Predictions for Every Bowl Game
The time for the first College Football Playoff field has come. Naturally, there's a lot of controversy. Alabama, Florida State, Ohio State and Oregon are in; Baylor and TCU are out.
As Stewart Mandel of Fox Sports tweeted, no one is getting "robbed." Rather, selecting the final spot is extremely difficult. But that's what college football signed up for, and that's the committee's job.
The rest of the bowl season? It took shape on Sunday as well, and there are some great matchups on hand.
The following slides contain each and every postseason bowl matchup, including the four-team playoff. Click on the links below to view the latest College Football Playoff, Associated Press and USA Today Top 25 polls.
New Orleans Bowl
1 of 38
Dec. 20, New Orleans (11 a.m. ET)
Matchup: Nevada vs. Louisiana-Lafayette
Louisiana-Lafayette basically has a winter home in New Orleans.
There's a nice under-the-radar matchup between two dual-threat quarterbacks: Cody Fajardo of Nevada and Terrance Broadway of ULL, the former of which has accounted for nearly 3,400 total yards. However, Broadway recently broke Jake Delhomme's record for career yardage against Appalachian State.
On a fast track indoors, you have to like the odds of both of these quarterbacks breaking loose and making big plays. Because you can only pick one winner, Fajardo gives Nevada the edge.
Matchup Type: Shootout
Projected Winner: Nevada
New Mexico Bowl
2 of 38
Dec. 20, Albuquerque, New Mexico (2:20 p.m. ET)
Matchup: Utah State vs. UTEP
There's only one thing UTEP does offensively, and that's run the ball. Utah State is the best defense in the Mountain West against the run (3.28 yards per carry allowed). Granted, Boise State running back Jay Ajayi gashed Utah State on the ground a couple of weeks ago, but that felt more like an anomaly.
Give the Aggies credit on offense, too. Quarterback injuries have been brutal, and still this offense has managed to average nearly 28 points a game. Head coach Matt Wells has done an outstanding job. This one isn't all that close.
Matchup Type: Blowout
Predicted Winner: Utah State
Las Vegas Bowl
3 of 38
Dec. 20, Las Vegas (3:30 p.m. ET)
Matchup: Utah vs. Colorado State
Colorado State will be without its head coach, Jim McElwain, who recently became the head coach at Florida. How will that move affect the morale of the Rams? It's not clear yet, but they have one of the better offenses outside the Power Five conferences.
With quarterback Garrett Grayson, receiver Rashard Higgins and running back Dee Hart, Colorado State has a ton of weapons.
Utah has a solid defense, but it has been more vulnerable in the month of November against teams such as Oregon and Arizona. If Colorado State gets points on the board early and builds confidence, the Utes might struggle to come from behind.
Matchup Type: Never in doubt
Predicted Winner: Colorado State
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
4 of 38
Dec. 20, Boise, Idaho (5:45 p.m. ET)
Matchup: Western Michigan vs. Air Force
This is a game that could promise a lot of offense. Western Michigan knows what it's going to get with Air Force. The Falcons run the ball an average of, wait for it, 61 times a game. The Broncos probably won't stop it all, but limiting Air Force on the ground is their only chance.
Western Michigan is far more explosive on offense with quarterback Zach Terrell, running back Jarvion Franklin and receiver Corey Davis.
Air Force has played spoiler for both Boise State and Colorado State. Can it do it again against the Broncos?
Matchup Type: Never in doubt
Predicted Winner: Air Force
Camellia Bowl
5 of 38
Dec. 20, Montgomery, Alabama (9:15 p.m. ET)
Matchup: Bowling Green vs. South Alabama
Looking for a contrast of offensive styles? The Camellia Bowl with Bowling Green and South Alabama is about as different as you can get. Both have balanced offenses in terms of play calls, but the routes they take to get there differ.
The Falcons like tempo and have run more plays than all but five other teams this season. South Alabama's approach is more methodical. The Jaguars enjoy greater success running the ball and give up about eight points less per game than Bowling Green.
The Falcons have done well in Dino Babers' first year as head coach, but any sort of inefficiency on offense could be the difference.
Matchup Type: Low-scoring
Predicted Winner: South Alabama
Miami Beach Bowl
6 of 38
Dec. 22, Miami (2 p.m. ET)
Matchup: BYU vs. Memphis
Memphis coach Justin Fuente has orchestrated one of the best turnarounds in college football. From 3-9 a year ago to 9-3 and a share of the American Athletic Conference title, the Tigers have made a complete transformation.
Memphis averages nearly 35 points a game and scored 35 on UCLA, but it really wins games with its defense. That's important going up against a team that, even without star quarterback Taysom Hill, averages 36 points a game. The Tigers defense should win one more game for them.
Matchup Type: Nail-biter
Predicted Winner: Memphis
Boca Raton Bowl
7 of 38
Dec. 23, Boca Raton, Florida (6 p.m. ET)
Matchup: Northern Illinois vs. Marshall
This has the opportunity to be the best early bowl game with so-called "Group of Five" teams. Marshall is one win away from an undefeated season, and NIU has won at least 11 games in each of the last five seasons.
Expect a lot of rushing yards. The Huskies and Herd together run it about 90 times a game. Both defenses are excellent, but the over/under for total rushing yards could be about 500.
Marshall doesn't run the most plays per game—about 74—but statistically the Herd are the most efficient offense in the country at 7.65 yards per play. Say what you will about Marshall's strength of schedule, and you'd be right to point it out, but this team has typically run like a well-oiled machine.
Matchup Type: Nail-biter
Predicted Winner: Marshall
Poinsettia Bowl
8 of 38
Dec. 23, San Diego (9:30 p.m. ET)
Matchup: Navy vs. San Diego State
If you like ground-and-pound games, you'll probably like the Poinsettia Bowl. San Diego State is anything but flashy; the Aztecs average about 26 points per game and do most of their offensive damage in the running game. However, San Diego State also has one of the best defenses in the Mountain West, allowing just 20 points per game and 3.77 yards per rush.
There's no secret about what Navy is going to do offensively, so as long as the Aztecs play disciplined, they have a good chance.
Matchup Type: Nail-biter
Predicted Winner: San Diego State
Bahamas Bowl
9 of 38
Dec. 24, Nassau, Bahamas (Noon ET)
Matchup: Western Kentucky vs. Central Michigan
Here's the skinny: Western Kentucky is known for offense and nothing else. Central Michigan is, well, not known for offense. However, the Chippewas do have one of the better running backs of the mid-major variety in Thomas Rawls.
Rawls could have a big day against the Hilltoppers, who give up five yards a rush and 39 points per game.
Yes, Central Michigan should be able to score on Western Kentucky because everyone can score on Western Kentucky, but the 'Toppers have so much offense with quarterback Brandon Doughty that it's overwhelming.
Matchup Type: Shootout
Predicted Winner: Western Kentucky
Hawaii Bowl
10 of 38
Dec. 24, Honolulu (8 p.m. ET)
Matchup: Fresno State vs. Rice
There was no Mountain West title for Fresno State, but a trip to Hawaii for the holidays is a nice consolation prize. The Bulldogs defense is statistically awful, giving up almost 33 points per game, but Rice isn't exactly an offensive juggernaut.
The Owls are a middle-of-the-road Conference USA team that scores 29 points a game and is so-so efficiency wise (5.52 yards per play). The Fresno St. quarterback-wide receiver combo of Brian Burrell and Josh Harper should be able to keep pace.
Matchup Type: Never in doubt
Predicted Winner: Fresno State
Heart of Dallas Bowl
11 of 38
Dec. 26, Dallas (1 p.m. ET)
Matchup: Illinois vs. Louisiana Tech
Louisiana Tech's high-powered offense could be a major thorn for Illinois, which ranks last in the Big Ten with 33.9 points allowed per game. Furthermore, the Illini give up 7.5 yards per pass attempt, second-worst in the Big Ten only to Rutgers.
Illinois coach Tim Beckman has slowly but surely turned this program around, but there are still questions at quarterback. Even though he was fired from Texas last year, Bulldogs defensive coordinator Manny Diaz has done nice things this season.
Matchup Type: Never in doubt
Predicted Winner: Louisiana Tech
Quick Lane Bowl
12 of 38
Dec. 26, Detroit (4:30 p.m. ET)
Matchup: Rutgers vs. North Carolina
The number of passing yards between these two teams in this game could be set at about 800 or 900, especially with it taking place in a dome setting.
The main difference, and perhaps concern, is that North Carolina ranks last in the ACC in points allowed per game and passing yards per game. Rutgers quarterback Gary Nova may have turnover issues, but he and receiver Leonte Carroo could put up some big numbers.
Matchup Type: Shootout
Predicted Winner: Rutgers
St. Petersburg Bowl
13 of 38
Dec. 26, St. Petersburg, Florida (8 p.m. ET)
Matchup: Central Florida vs. North Carolina State
UCF hasn't dipped much despite losing quarterback Blake Bortles from a year ago. The concern for the Knights isn't so much about generating offense, but rather it's about slowing down North Carolina State quarterback Jacoby Brissett.
On the season, Brissett has been a one-man show, averaging about 237 yards per game. However, the Wolfpack have been less effective when the passing game is taken away on offense. Keep Brissett from being a passing threat and UCF should win.
Matchup Type: Never in doubt
Predicted Winner: UCF
Military Bowl
14 of 38
Dec. 27, Annapolis, Maryland (1 p.m. ET)
Matchup: Cincinnati vs. Virginia Tech
This one is a complete clash of overall styles. Virginia Tech plays sound defense and could have the top cornerback in college football, Kendall Fuller. However, the Hokies have struggled to score throughout the entire season.
On the other side, Cincinnati ranks second in the American Athletic Conference with 35 points per game. Basically, this comes down to which style you think prevails: great defense or great offense. On that note, the Hokies might need their best game of the year from quarterback Michael Brewer.
Matchup Type: Never in doubt
Predicted Winner: Cincinnati
Sun Bowl
15 of 38
Dec. 27, El Paso, Texas (2 p.m. ET)
Matchup: Duke vs. Arizona State
Arizona State's defense has generally surpassed expectations considering all the new faces on that side of the ball. Still, there have been moments, specifically against UCLA, when the Sun Devils have given up chunk yards and points.
Still, Arizona State wide receiver Jaelen Strong might be the best player on the field. The Blue Devils have been fairly good against the pass (6.3 yards per attempt), but Strong is also the best wideout they will have faced all year.
Expect a lot of points, but Arizona State pulls away late.
Matchup Type: Shootout
Predicted Winner: Arizona State
Independence Bowl
16 of 38
Dec. 27, Shreveport, Louisiana (3:30 p.m. ET)
Matchup: Miami (FL) vs. South Carolina
It's been a disappointing season for both teams, so this is a chance for one of them to end on a high note. Even though he's a freshman, Brad Kaaya of Miami has the quarterback advantage. With running back Duke Johnson on the field, the Gamecocks defense is going to be tested.
There's a ton of potential for the Hurricanes to rack up chunk yards like they did in the first half to Florida State. South Carolina ranks last in the SEC in big plays allowed. That's been a problem since Week 1 and could continue to be so against an athletic offense.
Matchup Type: Shootout
Predicted Winner: Miami (FL)
Pinstripe Bowl
17 of 38
Dec. 27, Bronx, New York (4:30 p.m. ET)
Matchup: Boston College vs. Penn State
Congratulations, someone's fantasy of a defensive football game in what will likely be cruddy conditions in the dead of winter has come to fruition. If the final score reads something along the line of 9-6, and you're not sure if the nine points came from a touchdown and a safety or three field goals, you'll know why.
Penn State's defense has carried this team to bowl eligibility. Christian Hackenberg may be one of the most physically gifted quarterbacks in the country, but the Nittany Lions offense hasn't been able to find any sort of consistency.
Boston College loves to run the ball and is second in the ACC only to Georgia Tech in attempts per game and yards per game in that category. Should Penn State shut that down, even little to no offense has a shot to win.
Matchup Type: Low-scoring
Predicted Winner: Penn State
Holiday Bowl
18 of 38
Dec. 27, San Diego (8 p.m. ET)
Matchup: Nebraska vs. USC
It'll be interesting to see how Nebraska plays without its fired head coach, Bo Pelini. Players weren't exactly thrilled with the decision when they took to social media.
Still, the Huskers have one of the more explosive, do-it-all players in the country in running back Ameer Abdullah, plus wide receiver Kenny Bell. It's going to be up to Nebraska's defense and players such as defensive end Randy Gregory to contain USC's explosive offense.
Both teams have found, shall we say, unique ways to lose games this season, but it's hard not to like the firepower of running back Buck Allen and receivers Nelson Agholor and Juju Smith for the Trojans.
Matchup Type: Never in doubt
Predicted Winner: USC
Liberty Bowl
19 of 38
Dec. 29, Memphis, Tennessee (2 p.m. ET)
Matchup: West Virginia vs. Texas A&M
The Mountaineers' offense has been spotty in the second half of the season, and it'll be interesting to see which quarterback gets the start: Skylar Howard or Clint Trickett, who has been recovering from a concussion.
But it may not be West Virginia's offense that matters as much as its defense. A&M has a phenomenal freshman receiver in Speedy Noil, who seems to catch everything thrown his way. Coupled with Josh Reynolds and Malcome Kennedy, the Aggies can put up points.
If the Mountaineers can somehow disrupt Aggies quarterback Kyle Allen early, they have a chance. The problem for WVU is that it has one of the worst turnover margins in the country and has been wildly inconsistent.
Matchup Type: Shootout
Predicted Winner: Texas A&M
Russell Athletic Bowl
20 of 38
Dec. 29, Orlando, Florida (5:30 p.m. ET)
Matchup: Clemson vs. Oklahoma
Star running back Samaje Perine sustained a sprained ankle in the season-ending loss to Oklahoma State. Provided he's healthy, the Sooners offense runs through him. However, the Sooners will go up against a brutally good Clemson defensive line, anchored by Vic Beasley.
The question is whether the Sooners come out flat. This is a team that had playoff expectations before the season began, but it has gone just 4-4 since a Sept. 20 win over West Virginia. Also, the health status of freshman quarterback Deshaun Watson could play a factor. The Tigers just look like a different team when Watson is in the game.
Interesting storyline: Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables used to be the defensive coordinator at Oklahoma under head coach Bob Stoops.
Matchup Type: Never in doubt
Predicted Winner: Clemson
Texas Bowl
21 of 38
Dec. 29, Houston (9 p.m. ET)
Matchup: Texas vs. Arkansas
Fans of good, old-fashioned, hard-nosed football are going to love the Texas Bowl. There may not be a ton of points—or passing yards—but that's just fine with us.
The Razorbacks have a two-headed monster at running back with Alex Collins and Jonathan Williams. Together, they've accounted for 23 rushing touchdowns and average 5.6 yards per carry.
The Longhorns have a good rush defense and maybe the best defensive tackle in the country in Malcolm Brown. How he fares against Arkansas' big offensive line will make the difference. Whichever team dominates the line of scrimmage has the upper hand.
Matchup Type: Low-scoring
Predicted Winner: Arkansas
Music City Bowl
22 of 38
Dec. 30, Nashville, Tennessee (3 p.m. ET)
Matchup: LSU vs. Notre Dame
Notre Dame's defense has been suspect throughout the season. Now, the Irish will have to face off against an LSU team with a punishing running attack led by freshman Leonard Fournette.
The Tigers have little to nothing going on in the passing game, so if Notre Dame somehow gets out to an early lead, it would have the advantage. However, turnover/ball-security issues have plagued the Irish all season. Whether Everett Golson or Malik Zaire plays quarterback, that part of the game has to improve.
Against a defense that allows just 16 points per game? It could be a long day for Notre Dame.
Matchup Type: Never in doubt
Predicted Winner: LSU
Belk Bowl
23 of 38
Dec. 30, Charlotte, North Carolina (6:30 p.m. ET)
Matchup: Louisville vs. Georgia
The stars of this game are going to be Georgia running back Nick Chubb and Louisville wide receiver DeVante Parker. The Cardinals have been excellent against the run, allowing fewer than 2.94 yards per rush.
Who plays quarterback for the Cardinals is also of interest. Reggie Bonnafon could return from a knee injury in time for the game, per a UL school release. If not, Kyle Bolin would get the start.
There's also an interesting side storyline with Louisville defensive coordinator Todd Grantham, who just finished his first season with the Cards after spending the last four years with the Bulldogs.
Matchup Type: Nail-biter
Predicted Winner: Louisville
Foster Farms Bowl
24 of 38
Dec. 30, Santa Clara, California (10 p.m. ET)
Matchup: Maryland vs. Stanford
This is not your Stanford football team of the past few years. The Cardinal don't have a consistent, bruising running game, and quarterback Kevin Hogan has been hit-or-miss. Still, Maryland is a fairly easy team to run the ball against, allowing 4.5 yards per carry.
More than anything, though, Stanford's defense allows just 16 points per game, second in the country. Close games haven't exactly favored the Cardinal, but the defense has carried them this far. It should be able to carry them one more game.
Matchup Type: Low-scoring
Predicted Winner: Stanford
Peach Bowl
25 of 38
Dec. 31, Atlanta (12:30 p.m. ET)
Matchup: TCU vs. Ole Miss
TCU's offense, second in the Big 12 with 542 yards per game, goes up against Ole Miss' defense, which gives up 321 yards per game and is the best in college football at 13.8 points per game allowed.
If this becomes a low-scoring, grind-it-out game, it plays into the Rebels' strengths. If TCU starts racking up points, Ole Miss may not have the firepower to mount a serious comeback. The Frogs don't have a prominent power back, so quarterback Trevone Boykin may have to do his damage through the air.
It's a compelling contrast of styles.
Matchup Type: Never in doubt
Predicted Winner: TCU
Fiesta Bowl
26 of 38
Dec. 31, Glendale, Arizona (4 p.m. ET)
Matchup: Arizona vs. Boise State
Motivation shouldn't be a problem for Arizona, even though the Wildcats got hosed by Oregon 51-13 in the Pac-12 Championship Game. Arizona is going to a major bowl and has overachieved all season.
Head coach Rich Rodriguez has been known for run-heavy offenses in the past at West Virginia, but the Wildcats rank 28th in the nation with 278 passing yards a game. Freshman quarterback Anu Solomon is the guy that makes the whole thing work. Whether Solomon is healthy enough to play—he sustained an apparent foot injury in the Oregon game—remains to be seen.
Both teams have shown they are capable of winning a shootout, so this could be a toss-up.
Matchup Type: Shootout
Predicted Winner: Arizona
Orange Bowl
27 of 38
Dec. 31, Miami (8 p.m. ET)
Matchup: Georgia Tech vs. Mississippi State
Georgia Tech's offense is clearly a force on the ground, with 334 yards per game and 5.95 yards per rush. What makes the Yellow Jackets so tough to defend is their execution, which revolves around quarterback Justin Thomas. Georgia Tech has 12 fumbles on the year but has run the ball 729 times on the season, meaning this offense loses a fumble only two percent of the time.
On the other side is Mississippi State, with the two-headed rushing monster of quarterback Dak Prescott and running back Josh Robinson.
There's a great underlying matchup here. Georgia Tech leads the nation in third-down conversions, while Mississippi State is the best team in the country in opponents' red-zone conversions. Which one wins out?
Matchup Type: Nail-biter
Predicted Winner: Georgia Tech
Outback Bowl
28 of 38
Jan. 1, Tampa, Florida (Noon ET)
Matchup: Wisconsin vs. Auburn
This game likely comes down to which team can stop the run, plain and simple. For Wisconsin, it has to contain quarterback Nick Marshall and running back Cameron Artis-Payne; for the Tigers, it's about keeping Melvin Gordon under wraps as much as possible.
But, as we saw in the Big Ten Championship, Wisconsin's defense gave up 301 yards on the ground to Ohio State at nearly eight yards a carry.
Auburn doesn't run the most plays per game of any team in the country—it actually averages about 73 a game—but it knows how to use tempo effectively. If Wisconsin starts giving up big plays on defense, Gordon may not even be able to come to the rescue.
Matchup Type: Never in doubt
Predicted Winner: Auburn
Cotton Bowl
29 of 38
Jan. 1, Arlington, Texas (12:30 p.m. ET)
Matchup: Baylor vs. Michigan State
Like points? You're going to be glued to the Cotton Bowl, then. Don't expect an attitude issue from Baylor either about not making the playoff. In the words of Bears coach Art Briles, “We won a big game; we’re Big 12 champions. Get happy or get your ass out.” (h/t Ryan Resch, Bears Illustrated.)
Baylor and Michigan State rank No. 1 and No. 7, respectively, in points scored per game. You'd be hard-pressed to find a better quarterback-running back-wide receiver grouping in the same game than the Bears and Spartans. It's Bryce Petty, Shock Linwood and Antwan Goodley for Baylor; Connor Cook, Jeremy Langford and Tony Lippett for Michigan State.
Both defenses are athletic, too. Baylor probably doesn't get enough credit for how terrifying its defensive line is. But expect big plays and a whole lot of fun. Michigan State defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi is one of the best in the business, but Sparty is 0-2 in key shootout games this season.
Matchup Type: Shootout
Predicted Winner: Baylor
Citrus Bowl
30 of 38
Jan. 1, Orlando, Florida (1 p.m. ET)
Matchup: Minnesota vs. Missouri
There's probably going to be a lot of defense in this game, so here's hoping you like low scores and hard hitting.
Missouri's specialty is its pass rush with defensive ends Shane Ray and Markus Golden. In other words, the Tigers are giving you a choice: Would you rather be hit by a truck or a SUV? However, Mizzou has shown more vulnerability against downhill running attacks, and Minnesota's David Cobb (1,548 yards, 13 touchdowns) is one of the best in the country.
Can the Gophers muster enough offense to get past the Tigers? If the game is close heading into the fourth quarter, that's when Mizzou excels. And as the Tigers have shown before, just a few big plays are enough to keep things interesting.
Matchup Type: Low-scoring
Predicted Winner: Missouri
Rose Bowl
31 of 38
Jan. 1, Pasadena, California (5 p.m. ET)
Matchup: Oregon vs. Florida State
It's back to the Rose Bowl for the defending national champs. It's just in a different setting this time.
This semifinal is also a good matchup with the reigning Heisman winner Jameis Winston vs. the likely Heisman winner, Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota. Each quarterback will be tested; there's a lot of speed on both defenses with defensive backs Jalen Ramsey (FSU) and Ifo Ekpre-Olomu (Oregon).
The Seminoles are starting to find a run game with an improving offensive line and running back Dalvin Cook. The narrative on Oregon in the past is that the Ducks are too easily pushed around in the trenches. We'll see if that can be debunked with this group.
Matchup Type: Shootout
Predicted Winner: Florida State
Sugar Bowl
32 of 38
Jan. 1, New Orleans (8:30 p.m. ET)
Matchup: Alabama vs. Ohio State
Ohio State may have grabbed the fourth and final spot in the playoff, but make no mistake, the Buckeyes are a dangerous team on a fast track.
The focus will be on quarterback Cardale Jones, who will make his second start after J.T. Barrett went down with a season-ending ankle injury. Jones looked great in his first start in the Big Ten Championship against Wisconsin with three touchdown passes. To add to that, Alabama has given up some big plays in the passing game.
But Alabama has big-play potential of its own with quarterback Blake Sims and wide receiver Amari Cooper. Similar to the SEC Championship Game against Missouri, it will be interesting to see how the Tide deal with the Buckeyes' strong defensive line.
This is a game where Ohio State defensive end Joey Bosa will face off against Alabama running back T.J. Yeldon. That's just one matchup of many.
Matchup Type: Nail-biter
Predicted Winner: Alabama
Armed Forces Bowl
33 of 38
Jan. 2, Fort Worth, Texas (Noon ET)
Matchup: Houston vs. Pitt
Rumor has it, via FootballScoop.com and Travis Haney of ESPN.com, that head coach Tony Levine is out at Houston. The Cougars have had a great defense this season, giving up just under 20 points per game, but haven't found any consistency on offense.
Strange times, indeed.
Pitt's offense comes down to running back James Conner, the ACC Player of the Year. Tackling him brings to mind what it must be like to try to stop a moving truck as it barrels down a hill because its brake lines have been cut. In any case, Conner and receiver Tyler Boyd are too much for Houston to handle.
Matchup Type: Blowout
Predicted Winner: Pitt
TaxSlayer Bowl
34 of 38
Jan. 2, Jacksonville, Florida (3:20 p.m. ET)
Matchup: Tennessee vs. Iowa
If Tennessee can protect quarterback Joshua Dobbs, then the Vols have a chance. This offense has been poor up front due to overall youth. There's a ton of talent on Tennessee's roster with guys such as running back Jalen Hurd and receiver Marquez North—just not a lot of experience.
Iowa actually is more efficient in the passing game than the running game, if you can believe that. So the idea that the Hawkeyes would be in trouble if the game turned into a shootout doesn't entirely hold up.
Matchup Type: Nail-biter
Predicted Winner: Iowa
Alamo Bowl
35 of 38
Jan. 2, San Antonio (6:45 p.m. ET)
Matchup: Kansas State vs. UCLA
Kansas State has one of the best defenses in the Big 12, allowing just 21.8 points per game. However, the Wildcats have given up 41 and 38 points to the conference's two best offenses, TCU and Baylor, respectively. That should be good news for UCLA, which has firepower in quarterback Brett Hundley and running back Paul Perkins.
K-State can score to keep up if need be. The combination of quarterback Jake Waters and wide receivers Tyler Lockett and Curry Sexton shouldn't be overlooked. This Wildcats offense is more athletic than it'll be given credit for.
Matchup Type: Never in doubt
Predicted Winner: Kansas State
Cactus Bowl
36 of 38
Jan. 2, Tempe, Arizona (10:15 p.m. ET)
Matchup: Oklahoma State vs. Washington
There are few players in college football who have the big-play ability of Oklahoma State's Tyreek Hill. The JUCO transfer's 92-yard punt return for a touchdown against Oklahoma in the Bedlam game was a testament to that.
If the game is close and/or the Cowboys are in need of momentum, Hill is their guy. That might be the case if Washington's athletic defensive front seven disrupts Oklahoma State's offense. Huskies linebacker Hau'oli Kikaha leads the nation with 18 sacks. Pokes quarterback Mason Rudolph looks to be the future at that position, but this has not been your typical Mike Gundy offense.
Matchup Type: Never in doubt
Predicted Winner: Washington
Birmingham Bowl
37 of 38
Jan. 3, Birmingham, Alabama (1 p.m. ET)
Matchup: East Carolina vs. Florida
East Carolina is coming off a heartbreaking Hail Mary loss to UCF. The Pirates have stumbled down the stretch, losing three of their last five. The quarterback-wide receiver combo of Shane Carden and Justin Hardy has been excellent this year. They may put up some yards, but Florida's defense is capable of handling that matchup.
As long as the Gators can keep East Carolina's offense off the field and run the ball down their throats, they actually have a good chance of winning. Florida has athletes, especially on defense, who should take over the game.
Matchup Type: Nail-biter
Predicted Winner: Florida
GoDaddy Bowl
38 of 38
Jan. 4, Mobile, Alabama (9 p.m. ET)
Matchup: Toledo vs. Arkansas State
If you like a bazillion rushing yards, this is a good bowl to close out the postseason. Combined, Toledo and Arkansas State run the ball about 99 times a game for about 476 yards.
Keep an eye out on Arkansas State quarterback Fredi Knighten. He's not a big guy, but on the year he averages 304 all-purpose yards a game. He could be the X-factor.
Matchup Type: Shootout (of the running variety)
Predicted Winner: Arkansas State
Ben Kercheval is a lead writer for college football. All stats courtesy of cfbstats.com.
