Y’all, it’s time for the Potato Bowl. It’s not always the most thrilling game, but it’s admirable that this game has maintained its personality even though it got acquired by ESPN Events many years ago. (To wit, see the logo, website, and mascot.) As for the game itself, I have to like Fresno here. NIU has one of the most head scratching victories of the year (their upset of Notre Dame in Week 2), but I don’t see that informing this game.
SP+ line: Fresno by 2.6
Vegas line: NIU by 3.5
Watchability tier: I
Previous meetings: They first met in 1972, in a surely thrilling 9-6 Fresno State win. The last was a 40-17 NIU win in the 2010 Humanitarian Bowl, giving them a 3-2 overall series lead.”
Last bowl game: For the Bulldogs, their current streak dates to the 2021 New Mexico Bowl, a 31-24 win over UTEP. Last season they beat New Mexico State 37-10 in the New Mexico Bowl. NIU beat Arkansas State 21-19 in last season’s Camellia Bowl.
Announcers: Lowell Galindo, Fozzy Whittaker, and Tori Petry

Tuesday, December 24

8:00: San Jose State vs. South Florida (Hawaii Bowl @ Honolulu, HI; ESPN): It’s Christmas Eve. Turn this on and think about how warm it is over there. I hope you’re enjoying your holiday, wherever you are. I like the Spartans here.
SP+ line: USF by 1.9
Vegas line: SJSU by 3.5
Watchability tier: I
Previous meetings: Just one: a 44-22 USF win in 2017.
Last bowl game: The Silicon Spartans have appeared in three straight bowl games. In 2022, they lost 41-27 to Eastern Michigan in the Potato Bowl. Last season they lost 24-14 to Coastal Carolina in the Hawaii Bowl. USF blanked Syracuse in last season’s Boca Raton Bowl, 45-0.
Announcers: Tiffany Greene, Jay Walker, and Marilyn Payne

Thursday, December 26

2:00: Pittsburgh vs. Toledo (Sports Bowl @ Detroit, MI; ESPN): It’s possible that Pitt will be bummed to be in Detroit and find themselves upset by one of the usually good MAC teams, but I doubt it.
SP+ line: Pitt by 9.9
Vegas line: Pitt by 6.5
Watchability tier: II
Previous meetings: Three. The first was a 37-19 Pitt win in 2022, and the last was a 45-3 Pitt win in 2006. But in 2003 Toledo won 35-31.
Last bowl game: Pitt’s last postseason appearance was in the Sun Bowl, a 37-35 win over UCLA. By all rights, Toledo should have a streak going back to 2010, but they were skipped over in 2013 and 2019, and didn’t play in a bowl in 2020. So this is their fourth in a row, dating to the 2021 Bahamas Bowl, a 31-24 loss to Middle Tennessee State. Last season they lost 16-14 to Wyoming in the Arizona Bowl.
Announcers: Matt Schumacker, Dustin Fox, and Harry Lyles Jr.

5:30: Rutgers vs. Kansas State (Guaranteed Rate Bowl @ Phoenix, AZ; ESPN): It’s always a minor victory for Rutgers to get to a bowl. But K-State has the grit and know-how to prevail in bowl games.
SP+ line: K-State by 8.8
Vegas line: K-State by 7
Watchability tier: II
Previous meetings: Just one: a 37-10 Rutgers win in the 2006 Texas Bowl.
Last bowl game: Rutgers beat Miami 31-24 in the Pinstripe Bowl last season. This will be K-State’s fourth in a row, dating to a 42-20 win over LSU in the 2021-22 Texas Bowl. Last season they ate the Pop-Tarts, beating NC State 28-19 in the Pop-Tarts Bowl.
Announcers: Wes Durham, Tom Luginbill, and Dana Boyle

9:00: Arkansas State vs. Bowling Green (68 Ventures Bowl @ Mobile, AL; ESPN): Part of my job should really be to look up what the portal picture is for this, because about the only way I don’t like Bowling Green is if all of their first string is playing elsewhere next season.
SP+ line: BGSU by 10.6
Vegas line: BGSU by 8
Watchability tier: I
Previous meetings: This is the first meeting between these teams.
Last bowl game: Arkansas State lost 21-19 to Northern Illinois in last season’s Camellia Bowl. Bowling Green lost to New Mexico 24-19 in the 2022 Quick Lane Bowl, and lost last season’s Quick Lane Bowl 30-24 to Minnesota. I suspect they might actually be happy to be in Mobile, considering.
Announcers: Clay Matvick, Roddy Jones, and Ashley Stroehlein

Friday, December 27

Noon: Navy vs. Oklahoma (Armed Forces Bowl @ Fort Worth, TX; ESPN): There are so many variables in this game. For starters, will Navy be motivated? After all, they besmirched one of the best Army seasons in decades by winning the Command-in-Chief’s trophy. Will they be able to maintain the motivation to beat a classic power? For Oklahoma, it’s been a rough season, but they can hang their hat on probably single-highhandedly keeping Alabama out of the playoff. And while the Sooners definitely have the talent advantage here, their offensive struggles are real. I’m going to be cowardly and take OU here, but this could be a cracker of a game.
SP+ line: OU by 7.7
Vegas line: OU by 3
Watchability tier: III
Previous meetings: Just one: a 10-0 Navy win back in 1965.
Last bowl game: Navy’s last bowl appearance was a 20-17 win over K-State in the 2019 Liberty Bowl. For the Sooners, this is their twenty-sixth straight bowl game, which is now the second longest streak in the country, behind only Georgia. The run started with a 27-25 loss to Ole Miss in the 1999 Independence Bowl, and most recently they lost 38-24 to Arizona in the Alamo Bowl.
Announcers: Courtney Lyle, Rene Ingoglia, and Morgan Uber

3:30: Georgia Tech vs. Vanderbilt (Birmingham Bowl @ Birmingham, AL; ESPN): It’s still to be determined if I’m going to drive to Birmingham for this one. That said, tickets are tough to get, and for good reason: these plucky teams are set to have almost all of their usual starters, including their hard-nosed quarterbacks. I think regardless of the outcome this could be one of the best non-playoff games of the entire postseason.
SP+ line: Vandy 1.7
Vegas line: GT by 3
Watchability tier: III
Previous meetings: These former SEC foes have played 37 games, and I even attended one in Nashville. The first was a 37-6 Tech loss in 1906. They met fairly regularly until Tech left the SEC after 1963, resulting a gap in the series from 1967 to 2002. The most recent meeting wase a 38-7 Tech win in 2016. Tech lost a fair bit before WWII, but the last loss for us was in 1941, and the last non-win was a 10-10 tie in 1965. And then there’s the game I attended in 2003 that went to overtime. Two plays were run in OT: a Reggie Ball naked bootleg for a TD, and then a Jay Cutler interception. The Vandy students around filled out silently, after all, that’s just kind of how Vandy football usually is (especially in the pre-James Franklin era). Overall, the Jackets hold a 20-14-3 advantage.
Last bowl game: The Jackets now have a two-game streak after last season’s 30-17 win over UCF in the Gasparilla Bowl. This is Vandy’s first bowl game since the 2018 Texas Bowl, where they lost 45-38 to Baylor.
Announcers: Dave Neal, Aaron Murray, and Ashley ShahAhmadi

7:00: Texas Tech vs. Arkansas (Liberty Bowl @ Memphis, TN; ESPN): You could tell just about anything could happen in this game and I’d probably believe you. Both teams had low expectations coming into the season and simply making a bowl game probably feels good just on its own. I’ll take the Hogs here but this could be an interesting one.
SP+ line: Hogs by 5.8
Vegas line: Hogs by 1.5
Watchability tier: II
Previous meetings: These former SWC foes have met… 37 times. The first was back in 1957, a 47-26 Tech win. They played regularly after that until the Hogs left the SWC. The most recent meeting was a 35-24 TTU win in 2015. Overall, though, Arkansas has dominated to the tune of a 29-8 advantage.
Last bowl game: This is the fourth straight bowl for the Red Raiders, dating to a 34-7 win over Mississippi State in the 2021 Liberty Bowl. Last season they beat Cal 34-14 in the Independence Bowl. The Razorbacks’s last bowl game was a 55-53 win over Kansas in the 2022 Liberty Bowl.
Announcers: Anish Shroff, Andre Ware, and Paul Carcaterra

8:00: Syracuse vs. Washington State (Holiday Bowl @ San Diego, CA; FOX): Unfortunately, with Wazzu’s QB in the portal I don’t see any realistic path to victory for the Cougs, and a game that would probably be pretty watchable otherwise with two fun QBs will be sort of “meh”.
SP+ line: Cuse by 3.6
Vegas line: Cuse by 15.5
Watchability tier: II
Previous meetings: Just one: a 55-25 Syracuse win in Buffalo back in 1979.
Last bowl game: This is the third straight bowl game for the Orange. They lost 28-20 in the 2022 Pinstripe Bowl to Minnesota, and got blanked 45-0 by South Florida in last season’s Boca Raton Bowl. Wazzu’s last postseason appearance was the 2022 LA Bowl, a 29-6 loss to Fresno State.
Announcers: Gus Johnson and Joel Klatt

10:30: Southern California vs. Texas A&M (Las Vegas Bowl @ Las Vegas, NV; ESPN): Hey USC, remember late night Eastern time kick-offs? Well, here you go. That said, USC’s lost season figures to continue to be…. lost. While this game has some entertainment value with two “name brands” (if you will) I really like the Aggies here.
SP+ line: TAMU by 7.1
Vegas line: TAMU by 3
Watchability tier: II
Previous meetings: Three, and it’s been a while. The first was a 31-7 USC win in 1964. They met in the 1975 Liberty Bowl, a 20-0 USC win. And then two years later they bet in the Bluebonnet Bowl, a 47-28 USC win.
Last bowl game: This will be USC’s third straight bowl game, dating to the 2022-23 Cotton Bowl, where they lost 46-45 to Tulane. They handled Louisville 42-28 in last season’s Holiday Bowl. A&M lost 31-23 to Oklahoma State in last season’s Texas Bowl.
Announcers: Dave Flemming, Brock Osweiler, and Stormy Buonantony

Bowl Games 2024: Opening Slate

It’s the most wonderful time of the year once again. This series will take us through all of the bowl games, including the playoff. So let’s dive in.

Saturday, December 14
9:00: Western Michigan vs. South Alabama (Veterans Bowl @ Montgomery, AL; ESPN): That’s right, this game is both after the Army-Navy game and the Heisman Trophy ceremony. Not much going on here other than South Alabama should probably win, an by a lot.
SP+ line: USA by 15.2
Vegas line: USA by 8
Watchability tier: I
Previous meetings: This is the first meeting between these teams.
Last bowl game: WMU hasn’t been bowling since a 52-24 win over Nevada in the 2021 Quick Lane Bowl. The Jags are appearing in their third straight bowl. They lost 44-23 to Western Kentucky in the 2022 New Orleans Bowl, and beat Eastern Michigan 59-10 in last season’s 68Ventures Bowl.
Announcers: Wes Durham, Tom Luginbill, and Dana Boyle

Tuesday, December 17
9:00: Memphis vs. West Virginia (Frisco Bowl @ Frisco, TX; ESPN): For an early bowl game, this could be interesting. The ‘neers fired Neal Brown a year later than we all thought they would, as the magic seemed to run out this season. Memphis is definitely favored here but it’s hard to predict how these things will go.
SP+ line: Memphis by 7.4
Vegas line: Memphis by 2.5
Watchability tier: II
Previous meetings: This is the first meeting between these teams.
Last bowl game: This should be the 11th straight bowl for Memphis. Their streak dates to the ((in)famous) 2014 Miami Beach Bowl, a 55-48 Memphis win over BYU that was most notable for a post-game fight. In 2021, Memphis was going to play in the Hawaii Bowl, but the game was canceled because of, well, you know. The beat Iowa State in 36-26 in last season’s Liberty Bowl. WVU won last season’s Mayo Bowl 30-10 over North Carolina, resulting in their (now) former coach having mayonnaise dunked on him.
Announcers: Mike Monaco, Kirk Morrison, and Dawn Davenport

Wednesday, December 18
5:30: Western Kentucky vs. James Madison (Boca Raton Bowl @ Boca Raton, FL; ESPN): I slightly favor JMU in this matchup of kind-of disappointing G5 teams.
SP+ line: JMU by 9.3
Vegas line: JMU by 7
Watchability tier: I
Previous meetings: This is the first meeting between these teams.
Last bowl game: WKU’s six game bowl streak dates to the 2019 First Responder Bowl, a 23-20 win over Western Michigan. They beat Old Dominion 38-35 in last season’s Famous Toastery Bowl. JMU makes their second bowl game ever. Last season they lost 31-21 to Air Force in the Armed Forces Bowl.
Announcers: Chris Cotter, Mark Herzlich, and Coley Harvey

9:00: California vs. Nevada-Las Vegas (LA Bowl @ Inglewood, CA; ESPN): Meanwhile, one of the most snake-bitten teams of the season were these Cal Golden Bears, but they did eventually make it to six wins. UNLV is the best G5-team this side of Boise State. This could be a cracker of a matchup, but the way the season’s gone Cal will likely find a way to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory again.
SP+ line: UNLV by 3
Vegas line: Cal by 3
Watchability tier: III
Previous meetings: Just one, a regular season meeting in 2022 that UNLV won 20-14.
Last bowl game: Cal lost 34-14 to Texas Tech in last season’s Independence Bowl. UNLV lost 49-36 to Kansas in last season’s Guaranteed Rate Bowl.
Announcers: Bob Wischusen, Louis Riddick, and Kris Budden

Thursday, December 19
7:00: Georgia Southern vs. Sam Houston State (New Orleans Bowl @ New Orleans, LA; ESPN2): Really hoping the general weirdness of the New Orleans Bowl (thankfully on once again at night) overcomes the relatively lack of anything interesting about either of these teams.
SP+ line: Southern by 6
Vegas line: Southern by 5.5
Watchability tier: I
Previous meetings: This is the first meeting between these teams.
Last bowl game: This is the third straight bowl game for Southern. They lost 23-21 to Buffalo in the 2022 Camellia Bowl, and 41-21 to Ohio in last season’s Myrtle Beach Bowl.
Announcers: Jorge Sedano, Orlando Franklin, and Morgan Uber

Friday, December 20
Noon: Ohio vs. Jacksonville State (Cure Bowl @ Orlando, FL; ESPN):
I like the Bobcats here.
SP+ line: Ohio by 1.1
Vegas line: Ohio by 1.5
Watchability tier: II
Previous meetings: This is the first meeting between these teams.
Last bowl game: The Bobcats have a three game streak going now. Back in 2022 they beat Wyoming 30-27 in the Arizona Bowl, and last season they beat Georgia Southern 41-21 in the Myrtle Beach Bowl. Jax State beat Louisiana 34-31 in last season’s New Orleans Bowl.
Announcers: Brian Custer, Rod Gilmore, and Lauren Sisler

3:30: Tulane vs. Florida (Gasparilla Bowl @ Tampa, FL; ESPN2): Tulane gets another chance to knock off a P5/P4 team after last year’s upset of USC. The Gators of course, got… better over the course of the season, and unlike Tulane, their quarterback isn’t in the portal. I like the Gators here.
SP+ line: Gators by 5.1
Vegas line: Gators by 13.5
Watchability tier: II
Previous meetings: This is the twenty-first meeting between these teams. The first was in 1915, which the Wave won 14-7. The most recent was back in September of 1984, where the Gators won 63-21. Overall, Florida leads 13-6-2.
Last bowl game: This will be the third straight bowl game for the Green Wave. In the 2022-23 Cotton Bowl they beat USC 46-45. Last season they lost 41-20 to Virginia Tech in the Military Bowl. The Gators are appearing for a bowl for the first time since a 30-3 loss to Oregon State in the 2022 Las Vegas Bowl.
Announcers: Anish Shroff, Andre Ware, and Paul Carcaterra

8:00: Notre Dame (#7) vs. Indiana (#10) (College Football Playoff First Round @ South Bend, IN; ABC): Welcome to a moment in history. Not only are Notre Dame and Indiana playing for just the 26th time ever (see below), it’s the first ever version of an actual Division I FBS playoff. (Well, sorta, I mean, it’s not endorsed by the NCAA, but that’s becoming less relevant by the minute.) So about the game itself. Indiana got here by taking an extremely mediocre schedule and absolutely demolishing it. The meme started as #9WinIndiana, meaning no matter what happens here this will still be the greatest season in the long (mostly terrible) history of Indiana Hoosiers football. There’s one problem, though: when they played the only good team on their schedule, they got demolished themselves. I don’t think Notre Dame is as good as Ohio State, but the Irish will easily be the second best team Indiana has played this year. I don’t think that bodes well for the Hoosiers, folks.
SP+ line: ND by 4.8
Vegas line: ND by 7.5
Watchability tier: IV
Previous meetings: For two schools in the same state, they haven’t played a lot, in fact, just 25 times. The first was in 1899, which Notre Dame won 17-0. They played fairly often before 1959, but only meeting since then was in 1991, where Notre Dame won 49-27. The Irish hold a 22-3 overall advantage.
Last bowl game: This is the eighth consecutive bowl appearance for the Irish. Their run began in the 2017-18 Citrus Bowl, a 21-17 win over LSU. Last season they beat Oregon State 40-8 in the Sun Bowl. The Hoosiers’s last bowl game was the 2020-21 Outback Bowl, a 26-20 loss to Ole Miss.
Announcers: Sean McDonough, Greg McElroy, and Molly McGrath

Saturday, December 21
Noon: Pennsylvania State (#6) vs. Southern Methodist (#11) (College Football Playoff First Round @ State College, PA; TNT): Back in the summer, Split Zone Duo posited that “it is James Franklin’s manifest destiny to be the first head coach to lose a home playoff game”. Now, of course if Indiana wins the night before that won’t be Franklin. But here at ASimSports, we still believe heavily in the prophecy, even if SMU probably isn’t really the ideal opponent to pull it off. (Now, of course, that will just make it that much funnier when the Ponies do pull it off.)
SP+ line: PSU by 5
Vegas line: PSU by 9
Watchability tier: IV
Previous meetings: Just two. The first was New Year’s Day 1948, when they played a 13-13 tie in the Cotton Bowl. The last was in 1978, which Penn State won 26-21.
Last bowl game: For the Nittany Lions, this is their fourth straight postseason appearance. They lost 24-10 to Arkansas in the 2021-22 Outback Bowl. Last season, they lost 38-25 to Ole Miss in the Peach Bowl. This is SMU’s third straight postseason game. They lost 24-23 to BYU in the 2022 New Mexico Bowl, and 23-14 to Boston College in last season’s Fenway Bowl.
Announcers: Mark Jones, Roddy Jones, and Quint Kessenich

4:00: Texas (#5) vs. Clemson (#12) (College Football Playoff First Round @ Austin, TX; TNT): If we’re being honest with ourselves, the home team most likely to beef it probably isn’t Penn State. This would probably the funniest upset if it happens, but I just don’t see how Clemson is going to move the ball, and Ewers and Co. can score points when they’re not playing Georgia. The Horns should be fine.
SP+ line: Texas by 13.2
Vegas line: Texas by 11
Watchability tier: IV
Previous meetings: This is the first meeting between these teams.
Last bowl game: This will be the Horns’s third straight postseason game. In 2022, they lost 27-20 Washington in the Alamo Bowl. Last season they also lost to Washington, but in that was other instant classic from the playoff, a 37-31 thriller in the Sugar Bowl.
Announcers: Dave Pasch, Dusty Dvoracek, and Taylor McGregor

8:00: Ohio State (#8) vs. Tennessee (#9) (College Football Playoff First Round @ Columbus, OH; ABC): As befits an 8-9 game, this is the most likely to produce fireworks. Both teams have robust offenses (at least, when Ryan Day remembers that he does), so the question is going to come down to defense. It’s fair to say that the only other robust offensive team the Buckeyes have faced was Oregon, and, well, they lost that game (and by doing whatever that was against Michigan, lost the chance to try the Ducks again). However, the Ducks are that much better than the Vols, who while always dangerous do have a freshman QB and just a little bit less receiver talent than they have the past few years. If Tennessee gets it going, they will be extremely dangerous and the Buckeyes will be in trouble, but I’m not sure they’re going to get the chance.
SP+ line: OSU by 5.6
Vegas line: OSU by 7.5
Watchability tier: IV
Previous meetings: Just one, a 20-14 Ohio State victory in the Citrus Bowl.
Last bowl game: It’s very amazing how often Ohio State is good to very, very good. Their current postseason streak dates to 2013, the after the 12-0 run that they had a bowl ban for. (Otherwise, their streak would go back to 1999.) So for now, they’ve just got a 13-season streak, dating to the 2013-14 Orange Bowl, a 40-35 loss to Clemson. Last season they had a pretty meek showing in a 14-3 loss to Mizzou in the Cotton Bowl. This will the fourth straight postseason appearance for the Vols, dating to a 48-45 loss to Purdue in the 2021 Music City Bowl. Last season, they completely boatraced Iowa 35-0 in the Citrus Bowl.
Announcers: Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit, and Holly Rowe

This Weekend in College Football: Week 16

As usual, all times Eastern and all predictions wrong.

Friday

9:00: Idaho @ Montana State (NCAA Division I Quarterfinal; ESPN)

Saturday

Noon:

  • Incarnate Word @ South Dakota State (NCAA Division I Quarterfinal; ESPN)
  • South Carolina State vs. Jackson State (Celebration Bowl @ Atlanta, GA; ABC)

3:00:

  • Army vs. Navy (@Landover, MD; CBS): Welcome to a rare instance of this game where both teams are good. To me, that says that there’s a fair chance there might actually be multiple touchdowns scored! While this doesn’t seem to matter a lot in this game, this should be Army’s game to lose. Their offense is hitting on all cylinders and the AAC champs should retain the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy.
  • California-Davis @ South Dakota (NCAA Division I Quarterfinal; ESPN+)

3:30: Mercer @ North Dakota State (NCAA Division I Quarterfinal; ABC)